In the summer  of 2021, in a bid to try and find some self belief and reason to keep trucking in  a ‘rocky moment’,  I set myself a bunch of goals for 2022:  All a bit classic “Cripes  I’m 50” mid-life crisis cliché stuff with a dose of overkill! .  A sensible person would have set SMART goals –you know “simple, measurable, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC, time” orientated.  But of course I'm NOT sensible - and so me and my impulsive nature went and  ignored the simple, achievable and realistic part. And as Ollie Laurel said to Stan Hardy "That's a fine mess I've (sic) got myself into":…

 I went and signed up to the  Great Norse Run this August - which supposedly involves running  209 miles across the width of Iceland in 9 days  (whilst swearing, moaning and bitching for  a sound demonstration of my ability to multi task). No, I hadn't  run a marathon when I committed to doing it. Yes maybe I should have signed up once I had that bit nailed. You don’t need to roll your eyes as you read - I’m already doing it for you! I know it is typical me.  All or nothing.   But “I’ve made my bed, so I’ve got to lie in it” as far as I'm concerned– because, well… because I’m stubborn and all kinds of foolish and I see quitting as a failure on my part and not seeing it through seems worse than the idea of giving up. 

Consequently, I’ve spent a lot more time in running shoes this year than I ever have to date: My feet have never looked less appealing - blisters, battered toes... Frodo, yours look beautiful by comparison.  

 I’ve now run a marathon as well as my first Ultra Marathon in ‘not so flat’ Wales (of course - why don’t I listen when people say “ooh that’s hilly”?) in order to ascertain whether I do have any grit or mental strength in me at all.   

On the 2nd July  I will be taking on the Man Vs Coast Challenge in Cornwall starting at Marazion Beach and finishing at Land’s End. ( 25 miles of coastal running with some sea swimming, scrambling & jumping thrown in - and camping afterwards for good measure *further eye roll*). My very kind lifelong pal Beccy is  game enough to come with me on this so we can egg each other on because the whole thing looks flipping scary. So listen, It is entirely  possible this could finish me off - given my form for  either injuring something or losing my head. So I’m telling you and warning you now, if that is the case  then please consider this to be  the challenge and I'll delete the Iceland Challenge off this page and try and accept defeat - yes I’m THAT unsure of myself and doubtful of my capabilities - mental and physical. Frankly, keeping my head together to train over the last months and getting to the point of putting this page together has been an uphill struggle and I’m still not convinced that in just doing so I won’t have jinxed myself in the process. But a treasured lifeboat crew of people have kept propping me up so I’m just going to keep ploughing on as if I’ve got this all in hand  - for the minute. 

Let’s assume I AM able to keep it all  together to pack the kit and get on a plane, ' I will be heading to Reikjavic  for the Great Norse Run armed with my my thermals  and beanie hat and starting the run on  the 19^th of August.  I will be wading through icy rivers, running up mountain sides on volcanic desert terrain, eating rehydrated icky looking food (well that’s what they say) and sleeping in a  shared tent with  a dozen or so folk I have yet to meet.  I don’t like being cold.  “Get out of your comfort zone” we are always advised – well  I think I’ve ticked that off with  the meeting new people, camping, icy conditions, running uphill, blistered feet and chaffing. .  

Here’s where you come in -  l need your help: 

I feel something  good HAS to come out of the last year.  It really hasn’t been my greatest  but I’m still here thanks to amazing friends and family.  So if I’m going to keep pressing ahead with seeing out these goals then I am taking advantage of an obvious  opportunity to raise funds to support the massive numbers of teenagers that are struggling with their mental health. This is my way of paying it forwards. :

According to a Stem4.org.uk survey: 95% of GPs believe mental health services for children and young people are critically failing and have deteriorated over the past six years; most would describe services as either in crisis (46%) or very inadequate (49%), compared to 85% in April 2016. Half of GPs (53%) say at least 6 in 10 referrals for anxiety, depression, a conduct disorder, and self-harm are routinely rejected by CAMHS as their symptoms were not deemed severe enough.  Consequently, 6 in 10 (63%) GPs fear young people will come to harm due to lack of treatment, while 58% have seen patients’ symptoms worsen, forcing them to go to A&E.

The pandemic has not been kind to teens and young adults. The impact of COVID on their education, social lives, plans, sense of certainty and their finances is significant. Our teenagers havemissed out on so much and from my own experience know the huge impact our teen/young adult years have on how we we learn to cope with emotionally demanding situations further down the line. I’m STILL dealing with things from my teen years today and now I’m the parent of two teens. So In return for taking my famous moaning skills away from London and along the coast of Cornwall and then right across Iceland please make a donation to Stem4.Org.UK.  22 times more money goes into funding cancer research than mental health every year. 

Feel free to share this page with friends or businesses that might consider sponsoring me.  Caveat: If I don’t make it because  am either physically or mentally unable to do it I will not be issuing  a refund because TEENAGE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES NEED FUNDING And we need to give our young people all the help we can - and my success or failures in a pair of trainers don’t change that.  

About stem4  Charity:  

stem4 is a charity that promotes positive mental health in teenagers and those who support them including their families and carers, education professionals, as well as school nurses and GPs through the provision of mental health education, resilience strategies and early intervention.This is primarily provided digitally through our innovative education programme, pioneering mental health apps, clinically-informed website and mental health conferences that contribute to helping young people and those around them flourish.

FINALLY....
If anyone wants to run with me over the
coming weeks, no matter how short a distance I would love running company any time for whatever distance you want to run. I'd love to catch up with anyone that wants to. And I'll take any advice, or I’ll listen to whatever you have to say. . And any encouragement that tells me it will be ok. . Because right now I really am thinking WHAT THE F*** am I doing?! I’m fighting a serious self confidence crisis. All that self doubting stuff. My head is often messy and my fear of failure is immense .  But I'm just ploughing on anyway - that’s really the lesson I’m learning - to keep going.  The running pace is SLOW - if I can run, you can run.  Run 1 mile with me or however many you like. 

And feel free to share your spotify motivational playlists with me!