Category: 5 FOR 50 FOR 5

Manchester. A place I know well having spent 4 years at Uni there. So what better place to revisit during my 50th year run.
But where to run? Past my old halls of Residence? past my old house? or what about down one of the canals to take in the industrial past of Manchester?

My choice was somewhat determined by the hotel choice -the Native Manchester -an old warehouse in the Northern Quarter and one that would have been served, back in the day, by those very canals.

The only problem was that the hotel sits on the junction of several canals. Some of which you are able to run the towpaths past the newly gentrified properties, but some of which end in dead ends where bridges are held up with scaffolding and thus you cannot continue along the path.

I gambled and headed off in one direction but after around 1km two things happened
1. I ran out of canal towpath
2. My Garmin ran out of battery!

OK. Time to regroup. Find my sense of direction and head to the canal that I knew had an intact towpath and that headed to the Ethiad Stadium.

Strava was started on the phone and off I went.

There’s something about running alongside a towpath in an industrial city. You can see the old warehouses that, once upon a time, would have been a hive of activity but now are graffiti covered monuments to the industrial revolution. You run past the old warehouses that are now new and shiny homes for the Millenials of the city. And you run past those that promise to be renovated but perhaps the developer has run out of money, or permission hasn’t been obtained, or demand has dropped off……

Some of these buildings I have known for 30 years and for all of those 30 years there have been plans to renovate that have not yet happened!

Well, as you might imagine, the run was magical. It took me back to my youth. I reminisced in my head about the good times that I had in this great city.

Before I knew it I’d reached the Ethiad – the home of Manchester City – and had turned back to head for the city, and as I headed back towards the city centre, and the hotel, the running felt free and fun.

28 days done.

22 to go.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

The sun shone!

Sooo nice to run in a little bit of sun. The birds were singing as I took to Marsh Lane, Clanfield for a little loop.

A single track, so no traffic, just me, my podcast and some headspace.

Not very eventful today but, at a steady pace, I had some time to think about the challenge and the time left. Just 23 days now and that very first run seems an age ago – I wonder what it will feel like after over 7 weeks of running every day.

If you feel like donating please click here

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

From the euphoria of the halfway point to the worst day yet in terms of “I REALLY do not want to run tonight”!

A stressful day at the office. Tired. Frustrated. Angry. At any other time I absolutely 100% would have settled down with a glass of wine and done nothing.

But I can’t do that. That would be failing the challenge. Failing the kids at We Love Football Academy.

So reluctantly I pulled on my gear. Set the watch, and off I went. Not in the mood at all, I set off at (what I thought) was a gentle jog. Plugged into a podcast and braved the wind and rain (yet again for the umpteenth time during this challenge).

I got into the zone. Into the rhythm.

Before I knew it I was back. Not hardly breathing and yet having run the end-of-Alvescot-and-back standard route at a pace that was quicker by over 2 minutes than I would have run this 25 days ago! An absolute measure of my fitness.

And so it was that, once again, the run had completely transformed my mood and completely removed all the negative and stressful feelings that I had before I ran.

The challenge was the ONLY thing that made me run and therein lies the question. When all this over will I be motivated to run when feeling so cr*p? Will I make the effort to get my gear on and just hit the road or will I just vedge in front of the TV?

Of course, there are thousands (probably millions around the world) that do indeed run just to get this feeling of wellbeing.

The podcast I was tuned into was about a vegan runner who ran across America. His description of running?………”Its the opposite of a drug. When you take a drug you feel amazing at the time and feel awful afterwards. When you run you feel rubbish whilst doing it but amazing afterwards!”

26 days done. 24 days left.

For more info on We Love Football Academy or to donate please visit:

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

Whoaaa…..we’re half way there……whoaa……!!

Day 25. A special run with Karen. Half way to running 5km every day.

Following a business meeting in Somerset, a local google search for good running venues threw up Cheddar Reservior. Looking at google maps we weren’t quite sure how far it was all the way round but it looked about right.

A 20 minute drive later and we were there

The weather was warmish. The wind not too bad. The view quite pleasant and off we set at a reasonable pace. I think its starting to get fun this running. Don’t get me wrong I’m not exactly running with a smile on my face and a spring in my step, but to take in the countryside and enjoy the moment definitely has a huge value.

I have to admit I am slightly disappointed at only having raised £1473 to date, but I guess firstly that’s nearly 30% of the £5000 I aim to raise and secondly I know there are many friends and associates who have said that they will support me but have not yet done so.

I guess also I have 25 days more to run. That’s over 3 weeks and a lot can change in that period of time.

If you are reading this though and have not yet donated please do so here

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

One thing that I do want to happen is for more people to join me in the next 25 days. I want to enjoy the challenge with like-minded runners – so please get in touch – paul@thesherratts.co.uk

Day 25. 25 done. 125km done. 25 to go. 125km to run.

I started the day today planning to meet guest number 4, but unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan and I had to postpone it. That meant my 11:30am run became a 7pm run!

Once again I was off on a torch run, so to keep things fresh I decided to go cross country. Quite a challenge in the mud so the field miles were a little slow, however once again the torchlight provided a perfect cocoon for my thoughts.

I’m one day from reaching the halfway point and feel like I might need to find a “special” route to celebrate. Unfortunately, I’m off on a business meeting for most of the day so may end up evening running again…..we’ll see.

26 days to go. Please keep giving

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

Guess what…..it’s raining again…..!!!!!!

OK -so there was a sunny window this morning for a few hours but, unfortunately, I was unable to take advantage of it. And so it was off for an evening run in the dark with headtorch.

It’s funny, but although I often don’t feel like running at the end of the day, there is something about running in the dark. I find it easier just to be in my own headspace and relaxing.

Rather than listening to music tonight I wanted to continue listening to an incredibly inspirational podcast which, anyone reading this MUST listen to:

So taken was I with the podcast that I almost completely switched off from the running and, before I knew it, was running the home straight -still transfixed with what I was listening to.

Part of this running journey is to find inspiration. Inspiration from the kids that make the effort to leave the townships and jump on a mini bus to make it to We Love Football Academy. Inspiration to find some space for oneself for reflection. As I near the half way point it is delivering that in spades.

Yes of course, when the weather sucks, or you’re tired, or fed up, or busy, its easy not to do things. But just the simple effort of doing something makes one feel better.

23 days in. 27 to go. I’ve run 115km so far this challenge. That’s basically running from here to London’s Tower Bridge!

Sadly no donations for a few days so we’re stuck on £1463. PLEASE SUPPORT ME!

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

Tired and slightly hungover after a full on VIP day at Twickers yesterday watching the rugby, today was always going to be tough, so I decided on the distraction technique.

Step 1 -choose a new route that I have never run before so that I’ll be looking at the scenery and where I am going rather than thinking about the run.

Step 2 – drag Karen along so that I can follow her -again taking my mind off the run and concentrating more on keeping up with her!

So, after parking the car by the side of the Thames (Tadpole Bridge) off we both went along the river path. It was slightly damp and muddy but looked as if it was going to be a nice little run until…..after about 1.5km we came across and bend in the river where the path was flooded and the way blocked. So, after turning back we headed back up stream to loop up and back for 5km.

Throw in some wind, some mud, and hangover, dehydration and all in all it wasn’t the quickest run ever, however completed in sunshine and Day 22 DONE!

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

Today was always going to be a “recovery run” day.

I woke up tired and stiff and, as we seemed to have established, morning runs do not find me at my best! The solution was a gentle trot around the local fields/footpath and a steady pace.

I think you would define this day as a definite “going through the motions” kind of day rather than anything massively motivational – but, again, that’s part of the process of running every single day I guess as they’re not all going to be full-on.

So there we have it. We’re 21 days in. That’s 3 weeks of running every day.
Am I getting fitter? Absolutely.
Does it help manage stress and provide headspace? Absolutely
Is it bringing joy? 100% -particularly when I see donations coming in and we get just that one step closer to the £5k target.

29 days left to run. That’s just less than 1 month. 1 month to reach the goal and 1 month before I turn 50.

The total stands at £1463 raised as I write this – the target is to push on through this this weekend so please help however you are able.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

The sun shone! The first time during the past 20 days that I have run without my rain jacket! And I was up for it!

It’s amazing what a difference a warm sunny day makes. You just feel so much better and more positive somehow. (Its why I aspire to be a swallow in later years i.e. migrating down to the Southern Hemisphere for the winter to enjoy some summer sunshine)

I decided to run the standard there-and-back run to the end of Alvescot and to push hard (well I did say I was feeling good). The result was a PB by nearly 1 minute and just 2 seconds off breaking 26 mins for 5km.

I was motivated not only by the sun but also by the fact that my total is inching ever close to £1500. The response has been fantastic and we’re nearly at 30% of target raised.

Please keep supporting me as We Love Football Academy is making a real difference to peoples lives.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

Early start tomorrow to fit the run into a busy weekend.

20 done. 30 left!

Time to fit in today’s run around meetings and before the flight home, and what better place than on the outskirts of Enniskillen.

After a good meeting at the Killyhelvin Hotel (with ex Man Utd goalkeeper Roy Carroll) Roy (being local) suggested I run up to Castle Coole …and what a perfect route.

Looping up to the castle, round the back onto a trail and back towards the hotel, today’s 5k was a pleasure.

The weather has been pretty kind (for Northern Ireland!) and, after a quick refresh in the hotel fitness club, and a spot of lunch, we were back on the road to enjoy the countryside.

I thought one of the biggest daily challenges would be finding the time to fit the daily run in. But I am now convinced that, if you have the motivation, you can always find time – after all you are really only looking at half an hour a day.

So we’re getting ever closer to the halfway mark and, over the past few days, the donations have really kicked on.

We’re now standing at £1403 which is just fantastic -so a huge thanks to everyone who has supported me so far.
I had a call from Christian today from We Love Football Academy who is so excited as every time he checks his emails he has another notification from givengain that they have received a new donation.

So PLEASE keep ’em coming 🙂

https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

19 days down. 31 to go.