Cripes that is not long at all, really.

IN running news, I've been remiss but haven't told you about what I got up to on Easter Weekend!  After Stop and Search Bunny I headed to Weymouth for a weekend with the in-laws. Resting and generally being well-fed on the Friday and Saturday, I did think about doing my last long run (20 miles) but Saturday it was sunny but blowing a Force 7 gale. I decided to chance my arm on Sunday being better. Needing a good 3 hours to complete this, and recognising that we were driving back Sunday evening, I set my alarm early, easter-eggs or no easter-eggs and left the house at 7am to an overcast but less windy start.

The route I took was basically from Weymouth to Portland Bill and back. Here's the plan: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ ?r=1721904. Lovely. Except Portland Bill is a tall peninsula with a v steep climb. Basically I couldn't even walk this when I got there so I crawled up to the Portland Heights Hotel (where I stayed on my honeymoon night!) looking onto the Fabulous Chesil Beach. Its a Tombolo you know!! Anyway on round the island where you'd be a fool to say the "B" word (rhymes with money) because these little critters when seen usually are the precursor to a collapsing Portland Stone mine. So needless to say I was NOT dressed as one!!  After about 8 miles it started to rain. Glorious. And it didn't stop. And the wind whipped up. By 8:30am I was at Portland Bill Lighthouse where my official motivator and provider of sustenance, Z, brought Lucozade. After leaving me on the cold, damp island I continued on and before you knew it, 20 miles were up. No physical pain, just a bit of endurance returning on the "spit" to Weymouth (about 2 miles) where I was subjected to Force 5 wind bringing rain at about 45 degrees. Lovely. Spent the rest of the day snoozing and recovering on chocolates.

This weekend I did Paddock Wood - the weather was overcast and rained at first, then brightened up in the last 20 mins of the race to reveal a nice sunny spring mid-morning. I completed in 1:49, which again is not my best time but the fastest for the year. And it was a comfortable finish, building on all the hard work done so far.

I am now in TAPERING mode - which means there are no significant runs left. I have a short run tonight with the running club, a short 5-8 miles on Thursday, similar on Sunday, then it really quietens down in the final week. I'm going to the Marathon EXPO next Wednesday to collect my race number and be tempted by lots of running goodies - hurrah!

And on the Fundraising side I'm delighted to have raised over £1000 so far, making me the second most prominent Marathon fundraiser for PDSA. Clearly I'd like to be number 1 so if your'e reading this and haven't sponsored me, then please get to that Justgiving site!  And if you don't support this particular charity, show me that you care by supporting one of my friends in their parallel running efforts - see their links here: http://www.orprunners.com/fundraising.html - in particular Paula, Lauren and Emma's stories put mine into perspective!!

Finally, let me know if you're planning to support me on the day, and whereabouts I need to look out for you!! It would be useful if you'd dress up as a bunny to help me see you - come on, why not?!? ;-)

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