Sue Austin and some of her training friends at their fundraising night in Ellesmere Town Hall. The event raised £1,142 for the Oswestry Spinal Cord Research Appeal.

To all those across Shropshire and mid Wales in training for the London marathon – I salute you! writes Sue Austin.

For many of you spent last weekend doing your final long run, around 20-22 miles, before the big day.

I write this as every muscle in my legs refuses to work, as my lungs still struggle to take in enough oxygen, and as I sit on the sofa shivering and with a pounding headache.

But boy do I feel good!

For with the help of a couple of great running friends, husband Mel and I ran our 22 miles along the lanes, canal towpaths and tracks around Ellesmere on our hottest training day so far.

The first 16 miles was easy, but from then on I had to dig deep and rely on energy gels, water and most importantly the support of the other runners.

I think I would have given or at least walked somewhere between 18-21 miles if I had been on my own.

Yet the last mile saw me revived as I imagined I was running along the Mall.

I even extended my stride in the final yards, terrified of looking dreadful as I cross the finishing line on April 26.

As three of us sat on a wall at home having run those 22 miles I should have been elated.

Instead I could only think of the four extra miles I still had ahead of me – unknown territory.

One of the many suggestions I have had over the past three months, all gratefully received, was a 10 minute cold bath after this run. Instead I used the garden hose and played it on my leg muscles for as long as I could bear.

Then it was a warm drink and plenty of fruit cake. And why not? According to Mel’s clever running gadget I had just used up around 2,900 calories!

It was the end of a emotional week and I was completely drained, physically and mentally. The weekend before we had held our major fundraising event for the charity that had given me my golden ticket, the Oswestry Spinal Cord Appeal for Research.

Again, with the help of some fantastic friends who gave up two entire days to help, and wonderful sponsors – particularly APB, Sidoli,and The Cheese Company, A Night at the Oscars raised £1,142.

I may have to physically run the London Marathon, but there has been is a great great team helping me every step of the way so far.