Sounds impressive?? Well actually I came 3710th.....but on a cold yet sunny Mother's Day morning I ran the world's first 26.2km race so I am very happy. And although not in the medals as such, everyone's a winner I reckon when they have run without stopping for almost 3 hours?! The fact that my mother and daughter were at the finish line made it memorable indeed. Who needs the New York skyline when I had the Midland's finest landmarks to spur me along?

I have raised some money for Heather out in Haiti too so mission accomplished. I now have 3 medals jangling on my kitchen door to remind me of the conversion from some-time jogger to long-distance addict. Maybe the races aren't for me...because actually I am running for me and not against anyone else... but they have been fun.

Until the next copy of Runner's World throws me a new challenge, I am going to really enjoy my Friday morning runs by the River with Nix. No pressure, nice chat and a good brisk run.... and reflect on a whole new level of fitness to get me through this funny old mid-40s stage...

So I am hanging up my medals but definitely not my trainers.... and oh yes, did I read about the Marrakesh marathon somewhere? Now that sounds romantic. Note to self..check if husband is free next February.....?!

ETx

9 days to go...and the adrenalin is in flow. The Team of Six which made the resolution to run this new race (26.2km) back In January is now a Team of One!! Which gives me all the more reason to be quaking in my trainers! Yet I feel strangely prepared, although I think my body may be worried to hear me say that...

OK so usually on Mother's Day, what's the norm? Big roast lunch with my mother and my children..in some lovely country pub with a roaring fire... this Sunday 14th March I may still be running by lunchtime. And if New York is anything to go by, all I was craving by the end of the race was a bottle of chocolate milk!

So why do I put myself through it? Well this time, I am raising money for one of our ex Betties Heather who used to work in our Soho shop whilst studying for her Masters. She returned to Canada but we heard she was going to Haiti to help mend a broken community. Any money I raise I would like Heather to have.....for herself, for whatever she needs it for, either whilst she is out there, or even when she returns home. I simply couldn't do what she is doing, so huge good luck to her (she flies tomorrow).

Final few training runs coming up, and tomorrow I will again be running with my new run-mate Nix. Can't begin to say how nice it is to run with someone...so I am hoping that come Sunday week I find a friend on the course to keep me company... my mother and one of my daughters will be there in Nottingham to spur me on so Mother's Day will just have a slightly different flavour this year..... x

So the pyschic told me I should be doing more yoga? I am not sure if this is how it should work, but since I had my cards read by Mikey, I have done 4 Power Yoga sessions (with the help of our Fit4Free campaign). I am now so determined to be able to do an impressive Vinyasa flow that I have arranged some private lessons at home. I can now topple from my trees and wobble in my warriors until the core is up to it!

And here comes the irony. Or psychic phenomenon. As a runner I thought yoga was the furthest from my comfort zone. Bit too much oneness and all that. But last week we met a lovely trainer called Michelle who teaches something called Chi-running. This is a special running technique which promises injury-free enjoyment. Perfect I thought, just tell me how and I am hooked!

Well it turns out that Chi-running is about running using the principles of, yes you've guessed it? Yoga!! I tried it for the first time on Sunday morning and Michelle has definitely got something. Running whilst thinking yoga! Who'd have thought it? But with 5 weeks to go and sore knees, I'll try anything and I think Chi-running might just be my salvation.

Thanks Mikey and thanks Michelle. Of course Mikey probably knew I was going to meet Michelle.............

So I visited Mikey, the psychic, on Tuesday night this week. Trying to find out what 2010 might have in store (or out of store?!) for me.... after the first tarot card had been turned, Mikey said "You need to do Yoga, Emma!"

Well, blow me down.... a man who had only just been introduced to me gave me this advice, unaware (or maybe not?!) that every piece of literature I have read about running recently says to mix it up with Yoga.
 
So the evidence is too strong to avoid (he also said I eat too much bread. Right again!) And the very next day I joined the office yogis to do a session of power yoga. Great it was too! Will it help the running? I will let you know.
 
The best news is that our Fit4Free campaign starts next week and I am already excited at joining the free yoga classes at several of our stores. It will allow me to try out different styles of yoga in different locations and also supplement my training for the kilomathon, which I hasten to add has fallen a little by the wayside with the recent weather.
 
I'm finding it quite lonely running at the moment so am definitely going to join some Fit4Free running clubs too. What with these and the yoga classes, I should be pretty much on the road to fitness for the race in March.... I will keep you posted..
 
And as for eating too much bread.... well a girl's got to have some vices hasn't she? One step at a time, Mikey, please. Think the Yoga is enough for me to be going along with for now...

On a dancefloor last night in the wee small hours I looked around to see who was left (we had been dancing for 3 hours at this point, after a live band had played a full set). It was then that the penny dropped about this fitness business. Whilst many others had gone home exhausted when the clock struck midnight, the last few of us all had something in common beyond a love of Michael Jackson. We are all pretty fit in our own way. I counted an ex-pro sportsman (celebrating the grand age of 50, it was his party!), 3 marathon runners, a gym bunny and me (a willing and ever-improving participant). Obvious maybe, but this realisation last night made me ever determined to hit the road again this morning, even after only 5 hours sleep and a significant chill factor! Being fit makes everything seem more achievable, more enjoyable and more rewarding. My cold start soon rid me of any hangover and I enjoyed an hour of running and smiling about what a fun night we had all had. A year ago when I couldn't have run for the bus, I would have been tucked up in bed before well before the die-hards. Now I think I am one - what a difference a year makes?!

I am officially down from the high of New York. So the search for a new challenge has been uppermost in my mind, especially as I am still eating as if I were training for a long race. And I am down to three short runs a week...so something has to give!! And I would rather it's not the waistband on my new Spa pants...

Then came the offer from Yolanda to do an event together (mmm, race with a pro athlete, this sounds well and truly beyond my comfort zone?!) But knowing her training regime, it might go some way to burning those extra calories to which I am now accustomed.

Move over New York...the new challenge is Derby! Well to be precise Nottingham and Derby... a race between the two! It's the "perfect" (?!) distance and a chance for another PB (as this is the first race of its kind!) It's called a "kilomathon" and the good news is it's 26 kilometeres rather than miles. 16 miles-ish. Much better!

So the training starts in earnest after our Christmas party tomorrow night. It's got rather chilly but my new thermal running top is toasty warm and my husband rather likes it - some good taste at least!

I am rather excited...... I will look forward to letting you know how the training goes..... feet are ready to go!!

So the race is done! And the above quote from a book about marathon running best sums up the race. I won't lie - this one really pushed me to the limit! But a day to remember for sure. It took me half an hour longer than planned (yep, I totally lost the plot at 16 miles...but kept running, however slowly!) but at least I made it!

Bigger than this was the experience. Here are my top 5 moments (over and above all the lovely well-wishing texts received in the build-up):

1. Central Park (the finish!) - how beautiful, crisp, cold and sunny and the place was lined with crowds willing us to make that last gasp to get over the line.

2. Meeting the amazing fellow runners on the way round. I was privileged to run with a Marie Curie nurse for a short part of the early course. He was too fast for me but a few of his stories will stay with me...

3. The bands playing along much of the route be it Brooklyn or the Bronx....they even sing your name from time to time if they see it on your tee-shirt! They keep playing even though Paula had been and gone 3 hours earlier!!

4. At 20 miles, I realised after 4 miles of self-doubt and pain, that I was actually going to finish the race, albeit more slowly than planned!

5. The chocolate milk energy drink handed to me by my sister-in-law at the end. One of the best recommendations I have ever had - pure nectar!!!!

There were low moments (at no stage did anyone mention what a hilly course New York is!), but I have done what I set out to achieve. The woman who couldn't run a mile without stopping in January, ran 26.2 (without walking or stopping) and with all the help and support of great friends, made some small contribution to a very worthy cause.......

What's next?! Any suggestions...?

This is it..we are in New York and in just over 24 hours the race will be well under way (or at least I hope so?!) I am not sure which time zone I am in but my stomach knows that something is up. The butterflies have moved in. We have been to register and collect our bibs this morning. The sight of thousands and thousands of other runners was quite intimidating but also very encouraging....a communal sense of purpose was in the air.

The best thing about all of this is the encouragement I have received from all my friends and especially those at work. This is my secret weapon (thanks Yolanda for that extra special blog...) and along with the jelly babies and the husband it's all I need now.

I am off to get my kit ready and pin that number on my bib. Then it's carbs and more carbs!!

In my next blog I hope to have some news (good, bad or downright ugly!)

Less than 10 days to go and the RICEing (rest, ice, compression and elevation) is in full swing. My physio suggested a final long run on Saturday (which I aborted in pain after 14 miles) and then to stop running completely and rest to get my feet in order! Infact the physio said on my last visit that he hadn't witnessed anything quite like my feet in over 20 years (oh dear). However I am an eternal optimist so when he countered that with "but you have impressive calves" that was good enough for me! In 43 years I have not had such a "professional" compliment and I am ever more determined now to run in my shorts!!! I may need to dose up on something a bit stronger than Nurofen (didn't even touch the pain on Saturday) but at least the calves will be doing their thing!!! It's so close now that I am not sure whether to be excited or petrified...a little of both is fine I think for now. I am carb loading like crazy (no booze for a month now) and looking forward to the finish line and a glass of bubbly.......

Sore feet still but I think a few Nurofen tucked into my running gloves on the day (oh and thousands of New Yorkers shouting "l-o-o-k-i-n-g good" from the sidewalks - I heard this is what they do, anyway.....?!) will get me round. And the sheer enormity of the event and the small difference I might be able to make to the charity. Oh and a husband with the patience of a saint. Who has made the ultimate male sacrifice and said that yes, he will run with me (I think he said jog actually). This means he will automatically be adding an hour and a half (no less) onto his own estimated solo time. I think this is an endorsement of love. Or maybe to make sure I don't take a detour to Bergdorfs en route? Back in physio tomorrow.......... I am getting to quite enjoy the pummelling......