On Boxing Day 2024 my life was changed forever when my wife Debs suddenly passed away. As my family and I adjust to a less colourful and quieter life without here I had to look at what we could do to honour her, to honour her faith in her family and what they could do. To honour the way she pushed me to do things outwith my comfort zone. Then I remembered that she had entered me for the Rat Race event The Wall a 79 mile run from Carlisle to Newcastle. Entered me without my knowledge it should be noted after i mentioned in the passing i fancied doing it one year but that i was not yet ready!!!!

She was to be my support, driving me down and then meeting me on the route at various checkpoints before driving me home again. I realised that I could no longer complete this event without her, at least not this year. So I pulled out and have instead put the entry money towards this event. A 29 mile run starting on the wild Atlantic coast of Loch Linnhe and ending at the Nevis Range Mountain Experience Resort, with the little matter of ascending and descending Ben Nevis in the middle.

I fully expect to hurt for many hours on end, knowing that this would bring a smile to her face!

I have decided to run this race and raise some dosh for a charity that has helped our family, when our daughter, Murrin, finished college, she ended up sitting in her room getting more and more depressed and in stepped Perth & Kinross Disability sport. Arranging for murrin to try out some sports, from Boccia, to Wheelchair Curling, racing and basketball. This has helped her to make friends, it has increased her confidence and become a part of her community. All of this is done with their 'no cost participation' ethos.

Coaching, equipment, hall hire, is all paid by the charity for many people with disabilities in Perth & Kinross. I see the difference it makes to these people old and young every week. It is something that is worthy of our support. We should be shouting it from the rooftops about how amazing a job that the team do week in week out, always with a smile on their face, even when they are out on an athletics track in the freezing cold depths of winter.

With 6 Weeks left to go My training is ramping up, runs up the hills, trying to increase the time on feet and the vertical climb. although no amount of training will be preparation for teh total ascent of 1800 metres on the day