Meet Clifton: hospice mascot, morale officer, and the real athlete in this partnership. He’s taking on a year of epic 2026 challenges — including supervising a 100‑mile castle‑to‑castle run — and he’s graciously allowing his human (that’s me) to tag along and do the actual sweating. Also featuring: Bob the Cockerpoo, who is deeply jealous of Clifton’s rising fame but unlikely to make the full mileage unless there are snacks every half‑mile. Bob will be offering emotional support, dramatic sighs, and occasional cameo appearances when out training. They are both far more photogenic and significantly better at morale‑boosting than I am.
Follow along, donate if you can, and watch Clifton carry this mission while Bob negotiates for better treats and I question my life choices.
I am not going to lie my training has been non existent in preparation for the Easter 50km and London to Brighton which is very near. Id like to be telling you I am smashing it but in fact it is quiet the opposite. Health wise the last few months have been a bit of a roller coaster, I have gone from waiting for a referral to rheumatology (which is still a good 6 – 9 months away) to being told it highly likely I have peripheral Neuropathy and then discovering extremely low vitamin D and folic acid. Most days I crash when I come in from work so this explains a lot with little or no energy, my head wants to get up and crack on with life determined not to give in my body has other ideas, so |I feel like I am in a constant battle. Hopefully now I have started some treatments I should feel benefit’s soon, I am really hoping before the Easter 50km in just under two weeks! Yes despite lack of training I have decided I will spend my 34th Birthday putting one foot in front of the other and proving to myself I can do this.
I also decided stupidly last night, like you do when your phone pings and you have an email of interest to sign up for Rat Race’s 100 Castle to Castle next year, so I have decided I will park the charm bracelet 100 for now and build myself back up giving my self 15 months to train for the 100, plus this one is supported and directions are included which takes some of the pressure away from me.
I might have had to hang up my running shoes but I am not ready to give up on everything just yet.
