UPDATE:

I don't have the words to describe, yet, what a gift Sunday was, but I might try with these few: That to run for my belief that girls must free to live their lives fully without barriers; to have my parents and family there (who I hugged overemotionally at mile 19); to have watched the donations pour in with such amazing words of encouragement, and to been part of London on a day when there was so much good will bursting out of everyone was incredible. Thank you for giving me that.  

And I ran it in 3:59 which surprised me more than anyone else.I didn't look at the clock, and I didn't hit the wall. In fact, bizarrely I remember very little pain. We've almost hit the target - and we will change lives. FIST BUMP TO THAT 

Emer x

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The thoughts which will drive me to get up at 6am three times a week and run in the dark:

The girl who cannot use her brain and body because her gender does not allow her to exercise her right as a human.

The 15-year-old in Afghanistan who thinks her husband would be justified in beating her.

The 13-year-old girl in Ethiopia damaged for the rest of her life because of Female Genital Mutilation.

I will think of the baby girl born in Bolivia who will grow up in a country where violence against women causes more deaths than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents and war.

I will run for the girls who want to be educated and work but watch their brothers leave home for school each morning instead.

I will run the marathon for all of them, in the hope that you will help me change a story for the better.

Womankind helped 103,000 women last year. It helped them escape domestic abuse, gain control over their lives and have access to education.

If my run helps just one woman it is surely worth every step. 

Be generous and thank you!

Emer