12 challenges, 12 months, the 12in12

** Durham marathon done and got a PB !!! **

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am raising money for hospice care, in memory of my sister, Anita.

On her 49th birthday 17 Mar 2021, Anita got the devastating news she had brain cancer.

It only took 7 weeks and 2 days to snatch her away from us ☹

Anita spent the last 3 weeks of her life in the Prince of Wales Hospice.

To this day I cannot imagine what life would have been like for her, and our family, if she had not managed to get a bed at the hospice.

I was totally blown away by the amazing people at the hospice and the level of care and support they provided for Anita.

So much so, I’ve dedicated my time to helping the hospice by taking on various running challenges.

Of course, I have to think of something bigger and more challenging each time!!

Meet the 12in12

For 2024 I’ve decided on “12 months, 12 challenges”

The standout challenge for 2024 is running 100 miles!

I managed to complete this feat in April at the Chester 100 Ultramarathon.

It took me 31 hours from 6am Sat, through the night, to 1pm Sunday!

The 12 challenges are as follows….

• Ultra 6hr Loop - Sherwood Pines (13 Jan) - DONE

• Ultra 8hr Loop - Heaton Park (23 Mar) - DONE

• Ultra 100 mile - Chester (13 Apr) - DONE

• Marathon - Rob Burrow Leeds (12 May) - DONE

• Ultra 12hr - Wythenshawe Track (1 Jun) - DONE but first DNF :-(

• Ultra 12hr - Manvers Dusk to Dawn (20 July) - DONE : 15 laps, 48 miles / 78km

• Marathon - Cybi Coastal, Anglesey (3 Aug) - DONE

• Half Marathon - Great North Run (8 Sep) - DONE

• Ultra 30 miles - Dig Deep 30 (28 Sep) - Withdrawn (Achilles injury)

• Ultra Trail 35 miles - Ripon Round (5 Oct) - DONE

• Ultra 8hr Loop - Delamere Forest (20 Oct) - CANCELLED (due to storm Ashley!)

• Marathon - Remembrance Day, Durham (10 Nov) - returning to where I did my first marathon 2 years ago! - DONE (and got a PB!!)

Due to missing 2 races, these have been booked, so that we can claim we've done 12in12 .....

• Doncaster 10k Personal Best attempt (24 Nov) - aiming for sub 43min

• Ultra Marathon - The Bauble Bimble, Peterborough (15 Dec)

My efforts so far....

May 2021 – 10x10x10 : run 10k every day for 10 days

Aug 2021 – Pontefract 10k

Sep 2021 – Bit of an interruption!!

Missed Great North run due to serious illness (Pancreatitis) : lost half my pancreas, told that running saved my life, now got Type 3c Diabetes and other medical conditions.

Mar 2022 – I returned to work after 6 months!

I had to start all over again with my fitness ☹ could hardly walk to start with!

May 2022 – Pontefract 10k (run/walk/run method)

Jun 2022 – Doncaster Half Marathon (run/walk/run method)

July 2022 – Yorkshire 3 Peaks (walk)

Sep 2022 – Great North Run : unfinished business!!

Nov 2022 – First Marathon 26.2 miles

Mar 2023 – First Ultra Marathon (50km / 31 miles)

May 2023 – Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (my wife’s first marathon)

Aug 2023 – 12 Hour Endurance event (ran 78km/48 miles, 187 laps)

Thank you

Huge thanks to everyone who has donated so far, the support has been incredible, the level of kindness and encouragement is way beyond what I expected.

This is what motivates me to keep doing what I do. I would rather fail trying than not try at all. Look after your mind and body and keep smiling folks 😊

Kindest regards

Simon "arfapanc" Speight

ps. that's what my kids have nicknamed me for having half a pancreas lol

You can follow my progress on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/simon_arfapanc_speight/

I’ve also set up a website to help inspire others plus where I record all the amazing comments from people, which in turn helps to keep me motivated

http://www.arfapanc.com