Day -200(ish): Run Weekends
My legs are feeling a little heavy after an 80km week and my toes, which have never quite got used to more serious mileage, look like someone has tried to pluck them off my feet.
That is despite the fact that I have had four baths in the last three days, have slept in a comfy bed and summer has come to Britain a few months earlier than it usually does. My only hesitation in running the coast of Britain is in attempting to do so without these comforts.
But ’Run Britain’ or ‘Celebrating Britain’ (as my project will now be called) feels more real than at any time in the last three months. Three months which have been a whirlwind of crushing lows and, more recently, wonderful, life-affirming highs. The latter, largely thanks to Nick.
I am surprised that now that I have started telling people of my plans to run around Britain, there are very few doubters. I am not sure if they underestimate the distance or overestimate my capability (after all, if you’re not a runner, 26.2 miles is just a number). But when Nick says I can do it, I believe him. No one knows what it takes to run the coast of Britain in a record time better than him.
The thing is, I have never doubted my own ability to run the coast (perhaps I am suffering from the aforementioned distance/capability imbalance). But I have questioned how I am supposed to navigate the world of corporate sponsors, book deals and logistics on my own. There are many hundreds of further essential ‘to-dos’ which will make a project of this size work.
It’s sad to think how much Tom would have helped. He would have put me in contact with all of his amazing supporters and friends who made his trip (and the founding of his charity) possible. We’d have pored over maps and reminisced about his favourite spots. His role in my trip is, instead, to serve as the inspiration. And maybe, just maybe he’s guided my path to cross with Nick’s because it is his enthusiasm and kindness which has made me believe that not just the run, but the project is possible.
