Well as someone who used to "cheat" in PE when we were asked to do a lap of the local park (I'd go off track and cut corners!) I've amazed myself that I even considered doing this.

I started doing some treadmill running at the gym as a way of getting fit, and then started running outdoors round the local nature park / reserve as it's far more interesting. Anyway I thought I'd set myself a challenge, the first is to run a 10k, the second is to run a Marathon.

As a way of motivating myself I thought I'd put it public and raise some money, that way I can't bottle out of it. ;-)

I've decided to raise money for a local hospice, I know it's not a national charity, but to me it's an important one and is close to my heart as it was the hospice my Dad went into when he was taken ill. They did a great job of looking after him, in fact such a great job that he became well enough to come back home and survived for another three years when the doctors had given him 3 hours at one point. For that extra time with him I'll be forever grateful.

So if you could see it in your hearts / pockets to throw a few pennies to them in memory of my Dad, and at the same time give me some much needed motivation to not only do this, but come back and pester you in another year when I hopefully step up to the challenge of a Marathon then I'd be most chuffed.

Darren

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