Chuffed!

Today was a scheduled long steady run.  Target: 18 miles in 2:35.

Made it - just! 18.09 miles in 2:35:02 - or 2:34:11 if correcting to remove time spent waiting to cross roads!

Didn't think I was going to make this one!

(Now only lugging 88.8kg around...)

Training update

Ran 8 miles in 67 minutes. Target for my training plan was 8 miles in 75 minutes.  Making progress...

Current training overview

My current focus is on the Brighton Marathon in April. I am following a training plan for a 3:45 marathon. Once this is done, then I'll move on to more traditional ultra training for the London 2 Brighton run...

Welcome to my blog!

Royal Parks Half 2011

18 months ago and 2 stone heavier, I started running.

After saying that I must do something to get fit (but not actually doing anything!) I received an email offering me a place for the Royal Parks Half Marathon in exchange for agreeing to raise money for Tommy's - a charity that funds research into pregnancy related issues.  After a few beers, I signed up and when the alco-fog lifted, I realised that I had to take this seriously, particularly as there was a charity depending on my performance.

I got some trainers and went for a run...for 5 minutes.  That was the longest I could run in one go.  For more information on I got started click here.

I downloaded the half marathon program from Hal Higdon's website and got stuck in.  3 months later I ran my first race - the Run To The Beat Half Marathon.  2:06.

2 weeks later I ran the Royal Parks Half.  2:00.

Progress!   I was getting fitter and feeling much better.  I had got the bug!

Next big race - my first marathon - Paris.  During the weeks leading up to the race I read Mark Hines's book on the Marathon des Sables.  I knew I had to take on this challenge...but would I be capable of it?

This event is a huge challenge and so, after running my last few races just for myself with no fundraising, I decided that the Marathon des Sables would be an opportunity to raise money that must not be missed.

The plight of underprivileged children worldwide strikes a particular chord with me and so I made contact with Hope for Children with a view to raising money for them in the course of running the Marathon des Sables.  And here I am.

I hope that this blog will be interactive.  I will be updating it regularly with my training progress, fundraising information, and my musings on what kit to take.

I am not an expert in these things.  I am just an ordinary bloke looking do something extraordinary.

I welcome any comments on training, kit choices, events to enter or anything else.  I will also post my experiences with training and kit and I hope that my experiences might be useful to you.