I’ve been pouring over my stats and trends this evening and it just confirms that this Juneathon is not going to rattle the record books.

Multiple 2k runs just don’t cut the mustard and by day 21 I still haven’t racked up a complete marathon. That sort of benchmark gives me a whole new appreciation for the distance.

Juneathon is the perfect kick start to my Great North Run training but I need to be getting used to longer distances, so its time to step it up.

Running commute tomorrow.

Day 21 Tally
Bike: 2 (24.7 miles)
Runs: 11/21
Run Distance: 4.34k/27.3k

We set off in the direction of adventure and the uncharted waters of the eastern wedge of Mitcham Common. Unfortunately it didn’t prove to be entirely virgin territory and we had to endure quite substantial size-related abuse from the native youths walking their bull terriers.

It’s easy to overlook these scrub-like triangles of Mitcham Common, they can at times seem so grim and macabre that you want to hurry on by. I’ve grown quite fond of the area but there is always a sense of foreboding as you round another corner of the undergrowth.

It was a successful run today and despite finishing in a very peculiar and concerning shade of red, I did at least feel on form. Good job really, I’ve been slacking with Juneathon and the Great North Run is only round the corner. Training needs to step up a pace.

This evenings run was a true gardener’s revenge.

There was the repeated crack and whoops as my running buddy splattered my ankle with the entrails of multiple snails.

We went out on our regular double loop. I like the repetition, the familiar markers that enable you to compare performance with a previous run. Today’s run was tough. Lynn was leading and maintained the pace well into the second lap. It was only on the final hill towards home that I managed to make inroads on her lead. I pushed and could hear her suffering but I didn’t think I was going to be able to bag this win. Still, he who dares wins, as they say rather smugly.

Day 12 Tally
Snails squished: 6
Runs: 9/12
Run Distance: 2.08k/19.7k
Alcohol Free Days: 4/12

Yesterday we were at a friends wedding for the day. It felt like a dress rehearsal for our own nuptials, now just 4 weeks away. I left with many mental notes of missing plans and inevitably spent this evening trying to plug the gaps.

I ended up getting stressy over playlists, ribbons and table layouts until Lynn dragged me out into the streets for a blast of fresh air and a new mood.

It’s amazing how relaxing the rhythmic pounding on dark rain soaked streets can be. If only I could get rid of the accompanying wheezes it would be the perfect form of meditation.

We finished side by side but I think Lynn was toying with me, it won’t be long before she thrashes me.

Day 10 Tally
Dancing
Alcohol Free Days – obliterated by approx 1 barrel of Stella Equivalents

Day 11 Tally
Runs: 8/11
Run Distance: 2.13k/16.9k
Alcohol Free Days: 3/11

As ever with Juneathon it’s the blogging challenge that gets me first. I can almost run daily, I can certainly think about running daily but I just can’t cope with the pressure of blogging about running daily.

Fortunately there are many out there with greater creative stamina than me. If you fancy some artistically succinct entertainment I would highly recommend cakeofgoodhope who really understands the nature of Juneathon and the joy of a misplaced creme egg.

Day 9 Tally
Runs 7/9
Run distance: 2/14.6km

I came downstairs fully kitted out and found someone else on my treadmill.

My treadmill.

I remember when  I was the only runner in the house, now the cat, the lover and her dog want a go.

Day 6 Tally
Runs: 5/6
Run Distance: 2k / 11.06k total
Alcohol Free Days: 2/6

Having spent the entire day hobbling with my dastardly plantar fasciitis I decided it would be wise to take a day off the running.

Yesterdays barefoot treadmill run didn’t help matters at all. Barefoot running was supposed to offer a miracle cure for plantar fasciitis but I don’t think I have perfected my barefoot form. I checked out my Vibrams the other day and it’s clear from the worn down heel tread that I’m not forefoot striking.

Today’s offering to the Juneathon gods was the 100 push up challenge. We’re not quite at the full hundred standard yet but maybe by next Juneathon we’ll be there.

Having just returned from 6 hours wandering around the Westfield centre we weren’t terribly eager to go out again and foolishly felt a treadmill mile showdown might be the perfect low energy Juneathon offering.

I was sent some really interesting Tabio sports socks to try out today but unfortunately they were about 4 sizes too small and I had to watch jealously as Lynn nicked a pair for the evening run.

She took the intriguing lobster model and opted to run barefoot or sock-footed for the mile. Apparently the Tabio socks were a huge improvement on the usual sports socks and showed no signs of causing blisters which tends to happen quite quickly with a standard slippy sock and a rough treadmill track. I’ll do a proper review when I’ve had to chance to play with my own. I might also have a pair that I can give away on the blog – more on that later.

The cat was mesmerised by the repetitive pink flash and almost caused carnage in her attempts to grab the lobsters mid stride.

Lynn set the bar at 11mins 51 secs for the barefoot mile and although I had the advantage of going last I had to damn near kill myself to break the barrier by another 5 seconds.

Day 4 Tally
Runs: 4/4
Run Distance: 1.6k / 9.06k total
Runs where I beat Lynn: 4/4
Stella Pint Equivalents: 1ish in the form of champagne

I had a special alcohol dispensation pass today. I was meeting strangers in the guise of Lynn’s friends and it is widely accepted that I don’t do strangers well when sober.

3 pints of Peroni later and I can’t really claim to do many things well.

Still, it’s Juneathon and only day 3 so I rush out the door with my sober designated driver and attempt a run around the block.

It doesn’t feel very good. I’m wheezing and Lynn is beating me to the top of the hill, but when we get to the top, Lynn stops for a rest and I stagger on past.

She’s turned into one of those dastardly run walkers and moments later she storms past me at a fair old pace.

I catch up again on the hill as she pauses to inspect some discarded furniture and then I deploy dirty trick number one and ask for a push up the hill. What a difference that makes. I felt like a skinny runner and fair bounded to the crest of the hill.

I left Lynn retching in the hedgerow and beat her home for the third time in a row.

Day 3 Tally
Runs: 3/3
Run Distance: 2.08k / 7.46k total
Runs where I beat Lynn: 3/3
Stella Pint Equivalents: 3

The momentum is sliding already, I don’t think it’ll be too long before I’m pushing the rules to the limits and squeezing my run and blog into the dying seconds before midnight. As it was, we were out and back with a whole hour to spare this evening.

Lynn has barely run at all since Janathon and is not quite back up to form yet. I left her nursing a stitch while I completed the 3rd lap. I’d got half way round and was busy composing my brag post when I heard the clatter of rapidly approaching feet. She’d obviously read my mind and decided not to give me an easy win.

As it was I still beat her to the doorstep but I don’t think I’ll have too many more wins after week 1.

Day 2 Tally
Runs: 2/2
Run Distance: 3.13k / 5.38k total
Runs where I beat Lynn: 2/2
Stella Pint Equivalents: 0 but it’s Friday tomorrow!