Cancer Research UK is a charity very close to my heart. I lost my lovely Nanny Joan to cancer when I was 4 and more recently, England Netball have developed an amazing partnership with the charity to raise awareness of what they do with netballers across the country and I have been lucky enough to see first hand the amazing work their scientists do. 

I started running when I met young David about three years ago.  I started off with my local Park Run and very quickly got the bug.  When the opportunity arose to run the London Marathon for CRUK, I jumped at the chance, finally time to stop running cake sales at Head Office, put my money where my mouth was and do something awesome for charity. 

As many of your know my journey to the marathon has been frustrating.  I got a place for 2013 but got injured playing netball during the first match of the season and my right knee just wouldn't work.  After eight months of physio, I was able to start playing netball and running again last summer.  I built up my mileage slowly and my fitness was aided by being beasted at netball training by my lovely coach.  Everything was going fine until I got to Jan this year and started ramping up the training.  At 12 miles, I experienced the same pain as last time in the other blooming knee.  I was pretty devastated and to be honest, I was a pretty moody cow.  Thank you to my lovely friends and family for putting up with me during this not so fun time.  My physio was confident the left knee could be fixed and after a month of rest, loads of bum clams/lifts/stretches and whacking some wonky plastic wedges in my running trainers, I was able to get going again. 

Today (Sunday 16th), four weeks to the marathon I have just run 17 miles.  Over the last six weeks, I've just about got my training back on track and am just one run behind where I should be at this point. Today was a bit of a turning point, for some reason I always thought if I could get to 17, I could get to 26.2 - no logic whatsoever but I do like numbers with 7 in them.  Every single part of my body is aching, I spend most most of life icing various joints and energy gels are my new fave food group.  Training hasn't been easy, I have even been shot at with a BB gun in the bum  whilst running through Fulham out of a blacked out Range Rover!! All I can say is they must have a very good aim :) Crossing the finish line will make it all worth it though.

I have had amazing support from so many people, my lovely family, especially my Mum, she is always my biggest fan, Reem who are always so forthcoming with their pppprrrrraaaauuudddnnnesss, my fab Tiffin NC girls, my colleagues who are now quite used to me hobbling around the office and my poor boyfriend who quite frankly, I am amazed has managed to put up with me through this :) love you all loads!!

Please spare a few quid, or if you are my Dad and Stepmum who have chosen not to support their first born and bum off for two weeks to Goa, a lot! :)

Thanks a mill,

Katy Xxx