2017 mud, sweat, and tears

WARNING: The first two paragraphs are no fun so by all means skip them...

In June 2013,  I found myself in a hospital bed with a knackered colon and a poorly liver. After weeks of blood tests (and other examinations), MRI scans (noisy dam thing) and a visit to the ultra sound guy, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis "PSC".

What can I tell you: the Colitis is a 'bit of an arsehole' (yes I mean that in both terms) but it's the PSC that's the game changer for me.  In a nut shell PSC is chronic scaring of the liver that can lead to a transplant being required.  Very little is known about PSC and there is no known cure but fingers crossed for the future. I'm apparently very young to have PSC so I hope to get involved in clinical trials (yes, 35 is still classed as young).  For now, I'm under the excellent care of the amazing specialists at Bedford and The Royal Free hospitals. I can't praise them enough and thank you falls well short. They're keeping me full of pills and full of hope, which brings me to this page ......

While I'm fit and heathy, I'm going to have some fun (yes, I class mud, ice baths, saddle sores, death slides and electrocution as fun) by setting myself some challenges this year that will test my limits and push me beyond my comfort zone.

In 2017 I plan to compete in a minimum of 14 endurance events including the 'Tough Mudder', 'Wolf Run' and 'Nuclear' series, a 'Tower Run' (I hate stairs) and I'm also looking to organise a team for the London to Brighton bike ride.  I invite anyone brave (or stupid) enough to join me at any event and help PSC support.

Tough guy ..... done (some how)
Bootneck challenge ..... completed
WOLF (spring) ...... yeah baby
WAR 20km ...... smashed
Tough mudder......... boom
Nuclear rush ........ epic tick
Duathalon........ fail (PSC flair up)
WOLF (summer)........ back in business
Flitton potato race.......never loved a finish line as much
London2brighton...... crushed
Suffering legend ......... I'm legendary
Summer tough guy....... falling apart but did it
The great escape..... ze Germans didn't stand a chance
Tough mudder...........legionnaire
WOLF........ one more 4 alpha medal
WAR 20k & rope challenge .. give me a "HELL YEAH"
Nuclear blast..... crushed it
Nuclear blackout..... lit up
Herts 10k ....... new pb
Winter WOLF.... ALPHA complete
Nuclear fall out..... last big ocr completed
5k Santa run ........ ho ho ho Merry sprint finish

Next up .....
That’s it all done thank you for your support this year roll on 2018

This is the standard small print bit... Thank you for reading my story (so far) and thank you for any donations you make as every penny will make a huge difference to help PSC research and save the lives of others like me who are living with this life threatening illness. 

Finally, I would like to thank my beautiful Lizzy, my Mum, my Dad, Colette, Tina and all my friends and family who have helped me in the past four years.  I really couldn't do any of this without you.

Anyway I'd better get running.....