My Mental Marathon: More Than Just Miles

In just 8 days (20th July), I'll be toeing the line at the Eastbourne Marathon. You might expect months of dedicated training, but my preparation has been a little... unconventional. While I enjoyed some 5k Parkruns over the winter, I haven't run at all since May 10th nor have I ever ran further than 10km. My most rigorous "training" involved giving up alcohol last week! Is this a bit crazy? Absolutely. Will it be incredibly tough? Without a doubt. But am I going to do it? You're damn right I will. And to make this challenge even more audacious, I'm aiming for a sub-4-hour finish - although the jury is out with this!

Why I'm Running

Almost a year ago, I reached a point where I tried to end my life and no longer wanted to live. I suffer with depression and regular suicidal thoughts. One of the few things that has kept me going was having future events in my calendar to look forward to. When I casually mentioned to a friend that I'd someday run a marathon with no training, they simply said it wasn't possible. And that was all the inspiration I needed. While I'm running to prove them wrong, more importantly, I'm running to prove to myself that anything is possible with the right mindset. This marathon won't "fix" my mental health struggles, but I hope it will give me a vital boost of self-worth to help kickstart my life again.

Supporting a Cause Close to My Heart

Initially, I wasn't planning on fundraising – the marathon was a personal challenge. However, I realized that completing such an undertaking without using it as an opportunity to support others would be a missed chance. That's why I've decided, at the last minute, to raise vital funds for a charity that resonates deeply with my own story: Andy's Man Club.

Andy's Man Club provides crucial support and facilities for young men who face similar struggles to mine. Every single donation to my JustGiving page will go directly to them. Knowing your support is behind me will be an incredible motivator, helping me push through the inevitable "wall" I'm bound to hit. I'll be sharing my Strava live link so you can track my progress on the day!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to me and to the work of Andy's Man Club.