It's been a year today since I started running. Yes, just 365 days since I had my first run and now I'm three days away from my second full marathon - the first in a series of 12 throughout 2014.

On January 22nd 2013 I received an email from Sarah at Breast Cancer Care asking me if I'd like a last minute place in the Virgin London Marathon. I jumped at the chance. But what was I really thinking? I had just 88 days and at that time, I couldn't even run a kilometre. I contacted family and friends asking if they thought I could do it, 'Go for it' was the general reply. 

So I did. I really went for it. I managed to clock just 9 miles as my longest training run after a 2-week episode of shin-splints and spent most of the night before the race in tears. But the second I got to the start line there was no stopping me. I finished the marathon - given VERY slowly (5:33:03), and somehow in those 88 days, with the support of 'Team Bexx', raised a phenomenal £11,242.35 for Breast Cancer Care. 

After three weeks rest, my trainers were back on and planning began for what has become this incredible challenge. The concept of Team Run 12 was born. 

In the last year, I've learnt an awful lot about myself but also a hell of a lot about running and "being a marathoner". Whilst I can tell you the calorie content of most foods and have finally accepted that my feet are just meant to be disgusting, I've also learnt some valuable life lessons. 

Here are seven things running has taught me... 

People are willing to help you if you just ask. 
Raising over £11,000 for charity is something I've never really been able to get my head around. When Breast Cancer Care gave me my Virgin London Marathon place, they also gave me a new outlook on life. I've learnt to cope with my anxieties better and I've learnt to ask for help. 

After pestering everyone I've ever met (and people I've never met) endlessly to sponsor me for the marathon, I've realised that 'if you don't ask you don't get'. 

Life Lesson One: Whether you want a pay rise, a date or an invite somewhere: ASK.

A high five, smile or nod can make a bad run, a great run.
I spent the first 3 miles of the London Marathon high-fiving compete strangers, feeling like a complete hero. Now, I make sure that when I'm running I always acknowledge other runners. Whilst I haven't yet been brave enough to randomly high-five anyone running around Maidstone, I ALWAYS say hello, wave and smile. It shocks me how surprised people look but, 99% of the time, they return the gesture. 

Someone recently shouted 'THREE MONTHS TO LONDON, C'MON GIRL' from their car whilst I was attempting to get up a particularly nasty hill. At first I was thinking 'yes, and the other three marathons I have to run before that', but I was soon smiling over someone acknowledging me as a marathon runner (that or my black and red VLM rain jacket gave me away). 

Life Lesson Two: Smiling is infectious. Whether you're out running, walking or waiting for a bus, acknowledge people around  you. 

Carbs are NOT your nemesis
Here's a cheeky, unflattering photo of me scoffing pizza the night before VLM 2013. Following my accident at Reading Festival I gained a considerable amount of weight; I then spent a year living on tins of tuna and sweetcorn and avoiding carbohydrates in any form, whilst running myself in to the ground with a gruelling 2-hour a day cardio routine. I couldn't even wait for the microwave to ping without doing squats and lunges around the kitchen.

Now, I'm no stranger to pasta, potato and even ice cream. I've recognised that everything can be eaten in moderation to fuel your body. Carbs are integral to this, particularly for distance runners. Whoever said 'abs are made in the kitchen' was right. 

Life Lesson Three: You cannot out-exercise a bad diet. 

Massages aren't always relaxing 
I have a wonderful Osteopath, who I genuinely cannot rave enough about (check him out here), but my god fixing an injury can be painful. I likened a recent massage to help with my shin splints to 'cutting my leg open, filling it with glass, stitching it back up then setting it on fire.' 

Massage certainty isn't all romance and candles. Particularly when a foam roller's involved. 

Life Lesson Four: Sometimes, to get to where you want to be, you have to bleed, sweat and cry. Note: Swearing is perfectly acceptable. 

Running is NOT a free sport
"Put your trainers on and off you go, surely?!" Yes, trainers that cost £100, insoles that cost £45, food that costs more than I'd like to admit to, race entries costing up to £300 and then there's all the "completely-unnecessary-but-my-god-I-want-three-of-them-so-badly" gadgets us runners seem to hoard. GPS watches, headphones that don't fall out of your ears, magazine subscriptions, fluorescent space print leggings... I could go on. 

Life Lesson Five: Money can't buy you happiness, unless, of course, shoes make you happy. 

There's an exercise to be this enthusiastic about for everyone 
I'm sure every runner has been asked "why do you run?!", it's something I've started responding with "well, why don't you?" People make excuses about not having enough time or just declare "I just couldn't do it". 

Running or exercising for 30 minutes is less than 2% of your entire day. And, ANYONE can do it, anywhere, day or night. Whilst, I can't recommend running enough I appreciate it isn't for everyone; there are hundreds of other options to get more active. Try swimming, walking, a local zumba or yoga class, start kickboxing, weight lifting or gymnastics. The options are endless. 

Life Lesson Six: Your body is the only home you'll have for life. Make time to improve and care for it. 

You can do anything you set your mind to
If, 366 days ago someone had told me that I'd finish a marathon, a half marathon and rank in the top 50 of a 1000 person 10km race in 2013, I'd have laughed and continued with my comfortable lifestyle. 

The journey I've been on has, by no means, been easy. I work a full time job, train religiously, manage and market Team Run 12, fundraise, eat and sleep, whilst trying to maintain some level of normality. 

I have days where I want to give up. I have runs which I spend questioning why on earth I'm doing this and declaring my over-whelming hatred for running. I get injured. I want to get drunk and lay in bed on a Sunday with a hangover like your average 22 year old rather than running for 2-hours.

And then I remember the 'I did it' feeling at the end of every run, the 'you've been sponsored' emails, the cheers from a crowd and the sight of a finish line. In one year, I've become far more focused, far healthier and can see what I want more clearly, all because I put one foot in front of the other several times a week. 

Life Lesson Seven: If you're dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough. Shoot for the stars. 

Becky's first marathon, in a series of twelve, takes place this weekend. 

To sponsor her, please visit: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/teamrun12
100% of proceeds to Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK. Target: £25,000. 

After almost seven months of planning the first race is nearly upon us. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances we were forced to organise our own marathon and upon reflection I'm so glad this is the case. I've 'recruited' 15 incredible people who will individually join me for a 1.54 (ish) mile lap and attempt to raise some money for Team Run 12. It also means that Team Run 12 will be reunited for the weekend. Had I been overseas, it was likely that only my mum and sister would have been on the route; this alternative means that all of my friends, family and colleagues have the opportunity to join me and keep me motivated!

I'd like to invite you all to join me on Saturday 25th January from 9:30am at the Cyclopark in Gravesend (DA11 7NP). I anticipate that the last lap will take place at around 3pm. 

Entry to the cyclopark is £2. If you have children, this also allows you access to the large on-site play park. We will also have two marquees on-site, offering sheltered viewing of the marathon, a DJ and lots more. There is a also large cafe offering a range of hot and cold foods and drink. 

More information on the park can be found here: http://www.cyclopark.com
Directions to the park can be found here: http://www.cyclopark.com/key-info/

Please join me in thanking the guest runners and be sure to show them plenty of support during their laps. 

Following the event I'd like to invite the guest runners and our friends and family to join us for celebratory drinks from 7pm at the Chiltern Hundreds on Sittingbourne Road in Maidstone. 

We have kindly been allowed private use of the conservatory at the car-park end of the pub. I hope to see as many of you there as possible for a glass of bubbles to celebrate everyone's achievements on the day and to toast the year ahead. 

Please also remember the reasons behind our challenge. If you are able to contribute to our fundraising target of £25,000, large or small, please do so by clicking here.

Minimum Donation: £1  Your donation will be equally split between our two selected charities.

Happy New Year to you all; we're now just 19 days away from marathon number one. I'll be writing tomorrow with full details of the event, I'd love to see as many of you as possible supporting myself and the micro-marathon runners. 

The Highs and Lows of Training for a Marathon
I ended 2013 on a very low note; I'd been struggling to get any kind of decent longer runs in (we're talking over 6 miles!) because of the weather and being a bit of a socialite for a few weeks, completely my own fault.  But as I realised that time had basically run out I went in to full blown panic mode and had several days of wondering 'why did I think I could do this?' This was made worse by someone, I had considered a friend, saying to me: 'Why are you doing  this? You're so stupid, you're only going to end up with awful knees AND it's going to take over your whole life. I can't believe you even think you're capable.' Those kind of words aren't exactly motivating! Now, I know we often joke about how stupid I am for taking this on but I like to think a majority of you believe I will finish this.

How's Training Going?
I managed to get out on Christmas day and powered through a steady 3.5 miles (a run to the pub to pick my car up from the night before!) but aside from that small blast of dedication, I have really been slacking so I believed what I was being told by my negative critics.

Shelley picked me up on New Years Eve and we had a steady 10km run around the Cyclopark in Gravesend, which is the venue of my first race, and I felt a little bit better. I've had a few better runs this week and then managed to get 11 miles under my belt yesterday. I was slightly under fuelled so started to flag towards the last mile but hearing my GPS tell me how far I'd been put a bit of determination back in to me!

The Next Nineteen Days
Next weekend I'm hoping to cover 14-15 miles and then I'm ready to taper (and 100% ready to carb-load). Most runners get pre-race nerves and I'm no exception; I'm hoping I don't suffer nightmares as horrendous as I did before London last April.

If you're expecting to see me in the next three weeks, you won't hear much come out of my mouth aside from 'I'm hungry', 'Is it time to eat yet?' and 'Can you stretch my leg/click my back for me?'. Basically, if I could moan my way around a marathon I would be sub 2:45 runner! 

More so, there are millions of people across the world who would love to have the opportunity to dedicate a year of their life to a challenge like this but instead they are forced to dedicate many years to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the gruelling side effects. I consider myself incredibly blessed to have even been able to plan this year, with the support of my amazing family, friends and team 

On January 25th I take on marathon number ONE of TWELVE. 
This ones for you; the people who said I can't.