Remember, remember...

The 5th of November.

Because it'll be the only day off I get this month.

I'm going to be dressing up as both Father Christmas and a reindeer, on separate occasions I hasten to add, for charity runs in London in which my ever-willing training partner has managed to convince me (and others) of participation.
But since the aforementioned training partner is going on a little pre-holiday holiday I have two other weekends to fill.

So I entered into a couple of local events as well.

The events in London are:

The London Santa Run which has you donning a one-size-fits-all Santa suit to run 6K in Finsbury Park raising money for Disability Snowsport UK.

I loved skiing after only 1 week in the mountains! The crisp mountain air, the fresh morning snowfall, the thrill of rushing headlong down a ridiculous slope.
Disability Snowsports enable winter boardsports for people living with disabilities in the UK.

The RNLI Reindeer Run turns all it's runners into Rudolph for a morning as they try to get to the mince pie at the finish line wearing antlers and a red nose (and suitable running attire as well so I'm told). This event can be run as 5K or 10K to increase funding for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

These guys and gals brave the high seas to rescue the likes of stranded windsurfers (like my Dad was once) and shipwrecked passengers and crew.

In the UK they're all VOLUNTEERS.

My other two events (I can't really call them races as I'm nowhere near fast enough) are the Tidworth 10K and the Over The Hills 12K  both of which are cross-country. I can't wait actually. Running in winter must be one of my favourite times of year. You know no-one else is mad enough to brave the cold so you can almost guarantee plenty of quiet solitude wherever you venture.

The two charities I'm supporting for these events are the Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal and Alzheimers Support respectively.

So that only really leaves me one weekend free so I think I'll be putting my feet in a bucket of ice.

I shouldn't complain really. The same weekend I ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon a colleague of mine ran a full marathon and he's building up to run a 100kM event next year. Visit his charity page here.


Incidentally I got a certificate for my participation in the half marathon I ran.

2' 22" was just over the 2' 15" I'd said I was going to complete in and if I'd maintained my first half pace for the second half I'd've come in under 2 hours. But I think my legs and feet might have severed themselves from my body and gone off for a sleep had I tried that.

Next time.

I'm just really chuffed I finished despite wanting to quit at the 10 mile point and every 5 minutes subsequently.

There are some official race photos but they cost too much money so you'll just have to believe me that I ran it.

So that about wraps things up for now, I hope those Brits amongst my readers will find it in their hearts to sponsor me in one of my upcoming events. I say that because all the charities are UK based. Perhaps you international types can recommend a good global charity that's close to your heart.

To donate just click one of these links:

Disability Snowsport UK.
Royal National Lifeboat Institute
Salisbury District Hospital STARS Appeal
Alzheimers Support

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me and donated to a worthwhile cause already. Keep up the good work :)