20/03/2025
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๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ: ๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌโ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐
''As some of you may know, I am quite fond of running! An understatement maybe. A lot of you wonโt know why I run. Itโs not because Iโm trying to emulate Forest Gump, become an Olympic athlete, run faster than the next person โ Itโs because it helps!
Helps with what? Fitness, weight lossโฆ. Yes, they are side benefits, but the reality is, I run for my own mental health.
Many years ago, I was a sprinter (at school) and was pretty good. I never thought I would get into longer distances, but in my late 30โs, I did start running (badly) up to around 10k distances. Never competitive and was generally to help with overall fitness, but then stopped shortly afterwards.
It was only in the Summer of 2022 at 47 years old that I decided to give myself a challenge and entered the Cardiff Half Marathon in October 2022, raising money for Dogs Trust. I had a blast! The atmosphere was incredible, and I cannot recommend that event enough to any runner out there that wants to run a half marathon. What it did for me was spark something. Something so special that I have never looked back.
The last couple of years for me have been particularly challenging, with one thing and another. What I realised is, that even the strongest people trip and fall sometimes. Often for reasons out of our control, but the outcome is always that you hit the floor. Something I have firsthand knowledge of. This neatly brings me to the point of this story.
All the miles ran in training. Races and events over the last year or so, and recently running my first Ultra Marathon in early August 2024, has given me a drive to do something a little crazy!
In June 2025, I will be entering into a 24-Hour running challenge, Conquer24 at Powderham Castle. Starting at 12pm on Saturday 7th June, I will head out on my first 8k loop, and then many more afterward over a 24-hour period. My first target distance is 100k (62 miles), but with a higher aim of hitting the 100-mile mark should my body allow it.
There will be other runners that are part of a team, but I will be taking it on as a solo runner.
This will be in aid of raising money for a fantastic charity ManDown Cornwall that provides informal peer-support talking groups all over Cornwall for men with mental health concerns.
https://www.mandown-cornwall.co.uk/
This is not an affiliated charity to the run itself, but an individually chosen one. I will be paying the full entry fee to the run so all donations will go to the charity.
Obviously, I will be getting a lot out of this, because all of the training and running on the day will be helping with my own metal health, but there are lots of guys out there that are not as fortunate as I am and need that extra support.
So, if you are able to support me in this challenge Iโd be extremely grateful.
If you would like to donate, please follow this link: https://donorbox.org/donatemandown/fundraiser/rich-miles-musgrave-1
I've made this post public, so please feel to share.
Event details: https://conquer24.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ManDownCornwall
https://www.facebook.com/conquer24
Mudcrew
MudCrew Running Club