On 29^th May I will be running between two of the greatest cities in the world, my hometown of Birmingham and its less well known cousin London. Rather fittingly known as “The Long Run” the Grand Union Canal race comes in at somewhere between 145-155 miles. Officially
it’s 145 but that’s if you ran in the middle of the canal which I don’t plan on doing as I might get a bit wet. 

There is an added family link for me as apparently according to my great Aunty Rita we are decedents of canal people and those who are fans of the show Peaky Blinders…. Yes that basically makes me a Shelby.  The rules of the race say you can’t rest for more than 40 minutes at any point in time along the course and the cut-off time is 45 hours. Most years the drop out rate is around 50% so around half of all people who decide to sign up realise at some point at 3am under a bridge in Hemel Hempstead that what they are doing is a bit much and they should go home. When I’m under that bridge in Hemel it’d be quite nice to know I’m not doing this for fun but I am doing it for a good cause.

Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia forever. Until the day we find a cure, they are looking to create a society where those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice.