<p>March 14: 74 days into my challenge to run 2012 kilometres in the year, I have reached 26% of the target distance, or 525km. This has been done in 5 different countries, and in&nbsp;60 running days. The highlight so far was running northwards up the side of Lake Michigan in front of a strong tail wind last Saturday; the low light came when I misread the temperature in Frankfurt, and found myself in a forest, wearing only shorts and teeshirt, in the temperature of minus 16 degrees. The left knee is dodgy and painful, but is still being kind enough to allow me to be 100km ahead of target.</p> <p>My old friend and team wicket keeper, Nick Maude, died on November 25th shortly after being diagnosed with untreatable kidney cancer. In contrast to the shattering speed of his last illness, Nick's legacy is one of calm, faith, steadfastness, humour and kindness, and it seems very wrong that the world should continue on its way without him in it.</p> <p>To celebrate his life, to raise funds and awareness for this little known disease and to give myself a major challenge, I have joined forces with three other friends of Nick's to do something about it. 2012 somethings, in fact. I am committing myself to run 2012 kilometres during the year, which means about 3.5 miles a day, each day, every day. 7 miles if I miss a day, and a marathon if I miss a week. I will keep a blog to enable friends and supporters to laugh with, and at, me, and sometime in the summer we intend to organise a team event in Nick's memory. I will also personally be raising money for the Rifles' Regimental Appeal, Care for Casualties (see separate link)</p> <p>You will have spotted that this is another mid-life crisis activity on my behalf, but please don't let this blind you to the importance of the aim. I would be so grateful for your support.</p> <p>Stop Press: 10 days in to the challenge (90km, since you ask) there is a blog, whose address is theoretically <a href="http://wordpress.com">http://wordpress.com</a> and then via that to roger2012challenge. You may experience initial technical problems. I have!</p>