Picture this.

Its January 2nd and I have just returned from a wild New Years trip to Amsterdam with the lads. I'm nursing a severe hangover as I hide in my bed eating pizza in my pants and sobbing to the conclusion of "Bridget Jones Diary: Edge of reason". Alas, I receive a text message. “BING”. I muster all my remaining energy to unlock my phone. I'm expecting a belated “happy new year” message from a loving friend. How wrong I was.

The text message was from McDonalds and it read:

“THE TASTY MCRIB SANDWICH IS BACK ”.

There have been many moments in my 28 years on planet earth when I have had to take a long hard look at myself in the nearest mirror and this was definitely one of them. What had I become? I had a belly! McDonalds had my phone number! I now wanted a tasty McRib sandwich! How, why, what?

A New Year is a time of self-reflection, and seconds prior to receiving my McRib text message, upon dissecting my 2016 I had some frightening thoughts. I couldn’t remember the last time I'd challenged myself. The last time I'd done something completely selfless. The last time I'd done something "outstanding".

In a moment of sheer panic I text my oldest friend Eddie (Another casualty of "Amstersham"). I simply wrote: 

"I am going to run a marathon this year”.

I suspect Ted thought it was just another one of “John boys big ideas”. You see, I am a great dreamer. I have incredible, bold and ambitious plans that never seem to materialize. In fact I have often thought that if I ever went through with any of these weird and wonderful plans or practised what I preached that I would be a multi millionaire by now.

This time I was serious.
And so. With my fathers favourite quote ringing in my ears:

“You couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery!”

(Which after lengthy consideration actually sounds like a great idea Dad)

I made a pledge to myself right there and then that 2017 would be the year that I would grab life by the horns, challenge myself to do things that I never thought I could and create stories that will last me a lifetime.

Here I am. 12 weeks to go. 26 miles and 385 yards. The Edinburgh Marathon awaits.

I am running for MacMillan Cancer support and aiming to raise £750.

Their motto is that “No one should ever face Cancer alone”.

Throughout my training programme I will always be thinking of Macmillan and all the outstanding work that they do to support Cancer patients and their families through what has to be the hardest test that a human being and their family can go through.

Without people doing events, running marathons, climbing mountains, swimming oceans and donating in other ways, Macmillan wouldn’t exist.

It’s an honour to do what little part I can to help a truly great cause.

Any donations (huge or tiny) would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys.

Ps I look forward to seeing you all at the Brewery piss up. Date and time to be confirmed.