THE VIRTUAL SPINE RACE

Virtual Spine Day 16

Distance Covered Today – 16.55 miles

Total Distance covered – 164.73 miles

Virtual

Heavy rain easing by the afternoon

Upper Teesdale is a picturesque valley to start the day before a testing scramble by Cauldron Snout. The stretch before that, too, is a time to watch my step, as its rocky and and slippy with still lots of snow. Then it’s over the moors and, the only tricky bit of navigation, to my long overdue appointment with High Cup Nick. It’s a long day of running, but a great one. Two more things worth knowing: after sticking fairly doggedly to the east side of the Pennines, today I finally crossed to the western side; in doing so, however, because I travelled west-south-west I’m further from Kirk Yetholm than when I started out this morning. But the detour is well worth it and today’s antics come to an end in Dufton.

Reality

 Light rain most of the morning easing by afternoon

Run 10.33 miles – Me and Ed went for a 10-mile walk today which was from Holt house to Barrowford, up Sandy lane to Noggarth and then down into Barley. From here it was up and along both Black Moss reservoirs before turning up Wheathead Lane past Stang Top and over to the top of Blacko. Then it was down Beverley Road before a climb up Red Lane to finish back in the park. It was slow at times due to icy stretches made worse with the water sat on top. Enjoyable as always.

Run 6.22 miles – Just as our 10-mile run was ending I got the text that meant I was good to go on the Team TAC Relays. This is a competition in our running club that allows us all to race without being in contact. We are in mystery teams of 3 and leg 1 runners get a text at 6 pm Thursday which gives them 24 hours to run a 10k. When they finish a text is then sent to the leg 2 runner who repeats the same process. I was clearly a leg 3 runner and expected the text late Saturday but no, it came through in the morning. So we ended the 10 miler and I had the choice of going home and doing the 10k the following morning or take a swig of water and start my 2nd run back to back. Being the nutter I am, I chose the latter and off I went in the pouring rain to add another 6 miles to the 10 already completed. This was expected to be very slow but I was chuffed with tired legs to get round in an hour. A great 16.5 miles off the Spine total taking me well past 150 miles and lots more miles in the bag.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider sponsoring me for this mammoth challenge, it’s for an incredible cause and inspired by an incredible person in Laura Nuttall 🙂

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gd20in20

My motivation for this has come from a very special person called Laura Nuttall who in late 2018, was diagnosed with terminal multiple brain tumours at the young age of 18. Her determination and positive attitude to not only live her life to the full but also to help others as an ambassador for the charity is just incredible and I’m proud to join the fight in whatever way I can. You can read Laura’s story at the following link. Please be generous and help this great charity to raise much-needed funds for researching a cure.

https://www.facebook.com/DoingItForLaura/

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we’re moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour. We’re set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can’t wait.

Virtual Spine Day 14

Distance Covered Today – 5.92 miles

Total Distance covered – 142.85 miles

Virtual

Heavy snow for the day

Today’s short route is around and down Harter Fell and into Middleton In Teeside which is Checkpoint 3. Tough day in heavy snow today which made achieving distance very difficult.

Reality

 Sleet and snow most of the day

Walk 5.92 miles – A change from the boring route coming up through Harle Syke and back down into Nelson before following the main road to Colne. Wanted to do more today but work got in the way and a customer issue meant I had to take the car this morning. The walk home though means I can walk to work in the morning so more miles to cover tomorrow. Another 3 chapters of my audiobook done and it really is a great read.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider sponsoring me for this mammoth challenge, it’s for an incredible cause and inspired by an incredible person in Laura Nuttall 🙂

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gd20in20

My motivation for this has come from a very special person called Laura Nuttall who in late 2018, was diagnosed with terminal multiple brain tumours at the young age of 18. Her determination and positive attitude to not only live her life to the full but also to help others as an ambassador for the charity is just incredible and I’m proud to join the fight in whatever way I can. You can read Laura’s story at the following link. Please be generous and help this great charity to raise much-needed funds for researching a cure.

https://www.facebook.com/DoingItForLaura/

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world’s leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we’re moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour. We’re set on finding new treatments, offering the highest level of support and driving urgent change. And were doing it right now. Because we understand that when you, or someone you love, is diagnosed with a brain tumour a cure really can’t wait.