ENDING THE YEAR WITH 10 MILES!

I am running 5 runs (so far!) in 2013 to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, Cancer Research and the Princess Alice Hospice.

Me...the unfit  lazy troll who would drive around the supermarket car park until a space right next to the door became available (those of you who know me are now nodding your head)  Me, who until last year didn't know that shoes came in any other type than with an over 3" high heel and wouldn't even walk 5k let alone run it..well, I didn't have the flat shoes for starters!

But, that's all changed. Where Vogue once sat on my coffee table, now sits Runner's World and where 4 pairs of black heels once rested, now sits three pairs of running shoes.  That's right, running shoes.

Why?  Well, I've always been the one who sponsored others when they were fund-raising for Cancer Research, having seen so many friend's lives hurt by the evil disease that is cancer. Then, two years ago, breast cancer decided to stick it's nose in through the window into my life and let me know that it was there.  I sent it packing but then rudely it decided to bloody well come knocking again last year.

I was 41, unfit, unhealthy and frightened. When Mavis (not her real name, but it's how I know her!) mentioned, without even the smallest hint of irony or sarcasm, that I should 'take up running' I laughed out loud and had to give her a quick run-down of the previous 21 years and of how I had worked very hard at drinking and partying (and mainly sitting!) and in no way was I going to go anywhere near a gym...let alone near a shop that sold shoes for going into a gym.  She wouldn't let go though, so to shut her up (and to prove that I am built to drink vodka out of a glass, whilst sitting on a stool, not water out of a plastic bottle whilst running outside) I downloaded the 'couch to 5k' programme....which promises to turn lazy individuals such as myself into runners in 9 weeks....and I said I would go out for a run the next week. 

Day 1 came - you have to run for 60 seconds. So I walked to the local football field, was out of breath by the time I got there and started to run. I thought that my lungs would explode after 30 seconds and honestly thought I was going to puke on the corner flag.  That was it, I was hooked.  I was so shocked at just how badly my body was screaming at me, that I vowed to do this running thing.  And so I did....ok so there was the small problem of a hamstring injury and a torn knee ligament along the way, but they didn't stop me and now, apparently, I am a runner.  I’m not fast and I don’t look attractive but I love it and now, thanks to Amy Fernandes casually saying "shall we do the Race for Life", which we completed in the summer of 2012 and raised £1000 in the process

I did that 'Race for Life' in memory of Cathy's mum...Rachel's Dad and Emily's grandpa and also for those who were fighting at the time...Paul's daughter..for...Derek..for Julie...and for my father-in-law.

My father-in-law lost his battle against prostate cancer on 12th March 2013, having been cared for at the Princess Alice Hospice. On 5th December 2012, I learned that Julie lost her fight.  So in 2013, I will do all I can to run for them, to raise money so that we can beat this disease.

By sponsoring me now you can help more people survive cancer.

So, thank you for visiting my Race for Life sponsorship page (and thank you Mavis for making me a runner).

Please dig deep and sponsor me online - it's quick, easy and totally secure.