The Finishing Line!

After three months, goodness knows how many training miles, the loss of a stone (and nine inches - yay!), an estimated 20 hours of training time, I reached the finishing line this morning!

Yes, today was r-day - the Challenge Scotland Christmas 5k at Inverleith Park, Edinburgh.

It was not a promising start - sleet, snow and freezing before we left and my heart sank as we reached Barnton and saw the snow on the roofs of all the houses - it had been much worse in the city than in Fife.

However, we had a huge choice of parking spaces within a two minute walk of the start, which was just as well as it was freezing!

The route had been changed slightly and was a lovely run, although I didn't manage to run it all - but I did run more than 90 per cent of it and ran further than I've ever run before before I had to stop for a quick breather.

I had to stop a few times more than I would have liked - the ground was slippy with a bit of slush, but I reckon I still got round in 35 minutes - beating some folk who were definitely younger and fitter than me to the finish line! The race wasn't timed, but everyone who took part was placed and, according to my husband, I was mid-field!

I'm very proud that I completed the race and was delighted to receive a medal and certificate. The best news of all is that I've already raised £425 for Macmillan Cancer Care. It's still not too late to sponsor me, just click here http://www.justgiving.com/Lynne-McNeil1 I've raised way beyond my personal expectations!

After a trip to Morrison's in Ferry Road for brunch (bagel, scrambled egg and bacon and a very welcome cup of tea and change of clothes), it was back to Inverleith Park for the Santa Toddle.

Mackenzie has raise at least £100 for Pitreavie Playgroup after completing the toddle (which she walked all by herself) and had a great time seeing Santa and all the other boys and girls who took part. She too is the proud owner of a certificate and medal.

Again, thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last three months - and an even bigger thank you to everyone who has so generously supported this wonderful cause.

I would do it again, but not for a bit - and I'll definitely not be stepping up to a 10k. My leg and hip are already a bit stiff, although it was a pain-free race!

I'm looking forward to a day off tomorrow to recover and to take Mackenzie for her school nursery induction.

So after a fantastic start to our Christmas festivities, two charitable organisations are now more than £500 better off, thanks to the efforts of the McNeil girls.

Here are a couple of our memories of the day....

The blog will continue - although perhaps not with such regularity over the next few weeks! I've just enjoyed my first piece of chocolate in nearly three months and feel fantastic!

So, farewell for now - have a lovely Christmas and I'll back online again in 2012.
Lynne xxx

The big day is nearly here....

After three months the big run is only 14 hours away.... and my biggest fear isn't that I'll finish the course (it's a fun run and really doesn't matter about times etc), but the weather.

Please pray for it not to snow in Edinburgh tomorrow between 9.30am and 1.30pm.

I'm very proud of my daughter Mackenzie who is also fundraising tomorrow - she is taking part in the Santa Toddle and is set to raise £100 for her nursery, Pitreavie Playgroup (www.pitreavieplaygroup.com). She is very excited!

At the moment my sponsorship for tomorrow's Challenge Scotland 5k in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care is sitting at £400 - way beyond my initial expectations - and again, a million thank yous to everyone who has so generously sponsored us both.

I'm sacrificing my Saturday night red wine (two glasses), but can make up for it tomorrow night - it's a slight inconvenience, compared with the cost of caring for people whose lives have been blighted by the big 'C'.

Meanwhile, does anyone have any last minute tips for breakfast tomorrow? The race is at 9.30am... I'm probably having the most unhealthy meal you can tonight: fish and chips courtesy of the fantastic Brig chip shop in Dunfermline (and thanks to my husband chauffeur tomorrow, the lovely Craig McNeil x)

Please, if you're in Edinburgh tomorrow, come along and support this fantastic event.

Until tomorrow.
Lynne x