The Pledge

Well, it's so cold outside I saw a brass monkey hopping past me in the street, in floods of tears. It's January 16th, it's a Wednesday, it's a night that sees me sat on my hotel room bed - no running this evening -  with 'Iron Man' on the TV (starting to know the script of that movie); nevertheless, it is a very special day. Wait......no.....I will see my very special day and raise me a very VERY special day!

The countdown has now, officially begun; 95 days to go to the London Marathon.

There will be a lot to do and say between now and 21st April; finalising my payment for the Great North run, launching sponsorship for London, blogposts on the power of words, as well as my philosophies on life, happiness, love and death, the new job, moving house (maybe!), not to mention the usual waffle about things that pop into my head (watch out for those, Adrian head poppage thoughts are not to be trifled with). There's the continuing adventure of getting fit and eating well; oh, and in case you had forgotten, there is the small matter of training my backside off for what will be - I don't think I exaggerate - the race of my life. It is sure to be a wild and emotional ride, one which I am confident will end in personal victory, but.....this is real life; there are no guarantees here. You know those movies where after the first five minutes you will know the entire plot, including the ending? This is not one of those movies!!

I recognise that I have not always been the most religious of bloggers over the last eighteen months; and in particular the last three. I have gone long periods without giving you lovely people any updates. Although not possessing a readership of millions, it is a commitment which I take seriously. So here is what I'm going to do; here is my pledge to you my loyal friends.

For the next 95 days, every day without fail, all the way up to the morning of the London Marathon, I will post. It may not always be particularly verbose, it may at times consist of only a few words (is that classed as a tweet? whatever that is!!); such as possibly 'I'm knackered' (after all this, I probably won't say it, but just take it as read that I am; especially after the long Sunday run!) but I promise, you will hear from me.

I am very very nervous. Nervous about getting my weight down to a level that is not going to wreck my legs if I run 26 miles, nervous about getting my fitness up to a level that is not going to wreck my chances of finishing the race, nervous of an injury wrecking my chances of starting the race. 95 days is both a long and frighteningly short time. Thinking of it as a quarter of a year puts it on the distant horizon, thinking of when I began this journey back in June 2011 it feels like the homeward stretch. Focus, focus, focus; control what I am doing now, don't be seduced by the future, and in the best traditions of 'Dad's Army'....don't panic!!!!

Come join me........