When I reached the grand old age of 30 I had an epiphany. Mike Straney,
you've gotten soft, a voice said unto me. Gone is the super-buff,
ladykilling machine of your youth, replaced by a body that manages to be
skinny and flabby at the same time (I'm actually eating a large bag of
Skips as I write this). You need to prove to the world that you've
still "got it" (assuming you ever had it).
So I was presented
with a choice - buy a motorbike and start sleeping with much younger
women, or take on a physical challenge that would test me to the brink
of collapse...and then test me some more. Realising that my poor
balance, lack of spatial awareness and inability to speak to anyone who
hasn't heard of Danger Mouse precluded option 1, I decided to risk
permanent physical injury by running a marathon.
On Sunday 23rd
May I'll be staggering my way round Edinburgh Marathon, referred to on
the website as "the fastest marathon in the UK" (we'll see about that).
Whilst my natural athleticism will get me part of the way round (ahem),
I have done a bit of training, and a pretty painful experience it has
been (apart from wearing tight leggings in the cold weather, which I
enjoyed immensely).
I'm running in aid of Marie Curie Cancer
Care, a cause that you probably all know is very close to my heart (and
not just because I work for them...). Marie Curie provides nursing care
for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses in their own homes,
giving them the choice to spend their final days where they want to be,
surrounded by the people they love. So please sponsor me to help
provide this care to people who really need it. Every penny makes a
difference (though if any of you sponsor me a penny, I'll be coming for
you).
Thanks a million for your support
Mike
PS. If I end up crossing the finish line with liquid poo
running down my legs, jokes will not be appreciated...