New year, new challenge.

Hi everyone. So this is the first blog of the new year and with it comes a new challenge. This year I’ve charged myself with the task of completing 52 sub-4 hour marathons.

Last year I ran a few marathons/ultramarathons and it turned out to be a hell of a challenge. I laughed, cried, bled, wee’d myself, enjoyed it, hated it, fel over, stood in numerous dog shits and generally had a whale of a time. It was a hell of an achievement and one of the things I enjoyed most was blogging about it. So I will be doing it again this year!

So why do something else? Why not have some time off and do something else? It’s the mental challenge, I think. I read a book earlier this year my Mike Stroud that suggested that once the intense pain of an event is over, we are quick to forget it and can’t fathom just how much it hurt until we do it again. Apparently it’s why women are eager to give birth again after their first. That, and some sort of bond that adults and children allegedly develop throughout the years…

There is of course the obligatory charity challenge. I wouldn’t bother if it was just for myself. I want motivation beyond my own ego, and hopefully people will benefit from it in the form of money, promotion and raised awareness.

So this year they are:

• Passingiton www.passingiton.org.uk
• Rethink – Survivors of Suicide www.rethink.org

I have to have the obligatory suicide charity in there – and this one is local to Brighton. I don’t think I would be motivated enough if dad hadn’t have topped himself – something good has to come of it. BUT, there’s plenty of time in the next year to discuss the ins and outs of the effects of suicide.

Passingiton is an amazing Brighton based charity. Run by two cracking blokes, James and Matt, with the help of lots of great well wishers, they have gone from running the Dublin Marathon dressed as Batman and Robin to staging a World Record breaking Heroes run on Brighton seafront each year. www.heroesrun.org.uk for more information. Further to this, James is acting as my PR machine. For this, I’m eternally grateful!

So here goes – tomorrow is New Years Day and already we’ve hit a snag. We’re unable to make the Brooks Serpentine 10km, so I’m playing cat and mouse with James instead. Here’s the deal –

I am running setting off from Shoreham train station at 1.30pm. James will leave Brighton at the same time. We will both head to Newhaven swing bridge and back, finishing within 4 hours. Question is, will I catch him before he gets there? Doubtful if you ask me – I’ve done naff all, all Christmas!

Finally, a huge thank you for reading this – please keep checking back. The website is very important and will be updated as much as possible. There will be many more insights into how it’s all going and hopefully some great tales of support. I’ve already had people get in touch with their best wishes. I always want to hear from people. You can get me at kev@52marathons.co.uk

Thanks a lot

Kev

www.52marathons.co.uk

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