40th birthday running challenge

From the FLM in 2005, my running went from strength to strength and in October 2006 managed to chop 38 minutes of my marathon time, comfortably crossing the line in 3:40:37. The Challenge 40 story begins after running the London Marathon for the second time in 2007. It was a swelteringly hot day and a fair number of runners suffered terribly from the heat. However, I appeared to be one of the luckier ones and though not a PB managed a commendable 3:45 with no real problems, or so I thought. After the euphoria and sheer pleasure started to fade I looked at all the running I had achieved since that first 13 minute run and wondered whether there was more I could do with it.

I quickly ruled out 7 marathons, 7 days, 7 continents idea, it had already been done, but I did want to do something that would both challenge me and raise money for charity. I looked at my age and realising I was going to be 40 soon started to germinate this idea that I could combine this with a mad running attempt. So from this small seed grew the idea of doing 40 races before I was 40. Initially I wanted to run 40 marathons, however the time had I left and the number of marathons available to run, specifically in the UK, meant that this was not feasible. So Challenge 40 was born; 40 marathons/half-marathons before I am 40 to raise £40,000 (seemed like a nice round figure) for Childline/NSPCC.

The first person I told was, of course, my husband. I had to have his support and help (someone had to look after the girls) otherwise I was never going to achieve my goal. Luckily, he fully supported the challenge, thought I was mad, but still supported me. I decided to start the challenge with the 2007 FLM and so had given myself 28 months to run 40 races. Why had I decided to do this challenge? Well I think the NSPCC goal says it all: “We want to see asociety where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfill theirpotential” and if I can achieve this for just one child then it would make Challenge 40 all worthwhile.

Now with the idea in my head and the bit firmly between my teeth, my excitement and enthusiasm for the project knew no bounds. I searched the internet for races, opened my Excel spreadsheet and started planning. I booked up races until August 2007 and had everything set in place for race options up to the end of the year. Then disaster struck. After running the FLM 2007 I had managed to pick up a niggly injury in my left leg. Days stretched into weeks and eventually, after an MRI, I was diagnosed with a severe to critical stress fracture in my lower left tibia, was immediately put on crutches and was unable to run for 3 months. It was a blow, not only to me personally but also to Challenge 40. How was I going to complete it now. I had little choice but to listen to doctors and my phsyio and to not run and to get better. It was a slow and painful process, but after 6 weeks on crutches, I started to walk again, then cross train, cycle and eventually started running.

On the 2nd December 2007, 6 months after my last race, I stepped up to the line for the Larking Gowen City of Norwich Half Marathon. I think this was the most nerve racking race of my life. I knew I could run the distance, I had done it during training, but would all my hard work and patience over the last 6 months pay off or would I be back where I started. I did complete the half marathon, in 1:52:31 and meant that not only was I back running again, but Challenge 40 was still achievable. The story continues with Challenge 40 and my attempt to get back to full fitness and achieve those elusive PBs.

To find out more please go to www.challenge40.co.uk or www.justgiving.com/challenge40donations.