Five weeks to go by Turtlegirl

I have been terrible about contributing to this blog, better about training and fundraising.  I started a couple months back with a goal of £2,000 but have since raised it twice--don't want people NOT to donate because I've met my goal, which is now £15,000.  I'm also very pleased about the range of donations I'm receiving, from £20 to £1,000.  Afghanistan is much in the news, and I wonder if this is raising the general desire to contribute to non-military solutions to the problems that have been plaguing the people there for so long. Being alternately invaded, wrecked and ignored over decades has not done them much good.

The training is going well apart from the persistent issue with knee pain.  I stretch, go to the physio, take a day or two off, try to stick to soft surfaces and vary routines, but the pain comes back, especially when I run 10 plus miles.  If anyone can think of anything else I can do, I'd love to hear it.  I probably did my longest run last Saturday, about 16 miles, and stretching and Advil m

I've found new parts of London and New York City to explore, mainly along the Thames and the Hudson, and feel lucky to be able to train in such vibrant and varied landscapes; there's always something new to look at. My kids have helped me load new songs on to my iPod which is another help, since I tend to run alone.

Running distances has been a great stress reliever, niggling pains notwithstanding.  As a member of the so-called sandwich generation, dealing with both teenage children and older parents, I've been lately feeling like a panini.  However during my runs I drift into a zoned out timeless place, other times I come up with new ideas or solutions to problems, and I always feel better afterwards.