beginnings

Munching on a slice of ambitiously balanced marmalade on toast at chateaux lawrence, I glanced at my dad looking at some some letters. I had grown used to the  disappointment of having nothing of bank statements being sent to me for the last 23 years and carried on with my mission of destroying my toast, as one does. "Here ya go" was all the warning I got before I saw the red A4 envelope spinning towards me


After fumbling with the packaging, I read the cover letter. I was genuinely surprised to read that line starting with "Congratulations!". It was the first ever entry Ive made for anything like this. What are the chances of getting in first time?! It was a super strange feeling have such a great/terrible marmalade covered opportunity quite literally land in my lap.


I remember thinking 'HOLY CRAP NOW IM ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THIS!?' Note please if you would reader, the question mark at the end of the last statement. The thought at the moment is very much the 'am i going to be able to do this' part of the statement - am I? please tell me


The word 'determination' is tossed around a lot today...but i think this could be the perfect opportunity to really put it to the test. How determined am I? Do i want it bad enough? Admittedly, i haven't trained at all as of yet. I think i am misguidedly relying on the fact that im comfortable with a 12 mile run as reason enough not to have started my training.


I have told myself January. January i will start running. Running i will start in January. definitely january. Its ok, you dont need to run today, you can start properly in january. Its too snowwy today; im sure there wont be snow in January. Yeah, january. Should probably by some running shoes in january - holy crap its almost january.


SO, as first post on here, Its probably worth stating here that my only intention is to finish the race without stopping. I think its fair to stop for a wee and maybe a drink, but that is the objective is to finish with little/no stops. I wonder if its going to make me cry? When tough bastards like Griff say they have only run a marathon once, and will never do so again then it makes me thinks 26 miles is a long way.


Better buy some shoes.