Support from Friends

When I started my training for the 100 miles in a day, I ensured that I got two things right.

a. When's my spring marathon - That'll be Edinburgh in May. (I'm going to need a minimum of 4 months solid training for that if I'm going to get a GFA for London in the Olympic year. So that means I'd start my training mid to end of January 2011.)

b. Plenty of training for the 100 in 24 hours. (Okay, I didnt get this one correct. If I need 4 months training for a marathon, then surely I'll need a solid year to train for 100 miles).

A year wasnt possible. I've reduced that slightly to just over 6 weeks. 3 weeks big mileage, followed by 3 weeks taper.

Is my plan going to work? Of course it is, I just need plenty of slow miles in my legs. And lots of support from my friends (I would say family - but they think I lost my marbles a long time ago and me saying to them "I'm just off to run a 100 miles", is similar to saying "Just off down the shops". Its really not that impressive anymore. 100metres or 100 miles, its the same number, so cant be much further. I've done a 10 day trek, so doing a one day run is nothing to be impressed about. Joking aside, I'm really pleased with the support that I'm getting from everyone, including my family.

I know from my run today in the park which included 13 laps (out of 96) that one of the worst things coming my way is the absolute boredom of it all. So, I am so happy that I've had at least 15-20 people say that they will come along and give me some support and run a lap or two.

Thank you one and all. I will name you all at a later stage by name and thank you individually. (At this stage, you will have to do with knowing who you are).

However, I'd like to thank two individuals at this point.

I'd like to thank Wendy (Wends) Shaw. Wends is travelling up from Reading and will be running through the night with me, this could be upto 50 miles, maybe more depending on what time Wends arrives in Leeds. Wends has done a few marathons, including the 5 in 5 days earlier in the year. She is also the sister of the second person I'm thanking.

I'd like to thank Zoe Dale, my girlfriend who will be travelling from Eastbourne to run through the night with me. Zoe has only been running since April of this year and has done 2 marathons and 5 half's already this year. She will be running alternate laps with me. She will also be providing me with support, such as hugs for both myself and Wends, when we are feeling down and the odd cup of tea or ten to keep us warm in the small hours.

Thank you both. xx