I am running the Berlin Marathon on 26th September 2021 for Save the Children.

About the Charity:

Let me begin with the assurance that every penny donated will go directly to the charity. None of it will be used for my participation fee, travel, accommodation or any other expenses.

I’m participating in this race with Save the Children. As a father of 2 young children, it was a fairly easy decision for me to choose this charity from a long list of noble causes. Save the Children exists to help every child reach their full potential. In more than 100 countries including the UK, they make sure children stay safe, healthy and keep learning. They find new ways to reach children who need us most, no matter where they're growing up. For a century, they've stood up for children's rights and made sure their voices are heard. Together with children, supporters and partners, they’re determined to help every child become who they want to be.

Your donation will help children around the world reach their potential. £12 could provide an early years book for a child attending pre-school in a refugee camp. £25 could help homeless children with a safe place to stay for the night. £50 could pay for a cholera rapid test kit to fight the spread of disease. £100 could feed a severely malnourished child with therapeutic milk for up to 7 weeks.

These figures are quoted purely for example - any amount, big or small, will help this great cause so please donate whatever you are comfortable with.

About Me:

I am relatively new to running, having started only in 2017. For the first 2 years I kept doing 5k runs twice a week - and dreaded it. Only after 2 years or so of starting, I actually started feeling the sense of achievement that comes with it. I realised what it truly meant to me when I couldn’t run for 3 months due to a knee injury (caused by running of course). As part of my treatment, I was made to I improve my strength, posture and technique. When I resumed running, I was able to increase my distances & frequency and fell in love with the sport. With hindsight, I consider that injury a blessing in disguise.

I can now say that I am a keen endurance runner and cover various distances 3 times a week, no matter where I am (please see my gallery for some of the scenery I was rewarded with on my early morning runs while traveling) and what the conditions are like.

Berlin 2020 was going to be my first full marathon. That got cancelled due to COVID-19 and my spot rolled over to Berlin 2021 by the charity. However, I was very keen to run a marathon before November 2020 (something irrational like running 42km while my age was still 42). I started training for it in late August with a view to complete a marathon in October/early November. However, a week or so before 27th September (the Berlin 2020 date), I found a virtual run taking place and decided to bring my marathon forward, despite not being ready. I didn't achieve my target time of 3:45 but didn't do too badly, completing the distance in 3:58:17. Please see my gallery for certificate and route screenshot. Then on the first Friday of November, I realised that was the last weekend before my 43rd birthday and I thought of attempting 3:45 again while I was still 42. So on Saturday (the next day after thinking this up), I ran my second marathon. Unfortunately missed the 3:45 goal again by the same margin and managed to complete the distance only 12 seconds quicker than my first marathon. I guess I am just not strong enough, yet. At least I have done it twice now!

Obviously I will not be able to maintain "marathon fitness" for a full year and will require disciplined training again over Summer 2021 to allow me to attain appropriate levels of strength and fitness that this challenge demands.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my fundraising page. I will post updates here as I begin my training and progress through my plan.

I already raised just over half my target funds for 2020 and it will count towards my 2021 fundraising, hence not starting from zero. Please visit my 2020 fundraising page here: Fawad's Berlin Marathon 2020 Fundrasier.