Day 333/365

On a dark and misty Saturday evening a new British and Holcombe record has been set. Six times up and six times down Holcombe Hill with total distance of 9.05 miles. Quite misty when I set out running a nice steady pace as I ran the fog got heavier and I considered abandoning my run after reaching my minimum but as quickly as the fog came down it lifted and by mile six it had completely gone.

I normally expect to see wildlife on my off road runs this evening I could hear a owl screeching but couldn't see him and then suddenly a pair of roe deer ran out of the driveway of the last bungalow on the hill and up the driveway of the house opposite narrowly being missed by a 4x4 which had slowed down wondering probably what was coming with lights flashing all over, which was me. Very lucky deer may be they were hurrying to Lapland for December 24th! 

Felt a bit of tightness in my left calf and stomach muscles are quite tight but once I'd reached 5 ascents/descents the record was there to be broken also the prospect of possibly leaving 11 miles to run tomorrow to make 200 running miles in November.

Day 332/365

Day 332, bit late this evening after a meeting at work so myself and Desmond ran around the housing estates around Westfield and took a detour up to the Whitepost and back down. The Christmas lights have been turned on in Westfield looking very festive. Managed a leisurely 5.18 miles, that's a total 1818.45 running miles 2014 and 180 for this month. I could see a goal of 200 miles for this month but it's possibly beyond reach.... We will see what the weekend holds in store.

Day 331/365

Wearing those old trainers yesterday aggravated  my Achilles tendinitis, legs feeling tired and achey having ran 45+ miles in the last week. Not really feeling the enthusiasm to get out there this evening, no running companions and fed up with the same routes. The boys from work had gone for a curry this evening at one of the establishments in Midsomer Norton so as I ran down Silver Street decided to do a run past and call in and see the boys. They were enjoying poppadoms and drinking beers when I got there, I refused refreshments as I was heading to Radstock, don't drink and run and spicy food would not lie well with another 3 miles to run.  My tracker decided now it was going to play up it sounded like somebody was strangling audio speech lady. Thought tracker was working and ran on to Radstock it wasn't, took a photo of the Christmas trees on top Co op and ran back up through Westfield and around the trading estate. 6.84 miles estimated by map to measure app. Slightly warmer and much drier underfoot, 1812/2014 running miles, 200 more miles required in 34 days, that's still average 6 miles a day till 32st December.

Day330/365

Forgot to take my running shoes to work with me but found a very sad pair loitering in the back of my van which were destined for the dustbin. Cold but not raining, still wet underfoot and a bit slippery even more so wearing runners with no tread. Myself and Nick Parrott ran down through Westfield to Radstock and then back along North Rd to Midsomer Norton down Church Lane through the High Street and back up Silver Street to the trading estate. Just over 5 miles with very heavy legs which could have been worse if I'd been wearing my work boots. Total running miles 1806/2014

Day 329/365

Wet, cold and dark. Not much fun this evening, no fellow runners wishing to join me in pounding the pavements. I had my head torch with me so decided to run along the cycle paths but even with my head torch on a dark and wet night it was hard to see where the pathway was especially where it was covered in leaves. I kept running into the verges and there were some deep puddles to, very deep some of them with icey cold water that froze my toes. Had an undershirt on as well as a hi viz shirt which felt very heavy soaked from the cold rain. Decided to clock a few miles while I was on my own and nobody to complain about distances, just over 7.5 miles and glad to get it done.

Day 328/365

10pm after work the cars in the car park windscreens are already frozen up and you can feel the cold going down onto your chest as you breathe. Luckily I had a hat and running gloves in my locker but as me and Vincent wait for Des and Nick I can feel my legs seizing up already from the cold. Nick appears "Dessies not coming, he doesn't feel well". Too cold to stand about discussing it we get going, the first mile seems great effort and a struggle to get going. The floor glistens under our feet from the light of the cars, care must be taken on any tight changes of direction it feels slippery under foot. We get into our pace now, in and out of the housing estates around Westfield 5.5 miles day 328, 1793/2014 running miles.

Day 327/365

Having to deliver my vehicle to the garage for repair tomorrow I took the opportunity to run home rather than be dragging the whole family out. Another little off road meander along a route I was frequently running in the summer but havent for a while. It seems the footpath at the beginning of this run near Waterside Farm has been slightly diverted with a nice bridge. It has been done nicely but the recent rains has turned the footpath into a muddy swamp. Carried on along the footpath and picked up part of the Mendip Ring through Charlton and Snails Bottom to Loocombe Woods. Taking it steady through the woods as itshard to see your footing under the leaves and can be quite slippery.Frightened the game birds as I ran from Loocombe Woods to Holcombe Woods lots of flapping of wing and callsas they took off en masse. Took a few diversions around the perimeter of Holcombe to take the mileage upto 6.79 miles.

Day 326/365

1780/2014 running miles. 6.5 miles off road at the end of the day, damp cold and misty. Underfoot very soft and very heavy going. I think it was dog walking time because everywhere I went there were dogs running around everywhere, as you know dogs get a bit excited when they see me running,  still got the scar on my bum to show for it. Couple of owls calling to each other in Edford Woods but couldn't spot them, apart from that didn't see or hear any thing much else, I think the dogs must have frightened everything. It was dark as I got to the bottom of Holcombe intended heading up the pack horse trail but the miles were under my belt and I was hungry, so headed home up the hill. Bit of pain in my left calf and my stomach muscles feel a bit tight but have increased the miles considerably the last couple of weeks.... need take it steady.

Day 325/365

A steady trundle through Midsomer Norton and Radstock. Very grey and wet out although the rain eased up the further into the run. Desmond was definitely struggling today he got himself a blister on his little toe running so many miles yesterday. Ran through the nature reserve again this time in the opposite direction past Somervale School and onto Chilcompton Rd. Ran through Thicketmead and down into Welton where we got on the cycle path. Huge puddles to dodge and some very slippery leaves all the way into Radstock. Minding the drain covers which are also treacherous up Radstock Hill  into Waterford Park around the housing estate and then straight up through Westfield  back to the trading estate. Feet soaked again but managed a steady 10k, total running miles 1744/2014, needing an average 6 miles a day to reach 2014/2014 by 31st December, 40 days to go.

Fundraising for 

Time is Precious www.justgiving.com/jimbarron

SANDS www.justgiving.com/2014kx365jimbarron

Day 324/365

Wanting to try and move the mileage goalposts slightly in my favour opted for a longer run this afternoon. Had two rather unwilling running companions one more so than the other. Hoping to run 10ish miles myself Steve and Desmond who has run five days on the trot headed out the trading estate and around the lanes to Kilmersdon. In Kilmersdon we got on the cycle path all the way to Radstock, it was dry out but a bit overcast and cold, fingers were getting cold again. Five miles under our belts in Radstock we got on the Greenway all the way to Thicketmead. Desmond started threatening to head on back as we ran along the Greenway. We also came across some cheeky senior ladies the first one commenting " run faster you'll get there quicker" and another " no slacking high knees". Had some serious problems with swarms of tiny bugs along the cycle path which were hovering and if you were unlucky and didn't spot them you would get a mouth full of them, Des had more than his share. At the top of Thicketmead Des decided he had enough and headed back through Midsomer Norton myself and Steve carried on  along Chilcompton Rd, through the housing estates, then followed some footpaths I haven't been along before past Silver Street Nature Reserve. Heading back to the trading estate through the Nightingale Estate. Total mileage 11.07 miles 1768/2014 running miles, 41 days to go.

Day 323/365

Just under 5.5 miles, went out a bit steady, a recovery run not wanting to push it after struggling the last couple of days. Nice and easy around the housing estates of Westfield. Slightly grey and overcast and started to spit with rain on the last mile. Suggested to Desmond to slow down the pace as it was a recovery run and we didn't need to run flat out all the time & he promptly decided to sit down in the road, I think he's doing to many miles it's making him crazy!!! 1757/2014 running miles.

Day 322/365

A nice warm sunny afternoon which should have made running most pleasurable but both myself and Desmond struggled today. Desmond had a few twinges and my legs were feeling tired and heavy, pace was good but just found it a effort to run. Still managed just over 5 miles up past the White Post and back to Midsomer Norton past the rugby club. Down Silver Street along the cycle path and up the pit path back down through Westfield. We then ran around the trading estate twice to get an extra mile in as 2014 miles is not in the bag yet. 1751/2014 running miles.

Day 321/365

Damp, dull and raining with Desmond pulling on his trainers again straight after work. Out and around the trading estate up Charlton Rd down into to Midsomer Norton, we followed a very slippery footpath from the Somer Centre to St. John's Ambulance Hall at Five Arches. Running in our road runners we were slipping about all over the place, Desmond nearly hit the deck his legs like a new born giraffe. Through a very narrow walkway the brambles had been knocked down by the rain hanging low, I was in front and managed to dodge my way through them but as I brushed them they started to swing catching Desmond in a bit of a tangle. Across the main road and down the cycle path into Radstock back up the main road and onto the cycle path. Slight incline now all the way to the pit path Des started to drop back now, after all he was racing yesterday in Bath Skyline 10k. Pushed it on along the cycle path almost being knocked over by a crazy squirrel which came flying across the pathway from nowhere narrowly avoiding a collision. Up the pit path and back down through Westfield to the trading estate the rain had eased now, one lap of the estate and back in 6.28 miles in just over 52 minutes. Just in time for school pick up, my fingers had had turned white from the cold and took about an hour to warm up again. 1746/2014 running miles, if I'd ran in a straight line on the 1st of January I would have reached Turkey now.

Time is Precious www.justgiving.com/365jimbarron

SANDS www.justgiving.com/2014kx365jimbarron

Day 320/365

Off road again on another grey and dismal day, headed towards Old Coleford and came across the flour trail set by Somer AC this morning for a winter wobbler. The idea of the wobblers are you estimate your time before you set off and the closest person to there estimated time is the winner, no watches gps etc are allowed. So theoretically you could finish the race last but come first if you can pace yourself and come closest to your time...... Good fun. Anyway I forgot all about the wobbler and Bath skyline 10k was sold out so here I was encountering a herd of cattle stood behind the stile I wished to get over with ankle deep mud on the other side, I don't think I could out run a marauding herd so I quietly pushed my way up the side of them. One big one seemed like it may be a bit interested in what I was up to but I got away with it and ran on. The flour trail headed off in a different direction to the way I was going and I continued on slogging through the mud and across Ham, along side the river banks it is super slippery. Circumnavigated Edford Woods and then ran through Harridge Woods, light was fading now, more so under the canopy of branches and what leaves are left on the trees. Heading back home now and up the pack horse trail finding my way with my feet I could here Downside Abbey bell ringing 5 pm  and light was now gone. Just over 5.5 miles, 1740/2014 running miles.

Time is Precious www.justgiving.com/365jimbarron
SANDS www.justgiving.com/2014kx365jimbarron

Marauding cattle

The white spot I

in the mud is the flour trail.

Day 319/365

Just before dusk out across the fields and through the woods, it's well muddy out there now and super slippery making going quite heavy and slow. Ran down the old pack horse trail and skirted around the edge of Edford Woods before going through the disused quarry. At 3.5 miles needed my head torch as visibility was quite poor after a misty and overcast day all round. Startled a trio of roe deer which were grazing on the edge of Edford Meadow. Quite treacherous in the woods with slippery roots as well so mud to contend with but managed 6.80 miles, 1734/2014 running miles, 46 days to go.

Day 318/365

Another run straight from work, no company working my route out as I ran, still trying to keep the miles up so as to try and reach 2014 miles in the challenge for the year 2014. Ran straight down through Westfield to Radstock town centre got on the Greenway all the way to Thicket Mead. Back down North Rd to Five Arches gettingon the cycle path to Silver Street. Up the hill back down Charlton Rd and through Charlton Park up to White Post roundabout back down and round the trading estate. Not overly quick but managed to get 9 miles in, in just over 1 hour 22 minutes. Quite cold and chilly had to keep wriggling my fingers to keep them warm, would have been worse if it had of been raining. 1727/2014 running miles. Head torch came in handy along the cycle paths, they are pretty dark along there.

Day 317/365

Out through the trading estate straight after work, Somer AC boys and girls were running up and down through the estate looked like they were doing effort and recovery, a few shouted out to me and then we saw Dessie blasting his way along the pavement giving it 110% effort. Through Midsomer Norton on a Thursday evening with Vince Meredith the roads were quite busy as were the pubs, does the weekend still start on a Thursday? Ran past The White Hart, The Greyhound and The Crossways. Through the housing estates and out onto Chilcompton Rd passing The Kings Head which is closed and turned into flats. On down through Thicket Mead to Welton and past The Dolphin. Through Welton past the long time closed Crown and the recently closed Stones Cross due to it being a drugs den. Along North Rd and back down into town centre passing The Grey Hound and White Hart again. Back up Silver Street to the trading estate. Just over 7 miles in just over an hour. 1718/2014 miles.

Day 316/365

Legs feeling tired and lethargic, not having much enthusiasm for running at the moment. It felt like I was dragged around the streets of Midsomer Norton by the sprightly duo of Meredith and Parrott. We had a good pace not slow but not fast but just not feeling like it. Managed to get another 5 miles in running a new route but along streets we regularly run so not really much different. Wet underfoot but  no rain for the duration of our run and not to cold either. Christmas is just around the corner the Christmas lights were on down through Midsomer Norton High Street and the smells from the take away shops were quite tempting. 1711/2014 running miles.