Race 1 Recovery

A fairly uneventful week after The Hebden.  Having pushed too much at the start of the week I lost my energy and developed a new niggle around my right Achilles tendon.  Paying the required attention to these factors with rest and appropriate exercises allowed me to tick off a new location for Parkrun on Saturday in Bramley.

On Thursday I was surprised to be notified of a full-page feature in The Halifax Courier, reproduced from the online article.  I also listened to a podcast by Macmillan Cancer Support featuring Alison Batchelor’s story and we hope to meet up early in February to explore more awareness-raising.

My fundraising page has now had 800 views and over 1/3 of my total has been raised, which is incredible with 11 months still to go.  Thanks again to all my supporters so far.

At the start of the year I set myself a Strava goal to run 120 miles/month and this week I reached that milestone for January.  I’ll probably get a few more miles in before the end of the month but I am off to Fuertaventura this coming week for my first overseas trip in 8 years and some much-needed winter sun!

So, compared to last week’s big numbers, this week has been a more achievable 23.78 miles run over 2,838 feet of elevation.  Along with this I completed 6 at-home yoga / Pilates sessions, 6 ‘Recover Athletics’ pre-hab workouts, and one contrast therapy session; today was 1 x 3:00 dip and then 3 x 3:30 dips at 2 degrees, finishing warm again.

January Challenge - The Hebden

After last week’s wobble, I’ve been nursing that IT-band issue in my right leg.  The pre-hab, yoga, contrast therapy, and carefully monitored running all paid off.  No pain during yesterday’s race!

Thanks to Harriet and the amazing team at Pancreatic Cancer UK, I received coverage in The Halifax Courier and had interviews with BBC Radio Leeds and ITV Calendar.  The BBC piece appeared online today but I’ve not heard anything about ITV as yet so maybe that didn’t make the cut!

Yesterday was the first official challenge of the year.  The Hebden - a great and popular race facilitated by the 12th Halifax Sea Scouts - is a gruelling race with around 4,500 feet of climb for the full ‘22’ mile course. 

The weather wasn’t too bad for the time of year, it was just very muddy and slippery underfoot, which made the going all the more effortful.  I managed to complete the course in 5:01 and was pretty close to passing out at the finish after starting from a much less energised position than I’d have hoped.

Wendy was very much in my thoughts all the way round.  My low energy and the aches and pains of a fell race a far cry from her own personal challenge.

I felt motivated to record some footage during the race and that can be found on my YouTube channel - just search for @vloggingpanther9233.

Stats-wise, this week a very passable 54.50 miles run over 6,850 feet of elevation.  That’s the farthest weekly distance since the start of July 2025.  This was supported with 5 at-home yoga sessions, 5 ‘Recover Athletics’ pre-hab workouts, and two contrast therapy sessions.  Today I managed 4 x 3:00 dips at 2 degrees, but for once I ‘finished warm’ as I find I don’t sleep well finishing cold.

Thanks to all who are following my progress and to everyone who has shown their support so far for me, Wendy and the charity.

Winter Training, Ice and Blues

A week out from the first race, I’ve faced a number of challenges since my last update.

Firstly, the weather led to all planned running club activities being cancelled for safety as our training patch has experienced a lot of ice (shout out to George, though, who completed one of the Pennine Way winter races - 46 miles across the Pennines from Edale to Hebden Bridge).  I must admit that with some personal matters on my mind, these cancellations allowed me to indulge some gloomy new year negativity - a slightly dangerous place to find myself with the year ahead to smash, even though my motivation for the challenge is strong.  Getting back on track becomes harder every day when habits get interrupted.

Nonetheless, this happens from time to time and I include the reflection to share the reality of my situation and the fact that I’m just like the majority who will ever read this.  Thankfully, I managed to summon up some appropriate emotional intelligence, was kind to myself and managed to sit with the feelings and let them pass.  Which, by Friday night, they had.

In terms of plans, I finally booked a Liverpool city break for some (almost) running free downtime to celebrate my 50th.  I also booked flights to Poland that will allow me to access a ‘Z’ parkrun and complete my first ‘alphabet’ (if you know, you know - if you don’t, get yourself along to parkrun and join in: running, walking, volunteering, or as I discovered at Halifax last weekend, jeffing).

While the weather outside was vile, I racked up 5 at-home yoga/pilates workouts, 2 strength workouts and a bit of stretching - including a focused ‘prehab’ for continued IT-band pain in my right leg.  To finish the weekend I encouraged my friend, Holly, to try out contrast therapy with me for the first time.  She did brilliantly and I managed four dips in the 2 degree bath: 2:30; 3:00; 3:00; 2:00 minutes respectively with a welcome sauna in-between for 10 mins or so each time.

And the running?  Well after an 11th hour cancellation of my planned parkrun (Bramley) on Saturday I managed to jump in with Jen and Nancy to attend a record attendance at Lister Park in Bradford - one of the few local destinations not overly affected by ice on the route.  Ice did, however, cut short a group early morning hilly run on Sunday.  Even the cows looked miserable trying to hide from the sleet next to a wall!  Somehow I managed to keep running and stay upright, bringing my weekly running total to 15.25 miles over 1,693 feet of elevation, my lowest figures since the first week of December.

My next update will report on January's race - The Hebden - and the first race in this series!

Ice Training

Christmas Week

Winter Solstice

I thought I would use the week that ended with the 2025 winter solstice to continue sharing more about my training journey through the 2026 challenge.  This was prompted by questions during an interview by the Pancreatic Cancer UK press team during the week.  The charity also sent me a lovely letter, purple beanie hat and medal for the November 100 Miles Challenge, thank you so much.

What a week it has been too.  The Old Kimboltonian’s Association have continued their fantastic support by agreeing to contribute £250 donation towards my costs.    As anticipated, the Greenland race also opened for registration so on Thursday, literally as the link went live, I got myself signed up.  The first 25% paid with the remainder due in August - it isn’t cheap but what an experience it will be and a great opportunity to promote PCUK from a spectacular location.

In my running this week I’ve covered 38.93 miles and 4,127 feet of elevation.  This was on two club runs, a club track intervals session, a new Parkrun (Horton Park), and a solo recce of a very muddy and foggy last 7 miles of The Hebden - my first race of 2026 - followed by a run home from Mytholmroyd to Halifax along the canal.

Supporting this activity, I have done four at-home yoga sessions, a festive jazz/funk dance class, and another contrast therapy session, this time starting/finishing cold with 5 baths in total (3 at 2 degrees with the longest 2.5 minutes).

Thanks to everyone who continues to support me and a special mention to Jan.  At the bridge featured in this week’s photo, she was reflecting on the winter solstice and we had a wonderful chat - 2 strangers connecting in nature and sharing our respective love for the rich history and nature of the Calder Valley.

Chilling off for Greenland

100 Miles for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

World Pancreatic Cancer Day 20/11/25

Sowerby Bridge Snails Purple Awareness Run 19/11/25

Media Coverage 17/11/25

Build up to Purple Lights 16/11/25