Phil vs Nature: Fundraising for Blood Cancer

Between the start time and staggering across the next finish line, another 35 people will have been told they have blood cancer. Let's not forget why I'm doing this. For someone with blood cancer, an amazing stranger donating their stem cells could be their best chance of survival. That amazing stranger could help your best friend, your Mum, or your work colleague. That amazing stranger could help someone being looked after by one of the Clinical Nurse Specialists funded by Anthony Nolan at hospitals around the country, paid for by your kind donations for challenges like these. That amazing stranger could be you, with a simple web form and a cheek swab. You can help make sure more patients will get the care they need, more families will be reassured, and more people will get back to their lives after cancer. You can help fund those specialist nurses to help people on their long recovery road, get essential advice, support and a higher standard of post transplant...

"Phil, you've turned off 2 alarms, GET UP" And just like that, the King of running procrastination was able to procrastinate no more.  The first event of my fundraising year for Anthony Nolan. Here, so soon! Except for the small matter of a 3 hour journey first. Up and away we went, my wife and I, packed into the car and I settled in for a nap in the passenger seat... oh wait, no, that wasn't me! A few hours later and we pulled up into a very busy car park, and laid eyes upon the biggest event village I've ever seen for an obstacle race. Veterans of the game were everywhere. And just then the winner arrived back at the top of the mega-slide. A tip of the hat to you Sir - incredible finishing it in around 3 hours! Wave 14 was up and it was beautifully warm and sunny as we got underway with a fire breather signalling the start. It was very clear this wasn't going to be an ordinary race! Ah the hay bales. The classic Rat Race starter but supe...

Distance. Height. My own sheer fright. They're just some of the big jumps waiting for me tomorrow. And so we move on to event number two, that's actually now the actual event number one, but still unofficially "event number two" anyway after my rubbish attempt at a trail run in April. It is absolutely guaranteed to be wet and muddy, difficult enough, and oh so bloody long. Bloody, bloody, bloody long. Check out the Rat Race course build video below! Let's get it out there one more time - I'm not sure I've said it before, and if I have then you clearly haven't heard me - but I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT RUNNING. For sure, I have been training, but mostly in the gym because it's more fun, and sprinkling the odd 2 or 3 km run in there every now and again. They happen when I'm made to feel just guilty enough. Now 5 or 6 months down the line for this fundraiser, and I am still a food loving, cardio hating, height despising,...

Let's start with a fact I saw on a runner's website recently: "Just one run can increase energy and decrease fatigue." Last Monday I woke up feeling good.  Optimism soon turned to apprehension as I pulled into the car park at the local country park to be greeted by deep standing water and a plethora of vests. Worcestershire's runners were out in force. Oh, and me. Quite how I don't know, but I'd found myself on the start line at the CHEER5 Easter 5 mile trail event. It was sold to me as a short stroll through parkland, fields, and quiet lanes. We moved off across the first open field and I smoothly dodged the first round of mud. Around 100 metres in, and it was going well - no complaints.  At 200 metres I followed a runner with spaniel through a puddle. They both glided though the opening with what seemed barely a dampening beyond their feet, except for the huge wave that the dog kicked back over me. I splashed forwards behind them and promptly...

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...