Hi Guys I'm just another person after your hard earned cash!

I used to regularly run for pleasure and it was not unusual for me to run a half marathon, I've now completed 10 half marathons, 2 ultra marathons and numerous 10K races. My last race was in 2011and now my life is very different. Since leaving the Army in 2012 exercise has become a casualty of a busy lifestyle in the real world (come on guys you squaddies know you have it good!) and I haven't had a decent run in years. 

I'm now a fat mess and fed up, and so I'm set on making big changes in order to return to the glory days of 32in waist and pectorals. A whole new lifestyle should see me eating better, hitting the gym, and grinding out those long runs, hopefully leading to better health and well-being. A return to rugby would be a welcome bonus too!

This race is an early stepping stone in my long transformation from 'Dad Bod' to 'God Bod!' There will be blisters, there will be 6am starts, there will be grunts and groans, but most importantly there will be Success! I'm not expecting miracles from this first run, i'm just hoping to find a nice bum to run behind and make it round in one piece.

I've been a Type1 Diabetic for 5 n half years now and my health is on a slippery slope, I have the early stages of complications and I need to make changes now to improve my health because I'm not counting on losing my feet or having a stroke just yet.

Therefore it makes sense to me to choose Diabetes UK as my chosen charity as one day they will be relied upon for help and support so I intend to to my bit for them whilst I can.

Please can you kindly dig in your pockets and support me in my journey to greatness!

Many thanks in advance, you guys are the best!!

Neil aka Big Gay Bear