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December 2017 and after a fair few GP visits having a play and scans with jelly I was told I had testicular cancer a week before Christmas. A moment that shall live long in the memory but one that has changed my life for the better. It was dealt with so quickly by our fantastic NHS and a few days before Christmas, I had the operation to remove the tumour which led to the most relaxing, but equally painful festive period I’ve experienced.

Following the operation, and a few minor glitches, one being a hematoma whereby blood seeped south through the bottom scar. Yes – two scars – the reason being the surgeons had trouble getting my tumour out (due to its size) from just the cut from above (hip level) so they needed to make a second cut below to manage it better. This meant I got to wear ‘women’s pads’ for a few weeks … it got interesting… but after my body fixed itself I was ready for my new challenge ahead, chemotherapy. A true test of mind, resilience and patience.

I faced up-to three rounds of BEP chemo (Bleomycin, etoposide and platinum) to make sure that any spread to lymph nodes would be gone following these magic solutions they flushed through me. This was done during March 2018 and over a 16 day period but the extensive list of side effects meant it can be with you for a greater length of time than these 16 days – and of course… my body wanted the full 5* star experience of this so I had; ulcers in the mouth, tiredness, weakness, hair-loss (yep – an all over full body wax was endured), amongst many others things. The worst one though, was the increased risk of infection, due to these drugs essentially shutting down your immune system and taking all of your white blood cells, in computer terms I guess it’s reverting me back to factory settings? Either way, this did occur, and I managed to pick up an infection and was treated at Frimley Park hospital for a little under a week in a quarantine room until I was better. It was here that I did a fair amount of thinking, thinking about changes I will make to my life, that I will make for the better, dreams I’ve had but never taken seriously, and one of these was to get fit!! 

So, after everything, I gradually got better, my hair came back, twice, first time blonde, then much darker, just like when I was a kid. I was gradually able to walk back up-to speed again, got my appetite back on track (although following all the steroids and lack of exercise I put on a good stone and more) and on the 1^st May 2018 I made the decision to make fitness and especially running something I would push myself on and I’m so pleased I did. Running gave me a new lease for the outdoors, yes it was tough, I started by just running 1km and even that was walking most of the route, but the fresh air and the great outdoors allowed me time to think, it gave me that ‘rest’ from the world and a rest for the mind. 

Now a year and a half on, I've taken part in many 10kms and half marathons right across the country and Europe. I've loved being part of each one and met many new faces and now I'm so grateful to Macmillan Cancer Support for giving me a place to run for them in the 2020 London Marathon! My personal target is £3536 because I want to give back how much it would have cost a Macmillan nurse to be there for my 16 day period at St. Luke’s Cancer Centre, which is roughly £221 a day.

Update: January 2021 -

During 2020 and Covid I trained hard and completed the virtual London Marathon which I was extremely proud of. I've kept up the fitness and my goal in 2021 is to run 2021 miles, with the hope of running races being back open later in the year. In the meantime I have signed up to the virtual Lands End to John O'Groats (1744km) as a goal to hit for the first half of the year. I'm also lucky enough to be running in this year's London Marathon, hopefully this time around the streets of London :) 

Update September 2021 -

It's just over 3 weeks till the London Marathon, training up on a 16 week plan getting my legs used to running such a distance again. Finished the Lands End to John O'Groats challenge a few months ago due to the miles put in. Me being me, I wouldn't want anything to be easy though, so during the 16 week plan I've had kidney stone surgery (thanks again to the NHS) and with that, I took weeks 1 to 2 weeks almost run free and very thankful actually that my body 'gave back' and got back to full strength very quickly after a hole was put into my back :) ... I am still searching online though for marathon training with surgery, maybe one I should create!!

Windsor Half is incoming as a practise pace for me in a week or so and then it's the big one, nerves are already there, but that's all part of it, LOVE the rush!! Can't wait to see how it goes.

You can follow me on instagram - Adrian_runner

Thanks so much for all your kind donations in advance.