Virtual race across the USA

Pictured left is the start point of my run across the USA. This is Ruby's Cafe in Huntington Beach, California. You'll hardly need reminding that a mere 3100 miles lie between this point and the finish line in New York.

I really can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to setting off from here at 06:30 am on the 1st May 2011.

I don't have to wait until then, however, to get the run across the USA started. Well sort of!

On August 1st and the 100 days thereafter, 6 teams of Northern Rock IT staff will compete against each other to run or walk 3100 miles. It will be one huge virtual relay across the USA, following the same route that I will be taking.

Teams will be kept informed of progress being made on a weekly basis and the first team to (virtually)  reach the pier in Coney Island, New York will receive a special prize. 

The aim of the virtual race across  the USA is not only to raise fitness levels in the department but also to raise funds for St Benedict's Hospice and The Children's Foundation. Each entrant has paid an entry fee and each team is being sponsored.

I'll update my blog with progress being made in the "Northern Rock Virtual Race Across the USA" from time to time. Watch this space.

Day 79 - Rock Steady!

Newcastle Falcons and now Newcastle United have come out to support Northern Rock this week. It was nice to see the first team warming up today with "ROCK STEADY" t-shirts on as well as all the positive advertising around the stadium.

You might be interested to know that there are thousands of pounds of this runner's sponsor money deposited with Northern Rock. This, of course, will be handed over to the Hospice this Thursday at the specially organised Cheque Presentation Evening along with a very generous donation from the Northern Rock Foundation.

While I'm on the subject - plans and preparations for the evening are almost complete. There will be 120 people in attendance representing all aspects of the run. I'm delighted to announce that Biffa from NUFC.com will be there along with some of the readers of his site. Friends, family and colleagues will be there on what should be one of the proudest evenings of my life. Pats on the back, high fives and hugs from the ladies will be the order of the evening!

The buffet should be good. I've already had a sample of the sausage rolls from caterer Lesley Hanson. Lesley, who runs a catering business in her spare time, is providing her services and food at cost price!

I'll be posting the last lot of tickets tomorrow so don't panic if you haven't got yours yet. I'll be finishing off the speeches on the bus on the way to Arsenal on Tuesday. I should get back from this trip in the early hours on Wednesday morning. I have a game of 5-a-side on Wednesday night so goodness knows how tired I'll be come Thursday. I haven't played 5-a-side for 2 years due to the need to avoid injury. Expect a full match report and possibly some photos and a few diagrams of the wonder goals I score!

Day 16 - The most enjoyable day so far.

Today, I was joined by nearly 20 Northern Rock staff who ran or cycled the 22 mile "Pennine Challenge" route with me from Rowley (near Castleside) to Middleton in Teesdale.

The banter was first class all day and I must give special thanks to Paul "Action" Jackson, Chris "Chopper" Cowan, John Mallon and the one and only Jimmy Bell (all pictured) who were with me every step of the way.

I'm so tired after 2 difficult days running so I will be posting the review of yesterday and today hopefully tomorrow.

For now though, I'm pleased to report that my shin pain is not getting worse and I'm able to control it, for sustained periods, on the run. I'm so pleased to remain on track with over 400 miles now in the bag and 400 and something left to run.

Thanks to all the Northern Rock Pennine Challenge Team for making this a most enjoyable day.

Confidence high after 2 very good runs

What better way to spend a lunch break than to run 9.1 miles in a big loop around Gosforth on a warm and sunny day. I felt like I could run all the way to Land's End there and then, such were my apparent energy levels. I'll put that one down to Katy's superb pasta the night before. I finished today's run in 01:30:10 which was at a slightly slower pace than yesterday's 00:54:00 for 6 miles. However, today's run was a solo effort. Yesterday, I was accompanied by Jimmy and John and they set a very good pace for me to keep at (slow for them I might add!).

All in all, my confidence is very high. I'm looking forward to and enjoying nearly every training run (Those ones in the dark weren't the slightest bit enjoyable!) . I'm running injury free. I'm almost a stone lighter than I was in January. My recovery times are virtually nil. I'm sure you get the idea!

I must give some credit for my progress in the last 6 months to my colleagues at Northern Rock. I often run in the company of some very accomplished runners. Many of whom have taken time out to do a "slow" run with me just to keep me company. Their encouragement is appreciated and they still have a major part to play in getting me up to the required standard for the big run in the summer.