From tomorrow, I will be able to say that the 10in10 is next week! Thanks to my inspirational team mate Joni Southall for alerting me to this fact! It has been a tough week for many very different reasons, but dancing out on top of Gummers How to welcome in the summer with Judy and Juliet yesterday was a total highlight. I have missed Morris dancing pretty much every day of this pandemic and I can’t even begin to tell you how good it felt to dance next to friends even 2 metres apart. The sunrise and all the rest of it was an absolute bonus. I’ve run a bit and enjoyed the feeling of tapering after all the major hard work is done. You’ll know that I’m a massive fan of the podcast Running Commentary and it was really lovely to have a heartfelt mention on a laugh out loud podcast this week. I never go out without Rob and Paul…they have seen me through some extremely tough and dark runs. Thank you both xx Funnily enough, on my way to Gummers yesterday in the car, the most enormous deer leapt out on the road in front of me. I managed to stop in time, but there were rude words spoken…I was glad of being in the car on this occasion…not sure I would have survived that encounter on foot! And so, with just over a week to go, I have started packing and am trying to gather my heart, mind and body into the same place to go and do this thing I have been thinking about for such a very long time…thank you so much to you all for your support. I can’t begin to tell you how much the donations to Brathay mean to me and your comments and love have helped to keep me going. Let’s do this! xx

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5years ago today I ran my first ever marathon. It was in London and I completed it in 4:28.Today I ran the Windermere marathon route. The last time I did this was Jan 2020 and it was a brutal experience back then.I stayed at Brathay last night and met a few of my team mates. It was nice to finally see a few of them in real life! 3 of us set off at the crack of dawn to avoid the worst of the traffic and the heat. I had a gentle jog out towards Hawkshead with a fellow runner and it felt really good. I pushed on a bit then and listened to Running Commentary latest episode and then RunPod which featured my favourite pair too, so they saw me half way round the course and I laughed and agreed with them and enjoyed the wisdom of their comments along the way.As I continued around the lake I couldn’t stop smiling. Michelle Atkins who is a big fantastic part of our event support team followed us around the lake popping up here and there to take photos and check we were ok. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me that she was there and what a difference it made to my marathon today. I had a moment at mile 16 when I ran past her. I was grinning like a Cheshire Cat as I had just looked at my watch and thought to myself, “only 10 miles to go!” I shouted to her, “I feel like a runner” and then felt so delighted about thinking that that I had a quick cry I continued to feel better and better and soaked it all in knowing that this is my last marathon before the event and the last time I will run the course on fresh legs without further marathons to follow.At mile 22 I needed distracting, so as always, rang my sister Nicky Ross. She asked where I was an when I told her that I had almost completed the Windermere marathon that set me off again. The people in cars queuing to get in to Ambleside must have been a bit confused by this very happy runner who suddenly dissolved into tears and then was smiling again! We had a lovely chat and the miles flew by. I ran the last mile strongly using Paul Tonkinson ‘s marathon mantra “push push push” and almost beat Michelle A to the imaginary finish line on Brathay lawn. I did an extra circuit of the lawn so she could hop out of her car and take some photos and then wept with joy as I completed the marathon in 4 hours and 52 minutes…almost an hour faster than that training weekend last year. So that’s it. My last marathon distance before the event starts in just under 3 weeks time and what a way to complete that part of this journey. I feel very proud of myself today and so excited about the crazy journey ahead. What a brilliant day. On we go…One tree at a time.xx

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BOOM! 103 miles run this week! Whooooo hooooo! …and TAPER!Phew. No more crazy mileage now until the event itself, so a steady taper of 69, 60 and 44 mile weeks ahead which will feel very relaxing compared to the last few crazy weeks!There were back to back marathons again for me this week on Thursday and Friday. Friday’s started at 4.45am so that I could finish in time to go out for lunch in Ambleside with Michael! The Apple Pie’s steak and red onion sandwich has never ever tasted so good!! On Friday I ran 3x 3 mile loops on the main roads to kick that marathon off while it was still dark before heading out on longer country road loops once it was light and on the first loop I was feeling a bit uneasier than usual. It is hard to go out in the dark, but things seemed to be lurking in the shadows more than normal as I ran down the hill and found the corner towards a farm. At the end of the drive there appeared to be someone lurking…standing very still and sort of hunched over. I really couldn’t understand what they were doing until I was nearly level with the driveway and realised that it was actually a wheelie bin awaiting its usual Friday collection!! Doh! I even made myself laugh with that one!Further along the lane I was half scared to death by a lamb gnawing on the metal fence right near to my feet…the wheelie bin incident had certainly made me jumpier than usual.As the sun rose and I turned back into the village for the last bit of my first loop I looked across the valley to admire the view. I was a bit concerned about just how bleary eyed I was…I had already tripped a few times in the half dark and mistaken a wheelie bin for a person, so I was confused as it got lighter and I still couldn’t see very well. I suddenly realised that by getting dressed in the bathroom so as not to wake Michael, I had actually forgotten to put my contact lenses in that morning, and as it got lighter I suddenly noticed that I actually couldn’t see very well at all!! Luckily I wasn’t far from home by now so I was able to nip in before starting the second loop and deal with my vision! That catalogue of disasters tells you everything you need to know about the rest of that marathon…I was an absolute bag of spanners for the whole run. I’m going to have to write a checklist for when I’m at Brathay….setting off without my lenses in would be a major headache in every sense of the word!My favourite moment of the week happened during my marathon on Thursday when running along the back road through Winster. There is a dry stone wall that resembles a rollercoaster as you climb the hill and on Thursday I was just starting to listen to “Return to the Forbidden Planet- Wipe Out” and a squirrel darted out of the trees and on to the rollercoaster wall. It ran along just ahead of me going up and down along the top of the wall in exact time to the beat of the music. It was hilarious and very satisfying, a lovely moment.Just under 4 weeks to go now and a training lap of the lake with some of the other members of the team next weekend to look forward to. It’s all getting a bit real now! On we go x

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59 miles run this week and a stunning over £900 added to my fundraising target! Wow! Thank you to everyone who has been so very generous.I had another lovely shoutout on Running Commentary and there have been some really kind tweets on Twitter from people that I have ‘met’ via this lovely and supportive community. It really does feel like I’m surrounded by my own running group who are with me all the way!I’ve still got my eyes shut and my fingers over my ears when I think about the 103 miles I need to run in the week ahead, but once that is done it is relatively low mileage (50ish a week) then up until the event on 14th May. One last push…time is flying by!No running mishaps this week (thankfully) but there were adventures at the service I took this morning before my run! It started with a churchwarden walking down the aisle asking if anyone was any good at cracking safes as ours had got a bit stuck, to which a gentleman replied “yes!” much to our alarm and amusement…it’s ok though…he’s a retired police officer. There was some random microphone interference in the middle of the service and then as I said the final blessing I heard a crackle behind me. I noticed that one of the candles on the altar had burnt right down and set fire to the wax at the bottom of the holder…it was fully aflame and about to drop on to the altar cloth!! I completed the blessing whilst beginning to move towards it, trying to sound calm and not rush the words, but trying to finish quickly to sort the candle, all the time mentally wondering where the fire extinguisher was! Thankfully we didn’t need it and all was well. I needed a run after that!

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Boom! 102 miles run this week, including back to back marathons, 1 live Zoombly with amazing children and staff at school and 2 Easter Day communion services this morning…5am starts to squeeze in all the running reminded me how terrifying running in the dark can be, but I did it. I still had legs that would allow me to climb into the pulpit at St. Anthony’s Cartmel Fell which is no mean feat even on a good day and I am feeling very happy if a little bit tired right now!Happy Easter everyone, I hope you manage to do something that makes you smile today. xx

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20 miles run yesterday followed by a brutal 13.1 in wind and rain today brings me to 64 miles run this week and taking a deep breath as I contemplate the 102 miles ahead next week. I had a very happy time running with the extended Running Commentary podcast yesterday and reminded by Paul and Rob about how lucky I am to be able to run in the countryside from my front door I settled in to enjoy it (I heard the laugh in your voice when you mentioned frogs Rob ). There were lambs and calves everywhere, it was beautiful.If you saw me running this morning you could be excused if you mistook me for a reject from some weird running gear jumble sale or a drunkard who had lost the party they were at. This was largely caused by the wind and the rain! I wanted to test some new calf sleeves ready for the 10in10 (bright orange to match this years t shirts) but needed to wear my high vis waterproof running coat to avoid being mown down on the road (bright pink). I was counting on the fact not many people would be out and about, but add the crosswind/headwind on the valley road that caused me to leave the road and veer towards the ditch more than once and my appearance must have been quite odd even for me! I’m glad to be home and warm and dry.So next week beckons with huge mileage, a live Easter Zoombly at school and 2 services to take next Sunday…If you need me on Easter Sunday afternoon I’ll be asleep wherever I happen to land! On we go x

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26 miles run yesterday followed by a fairly teeth gritted 18 today brings me up to 84 miles run this week! Phew, that was hard work!Spring has sprung in the valley and my marathon yesterday was full of joy from all sorts of sources. There were calves closely followed by deer and so many super cute lambs springing all over the place. I plodded out with my favourite podcast “Running Commentary” as usual. I love Paul Tonkinson and Rob Deering and honestly feel like I’m out for a run with mates with those two chatting away and making me laugh. Imagine my surprise and delight to suddenly hear Rob relaying my frog story from last week and some lovely comments from both of them too, thanks you two…absolutely made my day…the smile says it all! Not so many thanks to Rob for confirming AND SAYING OUT LOUD my greatest fear that that big frog may have actually been a TOAD …that did freak me out . No big puddles to deal with and one big loop 26 miler meant the landscape was forever changing and there was only one screaming incident along the way. I was feeling smug that every photo of a deer was of them running away from me rather than them terrorising me for once and as I was thinking this something shot out of the bushes towards my ankles. I shrieked, it stopped and legged it the other way…a harmless rabbit! Today’s run was pretty painful and breaking in new trainers and new socks at the same time may have been an unwise decision. Nice to have a chat with fellow 10in10er Davey along the way though…not long to go now (7 weeks) and it’s good to hear from those who have done it before!Slightly lower mileage week ahead next week in preparation for the over 100 mile week after that….eeek…one tree at a time! On we go x

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76 miles run this week including another 26.2 mile long run yesterday morning. I decided to mix it up a bit for my marathon this week and run ever increasing loops from my front door (1 of 7 miles, 1 of 8 miles and a final loop of 11 miles). This seemed an excellent plan and meant I could travel light and refuel on the way past my house each time. All was going beautifully until I arrived in Winster for the first time and was faced with a long, above the ankle deep, puddle. I braced myself for the freezing cold and ran through. As I rounded the corner there was a shorter and shallower puddle. With already wet feet I didn’t hesitate before ploughing into it but…much to my absolute horror, as my foot went back towards the ground I saw a MASSIVE FROG right in my path. I managed to do some ‘in air’ manoeuvres to avoid it whilst shrieking loudly (I can only apologise again if you live in the area!) and sprinted to the other side faster than my legs could take me.I had to stop and calm myself down. I actually recorded a little video to share with my 10in10 teams mates as they had been chatting on the WhatsApp during the morning and it felt like they were virtually with me on the run! I’ve included it here so you can have a laugh too. I can’t even begin to tell you how awful it was. Anyway, I had a little cry and then got back on to the running…it occurred to me very quickly that I was going to have to face that frog puddle 2 more times during this run and the next 8 miles were spent mostly thinking about that. In the end I did a thorough puddle check and then ran through with my eyes closed both times. I still feel slightly freaked out even now…where are the deer when you need them?!I’m sure many other notable things happened during that long run including freezing rain, snow on the mountains, being peppered randomly by hail, a little bit of sunshine, ducks swimming around on puddles and some gorgeous new lambs, but the frog episode is the only one I will remember. 84 miles ahead next week. I’ll be plotting as many puddle free routes as I can think of!On we go x

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“Was that an owl? Just how dark out there is it anyway? Am I even capable of getting myself round 26.2 miles anymore?” With a head full of questions, at 6am yesterday, the practical part of the 10in10 virtual training weekend began.26.2 miles yesterday and 13.1 today brings my total for this last week up to 65 miles run. Next week increases again…I daren’t look at the week after that!Brathay virtual training weekend.We had a 2 hour Teams meeting on Friday night to meet the team of 2021 and find out a bit about each other. They are an absolutely amazing group of people. I then went around the house gathering head torch, back pack and all I would need for a 6am marathon training run. Unfortunately, despite having 4 days notice, certain nameless family members were unable to locate the power bank that they assured me I could borrow. Cue 10pm emergency text to our wonderful neighbours and letterbox delivery of a power bank at 11pm! I think it’s the modern equivalent of borrowing a bag of sugar!! Thanks Ali and Simon! My very slow 26.2 miles yesterday even included a quick Teams meeting half way up Gummers How (hence the need of a power bank after my previous disaster with Zoom on the run) but thankfully no owls or deer on this occasion. This was followed by 4 and a half hours on Teams covering nutrition, training, injury prevention and an update about how Brathay have adapted during the pandemic. I hope to share more of their work with you in future blogs, but I was so impressed with how they have been helping and supporting underprivileged young people during these times and it has reminded me again why I am putting myself through all of this! When I logged into Facebook last night I saw that my lovely team mate Claire had made a really kind comment about me. She was part of team 2020 too and for her own reasons deferred to this year. I am so delighted that we can still be on the team together. Today on my half marathon run it was pretty hard going at times, and absolutely beautiful and uplifting at others. I stopped to take a photo of some sheep on a hill and a heron took off and swooped in front of me, fairly close. It was absolutely magnificent. I love herons. I saw my first lambs of the year and I ran a little way with a lady who was training for her first half marathon (she slowed down to chat and ask about the 10in10). More than once I got really stressed about the event now being so close and how underprepared I am compared to this time last year, especially how slow I am running right now compared to before I fractured my ankle, but each time I was able to chase these thoughts away with more positive and affirming ones. That’s a good tool for the 10in10, so I’m going to count it as a good training run and keep going, one tree at a time! This week we get all of our lovely children back into school and I get to teach my favourite subjects in real life once again. I cannot wait!On we go xx

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A glorious day to run 10 miles, bringing my total for this week up to 52 and my miles for February to 182. Mileage increases will happen on a weekly basis now with just under 10 weeks to go until the 10in10. I think that marathons before teaching in the afternoon are about to become ‘a thing’ again and no doubt there will be some early morning deer runs on the horizon too! It feels like spring is in the air and I can’t wait to see those empty fields filling up with lambs skipping and gambolling around! On we go xx

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