“SPORTS do not build character. They reveal it.”
It was American sportswriter Heywood Broun that coined that phrase and in eight days time the three of us will fully understand the meaning of such wise words.
For my father and my brother the road to April 13 has been fairly smooth going. Both of them have been able to follow every step in their schedules and they will arrive at the start line in Blackheath confident in the knowledge that they can trust their training.
However, my journey to one of the world’s most famous endurance races has been very different.
Not only has it been five weeks since I last completed a half-marathon but the furthest I have been able to run over the past month has been just two miles.
The reason for that is three months ago I sustained a knee injury that has only just started to subside. For many people it would have been enough to make them quit but I am not one who gives up easily.
During that period I have done a lot of walking and soul searching. I have taken medication, listened to the advice of
countless people and also undergone Amatsu therapy with Sally Harris, which has without a doubt speeded up my recovery.
I have also experienced many emotions such as disappointment, doubt, frustration and anger but it is now that I can take great heart from what has been such a testing time.
You see I may not have done the desired miles needed in training but I have proved that I have something just as important and that is strong character.
Mentally I am prepared and according to people I have spoken to who have taken part in the marathon before, completing the feat is as much about mental toughness as it is physical fitness, and it is down to that reason why I do not feel any nerves today.
In fact in a way the pressure is off. Any thoughts of setting a good time disappeared from my mind a long time ago. My aim is solely to get round. If it takes six, seven, eight or nine hours it really does not matter because I know that if I reach that finish line I will have pulled off a remarkable achievement after all I have been through.
This past week I have been able to start running again with no aggravation from my knee but I know it’s not worth pushing myself too hard with such little time to go to the event.
It is just a case of blowing off the cobwebs and getting my legs working again so I can give it everything I have got on the day.
As well as feeling extremely determined I am also under no illusions about just how tough the event is going to be. But with the support of my family and friends, and the knowledge that Mum will be looking down on me, smiling with pride that I am still taking part despite having faced such adversity in training, I am hopeful I can make it.
This week I would particularly like to thank the two ladies in Sportsgear in Westham Road, Weymouth who were so kind in helping me purchase a new pair of trainers despite having already closed the shop. It was very much appreciated.
I would also like to give special praise to Sally again for all her help and support. She has given me the best possible chance of completing the 26 miles and 385 yards and I will forever be grateful to her for all that she has done.
If you are interested in finding out more about Amatsu therapy, which can help heal sports injuries and other stress-related traumas, then call Sally on 07979857780.
n You can still sponsor the trio by
visiting justgiving.com/summers08

JUST under a year ago my sons and I had the idea of running the London Marathon in memory of Teresa and Shirley who both lost their fights against cancer and passed away within two weeks of each other.

I dusted off my running shoes and started the long journey to fitness and ten months on, the day is nearly upon us.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been gradually building up the miles and last Sunday I completed an 18-mile circuit, the furthest we run before the event.

Our training now eases down ahead of the race and I must say although I have had to go through the pain barrier on many occasions, I have enjoyed every minute of it. No more so than when I finished 15 miles and saw my grandson Jack at the finish jumping up and down, and cheering me in.

I can remember his words now, he said you're a slow runner Gan Gan, you're not as fast as my Dad (Jonathon).' I loved his honesty.

The whole experience has also proved very emotional. When you're running alone for long periods many thoughts go through your mind and I know exactly the same thing will happen on the day.

Not only will I be thinking of Teresa but I will also have two sons running in the race and one supporting us. Being a father I know I am bound to wonder on the day how they are coping but I also know they will all be giving it every thing they have got because all three have inherited their mother's grit and determination.

London was always mine and Teresa's favourite place to visit, and a certain part of the course I will know very well. It will bring back a lot of fond memories and I am sure there will be times in the race when my emotions will take over, especially when I reach the embankment and look ahead and see Westminster Bridge and Big Ben.

Then I will glance to the left and see the London Eye where on one of our last visits to the capital together Teresa showed her grit, determination and bravery by overcoming her fear of heights and taking a flight in one of the capsules with me.

Afterwards we walked to Bucking-ham Palace along the same route as we will take in the marathon and I know every stride along that final couple of miles will be very emotional.

When I get like that in training I find it drives me on and gives me strength and I hope the same will happen on the day.

Someone once said to me there are two types of people in this world, talkers and doers.' Well, we have all done plenty of talking in the last few months about the event, so now it is time to show we are doers as well.

You can still sponsor the trio by
visiting justgiving.com/summers08

TRAINING has proved a rollercoaster of emotions for me over the past few weeks and I would be lying if I said I was feeling 100 per cent confident approaching the big event on April 13.
The fact of the matter is that my knees clearly cannot withstand the constant pounding on the pavements and it has become clear to me that I will be undertaking more walking than running when it comes to hitting the streets of the capital.
There are no words that can express my disappointment at the way things have panned out. I have interviewed many
sportsmen and women in my career but it is only now that I realise just how much heartache and frustration injury can cause.
Not being able to do something you love and have worked towards, for so long, is gut-wrenching but there comes a time when you realise you cannot let it beat you.
Over the past month I have slowly started running again, steadily increasing the distances and training on softer ground but I have still been feeling the same aches and pains, particularly in my right patella.
So last weekend everything came down to a sink or swim scenario. I put on my knee support, set my iPod to shuffle and then left my house at 8.50am feeling nervous about the 13-mile journey ahead.
I sailed along Littlemoor Road but as soon as I hit Dorchester Road I began to feel that familiar niggle in my right knee. With every stride the aching worsened so I decided to walk for a bit which is something I loathe doing.
I made my way up towards Wey Valley School & Sports College and then broke into a jog again but by the time I got halfway down Radipole Park Drive the pain proved too much.
I walked for a bit and then tried to set off again but it was clear that my knee was warning me that enough was enough.
The temptation to immediately head back home was huge but my determination kept me going until I had rounded Radipole Lake and began making my way up the path that runs alongside Weymouth Way towards Chafeys Roundabout.
It was there that I allowed my frustration to get the better of me. My water bottle took the brunt of things as I hurled it down to the ground.
I could not help but feel cheated, like some external force was stopping me from doing something that means so much.
But after letting out the anger it hit me. The reason I took on this challenge was not about running, times or even proving something to myself, it was about achieving something in my Mum’s memory.
It was about taking on a challenge as a family and raising money for a worthwhile cause that helps support so many people through the hardest experiences of their lives.
With that I slowly continued on my way up to Chafeys Roundabout, down past the Wessex Stadium, along Granby Way, down Chickerell Road into town and then along the seafront back to Preston.
I walked all the way and with every step I became more and more focused. The route took me three hours to complete and when I arrived home I was immensely proud of myself that I had not allowed the pain to beat me.
My plan now is to just keep things ticking over but not to stretch myself too much. I want to give my knee as much rest as possible so come the big event I will able to achieve the main goal and that is just to reach The Mall and cross that finish line, however long it takes.

OVER the last two weeks I have experienced a mixture of highs and lows.
It started with a huge high with |the success of the cheese and wine evening we held at Willowbed Hall in Chickerell.
The event raised a total of £3,700 which was incredible and once again we would like to thank everyone who helped make the night such a success.
Everything seemed to be progressing well but then I got a head cold, sore throat and blocked nose, which meant I had to stop training for a week.
I eventually returned to pounding the pavements last Sunday when ten miles was the distance on my training schedule.
From the start my legs felt heavy and I did not feel comfortable at all.
To make matters worse I was then confronted with every jogger's worst nightmare, a dog that kept jumping up at me and getting under my feet.
That made running impossible and with its owner not around it soon broke my concentration.
A few minutes later I started back on my way but my mind was not in a positive mode and all sorts of thoughts began running through my head.
The fact it was Mother's Day was a big reminder of why we are putting ourselves through such a huge challenge.
Such a day would have been full of enjoyment and fun with all the family and with every stride that constant realisation that life will never be the same again kept playing on mind.
I tried to refocus and I soon began to hear my wife Teresa's voice telling me 'you took on this challenge so you better see it through to the end'.
Those words echoed around my |head and spurred me on, boosting my determination not to let anything beat me.
I always try to think of positive words spoken by positive people.
I recently read Lance Armstrong's autobiography and the seven-time Tour de France winner's motto has always been 'make an obstacle an opportunity, make a negative a positive'.
Armstrong is a truly incredible man. To overcome cancer and go on to win the world's most famous cycling race on numerous occasions the way he did was an incredible feat and one that has always inspired me.
My wife's wise words and Armstrong's motto soon had me feeling a lot more comfortable before in the final mile I got another huge positive with the sight of Adam jogging towards me.
Adam has suffered several weeks of frustration with a knee injury and is just beginning to get back running.
He is still not feeling 100 per cent but remains determined to get round and seeing him finally return to training has given us all a lift.
I eventually finished my run on a huge high and I am now looking forward to stepping up my efforts over the next few weeks leading up to the big day.

LOOKING at my calendar the other day and experiencing the realisation that there is now only two months to go until we take to the streets of London was a sobering thought.
I have come a long way in a relatively short space of time since I started my training binge. I began some weeks ago with periodic runs of three to five miles, which initially led to many days of sore and stiff legs.
But as time has gone on the runs have become much more frequent and the distances have increased week by week.
The training can be hard and commitment is key. Despite many nights of interrupted sleep thanks to my two young boys Jack and Harry, I still manage to force myself out of bed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6am before work to take to pounding the pavements. I do afford myself a little lie in on Saturdays and Sundays by getting up at 7am but still find it a struggle sometimes.
Over the past two weeks the training has stepped up a gear. In addition to the miles clocked up in midweek on a series of training runs, I completed 12.5 miles last Sunday in very windy conditions.
I finished the circuit in my fastest ever time, feeling much stronger than ever before and that has certainly given me huge
confidence as I enter the coming weeks when 15 and 18-mile runs are scheduled on my training plan.
Although training to date is going well and confidence is high, running 26 miles and 385 yards is still very daunting, but the thought of my late mother and all the money we will raise for the Weldmar Trust drives me on.
This is one of the most satisfying challenges I have ever taken on and I cannot wait to cross that finish line and experience the truly unique feeling of completing my first marathon.
The three of us would like to thank all the individuals who have committed to sponsoring us so far. Statistics suggest that every one of us will be affected by cancer, either directly or indirectly, in our lifetime and reflecting on the tremendous care and support we received from Weldmar last year, it is a first-class charity that does so much.
You can sponsor the trio by visiting www.justgiving.com/summers08.
Cheques made payable to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust can also be sent to Mr J W Summers, 25 Greenway Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 5BE.

ON my Thursday night run this week I wrote this article in my head.
I actually finished the training session quite fresh. You see I try to find little distractions to help the time pass and take my mind off tiredness and all the aches and pains.
As the days and weeks come and go our designated rest days on our schedules seem to get less and less. And with the race fast approaching you begin to wonder whether you are doing enough or maybe even too much.
Every ache and pain is also a worry in case it turns into an injury but all you can do is trust the training plan and stay focused.
As the time and miles increase I fully understand what people mean when they talk about the marathon being as much about strength of mind as the ability to run well.
Running for two or three hours is a long time and that is why I try to give myself little goals like checking my time and having a little drink at certain points of the circuit.
Another thing I do is set my Ipod setting to shuffle so I never know what the next song is going to be
I recently read Paula Radcliffe’s autobiography and after she finishes a long run she always sits in a bath of freezing cold water for 15 minutes to help the muscles recover.
I have started doing that in recent weeks and I find it really does work. Mind you I would not recommend it for the feint- hearted.
Talking of Paula, it is going to be a great thrill running in the same race as her even though we will be hours apart. She has achieved so much and is without a doubt one of this country’s greatest ever athletes. And competing in the same event as her is another reason to look forward to April 13.
N Sponsor the trio by visiting justgiving.com/summers08. The site is simple, fast and totally secure.
The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust will also receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28 per cent in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
Cheques made payable to the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust can also be sent to Mr J W Summers, 25 Greenway Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT3 5BE.