The Real Reason I Started this Blog

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If you have read my "About the Author" section you will know that I started writing this blog because I enjoy running and I enjoy writing. This is true, but I did have an ulterior motive. Time for confession...


In November 2019 my fiancé and I are traveling to Nepal to take part in the impact marathons event. Described on the website as "the hardest but most rewarding race of your life" the course has 1000m of climbing per lap on the trails of Shivapuri National Park, not to mention being around 2000m above sea level! After spending most of the week getting first hand experience of the charity work we are raising money for, Hannah and I will be taking on the half marathon (1 lap) and marathon (2 laps) respectively.
Shivapuri is located North of Kathmandu, in the shadow of the Himalayas. Image: Google Maps

For the next 9 months I will be documenting my training and preparation for the race, but more importantly I will be talking a bit about the charity work we will be getting involved with whilst we are in Nepal. The Impact Marathon Series (IMS) Foundation takes the biggest challenges facing Nepal and seeks out the most extraordinary grassroot organisations who are working to catalyse real change in the country. All the organisations that the IMS Foundation selects to work with will help achieve the UN global goals. Announced in 2015 these are a total of 17 global goals deemed key to the future of the planet.

Even though the race is certainly going to be tough, as a regular runner, and having done a marathon before (albeit a bit of a disaster and on road), I feel a little cheeky asking people to sponsor me to do something that will be such an incredible personal experience. That is why I have planned in a few extra challenges along the way there. As well as both of us taking part in the Continental Thunder Run as two fifths of a team of five for the second time, and entering my 5th consecutive Kielder Run-Bike-Run I have added some more events, including one or two of my own creation.

I'm still working on the details for them and will reveal my schemes when they are more complete, but the first one that is sorted is the Kielder double. After completing the R-B-R on Saturday the 12th of October I will be getting myself ready to take on the marathon the very next day around the same undulating loop of Europe's largest man made reservoir. Should be a great warm up for the big event a month later!
In the mean time, wish me luck and watch this space!

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