Day 181/365

To bring six calendar months to a close just the minimum around Holcombe. Charlton Lane out of Holcombe is closed for a week due to resurfacing, managed to run through tonight but will have to keep this in mind. 154 miles ran this month and no races run. This month I have struggled with the challenge, legs have been tired I've been tired and it's been a real effort to get out there. The highlight of the month was The Sunchase over 20th/21st of the month a relay event around the Mendip Ring 117 miles, there was much banter between the two teams of tortoises and hares. I am not quite at mid way in the challenge that will be half way through my run on the 2nd of July, then it's all downhill......

Day 180/365

The whole family walked up Glastonbury Tor this morning hoping to see and hear what may be going on on the pyramid stage, you could not hear anything and the loan of a gentlemans binoculars we could just see the festival site. Lovely and sunny however, we sat and had lunch on top Glastonbury Tor enjoying the Sunshine wondering who might be on the pyramid stage. This mornings exertion was not enough for my minimum 5k so this evening a deceiving, challenging just over 4.5 miles that took me down Holcombe Hill through Stoke Bottom and across the main road A367 at Nettlebridge and along to Benter, I defeated the very steep Blackey Lane. Retuned to Holcombe  down through Pitcot where I managed to get into my stride.

Day 179/365

About 9 miles today, starting at the church in Kilmersdon I ran along Ames Lane past Jack and Jill Hill and got on the cycle path, from here ran all the way to the end at Great Elm and then back. Accompanied by my eldest two girls on their bikes and Callum in the trailer it was really quite sunny when we set out, there seemed to be a cycling road race going on as bikes were joining the cycle path and exiting in Mells we managed to not get in the way of too many of them. As we started on our return leg a clap of thunder and a lighting strike the heavens just opened above us, heaviest rain ever. The girls cycled on and stopped under the disused railway bridge but as we were already soaked and there seemed no let up we decided to continue on, Callum was dry as a bone in the trailer and loving it and Eva looking like a clown mascara all down her face. We picked up the pace and hurried back to Kilmersdon, still persistently raining loaded the bikes back in the van as I slid the doors shut the sun reappeared and rain stopped. Chips for lunch on the way home cheered up the recovery crew.

Day 178/365

Just the minimum 5k road run this morning as I'm giving blood after work and wanted to get run done. Heel was very sore and found it quite painful running up Holcombe Hill it takes a while to warm up as it is but expected I suppose after running on it off road yesterday evening. Ended up sort of tip toeing on one foot as I ran so as not to bend it till I got to the top and the road flattens out. British summer weather has returned, plenty of puddles to dodge cooler running than it has been lately. GPS decided to turn itself off almost as soon as I'd started so a manual setting today.

Day 177/365

Just over 6 miles multi terrain in just under an hour. As I came out of work Somer AC boys and girls were training hard around the Industrial estate many calling out to me but without my glasses on all I could see was shapes, I said Hi but not sure whom I saw. I ran out the back of the trading estate onto footpaths and up over Haydon Batch following the footpaths and trails down into Radstock coming out by St Nicholas' Church.We've had our first drop of rain for a while it was cooler running and brushing the undergrowth was refreshing as it splashed rain upon me. Into Radstock and up Frome Hill, Radstock Town FC were having their first training session of the season at the request of Craig Button I ran a lap of the pitch as they trained. Craig joined me and I had a quick kick of the ball before leaving. Back down Frome Hill and into Radsock followed the footpaths to the Somer Centre then up the pit path and along the cycle path back to the a Industrial Estate.

Day176/365

5.25 miles off road this evening, the ground is very firm underfoot now after the dry, warm spell we have been enjoying. This makes off road running quicker but care must be taken as it's easy to twist ankles in tractor ruts and dried out muddy areas. A lot of fields have been cut now for hay or silage which also makes running easier. Heel was sore today but eased up after about a mile. Nice steady run didn't over do it average pace 10 mins mile.

Day 175/365

5 miles this evening after work with Desmond. Still warm and dry making it quite sticky. We ran in and out of the housing estates not pushing the pace just running steady. Couple of turns we made there was a nice welcome cooling breeze. One thing is for sure however my road trainers have definitely had it, only expected after 900+ miles this year.

Day 174/365

Still warm and sticky this evening even at 10pm. Legs heavy after an 8 hour shift in a factory but still managed a fairly respectable time for just under 6.5 miles. Stopped at the Five arches to look for an owl I could hear who was up in the trees, didn't manage to spot him. Coming up through Westfield I ran past a lady with a rucksack walking a fairly good pace, she must have been in a world of her own as when I ran past her she exclaimed " ooo sorry", I said " your not walking to Glastonbury are you" she replied " I am", "give Mr Eavis my best" I shouted back and I ran on.

Day 173/365

10k off road run from The Oakhill Inn with Jim Plunkett Cole and Laura. Ran footpaths and trails that brought us to Stoke St Michael and returned past St Dunstans Well and the lost village of Fernhill before climbing up and back through Harridge Woods. Some trails I have ran before and others I had not, but will hopefully in the future. Re hydrated afterwards in the Oakhill Inn.

Day 172/365

Didn't manage to rise to greet the sunrise on the Solstice but a great many of  those involved in the relay event named The Sunchase descended on Burrington Combe and was treated to a marvellous sunrise after chasing the sun around the Mendips over some in excess of 24 hrs covering 117 miles. Being involved in the very first Sunchase was special and it was a complete success and all involved can be very proud of themselves, what an achievement.
After not seeing the sunrise, decided to chase the sunset on Solstice not sure of a route, time and pace not really mattering. Ran through Edford Meadows, Edford Woods and Harridge Woods startled a Roe deer and a badger tumbled out of the hedge onto the trail in front of me before taking off into the hedge on the opposite side. The sun was setting as I ran, piercing through the trees crimson pinks and reds splashed over the sky. Took myself up the pack horse route to the highest local point where I took some photographs. Skirted the edge of the village and seen the last of the Solstice sun disappearing behind Downside Abbey in the distance. The longest day of the year took my total over 900 miles for the year in 2014kx365.

Day171/365

The Sunchase a relay team event running/ walking the 117 miles of  The Mendip Ring. Two teams the hares and the tortoises  starting at Burrington Combe and aiming to make it back before sunrise on the longest day of the year 21st June.
I was on team tortoise "I would rather be a fast tortoise than

a slow hare" and had two legs to run, Leg 11 East Woodland Church to Limerick Farm and Leg 14 Faukland to Charlton.
Leg 11 7.5 miles was ran with Tracey Holborne, we ran a nice steady pace hampered only by the heat & one field of young steers who wanted to join the chase. The begining of the run was overgrown with stinging nettles and brambles and a couple of stretches were on some dangerous main roads but apart from that with most long grass cut for hay and silage a comfortable run with views towards Westbury white horse. Leg 14 took myself and Adrian Holborne from the Faukland Inn along a bridal way all the way to Foxcote. Across some pasture land and then woodland trails and paths to Writhlington. Along Knobsbury Lane down past Huish a House and back on the trail to Kilmersdon the home of the nursery rhyme. Up Jack and Jill Hill and then along the lane to Haydon, back into the fields and along the trail where a crazed squirrel fell out the hedge scrawling around our feet, I think maybe we had frightened it and it had stung itself in the face. Through a field planted with wheat then back through woodland running alongside a river to Charlton. Here we handed over the baton to be carried over 3 more legs through the night to get to Beacon  Batch before sunrise. Leg 14, 6 miles not much cooler than this afternoon, 13.5 miles ran today in total.

Day 170/365

Another little off road run this evening, 4 3/4 miles. Out across the fields and down the old pack horse route coming out opposite Duke of Cumberland.This track is actually still closed as it all fell away in the wet winter months. Up through the disused quarry to Stoke St Michael and then had to walk through a field of steers. Still quite muddy at Tufa waterfalls and frightened another Roe deer tonight in Edford Meadows which is splashed with an array of wild flowers peeping through the long grass. Coming back up Holcombe Hill it was like Xmas day no traffic whatsoever, everybody must be home watching England in the footie. Big one tomorrow 117 mile relay of the Mendip Ring.....The Sunchase.

Day 169/365

Off road run this afternoon very warm again. GPS tracker wasn't picking up signal and turned itself off 0.10 miles in so a manual entry on endomondo, exactly the same route as June 8th 4.05 miles 40 mins 40 secs. Many fields have been cut for silage or hay,  making running easier but any fields uncut means high legs, if you can manage it. Wore road runners today to give heel a bit of support the ground is very firm after this dry sunny spell we are enjoying. Seen pheasant and mallard and a huge dragonfly flew along the trail in front of me glistening blues and greens in the sunshine. I ran along the edge of the wood and heard a branch snap inside as I rounded the corner a stunning roe deer jumped out the woods almost upon me, both of us startled he took off in the other direction.

Day168/365

4.25 miles around Midsomer Norton. Very humid this evening and found it an effort to breathe, the air is very heavy. Pre run I thought about pushing the pace but it took best part of 3 miles to settle into the run. I was hoping once I had got on the Greenway cycle path it would have been cooler in the shade but it wasnt much better. I didnt sweat very much as I ran but once I had Stopped it was like Niagra Falls. Bit of a niggle in my knee to, have to keep an eye on that.

Day167/365

New route this evening. Just under 3.5 miles but still managed to contain 5 named hills started out running down Holcombe Hill, continued down Edford a Hill followed the road to Stoke St Michael where ran up Stoke Hill. Turned off at The Knatchbull Arms up Tower Hill along the lane a steep decent down Moons Hill, along the lane and past The Duke of Cumberland back up Edford Hill and Holcombe Hill. Nice steady pace, just under 30mins still warm and muggy. The streets of a Stoke St Michael are still covered in Union Jack bunting left over from the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the D Day. Apparently, shrouded in secrecy Field Marshal Montgomery, commander of the Eighth Army, met with many of the most senior officers in the British  and American forces including Eisenhower, to decide whether to bring forward the D Day landings over a few ales at the Pub.

Day 166/365

Minimum distance again this evening. Ran rhe same route as yesterday but managed to knock 1min 20secs off yesterdays effort. Still very muggy and warm today. I seem to have lost my momentum a bit rhis week, I have struggled a bit with the warmer weather. I wanted to give it a bit of pace and try to get out of this low, fungers crossed it dosnt last....:also wore out anorher pair of trainers, definately have to order a pair this week.

Day 165/365

200 days to go in 2014kx365 challenge. Just the minimum this evening 5k. Have struggled this week feeling tired and lethargic, putting it down to the heat. Tried to push pace up on mile 2 but it was a real effort, didn't come easy. Hoping things will pick up as I've got The Sunchase on Friday (117 mile relay) of which I'm running two legs and possibly Cheddar Challenge next Sunday 10k or Half marathon, which is two laps of 10k route.

Day164/365

Cycled to work and then road run home, rather than take the most direct route home along the main road ran along Tunnel Lane to the bottom of Chilcompton up to Naishs Cross. Followed the road up past New rock industrial estate and Jacksons fencing till I dropped down into Benter. Through Nettlebridge to Holcombe. A steady paced 6 1/2 miles, much to hot for pushing the pace out. Heel not so sore today icing it again tonight .

Day163/365

Struggled this evening, well I have struggled all week, feeling tired but today my heel has been giving me a bit of gyp as well. I first felt discomfort with my left heel mid February when I started taking the mileage up whist training for Bath Half Marathon. Managed to run Bath Half with just a niggle but two weeks later I ran The Big Cheese 15 miles off road around Cheddar the next day it was like my ankle had been set in concrete. I still have good days & bad days with it but most mornings it takes a while to get it going, today it's been all day and I can't pin point a reason for this as I haven't overdone it or pulled it, may have to take it to doctors 16 weeks is along time now. Just ran a very steady paced minimum 5k on the road this evening, now icing a massaging heel.

Day162/365

Out running with the boys tonight after work, Dessie, Nick and Vince. What was supposed to be a nice steady run turned into a fairly quick paced run, with everyone blaming each other for going too fast. At 10pm it was again fairly light out, we ran around the trading estate and up Charlton Lane, then up Charlton Rd past Norton Hill School. Down through Midsomer Norton High Street to Thicket Mead where we got on the cycle path got off at Five arches and back on cycle path all the way to Silver Street. Up Silver Street and back down Charlton Rd to trading estate. 5 3/4 miles just over 46 mins a good run but legs were feeling a bit tired.

Day 161/365

Last week I was running at 6am this week 10pm, but it was so light out there the longest day of the year is nearly upon us. Ran out of the trading estate and up towards the White Post the road however was closed as they are resurfacing the roundabout but I managed to squeeze through. Ran back down to Norton Rugby Club where I ran a sneaky lap of the first team pitch. The last time I ran anywhere near there was seven years ago when I was unceremoniously dumped braking my collar bone, and that was the end of my rugby career having made a come back after about a  6/7 year lay off. It was said my come back lasted longer than the spice girls but not as lucrative. Headed down into Norton and on to the cycle path, I think it was a good night for hunting as there were cats everywhere or maybe they are gathering for the full moon on the Friday 13th! Up the pit path and back round to the trading estate just under 4 miles in 33mins.

Day 160/365

Monday 9th June 2014
5 1/2 miles cross country from work to home at 10 pm in the dark with the moon for company. Open fields were quite easy to run along in the dark so long as the footpath had been well used and trail was clear. However if the trail was overgrown and through woodland the pace slowed considerably and the stride shortened. In the woodland the beam of the head torch bounces back off trees and bushes and the pathway is not lit up. My headlamp lit up the eyes of woodland creatures I made out a couple of deer and ran behind a baby badger in a tractor rut for what seemed an age but must have been only 10 or 20 seconds. The hairs stood up on my neck and arms the closer I got to Holcombe old church which stands on the edge of woodland, as you can imagine the pace quickened as I skirted around the graveyard and ran up across the field as an owl screeched behind me, quite eery.

Day159/365

June 8th 2014
Nice steady 4 miles off road, the meadows are now full of wild flowers big patches of Ox eye daisy staring out above the grasses and other wild flowers. A couple of fields have been cut for silage which made easier running as now the grass is longer you've to lift your legs higher unless there is a clear trail. Ground is much firmer  but some very wet, muddy patches in shaded areas. Legs felt good, a week of running  low mileage has done them good. It's been two weeks since I pulled my hamstring, it has recovered well, I had no trouble whatsoever from it this evening which is good after continuing to run on it through injury.

BATH HALF MARATHON 2014

Days 152-158/365

2014kx365
June 1st to June 7th
Days 152-158
Last Saturday I reached a huge milestone in the challenge 800 miles & 5 calendar months. I worked hard to get the miles in before the end of the month, however the awesome feeling of this achievement was short lived, I felt tired, deflated & legs fragile. I regrouped Monday & ran a steady 6 miles off road, 3 fields had cattle in and another r4 inquisitive ponies which I could not race through as I only have 2 legs they all have four. Working 12 hour nights I decided the easiest time to run was straight after my shift at 6am before my family had got up, so Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri I ran minimum miles from Westfield Trading Estate around Midsomer Norton, Radstock & Haydon. Found it hard running after 12 hour night shift but it was a great time to run just as everything is waking up for the day. Minimum miles has done my legs good and ran a nice 5 miles this evening on the road, giving myself something to aim for have entered Frome Half Marathon on 20th July, 6 weeks time.

2014kx365

As part of 2014kx365 challenge I aim to run/walk a minimum of 1k everyday throughout 2014 & hopefully raise some money for my chosen charities SANDS - Stillbirth & neonatal death charity http://www.justgiving.com/2014kx365jimbarron and Time is Precious http://www.justgiving.com/365jimbarron

My dream would be to run a minimum 5k/ 3.1 miles every day & I will strife to do this but as life is uncertain & we do not know what is around the corner I have included a buffer zone to enable me to drop down to the minimum 1k walk. 

I intend to run this blog alongside my Facebook page 2014kx365jimbarron which I update daily, this blog is intended for those who do not do social networking and would like to follow/ support me in this challenge. Please bear with me while I update you on the first 5 months of my challenge & hope you enjoy following the next 7 months.