I started running a few years ago when middle age and middle age spread started to become a reality. I began with a few short runs and progressed albeit slowly to 10K's, half marathons and eventually full marathons. Yes I was the one who came virtually last but I always finished! I found that I could fit in my runs around my hectic home and work life. A phone call from my brother who is almost ten years older than me changed my running regime. The guantlet had been thrown, and not being one to shy away from a challenge, the "I think we should do an Ultra marathon" conversation became a reality. We entered the Wall Ultra Marathon race to be run on the 18th June 2016. This is a 69 mile race to be run within 24 hours. My evenings and weekends are now spent doing short and long runs. Living on the Newcastle and Northumberland border, training has never been a chore. As the race date is drawing nearer and the enormity of the challenge is dawning I needed something to keep me focused, my wife suggested raising some money for a good cause. As a parent governor at Waverley Primary School it seemed an obvious choice. I had seen at first hand the benefits outdoor education has had for the children and I knew that they were wanting to improve and add to the existing set up.The school is just a stones throw from Hadrian's Wall and any monies raised will directly help the children to be able to study in an outdoor environment.