*** Updated: Sunday 6th April****

So, today was the day. 10 months (ish) worth of training, over 500 miles... and It all hinged on my legs at 09:15am this morning. I was nervous, my longest training run took me to the realms of 22.2 miles, but i didn't know what would happen after that... some runner's refer to it as "the road to hell" - great!!!

i had been having problems with my knee in the 10 days leading up to the race, so for me the focus was on finishing, not a time. I think the nerves were stemmed from the uncertainty that my knee may explode..... after all, who knows what happens after 22 miles! 

Before the start gun went, I took a deep breath and remembered why it was that I was even stood there..... it was for mum. I have never lost sight of that through all my training until that moment when i was panicking about my knee hurting. So i re-focussed and said to myself that "nothing i'm going to feel over the 4 hours or so is even comparable to the years of pain that my mum endured because of this fucking disease"

From there on in the race was brilliant, I used it as time to think of all the wonderful people that donated to Breast Cancer Care as part of my running (yes, all of you), my dear mum and the good times I have had training for this run.

It was really quite surreal too be honest, a real roller coaster of emotions from start to finish. I managed a time of 3hrs49mins, which isn't too important for the cause, but it was nice to get as a reward for seemingly endless weeks of training!

The end of the race was the cheery on the cake... thousands of people turned out to cheer on every single runner. I was really proud to be a part of it... To think how much money has been raised by so many, for so many important causes makes me well up. 

I have been blown away with how much money I managed to raise, not only have you all given money to such a worthy cause that will help so many women diagnosed with breast cancer, you have really done the memory of my mum justice... and i can't thank you enough for that. 

I'll carry on running, but i fancy a sleep first :)

Thanks again, and i love you all.

Leo

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Why i ran.

In November 2011, it was ten years since my mother lost her battle with breast cancer. I felt compelled to do something in 2012 to mark that; some major fund raising, a personal challenge etc. - you get the drift.

Unfortunately I was slap bang in the middle of my final year of University, thus meaning that finding time to dedicate to anything other than "the world’s most boring dissertation" was impossible.

This November it will mark 12 years since she passed away... and I have no excuses...

So, within the space of  6 months i will be running The Gerat North Run and the Brighton marathon to help raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

My reasons for running are:

1. to help support the great work Breast Cancer Care do.

2. to remember a truly wonderful and inspirational woman who invested so much into her kids, who I love dearly and miss every single day. *Updated* My Mum is from the North East, after a recent visit i feel like it would be great to run TGNT too!

3. to give a massive middle finger to cancer.

Please give generously. Running comes naturally to some, so this could seem easy, but my fitness levels and love of pizza mean this will be a challenge!

I will post regular updates on here of my training and how I’m getting on.

Thanks,

Leo