Well... I did It.... I AM a Marathon Runner! 4hrs 9mins 32 secs

The London Marathon is everything you expect it to be after seeing it on the TV.

Spectators with outstretched hands wanting Hi5s.. offering sweeties.. shouting out your name & cheering you on... bands playing.. line the streets for about 95% of the route.

When you pass 25 miles it then counts down 800yds...then you come round by Buckingham Palace & 385yds to go ... your heart is pumping because the prize is in site

For me 18months of training culminated at this Point.... & EVERY second was worth it   :-D

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Training for a Marathon is blooming hard work & VERY tiring & hard on the body....Apart from some serious Gym work to strengthen my leggies & core I have had to put some serious miles on the road... 

30th will be my longest run 23 miles then reducing/Tapering down to the big day

26th - 20 miles

23rd - 18miles

19th - 15miles

16th - 13miles

March 11th Silverstone Half Marathon

Sunshine & 10,000 runners= fantastic afternoon My aim was to get under 2 hours... attained 1 hour 52mins 20secs... Very Happy!

Feb 25/26th 24 hour Gymathon

Until you have done kettlebells at 2am & a Conga round the gym at 5 in the morning... you haven't lived ;oD

Jan 8th Plymouth 10k

First of my Challenges... lets get this ball rolling... Got a PB of 49mins54secs

2012 This is My Year...

I have set myself many challenges And after last years disaster & 4 months Pain & heartache... I have vowed to get myself Fit & Strong & Enjoy not Endure everything I do ;o)

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11th April - Visit Physio again.... my limp is almost gone... running is impossible at this stage... a walk to the end of the drive & back is enough at the moment!

Thanks to the guys & girls at Winners Gym Paignton ...£20 in the pot :o)

 9th April - This time next week I should be at the Expo picking up my runners number..... instead I shall be at home feeling sick to my stomach that I am not there.... Today I had to admit defeat to the world.... It is not a thing I do lightly.... But I have injured myself and as I do not want to permenantly do damage to myself I have had to pull out from something I have looked forward to most of my adult life..... unless you have been in a similar situation you dont know how much this hurts.... mentally.... BUT.... I AM strong and I WILL be stronger .... My place is reserved for next year so as soon as I can I shall be back into my training.... My first run will be the ladies Run 4 Life on the 8th of May..... I hope to be fit enough for that :o)

5th April - Leg  feeling better today.... had a GREAT session in the Gym today.... feeling GOOD!!!.... just gotta take it easy... repair myself & I know I can do it.... special Thanks for a morale boost from Natalie Moore from Torquay - running for HelpforHeros... even tho she has done her knee in she is still determined to get round :o)

4th April - tearful weekend ... Leg pretty bad... Thoughts turn to having to withdraw... But it's not in my nature to give up so early... Physio again Wednesday... Let's see how it goes ;0)

29th March - Went to see Physio today.... said the training I have put in up to now has been great & that will see me through....dont know about sub 4hours.30mins... but I will get round... I managed to flip my pelvis out of place which has made me limp & stopped me running.. he has snapped it back, massaged me & cool lasered my scarred muscle tissue... told me I could try running again at the weekend..... fingers crossed folks :o)

25th March - the weather has been lovely and I cant run.... I feel like a caged animal.... really want to get back out there... but cant!... doing gentle stretching, using jointace gel, protein shake with LGlutamine & BCAAs, extra super doupa vit tabs.....and waiting! :o( ...23 days to go

22nd March - did upper body training & swimming... trying to ease off sprain

21st March - Stayed in bed all morning could not move...

20th March - The Stoke Stampede... 10K through wonderful Somerset Countryside in the spring.... Glorious... ran with my son Ben & friends from Rhino Troop 2 (Catterick) Squadron.... managed to get to 7.5k befor my Groin injury just would not let me do anymore... walked the llast couple of km & hobbled the last 200m over the line... not quite last tho...so bonus!

18th March - 30 days & counting...just gotta get over this little adducter muscle pull & I will be right bach at it.... Grrrrr

16th - 46880 .... this is the number to track on race day.... my personal number... you can follow me online... How Cool is THAT!!!!!

15th March - Running vest arrived today... see photo... friend suggested a Pirate theme for the race... sounds good to me..

14th March - Ohhhh those stairs!.... knees ache.. thighs ache.. Back aches.... but huge sense of aceivement.... now I am beginning to believe I can do it :o)

13th March - 2 hours 57mins to do 17 miles today & I felt GREAT.... ran all the way & I felt powerful... sun was shining & birds were singing....

8th March - Just realised..... Only 40 days to go!...... start getting nervous now!

5th March - Went for a walk with Ken..... 13 mile Coastal Path to Brixham & back.... lovely scenary ...loads of steps...up & down!!! Really enjoyed it but made my thighs & calves ache!....

1st March - back to the Strength Training... see photos... did 15 proper press ups today...and as for the plank!!!.... really going good!

27th Feb - Fantastic run today... felt so good... think it was the short HARD training runs along with a jolly good meal the night before ;o)

25th Feb - got a message from Ben asking me to join him & friends on the Stoke Stampede 10K...Taunton way on 20th March.... he is running in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund..... Registration form & cheque is in the post. :o)

23rd Feb - got a package from SeafarersUK with some Promo stuff..... gonna do a fundraising day down at Brixham Harbour & Fishmarket... & must see the Marina people too.

13th Feb - cold wet & horrid rainy day.... did quite well..... took in Torquay harbour... then Paignton Harbour... Youngs Park then up to Windy corner & thought.... I am NOT enjoying this.... as i was cold... & wet... and my knees ached & my arms ached with the damp cold conditions so I thought.... I do not have to do this today..... so I called the blessed Kenny who came to save me ... :o)... still did 2 hours & 2 minutes just a tad under 12 miles..... so I am happy with that!

6th Feb - did all training runs this week & ate properly on the Saturday to prepare for long run today..... first 8 miles done in under 80mins & felt great... strong.... after that it is a gradual uphill all the way home..... sea level to 320m! .... 2hrs38mins done just over 14 miles.....working towards 15 :o)

30th Jan - Inspirational Training Day in London - met Dave Bedford - The Main Man!... very funny.... also met Martin & Liz Yelling - 2 of the nicest sweetest people .... Glad to have met them :o)... It seems My training is going GOOD... right on track 

28th Jan  - Picked up £22.30 from Ritchies Diner in Paignton.... Thank you guys :o)

23rd Jan 2011 - cracked the 15 mile mark 2hrs 30 mins.... so chuffed.... My training is going GREAT.... couple of short runs during the week with a long on a Sunday plus a strength building session at the gym once a week... feeling powered!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

I have always watched the London Marathon from the sofa and thought..... How fantastic..... I can do that..... but always had something else to do...... This year I thought I've gotta get myself fit again and, as I like a challenge..... I found a charity I was happy to support, applied to them, and they kindly accepted me. :o)

I chose this charity as it covers all who work at sea.... we live by the sea and the next town along the coast is a sea fishing port ... Brixham... so we know of the dangers & hardships working at sea can impose on these families & their community.

My first husband was in the Royal Navy for some years for which I was very proud of what they did....what they endured... & what they stood for .... My first daughter was born during the Falklands war...  War took its toll on  the Naval families through Fatalities, injuries, and long term stress.

Seafarers UK is my chosen charity..... some of you will know it by its old name.... King George's Fund for Sailors

Where the money goes

Life at Sea is hard, it always has been, but now we are receiving more calls than ever for help from seafarers in distress 

• We support injured veterans from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and also offer support to their families. 

• We support varied projects which provide help to the Merchant Navy, including a telephone helpline 

which gives specialist support to working and retired seafarers who are struggling with debt, or relationship breakdown. 

• We support those in the fishing fleets who struggle to make a living in extremely hazardous conditions. Since 1996 an average of 26 fishing boats have been lost at sea every year, and many fishermen have had to cope with reduced fishing quotas leading to poverty and stress. 

Help to support all those who work at sea and their families. 

As an island nation we owe our seafarers a great debt. Please help us to repay it.