Here I go again!

In just under a year's time I'll be running my 13th marathon.  It's been a few years since my last one and I'd already been thinking about the possibility of doing another one when the opportunity was handed to me on a plate.

I was scrolling mindlessly on my phone when up popped the 'Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon'.  Many of you may already know his story through either being rugby fans or being impacted in some way by MND.

I didn't need to read anything else, I was doing it and that was that.  The reason I didn't need to know anything else about it, and to give you some context, is that I lost my own sister to motor neurone disease.  The opportunity to be part of a race dedicated to raising awareness and funds for MND is going to be both epic and emotional.

The bottom of my world fell out when my sister told me her diagnosis, because there is no cure; MND kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis.  I lost my sister within just 5 months and I didn't even get to say goodbye properly.  The disease took hold rapidly towards the end and, as she lived in Australia back then, despite a trip being booked to go and see her, it was too late.  

She'd written me a letter before she passed away telling me how proud she was of me and how strong and determined I was when I put my mind to something.  That letter gave me the strength to get through some very dark days indeed and do something to help other MND sufferers and their families.  Over the last 10 years I've been raising money for MND by running lots of marathons!  My last one was back in 2018 and although I've been raising money for MND over the last few years through other ways and means, I decided it was time for another challenge so when this came along, I couldn't not do it.

It takes place on 14th May 2023 and over the course of the next year I'll be documenting my journey and doing a few blogs along the way.  It's my way of staying accountable to my training and fundraising!

I'm in decent shape fitness wise but the last few years have brought along my own health issues so I'm not going to have it all my own way with this marathon and, of course, there's the tiny little matter of being older these days!!  But the thing is, my little niggles are absolutely nothing compared to what MND sufferers go through so if I have to crawl on hands and knees to finish the marathon, then so be it.

So here I go again, I've done this blog to kick everything off and provide the background story.  Although I won't be starting my training as such until much later down the line, I will certainly be laying down the foundations so I'll speak to you again in a few months' time!!

#MND

#RobBurrowLeedsMarathon

#TeamMND