The law firm that I work for, Brabners, has chosen Alder Hey Children's Charity, the UK's biggest children's hospital, as its nominated charity for 2015. The hospital will shortly be moving to a new site and is aiming to raise £30m to fund high specification medical equipment and install amazing technology and facilities at the new site so that each child who is admitted to the hospital gets the best care possible. I've decided to do my bit and help raise some money for this very worthy cause.

Prior to this challenge, I had never put myself through the pain of running a marathon before. So, with a full 5 weeks' training under my belt (textbook......!!!), I decided to set myself a challenge of running the marathon distance, 26.2 miles, 12 times over the next 12 months.  One marathon a month, come rain or shine.

I completed the first one on Sunday 7th December, through the streets of Didsbury, Cheadle, Handforth, Macclesfield,  Prestbury, Alderley Edge and Wilmslow in 3hrs 48 mins and 25 secs. Had rain, sleet, wind and rain. Besides that, perfect conditions.

The second marathon was completed on 27th Dec, running from Formby to Liverpool and back in 3hrs 32mins and 43 secs via the route below.  The after effects of running in the freezing rain were not pleasant.

Can't say that no.3 was a barrel of laughs. 29.1.15 Tarleton to Liverpool in 3hrs 48min  38 secs in a freezing blizzard. Spring is coming soon, right?

No.4 completed on 20th Feb, a memorable day for all the wrong reasons. Knutsford to Manchester. A cold start (1 degree but no sleet or snow!) in  the glorious Cheshire countryside and ending up in an emotional state at our Manchester office 3hrs 43mins later.  For Geoffrey Hough RIP.

March marathon No.5. With company! Was joined at the halfway mark by Rupert Gill,  a work colleague, who dragged me round in 3hrs 52mins. Had no idea where I was at the end - out on my feet. 

No.6 the Manchester Marathon on 19.4.15. Got round in 3:34:21. Never been so glad to see Old Trafford.......

17.5 2015 No.7 Wilmslow to Marple via Macclesfield and the Middlewood Way and ending up in Bollington. 3hrs 54mins 11 secs. Both knees went after 10 miles. The remaining 16.2 miles were extremely painful. Doesn't bode well......

14.6.15 No.8 Liverpool Marathon. Start and finish at the waterfront. Tried to grit it out with the 3:30 pacer but couldn't stay with the pace after 16 miles, which is when my knees seem to go nowadays. Fell away badly after that but great to see Karen cheering me on up Upper Parley. Watch time was 3:43:05. Awaiting official results at the time of typing this.

Had to skip July as my knees were in such a bad way but started off August with a bang (OK, a whimper) with number 9  on 2.8.15 running from home through Mobberley, Knutsford to Macclesfield and then back through Prestbury and Alderley Edge - a posh marathon if you will - completing the 26.2 miles in 3:57:04.

6.9.15 no.10 through a similar route as above. Got to say, I had the most glorious day - absolutely perfect for running. Just a shame that my body was not up to it. Packing in and slowly grinding to a halt. My first marathon over 4hrs, dragging myself round in 4:04:44 (and yes, it counts, Adrian!).

4.10.15 the Chester Marathon - ran through the historic city of Chester and beautiful surrounding countryside on a surprisingly hot autumn day. Managed to set off at a comfortable pace before excruciating pain in my right knee kicked in at about the 10 miles mark. The remaining 16 or so miles were agonising. Also suffered bad cramping in my calves, which ruled out any ideas of a "sprint finish". Collapsed over the line in 3:59:34 and required medical treatment and then burst into tears and blubbed like a baby 5 minutes later. A memorable day was topped off with Michelle performing a textbook emergency stop on the drive home on Hoole Road as I vomited on all fours in the gutter redecorating my medal in the process with a combination of Lucozade Sport and energy gels. Spent the rest of the afternoon in bed in a codeine induced haze but it's all for a good cause, right?

2015.11.2 The final one. 12 marathons in 12 months.  It was great to have company right the way round my three laps of Liverpool city centre earlier today. Adrian, Mark, Rupert, Nik and Michael  - thank you for your support and for sharing the pain with me. A fantastic reception too from all the staff at Brabners welcoming me home, which made it a truly memorable finish to a truly memorable (and at times painful) 12 months. 

I am delighted that the fundraising has smashed through the £3,000 mark. Many thanks for your all your support and generosity, Richard.

P.S. Anyone able to recommend a good knee surgeon?