Hello! I am running the Leicester Half Marathon on October 13th in aid of Big Difference Company, the charity behind Leicester Comedy Festival, The UK Kids' Comedy Festival and loads of other great arts projects.

If you know me and are thinking "huh, he never quite struck me as a runner" firstly I'd like to acknowledge how right you are. I have never run a half marathon before, in fact, before starting training for this one the furthest I had run was just over a 5k. However, for the past two years, through a coordinated and lasting campaign my partner Meg and her ultramarathoning parents have been gently (firmly) trying to get me to take up running and for some reason, since about May this year it has finally stuck. I get it now.

As it turns out they and all those researchers, athletes, and teachers were right all along: exercising does make me feel better and boosts my mood. It is, at the very least, an inconvenient truth. Thanks to running I've lost a not-insignificant amount of weight, but more importantly I finally understand and feel the holistic benefits of exercising regularly.

Reluctantly (eagerly), I have volunteered to run this half marathon in aid of the charity for which I work, Big Difference Company. I have seen first hand how the work that BDC undertakes through its projects engages youth and underrepresented communities, promotes mental health and wellbeing, and enhances the lives of participants, volunteers, and communities. I am part of a dedicated team who every day work hard to deliver these projects, and I suppose this is my way of giving back.

You can find out more about what Big Difference Company are all about here: https://bigdifferencecompany.co.uk/

If you would like to keep track of my training you can follow me on Strava here: https://strava.app.link/qCTeu0Pa5Lb/

Thanks for reading!