Marathon Madness

In a moment of madness last year I applied for the London marathon ballot.

Well, imagine my amazement, and sheer terror, when I was accepted!

So now, training is well underway and it’s horrible…

Thus far I have fallen twice, resulting in a bleeding knee, bleeding hands and a broken phone.

Fitting training into a busy life, at this time of year, is difficult to say the least!

I’m running in the rain, running in the dark, running in the howling winds and I’ve even had to run in the snow.

Dogs get very excitable when they see a runner, and not all owners are on the ball. If a dog isn’t on a lead, it will be coming after me – friendly or not it’s still not nice.

I’m constantly feeling guilty. Anytime I’m doing something that resembles leisure, even reading a newspaper, I feel guilty because I should be running.

I feel like the running is taking over my life – I can’t even drink (OK, not doing quite so well with this!). I’m turning into someone who’s boring – and anyone who knows me knows that’s the last thing you’d call me!

I’m trying hard not to talk about it too much to others, but that’s hard when it’s kind of taken over your life! Thankfully, meeting other runners is great - they ‘get it’.

I’ve run one marathon before and was training at a time when my Dad had been given months to live. I spent my training runs processing this and thinking about what my future would look like without him in it. The memories of this heart wrenching time have come flooding back; needless to say, I’ve cried my way through a lot of these training runs.

Anyway, I’m doing it, and hoping that all this pain and suffering will not be in vain. I’m trying to raise £2,000 to support Kicking Off, a charity of which many of you know, I’m a proud Trustee. Having just returned from Ghana I have seen, firsthand, how much impact we’re having on some of the poorest communities in the world. Every penny I raise will go to fund the charity’s next project – in fact, £2,000 will be enough fund a whole football tournament, helping hundreds and hundreds of deprived children and young adults; bringing medication, education and most importantly hope and joy.

So, please, help me make the blood, sweat and tears worth it by sponsoring me on this gruelling 26.2 mile run. I have a JustGiving crowd funding Page so it’s easy. However much you can spare, please do, as every little helps!

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/carolebyrne?utm_id=2&utm_term=vGMY97G6k

Image courtesy of yodiyim at FreeDigitalPhotos.net