WELL I was always due to have a bad day in my marathon training and today was just that!

With just five weeks to go to the marathon I have had a bit of a setback with a rib/back injury which means I am not allowed to exercise for at least a week.

After my usual workout at the gym on Friday night I awoke on Saturday with a slight pain in my ribs.

I just put it down to the workout doing its job after my sit ups and ab crunches.

But through the day it got marginally worse and after a sleepless night I decided I would attempt my 10 mile run this morning, Sunday.

After all, last time I had a slight twinge in my back the doctor had advised me to run.

So I headed off with a pain in my back but thought the run would help.

By the time I was 2.5 miles in I was in some real discomfort. Every time I inhaled I felt a sharp pain in my side and my back.

Rather than pounding along the remaining eight miles and putting further stress on what appeared to be an injury I decided to stop and head home.

I was devastated as my training had been going so well.

On my route home was the local hospital, and with walking and just breathing causing me considerable pain I thought I should call in.

It was 9am on a Sunday, so I thought, it could be quiet, but despite thinking it to be a minor twinge thought it best to get it checked out!

Three hours later I had had an ECG, chest x-rays, co-codamol, codeine and diazepam - seems it was more serious than I thought.

Sent home with the strict instruction to rest, do no exercise for at least seven days and to take my medication I am somewhat deflated this evening.

There is no clear diagnosis on my pain, but it is more than likely a muscle strain between my ribs and lungs.

I always knew something would get me along my training route but always thought it would be the knees to go first.

They in fact have recovered fine from last weekend's 18 miles and my legs felt fresh.

It made me realise though that 26 miles is not going to be a treat, how could it be after all.

Putting your body through a marathon is not child's play, otherwise we would all be doing it.

But I am determined to finish the race in five weeks. This injury might set my training back but if anything, I now know how hurt I am to know how easily it could go out the window.

So today I have pledged to myself to get round the route no matter what it takes.

If my back is not completely cured and I have to walk 13 of the 26 miles then that is what I will do.

Ideally I will be over this issue and I will be capable of running the whole way, but if not, I want to get over the line and give something back to all those people who have supported me since I signed up to the race.

Those people are not just family and friends, but the Epilepsy Society for putting their faith in me, local businesses for their raffle donations and those people who have found the generosity to help me raise around £1,400 so far for epilepsy.

I am so grateful to everyone for all the support and hopefully now, with the final furlong just around the corner, that support will continue and I will have a great day out in London on April 17.

I may be downbeat and a bit disheartened today, but I am also very excited and I hope you all continue to follow my journey in the final build up!