The reason I am going to do this crazy derby...

[Channel 4's 'War Child' documentary](http://http://www.channel4.com/programmes/war-child/on-demand/63937-001)

Training update #1

My training is really getting going now in the push towards the Derby start line in August; At Cannock Chase this weekend, I completed my first real endurance ride of 40km with a Grade 1 pass at novice level on Sir Trevor - the horse with the heart of gold :)

Blog #1: What was I thinking?!...

When I looked at this first blank blogging page, the question that has been foremost in my mind since I signed myself up for the derby, seemed an obvious place to start: **Yes, what the hell WAS I thinking?! **

As it's so easy to miss the wood for the trees sometimes, since I started training for this event back in October16, I am already finding the training very challenging, endurance (anything) never having been my forte. And so its a good thing now to have to remind myself (even if no-one else) what indeed I was thinking at the time... because it was about the children; some very privileged ones (my 2 boys) and some quite the opposite, the children that will benefit from the WarChild charity that I am raising funds for. On behalf of both of these groups of children, I haven no choice but to press on and do my utmost to complete this challenge.

For my own children, I want to encourage an adventurous spirit, a courageous attitude, and show by example that sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes to meet your challenges.

But also, it may sometimes be required to act more selflessly on behalf of others for a good cause. In this case, for the children who aren't as lucky as mine and who were so unfortunate as to be born into the less stable, war torn countries of the world, this is my effort to recognise them and take some action other than just get teary-eyed whenever my thoughts are drawn to them.

By the way, I am not professing to have all of these qualities right now, but rather I know I am going to have to dig deep and find them myself somehow!

So that's what I was thinking when I decided to take 'the bull by the horns' and do this (or in this instance, take the wild horses by the mane) & your support, dear friends, would be most encouraging & appreciated!