One of the difficult things about this challenge that I wasn't expecting was the cold dark nights I've ran the majority of the time so far. It's apparent to me now, as I write this on day 18, is that I'm seeing two slightly different scenarios. The first one is how much easier I'm finding it to run in daylight hours. With work and football, this hasn't been possible too many times so far. I usually love all seasons but this year, of all years, is one that I'm looking forward to progressing into the lighter, warmer nights. The current evening runs in the dark and cold conditions are where I'm running a lot slower. These runs are an absolute plod whether they are outdoors or on the treadmill.
On the subject of the treadmill, I had only thought I'd be "using it if there was a storm". Never, in the build up to this challenge did I consider snow and icy conditions. It's safe to say that my trusty treadmill has saved 365 so far. During the first 10 days, I found my time on the treadmill very difficult indeed. Despite being able to watch a TV in front of me, it was mentally draining. Needless to say that on day 11, I ran a very uninspiring 03:38:12.
Day 12 could have easily been another treadmill run. I'd had enough of being indoors so I got out onto the streets of Bedlington just after 6pm. This was another absolute plod. The lack of any recovery time was definitely starting to show. Future Monday runs shouldn't be as late as this in future. Órlaith is back to doggy daycare now so I'll be able to finish work earlier and get things underway in daylight. Although it'll be fading quickly for the next few months.
I had to squeeze past a white van parked on a path on mile 6. The dazzling headlights meant that I didn't see the protruding prickly bushes.
Not for the first time during 365, I lost the will and the remaining miles were an absolute plod. If I keep on doing what I'm doing, I'm confident of things improving. The fitness gains versus the day in day out fatigue will be an interesting battle.
When I got home on day 12, Órlaith was kind enough to warm my feet! They were pretty cold having taken 03:39:16 to get round the local route.
Day 13 was the first time that I split the 13.1 miles into multiple sessions. With work, looking after Órlaith and football there was no other option. The important thing is that I covered the distance. After a late finish the previous night, I was back on the treadmill at 0645. The final treadmill session was done in the afternoon. It's the first time that I'd taken Órlaith into the gym. A collective time of 03:25:11 was a surprise given how tired I felt.
I finished work early on day 14 with a view to getting an earlier than usual start on the treadmill. When I got home, I sat in my chair and fell asleep pretty much straight away. I woke up at 6pm and Donna had made some pasta. "How on earth am I going to manage to run" I thought. I felt so tired. I started running just after 7pm and somehow felt really fresh from the outset.
I've ran slightly quicker than this on the treadmill before now but this is the one that felt the most comfortable. It was almost 10:30pm by the time I finished. I went to bed tired and hungry that night. But I had my first real sense that improvements were being seen. A time of 03:11:41 was very pleasing indeed after a tough 2 weeks of running.
Day 15 was another early finish from work but I managed to get straight on the treadmill. A time of 03:37:04 represented a very comfortable plod.
I started day 16's treadmill run just before 7pm. Once again, I tried to forget I was running indoors and focussed on the TV in front of me. As was the case all week, running indoors in my garage gym just required a single layer. Despite the cold weather outside. I think this was the day when I realised that given the daily requirement to run a half marathon and having a good sense of the state of my fitness, I had a pace in mind that I should strive for. It's simply 4mph. Perhaps in a month's time, I'll re-evaluate that. For now, that's the targeted pace that's in my mind. Needless to say that I was just outside this pace with a time of 03:18:08.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice. Over 200 miles have now been ran and over £200 donated at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun365. There is a long way to go but that's a solid start.
