The Dates Are Set!

Amazing!! I've finally managed to organise myself to the point where the dates are now set for the challenges.

1. The Yorkshire 3 peaks - I'm on hols in the Dales so it will be between the 12th and 16th of May (Pen-y-Ghent to the left in case you're wondering)
   
2. The National 3 Peaks - Friday 27th June
3. The Longmynd Hike - Saturday 4th and 5th of October
4. The Severn Way Walk - The walk will hopefully be completed by the end of April.

Training has now begun in earnest and I've started collecting sponsorship for the challenges. This means there's absolutely no backing out now (although a large proportion of people I know still doubt I'm even going to attempt the challenges!).

Earlier in the week I thought things were about to splutter to stop as the two drivers I'd coerced into taking part had to pull out. Luckily my better half and my Sister and jumped in to save me and have offered to share the driving between Ben Nevis and Snowden.

As stated, training has now begun in earnest. I'm running as often as I can in the week up and down the hill in front of my house. I'm looking forward to the clocks changing as I'm having to run in the dark at the moment and heading through the woods still scares the bejeezes out of me. The only benefit is that I get fitter a lot quicker, as soon as I hear a twig break or some undergrowth rustle my legs flip into overdrive and no matter how tired I am I find myself sprinting like Linford until I'm through into the open.

I've planned in a 26 mile hike across the Longmynd, Caer Caradoc and the Lawley next weekend with Roger from work and I'm hoping to enter a few fell running races in the next couple of months. My only plan for the first fell race (the Carding Mill Canter - 1st March 2008) is to finish! Once I see how I get on in that one I might aim for somewhere either above last place or within 10 minutes of the second to last person.