Day 61 - six miles in the rain

Well, Skyfall was very good, so probably worth getting up for that early run yesterday and got very excited at seeing a section of the West Highland Way on the big screen!

Six miles this evening. Cold, dark, raining and trick or treaters, who got spooked as I ran passed with my headtorch on. Ha!

331 miles run, 304 days to go.

Oh, and that's two months done!

Day 60 - two slow, too early!

Ran the bear minimum two miles at 6.30 am today. Far too early, but at least it was light. Off to see Skyfall this evening, then out for something to eat, so had to get the run out of the way somehow. Pamela also came with me, I think I needed that motivation. Not something I want to do regularly though (running in the early morning that is)!

325 miles run, 305 days to go.

Day 59 - five mile recovery run.

My brother's birthday today, happy birthday Phil!

Five slow recovery miles today. Actually felt OK, not too achy just a bit tired. 5 miles cycling on the Brompton to and from the station today undoutedly helped.

323 miles, 306 days to go.

Day 58 - Newcastle Town Moor Marathon

Nice bright morning for today's race, but it steadily got more overcast as the race went on and was very windy. I was also expecting smooth tarmac, which we did have, but also lots of mud and puddles and slippery grass - felt like a cross country race.

Nice, small race though (200 limit?), very friendly, seemed to be mostly club runners, and great marshalls. The course is run from Exhibition Park around Town Moor, a huge open space (I guessing Newcastle's 'common'), and adjacent to the start of the Great North Run.

I was targeting 3.30 today, but fell in with Ssall group on the fist lap (which helped into the wind) so ran through the first five miles in 35 mins. From then I was always up on pace, went through the half marathon in 1:35 and was very happy to finish in 3:22:12 for 16th place overall.

That was also marathon number 26 today and my 12th quickest.

So, that's 318 miles now on this challenge and, finally, the days to go number less than the miles run at 307.

Day 57 - cold at parkrun

Lovely bright sunny morning, blue skies, autumn leaves and about 2.5 degrees and windy! However, the course was dry for the fist time in months and, despite the wind, managed to improve on last week's time.

I was aiming for 18:40, but will settle for 18:45. The splits:

1 km - 3:34
2 km - 3:50
3 km - 3:50
4 km - 3:47
5 km - 3:43

292 miles now run on the 365 challenge. 308 days to go.

Day 56 - the gritter lorries are out

Well, it must be proper cold if the roads are being gritted. Thermometer was reading 4 degrees and with a slight wind it was pretty chilly. Did 5 miles this evening as the sun set, nice orange glow in the sky and feeling good. 26.2 miles in this might be a bit more challenging on Sunday and its always so much colder in Newcastle than it is in Yorkshire!

289 miles now run a further 309 days to go.

Day 55 - just two miles today

It actually said five on my schedule, but I didn't check it and thought it was two. Still, no harm done. Very easy two it was as well round the very quiet streets of Otley.

Easy day again tomorrow, then parkrun Saturday morning followed by the Newcastle Town Moor Marathon on Sunday. That will rack up the miles.

284 miles now run, 310 days to go.

Day 54 -Four

Got home from work just as Pamela was about to go for her run so joined her for a four mile tour of Otley. Nice easy pace, but its dark, its misty, its slippy under foot - roll on Saturday for some daylight running!

282 miles now run, 311 days to go.

Day 53 - six miles

Should have been seven, but didn't think I could quite fit that in between finsihing work and going off to school for a governor's meeting. So a quickish six it was.

278 miles completed and only 312 days more to run. The gap is closing between miles and days.....

Day 52 - five miles on autopilot

Four miles on the schedule, but must have been day dreaming as I found myself heading for an extra mile instead of heading home. No point in turning back, so five miles it was. Running in the dark is dull though, I've a feeling already its going to be a long winter - must make sure I use weekends to run in daylight!

272 miles, 313 days to go.

Day 51 - 10 miles in the gloomin'

Ten mile loop up the Leeds Road to Bramhope, down Creskeld Lane than back home via Pool and the Pool Road.

Very misty high up and very damp in the air, proper feeling of autumn.

Felt good on the run, a bit tired from lots of gardening (using different muscles), but otherwise all good.

267 miles run, 314 days to go.

Day 50 - back to sub 19

No Emma at parkrun this morning, so chance to go a bit faster. Targeted 19 minutes and ran 18:57 for 16th place. Very happy with that. Splits:

1 km - 3:36
2 km - 3:49
3 km - 3:55
4 km - 3:48
5 km - 3:47

Speed was definitely helped by having Joel on my shoulder most of the way, Al racing off at 1.5km, then Joel going for broke up the last hill and finally nearly catching Roy on the line. Thanks for the pacing guys!

257 miles now run, 315 days to go.

Day 49 - minimum two

Just two today, but got to run with Pamela who was just back from Istanbul. Very still today, so ideal temperature for running.

253 miles run, plenty of days to go!

Day 48 - four forest miles

Working at home today so took the opportunity to run in daylight and went up into the Chevin Forest. Lovely autumn day, warm sunshine, light breeze, leaves turning colour and falling. Pretty wet under foot but completely deserted, felt like I had the whole forest to myself. Though the occasional crashing sounds in the undergrowth suggest there were deer about!

251 miles now run on the 365 challenge and 317 days to go.

Day 47 - six miles in Skins A400 compression tights

Six miles in diminishing light, forgot how fast the light fades at this time of year, nearly got too dark to run on the unlit parts of the route.

Still, felt good today. Out up the Leeds Road again, then down Old Pool Bank and back home along Pool Road.

First run in the new Skins tights. Pretty comfortable and, although thin, definitely warmer than shorts! Fit doesn't seem as snug as the Skins shorts, so will see how they hold up (literally) on Sunday's long run.

247 miles now run, 318 days to go.

Day 46 - two becomes five

My schedule said two. Emma's said five. So we ran five (Emma's longest run to date). A testing little five it was too. First 1.5 miles up hill up Leeds Road, turn around and back down into a pretty chill wind, then uphill all the way home via Burras Land, Birdcage Walk and the last, killer 1 in 8 up East Chevin Road. Good work out.

Thats 241 miles now run in the last 46 days. Just 319 more days to go.

Day 45 - two quick!

What was supposed to be two, gentle recovery miles today post half marathon, turned into a two mile dash thanks to Emma's sudden burst of enthusiasm! And we did the loop the up hill way round.

Good though.

236 miles, 320 days to go.

Day 44 - Coventry Half Marathon

Perfect day for running today with a cloudless blue sky and only the slightest breeze when we reached the highest part of  the route (once the ice was scrapped off the car).

Lots of positives out of today's run, here are a few:

• Targeted 1:27 with the aim of beating last year's time. Finished in 1:27:13 and knocked over 2 minutes off my 2011 time. Woohoo!
• Finished in 38th place and overtook the second placed woman in the last mile.
• Felt stronger than I'd expected after zero speed work since June when I fractured my ribs during the West Highland Way race.
• Also pleased that I'd recovered quickly after last Sunday's Royal Parks Ultra.
• Ran a strong second half and even managed a negative split
• This was my 30th half marathon and 15th fastest!
• Marshall's were also very vocal this year, well done Coventry, and thanks to mum, dad, Sue and Sophie for coming out to support - much appreciated (Sophie, I hope your photos are better than grandma's.......).

So, 234 miles in, 321 days to go.

And here are some of Sophie's photos:

 

 

Day 43 - parkrun PB!

Lovely bright, cool morning for parkrun today (though still really muddy on that first corner). Emma joined me again today and when the 25 minute pacer was announced we exchanged glances that said 'NO!'.

But then we slowly over-hauled the pacer and looked on for a sub 25 run before breathing and a little bit of feeling sick slowed the pace a bit. Still, a brilliant time from Emma of 25:15, a full 42 seconds off her previous best and, she achieved her main goal of not getting lapped! We went passed the finish second time around in 16:40.

Another 3 miles on the clock, 221 now run and 322 days to go (looks like my maths is a bit out in earlier posts!).

Day 42 - another 4 miles

Up Leeds Road to Bar End House and back today. Nice tail wind up the hill, chilly head wind back down!

218 miles now accumulated on the cahllenge. 313 days to go.

Day 41 - 5 miles easy

Raining today and a bit over dressed (too many layers, not that I was wearing a tuxedo), not quite as cold as I thought it was. Still, another 5 miles churned out. Otley AC were also out in force, not doubt most of the members from last night's Back the Track meeting were in that pack.

214 miles now run, 314 days to go. Not long until the miles are higher than the days to go.....

Day 40 - easy two

Just two miles today, the bare minimum to keep the challenge on track. Cool evenings now, even started wearing gloves.....

 209 miles in. 315 days to go.

Day 39 - back to running threes

Well, yesterday's recovery run certainly loosened those tired muscles and almost a spring back in my step today. More of the same over the next few days as I need to be fully recovered for the Coventry Half Marathon this weekend.

Lovely clear, crisp evening, but not as evocative as the early morning mists - see below!

207 miles in, many more to go!

Day 38 - Recovery Run

Just two miles today, stretching out tired, aching muscles. Feel much better now though.

203 miles in, quite few days to go!

Day 37 - Royal Parks Ultra

Sunday 7 October. Beautiful, clear, crisp, sunny morning, ideal for running. Which is what I did for 31 miles through the streets of London and along the Thames path.

The Royal Parks Ultra turned out to be a real race of two halves. Definitely enjoyed the first half the most. We were sent on our way by Ben Fogle and Nell McAndrew and enjoyed empty, traffic free roads as we ran out of the Hyde Park, through the triumphal arch at Hyde Park Corner, down Constitution Hill to Buckingham Palace and then up Birdcage Walk to Parliament Square. By now we'd caught up with the 5k runners who went off 10 minutes ahead, so a bit of traffic dodging before peeling off at the 3 mile mark onto Blackfriars Bridge.

This got even more surreal as there were just three of us running together (one being Cath Wood from Scarborough who went on to finish her fist ever ultra in 3:59 having only run one marathon before at Hull this year. She started running in January 2011, so definitely one to look out for!). No one in view ahead, apparently no one behind, as we made our away along the South Bank now dodging tourists. It was a bit hairy around London Eye, but once passed the Palace of Westminster we were away.

Pretty good from there up to the 20km mark when we left the smooth tarmac and pavements for muddy, puddles on the slippery towpath, but nicely shaded by the trees and occasional good views.

I stopped at the 25 km mark to refill my Hyrapack (I think easier to do than my Camelback) and that was when several runners went passed (the first I seen since km 5!).

As with any long race the second half was more of a slog but I went through 42.2 km in 3:35 and finally finished in 4:17 and came 22nd overall. Very happy with that.

Also took quite few photos, from Buckingham Palace to rutting, bellowing stags in Bushy Park!

New shoes (Brooks Ghost 5) were good, no issues, just a bit slippy in the mud ( ideally I’d have changed half way into my Cascadias), and the UltrAspire Surge backpack also did its job perfectly – Mimi Anderson (handing out the medals at the end), clocked it and was interested to know how it performed! I obviously gave a plug to Likeys.....

So, that was day 37. The 200 mile mark passed and only 327 days to go.

Day 36 - post party parkrun

Post party running didn't suit Emma this morning so, despite a fastest ever first km in 5:05, she bailed out at the 3 km mark. That left an enjoyable 2 km sprint for the line!

Another 3 miles done, 170 in total, 329 days to go.

Day 35 - 3 miles with Pamela

Emma had already left for her party when I got home from work so Pamela and I got to run together for the first time in ages. A nice, steady three miles around Otley. Hands still cold as I type, its definitely autumn!

167 miles now run on this challenge, 330 days to go.

Day 34 - getting there in threes

Another 3 miler this evening. Cool, dry, clearing skies, spring in step, enjoyed it! Wore the Surge backpack again (apparently it looks diddy and not unlike a baby sling......don't let that put you off!). Very comfy. Only two more days until it gets a proper workout.

164 miles now done.

Day 33 - drenched / UltrAspire Surge backpack test run

Absolutely chucking it down this evening, water pouring off the hill and all those puddles filling up again. Still, if it says run on your schedule you run don't you? And at the moment, that means everyday!

With Sunday's Royal Parks Ultra only four sleeps away I thought I'd better test out the new UltrAspire Surge backpack (very speedy Likeys delivery of course).

I loaded the pockets with bits and pieces of rubbish (I wasn't actually going to need anything tonight), and put 500ml of water in the Hydrapack. Pockets on the front of the Surge are really good - room for: my crystallised ginger in one, frosties bars in another, camera in a third and possibly even a phone in a fourth (a small, old fashione dNokia, I don't own a smartphone.....). That still leaves the magnetic 'pill' pouch free which this evening I used for some coins so I could pop into Waitrose to but Emma the cloudy lemonade that she ordered (politely enquired if I 'd be able to....) me to buy.

On the back, the 500mls of water in the bladder, plus gillet. Still loads of room (and on my way home, room for a one litre bottle of cloudy lemonade that sat very comfortably and was stable in the backpack -you won' get much more shopping in it though).

So, how did it perform. Brilliantly! Incredibly stable, no movement what so ever (even with the cloudy lemonade) and all the front pockets were easily accessible.

Admittedly this was only a three mile run in the rain, but I have high hopes for this pack. We'll find out on Sunday.

33 days on the trot, 161 miles done.

Day 32 - more rain

30 minute window to run today while teenager was at her guitar lesson. And it rained. Did just over 3 miles around the polite streets of Ilkley.

158 miles now complete.

Big news of the day though was the arrival of my new back pack, an UltrAspire Surge (ordered from Likeys.com on Sunday). Haven't been able to test drive it yet, but was very comfortable wearing around the house.....

Day 31 - month two, and its dark....

Just four miles today, but it was in the dark - the first of many I guess. At least it was still vaguely light when I left to cycle to the station at 7 am and just about light come 7 pm. So that was nine miles on the bike too today.

Less than 11 months to go, 155 miles in the bag.

And this is where I was today. RSPB's Saltholme reserve on Teesside. Well worth a visit.