Welcome to my 45+45=90 miles January Challenge

I started doing Red January (Running Every Day) in an attempt to ward off the “naff” feeling I sometimes get this month.

However, a dear friend messaged me today asking if there was any particular reason I’d started. I replied, “no, not really”, and that it was just to support my own well-being in my least favourite month 😬. Plus I thought it’d be a good challenge to try.

But then tonight on my run I got to thinking about how many miles I will cover pounding the streets this month.

And remembered it’s 45 miles to Winchester from our home in West Sussex.

Now, Winchester is a happy place in my heart for lots of reasons as I went to Uni there, but it’s also a hideous place for me as it’s where I was admitted to Winchester Mother and Baby Unit with Thomas when he was less than a week old.

Six years ago today, we were still in that hospital. Figuring out how to get me better from Postpartum Psychosis.

So, I’m going to run to Winchester this January. And more importantly, I’m running home from Winchester too. Because that’s where I’m lucky to be now. But there are still mums who need help in their recovery.

My 90 miles will be clocked up in our village and surrounds, around the small people’s routines. I might try and do the last one in Winchester too.

Anyone local is more than welcome to join me. It won’t be pretty some days! Today I had a good running cry 😆 to myself thinking that 45 miles is nothing compared to the distance some women have to travel to get the chance of being treated and supported in a safe place with their baby. In a place that’s right for them - a Mother and Baby Unit.

I’m sponsoring myself - as I know that money is tight - especially so this year and in January. But if you did happen to think that the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis was a great cause, and can spare a penny or two, please consider making a donation, however small, 🙏   Thank you so very much for even reading this. 

Action on Postpartum Psychosis, as you’ll know… as I’m a boring person who won’t stop talking about them - was the charity that ultimately picked me up and got me and my family where we are today.

They are still there in the wings. Ready, every day, with the team of volunteers to pick up any woman and their family affected by Postpartum Psychosis.

Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) is a UK charity. We’re here to make sure mums, parents and families are supported through postpartum psychosis – a severe, but treatable, form of mental illness that occurs after having a baby and affects 1400 new mums in the UK each year.We offer information and peer support, facilitate ground breaking research, raise awareness and campaign for improved services. Our life changing peer support network helps women and families affected by postpartum psychosis feel understood, supported and less isolated.