BACKGROUND
Some of my fundraising/running ideas feel bold (874 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End). Others feel improbable (3,100 miles across the USA in 2011 or 2,384 miles across Australia during the hottest year on record at the time). A few feel so big they stop you in your tracks and make you ask, is this even possible (That was definitely the case this year as I ran across the USA again, finishing at Forrest Gump Point). Run Geordie Run 365 is all of those feelings and then some.
The small group of people who have been told what "365" is have all given similar responses. "Why?", "That's mad!", "How will that even be possible", "What about your feet" "You're too old". I've also had other feedback which isn't repeatable on a respectable blog such as mine. The disbelief in people's faces tells me everything I need to know about 365. It has an extreme degree of difficulty, an almost certain outcome of failure and a logistical nightmare to carry out. All of that tells me that it's therefore very worthy of sponsorship in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice.
Run Geordie Run 365 isn’t about speed or records. It’s about showing up, day after day, when motivation fades and legs are tired. It’s about proving that consistency and determination beats talent (of which I have very little left after running almost 13,000 miles) and that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when the goal is bigger than themselves.
WHAT IS RUN GEORDIE RUN 365?
OK, that's enough build up. Now for the details. Starting on January 1st 2026, I’ll be running a half marathon (13.1094 miles) every single day for 365 days. No rest days. No shortcuts. No splitting the miles over multiple sessions. It's simply a whopping 4,785 miles over the course of a year.
There is one over arching rule to Run Geordie Run 365 - Miss a day and it's game over. The event finishes. It would probably bring about the overall end of my running too. There's a huge amount at stake for me personally not to mention the vital funds for St. Benedict's Hospice.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
The first challenge is time. A daily half marathon isn’t just the run. It’s warming up, cooling down, stretching, eating, washing kit, travelling to some routes and occasionally staring at your shoes wondering who approved this idea.
Even at an easy pace, the run plus recovery will quietly consume several hours every day. If I miss a window then the day will squeeze me hard, so to speak.
Then there’s physical maintenance. Not injury prevention. That’s an obvious one. It will once again all be about injury management. Niggles don’t get days off. Feet swell, toenails revolt, calves tighten, hips grumble and my back saw a lot of punishment in the mountains of the USA this summer.
The trick is keeping small problems small while still running 13.1 miles tomorrow. I don't have a proper physio but I will be using Cherry Active once again to keep the muscle soreness to a minimum. For the first time in almost 13,000 miles of running, I will need to include some kind of stretching into my day. There's always a first time for everything!
Sleep will become a strategic resource. Early starts, late finishes, work days, going on vacation, adrenaline and injury all conspire against deep rest. I know from vast experience that poor sleep doesn’t just make runs harder; it compounds fatigue day after day. I don't think having a tactical snooze in the office will be looked upon favourably!
Fuel and hydration will turn into logistics rather than appetite. I’ll no longer be eating for enjoyment but for continuity. Calories, protein, electrolytes and timing. Get it wrong and tomorrow’s run arrives underpowered. Get it wrong twice and the wheels start wobbling.
Weather is a silent enemy. 2 winters, 1 spring, 1 summer and 1 autumn. Snow, heatwaves, ice, wind, sideways rain. I won’t get to reschedule.
Planning routes that are safe, (mostly) lit and runnable in every season will matter more than motivation some days.
Kit rotation becomes a system. Shoes don’t last forever at this mileage (I have enough to last until summer). Neither do socks, shorts or skin (you've seen the photos!).
There’s also the challenge of life logistics. Work, family, travel, football. The run has to fit around them, not replace them. I have a very busy job which simply can't be impacted by 365. I still have bills to pay, after all.
Running while travelling, running on exhausted days, running when everything else feels louder than the goal, running when I'll be "sick of my life" (I expect that to be February by the way). It promises to be relentless. Knowing there is no off switch, no “I’ll skip today,” requires a level of mental strength I really hope I still have after all these years. Some people have commented that I've "lost my edge". I'm sure to answer those critics one way or another with Run Geordie Run 365.
Finally, there’s public accountability. When people follow the journey, the encouragement is a huge boost. Expectations can add pressure. Thankfully, I’ve always turned that incredible support into fuel. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
The core truth is this:
the distance isn’t the hard part. The repetition is.
Run Geordie Run 365 won’t always be won by heroic days. It’ll be won by boring excellence, good planning, stubborn consistency and the ability to solve the same problems again tomorrow, slightly better than today.
THE SOUL OF A REGION
Run Geordie Run 365 is also about shining a light on this incredible place we call home. Every stride will move through landscapes that deserve to be seen, celebrated and shared with the world.
From the rugged Northumberland coastlines that catch the sunrise before anyone else, to the quiet country lanes where the only sound is your own breath and birdsong. This region has a heartbeat all its own. 365 will bring that to life. Through images, video, and stories, we’ll show the world the raw beauty, the grit, and the charm that make our corner of the world so special.
From the rugged Northumberland coastlines that catch the sunrise before anyone else, to the quiet country lanes where the only sound is your own breath and birdsong. This region has a heartbeat all its own. 365 will bring that to life. Through images, video, and stories, we’ll show the world the raw beauty, the grit, and the charm that make our corner of the world so special.
People who followed the USA run saw a nation of contrasts, vast and wild. But 365 will be different. Closer, more intimate, more personal. It will celebrate home. Every route, every backdrop, every finish line will be a reminder that beauty doesn’t always need to be sought across oceans; sometimes it’s right here on your doorstep.
This journey will show more than the miles. It’ll show the soul of a region, one day at a time.
DISCOVERY
Run Geordie Run 365 isn’t just about distance or destinations. It’s about stories too. The kind that live in the towns, villages and coastlines of our region.
This year-long journey is a chance to shine a light not only on the places I pass through, but on the people who have helped to them special. 365 is a platform for connection. It’s a chance to remind us what makes life extraordinary.
The landscapes may be many and wide, but the real journey lies in the details: the inspirational stories, the laughter shared, the challenges overcome and the reasons that keep my miles ticking by. This isn’t just about where the run goes. It’s about what we discover together along the way.
MOMENTUM
Run Geordie Run 365 will begin quietly on January 1st, 2026. As the days, weeks, months and miles add up toward December 31st, the momentum will grow. There will be no early fanfare or noise. That will come later, once the miles and consistency have earned it.
FOLLOWING THE JOURNEY (OR BEING PART OF IT)
You can follow Run Geordie Run 365 day by day as the miles add up and the story unfolds. I’ll be sharing regular updates, honest reflections and the occasional glimpse behind the scenes. All of the usual social media channels apply. So if you're an X, Bluesky, Facebook, Threads or Instagram user then you'll be covered. The main write up and information will appear on this award winning blog. The great feedback as well as numbers I received from the USA run this year shows that there's still a demand for reading.
For those runners out there, I'm sure there'll be plenty of opportunity to join me on a weekend run. For those who can't or don't want to run 13.1 miles then you could always join me for the first few miles to suit your needs.
DONATIONS
I had anticipated taking much more time off to allow my feet to fully recover from the USA run. However, St. Benedict's Hospice needs our support and they need it now, not in 12 months time or more.
What little expense Run Geordie Run 365 will incur will come out of my own pocket. Perhaps, I'll be buying more porridge than usual!
I'll be seeking commercial backing in the form of kit sponsorship. All proceeds from that will go direct to St. Benedict's Hospice.
All donations can be made direct to St. Benedict's Hospice via this link to Justgiving.
WHAT NEXT?
Watch out for further updates right across the Run Geordie Run universe starting next week.
