Day 273/365

Bringing September to a close on day 273/365, 4.29 miles after work on my own in the dark head torch on and along the cycle path to Radstock through the town centre and back up through Westfield.    Autumn is definitely on its way much cooler this evening with a wind brewing.
162 running miles in September, plagued a bit by injury but managed two races including my first ultra marathon, Uphill to Wells 29 miles and Mells Scenic 7.

Day 272/365

My back today is not overly impressed with the weekends racing.  A steady 5k recovery run after work out of the trading estate and up the Fosseway to The White Post around the lamp post and back down. Through Charlton Park down Lynton Rd and back around the trading estate. A very steady pace which would have been much slower had I not had the company of Desmond and Nicholas. The first mile was quite uncomfortable but the discomfort eased as we ran on managing to maintain an average pace just under 9 min/ mile. Still nice and warm for the end of September and dry underfoot.

Day 271/365 Mells Scenic 7

Organised by Frome Running Club, Mells Scenic7 is an undulating 7.14 miles, roughly two thirds trail and a third paths and minor roads. Starting in Mells and going through the villages of Great Elm and Buckland Dinham before returning to Mells in the heart of Somerset.

Previous two years I have managed 1:03:00 last year and in 2012 a time of 1:00:03 so I was hoping to get home under the hour, before the church tower in Mells struck 12 o clock. My back was niggling this morning after racing around Baths Skyline yesterday so topped up with ibuprofen I was a bit apprehensive. A great turn out from Somer Ac and a massive amount of red shirts from Frome running club walked the 10 mins walk towards the start. I recognised faces of runners I knew and looked for ones who were about my pace whom I could use to run with. I saw my friend Martin who runs for Frome pushing his way to the front I followed. The starter horn blew and we were off, faster than I would normally start but I knew the course bottlenecks and so pushed on, I didn't want to get caught. My tracker had not started and I knew I had to make 8.5 min miles to be under the hour, I would have to rely on chasing Martin, I was overtaken by Tony a Somer runner whom I knew would be sub 1 hour if I could hang on to these two I should make it. The field had spread out and there was a few runners between me and Martin his pace slowed on the inclines and the declines but he pulled away on the flat, I started to push it on the inclines and declines and I was still within sight of him and tony at 4 miles the water station. I poured a cupful over my wrist band to cool my blood and took two more, one I poured over my head the other I sipped and tipped the remainder also over my head. We were running along a bridal way now flat and long, it was warm Martin and Tony were pulling away, I over took a couple of runners and was over taken myself. I recognised the route now and knew it wasn't much further along a lane a back into the fields. I could see Mells church steeple behind the hedge. As we skirted the field I was passed by a female runner, she was just in front of me as we  ran through an opening into the next field. A slight decline now I knew the end was near, across the field and up through Mells past the Talbot and into cricket field. I pushed the decline passing the girl, I hadn't heard the bell toll. Through the gateway and onto the road passing another runner an incline now past the Talbot Inn pumping I had to keep going I didn't want to be overtaken again. I still hadn't heard the bell, pumping into the cricket field it was hard now I'd started my finish to early could I hold on. I could see the electronic timer 1:00:08 my heart sank but I heard C'MON  Jim and shouts of support and clapping I pushed it up through the funnel. I hadn't beat the bell toll official finish time 1:00:11. 11 seconds I was disappointed, I'd just ran 7 miles and to have missed out by 11 seconds I couldn't believe it, never mind maybe next year.

Day 270/365 Bath Skyline Parkrun Trial

Bath Skyline Parkrun makes its launch next week on 4th October.  This week by invitation we had a trial run of the free 5km timed run which will be held weekly on a Saturday morning at 9am. The event takes place at Free Fields Claverton Down Bath.Having pulled a muscle in my back yesterday I was a bit dubious about about running this morning but when I got up it didnt feel too bad so i decided to take it steady. The first mile I did but after I was passed twice and my back was causing no problems decided to push up the pace. A very enjoable run along gravel and stone paths and through woodland and fields the National Trust having laid and upgraded paths especially for Parkrun. Looking forward to the launch next week. With no great problems today I will be running tomorrow in Frome Running Clubs Mells Scenic 7, 7 miles off road.

Day 269/365

Felt a few twinges in my back yesterday and when I got up this morning it was quite stiff. Todays run was very slow and painful. Went for a little off road run along the tracks and trsils between Holcombe  and Coleford taking it very steady. The ground underfoot waa quite soft in places after after the rain and even though the sun was shining bright and warm the grass was still wet. Managed to still run but Mells Scenic 7 looks doubtful.

Day 268/365

Up Holcombe Hill, figure 8 around the lanes and back down Holcombe Hill. Having a bit of a sore throat and legs lethargic just taking it steady. Minimum miles 3.28 in 31.18 minutes.

Day 267/365

Quite a warm sunny afternoon after a damp and drizzly start, feeling a bit lethargic however and legs heavy. Just the minimum 5k road run out the back of the lorry park and around the trading estate, straight up the Fosseway to the White Post, back down the Fosseway through Charlton Park and back around the trading estate. 3.33 miles in 27mins 22 secs.
After having to force my legs to move managed a nice average pace of 8.13 min/mile. Im thinking the weekends running may have caught up with me so will be keeping things simple and steady over the next few days as its #MellsScenic7 on Sunday.

Day 266/365

Mixing it up a bit today, straight after work and before school pick up out the back of the trading estste and into the fields. Up over Haydon Batch and picking up Jack n ' Jill route down into Radstock emerging beside St Nicholas Church. Road running now up over Radstock Hill  past The Railway and down to the Five Arches. Onto the cycle path for a bit of trail running, all the way along to Silver Street and back round the roads past Norton Hill School to the trading estate.  Nice steady pace, giving the legs a rest just over 4 miles.

Day 265/365

Glorious sunny afternoon 4.5 miles road run straight after work. Ran out the trading estate and up past the White Post back down towards Midsomer Norton past the Rugby Club. Ran down Silver Street and got on the cycle path, fallen conkers all over the cycle path were quite hazardous in places, running on along as far as the pit path. Up the pit path and into the housing estates, out onto the main road. Then straight down through Westfield back to the tading estate. Reaching another milestone today 100 day countdown begins.

Day 264/365

Recovery run, just over 4 miles in 40 minutes, nice gentle off road trot round. Loosening things up and keeping things moving. My toes are sore and maybe going to loose 3 more toenails to add to the 3 already missing but apart from that everything thing feels quite good, a few twinges in my back but not feeling too bad. Start planning forward now, we have the very first park run in Bath starting October 4th but we are running a full dress rehersal on Saturday then Sunday we have Mells Scenic 7 Frome running Clubs off road race.

Day 263/365 Uphill to Wells

Uphill to Wells
Stood at the start line on the sand at Uphill Beach 11am in the morning, 29 miles between me and Wells Cathedral. 4 weeks ago the furthest I had ran was The Big Cheese 15 miles around Cheddar.  In a moment of perhaps stupidity I entered the Uphill to Wells race as a solo runner, I ran 17, 20, & 23 miles training in the 3 consecutive weekends prior having an easy week last week. I would now have to find a further 6 miles in my legs another hour or more running, not knowing the route on this unmarshalled course mabe it was stupidity.
Teaming up with fellow 365'ers Frome running Clubs Martin Taylor and veteran ultra marathoner Somer AC's Judith Chubb Whittle we worked together, helping each other to cover the distance. Passing through the checkpoints at Loxton, Kingswood, Blackrock, Draycott and Priddy we steadily paced ourselves over the Mendips picking up another Frome runner Steve Carroll as we progressed.
Between Draycott and Priddy we lost Judith and started to push on towards Priddy we were overtaken by relay runners who were doing a leg each and we tried to keep with them to guide us the way, most of them having fresh legs were to strong for us to hold on to. In Priddy I had now ran further than I had ever before but had just over 5 miles left to Wells Cathedral. Champion runner  John Reynolds ran with us out of the village and set us on our way across the fields. 5 more miles, the run was now to become mentally challenging. My toes were hurting, my right ankle didnt feel like it was bending, my shoulders ached  and my legs were heavy I needed to push this out my mind. Martin had took over navigation I just had to follow him and not think of anything else but the finish. We had ran steady  at the begining and fuelled well it was paying off now as we ran through Wookey hole the miles  were decreasing. Into wells  about a mile to go through Wells Blue School, miles had become metres. The finish was around the corner under the archway and onto Wells Cathedral Green to rapturous applause.  I could see my family at the finish line cheering . Martin Myself and Steve linked hands and raised them high as we crossed the finish line altogether.
Uphill beach was just over 29 miles behind us taking just over 6 hours my first marathon/ ultra marathon distance. Another achievement in my 2014kx365 challenge.
 Uphill to Wells was not so much a race it was a challenge mentally and physically on completing the distance , working together to achieve it. We worked together Martin Taylor, Judith Chubb Whittle and Steve Carroll we made the distance.

Day 262/365

Minimum mileage very slow and steady 5k on a misty damp morning, conserving the energy for tomorrow's 29 miles across the Mendips, from Uphill Beach to Wells Cathedral following the West Mendip Way. I ran around the playing fields till I reached 5k then stopped and walked back to the van. Starting to get a bit nervous now and the worry of getting lost is starting to hit home. Tomorrows run does not have a huge field and the runners will soon spread out over the 29 miles.

Day 261/365

Uphill to Wells  is on Saturday but it was starting to look dubious as to wether or not I would make it to the start. Ran the same route as Tuesday minimum miles at a nice steady pace ever hopeful that some how I may get to Uphill. As I set out it had just finished an electrifying thunder and lightning storm with some very heavy rain lasting 20 mins to half hour. The kerbs were running with water and I was dodging massive puddles.
On my return home I recieved a message from someone I dont even know who has gone out of his way to get me to the start line on Saturday, a huge thankyou goes out to that man. West mendip way here we come, game on......29 miles.

Day 260/365

Just over 4 miles this evening after work, another very warm evening. The plan to go steady with Uphill to Wells on the horizon went out the window as I was  joined by Desmond Vincent and Nicholas. We started out fairly steady but soon the pace started moving along with Vincent storming ahead in the home straits. 4.24 miles in 34:20 minutes.

Day 259/365

Just the minimum amount of miles this evening after work. Ran out the trading estate and up to the White Post around the lampost and back down through Charlton Park, down Lynton Rd back round the Trading Estste. 3.32 miles in 27:38 minutes, nice and warm and dry like a summers evening certainly broke into a sweat.
Ive done a bit of toting up today and I have ran to date since the 1st January just over 1400 miles and have raised just over £800, a massive thankyou to everyone who has made a donation. If you havent msde a donation yet dont worry as you still have just over 100 days to do so, you can donate through my just giving pages to
Time is Precious www.justgiving.com/365jimbarron or
SANDS www.justgiving.com/2014kx365jimbarron

Day 258/365

In and around the housing estates on a very warm september evening. After work with Nick and Vince intending not to go very far ended up doing just over 5 miles in just over 40 minutes. The pace creeping up to with all except for the first mile being sub 8 min miles. Will need to take

it easy now before Saturday's Uphill to Wells and start a bit of carb loading, stored energy for the 29 miles.

Day 257/365

The darker nights are drawing in quickly now and after forgetting my headtorch I ended up running around the playing fields till I could no longer see where I was going, managed to make the distance up to 4 miles by running along Abbey Road a short stretch. Wasnt planning on running a massive distance any way as I am tapering for next Saturdays Uphill to Wells 29 mile run following the West Mendip way, which is 90% off road taking in Cheddar and Priddy. 4 miles exactly in just over 37 minutes very steady 9.17 min/mile pace as I had just polished off a roast chicken dinner and rhubarb pie, not ideal just before excercise....

Day 256/365

Up and out early, ran up through Stoke St Michael on a chilly, misty morning.  Minimum 5k in the bag, feeling slightly lethargic this morning so took it steady. Tapering the mileage now before Uphill to Wells next Saturday, a possible 29 miles of hell.

Day 255/365

Another beautiful sunny afternoon, waited for H to finish school then we went to the plsying fields. H ran in one direction and I ran in the other giving each other high fives every time we met, the further we ran H's high fives becsme lower eventually becoming quite low fives. She did however do very well running 2.6 miles to my 4.16. A fellow runner appeared off the footpath with a dog and ran one lap before disappearing into the copse. The chestnut trees have started to drop their fruit which is a bit awkward to run on when you run beneath the spreading chestnut trees. Hoping H maybe ready for her first 5k race on 12th October at Southwick Country park 'Go Run for Lucia 5k'.

Day 254/365

Running out of hours in the day and daylight, just before 8pm before I got out for my run today. Headtorch on, over the fields and through the woods. Spotted a couple of Roe deer in the first field I ran through headed towards Holcombe Old church and through Holcombe woods. Frightened the pheasants that had just started to roost, glad of my head torch as it was quite dark under the trees. Took a tumble when a stick wedged itself between my feet, luckily fell with style and no damage done. 3.64 miles in 36 minutes not a  bad pace in the dark.

Day 253/365

Another gloriously sunny afternoon, took my running to the playng fields again. Ran out from Abbey Road and did 3 laps of both playing fields in a figure eight running through the copse at mid point. The grass is very short and the groundsmen were cutting the grass even shorter. Injuries were not causing too much discomfort so decided to push the pace out on mile four which came in just sub 8 minutes. Just over 4 miles in 33 minutes.

Day 252/365

Just over 4 miles road run after work, very warm and sunny. Not really feeling up for it, having a cant be bothered day. Ran up to to the White Post and then back down towards Midsomer Norton past the Rugby Club. Once on Silver street I ran along the cycle path as far as the pit path and then ran up the pit path overtaking an old lady in a mobility scooter which made her laugh as I ran by. Through the housing estate and out onto the main road, straight up through Westfield around the industrial estate, job done. Just over 4 miles in 37 minutes, trying to ignore anything thst might start hurting.

Day 251/365

H kept on she wanted to go running so I waited for her to finish school and told her to get in the zone on the bus on the way home. We went over the playing fields its good for both of us as we can both run at our own pace and can see each other at the same time also the terrain is less impacting on injured bodies, normally one would rest up altogether but to do the minimum in the challenge this is the easiest way. Lovely sunny afternoon, really warm beautiful for the time of year.
My knee was quite sore when I got up this morning and it looks like theres a bit of an infection in it from where I fell over on Saturday, running started off a bit painful but once I got going it eased up and i kept it going at a nice steady pace as the legs felt a bit tired today. I think H was a bit tired to and she hadn't got herself in the Zone as she stopped at just short of 1 3/4 miles. I did another couple of laps to make the minimum job done, day 251 of 365 day challenge.

Day 250/365

My knee is sore and swollen from my tumble yesterday. Left my run till later and msnsged a steady paced 5k around the playing fields, 3.31 miles in 32:17 mins. After running 23 miles yesterday surprisingly my legs feel pretty good if it wasnt for my knee, so I should be  happy about that. Not much to say about running around a playing field eight times as the sun was going down and the moon was coming up. A couple of owls were calling in the copse and as I  ran under the great beech trees which run along side the road the mast was crunching underfoot as I rsn over it. Minimum miles for a few days now I think.

Day 249/365

Uphill to Wells 29 miles only two weeks away. Out the door at 6am not quite light so had my head torch on ran down the Pack horse trail and around the edge of Edford Woods before hesding through the disused Quarry to Stoke Saint Michsel. Met a couple of ladies with two dogs one lady got her dog on the lead but the other just let hers run and yap all around me, saying he wont hurt you love. After getting bit on the bum only a few weeks ago I just stood there for what must have been 3 or 4 mins till they went their way. Carried on along the footpaths and trails through Harridge woods and Edford woods Zig zagging my way through the fields towards Coleford. Bottom of Coleford I ran through a field with a right mixture of cattle, they all seemed pretty docile even though there wss calfs at foot amongst them. As I ran through a calf was startled by me and took off into a copse, I now found myself between it and the mother who was not hsppy. She started snorting and hesding in my direction, I luckily got behind a tree and she went to the other side pursuing her young. Headed through Holcombe woods and along Snails Bottom towards Charlton where I picked up the #Jack n'Jill route, halfway round at about 13 miles I tripped and went down splat! I smashrd my knee as I went down on a rock which didnt seem to bad at the time but as I ran on became very sore. Continued on around the Jack n'Jill route and then headed bsck to Holcmbe. Steady supply of jelly babies every mile and brought extra fluids which kept energy levels up, started to struggle at mile 21 but msnaged to push myself slong snother 2 miles to 23 miles in 4:46mins with average pace of 12:21 mins/mile.

Day 248/365

Went out earlier this morning as I want to get full rest in before my longer training run tomorrow.  Dry and cool but overcast ran along Frog Lane to Stoke St Michael through the village and back to Holcombe. Minimum miles 5k. Thats the fourth road run in as many days my back is holding out, slight twinges and my achilles is, I think on the mend not at all as sore and seized up first thing as it has been. Legs were a bit tired this morning but managed to keep the pace under 9mins/mile, 3.49miles in 30.27 minutes.