I ran an EltonJohnathan
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1: Get fit and healthy again

Over lockdown I had put on weight and weighed in at just over 20 stone! I also turned 50 at the start of the year, so I knew that I just had to start to make some healthier life choices otherwise nothing good would come of it.Like many people I had tried to lose weight. I got on the apps, and read some books, and tried a few diets. The needle wasn't moving that fast. I needed some big audacious goal to work towards over a sufficiently long period of time.The London Virtual Marathon allows you to run your own route at your own pace. Which means there would be no pressure in how fast you have to run, or even where and when you ran, so long as you cover the mileage on the day.I saw this as the ideal opportunity to change my lifestyle by taking on the radical fitness challenge that is a marathon, but also I saw this 'run it your way' format as an opportunity to be a little creative, have some fun, whilst raising some money for charity.

The problem was, however steady I go, I'm still quite heavy, and I don't like running that much.But I do like playing and singing the piano.Whilst I already knew how to play a handful of Elton John Songs, I didn't know as many as I perhaps should after being an Elton John fan for so long and singing his songs in the shower.I felt that if I pushed myself however, I might be able to match the number of miles that I ran with the number of songs that I could perform on the same day.By the way, did I say I am not a professional singer, nor pianist? Well if I'm honest, learning to perform this number of songs was possibly the bigger challenge than covering the miles.

2: Reconnect with friends face to face

Wanting to include lots of friends in my training, I put a call out on Facebook for people willing to let me use their pianos or keyboards during my training.The Piano Practice runs started quite simple, and then they evolved to a format which have helped me get out and reconnect with friends after a long period of lockdown.This has been one of my favourite elements of my training. In the end I made a whole half marathon of training videos, and had a laugh with over 20 friends who hosted them. I hope you enjoy watching them as much as we did in making them.

• Check Out My Unusual Training

3: Raise money for Diabetes UK

Type 2 diabetes runs in my family as the men get older. My father and most of my uncles suffer from the condition.But to be honest I didn't know much about it, and still have much to learn.Diabetes UK is the charity leading the fight against the most devastating and fastest growing health crisis of our time, creating a world where diabetes can do no harm. It’s a fight that involves all of us – sharing knowledge and taking diabetes on together.

• Donate to my fundraising

Overall

Starting from Betts Park Open Air Gym in Crystal Palace, I will make my way via 4 stops and costume changes to The Covent Garden Social.

Leg 1

From Betts Park Open Air Gym to Toulouse Lautrec restaurant,via 3 parks and a walk and first song with Hobson and Jase.

Leg 2

From Toulouse Lautrec Restaurant in Elephant and Castle to the Royal Albert Hall.

Leg 3

From the Royal Albert Hall through Hyde Park and Fitzrovia to St Pancras.

Leg 4

From St Pancras Station, to the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on Broad Sanctuary.

Leg 5

From the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre to the Covent Garden Social, 6-7 Great Newport St, London WC2H 7JB.

Toulouse Lautrec Restaurant
Piano Room

The Toulouse Lautrec is a fabulous venue and welcomed my approach to play for Sunday morning brunch diners. I'll be on the first floor in the Piano room. I'll be 10-11miles into my run when I sit down to play at 10am, and I'm going to try and play the more gentle numbers so I don't put people off their breakfast. Book a table to avoid disappointment.

St Pancras Station Parade

Sir Elton John surprised and delighted St. Pancras visitors with a mesmerising piano performance in February, 2016. Following this performance, the legendary Rocket Man himself also left this beautiful Yamaha piano behind as a gift, which he kindly signed before donating. His message reads: “Enjoy this piano. It’s a gift. Love, Elton John.” The famous piano sits in the station's lower ground floor Arcade for everyone to enjoy. I'm hoping to play a short set from 1pm with a couple of duets with choir mates.

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

Diabetes UK are organising a Finishers Party for their marathon runners, and I am looking forward to pitching up for my 3rd piano stop to sing a few songs on my own digital piano along with fellow runners whom I have only met on a facebook group to date. Because I will only be at Mile 23, I will be singing "I'm Still Running".

Covent Garden Social

For the final stop, I'm finishing at the Covent Garden Social Club, 6-7 Great Newport St, London WC2H 7JB, for a mass sing along.

Costume 1

The first leg is the longest, so I'm running in a RELATIVELY sensible runners kit, including my piano pants (which is my fashion cover of the suit designed for Elton by Andre Miripolsky and worn by him in 1980 at the Central Park concert). I'll be donning the Diabetes UK running top as I run up from SE London to centre of town and give some serious focus to my run.

Costume 2

I'll change into something a little smarter for playing at the Toulouse Lautrec Piano Room, including a waistcoat, bowtie and a straw boater from the I'm Still Standing video.

Costume 3

Running to the Royal Albert Hall, I'll likely need to speed up to meet the timing for St Pancras, so will change into my running top with my name on the back and QR codes to make it easy for people to donate to my campaign.

Costume 4

Running back from St Pancras, I aim to be dressed as Elton in a Donald Duck costume, which he famously wore at his 1980 concert in central park.

Costume5

I'm going to Vaseline up for a short final leg to the Covent Garden Social, dressed in a copy of Elton's famous Dodger's costume.

Winner's teeshirt

I'm in a race of one. Some I'm going to win it. If all goes well I'll be wearing this winning teeshirt at the end.

Piano Practice Run 1

Daniel

This run was to my friend Ben, and I had no plans or expectations. When Ben asked me if I had finished, in a way that made me think he might want to get rid of me (he didn't) that gave me an idea for the subsequent videos which started to take on a theme.

Piano Practice Run 2

Sacrifice

My second run was in North London. I still didn't really have a plan for these runs, but for this one, I stopped at my friend Arasan from choir to duet to Sacrifice. Arasan is very good at harmonising on the spot, and he will be singing live with me on the day at St Pancras.

Piano Practice Run 3

Your Song

This run was to another choir friend, Rob, who had agreed to let me play his wife's beautiful yamaha grand piano. Only getting in to play it on the day proved more difficult, so I had to be quick.

Piano Practice Run 4

Crocodile Rock

This run was to the home of my choir director Richard who would only let me in if I played Happy Birthday to his wife Kate, and promised not to play any Elton John. I tried, but couldn't help myself. Thanks to Fiona for filming.

Piano Practice Run 5

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

This is one of my favourite runs. It's a lesson in always being properly dressed for the occasion. Molly ran a strict dress code at the door, but she lent me something appropriate and I was finally able to get in and play.

Piano Practice Run 6

Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting

This run was on the IoW, a day before the IoW half marathon. Staying with friends Pete and Josephine, Phoebe, Theia Cody and Claire made sure I was fighting fit and ready to race.

Piano Practice Run 7

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

This run to Caroline and Csaba helped me bust out any demons inside and come face to face with my training blues, especially when carrying a hip injury a few days before a half marathon.

Piano Practice Run 8

Bennie And The Jets

I dropped by school teacher Andy and his hard working girls to "Shake It Loose Together" to Bennie and the Jets. But just one minute, in it was hard to stay concentrated on the schoolwork.

Piano Practice Run 9

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

I got my am and pm timings mixed up when visiting my friend Matt in Kent. But despite the mix up Matt kindly let me in and I got to belt out what is probably my favourite Elton Song.

Piano Practice Run 10

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

This run to Georgia and Toby was fun, jamming with Toby and the Horny-Back Toad on the mantelpiece.

Piano Practice Run 11

Tiny Dancer

When Catherine invited me over to make one of these Piano Practice videos, I didn't expect Emma and Sharon would be busy making their own little masterpiece. As a result this collaboration is definitely one of my favourite videos of the training runs.

Piano Practice Run 12

I'm still Standing (Running)

When my brother’s dance console broke down mid song, thankfully I'm still running and able to step in just in time....