8 weeks to go...

I woke up this morning and realised I can now officially say i'm running the London Marathon next month! It's a weird feeling that 8 weeks today I will be waking up (hopefully!!) having completed the thing I have put my heart and sole into for what will be the last 4 months...

I was up at 6 today for a 70 minute run and I arrived home, spotting this on the drive -



My inspiration comes in many shapes and forms.

This little flower evoked a number a thoughts  (sometimes my runs make me a little emotional!)

Firstly it seemed to capture the journey that I and all the London Marathoners have embarked on, constantly pushing the boundaries in order to reach our full potential and in particular those that are running for a Charity. The flower, like us, kept going even through tough times (I mean, who wants to grow though stones!) to reach its potential by constantly moving forwards (told you I get emotional). The donations received by all Charities make such a difference to almost everyone of us out there and I have so much respect for everyone going out of their way to do something for the better of others.

Secondly (less emotional, I promise), it signified that Spring is nearly here which means training in the dark and sub zero temperatures are coming to and end. Not that I haven't enjoyed the breathtaking sunrises that only a freezing, clear morning can provide, I wont miss waking up in the dark.

Fitness wise, I've never felt better. My 22.5 mile run on Saturday showed how much consistency pays off and the improvement you can make in just a couple of weeks. I'm excited to see what can be achieved in the next 8 weeks. My plan is very much to keep going with my regime and not introducing anything that could compromise my training or race day.

I'm sure i'm not alone in thinking like this so I wanted to use my post this morning to wish everyone training for London good luck, especially my ABF The Soldiers Charity team mates! All this hard work is so close to paying off so keep training, keep pushing and keep the faith - we're nearly there :)

Making it count

I have so far managed to neglect to mention one of my main motivations for running 26.2 miles in April - Charity! I was lucky enough to get a Ballot place for London however I have chosen to run as part of ABF The Soldiers Charity team in order to fundraise for this amazing cause.



Meet my Mascot - Zeus! Lifting him is becoming a
workout in itself!

From previous experience, when the going gets tough it's a huge motivation to me to know that people have got behind me by supporting my chosen Charity and is inspiration I need to dig deep and keep pushing.

Here's more on this wonderful charity from themeselves - ABF The Soldiers’ Charity are for soldiers, for life. We provide financial assistance to all soldiers and their families when in need. Even when a soldier leaves the Army they are still part of our family and eligible for our help. The scope of our work is huge. Half of our money is given direct to individuals to help in areas such as debt relief, mobility assistance, education bursaries, carehome fees and respite breaks. The other half is given as grants to other charities.

Your money can make a huge difference to those that dedicate their lives to keeping us safe so this is a great opportunity to give back to them. If you would like to make a contribution, then simply click here

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that has donated so far, it really does mean so much to me.

This weekend I am running the Brighton Half Marathon, the first of two training races in preparation for the big day. This will be my first Half of the year and i'm really hoping to get a PB following all the miles I've been putting in - wish me luck!