By day Kathryn Hearn, 36, is glued to her computer.

By night, she is glued to the television.

In between she eats.

China Diary 3: 11/2/03
So why has the unfit, mother-of-two (yes there is a comma) signed up to a challenging trek for the Meningitis Research Foundation along the Great Wall of China?

Disaster struck about 10 days ago when I was on the treadmill, casually running at five miles an hour and congratulating myself on timing my workout to combine my cooldown with the increasingly fantastic Footballers Wives. (Is this really like the real thing?)

Training before the treadmill trauma

With one twang of the left calf muscle, I was left hopping furiously while trying to figure out - without my glasses - which of the buttons was the off switch. And so it was that I was injured in my third week of training for my trek along the Great Wall of China for Meningitis Research Foundation.

As I limped around the office – managing the short journey from the chocolate machine to my desk admirably – I pondered my poorly leg and how many other past-times I had walked away from – or limped away from – after being injured. The list makes interesting reading:

* not essentially known as a sport, but I use the term generically

After 10 days rest and recuperation involving lots of confectionery and one night of terrible overindulgence of the alcoholic beverage type, I am pleased to report that I am back on the training schedule – although taking it more tentatively now.

My preparations were further hindered by the good old British weather and that Thursday night which most people in Hertfordshire will remember for a lifetime. I was stuck in my old Corsa on the A414 near Hertford with just my colleagues on Three Counties Radio for company and no mobile telephone signal for a total of seven hours.

Many had worse travel stories as born out on our messageboard and snow photo gallery.
The increased workload that ensued – frantic uploadings of schools closed and travel details – has also set me back in my fund-raising efforts. I’ve got to raise £2,500 and so far I have £60 on my specific sponsorship page at www/justgiving.com/china and a promise of £15 in the post. Sounds pretty feeble but I’ve now sent out about 60 letters – some cornering my extended family and friends into helping – and others to firms and companies who might be interested in spreading a bit of generosity around the Home Counties.

Any would-be sponsors out there – imagine how great it would be to have your company’s logo, T-shirt, and even flag emblazoned on my back as I journey along the Great Wall of China for eight days in May!! Email me now if you’re up for it: kathryn.hearn@bbc.co.uk Go on, all rush at once.

As I will be walking about 20km (12miles) a day in China I used a pedometer to try and gauge my basic fitness – it told me I had walked 6.5 miles in one day which I was fairly impressed with, being mainly desk-bound at work. But on a similar day, when the pedometer was left at home on the kitchen side, it told me it had travelled 4.3 miles. Doesn’t sound too accurate!!

My cat Sammy models my Three Counties Radio T-shirt

One of the highlights of my week was a call from Sarah at Meningitis Research Foundation to check my T-shirt size. "You don’t look like a large," she kindly said. She also told me that I sounded fit enough to cope well with the trek. But appearances can be deceptive – and the XL T-shirt that’s since arrived is just about perfect.

I’ve had to cancel going to the travel clinic to have my injections twice now –once through the weather and once through the after effects of alcohol. My final pack with all the information has arrived and I must admit to getting more and more excited about the whole adventure.

My priority now though is to keep the training ticking over steadily (forget the Sally Gunnell aims I had last month) while swamping St Albans with sponsor forms. So watch this space …..
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