The final countdown - 1 day to go (start of day update)

There’s a busy day ahead for the team today. First up, Deb (pictured) is on her way to New York from London. When she lands just after noon local time, she’ll then make her way into Manhattan and then onto the meeting point in New Jersey! That’s quite an effort after a long flight. 

Meanwhile, Carlton and I will be getting picked up by Steve at 1100. It’s a 2 hour drive up state to pick up the motorhome. This will be my 4th long term hire of such a vehicle. It’s never a straightforward process. Although, everything had gone very smoothly so far, this time around so perhaps that won’t be the case. We’ll then drive the motorhome to the meeting point in New Jersey and go and get Deb. There’ll then be a mad dash to get supplies. I anticipate that will mainly include porridge and UHT milk. 

  

The motorhome will stay in New Jersey tonight only a few miles from the day 1 finish line. I’ll be staying in Manhattan with Steve and his family tonight before the run across the USA gets underway tomorrow at 0800. So a busy day ahead for us all. 

Today's weather, brought to you by Chapman Ventilation, D-Line Cable Management and Hadrian Healthcare Group, in New York is nice and sunny. Tomorrow is expected to be cloudy and cooler. That was the case when I set off from Cottesloe Beach on the run across Australia back in 2013.

Thanks to everyone who has made a donation to St. Benedict's Hospice so far via https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025. £220 has been added to the USA 2025 charity fund so far today. We are inching towards the £13,000 barrier. That’s just brilliant at this stage of the run.

The final countdown - 2 days to go

I was wide awake at 0430 today and wrote the following on the Run Geordie Run Facebook page.

"Good morning from Brooklyn, New York. It’s just gone 0430 and many thoughts are whirring through my mind. I should be sleeping but I’d like to share one particular story with you. 

As I run on the banks of the Missouri River in early June, two days will be dedicated to one of our number who is sadly no longer with us. You’ll be able to read the full heartbreaking story then. In the meantime, as I prepare to set off across the USA on Thursday, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the life of Liam Mitchell (pictured) and his time at St. Benedict’s Hospice." 

"Liam was just 36 when he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in November 2022, a devastating shock to his wife Ruth, their children Alex and Ethan, and the rest of his family. 

Known for his fun-loving, kind-hearted nature, Liam was a popular figure in both his personal and professional life. He was incredibly active, working as a Fabrication Supervisor and walking up to 20,000 steps a day. A devoted Newcastle United supporter, Liam regularly attended games with his son, bonding with fellow fans in the stands. He also enjoyed socialising with friends, making regular trips with family to Northumberland, where his sense of humour and love for dressing up (often as Elton John) shone through. 

Just three weeks after his diagnosis, Liam was told his cancer was already at Stage 4, with palliative chemotherapy as the only option. His health rapidly declined, and after complications including pneumonia, he was referred to St Benedict’s Hospice. Initially hesitant, Liam soon found comfort in the hospice’s compassionate care and homely atmosphere. The team helped him manage pain and enjoy special moments with his family, including a trip to see Newcastle play, celebrating his 37th birthday, and even having beer through his feeding tube. 

Despite the heartbreakingly short time between diagnosis and his death in March 2023, Liam’s final weeks were filled with love, laughter, and the support of a community who clearly adored him. 

The run across the USA will mean many things to many people. I can tell that is the case from the messages I receive and connections I make. Some are interested in the physical challenge and adventurous side. To some there is a deeper meaning. 

Liam’s memory, along with those of many others, lives on, in some small way, through the run across the USA, offering a powerful way for people to reflect, connect, and find comfort in shared remembrance. Each mile honours loved ones lost, creating a moving tribute that brings solace and strength to those left behind. 

The words honour, privilege and responsibility spring to mind. As well as raising vital funds for St. Benedict’s Hospice, if I can bring just a small degree of comfort to people in whatever way, then it’s all of those words and more. 

Right. It’s back to sleep for me for a few hours hopefully. Thanks for reading."

I got a chance to listen to my first interview for the Pod On The Tyne podcast today. Thanks to George, Chris and Taylor some great questions and kind words. I've listened to the pod since the beginning so to appear on it this week and throughout the summer is a huge opportunity to raise the run's profile. There were some kind donations made off the back of that episode. A great start!

One follower of Run Geordie Run on Bluesky called Janie Smith commented "Went for a walk to Costa on my dinner time and listened to this. Me walking through Gosforth in 21 degree heat felt like I was melting while Run Geordie Run described the plan for Death Valley. Bloody hell Mark."

You can listen to this weeks episode here.

I rang support man Steve just after lunch. We needed a plan for tomorrow covering picking up the motorhome and meeting the incoming Deb onto the support team. That was a pretty straightforward conversation and we cam out with a good plan. Check back tomorrow for details on that.

To take advantage of the heat of the day, I went for a run just after noon. I originally intended for it just to be between 3 and 4 miles but ended up running over the Williamsburg Bridge and right into Manhattan. It was absolutely scorching (about half of what Death Valley will be when I get there). The only breeze to be had was on the mile long bridge before descending into Manhattan.

I know New York reasonably well and it's very easy to navigate just going off instinct and a sense of direction. With that in mind, I ran all the way to Ghostbusters HQ which was 4 miles into the run.

The run back to base was reasonably straightforward. It was just shy of 8 miles. One thing that I was reminded of on this little warm up run was just how stop/start day 1 of the run across the USA is going to be. I need to run hundreds of blocks on Thursday. Each one is traffic controlled of course. That's going to add quite a bit of time. 

The day ended with a video call home to Donna and Órlaith. Maintaining that contact is hugely important for my mental wellbeing. I've written before about the biggest risk to this run being homesickness. The calls home, the support from the team as and complete strangers alike as well as donations coming in to St. Benedict's Hospice is what it's going to take to keep me sane while on this run.

A huge thank you to everyone who made a donation to St. Benedict's Hospice via Justgiving today. £207 was added to the total and the USA 2025 charity fund currently sits at £12,536.35.

The final countdown - 3 days to go

It was an early start at Heathrow Terminal 5 today.  Support man Carlton and I were swiftly through check in thanks to the super efficient British Airways staff. It's probably the quickest I've ever been through security too.

I wrote "Next stop is New York!" on the Run Geordie Run Facebook page with a bit of rousing text. It attracted a huge amount of likes and comments. I read them all from the digs in New York later in the day. That support, together with comments across all the social media channels is hugely important. In fact, I summed that up as follows on Facebook "A huge thank you for all of the comments and donations today. That feels like the proverbial 12th man. It’s the support that I’ll absolutely need between NYC and California if I’m to succeed." 

The flight to New York passed by pretty quickly. I spent most of the time working on a few Run Geordie Run bits and pieces. I'm pleased to report that it was a very smooth flight.  

If I thought the Heathrow experience was swift then getting through customs and then luggage at JFK Airport set a new record for the times I've visited the USA.

Thanks to the having messaging capability on the flight, I was able to arrange a pick up from our man in NYC aka support man Steve. The story of how he came to be involved with the run across the USA is an interesting one and goes back some 14 years. It can be read here.

A huge thank you goes to Steve for going above and beyond again today. We'll next see him on Wednesday when we pick up the motorhome.

We checked in to the digs without any problems. Thanks goes to Steve's pal Craig who is letting us use his apartment while he's out of town.

The next big challenge was to try and stay awake. This was helped by a 4 mile walk around Brooklyn in some very warm weather. I was also able to suss out the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge where I'll be running over tomorrow. That's obviously just to get my legs working. The run across the USA doesn't get underway until Thursday.

After the walk, I checked in with the weather forecast for the next few days. With 25 degrees forecast tomorrow, I'm pleased that highs of 19 are on the cards for the start of the run on Thursday. I think there's a decent chance of some thunder and rain during the first few days. It looks like the heat is going to crank right up after that. 

My final act tonight before I inevitably fall asleep as soon as the laptop closes, is to say thank you to those kind folk who made a donation today to St. Benedict's Hospice. Another £180 was added to the USA 2025 charity fund via Justigiving. The fund currently stands at £12,290.74. A fantastic amount.

Right! It's 21:10 over here in New York. I've been awake for 21 hours. Time to sleep and dream of running across the USA.

The final countdown - 4 days to go

Saturday got underway with one final Beach Bootcamp with David Fairlamb. There were 70 or so people in attendance and it was a tough old session. I was still recovering from a session in the gym on Thursday with David but it was very enjoyable nonetheless. 

I attended my last match of the season at St. James Park for a good old fashioned 3pm kick off. With the prospect of a half time appearance I went dressed in full Run Geordie Run clobber. 

Before kick off, I recorded an interview for the Pod on The Tyne podcast with George Caulkin and Chris Waugh. There were some great questions and I'm looking forward to listening to the show next week. You'd struggle to meet two nicer guys. I'm hugely grateful for their support and the chance to talk to them during the run across the USA this summer.

Speaking of nice people, George's Mam was over visiting from Portland, Oregon. She is a quite remarkable lady. Full of love and enthusiasm, I really enjoy speaking to her. Later in the day she made a very generous donation to St. Benedict's Hospice via the Justgiving page.

I also managed a chat with Biffa from nufc.com before kick off. Regular readers will know just how much he has done for Run Geordie Run and the charities I've raised funds for. From publicity to donations and offers of support from nufc.com readers, his contribution to the cause has been immeasurable. 

Newcastle led 1-0 at half time. I made my way down to the pitch as the half time whistle blow. There waiting for me was Justin Lockwood. He has interviewed me on numerous occasions on the pitch and has the advantage of knowing the Run Geordie Run back story from his time at Real Radio in particular.

I was able to get the message across about the up coming run across the USA, which charity it is for and how to donate. One of my pals situated in the Leazes east corner commented "You spoke well at half time well done".

A huge thank you to Newcastle United for the opportunity to raise the profile of the run and to Justin for allowing me to get all of the key points across.

Saturday ended with £155 added to the USA 2025 charity total for St. Benedict's Hospice giving £12,040.74 raised so far.

The final countdown - 6 days to go

I'm pleased to report that today started in pretty much the same way that the rest of the week had done. You've guessed it - some brilliant donations made to St. Benedict's Hospice via the Justgiving page. At the time of writing, £260 has been added to the USA 2025 charity fund which sits just shy of the £12,000 mark. Thank you to everyone who has made a donation so far. The hospice are in desperate need of every donation that is made. All size donations are most welcome and I'll be fighting every mile in the USA to deserve them.

When people donate they often say to me "Sorry that it's not a large amount". Every single pound raised matters. I always remember that, of the £105,717.80 raised for the run across the USA in 2011, £50,000 of that was made up of donations of £10 or less. That's absolutely staggering when you think about it. The volume of donations was as generous as it was remarkable.

Regular readers will remember, that the run across the USA in 2011 was completely self funded. That run cost me £15,000 to do. The return on the investment that was seen for St. Benedict's Hospice and The Children's Foundation was eventually seven times that initial outlay. It's a run that benefited local charities and completely changed my life. It's the best £15,000 I've ever spent.

I was supposed to give up fundraising at that point. I didn't have another £15,000 to spare. That's when I decided to reach out to the private sector for backing. Two years later, I ran across Australia. £55,126.60 was raised for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and The Children's Foundation. 3 years after that £55,147.25 was raised across Europe for the same charities. In 2018, £59,041.50 was spread across Useful Vision, The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, The Children's Foundation and St. Benedict's Hospice. You also need to add in to all of that the various ad hoc smaller events that I've done.

In case you've got lost off with the sums, since seeking the help of the private sector to fund my runs, at the time of writing an additional £200,284.38 has been raised. That figure burst through £200,000 barrier today. Of that sum, the charity fund for the current campaign sits at £11,865.74. There is a long way to go to hit my own personal target of £60,000 for St. Benedict's Hospice. If the generosity to come is anything like what has gone before then I'm confident that another significant sum can be raised for St. Benedict's Hospice.

This is the current fundraising position at the time of writing:

The USA 2025 is largely funded by the private sector and it's going to cost me in the region of £6000 on top of that. It's something I would do again and again in a heart beat. Thanks to my main sponsor Chapman Ventilation and also D-Line Cable Management, Hadrian Healthcare Group, Hays Travel and Vigon the easy majority of the motor home rental cost was covered. Put quite simply, without their amazing support, this run would not have been possible.

I'm indebted to chapman Ventilation for their continued support which is now in its 14th year. D-Line have been involved since 2015 and I'm so grateful to Hays Travel, Vigon and Hadrian Healthcare Group for their support.

I'm also very grateful to Hylo Athletics for supplying my running shoes. When you need to run in a quality pair of shoes that provide comfort and stability that comes any a price. These are top end shoes which would have been out of my reach without the kind support from Hylo. 

Then there is the Big Optician who have supplied my sunglasses for the 4th campaign running. That's another cost chalked off. Another long term supporter, Active Edge, have supplied me with enough Cherry Active (aka the secret weapon) to see me right across the USA. Finally, the amount of time that David Fairlamb has committed to preparing me for my events, both physically and mentally is beyond calculation. I've been working with David since 2008 and it's fair to say that his support and friendship has been life changing. I'm not the only person whose life has been changed because of him by the way. He has a string of clients that I know about and many I'm sure I don't who have lost a load of weight and now lead healthy lifestyles.

So with that, I'm proud to reveal the running shirt that I'll be wearing across the USA. This is just one configuration as some shirts have different logos for Vigon and Hays Travel too. I also have shirts with some blank spaces just in case I can find further commercial backing.

The shirt is very light weight and the printing, done by local company Custom Planet, is absolutely superb. It adds virtually no weight at all and there is zero discomfort thanks to the type of printing they've applied.  

I particularly like the back of the shirt where, for the first time, passers by are going to be able to see what I'm doing. To cater for the inevitable weight loss, I have shirts ranging from XL down to medium.

In other news today, on the theme of "making connections" (which is a by product of this run), I spotted the following message on a Facebook community group:

Given that eggs are part of my staple diet when running I decided to reach out to Isabelle:

It reminded me of something I wrote earlier this week that is due to go out to colleagues at work before I start running in 6 days time.

"As I stand on the edge of another massive challenge—3,200 miles across the USA—I’m filled with a familiar mix of nerves, excitement, and deep gratitude. The miles ahead are daunting, no doubt about it. From the punishing climbs of the Rockies to the endless heat of the deserts, this run is going to ask everything of me—physically, mentally, emotionally. 

But this isn’t just about clocking miles or testing my endurance. It’s about something far bigger. Every step I take is for St. Benedict’s Hospice, a cause that’s been close to my heart for years. It’s their strength and compassion that inspire me when my legs are screaming and the road feels endless. 

I’ve done long runs before. I’ve crossed countries and continents. But something about this one feels different. Maybe it’s the sheer scale. Maybe it’s the pressure I’ve put on myself. Or maybe it’s the people who’ve already shown support—the messages, the donations, the belief. That belief carries me. Every single time. 

I know this journey won’t be easy. I’ll face pain, fatigue, loneliness. But I’ll also find joy, connection, and maybe a bit of magic along America’s highways and backroads. And with every mile, I’ll be thinking of those we’re helping. That’s what keeps me going. That’s what makes the run matter. 

So here we go. One man. One mission. One support team of volunteers close by, driving a motorhome. One giant run for something truly worthwhile. 

See you out there. 

— Mark Allison (Run Geordie Run)"

That's all for today. Please check back tomorrow on what promises to be an exciting day in terms of raising the run's profile. I am, of course, referring to the half time appearance on the pitch at St. James Park.

The final countdown - 7 days to go

The day got off to a great start with another flurry of donations to St. Benedict's Hospice via the Justgiving page. By the end of the day £254 had been added to the USA 2025 charity total. A massive thank you goes to everyone who donated. The current total is approaching £12,000 and currently sits at £11,606. A truly fantastic amount given the run is yet to get underway.

The next bit of good news was that the number one NUFC podcast 'Pod on the Tyne' invited me to appear on their show all throughout the summer. They have a massive reach to Newcastle United supporters all over the world. I'm looking forward to recording an introductory piece with George Caulkin at the Ipswich match on Saturday. George, of course, has been a massive supporter of my running for the last 15 years or so. I'm looking forward to talking to Chris and Taylor who hosts the show. 

I'm sure the time difference will present a bit of a challenge. Especially as I get further across the country where there'll be 8 hours between my location and the UK. 

I'm hugely grateful to Pod On The Tyne for the chance to give listeners a regular update on my progress as I run across the USA.

Staying with the football theme, I've been invited by Newcastle United to take part in an interview to be held during the half time interval at the match on Saturday. As has been the case in the past, Justin Lockwood will be the one asking the questions. That's us pictured below after the run across the USA in 2011.

I should add that Newcastle have never been beaten whenever I've made an appearance on the pitch! A massive thank you goes to the club for the opportunity to raise the profile of the run before it gets underway.

The day ended with a return to David Fairlamb Fitness after an absence of almost a month (due to my teeth issues). I arrived really early and had a good 45 minute chat with David about the up and coming run across the USA. We talked about my hopes, fears, the support team, tactics and many other things besides.

Back to the gym and it was the usual double session. I found the first one really tough. It was relentless. As has been the case many times over the years, I simply attacked the final session and emptied the tank. This is a pattern that I've seen time and time again during the long running campaigns. I seem to have mastered the art of plodding along through the difficult miles. Then, when the time is right, the pace can be upped, risks taken and quality in my running found. I anticipate the first signs of this will be seen a few weeks into the run across the USA. Those early stages will be about getting the daily mileage done, dropping the inevitable weight and building the endurance that will see me through the remainder of the run.

A huge thank you goes to David for all of the work we've got through in his gym. I'm looking forward to attending the final session with him on Saturday morning at his Beach Bootcamp on Longsands, Tynemouth.

I'll finish today's blog by asking if you are able to sponsor the run across the USA by making a donation to St. Benedict's Hospice. If you can then please do so at www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025. As you read this, there are terminally ill people in the hospice receiving palliative care. That care has been offered by the hospice for the last 41 years. It just wouldn't be possible without donations from the general public. Please help if you are able.

The final countdown - 8 days to go

Today got off to a great start with some very kind donations from my colleagues at work. It didn't stop there as I decided to hijack a work Teams call with hundreds in attendance. That added £250 to the total for St. Benedict's Hospice via www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025. I also received a lot of good luck messages. Which was nice. 

I paid The Big Optician a visit in Ouseburn today. As was the case for the big runs in 2013, 2016 and 2018, they kindly offered to supply me with some sunglasses. There were a lot to choose from but I soon arrived at a pair that I liked the look of. I tried them on outside the shop and I was blown away at just how good the lenses were in daylight. 

A huge thank you to Karen and her staff at The Big Optician for looking after me. 

I paid a visit to my long time sponsor D-Line in North Shields this afternoon. They had moved to larger premises since the last time I visited. I had a tour around the shop floor which was hugely impressive. I was in my element with fork lift trucks driving by and workers on the benches looking very busy indeed. A large shipment, destined for South Africa, had just departed the warehouse. One thing is for sure, the company has grown significantly since they first sponsored my 2016 run.

It was a pleasure to talk to the staff about my running. Many of them I recognised from the last time I was there. That's probably as a result of recruiting a hardworking and loyal Geordie workforce. I was keen to stress, without the sponsorship of D-Line, that the run wouldn't be possible. 

After a few photos outside the D-Line premises, I was presented with a donation of £101.20 which has been paid to St. Benedict's Hospice via Justgiving. 

A huge thank you is due to Paul and all of the staff at D-Line for their amazing support. I'm looking forward to paying them another visit once the run is over. I'm sure I'll have some great stories to tell. 

Regular readers will know all about the "secret weapon" that I've been using for recovery since the first run across the USA in 2011. I am, of course, referring to Cherry Active which is supplied by my sponsor Active Edge.

A huge parcel arrived today containing 240 sachets of Cherry Active. That's more than enough for the USA so I think I'll be using some for competition prizes this summer.

Cherry Active is a product that I've come to rely on to reduce the aches and pains associated with running long distances. If you search their website you'll find my testimonial from 2015. It's as true now as it was then.

"I always call Cherry Active my “secret weapon”. It was recommended to me by staff at the University of Northumbria when I used their heat chamber training for the run across the USA. CherryActive made a huge difference to the runs across the USA and Australia. 

When you run up to 60 miles per day for 100 days you tend to ache a bit! I used CherryActive on a daily basis in the USA and Australia and the aches and pains in my legs were kept to an absolute minimum. I can’t imagine running without it now."

Thanks to Active Edge for their continued support. Please visit their website here to find out more. PS. It's not just for running/sport. If you do your research, you'll find that it was originally used to treat gout.

Finally, on this day of saying thank you to many people, I'll finish off by showing my gratitude to all of those kind folk who have made a donation. Over £500 has been added to the USA 2025 charity total for St. Benedict's Hospice today which means that the fund has smashed through the £11,000 barrier. The current total is £11,351. That's a fantastic amount at this stage. 

If you are able to sponsor the run across the USA by making a donation to St. Benedict's Hospice then please do so at www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025. 

Coney Island Departure time

 

The final countdown - 9 days to go

As the start of the 3200 mile coast to coast run across the USA draws nearer, time seems to be moving very quickly indeed. I still have a few tasks to complete before setting off from Newcastle to New York on Sunday.

The first task is to pack my running kit, running shoes, cherry active, leaflets etc into two small suitcases. To do that effectively is beyond me so Donna will be making sure that's done properly. New followers may be wondering what Cherry Active is. It's the recovery product that I've been using since 2011. I simply drink 30ml of it diluted in water at the end of each day's running. It helps to minimise the aches and pains. 

The big challenge is to try and fit 8 pairs of Hylo Impact size 11.5 running shoes into my luggage! Thankfully, they are very light but there's no getting away from the fact those size shoes take up a lot of space.

I'm pleased to report that the support team plan is very well established. Everyone one knows where they need to be and when. The team is the joint smallest I’ve ever had on any tour, equalling the number needed for the run across Australia. The run across the USA is 800 miles longer however so pound for pound this is the most compact unit of support I’ve ever had. 

The small size of the team comes with its disadvantages in terms of the work the guys will have to get through and there is the safety aspect too. Driving a motorhome solo can be quite difficult. John and Alan have a significant amount of time on their own (35 days). I’ll be plugging the gap there to some extent and I’ll be 90% runner and 10% support person myself.  It’ll well and truly be a team game where we will rely on each other for support. The same can be said right across the route, I guess, even where the team is at full capacity. 

I think the advantages of having a small team are hugely beneficial. My prediction is that the bonds that will form within the team and subsequent levels of trust will stand us all in very good stead. For all of the team’s experience and wealth of travel over the years, the biggest asset lies elsewhere in my opinion. The camaraderie and good humour that has been shown so far is right up my street. Yes, there is a very challenging mission to complete but the signs are that we are going to have fun while doing it. That’s not to say that there won’t be tough, dark times. There absolutely will be. 

The attitude of this group combined with my experience of working with such volunteers gives us a huge chance of success. I don’t see a weak link at all in the team (unless Carlton puts some cheesy popcorn in the RV’s microwave for too long as he did in Australia).

As the run draws nearer, then so will the activity on this blog and all across the Run Geordie Run social media channels. Please make sure to check back often to keep updated.

Finally, a huge thank you to those kind people who have sponsored me in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice over at www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025.  The charity fund is almost at £11,000. Just like the run across the USA, there is a long way to go in terms of fundraising. The hospice need our help now, more than ever. It's an incredibly tough time for the hospice movement, as has been reported in the news lately. We simply must do everything that we can to help make the lives of people with terminal illnesses comfortable and dignified. I shudder to think how my Mam's final years would have played out had it not been for the brilliant care she received at St. Benedict's Hospice. 

USA 2025 - Meet the support team (Thomas)

The eighth and final member of the USA 2025 support team to introduce is Thomas. He will be joining the  tour with the returning Deb on day 59 (28th June) in Walsenburg Colorado at the 1850 mile point. It's quite literally all uphill after that. 

Thomas experience of running in the hills of Northumberland means he will be well placed to accompany me on some sections of the Rocky Mountains. We've already had a couple of successful trial attempts closer to home in recent months. Most notably was the climb from Elsdon in Northumberland up to Winter's Gibbet. We struck up a great partnership on the very long straight thereafter, taking it in turns to run from the front. This really does bode well for the running we'll be doing this summer.

Thomas's attire in his team photo reminded me of Harvey Keitel's character in the movie Pulp Fiction. "The Wolf" as he was called was called in to help out with a difficult situation. There are parallels to be drawn with Thomas's time on the team I'm sure.

Thomas says "When asked to write down in short why I had signed up as part of the support team for the USA 2025 run, I thought about it for 5 seconds and came to the following conclusion: I Like Mark and Donna very much, I love Campervans, and I love running! It is pretty much that simple of a reason for me to agree to help Mark on his quest to conquer the mighty USA once more! 

When Mark and I spoke and a place was available on the tour in the Rocky Mountains, I felt that this was a part that was written for me! I run in rural Northumberland over endless hills, so felt in good shape to not only do campervan duties on the tour, but provide Mark with daily running company.

In general, my attitude in life is that you should try to do good for others, help others, and achieve something small or large that might inspire another person to do good. With that in mind I can't wait to fly out and have a great time supporting Mark, taking in the vistas, and finally put my head down in a campervan!".

Thomas's time on the team presented some logistical challenges. His end point of Kayenta on day 72 is in the middle of nowhere with no links to any public transport. To get around that, Thomas will be picking a car up in Durango on day 66. That's what he'll be using to get back to Durango Airport when he eventually leaves the tour.

Thanks to Thomas for committing some much time and effort into this tour. What with Deb also picking up her running recently, I'm going to be well covered for some good company in the Rocky Mountains.

USA 2025 - Meet the support team (Phil)

The 7th and penultimate member of the USA 2025 support team to introduce is Phil. Like all of the other guys on the team, he has gone above and beyond with his support. The team's contribution, especially given that a step has yet to be made across the USA, is never to be taken for granted!

There's always something special about connecting with people all over the world. It's extra special when it's with someone who shares a common culture, interest and philosophy. That's a polite way of saying "football team" really. 

To be able to involve ex pats in the project is a very fulfilling thing to do. Those who have fled our shores to build a life elsewhere must feel a bit of a longing for home from time to time. Run Geordie Run as a project has brought so many of those kinds of people together. Usually, the binding factor has been NUFC.com as Phil explains below. 

"I’m Phil, an exiled Geordie living in Orange County, California since 1982. As a long-suffering (until March 16 of this year!) Newcastle United supporter, I’ve visited the nufc.com website every day since Al Gore invented the internet and occasionally communicate and have a pint with Biffa. I became aware of Run Geordie Run through nufc.com prior to Mark’s charity run across the United States in 2011. 

I’m not much of a runner, actually not a runner at all, but I would have liked to have at least seen him off at Huntington Beach pier, which is only a couple of miles from where I live. As it happened, I was visiting my family in and around Newcastle at the time so wasn’t able to participate at all. Roll on 14 years and what do you know – he’s doing it again, so this time I signed up to be on the support team. 

I initially volunteered to be on the support team for 4 days as Mark runs through Death Valley. I’m not sure how, maybe Mark’s Jedi mind tricks, but somehow that morphed into 17 days, from east of Las Vegas to Huntington Beach. But that’s OK! 

Death Valley is one of my favorite places in the world, although not necessarily in July, mainly because it’s so completely opposite to my other favorite places, like the Lake District, Northumberland hills and coast, etc. Also, after 43 years living in SoCal, I know Death Valley, the Owens Valley (Jack Nicholson/Chinatown), and the Mojave Desert pretty well. 

Just to refresh my memory and to scout overnight locations and resupply stores, I spent two days driving Mark’s route a few weekends ago and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Staggering desert and snow-capped mountain scenery and beautiful warm and sunny weather. It will still be staggering in July but also staggeringly hot! 

I’ve not done anything like this before so I’m not really sure what to expect as a member of the support team, but I’m looking forward to helping Mark any way I can and spending time with fellow Geordies/Toon supporters and other team members. 

I’m guessing (hoping?) Mark and the support team should have the kinks worked out and be a well-oiled machine by the time I join them. 

And of course, Mark is running for a fantastic cause – St. Benedict’s Hospice – which I’m honored to support. Not long to go now.".

Phil will join the tour with Graeme on day 83 (22nd July) at the 2652 mile point in the Moapa Valley, two days to the north east of Las Vegas. The temperatures at that time will likely exceed 100f. 

Once we reached the outskirts of Las Vegas on day 85, Deb will leave the tour for the second time. That will see Graeme driving the motorhome and Phil in his own vehicle. Once through Las Vegas, we'll be on our way to Death Valley. Graeme will be supporting from a distance in the motorhome at this point with Phil providing the direct support to me. 

We have yet to decide whether Graeme will bring the motorhome into Death Valley National Park or stick with the original plan of sitting tight on the other side in Olancha. Whatever happens, we will be faced with an average requirement of 37.5 miles over the final six days to the finish line at Huntington Beach. Not that there wasn't before but this will be a very busy and challenging time on the tour. High temperatures, high mileage and very long days. 

Having Phil's local knowledge and experience has given the run across the USA a massive boost. Thank you to Phil for all he has done so far as well as what is to come on one of the toughest stretches of the USA 2025 route. 

USA 2025 - Meet the support team (Steve)

Next up in the meet the support team series is Steve. Before I get into the detail, it's worth winding the clock back to the last run across the USA in 2011.

A series of tweets that I wrote the day after the run finished (9th August 2011) went as follows: 

11:35 “Huge shout out to any New York tweeps could do with help emptying RV in Tappen NY any willing kind helpers ?” 

14:25 “Goodbye to the RV. Now stranded in Tappan! Might have to run back to Manhattan.” 

I was very relieved to report soon after the following. 

15:48 “An #nufc fan I met at Columbus is driving us to NYC. Turns out he was in the year above me at school. Thanks Steven Pringle.” 

“Why is this relevant” I hear you ask. Well… Not only is Steve our “fixer” in NYC (helping to pick the motorhome up and the like), he recently offered to plug a gap in the support team rota. 

Specifically, Steve will be joining Deb on day 76 from Page, Arizona at the 2400 mile point. His tour of duty comes to an end in Mesquite, Nevada on day 81 a week later. That will leave Deb on her own for only 1 day before Graeme and Phil arrive.

Having two people on the team at any one time is my ultimate aim. It’s a relief to me to have a full strength team particularly through that isolated desert section. 

Steve explained "I met Mark during the last USA run while I was watching NUFC play Columbus with Biffa from NUFC.com. At that time I wondered what had possessed a seemingly sensible man to undertake such an act of lunacy! Following Marks’ exploits on social media for the rest of the run was a real eye opener into just what an incredible feat this was. 

When the call went out for someone to help him and Carlton get into NYC [in 2011] I was happy to leave the office early and go get them. Opening the door to the RV office I was greeted by the the most knackered looking and sorriest pair of faces I’d ever seen in my life (although I think this was possibly because Carlton had been regaling fond memories of Roker Park - enough to make the cheeriest person sad I’m sure ). 

While chatting in the car it turned out that we went to the same school - small world. Fast forward more than a decade and Biffa from NUFC.com contacted me to ask if I could help Mark out with some logistics for the start of this years run, which I was of course more than happy to do. 

As the date of the run has got closer I’ve been able help a little more by joining the support team for a short time during the run. 

I’m a firm believer that you should only run if someone is chasing you, or you’re chasing a ball, so to think that someone is going to run 3200 miles out of choice boggles my mind but really shows the type of man Mark is. 

I’m happy to help him in anyway I can, even if it means I have to practice scrambling eggs.".

I said recently that Steve is going “above and beyond” to make sure things go smoothly at the start of the run in New York. He’s now taken that to the next level by joining the team at a critical time. Thanks Steve for all you are doing.

USA 2025 - Meet the support team (Graeme)

The fifth member of the USA 2025 support team that I'd like to introduce is Graeme. It was a case of right time and right place for him to join the team as he'll explain later on.

Graeme will join the team with Phil on day 83 (22nd July) in the Nevada desert to the north east of Las Vegas at mile 2624. Graeme's time promises to be very tough with temperatures of more than 100F expected when he arrives. Once through Las Vegas, we'll be on our way to Death Valley. Graeme will be supporting from a distance in the motorhome at this point with Phil providing the direct support to me. 

We have yet to decide whether Graeme will bring the motorhome into Death Valley National Park or stick with the original plan of sitting tight on the other side in Olancha. Whatever happens, we will be faced with an average requirement of 37.5 miles over the final six days to the finish line at Huntington Beach. Not that there wasn't before but this will be a very busy and challenging time on the tour. High temperatures, high mileage and very long days.

Graeme explains "It was in September 2023 when I was in Italy for the champions league match between AC Milan and Newcastle The night before the game I was in an Irish bar in Bergamo when I got chatting to some other Newcastle fans, one of which was Mark. 

I’m not sure how we got on the subject but Mark told me he’d ran some long distance runs and was gearing up to this coming run across the USA. I must admit I looked at him and thought ‘ mate, you’re no Mo Farah!’ 

In fairness it didn’t take much to convince me to take part in some way. My passion is travel and I’ve travelled the US extensively, so it was a no brainier for me especially as the charity was a hospice. 

I’ll be doing the last leg of the journey with Phil into Huntington Beach, California…the surf capital of the world. The last time I was there was when the world surf championships were on back in the 2000’s…. I was watching not participating!! 

It will be nice to know that me and all the other volunteers are helping towards Mark completing this incredible journey."

Thank you to Graeme for supporting me for almost 600 miles over 18 days. I look forward to taking our journey full circle since that chance meeting over a beer in Bergamo. How fitting that we'll be able to celebrate in similar fashion in Huntington Beach, California.

USA 2025 - Meet the support team (Carlton)

The fourth member of the USA 2025 support team that I'd like to introduce is Carlton. This won't be the first time he has been on the support team. Regular readers may remember that Carlton supported the first run across the USA in 2011. He followed that up with Australia in 2013, Europe in 2016 and provided some logistical support at the start of the run from Belgrade to Kiev in 2018.

Carlton will be travelling to the USA with me on the 27th April. Having that good company before the run starts is very comforting. His official duties will be with Deb from day one at Coney Island on May 1st. The route in those early days will see him support me through New York and New Jersey before hitting the Appalachians in Pennsylvania around the 250 mile mark. He'll be on the team for a further 200 miles as I run up and over that hilly range before his duties end on day 14 in Wheeling West Virginia. That's the point that John will replace Carlton.

I'm sure that this route will feel surreal for Carlton. It's the reverse of what he supported back in 2011.

Carlton says "Hi, I'm Carlton, and back again to support Mark on the latest leg of his incredible journey. If you don't already know, I was on Mark's support team when he first cracked the USA, helping him over the line for the past 2 weeks. 

 

This trip is a fitting book-end for me, as I am on the first 2 weeks of this run - so the same route but in reverse. In between that 2011 run, I've been on the support team for Australia and a couple of stints in Europe. And of course, I've ran many hundreds of miles back home with Mark, mainly on long Sunday jaunts. 

So why am I back again? I've told Mark on many an occasion he can't shake me off that easily. True it's hard work, stressful and a huge responsibility. And I have to admit, being 14 years older than when I started this support, I am not looking forward to the 5:30 early mornings. But I have to say it's a challenge and an adventure; I get to see places I'd never otherwise visit, and it is great to spend some time with, and help a good friend. But above all, it is me doing a tiny little bit for a great cause. 

Mark could run for a big name charity and probably get way more publicity and support. But the smaller charities like St Benedict's Hospice really do depend on brilliant people like Mark, and what he does for them is truly inspiring. 

Supporting Run Geordie Run really is a privilege."

Thanks once again to Carlton for being the Spot* to my Hong Kong Phooey or the Passepartout to my Phileas Fogg. His contribution to the cause really is beyond measure.

* Hong Kong Phooey's faithful sidekick, Spot is in reality the brains of the outfit. Bored to distraction, his quick thinking and resourcefulness ultimately saves the day every time!