We signed up for this run bloody ages ago, and it would appear that it is suddenly less than a week away. In fact, the lovely people at Trail Outlaws have a handy countdown on their website, just in case you’re not quite nervous enough. This is what it looked like this morning:

If you know nothing of the Dark Skies Run Kielder, then let me explain:

• 26.5 miles (don’t even bother asking about the distance – no idea what it’s not the regular marathon distance)
• It is a trail race, run around a big lake, starting early evening and running in the dark. 
• It is held at Kielder Water & Forest Park. Kielder was given ‘Dark Park Sky’ status in 2013 – making it the perfect venue for the ultimate star lit running challenge (don’t bother asking me to explain – something about the lack of light pollution)
• There is mandatory kit you need to have with you: whistle, headtorch (with spare batteries), foil blanket, hats and gloves, waterproof jacket, water, emergency food and fully charged phone. Oh, I nearly forgot, and a freaking trailer to put it all in and pull along behind you.
• I think it may have some ‘hills’. After doing a trawl of the internet I found one lovely person describe it as, ‘certainly undulating’. The official numbers…

I’ve even had to buy a running back pack. Still to actually attempt running with it on. That may well be a job this week: get to the woods one evening and have a go. 

A group of five of us are running it, well when I saying running, it might be walking, walking/running, we don’t have a definitive plan yet. Run our own race? Stay together for a bit? Stay together the whole way? Still to be decided. Whatever happens it’s definitely going to be an experience. 

Wish me luck.

Managed a 17 day run streak. Then made a conscious decision, thanks in part to a parents’ evening, to throw in the towel. 

My 17 day run streak was then promptly followed by 3 days of non-running. It felt good.

Back on it tomorrow: parkrun. 

Yassos session at the gym tonight. It was a tough workout; there was sweat.

Total Janathon mileage = 64.7

Past halfway. Anyone whose has taken part in Janathon (or Juneathon) in the past will understand the whole ‘it’s a rollercoaster’ comment. 

Early on in the month you’re motivated, you want to get out there and start racking up the mileage. It’s fun. 

After a week or so it starts to get difficult, the dark evenings, the cold, the rain, the constant showers, not forgetting the tired legs that ain’t used to running every day. It’s a struggle.

A dozen days in and you’re at rock bottom – the thought of having a ‘rest day’ consumes you – the aching legs are not the only problem, it’s now in your head. The psychological battle: keep on running or have a rest. You’re at the low point.

Past halfway. This is an important point, psychologically you’re over the worst of it, you’re on the home stretch. Together with the fact that after running for 16 days the legs are actually starting to feel stronger, the runs seem slightly easier. Starting to feel good again. 

So….it was the gym tonight – a gentle half hour on the treadmill – with an incline, that proves just how good I’m feeling. 

So things seem to be going well, in fact so well that The Donald didn’t want to miss out on a bit of publicity – at the moment every one whose anyone seems to want a picture with The Donald – I didn’t want to miss out. He has, of course, taken full credit for the Janathon success so far. 

Total Janathon mileage = 60

15 days done. 15 days run. 16 days to go. 

Sunday, the home of the long run. Even in the midst of Janathon, with the Dark Skies Run getting ever closer, the longer runs still need to be done.

It was a miserable morning, grey and drizzly, and after snoozing the alarm for half a dozen times, 8.30am seemed about right to get up and head out the door.

The morning went exactly to plan, a run up the bypass to Bourne woods, big lap of the woods and back along the bypass home: 8.7 miles. It was a nice steady pace, hilly, muddy and surprisingly icy in places (nearly stacked it on more than one occasion). 

A week in miles:

Monday – 1.9

Tuesday – 4.3

Wednesday – 2.5

Thursday – 5.4

Friday – 2.1

Saturday – 3.1

Sunday – 8.7

Total week’s mileage = 28.3

That just leaves my running selfie. Now you only have to do a search for ‘running’ on Instagram to find a plethora of running selfies, and in every one you’ll see people that look like they’ve stepped out of a photo shoot. Not me. I even tried a few different expressions…

Total Janathon mileage = 56.6 

My shift at the Samaritans didn’t finish until 4am this morning. So actually getting to the start line at Rutland Water Parkrun in time for the 9am off was a remarkable achievement in itself. 

As for the run, it was cold and windy. Very cold and very windy. Bloody cold and windy. 

The best part of Parkrun is the breakfast after. Today it was to Marie’s via Aldi to pick up the bacon and crusty bread.

Lovely jubbly.

Total Janathon mileage = 47.9