As many of you are aware, I enjoy running. I have met many friends at events, and enjoyed the physical and mental health benefits that pounding the streets, lanes, towpaths and tracks (often with Buddy dragging me along) has provided.

But I'm not an elite athlete.

I enjoy a 10k run (just under an hour ... enough time to get nicely out of breath, but not complete exhaust me)

I enjoy the challenge that running a half marathon  (around 2 and a bit hours) brings .. building my distance up beforehand .. Enjoying the camaraderie of the event ... The feeling as I cross the finish line and know I can put my feet up for the rest of the weekend, and enjoy my success, for a few months until the urge to enter another takes over.

But I always said a half was enough for me ... nothing more

The idea of turning round after 13 (and a bit) miles to do it all again just seemed bonkers ... I'm not built for running .. I do it in in my own lumbering style, and I am happy if anyone ever captures a "flying feet" photo of me, despite the gurning expressions I pull as I plod along ungainly .. and after 2 hours I'm ready for a hot shower and a nice pub meal to refuel .. I was never going to run a marathon

And then after one half marathon I did a bit extra .. I went back down the course to find Aimee and spurred her on to the finish line (or just got in her way, depending on who you ask) .. the miles crept up ... and then I was asked to run the family fun mile with a friend's niece afterwards .. My legs screamed at me .. it definitely wasn't a fun mile, but I did it .. and I survived, and without really trying I'd clocked up closer to 18 miles ... maybe a marathon wasn't so unachievable after all ... and that feeling was echoed a few weeks later when I proudly cheered my brother across the finish line of his first marathon

I kept denying it, but there was a little voice in my head that kept saying do it .. DO IT (or maybe it was Aimee's voice encouraging me and believing in me when I still didn't believe in myself)

And that is how I have decided that just this once, I would attempt the unthinkable ... running a full marathon ... 26.2 miles .(42 and a bit kilometres)

As this is without doubt my biggest run challenge I am taking the opportunity to do some fund raising ... I am raising funds for JDRF 

JDRF fund research to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes, working with government, academia and industry to accelerate research in the UK and within healthcare policy to ensure that the outcomes of research are delivered to people with type 1 in the UK. JDRF give support and a voice to people with type 1 and their families. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure and Just Giving do NOT take a proportion of your donation amount (unless you add a contribution onto your total).  Once you donate, they'll send your money DIRECTLY to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.