**I will adhere to all social distancing rules and have specifically chosen a route that is majority very quiet country lanes, wide pavements and away from any population centres. I'll never be more than 4 miles from home at any point, clearly if guidance changes then i'll happily re-arrange**

Bolton Hospice do an amazing job, they looked after my Dad during his final days, we couldn't have asked for a better location, staff or volunteers. As we know the majority of a Hospice funding is via charity, in the current climate they are not receiving the amount of donations needed.

My Dad died on November 19th, almost exactly 6 months before his Birthday on May the 16th. Call it coincidence or serendipity, May 17th was also the date for the Bolton Marathon, the first time it has been run in 33 years and its main charity beneficiary is Bolton Hospice.

There was simply no way that I could not enter, then COVID-19 came along, I made the decision to continue training, this was a 16 week training programme.

5 runs a week, average mileage per week is 40 miles, i'm on my second set of running shoes, the furthest run was 20 miles, i've run 5 Half Marathons and I am now tapering for the final 2 weeks.

This will be my third Marathon and i'd love to raise a few hundred pounds, my plan is a sub 4:00 race, possibly 3:50, however the challenge is zero official support, no water stations, no energy stations, no crowds to encourage, it will be tough.

The 26.2 miles will be done via 2 laps, meaning I can come back past my house at halfway to pick up food, gels, water ..

The plan is to run on Sunday the 17th starting at 8:00am, first lap complete by 9:55am, second lap hopefully before midday, meaning a sub 4:00 Marathon distance of 26.2 Miles.

Article here - 

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18448294.son-running-marathon-loved-father-taught-bolton/

**I will adhere to all social distancing rules and have specifically chosen a route that is majority very quiet country lanes, wide pavements and away from any population centres. I'll never be more than 4 miles from home at any point, clearly if guidance changes then i'll happily re-arrange**