I like to run. I’ve been running for ages. I love the fact that you can just whack a pair of trainers on and leg it out the door. So the fact that my latest challenge is taking place on a bike is slightly out of my comfort zone. But that’s good right? I’m always telling my students to get out of their comfort zone, try something new, live a little.

It is only in the last month or so that I have been giving cycling ago. In fact, the longest I’ve ever ridden is 40 miles, so to suddenly go from that to a weeks cycling is probably a bit much. But that’s what is going to happen.

So tomorrow it begins: 6 days cycle touring the coast of Norfolk.

The actual plan looks something like this:

• Leave early tomorrow morning and cycle the 40 odd miles to King’s Lynn.
• From there cycle the 10ish miles to the coast, near Hunstanton, and look for somewhere to wild camp.
• Then ride. Camp. Repeat. Following the coast until Saturday.
• Thinking of doing a Parkrun somewhere Saturday morning (there seems to be plenty in the area)
• Then head home. Camping somewhere Saturday night.
• Getting home Sunday.

As you can see there actually isn’t much of a plan. It’s all very fluid. This is deliberate, I like the idea of just winging it.

I have done some preparation. I’ve got a bike.

Right…off to pack…

Big day today. Running? Nope. Cycling? Nah.

Mowing. That’s right: today’s submission for Juneathon is cutting the grass.

I even tracked it using Strava:

My reward:

Today’s mileage = 0.4

Total Juneathon mileage = 68 running, 36 cycling, 0.4 mowing, some gym action, hungover dash to catch train and panicked run to cashpoint.

Another busy evening after work: an Endure 24 meeting to finalise arrangements.

Therefore, it was a quick run to the allotment to do a bit of watering. One mile there and one mile back. I lost count of the trips to and from the water trough I made during the watering process. That could have been today’s activity!

Today’s mileage = 2

Total Juneathon mileage = 68 running, 36 cycling, some gym action, hungover dash to catch train and panicked run to cashpoint.

Back on the bike after work today: a big loop of Bourne. 12 miles. A lovely evening for a pootle on the bike.

Had a lovely conversation with a fella at work who cycled John o’Groats to Land’s End, so I’m feeling enthused to try and do some sort of cycle touring adventure in the summer.

It definitely will not be Land’s End to John o’Groats – I’m thinking maybe a week’s adventure. Considering a bit of wild camping and/or B&B and/or hostels for overnight accommodation. Not decided yet.

Another idea is to plan the route to coincide with staying at friends or family. Here’s my first thought:

• Amy’s in Leicester
• Jill’s in Edenbridge
• Mum’s in London
• Kev’s in Norwich

I’m not entirely sure how far that is. 250 miles? 300 miles? 350 miles? It’s probably not the most scenic route, I’m not even sure if it even is an actual route – don’t particularly want to cycle down the A1! It’s only an initial idea and subject to change.

Today’s mileage = 12

Total Juneathon mileage = 66 running, 36 cycling, some gym action, hungover dash to train station and panicked run to cashpoint.

A 4.5 mile run in between today’s football games. It felt a bit tougher than it probably should have – I put that down to the weekend’s excesses.

I was back on the streets. Today I explored a couple of new parts of the town that have recently appeared.

Today’s mileage = 4.5

Total Juneathon mileage = 66 running, 24 cycling, gym action, hungover dash to train station and a panicked run to cashpoint.

A lame attempt today? You decide.

Firstly, let me put a few contextual points on the table:

• It was my mum’s 75th birthday party yesterday.
• I had been drinking punch, beer and Pimms – quite a lot of it.
• We didn’t drive down, so it meant we needed to get train, coach and bus to get back today.

Plus a few pictures to put things in perspective:

Ok, so now my submission for Juneathon Day 17:

• We were running late for train so had a very brisk 15min walk to station. With a hangover.
• Had to go to cashpoint to get some cash for the bus fare – again needed to run to cashpoint and back so that we could get the bus.

I’ll come back to my original question: lame?

Total Juneathon mileage = 61 running, 24 cycling, gym action, brisk hungover walk to station and a quick run to cashpoint.