Hello blog readers! My name is Chris Birch. I live in Reynalton and work for Pembrokeshire County Council as Lifelong Learning Manager.

Between now and April 26th 2009 I’ll be preparing to run the London Marathon on behalf of ‘Action for Children’ which is the new name for NCH, National Childrens Homes and supports children and their families in a huge variety of ways making a happy life more possible. These include adoption and fostering, children in care and family support for disabled children.

Did you know that our local 'Action for Children' office is based in Merlins Court, Haverfordwest and provides help and support for children, and young people here in Pembrokeshire.

You can visit my site at ‘www.justgiving.com/christopherbirch’.

I’ll keep you updated on my progress(or lack of it!) as we build up to the big day.

I have quite a long and chequered history of running, from school to some cross country whilst studying in Liverpool. A sustained spell of running in Oxford between 1986 and 1989 saw me complete a number of 10k and half marathons. I also completed the Abingdon Marathon in 1987 and then my first London in 1988.

For those runners interested in times my personal bests during this period were 37:56 (10K), 1hr 22mins (half marathon) and 3hr 22 (marathon).

However, following our move to Pembroke in 1990 the regularity of my running decreased and after I completed the London Marathon in 1992 I took a break…which lasted 12 years!

Fast forward to 2004 I decided at the age of 45 to give running, or more correctly jogging, a final shot before it was too late. I had not realised just how difficult it would be to even begin jogging again having enjoyed the good life and put on 2 stone in weight. I soon realised as I tried to haul myself up the slope (not hill) out of the village that defying gravity is not only scientifically but physically difficult. After about 200 yards I retreated disheartened to my armchair and footstool.

For some reason I tried again..and again until I found that I could run to the Templeton airfield, and then around the Hackett farm 4 mile circuit. I also enrolled with my sons at the Harkett/ John physical torture sessions (to me) down at Carew FC training (only a joke!). Thanks to them the weight started to fall off and my fitness levels improved rapidly to the extent that I decided to enter the Easter Mayors 5k race at Carmarthen.

I completed this and other 10k races that year. However running can be a lonely business and to keep motivated and enjoy the pastime I decided to join the TROT St Clears running and social club.

This was the best running move I ever made as the support and joviality of fellow members provided the incentive to continue and even strive to improve further. This continued to the extent that in April 2008 I completed the London Marathon in 3hrs 59 minutes and 52 seconds, not 4 hours! This and I even managed to stop briefly to chat to Sue (my wife) at 24 miles.

In the immediate painful aftermath I considered never putting myself through that ordeal again-so why 2009?

There are two main reasons: Firstly I did the marathon as a personal challenge but afterwards regretted not using the opportunity to raise money for a charity. Secondly with time the pain fades and you start to think ‘ Well it wasn’t that bad’ and you start to consider attempting it again-even a little faster this time!

So that’s why this year I am running for ‘Action for Children’, the new name for National Childrens Homes. They deserve all the help I can give.