Mugs Game
SO when some of you are all getting a little bit light-headed and furry mouthed because you've had one too many Babyshams on New Year's Eve, then spare a wee thought for me, writes Dave King.
For this December 31st , while most sane folk will be celebrating the arrival of 2007 with the clink of champagne glasses, party poppers and a rousing rendition of "Auld Lang Syne", I'll be running a 2km race in Millford, Derbyshire with fellow Stubby Liz Hall.
The race is the Bryan Clifton Memorial Midnight Run, which starts at 11.57pm in this picturesque part of the Derwent Valley. It's a case of literally running into New Year, and for me this will herald the start of a hectic year of races all over the British Isles.
No sooner will Liz and I have finished the 2km run, than we'll grab a quick orange juice or two, and then jump into the car for a 300-mile journey to Cornwall. Because at 11.30am, I'll be taking part in the second race of 2007, the Brown Willy 6, which is a boggy run up to the highest point in Cornwall.
And that really sets the tempo for the beginning of a 12-month journey as part of a project called "Running Is A Mug's Game".
This has been well over the year in the planning; an opportunity to write a book about races the length and breadth of this fair land, as well as raising money for charity - in this case, the Hampshire Autistic Society.
Every weekend, I will be taking part in a different race; from the biggies such as the Great North and Great South Runs, the historical events, for instance the Blaydon Races and the Wenlock Olympic Games in Shropshire, toughies like The Grizzly and The Terminator, and races in all different countries - the Braemar Highland Games in Scotland, the Merthyr Maw Christmas Pud race in Wales, Jimmy's 10 in Northern Ireland and the Ballycotton 10 in the Republic.
Big races, small, local events - and the London Marathon. In all about 80 races. And the 12-month adventure finishes where it started, at Millford, Derbyshire on December 31st, 2007 for the Bryan Clifton Memorial Midnight Run.
It will be like Alan Whicker with running shoes. I won't be racing flat out, but enjoying each race; the scenery, the people, the whole event. I will be visiting parts of the country I haven't visited before, from Cape Wrath, the north-westernmost point of Britain, to Penzance. Asics, the clothing and shoe manufacturer, have agreed to help sponsor the campaign, and Flybe have pitched in with some flights - so it is all systems go.
As runners, you will probably have latched onto the reasons behind the title of the project "Running Is A Mug's Game" - I'll be collecting a few mugs along the way!
From a fund-raising point of view, the driving point there is my nine-year-old son, Ross, who is severely autistic, and I have done a lot of work with the Hampshire Autistic Society in the past. Not only is the aim to raise money, but also to create greater awareness about autism.
Besides the runs, we are planning three major fund-raisers:
· a sportsman's dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Chilworth on Thursday, March 29th,
· a celebrity Question of Sport at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, October 25th,
· and then on Saturday, July 21st, Itchen Valley Country Park near Eastleigh will be hosting an old-style school sports day for 30 corporate teams.
Wave 105 will be bringing a roadshow, and so long as the sun shines, it should be a great day.
After the sports day, which runs from 2pm to 5pm, from 6pm I will be staging a five-mile race around Itchen Valley Country Park, based very much along the lines of the RR10 route.
The Stubbington Green Runners' club committee has kindly agreed to ensure this race will be organised under the auspices of Stubbington Green Runners, and I will be asking for some help with the race organisation during the course of the year.
It won't be a big work-up, because the race will be quite low key, but I will need some help with organisation, including about 20 marshalls on the day.
And that is that. Why am I doing it? Well, in truth, I wanted a fresh challenge. This is a book I have wanted to write for some while, and I also feel my running needs an added zest.
I had a great year in 2006, setting personal bests over all sorts of distances. This year I have been less motivated, and the thought of running the same races again in 2007 filled me with dread.
I wanted to try something new, and I can't wait for this adventure - oh, I haven't even mentioned the sponsored Wax and Go I'm planning the week before London Marathon
As word has got round about the project, several Stubbington members and runners from other clubs have said they would like to come along to run a race or two with me. That's terrific.
You don't have to actually run with me, but if you want to travel up to any race, or try something different, then you would be made most welcome. Enjoy your Babysham!
BESIDES writing a book, I will also be writing about the project in my weekly column in the Southern Daily Echo , "Passing Shots", every Saturday.
I AM currently penning a blog which can be found at:
www.dailyecho.co.uk/leisure/echoblog/mugsgame
And I have a sponsorship page at: