NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! thats what i said after i ran my first London Marathon in 2007. And guess what, im going to do it again in 2009.

In 2007 i ran my first London Marathon. It was the most amazing experience ever and if any one is thinking of doing it ,its worth it. It wasnt the easiest thing i have ever done, after all that training when it came to the big day it all wentt horribly wrong. My goal was to do it in 3hrs 30 mins, at 13 miles i was 3 minutes ahead of schedule, great. 20 miles on schedule, had hit the wall at about 18 miles, 21 miles and it just went down hill. It was one of the hottest days you could have ever not wanted 25/27 degrees, was it dehydration,tiredness, who knows but the last 5 miles was the toughest thing i had ever done, but i wasnt going to give up. The emotion you feel when you cross that line is amazing. 4 hrs 27 mins. I now run regularly and activly support Hailsham Harriers who i have been a member with for just over 2 years and race and train with them.

Well here we are back again 2009 is going to be my marathon year and 3hrs 30mins is going to be cracked!!!! Once again i am running for Leukaemia Care, i raised £3600 in 2007 and that needs to be beaten to.

Leukaemia Care is a national charity that provides vital care and support to all those whose lives are affected by Blood and Lymphatic Cancers. They receive no goverment, lottery or NHS funding and rely entirely upon donations and fundraising and most importantly volunteers. A free 24 hour care line is avaliable 365 days a year to support patients and their families during diagnosis and treatment of blood and lymphatic cancers. Over 10,000 pateints and carers and their families have so far benefited from the vital services that the charity provides, quite simply supporting a quality of life for all.

Please dig deep, any donation either big or small will make a huge difference to someones life. Thank you for supporting me and your generosity is greatly apreciated by me and also all the people who will benfit from Leukaemia Care's support.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Leukaemia CARE gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid is received.

I will post regular updates in how training is going so watch this space.

01/01/2009 first week of training! well it is still Christmas etc. Next week is when it all starts.

12/01/2009 two weeks of training and so far so good, its been a shock to the system going from around 15 miles a week to 35 plus. All the speed work i have been doing since the Autumn has certainly worked, the longer runs seem easier than I remember. Have a few half marathons booked  in the next couple of months I need to get my half marathons to under 1hr30. PB is 1hr 31 at silverstone last year.

19/01/2009 Good week of training, did a 4 mile run along the seafront which i did last year in 31 minutes in 26 minutes so definatly getting fitter and faster.  Have done three ten mile runs this week so clocking up the miles now, next week is the start of the 15 plus long runs, so looking forward to that.

29/01/2009 a week of hills and long runs this week. The hills are becoming easier and easier and 13 miles was relativly easy. 15 miler on sunday.

08/02/2009 did the 15 miles, just a tad under 2 hours. This weeks been quite a hard week, few long runs, legs are starting to feel a bit tired now, but still keep battling on, definatly feeling much fitter, hills are becoming easier. Next week is going to be 18 miles so looking forward to that.

15/02/2009 another tough week of training, got 18 miles to do tonight and strange thing is i am looking forward to it, this week will be lighter training as Brighton 1/2 marathon on sunday so need plenty of energy to race it.

23/02/2009 What a race!!!!!! completed the Brighton 1/2 marathon yesterday. My goal was to do it in a tad under 1hr 30 mins. PB was 1.31 last year.

I shattered it!!! 1 Hour 24.36mins, i came 112th out of 4300 runners. It was the best race i have ever had. I felt so comfortable through the whole race until 12.5 miles then the last half mile was really tough, but i did it. Thats gonna take some beating though.

08/03/2009.

Last two weeks of training has been going well, doing a mixture of speed work,hills and long runs, seems to be getting much easier now. Just over six weeks till the big day and i cant wait!!!

14/03/2009 just when it was all going well!!!! just had a horrible virus so it was a whole week of no training, it was torture not being able to go for a run. Better now though so back to normal training, i cant believe its only 5 weeks to go.. i cant wait till the big day now!!!

22/03/2009 good week of training this week, mixture of 10+ mile runs and some speedwork, just received the final marathon news letter and confirmation of my race number so its now sinking in just how close it is now.

29/03/2009 Its getting really close to the big day now, did another long run on sunday and a mixture of speed work, really getting excited now but also quite nervous, trying different tactics with hydration bit it could all change on the 26th.

13/04/2009 Nearly there now! had some great training runs, its fantastic to be back on the downs again, the hills are the best challenge. Did a 5k race thursday night and finished 4th in 19 minutes so really pleased with that. Now its time to slow down and carb up as they say, so eating plenty of pasta etc and starting to take it easy till the 26th.

25/04/2009 well this is it, the night before the big day. I feel really good and dont seem to have the pre race nerves i had last time. Just going to have a 15 minute jog tonight to keep the legs moving and then of to run 26.2 miles in the morning. I just want to thank you all for your fantastic support and generosity, it makes a huge difference knowing that i am doing it for something special. I will let you all know what time i do after the big event.

27/04/2009 I DID IT!!!!! it was just fantastic and again the most amazing experience. 3 Hours 54 minutes so a whole 33 minutes quicker than 2007, so really chuffed.

The first 22 miles felt relativly easy and didnt even hit the wall, had cramp at 22 miles so walked for about 1/2 mile and then walked between 24 and 25 miles and then from nowhere i had the most amazing burst of energy and had a really great last mile and a brilliant finish to be proud off.

Thank you all so much for all your support it was greatly apreciated.