Last year I ran the Oxford Half Marathon in aid of the ME Association. On the day of the race disaster struck as I was tripped up right at the very start and dragged shaken and bloody into the medical tent for half an hour for first aid. I eventually re-joined the race in last place, caught up the other runners, fell again, and finally completing the race before receiving two stitches in my chin. It was a pretty epic and painful effort, but the satisfaction of completing it and Raising money for the ME Association who do so much for sufferers of this cruel and much misunderstood illness (my wife included).

I obviously have a score to settle with the Oxford Half (although without the falling over bit (that wasn’t fun)), but this year I wanted to do something a bit more. So I thought why not do all of my running this year for the ME Association and include all my training and events with an overall aim of achieving 1000 miles during 2017(I did seven hundred and something last year). 

This year to help me on my way I have also signed up for my first Full Marathon in April in Southampton. I have also entered my local Abingdon Marathon too and plan to do the Marlow Half Marathon (my favourite race last year) and of course the Oxford Half! I’m sure other races will crop up along the way too! Keep 'em peeled folks!

Please help us to support people with ME and their families.ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, blights the lives of 250,000 people in UK today. The smallest exertion can floor them; their joints and muscles ache unbearably; restful sleep eludes them; and ‘brain fog’ clouds their thinking. It changes lives drastically – disrupting study; making work impossible; and straining family relations to breaking point. Many sufferers cannot leave their homes. There is no known cure. Please help us to help them.