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After being inspired by four local mums successfully running the Loch Ness Marathon I thought to myself I could do with getting off my backside and getting back into fitness - so I did!

Back in September 2016 I started doing couch to 5k and gradually built up to running my first official 5k in November at the Kelpies for the Supernova Run. It was an exhilarating experience, despite being freezing and pouring with rain, and I was hooked to that adrenaline rush! I then set my sights on 10k so kicked off January with a RunEveryDay challenge which resulted in me running 111 miles in the month. I completed my official 10k run for Stroke Association in March and I wasn’t stopping there.

As I was turning a certain vintage this year I thought I’d ramp up the challenge and go for the Edinburgh Half Marathon and sneaked in the Great Edinburgh Run 10miles just a month before it, both in aid of Breast Cancer Care. I amazed myself and managed to complete my first half marathon in a respectable time of 2:14. Not wanting to stop there though as I was keen to run a sub 2 hour half marathon! So a few more months running then I recently ran the Scottish Half Marathon and got my sub 2! I was ecstatic with what I had achieved in just 12 months.

SO as I’m loving the challenges and running I’ve set my sights even higher and am going for the London Marathon in April 2018 - 26.2 miles! It’s important to me when running that I’m running for a reason and purpose, that’s why I’ve chosen to run for a charity that’s close to my heart - Muscular Dystrophy. I have 2 close friends whose son has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and I am also friends with a local Mum, Shirley Hughes, whose son was diagnosed last year with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. There are only about 2,500 boys in the UK with this condition.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic, muscle wasting condition. At the moment, there is no cure. Shirley set up Elliot’s Fighting Fund as part of the Muscular Dystrophy UK charity, to raise awareness and funds for research.

All money raised here will go towards Elliot’s Fighting Fund.

Thank you to everyone who would like to sponsor my London Marathon Challenge. Elliot’s parents and myself will appreciate any support given. 

Why not follow my training and fundraising journey on my Facebook page Gayle’s London Marathon Challenge in Aid of Muscular Dystrophy. 

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