54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

54 days to the York Marathon and about 200 training miles to complete. I'm not the world's best runner but, predictably, I do feel euphoric at the end of every run and I'm certainly feeling way more energetic and fit which is a big plus. Training around work, family and general life stuff is a challenge, so too is the boredom of the dreaded weekend long run and the tedium of pushing myself each time to get out there. I haven't been posting photos as I've gone along as they'd be far too repetitive and I haven't mastered the selfie shot but here is a montage of photos from runs around @uniofyork campus and the YorActiveTrail (a pleasant 3 mile run around the campus), York's famous Solar System Trail (which also has Uni of York links through Astrocampus), from a weekend in Lewes, which involved some chalky runs across the Downs, and from Malton in N. Yorks whilst twin #2 played cricket. Currently on holiday in Orkney and squeezing in a couple of runs to and between some of the amazing archaeological sites (I realise I'm very lucky to be here) - my most recent run was to Birsay. I've committed to my first running marathon to support mental health research at York and the Mentally Fit York Fund. The Fund supports on the ground projects, student mental wellbeing initiatives, scholarships for mental health nurses and helps to advance mental health research. As hard as this challenge is (for a not very accomplished runner like me) it's inspired by our incredible researchers and those in need of mental health and wellbeing support. If you'd like to support the Mentally Fit York Fund and encourage me to get out there and push myself over the next 54 days in preparation for the main event on 20 October please visit https://lnkd.in/ePUb6RXBTo read more about the pioneering approaches to mental health research University of York take a look here Health and Wellbeing - York Unlimited, University of YorkThank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I won't let you down.

The York Marathon training is a complete disaster and I have to get more serious about it. That said the face here tells you what you need to know about trying to push myself but I'm just not clocking up the running miles yet in a way that I should. Tomorrow is another day though and I'm excited to be doing marathon #1. Clem is joining me (although I need to confess to my generous sponsors that I forgot he has school in the morning so I'm cheating and instead he'll be joined by Twin #2, Wilbur, and the two of them will meet me at 12.30 to complete the walk  - which is about half way round so between the twins they're doing the marathon - I hope that is OK with my sponsors?).  Will post more on tomorrow's walk but for now heading from work to clock up a quick 3 mile training run and then I promise to get into the distances tomorrow). Wish me luck x

I am so touched by the people who have sponsored by already, it is so kind and spurring me on. Thank you so much!

It's the end of week 3 and managed to squeeze in a run in Central Park (I know, tiny violins). It went surprising well -  you can see it in my face. You've heard of the Big Apple, meet the Big Tomato.

This week has been a great one in NYC meeting partners, alumni, donors and friends and being reminded of the power of research and education to transform lives  - when it is truly opened up to all.

We have a long way to go in bridging all the gaps in opportunity but through incredible initiatives like Generation Research, the Sanctuary Fund, University of Opportunity, and The Mentally Fit York Fund - all of which are happening at the University of York - we are  making break throughs and we all have an opportunity to play a part.