20 mile run: COME ON YEAH

Ran 20 miles as the title says. My legs are feeling it. I work at a library and met one of the regulars at 15 miles I said hello but I could not stop my legs were already hurting and if I stopped I would not have been able to get going again. Plus like me he loves a chat.

I have been running around the local area now for a while but not been taking any pictures. I am very lucky to be able to run around  a few beautiful places setting off from my front door. Below are  some of the places I am lucky enough to be able run around.

Ashenbury park

Dinton-pastures-country

Dinton-pastures-country

South lake

Stepping up training

I have started to step up my training. I went out on a very hot day at 12 o'clock 'mad dogs and English men go out in the mid day sun' came to mind. I did 17 miles which i was very happy with. I did take a stumble near the start which was not the best start. I am fairly happy with my training, you always feel you should run more, but with looking after our amazing boys and working I could not have done much more.

On fundraising side I manage to put a post on the council intranet site where I work and 3 people who I do not know have very generously donated £20 each which I am blown away by, it does make the training more fun and gives it a real purpose when people donate money. My Mum and Dad have also donated £100, which is really appreciated.

October 8th when my first marathon in 2 years takes place, is coming round very quickly

Long over due update

I am rubbish at updating. I am all booked in for Yorkshire marathon on 8th October. I have started training I am up to 7 miles. It is very different this time round. It is my first marathon for 2 years plus and my first since have back operation, and my Wife and I having twin boys.


I am finding it much harder this time round one reason  is that I have been very luck in the past to be able to do all my training with people, this time I am having to run on my own which I find very hard, I also have to run when I have time not when I feel like running. It is a very different experience one I am enjoying but finding hard. My life has changed so much since I started this journey. My brother Ian never met my wife and never got to meet my two amazing boys he would have been a fantastic Uncle to them. we are in touch with his wife Angela and she is a brilliant Auntie to Harry and Alfie although we are all busy and she has qualified as a nurse and works in A&E, my brother would be so proud of how she has done and what she has achieved. it means a lot to me that we are still in touch.


I am not sure how long this challenge will take now but I am determined to complete my A-Z in memory of my brilliant Brother Ian  and raise as much money and awareness of the brain tumour charity as possible.

Viking trail marathon a no go

The viking trail marathon organisers failed to get permission for the run. the council changed their policy about notification from 30 to 90 days and organising committee as a result were a week late, the run was moved to a park but I really did not fancy running 14 laps around a park. 

So I had to rethink  I found a  Marathon in York called the Yorkshire marathon  on the 8th October which falls on my weekend off so have entered. Longer to train plus a weekend in Margate to enjoy.

Attempting to restart the challange

As title says I am attempting at restarting the challenge. I am trying to find cheaper marathons to do, hence my first one I will attempt is Viking trail in Kent. If completed that will be V done and Kent is slightly cheaper than Vienna. I am not sure how body will hold up and training and it is harder with twin boys to look after. It will only be the one marathon this year. If completed I will have run 20 marathons. Just the six more to run.

I have started training I am up to to 7 miles. Fingers crossed

Looks like I will have to stop running marathons, with 7 left to run :-( one bad reason one, happy reason :-)

I had an operation for my slipped disc, which went well, but after starting back running it became clear that I am not going to be able to run 26.2 miles again, I am gutted. I had already booked to go to Vienna with Jo so Jo and I went just to enjoy Vienna.

On a happier note another reason why it will also be hard to finish this challenge is that Jo is pregnant with twins. Jo and I are both very happy. It turned out that a trip too Vienna would be good for both of us, before we have twins to look after.

 This is me pretending to look upset when we went to look at where the marathon would finish.

 We went to A grave yard which has more residents then Vienna.

 Jo at one of the Palaces

 Me at a statue at one of the palaces

 Jo again taken at one of the Palaces

 Jo and I stumbled into a bike event, which was really great fun.

  Me at the marathon pasta party, we had paid for the pasta and pancakes before I knew I was not running.

I feel terrible about not being able to complete this challenge, but at the moment I can not run at all, so 26.2 miles is out of the question. never say never I might come back to the challenge in the future but it will be in the long distance future. Jo and I are both looking forward to being parents but realise it will be a lot of work especially with twins. I thank everyone that has sponsored me on my 19 marathons, it has meant  a lot  to me and my family. It would have been Ian's 41st birthday on the 15th April while I am sad about not completing the challenge I set my self, I am immensely proud that I have raised money for a great charity in memory of my brother, I am sure Ian would be A great Uncle.

Injury update

As you can see from the above picture I have not recovered and am now walking with a stick. I find it strange because I do not get injuries but when I do they are serious. I volunteered in the Gambia nearly 15 years ago and everyone was getting bites from mosquitoes, I was bitten once but this got infected and ballooned up to the size of a golf ball and I still have a small mark on my leg from this bite.   

My only other injury was just before the London 2010 marathon, I was on the running form of my life, the week before the marathon I was working supervising young people building a fence at a city farm in Bristol. We had to walk through a field with 2 randy Rams in it, to get to the field where we were building the fence. The young people thought it was funny winding up the  Rams until the Rams started charging at them. I had to stand in between the Rams and young people, this meant that I was being rammed in my thighs by the Rams and it hurt, I strapped up my thighs for the Marathon, I got to 9 miles but I was in pain, so I walked and ran for 17 miles, I still managed 3 hours 23 mins.

My injury this time is very serious, I am trying to stay positive. I do find it ironic, that I have been a pain in the bum to my Mum, and Dad, Teachers, and Managers through the years and now due to my back I have a constant pain in my bum.

I am booked into see a specialist but it is likely that I will need an operation. My next marathon is in Vienna  in April, I had already entered it, it is looking unlikely that I will be able to run 26.2 miles by then but it is something to aim for.

I do realise that having a constant pain and not be able to stand straight is not terminal, and that there are people who are dealing  with much worse situations, such as my brother dealt with, he unfortunately died 8 years ago last Monday. So I am thinking positive and hopefully I will be able to run Marathons again and finish this challenge, in my Brothers memory while raising funds for a fantastic charity.