THE GREAT MARATHON FIASCO!

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 on a bump in the road for this month's challenge!

Hi everyone,

You know how I always talk about how this challenge is teaching me to deal with the unexpected? Well, this weekend has thrown a monumental curveball. Marathon 9 was supposed to be the New Forest Marathon this Sunday, September 14th. I had it all planned out, had told everyone, and most importantly, STIGA UK had kindly sponsored me for this month's challenge.

Only . . . it turns out my booking never went through.

As I sit here writing this article on Thursday evening, I've been in a full-blown panic. I've torn my house apart, searching emails for the booking and bank statements for the payment, but there's no denying the monumental cock-up. The reality is sinking in: this weekend's race is happening, just without me in it. The pressure is immense, especially after STIGA UK's generous support. I simply cannot let their sponsorship go to waste.

I've reached out to the race organisers to see if there's anything I can do. If they can't squeeze me in, the search is officially on for another September event. It's a frantic scramble to find an alternative event and get the distance done.

On a brighter note, it was great to catch up with some friendly faces from the industry at GroundsFest this week. The conversations were inspiring and it was a fantastic opportunity to see all the new products and innovations coming out. There were so many great discussions about the challenges and opportunities we're all facing and it was a real boost to be reminded of the passion in our industry. It also gave me the opportunity to personally thank so many people who have kindly donated to my challenge. Once again, thank you.

My mission for the next 48 hours is simple: fix this mess and make sure September’s marathon happens.

Wish me luck. I'll need it!

How You Can Help

• Sponsor me: Every donation, no matter the size, helps turn my ridiculous efforts into tangible help for those who truly need it. Please visit my fundraising page
• Cheer me on: Your messages and support are a massive boost.

Stay tuned for an update on my new, unplanned and very last-minute marathon attempt!