Day 19 9th October (195 days to go)

Weighed myself 12st 9lb, I've lost 7lbs in 19 days and feel better for it. Only had half bottle of wine in two weeks that must be a record for me.

Day 18 8th Oct (196 days to go)

Get 300m down the road and realise I haven't had a drink for about 3 hours or more, I start thinking will I get dehydrated. The run goes ok except I do feel a lot weaker than the last run and actually slow to a walk for about 200m. Must remember to have regular drinks prior to the run.

Day 16 5th October 2009 (197 days to go)

Haven't run for a week so I am a little concerned about how far I can go. After 500m I am stopped by two teenage girls. They are German students who have been dropped off by the coach and the host family hasn't turned up, they have only been in England for one day and don't know where the hell they are. I then offered to walk them to their road. So I am now going in the other direction half a mile from my starting point. Because of my detour and feeling quite strong I am able to run for about 3 miles which I am very pleased with considering the weeks break.

Day 10 - Day 15 - 29th Sept - 4th Oct 2009 (203 - 198 days to go)

I have a cold and feel crap, I have read the advice and they say don't train if you are feeling under the weather.  I am already ahead of schedule so I don't feel guilty. I should be alright tomorrow (Monday 5th Oct)

Day 9 - 28th Sept 2009 (204 days to go)

A setback in the training, I've woken up this morning with a sore throat and feeling generally yuk. I don't feel like running today, I am very disappointed

Day 8 - 27th Sept 2009 (205 days to go)

Rest day today, but I thought I'd play golf as I haven't played this year and I've got all this energy from somewhere. I played at Waterhall, I 'd forgotten how hilly it is there. It's 25 years ago since I last played there and it really was quite a struggle to get round. I was so tired towards the end I could hardly walk the hill up to the 17th Tee. Anyway I shot a 93 which was pretty good considering I had a 12 on the 3rd hole. I felt the round was good for my stamina and building up my strength.

Day 7 - 26th Sept 2009 (206 days to go)

Ran to the Red Lion and back (2.3 miles in total) and didn't stop for a pint. Felt like stopping 500 metres from home, I began to slow down and then told myself to keep going, quite impressed really . No reaction from the hip.

End of the first week. Quite good progress but weather has been brilliant, what will be my attitude when its lasing down with rain and its freezing. I ll cross that bridge when I come to it. 

Day 6 - 25th Sept 2009 (207 days to go)

Left hip quite sore glad its a rest day.

Day 5 - 24th Sept 2009 (208 days to go)

I've lost 3 lbs. Ran 400 x 9 and ran all the way back without stopping. Even put a little sprint in at the end. So well over 2 miles now. Noticed my left side is a litle sore in the knee and the hip area. Not serious but I will keep an eye on it. Must try not to do too much too soon.

Day 4 - 23rd Sept 2009 (208 days to go)

A rest day - Gives my aching limbs a chance to recuperate.  

Day 3 - 22nd Sept 2009 (209 days to go) - Lovely day for a run

Busy all day so had to run at 18:00. It was probably too warm to run any earlier anyway. Decided to run around the rugby pitch eight times including the deadball line (400m each) 400m x 8 = 3200m = 3500 yards = 1.99 miles with the 250 yard run to the park that's over two miles! There wasn't much left in the tank at the end, but it was still quite enjoyable and I gave a modest punch in the air when I completed what I set out to do. I was aware of my stomach wobbling up and done while I was jogging. I must lose that tyre around the waist if I'm going to progress. A rest day tomorrow according to the timetable.

Day 2 - 21st Sept 2009  (210 days to go) - Its hard getting up the stairs

Had a good sleep, and woke up without too many aches and pains. I had to go to Brighton today and decided to take the bike (Six miles each way). Today, according to my regime is a rest day but I thought cycling would be ok. Well I was wrong it was alright cycling there but cycling back my legs were really tired. Cycling back into the wind was much harder and I was very glad to get home. Its quite a struggle getting upstairs but I guess its done me more good than harm and I do feel pretty pleased with myself (early days yet I know).

Day 1 - 20th Sept 2009 (211 days to go) - I'm still alive !

Right, I have bought the running shoes - Asics senior Patriot 2, they are an entry level running shoe only £31.99 reduced from £39 - bargain! They should be up to the job although the guy at JD Sports did tell me I would probably need a new pair by the time the marathon arrives.

At six o'clock this evening I took my first training step outside. Will I make to the bottom of the road? Will I last until the park 200 metres away? I took it very slowly just above walking pace. When I arrived at the park my back was beginning to ache, I thought oh know! it's all over before its started but after one length of the rugby pitch the ache had gone. I was getting a little out of breath but I thought I had one more length in me..anyway 22 lengths later and one complete run around the pitch I decided to head back home. I had to slow down to walking pace briefly but soon recovered and ran home.

I am quite chuffed, I have worked out that in total I ran from home to park + 22 lengths of rugby pitch (22 x 100m) + complete circuit (350m) + park to home equates to about  3000 metres or about 3280 yards or about 1.86 miles.

It doesn't seem impossible now, although most of the run was on nice soft grass and I did notice coming back on the pavement there were some sensations in the hip area but I hope it was just that my body was getting used to running again.

Time for a shower and hopefully I can get out of bed tomorrow morning.

What have I done !!

I woke up this morning and decided to do the Brighton Marathon on the 18th April 2010.

I have no real experience of running, I am very unfit, overweight and fifty.

I went online to the official website and registered, although it did take me a couple of minutes to click on the "finish registration" button...Shall I?..Shan't I?..Will it kill me?..Have I got what it takes?

I have felt for a long time that I needed some sort of target to aim for to get fitter and lose a couple of stone at the same time. Just for the record I weighed in this morning at 13 stone 2lb which on my frame doesn't look good.

I must admit to being very apprehensive about the whole thing. Seven months of gruelling preparation through all weathers. It certainly will test my determination and willpower, but I am committed and will try to be in good shape by April

If anybody wants to give me some advice it would be most welcome. I need some tips on training, diet, exercise and the mental side of it as well.

First thing to do is get some running shoes, so I'm off into Brighton now to hunt down a good pair. I have been advised by a number of people that Asics are the best make for running so I'll see what I can find.

I will be raising funds for charity, suggestions welcome, I am really looking for something to do with disadvantaged or ill children.

I am going to write a regular blog on my progress over the next seven months, it will be a very interesting experience.

Alan F 20/09