2014 Charity Challenge for Maggie’s Centres 

12 Weeks...300 miles...1 Marathon and 5 Ultra Marathons

 London to Inverness - The Hard Way.......via the West Highland Way, La Palma, a Volcano, Firth of Forth Bridges, Ben Nevis, Hadrian’s Wall, Glenelg and the Great Glen Way.

To celebrate my fifth year of running I have decided to challenge myself even more and support the wonderful Maggie's Centres. Here is a little about my reasons for running, the amazing service Maggie's Centres provide and the challenge itself....

** PROGRESS UPDATE **

London Marathon
Drove to London via North Wales on Friday, arrived after 12 hours in car and went for 7 min pace run for 5 miles. Saturday did ParkRun at MileEnd (22 min) then jogged a few miles to Expo and saw Iain, walked around for a few hours, had a pint and saw Spam-a-lot. Red wine and bed.

Marathon day, hot. Went off fast, had a pee, got cramps from 17 miles but new PB of 3:19 - beat Donald Sandeman!

Highland Fling Ultra
Decided against drop bags or using a watch. Went out hard and felt faint after Rowardennan as hadn't take on any fuel. Inspired by abuse from Keziah Higgins and Andy Johns I bucked up my ideas after Bein Glas, to finish around 09:37 (over two hours faster than previous two attempts) - beat Donald again!

Then jumped in car too rush back for stag in Edinburgh and had drunk a bucket of beer by 7pm, still dancing at 02:30.

Transvulcania, La Palma 
Started at back after missed time pee, stuck in massive queue but battled hard past crowds. Caught up with Karl and passed him running up hill, first mistake as didn't last. Basically the race is very hilly around 4400m of climb and hot, very hot (30+ degrees). 

Made up over 500 places by high point but vomited for most of decent. Nearly passed out at checkpoint, when leaving saw Donald come in and saved him from drowning in big bin of water.

Battled to end, turned into Bambi on finish line - beat Donald!

Downed a beer, went for shower - wee collapse and black vomit everywhere. Hardest race of my life and the heat nearly did me. Not a great time but I survived.

Dirty 30
Last minute entry and late night drive up to sleep in car.

Started fast and in 2nd place until 19 miles. Legs went on big climb and but managed to drag them back for 4th in 05:17, should have been sub five - beat Donald!

The Wall
Hot race and nearly 60 of 69 miles were on road. Poor preparation as went camping and drinking heavily with mates in days leading up (spent most of Thursday morning vomiting either side of hot 4 mile run and then back on the beer).

Went out hard at the start and loved running while it was cool - in 1st place at 16 mile checkpoint. Heat started to affect me and feel back to 5th, managed to hang in and start to recover to be 8th at 45 mile checkpoint - ITB and knees went and had to walk in last 24 miles to finish 23rd in 12:32. Worst blisters ever.

Donald never bothered to turn up!!

In between Murray Peebles beat me by 11s at the Rigg Race (to be first Harmeny runner) and then I beat him by 11s at CAAC 5 Miler (to be first Harmeny runner), we don't talk about ho Murray was miles ahead in Inverness half and London Marathon. Plus I also broken my 5km PB at ParkRun - busy few months.

Next the Great Glen Way and back to beating Donald!

My Reason’s for Running

It will not be a surprise to those that know me that I will be doing a few races this year, some will say I have become obsessed since starting running in 2010.... I just say keen!

In late 2009 I was encouraged to enter a “fun” 10km obstacle course by my family. Having not done much since playing football (and then there was more drinking than training), I was totally out of shape and around 4 stone over-weight. My training for this was a handful of 5km runs around the block that I couldn’t complete without walking or enduring back & knee pain.

Luckily the pressure of being part of an organised race triggered an unknown mental determination to drag myself through and pride shown by my sons at the end encouraged me to do more. It took many more months before I started running in early 2010 but then I just entered every race I could find to give myself constantly bigger targets. By July 2010 I had completed my first two ultra marathons of 30 & 40 miles (totally breaking myself during both in the process!!).

Since then I haven’t stopped and currently run every day. Hopefully by the end of this year I will complete my 100th organised race in five years, that will have included 17 half marathons, 9 marathons and 28 ultra marathons.

I am so grateful that I found something that has improved both my physical and mental health as well as changing my attitudes to health and well being; which has also rubbed off on my family and friends. I hope I do things that inspire and make my young sons proud, plus help me fully enjoy life with them. The running community has also given me the privilege of meeting many new friends and inspirational characters.

However my story is nothing special and most of us can do this if we want. Unfortunately others are not blessed by good health to have our choices and have to overcome major challenges on daily basis that make my moaning about running pains seem ridiculous.

Like most of us today I have had many family and friends affected with various forms of cancer. The way in which they and their families manage their pain, tackle adversity and deal with the mentally devastating times demonstrates true courage and determination. This is truly inspirational as are those that dedicate their lives to supporting those battling against cancer.

Currently I share an office space with Maggie’s fund raisers and event managers that provide vital funding for Maggie’s Centres.

It was because of this that I happen to over hear they had a last minute withdrawal for the London Marathon and couldn’t get a replacement by the deadline that day, if not filled they would lose the place and a vital funding raising opportunity....not being able to turn down a race or a worthy cause I jumped in (should stop ears dropping!!). This resulted in me adding the London Marathon to an already ambitious period of running and more....however firstly a bit about the charity appeal.

Maggie’s Centres 

A Maggie’s Centres are a place to turn to for any of the problems, small or large, associated with cancer. Under one roof those impacted by cancer can access help with information, benefits advice, psychological support, courses and stress reducing strategies. They don’t have to make an appointment or be referred, with everything Maggie’s offer being free of charge.

“It is there for anyone who needs support. This includes those who love and look after someone with cancer, who often feel as frightened and vulnerable as those who are actually undergoing treatment.”

To be able to provide this level of support with ever increasing demand Maggie’s rely on significant amount of funding raising and charitable giving. By running for them at the Virgin London Marathon I have promised to raise a minimum of £2000.

However I am not just running the marathon and think that this target is too small for what I am undertaking. As such I am setting a target of £10 per mile during what will be a twelve week challenge covering 301.5 miles = target of £3015.

The Challenge

Six races over twelve weeks starting in London and finishing in Inverness which will require 301.5 miles of racing.

Through association with Maggie's I am able to take part in the London Marathon at the start of what will be a crazy twelve week period. Having missed out on the ballot for this race of three occasions I am very excited about having the opportunity to run this iconic marathon and will be going all out to break my current marathon PB of 03:27:12.

The conventional theory is you need month's to recovery between marathons, let alone ultra marathons - and believe I promise to go flat out in all races to try and get a PB or best finishes in the new races. However I am doing 6 major races in 12 weeks and sometimes with ultra marathons only a week apart.

Add to the above 5 ultra marathons during that period including one up half of the West Highland Way, one up a volcano in La Palma (in 30+ degrees), one along Hadrian’s Hall, a dirty one in Lochalsh and one up the entire Great Glen Way.

THE RACES                                                                                   

13 April –London Marathon (26.2 miles)

26 May –Highland Fling Ultra (53 miles)

10 May – Transvulcania Ultra (51.5 miles)

14 June - The Lochalsh Dirty 30 (30 miles)

21 June – The Wall Ultra (69 miles)

5 July – Great Glen Way Ultra (72 miles)