29th August – Run 2 – 2.49 Miles (55.02m to go)

Day two, and already I’m wondering what I’ve let myself in for. I’m in Lincoln all this week, so getting a run in when I get home is a big challenge. I’ve rarely, if ever, run two consecutive days, and given that yesterday was my first run in a couple of weeks, I really felt it.

However, I had plenty of motivation. You wonderful people have already helped me break the fundraising barrier I set on Just Giving – we’re past £200 already. It’s very humbling that my efforts are able to spark such generosity in times that are undeniably tough for everyone. Thank you. Somewhere down the line, that money might save lives. I’ll be touching more on what CALM do as the weeks roll by, but rest assured, it’s a worthy charity.

I got back from Lincoln in pouring rain, having zero motivation. This week and next, I’m hugely out of my comfort zone, and all I wanted to do was run a bath, drink tea and relax. That’s not going to knock those miles off, so instead, I pulled on the trainers, asked the good lord himself to stop the clouds and headed out. He obliged, and I only got wet feet.

I’m not breaking any records in terms of speed, but in order to hit the 60-mile mark before October 1st, I’m going to need to chip away. I put some Millie Manders and the Shutup on the headphones and pushed through my general malaise.

Was it worth it? Absolutely, and not just to keep focused after generous people have put faith in me. If you’re not a runner (and although I run, I’m not a runner), finding inspiration can be difficult. I struggle almost every time, and today was at the extreme end of the scale. However, it is worth it – whatever exercise you choose. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that make you feel good. It’s called runner’s high, and if you’re having a bad day, it genuinely can help pick you up. Trust me!

There’s no run tomorrow. My knee felt a little tight, and I couldn’t squeeze anything in before heading off to Bramall Lane. I’ll see you there, and hopefully my runner’s high from today can be replaced by a ‘jogging into round three’ high tomorrow. If not, it’ll be tarmac-pounding first thing Thursday morning which carries me through the week.

Please remember you can sponsor my efforts here if you wish – I’m doing this for CALM, a great organisation that helps many people through the challenging times in their lives.