Have I REALLY not blogged about this???

One week to go...

It's been some year. 

I thought I'd already blogged about this, but it seems I haven't. 

This time next week, Stewart and I will be running the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, to raise funds for Blood Cancer UK, as my Dad has been living with this weird bugger of a cancer, for the last 3+ years. 

I honestly thought I'd blogged about it. 

But, as I type this, I'm almost 5 months in to Marathon training, and, lemme tell you, I'm fucking knackered.  This stuff is pretty much a part time job in itself. And I only started running in March. 

I have blogged bits and bobs about my running journey, and if I had the time or brain space, I'd link you to those blogs here. Or type out some of it. But I have neither the time nor the brain space, so feel free to browse earlier NoBooksBlogs if you'd like.  I'll no doubt do a post Marathon round up blog, and will hopefully include more details. 

Did I mention I'm knackered?

So yeah, next Sunday, 29th September, I'm doing a Marathon. 

Very breif round up of events. 

• maybe 14 years ago, I tried to get in to running. Hated it. 
• maybe 12 years ago, I entered a 10k and told myself that if I ran without stopping, I'd never have to run again.
• 2014 nobookswereharmed.co.uk came in to being, and so commenced a few years of working 18 hour days and barely moving. 
• I piled on about 8 stone in weight.
• 2021 came out of lockdowns, determined NOT to get on the pre-rona hamster wheel of working away 3/4 times a month and working from before dawn to after dusk.  
• allowed myself to get back to the gym and long walks.
• October 2021 my Dad has a heart attack and is diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.
• fast forward just under 2 years to 2023, and I'd lost ten and a half stone of weight, and was living a much more balanced life.
• spring 2024, I tried running again. Still the hardest thing I've ever tried.
• still spring 2024, hadn't even managed 5k without walking, but somehow signed up for a mother fucking marathon.
• I've now done numerous 5ks, a couple of official 10ks, and even an official half Marathon. But the furthest I've ran is 16.5 miles.
• five months on from the start of this thang, I'm 7 days from actually having to do said marathon. 26.2 miles. 

hahahaarrrrrrrrggggghhhhh!

Like I say, I'll do a proper blog at some point, but in the meantime, here's a really lazy appeal for any spare change: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jo-cowie-1723226661526

And much more importantly, PLEASE consider donating blood or platelets, if you can. The only reason my Dad is still here, is because of selfless donors.