When I was told that I won't be able to run the London Marathon this year, my first thought (that was suitable to write on a family website!) was how I was letting my charity, HAY, down.
People have donated on the premise that I ran 26.2 miles around London on 26 April.
Now I won't be.
Having spoken to a handful of people who have sponsored me, they're happy for the money to be going to the charity - "you've been training so hard" and "you've already run more than 600 miles?!" - but it still feels like a bit of a cheat.
To try to alleviate that feeling, Leigh Church - probably the finest scientific mind of the 21st century - has agreed to be HAY's substitute runner.
Leigh is a chicken keeping scientist from near Birmingham who, like me, got a ballot place.
I 'met' Leigh via the blogosphere - he blogs on his running and chicken-keeping antics - and I asked him if he'd consider being HAY's substitute marathoner.
He kindly agreed, so they still have someone running for them - which I hope means people don't feel like they've been had.
Bear in mind I've never met Leigh, and he's never been to Hanworth, I think that is an amazing thing to do and I can't explain how grateful I am for him for agreeing to do it.
As Leigh was the one who suggested me running wearing sequins, I'm wondering if we can get some on him - will see how we go!
But, in the meantime, get over to his blog and say hello to one of the interwebs true gentlemen.
Wow, go Leigh! Definitely needs to wear some sequins :)
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