Teething problems

We survived 2k, so it was time to tackle 5. Apparently.

Having proved that Haringey is something of a death trap for runners, Pete got his wish and we went for a run in Battersea. It's a lovely route, round Battersea park, over Chelsea bridge, along the embankment and back over Albert Bridge. It's quite lovely. Or it would be if you had time to look at the scenery and weren't trying not to retch all over the pavement.

I have never been in so much pain!! My chest burned, I had the most intense stitch I've ever felt and I had to slow to a walk several times. This was very, very not good. And for all that Pete kept telling me it was fine and that it was only my second run, the thought kept circling round and round in my head: "I have to do twice this distance in two months' time!"

I'm not the kind of person who takes not being good at things well. I like to at least be passable at stuff, and I get annoyed with myself when I'm not. So it was irritating enough that I was finding it so difficult. But this isn't for me, I'm doing this for charity and a charity that means an awful lot to me. That's what is the most painful, the thought that I might be letting a very good cause down. The fundraising has started, people have begun giving money and the thought that I could get even more money for a really important charity is too much to walk away from. So I can't back out now. There's no choice but to keep going.

So we have another 3k run in a couple of days and then another 5 to do, and the thought of it makes me want to curl up in a ball and go to sleep!