Hello, and welcome to my sponsorship page.

This year I am running London Marathon for Motor Neurone Disease Association. My wonderful and fantastic uncle - Roly Boissevain - was diagnosed with this horrible and devastating disease in January 2006. Very sadly, Roly passed away on 21st February.

The MND Association have been absolutely fabulous in their support for Roly and the rest of the family, and we couldn't have got through the last 12 months without them.

Therefore I ask that you give as generously as you can so that we can put something back into the charity.

I will hopefully keep this page up to date with news of my training over the next few weeks and months (See below)

I am currently up to 9 miles on my long runs, and pretty much given up the alcohol now, although I am sitting here now with a glass of wine by my side!

Thank you all for your support.

Hannahxx

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Motor Neurone Disease Association will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

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19th February:

I was due to do 11 miles yesterday. I was a bit concerned as I had a bit of cold/flu earlier in the week and hadn't really done much training over the past few days. What with that and the end of the first week in a new job I was pretty exhausted. (Plus I was out quite late on Saturday night - not drinking though!)

I had the route all planned out, and the first 6 miles were fine. It was when I got to Chelsea Bridge that I got this horrendous stitch which just kept coming back. I tried to run through it for the next couple of miles but it was getting pretty miserable, so from about 8 miles I started the walk/run strategy which seemed to work ok. I ended up covering 12 miles in the end in a bid to make sure that I actually covered 11 miles running. I finished up at my gym so had a bit of a jacuzzi and steam room in a bid to ease out some of the aching muscles!

This week should be ok as I am officially on an 'Easy Week' so just a couple of shorter runs during the week and then a biggie at the weekend again.

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22nd February

I had a lovely run yesterday morning - a gentle four miles through St James' and Green Park just as it was getting light. There is something quite special about being able to run past Downing Street, Horseguards Parade and Buckingham Palace as part of my training. It was a really nice start to what turned out to be a very sad day.

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26th February

Feeling a bit stiff this morning - did 12 miles yesterday and had a much better time of it than last week. Into the final 8 weeks now, so need to focus on getting my speed up a bit.

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me over the past few days - it really is appreciated.

Hx

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28th February

I had the most amazing run this morning! It was pouring with rain, and while I was crossing Waterloo bridge there were hailstones (well they felt like it!) hitting me sideways. But for some reason it was a great run and I walked back to the gym with a massive grin on my face - I must have looked like a demented bedraggled rat!

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5th March

I got out twice this weekend which was good. I did a 'just under 14 miler' in the rain which was pretty good. My stupid GPS thingy ran out of battery at 9.88 miles, but due to this cool site - www.mapmyrun.com I was able to work out my exact mileage and a rough idea of time based on my average time up until 9 miles. (Sorry, get a bit geeky when it comes to running...)

Got a busy week this week, and somehow have to fit in about 30 miles or so over the next few days... All good though.

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9th March

I had a lovely leisurely 6-miler in the sunshine yesterday. Roly's funeral was in the afternoon and it really was a lovely day. He was a devout and very committed athiest, so there was no church service, hymns or prayers. However, it was equally as moving as a religious ceremony would have been, if not more so. We heard lots of tales of his mischievous youth and various sailing escapades. He was a big jazz fan, so there was a jazz band afterwards, so it really was more like a party than a wake.

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 12th March

15.5 miles yesterday - boy are my knees creaky today! It's finally got to the stage where when I stopped for traffic lights at around 14 1/2 miles everything immediately seized up! It was a beautiful day yesterday which was lovely for running in - except it was also a lovely day for the whole world to be out in the parks of London and along the South Bank, getting in the way! Just 3 more weeks of hardcore training to go (can't believe it's all happened so quickly), then 3 weeks of tapering which really is quite lovely when you get to it. If you are interested, this is the run I went on yesterday... http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/united-kingdom/london/269144399

Until next time...

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19th March

A good week of running! The weather was lovely last week, so had some great early morning jaunts. Yesterday I did my 17 miler, and it actually went really well. I felt good and strong at the end, and could have carried on. I decided not to obviously (!), but important to know that I could of done. This was despite the fact that my ipod ran out of battery at mile four, so it really was just me, myself and I for 13 miles.

Strange weather yesterday - blue skies and lots of wind for 15 miles, and then out of nowhere - hailstones!

Just two more long runs to go and then I can go through the relative bliss that is tapering. I'm going away this weekend, so have to do my 18.5 miles on Friday, which means less time for recovery. Luckily it is an 'easy' week in training, so should be ok. Will be nice to relax for the weekend and not have to worry about training.

My run yesterday looked a bit like this.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/united-kingdom/london/285227879

Laters,

H

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26th March

Nearly there! I have just got one more long run to go before I can start the bliss that is tapering. I was away for the weekend, so took Friday off to complete my 18.5 miler - it wasn't too bad at all. Not quite as easy as the week before, but I guess I'd had less time to recover in the week. It was absolutely lovely to have a weekend off where I didn't have to worry about running. Back to it now though - although I do feel pretty ropey today, been around too many sick people over the weekend.

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2nd April

So, I have now got all the 'big ones' out of the way - well, apart from the obvious one. Yesterdays run was pretty horrendous actually, but I think that alot of it is psychological and mentally I was dreading it so it ended up being as rubbish as I thought it would be. Despite being a glorious day! But you'll be pleased to know that I'm not worried. I have done this before and I can do it again - on the day, having tens of thousands of people on the side of the roads makes the world of difference and can really carry you through those miles of pain - especially when some of them are friends and family (hint hint!). So, I have 3 short runs this week, then a joyful 10 miler at the weekend, and then only 5 the weekend after - bliss! Am going to try and book myself a couple of massages between now and then to ease out some of these aching muscles, and maybe do a couple of pilates classes to keep the joints moving over the next couple of weeks.

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10th April

Hello! So the tapering is in full swing now - 10 miles on Sunday which was pretty pleasant actually. I kept reminding myself that it was the furthest I would have to go until the big day - just lots of lovely short sharp runs to keep my legs going now for the next 12 days. 12 Days! How scary - for some reason, it doesn't feel very real at the moment. I think last time it took up every minute of my day thinking about it, but I guess because I know what's coming it's not such a great unknown this time. Although I do think I am going to have to go and do some last minute shopping - my running stuff is beginning to fall apart, I don't think I want a big gaping seam running around London in front of a million people on the day!

For those of you who are interested in coming to cheer on the day (looks like the weather is going to be good), let me know and I will give you all the details you need.

Bye for now.

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17th April

Just a few days to go now! I've done all the training, but still feel a bit sick. I have a couple of really short runs to do this week, just to keep the legs ticking over - then a quiet day on saturday full of relaxation and resting. I'm having a busy week at work trying to get our first TV ad out of the door, but am doing my absolute best to get lots of sleep and rest. Anyway, not much I can do at this stage, except chill out. So that is what I am going to try and do.

Wish me luck! Will see you on the other side.

Hx

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20th April

Just one day to go! I've got my number, worked out train I am on and I've even been 'working in' my new laces! It's been a busy week at work, but hopefully as of tomorrow I'll be able to relax and put my feet up all day.

It's going to be hot - between 18-23 depending on who you believe, so not sure how I'll do against my target time. I guess the most important thing is to just enjoy it!

Hx