Day 334 - wet, wet, wet....

Six miles in the pouring rain, but still warm. Very random six miler this evening, meandering around town before heading out past Ellar Ghyll to Menston, a few tracks and trails and then home.

Drippin'!!

Six more miles moves the tally on to 1,850 miles. One more month to go!

Day 333 - Otley five (Tuesday 30 July)

Why is it, that some times, a short run feels much harder and indeed turns out to be much slower than a long run? I don't know either, but that is what happened today. A five mile slog in sharp contrast to yesterday's ten mile breeze.

Still, all miles count and after 333 days the tally now stands at 1,844.

Day 332 - ten

First time into double figures for a couple of weeks I think. Huge storms just before I went out for my run, so lots of sand, mud and stones all over the roads and pavements, but not too many puddles. Rained a bit while I was out but generally it was quite bright and just that bit fresher than it has been recently.

Good to get ten miles under the belt and a nice healthy addition to the tally which now stands at 1,839.

Day 331 - five more miles, 34 days to go.....

Unusual Otley five today. Ran with Pamela through town and out to West Busk Lane but when Pamela turned at the three mile loop point I carried on, which meant I was on the four mile loop but thinking I'd do five.

So, went down hill at the end of Birdcage Walk then carried on passed the end of Silver Mill Hill and up Leeds Road to make up the miles needed. Soon got caught by an old timer on his bike going at a good lick so decided to add in some speed work and ran with him for about half a mile. He complained he must be getting old if I was able to run with him!!

Five more miles, 1,829 now run. Will we break the 2,000 mile mark?

Day 330 - back to Otley for three (Saturday 27 July)

Not much to report, just an uneventful three mile stroll around Otley. Back to my Brooks Ghost Fives just in cast the transition to the more minimalist Pure Flows has been a bit too quick.

Three more miles and the tally rises to 1,824.

Day 329 - family run (Friday 26 July)

Late night today as we were off to the Anniversary Games in the Olympic Stadium. So, out early again for an 8 am run down to Bushy Park with Pamela and Emma (not many weeks until the Great North Run, so Emma needs to get some miles in!).

Should have been a routine, steady run but as we left the house I had strange pains in my right leg. Couldn't work out what the problem was. It felt like the pain was in my hip but I was struggling to get a full leg extension, my knee also could have been the cause of the obstruction.

Anyway, hobbled our way to the park and then, suddenly, my whole leg seemed to give way but on recovery all pain was gone. Once in the park I was then running as freely as ever. So not sure what happened, but possibly a trapped nerve?

Two more miles added to the tally taking the cumulative total to 1,821 miles.

We then set off for a day in town to see the Lowry exhibition at Tate Britain and then watched Usain Bolt destroy the field in the 100 metres. Cool!

Day 328 - two more London miles, across theThames at Teddington Lock

Earlyish two this morning. Ran out past the old ITV Teddington studious, over Teddington Lock and then west along the Thames path until we'd run one mile (Pamela joined my today).

About turn and retrace our steps. It felt quite cool in the breeze when we set off, the massive rain storm in the night seemingly clearing the air, but it didn't take long to realise it is still really humid!

After breakfast and cooling off we headed in to London to visit the Shard and the Richard Rogers exhibition at the Royal Academy (interspersed with lunch!).

Nice day out. Two more miles run. 1,819 since September last year.

Day 327 - Bushy Park freedom run

In London for a few days culminating with the Anniversary Games on Friday. Today though, staying with friends inTeddington so went out for my run by going to Bushy Park, just a mile from their house in Teddington, and then running the parkrun course.

Nice running somewhere new, though I have done this run once before. It's also dead flat, you get to see lots of deer, run to the sound of parakeets, all very exotic! There are other runners about, but unlike Otley, they don't tend to acknowledge each other.......

It was also very warm, not hot exactly, but very humid and everywhere is so dry. Bushy Park with it's deer looked more like African savannah with Springbok!

Nice run though and five more miles to the tally which now stands at 1,817.

Day 326 - back to Otley five and running in Ghosts

Did all my running over the weekend and yesterday in my Brooks Pure Flow shoes. So putting the Ghost Five's back on for today's five mile run they felt massive, like some big, comfy pair of slippers (which is an unfortunate analogy as I hate slippers....).

Still, they remain excellent to run in. Very, very humid today (you may have noticed the thunderstorms - maybe they'll name the Royal baby Thor!), so hard going, but got round in the usual sort of time.

Main thing, five more miles, one more day ticked off. Tally now stands at 1,812 miles.

Day 325 - two miles and only 40 days to go! (Monday 19 July)

Only two miles but I think I was running too fast as it was hard and I even walked a few times. Still, sometimes it's juts a case of getting the run done.

Two more miles means 1,807 miles now run in the 365 challenge.

Day 324 - Sunday 18 July the National Lottery Anniversary Run

,Just before the 2012 Olympics started last year some very lucky people got to run a five mile race that finished in the Olympic Stadium, the very first to use the venue! Those of us that we're unlucky enough to miss out got invited to enter another ballot this year for the Anniversary Run, a celebration of the fantastic 2012 games 12 months on. It seemed like the sort of invite that you can't turn down, so I entered and got my place!

Then, as the date of the race approached I realised how much travel and cost was going into a five mile race! Still, I found some bargain accommodation right next to Excel and the Royal Albert Dock through Skoosh.com and drove down to London late Saturday afternoon after doing my 100th Leeds parkrun in the morning.

It was then the usual pre-race ritual, check out travel for the morning (DLR trains every ten minutes, only 13 minutes away from Stratford station for the Olympic Park), picnic tea, layout my kit and early to bed.

After days of sunshine and heat it was slightly disappointing to wake to a misty, almost damp morning, but it wasn't cold and it felt like perfect running weather. The journey to Stratford was quiet and uneventful, a few Anniversary runners on the train, and then the crowds started to appear as we approached the Olympic Park through Westfield shopping centre, a sort of Grand Canyon of brands!

I was quickly through security and free to wander around the stadium - it was very exciting. A montage of Olympic successes was being played out on the big screen and it felt like 2012 all over again (helped by a back drop of Wimbledon success, Ashes glory and the impending Tour de France victory!).  An hour spent wandering around and taking photos soon passed and then it was final preparations for the run.

There were 12,500 runners entered into the race and looking at the results nearly all turned up on the day. The start was staggered in waves based on predicted times so I got off in the first wave, with Sir Chris Hoy sounding the claxon and the 'elite' trio of Paula Radcliffe, Victoria Pendleton and Melanie Chisholm (aka Sporty Spice and triathlete!) towing the start line.

To be honest, the course was far too narrow for the number of runners, but once I'd put aside any thoughts of a speedy run, just enjoyed the cut and thrust of dodging between runners, sprints between bottlenecks and the unique experience of running around iconic buildings such as the Velodrome and Anish Kapoor's Orbit.

It took almost to half way to be able to run freely, at which point I passed Queen Victoria (looking very comfortable, and looking like a runner!), and it was getting hot (well, more humid really). The next two miles felt more like a normal race, but still with some interesting twists and turns, but then came the best bit.

As we ran back towards the stadium we veered off right, down a long ramp (marked out with lanes like a running track) and in to the service tunnel that circumnavigates the stadium at track level. It was like being some kind of film set, with Chariots of Fire blaring from the speakers overlaid with Steve Cram's excited commentary from 2012! I'm not sure how far we ran in the tunnel but suddenly we turned right again and out in to the light and noise of stadium. The crowds weren't massive by 2012 standards, but were certainly having a good go and responded noisily to any waving from the runners.

The track felt huge, and lanes really wide and the surface just sped you along. Then, into the final 100 metres I was winding up for the obligatory sprint finished when I saw Paula Radcliffe running back up the track, high-fiving the runners, what a cool moment. High-five done, then mad dash for the line and then, it was all over. Out down a quiet tunnel, up the stairs and back out into the park.

Only five miles, but what a day out! Never having run a five mill race before I of course set a PB! My chip time was 32:10. I finished in 261st place (not bad out of nearly 12,000 runners!) and came 16th in my age category. Interestingly, there were also just 16 female runners who finished ahead of me. And that didn't include Paula Radcliffe who I beat by 17 seconds. How cool is that?!

And, on top of all that, the 365 challenge tally rises to 1,805.

Da 323 - one hundredth Leeds parkrun

Leeds parkrun number 100 today and with a time of 18:30 also my fourth quickest time in the last two years. Frustratingly I should have gone quicker and also picked up 7th instead of 9th place but I just lacked the motivation on the final hill. Luckily though Roy Huggins (long time Leeds parkrun rival) pulled up to my shoulder at the top of the hill giving me the spurt I needed for the inevitable sprint to the line.

It was a bit cooler today but still warm and each lap got hotter and harder, but there were probably five seconds more in my legs if I'd wanted it.....

Still, three more miles to the 365 tally and another milestone reached as we hit the 1,800 mile mark! 42 days to go, another 200 miles to run? 

Day 322 - two (Friday 19 July)

Long day out at RSPB Bempton Cliffs today, lots of trains, lots of seaside day trippers, lots of tattoos.....

Still baking hot, so just a Friday night two miler with Pamela.

Two more miles and the tally edges up to 1,797.

Day 321 - hotter still

Yes, hotter today and very, very still. But, after viewing Emma's artwork at the Red Kite Alliance Sixth Form Art show at Harewood House I went out for an Otley fine mile run. It was hot!

Five more miles though so the tally rises to 1,795.

Day 320 - another gentle three (Wednesday 17 July)

Too hot for the scheduled seven miles so just ran an easy three miler with Pamela.

Three miles to the tally which now stands at 1,790.

Only 45 days to go.....!

Day 319 - Three

Nice breeze and slightly cooler temperatures when I went out for my run at about 8.30 pm this evening. Arriving home from work it was still a stifling 27.5 degrees, I guess the 'nights are closing in'......

Three more miles and 1,787 miles now run on the 365 challenge.

Day 318 - meandering five (Monday 15 July)

Wandering, meandering run around Otley, taking in Wharfemeadows Park to check out the site for a possible Otley Olympic Park.

HOT!

Five more miles takes the tally to 1,784

Day 317 - RunSunday

Almost didn't do this run as I was enjoying a rare lie in, but as it starts only a mile and a half uphill from our house and doesn't start until 10.30 am it didn't really feel like I had an excuse.

So, quick breakfast and a 1.5 mile uphill run (just a wee 12.5% gradient) I was already dripping before the run started. It was quite warm.

So, thought I'd take it steady, which I did and soon settled into fifth place, some way off he next runner. But, RunSunday has a nice wee hill to climb and that's where I closed in on fourth place, over took soon after the top of the hill, then focussed on the third runner who, admittedly came back to me and by the bottom of the hill in the second and penultimate lap I was ahead.

Result, 3rd place in 20:02 and first Vet 45.

With the run there and back another six miles to the tally which now stands at 1,779.

Day 316 - warm parkrun

Very warm parkrun this morning, already over 20 degrees by the start. Otherwise perfect conditions, though 18:48 felt much faster but held my place well and enjoyed the obligatory sprint finish.10th place overall.

Three more miles and the 365 challenge tally moves on to 1,773.

Day 315 - drippin'! (Friday 12 July)

Very hot. Very hayfevery. Five miles.

1,770 miles now run and only 50 more days to go......

Day 314 - warm two (Thursday 18 July)

Not much to report. Another warm day (which I guess is news!) and another two miles.

Tally now stands at 1,765.

Day 313 - Hyde Park Summer Mile

Second time running this race and was hoping to go faster this year. Slightly different course, flatter, but with a couple of very tight turns.

Set off feeling good but legs started to feel sore early on and breathing wasn't great (hayfever season). Still, hung on and with the usual sprint finish, and passing about five runners on the second lap, I crossed the line in 5:30 for a new PB by 2 seconds!!!

Exhausted.......

Still, with a one mile warm up run that's two more miles to the tally which now stands at 1,763.

Day 312 - mad dogs and Englishmen...

Well, one Englishman and one Scottish woman went out in the midday sun! Working at home today with back to back school meetings later so time to get the run out of the way early.

Just two miles but it was like running in an oven.

Total mileage now stands at 1,761.

Day 311 (Monday 8 July)

Another hot run. Five this time though at several points I was tempted to cut it short - and this was gone 9pm!

So, a bit of a slog, sore muscles, tired and hot - so the Royal Parks Ultra 'blood, sweat and tears' T-shirt was spot on.......

Five more miles, 1,759 now run since last September.

Day 310 (Sunday 7 July) - post tennis three

Bit hot for running (let alone watching tennis, and at the same time keeping up with Le Tour!), but went out for three with Pamela to make a nice round 45 miles for the week. Legs a bit sore after yesterday's marathon, thighs mostly, so perhaps not fully recovered from the West Highland Way run.

Anyway, three miles and the running tally climbs to 1,754.

Day 309 - Hamsterley Forest Marathon

I decided to enter this marathon only a few weeks ago after realising Pamela and Emma were going to be in London for the weekend to see Mumford & Sons playing at the Olympic Park.

The Hamsterley Marathon is organised by the North East Marathon Club whose philosophy is to get back to basics with small, no frills events (I did their Newcastle Town Moor Marathon last year).

Because its a small event in terms of scale, though not distance!, in my head it was "just a marathon".....BIG mistake! The course is run on forest trails with a two mile Tarmac run-in followed by three loops, which include one, long hill. Spectacular views of the moors from the top, but in today's heat quite testing. Oddly, the hill felt much longer on the first ascent than the next two (though by loop three I was seriously flagging!).

I my mind I was thinking a 3:30 marathon would be good, but soon revised that to think 4 hours would be a miracle. Interestingly, I ran the first half in 1:55, the second only 5 mins slower. I think that was down to the second loop which just felt so much easier than the first.

I ran with 1.5 litres of Nuun electrolyte in my UltrAspire backpack but that ran out after 2 hrs 49 minutes and two miles from the top drinks station. Given that was two uphill miles I did panic a bit but made it OK and asked nicely if I could top up my Hydrapak (lots of runners seemed to be relying on the drinks stations, not carrying anything, which meant only six opportunities to rehydrate.........).

It was then a battle to keep going to the end and knowing I was dehydrated as my fingers were starting to tingle and then starting to go numb just as they did when I properly hit the wall in the Robin Hood Marathon a few years ago (Google it, hitting the wall is serious stuff, it's not just getting a bit tired.......).

Anyway, I survived, lost a few pounds (I'm lighter just now than I've ever been!) came in 13th, 2nd Vet 45 and added another marathon to the tally.

Not a bad Day 309 on the 365 challenge and, with 26 more miles in the bag the tally now stands at 1,751. 

Oh, I did I mention that this was a marathon just two weeks after the West Highland Way Race? Something I would never have contemplated, thought possible or indeed sensible a few years ago. OK, it maybe still isn't sensible, but powers of recovery are perhaps stronger than much running literature would have us runners believe....

Day 308 - HOT!

Five miles this evening but after a perfectly sunny, breezy day it was 'quite hot'. As in warm, unlike 'the West Highland Way I's 'quite hard''.

Five more miles equals 1,725 miles run so far on the 365 challenge.

Day 307 - the late show

Spent the day working in Brighton so didn't get home until after 10.30 pm so a very late run. Just two, which I think is OK in the circumstances. Quite nice out, still some light in the sky and a bit humid.

Two more miles takes the tally to 1,720.

Day 306 (Wednesday 3 July) - early!

Off to London with Emma for the Kings College open day. So out for a two mile run at 6.30 am. Good day, plus sight seeing and shopping!

Ended the day in Brighton where I'll be working all day Thursday.

Two more miles takes the tally to 1,718..

Day 305 - summer rain

Proper summer downpour this evening. That very light yet incredibly wet rain. Quite refreshing though and nice in daylight. All the greenery was just glowing.

Back to running the Otley five mile route. Legs feeling good and even did cycling to work today.

Five miles in the bag, 1,716 bagged since September 2012.

Day 304 - pure joy

Back in my Brooks Pureflow running shoes. Still sticking to two miles, inpart to make sure I recover, but also because I've got a marathon on Saturday!

Still, running in the Pure's really seemed to put a spiring back in my step. Legs a bit tired but the soreness is definitely on the way out.

Two more miles and the tally now stands at 1,711.