April 3rd (Thursday)
I did it, it near killed me but I did it. My long run this week was just short of 20 miles and was agony but we're definitely getting there with this task. The big day is not far away now! Only a bit less than a month now. Please keep praying for me and my discipline. I am starting to get very excited and a little nervous too.

Northern Ireland Report (24th-28th March)
Sorry I've not updated things in a while for you but I had an amazing time over in Norn Iron as I am sure you have heard me say on air already. I really did enjoy myself and right now I am feeling a little home sick. But anyway while I was doing some resting I also got a bit of running in. One was really successful, the other was quite the opposite I am afraid. I did a 7 mile run one day during the week which I was very pleased with. Barely broke into a sweat. But on my return I tried to do a full marathon run and after about 6 miles my foot gave way and I decided not to run on so as to inspect the damage. Good job I did in a way as the heavens opened.

I have known for a little while now that my major problems are not going to be fitness in the end, it'll be physical capability! My musckes going tight or cramping is more liekly to halt me than sheer exhaustion. So I am going to run on Monday night and try the full marathon distance again except this time I am going to do a flatter route, its about doing the distance more than doing the hills and I don't want injury to damage me 5 weeks before the race.

Keep praying!

Mar 12th (Wednesday) INJURY UPDATE
Sorry that I have been so poor in updating this but I have had a setback in the past week with quite a nasty knee injury. I am on antibiotic and ibruprofen and should be back on my feet and into training over next couple of days. I am due to run a long run this Saturday. In theory that shouldn't be a problem in that I am back by then! But it of course could be a problem with the injury and the lack of running I have done this week. I am onto a very serious pasta diet at the moment preparing myself. This is my first set back and it is unfortunate that it has come at the height of my training. I am at the moment running distances longer than you might expect! They will all slow down now as my I start to prepare and condition my body into good condition so I am in the best physical condition for the Marathon. Eeek!!!!

Mar 3rd (Monday)
Goodness me I never imagined I would feel pain quite like I did on Saturday night. Nonetheless I realise it is going to get worse by the time I actually do the marathon. Bruised and hurting knee's are only the start of it. Most disconcerting. But nonetheless 17 miles is a long distance and I am very pleased I managed to make the distance but by the time I finished I think I doubted whether I could take another step. More work still needed in order to get up to full fitness and conditioning I think.

Feb 29th (Friday)
A real tough cookie today, did something in the region of 8 or 9 miles with some leg work afterwards trying to deal with some muscular problems I have faced recently. Seem to be getting there. Had noodles afterward to get my strength back into the right places. I feel good! 17 miles tomorrow! Bring it on! Bring it on! Have a great weekend!

Feb 28th (Thursday)
I went out yesterday and did another few miles, something nearer to the amount I need to be working on this week, I have a strange week feeling in my legs at the moment which is a little bit disconcerting! I am hoping to do a really long run this week at some point, In fact the plan is to change this week into a much more active week and put 17 miles under my belt before the week is out! Probably this Saturday! But we shall see anyway! Keep praying for me, the Lord has provided me with a wonderful schedule gap, so pray that I won't be too tempted to fill it up with other stuff!

Feb 27th (Wednesday)
Yesterday I got out for the first time this week, did a few miles to stretch the old legs and did some stretching as well to help me loosen up. A very easy week is ahead of me this week which is really good. The most I will do this week is 10 or 11 miles which will merely stretch my legs and let me get some more miles under my belt. I have been really pleased with how well the shoes have performed under the circumstances recently. I am really getting used to them. Please keep praying that I will be motivated and keep making the distance, especially as work gets busy again, many thanks!

Feb 22nd (Friday)
This week has hardly been the most active in my life. I have ran only the once (being last night, Thursday) and then I only did 4 miles but I think it was probably wise considering the fact that I had been ill most of the week. Especially in the early part of the week. I felt ok though and it was good to get out and about and exercise myself a little. What is to come this week then? Well, its complicated. I may well run tonight though probably only 4 miles or so again, and then on Saturday when Abi goes home I am going to attempt to run 15 miles to really push myself. I didn't do a report on my 14 miler last week did I? Oops! That went well really. I was impressed with how my body coped. It will be interesting to see how it copes this week. Will my inactivity be counted as rest or as laziness? We shall see. Of course you all know my inactivity is due entirely to Abi and nothing more!

Feb 14th (Thursday)
The past couple of days have been tough but at the same time most useful and helpful. I did 4 miles on Tuesday which was hard work (as I ran a lot of it up a hill) and then yesterday we did 7 miles which was not incredibly difficult. Was ok! Today I will either do 4 miles or do the big 14 miles! I canny decide at the moment. haha!

Feb 7th (Thursday)
I tell you something the old heart nearly gave in in protest today! Serious pain! Hard work running in  the heat and at a pretty quick pace as well. Went out with good old Matt Heaps today (though I doubt that he'd like to be called old) and we did 6 miles or so, though actually I think its more 5. First real challenge for the shoes! They held up well with my growing confidence in them and they are improving in performance each time I use them. Certainly easier to run in them despite the fact my ancles are clearly not used to such luxuries as support and are finding it strange running under the support of the new trainer. Hope that made sense. This will be my last marathon training report for the weekend and will see you again early next week.

Feb 6th (Wednesday)
It is hard to believe that its been over a week since I wrote to let you know how my training is getting on. So much to say. :s Sorry for my delay in letting you know. This weekend was half good for me and half really really bad for me. I had a rest so didn't do my long run. partly because of the snow and rain, and partly because of a slight injury I had picked up! Anyway the big news is as follows.

NEW SHOES: I have bought a new pair of running shoes, hopefully these will be the ones I run the marathon in. They should be having shed £70 on them. But there we are. I have given them their baptism into my life by taking them out for a couple of 3 miler runs this week and I am very happy with them. Still trying to get used to them.

I didn't run today due to work committments but hopefully I shall get a long run in tomorrow. Maybe 9 miles or something like that and then do 6 on Friday or at least get out and about on Friday see how I cope. I need to get the 9 done this week if I can though.

Sorry it has taken me so long to update you. I shall get better. I am away in Darlington this weekend so your prayers for that always welcome. Especially on new running routes.

Jan 29th (Tuesday)
I am afraid that investment in some new running shoes is required at the moment as my old knee's cannot hack the ones I have at the moment. The shock absorbers have gone caput due to the number of miles that have been put in. I hadn't really noticed until Sunday morning. The Morning after the night before as it were. I had been out doing my 11 mile run and my legs just had not coped at all. My joints had been pounded against the floor so much during the 2 hours and 13 minutes that they are now damaged a bit. So I shall invest in some running shoes this weekend I think. Yesterday I was playing football in the evening so didn't do any running. i worked as hard during football anyway. It was my short fitness burst one so was worth it in my opinion.

Jan 26th (Saturday)
Another day goes by and another run and this one was a daddy! An absolute beast of a run and to be honest at the end I came to the realisation that I really cannot run much more than that. My vision became blurred and slightly redish. My perception of the world around me and the dimentions of my body was entirely new and at that moment I realised while I had ran only about half the marathon I was experiencing something along the lines of the wall that everyone talks about. Today I did 11 miles and I am quite convinced that I will really appreciate the rest tomorrow. I could think that maybe the Lord gave a day of rest just for me :) Next week I have a couple of 3 milers, a 6 miler and a twelve miler which admittedly is only a mile more than today. Its do-able! As for my girlfriend? She has just text me saying she is sat at home reading a book she bought in today's £100 shopping spree and gazing lovingly at her new mittens. Hard life eh? I am heading off now to spend something in the line of £10 on my weekly big shop :D I do enjoy the big shop. Then home to iron and to bed. No rest for the wicked or the righteous, sinners or the saints.

25th Jan 2008 (Friday)
My run yesterday was ok though very difficult which was strange considering it was just 3 miles long. But a slight injury in my right foot niggled at me and my own deliberate desire to push it which therefore made me feel quite tired. Certainly not the perfect build up to the final run of the week which is 11 miles long. I have decided to do that on Satuday so as to allow me today off to really let my body recover itself.

Your sponsorship and prayers are really appreciated

Jan 23rd (Wednesday)
Wow, yesterday was a real test of my fitness. My mate Matt always sets the pace for these runs we have and he set off at unbelievable pace. I was charging after him wondering if I was about to die a slow and painful death within the first mile. I am really not used to that pace. Its an absolute nightmare but I found getting on for 3 miles in that I was really coping very well indeed! I felt good, I felt ready for the 1 and a half mile hill towards the back end of the roote, with much prayer and concentration I actually made it. But half way up, well no, almost at the top of the hill, he shouted something like a war movie where he said "Go on without me." Entirely confused and shattered I took over him and ran on to the top. And then when at the top I was feeling really good. I could just tell I had something left in my legs which was really exciting! So I just let loose and ended up home in record time and so did Matt. Really good indeed!

Jan 22nd (Tuesday)
Tuesday seems to be Matthew Heaps day. My weekly running partner Matt is off again today and therefore I think we're going to have a 5 miler run today which should be fun. As for yesterday I went out after tea around 6pm. I tell you something though, it was wet, unbelievably wet! I came back maybe slightly short of 3 miles but I was concerned for my own body due to the amount of water that was appearing from the sky and landing over my goodself. Seemed to go quite well. my legs held up fine and I was barely even out of breath. So, not bad at the moment, I need to keep this going over next few days. I will keep you updated as it goes on. Keep praying and sponsor me if you can www.justgiving.co.uk/jasonramsey is the site you need. Otherwise please ask me to send you a sponsorship form.

Jan 17th (Thursday)
I did my 3 miles in 22:29 yesterday, but not after much protest from myself I really was not in the mood. And I am not sure if in the end I made the right decision or not, my body was still suffering after my run with Matt,maybe a day off might have been advisable. Either way I ran it and I feel ok the day after. Today is going to be a day off for me. I shall rest up and allow my body to recover. Too many late nights! The problem is that by the time I get home in the afternoon I don't feel so tired. I'll never get up in time for work on Friday unless I do something drastic. I'm out tonight too but should only be till 9. Anyway that is enough rambling from me, have a great day!

Jan 16th (Wednesday)
Hey team. Well I feel very good at the moment. Did almost 7 miles in an hour or so yesterday with my friend Matt, it was a nice pace and we managed to chat most of the way round. Really great time of fellowship and fitness. Strangely I really did feel good and it was one of those milage events that lets you realise you're actually in a marathon training period. 7 miles looks something at least towards the 26.2 miles. 2 or 3 miles always feels like you've done some exercise but you're only out for half an hour or so and you do feel quite a cheat. But there we are! As for today, should be a simple 3 miler. I will try and pick up the pace on this one too. Really run through those hills and make my legs run quickly. I have a few 3 milers to come so I shall time myself on this one and see what sort of time I pick up. Thanks for your support and prayers, and remember if you want to donate money to Caring For Life, my nominated charity then please do on www.justgiving.co.uk/jasonramsey or as me for a sponsor form. I will happily do so. Great cause!

15th Jan (Tuesday)
Yesterday was a good run out. Went up the hill past the Dewsbury Hospital and down into Heckmondwike where I failed my driving test. Loads of happy memories. I tell you though the old knee's were burning up up the hill between Bradford Road and Dewsbury Hospital. It is serious pain but really worth it as you run down the hill into Heckmondwike. That is possibly the easiest stretch of run I have ever completed!

Today is my Matthew Heaps run. I meet up with a friend who runs miles faster than me and therefore while we tend to do only round 6 miles, he stretches me to new physical limits. I have to be aware of how people affect my running speed. I am never happy to let him get miles ahead of me. haha, maybe thats my own competitive nature, if there's enough space beside him then I feel I need to pick up the pace and get alongside him, loosing more energy in the process.

Jan 14th (Monday)
Wow, I am still struggling with this issue, which marathon training guide do I use? I have found one that offers a beginners marathon training plan. I am not overly convinced by it mainly because it seems to look easier than the one I have been using. But I am sorely tempted purely on the basis of simplicity. Working out how many miles I have ran is a nightmare. This one allows me to do it by time. I might follow it for this week and wait and see what happens J You never know it might work. The one I was following last week was really good for me, I am feeling fitter than I have ever felt in my life. If you want to sponsor me then please get onto

www.justgiving.co.uk/jasonramsey and help support the wonderful charity of Caring for Life.

Of course I recently celebrated the 1 year anniversary with my girlfriend Abi. One is tempted to suggest that if I can survive a year with a woman then a marathon should be no problem right?