This year I decided I was bored of making old man noises when bending over, feeling out of breath running up the stairs, wondering why my clothes were shrinking and feeling bloated all the time!

My initial aim was to run a local half marathon which goes past our house every year. In February, after 8 weeks training, I ran this (hilly!) local course in just under 2 hours, which was my aim. But I’ve always had something from my younger years I wanted to finish.

15 years ago I joined the TA with 131 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers (I had no real idea what I was getting into at the time!). 131 is an engineer unit forming part of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. I stayed in the TA for around 2 years completing basic engineers training at Gibraltar Barracks in Surrey. I went to Commando Training Centre several times down at Lympstone for training weekends but unfortunately I lost my way with my training and fell out of love with the TA before completing the final Commando course, something I’ve come to regret over the years.

The final test on the commando course, before earning the coveted green beret, is ‘the 30 miler’. Basically a 30 mile cross country ‘yomp’ carrying 32lbs to be completed in under 8 hours.

In February I signed up for the ‘COPS 30 Miler’ (www.cops30miler.org). Basically a replica of the final commando test and an event run by serving Royal Marines.

In September I’ll be undertaking this challenge and I’m currently in training getting used to running with weight again. I’ve had to build up gradually to the full weight to prevent injury on my old joints but I’m now up to the full weight and 14 miles at the necessary pace. By June I’ll be up 20 miles and every Sunday is a yomp day out in Epping Forest with my bergan on, looking like a wally! I’m training 4-5 days a week either running, yomping or in the gym. I’m getting blisters on my blisters and getting aches in places I forgot I had!

You knew it was coming but, I would like to ask for your support on this little challenge to help me raise money for two worthy charities which often struggle to get heard in the fundraising world. Care of Police Survivors and the Royal Marines Charity help many ex-officers/soldiers and their families who have all helped defend us every day while we all go about our daily business.

Care of Police Survivors helps families of Police officers who lost their lives on duty while the Royal Marines Charity helps ex-Marines deal with injuries incurred on the front line, mental health matters including PTSD and transitioning into civilian life. These are incredibly important charities helping our front line services.

Thanks for any support you can give and know that I will be giving regular updates/guilt trips as I progress through training!

Thank you for reading!