It’s just over three months until I run the London Marathon for Demelza Hospice Care for Children and I can’t wait.

Having completed the Brighton Marathon last year for CRY UK, I almost instantly had the desire to do London and that fire in my belly just wouldn’t go.

So it didn’t take long for me to look around on the best way to get on the start line for April 24th and the best way was to secure a charity place.

This was the easy bit. I have a strong affinity to everything Demelza do and they’re such a worthwhile cause. Anyone that’s been to the hospice near Sittingbourne will tell you of the wonderful work that largely goes on under the radar and having been several times myself, I’m touched every time I visit.

As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to see any child suffering and if I can play some very small part in raising not only funds, but also awareness, my 26.2 miles of struggle will be all worthwhile.

For those that know me, I wouldn’t necessarily be described as your typical athlete. I sit down too much, eat biscuits, cake, chocolate, drink cider and far too much tea.

None of the above can necessarily be described as living a totally healthy lifestyle, but I have been addressing my diet since a visit to the doctor’s revealed I’d got slightly high cholesterol.

I certainly try to eat a lot less cheese and have swerved the odd dairy based product here and there.

The past year or so though has seen me get back into running, something I loved as a kid. I’d run everywhere as a primary school aged child, not always to the delight of the adults that were keen on me to stand still for five minutes.

I ran some races, won a few, turned up late for one and still ended up doing well. I was actually quite good.

I’ve never been the perfect athlete, but the one thing I have a lot of is determination. I am never convinced I can’t do something. The more someone says I can’t do it, the more I will try to prove them wrong.

Saying that, the one person that was convinced the least I could ever do a marathon was me.

Last year was a turning point. I’d turned forty and had taken the plunge to run the Brighton Marathon. Without boring you with all the details (as you can read it all in my previous blog – http://www.kentsportsnews.com/blog-my-marathon-experience-26-04-2015/ ), I came home in five hours dead, to the very second. How impressive was that? Not the time – the fact my OCD obsession was fulfilled!

With London the next real target, I would never have imagined I’d end up doing another one around Maidstone. Again, without going into too much detail, I completed my second ever marathon with the truly inspiring Ben Smith (read about it here: http://www.kentsportsnews.com/blog-a-man-on-the-run-401-of-them-29-10-2015/ )

For those of you that don’t know what Ben’s doing, he’s running 401 consecutive marathons in 401 days. Yes, you read that right, 401 marathons in 401 days.

Us humble mortals struggle to manage one a year, but he’s doing them every day of his life for over a year. It almost doesn’t bare thinking about the punishment his body is being put through.

I could barely walk after completing the Brighton Marathon and it must have taken about a week to fully recover. Ben gets up every morning and casually runs another 26.2 miles.

It’s his level of determination and desire that has inspired me. Throughout these winter months when I am out pounding the streets of Kent, I give a little thought to Ben and his challenge. I have absolutely no cause to complain.

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I made a detour to Nottingham to catch up with Ben as he ran marathon number 125. It was great to spring the surprise of meeting up with him at Holme Pierrepont, where lots of rowing goes on, topping him up with a few supplies for the weeks ahead.

Just a few short minutes chatting with Ben recharged my mental batteries – he really does have this ability to inspire everyone he meets.

With my daughter leading the twenty plus strong group off on their travels, he was gone, but certainly not forgotten.

These past few weeks have seen me run the Norwich parkrun, get back to Kent to run with friends once again, with the hill at Great Lines parkrun still no easier and enjoy some wonderful woodland runs around Medway.

Whether I’m in a 500 strong group or out on my own, the one thing remains the same, I just love running.

It’s all part of my London Marathon training, but I’d probably still do it even if I wasn’t doing the most iconic run in April.

I have a very strong affinity for getting my mucky old running shoes on and going out for a quick blast somewhere.

What has impressed me most though about my running, is that I’m now joined most weeks by friends. I’d have to say parkrun is the most amazing vehicle to get people up off the sofa and into a better way of living.

Every Saturday morning, no matter what the weather, hundreds of people turn up to do their local parkrun. Five kilometres seems like a long way when you haven’t exercised for a long time, but it’s just the right distance to burn some calories and work up a sweat.

The most impressive part of parkrun though is the way it builds communities and has seen the love of volunteering we saw at the 2012 Olympics, turned into a real legacy as dozens of people give up their time for nothing to support people like me.

So, with three months to go until I run the London Marathon, you’re probably all wondering what wonderful insight I can impart on how to get through a marathon unscathed. I wish I could tell you, but alas I haven’t a clue.

My top tips are simple. Don’t consume too much alcohol the night before, trust people when they say you should invest in some Vaseline and enjoy it.

It’s surprising how quick four to five hours of your life will seem like the longest, but be like a blur when it’s all over.

I took lots of photos as I ran the Brighton Marathon and will no doubt do the same when I do London. To me, I’m going to be like a tourist for the day, just with a pair of trainers and a vest on.

The thought of passing by Buckingham Palace and down to the finish line at The Mall is one that has crossed my mind several times in he pas few months. Many elite athletes I have spoken to over the years talk of mentally imaging succeeding in their given sport and I’m no different.

Not that I could ever be described as an elite athlete!

I have however imagined what a buzz it will be to be cheered on in those last few hundred yards, when your body is screaming at you to stop.

To get to where I am so far, I have had fantastic support from friends and family, and this is where you can all help.

Sponsorship will do two things. Firstly and most importantly, it will help youngsters that need your help more than ever at Demelza and secondly, it will inspire me.

Even if it is just a pound that you can sponsor me, that will be fantastic. I’ve just got to find 2000 people that think the same and I have reached my target.

Go on, you know you want to…

https://www.justgiving.com/Steve-Wolfe1/

Meanwhile, there are loads of people to thank – Lee, Nicola, Jazmine and Lucy Allen for running with me in all weathers, Brendon Davey (who has been amazing and has signed up to run the Brighton Marathon for Demelza), Emma Richardson-Smith for running with me, even on Boxing Day, Ben Smith and Ben Rogers – you both inspire me, Tony Giles and all the guys that make parkruns happen, Lucy Tomlinson for being so wonderful for running Run Kent and most importantly to my daughter Ellie who not only runs with me, but cheers me on.

Thanks also to those that have already sponsored me – my Dad, Dan Sellens, Lee Allen, Andrew Crowther and James Low.