Time Waits for No Man

I can scarcely believe that it is less than 7 weeks till the marathon now. In some ways, I wish it were not so soon, but in another, I would just like to get there and do it. Every time I think about the prospect of lining up on the start line, I get a little surge of adrenaline.

There have been some recent encouragements, though. Last week, we started to get a bit more proactive in promoting it amongst DPM supporters and other personal friends and over the weekend, we had another £883 come in which is wonderful. Please think about how you can support this cause and if there is anyone else you think may also be able and willing to give. We are now up to around £3,000 which is great - only £7,000 to go!

The other encouragement was that I managed to stretch my running distance to 19 miles on Saturday. It was much further than I had planned, but I was aiming to do a circular route around the Letchworth Greenway (13.6 miles) and felt I still had a bit more in me about 3 miles from the end of that, so I added another 5.5 mile loop at the end.

After that, I was well spent, but very much encouraged that it looks like I will be able to make it round the full marathon course. I had a couple of minor blisters which have basically disappeared now and a bit of chaffing too, but nothing serious.

Perhaps I can offer some of you encouragement too. As I have mentioned to friends and folk at church, so many people have said that they would love to run a marathon or just to get fit, but have never done it. Well, 20 years ago, I would have been one of the most unlikely people to ever run a marathon. When I was very young, I was always last in every race and when I moved schools, I was sometimes second last, but it didn't change for many years.

I started running properly through the encouragement of an uncle when I was about 12 who used to take me out in the mornings with him and his dog (haggis - the border collie). On and off through the years, I have often been encouraged through his example to persevere and actually the combined discipline of being a parent and having a goal (the marathon) are what have pushed me well out of my comfort zone to hopefully complete a marathon.

As I looked around the lecture theatre when I went to the London Marathon briefing some weeks ago, I was met with very ordinary people who simply wanted to make a difference for those in need through their hard work and endurance rather than (necessarily) their natural gifting.

So, be encouraged! Not necessarily to run a marathon, but to do something that takes you beyond what you can currently do. To learn new skills, to get fit enough to run a 5K race, to do a hike, to do a long cycle ride. For the most part, it simply takes a little bit of aptitude and a lot of dedication, hard word and endurance. If you need help, find a friend who shares the vision and never be put off by what other people may think about it. If possible, make it so that someone else benefits from your endeavours too.

Time doesn't wait for us to catch up when we've been slacking.

Thanks very much for your encouragements and please keep praying against injury, that I would be able to raise the money and run a good race.