Can't say I was ever one for running (or exercise at all) for the first 39 years of my life. But with the prospect of hitting 40 in 2021 at 16 stone and not being able to move 400m without stopping to catch my breath (and a pandemic that removed the "I don't have time" excuse) had me out pretty much every day to both to clear my head and improve my fitness, as well as keep up with my very active six year old daughter.

400m became 1k, which developed to a 5k and then 10k until I went for my first half marathon in August 2022.

For 2023, I set myself a target of a 5k, 10k or half marathon every month and started to wonder if I could take on a full marathon (not that I ever finished the half marathon with the thought of "Oh, if only I could do the whole thing again")

Am part excited, part terrified now I've committed to this. I like the idea of the challenge and at 43 building up to something I never thought I'd be able to do and what I've heard about how the crowd gets you through it, but I've also never put myself through anything as gruelling physically or mentally (I'm a bit of a wimp on both counts) so there is a nagging feeling that I won't be able to do it. So a little extra motivation of raising a money to support a very worthwhile cause, and hoping will push me harder and remind me it'll be worth it that little bit more at the end. Will be adding further updates here (as well as on Insta, alongside my now 10 year old daughter: https://www.instagram.com/the_family_cullen_/)

The reason for fundraising to support the Alzheimers society, is that being able to add to the overall Football Association target of £100,000 feels like could make a genuine difference to the lack of funding available for the nearly one million people currently affected to find a cure.

I'm lucky enough to have many great memories with my family and from working at The FA and spend a great deal of my time reminiscing, laughing and sharing memories and experiences with people. The thought of not being able to that and the impact on those closest to me hits pretty deep, so worth raising as much as I can for not only a cure but vital support services and research into the early diagnosis of dementia.

Thanks for your donation and wish me luck :-)