Day 91 - three months!

Just two miles today. Very cold and icy but avoided any slippy bits. parkrun could be interesting tomorrow.

474 miles now run!

Day 90 - FIVE

Five today in almost sub zero temperatures! Still a bit coldly but it's slowly fading.

472 miles now run on the 365 challenge.

Day 89 - temperatures falling

Less than 2 degrees C this evening, but calm and still so didn't really feel too cold. Did three this evening and feeling fine, though a few dodgy moments on icy patches on the roads and fallen leaves towards the end!

467 miles run.

Day 88 - floods subsiding, cold receding.

Mostly just me doing the running today. Still full of cold, but less sneezing. The weather has got cold though, cool north east breeze on my cycle rides from home to Menston and from Greenfield Station to Uppermill - the Peak District was looking very brooding.

So, being still full of cold I did not run the seven miles on my schedule, but instead just did another two, though now back on the usual loop along Birdcage Walk.

That's now 464 miles run, the tally is barely creeping along these days.....

Day 87 (monday 26 November) - my nose is doing all the running!

Sneezing and runny nose stage of the cold today, so just did the bare minimum 2 miles . Ran down to the river and back again, higher than yesterday but not as high as its been at other times this year.


So, tally moves on to 462 with 278 days to go.

Day 86 - proper full of cold

Yes, I definitely have a cold. So, instead of running the ten miles I had on my schedule Pamela and I did a gentle run down to the river in Oltey and back. Just over 2 miles. Quite a bright, sunny afternoon too. Nice.

So, two more miles to the total taking it to 460 miles so far. Another 279 days to go.

Day 85 - parkrun, Leeds

Back to Hyde Park today for parkrun. This was my 94th parkrun and 36th this year. Conditions were mixed underfoot, puddles, wet leaves, ice, but its a still, calm day and though cold, ideal fr rrunning.

Carrying a cold just now (probably had it for the Brecon race, which could explain the odd sensation I had in my chest in the later stages of the race), so decided to take it steady, maybe target 20 minutes. I started well back, so progress was slow through 'taffic', but once I got clear air I started to pick off runners ahead and ended up with a very pleasing 19:13 and 8th place.

So, another 3 miles to add to the tally which now stands at 458 miles and there are 280 days to run.

Day 84 - Quick Three

Quite an enjoyable run tonight after a horrendous four hour drive back from Manchester this afternoon - its only about 50 miles........

Unfortunately the squeak is back in the right shoe, which I'm now convinced is because the shoe/surfaces are wet.

Anyway, that's 455 miles run, some number of days to go, but only a couple more weeks to reach 100 days!

Day 83 - wet, wet, wet

More rain, lots of pubbles, slippery leaves and four miles. You just have to get out there and do it!

452 miles now run, quite a few days to go!

Day 82 - floods are back!

Birdcage Walk flooded again after last night's (and this mornings') rains, so no chance of the usual 2 mile loop. So, instead, I ran up the Leeds Road to one of Emma's turn around points. Works out at about 3 miles. Legs slowly getting back to normal!

448 miles now run.

Day 81 - 445

Ran three miles just now which was fine, except I only meant to do two. My mind was elsewhere and I missed my turning - I rarely ran anything less than five miles before this challenge, so autopilot still isn't set for two!

Day 80 - 442

So, that s now 80 days rof unning everyday and brings up 442 miles.

Just two miles today, the minimum requirement, but still more than I would usually be doing two days after an ultra race! Left knee not so sore today, but right thigh was complaining.
 
Also, found a hole in my Skins running tights, mid calf, which I think was from a bramble on the Brecon race that nearly sent me tumbling to the ground. Anyone any suggestions for fixing a hole in Skins compression gear? Will good old fashioned 'darning' work (like I'd know how to do that anyway)?

Likely to be another short run tomorrow as I've got the Academy Trust AGM to attend.

285 days to go!

Day 79 - sore two

Sore knees today, hopefully just took a bashing on all that rocky terrain yesterday. Still, hobbled a two mile loop into Otley and back. Time for some rest now, I think its called wine o'clock.

So, that's 440 miles now run on the 365 challenge. Roll on 500.....

Day 78 - Brecons Ultra. Mud, sweat and tears!

Ran the 45 mile Brecons Ultra today. 7.30 am dawn start, dusk finish! Took 9 hrs 15 minutes for this two 'lap' race (4:15 first lap!), and pretty happy with that - came in 43rd place.

Course was good, but underfoot conditions were tough - lots of mud, water, rocky, wet muddy descents but all in a spectacular setting. Canal towpath running with gorgeous autumn colours, big hills (Brecon mountains!), forests, open countryside, miles and miles of panoramic views. Recommended!

But, it was tough, but I guess that's what you get on a trail/mountain ultra!

So, 45 miles to add to the tally, which now stands at 438 miles.

Day 77 - lunchtime two

Working at home today so able to fit my short run in at lunchtime. Ran to school and back in order to sign off some large capital refurbishment works!

Quite chilly today, but dry and hints of sunshine. Best of all though, no squeaking shoes.......

393 miles now run.

Day 76 - just two

Just two today as I've got the Brecons Ultra on Saturday, a two lap 45 mile trail/hill race.

But, of course, the big story is squeaky trainers. Main advice seems to be talc under the insoles (thanks Steve!), but only if its the insoles not the out soles that are causing the squeak. So, before my run tonight, I took my insoles out (bare with me!), then went for a quick run down and then up Silver Mill Hill. Guess what? No squeaking! Then I put the insoles back in, set off for the Polling Station and, squeak, squeak, squeak.......until, I'd cast my PCC vote (Hobson's choice or what?) when there was.......no squeak. Fingers crossed.

Two more miles, 391 miles run.

Day 75 - bleary eyed three

Emma's school are taking part in a Comenius project with schools in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. We are hosting a student for the Czech Republic who arrives later on today. As I'll be picking them up on my way home from work, and it seemed rude to then go out for a run so I set my alarm for 6.20 am and was out running by 6.30. Still far too early for me, but it was dry, there was some light appearing in the sky and at 11 degrees it was almost warm!

So, another three miles out of the way taking the running tally to 389 miles and reduces the days to go to just 290!

Day 74 - shoes still squeaking....

It was much drier this evening, and surprisingly warm, over 11 degrees C. But my Brooks Ghost 5's still squeaked. Aaarrrggghhh!!!!!

Just two miles today. So thats 386 miles run and 291 days to go.

Day 73 - five miles easy

Usual five mile route around Otley this evening. Fairly uneventful, apart from a very annoying squeaking noise that my Brooks Ghost 5 running shoes seem to have developed since the Newcastle Town Moor Marathon. It might only be in the wet, but it might prove annoying enough to justify a new pair of running shoes. After all, I have run 246 miles in them so far......

Right, day 73 done, 384 miles accumulated, 292 days to go. Doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself.

Day 72 - Dalby Dash 10k trail race

First time at this race in ‘THE Great Yorkshire Forest’ on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors and also Emma’s first 10k race.

Fantastic bright, still sunny day. Fabulous colours in the trees but cold in the woods, about 2 degrees C, frosty and even icy in places. Still, the start was up by the visitor centre in bright sunshine which felt pretty warm.

As it is the 11 November today, the race started at 11.02 following a very well observed two minute silence.

At the gun the race went uphill on a tarmac forest road for the first 3km, and not a gentle ‘Leeds Road’ type hill, but quite testing. After that though it levelled out, then descending quickly on forest paths (rocky and a bit wet and slippery in places), before hitting ‘undulating’ compacted trails for the last 1.5/2km.

Emma’s target was to break the hour. She finished in 54 minutes dead on my watch. Awesome!!

Day 72. 379 miles now run, 293 miles to go. That was also race number 51 of 2012!

Day 71 - Bradford parkrun

Volunteered to guide Helen again today at parkrun. Target was again 27 minutes and we crossed the line in 27:18. So a 30 second improvement on last week and edging towards that 27 minute mark and a new PB for Helen.

Good running conditions today. Sun just breaking through the misty sky, a bit wet on the ground but fantastic autumn colours still.

Pamela also ran Bradford today and finished comfortably inside 30 minutes.

That was parkrun number 93!

Some other numbers: 373 miles now run on the 365 challenge. 294 days to go. Dalby Dash 10k race tomorrow with Emma.

Day 70 - yes, seventy!!

That feels like a really big number, but time seems to have flown and only a couple of logistical challenges so far. Wait till we fly away on holiday........

Anyway, no big celebrations, just another steady three around Otley. Dark, drizzly and very quiet.

Day seventy takes the mileage tally to 370 and reduces the countdown to 295 days.

Day 69 - regulo three

Just three today. So that makes 367 miles. 296 days to go!

Day 68 - famous five

Yes, the good old five mile tour d'Otley again this evening. Suddenly much warmer than the last few days but still very windy (thankfully no leaf in eye incidents today).

364 miles now run. 297 days to go.

Day 67 - eight with a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

OK, so it wasn't exactly a sharp stick, but running home into the wind a leaf whacked my in the left eye and it really does hurt!

Eight miles today, out up the Leeds Road to Bramhope and back. Felt a bit sluggish up the hill but picked up as the run went on.

359 miles now run, 298 days to go.

Day 66 - firework five

Five mile loop around Otley against a backdrop of bonfires and fireworks, mostly at a safe distance. But one idiot set off a Catherine wheel at the entrance to their drive on Bradford Road just as I was passing, had to make an emergency hand brake turn out into the road to avoid getting singed. Unbelievable!

Anyway, another five miles ticked off, 351 miles now run and less than 300 days to go!

Day 65 - post firework four

Busy weekend with my sister and her family staying over last night (hello Sue!).

Lovely walk on the Chevin Saturday afternoon, followed by fireworks and fun games - lots of laughing out load!

Then today off to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park taking in the Miro and Anish Kapoor exhibitions and a lovely walk around Bretton Park.

Just back in now from a four mile run around Otley with Pamela as the sun set. Perfect!

346 miles now run and only 300 days to go.

Day 64 - Bradford parkrun

Did Bradford parkrun this morning as they were looking for a guide to run with their visually impaired runner Helen.

I was a bit nervous as I'd never guided a runner before, but had been trained as a sighted guide for people with visual impairments when I worked for the RNIB.

Anyway, I needn't of worried. Helen told me what to do, we did a quick warm up/test run then joined everyone on the start line. Bradford, like Leeds, is three laps of the park and Lister Park was looking very autumnal. Helen ran a very even pace, bang on nine minute miling. The course is straight forward, the only 'dodgy' bits where we passed between some bollards, that and getting left and right mixed up! Otherwise it all went very smoothly.

We finished in 27 mins 45 secs, a bit off Helen's target of 27 mins, but she seemed pleased with that. And we came in 140th and 141st.

So, another three miles run, 342 in total, 301 days to go.

Day 63 - three miles up hill and down dale

Working at home today so took the opportunity to run at lunchtime and in daylight! Just three today, up East Ch vein Road (1 in 8) and then into Danefield Forest, exiting onto the Leeds Road, down into Otley and then back up to home.

Nice run, very quiet, only encountered two walkers.

339 miles now, 302 days to run....

Day 62 - five miles to kick off month three

Long day visiting Liverpool today. Some interesting stuff at the Tate (nice lunch!), and a wander around 'Liverpool ONE' taking in both cathedrals. A more interesting place than we'd anticipated.

Anyway, latish five miles. About 4 degrees, gritters out, clear skies, stars and a massive nearly full moon.

336 miles done, 303 days to go.