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After four months of training, I decided that not even a storm would stop me doing the South Run, so I woke early and had my nutritious breakfast as advised. My partner, Dec, decided he would come with me, despite the rain, and wore one of the Charity t-shirts that had kindly donated, seeing as my mum and nan had decided to stay in the warm at home (really don't blame them!)

I got down to the starting point nice and early, and the rain started getting heavier. There were still over 17,000 runners there, so it was pretty busy. At 10.15 we had a mass warm up, which was amazing, 17,000 people all doing the same thing, again despite the rain. Even the trainer who was leading us took off his warm tracksuit to join us poor runners.

Then at 10.30, the race began,

David James, the goalkeeper for Portsmouth Football Club, started us all off, and the rain poured!! The first 2 miles were quite hard going, especially seeing as I hadn’t trained in the rain at all. I got to mile 3 and really felt my legs moaning a little - I think I started off too quickly, seeing as so many runners were overtaking me, I felt a little intimidated by so many people.

I slowed up a little, turned the corner and in front of me was a lady with artificial legs, walking between two helpers. If that wasn't enough to spur me on, then nothing was! If she could attempt the 10 miles with no legs, then my aching legs was not going to hold me back!

The bands were playing, the spectators were cheering and finally each mile I reached and went through. At mile 8 I had to turn onto the Southsea Sea Front, and Oh My God is all I can say!

The wind and rain was so bad, the rain hurt my face. So many runners were stopping and walking as it was nearly impossible to keep going. Fortunately for me, I am a stubborn woman and would not let me legs stop running. At one point I thought I had died and gone to hell, but I knew I hadn’t as I looked down and my legs were still moving!

I finally reached 9 miles; 800 metres; 600 metres; 400 metres; at 200 metres Dec was there cheering me on, who looked wetter and colder than me!! I finally crossed the finish lined after 1 hour and 37 minutes of what seemed like pure hell at times - and so proud of myself, having never run that far before.

I achieved what I set out to do - run the 10 miles, and at the same time raised over £100 for Understanding Differences. I might have been aching, wet, cold and completely shattered,

but I had done it!!!!

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