This year I've been running 100k (10X10k road races) for a very worthwhile charity. I've done 90k already. I've run the Women's 10k, the Polaroid series (four races), the Paisley 10k (where I fell and broke my iPhone), the Great Scottish Run, the Cumbernauld 10k, the British Heart Foundation Winter Warmer in Edinburgh (uphill for 1.5k... twice!) and have just one more race to run. This will be the Achilles Heel/Bellahouston Road Runners 10k, which I'm doing this Saturday – November 13th.

My motivation for this has been Melanie Reid, a former colleague at The Herald and one of this country's finest journalistic talents. Melanie broke her back and neck falling off a horse in April and her optimistic, courageous and darn right humbling journey back to health is currently being diarised in her column in The Times.

This is the first entry in her column. It really got to me and can't see how anyone couldn't be moved by it. So I'm doing this personal challenge to raise money for the spinal injuries charity which does amazing work at The Southern General Hospital in Glasgow where Melanie is being treated. And I'd be really grateful if you'd sponsor me.

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.