I've done it now..... by simonedumergue

Well, I've banged on about it for ages...."it's a life time goal to run a full marathon"......"especially before I am 40" (well OK, I'm 40 in February '09 so didn't quite scrape in there but near enough) and I don't know what the obsession is about '40' - a mile marker in the marathon of life? Hmm, that sounds cheesey but unnervingly accurate I feel.

I applied for a ballot place and no dice on that front. Couldn't believe how gutted I felt as a result, making me realise the hype ran deeper than I thought and I truly wanted to do this. I've been running on and off for years and have been building up my base fitness in the last year (and did the Bristol Half in September) so I didn't want to waste all that effort. I thought long and hard about a charity place and who I would like to run for.

Thrilled to have a Gold Bond place running for Asthma UK (my seven year old son has asthma) and now have the added goal of raising at least £1500 pounds for them.

Moved to the UK (from New Zealand) in August last year so everything is still new, but LOVING the places to go running here. I still get excited when I see a grey squirrel when I am out running - I guess my kiwi counterparts would snigger if they heard Brits getting excited about seeing a possum. 

So - hope you can join me on my journey to turning 40, running my first marathon and trying to maintain household harmony with my husband and two children whilst Mummy grows her running obsession further.

 You can donate to my cause for Asthma UK for the 2009 London Marathon below:

www.justgiving.com/simonedumergue

Cheers!