Day 10 early Sunday morning 17th May

5:30am

Woke feeling a whole lot better. The cold is still hanging around and all the problems - toes, inflammed tendons, tight hamstrings etc suddenly don't matter so much. I can't believe today has finally arrived. It seems like only yesterday that I was watching last years 10 in 10 runners cross the finish line. I had a dream then to take up the challenge and be a part of the elite group of special athletes who had completed the challenge. Today I will see that dream come true. It hasn't been easy but then anything worth having is worth as much hard work as it takes. I had a plan and worked hard on seeing it through. There were inevitably ups and downs along the way - from the elation of smashing my marathon Personal Best Time by 15 minutes and actually competing in races to that terrible weekend in February when I did my back to back marathons - alone, cold, wet and finally ending up sobbing my heart out in my ice cold bath because it had been so hard. Without the support of people around me it would have been so much harder. I have had to make compromises and haven't always been there to watch my son's football/rugby games or cook their tea. However, I know they are immensly proud of what I have achieved and are looking forward to sharing the celebrations with me today. Brathay colleagues have been great. There has always been someone interested in how my training was going and to offer advice and support when I needed it. I especially valie the support of my running buddy Jill Pinkerton. I feel privileged to have had Steve Edwards as my coach and mentor who has been there for me offering words of advice and encouragement, sharing my successes and helping to pick me up when times were not so good. The fact that he always believed I could achieve this dream helped my to believe in myself.
Shelagh has been my 'rock' throughout. She has shared this dream with me. Providing whatever support I have needed - jelly beans en-route, showing interest in my success, working hard on my fundraising, giving hugs and a shoulder to cry on when things didn't always work out.
I cannot put into words how supportive and encouraging Mac has been. He has always believed I could see this challenge through and has been there for me every minute of every day. Our love has grown stronger as we have shared what has been a fantastic experience together