100 miles and repeat. And repeat. And repeat.
I'm running 100 miles four - correction: five - times in a year to raise funds for two charities in the UK: Cureparkinson's and Parkinson's UK.
It's been nearly six years since I was diagnosed with Parkinson's and I want to do as much as I can to help those with this disease now, as well as those who will be inflicted with it in the future. Parkinson's disease is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. At the moment there is no cure. Nor anything to modify the progression of the disease.
Cureparkinson's goal is to find treatments to slow, stop or reverse the disease. Parkinson's UK strategy is to push for excellent health and care, build a community of support, and get new treatments, faster. Help me to help them.
The "Grand Slam" opens with the Thames Path 100 in May. The race starts at Richmond and follows the Thames uphill to Oxford. It is hard going as there are only a couple of hills to break the monotony of the flat riverside paths.
The second race in the series is the South Downs Way 100 in June. It begins at the Matterly Bowl just outside Winchester and heads east along the chalk escarpment of the South Downs Way to Eastbourne where we finish with a lap of the track at Eastbourne Sports Club.
The North Downs Way 100 is the third race and starts at Farnham and again heads east, twisting its way through the Surrey Hills on the way to the finish at Ashford.
The final race of the slam is the Autumn 100. It is based at Gorning On Thames and consists of four "out and back" legs of 25 miles each along the Thames Path (North and South legs) and The Ridgeway (East and West legs).
The final race of the year is the Winter Downs 100, which starts at Amberley on the South Downs on 12th December and finishes at Juniper Hall on the North Downs Way having also taken in the Wayfarer's walk and St Swithun's Way.
I'm training to get fit for the first race, and then there's a double whammy of finishing each race and staying fit (and uninjured) for the remainder. What could possibly go wrong?
Exercise has been shown to slow the progression of the disease. I am probably taking it to the extreme to give me incentive to keep exercising!
Every bit of support is much appreciated - whether donating to this fundraiser or a smiling face along the paths during the race.
Supporting
Updates
Supporters 11
Training
76 activities
132.23 hours
1,356,094 steps
1,130.08 km
£720.00
+ £160.00 Gift Aid
£2,000 target | 11 supporters
£0.00
Offline donations
Charities Supporting
50%
50%