Once upon a time, Laura and I decided that we felt a bit Dull.

"We can't get old," we thought, "without being young and wild and crazy, first."

You see, despite what others may say, Laura and I are actually quite sensible. We did well at school, went to sixth form, Laura went to Uni and I started work, and now she's started working and I've started Uni (as well as working, though: it's not exactly a partyfest).

Last year, the two of us went on a shopping trip to Newcastle the day after the Great North Run. Banners and signs left over from the event were still strung across the Tyne Bridge, and along the roads out of town. I was driving along, feeling rather content with my purchases, when Laura said "We should enter that, next year."

I wittily replied, "Ahahahahahaha!"

Worryingly, Laura was deadpan. "No, really, we should!"

I slowly came around to my friend's way of thinking. And that is how, in September, I found myself at the starting line of the Bupa Great North Run: a half marathon run by about 50,000 people each year. Getting a place is pure chance: it's done by ballot, so I was actually really lucky to get a place. Hmmm!

And so we decided, that 2009 would be our Year of Adventure: we would try new things and go to new places whenever we could, before we get too old and tied down to just throw overnight bags in the car and head off for a bit of excitement.

Laura spent two motnhs travelling around America. I've climbed Helvellyn, bought a new bike, and spent more time splashing around in the North Sea than I ever have before. The two of us ran the Great North Run and survived. The Year of Adventure means doing little things, too: we've had a day trip to Alton Towers, we've made a conscious effort to go to concerts and see comedians and I even bought some skinny jeans (very brave).

I'm tagging appropriate blog posts with 'Year of Adventure' so that, when we get to the end of the year, of even halfway through, Laura and I can look back at all the things we've got up to.

That is, unless I'm killed bungee-jumping off a bridge, or skydiving, or swimming with sharks. Only time will tell!