Well I did it, enjoyed it and finished in 4.15 - all of which made me very happy!!!   It was a fantastic experience and worth all the difficult training and to raise this staggering amount of money is just mind blowing. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me, you have all been so generous and kind.

Special thanks to Bruce and my lovely family for all the amazing support over the last few months.

Thank you so much for visiting my fundraising page.

I am planning to run the 2009 London Marathon which will be a huge  challenge for me.   Prior to training, my running experience was very limited, ranging from fell running when I was 8 and encouraged by my parents to run up and down hills in Yorkshire (!) to the odd jog on Wimbledon Common with a gap of 26 years of nothing much.  This makes the prospect of running the marathon very daunting but exciting. 

The reason for this marathon madness is to raise money for the MS Society which has become a cause very close to my heart.  My gorgeous sister Tanya was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)  last year and I felt that I simply had to do something to support this fantastic charity. 

My training is going well but it is getting harder and harder. I have done a 10K and Brighton Half Marathon which were great but now the long runs and the recovery are taking their toll.These are my reflections so far and the lessons I have learnt.....

26.2 miles is a really, really long way 

Training for a marathon takes a lot of time and could take over your life if you didn't have a million other things to do!

Running is great up to about 15 miles but then my knees and feet aren't too keen.

Carbohydrates, mileage and pace are all utterly fascinating (ask Bruce he has to listen to me obsessing about them!)

I have a new found respect and admiration for anyone who has trained and run a marathon - it is punishing!

I am aware that this is not the best time to be asking for donations but I would be so, so, grateful for your donation as every penny really does count - thank you, thank you, thank you!  

Shamira x

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