Fame at last.... *gulp*!

So tonight my mobile rings whilst I'm at work and it's my grandparents, both talking at the same time down the phone as usual, but I managed to decipher that they were trying to tell me that the local paper has published the article about me running the marathon for the Main Project (click here to see it!). So I frantically searched the online paper and then nearly drowned in a wave of cringing as I see my face grinning inanely back at me. Fortunately the 'close up' shot that was in the printed edition of the paper has been left out of the online article so thankfully that won't be hanging around in cyberspace to haunt me for the rest of my life! I'm pleased at the publicity it's generated for the charity and the money I'm trying to raise, but it's taught me a valuable lesson in checking what your hair looks like when you're running and not just when you're standing still! You'll have to have a look now to see what I mean haha! The night only got stranger when I got home and looked on Facebook, only to find that several of the local community groups had already spotted the story and broadcast it to all their members! Might have to start wearing a disguise when I go out running now!

Piling on the pressure

Just back from a lovely morning run - a surprisingly enjoyable 6 miler, returning along the beach. It was a perfect morning for running - not too cold or windy, the sun shining and clear skies, and the run itself was actually quite enjoyable! I have to confess, I don't often find running enjoyable. I usually find it really hard work, sometimes quite boring - especially if I'm running on my own, and I just don't really like it that much. You're probably wondering why the hell I do it then - I often ask myself the same thing! I suppose it's partly because it's free (apart from my addiction to buying new kit!), and it keeps me fit, stopping me getting too fat, but then there's days like today, days when I love being outside and making the most of the beautiful area we live in, days when I don't feel like every single step is a huge effort, days when it's actually nice, possibly even fun, to be running. Days like today keep me going and renew my enthusiasm for running - and I wasn't expecting one of those mid-January! 


I did wimp out of trying my new trainers again though and reverted back to my old faithfuls for fear of more blisters, but also partly because I didn't want to get my pretty new ones covered in sand :D 


Anyway, more importantly, I've decided to run the marathon to raise money for the Main Project - so definitely no going back now (as if I could even if I wanted to!) as I have a charity to support and sponsors to motivate me! If you haven't heard of the MAIN Project before, it's a local charity in the Teesside area supporting children and families of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As a psychologist working with lots of children and young people with ASD, I know that the families I work with find the support offered by the MAIN Project invaluable but without continued financial support, the charity is in danger of having to cut some of the brilliant services they offer to young people and their families. So..... any sponsors would be greatly received by both me and the young people and families who access the Main Project - if you would like to sponsor me you can do so at my just giving page (click this link!) 


Thank you :)