Day 284/365

Steady 5k road run up through Stoke St Michael and back. Not raining but  it had been so a bit damp under foot  and a slight chill in the air. Saving the legs for Mendip Muddle tomorrow 20k off road from the activity centre at Charterhouse on the Mendips. Organised by Weston Athletic club this race has a reputation of being fairly tough but enjoyable.

Baby Loss Awareness a Week
17 babies are born stillborn or die shortly after birth everyday in the UK, devastating the lives of around 6500 families a year. SANDS support bereaved families and aim to improve the care they receive as well as fund vital research to prevent more families suffering the loss of their precious baby. #breakthesilence

Day 283/365

Ran just the minimum around the playing fields and over the top of the batch beside New Rock industrial estate, 2 laps around was just the distance on a warm sunny Autumn afternoon. Taking care not to roll an ankle on all the sweet chestnuts covering the floor. Taking the pace quite steady as I'm saving the legs for a Mendip Muddle on Sunday 20km multi terrain race. 3.39 miles in 33 minutes.

Baby Loss Awareness Week

The question about why your baby died never really goes away. For some parents there's a definite cause but for many there isn't and it can be a source of deep sadness and anxiety. SANDS works to promote both prevention strategies and a set of research priorities that will answer questions so many parents are left with.
#BabyLossWeekUK
http://www.uk-sands.org

Day 282/365

Since the 1st January, 282 days of running everyday, minimum 5k per day, averaging just over 5 miles a day, 1520 miles in challenge 2014kx365. My challenge on the 1st of January was to run 5k per day everyday for a year and hopefully raise funds & awareness of charities Time is Precious & SANDS.

SANDS is the stillbirth and neonatal death charity operating throughout the UK supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby and promoting research to reduce the loss of babies lives. Today marks the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week - a time of remembrance for anyone affected by the death of a baby. The aim being to raise awareness of the impact of the death of a baby irrespective of the cause and how it can touch so many but the subject rarely talked about. To help break through the silence #BabyLossWeekUK for more information http://www.uk-sands.org

Remembering my off road trainers ran Somer AC's Jack 'n Jill route starting & finishing at Westfield trading estate.  Legs were feeling slightly lethargic but started out at a nice steady pace out the back of the trading estate and across the fields over Haydon batch following footpaths down to Radstock coming out onto the main road by St Nicholas Church. Onto the cycle path for a short stretch and then back into the fields all the way to Kilmersdon. Once in Kilmersdon the route goes under the disused railway bridge climbs up through wooded area once at the top follows a track straight back down into the village. After already climbing up through the woods, now a sharp ascent of Jack and Jill Hill from the nursery rhyme. Pace had now dropped off  and took it steady along a long lane till you get back in the fields. Through some pasture land full of sheep and another with inquisitive cattle the footpath emerges at the bottom of the batch up over the top and along the footpaths back to the trading estate. Sun was shining but there was quite a cold wind. Going underfoot was slippery and muddy in places but not heavy. 6.37 miles in1hour and 5 mins.

Day281/365

Raining very heavy when I started my run, so my proposed off road run was cancelled opting for a quick minimum 5k. Out of the trading estate up the Fosseway to the White Post around the lamp post back down the Fosseway through Charlton Park down Lynton Rd and back around the trading estate. Getting a bit bored running around the roads from the trading estate decided to spice it up a little and get the job done as it was raining. Ran out steady on the first mile pace 8.48, second mile pushed the pace up to 7.31 slowed it back down for third mile to 8.17 pushing the pace out again to finish. 3.20 miles taking care not to slip on the fallen wet leaves in 26:13 minutes.

Day 280/365

Steady jaunt around Midsomer Norton and Radstock taking in the cycle paths and footpaths. Bit of off road from the Somer Centre to Five Arches followed the cycle path down into Radstock back round the road to Five Arches again then back on the cycle path up pit path through housing estate's and back along the Fosseway. Sun was shining, just missed a heavy rain storm, feeling pretty good. 6.26 miles in 52:46 mins.

Day 279/365

An hour to spare between finishing work and school pick up luckily the rain had stopped. It had been raining most of the morning very heavy at times which had knocked a lot of branches leaves and twigs down especially along the cycle path. Ran out through the lorry park up Charlton Lane along the Fosseway past The White Post dodging numerous puddles, back down towards Midsomer Norton past the Rugby Club. Along a slippery and wet cycle path up the pit path and back though the housing estates to Westfield, straight up the Fosseway and back in the trading estate. 4.36 miles in 37.03 minutes just enough time to cool off and stretch before school pick up. Every mile I ran, I ran slightly quicker 8.47, 8.45, 8.31 and 8.09.

Day 278/365

Ran out of time and daylight hours so decided to run up and down Holcombe Hill. Up from the Duke of Cumberland pub to Holcombe cross roads along Stratton Rd  round Longleat Lane through Kingsmead and back down the hill 3 times, 4 1/2 miles. Its almost as hard running downhill as it is to run uphill. At least this evening it wasnt raining and completely dry underfoot.