On Wednesday the 9^th June I set out from Leeds with one goal, to run the length of the 127.5mile canal in 72 hours for charity. Paul Dykins a friend and Policeman cycled the entire route with me and acted as support carrying 15k of kit on his back. Without Paul I simply could not have completed the run and he also helped raise a great deal money towards the target so words cannot say how grateful I am for all his support. During the run Paul and myself drank 18Ltrs of water, 8 bottles of Lucozade sport, ate 30 flapjack bars, 4 packets of Harribo sweets, 8 packets of crisps and 4 bacon sandwiches. We also used 12 plasters, 1 toilet roll and 1 pot of Vaseline and I have a count of 7 blisters on my feet.

 

 

We set off from Leeds at 11.35am after dropping a car off at the finish line (around 15 miles outside of Skipton). The weather was heavy rain with a head wind most of the way and the tow paths where muddy in places. Arriving at the car around 9pm after completing 43miles we then had to drive back up to Leeds to pick the car up.

 

 

Starting off late (12noon) at yesterdays finishing point due to stiff legs and dropping a car off at the boat yard Chorley (which was a revised finishing point because of the late start) I resumed the run in dry and cool weather and some of the scenery took your breath away until reaching Burnley. Continuing onwards with the legs now working better from the mornings stiffness I was in high spirits and Paul was pushing me along all the way, we had not planned for 2 canal tunnels along the way around Burnley and we ended up going a mile out of our way and getting lost which cost us around 1 hours time and a run up a steep hill unnecessarily. After being cheered on by a few drunken people at Blackburn we reached the Boatyard Chorley around 10:30pm which was another 32miles completed. At this stage I wanted to go on and finish at Adlington moorings as I felt good but due to no light and the insistence of Paul I decided it to dangerous to continue although knew we had a 52.5mile journey ahead of us on the last day. Again we had to travel back to the start point so we could pick the car up meaning I wasn’t in bed until 12 midnight.

 

 

Waking up at 7am with blisters on my feet, feeling completely drained, pain in my legs and arms and knowing I had a 52.5 mile run ahead of me I was obviously at a low point. Paul and I headed to the Boatyard Chorley and I commenced running at 9am, then after around 10miles disaster! Paul had a flat tyre on his mountain bike and was unsure if it could be fixed, I headed off without any support or water and hoped he would have fixed the problem and catch me up. This was extremely worrying times for me as after another 4miles there was still no sign of Paul and I was starting to dehydrate, then Paul came hurtling round the corner the puncture was fixed thanks to some help off a passer by! Well there was 37 miles to go and Paul's wife Anya delivered us some sandwiches which where gratefully received and gave us both a moral boost. The next 27miles was painful to say the least but some fantastic countryside and people we had met. Well the last 10 miles seem like it would never come but it did and a small party greeted us as we finished in 58 hours and 15mimutes and we had a well deserved Beer.

 

 I would like to thank Anya Dykins, Melissa Eccleston and most of all Paul Dykins for the support throughout the challenge. I am sure Bolton Hospice and the Dogs Trust are truly grateful of all your help!