Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

A few months ago, I was talking to a few mates in the pub.  Well, you know what it's like: a few beers and challenges get laid down.  Why not do the 2010 Snowdonia Marathon with us?  After a few more beers 'you must be joking' became 'I'll think about it'.  Then the well rehearsed excuses start: 'I'm far too old and unfit', 'I've never done one before', 'I cannot spare the time for training'.  But all these excuses are swiftly kicked into touch by 'you're just a big fat wuss', 'if we are mug enough to do it, surely you can at least have a go', until finally the sucker punch came: 'what better way is there to mark your 50th birthday than a marathon, and a hard one at that?' .

Well that was it, the gauntlet had been thrown, I was fighting grandfather time in the biggest battle of my half century - I suspect that my master plan of growing old disgracefully will  never hurt as much as this one is going to.  So I booked onto the marathon, not daring to look at the detail.  And then I agreed to do it for the benefit of a local charity, Beacon Centre for the Blind.  They sent me there sponsor forms, that was it, there was no going back.  And then I looked at the route and its profile! Bugger!

I don't know how far I am going to get, or if I do manage to finish it, what time I will do it in.  My aim is to finish, I just hope the marshalls do not want to go home early!

Here's a link to the Snowdonia Marathon website, and to that of the Beacon Centre for the Blind.  And here's another link, to West Bromwich Mountaineering Club - from where my mates come.  Thanks a bunch lads, revenge is a meal best served cold!

Any support you can give me would be appreciated.  I will be eternally indebted to anyone holding a beer for me at the Finish Line.

And now for the (even more) boring bit: 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.