Word of the week - World Mental Health Day

On World Mental Health Day Saturday October 10th 2026 I started the day with one of my oldest friends having spent the night there with breakfast then headed off to parkrun in Monmouth where I started my parkrun journey, just 4 weeks after beginning the couch to 5k a whole year ago on Friday October 10th 2025.

I started running to clear my head after our daughter Stephanie died in October 2024 realising that a year on there was no support out there. No support from the NHS, private counselling only did so much and was expensive and support groups, like counselling only seem to run between the hours of 9-4pm Monday to Friday with the occasional evening session with most of it online and with huge waiting lists. My only real support in the early days was my GP and the Samaritans, for which I'll be eternally grateful.

Running has giving me the head space I need to 'just be' I'm not great at joining in with things, new places, new people, but I've plucked up the courage to join the gym and a couple of classes and socialise a little but too often I find myself getting tearful and when I'm running I don't need to hold it together in quite the same way.

I hadn't run since I left school in 1987 and I finally got round to stopping smoking in February 2026, something I also did when I was in school.

Committing to running, stopping smoking, dealing with grief has been physically and mentally exhausting and continues to challenge me, but I do like a challenge.

Since starting couch to 5k, I've taken part in two 25k ultras which I've part run and walked, a walking marathon, mostly ran/jogged the Brighton Marathon this year and completed my first ultra marathon mostly jogging in September this year. I'm now training for the London Marathon on the Saturday in April 2026 for which I got in on a ballot and I'm aiming for 5 hours.

I've been doing all of this also for Bowel Research UK, racing funds, £2,000 to date and raising awareness as Stephanie died of an Ischemic Bowel, almost possible to diagnose and in her case too late to treat. Bowel Research UK also conduct research into Hirchsprung Disease a condition that our eldest grandson was born with and spent a considerable amount of time in hospital with and had numerous surgeries in the first two years of his life having a stoma for a period of time also.

Running hasn't been a cure, it is one of many coping strategies, it's what's working for me right now. Some days I fall out of love with it and wander why I'm putting myself through such pain and such commitment, then I think, why not? I enjoy it. It gets me off my arse, out the house and doing something and dinging something that can help others in a small way through fund raising, raising awareness and I'm keeping the memory of Stephanie alive.

If you want to donate that would be lovely.

#doingitforstephanie

The Thames Path Challenge 50k Ultra - Not just 8k more than a marathon.

I didn't get much sleep and I had a 30 minute 2 mile walk to reach the start line in Fulham setting off at 7.30am on the Thames Path Challenge. But the day had started on a positive note. The day was for remembering Stephanie and whilst Peter and I were doing different things that day we were both doing something that we wanted to do to remember her by and on the anniversary in October we'll be doing something together that we would have usually done with Stephanie.

I met up with 2 guys and jogged the first 12 km with them almost to the rest stop. Unfortunately I was in the wrong trainers and off road, something I'd not prepared for and my feet were buggered. My ham strings and right knee were agony. I managed to rest, stretch, take fluids and carbs on board and set off again, but then my socks got wet, my knickers started to chafe and by 20km I was going to give up. 

I tried calling my friend who started this whole running thing off not even a year ago, but she was out with friends having brunch. So I just kept on going.

I stopped once to sort my socks.

Twice to sort my socks.

There were two further rest stops.

Loads more opportunities to give up.

I cried.

I'm didn't even run it to raise funds, but I'm not shy asking for a donation if you've a pound or two to spare. Feel free to donate.

5km from the end. There was a woman on a bench. I'd seen her several times during the day. I asked her if she'd like someone to walk with to the end. She looked at me and then I said 'please walk with me, I'll not make it on my own' she laughed and we walked and marched the last 5km together, plus the extra 1km they didn't tell us about, hugged and went our separate ways.

Peter helped me into the car after taking a couple of photos and drove home into the night.

It was a struggle to get up the stairs. Sunday I couldn't get out of bed. Monday I was back in work, walking very slowly and couldn't go up or down stairs. Tuesday I couldn't sleep. Wednesday I was back in the gym and Thursday I couldn't stop eating. I still can't wear shoes. It's trainers, Birkenstocks or Crocs at the moment. The balls of my feet feel like they've been shredded, despite not having any blisters. 

Camel pack has been sterilised and is stored in the freezer as it's impossible to get it dry.

I pick an annual walk/challenge near to the anniversary of Stephanie's death October 2024. Stephanie was our daughter and she had profound multiple disabilities. The only thing she was capable of doing for herself 100% was walk. Once we'd put her shoes and socks on, ensured she was in a safe and secure area and monitored her 24/7, had moved all obstacles she had trip over, hurt herself on etc etc and outside the home were there to hold her hand.