Dean Cooper

First long run

Well tomorrow is my first long run, it’s only 4 miles but it’s a step up from my 3 mile norm. I’m sat here eating my pasta to “carb up” I know there is no need but they do say treat every long run like it’s race day. So here we go. Wish me luck.  lovely run this morning, Nutrition obviously helps as my four miler was done with ease, I even managed to shave 13 seconds off per mile

Storm Ashley, 30mph wind and four miles

What else do you do on a Sunday morning with a storm coming in? Go running obviously. Didn’t want to get out of bed. Bed too warm, duvet too heavy that type of thing, but up and out we go. The phrase wetter than an otters pocket springs to mind for todays run.started as a three mile stretch off run turned into a nice little four miler. Felt good to push a little more  but at least I know I’m not going to fall apart like an old car. Feeling good.

Sunday morning pre training run

Kit all ready for a quick run tommorow, although my training regime doesn’t start till a week on Monday, I thought it was a good idea to get out. Up until I saw the weather tommorow. I think the only people out will be me and the witch from the wizard of OZ, so if I’m not back then I might be chatting to a lion, tinman and scarecrow tommorow afternoon. Wish me luck

The training starts here

Thanks for looking in and hopefully putting some cash in the charity jar. My journey starts here, well not here, but in 10 days time. 42 weeks of training to get me ready to run a half marathon, a distance I haven’t even considered since the early 2000s and only then under duress with a PTI shouting at me. So why are you doing it I hear you ask? Normally these things start with a drunken agreement you can’t get out of. Admit it, we have all done it, woken up the morning after a great night out with that sinking feeling you agree to do something in your drunken state!!! Well this time it’s not the case. This started with agreeing to help a mate train for couch to 5km, and then the sudden realisation that I was unsure if I could even run 5km myself. So out came the trainers and the huffing and puffing ensued. Funny thing about running, I had in my head that I hated it but lo and behold I found I actually enjoy it. It’s either the running or it’s the 5am quiet with no people around to bug me (my wife says I'm not a people person). Anyway here we are, Great North run place got and lots of smirking from people I know. But hopefully I will prove the naysayers wrong and raise some cash for a good cause. Im running for Combat stress, as a veteran with mental health issue myself, they looked after me at my lowest point and I want to give back to them. This is my way of saying thank you. So that’s it in a nutshell, my training starts on the 29th October and will be blogging my progress, lots of stats to bore and amaze you and hopefully some humour along the way. Thanks for reading and hopefully donating. See you when I have got some aches and pains to share with you all.

Support my challenge

This year I will be taking on the Great North Run to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.

Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and servicewomen deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.

I’m taking on vital steps towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need.

Thank you so much for your support.