So, it would appear that 'a good night's sleep' is not necessarily condusive towards making rational decisions. Especially over the festive season and when you suffer - as many of you are aware I do - from 'bah humbug' syndrome. Ultimately it comes back to bite you on the arse.

My impetuous (reckless?) early morning email to an old friend querying about possibly joining him to run the 2014 London Marathon for Whizz Kidz - he has only asked me every year since 1997 or thereabouts - saw me signed up and too scared to announce it to the rest of the family before you could say "Bonkers". Which my OH did, quite promptly, once I gathered the courage to inform him. (Whereas my PT the Moose's reaction was "Interesting, let's chat", and then "Sure you can do this!", following which he devised the mother-of-all gawd-awful training plans which I will live to regret).

Never mind, I am now, as they say after wedding vows (and prison sentences, neither being related of course) 'committed'. For a fantastic cause what's more. One that gives young disabled people the ability to achieve freedom from their parents and carers, develop their own personalities, participate in society and take charge of their own lives. How great is that?

My one request of you, dear friends, is to find that £10 - or more - that has escaped donor fatigue and put it towards this great charity. I promise to regale you with amusing training anecdotes and possibly even photos and videos as I curse my way towards the finishing line. There will be a censored version available as well to entertain the children at no extra charge. 

I truly have no idea what I have signed up for. A lifetime of saying "I will never run a marathon" and now I have signed up for two in a single year. I am blaming age. And Christmas. And anything else I can think of: the British weather, my book club, the offspring, bad sleeping patterns, too much wine...

Thank you for supporting me!

And here's the donating site blurb: donating through JustGiving is simple, fast, efficient and totally secure. No personal details are shared, not even to that annoying cold caller, and your money is given directly to the charity. Excellent stuff.