Welcome to the Challenge!

The thought of turning 40 has absolutely haunted me.  I have visions of waking up on my 40th birthday with a host of new wrinkles and grey hairs to welcome me to a new decade of life; not to mention creaking joints, slowing metabolism and all those promised new fat cells to look forward to.  

So, I've declared war on my 40's.  And I never start a battle I can't win. 

I have spent a princely sum on serums and moisturisers to keep the wrinkles at bay and my hair is regularly 'coloured in' to mask the dreaded greys, but the rest of me?  

How do I beat science at the ageing process?  

I'm fortunate to know some amazing people.  Some really inspiring individuals who accomplish fantastic things.  Folk who run ultras because 26.2 miles isn't enough.  Mums who juggle family life, work and golfing husbands with competing in triathlons.  Friends who get out at weekends and complete super hero activities; climbing, zip wiring, sailing.  Pensioners who run marathons. 

So I'm going to try and join them.  I've done a number of half marathons and just about dragged myself over the finish line at this years Brighton Marathon, so I'm used to setting myself a challenge.  But I don't just want to be a runner, there's loads of other things I want to accomplish. This challenge aims to help achieve just that.

The Challenge

My husband and I were having lunch in Exeter last weekend and we were talking about our up and coming trip to Amsterdam.  I shall be running in the marathon, he will be performing his duty as 'Super Fan'.

After Amsterdam, I have secured myself a place in the Brighton Marathon 2013.  I won't say I enjoyed it so much last year I wanted to do it again.  More a case of me knowing that I could have done better and needing to get a time to be proud of.  We discussed, 'What comes ater Brighton?' And to be honest I didn't have an answer straightaway (most unlike me).  So a couple of quiet moments passed, and then I said that I wanted to do an A-Z of sporty achievements before turning 50.  We tried working our way through the alphabet with marathons, when I said that I didn't just want to do marathons, I wanted to mix in a few other things as well. 

So, the challenge has been born.  The rules are clear:

1.  I have to complete a complete A-Z of challenges (some letters may be difficult to achieve, limited artistic licence should be allowed!)
2. Challenges all need to be physical, but don't all need to involve running. 
3. I don't need to complete the A-Z in order, but I do need to finish them as soon as possible.

You are invited to join me, inspire me or offer words of support.  Whatever, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy reading my trials and tribulations as I set out to fulfil my aim.