Malcolm Law is one of my New Zealand running trail running buddies and has done a couple of big charity runs in NZ in recent times – in fact he is wee legend as well as a top bloke.
Mal and his equally mad English friend Tom Bland have committed to run England’s South West Coast Walkway – 1014 Kilometres – in just 14 days to raise money for mental health awareness in both New Zealand and Great Britain.
Before I left NZ I kind of vaguely hinted to Mal that if I was in the UK in June, when the run takes place then I would come along and run a day or two – if I had the fitness, and support Tom and him, in a small way on their quest.
A few days ago I received an email from Vicki a mutual friend of Mal and mine saying that Mal’s wife had just gotten her exam timetable and had an exam in NZ during the first week Mal was running – and if I was in the area would I be able to be Mal’s support crew/driver/photographer/FB updater etc etc for the first week of the run. Would I ever !
I am not sure I am up to this, lots of responsibility in supporting ultra-ultra marathoners, but Mal is such a cool guy and doing such a good thing I could never say no, in fact I was quit honoured to be asked – plus I know it will be a whole load of fun too.
Please check out their website and support it, read what the guys are up to and why – 1000km is a hell of a long way and will be HUGE challenge for them, or anyone else, so this undertaking is not to be taken lightly.
http://www.coastpathrun.co.uk/
So – finally I have a plan – well at least an objective… I will be in England for mid-June, not yet entirely sure of the details and what will happen in-between, but I know where I will be in two months and sorry England – I am not praying for a 30 degree summer….
Now I just need to come up with
A) A plan for the next few days/weeks in SE Asia
B) Some fitness so I can pretend to be athletic when I get to the UK and run at least a couple of clicks – not that this means giving up beer, I may have to stop eating….
I am sure there will be a lot more on this as the next couple of months disappear.
Where is Phil now? 
It is, at least, a very GOOD ‘reason to plan’!! Unlike the usual reasons to abruptly curb ethereal drift and set a plan in stone…. such as someone getting ill; someone dying, someone getting pregnant, running out of money, leaving the country v getting arrested; terminal homesickness; tenants trashing your only asset; bloodthirsty coups in your own or the host
country… 🙂