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A lot of you, like me, probably have a list of things you want to do before you die, or a "bucket list" - things to do before you 'kick the bucket'. One of the things in my list is to travel and see the world, which I'm off to do at the end of this year. Unfortunately, there are a lot of young children in the world who are terminally ill and will not get to live their lives and grow old. Make a Wish foundation is a charity which helps these children make one of their wishes come true before they die. I would really like to raise money for this charity as I think everyone should do as much as possible in life, so if I can make a difference in any way to someone's life then that's fantastic.

 

Therefore, on my travels I have decided to do a 10km run in every country I visit to raise money and awareness for Make a Wish foundation. I will also do a 10km run before I leave the UK and when I return, so overall it should be at least 130km, which is about 2 and a half marathons.

 

I love staying fit but I'm not the biggest fan of running, and I'm definitely not used to running in hot climates so it's going to be really difficult. It's also going to be tough having to psyche myself up and choose running for an hour over getting my tan on at the beach.

 

I would really appreciate support with this so if you're able to donate some monies to this great cause then I would be really grateful - I need the motivation!

 

All the money will go to charity and none will be going towards the costs of anything I'm doing. I've saved up the money for my dreams; the idea is to help make someone else's dreams come true at the same time :)

 

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 tax payer.

 

So please, dig deep and donate now to help make someone's wish become a reality :)

 

First run: UK.

 

To compensate for the lack of heat, holiday feeling and the fact that I will probably lose fitness later I did my first 10km run as part of a triathlon. So first did a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and finished with the 10km run. Had friends and family there to support me, which I really appreciated :) Did the whole thing in under 3 hours, the run took 55 minutes.

 

Second run: India

 

Arrived after a 9 hour flight throughout the night. Got to the hotel and had a nap and then braved Delhi to go to Lodhi Gardens to do my second 10km run. Wanted to get it out the way straight away in case Delhi Belly struck! Had to be fully covered up so was really hot and there's so much pollution in India so got such a dry throat, but managed it! Photo evidence will one day follow. 

 

Third run: Thailand

 

Attempted to do the third run in Koh Tao, woke up early with the intention of doing it before it got hot. Apparently not early enough, by 8k I needed to stop cause was waayyy too hot. Was planning on doing it the following evening but then sliced my foot while rock climbing. After foot eventually healed, we're now in North Thailand in Pai. The evenings are really cool so was perfect running conditions. Was going to run laps but there was a night market so I just kept running in one direction till the road had no lights and then back in another direction. Had a dog run with me for a bit, and another dog bark so loud nearly wet my pants. Also got wolf whistled, boom. Other than that, and that my trainers were rubbing against some bites was a successful run :)

 

Fourth run: Laos

 

A couple of days later and after 24 hours of travelling arrived in Laos. Chilled for a bit in a hammock but wanted to get the run out the way so went straight out that evening. Had to stick to the lit area again so had to do 3 laps of the main high street. Had couple of witty people shout "Run Forest, Run!". And then I actually was like Forest cause a guy ran with me for a bit (until he reached the next bar). Also had a Laos guy give me a thumbs up and say "nice". Score. 

 

Fifth run: Vietnam

So, bit of a different one. Had my bag stolen from me the night before, so didn't really feel comfortable running outside in the dark. Therefore, decided to pay for a gym to just do 10k on a treadmill there. Little did I know till I'd paid, you're not allowed to use the treadmill for more than 20 minutes at a time. So I had to do three stints on the treadmill and occupy myself in the gym in between while waiting for it to be free again. School boy error, I used leg weights in between so they were a bit tired after for more running. And it was SO hot, I've never sweated so much in my life. Eri my trusty witness was sweating just sitting there, this place had no fans and no air con and was SO hot. I swear I lost half my weight in sweat (yummay). So, I did it... but it was in three stints so sorry about that. Hoping under the circumstances though, and the fact that I was totally bummed about losing my EVERYTHING makes it a bit OK though?

Ironic thing though, because had to wait in between each run, it took so long that we ended up leaving in the dark and it was right by where my bag got stolen in the first place... And Eri had a bag. All good though :)

 

Sixth run: Cambodia.

 

Probably my best run so far as had a big lunch so felt good to run it off. Just ran down a really long straight road, where the lights ran out at half an hour, which was perfect so came back. Actually felt safer running on the road with the mental scooters than the uneven pavement with a buttload of pot holes. Ran past some children dancing for a Christmas play, which was cute with loads of locals watching. Despite the fact that I was on a run I still got hassled for Tuk Tuk and massage, both very tempting. Also had a load of Cambodian men ask me if I was hot, possibly because I was bright red and perspiring a just wee bit. Highlight was when a Cambodian man - Bow - cycled passed and he slowed down and we had a nice little chat :) 

 

Seventh run: Australia.

Over half way there! Started going for short runs 3-5 times a week to build some fitness back up. Did my 10k run in Byron Bay. Obviously decided to do it at the coolest time of day, around midday? Ahem. And stupidly, I left without having had any water and also didn't take any with me! So had to stop at a petrol station on the way just to get some tap water. The nice lady behind the desk told me off for being so stupid. Whoops. Then next dumb mistake: I downed the whole thing in seconds. So had to run with it sloshing around and got a massive stitch. But still, did it :D Been running a lot since but then hurt my hip so had to give up for now so NZ should be interesting!

Eighth run: New Zealand.

Couldn't do any exercise for nearly a month as my hip and knee was really painful. Finally went for a half hour run, which aggravated it again so went to leave it a few more days. Then it kept raining!! And was buuusy. Sooo only just done my run, with just a couple of days to spare in Taupo along the lake. There was a storm and thankfully the rain stopped, but was soo windy! I seriously struggled as lost a lot of fitness but hip feeling OK! Did the run for two people we've been traveling with, Leanne Chitty and Conor Powell, which was awesome and needed the motivation! Hoping to do a bit more running to get the old fitness back again as that was HORRENDOUS.

 

Ninth run: Fiji.

So just a few days after New Zealand run, still with blisters as I'm hard core like that. Looked a bit cloudy so thought it would be a nice cooler time to do it. And it was to be fair. Then loads of locals kept warning me it was going to rain. And then it POURED. Got absolutely soaked through! Phone potentially broken, whoops :S Also, the day before a woman had told me about 6 times showing me the map about where to run, which we had a little giggle about, being like "which way again?" har har har aren't we funny. Within one minute I took a wrong turn, which added on another 10 minutes to my run. Boo. Karma. Also never had so many people hoot at me in cars and nearly everyone shouted hello (BULAAA) to me :) But all done :)

 

Tenth run: USA (LA)

So had two and a half days in the big US of A before South America and stopped over in LA. After doing all the sightseeing, went to Venice beach to do my tenth run. Was a really nice run as ran on the promenade along the beach and there were loads of other runners and cyclists too, and best of all palm trees. Was a pretty uneventful run actually as guess people are used to seeing people running all the time so not much jeering... untiiiil I ran down the pier and someone said "guuurl, you look like you already in shape" (ironic if you could see me at the moment), and another who was just generally supportive with the whole "You can do it! Keep going". Gave him a good ole thumbs up. But found the run much easier than the past two, which is good :) OH and I definitely saw Justin Timberlake on a bike. Yup. Believe it. I did anyway....

 

Eleventh run: Peru

So this one I´m really proud of. We have just completed the Lares trek to Machu Picchu. This is a 42km hike over 4 days. We reached an altitude of 4600m, 15000ft after climbing a mountain. It was so high that even though we were walking slowly it was such a struggle to catch your breath. Now, I didn´t realise that when I was in Lima that would have been the best time to do my run as was the only place in Peru we´re going to that is at low altitude. So after the third day hiking and realising how tough it is at such high altitude to even walk I realised that my best option would be to run at the next lowest place - here in Machu Picchu city. So, after three days of hiking and today climbing up and down another mountain, legs aching, exhausted, altitude still over 2000m, I then did my 10km run. Had buses go past and one stopped and clapped and said "bravo". Was so stoney had to be careful not to go over on my ankle. And now can´t walk properly and shattered :D

 

Twelth run: Bolivia.

So turns out Bolivia is really high altitude too, so when we went to the jungle I realised that was lowest altitude so decided that would be the time to do my run. Most of you won´t care but it meant as it wasn´t planned I didn´t have my sports bra with me, which didn´t make for the most comfortable run... But headed out and was meant to run 4k to the airport and back and round the town for the final 2k, but then I reached a barrier, looked at the time and it´d been 40 minutes so my suspicions were confirmed that I´d taken the wrong road right from the start. So had a two minute stop to look at the time and get over the sadness that I was going to be running an extra 20 mins! And kept going. Was the only white person about and was getting dark so got sooo many stares, wolf whistles etc. But I totally had it in my head every time a scooter went past that I was going to get shot/kidnapped. It didn´t happen. But I did sweat a lot. And got chased by two dogs (ran veeery fast then!). And was totally shattered after. And the one time I´d actually want a cold shower in South America it was hot, darn. But done it, just Brazil and to finish in the UK left!!

 

Thirteenth run: Brazil.

You'd think being in Brazil it'd be lovely weather to go for a run.. BUT it pretty much rained on us for nearly two weeks. So, although I have some motivation it doesn't go that far. Thankfully though the sun popped it's head out two days before we were due to head back to the UK or I'd have had to have gotten wet.. again. Bearing in mind I've put on about two stone by this point, exercising only when doing my runs and so unfit I was dreading this run and delaying it didn't help. BUT ran along Ipenema and Copacabana beach, along with loads others (still overtook some people, booom). I didn't have any water because all the water we had was in a 1.5l bottle and I'm just too weak to carry that too. So just after half way was DYING with thirst and starting to feel really dizzy so used by best Portuguese (AKA loud and slow English with hand gestures) to try and get some ice from the food stands near by. By the third one (running between them all) they saved me and understood and gave me ice and tap water. Pizza in Cone. Heros (and, pizza in a cone, pretty cool!). So did have a small stop to drink, put some ice in my mouth and thought "don't choke on that", two seconds later I diiidd so had another mini stop to recover but other than that ran the whole thing. Shattered after and was missing out on getting a last minute tan but proud of myself for doing it!

 

Fourteenth and FINAL run: UK.

 

After a couple of days of drinking far too much celebrating leaving Brazil/arriving home and catching up with some family and friends I headed out for my final run. Busted out the old Make A Wish t-shirt and it is FREEZING in England, not impressed. So cold it hurt my chest (or maybe that's because I'm unfit!). So just went on my old usual 10k run that I used to sometimes do and it felt SO much easier getting it in my head exactly how far I have left rather than having no clue (although was still really suffering by the end!). Not much interesting stuff happened, it was just a nice way to get re-acquainted with home, see what's changed and what's still the same as ever. Thought that was all it would be and THEN I saw two kids wearing massive fat sumo outfits on scooters!!! Got to love Camberley.

 

 

 

So, I've done 14 10km runs in 13 different countries across the world, even after my bag was stolen, I've been injured, I put on 2 stone and lost a lot of fitness. I've done runs in torrential rain and in stormy winds, after really long journeys, at really high altitude, in seriously polluted places and more often than not in really scorching hot places. I've done runs when I've been scared to go outside due to irrational fears of being abducted or shot. I've been chased by dogs and been shouted at/wolf whistled at more times that ever before. And part way through my travels even though I was having an amazing time, I got homesick and the main thing stopping me from comin home was that I was committed to doing these runs for Make A Wish and for everyone that's sponsored me. It's been really tough but really fun and I've been so proud of myself after each and every run.

 

I hoped this would be a unique challenge to take on and I'm glad to have raised some money and definitely some awareness for Make A Wish foundation. I'd massively like to thank Eri for her ongoing support and being my cameraman for evidence pictures, for helping me to find places to run and for sitting and waiting every time I did my runs when she didn't have to. I'd like to thank Leanne and Conor for their company in New Zealand and James and Michael for going for runs with me in Australia. And I'd really like to thank everyone who has sponsored me, it's all gone to a really good cause and has really helped keep me motivated throughout my travels.

 

Thank you.