Category: 5 FOR 50 FOR 5

My first “international” run today…well not quite – Northern Ireland -but, still, as I’ve mentioned before on this blog variety is really important to keep things fresh and exciting!

Today was a town run from my B&B so not the most stunning of scenery (no barn owls today!) and also it was dark so the head torch came into play, however a good solid run and one that I was looking forward to all day.

I’m not sure whether that means I’m now creating a habit, or even getting addicted as I know many do, but certainly I was “twitchy” waiting for my run!

….or perhaps it was the post run reward that I was really looking forward to……..

Day 18 done. 32 runs left.

Donations keep rolling in so please dig deep:
https://www.givengain.com/ap/paul-sherratt-raising-funds-for-we-love-football-academy/

Another guest runner today – Henry Fyson -which meant that it was likely to be a fast pace. And so it turned out.

The first 3km was the quickest ever (despite some climbing and chatting the whole way!) The second 2km hurt a little (especially the hill at the end) but it was great fun.

I’m really starting to enjoy running with guests, not least because its a fantastic way to catch up with people, but also it takes your mind off the run!

The route (a circular route from Eastleach to Southrop and back) was stunning Cotswolds. The weather was kind and, to top it off, half way round we were joined by first one barn owl flying alongside and then a second gracing us with its presence. A truly magical experience an.

So we’re 17 days in. I think I’m feeling fitter. As expected I’ having good days and run of the mill days but keeping the variety in terms of routes and guests certainly helps.

I’m off to Ireland for a few days so fitting the runs in around meetings will throw up some new challenges.

Please keep donating. We’re currently at £1203.

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

The second week running that I have made a Monday night trip to Lechlade and a run whilst Jamie plays tennis.

This week I thought I’d run the same route to compare however after just over 1km I got distracted by a “Footpath” sign.
“Oh” I thought….that looks like it might loop back into the town and perhaps give me an alternative route…..so off I went.

The path opened up into a lovely field and, as the light faded, I could see a possible route into the distance. Having thought that I’d be running predominantly roads tonight I hadn’t bothered with the trail shoes. Big mistake! As the light began to fade my footpath turned into a field and there I was skirting the edge on a rather uneven, muddy, grassy path.

Keep on going I told myself and so I did. In one large loop all around the edge of the field looking for a path towards the lights of the town (yes it was now getting dark) and trying to avoid any potential hazards by the light of the headtorch!

Eventually, having run the entire perimeter of the field I was back on track and in familiar territory.

And you know what? I loved it! I think because I was concentrating so much on where to go I forgot about how fast I was running, whether it was hurting and just zoned out. My choice of listening was a podcast (which I am sure helped) so, with the therapeutic voice of Guy Raz (How I Built This – my favourite podcast out there) I eased myself back into Lechlade.

Not quick. But fun. And satisfying.

Another day on the journey. 16 down. 34 to go.

Please keep donating – the total currently stands at £1183 – 24% of my target with 24% of the run completed.

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

A 10 minute drive away today as I fancied a little loop around Eastleach.

A little hilly (with one particular brute) and the second “most elevation” I’ve done since the wooded run up in Sheffield on Day 3.

But the sun shone. The wind wasn’t too bad, and the temperature not too cold. So, all in all, a nice scenic slightly lumpy one today to bring up the 75km run total.

I’m still not sure whether I’ve quite cracked this headspace thing and I’m still not sure whether I am actually enjoying this running malarky, but day by day we’re inching closer to the £5k target for We Love Football Academy.

I had a nice flurry of donations yesterday and we’re now at £1173 raised as I write this. So a huge thanks to all those who have donated to date and, for those of you that haven’t, please dig deep as well as sharing with as many people as you can.

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

15 down. 35 days left.

Saturday morning. No stress. How about a gentle run along the Thames Path? It might be a bit wet, but I’m sure it’ll be fine!

Ah!……….. Wet? Yes
Cold? Yes
Windy? Of course (hasn’t every day been?)
But hail? hail?

Well, I guess that’s all part of the challenge (and its not as if I’m out in it for hours.)

On the positive side it was, indeed, a lovely run with the river running very very high and some of the footpath very very muddy. But isn’t that part of the fun? Isn’t that one of the reasons I did this? Stick on the old trail shoes and away we go.

With a tailwind I could even pick up a bit of pace for the first few kilometres and enjoy splashing through the fields, ankle deep in water.
But once I turned back for home and faced the wind along came the hail.

So thats number 14 done. Thats 28% completed and I’m at 22% of raising money for my goal. So please dig deep. My plan was to try and keep distance completed tracking against the money raised.

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

End of the week. Wet. Windy. Tired and heading out for the evening!

So Karen and I had a gentle run out this evening chatting the whole way -so a different kind of run for me.

No music, not really thinking about the run, or whether I was tired, or how long I had left to run. Again, another exercise in getting a different headspace through running.

Just THE most frustrating thing at the moment is the weather. Nearly every day is wet, cold and windy – bring me some sunshine, birds singing, beautiful countryside……or is that too romantic a vision for 50 days of running?!

Anyhow. Day 13 done. That’s 65km behind me. 47 to do.

Please make a donation

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

Once again it was a question of picking a window to run in.

It seems that virtually every day there has been a storm / rain / and even snow/sleet today.

Luckily by the time I ventured out with Karen at midday the sun was trying to come out and my little road / cross country loop was a joy to run.

So we’re 60km in with 110km to go.

Please keep donating

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

Today was all about finding a nice “window” to run in.

It was never going to be the sociable run of yesterday and thus was definitely going to be a box-ticking run – one more down.

Wanting to get things in before sunset and (hopefully) with some sort of glimmer of sunshine I finally headed out at 4:10pm.

Slightly windy on the way out (and thus the opposite on the way back) I tracked a little route around and about the office.

Pleasant. Steady. Nothing spectacular!

11 done. 39 to go!

Please keep donating

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

10 runs in. 40 to go. 20% of the way. 22% of the £5k raised……

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

Without doubt the best day so far………
As a bit of an amateur runner, I’m not really used to running with other people. I usually just plonk on my headphones and try and zone into my own headspace, not think too much about the run and let the time slip by.

But today was going to be different as I welcomed my second guest runner – Rachel Stanley-Evans.

To be honest I was a little nervous. Rachel is a fantastic athlete and thinks nothing of running a 100 mile ultra (I know?!!) so here was little old me wanting her to join me for just 5k!
What’s the etiquette for running with someone? I guess its rude to put on headphones?! I suppose I’d have to chat? But how would I be able to do that when I struggle to catch my breath? All these thoughts consumed me…..

How silly! I was just running with a really good mate. So why worry?

So off we set and without even thinking the first kilometre went by in a flash as we chatted and took in the scenery. Even the sun came out!
We’re into the second km and even Rachel mentioned that the pace was quite strong and so it was that we continued, me trying to chat and catch my breath and learn this new skill of communicating with someone whilst running and Rachel dragging me along.

The result? Not only the fastest 5km I’ve ever done but also one of the most enjoyable.

So now I’m set and ready for more guest runners with three already lined up.

A good day today. 10 down. 40 to go.

I knew it would happen. I just didn’t know when.

The day when you really don’t feel like running. The day when the continuous rain and wind just gets tedious and annoying. The day when you just want to go home, light the fire and watch crap TV!

And today was that day.

I’d felt like it since the morning and was looking for excuses all day but, in the end, one of the reasons I undertook this challenge was to learn to do things when you don’t want to do them.

And so it was, with head torch on, I hit the streets for Lechlade for a lap of the town (whilst Jamie played tennis)

And i LOVED IT!

Its so strange, but so often the case, that when you least want to do something you get the most out of it.

I don’t know why – perhaps its because making that extra effort (when you really don’t want to) that means you gain a greater level of satisfaction.

The only downside was that I thought I was flying and on for a record time  – a side effect of running in the dark when it seems that everything is flashing by much faster…..but its not!

Onwards and upwards. 41 days to go.

If you’d like to support my efforts to raise £5,000 by running 5k every day for 50 days please visit

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