Saturday 28th September – TIME TO SHINE!

With just three days to go until the Shine for Cancer Research Marathon, I have reached the peak of my training and I’m currently concentrating on stretching and staying injury free! With the help of Julia at Back in Action UK, I have been using the onsite gym to practice my prescribed exercises; look at those lunges – I will have thighs of steel at the end of this! To ensure that I can complete the 26 miles pain free, I have been focusing on my gluts, thighs, calves, hip flexors (my hips tend to do as they please and move every which way) and core in the gym and at twice weekly Pilates classes. I can also happily report that after some tender loving care and physio sessions, my hamstrings are back to full working order and I am no longer limping through London!

Taking in the sights of the City , Angel and East London, my last two training walks are now done and dusted eek!! BUT…guess what?…disaster struck on Saturday… whilst pounding the streets of Angel, my lovely, bright, COMFY trainers rubbed me and I have a great whopping blister to show for it… “NO” I hear you shriek!!! How can this be!? I bought my gorgeous (mostly pink) New Balance trainers when I decided to embark on this challenge and they have been faithfully comfy until now. I have happily walked over 300miles across Yorkshire, London and the Lakes in them over the last 15 weeks and they decide to rub me now! But fear not, the show will go on…with some advice from Melanie, Back in Action UK’s resident marathon runner and a pot of Vaseline my feet have been saved. Phew. I will be sure to take a supply of blister plasters with me on the night just in case…

A hearty, well deserved breakfast after 15 miles in the rain!

Despite the hobbit feet, I am very much looking forward to Saturday night and the big event. With 14,000 people signed up to march the streets of London, Ithink that the atmosphere is going to be electric and what a sight we will be! I have purchased some fluorescent face paints and glow sticks, got the camera at the ready and I’m well on the way to raising £500 for Brain Cancer Research. If you would like to sponsor me, please go to: https://www.justgiving.com/KerryObia/ . Every penny is going to a great cause and will be much appreciated.

Wishing all my fellow Shine  pals the very best of luck, keep going and enjoy!