I have entered my U marathon

I have entered the Utrecht marathon on March 18th 2018. 2018 seems a long way away but it will come round quickly.


I am starting to feel back to normal again after the Yorkshire marathon. I was blown away by peoples generosity and I managed to raise £510, a massive thank you to everyone that donated.


My plan is to keep up my running but start marathon training proper in the new year. I am also contemplating documenting my training by putting videos on YouTube. I have a You Tube channel, which you can find by putting 'alphabetmarathons' into You Tube or by clicking on the photo of Jo and I at the Meon Plod on the right hand side of this blog.

Yorkshire Marathon 2017

As post title suggests I have run my Y the Yorkshire Marathon in York on 8th October 2017. It is a fantastic marathon.
I found it very hard. I went with the 3:30 pacer who was actually running 3:24 pace so I did a 1:42 half which I would have been pleased with on its own but I had to run another half, I stuck with pacer till 15 miles but then fell away I had 10 miles to go and I was in all sorts of pain I told myself I can run 1 mile so I did then I did the same again 10 times at the finish i thought I had finished at 26 miles but I had 0.2 miles to go. I was very pleased with my finish time of 3:38

I really enjoyed the event and York is a great place to visit

Me at the start and below trying to keep warm

Wayne the 3:30 pacer at the start, who actually ran 3:24 pace

Me at the finish with my medal, the finish is where the pain really starts

Below is a video of me finishing I took the phone out as I thought I was finishing but I was actually at 26 miles so the video is longer than I first intended

Beautiful training run

We were on a weekend away in Brean on the Somerset coast and I was lucky to be able to fit a long run in, I ran for 1 1/2 hours so I think it was about 10 miles. I ran along the beach then up Brean down along the top, then back down to the beach and then back along the beach. I was lucky with the weather as well. Pictures of the top of Brean down and the beach below.

20 mile run: COME ON YEAH

Ran 20 miles as the title says. My legs are feeling it. I work at a library and met one of the regulars at 15 miles I said hello but I could not stop my legs were already hurting and if I stopped I would not have been able to get going again. Plus like me he loves a chat.

I have been running around the local area now for a while but not been taking any pictures. I am very lucky to be able to run around  a few beautiful places setting off from my front door. Below are  some of the places I am lucky enough to be able run around.

Ashenbury park

Dinton-pastures-country

Dinton-pastures-country

South lake

Stepping up training

I have started to step up my training. I went out on a very hot day at 12 o'clock 'mad dogs and English men go out in the mid day sun' came to mind. I did 17 miles which i was very happy with. I did take a stumble near the start which was not the best start. I am fairly happy with my training, you always feel you should run more, but with looking after our amazing boys and working I could not have done much more.

On fundraising side I manage to put a post on the council intranet site where I work and 3 people who I do not know have very generously donated £20 each which I am blown away by, it does make the training more fun and gives it a real purpose when people donate money. My Mum and Dad have also donated £100, which is really appreciated.

October 8th when my first marathon in 2 years takes place, is coming round very quickly

Long over due update

I am rubbish at updating. I am all booked in for Yorkshire marathon on 8th October. I have started training I am up to 7 miles. It is very different this time round. It is my first marathon for 2 years plus and my first since have back operation, and my Wife and I having twin boys.


I am finding it much harder this time round one reason  is that I have been very luck in the past to be able to do all my training with people, this time I am having to run on my own which I find very hard, I also have to run when I have time not when I feel like running. It is a very different experience one I am enjoying but finding hard. My life has changed so much since I started this journey. My brother Ian never met my wife and never got to meet my two amazing boys he would have been a fantastic Uncle to them. we are in touch with his wife Angela and she is a brilliant Auntie to Harry and Alfie although we are all busy and she has qualified as a nurse and works in A&E, my brother would be so proud of how she has done and what she has achieved. it means a lot to me that we are still in touch.


I am not sure how long this challenge will take now but I am determined to complete my A-Z in memory of my brilliant Brother Ian  and raise as much money and awareness of the brain tumour charity as possible.

Viking trail marathon a no go

The viking trail marathon organisers failed to get permission for the run. the council changed their policy about notification from 30 to 90 days and organising committee as a result were a week late, the run was moved to a park but I really did not fancy running 14 laps around a park. 

So I had to rethink  I found a  Marathon in York called the Yorkshire marathon  on the 8th October which falls on my weekend off so have entered. Longer to train plus a weekend in Margate to enjoy.

Attempting to restart the challange

As title says I am attempting at restarting the challenge. I am trying to find cheaper marathons to do, hence my first one I will attempt is Viking trail in Kent. If completed that will be V done and Kent is slightly cheaper than Vienna. I am not sure how body will hold up and training and it is harder with twin boys to look after. It will only be the one marathon this year. If completed I will have run 20 marathons. Just the six more to run.

I have started training I am up to to 7 miles. Fingers crossed