Having worn out 2 pairs of Apple Airpods, I had to use my bigger earphones on day 94. This was a fairly standard out and back run to Morpeth. The first half was pretty quick with a rare 11 minute mile being ran. That's far too fast a pace for this relentless day in and day out epic. Needless to say that I paid the price on the way back with a collapse in speed. A final time of 03:27:27 was poor but, once again, I'd got another half marathon done.
Day 95 was one of those "hybrid" runs where, due to being pressed for time, the day was split into an outdoor 4 miles followed by a treadmill 9.1 miles later in the day. This type of split has kept the campaign alive a few times now. This was done in 03:30:22.
Day 96, 97 and 98 were treadmill runs which all started around 8pm. Once again, I tried to get started earlier but failed. Opting to have something to eat, letting it digest then running meant that it was gone 11pm before I finished running. Times of 03:24:11, 03:18:19 and 03:21:54 were achieved.
Day 99 was a run home from work. It was done with a backpack containing my laptop and a few other bits and pieces.
I decided to take a different route. It was one that I knew had no paths for a few miles after Seaton Burn. Looking back, that was a mistake. As well as being too close to the passing cars, my feet and ankles took a right battering on the grass verges. Lesson learned! I won't be going that way again.
Another slow time of 03:31:17 was nothing to write home about! However, if I'm comparing this to my previous trans continental runs and as another epic ultra distance/month event then I'm probably quicker than average. I'm slightly clutching at straws with that comparison. Especially given the much larger distances. Out of interest, they were:
2007 - John O'Groats to Lands End - 23.6 miles per day for 37 days.
2011 - USA coast to coast - 31 miles per day for 100 days.
2013 - Australia coast to coast - 29 miles per day for 82 days.
2016 - Lisbon to Belgrade - 31.7 miles per day for 83 days.
2018 - Belgrade to Kiev (unsupported) - 16.8 miles per day for 48 days.
2025 - Coney Island to Forrest Gump Point - 24.9 miles per day for 74 days.
Day 100 was another run to Morpeth and back and another late start! By the time I finished I'd equalled a new personal best record for consecutive days ran. Although the 1310 miles ran so far this year doesn't come close to the 3100 miles ran during USA 2011 over 100 days.
Tiredness once again played its part and a final time of 03:33:11 was achieved.
I really struggled to get going on day 101. This route from Bedlington to Ridley Park in Blyth was mostly done in sunshine. However, on mile 9, the heavens opened with a torrential downpour. It lasted all of 5 minutes!
I had very little left in the tank on the way back. It was yet another half marathon distance I was very relieved to complete.
03:39:40 was the slowest time since day 77. I've ran the Great North Run dressed in a full lion outfit a good 24 minutes quicker than that! That's me below pictured with Donna my guide in 2013.
As well as being a personal record breaking day (101 consecutive days of running), the charity fund for this year hit a very pleasing milestone. £2000 for the 365 campaign had been raised so far for St. Benedict's Hospice.
