A few weeks ago I was on a course for work. The very same week I found out I had been successful in my application for a charity place for the London Marathon 2016. Those on the course laughed along with me at my sheer terror and obvious lack of any real running skills (after they witnessed me run for a bus and miss)!
The following Saturday night I celebrated my birthday with friends. There was much booze, too much (although a few friends who will remain nameless I am sure would disagree – can there ever be too much booze?). The Marathon obviously came up as a topic of conversation, as did my lack of fitness and ability to run, all this made slightly easier by pouring yet more wine.
Sunday was obviously not a running day. So here I am, 6.32am stuck in traffic on the way to work left with the feeling of impending doom and variations of "what were you thinking" thrashing around in my head.
So today, this day, is my plan to plan day. It is, I think, the only way to overcome the fear. The fear that very quickly replaced the "hey, I've been through labour, how hard can it be!?" stage and "after all I did complete the Shine walk three years ago".
After a tricky couple of years and a lot of juggling, which close friends and family will recollect, 2015 is turning out to be rather good. The success of 2016 remains to be seen, but one thing is certain, I will be completing the marathon, whether running, walking or on all fours.
So now is probably the time to exit the "plan to plan running" stage and actually run (and then perhaps reward myself with wine and a sit on the sofa)!
Olivia (also known as Libby) will be running to raise funds for Children in Crisis. You can support her efforts by donating to the charity at Virgin Money Giving.