After years of doing not-very-much-at-all in terms of anything sporting or athletic, I was talked into the doing the Paras 10 race in September, by my good freind Mr. Donal O'Brien. He was aided and abetted by my son, Dan, who clearly wants to see his dad in pain - 'cos he is running too.

Check out the website www.paras10.com for an explanation of the event - we will be running WITHOUT the 35lb packs.  Training has been going ok, but I'm still focussing on finishing - although if I take longer than 2:30 I will make an extra £50 personal donation. Dan is more confident and is aiming for sub-1:50, although he IS built like a racing snake ;-)

The website also gives some background to the event. Although, if you have watched the news or seen the papers at all this year, it will be, sadly, all too obvious why the work of the Airborne Forces Charities needs and deserves even more support than ever. Please help provide this support by sponsoring us.

Many thanks

AJ & Dan

UPDATE: Well, we finished. Times were 1:28:36 for Dan and 1:35:05 for me. Donal did the P Company challenge with an overweight pack in 2:18:11.

We had a great time doing this - and we are going back next year to do the P Company challenge. Well ... when I say "great time", I mean all bar doing the run itself. That bit hurt!! :-)  So I have uploaded a jolly looking photo of us after the event - there was one I could have put up there which was a little more "immediate" and in which I look too plain cream crackered to even smile, but no one needs to have that inflicted on them!

Some "thank you" things to say. To the Paras themselves for putting on the event (and being very supportive to us old f*rts running around the place). To Exception for sponsoring our running kit. And most of all... to all of you for your support that really was a motivation - especially Jim's challenge to bust the 2 hour mark that got me moving a bit more quickly!

For anybody who wants a laugh, I will put a few of the less flattering photos up over the next few weeks.