I quite like a challenge.

In the past I’ve always tried to challenge myself to some degree. In the past I’ve completed monthly challenges: learning to ride a unicycle, swimming, learning to play the ukulele, baking, origami and model building, to mention a few. Janathon and Juneathon have been regular running challenges. And last year I ran 1000 miles as part of Trail Magazine’s #run1000miles.

So far this year I’ve completed a few races:

• Pierrepont 6 hour challenge
• St Valentine’s 30k
• Kielder Dark Skies Run 26.5

And have a few on the horizon:

• Runstock 8 hour challenge in May
• Endure 24 Leeds in June
• Rough Runner in September

I’m also considering having a go at an ultra event. I would absolutely love to run 100 miles, but for now I’ve been looking about for a 50 mile or 100 km event.

So clearly I probably need to start ramping up the running a bit. Which finally gets me to the new running challenge to help make the training a bit more interesting:

‘Running your Roads’

Over the past couple of days I have printed out about a dozen or so A4 sheets of Bourne, where I live, and painstakingly put them together to create this:

The plan is to run ALL the streets of the town and document progress by colouring them in on the map. Yes I know, slightly sad. But, I’m hoping, it might be quite interesting. Who can say they have been on every street in their town?

Our last day. A sunset.

Day 14 – Sunset

Fact of the Day – Thailand has one sunset each day.

The place we’re staying out here in Ao Nang is right on the beach. It was a bit cloudy today. Although, it didn’t stop today being a beach day, with a bit of pool action thrown in. Enough said.

We also keep coming across signs like this. ‘Do not feed the monkey’. THE monkey.

It would appear that there is just one monkey around. Signs for one monkey? That makes it somewhat scarier.

So after tonight’s drinks at O’Malley’s Irish Bar…

One of the cheapest bars we have come across, the walk back to the room, the mind can wander…

Day 13 – Beach. Monkey.

Fact of the day: Thailand has 3,219 km of coastline.

Firstly, a little update on yesterday. A/C issues – it stopped working. Had to move rooms late last night. All good now.

Today was one of those full on days, beginning with early breakfast for an early start, scooting around some of the local islands…

Railay Beach and Pranang Cave Bay.

Beautiful. As is pretty standard here, you come across lots of shrines. This one was all about a Princess who will fulfil wishes – there was a plaque that told you so. When the wishes are fulfilled you should leave an offering. If you leave a special offering you will ensure fertility and prosperity to the whole earth and mankind. It also says, ‘Do not place things of worship that are inappropriate’. Hence, a cave full of willies.

Tub Island

This was a weird sort of place that at low tide you can walk between three islands – can’t remember the names of the other islands. It was at this place that I had an encounter with a monkey, I think he was eyeing up my bag, when I refused he had a grab at my leg. He wasn’t happy. I should be ok, no need for rabies jab!

We didn’t ‘walk’ across to one of the other islands because you had to swim it!

Chicken Island

Rather strange name for an island, I ‘think’ because it looks like a chicken? Also, did a bit of snorkelling here.

Poda Island

Another beautiful island. We stopped for something to eat here – meal in a box – chicken drumstick, rice and a bag of super spicy ‘something’. Not the best food we’ve had here in Thailand, but probably not the worse either.

Day 12 – Islands.

Fact of the Day: The Thai flag is made up of three colours; red, white and blue. Red symbolizes the nation, land and people. White symbolizes the purity of Buddhism, and blue symbolizes the monarchy.

We had such a relaxing day yesterday that we didn’t actually get round to booking anything for today. So it was spent chilling at the pool and wandering around town. It was another very hot day, although it was a bit breezy. At one stage the wind got hold of a couple parasols and sent them flying around the pool. Unfortunately one of them hit an old boy who promptly went off to put in a claim no doubt. It could have been worse though, a water polo net that was out of the pool on the side nearly took his wife’s head off when it got blown over. All very exciting!

The highlight of the day was stopping at a little street stall and buying some beautiful banana pancakes. Although, we did have a piece of advice for a Thai woman behind the stall: get a bigger hot plate to cook the pancakes on. Only enough room to cook one at a time.

It was hot (hence the face) – but even so I’d nearly finished mine before Helen had even got hers!

Spent the evening in the Full Moon Bar drinking massive beers, cocktails and Jack Daniels.

We’ve booked to go to a few islands tomorrow, including some snorkelling. Cushty.

Day 11 – Pool. Pancakes. Cocktails.

Fact of the Day: Whistling in the evening is said to call ghosts into your presence. Refrain from whistling outside at night, as you’re likely to spook the locals.

After yesterday’s day of travelling, it felt only right that we should relax and use the resort facilities. Coming from the calm and tranquility of Ko Lanta to this resort is a bit of a shock. Firstly, it’s not packed solid, plenty of sunbeds available at the pool, plenty of empty tables at breakfast, but even so, from what we’ve been used to, it’s a bit different.

Breakfast: the normal deal of absolutely any food available. Who would normally eat chicken nuggets? Or stir fry? For breakfast? Well I suppose some people must. The issue today was making the 10am breakfast cutoff!

The Pool: definitely the feel of a resort. The water polo nets are up and there are plenty of kids splashing and screaming about. Also, they play a lot, and I mean a lot, of Sam Smith. We even heard a blast of Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’!! Having said that, you can swim to the pool bar and get a drink! Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

We headed out into town tonight, a lot more touristy than we’ve been used to: tattoo parlours, lady boys, massages, souvenir shops and neon lights. We had dinner in La Casa, not great, probably some of the worse food had so far. Ended up in quiet bar on the beach.

Day 10 – Pool. Town.

Fact of the Day: It is illegal to leave the house without wearing underwear.