Story
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On 22 April 2012 I'm running the London Marathon. This will be my first ever marathon, which is both exciting and terrifying! I've got a lot of training to do in the next five months...I'll keep this page updated with my progress...<br><br>***LAST UPDATE - RACE DAY!***<br></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The whole day was amazing!! The rain held off and the sun shined. The fantastic crowd support helped me achieve my goal of sub-3:45 with a finishing time of 3:41:24. Miles 21 to 24 were really tough but when I came around that last bend in front of Buckingham Palace into The Mall and saw the finish line it made it all worth while. I feel quite emotional just thinking about it! Three days on and the legs are recovering well. It's not such a challenge to walk down stairs now! It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but would I do it again? Definitely! I was extremely proud to be running for Amnesty. Thank you for helping me to reach my fundraising target.<br><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***UPDATE – 1 week to go***<br></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’ve only got two more training runs left before the race. I can’t believe this week is finally here! On Friday I pick up my race number <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: &amp;quot; mso-bidi-font-weight; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">34154</span></strong> and timing chip at the Marathon Expo. I think this is when the nerves will really start to kick in. I’ve run 612 miles since the beginning of the year and, apart from a minor injury, the training’s gone really well. So, whatever happens during the race, I plan to enjoy it and soak up the amazing atmosphere. Thank you all for your support.<br><br>***UPDATE – 3 weeks to go***<br></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Essex 20 race on 4 March went better than expected (2:38:42) and was a great confidence boost. A calf injury disrupted my training for a couple of weeks, but after some rest, two sports massages and some magic tape - thanks Phil my physio </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 9pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> - I bounced back with a new half marathon PB at Brentwood (1:39:49) on 25 March. Not long to go now…<br><br>***UPDATE***<br>I’ve now completed 7 weeks of my 16-week training plan. I’ve run on road, grass, mud, snow and, my least favourite, the treadmill. I’ve experienced rain, hail, wind, snow, freezing temperatures and sunshine. And I’ve enjoyed every mile (well almost). My next big challenge, and a good test of how I’m doing, is the Essex 20, a 20-mile road race through the undulating country lanes of north east Essex on 4 March.<br>----------------------------------<br></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm raising money for Amnesty International.<br></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amnesty International is a movement of ordinary people from around the world standing up for humanity and human rights. They produce extraordinary results. Prisoners of conscience are released. Death sentences are commuted. Torturers are brought to justice. Governments are persuaded to change their laws and practices. Their achievements have a huge impact on the lives of individual people.<br></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</span></span></span></span></span></p>