ON April 22nd last year I got up at super early o’clock to go and support friends setting off on the London Marathon and, before arriving at the start, I was asked “do you think you'd ever like to run the marathon?”

“Nay” was my quick response. Running is something I neither enjoy, nor am particularly good at  (knees inwards, elbows feet and wrists everywhere else).

However, during the course of the day, I found myself totally engrossed by the atmosphere, the runners and the crowds. I had no idea who Shirley or Nathan or Foxy Coxy were but I was yelling my support at each and every one of them. “I want to be part of this” I thought, so eagerly told my sister, Lucy, in the pub that afternoon of my intention to apply for a place for this years event ...

“Do that and I’ll break your f***ing legs” was the reaction I got ...... verbatim.     

Endurance sport and my family don’t really mix and, although 99.9% of those who read this will already know, I’ll risk repeating myself, because what follows plays an important part in my decision to do what I’m about to do. Dad died suddenly during the final running leg of a half Iron Man event in May 2010 - the result of a heart condition that had crept up unnoticed over the years of the incessant training he undertook for Iron Man challenges, regular triathlons and many other events. My four or five months of training equates to an easy walk in the park for him, although he also didn't particularly enjoy running. 

I’m doing this in his memory, as a personal challenge and to raise money for the British Heart Foundation - to do my bit towards ensuring that fewer people lose out to one the UK’s most prolific killers, heart disease, and fewer families are needlessly robbed of loved ones.

Training has begun. 2012 saw four-mile figures-of-eight of Highbury Fields and the odd seven- or eight-miler. The new year means laps around Regent's Park, frequent nine-mile commutes home from Fulham to Highbury and double figure runs on Sunday mornings. By the end of March I hope to have at least one 20-miler under my belt. 

Now another challenge is for me to raise some money.

I am unfathomably grateful for all the support I get, be it a donation to the BHF, a kind word or a cheer from the sidelines (April 21 BTW FYI).

I promise this is the last one.

Many thanks and lots of love,

Harvey x

PS. I'd also like to use this opportunity to thank again all those who donated to my London to Brighton bike ride last May. I raised approx £2000, had tons of fun and would recommend it heartily to anyone with a bike and an urge to do something a little different.