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.
.jpeg)
