"Return with honour."

So there is one month, fourteen days, seventeen hours, and thirty something minutes to go before the start of the London marathon (or less if you're reading this later, obviously). This is a good thing if you like watching marathons, or enjoy anything presented by Steve Cram.

But it's a bad thing if you have agreed to run in it, but have yet to run any distance over 10km in the last year or so. Even worse when you've only run that a few times, and when every time you do your knee hurts so much you whine when taking the stairs for a couple of days after.

I used to run. I ran a marathon once. But that was then, this is now. Things are different. And that makes it worse - I've got no time to train, I'm badly out of shape, my knees are giving up on me, and people are saying things like "I'll double your sponsorship if you do under 4 hours".

Under 4 hours!

I did that once but that was another time. A different run. I feel like a different person almost. Now I bring little of what I had then. Then again maybe that's the point. I'm committed (they made me sign something). Marie Curie are expecting £2k from me, and they deserve that. It goes to something worthwhile, something that makes a difference when people need it most.

So it's on. I just need to find a way. Make a breakthrough. Find the sharp point. The right question to ask my body. And cross my fingers it has the answer.

For good or for ill. This is where we are - one month, fourteen days, seventeen hours, and thirty something minutes away from finding out what happens when I ask my body for more than I think it's got.

Comments

[claire]

Blimey, my thoughts are with you. My knees have gone too so no more running for me.

Do send the link on when you sort out your justgiving page.

[Paul H. Colman]

I will, Claire, thanks.