A Million words for Charity

So today was officially the start of my training for my 1,000,000 Words for Charity campaign. Basically the premise for this is that I'm going to run a marathon later this year, on the day I will load a bag full of books on my back and complete the run with an approximately 1,000,000 words on my back. (This is more symbolic than anything else, although I'm sure the extra 5kg will be a bain by the end of any run!)

These will be 1,000,000 words I've had the luxury of reading. Having relaxed over them with cups of tea, read in bed or used to kill time on public transport.

The average large novel has about 100,000 words, so I'll be aiming for 10+ books in my pack. Between now and then I'll be working on a list of the books I'll be carrying with me, although I already have a pretty clear idea what will be coming along ;)

All funds raised for charity will go to the Room to Read organisation. A charity I respect and have been working with in part over the last 2 years. The aim is to raise enough funds so that I can start a chapter here in New Zealand. Hopefully giving the charity a foothold here.

The funds raised will actually go to building a school/library in a third world country. However before you can establish a regional chapter and be recognised by Room to Read you must raise a reasonable sum to prove that you are a committed fundraiser.

I'll document my training and would be delighted if I could encourage others to join me(consider doing a 1,000,000 Words relay).

I'll be using the Jeff Galloways Half Marathon Training Schedule for Time Goal Runners as the basis for my training over the next 17 weeks. Because I like the incorporation of track runs and it suits my current level. Although I hate running in miles, its about time I made the conversion.

Once I'm through the half Marathon bar I'll push on with my mini library and aim for the full thing, probably around August/September time frame.

So here's to a fit and literate 2009!