Let's face it, 2020 has been a dog of a year.

As November limped to a locked-down close I knew that I needed some kind of a kick up the arse to get up, get away from the screen and get active.

So I signed up to 2 challenges

1) Run Every Day (RED) December
Does what it says on the tin. Once a day, pull on the running kit and cover at least a mile. Some days more- but every day something.

2) Lakeland Lapland Virtual Festive Ultra
https://lakeland100.com/2020/10/15/lakeland-lapland-virtual-ultra-run-10th-22nd-december-2020/

Between 10th and 22nd December to run or walk enough virtual miles to cover the distance between  Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, and Santa,145 miles away in the village of Korvatunturi.

I'm fairly out of condition and covering 145 miles by myself is a bit of an ask, so I'll be part of a team of 4 sharing the miles between us.

You can follow any progress I make over on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/17642124
(If you're into that kind of thing).

Epic Kidz
The Lapland Ultra raises money for the Epic Kidz charity, they then give that money out in small grants of  £500 to £1000 to charities and sports and community groups across the North West.

Got a project? In the North West? Working in the community, or with kids, or with sports? Go and ask them for a grant, they're nice like that.

Getting out running and accountability
So, all this is more of a personal challenge rather than an attempt to run a specific distance or achieve a certain goal. I've put this page up for a bit of accountability- the more people know I'm meant to be running every day in December- the guiltier I'll feel if I'm tempted to skip a day.

So why are you bothering us then?
Like I said, it's been a dog of a year. If you're coming to the end of the year and running on fumes- don't worry about donating or not. I'll be out each day plugging away at the miles.

But if we'd normally have met up at some point this year for a drink or or two please consider putting in the price of a pint.

Who knows in 2021 I might get to buy you a beer in return!