I am sure many of you like me, followed Sara Cox on her amazing Children in Need challenge last week.

I always enjoy the endurance events. I left the tv on overnight when Joe Wicks was doing his 24 hour fitness challenge, tuned in from 5am onwards when the adorable Owain Wyn Evans was drumming for 24 hours and who can forget Sophie Ellis Bextor singing and dancing her way into the morning from a very long night.

Sara however, really got me. From the word go, I have been following her online. Her training and her prep. in the weeks preceding and the fanfare of her start through the Scott Mills radio show. I have sobbed at her progress and, talking to friends, find that many of you have been equally moved.

I know many,  many others have achieved far greater things. Kevin Sinfield proved a friendship beyond all measure by running 7 marathons in 7 days to raise money for his beloved friend and rugby colleague Rob Burrows who died in 2024 from MND.

There is no doubt that people push themselves beyond all measure in the name of love and loyalty but Sara! This one's for you.

Watching her genuine suffering and pain went right through me. The fact is that she is not an athlete, has never even run a half marathon and now has the whole nation watching her. How could she stop? She said herself that while her legs are agony, it is temporary. She is putting in the miles to raise money for children who live their whole lives in chronic pain. Their bravery pushed her on - who couldn't fail to be deeply moved by Jude, a 20 year old with spina bifida. His parents were told he would never walk and while he has benefited from treatment and support financed by Children in Need, he walked a rainy, chilly, hilly 8km with Sara - an endurance event he had to train for and what courage! I wish I had been there to cheer him over the line.

I chose the photo above because it shows real emotion. While getting regular updates about the amazing money she was raising (now topping £11m), Sara was in agony, scared of failure and totally exhausted.

I do wonder, nearly a week after finishing, as she still can't walk properly and is still in severe pain, she may have done lasting damage. While not quite in her league, I had to admit that after my last Moonwalk a couple of years ago,  perhaps 26 miles on these beaten up hips and knees is no longer for me.... whether she will see lasting damage remains to be seen but I applaud her and have sobbed for her at what she has achieved.

However... let's talk "women of a certain age."

Sara was interviewed regularly by whatever Radio 2 dj was live (again - when I have done endurance events, I have had to really go into my. head - how on earth she gave interviews, chatted to supporters, waved at passers by.... amazing) and Trevor Nelson mentioned how well she was doing and referenced "women of a certain age" and she, quite rightly put him firmly in his place and from there it gained momentum. What does that patronising, judgmental, pigeon holeing, sexist comment even mean? Certainly got my gander up.

 I can remember when I used to teach at Lymington Health and leisure, seeing a class called "aerobics for over 50's" and being appalled - and I was a baby faced 40 something at the time but even then, I was amazed that women allowed themselves to to be categorised.

Having grown up in a hideously misogynistic home, I am probably fiercer than some but it still amazes me when women allow themselves to be patronised.

So GO SARA! Both men and women have picked up the chant and it has been referenced over and over since she started it last week- what relevance "women of a certain age?"

We all know that I am always beating the drum about age being irrelevant and I frequently brag about the positive attitude and dedication of my clients and really, as I keep saying -it's not age. It's attitude.

I was quite frustrated that I hadn't done more than make donations on my phone so next year we are going to do something together for Children in Need.... I am not sure what yet, but I am thinking. About 15 years ago, I did a Pilates marathon where I taught from 8am to 8pm for Naomi House Children's hospice - does anyone remember that? Some people did every class and we had a huge turnout using the large studio at Lymington Health and Leisure (they of the over 50's aerobics!) ...thinking cap on and ideas welcomed.

Must say, watching the challenge left me feeling very nostalgic for Yorkshire!!