GOSH-RVI CHALLENGE 2023
GOSH-RVI LONDON TO NEWCASTLE 350-MILES
STATS
Miles 361:52
Time 94:14:21
Average distance 36.15
Max distance 49.75 miles
Total ascent 27,178ft
Average speed 3.8 mph
Shirts 6
Socks 10 pairs
Shoes 3 pairs all new balance 1080’s road shoes
WHY
In 2021 I did an event called Deadwater, a 6 day event. That was the final Deadwater event and I was gutted as I loved it and wanted to do it again. So I thought, OK, I’ll make my own up and I will attempt to raise funds and awareness for NSPKU. So the idea was to create something crazy, something way beyond anything I’ve done before. I decided I’d go from Great Ormond Street to Newcastles RVI as molly started her care at GOSH and is currently under the RVI. Then I thought, add some other hospitals that deal with PKU, so Birmingham, Sheffield and Bradford were added as these still sort of fitted into a straight ish A to B line. I then asked Sharon if she could create the route and once the answer was yes, I emailed the NSPKU and the various hospitals and told them of my plan, but I needed to sent the email to set it in stone. It was finalised and decided I’d definitely do it 18 long months ago.
PLANNING
The first thing that was done was the route. To start with it was 400 miles and the route from London to Birmingham was on the Grand Union Canal, that was dropped as it would be soul destroying and if I took a more direct route Sharon could get it to 350 miles.
I’ll let Sharon explain how the route was created.
Initially I just used Google maps to automatically create a walking and then a cycling route from one hospital to the next then used those as a rough outline to plot into Plotaroute. I then looked for footpaths that could link up road sections and shorten the distances. Once I had a reasonably straightish rough route, I tasked Ian with finding his accommodation, some of which I had already found, others that required a bit more research to find something affordable and suitable not too far off the rough route. That done and the individual day start and end locations, and hospital locations finalised, I could concentrate on refining the route to make it as short as possible between these stops, though even the overnight stops were moved a couple of times. Finding crossing points for rivers, motorways and railways also dictated the route choice and there were a couple of later changes as further research into the river crossings revealed one was a ford which was impassable after heavy rain and one was stepping stones that were similarly affected by rain. These had to be re-routed as no chances could be taken and wet feet can make or break a long day.To attempt to make Ian’s life easier, I avoided as many of the steepest hills as I could, I used Google Street view to check how busy roads looked, whether there was a pavement or cycle path, researched any sections of path to try and ascertain how well marked and used they were. Mostly that wasn’t too hard to do, but often if the section of path was a short one then no information on it could be found so I had to just trust it was where the map said it was. When it came to Yorkshire, there was some head scratching, as avoiding busy roads without pavements, and finding paths that went in the direction I wanted them to was more problematic. I anticipated some of the paths included on the route might not be ideal but tried to keep these to a minimum. Once everything was finally done, I worked out the grid references to provide for the tracker stops, then stitched the individual days back together into one long GPX for the tracker map. Ian would be working off the individual days on his watch to give him better resolution and turn information, as the watch can’t cope with files as huge as this one was in its entirety.
Next was to book up and finalise the accommodation, this would basically determine the daily mileage. If I did each day at 35 miles, often, there would be no accommodation nearby. So I booked accommodation on Air B&B, Booking.com and Premier Inn. Sharon then made the final adjustments to the start finish of each day on the route and also put all the coordinates in an email which would be used for the tracker. Sharon then, as she always does, because she is the brains of the team, wrote a plan. A very long 41 week plan. That had normal training runs with added in events along the way. With the NSPKU, the hospitals, the accommodation, the tracker, and a training plan all sorted, it was time to actually train for it. The training plan went well up to week 25, up to then there had been 5 ultras and some marathons successfully completed. I then for the first time ever, twisted my ankle and couldn’t run for a week. That was the first time I missed runs on this plan. I then had a few decent weeks until on week 30 I got ill with a chest infection and asthma issues. That lost me another 2 weeks of proper training. At the end of week 34, I did a 39 mile event on the Pennines and all was good. The day after that, my right knee swelled up and it was extremely painful when standing up. A little bit of panic set in. 2 weeks out before I managed a slow steady half marathon. Including that HM, the last 5 weeks on the plan saw me run a meagre 35 miles while having physio, acupuncture, heat, ice etc all chucked at the knee. So it was definitely not the build-up I wanted. By now though, everything was in place, NSPKU and the hospitals were hounded by emails and arrangements made with friends who were planning on running with me. I was heading into the biggest challenge I’d ever taken on with a dodgy knee.
I should at this point thank Ruth Irving & Nicole nailing? for fixing me. Thank you.
THE CHALLENGE
We travelled down to Hemel Hempstead on Thursday 20th July and stayed in the same Premier Inn that marked the end point of day 1. Originally it was planned that I’d either go on the train or be driven down and dropped off and I would be fully unsupported from start to finish. I’m so pleased that part was changed and Sharon was now staying until Sunday morning. You might have noticed by now how important Sharon is to this challenge, without her training plan, the route planning, and her changing her plans to provide more crewing support, none of this would of happened. That Thursday evening, I had my run bag packed and kit ready for the next day. We drove into London and to GOSH for 6:30 am Friday morning for a 7AM start. After a few pictures and a chat to a few people it was time to go. At this point, if I try to write a step by step account, we’ll all be here longer than I took to complete the challenge so I’m going to attempt to categorise things.
STRATEGY
Start slow, stay slow, get slower. Walk each and every hill, no matter how short, long, steepness etc, walk them. Run the downhill’s and run as much as possible on the flats.
MY DAILY ROUTINES
This was the same each day:Pre run: Wake up, bathroom duties, Vaseline on feet, tape on nipples (nipple rub hurts!!), Vaseline everywhere that may chaff. Take asthma inhalers. Post run: Shower or bath, think there was only 3 baths though, check feet, eat, do write up, drink beer, eat more.
KITBecause I was due to be on my own from day 3 to day 8 I had to take two bags. A smaller 15ltr bag for when Sharon was there and a 30ltr bag I’d need when I was fully on my own. The 15 litre bag is the one I usually use for all events, the 30 litre bag I’d only used once before, 2 years ago at Deadwater. When Sharon was with me, I needed to carry far less and it was a lighter bag. In the smaller bag I’d carry food for the day, 1ltr of water in 2 x 500mil soft bottles. Waterproof Jacket, small 1st aid kit, my flag.In a waist belt I’d have my phone and a separate camera. In the bigger bag, I’d have the above contents but also a much bigger 1st aid/ wash bag. A bag with chargers, plugs, cables etc. A bag with spare tops, shorts & socks. On either bag the tracker was attached. I ended up with the smaller pack on days 1 & 2, Bigger pack on days 3, 4, 5, 6Back to the smaller pack for days 7, 8, 9 & 10I had also put on strips of K tape on my neck as a precaution to the bag straps rubbing. It stayed on till I finished.
FOOD & DRINK
Out on the run I carried sweets in 1 pocket, Jelly Babies, Fruit Pastels, Haribo, and savoury food in the other (sausage rolls normally). Chocolate bars were a favourite, any chocolate bars. When I was on my own, I’d get sandwiches, pies, crisps, whatever I fancied from shops. The days Sharon was with me I carried much the same but there was no need for shops as the boot of the car had more stock than a small corner shop. Pies, pasties, crisps, chocolate bars, biscuits, donuts, cheese, and probably lots more I’ve forgotten. Drinks, in my two soft flasks it was water only. From shops I bought mainly coffee and a few soft drinks. Sharon also had a stock of drinks in the car, all of the above and some non alcoholic beer, which I also drank. In the evenings, regardless of if I was on my own or not the meals were determined on what was available near the accommodation. These meals consisted of, pizza, chips, onion rings, burgers, chips, soup, sandwiches, fish & chips, and on day 9 we had cheese and biscuits with red wine. Breakfast was determined by what I had left or what I got from shops. On one morning it was donuts and crisps. Malt loaf was also taken. On the days Sharon was with me, she did a fantastic job in keeping me fed and watered. I probably made it a little difficult by craving coffee at times when it was difficult to get. At no point during the 10 days did I eat anything considered a healthy option. I don’t go in for all this homemade super fuel flapjack or super drinks like tailwind and there was no sign of salt tablets or any other type of supplements. It’s all real junk food for me.Oh, nearly forgot, there wasn’t one evening that never had beer. On one of the long days when tired I didn’t drink all of my beers, and had to leave them behind, was most upsetting.
WEATHER
On day 2 at about 30 miles, Milton Keynes it rained. Was soaked before I had time for jacket so never bothered.Day 4, there were 4 of us that day and we all started in jackets. They were taken of at 10:30 ish. Neither day was torrential rain and other than that I may of seen a few showers briefly. Mostly it was sunshine, sunshine and more sunshine, my favourite running conditions...not. I had no howling winds, it was never cold. I think I got away lightly with the weather.
MY FEET
I have already mentioned my daily foot routine. Vaseline and then socks, on day 2 I started taping on toes that I thought had the beginnings tenderness, I’m not sure if I imagined it but prevention is better than cure. Some days, I taped over tape, twice I removed tape and replaced it. At no point did my feet hurt. Considering I could barely touch my feet on the event 2 years ago I am amazed that nothing went wrong. On day 3 I think, I discovered a tiny blister on 2nd toe of left foot, the tape got rid of that. So with my foot care and my comfy and trusty new balance 1080’s, the feet tolerated the journey remarkably well.I am properly impressed at how my feet survived so well.
THE ROUTE
The percentage of terrain is roughly made up as follows:Road - 60% (including A roads, pavements, cycle paths, lanes etc.) Paths including canal tow paths - 30%, (including gravel, shale, cobbles etc.)Proper off road paths - 10% (forest, farm field, ploughed fields, grass, mud, bog, etc.) One thing I am seriously impressed with, yes on day 7 I took a wrong turn but that was entirely my own fault. What I am super impressed by is how accurate the route was. You read earlier how Sharon created the route, I’m amazed at how someone can put that together when never actually being on, or seeing the route 1st hand. Occasionally, and I mean once or twice a turn I was due to take wasn’t there, but my way around it was easily rectified. Other than my one self inflicted mistake, I was never in danger of getting lost. I have been on many official events were the GPX was far worse. Most of it was on good path, the majority of the off road bits were fine. There was a few times the path I was meant to go on was non existent and the exit from that path was by means of crawling through a hedge. A few paths I could of done with a machete as they were overgrown and I got mangled in brambles, and there was a field of cabbages that had to be waded through.But over 361 miles, a tiny % of crappy paths is a big win. By far the worse thing about the route was days 1 to 4 canal paths, even some of them were overgrown. The long, long straight roads were extremely tiring but the title of worse bits goes to the big Yorkshire uphill roads. Day 8, the hills out of Otley, Blubberhouses and Glasshouses were by far the worse bits of road I travelled on. There were a few sections of fast roads with no path, they could get a bit nervy. The bits that went the quickest were all the sections in towns and cities. You have more to look at, more corners to turn, more people to dodge. Another thing I’m surprised at is how rarely anything happened, beforehand I’d presumed I’m in for a proper adventure, loads of things can and will happen, good or bad. In truth, nothing happened. When I had company it was different, as the time was spent chatting away and it flew by, but for the rest of it, it was just one foot in front of the other and nothing happened. I was asked by various people what was my favourite places I went through, but you don’t even notice them, I may well of passed interesting things but if so I missed them. The thing I enjoyed most was seeing the Kites flying around (birds, not the ones with string). The worse place I went through Was on day 6. The what looked like abandoned travellers/ shanty Town on the outskirts of Sheffield. That was proper grim and I dare not stop till I got through it. Dave and I were mightily relieved we come out alive. It was definitely a very good, as direct as can be route though.
CREWING FROM SHARON’S POINT OF VIEW
Having designed the route I felt a huge weight of responsibility as you stood outside Great Ormond Street Hospital. Knowing that I just had to drive to the end and run back to you was a bit stressful, but starting with a relatively short day meant it was the most practical thing I could do for you. Discovering early on that a long stretch of the canal path I had mapped out was closed for repairs did nothing for my route related stress levels – but a detour was found that didn’t add too much distance to the day.After day 1 all of the days I spent with you had a similar routine, get up, drink coffee, go out and get a start photo done, pack up the hotel room and load up the car and get on the road to the first meet point of the day. At this point I would get a post on FB, and Instagram with details of what you had in store that day and eat something (usually either a pot of fruit salad or some left over junk from the day before).Day 2 was a long day at 48 miles, and where and when I popped up was mostly dictated by finding places I could park the car on the route, making sure it wasn’t so regularly it made for too many stops, but not so far between visits that you could run out of water, or get hungry. It was good to get a decent chunk of time running with you at the end of that day. Waving good bye to you at the start of day 3 was hard. I hated that I had to go to work on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but I was so glad to be able to get Thursday and Friday off to get back to you on Wednesday night. That you finished day 3 sounding still so up-beat and happy and still moving at a good pace filled me with confidence, and I think I knew then that barring disaster you were going to make it. You have a steadfast, dogged, determination and once you have made your mind up you are doing something, then do it you will.It was lovely to get the messages and pictures from those that came to support you on the 3 days that I couldn’t be there, I relentlessly refreshed the tracker but it’s not the same as being there, I can’t thank people enough for those messages.On day 7 I could see that the navigation error had really affected you mentally and that you were starting to really feel the cumulative effects of the miles. That this was also the day that the hills started to become relentless didn’t help at all, it was good to be able to get a few miles in with you and to know that you had John for company for a good chunk of the day. That was definitely a day for popping up regularly and supplying coffee and cake and as many treats as I could find. Having had someone prang my car overnight added stress to that day as I had to sit in the long phone queue to report it and get an incident number, every time I managed to almost get to the front of the Queue your tracker would get close and I’d have to hang up and start again further up the road.Getting day 7 over with was a relief, but day 8 was another long old day and on remoter and hillier terrain so I knew that was going to be a toughie, even with some early miles with John. It was the first (and only) time on your journey the tracker had a bit of a glitch, and you disappeared for a while – which induced a major early panic, but you reappeared. It was a day of finding coffee and getting it into flasks waiting for you, and every time I could find a spot to park on the route (no mean feat at times), I would just park up the car and start running back towards you. It was a day of mixed terrain and I knew it had similar potential to day 7 for sketchy paths. Day 8 I could really see it was hurting, sleep deprivation and miles both starting to take their toll. Having a long downhill finish into Bedale felt positive and knowing the next day was flatter was a relief.Day 9 was another biggie, though a flatter day, but by that stage even a speed bump had taken on mountainous proportions. It was a day for the flasks, and lots of running backwards and forwards, but you had rallied from a day of evident suffering on day 8 to being back to the uncharacteristically cheerful runner of the early days of the challenge. Every time I saw you, you were moving well and chatty and positive. Knowing the end was now actually within reach was a massive positive.Day 10 was just a case of running back along the route until I found you, I knew you had started far too early, every time we discussed what time you should start you moved it forward another 15 minutes, but it made for a relaxed day of coffee stops, photo’s and chatter. It was lovely to meet the people who appeared to support you and to see the reception committee at the RVI – how you held it together I will never know.
THE PEOPLE I RAN WITH
(not day 10)
Some people had been pre-arranged, and some just came about as I ran.Days 1 & 2 - near the end of each run Sharon had run out to meet me and run back with me. It was great having her run so early on in the challenge. Day 3 - near the end I was met by Andrew Weaver, who was due to meet me on day 4 but thought he’d surprise me. It certainly gave me a big boost and we had a nice chat while running the canal path into Warwick. Day 4 - at 7 am at my accommodation I was met by Andrew again and Sean & Dylan. I met te three of them at the Deadwater event 2 years ago. They were running with me from my accommodation to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. It was a brilliant day, though it was the day we started in jackets, it wasn’t torrential rain and with lots of chat on loads of subjects and reminiscing about Deadwater the time and miles flew by. After the hospital it was Andrew and I who then proceeded to that days finish in Walsall. Day 6 - it was the turn of Dave Morris who joined my for the whole day Including the visit to Sheffield Hospital and onto Matlock. Again it was a brilliant day. Dave has an upcoming ultra and I needed the company so it was a win:win. We had a good mix of terrain to deal with, a good few hills but again it was a good chatty day. It was actually the 1st time we had ran together despite knowing each other for years. We were also joined by Lucy & Stephanie for the last 4 miles to Sheffield Hospital, again, I’d never met these two lovely people but the definitely added to a fantastic day.Day 7 - was the 1st outing for John Walton. Unfortunately for John, this was the day I made a mistake and went the wrong way, so I was a tad late in meeting him. Day 7 was by now my most tough day but meeting John definitely made my life so much better. He ran with me all the way to Bradford Hospital including a nice long downhill section to the hospital. Day 8 - saw me once again joined by John who met me in Shipley and ran to Otley with me. These 2 days so far had been hilly, but once John left me, the hills took a turn for the worse. John had put these dates in in his diary over a year ago titled Ians mad run. Every single one of you were a very important part of this journey, it gave me a huge boost having you all along. I will forever be grateful. Days 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, Sharon was a constant, days 1 & 2 it was run several miles back to me to finish those runs. Days 7, 8, 9 was Sharon crewing me then driving ahead, parking, running back to me numerous times each day and always doing the last stretch of each day with me. Now on days 7, 8 & 9 I can’t tell you how invaluable these runs were. I was struggling with the hills on these days but having Sharon there meant I had less time to feel sorry for myself. Those Yorkshire hills definitely dented my morale but Sharon sorted that out and dragged me along.In all over those days she ran 40 miles with me so including the miles running back to me her total was 80 miles. Now a week earlier Sharon had to abandon a 100 mile race because of an achilles issue.Remember earlier when I said how important she was to this challenge.
THE HOSPITALS
Day 4 saw the 1st visit to a hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital. I arrived there with the Deadwater crew, 4 of us arrived to a welcome outside the hospital by staff, parents and children of the PKU world. It was a lively welcome with lots of cheering. It was difficult not to get emotional. We then went into an inner courtyard with tables of food and drink. Food for everyone, PKU or not. It was great meeting all the staff and families, we all had a nice chat and were given so much food and gifts.
Day 6 was a visit to Sheffield Hospital with Dave, Lucy & Stephanie. Lucy works at the hospital and Stephanie is PKU parent. We ran through a park and again approached a fantastic reception and again, it was very difficult not to get emotional. As with Birmingham, we had lots of food, drink, chat and pictures and also like Birmingham I had pots of rice pudding and non alcoholic beer.
Day 7 was the turn of Bradford, myself and John arrived here to be met by Sharon and the welcoming team. I am very grateful to Bradford for waiting for me, I was 1.5 hours late due to my directional mistake earlier. But again it was a fantastic reception and was brilliant to meet everyone. One thing I struggled with, though not externally, this was my inner self struggling was just how nice and thankful everyone was towards me. I’m not used to it and I don’t really no how to handle compliments. This is me, I’m just me. It was always a chore to leave the hospitals though, those visits were a huge highlight of the challenge.
OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED
Day 3 I was met by Caroline Bridges & Julie Osborne and mum. They were waiting for me at the end of Day 3, Julie after driving from York and Caroline from down south. It was fantastic to see you all. Rachel Gould, wife of Dylan. She has been involved from pretty much day 1 as my Birmingham hospital go to person along side Anita MacDonald, Anita is someone who has been in our lives for nearly 20 years but it’s the 1st time I’d met her. Rachel was also chauffeur and got Dylan and Sean to me for the day 4 run. At about 11:30 am on day 4 Rachel also set up a roadside checkpoint which was fantastic and much needed.Amanda Morris wife of day 6 dave. I had sent some fresh gear ahead and got it at the end of Day 5. Then Amanda met us at Sheffield Hospital. Sharon, Amanda, dave & all met up at the end of Day 6 in the pub. All the staff at the hospitals and at NSPKU, all you who have had to put up with numerous emails and arranging, you were all amazing and it was fantastic meeting you all. From the PKU world, Duncan and Sarah. I had never met either but we from pku sites we knew of each other. Sarah had met me at the half way in mileage point and treated me to coffee and food, she was later joined by 2 of their friends and then Duncan. All afternoon of day 5 they kept popping up everywhere making sure I was fed and watered and giving do much encouragement. Duncan and I had a very nice beer in Matlock at the end of the day. Also on day 5, and totally unexpected I was met by Sharon’s sister & family. I had no idea they would be there. Again they kept popping up everywhere and giving encouragement and even running with me for a bit, they need to be more restrained with words like hills, up, and over etc .
PHYSICAL
All in all I think I survived very well. I was genuinely worried about me knee before I started and I really would not of been surprised had it all gone pear shaped on day one. My feet were good, I had no aches and pains till day 7, 8, & 9Then I’m pretty certain it was those pesky Yorkshire hills and the sunshine that got to me most. Days 7, 8 & 9 were definitely the toughest on me physically but I’m still absolutely amazed I haven’t come out broken. On Deadwater, the morning of day 5 I was severely broken, I fully expected to be like that. The 2 months prior to the start I had, also made me think there’s no way I’ll come out unscathed, but I did. As I write this now, the day after day 10, I feel OK.
MENTALLY
Now then, for those of you who don’t know me it may come as a surprise to you that I don’t really enjoy the running, I’m definitely not a happy clappy runner. I have to turn off all notifications on my watch as time goes by slowly, 1 mile can sometimes seem like 10. What I do like is picking an event that’s going to be outside my comfort zone and saying to Sharon “ I’d want to do this” she writes a plan, I go for it. So I enjoy the bigger picture of the whole story, meeting people along the way and hopefully achieving what I set out to achieve, it’s the actual running that is often my issue. There are not many times in the years I’ve ran I’ve come home and said “ I enjoyed that “. When Sharon and I run together, she gets seriously fed up with me moaning. Was it any different this time, it seriously was and I’ve no idea why. Days 1 to 6 are a total mystery to me. My knee was ok, my feet was ok and my head was ok.I really enjoyed those 6 days. The running went well, I had no mind running demons, everything went absolutely perfectly, and I loved every minute of it. I was for 6 days invaded by the spirit of a happy runner. Sometimes I’d see my mileage on the watch and I’d be amazed by how many miles had gone by. I really can’t stress enough, I’ve no idea who I was on those days.Days 7, 8 & 9 were tougher in my head, this started when I made my navigational error. The hills on these days also dented my sense of humour, fortunately the people I ran with saved the day. Don’t get me wrong, I was still happier on those days than I normally am.
THEN FINALLY
I haven’t mentioned day 10 yet, I thought it deserved a section on its own. DAY 10I woke up with achey legs, did the normal match day routine and left at 5:30am. This was a mistake but I thought I’d be as slow as the previous few days. I hadn’t factored in a new found burst of leg happiness. I had a massive 6.5 hours to do 22 miles. Which seems mad but this was day 10 and would see me go over 350 miles. After a very nice off road bit through some woods I went through Durham, took a few pictures tried to waste some time. After Durham I was caught up by Molly’s consultant Mark Anderson. A nice chatty few miles before we were joined by Karen and then Karen’s mum Isabel. We stopped for coffee and was then met by Sharon who had run 9 miles back from the RVI. We made our way to the Angel of the north and met by Alice. Karen and Alice I had never met before but they had seen the run online and wanted to join in. It was fantastic meeting them. Near the Tyne bridge we then met Ed White, so there was now 6 of us. Still early so we went to the Castle and had more pictures. Now, unbeknown to my fellow runners, a few times in these last miles I was getting a little choked up at what I was about to complete. I would fall behind a little or take a few pics so I could compose myself a little but it was emotional, not just what I was achieving but having Sharon and the others with me, it was a fantastic time. We eventually got to the RVI and the welcoming party. I crossed the line and it was over. The Life I’d lived for the last 10 days was over. My daily routine was over. 18 months of planning was over. Everyone at the hospital were brilliant, I got a medal which will be hung with my others, or I may even frame it. We had a nice chat with staff and PKU families and MP Liz Twist. It was great seeing all the staff who have all been major players in Molly’s life. And of course the lovely Barbara McGovern who has also been in our PKU life for years.Then we went home
SOMETHING I NEED TO REVEAL
Something never happened out there, 94 hours of run/walk, 361 miles, road, paths, trails, mud, tree roots. You runners out there will understand why this means so much....NOT ONCE DID I TRIP AND FALL OVER
Simply amazing and believe me, I am properly impressed by this fact.
, I’d like to say thanks to Nicky Mumford who couldn’t be there at the start but would have been if it was possible, she has been in our life since molly was born.Also Suzanne Ford & Caroline Bridges, both who have been amazing for years and years.
HOW DO I FEEL NOW
Well, I’m not sure really. I’m not one for over celebrating so find it hard to go overboard about this. As I’ve been writing this I found myself getting tad emotional by the part everyone else played. All you people who came out to support me, run with me and set up at the hospitals were absolutely fantastic, though I cringe at having everyone’s eyes on me I know it was impossible to do without you all. As I ran towards each hospital’s welcoming party I felt very self conscious being the centre of attention. Obviously though doing something of this magnitude meant I couldn’t hide behind a rock. I’m not sure what, if any sense of accomplishment I have. I still can’t actually comprehend what I’ve done as a whole. When I started on the morning of day 1 I could only take each day at a time, you wake up, get ready and go. The only thing on your mind is the daily mileage. It would be daft to have the finish line in your head till your near the finish line. So I see it as a series of days, not as a whole. I also struggled with praise out there, especially from PKU families, thanking me for what I’ve done. I’m not really sure I deserve so much praise, I’m just me. I’m Mr Dull, get up, go to work and in my spare time I run. That’s it. I’m chuffed to bits we have raised so much and raised awareness about PKU. This started as an idea for me to replace Deadwater but I couldn’t not do something like this and leave NSPKU out. NSPKU have looked after Molly all her life, they are the heroes, them and all of you who played a part in the challenge, whatever part it was you played.
SUPPORT ONLINE AND DONATIONS
The amount of online support has been pretty incredible. Kind words, sharing posts etc has been utterly fantastic, I thank you all.Donations have been even more incredible, I originally set a target of £5000. We are currently just over £4000 which is crazy, in a good crazy way of course. You have all been extremely generous and kind. Donations from family, friends, work colleagues, the PKU world and people I don’t know. I and the NSPKU thank each and everyone of you.
You can still donate here.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ian-spriggs-gosh-rvi
The last words go to Sharon. To put it simply, without Sharon’s training, route planning, crewing, running with me this would not of happened. There wouldn’t of been a start line to get to. Sharon deserves much praise for what she has done. She has been absolutely incredible. Thank you and love you loads. XX
