This year I wanted to do something a little different for Special Effect so along with their twin town challenge I discussed the option of running 5 half marathons with a friend of mine (Paul Smith). This totals 66 miles and hence the Route 66 Challenge.......

To keep it interesting we are aiming to achieve a personal best in each race. Having completed our last 1/2 marathon in under 1hr 44mins our first objective is to beat this time and then continue to improve with each race.

Our goal is to hand over £2,000 to this fantastic charity and we really appreciate any help you can offer us by way of making a donation (any amount is welcomed).

The 5 half marathons are Reading (2nd March), Bournemouth (30th March), Stratford-upon-Avon (27th April), Windsor (28th Sept) and finishing in Oxford on the 12th Oct.

We are also going to include a 10km (venue to be confirmed) in which we aim to post a sub 40min time.

We have been training well for the past few months (lots of 6am starts in the dark & wet) and we are happy with our progress to date. The Reading race is just over 2 weeks away and we are hoping for some kind weather.........

To give a bit of background about Paul and myself - we are normal lads, both like drinking the odd pint here and there and I still smoke (but only when drinking.......), we are not natural athletes, we have to put in the hours to achieve these 5 PB's but we also appreciate that we have the opportunity to do this and that the work Special Effect produce every day is just mind blowing.