Well I did it!!!! YIPPEEEEE.....
4 hours, 35 minutes and 56 seconds. What an experience! The crowds and supporters in New York lining the entire route were amazing. They shouted my name all the way round and cheered me through the pain! over 47,000 runners finished and I came in number 27,573 which I am thrilled about. Three things were on my wish list, one was to finish come hell or high water! the second was to try and run the entire way without stopping or walking and the third was to finish under 5 hours. Well apart from 2 pee stops I managed all three.

We were in the holding area/start line for 2 hours at Staten Island before our start of 10am were called, trying to keep walk and queueing up 3 times for the portaloos kept my mind off what was coming. Heading across the start line into the strong, cold wind blowing over the bridge was not a welcome start but after 3 miles i had warmed enough to discard my jacket and set about the task in hand. The crowds were cheering my name all the way and the kids high fiving and the street bands playing really added to the whole atmosphere. When you looked tired you could count on the crowds pulling you along. At 13 miles there is one of 5 bridges to run over and this is where i lost my running buddy so the remaining half marathon I was truely on my own. I amazed myself at keeping a steady 6 miles per hour even up the famous Greensboro bridge which you enter at mile 14 and exit at 16 miles and is a steady hill climb on tired legs. At mile 20 I could feel my legs really turn heavy and at 4 miles I should have been at mile 24 to keep to 6 miles per hour but had slipped and was at 23 miles. All of a sudden I realised that I was going to finish whatever and was determined to keep running even if it was slower. I also needed to take on more water and running and drinking is no easy feet unless you want to drink through your nose! my miles turned from 10 mins to 11/12 at places but I wasnt bothered but the miles seemed to be taking longer and longer. Then hitting another incline around mile 23 was a killer on the legs. Rounding the last mile by Central Park was great, the crowds were 10 deep and the noise deafening, I cranked up my pace slightly and once I entered the park i knew the finish was near, I always finish my training runs with a sprint so was determined to do the same and I did! Even after 26 miles i managed a slight sprint across the line where I promtly burst into tears and then couldnt breathe! But once I got my medal and running supplies (water and recovery bar) I and thousands of other made the long treck through Central park to recover our bags and then I faced a 2 and half mile walk back to Times Sqare! The thought of a nice hot bath kept me walking and stretching out those tired muscles!

That evening and the days that followed you couldn't prise the medal from around my neck for 2 reasons, 1 that I was so proud and worked so hard to earn it and the other as it explained why i was walking like a duck and screaming in agony when i tried to go down steps! I still managed to go round the shops all day Monday and saw many others struggling to do the same.

I was asked on Sunday when i hobbled back into the hotel by the Cancer Research Team if I would do it again and they had an immediate reply of "NEVER" but its a bit like having kids, the pain and all the lead up fades and you think...hmmmm maybe! Well maybe i might do something when i am 40 so be warned!

Thanks again to everyone who has supported me. I could feel the love and thoughts of everyone when i was there and especially my dear Auntie Sandra and Cousin Tracie, both lost to Cancer were never out of my thoughts and I am sure i felt a hand on my back pushing me along! But huge thanks to all for making it possible to achieve such an amazing total for Cancer Research UK.

I have a link to my official photos at http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=47685&PWD=&BIB=40076 if you want to have a look, and mine will be on Shoot Out facebook and my facebook page as well.

Thank you again and see you all soon...

Rachel xxxxx






29/10/09 Well I am heading off in a few hours on my treck to NY. As yet I have no flight tickets or dollers but hey ho, fingers crossed will be ok!! AGHHH! Massive thanks to Central Embroidery for branding my running gear, looks fantastic and for making up my total to £11,000 by donating the difference of £170! Totally speachless which is a first for me! Well this is my last message till i get back, weather for sunday due to be heavy rain! oh well, come this far whats a little rain!!
Thanks again to all for helping me achieve this amazing amount. Love to all, Rachel xxx

27/10/09. Well what a week! I completed my last big run Friday night of a half marathon (13.1 miles) after work in the lashing rain and now resting up apart from a 4k run tonight on the treadmill (minus rain) Eating loads of carbs and protein now bulking up ready for Sunday.

I knew this marathon was going to be emotional with my dear Auntie battling cancer for the third time, what none of us expected was her untimely death on Friday night from complications. As a family we are all in a state of shock and my thoughts are with her family, my uncle, cousins and her sisters, including my mum. Now running this race and raising as much money as I can is all I can focus on, not dwelling on the fact of not being here to say my goodbyes.

If you havent already donated please do as I am having the total printed on my race top tomorrow and being able to look down at that plus knowing my Auntie Sandra is looking down on me and cheering me on will keep me going the whole 26.2 miles.

Thank you all for your support and please, please keep donating...

lots of love

Rachel xx


23/10/09 THANK YOU ALL....with the £50 from the Railway Hotel at Burnham last night (Blackthorn home alley winners) and Kaboodles my hairdressers donation this morning I have hit the £10,000. I know there are other pledges fighting their way through the postal strike but please just because i have hit the £10k don't stop donating. I dont want to add a new total, I just want to see how much more i can achieve before I leave a week today. Last big run tonight after work of 13 miles!! Seems very weird to think about doing a full days work then running a half marathon afterwards! Just become part of life to me now....not I hasten to add the bulking up on all the pasta and carbs and no alcohol!!!!

One week and counting so please if you havent already, please donate as thats the only way to shut me up going on about it!! ha

19/10/09 WOW.....talk about blown away! I was at the first Shoot Out weekend of the new season at the Kistor Hotel this weekend and I was bowled over by the generosity and support I received. The hotel donated a weekend for 2 for us to raffle for my marathon which raised a whopping £155 with 87 shoot out members there participating. All weekend I was asked for my sponsor form and individuals and teams were adding to the total of personal donations with another £155!! Then to finish me off completely on Sunday the finalist teams White Rebels and Samson Rams both donated £50 of their prize money making an amazing £410 raised this weekend! Thank you sooooo much to all the teams there as it was just so emotional to get so much support especially when you all knew I was going all out to raise the £10,000 well you have certainly given me a huge leap forward.

Off for a fast half hour on the treadmill tonight, hour+ run Tuesday and 13 miles on Friday! Getting excited now as less than 2 weeks to go!!! please keep the donations coming in as I am soooo near to that £10,000 mark and having the figures put on my shirt next week, MUST be £10k!!!

15/10/09 Well I slightly amended my route after considering the training recommendations of the New York Marathon guides of not doing more than 18 miles in training, so I did 18.5. I completed it in 3 hrs 15 which I am very pleased about bearing in mind we took a slower starting pace and my running buddy struggled for a while so we slowed up but i continued to run, albeit much slower pace. Really estatic of how I felt after and that and my recovery rate. Aching like crazy now and having a Shoot Out weekend to host this Friday I dont think I will be running much till next week! I am getting messages of support and promises of donations so please keep it coming, I see the time ticking away with such a relatively small balance left to raise to see me running with a £10,000 total on my shirt!

14/10/09 - only 2 weeks and 4 days and at 2pm today I am running my furtherst ever distance of 20 miles! Max to date is 15.2 and with being ill knocking my training I havent had chance to build it up more gradually so here goes! all or nothing and if I can do this, I can head off to NY more confident of the 26.2 miles! Wish me luck!! Plus to all those I sent text reminders last night who have promised to sponsor me thank you as it should swell my total by over £200!! please, please keep it coming and get me to that £10,000!! I am having my running outfit specially branded and i am having my total on my front and back of my top so would really spur me on to look down and see the £10k figure!

5/10/09, 3 weeks and 6 days!! OMG! after my last message, i was very poorly as I had the very busy Blackthorn weekend followed by keeping my 3 runs in and I basically keeled over!  Was struck down with a really nasty cold and couldnt do anything, was off work all week and just managed to get myself back to a run yesterday of 8.5 miles. Another 6/7 miles tonight then again Friday and hopefully 12 miles + on Sunday. Had some lovely messages of support and sponsorship so thank you all and please keep giving and get me to the £10,000 PLEASE!!! 

WOW....Couldnt think people could be any more supportive. I have just got back from the Blackthorn Championships weekend at Weston and want to say a huge thank you to all the teams that supported me with my fund raising. Thanks to the Coleford Bowlovers and Saints & Sinners who had come to see me during the day with team donations, then in the evening Karen made me run in a very tight dress and very very high heels around the ballroom with my collection bucket. All in all raising a whopping £600!, thank you all.

I am now trying to squeeze in 4 runs a week (how i dont really know!) and I managed 15.2 miles recently and now have a 17.8 mile run planned for Sunday! Please, please, please to anyone reading this that hasnt already sponsored me, help me achieve £10,000 as when I started my goal was £5,000 and to double that would be amazing. thanks to all for your continued support

4th September already and scarily only 8 weeks and 2 days until I run 26.2 miles!! Managed to get up to 14 miles before heading off on my 2 week hols in August so now back to it to reclaim the 2 weeks off and progress my distance. Off for a brisk 11 mile run this weekend and aiming for 15/16 miles next weekend!  Finding it a lot harder to get the time to train especially when running for over 2 and half hours at a time...Please please please, sponsor me and keep me out there training. It helps so much when you are tired and aching and suffering from blisters and stitches to know others are cheering you on and donating money to such a worthy charity.

7th July. Training going well, 8 miles tonight in the rain hopefully, then 13/14 miles on Saturday. have new trainers now as worn out last one...don't think so! Goal is now to get to 15 miles by beginning of August..thanks for all the messages of support, please keep the donations coming, thanks Ken from Wellington Skittles league for your sponsorship, if you havent sponsored me yet please do, I really want to achieve as much as possible for such a good cause. thanks you all

22nd June. Well yesterday I completed a big milestone, my first ever half marathon, 13.1 miles. I have been relatively injury free until a few days ago with a thigh injury so it was with intrepidation that I set off at 9.30am in blazing sunshine for my longest ever run! Thankfully we had some cloud cover come in which was a huge relief and a great team of youngsters maning the much needed drinks stations. My leg gave me trouble for the first 5 miles and then it thankfully eased, I kept at a sensible pace just concentrating on finishing and not time. So when I was on the last 3 miles and feeling OK, I decided to up the pace and even managed a sprint finish across the line with a fellow runner and clocked up an amazing 2 hours 5 minutes 38 seconds which is my personal best. Really on a high now, although still can't walk yet so hope to be back to training again soon. Next milestone 16 miles by beginning of August!!! Also have the Exeter Race for Life on 19th July, 5K with all my family, mum, sister, daughter, cousin you name it!!

BIG BIG Thanks to all for messages of support and sponsorship and please keep it coming and help me raise as much money for Cancer Research.

11th June, 33 miles ran last week and up at 5.20am to do 45 mins and 7K on treadmill before work..must be mad! Last chance for a big run this Saturday aiming for 12 miles then shorter 5-7 mile runs in the week leading up to the half marathon on Sunday 21st. Thank you to Coopers coaches for £100 sponsorship and to all that are sponsoring me. Please keep it coming, xx

5th June already and I am back on track with the running. Managed my first 12 mile run in blistering heat last Sunday morning, was hard running past people sunbathing on the beach looking at me as if I was a raving nutter! Only 2 weeks until the Torbay so I am feeling confident that I should make it round just praying the weather is not too hot! To all the friends who have said they will sponsor me, please don't forget and leave it till the last minute, really does spur me on when I receive the message to say someone has sponsored me...esp when I get back late from work and still drag myself out at 7pm for a 7 mile run!! xx

Well its 26th May and all the Shoot Out weekends have finished!! A big thank you to all the teams away on the final weekends (15-17 May) for helping me boost my total even closer to the £8000 mark. I am trying to keep my fitness up despite not being able to run for 2 weeks and hope to regain my levels quickly ready for the Torbay Half Marthon on 21st June. All being well I should be out running this weekend again, fingers crossed. Thank you to all that are supporting me and to those that have said you will, please get on line and donate and help spur me on! xxx

OMG Didn't think it was possible to be rendered speachless... thank you sooo much to the Welsh Wizards team for their amazing support (and reducing me to tears)  in raising a whopping £1,150.96 from fund raising and team fines all year. Thank you to all the Shoot Out teams again for all their support as collectively it has now raised my total to nearly £7,000! Please, please keep it coming xx

7th May, I have just hit my goal of £5,000, thanks to all those that have helped make that happen. I completed an 11 mile run at the weekend and it does scare me that I have to run over double that in NY!! Now on target with my training to be running 13 miles ready for the half marathon on 21st June! For those that havent sponsored me yet, please do and help me hit a whopping £8000 for Cancer Research UK.

Well its 27th April and I am nearly at my target of £5000. I really cannot believe the support I have had from all the Shoot Out members on our weekends this year, and we still have many to go! Do I dare raise my target to £8000 as I feel I really want to aim for the stars now! Off for a run again tonight and another long one Sunday aiming for 11+ miles, the furthest to date! Keep sponsoring PLEASE.... and thank you if you already have xx

1st April..OK, now lost for words and no this is not an April fools! Have broken the half way mark on sponsorship with a record £460 raised this weekend, thanks to all the teams for your support. Also achieved my goal in training and completed a 10 mile run and notched up a total mile count of 24 miles last week! now have to run that plus two more all in one go!! agghhh!

Please please keep the donations coming in...xx

WOW-WOW-WOW Can not believe it, now achieved £2000 over £1000 raised in under a month, thank you soooo much. Training back on track after illness and completed a nice 7 mile run yesterday with 9 miles planned for tomorrow (25/03) My goal is to break half way on my fund raising target and hit 10 mile mark on my training by Easter! Signed up with family for Exeter Westpoint Race for Life 19 July and entering theTorbay Half Marathon 21st June!

Please keep the donations and messages of support coming xxx

I can't believe it, its 6th March and we have hit the first milestone of £1000!!! Thank you soooo much to all who have sponsored me so far, it is making my aching legs well worth it!! To those who havent sponsored me yet, please do and someone be the first to donate on line!!!

Hello everyone,

Well I knew I was mad but now this has confirmed it! I have just been accepted for the 2009 New York Marathon on 1st November 2009.

When I was at school I ran long distance for my school and always wanted to run a marathon. Well many, many years have passed and I  set myself a life goal of running a marathon before I am 40. Having just celebrated my 38th birthday I realised I had better get on with it.

Why New York I hear you ask, no it is not about the shopping but simply that the London Marathon is in April and right in the middle of the very busy Shoot Out season which makes it impossible for me to compete in.

I have only run for fun and general fitness and competed in the past 2 years Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research which I have raised £2,600 collectively. This is my biggest challenge ever and I really want to make it count. Therefore I have set my target at £5,000 and am hoping I can count on all of you to help me achieve this for such a worthy cause. My training starts now and I hope to compete  in a half marathon in May and then spend the summer increasing up to 20 mile runs!

I am running this marathon for all my family members whose lives have been touched by cancer and all the many, many Shoot Out members as well.

 As many of you know I am a single mum with 2 kids, a dog and a very demanding job so finding the time needed to train for a marathon as well is going to be a huge juggling act so please give what you can and show your support.

A massive thank you to all the Shoot Out hotels and Holiday Centres for their generous donations of a bottle of bubbly for us to raffle on each Shoot Out weekend. It has already had great support from all the teams who participated. A huge thanks to the Young Ones, Inbetweenies and 69ers skittle teams at Weymouth 13-15 Feb who donated their prize money totalling £225!! You blew me away!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my page and I promise to keep it updated throughout my training. Everyone in the office is also taking bets on if I will be able to resist the pull of the shops and could be the first ever runner to cross the line with a new Gucci handbag!!

Thanks again and please help me to make a difference.

Rachel xx

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cancer Research UK gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.