I run so therefore I am a runner. I say this now with confidence, as I have spent many years not quite believing that by putting on trainers, pootling outside the door and entering the odd half marathon or indeed parkrun actually makes me a runner.
I am not a spring chicken; I am not a gym bunny. What I am is a 50-year-old who goes out to walk or run a few times a week to clear her head with the hope that it maintains my health and fitness. Every now and again I like a challenge and so year in and year out I have registered for the London Marathon Ballot knowing only 17,000 are chosen from the 350,000 ballot entrants. I never really believed my time to take part would arrive.
However, on 24th October 2022 I opened my emails as usual and there waiting in my inbox was mail from TSC London Marathon asking me to "Check Your Ballot Result?", this being the new modern way of telling runners they have secured a place. I clicked and was transported to a page with visual of confetti falling and big words saying "Congratulations Salena You Are In!"