580kms Completed. Two Weeks Left

So when I set out to do this challenge, I knew I could just about manage 500kms and raise £500.

Two weeks officially left now to complete this challenge and I have actually completed 580kms and raised just short of £500 so far but know a few people still have to pay me their pledges.

Last week I managed a couple of runs around Holme Pierrepoint National Watersports Centre in Nottingham. One evening run followed by a morning run.

Nice and flat but....I didn't take in to account the storm force gale winds out there. Despite staying in a tent for the weekend! The run out was fine and felt good, but as soon as I turned the far corner to head back to the campsite, the wind hit me in the face full on, so slowed me right down.

I didn't think it was as bad in the morning when I made the second attempt, but, I was wrong. It was as bad if not worse.

Then finally, in slightly better weather, I visited Sherwood Forest and reached my 580kms by walking around the Robin Hood Festival that was taking place.  

500kms? PFFFFT! Already halfway through another 100kms!

Since my last entry here I have run through the 500kms and to be honest, I could have put my feet up and taken it easy while others have yet to reach their targets. I could have, but I haven't. I have enjoyed it so much this year that I am carrying on for another 100kms.

By the time 31st August arrives I should have hit 600kms.

Good news is that I am only £37.00 short my sponsorship target too and I am pretty confident I will get through that too by the end of August.

This weekend I completed another 20kms and took myself around an area of Plymouth I never knew existed. Started off as normal and then within minutes had taken a detour to try another route. I started heading toward Efford and found Unity Bowls Club. Looks quite decent. Then I carried on down the side of Efford Cemetery, another place I had never been to before. I continued down the path beside the cemetery and found a nature reserve which when you follow the paths, lead you to close to MarshMills. It actually sits behind the Beefeater pub and restaurant. The views are beautiful and there is quite a lot of wildlife to be seen. Going to have to visit it again and stop off to take some photos.

What was even more spectacular about this new route was when I left the nature reserve and headed down Military Road. A rather large bird of prey, "Falcon, Kestrel or Eagle" I don't know as it was very fast and I don't really class myself as a bird watcher so wouldn't know what is what when it comes to these large birds. It was large and it flew down from a tree, and just over my head before soaring up and around and out of sight. Also saw a lot of butterflies, reddish in colour (if anyone is into butterflies and wants to let me know what they were. Will take pics next time, I promise! 

500kms Completed!

Saturday 27th July 2019. At 16:00hrs today I crossed over the 500kms line. There are still six weeks left before the challenge ends so as I went through that 500kms barrier I already made my mind up to go on for another 100kms.

I also managed to collect in a number of offline donations when I finished today, which means I am now just £58.00 short of my target that I set at the start.

ALMOST THERE!

I have not posted any updates for a few weeks. Thing is, when I do the same route each time I think you bored with the photos of the same scenery. What has happened since I last updated? Well...

England Women lost to the USA in the World Cup Semi Final. USA actually went on to win the Final. Left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth to be honest. One or two decisions less than correct!

England won the Cricket World Cup! Yes I know it is hard to believe, but an English team actually won a final! Lucky though I have to say.

Oh and England lost in the Netball World Cup Semi Final to New Zealand, who then went on to shock reigning champions Australia and take the title.

The good news that Brexit...Oh wait, no, my mistake, we still have not left the EU!

Back to the running then...So as I write this there are SEVEN weekends left to go until the challenge finishes for 2019. How far am I along? WELL, since you asked.

I have now completed 488kms which leave just 12kms left to run before the end of August. I have done some mammoth kms over the past couple of weeks to be fair. As you can see from the pictures below.

This was a massive outing! Taking me in a full circle around Plymouth. 

These photos show the end of my last route which took me around the South West Coastal Path. I actually started at Peverell by Central Park, headed around to Plymstock where I stopped off to watch the end pf a game of Bowls, before I headed to Jennycliff and back along the South West Coastal Path to The Barbican. 

I will be honest, I am seriously thinking of just keeping running right through until the end of August and see how much further I can complete. 

Armed Forces Day

As I write this, it will be the last day of June. That means the challenge has been on for three months and, there are now two months left.

Yesterday was Armed Forces Day and on Plymouth Hoe it meant there were 1000s of people walking and standing around watching the various displays and attending the various stands etc there.

Whilst I have done this run many times now, there is always something new to see each time. I was actually enjoying it too until I got around to the Barbican. My progress was halted when I arrived at the footbridge which was closed. Not only did I have to slow right down, I also had to contend with 100s of people making the most of the Armed Forces Day coming to an end and the rather warm weather we have enjoyed this week. The Barbican had not been this busy since Pirates Weekend earlier in the year. 

In the end I stopped the run at 16kms and had to resort to walking 4kms to complete 20kms. Photo above shows the new HMS Queen Elizabeth (right) in the distance. HMS Queen Elizabeth is the most powerful vessel ever constructed for the Royal Navy. When fully operational it will be able to hold 40 aircraft. It's length measures 280 metres. 

This evening's run also let me enjoy a few minutes of the Armed Forces Day Concert as I ran past. As I was passing a Madness Tribute Band were in full voice, along with the many people who were attending. Actually sounded quite good. 

This run marks the end of the first three months and leaves the total kms completed at 386kms. This means with two months left to go I have 114kms left to run. 

The total amount of money raised remains at £388 which means I have £112 still to find. A number of people from work have told me they will be donating but at this time in the challenge I am finding the running easier than collecting in the money. Two months left though so not over concerned just yet! 

Holiday Run

I have not updated this blog for a week or two. A few reasons for this. Some of the runs I have done have taken me around the same circuit so no point posting photos of the same views.

However, recently I had a holiday and decided to have a run whilst I was away so these few photos will be new.

Slightly warmer than my usual runs around Saltram, despite this being an evening run (9.30pm). Anyway, it's another 10kms taken off the total so can't be bad.

Almost Two Months

So as previously stated, I have not kept up active reports on my running for a few weeks.

Here are a few photos from my last few runs to keep you updated on the sights.

Current total of kms completed now stands at 277kms which leaves 223kms left to run.

Current total of money raised stands at £337.00, which leaves a total of £163.00 left to raise.

Photos from the most recent runs that I have not recorded on here are as follows....