In just over six months I will be running the London Marathon for Demelza Hospice Care for Children and I can’t wait.
Having put my body through the mill by running the Brighton Marathon back in April, some friends and family have questioned my sanity, but it’s for a fantastic cause and I’ve got the bug for running.
Not everyone gets the chance to do something like this and having completed my first marathon at the age of 40, time is no longer on my side and I now know what punishmment your body takes running those 26.2 miles.
That’s why this time I plan to be a little better prepared. Saying that, I thought I was back in April, but what those Brighton streets showed me was that I was a long way off ready for what lay ahead.
As everyone that’s applied for a ballot place anxiously waits for an email to hit their inbox, I’m safe in the knowledge that one of Kent’s fantastic charities have already confirmed my place for 2016.
The date is set and my target is to be as ready as possible come Sunday 24th April 2016.
My preparation for the Brighton Marathon saw me take up running parkruns on a Saturday morning and some twenty or so later, I have well and truly got the bug of having my 5 kilometre fix on the weekend, so much so that I try and then replicate that most days of the week.
I’ve been tempted to join running groups, but time is always an issue and there’s something quite therapeutic about clearing all your thoughts (not that I have many) and plodding the streets on your own.
The real high you get when you have been for a good long run is really uplifting and I’m pleased do say some friends seem to have caught the bug too.
At London I will be joined on the starting line by good friend James Crouch as he runs for Asthma UK and I’m sure there will be plenty of other familiar faces there.
One person I’ve met in recent weeks that will be there is Lucy Tomlinson. Now Lucy is one serious runner and true inspiration to us all. She’ll be running Brighton one Sunday and then London the next. How that’s even possible I will never know.
I could barely move for about a week having run the Brighton Marathon, let alone contemplate running another one within the space of seven days.
Lucy is passionate about running and it comes across when chatting to her and her leadership of Run Kent – the project designed to get as many people in Kent running on a regular basis.
Having seen some friends run London last year, Brighton saw me tick one thing off my bucket list, but I still hankered for wanting to do the capital.
It’s the iconic and most famous marathon after all.
Hopefully I won’t feel like I am cheating on Brighton by having a fling with London. After all, there is every chance this will be my last running affair.
Could I become a serial marathon runner or will this be it? Only time will tell.
The thought of running down The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace is what’s driving me on and inspiring me to get out and do all of the training runs.
Jogging past The Cutty Sark, trotting over Tower Bridge, waving to the crowds as I do a bit of London sightseeing is what’s going to keep me going as I plod arounf the streets of Medway once again, especially when it gets cold, dark and bloody miserable.
The reason I am doing all of this is very simple. If you’ve ever been to the Demelza Hospice near Sittingboure, you’ll know why. If you’re a parent, you’ll know why.
I won’t go into detail, but doing a your of the hospice and seeing all the wonderful work they do is truely humbling.
This is where you all come in. I’m the one doing the marathon, but it’s down to you all to sponsor me. I’ve got a nice challenging target of £2000 to get to, but knowing how well I was supported for Brighton, I’m sure WE can get there.
Every penny, every pound, adds up. It really does.
I’ll be blogging over the coming months, keeping you all informed of my progress. In the meantime, please all have a quick look at my Just Giving Page and if you’re one of those lovely, cuddly people, bung me a quid or two!!!
Thanks awfully.
https://www.justgiving.com/Steve-Wolfe1/