Run The Date - Day 27
Date: Friday 27th September
Distance: 27 miles
Motivational quote: "Strength doesn't come from physical capacity but from an indomitable will."
Sponsor: Duncan Colyer
Song: Sweet Child O'Mine by Guns 'n' Roses
Running partner: John Lawrence
Weather: Windy and drizzly
Fuel: Coffee, Weetabix, banana, scrambled egg and avocado on toast, Mars bar, salted peanuts
Route: 27 laps of the football pitches and around town
Comments:
This week had been the period I had dreaded most. Five long runs on five working days. The fact that I had reached Friday filled me with relief.
I must praise my company – Mission Aviation Fellowship – for their unwavering support of my challenge both financially through sponsorship, and in terms of giving me the flexibility needed to achieve it. I have used my annual leave and flexitime a lot this week, more than I expected but it has allowed me more time for recovery.
So finally, Friday and after today there would just be three days to go. Saturday is normally a long run day. Sunday is the Battle of Britain Marathon and Monday I have the day off to run all day if I need to.
I’ve settled into a pattern which has helped me mentally. I run to meet John and then lap the football pitches. The route isn’t very exciting, but it is soft grass and so much kinder to my joints.
Today we did 27 laps as it is the 27th day. That is a total of 13.5 miles in circles. Both of us were plugged in and Ally & Fila’s trance anthems kept me company and drowned out John’s incessant moaning. He knows I’m joking. Or am I?
This is what the lap is like. Skip the next two paragraphs unless you are very bored. The lap starts next to a concrete slab. I have no idea why it is there, but it makes a good place to leave our water bottles. We run clockwise starting in a northerly direction towards the hills. There are two large holes in the ground, and we skirt the edge of these. As we approach a fenced off dog walking area we bear right and cross a lush, soft area that obviously receives more water then the rest of the park. Now facing east, we run behind the goal posts towards houses and their back fences. One of these has a beautiful Passion Flower plant draped all over it.
This is a short edge, so we turn right again and are now traveling south towards the sea (which isn’t visible) along the length of the field. There is a trench which we pass on the left and a brick building covered in graffiti (scenic) before a row of three trees in an arc gives a natural bend to the right. Now heading west we climb a slight gradient and then up a short but steep slope. Right again past a play area with two swings and a slide and we have finished the loop. Repeat 26 more times. Thrilling.
This week had been the period I had dreaded most. Five long runs on five working days. The fact that I had reached Friday filled me with relief.
I must praise my company – Mission Aviation Fellowship – for their unwavering support of my challenge both financially through sponsorship, and in terms of giving me the flexibility needed to achieve it. I have used my annual leave and flexitime a lot this week, more than I expected but it has allowed me more time for recovery.
So finally, Friday and after today there would just be three days to go. Saturday is normally a long run day. Sunday is the Battle of Britain Marathon and Monday I have the day off to run all day if I need to.
I’ve settled into a pattern which has helped me mentally. I run to meet John and then lap the football pitches. The route isn’t very exciting, but it is soft grass and so much kinder to my joints.
Today we did 27 laps as it is the 27th day. That is a total of 13.5 miles in circles. Both of us were plugged in and Ally & Fila’s trance anthems kept me company and drowned out John’s incessant moaning. He knows I’m joking. Or am I?
This is what the lap is like. Skip the next two paragraphs unless you are very bored. The lap starts next to a concrete slab. I have no idea why it is there, but it makes a good place to leave our water bottles. We run clockwise starting in a northerly direction towards the hills. There are two large holes in the ground, and we skirt the edge of these. As we approach a fenced off dog walking area we bear right and cross a lush, soft area that obviously receives more water then the rest of the park. Now facing east, we run behind the goal posts towards houses and their back fences. One of these has a beautiful Passion Flower plant draped all over it.
This is a short edge, so we turn right again and are now traveling south towards the sea (which isn’t visible) along the length of the field. There is a trench which we pass on the left and a brick building covered in graffiti (scenic) before a row of three trees in an arc gives a natural bend to the right. Now heading west we climb a slight gradient and then up a short but steep slope. Right again past a play area with two swings and a slide and we have finished the loop. Repeat 26 more times. Thrilling.
 |
| Two middle aged men trying to use a phone |
 |
| No idea what was going on here |
 |
| Tomorrow I reach Glasgow on the way to Fort William |
Dizzy from running in circles, we once again made our way to Buttys for scrambled egg and avocado on toast, Bakewell tart and coffee. Now 17 miles down and just 10 to go. The wind had picked up again but at least it was dry. We ran a long way around to Johns where he finished and I continued until hitting 27 half an hour later.
