59-69. St Cyprian, France

We're back from our holiday in France.  We had a great time, the weather was hot and breezy and Jake kept his blood sugar in check by sampling various ice creams (bubble-gum flavour was his favourite) and swimming in both the pool and the sea.  I read "Born to Run" and it was fantastic - very inspiring.

Any doubts I had about the feasibility of running in the area were eroded as we approached the campsite.  On each side of the road were these cycle/bridle paths - ideal for running routes, and I was able to try out a few routes - some planned, others made up on the hoof, so to speak.  I also switched them around to allow for time for all three of us, ensuring that whilst the runs were undertaken every day, I remembered that the reason we were away was for a family holiday.

Along these bridle paths were all kinds of apparatus for stretching, hurdles etc - a real runner's paradise.  I exchanged a few "Bonjour's" with my fellow runners.  Some replied, some didn't.  I spotted one, wearing a Newcastle United top, who said a hearty "Bonjour" and I replied "Hi there" - he then turned at me surprised that I recognised him as a Brit  - come on...who else would wear that top?

On the first day, I trotted out at around 5pm, and got lost on what I thought was the return leg of a 6.3 mile loop.  Finding myself in the middle of nowhere with no phone or money wasn't the best start.  My limited French would be useless as well, so just like Forrest Gump...I kept running. After getting my bearings, remembering that traffic approaches from the opposite side of road.  I also had to remind myself that I was lost, with no money, no phone, a very basic grasp of the language.  All I had was basic common sense, internal compass and 2 eyes to read the road signs. I eventually found my way home albeit an extra 30 mins longer, but played it cool and told Carolyn and Jake it was "All part of the plan"...

I have to say that the Helly Hansen top worked a treat for the duration of the holiday - leaving me nice an cool, either running in the morning or evening it kept the sun off and most of all - dry.  Thanks once again to Jax @ Helly Hansen for sending me the free running wear - it worked wonders when I needed it to.

My first Injury of the challenge was a nipple related injury, a combination of sunburn, and chaffing from the New Balance top, when the HH top was hung out to dry.  The pain was so bad this morning that I ran in just a pair of shorts and trainers for this morning's run along to the port and back along the beach.  I felt a bit of a charlie and a show off, but needs-must and there were plenty of others doing the same who were show off's and charlies. Macho Man, indeed.  There will be none of that back in blighty, I promise.

Here are the runs, which were tracked on a scrap of paper:

08/08 Run 59 : 9.3 miles - I got lost!
09/08 Run 60 : 6.2 miles
10/08 Run 61 : 6.6 miles
11/08 Run 62 : 6.6 miles
12/08 Run 63 : 6.3 miles
13/08 Run 64 : 6.3 miles
14/08 Run 65 : 6.8 miles
15/08 Run 66 : 6.2 miles
16/08 Run 67 : 6.3 miles
17/08 Run 68 : 6.9 miles
18/08 Run 69 : 6.2 miles (Bare Chest Cheek...)

I got a message from Gareth, where he had it confirmed that his fracture is actually a break and the cast needs to stay on for another couple of weeks.  I know he can run the 13.1 of the Great North backwards and still get a decent time.  He texted me last night to say he's defied the Doctor's orders and undertaken a 5 mile run and felt great - good on you Pal!

I'd like to say a big thanks to my big sister Lucy for her sterling work in spreading the word via Twitter of my campaign.  I've had recent donations from her friends Jane and Fran, and Lucy's been great in spreading the word - thanks for your support!

So there we have it.  One of the most challenging sections of the 100 runs challenge so far and it's back to running in Saddleworth until Weds, when we are visiting Carolyn's Mum in Limerick with Pat's family for a week.

More support

Big thanks to Accelerate Running of Sheffield and Mountain Feet of Oldham for offering to upload links to my Justgiving page and this blog to their Facebook Pages - this is much appreciated.  Mountain Feet have also offered a discount in store, so again thanks for your support and kind emails back - they give me a boost!

http://www.accelerateuk.com/ and http://www.mountainfeet.co.uk/

One of the clothing companies I contacted also came back to me, albeit by letting me know just how much attention they paid to the original email I sent them.  After telling me how many requests they get and that they support many charities already, Sally from GORE UK signed off her communication with the line "Good luck with your bike ride".  This rattled me, because I think that the snappy challenge title (100 runs in 100 days) sort of gives a big clue as to what I will be doing.  Whilst I don't expect anything from anyone I've contacted, I appreciate a degree of courtesy, and GORE UK have so far demonstrated very little of this, which grates considering the good things I had read about their company and products - and the fact I have purchased, worn and endorsed their products in the past.  No matter.  The buzz I get after each run is the satisfaction of doing something I set out to do, and the kindness of others, in particular A3 Sports, Helly Hansen, Rainbow Running, Accelerate UK and Mountain Feet, as well as my justgiving donators are all good examples of this.

Thank you. 

Running with Colin

Colin Bishop, a friend who is also an experienced runner and coach, got in touch earlier this week to offer moral support and join me on one of my weekend runs.  I have to say that I accepted his offer with a slight degree of nervousness.  Colin has many running acheivements to his name, completing the infamous Bob Graham Round (72 peaks of the Lake District in 24 hours) just being one of these that made me nervous about hitting the peaks with him.  I'm sure he was the original inspiration for the Beano's Billy Whizz.  I was pretty humbled.  Colin is both great company as well as being very encouraging so I took him up on his offer.

I gave the Helly Hansen top and shorts their "maiden voyage" and we set off up the boat lane towards Stanedge Cutting, where the Pennine Way meets the Oldham Way.  Colin said that he would take a few photos of the run for the Saddleworth Runners website, which is being linked to this blog, which I am most grateful for.  I will repay them by joining up and helping out with future races.  Their website is http://www.saddleworth-runners.co.uk/

At one point, Colin filmed me running down a rocky hill which, I suspect if I had tripped arse over head, then he would have submitted to You've Been Framed.  Mind you, decent and honest chap that he is, he would have passed on my cut of the £250.  We carried on the route following the Oldham Way and along the edge of Cattleshaw, back up to Brun Clough and down the boat lane.

It was a great run, topped off by a lovely post-run lunch provided by Carolyn.  The HH top worked very well, all the wicking and technical jargon on the labels did what they said they would.

Thanks again, Colin for your support and compliments on my running.  To be able to keep up with you is enough for me.

Yesterday's run - 6.2 miles
Today's - 7.1 miles

Early run tomorrow, due to commitments at the Diggle School Fete, manning the "Splat the Rat" stall...

Helly Hansen is a friend of mine

Another early start with this one, 4:45am with a nice 6.3 miles as the sun came up.

The Helly Hansen parcel from Holland was waiting for me when I got home - 2 technical t-shirts, 1 pair of shorts and a lightweight jacket, that must be over £180 worth of kit,  Big thanks to Jax at Helly Hansen's HQ in Nottingham for reading my letter and convincing her Marketing Manager that my challenge was worth a punt.  As the theme tune to "Jim'll Fix It" went..."Your letter...was only the start of it..."

Looking forward to wearing it with pride!

Support comes from unlikely places

Last week, around the same time that I sent out the usual "begging" email to work colleagues and a link to my justgiving page to my facebook friends, I decided to approach major sports manufacturers and retailers as well as a a few small, independent businesses. I thought there would be a better take-up if I requested an item of merchandise rather than to outright as for money donations.  It's a mark of the times then, that the first one to respond, and pledge support should be from a small, family-run business based in a village in Hampshire.

A3 sports is run out of a small store in the centre of Liphook, the village where I grew up and lived for nearly twenty years - and where my Mum and Dad still live.  It was a shot in the dark that I should approach them to help me with my training in support for a plug in any press or media I undertake as the challenge progresses.

Beth Marr from A3 Sports sent me one of the nicest emails, pledging to design some t-shirts for me to wear - I'm most grateful and plan to take her in a bunch of flowers when I am next down visiting my parents at the end of July.  Their website is http://www.a3sports.co.uk/

I've also had a promise of some gear to keep me "cool, dry and warm" during the next couple of months whilst undertaking the runs.  Many Thanks to Helly Hansen, who have broken their "don't normally do this...you must understand the amount of requests we get...etc etc" rule to support me.  A parcel is on it's way to me from their depot in Holland, I'm told...

JJB Sports have said "No", however Mark, from their base in Chorley phoned and told of his experience with type 1 diabetes when his 10 year old son was diagnosed in January this year.  We have agreed to join forces and help each others' fundraising, sharing tips and best practice in managing Type-1 Diabetes.

It's getting interesting...