Well, Thank you so much to those of you who contributed - including the £65 from my 41 club friends given last week.

Here are the video links!! just to prove that Yes i really did it in boots - barking mad on those hills and with little training...

http://www.youtube.com/user/SkipM12#p/a/u/2/al7ZSvhNtyI

http://www.youtube.com/user/SkipM12#p/a/u/1/fIfqZCuytpM

http://www.youtube.com/user/SkipM12#p/a/u/0/4hT231pYfSo

All the bery best and catch up soon hopefully.

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Thank you for visiting my JustGiving Fundraising page after the race update with my original message beneath.

Well I did it! My morning started with a bowl of porridge, adapting some old insoles to make the boots less stressful, hydrating and eating a twix for some sugary energy. I got dropped off and hung around and had some banter with the many who thought I was mad to be in boots. Bumped into an RM reservist (a local teacher) and found a place (not near the front this year!) Then after a bit of a briefing about cars to acorns - we were off. Or rather those at the front were - I got going a minute or so later. Not quite London marathon congestion but still - some wasted time!!.

The first K was a gentle warm up jog - all moving the same pace, some easy down-hills and a little lane where we shuffled to a stop as those in shorts ahead didn't fancy being nettled. Then a bit of an incline and a right turn onto Gold Hill. I ran a chunk, marched fast the middle and ran over the top, playing to the crowd and the cameraman, who I spotted this year.

Then round the corner onto Park Walk and an opportunity to get my breath back a bit. Through the wooded pines path and onto St Johns Hill. The steep down-hill to St James. Round the corner and past the church into open countryside. Wow, I was feeling ok and waved to Matt as I passed home. More down-hill, through the cutting and onto the common. Got to the 4k mark in 24 minutes - That's an hour rate for the course ... but I'm at the bottom - oh dear! I am going to have to up my pace when I can run.

Again running in boots was fine (or rather just as fine as I remembered it to be) Not anywhere near as fine as running in light trainers, that's for sure. Some people ahead look like they are a similar pace to me, I try to keep up to them. 5k and a cup of water - very welcome. A long slight incline and then a steep down-hill through the leafy lane to French Mill. More than my calf in pain now and I'm appreciative of the pain killers.

And now the long 3k of uphill - horrid ! Much speed marching, occasional jogs and then some bystanders applauding - better jog a bit more. Very kna-----d. Up the steep Great Lane, round the bend and then Jayne and Derek and Peter my neighbour - time to run again. And now for 1 last K jog but keep something to take the chap ahead.

Round the corner and open up overtake. Blurry pic as I run in. Get my memento, stop my watch, recover, polite banter with fellow runners and get my pic taken by a friend. That was so damn hard! Now where's the car..

 1hr 3mins 50 secs - very acceptable indeed!

 Next year anyone?

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My original message:

As you probably know I am very proud to be a former Royal Marine. There is a saying "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" and I still try to stay close to The Corps even after so many years out of uniform. Just now there is a huge need to secure a solid financial base to provide support, particularly towards the recently injured and the families of Royal Marines who have been killed or injured on Active Service.

 This week has been a pretty sad one. In an almost unbelievable co-incidence 2 of my former "oppo's" George Mathieson and Peter Thompson have died. George and his family have been good friends of ours for many years and Pete got me into part time selling when I was wondering what on earth I could do in the "real word" back in the late 80's. They were great buddies then and I want to do something positive in their memory. I was going to do this horrible run anyway - but now have a greater purpose. The run passes the church where Jayne and I got married & where the attached picture of George and Pete was taken - back in 84'
 
Anyway, The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund has various initiatives underway, one is the Commando Spirit Appeal which I am supporting. If you have a look at the website at www.commandospirit.com. you will see it's principle fundraising is via high profile "Commando tests" and this years is The Dunker - which I clearly remember doing all those years ago - to simulate escaping from a sinking helicopter - not nice - believe me.
 
What I'm going to attempt is something somewhat more challenging for me. One of the commando tests is the "6 miler" (the warm up for the famed nine miler). A speed march in boots with kit and rifle - as a troop and each mile completed in 10 minutes. (The last time I did one was in 85' when George was the instructor with the good idea!)
 
Well I am going to have a go at doing the 6 miles in my old boots in 60 minutes. On the 9th of October I will run, here in Shaftesbury in the 10k Gold Hill Run. Last year I ran in trainers and finished in just over an hour. The course is hard and includes some horrible hills. Gold Hill famed for the Hovis advert, it is just one of many long and often steep hills. So you might think that 32 years after I earned my Green Beret, running in boots up and down hills for 6 miles is definitely a challenge.
 
I have set myself an equally significant fundraising challenge (for just over a week!) and I would like to thank you for your support and I promise to update you on how I get on! - as the total increases I will add some interesting old pictures to the site so come back.

 So, why the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund?

The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund helps Royal Marines and their families when they need it most. They aid the wounded and injured. They give quality of life to those returning from operations. And when the worst happens, they support the families of those who die in service. The RMCTF has the widest purposes of almost any service charity - effectively, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund will help when others can't.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.