Following the exploits of travelling back from Paris, a good tactical snooze was had on day 29. This meant that I didn't start running on the treadmill until 20:00. I felt quite fresh though and managed half marathon number 29 in 03:22:07.
Day 30 saw a slightly earlier start at 19:00. Once again the treadmill was used. A slightly quicker time of 03:20:54 was done. I was definitely boosted by a really generous donation from Chris Parry earlier in the day. At this point the charity fund for St. Benedict's Hospice stood at £625.13.
Day 31 was a tricky one to manage logistically. As well as fitting 13.1 miles in, there was the small matter of watching Newcastle U18s at Manchester City, checking in to a hotel in Warrington, travelling to Liverpool then watching Newcastle take on Liverpool. Needless to say, I was on the treadmill just before 05:30. I managed to get 6.6 miles done. I had anticipated running the rest in between matches on the cold dark roads of Warrington. Much to my delight, when we checked in, I discovered that the hotel had a treadmill. I rattled off the final 6.5 miles to give a total of 03:25:11.
I went to the match in high spirits but that was soon crushed! A generous donation to St. Benedict's Hospice from Phil Hargreaves ended the day on a bit of a high at least.
We drove home from Warrington at the start of day 32. Another generous donation to St. Benedict's Hospice came in via https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun365. This one was from long term supporter David Gateshill.
A monumental tactical snooze was had before hitting the treadmill once again at 19:00. I managed that one in 03:30:11. I was very tired by the end. I was fast asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.
I was supposed to start running on day 33 at 15:00. Work plans put paid to that but I still managed to get out at 16:30. Despite more rotten weather, after 4 consecutive days of running on the treadmill, I was very pleased to get out onto the paths and roads of Bedlington, Stannington and Morpeth. My head torch was put to good use all the way to Morpeth. I made it to the half way point at Sanderson Arcade, Morpeth before heading back home.
This run felt as comfortable as any I'd done this year. I've written many times that my aim is to run at 4mph during these early months. I was ever so slightly slower than that going out but managed a "negative split" to finish in 03:16:11. That turned out to be the second quickest of this campaign (another Morpeth run on day 24 pipped this one by just 20 seconds).
After 33 days of running half marathon distances, I feel like I've got a little more pace to give. What's holding me back is the thought of having to "do it all again tomorrow". There's also the horrendous conditions I've been running in too. When will this rain stop?
It's worth repeating that after the run across the USA last summer, I only did one 3 mile test run before embarking on the 365 campaign. Madness some might say. Allowing my feet to recover in time for 365 is my excuse. Paris and 40,000 steps aside, they have recovered really well. I've now managed 432.3 miles and they are showing no signs of the usual problems. So far, 365 is confirming what I thought. There is life left in my feet for running. Day in day out half marathon distances might just be my limit without taking on damage. I'll revisit this thought in a few weeks time.
Family commitments meant that I didn't start running on day 34 until just after 19:30. I could have easily gone on the treadmill again and avoided the rotten weather. However, for some reason, I was looking forward to getting out onto the streets.
I feel now that I'm in a routine of sorts. Habits have been formed. Donations to St. Benedict's Hospice are fuelling my daily motivation. So day 34 was probably the day when running 13.1 miles every day felt "normal". There's no chance of "I can't be bothered today" or "I'll do it tomorrow instead". It's been a good start. A slow start. But a good one.
Meanwhile, day 34 presented another rotten night weather wise. I really didn't mind. I was well wrapped up. I had some banging tunes on the iPod and 4mph felt pretty comfortable again. I had no particular route in mind so I headed to the Ridley Arms at Stannington. Sadly, I didn't have time to call in for fish and chips! That's only 4.5 miles away to the west. After a few quick calculations I worked out that running on to Bedlington Station and then back home should get me at least the half marathon distance.
I eventually ran past my house at mile 9. That wasn't good for morale I can tell you! It was another 2 miles to Bedlington Station. I made it there in decent time.
The paths and roads were muddy and flooded in parts. The last few miles back home were a little slower. Although, what I've been noticing recently is a consistent set of mile times. There is now generally less than a minute difference for each of the 13.1 miles I do. That's easy enough to do when running comfortably.
Kind donations to St. Benedict's Hospice from Eilidh and Keith while I was running were very timely. When donations are made during a run my mind switches from questioning my life choices to "There's another mile and there's another donation. Let's keep moving". Money coming in to the hospice in "real time" is a brilliant feeling.
I finished day 34 just after 23:00 in 03:27:21. It was a risk to finish so close to midnight. If I ever fail to get 13.1 miles done in a day then this challenge is over!
Day 35 was another tricky one due to travelling to Manchester to watch Newcastle play City in the League Cup. Thinking outside the box again, I managed 9.5 treadmill miles between finishing work and setting off for the match. The remaining 3.6 miles consisted of a brisk walk to and from the stadium from the parking place. Donna set a very good pace and I just about managed to keep up with her. I'd actually ran slower miles recently than her brisk walking pace. Day 35's miles were done in 03:25:01.
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We arrived home from the match just before 02:00 on day 36. As my head hit the pillow my final thought for a long day was what kind of impact this would have on day 36's half marathon.
I was working in Gosforth on day 36. The plan was to run home starting in some daylight. Work commitments put paid to that plan and I set off in the pouring rain just before 18:00. Donna messaged me to say "Weather is treacherous - you might want to get the bus home and consider the treadmill". Once again, I was just glad to be outdoors. I knew the conditions would slow me down but I was fine with that. The photo below is not the best but I think it captures the night perfectly.
I started to find the 4mph pace up the Great North Road at mile 5. The remaining 8.1 miles were very consistent with only a maximum variation of 50 seconds between each one. At the top end of Wideopen, at the 7 mile point, I turned due east towards Dudley. All of a sudden I was running into the icy blasts of rain. I felt pretty hungry and the smells of the numerous take aways was torturous as I ran past. Another couple of donations were made to St. Benedict's Hospice while I ran (my GPS watch alerted me to that). Thanks to that morale boosting generosity, it's no wonder I was powering through the awful conditions.
I managed to get across the A19 at mile 9.5. A few quick calculations made me realise that I'd be running onto unsafe roads by mile 12. To remedy this, I increased the safe mileage by running up numerous side streets and estates in Cramlington. This meant that I would have a well lit finish line at Shankhouse.
I reached the finish line in 03:39:20. It would have been even slower had I not put in another negative split. Donna came to pick me up in the car. The day ended with a much needed pizza which helped to warm me up a bit. Órlaith (our golden retriever) slept in the bed and she was like an electric blanket. Albeit one, who takes up most of the bed! Once again, my final thoughts were "how tired am I going to be tomorrow?". I'd gotten away with it today. It's sure to catch up with me sooner or later.
Thank you, once again, to everyone who has sponsored me with a donation to St. Benedict's Hospice. If you'd like to do so then please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun365.
