And so it begins
17/02/08

I must be mad! Infact I've been christened a Nutjob by my sister so I'm known within the family as NJ now. Am I mad? Many who know me would probably say yes, but there is a very good reason for this madness.

There are many people out there with a neurological condition which prevents them from leading what many of us would term a 'normal life.' To meet some of those peopIe is to realise not that we are the lucky ones, but that they know what life is all about. If you've never been in a position where you have had a real struggle, you've never had to look into your own soul.

I firmly believe anyone can run a marathon. The main part of any challenge is to be mentally right, mentally strong. That is why I tell people it is all in their heads. If you believe that you can do it, you will. When you have to dig deep it is amazing what a human being can do.

Michael Watson, the boxer who suffered a serious brain injury in the early 1990's and who walked the London Marathon in six days in 2003 for the Brain and Spine Foundation, is one of my inspirations for this challenge, a man of great stature and courage. My second inspiration is the photo of me in hospital when I was 12 (see the My Story page). Whenever I have to dig deep, and I've had to as my training has gone on over the last few months, that photo is etched on my mind. Everyone needs something to inspire them.

So this week has seen me back on the treatment table again (those who know me well know that I have been through quite a lot of injuries recently), and Gisella has worked her miracles again on an injury to my right adductor. I've been given a new programme by Darren, one of the personal trainers at The Esporta Warwickshire, which will hopefully help to prevent me suffering from so many injuries as I train. Darren has been a great help and I understand a bit more about why I have been getting these injuries now.

it has meant that today I was able to complete 8.7 miles comfortably. I ran for the first time with a new piece of kit, a Camelbak, which is essentially a backpack which holds water in a pouch with a tube which you suck through. It means that you can keep hydrated when on long runs and it definitely made a difference to today's run, I felt quite fresh when I finished, as I was better hydrated throughout the run.

I ran on Thursday with the running club from the Esporta and then Naemi, one of my running partners, asked if we could do some hill running so we got a couple of hill sprints in as well. My legs reacted well to that so I was pleased. We've both signed up to do the Silverstone half marathon on 9th March so I am starting to look forward to that, the first big event of the year.

This week I plan to go back to some hill sprints to help improve my stamina. My new gym programme starts this week and whilst balance has never been a strong point with me, hopefully it will improve over the next few weeks. Time will tell.