All done! Thank you to everyone for your support, both moral and financial, and especially to Erika, Oliver and Bea who stood in the autumnal weather cheering me on - I couldn't have it done it without you!

That support, the race atmosphere and the totally flat course all helped me to a time of 1.49.02, which was a bit of a surprise, compared to my other runs...

Anyway, you've all been wonderful, and I'm incredibly grateful - as are my friends at the Vineyard. Having received a strongly-worded letter from my knees I shall be giving the running a break for a week or two!

Much love,

Simon

***

Hello, and thanks for your interest.

The rather melodramatic explosion of my gall bladder in January 2023 had some interesting side-effects, not least of which was a desire to do what I could to remain in a decent state of health for as long as possible. Out went the over-consumption of my beloved fromage, in came a desire to do a bit of exercise.

Given my rather obsessive approach to such things, this became something of a habit; 1k became 5k and then 10k, a distance I wasn't able to run when I tried in my twenties (not that I can remember much from my twenties...). The map above is my 10k route round the wonderful Richmond Park.

Now I find myself rather rashly attempting to double that distance, to run a half marathon before my half century. A catchy line, which I am sure to regret on Saturday 18 October, when I attempt the run in Battersea Park.

To encourage myself I am going to try to raise funds for the Vineyard Community Centre, a charity for which I volunteer in Richmond which helps people experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction issues and other forms of crisis. If you are able to, please feel free to make a donation through this page; I'll be most grateful, as will the staff and guests at the Vineyard. If you're local and you have some spare time, you might also want to volunteer!

In any event, thanks for reading and think of me as you do something far more sensible on the morning of 18 October. If I manage it without falling apart, I intend to undertake the full distance in my hundredth year...

Much love,

Simon

***

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.