It’s been 4 weeks since the end of the 2025 run across the USA. It’s time for a brief update. My recovery is going well and, at this early stage, is in line with the 5 other major events that I’ve done.
Almost all of the external damage to my feet has healed. There is a lot of numbness in both feet. If it’s anything like previous years, I hope to have full feeling back anywhere between 6 and 12 months. It’s all guess work on my part though. Australia took the longest in 2014. The damage this year feels close to what I suffered back then.
The painful spots in my left foot (like someone randomly sticking a pin in now and again) are all but gone. Sadly, the same can’t be said of my right foot however. After each of the 3 visits to the gym this week, I’ve left in agony. It’s no fun limping around between machines either. That’s not enough to put me off going at this stage. I’ve really enjoyed being back with David Fairlamb at his gym in Tyne Tunnel Estate. The benefits to mental health far outweigh any short term pain. It’s been a nice change to lift some weights and put the upper half of my body through its paces. There’s a lot of hard work to get through. My posture, in particular, has regressed. I’ve lost a lot of power and strength too. That’s what you get for being on your feet with the same repetitive motion for hours, days, weeks and months on end I guess.
With all of that said, I have no regrets whatsoever at giving the run across the USA a go this year. I really should have given up after 200 or so miles in the Appalachians. To add 1643 miles and £21,000 more pounds after that for St. Benedict’s Hospice makes the pain more than worthwhile as far as I’m concerned. If I could turn back time, I’d do it all again without hesitation.
At the time of writing, £30,499.94 has been raised for St. Benedict’s Hospice. Thank you once again to everyone who has contributed to that amount. I see you (apart from the 97 anonymous donations) and I fully appreciate your kindness. As does St. Benedict’s Hospice of course.
If you haven’t got round to donating yet, then there’s still time to do so at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025.
