So here we go again. Another event signed up for, but this one is a biggun and it is VERY special to me.

I have been selected for a charity place for the London Marathon in October and I will be running for the wonderful Daisy’s Dream.

Daisy’s Dream specialise in supporting children through bereavement. I was asked to run for them by a lovely friend of mine called Michelle. Daisy’s Dream supported her son through some tough times after Michelle’s husband took his own life when her son was only small.

Michelle has been a long time supporter of Daisy’s Dream, and when they asked her if she knew anybody who might want to run the London Marathon and raise some money for the charity, I was delighted when Michelle thought of me.

Running London has been a dream of mine ever since I started all this running mullarkey about 9 years ago (at the ripe old age of 34)! The chances of getting a ballot place are now very slim (even though I have tried every year) so the opportunity to take on a rare charity spot for such a great charity is one I am truly honoured to have.

I will post more about Michelle’s story and the charity themselves as my training increases towards the race on the 2nd October this year. There is plenty of time for that. I know what you are really wanting to know about dear reader, and that is “what sort of condition are you in to even run a marathon Snooky?”

Well, as you asked, let me summarise my current level of fitness and general health below.

1. I am currently 20kg heavier than I have ever been when attempting a race like this.
2. My right knee is not in good condition. This is caused by my right leg being a lot weaker than my left for no obvious reason.
3. I had about 2 months off of any exercise over Christmas due to a back spasm caused by playing golf!
4. I can’t really run more than about 5km, and even if I do run 5km it is slower than I have ever been.
5. At the time of writing this, I am positive with Covid-19

Reading the above, you may well think to yourself that I have no right to be doing anything other than just sitting on the sofa and smashing out the Netflix documentaries. And you would probably be right. But there are a few things that you have probably not considered in all this. A few things that I should make you aware of so we can all start my new blogging journey off on the right foot.

1. I can and will lose the 20kg extra that I am carrying before I run London (see Project 80).
2. This right knee problem can be fixed. Losing the weight will massively help, plus I can work on strength and mobility to help with this.
3. The problematic back can be kept in check with Yoga and mobility work and perhaps playing less golf (though this last one is never going to happen)
4. 5km is pretty good for somebody who doesn’t run much any more. Plus, I will get quicker and my endurance will improve with trianing
5. Covid will be gone soon.

The final thing to consider in all of this, and probably the most important one, is that my motivation to complete this race and raise money for Daisy’s Dream could not possibly be higher. With the right level of motivation, anything is possible.

I will be throwing absolutely everything into my training to get my body and mind into the best shape possible before the race in October.

It has been a long while since I have regularly blogged, so am committed to keeping this up to date once or twice a week right up to the race and beyond.

I do have some much bigger endurance racing goals for 2023 and beyond, but for the time being lets focus on the task in hand and get ready for London Marathon 2022.

Hope you are all safe and well out there in the world and managing to dodge Covid as best you can. Take care all and speak soon.

TTFN

Snooky