Hills were not made to be run up.........

Well, that's my decision after today's training!

I don't think I managed to find a 'gentle' hill, and instead ran up the hill behind my house, which I normally walk up and am puffed at the top!

On the 8th time back up even my dog looked at me and questioned her wisdom in following me at all times!

So....next week I shall find a more gentle hill and maybe enjoy it a little more!

Off road running!

Just back from my run today. Managed the whole thing without touching a road, it was probably very good for my legs, but my feet found it a lot harder than running on the road!

I ran 4.65 miles in 51 minutes - starting at Westonbirt leisure centre, round the arboretum and back again.

I found a few photos of my running route today, just so you can see that its no real hardship to run in the gorgeous location that I live!

I remember my running in Chicago, so many cars, so may houses so much noise and hard concrete pavements (sorry that's side walks to you Jill!). Here I'm lucky if I see another person, though I have to say the runners have all started appearing in the last week - maybe its that time of year! Certainly makes me feel less alone and less crazy!

Hill work tomorrow! Now to find a 'gentle' hill! I'm not sure any of the hills round here are gentle! I've never done a session on hill work, though every one of my runs involves hills, so maybe

it won't be to hard!.....I'll let you know! Till tomorrow.....

I could become the queen of fundraising ideas!

I've been trying to come up with a bit of a list of ways to raise some money for my marathon charity.

So far I have planned:

• A couple of photographic competitions for my clients
• A photograph competition for my local camera club
• A cake stall
• A wine tasting evening
• Creating a hard hitting slide show with images to go with an email asking for direct donations to my Just Giving Page.
• Getting my mum to have a cake stall or coffee morning and having a sponsor form!
• Organising some kind of activity at my son's school.
• Placing a £1 in a pot every time I run a mile during my training.
• Matching any donations made by my clients out of my business.

And yet it all still seems a bit scary!

I've been struggling to think of some way my son could get involved, and I just found these two idea that sound quite fun, that I'm sure he would love to help me with:

Welly throwing competition

Treasure maps

As it stands, I'm about 7% of the way towards my goal of £2000 on my just giving page! http://www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Bellamy2

Feel free to donate! LOL

So what does an easy run mean?

So today my training schedule said 'easy run'....now define easy! I'm sure it meant take it easy, but as I ran around on my 45 minute trip round the muddy lanes with the cold north wind blowing in my face I'm really not sure I was that impressed by the use of the term 'easy'!!!

The only thing I can say is that today's run certainly seemed easier than Monday's which must be worth looking at in a positive way!

The other positive is that I added another £4 to my tin into which I'm placing a pound a mile from each of my training runs, which I will add to my Just Giving Page each month.

Speaking of my Just Giving page - here it is. If you are enjoying my blog, I'd love you to make a donation! http://www.justgiving.com/Charlotte-Bellamy2

Bit of a lack of inspiration writing this blog this evening, so just thought I'd add a couple of pics so you can see the face behind the blog!

These were taken at the Great South Run in Portsmouth. I was so pleased to see the finish line!

Why purple?

Why the purple blog????????

Well, apart from it being one of my favourite colours.....it is the colour of The Children's Society logo.

This charity offered me a place in the marathon, which I was delighted to receive, and so is the charity I am raising money for when I run The London Marathon in April.

So why this charity?

Are you a parent?.............Do you offer your child 100% support, love and security?.....Some parents do not or can not. This is where the Children's Society comes in.

Whenever I see adverts or TV campaigns to support charities who work to help children in many disadvantaged situation it makes my heart ache. My little boy wants for nothing! He has all the love I can give him, the security of a loving family, and has every opportunity to enjoy his childhood.

Unlike your son or daughter, there are many children who's childhoods are a mix of being scared, feeling insecure and being unsure what the future holds for them.

This charity works to improve the childhood of so many young individuals. The Children's Society works with children; who through no fault of their own, find themselves in a less than ideal situation.

When I imagine children hiding from their parents through fear as a result of drugs or alcohol abuse, or having to act as an adult because their mother or father is incapable of looking after them in some way it really makes me think about how lucky I was as a child, and how lucky my son is.

The Children's Society aims to prevent, rescue and support children facing life trapped in a vicious circle of fear and harm; a vicious circle driven by violence, neglect, poverty and discrimination.

The charity supports children who feel that their only option is to become a runaway, they support young refugees to rebuild their lives in new communities, they support disabled children by ensuring they have a voice, they support children affected by drug and alcohol misuse and so many other important aspects.

Mud and rain - Yuk!

So, what can you expect when you have to train for a spring marathon in the UK! Lots of rain and lots of mud!

My poor trainers are taking a bit of a battering at the moment!

Still........ its in recognition that I still got my backside out and did my run in the rain that I am posting today!

5.7 miles in 63 minutes - its a bit slow, but its the longest run i've done since October, so its still an achievement whatever speed it was!

Looking forward to my day off tomorrow!

Need an inspirational quote to give you a reason to run?

OK, these quotes are for me to return too when I'm having a bad day....today is not one of those, so I'd like to offer them to any of my friends who are just starting out on their running or those who suggest that "only running a 10K" they are in any way achieving less than I a propose too.

I still remember my first 8K 5 years ago - I was scared stiff of not achieving the challenge I had set myself, but with the support of others and a bit of self belief I succeeded. Every extra minute that I ran was a huge achievement and I still am in awe that 5 years ago I had never run further than a few metres since high school!

Enjoy theses....and believe in yourself!

I love this one!

Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway. ~Mary Kay Ash

And because many of you have kids!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

Knock the "t" off the "can't." ~Samuel Johnson

If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves. ~Thomas Alva Edison

Have a great day!

Why am I running the marathon?

Why am I running the London marathon?.....Oh didn't you know that I have a load of time on my hands and nothing better to do? If you know me at all, you will know that is a complete lie and just writing it make me wonder where on earth I am going to find the time to keep this blog up to date in addition to everything else I am up too!

In short, running the London Marathon is an ambition I have had since I was around 7 yrs old. I saw Peter Duncan run the marathon on Blue Peter and decided there and then that one day I would follow in his footsteps. Its only taken me over 25 years to believe in myself that I might possibly achieve this ambition, but if you look at the list of ambitions in my life I have already achieved;

• Visiting New Zealand
• Galloping a horse across a deserted beach
• Travelling the world
• Finding myself a fantastic man to spend the rest of my life with.
• Become a mummy
• Love my job

Then you will realise that I am quite determined, and if I set myself up to do something I'm not planning to fail!

I applied for a ballot place in the 2011 marathon (like gold dust) and as expected I was not given an entry place. As a result I then contacted a number of Charities who work to improve the lives of neglected or disadvantaged children. To my delight - The Childrens Society offered me a place in their team, which I accepted with much delight!

I have set myself a target of £2000 to raise for this charity, and know that when I am struggling to keep going -the thought of these children that I am helping will make the sweat and tears completely worthwhile, and give me a great reason to keep running.

So here I stand today....three weeks into my serious marathon training...still so excited to be so close to this opportunity to achieve an ambition. Feeling so privileged to have been offered this opportunity by The Childrens Society and looking forward to this challenge!