Hi all,
Hope everyone is well and enjoying some better weather this month – it has been really lovely in Gloucestershire over the past week or two, and I am sitting in the garden as I write this blog, enjoying the sunshine on my face and the birds singing in the trees!
I’ve had a busy couple of weeks so it’s nice to just sit and relax for a few minutes; my new book, The Murder List, came out two weeks ago and I’ve been busy with various things related to that, although I was absolutely thrilled to see it go straight into the Amazon top 100 the day after publication, something which has never happened before. It’s out now in e-book and audiobook with the paperback release to follow in July.
I’m also trying to take it easy for a few days this week because next weekend (18th/19th June) I’ll be running again, and this time I’m taking on the longest ultramarathon challenge I’ve ever attempted – Endure24, the UK’s biggest 24-hour race. The tagline on their website is Epic, Brutal, Relentless – so yes, what am on earth am I doing?! Most run this Berkshire event as a relay in teams, but there’s a smaller group who run it solo, and yes, I’m one of those! The idea is to run as many laps of the (hilly, off-road) 5 mile/8km course as you can in the 24 hours from midday Saturday to midday Sunday. I have no idea how many miles I’ll be able to do – all I know is that I will attempt to keep running for the full 24 hours. I’m doing it to raise money for the Gloucestershire branch of Headway UK, the brain injury charity, in memory of my sister Deborah who (as many of you already know) died from a brain injury in 2010 when she was just 39.
It’s a bit like a big running festival – my husband is coming with me, and all the runners and their supporters pitch up on the Friday night and camp (we have rented a campervan for the weekend; I am definitely NOT doing this in a tent!). There is music and food stalls, and everyone has a nice time on Friday night, then the running starts at midday on the Saturday and off we go. You know how accident prone I am, and I do have a couple of niggly injuries at the moment which are concerning me: a problem with two of the joints in my left foot, which can be very painful, and my ongoing lower back problem which has been flaring up recently. But I’m committed to this now, so I will just take it steady and see how it goes. Please send me lots of positive thoughts – I will update you about what happens on my social media and on my next blog!
I’ve taken a few days off running in the run-up to this and have been getting out in the garden as much as possible. I think this is my favourite time of the year for gardening – there is so much lovely colour in the flower beds (see photo). Some of my garden tools, though, were a little bit worse for wear, so I treated myself to the Gardening Pick of the Month from QVC. It’s quite an amazing offer from SFIXX – a three-piece set including a little garden saw, and two pairs of secateurs: a ratchet pair and a bypass pair. For under £20 plus P&P I couldn’t resist, and I have already been using them in the garden and they are fantastic.
And having said that, the cucumbers need watering so I am going to go and do that now! See you soon,
Love, Jackie x
26 Responses
You are mad! But nice. I cannot run to save my life but good luck to you. I will be there in spirit cheering you on
Hi Anne, yes that has been said by more than one person! Thank you so much – I think I need all the positive thoughts I can get for this one!
Jx
All the best Jackie. I’m sure you’ll be fine as you have so much energy and positively. So pleased you’re doing it for a worthy charity. I lost my Dad to a Brain Haemorrhage when I was only 6.
I will definitely let you know about your book when I receive it next month ( as per previous blog)
Take Care
Julie xx
Hi Julie, thanks so much, and I’m so sorry to hear about your dad, that must have been very hard for you and your family. Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Jx
Of course we are sending best wishes for you doing well on this run you are mad of course but well done for supporting such a well deserving cause. Good on your husband for the support he his giving you. Hope the niggles disappear. Desperate for the paperback of the Murder List to be out can’t get my head around kindle I like to hold what I’m reading.Once again GOOD LUCK xxxxxxxxxxSue
Hi Sue, I survived the run (see my latest blog!) so thank you so much for sending me positive thoughts! And I hope you enjoy the book once you get it – it will be out on 21st July so not too long to wait!
Jx
Hi Jackie all the best for your run good luck hope all goes well
Hi Pauline, it went well, thank you so much (see my latest blog!). Thank you for thinking of me.
Jx
Hi Jackie
I am totally in awe of you doing your running challenge good luck, your sister would have been very proud of you think of her when you are running and you will get there.
Hi Jackie, it went well, thank you so much, and that’s a very lovely thing to say about my sister. I did think about her during the run and it did help very much.
Jx
Looking forward to listening to your new audiobook as I traverse the M62 regularly!
Jackie, you are a true star – literally, mentally and endurance wise. I hope you achieve what you set out to do, and reach the end without injury. As I did on your last big challenge,I will be supporting the charity of your choice – Headway, because of what you are doing to help it. I hope you get through the pain and have lots of amusing, and interesting moments and lovely meet ups with fellow competitors. Take care, but you will do it!
Hi Hazel, I love an audiobook too so I hope you enjoy it! And thank you so much for the kind words. If you read my latest blog you will see that the run went as well as it could have done despite a minor setback involving a head torch! And that is so kind of you to support the charity, and very much appreciated.
Jx
Good luck Jackie. Always love you on qvc. Just go and smash it at the weekend and remember to have fun!
Hi Vanessa, that’s very kind of you, thank you! As you will see from my latest blog the run went well and fortunately no falling over or anything of that sort! Thank you so much for the lovely message.
Jx
Hi Jackie,
Good luck for your huge challenge. What a mammoth task and I wish you all the best. Look after yourself though. You don’t want to cause more damage. Take care x
Hi Susan, thank you so much for the good luck wishes – they clearly worked because, as you will see in my latest blog, I managed to get to the end with no major new injuries which is always a bonus! Thanks so much for thinking of me.
Jx
Hi Jacky, I know you are going to do extremely well 👍this weekend. It might be a challenge for you because of past injuries but as an experienced runner, you will not take any unnecessary risks. So sorry to hear about you loosing Sister so young. We also lost our only Son (27) to a brain injury nearly 5 years ago. My thanks to you and people like you, who are, devoted to give up a lot of their time and effort to such a good cause as, HEADWAY. Thank You so much. Your book sounds great! I will try to get it on kindle audio and hard copy. Keep safe, Valerie x
Hi Valerie, thank you so much for the kind words. I am so terribly sorry to hear about your son, that must have been absolutely devastating. If you read my latest blog you will see that the run went well and Headway will be benefiting from a nice donation so I am thrilled with that. I really appreciate you getting in touch.
Jx
Just ordered the gardening POTM . Great value!
It really is such great value! I’ve been using mine non-stop since they arrived, hope you like them too!
Jx
Good luck Jackie I don’t know how you do it ! Take care with your back and feet I’m sure you will smash it xx
Hi Susan, thank you so much for the good luck wishes – if you read my latest blog you will see that the run went well so all the positive thoughts worked! Thank you again.
Jx
Hi Jackie I’ve read your latest book and it was brilliant couldn’t put it down. I’m a bit late to say good luck with your madness last weekend but look forward to hearing all about it in your next blog.
Hi Andrea, I’m so pleased you enjoyed the book! And yes, if you read my latest blog you will hear how the run went – well, fortunately! Thank you so much.
Jx
Hi Jackie,
Hope your running challenge went well and you survived unscathed.
I’ve just finished your new book on holiday and I was unable to put it down. It truly was a griping read, well done!
Looking forward to the next one.
Thanks,
Jackie
Hi Jackie, yes it went well thank you so much – more details in my latest blog! And I’m so glad you enjoyed the book. I hope you had a lovely holiday.
Jx