Thanks for reading everyone!! This is the diary of a completely mad person, undertaking 12months of utter madness, (make that 16 months along with associated planning and training) lung busting challenges, foot blisteringly long runs and bum numbing cycle rides. All in the aim of raising a few pennies, To keep alive the memory of a loved one and to keep alive a loved one currently terminally ill.
My name is Angela, I am a 33yr old normal woman, not particularly sporty, not particularly fit but with a great ambition to do great things over the next twelve months. So what are these crazy things i will be doing? I am planning to undertake a sporting event per month for 12 months, culminating in a trip to everest basecamp in december. Hence the title of the blog... starting off in January and February with a half marathon per month. Only a half!! I hear you ask!!! well this is a half with a difference! along, up and down cliffs, beaches and the rugged coastline of both the anglesea and dorset coast, and it isn't called a part of the "endurance life" coastal challenge for nothing!!! these halves are going to be toughies alright and will put my through my paces for sure!
March brings the london to paris cycle ride, organised and planned by me and the lovely, equally as crazy sammy (who I am sure will pop up to say hello) who will be undertaking many of the challenges with me. 240 miles cycled over 4 days, from London to Dover, then Calais down to Paris.
April is the world famous london marathon. Followed by Edinburgh marathon in May.
June brings the uk Three Peaks Challenge. Scaling the three highest peaks in the uk. Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours or less and then July brings the Mazda London Triathalon in Hyde park.
Anyone feeling tired yet!! :-D

So before I go on to detail the latter part of the years activities I would like to tell you a little about why I am doing this.
Occasionally in your life you meet someone who has an immediate impact on your life, someone who walks into your life, places footprints right over your soul and never walks out. that was my friend Duncan. An amazing man with a massive heart and a laugh to match, who made me smile without fail, who could tell I was sad before he even called and who had the time in the world for anyone who needed it. Dunc was amazing in the mountains, a natural born climber, caver and leader, someone who every time I spoke to him finsihed the conversation with "got to go babe i'm just off out for a walk" through the hills he loved and lived in. That massive heart was Duncans downfall and he left us last year in the hills he loved, doing what he did best. And my god I miss him. At the time of his funeral, requests were made for donations to help for heroes, in honour of the time Dunc served in the Royal Green Jackets. At the time, due to issues beyond my control I was unable to donate. So this is my way of giving back, and I hope if I meet my 10k fundraising target I will be doing Just that.

Further to this, my cousin Andrew has fought Leaukaemia 3 times in his short life. He was becoming a man, and a wonderful, polite, driven hard working man at that. He has been diagnosed now for a  3rd time and there is no going back. It has him in its grip and this time it wont let go. :-( It is heartbreaking to know that soon he will no longer be with us other than in spirit and as such I have decided to also divide my money between help for heroes and children with leaukaemia, to hopefully prevent even one young man or woman going through the trauma that Andrew is right now.

Ok, enough with the sad thoughts although they will be the drivers that will keep me going throughout the tough times. Many a time so far when I've been struggling Duncs voice has popped into my head giving me grief over wanting to stop!! :D I am specifically going to miss him on the three peaks, and everest base camp, they were things he would excell at, and I know that on the three peaks I will be walking the very tracks he walked 2 weeks before his death. That is going to be tough.

Right where was I? July, thats right. well August sees the coast to coast challenge, cycling from aberystwyth in wales across to Lowestoft in Norfolk. 280 miles in 4 days.
September, Now this is the biggy, and the painful one at that!! September will see me running from Clapham Common in London an entire 56 miles to the Brighton Coastline. blister plasters at the ready peeps!!!
October is a nice fun one, but still blimmin hard, the Royal Marines Commando 10k which is basically an incredibly muddy assault course over 10k with hardly any running in between the muddy bits!!
November sees the Yorkshire three peaks challenge before the culmination of the challenge, a trek to Everest Base Camp in December, Standing at the peak of Kalapathar, looking down the valley to Everest, raising a glass to My lovely friend, My courageous cousin and my acheivements of the preceeding 12 months will truly be amazing.

So 10k is my challenge, there are miles to be run and there is training to be done, follow me as I train, plan and take part in these amazing challenges, the support will be very welcome!!! :D

https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/event.aspx?e=8a9ff4c4-450a-4aec-aec4-f3887a6973eb
Please click this link if you feel you would like to sponsor me for my efforts. thank you from all of the people that will benefit from your donation :D