Project 39

It’s got to be the going, not the getting there that’s good.

Harry Chapin, Greyhound

In March 2021 I turn 40. A few months ago I set out to create a set of challenges to achieve in the final year of my thirties in the hope that I might inspire people to try something new, raise some money for a fantastic charity and have a lot of fun. The world has changed unrecognisably since then and I nearly scrapped the whole thing, but I still want to raise some money for a great charity at a time when many charities are seeing their donations fall and give myself some hope and motivation during a very tough time.

Originally, the challenges were:

• Brighton Marathon – 42.2km running
• Jurassic Coast Ultra Marathon – 58km running
• Race to the King Ultra Marathon – 87km running
• Ride 100 – 160km cycling
• RBC Fondo Whistler- 120km cycling up a mountain
• Royal Parks Half Celebration – 21.2km running

Like for many, most of the above have either been cancelled or postponed and it’s impossible to tell when anything that brings this many people together will be possible. Mostly all I want now is that the world is a better place by the time I turn 40, but I still want to set myself a challenge that is appropriate for the current time. So instead I’m picking a different challenge for each of May, June, July, August and September:

• May – Ultrax World Series – virtual distance racing
• June – Ultra Challenges Boost it June – 200 miles in the month running and walking
• July – Race to the Stones virtual challenge – 100km of running in a week – eek!
• August – something on a bike, not sure yet
• September – maybe a postponed ultra marathon?

Why these challenges?

Originally, I chose the challenges because they were all things I really wanted to try to do, they felt hard (really hard) but achievable and I wanted to prove to myself (and others) that getting older doesn’t mean you can no longer do hard things.

Now though, I want to stay motivated to stay fit and healthy throughout this tough time, and come out of the other side ready to do things I will be truly grateful for and that we have all previously taken for granted.

This is definitely not how I thought my last year of my thirties was going to start and right now just getting outside is a privilege but I have hope that I will be able to spend my 40th birthday out on the trails or my bike celebrating with my friends in person and not on zoom.

Why Macmillan?

Macmillan was an easy choice for me. They supported my Grandpa (and Gran) when he was nursed through his end of life care and they support so many others when they need it most. One of my childhood friends died of cancer in his 30s and it destroys too many lives to mention. It’s a horrible disease that simply doesn’t care who you are. If I can do something however small to help anyone dealing with this terrible disease then that’s what I’d like to do.

I also worry at times like these, that those struggling with things like cancer will be forgotten and I want to do something for a charity like this one at a time when they need donations more than ever.