I'm no runner, but the pain will be worth it

Starting in the village of Marathon and finishing in one of the world’s oldest stadiums; it is a day I’ve been working towards for months.

According to the legend, the very first marathon took place along this route.

In 490BC a huge Persian army invaded the small town of Marathon, a battle followed and the Greeks were victorious

A messenger named Pheidippides was sent to Athens to deliver the news of the victory.

The young man ran the 26 miles, delivered his message, and then dropped dead.

According to folklore, this is the inspiration for the marathon race we know today.

Nervous, excited and at times terrified, I am heading off for what is likely to be one of the toughest physical challenges I’m ever likely to face.

I’m not a runner, never have been, never will be, and don’t even like running much of the time.

However, I’ve spent most of the past six months outside of work and family, running!

There have been two strength and conditioning sessions each week too.

I should have the body of a goddess...

But running makes me hungry so I’m carrying around all the cakes, pastries and goodies I feel I deserve having run 16 miles around Portsea Island, 20 miles down the Hayling Billy trail and back to Waterlooville, or where my long runs took me each weekend.

My role at Pompey in the Community means I am privileged to work with some wonderful people and it’s for some of them that I’m running.

I want to raise funds to enable us to buy a new minibus to transport our inclusive teams to matches and tournaments.

To see some of our youngsters playing football, walking with their frames, or our amputees charging across the pitch to put in a tackle that would make any Pompey first team player proud, puts what I’m doing into perspective .

I hope this run will go some way to making the bus a real possibility.

Jane Buckle, who runs the finance department for Pompey in the Community, is running too and we’ll be in the shirts we’re wearing in the photo here.

Roll on Sunday. Despite the nerves, there’s a big part of me that can’t wait!

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