“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through
experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,
ambition inspired and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

As you will know if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter (@updownrunner), on Monday I reached two milestones, both of which I am still struggling to get my head around.

Firstly, and most importantly, I hit and then quickly exceeded my £5,000 fundraising target.  To have raised this much for two incredible charities, CALM and Mind, which have been and continue to be instrumental in coping with my mental illness, makes me even more certain that the training has been all worthwhile.  To meet my target just two days before World Suicide Prevention Day made it all the more special.

Coincidently, on the very same day, updownrunner.com reached 5,000 hits. I didn’t expect to have 500 hits in 4 months, or even a year, when I first confessed to Camilla that I was thinking of starting a blog.  Honestly, I am about as shocked as I would be if my Dad told me he was pregnant (although to be fair he is a large man, sorry Dad).  This has come from 2,600 odd visitors, so nearly half of you have come back more than once, which is a relief.

So, if you’re reading this (you obviously are reading this), and/or have donated, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ve helped my recovery more than I can express in words.

On the training front, I’ve managed to get some decent miles in, and also did a very enjoyable 13 miler on the trails up, down and around the Malvern Hills with James. The Malverns are ridiculously near to where I spent the first 18 years of my life, and are about as close to picture-perfect England as you can get, but shamefully it was only the second time that I had been to the tops.

Finally, without wishing to sound greedy, I’m now looking to hit £6,000, so if you’d like to help me get there, you can donate quickly and easily by following this link.