May 4th

Well got the boys off to school, Eric even remebered to take his French books. Alec was less than pleased and decided that he might have a headache and tummy ache. I asked him if he felt well enough to play DS after school. He got the hint and grabbed his reading folder... little monkey.

After work I went to the bicycle shop and purchased a helmet. Now I haven't owned one for years not because I was making any statement or trying to protect my hair... I just hadn't got round to it. I need a helmet now as I will be cycling 10 miles tomorrow with the merry band that will be cycling from Fleet to Bath. Yes I'm mad... but I'm not alone: )

I also put my name in for the London Marathon 2011 ballot... well I have to put my money where my mouth is and proove that I can run 4 hours 30... right?

May 3rd

Monday brought more of a bounce to my step. The first port of call was to start work on the Dalek. I charged Eric with making evenly sized rings from wrapping paper tubes... an ideal job for someone who is obsessed with details. Alec busily sorted out bits to make the Dalek's eye and suction cup. and together we created: )

Managed to catch up with my friend Laura and had a lovely 7 mile run round Fleet and Fleet Pond. I must say I felt more relaxed than I had felt all week when got back home. The boys and I finished off the Dalek and watched old Doctor Who episodes all afternoon. Now we just have to wait for it to dry before we spray paint it gold: )

Week Starting April 26th

Well needless to say the day after the marathon I was in a world of hurt. Stairs were not my friend as I crabbed walked to get up and bumped down the stairs on my derriere to get back down. Elegant I was not and quite frankly I didn't care... I had run and more to the point survived the London Marathon... I was an athlete... sorta. Kevin had booked me a massage for that evening and I must say it was ectasty and searing pain all mixed together: )

Tuesday my range of motion had improved slightly and I was able to hobble less pathetically up the stairs whilst chatting to the MD of my company. I say less pathetic but that is only in comparasion to the day before... it was pretty pathetic. Still I think the flip flops matched with my business attire was quite fetching; )

Wednesday Beaver Day... flip flops and far more flexibility... I was even able to walk up the stairs normally. Coming downstairs was easier too... slow... uncomfortable but no crawling. YAY!!!

Thursday I was feeling much much better and I spent the afternoon talking with the boys about running. Both boys want to do the London Mini Marathon so I have explained that they can when they are 11. I am looking into getting Eric involved with our local running club, running is a sport that Eric could do and enjoy because it is so focused. I think I will take him down in June once we have caught up on all the stuff we have put off over the last few months. I spent the evening making cheese and ricotta bites for the company mufti day I was running on the Friday. Kevin did a great job helping me wrap the Filo pastry into little samosa's.

Friday I could move normally again whch was useul as I had a lot of walking to do round the company to raise money for my NAS mufti day. The 50/50 draw went down well as did the raffle and the food that seemed to just dissapear in the hour or so round lunchtime. All told I raised £313.01 through this one event. I think this may be one of the most successful mufti days so far!!! With this and the money I have already raised the total raised is now a staggering £2000!!!!

Saturday morning was spent at the market and gathering up raffle prizes from local businessess who have pledged to help out with my fundraising campaign. The prizes will be used in a raffle at my charity BBQ that I will be holding at the Black Horse Pub in Crookham Village. We spent the afternoon at Alec's Rugby Club celebrating the end of the seson with a club BBQ and Award ceremony. Somehow I have managed to volunteer myself for the role of Child Welfare Officer for the club... not sure what this role entails exactly but if my instincts are right it may well be the most boring role in the club; ) woo hoo

Sunday RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN It rained so much that Michelle called from the Black Horse and we agreed to reschedule the BBQ for May 16th. Gutted??? You have no idea... I broke down and cried before calling friends to advise them of the change of plans. I cried not because of the BBQ per se but because I had vewed this as the final hurdle my last kick at the charity tin before hanging up my marathon shoes and taking on my next challenge. For this date to be suddenly put back two weeks was a bit of a blow. Still had to go down to the pub though as I didn't have a number for the Fleet News and Mail Photographer to advise him of the change of plans.

When we got home I turned my energy and attention to Alec's 7th Birthday Party. He has requested a Doctor Who inspired party, so what better way to do that than by building a Dalek Pinata. 2 balloons, 4 newspapers, flour, salt and water and voila we had a basic Dalek shape... just need to add the details now

April 25th - Marathon Day

Kevin gave me a 6am wakeup call so between that and my mobile going off I was wide awake. It was quite surreal waking up and realizing that Marathon Day had finally arrived. It was like being a kid again and waking up to realize it was Christmas day. Butterflies doesn't begin to describe the fuzzy feeling I felt and the knots in my stomach were so big it was difficult to eat my porridge. I managed to finish it though and had a cuppa before heading off on my great marathon adventure. Kings Cross Tube station was empty apart from a handful of runners dragging Red Virgin London Marathon kit bags. Everyone was too farking solemn for my liking so I had to pipe up and say "well this is embarrassing us all showing up here with the same bag". Well I got a few stares but managed to meet a merry bunch from Aberdeen who shared in my morning wit merry making. We chatted ideally and think we all put each other at ease as we made our way to Greenwich.

At Greenwich I was immediately taken by the scale of the thing. I caught site of the red blimp hovering above the trees with RED START written along it's sides before I reached the holding pen. The holding pen itself was something else... it was like voluntarily becoming an exhibit at the zoo complete with bars on the outside. All that was missing were the signs saying don't feed the runners. As I walked through the gate a man dressed in a full replica suit of armour clumped past me. I had to do a double take...things were starting to take on a surreal edge... was I entering bat country? I managed to get my kit bag checked in and proceeded to wander around before it started to rain. It was at this point I started kicking myself or not bringing my NAS rain poncho and stood shivering waiting for the start. I made a big mistake then and went to get a cup of tea to warm me up... this was something I would regret in within the first mile.

When I made my way to the start line I found myself surrounded people dressed as donkeys, scuba divers, fire men, Rhinos, Storm Troopers et al with the occasional celebrity thrown in. At this moment in this place we were all the same... marathon runners. To say I was nervous would be an understatement...

As the claxon sounded I shuffled - inching towards the start line with a 2 man camel costumed running duo directly behind me... they later became my nemesis. It took 23 minutes to cross the start line and this is when I began to regret the tea I had earlier. So after a 15 minute wait I rejoined the marathon with my music blaring and feeling great. The heat wasn't too bad the humidity was a bit stifling but I battled on through Greenwich past jubilant crowds in the surreal back drop of industrial units. As I ran through Deptford my preconceived ideas of the neighbourhood melted away as I was taken by the sense of community spirit. I gratefully accepted candy from strangers as I enjoyed the occasional jelly babies along the route. I was amazed how quickly time seemed to have gone as suddenly there in front of me was Tower Bridge, running across this iconic structure was unbelievable. At mile 14 I started to look out for the NAS cheering point. I knew that the cheering point would be big but I didn't realise just how big. I am not afraid to admit I was a bit disappointed that I could only see Eric and he wasn't looking in my direction. I kept on running knowing I would have a 2nd opportunity at 21 and 1/2 miles. Through Canary Wharf I got caught behind the Royal Caterpillar and my pace slowed, I tried to get past them but it was fairly congested at this point and I just couldn't get past. I became increasingly frustrated as this tangle of people started to walk for 5 minutes before running again. So what I am trying to say is I may have sworn at them a little... under my breath... I didn't have the energy to be any louder. (I would like to point out that I didn't realise who these people were at the time not that this would have made a great deal of difference... I was on a mission). I eventually managed to get past and continued to cruise on to mile 21 1/2. Sadly I again missed my cheering team at the NAS cheering point but I was uplifted by the support as Nikki from the events team yelled my name over the loud speaker. Things still ticked along fairly well till I hit 22 1/2 miles. Now I have heard about the wall before and even thought that I had experienced it in the past... I hadn't but I did then. My toes and finger tips started to tingle and my running shoes somehow had been swapped for deep sea diving boots. I kept going willing my body forward bribing it with the promise of MacDonalds Fries, Krispie Kreme donuts, massages and beer. My brain told my mind that the conditions of the contract were insufficient and it would now be terminating by bid to complete the marathon by turning off my body. My body told my brain that if we stopped that would be it we would not be going anywhere. My concious mind was negotiating and acting as mediator trying to get both to cooperate with me on the final push. 23 miles my fingers tips started to turn white and I was getting black spots in front of my eyes, I noticed the runners had thinned out significantly and what appeared to be running wounded were moving towards the finish line. 23 1/2 miles my attempt to pacify my brain and run was failing as my running became more of a shuffling. Coop another NAS runner tapped my arm... I immediately realised we were going through the same experience. Together we managed to support each other to the final 400 meters... then like a scene out of a old bad war movie he told me to go on... then I saw it the Mall... the Finish line. As I ran forward this strange hallucination of the finish line moving further away the more I ran forward. That last stretch felt like the first 20 miles in concentrate then as I finally saw reached the finish. It was at this point the ruddy 2 people camel came charging past me... bastard camel!!!!! The emotion became too much as I burst into tears I made my way through the finely oiled machine that is the VLM Finsh area team. I was handed my goodie bag, picture taken with medal, and handed my kit bag with such efficiency that I was left slightly bewildered by the experience. I don't really know how I got there but I made my way to the NAS meet and greet point where I was gratefully reunited with the guys and my good friend Claire. From then on I started babbling I think as my body went further into shock... the next thing I remember was scoffing sandwiches and drinking tea whilst wrapped in a foil blanket... well I do know how to party: )

The NAS post race reception was amazing words cannot describe how good it was to just sit and relax. Seeing and speaking to the other runners and applauding them as they came through was brilliant. I must say this was the most amazing days of my life. I hadn't done as well as I had hoped but 4 hours 50 minutes is an achievement I can be proud of... I completed the London Marathon and didn't die: )

Now the big question will I run another marathon... my body is for all intensive purposes is broken, I have big blisters on my feet and spent 6 months of my life cloistered away in the gym and running crazy distances... YES I'LL DO IT AGAIN IN A HEART BEAT!!!!

I will continue to write my blog on a weekly basis but for now I need to heal my body and sleep... so for now good night: )

April 24th - 1 Day

The day before the big day was spent together as a family running doing out usual Saturday morning shop. Because I am spending the night in London I decided to treat the boys to a magazine each. Eric immediately gravitated to the crap magazines with the crap toys attached to the outside. He couldn't choose between them though and spent ages painstakingly weighing the pros and cons of each. Alec on the otherhand other hand immediately spotted Doctor Who magazine and his mind was made up. Eric had a momentary flicker of jealousy then went back to trying to select from the array in front of him. When I pointed out that he could have the same magazine as Alec this look of relief came across his face. He immediately grabbed a copy and scampered to the counter. Eric worked really hard to make my pre marathon day relaxing he even let the barber cut his hair!!!

Alec was busy trying everything in his power to wind Eric up and make mischief. He didn't like that 'everything' was about Mum so was seeking attention... unfortunately of the negative variety. The guys dropped me off at the train station in time to head back home to watch Doctor Who while I headed into London.

Now the night before the race was spent well mostly freaking out silently. I panicked a bit when I realised I had left my Compeed callous plasters at home. I was going to head out and try to locate replacements when Kevin insisted on coming to the rescue and drive them in. So my knight in shining armour arrived at 10pm with plasters I soaked my feet and went to sleep. I couldn't get to sleep for ages tossing and turning but when I finally did it was solid.

April 23rd - 2 Days

This morning was a bit of a rush with Eric claiming that he had no school clothes to wear while his clothes from yesterday were neatly folded beside his bed... ignored. In the meantime Alec was dancing down the corridor fluffing his hair and doing everything but getting ready.

Kevin fed the boys and got them to feed and water the animals giving me time to get ready before dragging them off to school. The boys had settled down by the time it was ready to head out the door.

When I picked up the boys from school we headed to the ice cream truck and got them their first ice creams of the year. They were so lovely sitting in the garden chatting and eating: ) They weren't so lovely later on when we discovered that either one or both of them (they refused to admit or deny the facts of the case) had ripped the curtain pole down in their room. Now to set the scene, one curtain in a heap on the bed with the curtain rings strewn over the floor. The other curtain half hanging half falling from the one part of the rod that was still attached the fitting. Alec pipes up that it was an accident he was only trying to open the curtains and Eric tried to back him up. Now either Alec just doesn't realise his own strength or they are lying: ) hmmm

I have to say I am so proud of Eric today he told his teacher about the bullying and the teacher talked to the class about it. He told me that he spoke to his classmates this morning and told them that what they were saying had upset him and when they kept doing it he then spoke to Miss Hussy. He told me that he wants to sort these things out himself and that his friends helped him. This is probably one of the most mature things Eric has ever done and shows that what we have talked to him about and tried to teach him are getting in. He just not necessarily on the first time.

I was in the Fleet News and Mail again today I will scan and post the article sometime tomorrow. Stephen Lloyd, the reporter drew upon one of the most emotional Blog posts I have written so found it hard reading. However, it was good to see it in print as I hope that it will help another family know they aren't alone... there are a lot of kids on the spectrum and a lot of families who need support. That is what the money I raise will go towards. Good night

April 22nd - 3 Days

Got up this morning with a little bounce in my step. I am on the home stretch now!!!! The boys were glad to see me and gave me big hugs when I came downstairs. Eric asked if he could skip Environment club this week so he could come straight home. We had a long chat about why he didn't want to go. He told me what he told Kevin yesterday; that his teacher is reading Matilda in class and one of the characters is Eric Ink who isn't very smart. He told me that the kids in his class have been asking him to spell "what" and making derogatory comments about his name. I told him that quitting going to clubs wouldn't make things any better. We talked about having real friends who help us is important and to make friends you have to be around people. For instance going to clubs. The penny seemed to have dropped and he grabbed his backpack and gardening gloves along with his drumsticks and headed off to school.

Alec, as usual, enjoyed watching Roar and Newsround on CBBC before heading off to school. Sometimes I feel guilty about the disproportionate time I spend with the boys. Poor Alec sometimes gets left out as we deal with the latest crisis. After work I cycled to the school to pick up the boys, unfortunately my brakes were on the whole way. I tried unsticking them but to no avail. Alec was pleased to see me as I was quite late in picking him up. He was sat cross legged on a chair reading a newspaper... he is old beyond his years that one!!

We went home and Alec charged up the stairs to retrieve his DS and have "a quiet time". He continued this theme when we went to collect Eric choosing to read a book rather than engage in conversation...

Tonight Eric had another meltdown surrounding the happenings at school. I will attempt to speak to Miss Hussy quietly tomorrow as this is really bothering Eric. He told me that he wants to wreak revenge upon these kids. So we had another long chat about how this would pass and how hurting these kids would hurt him far more than them. He said he understood but I am worried about how this is affecting him. His moods swings and noises seem to be increasing when he talks about it. He went off to bed well though and spent a full hour reading his book about the Ancient Egyptians. He has decided that he wants to be an Egyptologist when he grows up.

Tonight was my last training run a quick up the high street to Sainsburys and back home again. So training is now complete roll on the final phase of carb loading and sleeping... heaven: )