So near and yet so far…

Sat in a London hotel counting down the hours to the big one!

My training started too late (although I seem to have been pounding the streets forever) and I am more than a little nervous.

Going for a quick jog isn’t going to help now, unless it’s to the minibar, so all I can do is hope.

Adrenaline and the fantastic crowds make a huge difference so I hope to have finished by nightfall.

The other big fillip comes every time I am notified that someone has sponsored me.

The more the RNIB stand to receive the more determined I am to make the full 26.2.

But whether you give generously or not I can promise I won’t come chasing after you!

Indulge my folly!

Four weeks to go and currently I am approximately 24 miles behind schedule!

But apart from my age, weight, lack of preparation, and all round jellyness there is no reason why I can’t run 26 miles come April 26th.

The marathon itself is one of the most enjoyable experiences you can have, the training is one of the worst, and I guess that is why I have put it off for months.

Running a couple of miles doesn’t take too long, and the boredom levels are easily overcome but a marathon (for me at least) involves four and a half hours of constant and painful running.

You might imagine that you could use all that time creatively, to invent time travel or a cure for the common cold, but in fact the only thought that goes through your brain is ‘when will I be home’.

Trying to run the marathon after just six weeks is sheer folly and I deserve all the pain I get but please please make it worthwhile. Click on the text under my ‘Sponsor me’ button and make a big donation to the RNIB.

Paige has her say…

As I am running the Marathon on Sunday to raise money for the RNIB I thought my five year old daughter Paige, who has been blind from birth, should be allowed her say.

Actually Paige always has her say whether you want her to or not!

Over to Paige:

On the fundraising: “The money is to buy extra Braille books for children and extra help for blind adults and children. My favourite books are Rainbow Magic but I don’t want them in Braille because then I would have to read them and I don’t want to, I want Mummy to read them.”

On the Marathon: “I think the marathon is 26 miles which is in the north of England. I think the marathon is cool and I’m going to watch you on Sunday. I’m going to save my loudest voice for Sunday but I’m only going to shout for people called Daddy.”

On all the spectators: “I like pushing my way through a perilous crowd. I’m just going to go barge, barge barge.”

On her contribution to this post: She wrote: “fjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjjfjjjffghjkdqbv1234567890.”

On what she would like YOU to do: “Pay all your money you have in the world to the RNIB. Everyone should give £120.”

Over to you…

But what are you saying with flowers…

This is Paige, my five year old daughter. Paige has been blind since birth and is the reason I am running the London Marathon to raise funds for the RNIB.

Paige is not only blind but deaf in one ear but she more than compensates for her disabilities with a double dose of chutzpah, charm and cheek.

Paige is also the master of the bon mots. Today, Valentine’s Day she asked me: Why do people give each other flowers? They just die and smell of sick!’ (I presume she meant the flowers not the people).

I will be using that excuse later today when I explain why I forgot to buy the roses again this year.

But Paige and thousands like her need support not only in their childhood but through their adult years and that is where the RNIB and other similar organisations play an invaluable role.

I hope to raise £2,000 in sponsorship by running the London Marathon. If you would like to make a donation please just click on the text under the ‘Sponsor me’ tab on the right and go silly with your credit card. Thanks.