I've decided I can finally post this because today I hit a major milestone and proved to myself I could do this...so here goes...

A few months ago a friend of mine posted about the Richmond Runfest taking place at Kew Gardens in September this year. There's a marathon, a half marathon and a 10k. I clicked on the link and then a series of inexplicable thoughts went through my head which ultimately led to a bizarre and questionable decision - to enter the 10k race.

Let me be clear. I can't run. I hate running. It's boring.

So I don't really know why this happened...except that I do and it's a little embarrassing to admit. As I wandered through the pages of the running event page, I found an image that was to change the course of my entire summer (I would say life but lets not get carried away just yet). A BEE MEDAL. That's right, I decided to dedicate 14 weeks of my life to training so that I could take home a piece of metal with a bee on it.

Anyone who's aware of my recent(ish) shenanigans may have noticed that I love bees. I did a beekeeping course with the Durham Beekeepers Association a couple of years ago and although I don't yet have my own bees, I learned so much about the incredible creature that is 'the bee' that I have nothing but respect and admiration. And let me make another thing clear - without bees, we would be well and truly in the poop. You may not be fully aware of their activities because they don't like to brag but apart from all that amazing pollination of our crops and flowers, bees are the only insects that make food humans can eat - delicious! 

The bee medal is actually inspired by The Hive,  "a unique, multi-sensory experience designed to highlight the extraordinary life of bees" which can be visited at Kew Gardens. Now although this is focussed on the work of honeybees, I've decided to run for a charity dedicated to the slightly fatter, furrier cousin of the honeybee - the bumble bee. According to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust "In the last 80 years our bumblebee populations have crashed. Two species have become nationally extinct and several others have declined dramatically."

Not only is the charity working to conserve bumblebees but they also aim to "raise awareness and increase understanding about bumblebees and the social, economic, environmental and cultural benefits which they and other pollinators provide".

I love bees, I love learning and you never know, I might just grow to love running (hmm), and if a honeybee can fly up to 6 miles (fun fact), then I can flippin' well run 6 miles on the day.

I must at this point give a shout out to my wonderful wife and tireless supporter, Helen. She agreed to train alongside me and will run the race alongside me too - because she's awesome. Helen will be running for a different charity and one that's important to both of us. The Albert Kennedy Trust based in Newcastle, works with LGBT people under the age of 25 who are in crisis including those who are homeless or living in abusive homes. Here is the link to her fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/helinrunskewgardens

If you can only spare a few pennies, please donate to either Helen's charity or mine (we really don't mind which). If you have a few pounds to spare then by all means, pick one, or split it between us. If you're loaded - well just chuck your money every which way! If you can't afford anything then that's just fine - send us a quick message of support the night before, because trust me, we're both going to need it!! :-D

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