We can all think of many things we should not do while under the influence of alcohol, a new one has just flown into the number one spot in my chart;

“Don’t volunteer to walk the Pennine Way even if it is for a good cause”.

Unfortunately, this bit of sound advice was not in my repertoire when Stuart first approached me and asked me to help with his training to do this 268 mile grueling walk along the Pennines. Not only did I offer to sort out a training programme, which was all he actually wanted, I offered to do the whole thing with him. This was mistake number one. Not learning from mistake number one, mistake number 2 followed very shortly afterwards. Once again over a glass of beer or two we were asked if we were really going to do a 268 mile trek over mountains, gob was once again engaged before brain “Not only are we going to do it but we are going to do it in 10 days” I heard myself saying. I don’t know who was more horrified Stuart who saw an adventure turning into a trial or me for the fact that my mouth came out with something that I had certainly not instructed it to say?

So that was it, the challenge was laid in front of us, a challenge very much of our own making with a lot of Carlsberg assistance. Carlsberg don’t do blunders but if they did … (Well you know the rest). So now we have gone public with our mission there is absolutely no turning back and training has started in earnest. I have quickly worked out that my 22 years in the army, a good purchase of Walking Boots and my old Sowester is not going to be enough to get me through. The training programme is hard but as long as we stick to it the 10 day /2 68 mile challenge should be achievable. What has also helped us to remain focused and unflinching is that we are going to do it all in the memory of Jeanette Nash and a charity of Martins choice.

This will be our main driving force now over the next 12 months training and the 268 miles of hills and mountains we will be facing. To give ourselves the best chance of completing what will be a very hilly marathon every day for 10 days we have decided that the day we cross the start line will be the 1st June 2009. Stuart decided this would be best as it makes it all the more simpler to count our progress days (I don’t think he trusts either of our high altitude mental abilities to be able to cross from a 31 day month into a new month and still keep track of how many days we have been going). Over the next 12 months we will not only be training but we will also be fundraising so by the time we come to put ourselves through the pain barrier we will have a healthy amount of cash to help kick our bottoms round.

The majority of the fundraising will be from events centered on the Cranfield Football Club and we will be  advertising exactly what will be going on in the Cranfield Express, posters around the village and probably leaflet drops. Anything we are advertising as part of this charitable event will carry our Pennies for the Pennines logo that is at the top of this page (No it ain’t, it wouldn’t fit- Ed) ...