Joel's Peak District 100KM Ultra Trail Race

On July 3rd I'm running a 100KM (60 mile) trail race with 4k+ feet of elevation. Prior to training I hadn't run more than 9 continuous miles. I'm no runner, but I am a trier and have thrown myself into training for this race for the last 2.5 months. With less than a week to go I'm feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement.

I'm using my run to raise funds for the refurbishment of Saint Barnabas Dalston church building, a project that has personal and community significance (more on the project below).

Having previously been abandoned for several decades, the project aims to bring the Grade 2* listed building back into full and wide-ranging use. It's already an important community hub having hosted a theatre school, dance and music events, a local youth club and Hackney Winter Night Shelter alongside the church's activities. The initial stages will be funded by friends of the church, with the aim of securing Heritage Lottery Funding for the more major works.

Critic Ian Nairn called it ‘the best church of its time in London’. Built at the turn of the 20th century, its massive brick volume feels like a mid century industrial building. It’s architect Charles Reilly was also a significant figure in contemporary architectural education - he called St Barnabas’ ‘the building I should like to be remembered by’. All-in-all certainly a building worth saving.

You can read more about the project Crowdfunder here.

All costs associated with the race will be covered by me so any donations will go straight to the project.