I first ran in a marathon 4 years ago as part of a relay team in the Edinburgh marathon fund raising for The Muir Maxwell Trust. Their support and encouragement lead me to believe that one day I could manage the full 26.2 miles, which I did in 2008, it was sheer hell .........that was it, marathon done, never to be repeated.

I'm not sure what happened but for some reason you forget the pain (a bit like having a baby), and last year I did Paris in April ...... absolute hell again and then, thinking........ surely it must get easier ........ lo' and behold.... Loch Ness in October I did actually enjoy, in a weird sort of way.

All this running was really just holding out in the hope that one day I might get a place in the London marathon, which is after all THE marathon to do, isn't it?

I've tried for 2 years unsucessfully and then last year just before Christmas a notice landed on my desk at work (and I still don't know who put it there). "BAA Communities Trust have 5 Gold Bond places in the 2010 London marathon, put your name in the ballot etc....." ...."Yipeeee I'm up for that" and amazingly I got a place!

So it's fitting now to be able to nominate The Muir Maxwell Trust as my chosen charity. They are an Edinburgh based charity that support children with severe epilepsy and their famillies throughout the UK, and they continue to support many folks like me to run marathons .... as long as you raise some money for them of course! 

So please dig deep and donate now - many many thanks for taking the time.