PAGE UPDATE:

I have a really good mate called Daron. Daron is always up for a challenge. So I threw down a gauntlet… this morning (20th October) and he took up the challenge.

I set myself a target of running 2,016 miles this year, but due to 5 weeks of injury in April/May, I’m a little behind schedule (currently on 1,481 miles). I need to run about 53 miles a week to hit my target.

Daron wants to equal that. But due to his injuries at the start of the year, he needs to run 81 miles a week to catch me up! Challenge accepted.

What’s more, Daron has very kindly agreed to help me raise money for the British Polio Fellowship during this end of year challenge. I know we’ve asked you all to put your hands in your pockets to support us this year quite a lot already, and believe me we are incredibly grateful for that, but if you can spare a quid or two to spur him/us on to end the year on a high, it would be really really appreciated. 

Below is my story as to why we're running for British Polio…

“It is estimated that there are as many as 120,000 people in the UK who survived polio, very often encouraged to get on with their lives, forget polio, and adopt a “flair for denial” as there was a belief that polio was something in the past, which would not change.”

My father-in-law has lived with polio, and subsequently post polio (PPS) for most of his life. He was submitted to hospital at the age of 4 with influenza symptoms, but was quickly diagnosed with polio and spent over a year in hospital (some time of it in an iron lung) receiving treatment. His full story is fascinating, heartbreaking yet inspirational all in one big hit. You can read his full story by following this link:

http://runthecountry.net/who-we-are/andrew-metcalfe/andrews-story/

So my running in 2016 is devoted to raising money to support the British Polio Fellowship. This year, I’m going to run 2,016 miles – in training and in events – which will include marathons and ultra marathons. At the end of August, myself and three other will be taking on Run the Country – 134 miles in 4 days, from Whitehaven to Sunderland. I’ve helped raise money for a few charities over the past few years, all very close to my heart, but none are more important to me than this. Let’s hope the legs hold up!

The mental and physical expectations I’m putting on myself this year are huge. I didn’t ever expect to be putting myself in a situation for this to happen. But compared to what my father-in-law has had to endure during his lifetime, and the fact that I can do it, it really is nothing.

I’m not forgetting the other charities I’ve run for over the past couple of years – MDUK, Ted’s Gang and Arthritis Research UK – all very important to me for various reasons. This is not about supporting me, it’s about supporting others. Whoever it is.

I’d like to raise £2,016 (more if possible!)…. that’s £1 per mile. How many miles can you make me do?