The Summer hols are over... And so is my challenge.

Well, nearly, anyway. It's true, I have now completed all of my races and have run a total of just over 104 miles whilst completing the "Weston 100" challenge. These past few weeks, I think, have been the hardest of all as well. Because it has been the summer holidays, my little chaps have been away from school and nursery (the times when I would normally train) and I have to admit, I haven't actually been training that much. If I am honest about the matter, I have gone from running 4 or 5 times per week to twice (if I'm lucky and really stern with myself). I have to admit that, last week, for example, when we were having a holiday in Bridlington together, I only ran once. (Well, it's difficult when you don't know an area particularly well, and I was on holiday... ahem). Anyway, because of all this lethargy and laziness engendered by our holidays I was feeling in particularly awful shape for my penultimate event, the Great Longstone Fell Race. I suppose, I was really worried because it WAS a fell race and there's nowhere to hide in these events. Nearly everyone there is going to run faster than you - if you're an amateur like me you're pretty much guaranteed to come last. If you don't get lost as well as come last, it's a bonus. I nearly didn't show up for it at all, but I kept thinking about all of that sponsorship money people have pledged to me if I complete the challenge, so somewhat reluctantly, I showed up. I'm so glad I did. It was fantastic. I'd forgotten in the interval since my last fell race (Stoney Middleton) just how friendly a bunch of people fell racers are. I mean I still came last, but at least, this time, I kept up with the pack, so I wasn't last by miles. Also, and somewhat amazingly there was still daylight when I finished (Only just though - it started at 6.45pm and I finished it at 7.45 pm, so it was definitely turning very dusk-like). I also met the only celebrity I've ever met at this event (when I first started this challenge somebody said to me that I was bound to meet loads of celebrities running these events - up until friday, when I met Roy Hattersley, no less, I hadn't met any).

Today saw my final event - the Great Yorkshire Run; and there were celebrities at this event too (but I didn't see them). I wasn't too worried about it because there are always so many runners in these events that you are never going to be the worse one there, and I certainly didn't come last. I enjoyed it too. Plus, I found it easy. I think my fitness has certainly improved through undertaking this challenge. I think I've also discovered that I prefer the fell racing. OK, I'm not very good at it, but I just think it's more fun. I might even carry on.

So the runs are all over. But the challenge, I suppose is not. Because now I've got to start collecting all that sponsorship money in. This is the part I am dreading. I haven't been very good at asking for sponsorship in the first place and now I've actually got to go and part people from their cash. Oh God. I think this will be the hardest part of all.

In summary, however, if everyone honours their pledges, then I will have raised £970 through my justgiving site, a further £100 from my generous colleagues, an unspecified amount from my colleagues at the staff magazine (oh God there's something else I need to chase up) and all of these sums will be doubled by William Hill itself. This means, that in total I will have raised somewhere in the region of £2,140. That's not bad, considering the climate, and that we're all skint at the moment. Apparently the Great Yorkshire run will be shown on tv this morning at 1.05 am. Don't miss it! You might see me loping past in my final athletics outing of the year. If you would like to sponsor me, it's not too late! Please do so at my justgiving site, http://www.justgiving.com/valderbyshire I, and the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity would be extremely grateful for your support.