Day 365 - the 365 challenge, completed!

Sluggish parkrun this morning, so as I coasted along knowing it wasn't going to be quick, I decided to run 20:13, which I did, almost timing it to perfection, just hesitating to walk the last couple of strides to the line.

So, that's 365 days of running everyday, finishing with 3 miles in 20:13 and a total mileage of 2,013 miles. 

The year in numbers:

72 races - which includes the six days of the Wild Coast Ultra, my one multi-stage race of the year

4 ultra races including a new PB in the West Highland Way Race

9 marathons - in five weeks in April/May I ran my 4th fastest London Marathon and quickest since 2007, knocked 30 minutes off my Northumberland Coastal Challenge time and then ran my fastest Edinburgh Marathon 

2 half marathons - my time at the South Yorkshire Half Marathon was my 5th fastest ever and quickest since 2006

2 10k races - in April, one week after London, I ran my second fastest 10k ever at Bradford, my quickest since 2001!

49 5k races - 43 parkruns in the last 12 months at seven different venues, including my 100th parkrun and my 100th parkrun at Leeds

6 'other' races including a new mile PB by 2 secs

All in all, a good year of running. After a while running everyday became routine, and judging by some of my performances, has enhanced my running rather than hindered it. So much for my evangelical fervour about rest days in the past. I guess, it's whatever suits you best.

And next? Well, Alice's Run tomorrow, a 10k trail race and then on Monday, I might just have a rest day.....

Finally though, a big thank you to Martin Like from Likeys.com for instigating this challenge. It's been fun!

Day 364 - Otely six

Yes, that is right. Three hundred and sixty four days. Not two hundred as I seem to have been writing the last few days......oops!

So. Just one more day to go. Odd day today. Up early for our return flight from Amsterdam, so mostly travelling, reading, sitting about and snoozing. Felt very tired on my run and oddly bloated, so it was a bit of an ordeal. Still, did the six miles on the plan leaving just three for tomorrow's parkrun to end the 365 challenge on 2,013 miles.

For now though, six more miles and the tally stands at 2,010.

Day 363 - another Dutch two

Lovely big cycle ride around Amsterdam and then out north by ferry to the Polder, an area of low lying farmland only a few kilometres from the heart of the city but like a different world. It's not only low lying, it's below sea level, so at times we were cycling on paths with water courses running at eye level alongside us. Quite odd.

Lovely day out though.

Back to the big city for today's run and more canal side excursions. Finished running back towards the Heineken museum and, as the pavements were getting a bit busy decided to run in the cycle lane at the same speed as the cyclists. Quite quick! So a nice bit of speed work to finish.

Two more miles, another day ticked off, 2,004 miles now run, only two more days to go.

Day 362 - early morning two miler

Is early morning running a good or a bad thing? I'm still undecided. I hate the idea of getting up before I have to and it feels like a real struggle, but once I'm running and taking in new sights, and definitely once I've finished and still have the whole day ahead, it feels like a good thing.

Right out of the apartment today and left over the bridge and passed the Heineken Brewery (and museum) took me into streets filled with cafe bars, shops, bakeries, street markets, a real buzzing place. Ran as far as the next canal, left to the next bridge and back. Two more miles exactly.

Tally now stands at 2,002. Only three more days left.

Day 361 - only four to go..today, out over the Amstel river.

Just two, as that is the prescribed distance for each day of our holiday - don't want running to spoil any of the sightseeing fun!

So, turn left out of the apartment today, then run for one mile, about turn, run back. Found myself going out over the Amstel River and into a much more modern Amsterdam. Wide streets, big apartment blocks, much more reminiscent of France. Nice run though. Another two miles which means today brings up the 2,000 mile mark!

Day 360 - running through the museum (Monday 26 August)

In Amsterdam for a few days of sight seeing, museums, art galleries and culture. Kicked off day one with a guided cycle tour of he city. Three hours of gentle cycling and learning about the history of Amsterdam. Very interesting, and as it was only Pamela and myself we had our own personal guide.

Back to our apartment about 6pm and had almost forgot I needed to run! So, on with our kit, out the door and we set off following the canal side paths. Only half a mile or so away we arrived at the Rijksmuseum so headed 'through' the museum, a route we'd cycled earlier, and then did a loop around Museums Platz passing the Van Gogh and the Modern Art museums, also the American Embassy, before retracing our steps back to the flat. Two miles exactly, and all absolutely flat!

Two more miles, 1,998 now run.

Day 359 - RunSunday

Six miles on the schedule today which meant the 1.5 miles uphill run to the start of the three miles RunSunday race would be spot on.

Another humid day for running meant I was already 'drippin' by the time I got to the start line. James and Joel from Leeds parkrun were both there today, so I knew winning was probably off the cards! As it turned out I think it was a Valley Striders clean sweep, Joel winning, James third just pipping me to the post. I so nearly caught him......

So, fourth place and a time of about 20 minutes dead which is half a minute faster than my only other time on the 'new' course.

Six more miles, 1,996 now run. Will hit the two thousand mark on Tuesday.........

Day 358 - Otley Trotters AC at Leeds parkrun (Saturday 24 August)

All three members of the Otley Trotters Athletic Club descended on Hyde Park in Leeds for a very humid and muddy under foot Leeds parkrun.

First home in 19:19, me. 12th place overall and a nice negative split run after a cautious four minute opening kilometre ensuring I didn't take a tumble on any of the muddy corners.

Next home, Pamela in 27:32 for 154th place and Emma bringing up the rear with her customary lightening sprint to the line in 28:16 and 167th place.

Three more miles on the 365 challenge, seven days to go, 1,990 miles now run.

Day 357 - SIX

Not something England's cricketers look like achieving at the turgid test down at the Oval. Still, if we can't trash the Aussies, lets frustrate them. 3:0, 3:0 etc.....

Meanwhile, back in Otley.....it's close, humid, sticky, warm, drizzling with rain......not ideal for a six mile up hill, down hill, flat as a pancake run.

Six more miles, 1,987 now run.

Day 356 - another five. Still warm....

Very warm and humid even going out at 8 pm this evening. Usual Otley five, the uphill route, with some fairly good, steady paced bits.

Five more miles, 1,981 miles now run. Or, as I keep reading these as dates, the latest tally was O-level year! Only nine days to go now, in to single figures......

Day 355 - warm seven (Wednesday 21 August)

Lunchtime run and it was a lot warmer than I expected, though my pace was also quickish, well inside 8 minute miling and without really trying. Bit weird.

Nice run though, usual seven mile loop up the Leeds Road to the Dyneley Arms, down the hill to Pool and back home along the Pool Road.

Seven more miles, 1,976 miles now run, ten days to go......

Day 354 - late four (Tuesday 20 August)

Complicated Tranter day.

Me, out early to cycle to Menston for the train to Leeds and then London. Three mile ride from Kings Cross to Petty France passed so many landmarks its like cycling round a Monopoly board! Back home for 8pm (just, late running train meant I only just made my connection at Leeds).

Pamela next out, off to Manchester by car then plane to Europe. Back later tomorrow. Much later.

Emma, walk in to town, bus to Harrogate, 11.30 to 6 shift at work. However, that would mean missing the last direct bus to Otley, so her plan was to get the bus to Pool and then run home. Unfortunately the cost of a single fare to Pool from Harrogate is more than a return from Otley, and she didn't have enough money. Oops! So, text to Dad (just arriving in Leeds) as Emma walked towards Otley....

Longer story short, quick cycle home, jump in the car, drive to Beckwithshaw to pick Emma up.

Hence, a late, late run. But, surprisingly I felt pretty fresh despite the long day and reeled off a quick four miles.

Four miles takes the tally on to 1,969.

Day 353 - hard going five

Just the usual Otley five but today it was really hard going. Heavy legs, no mojo, going nowhere fast.

Finished though. So five more miles added to the tally. 1,965 miles now run. 1965, the year I was born.....

Day 352 - bright and breezy fourteen miles

Long run today, though only just longer than a half marathon. Lovely running conditions, bright sunshine, breezy and with stunningly clear views.

Route - Menston, Guiseley, Yeadon, East Carlton, Bramhope and back home down the Leeds Road.

First half felt very good and consistently inside 8 minute miling, bit tired towards the end but a high mileage week following last Sunday's tough trail marathon.

14 miles added to the tally which now stands at 1,960.

Day 351 - another Leeds parkrun. Quite quick...

18:36. Today, a good, proper race and could probably have gone faster if I'd put in more effort on the second lap. Still, beat Roy and James but couldn't hold on to Al who smashed his PB today. About a 20 second improvement I think!

Pamela ran another steady 'about 27 minutes' run.

Three more miles, 1,946 now run, just 67 miles to run in the next 14 days to hit 2,013......

Day 350 - go Mo!

Awesome 5,000 metre race, what a star. So, my five mile Otley loop wasn't quite that fast, but faster than it should have been ahead of tomorrow's parkrun and I blame Mo.

Five more miles. Tally now stands at 1,943.

Day349 - three

Usual Otley three mile loop with Pamela with the new 'turn left down the hill at the end of Birdcage Walk so it is actually three miles and you don't have to run up East Chevin Road' bit at the end.

Three more miles, 1,938 now run.

Day 348 - tinie two

Shake, shake, shake, shake tambourine. Jump, jump, jump, jump trampoline.

OK, so not that Tinie, just a little two mile run.

Two plus 1,933 = 1,935 miles run. 17 days to go.

Day 347 - random four

Set out just to do two miles today but then decided I'd run down to the river and across to the playing fields where there is a 400 metre track marked out on the grass. Probably inspired by the World Championships from Moscow, I just fancied a couple of laps!

So, gutted to turn up to see that the football season has already kicked off (and the cricket season no where near finished!!) and the lovely running track obliterated and replaced with football pitches and even worse, footballers.

A very disconsolate trudge home.

So, just four more miles, 1,933 now run.

Day 346 - recovery five

Usual Otley five mile run, the downhill version. Felt pretty good. Legs a bit sore at the end, but for a post marathon run, NB NB.

FIVE MORE MILES EQUALS 1,929. 

Oops, caps lock on.......

Day 345 - Hardmoors Saltburn trail marathon

Tough! And quite beautiful in places. 26.2 miles starting from Saltburn leisure centre then out through woods and valleys out on to the North York Moors. Stunning views, and always with the sharp contrast of the industrial Teesside in the background, including an impressive wind farm in the bay.

Weather was hot, sunny, rainy, a bit cloudy and cool out on the moor adding to the challenge, not least the undulating nature of the course and everything from Tarmac to heather moorland trails to deep, soft sand dunes! 

Finished in about 4 hours 39 minutes, which I wasn't too cuffed about, but given that I finished in 11th place, maybe it wasn't so bad.

Marathon number 34 and another 26 miles added to the 365 challenge which now stands at 1,924. Twenty days to go......

Day 344 - parkrun

Leeds parkrun again this morning, 25th parkrun of the year. Standing on the line this morning were the old guard, me, Roy, James and Al, three of us in our black 100 shirts thinking we could run as a road block!

As we set off the usual split happened, Roy disappearing down the hill, James edging ahead of me and Al just behind. Felt a bit tired this morning (legs rather than arms this week), so didn't feel like pushing it and settled in to a comfortable pace. Ahead, I always had James and Roy in sight and close enough to think I could close that gap. 

It was a bit busy today, so a few near misses on the final lap and an unfortunate clash of elbows with a slower runner coming off the muddy bank, but by the last lap James was closing in on Roy and both were coming back to me. I caught Roy just before the final hill and James at the top of the hill. That meant buckling down to run flat out to the finish which I did without being caught and crossed the line in 18:40, which was a much faster time than I was expecting. It was only 21st place though, so a much quicker field than usual.

Pamela also ran today, breaking the 27 minute barrier, so is on track for a good Alice's Run on the 1st September.

Three more miles to the tally, 1,898 miles run. Tomorrow, the Hardmoors marathon from Saltburn by the Sea.

Day 343 - pure three (Friday 9 August)

Another Friday evening run in Brook's Pure Flow running shoes that felt fast. Looking at the average pace it was certainly quicker than the usual plod. Lets hope that doesn't mean another tired parkrun in the morning.

Three more miles, 1,895 miles now run.

Day 342 - sensationally swift six

OK, that's a bit of a lie! But, six miles out up Leeds Road, down Old Pool Bank and back felt good and at 7:40 miling was fairly swift. Nice run.

Tally now stands at 1,892 miles.

Day 341 - fairly, fast, fresh five!

The old chestnut, why are some runs hard and some easy, even over the same old distance? Who knows. But today was one of those good ones! Nice evening again after a dull start to the day and with a bit of meandering around the streets off the usual Otley five mile route it was avery enjoyable run.

Five more miles, 1,886 now run.

Day 340 - just three

Nice evening for a run. Dull and almost cool during the day but lovely evening sunshine has warmed things up and with a light breeze it was perfect for cool running!

Just Otley three today, adding to the tally which now stands at 1,881.

Day 339 - 26 days to go! Just a marathon then?!

Five more miles today. Still warm despite all the rain today (thanks, meant we retained the Ashes!) and it rained on my run. Quite pleasant though.

Five more miles, 1,878 miles run, 2,013 still on the cards......

Day 338 - RunSunday and Sunday's long run

Off to the cinema this afternoon to see World's End so decided to get today's long run out of the way early and take in the free 5 kay Run Sunday.

So, 1.5 miles up our one in eight hill to the top of the Chevin near the trig point. Run Sunday is free and organised by volunteers, only today race director Paul was off launching the 15 km Saltaire Shaker, but luckily had found some volunteers to make sure the run still went ahead. I arrived about ten minutes before the  start (race is at 10.30) to find I was the only runner apart from one volunteer who was going to be the tail runner. I had passed a group of 'Ansty Hill' runners not far from the start but they never turned up. Infact, only one more runner appeared, so it was just the three of us, out numbered by the volunteers two to one!

So, we all towed the line and then we were off for two laps in the forest. It turned out we were all running very different speeds, so it was more of a time trial rather than a race (or obstacle course if you factor in the horses, dogs and their owners!! Still, it is a shared place....).

Anyway, my solo run was completed in 20:33 for first place, 2nd and 3rd were nicely spaced at 27 and 33 minutes. A slightly surreal race, but fun!

After a couple of Cadbury's chocolate fingers (there are always biscuits at Run Sunday) I headed off to Bramhope, down Creskeld Lane and then back to Otley via Pool to complete about 13 miles for the day.

13 miles takes the tally to 1,873.

Oh, and World's End is a good laugh!

Day 337 - another Leeds parkrun

Family outing this morning with all three members of The Otley Trotters AC out for the early morning Saturday run. I ran 19:07, slower than the last few outings but weirdly my arms felt tired from the off. Must have slept funny! Still, clocked 12th place and 2nd vet 45.

Pamela completed her 43rd parkrun so is on track to get her 50 T-shirt in time for our trip to South Africa. Her time, just outside 27 minutes.

Emma also made the trip but started to get a headache just after half way so took the opportunity of me passing just after the 3 kay mark to grab the car keys and get some water. 3 kays training completed though.

So, 3 more miles to the tall whip is now at 1,860.

Day 336 - Pure two

A little bit cooler, nice breeze and fresh legs made for a speedy two miles testing out forefoot running in my Brook's PureFlows. Nice.

Tally now stands at 1,857.

Day 335 - hot, hot, hot! (Thursday 1 August)

Very hot and humid by the evening, temperatures hitting 32 degrees in the centre of Leeds. Starting off the air was stifling, but once I found a comfortable pace and rhythm the run was OK. In the end, another Otley five ticked off.

Five more miles and the tally now stands at 1,855.