And so the miles really begin . . . .

This is a little introduction to me and to what I am doing and why!

Last year my stepmother, Irene, sadly took her own life.  I knew she had previously struggled with depression but that had been many years ago.  I didn't know it had returned and then I got a phone call from my Dad.  The paramedics were still there trying to revive her but I think he knew she was dead.  That idle tuesday turned our world upside down.

Irene

I don't really want to dwell on what happened in the next few weeks but the thing I want to talk about is the support we received.  There were nurses and doctors who were invaluable and helped us through.  And then there were the people from the local Cruse Bereavement Care branch.  You see, Irene had been a volunteer bereavement counsellor, giving up her free evenings to help people who had lost people they loved and it was something that gave her an immense amount of satisfaction.  They were always there to speak to - both the national helpline and the local branch.  My father is still receiving support from a counsellor.

I wanted to do something to help them and in memory of Irene so raising money for Cruse ticks all the boxes.

And then there is my dog - Pup the whippet.  I was getting set up to compete in agility with her - I had big plans!  But it turns out she has delicate toes and twisty turns seem to end up with her breaking or dislocating them.  I needed to find another past time which helped strengthen our partnership and kept us both out of trouble - enter canicross!  This is the sport of running with your dog - you have a waistbelt and they have a harness - they are supposed to pull you but my little one only helps out occasionally.

Pup and Me at Crufts!

All these threads go together and lead us into this year's challenges:

 - Sunday 18th May - Paras 10 Colchester (10 miles)
 - Sunday 1st June - Marlow FM 10k (dogless)
 - Sunday 8th June - 2 Castles 10k (dogless)
 - Sunday 6th July - Edgehill Half Marathon (dogless)
 - Sunday 31st August - Paras 10 Catterick.

So this is a little blog to chart my thoughts and experiences during my time training and preparing for these events.  And a little bit about life with a whippet, a house in need of updating and maybe a little bit about my epilepsy - the world is our oyster!