FROM PANIC TO THE PLAINS

Jason Nettle, director of Winchester Garden Machinery, is this year undertaking the challenge of 12 marathons in 12 months for good causes. Here he updates us as his panic is over, with a last-minute replacement marathon set for this weekend!

Hi everyone,

The marathon drama is officially over! I’m relieved (and slightly terrified) to confirm that I’m all set for this weekend's BigSky Marathon in Fordingbridge. My monumental foul-up with the New Forest Marathon booking is behind me and I’m ready to take on the stunning New Forest National Park in another way.

The description for this one sounds incredible, if a little daunting: "The Classic Element Trail Series, BigSky starts just after sunrise from the spectacular viewpoint at Hyde Common, one of the highest points in the New Forest National Park. As dawn becomes day and your race begins, you’ll set off under a dome of Southern England sky, with views that stretch from horizon to horizon. You’ll navigate wide open plains and winding forest trails and be in awe of the abundant wildlife roaming free."

I'm incredibly grateful to STIGA UK for sticking with me through the chaos and sponsoring this month's run. Your support means the world, especially with all the pressure that’s mounting right now.

The fear of injury is a constant presence. I've pushed through plantar fasciitis, lost a few toenails, battled constant aches and I just hope my body holds out until December. After this weekend, I’ll only have three more marathons to go. To put that in perspective, this time last year, I was doing a couple of 5K runs a week, with my best time being half an hour. This whole crazy challenge was just a thought in my head.

People have asked me if this challenge has changed me and what I've learned. My answer is a firm "yes."

What I've learned on the long road

This journey has taught me a simple but powerful lesson: you don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

I'm not a natural runner, and I started this challenge with minimal fitness and a mountain of self-doubt. Every marathon has been a lesson in turning a daunting goal into a series of achievable steps. It’s a mindset I've learned to apply to every part of my life - whether it's dealing with a tough work season or facing personal challenges. So, as I prepare to hit the trail this weekend, I'm not focused on setting any records. I'm focused on the next step, the next mile, and the next fundraising milestone.

This journey is also about a bigger conversation, specifically about men's health. We are notoriously bad at talking about our health, whether it’s a physical ache or a mental struggle. We often push through, ignore the warning signs and pretend everything is fine. This challenge, with all its physical pain and mental grind, has forced me to listen to my body and face my own limitations head-on. It's a small way of raising awareness for the kind of battles men often fight in silence.

The miles I'm putting in are also part of a larger mission to raise awareness for men's health. I've realised how similar training for a marathon is to maintaining a healthy lifestyle as you age. It’s not just about the physical exercise; it's about the bigger picture - prioritising sleep, forming healthy habits, staying hydrated and nurturing your mental well-being.

As men, we often find it hard to talk about our well-being, whether it’s a physical concern relating to our reproductive or urinary health or a mental health struggle. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, and yet many of us don't talk about the symptoms or get regular check-ups. The same goes for mental health - far too many men suffer in silence.

This challenge is my way of showing that it’s okay to be vulnerable, to struggle, and to ask for help.

Your support fuels every step

I can’t do this alone. Your generosity has already helped me smash my initial fundraising goal of £10,000, and we’re well on our way to the new target of £12,000. 

Every donation, no matter how small, makes a genuine difference to Cancer Research UK, Prostate Cancer UK, Naomi House Children’s Hospice and St. Michael's Hospice.

Please, click here and sponsor me today. Let's turn my determination into tangible help for those who truly need it.

Thank you.