At the end of the month, I am taking part in the Centurion One Community virtual run & I am going to run 100 miles in one week between 25th & 31st May to raise money for the excellent Trussell Trust.

I run.

A lot.

I like to run.

No, I LOVE to run ❤️

I also appear to like a running selfie…

If you’re a reader of this blog, you’ll know that, if not, please do keep going to the end & you’ll find out exactly HOW much I love to run. But first, the important bit…

I rarely ask for sponsorship for my running as it feels disingenuous asking people to sponsor me to have fun.

However, today I AM going to ask you to sponsor me to run. In fact, I’m going to beg & plead with you to sponsor me & in case you don’t want to read any further, here is the link for you to sponsor me.

Why? Here’s the story…

The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks to provide emergency food & support to people locked in poverty whilst campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.

During the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, they report a soaring 81% increase for emergency food parcels during the last two weeks of March 2020, compared to the same period in 2019 – including a 122% rise in parcels given to children.

They are a charity that I have supported for many years simply because no one should go hungry.

At a time when their need is at its greatest, I’m sadly not in a position to increase my financial donations as my work has been pretty badly affected by COVID-19. So I’m donating what I do have… running miles!

100 miles in one week, 25th – 31st May. This is an average of 14.3 miles a day. Even for some who runs for fun, it’s going to be tough, it’s going to be a challenge!

This is a virtual challenge organised by Centurion Running, there are over 1000 people signed up to run distances from 5km to 100 miles over the course of the week. I chose to raise money for the Trussell Trust whilst taking part.

So here’s my begging & pleading bit.

PLEASE sponsor me & help end hunger & poverty in the UK. You can do so here.

My Background

If you’re here because you are interested in this challenge & you don’t know my running background, here’s a quick summary.

I am a long-distance trail runner. I’m at my happiest in my shorts & trail shoes, a bottle of water & a bag of snacks on my back somewhere out on the North or South Downs. I love exploring & love the adventure of the trails; of finding new routes, new paths, hills, mud, woods & views for miles. 

Ask me to get to, let’s say Farnham, or Eastbourne, from home in Croydon, I wouldn’t have a clue how to drive there by road but I could run there via the trails of Surrey, West & East Sussex. Getting lost & finding my way as I explore somewhere new is all part of the adventure.

I love the challenge of seeing how far I can push myself, of how far this body of mine can run. I have completed 50km races, 50-mile races & last summer I did my first 100-mile race. Yes, 100 miles in one go. The entire length of the South Downs Way, it took me 27 hours & 34 minutes.

You may ask, with this background, where is the challenge in running 100 miles in one week? With the exception of the race, I have never run 100 miles in one week before. For the race, I was fully trained, rested & had the support of crews, pacers & regular checkpoints & aid stations. I ran with people who cheered me on & encouraged me.

100 miles in one week. I will be running solo, by myself. I won’t have a support crew or a pacer. I will run 20, 30 miles one day & get up the next day & run another 20 miles. (I know my body, I know I will need rest days during the week & so will aim to run the 100 miles over five days with two rest days). I will be running tired. I will be running through a working week. It’s often harder to get up time & time again than it is to just keep going.

That will be the challenge.

You can follow me throughout the week on Strava & Instagram. I will also be blogging updates as I go. 

For more information about the excellent work of the Trussell Trust, please do check out their website.

I LOVE a challenge. I’m really excited about this challenge, but more than anything I am delighted to be supporting a charity in the Trussell Trust who do excellent work that makes a difference to so many people’s lives.

Please do consider supporting them.