A couple of years ago I posted a DNF (did not finish) on the South Downs Way 100 miler course. I was rubbish in this race - I really struggled throughout and finally quit (about half way through) when I was lying in the shade of a small hedge trying to cool down and a dog started licking the sweat off me - glamourous!

I was running with my friend Iwan, who went on to smash it, despite a host of calamities, injuries, heat and traumatic personal events. To compound my embarrassment we event made a film about my abject failure, which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1BRUQmH0CQ

So me being me I've decided to go back and try again! The course is really flipping hard, the weather doesn't play to my strengths (above 10 degrees!) and it's 100 actual miles, so it's going to be really flipping hard. I'm genuinely scared of this race and I don't know if I can do it, but that's the motivation.

I am hoping to persuade some of you to donate some cash in lieu of this insanity! It's all to raise money for Birmingham Children's Hospital, because they are just such an awesome and beautiful charity. We do a lot of events in Birmingham and have become quite close to the charity as a result. Having recently visited the hospital and seen the amazing care and support that they are delivering to sick kids I just feel absolutely compelled to do anything I can to support them. As a parent myself, when I visited Magnolia House (which provides bereavement support and palliative care) I decided that this is probably the worthiest cause I can think of and I need to try and do something to support them.

So if you are able to do so, I'd be super grateful for any donation - thanks in advance you awesome humans!