I think today is day 85, but I can’t be sure about that. I have started to live on automatic pilot, doing the same old stuff day after day. Another hotel to be checked in and out of, find some food, sleep and oh yes run. To me this is the best part of any day, pulling on my trainers and heading out for my 10 mile run. Over the past few weeks I have managed to extend this as we still have few injury problems in the team, but I’m not complaining it gives me a little more time out of the van. At the moment I feel the best I have felt on the whole trip, the running is easy, no injuries, just a little tired, well ok a lot tired, but we are nearly finished so sleep can wait till I get home. What does concern me is the lack of speed I now have in my legs, running 6.5 – 7 minute miles every day for the past 3 months has taken its toll. Lots of speed sessions when I return as the cross country season kicks off at the beginning of October and starts with one of the best courses in the North of Scotland, Thurso.

The highlights of the past few weeks have been running through Utah and Colorado, these areas were amazing. The only problem was that we were on the night shift, so to see any of the scenery a special trip had to be organized during the day, this meant missing vital sleep but it was worth it. Zion Park, Bryce National park and the Arches were stunning, with huge rock formations, an amazing area that should be on the list of anyone visiting the U.S.A. Another highlight was meeting up with friends of mine and there lovely family who now live in Kansas, we had not seen each other for over 6 years, so it was nice to catch up again. The weather so far on this trip has been great, with only 1 run in rain and that was back in Poland, but this has changed in the past few days, with showers on and off most days, it is still humid, but it is so nice to run in. Yesterday we ran through an Amish area, it was nice to see people still using horse and cart to get around, the people were very friendly and made for a very enjoyable 12 mile run. It was also nice to have people out at the exchange points. The exchange in Midland was great with Heiko on home turf and most of the town out to welcome there local hero back. (If they had spent the last 3 months in the same van and usually the same room they wouldn’t be calling him a hero, I think the description would be a little more colourful ) It was also nice to see Mary run in with him and give a very emotional speech, well done Mary.

Emotionally it is still very hard for me to get through each day, thinking of my lovely wife and children, it has been 3 months since I have seen them and it is hard hearing them so upset on the phone each day, but not long now and they understand that it is for a great cause.