The Season of Goodwill? #256Challenge for #December256

This month I have been doing the #256challenge or #December256 which means I am riding my bike 1 mile on the 1st up to 16 miles on the 16, then declining again every day until 1 mile on the 31st, 256 miles in total. I must admit that when I first heard about it I thought it would be quite easy and fun, but actually although I think it has been good for me, I am finding it quite a challenge for a number of reasons. 1. FitI have been keeping the activities logged on Strava here  and have been supported by some great friends along teh way.

ting it into a busy work and life schedule - often means getting the miles in early in the morning before work travel. 2. December short days - lots of darkness. 3. Poor weather, rain and occasional frost; 4. Fitness starting from near scratch on 1 December with an arthritic ankle, and; 4. No days off, day after day, no recovery, I can't remember when I rode my bike ore than 7 d in a row before, perhaps The End to End in 1996.

Anyhow, if you didn't think that was hard enough, actually the point of this is my brother Dave and our friend Alan Dorrington have been doing the same....but running. Yes running. That's crazy, immense, incomprehensible. It makes me seem wholly pathetic, but that is why I am doing it - to show them some moral support and at least give something to this cause. So that means they ran 15 miles on Thursday, 16 on Friday, 15 miles today and so on.... They are really struggling, all sorts of epic stories of injuries, pain, motivation can be found on their facebook profiles of Dave here
and Alan here 

Anyhow, to get to the point this is all about raising money for the M3 project. M3 is a specialist charity that offers a variety of accommodation services to homeless young people and families aged 16-25. This accommodation is provided throughout East Lancashire (Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle, and Hyndburn) using supported lodgings as well as independent supported properties. Alan is closely involved with this, and it would be just terrific if, at during this season of goodwill, you could give a donation to this in support Dave and Alan, and the homeless young people. Please. Donate. Please. Thank you. Donate here please.  Merry Christmas. Thank-you.