Run Geordie Run - Next steps

During the run around the world things have rarely gone as first planned. Thankfully though, I have always managed to come up with a plan B, C or even D! Unseasonably warm weather in the Mojave Desert, the hottest Australian summer on record, a military coup in Turkey, Chappie (my buggy which allows self supporting travel) seized by Serbian customs and a mileage deficit on every continent I’ve ran across so far are just some of the situations I’ve had to contend with. Thankfully, I’ve always managed to get to the finish line across five world stages, attracting the kindness and generosity of thousands of people. Perhaps the journey would not have been half as exciting and, more importantly, the charity total not been so high, if things had actually gone smoothly and to plan. 

The window for stage six of the run around the world was summer 2021. That is a 2100 mile route from Kiev, Ukraine, across Russia and finishing up in Nur Sultan (formerly known as Astana) in Kazakhstan. I selected the time slot for that stage a full 3 years in advance. Sadly, the pandemic put paid to that plan. With the current invasion of Ukraine by the Russians, goodness knows when that stage will happen. That is, of course, insignificant when I think of the death, destruction, suffering and displacement being seen in Ukraine. The kind Ukrainians that I met when I ran across the country in 2018 are in my daily thoughts as is the country as a whole. 

A total of 9,799 miles have been ran around the world so far across 16 countries with £340,000 raised for charities in the north east of England. The ultimate goal of running all the way around the world raising at least half a million pounds for good causes is very much an achievable one. The dream is very much alive.

With pandemics, wars, work and family responsibilities and the football season there is plenty to consider. Not only are the metaphorical goalposts constantly moving, the entire pitch is being lifted from one stadium to another! 

For the benefit of new readers, the run around the world has so far seen 874 miles ran in the UK from John O’Groats to Lands End, 3,100 miles ran across the USA from California to New York, 2,384 miles across Australia ran from Perth to Shellharbour, 2,633 across Western Europe from Lisbon to Belgrade and 808 miles across Eastern Europe from Belgrade to Kiev. 

In terms of what is still left to run, there are 5,600 miles from Kiev to Nur Sultan then onto Shanghai. It's around about the same distance as the route across the USA and Australia put together. That section will see that continent well and truly done! It's a daunting task.There is also Japan from South to North and finally New Zealand from North to South still to complete. 

I think the order that I tackle the remaining stages is unclear at present as is the timeframe in which I could run them. There are a few options and permutations, however. If I assume for now that the next time-slot available to me to run is 2024, then I believe the current uncertainty that war brings rules out the stage from Kiev to Nur Sultan. I also believe it rules out any new start line in Russia to Nur Sultan for that matter. That is, if I was to consider changing it that way and coming back to complete a run across the final miles of Ukraine at a later date. 

Another option is the possibility of an unsupported stage from Nur Sultan to Shanghai. Thankfully, I have Chappie, my trusty buggy, at my disposal for that. Chappie, of course, is the 70kg “accommodation” on three wheels that I first used on the stage from Belgrade to Kiev. It was thanks to the generosity of the very kind folk at Chapman Ventilation who paid for “his” production. Hence, the name “Chappie” seemed an obvious one. 

Chappie, for those new readers, has a carbon fibre body with a steel chassis supported by three wheels. It is pulled along like a sled as I run. I’m attached to it via a standard snow sled harness actually. As well as containing my food, water and other kit Chappie has a solar panel. This means I can charge my phone, laptop, GPS watch and any other small electrical equipment. After I finish a day’s running I simply climb inside and it’s the perfect size for a good night’s sleep. I’ve used Chappie in temperatures ranging from -9 celcius to 32 celcius. Chappie has given a really good level of comfort and protection in all kinds of hail, rain, snow and storms. Running the miles between Kiev and Shanghai without Chappie is not an option. 

Unlike the first four world stages, it would not be financially viable to have a support team. Can you imagine driving a motor home/van or heaven forbid a car across Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China? I know that I can’t. Logistics, safety and cost make it virtually impossible. 

Away from the Eurasian continent, what is left is running “up” Japan and “down” New Zealand. Those are two stages where using a support team of volunteers would indeed be possible. In fact, I have received interest from various people over recent years about supporting those stages. Although, I think that Chappie would attract a lot of local good interest in Japan in particular. Ultimately, what has to be weighed up are the costs of getting Chappie to these far flung places versus having a support vehicle. I’ll state again, that using Chappie from Kiev to Shanghai is my only viable option. 

As you can see, the options, the permutations, the training requirements and the overall logistics are now very challenging. That is, if they weren’t already after almost 10,000 miles of running around the world. One thing is for sure. I’m just as determined now, if not more, as I was when I set off from on mile one from John O’Groats with the charity total sitting at £10,000. Having attracted generosity to the tune of £340,000 some years later, is beyond my wildest imagination. That’s an incredible amount of kindness which has benefitted The Children's Foundation, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Useful Vision and St Benedict's Hospice. None of what has been achieved so far would have been possible without the incredibly kind support that I’ve talked about so many times before. 

While costs for the first two world stages came out of my own pocket, the remaining stages' costs have been paid with commercial backing. I felt after stage two, across the USA, with the overall charity total hitting £156,000, that I owed it to local charities to continue to raise funds by running across huge continents. I couldn’t finance this myself but I’m glad to report that an additional £184,000 has been raised since then thanks to the backing of generous companies such as Chapman Ventilation, SOS Group, Benfield, Active Edge, Virgin Money and FFG to name but a few. 

Gaining further commercial backing in the future is imperative to ensuring that the journey around the world continues. There will then be an excellent chance of being able to attract the continued generosity of the general public with donations into St Benedict's Hospice. It’s a simple process when you think about it in those terms. Commercial backing gives me a platform to run these incredibly tough distances in far flung places helping to capture the public’s imagination which in turn helps get much needed funds into St Benedict's Hospice and similar good causes in the region. 

With 2024 pencilled in for the next, as yet, undetermined stage the question is “what are the next steps?”. There are three aspects on which I’ll be focussing on in the near term. Firstly, getting into good physical condition is a must. I’ve yet to start any stage in anywhere near perfect condition and always improve as the miles and weeks tick by. I’ll be 53 in 2024 and I won’t get the next stage “signed off” unless I’m physically at my best. That will take an effort similar to the years before the run across the USA (up until I broke my ankle riding my bike that is). I lived, breathed and slept running. I actually feel that I out trained a bad diet for a good 18 months. After the accident, I continued to eat at the same poor level, in terms of quantity and quality, but couldn’t achieve the same volume of training. That resulted in me being very heavy as I set off from California in May 2011. It took a good six weeks or so to get down to a decent weight. Of course, by the time I reached the finish line in New York I was in the best condition of my adult life. 

The next key ingredient is to get adequate commercial backing. By that I mean enough to cover the costs of the stage and go some way to benefitting the charity total. It may be that the pandemic and other global factors may limit the commercial opportunities. That said, I’m hopeful of finding a group of generous businesses who will be able to back the next world stage. 

Finally, I’ve always been a firm believer in taking people on the journey with me. Not literally of course. I’m referring to the content that I’ve put out on www.rungeordierun.com and the Run Geordie Run Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Daily blogs, photos and the odd uploaded video have helped enormously to get the funds in. I think the final area to be added is YouTube. Producing a brief, engaging, informative and inspiring film on a regular basis versus writing a blog post require a completely different set of skills. It remains to be seen whether or not I’m up to that challenge but I’ve started giving thought as to how I can best go about it. I expect a “soft launch” of content in the not too distant future. 

So that’s where I currently am in terms of the run around the world. There are certain things in my control and also things that aren’t. I will be doing my best with a pencilled in 2024 event in mind.

I’ll close with a reminder as to why I’ve chosen to run 20,000 miles around the world raising funds for local good causes. Regular readers will know that I owe a debt of gratitude to St Benedict's Hospice for the care that they gave my Mam. (Margery) during her final days battling cancer. It is in her memory as well as my Dad (Terry) and brother’s (David) too. 

Something positive has to come from this personal loss and I’m beyond grateful that it has and continues to do so. If you’re reading this, then there is a good chance that you have backed my running over previous years. For that, I can’t thank you enough. The kindness and generosity shown by so many people is never lost on me. It’s something that I will never take for granted. 

That’s all for now and well done for making it this far. There was a lot to talk about. There is a lot to do. 

Team Run Geordie Run continues to inspire

Since the creation of "Team Run Geordie Run" in 2010 a staggering £50,000 has been raised for local good causes such as St Benedict's Hospice (Charity No. 1019410). The team was set up to use the power of the Run Geordie Run brand to attract others to raise funds for a charity that they have no direct connection to and probably wouldn't otherwise have done so. To say that it has reaped rewards for local good causes is an understatement. The primary event that the team participate in is the Great North Run.

The size of the team has varied over the years from four of us in 2010 to twenty in 2018 and various numbers in between. While the intention is to use the inspiration of my around the world run to attract runners to the team, what I've found is that the team members always bring a good dose of inspiration themselves. Everyone has their own reasons for joining the team. The deeply touching stories that these people share have, time and time again, been quite something to hear about.

One of the team, who will be running this years Great North Run, in aid of St Benedict's Hospice is called Noel. He had never ran before and won't mind me telling you that he has gained a lot of weight in recent years. Noel has a young family and you can see from the photo below (taken last summer) that he is a doting dad.

Noel was at a children's Halloween party last October when the penny dropped that he simply had to do something about his weight. It was around the same time that I first advertised Team Run Geordie Run's Great North Run 2022 places. Noel didn't hesitate to enquire about joining the team and he set about getting fit with only a few minor pointers from me. 

I know only too well that you can receive all of the great advice in the world and fail. If you don't apply that advice and add the required amount of discipline and enthusiasm then you won't reach your intended goal. It took very little in terms of motivation to get Noel started and what was to follow over the next 4 months (and he's still going) was nothing short of remarkable and inspirational.

Noel's waist size was 42/44 and he weighed 18 stone 4 pounds (116 kg) before he started on his fitness journey. He wore XXL sized clothes. 

Noel spent the first few weeks in a local gym doing only light cardio and some weights 3 - 5 times per week. Noel used MyFitnessPal to track the amount of calories he was consuming. This helped to ensure that he was always in a slight calorie deficit while having enough energy to exercise. Once he'd gained some fitness and lost a little bit of weight, then it was time to see how he got on with running. Running 1 - 3 miles, Noel was managing to run each mile in 13 minutes. That soon dropped to 12 minutes and then down to 11 minutes per mile. By mid December with the improved fitness and weight loss he was ready to try a 10k run. The running hadn't been easy up to this point and Noel admitted that he was starting to enjoy it having hated it at first.

After only 2 months of eating well and exercising regularly, Noel saw the number 15 on the scales for the first time on December 30th 2021. At 15 stones and 13 pounds (101 kg) Noel also noticed that he was a waist size down and was wearing XL or even L clothing. 

The effort didn't stop there and Noel's weight was down to 14 stone 13 pounds on Jan 31st 2022. I've just been speaking to him and he's pleased to report that today he's feeling fitter and healthier than ever weighing in at an amazing 14 stone 3 pounds (90 kg). He's also down to size L or M clothing and a 34 inch waist.

The approach, effort, discipline and dedication shown by Noel has been so inspiring to see. He looks like a new man which is not surprising given that he's lost just over 4 stone in weight and is exercising regularly. All that, with the Great North Run still 6 months away.

This inspirational story does not end there. As well as the personal benefit to his family (chasing round after the bairn must be a lot easier these days) Noel has a quite remarkable reason for becoming a leaner, fitter and healthier man. This story is about to take a profound twist.

Noel's mother in law only has one kidney. Not only that but it is in renal failure meaning she requires dialysis 3 days per week just to keep her alive. 

While Noel is not a direct match to donate one of his kidneys, he has signed up to the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme. This means that "Under the scheme, when someone in need of a kidney has a willing donor but they are incompatible, it may be possible for them to be "matched" with another couple in a similar situation and for the donor kidneys to be 'exchanged'".

Given Noel's weight back in November, being part of the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme would not have been possible. Fast forward, five months and it is not just a possibility but Noel has recently undergone tests. Unsurprisingly, his weight is now under where it needs to be. He is waiting on an operation to donate a kidney which is likely to be in July. 

All of a sudden, the word "inspirational" seems nowhere near enough. I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Noel and especially his mother in law all the best for a successful outcome.

Back to what seems like far more trivial matters and if you'd like to sign up to join Team Run Geordie Run by doing this year's Great North Run then please read on.

The cost of signing up to Team Run Geordie Run is £58 for those who have never been on the team before or £29 for those that have. There is a commitment to raise £300 for St. Benedict's Hospice. 

Team Run Geordie Run members will receive: 

• Entry to the 2022 Great North Run. Exclusive Team Run Geordie Run t-shirt (or vest if you prefer). Additional t-shirts/vests are available to purchase. 
• Access to the St. Benedict's Hospice hospitality marquee in the charity village near the finish line. This is where you can enjoy refreshments and meet up with family and friends. Exclusive Team Run Geordie Run goodie bag* at St. Benedict's Hospice hospitality marquee. * Alcohol content only available to those entrants 18 or over. 
• Half price entry to the 2023 Great North Run as part of Team Run Geordie Run. 

If you'd like to do the Great North Run in 2022 in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice then please complete the form below to register your interest.

ENTRIES NOW CLOSED FOR 2022
 

Virtual Mount Everest - DONE!

I'm very pleased to report that the Virtual Mount Everest climb supported by David Fairlamb Fitness was successfully completed on the 18th of December. It was, without doubt, THE most difficult thing I've ever done in a gym setting. It was also certainly up there with any of the tough days running around the world. 

The aim was a relatively simple one to comprehend, to climb 29,029ft on a Versaclimber as quickly as possible. I knew it would be far more difficult to execute however. With a good opportunity of hitting my own personal fundraising target of £500 for St. Benedict's Hospice I was determined as ever to have a right good go.

I started climbing just after 0830 in the Versa Hub at David's gym. My heart rate was high even before I started climbing probably due to the excitement and adrenalin. I'd never seen that before at the start of a session! My heart rate was to remain quite high for the first thousand feet until I settled in to a good rhythm. It took just over 10 minutes to reach the first thousand feet. I attempted to calculate a finish time based on this start but, as per usual, I found maths quite difficult while exercising. I've never quite figured out why that is.

Donna did a great job on the support team where, for once, no blisters needed to be tended to, no food needed to be cooked and I was never in danger of getting lost. Just having her in close proximity was a great comfort. 

After 10,000ft or so a few gym regulars, Heather, John and Karen turned up to lend support with David Fairlamb. Heather and John paid a quick visit to McDonalds and brought back McFlurries and coffee. I had one McFlurry after 13,000ft and drank the other one much later once it had melted. That sugar hit complemented the bananas I brought to use throughout the session quite nicely. Not once did I feel lacking in energy. That was surprising as I had calculated that the calorie deficit would be in the 1000s by the time I finished.

I did my best to maintain a pace of 100ft per minute and while this was 130-140ft in the early stages, I just about managed to keep it at 80-90ft later on. I knew that my cadence was consistent throughout. What did lessen was the depth I was getting with each stride.

I reached the 19,000ft point in poor shape. I was finding each block of 1000ft physically tougher but the mental battle around this time was agonising. It was the kind of thing I've felt many times around the world as I neared the end of a stage. I can only liken it to when your football team is hanging on for a much needed result and there is still 10 minutes to go plus added time. Imagine that feeling for days on an around the world stage or thankfully just a few hours on this event. It's enough to drive you mad. I think it did in Australia and the USA was almost as bad.

When I hit 20,000ft I started to really find it tough going. Yes, it had been getting progressivly tougher but this was next level toughness. By that I mean, numb feet, aching legs and an increasing level of mental anguish. I can deal with the physical side quite well. I usually have to resort to something in my mind when the mental battle really hots up though. This has taken many forms so far during the run around the world. I've recently heard this referred to as "self talk". I'll do my best to explain what I mean by all of this. It may come out as me simply rambling as it's  hard to put into words what happened that day.

At 20,000ft I simply said to my watch "Hey Siri, play the old songs playlist". That's a list of songs that take me immediately back to another time and another place. One where my parents were still alive and usually a lot of fun was being had. Other songs have a profound meaning given by my Mam and Dad. All in all that day, it added up to me being taken to the brink mentally. 

When I said "Hey Siri turn the volume up to 90%" the Versa Hub seemed like it started to shake! I should add that I was connected to the Hub's superb sound system. I didn't even have to push a button and simply spoke my requests to my Apple Watch.

After 20 minutes of the old songs and having shed as many tears as beads of sweat I was ready to tackle the final 7000ft or so. I had come through the other side in a good place, having to take my mind to a dark and emotional place. For a few minutes the mental and physical pain subsided.

With a swift "Hey Siri, shuffle the Virtual Mount Everest playlist" none other than the absolutely banging tune that is "Badman Riddim" blasted out in the Versa Hub. The change of musical pace and tone gave me a renewed sense of purpose and desire. Next up was "If you could read my mind". "Very apt" I thought. 

The final 5,000 ft became even more difficult physically. I could hardly feel my feet and my thighs were in a world of pain. Mentally, though, I put the event to the sword. It wasn't just the music that was to thank. There were a number of very kind donations coming in to St. Benedict's Hospice. They made a massive difference. 

I reached the 29,029ft virtual Mount Everest after 7 hours and 47 seconds of climbing. When I got off the VersaClimber I was walking like a chimpanzee. I was absolutely not in full control of my legs! I found that quite amusing actually.

What a relief to have finished such a tough event! My immediate thought was that I wouldn't be doing that again any time soon. It was easy to say that I'd underestimated the challenge but I'd never done anything like it before. It was a case of completely going into the unknown. An average heart rate of 139bpm for that duration is definitely close to some of the best performing days of running around the world.

The Apple Watch stats were interesting. I can't vouch for their accuracy though. 56,766 steps taken equating to just over a marathon distance. I did liken this event before it started to a marathon in climbing terms. I wasn't far off that.

A very kind donation from long time sponsor Chapman Ventilation saw the total for St. Benedict's Hospice smash through the £1000 barrier. Given my target for the Virtual Mount Everest Challenge was £500 I felt that it was even more worthwhile doing.

I'm pleased to report that the final amount raised was £1020 and you can see the kind donations here.

As the clock struck midnight on 31st December 2021 the current fundraising campaign came to an end. A very pleasing £13,780.43 had been raised for St. Benedict's Hospice. The challenge had also seen the £340,000 barrier hit for the overall total and within that the barrier of £145,00 for St. Benedict's Hospice. 

So many donations. So much kindness. All of which I feel have been fully deserved through my endurance efforts. 

The debt of gratitude to the Hospice continues to be repaid. All of this, despite world events stalling the progress of the run around the world for now.

Thank you again to everyone who has donated. Together we have made a huge difference. 

It's all to do again in 2022 and beyond.

The Virtual Mount Everest Challenge

Regular readers will know that I've been raising funds for St. Benedict's Hospice (Charity No. 1019410) for the last 28 years. My Mam was a day patient at the hospice for 12 months and subsequently received palliative care during the final two weeks of her life as she lost the fight against lung cancer. That's us pictured below at my graduation the year before she died. That my Mam had cancer, was something she kept from me until I finished my final exams. That is incredible when I think back. I'm indebted to her and my Dad who sadly died in 1988 for so much. I feel equally indebted to St. Benedict's Hospice. 

The debt of gratitude that I feel towards the Hospice and the amazing staff who work there continues to be repaid with a series of events that have grown in size, complexity and difficulty over the years. The general public have been sp supportive over the years and my personal dream of raising at least half a million pounds for St. Benedict's Hospice and other good causes is alive and kicking.

The main event so far has been the 20,000 mile run around the world which is being done in 9 different stages. Until the pandemic, a total of 5 stages and 10,000 miles had been ran across the UK (John O'Groats to Lands End), USA (California to New York), Australia (Perth to Shellharbour) and Europe (Lisbon to Belgrade to Kiev) with £144,877.60 raised for St. Benedict's Hospice and £194,539..98 raised for other causes such as The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, The Children's Foundation and Useful Vision.

The grand total of £339,417.58 raised to date represents an incredible amount of generosity from so many kind people. When it's safe to do so, the around the world run will resume from Kiev, Ukraine to Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan with subsequent stages to Shanghai then across Japan and finally New Zealand. 

In the meantime, the fundraising continues with various endurance events. The next one will take place on Saturday December 18th 2021. There's a twist the time, where I will be doing a lot (and I mean a lot) of climbing instead of running. 

I'll be using what I find to be one of the most challenging machines you'll find in a gym, the VersaClimber, to climb the equivalent of sea level up to the summit of Mount Everest. That's a distance of 29,029 ft (8848m). In running terms, I anticipate this to be as difficult as, if not more so than, a marathon (26.2 miles). I'm calling this one the Virtual Mount Everest Challenge.

I expect climbing that massive height to take me anywhere between 4 and 5 hours. It could even be longer as this really is unknown territory. It's the equivalent of 8 to 10 VersaClimber classes at David Fairlamb Fitness back to back. Speaking of which, I had originally intended to do this challenge on my own machine at home. I have disco lights and everything!! When I sought advice on how to approach this challenge from personal trainer David Fairlamb he was only to quick to offer his specially designed VersaHub. I was secretly hoping he would! 

For those readers who don't know, the VersaHub at David Fairlamb Fitness is truly a unique facility that you won't find anywhere else. It's situated in an enclosed space that has specially optimised sound and lighting. David describes each 30 minute class as "unique and hugely motivational". I simply know it as the hardest cardio workout I've ever done. Dave explains on his website "If you have knee, hip or back issues the non weight baring joint friendly VersaClimbers are perfect for you. Andy Murray's road to recovery after his career threatening hip injury was hugely accelerated by his VersaClimber fitness programme. As you are upright the movement also strengthens your back, bum, legs, shoulders, calves and core. In other words its a full body workout.".

The clip below is a promotional video I shot earlier this year which really does give you a good idea of what the equipment and the classes are all about.

I'm sure you can now appreciate it when I said that this is unknown territory for me. It's like going from a Park Run to a Marathon but still trying to maintain the Park Run pace. The Virtual Mount Everest challenge is not going to be easy by any means and I do hope you think it's one that is worthy of sponsorship for such an amazing cause. 

St. Benedict's Hospice are a charity that have seen numerous events cancelled or scaled down over the last 20 months due to the pandemic. To help the hospice to continue to care for terminally ill people in our region means that now, more than ever, they need our support. 

Please donate whatever you are able using the link below as every penny counts. It really does. Did you know that of the £106,000 raised during the run across the USA, an incredible £50,000 was made up of donations of £10 or less. So putting all of our collective efforts together means that we can make a huge difference to such an important charity. 

Don't forget to check back daily on this site for the all the build up to what promises to be a very tough challenge.  

Hard work at David Fairlamb Fitness (again)

Tonight’s double session "under the lights" at David Fairlamb Fitness was extremely tough and enjoyable in equal measure. That's nothing new these days but it's at level I haven't seen at for a very long time. 

My own motivation to work hard, underpinned by Dave driving the session along at pace, makes for a superb platform. I've said many a time that you just don't know what you're going to get in each session. While the underlying principles are generally the same, the structure and content of these HIIT sessions are never the same.

I do a double session on a Monday and Thursday. This can work one of two ways. The first session can give you confidence that you'll be able to produce some quality and "survive" the second session. The feeling last night, however, was one of nervousness at the end of the first session. I knew that I'd worked hard and it was going to be difficult to dig deep and match the effort during the final session.

Last night saw a mixture of "change of pace" cardio then it was into a tough little dumbell routine. Multiply that by 8 and you have the session. There was very little rest in there and finding any active recovery was difficult. 

There were some big watts generated during the explosive cardio parts of the session. 900+ on the Wattbike (surely 1000 isn’t too far away), 600+ on the rower and the ski erg. 

Maintaining good form while recovering from the cardio sections was a huge challenge. I think I just about nailed it. The motivation and words of wisdom from Dave during the 2 hours helped to keep focus. 

As I drifted into the red zone during the second session it was a case of taking my mind to “that dark place” once again. Various images filled my thoughts and all I could really see in the real world was the number of watts being generated on the various machines.

Convincing my mind that I can get find another level and get through a session with as much effort as I can possibly give, has always been one of my strengths. Sessions like tonight, particularly in the latter stages, take me back to the run across the USA. I remember the days in the mid west in particular, battling temperatures in the 40s while having to run 35-45 miles some days. You battle, you survive, you battle again, you survive again. Then, when the time is right, when the sun hovers just above the horizon you drop the hammer and attack. You finish with as much quality as possible. You empty the tanks. Those flat out finishes on Route 66 don’t feel that different to a session like tonight’s. 

Of course, these sessions have improved my fitness beyond expectations this year. It’s the mental health benefit too that can’t be underestimated. I’ve said many times when leaving Dave’s gym that "I feel I could take on the world" or that "I feel like a million dollars". Tonight was no exception. 

I haven't had a new pair of shoes for the gym in 6 years. My custom made Nike Metcons played a huge part tonight. This is the first time I’ve worn them and they were so comfortable. The most noticeable benefit was the support they gave my toes. 

There are a few basic exercises which I find painful. This is thanks to the run across Australia. You can see the terrain from this day in 2013 pictured below. I was just over 1500 miles in to the run and nearing Port Augusta. 1000 of those miles had been spent on the Eyre Highway. It still ranks as one of the most challenging sections of any of the run around the world so far. Anyway, I digress! 

Tonight, was the first time I’ve managed a simple lunge pain free for example. It's one of the most straightforward things to do and requires no equipment. For the last 8 years I've felt every stone I ran on in Australia in my toes. But tonight, these shoes enabled me to focus on my form instead of battling the pain.  

Thanks to Dave yet again for another top session. The 0715 Versaclass this morning wasn’t too shabby either. It’s yet another great start to the fitness week.

As ever, I'll close by saying that there is still a very long way to go on this journey. The foundation that has been built this year is truly beyond my own expectations. I've just got to keep this consistency and effort going. That's as challenging as the sessions themselves. 

A very successful summer

All of the hard work put in at David Fairlamb Fitness in the first part of 2021 was taken into a tough four week "training camp" in La Gomera. Having rediscovered my love for exercise in 2020/21, the primary objective on this small island in the Canaries was to bring running back into that fold.

My primary location was the town of San Sebastian which is only an hour's ferry ride away from Tenerife to the east. There were plenty of options to run here with some tasty climbs in all directions. There was also a flatter section on the prom which is where I usually ended up after running into the mountains.

The hardest run that I managed was a half marathon from Hermigua back to San Sebastian. Just to keep things interesting, I ran that distance on a scorching hot day. There were no options for water on the route so I carried 2 litres of water on my back.

The first 6 miles were all uphill on a road that was full of twists and turns. It was like being back on the Stelvio Pass again. Just like that famous Italian pass, the scenery was absolutely stunning.

The first major obstacle to overcome was a tunnel at the summit of the run. It was 1/3 mile in length, very dark and had no hard shoulder. I had just got into the tunnel when a lorry entered on the other side. I switched to the opposite side of the road with my torch on and then back again when it and the four cars behind it passed safely by.

The next 6 miles were all downhill. Thankfully, the other 4 tunnels that I passed through had a small elevated hard shoulder which made things a lot safer. 

Unfortunately, I ran out of water with 2.5 miles to go. My thirst became immense during that last stretch and I was glad to complete the distance near a Spar where I guzzled a large bottle of water in no time at all.

Without doubt, what I called "the inaugural La Gomera Half Marathon" is the hardest run I’ve ever done at this distance. The searing heat, tunnels, and huge climbs made for a tremendous challenge. 

  

Away from running, Donna decided it would be a good idea to climb up an almost sheer cliff face for a mile to the spectacular Mirador de Abrante overlooking Agulo and beyond! Thankfully, the views were worth it.

I was very pleased with the amount of work I managed to get through in La Gomera. There were no easy choices in terms of route difficulty and the consistent mid to high 20 Celsius made every run an even greater challenge. 

Of course it wasn't all work and no play. Thanks to Geordie exile, Michael and his wife Yuliana for some great company as well as little Daniel (known as El Rubio to the locals). Donna and I have had a great time. 

I got a nice surprise when I returned home. I stood on the scales and they read 16 stone 11 pounds. While that's still a high number, it's a far cry from 17 stone 10 pounds back in August. It's even further from the 18 stone 2 pounds at the start of the year. Just like my progress in the gym, everything is heading in the right direction. I remain aware that there is still a very long way to go and I will be working even harder than before to continue my improvement. For now, though, it's time to get stuck into a challenging autumn/winter schedule. Will I see 15 stone on the scales before the end of the year? 

Team Run Geordie Run 2022

Are you sat there watching the Great North Run coverage this year thinking "I wish I could do that" or "I would love to do that but I'll never get a place"? I'm pleased to report that there are now places available on Team Run Geordie Run for the 2022 Great North Run in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice (Charity No. 1019410). 

The cost of signing up to Team Run Geordie Run is £58 for those who have never been on the team before or £29 for those that have. There is a commitment to raise £300 for St. Benedict's Hospice. 

Team Run Geordie Run members will receive: 

• Entry to the 2022 Great North Run.
• Exclusive Team Run Geordie Run t-shirt (or vest if you prefer). Additional t-shirts/vests are available to purchase.
• Access to the St. Benedict's Hospice hospitality marquee in the charity village near the finish line. This is where you can enjoy refreshments and meet up with family and friends.
• Exclusive Team Run Geordie Run goodie bag* at St. Benedict's Hospice hospitality marquee.           * Alcohol content only available to those entrants 18 or over.
• Half price entry to the 2023 Great North Run as part of Team Run Geordie Run.

If you'd like to do the Great North Run in 2022 in aid of St. Benedict's Hospice then please complete the form below to register your interest.

Bloody enjoying myself

Things have definitely changed for me over the last few months. By that, I specifically mean my effort levels in training. I’m writing this today, still with the buzz from last nights session at David Fairlamb Fitness. 

I must admit that I’d been looking forward to it since I left the gym on Tuesday. By the time I got there yesterday, I was totally up for giving absolutely everything and having absolutely nothing left to give. The thing with Dave’s sessions are they are all varied. You never know what you are going to get. There is always a mixture of cardio, strength, plyometrics and so on. A whole manner of equipment is used including ropes, hammer and tyres (my personal favourite pictured below), Watt Bikes, ski machines, Versaclimbers (2nd favourite also pictured below), traditional weights, slam balls and much more. There is very little rest across the 45 minute session. You always feel like you’re constantly on the go. As a result, I always feel very focussed and the session tends to fly over. 

I do two back to back sessions on a Monday and Thursday. If the first session sees an above average amount of effort given (and it has the last few weeks) then I know I’m in for a torrid time during that second session. Last night was a perfect example. 

As I have seen many times during the run around the world and particularly across the USA, when I’m very fatigued I can dig in and start to perform at an unexpected higher level. I’ve not often seen this in any training I’ve ever done until this year at Dave’s gym. The image below shows heart rate (a good sign of the effort I’m putting in across the 2 circled sessions). 

The yellow lines are where my heart rate is 80% - 90% of max and red is above 90%. The next image below is something I use from the Athlytic app which shows effort levels compared to the average for this type of session. Last night was a pleasing 18.6% higher than average. This figure should come down over time when I put in consistently higher than average levels of effort. 

These kinds of stats have really helped to give me focus over recent months. While Dave provides a perfect platform to train, it’s up to me to grasp that opportunity, give my all and continue to improve. 

Aside from the obvious physical benefits of getting fitter and stronger there is another side to this. It’s something that I’ve mentioned many times over the last 14 months. The mental health benefit that I’ve seen has been massive. You will have seen me say things like “I come away from the gym feeling like a world beater” or “I feel like I could take on the world” or "I feel like a million dollars". 

The effect a session like last night has on me stays with me for days. Or at least until the next session which is Beach Bootcamp at Tynemouth tomorrow! 

There is still a very long way to go on this journey. The foundations that have been built over the last 14 months are beyond pleasing. It’s now down to me to take this to the next level. I tell you what though, I’m bloody enjoying myself right now.

Meeting at St. Benedict's Hospice

I met with the fundraising staff at St. Benedict's Hospice today. On the agenda was a look back at the last Stage X campaign and also what the plans are for the immediate future. 

The total amount raised, thanks to an incredible amount of generosity, for this campaign currently stands at £12,750.43. That is a fantastic amount but, had it not been for the pandemic, I’m convinced that it would have been a lot more. 

Of course, this was the year where I should have ran from Kiev to Nur Sultan as part of the run around the world. As with previous stages, that would have seen a fundraising target of £50,000. We were also due to have a fundraising ball this year. Sadly, all of those plans went by the wayside during the first lockdown. To have raised this sum for the Hospice, while very pleasing in one sense is, however, also personally disappointing in another. 

The next major world stage isn’t going away and will be done when it’s safe to do so. I know that I won’t be the only fundraiser or charity whose plans have been disrupted. But to raise just shy of £13,000 under these circumstances is testament to the generosity of so many kind people including a very generous set of commercial sponsors. I’m perhaps being very harsh on myself to even consider using the word “disappointing” but that’s where standards are now after 28 years of fundraising. 

I know from the reaction that I received at the Hospice today, that there is absolutely no disappointment from them. Every penny is desperately needed to help care for terminally ill people in the region and put to very good use. If you’ve donated then rest assured that your money is helping to make a positive difference. 

As ever, I felt very appreciated at the Hospice today. The truth is that my own love and appreciation for St. Benedict’s Hospice and what the staff there did for my Mam (pictured with me below) has kept me going since she died in 1995. 

Yes, I’m continuing to repay the debt of gratitude, but being a fundraiser has without doubt had a huge positive impact on my life. Fundraising is essentially an unpaid job that attracts a lot of love, generosity, positivity and the chance to meet all manner of kind and interesting people. It has been and continues to be the biggest asset that I have when dealing with grief. Long may that continue. 

Back to today and I was happy to see the excited look when I discussed my future fundraising plans. I’ll talk more about those in greater detail next month. Although watch out for one exciting announcement as early as this Sunday. 

I left St. Benedict’s Hospice today feeling very positive as I always do. There was a peaceful quiet about the place and the sun was shining brightly. I’ll close tonight by again thanking everyone who has donated this year. Your support is massively appreciated. Thanks also to main sponsor Chapman Ventilation and also Taylored-fit Physio, D-Line, Steven Bell Properties, Active Edge, Northumberland Tea, NUFC.com and David Fairlamb Fitness.

Fully committed

I wrote two weeks ago that “I’m fully committed to each and every session ….. I never leave anything in the gym. The tanks are always emptied.” after yet another tough session at David Fairlamb Fitness. They aren’t just words. Those sentiments are being seen in action time and time again in Dave’s gym. Tonight’s double session was no exception. 

I gave as much as I could during the first session. Yet again though the effort levels were slightly below average. Only slightly mind. I use heart rate to measure this by the way. Of course, some weeks aren’t as cardio intensive as others so it’s just a rough guide. The second session is always a carbon copy of the first so that’s when a good comparison can be made. And surprise, the exertion in the second session was way above average. And boy did it feel like it. I had to take myself to places I don’t often have to go in my mind. I was on my limit on many occasions during that second session tonight. 

As tough as it was, I was absolutely loving every second of it. I simply had to use every syllable of Dave’s cues and words of encouragement to my advantage. Dave was the proverbial 12th man! I really wish I’d had the chance to get a photo but, yeah, that’s not happening in a session like that. This isn’t Instagram! Instead, I’ll leave you with a picture of a puppy stolen from Google. 

The image below is the comparison between tonight’s two identical sessions. 

So, once again, I left Dave’s gym feeling like an absolute world beater. I always say that there is a long way to go in this journey. I’ll be speaking more about the next steps soon. I have an exciting plan for 2022. For now, there continues to be an upward trajectory of strength, conditioning, fitness but, most importantly of all, enjoyment.