104 days to go and I'm a little bit scared!!!

So as we start 2011, I thought I'd start a blog in an attempt to keep everyone up to date with my training efforts and as a record of what I am attempting to put myself through in the next 104 days! It all seems a lot more real now we have started the year that I will be doing the marathon. Up until now it has just been 'something I will be doing next year' but now it's this year and it's much more daunting!

I am just finishing week 8 of training which means that I am more than a third of the way through my training schedule. So far, touch wood, everything has gone to plan and I have completed all the runs I had planned, reaching a (massive, for me!) 7 miles on Christams Eve!! January seems to see everything go up a notch and I will be training 5 times a week, with mileage steadily increasing culminating in my longest run of 20 miles in March.

This week has been pretty tough as my legs are utterly surprised at what I am doing to them and are much more used to me having abandoned any well intentioned plan after only a few weeks, so to say my body is slightly confused is an understatement! While my running style might not be anywhere near professional, with my new Christmas gifts of all running related paraphernalia and my fancy new trainers (purchased after a somewhat embarrassing experience of being filmed on a treadmill), I at least look more like the part and am now a vision of lycra puffing and panting around North West London!

So as I attempt to motivate myself to get off the sofa and go and do a 'short' 5 mile run today, I would like to say a massive thank you to all of you, my friends and family, who are putting up with me and as I know I become even more dull banging on about this running malarkey, you are my encouragement and motivation, and wish you all a very Happy 2011, hoping that it brings you all health, happiness, laughter and good times.

And finally, a 'shout out' to the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, the work they do, the support they are giving their team of runners and just a thought as to what my Dad would think of this ridiculous idea I had some time last year!!!

xxx