“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.”
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning 

12th March 2019 - 12th March 2021 2 years running every day.

730 Days.

5,031 miles ran.

PBs at all distances.

Thank you for reading this Just Giving page.  I never thought when I first started running that I would run so many consecutive days. It was never the intention.  A week simply became a month, then became a year and now two.  I have ran through every weather front, a pandemic, loss, grief, challenges, frustrations, elations, races and personal bests. I have run when I haven’t felt like running, which has mostly been on my own.  It has become part of me and who I am as a person.  It’s become an essential part of my day, often twice a day before restrictions and a positive habit.     

I write this, not for credit or a well done nor a feeling that you have to do this either.  It’s not really about the accolades or achievement.  It’s simply about the space it enables me to think, reflect and leave days behind on the road by putting one foot in front of the other. In truth, it has saved my own mental health. As outlined by Dean Karnzes in Phil Hewitt in Running from your Demons,  “There is no necessity for running:  we runners seek pain and discomfort and the struggle this accelerated form of locomotion doles out.  But hereine lies the magic.  The hard of running somehow softens the hardship of life.  Running turns the madness into music.” 

Mental Health is really important to me.  My mum has bipolar disorder.  This has been a long journey for my mum as a person, but also for us a family.  It’s not something that goes away, people live with these challenges every single day and learn to live with it. I’ve seen it, lived it and it resulted in my mum in hospital not knowing who I was, sectioned under the mental health act.  She is in a better place now due to the great support from the NHS, Mind Charity and family.  I don’t take this for granted and feel very fortunate we got the help she needed. 

Mental health can affect anyone at any time.  No matter your background, race, religion or wealth, it should always be taken seriously.  We need to continue to break the stigma, listen and support each other to seek out the appropriate support. 

2 years of running every day is done. I want to see how far I can go and also how this can benefit others.   So with that in MIND . . . . . . 

Mind, the mental health charity, provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. They won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. www.mind.org.uk 

Mind has a confidential information and support line, Mind Infoline, available on 0300 123 3393 (lines open 9am - 6pm, Monday – Friday) 

Mind has an online peer support network called Elefriends www.elefriends.org.uk      

£8 could offer a lifeline to someone in desperate need of support by letting the Mind infoline team answer their call. 

£15 could help us campaign for better access to talking therapies, crisis care and other essential mental health services 

£21 could keep Elefriends,  online support community, running for one hour. 

Please give if you can.  Take time out to check in on people and have conversations. The more we talk and share how we are actually feeling, the more we benefit, even if it does make us feel uncomfortable.   

And if you are interested in getting into running, make sure you get a decent part of trainers!   

To be continued . . . . . .