The target? To run the Boston Marathon in April 2009, and to raise at least £1500 for my favourite charity, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org.uk).

Boston has been a distant dream since my plodding career began back in 2001. I never thought I'd get there as entry is usually by qualification time only -- but the good old JDRF have managed to conjure up a charity place for me, and I want to reward their generosity with some of my own -- and yours I hope. They're a tremendous organisation, doing great work to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, and deserve our support. I'm committed to raising at least £1500 for the cause, and would love to smash this target. (PLEASE NOTE: every penny raised goes direct to the charity and their research work. I am paying my own travel and accommodation expenses.)

If you want to read a more detailed account of my progress, or to catch up with previous expeditions through the running firmament, do check out what someone has suggested may be 'the longest running running blog on the internet': www.runningcommentary.net.

Thank you for your generosity. It really is greatly appreciated, and please be assured that all donations will be put to very good use.