Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As you may know I started running when I was 39 as I looked down in the shower and didn't like what I saw...

So I downloaded Couch to 5k as it seemed to be popular...not expecting it to ever work for me. The first 'run' had me jogging for 20 seconds, almost coughing up blood then hobbling back home...followed by 24 hours of pain in places I didn't know I had muscles. BUT...I stuck with it, and it bloody worked. 

As you may know I am an obsessive person and so anything that uses an app to track my distance, speed, and provides stats is dangerous...meaning I got up to running 7 days a week, or running every day for 100 days, running a 10k a day for 2 weeks...that kind of stuff just to see the numbers racking up.

4 years later I entered the ballot for the London Marathon in 2019 knowing no-one ever gets a place...and I didn't. Phew. 

Bizarrely I entered for 2020, expecting the same, but this time I got that letter saying I had a place! Brilliant...nervous, excited and all that so I ramped up my running getting ready. Then BOOM...the world blew up and I could only run the Virtual London Marathon in the pissing rain in 8 mile, 6 mile and 2 mile loops round our house...with loads of support from family and friends...it was still the hardest thing I'd ever done. Shiv knows the blue colour I was at the end for about half an hour wasn't pretty.

Then I got the opportunity to run London for real in 2021...but chickened out as it all felt a bit Covid-y still, so I deferred my place to 2022. All going well...then BOOM, I buggered up my adductor and spent 3 days in hospital instead of being on holiday in Poole.

That was it then, I couldn't defer again so I waved goodbye to London knowing I may never get a place again.

I looked around for charity places but I just don't have a story. I am a straight, white, middle-class male with a good job, a wonderful family including 2 very healthy and funny daughters. What have I got to tell people to tug at their heartstrings and wallets? nothing, I am a VERY lucky man.

BUT when a Twitter follower contacted me to say he had a small local-ish charity that had some places if I was interested I couldn't say no. I'd not heard of Round Table Children's Wish before but it doesn't much to realise they do amazing work and help parents and kids who are FAR FAR less fortunate than this 47-year old sweaty runner.

I'm not an activist, I don't protest, I don't go on strike...and I don't generally raise money for charities. I happily buy cakes, raffle tickets, support friends doing amazing things and I even have a direct debit for the National Lottery...but that's it. I'm nothing special. BUT I grew a Movember 'tache one year and was blown away by the amount I raised...with very little effort...so if I can hobble around 26.2 miles surely I can do some good at the same time?

My favourite running podcast is Running Commentary hosted by the inspirational Paul Tonkinson and Rob Deering...comedians first and last but probably runners in the same measure. They talk about needing a WHY to run big events, something to motivate you in the long, dark, cold, wet training runs, and something to get you over the start line, let alone the finish line. 

THIS IS MY WHY...

I hope we never need RTCW, or anyone I know ever does...but you never know what's round the corner so helping a charity that is there for anyone if they need it, and helps bring smiles to children's faces...that's WHY I'm asking you to help. I've been asked to raise a big amount...so it almost feels as big a challenge of getting my old legs up to 26 miles again...but you've got to aim for the moon don't you? 

If I don't raise enough through this page I will be willing to make you a Christmas Quiz for a fee, bully Tilly into making crafts to sell, persuading Mima to bake some cakes to hawk....or I might just wash your car or sell all my books. Don't make me sell my books.

THANK YOU...I'll hate every mile but I'll hate them less if you have made it worthwhile.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.