Graham ran 5km a day for one year to help us change the future for people living with dementia. People like his mum. We know we say it all the time – but we really do have the best supporters in the world.
— AlzheimersResearchUK 🍊 (@AlzResearchUK) January 9, 2020
People #MakeBreakthroughsPossible pic.twitter.com/HIlxB0aruo
Wednesday 8th January 2020
It’s now a week and a day since I completed my challenge to run a minimum of 5k every day for the whole of 2019.
Apart from parkrun last Saturday I’m enjoying the rest and recuperation with no running. It’s strange not having to plan every day around when I’m going to run. I said I’d take a full week off but might make that two weeks. I’ll see how I feel. No presssure.
The scores on the doors!
In 2019 I ran a total of 2,448.2 km, that’s 1,521.2 miles, the equivalent of a straight line from Liverpool to Moscow! It’s not surprising then that I’ve worn out two pairs of running shoes!
It’s not all been plain sailing though. Out of the 365 days there were 7 days when I walked instead of ran following my marathon-induced injuries. These days were not counted towards my running total. I also had a short period in early September when I could barely walk after pulling a muscle in my back and I took a 7 day break to fully recover.
During 2019 I completed:-
- four 10k races (43:50 PB at the Great Manchester Run)
- my first half marathon (1:50:24)
- my first marathon (3:55:53 at the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon)
- and 53 parkruns (20:26 PB at Morecambe Prom)
I’ve run in the dark, at dawn, during the day, and at night.
I’ve run in rain, hail, ice, snow, wind, mist, fog and sunshine.
I’ve run in Liverpool, Manchester, Yorkshire, Wales, Tyne and Wear, San Francisco, Seattle, and the stunning west coast of Ireland.
I’ve run with friends from home, colleagues at work, fellow parkrunners, but mostly on my own.
Mainly though I’ve run for my Mum and to support the incredible research that’s funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK.
The thank yous
A massive thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the way, especially my husband Richard who has been with me on this journey every step of the way (metaphorically!).
Thanks to Jo Gibson, Robin Fox and everyone who has run a parkrun with me.
Thanks to Tim O’Neill for all of those morning runs from Deansgate along the canal and back before work, and to Tim Blackwell for leading the regular Thursday lunchtime group around my favourite five parks route.
Thanks to my boss Chris Millson who has been super-supportive all year as I’ve disappeared to fit in a lunchtime run!
Thanks to Simon McDermott from Alzheimer’s Research UK, and to everyone who’s given my help, support and encouragement over the past 12 months. I don’t think I would have completed the challenge without it.
If I’ve missed anyone from the list of thank-yous please accept my apology.
The donations
A huge thank you to each and every person who has made a donation of any size from an anonymous 52p to the anoymous £250! There have been 142 individual donations to date with some people having donated more than once! I’ve tried where possible to thank everyone individually but if I’ve missed you out I’m really sorry. I was somewhat inundated with donations at the end.
I set £1,825 as my original target, extending that to £2,000 when I reached that in October. I never expected to pass the £2,500 mark. When the JustGiving page closed the final total was £2,690.
Running 2020 and beyond
People keep asking me what I’m going to do in 2020.
Regular routine
After my break I’m going to ease myself back into a regular running routine, probably Tuesday, Thursday and parkrun on Saturday with the option of a longer run on Sunday if I feel like it.
Races
I’d like to do another half marathon road race and see if I can beat my time from last March. I’ve applied to take part in the Great North Run for the first time. It’s a ballot system so fingers crossed.
At some point I might try my hand at a fell or trail race. I know quite a few people who take part in these and they love them!
I know when I crossed the finish line for the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon back in May I said to myself “never again”. However, I would like to do another marathon at some point in the future when I have the time to put in the training required. Running every single day is probably the worst possible marathon preparation because you don’t get those much needed rest days. It’s no wonder I picked up two injuries on the day! If I do decide to do another one it wouldn’t be until later this year or next, and I’ll definitely be choosing one with a flatter route.
Penny Lane Striders
Having spent the majority of the 365 days running by myself I’ve decided to join a running club – Penny Lane Striders. I know a few people who are members and they all seem to be a friendly bunch.
They train on Tuesdays and Thursdays (with option track sessions of Fridays) which would suit my new running schedule.
With a little bit of training and coaching I’d dearly love to get to the position where I can run a 5km parkrun in under 20 minutes. I don’t have a specific time in mind so long as it starts with a 19! I’d be happy with 19:59!
Signing off
So that’s it! All done and dusted.
I’ll probably use this website to log my parkruns and races, but it’ll be nice not having to update it every day!
There are some people I didn’t get the chance to run with in 2019. If that’s you and you’d like to join me on a run during 2020 just let me know.
Graham
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Graham runs 5k-a-day
Impressive…very impressive!