Ever since I started running, I have been looking for bigger and bigger challenges and this year I have set up a stonker! My aim is to run a major run - half marathon or longer - in each of the six East Midlands counties: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland. I have dubbed this The East Midlands Gauntlet.

This is no small feat and so I'm using this frankly quite bonkers challenge to raise some money for some good causes along the way. So if you can spare a few pennies, maybe just from skipping that extra pint (or two) next time you're out, then please send it my way and show your support whilst also helping out others at the same time.

I'm also doing a bit to honour my late father, another thing I'd always said I'd do when I got in to running but never found a suitably worthy challenge until now. He served in the armed forces for a good chunk of his life and I know his time there meant a lot to him so I have chosen a suitable military charity to support, namely SSAFA.

For those interested, my runs are as follows:
Leicestershire Half Marathon - 27th February,
Rutland Half Marathon - 3rd April,
Boston Marathon - 18th April,
Northamptonshire Half Marathon - 15th May
Derbyshire Half Marathon - 19th June
Robin Hood Half Marathon - 25th September

Wish me luck!