Phil vs Nature: Fundraising for Blood Cancer

YESSSS!! Oh wait... I mean NOOOO!! The Mighty Deerstalker 2018 has fallen  victim to the weather. The most extreme event in the calendar has been out-extremed by Mother Nature and her Beast from the East. As late as this morning I was getting in touch with everyone I could think of who might have a spare 4WD I could borrow to get me up to Scotland safely. I'd laid out all my kit; my base-layers, mid-layers, triple strength waterproofed socks. My road route was planned to dodge most of the yellow and amber warnings, and my tent and sleeping bag were rolled and ready. The email dropped in around midday, and I must say that although I was disappointed in not being able to complete it, I was also a tiny little bit relieved. Looking at the various pictures the locals have been posting on the Rat Race event page, you can see how deep the snow is, various roads in to Innerleithen were out of action, and on top of all that my camping arrangements might be considered woefully in...

"This is probably the hardest off-road-Tweed-clad-pipe-lit-plus-four-and-headtorch-wearing run that exists. We send you across rivers, through forests and over a mountain or 2 in the pitch dark of a chilly March night. The Mighty Deerstalker is now in its twelfth year and this classic outing shows no sign of slowing down or getting any easier. And who wants that anyway?" In just under 2 weeks I start my efforts properly, and run the first event. It's billed as the biggest night race and the toughest off-road run in the UK, an extreme event in the Scottish Borders. I took about a month to persuade myself it was a good idea to sign up - bearing in mind my well documented aversion to running. Since then I've been cursing my foolhardiness, avoiding the cold outdoors, and sacking off my training when it's raining. All of this, of course, isn't the most sound preparation for getting muddy, wet and running in the cold (see last the photos from last year ...

"Welcome to my Christmas post! I'd like to thank you for being here" For this very special festive update I'm handing over the space to Kate. Her journey is so inspiring, and she can say this all so much more meaningfully than I can. If any readers are looking for an adventure in the new year, consider "stepping into Christmas with me"; pull on the warm clothes, put one foot in front of the other, and join the fundraising effort. It's been a great response to date, and several people have signed up to some of the bigger events in August and October 2018! Happy Christmas everyone, and thanks for all the kind words and encouragement so far. Get the box of tissues ready, the next 10 minutes will be emotional... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It’s here, Christmas 2017!!!! Is it time to crack open the bubbly yet!? (None for you Phil, your body is a temple!) I made it! There were times over the...

Professional cheerleaders John Clark (right) and Minty (left) Three months to go until we really get started! The first event that is; the training is already well under way, and I’d like to start off with a huge thank you to everyone who has read the blog, messaged me, donated and spurred me on. Seven weeks in to my schedule and having taken a couple of weeks off updating the blog to concentrate on fitting everything in, it seems a good time to show there has been some progress. I’ve run up what felt like the steepest hill ever, managed my furthest ever distance without stopping, and I’ve made myself get up to run at 6.00 on a Saturday morning for the first time ever. These are all tiny little pieces of the puzzle to put together for an easier outing at the first event on 3 rd March, and even though they’re small, they represent some improvement nonetheless. It would be remiss of me not to mention two people outside my family who are supporting me in this: Je...

I've been asked a few times now: "Phil, just what is going on?" Well here it is in a nutshell. An absolute non-runner (me) is taking on some running events for charity (long ones). To be a bit clearer, I despise  running long distances - and in this context long means any further than the length of a rugby pitch. The furthest I have ever run in one go without stopping is 5 km while finishing a 10 km. Kate is in the middle of a huge challenge, a really momentous time in her life. Whilst I don't run, I do regular exercise, and so I decided that whatever I did to try and raise money had to be something that could be my own massive challenge. Running a 10k wasn't going to cut it as I've managed to finish one before (the furthest run is shown in the picture, and I'm having such a great time!), and after a bit of tinkering "Phil vs Nature" was dreamed up. I wanted hard, and here is what I've signed up to do. For the next 12 mont...

That's one more possible lifesaver! Thanks to you, the first £60 has been raised. Another donor can be added to the register, and there's another chance to find a match for those who desperately need a stem cell transplant. But there's still a lot more to do. This week I had a conversation with a lovely lady from Anthony Nolan; we talked about Kate, the charity and the support they offer, and the challenges ahead - suffice to say they're as excited as I am to be doing my bit to help! As the weeks go by, I'll write a bit more about how the charity will use the money we raise, and show how vital the funds are for them to continue their outstanding work. Kate is one of those with blood cancer who arrived at the point of requiring a match, and she's undergone a transplant. There's a small chance you'll actually be selected, but  could you be the next donor? If you're aged between 16 and 30 you can join the register at Anthony Nolan. Pop along...

There are endless inspiring quotes out there, and some are about nature and what it brings to our lives. One of my favourites is " Not all classrooms have four walls" .  "Nature" in a physical form can mean many different things. Wildlife, outdoors, the natural world, the universe. It could take the form of hilltops, mountains, cliffs, coastlines, lakes, forests, rivers, fields, even darkness and light. The nature reference in "Phil vs..." takes into account all of the above. The events will take me across a lot of mainland UK and I'll encounter many different types of terrain, and truly pit me "against nature", but i t will also be a personal journey of learning; what will be my own limitations, and when the going gets tough - because it will - how will I react to that? The events will be a challenge, and they'll truly put any of my life's difficulties into perspective. Alongside Kate's story, this has driven a d...