CRAIG’S BLOG: Why I’ve vowed to run every day in 2023

A Leyland dad has set himself a New Year’s challenge to run every single day in 2023 – even vowing to run laps of a cruise ship during his family holiday!

Apprenticeships tutor Craig Goldsworthy, 47, is determined to complete the mammoth fundraising feat for St Catherine’s Hospice, and is writing a blog series to record his journey throughout his epic charity challenge. 

I’ve decided to run at least three miles a day during 2023 because it’s one of a few running challenges I’ve yet to complete. I’m hoping to run more than 1,000 miles in total; another target which keeps evading me year-on-year!

I’ve been a keen runner for around 15 years, and have done more than 50 half marathons, 100 Parkruns and the Chester marathon.

My New Year’s Resolution in 2021 was to run every day in January, and I’ve also done the virtual Land’s End to John’O’Groats – so I’m taking it a step further for 2023.

I will also be sending out invitations to 52 different people and running groups to arrange a run with someone new each week, which was my daughter’s idea and will help to keep me motivated.

I recently lost a friend to bowel cancer and she is sorely missed by her family and friends. Michelle Walker would have been 47 – she lived in Leyland with her husband Lee and daughters Ava and Ella. She was an admin assistant at Progress Housing Group and was cared for by St Catherine’s at home.

I really want to give something back to the charity in her memory, so this fundraising challenge is for Michelle.

I prefer early, cold mornings, so winter won’t be a problem and I feel excited to start on New Year’s Day. I’ll be accompanied by Michelle’s husband Lee for my first run, and we’re setting off from St Catherine’s Hospice, which feels very fitting. We’ll be cheered on by our families including my wife Helen and twin daughters Molly and Evie who are all very much behind the idea and have been really supportive.

I have a catalogue of runs which I’ve planned over the years, and I’m getting a group of runners together for the mid-way point at Preston Parkrun on the 1st July and again on 30th December – which seems ages away!

We have a cruise holiday planned but luckily the ship has a running track on the top deck, so that won’t stop me! If anything unexpected prevents me from being able to run at any point, such as injuries, I’ll do my best to walk instead, but I’m really determined to keep running and do Michelle and our families proud in her honour.

I’ll look forward to sharing my progress and photos with you along the way, and would be so grateful for any donations for the wonderful cause I’m supporting, St Catherine’s Hospice.

– Please click here to donate via my JustGiving page or to write a message of encouragement to spur me on, or click here to donate through the St Catherine’s Hospice website, making sure to mention ‘Craig’s 365 challenge’ in the comments box at the checkout stage.

Thank you!

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