Month: March 2019

With only a little over 3 weeks to go before I set off for the desert, I’m tapering off my running. I’ve put in most of my training miles already. Now I just need to keep my fitness levels steady and prepare for take-off!

It seems like a good time to revisit the reasons why I’m doing this. And why I’m using the challenge to raise awareness and funds for Blue Cross. One particular story, from the early days of my late wife Janice’s career as a veterinary nurse, stands out in my mind. I’m afraid it’s a distressing tale.

It was Christmas around 35 years ago. Everything was closed up for the holidays, but the owner of a shop opposite the old Blue Cross building, on Cleethorpe Road, had come to check his premises. While there, he heard a noise from the 8 foot (or alley, if you’re not from Grimsby!) behind his shop. He went to investigate and found a dog and her puppies, trapped inside a wooden box. She was in an awful state, with no food or water. In fact, she’d eaten some of her pups.

Thankfully the story then took a happier turn. The man brought the dog and her surviving pups to Blue Cross, where Janice and the other staff took care of them. She was a lovely dog, as you can see from the picture taken as she recovered from her ordeal.

I have never been able to understand why the person who abandoned that poor dog didn’t just leave her and her pups across the road at the Blue Cross hospital. Although that would still not have been ideal, at least she would have been likely to attract attention there and get help. It seems as if she was deliberately abandoned in a place where she might not have been found until she’d starved to death.

That’s why I’m fundraising. Sadly, cruelty to animals still takes place. But Blue Cross are always there to help pets. Twenty four hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Janice devoted her working life to Blue Cross Grimsby animal hospital and, in her memory, I’m proud to be running for this cause. If you want to contribute, please visit my Just Giving page to donate.

Not long to go now. In just over a month I’ll be setting off on a multi-day ultra-marathon, described on the Marathon des Sables website as “the equivalent of running from London to Dover, deciding not to go to France after all, and running back again in 120 degree heat.” All while carrying a backpack.

I’m running more miles per week than I’ve ever done before in my life. And I’m finally getting used to the backpack. I think I’ve got it adjusted correctly at last, so that it is (sort of) comfortable. I’m trying very hard to get the nutrition right and I’m still experimenting with my freeze dried food in preparation for the expedition. I’m also trying to make sure I get enough rest

Sleep is vital, and it’s not always easy, with thoughts of all the preparations I’ve yet to complete buzzing around in my head. I’ve also just marked the one-year anniversary of the day when Janice suffered her initial brain haemorrhage. Not a good day, I’m afraid. But, I have some very strong support when it comes to resting after a run.

My cats, Donald and Douglas are really happy to join me when I rest up after a run. Strangely enough, they have shown no interest at all so far in the running itself…

In case I get too serious, and worried about the challenge ahead of me, a friend has suggested one way I could speed my descent on any sand dunes. Does anyone feel like sponsoring me extra if I slide down them on this tea tray?