Thank you everyone who has sponsored me over the weekend! Belfast awoke bright and breezy for the marathon start and stayed so for 3 hours or thereabouts at which stage I was on course to get 4.5 hours - and then I discovered a previously unknown gammy knee, just as the heavens opened and it started pouring down hailstones! A nifty interspersing of running and walking got me to the end eventually in 5 hours and 20 minutes, not bad considering it was my first time - and I wasn't quite the last straggler across the line, thank goodness.

Thank you all for your kind words of support as it really helps you to keep going when it starts getting tough!

I know the DSA will be really appreciative of all the funding that has been committed over such a short space of time and thank you again for this. The site will stay open for another month or so, so anyone else browsing is very welcome to contribute since even small amounts do go a long way. (The official charity for this marathon is the Down's Syndrome Association).

http://www.belfastcitymarathon.com/official_charity.asp

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Down's Syndrome Association will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Many thanks again for your support.

Melissa