When I briefly started getting back into running after having a stoma in 2019 I was keen to set myself a challenge so whilst sat at the bar in Tiny Rebel in Newport I wondered how long the border around Newport was so fired up the OS Maps app and plotted a route.

Surprisingly there are enough public footpaths to stay fairly close to the border and the total distance was somewhere between 71-72 miles. That sounded like something I could set as a target for myself and had the aim of attempting it in 2020. Things didn't go too well health-wise and I wasn't going to be able to attempt it but now that I'm back to normal I've set myself the challenge of completing it this year.

This going to be my biggest challenge to date and the most toughest. The furthest I've run to date is 50 miles and I have got some experience of running ultramarathons so I'm confident that this is something that I'll be able to conquer.

As added motivation I've decided to raise money for the MS Trust. My brother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in June 2019 although symptoms started appear as far back as 2011. He experiences a mix of symptoms including fatigue, foot drop meaning that he sometimes has to walk with a stick and would have the occasional unscheduled trip to the floor.

There's also the mental distress that comes with having such a condition and this is something that I can relate being someone with a stoma and Crohn's Disease.

By raising money for the MS Trust they will be able to fund specialist nurses, support those with MS and being a voice for those with the condition.

The date for the challenge has been set for 24th July, 2021 and you're more than welcome to come along the day to run some of it with me or support me.