September 19 is quite a while away....

But I am no athlete, and I certainly don't want to be stretchered off the road half way along the route because of exhaustion if I can help it.

Anyone who takes part has to make sure they are fit before going into it and to have done at least some training, and I'm striking while the iron is hot!

Because the Great North Run is so far away, I couldn't enter a date for my challenge when downloading a training schedule off a website, and instead was given a 16 week plan.

And apparently by the end of the 16 weeks (end of June) I'll be able to run a half marathon.

I laughed too!

I haven't ran further than 20 minutes at a time, and can't see me progressing any further any time soon because my legs simply won't allow it.

Someone has kindly introduced me to interval training where you run at different speeds throughout a training session to build up your heart rate.

I've no doubt it will help in the long term, but all it's done so far is highlight how unfit I am and made my legs feel like tonne weights.

On a positive note I have managed to run past the cash point a couple of times and reached the target location of my parents house, which admittedly is only about two minutes further along the road but it's something!

When I pounded into their kitchen with a purple face and heavy breathing last week, my dad laughed out loud and offered me a lift back.

But I refused and after a rest, (a drink, a read of the paper, a chat) I ran back.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I hit the streets running, but it's proved to be quite interesting.

Cars stop for you at traffic islands so you can maintain your pace and fellow runners kindly say 'hello' and 'good morning' when they run past.

Unfortunately my fitness levels aren't at the stage where I can run and talk yet, so I can only manage a smile back.

I've had a couple of toots from car horns and one, well heckle I suppose. Not quite sure what it was to be honest but he was looking at me with his window wound down and laughing.

The sponsorship has already started coming in which is fantastic and a real boost for me to keep training, so thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far, it's all going to a great cause - www.sarashopefoundation.co.uk

I have also this week set up a web page so if people would like to sponsor me online they can do it at www.everyclick.com/hayleyrevell from Wednesday, March 10.