The 12 in 12 adventure ended on 12.12.12 I thought that would be a good time to wind up efforts for 2012.

I took some cash donations to The Oaks and handed it over at 12.12 and that is the end of my fundraising efforts. Although this page is open for a wee while longer.

Massive thank you to all who donated - some more than once. Thanks for each and every donation and for all the words of encouragement along the way.

Thanks to individuals, celebrity donors of prizes including Lisa Dobriskey and Liz Yelling, PaceSports Management, commercial donors of prizes including Glen Moray Distillery and Saucony UK and all who bought raffle tickets.

My total has just sneaked past the £1810 mark which is way beyond anything I had dreamed of. Thank You all again

Most of you who know me will know me as a cyclist and a runner.  I ran my first half marathon over 30 years ago as a 13 year old.  I returned to running a few years ago and it now is one of my main pleasures.

This year I've set myself a challenge of running 12 half marathons in 2012 - my 12 in 12 Challenge.  I have decided to raise some money for the local cancer palliative day care unit - The Oaks in Elgin. It's a facilty run by NHS Grampian and Macmillan Cancer Support. This page links directly to NHS Grampian's endowment fund for The Oaks - so any donations will go straight to The Oaks.  The facility offers a great support to patients undergoing cancer care or in recovery.  This disease has touched my family too many times over the years - once is too many after all, more than once is far too many.

I have a list of more than 12 races done . 

My schedule so far is

22 Jan - Brass Monkey York - completed 1:38:38.

18 Feb - Kinloss to Lossiemouth - completed 1:34:51

11 Mar - Inverness Half - completed 1:36:46

18 Mar - Garioch Half - completed 1:40:22

22 Apr - Angus HAM - completed 1:39:24

14 May - Cape Wrath Challenge (Half marathon) - completed 1:41:59

1 Jul - Stonehaven Half - completed 1:38:55

12 Aug - Dyce Half Marathon - completed 1:38:54

18 Aug - Nairn Highland Games Half Marathon - completed 1:41:57

15 Sep - Crathes Half - completed 1:43:16

18 Oct - Aviemore Half - completed 1:34:44

18 Nov - Fraseburgh Half - completed 1:35:22 (tbc)

THE END! 

Race number one was on 22 January at the Brass Monkey Half Marathon in York - where I beat the wind to get around in a time of 1:38:38. 

Race number two was the Kinloss to Lossiemouth race on 19 Feb 12.  A fantastic day for running - a whole 2 deg C and a tail wind helped for a massive 3:48 personal best.

Race three was the first big local race of the season,the Inverness Half Marathon. I managed a 1:36:48 which until 3 weeks previous would have been a massive pb. I was very happy with my run as it was over four minutes faster than I ran the same race last year.

Race four was the very hilly Garioch Half in Inverurie.  A tough course with lots of gradual climbing between miles 4 and 8 then a great big steep one at mile 10 to 11.  Was very very pleased with a 1:40:22 given the tough course and Inverness the week before.

Race five was the toughest so far.  The Angus HAM starting and finishing at Monickie near Dundee.  The first three miles were a steady climb the middle section was fast.  After 9 miles we hit the hills and the rain and hail joined in.  The last 1.5 miles were brutal and the course definitely won the last few rounds!  Suffered a lot but managed a decent time of 1:39:22 so was happy with that. 

Race 6 - Half way.  Cancel previous comment about Angus HAM being tough.  The Cape Wrath Half takes that title.  A hilly course on a very wet & windy day made for a hard race.  I had a good run which given the conditions was a surprise.  The weather threw all it had at us and a few steep climbs in the last few miles made for a hard day. 

Race 7 - Stonehaven Half.  A hard first half got the better of me and I struggled on the climbs of the early miles.  Fought hard in the latter stages and somehow - still not sure how - managed a 1:38:55 which I was very happy with.

Race 8 - Dyce Half.  A weird course to be honest - an out and back on a railway line.  After a slight drop the line dragged upwards to the turn - sapping all strength along the way.  I was trying to run a steady race but it never quite went that way.  After the long pull outward there wasn't much left in the last mile or so where a couple of little drags nearly defeated me.  Hung on for a 1:38:54 - only a second faster than at Stonehaven

Race 9 - Nairn Half.  True to form the sun and wind came out for Nairn Half.  A tough day on a lumpy course and the week before all took their toll on me.  Struggled around in a poor 1:41:57 - but a lot of others were well down on their times so not too bad. 

Race 10 - Crathes Half.  Another tough day and a hot windy one too.  An undulating course caught up with me and I really struggled.

Race 11 - Aviemore Half.  Aviemore in October was never going to be a warm one.  A very cold start and a bit of damp in the air.  A cracking run and I felt great.  I had a great run and felt strong throughout.  Hung on and sneaked a six second PB - completing the race in 1:34:44 -  glad to get back under 1:40 after a couple of slightly slower races.  

Thanks again for visiting this page - I will be updating this as we go through the year and (hopefully) the races are completed. 

You can also donate by text - simply send the code PHFH67 followed by the amount you are pledging e.g. £2 to 70070.  All of that money goes straight to the charity.   Thanks for your text donations.