Hi all,

I'm running a marathon for the RNIB….

Imagine losing your sight - it's scary to imagine not being able to see sunshine, family, the world around you, not to mention having to adjust to daily life. The RNIB help support people who are blind or losing their vision, and are a charity I felt close to when signing up for the marathon as my dad had gradually lost his sight. They helped even with something as simple as helping us get hold of a talking watch so my dad would know what time of day it is, something we take for granted.

Anyone who knows me well knows this is a challenge. I'm not a runner or athlete by any stretch of the imagination. But I've been training since November and have gone from struggling after 1km to enduring 18 miles in my longest training run so far this March. I've trained in a variety of locations some more or less entertaining: Along the river in Chiswick, through central London to Hyde Park, Cuba, Swindon, Val D'Isere and Wigan. My dad sadly passed away on February 15th. By that point I was ahead of my "Runners World training plan for beginners" and had run two half marathons, so I'm pleased that he knew that I was on my way to completing this.

Time isn’t important to me, I just want to survive through the final challenge, the big 26.2 miles, in one piece. Please support me in any way you can, by donating or coming down on the day to cheer me on and feed me jelly babies along the route. Particularly welcomed are people in the second half of the race where I will look awful, limping and slow (so no photographs allowed unless I am posing) but the encouragement will greatly help. Let me know if you are planning to watch.

Anyway I'll leave you with a little performance poem I wrote a few months ago when I was in the midst of breaking through the distance barriers in training.

Sally x

I'm running a marathon for the RNIB.
Not birds. Not Lifeboats. People that can't see.

I'm training hard.
Key in pocket, Ipod on arm
Off I plod steady and calm,
Paula Radcliffe, this is easy
No need for a roadside wee?

I've bought lycra and nikes
Go for runs and hikes
In high vis trainers, luminous pink,
I get sarcy remarks, slobby comments, lewd winks,
Yes, when I jog my bottom wobbles
I have to wear hair bobbles
- Never scrunchies -
After 5k I hobble
Get the munchies
Go home
Put plasters
On blister disasters
Have afters
And think about why I'm doing this.

I read some Murakami.
He said pain is inevitable.
Suffering, optional.

Not true, once you commit yourself, commit £2k
You're stuck with it, there's no way
Out. Funds are expected to be raised
Races expected to be raced,
Tshirts worn, faces smiling,
Miles and miles and miles
I'm dying.

And I imagine pulling out, email - sent.
I see blank eyes of disappointment
Staring at me through Yours Sincerely,
A short, cordial email response. Maybe next year.
Too ashamed to give jelly babies and cheer.

So I'll do it, for the blind
And my pride
Drop a dress size
Avoid those eyes
Eat less pies
Because lycra is unforgiving
Because life is for living
Please visit my Just Giving.

 

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