I don't know how far I can run and I want to find out. I want to challenge myself, and test my endurance.  The first part of my challenge is the training, to get me to the start I'm planning to run 830 km before race day.

I've never run long distances before - a half marathon in 1998 was the furthest I'd run before my training began.  I did think I'd run a marathon first, but no, I'm going all in for the ultra marathon first - 60 km in one day.  The course sees all the competitors running the coastal paths of the five inhabited islands, the total distance will be 60 kilometres. 

I live in the Isles of Scilly and the 'Scilly60' is a local event that is running this year for the first time. I thought it looked like a challenge, so much so that I thought it would be rude not to enter and ultimately I hope to tick it off my bucket list.

The Isles of Scilly is a beautiful collection of islands 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall.  It's a wonderful natural jewel out in the Atlantic ocean, it's full of wildlife and sea views.  This event will see us mainly running across and through areas of land looked after by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.

The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust is a tiny charity with a huge job. A remote archipelago off the south-western tip of Cornwall the rugged beauty & open vistas are one of the most designated places in the UK, home to nationally important populations of seabird, rare endemic plants & provide a fuel- stop for rare migrating birds each year. Protecting 24 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 44 Scheduled Ancient Monuments & keeping 40,000 metres of paths open, the Trust safeguards over 50% of the islands for future generations.

The reason I came to Scilly was to work for the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust 14 years ago as a Ranger.  The reason I'm still here and raising money for this great charity isn't just because of the natural beauty of the islands, but also because of the great work the charity does to keep Scilly special.  Over the years I have seen some great individuals and groups of people raise money and now it's my turn, so please be generous in cheering me and the other 68 nutters on in May.