Founders Challenge 34 miles, 29.06.2020

This run was in memory of Jon Ward, an incredible runner and fantastic guy, who passed away last week. He was unbelievably good at all distances from 5km to over 200 miles, but no matter how fast he was going, he always had smiles and thumbs up for everyone on the way around, no matter your speed. He was so encouraging to others, whilst always chasing down a new challenge himself, and raising vast sums for charities along the way. Such an inspiration, and such a genuine heart. I can't believe he's gone. Fly high with the stars Jon, you are already sorely missed 💙💙💙

The run was 34 miles with Andrew and Tara, from Denbies up to Ranmore, then the route of the LDWA Founders 30, back to Ranmore and then Denbies. Longest run of lockdown 👍 To celebrate 6 weeks of weekend 30s, we had agreed to mark the occasion by making an effort for the day with manicures, pedicures and cake baking for afterwards. Ta da!

The run was very lovely, hilly and quite hard and included two more fallings over (a new PB - 4 face plants in a month). But it was mostly just very lovely...

To while away some miles, and to work our mental muscles as well as our legs, we played an A-Z of Andrew's List of Snacks, and "In my luxury kit bag for the Scottish 100 I would have...." both turned out to be extensive lists, and although were perfectly logical at the time, make absolutely no sense now. Running 34 miles genuinely passes by in a blur when with your pals and cracking each other up. It seemed ever more poignant today, how lucky we all are to have each other.

And another thing we are lucky to have? Cake x 2. I realise, now, looking at this picture, that it might appear to be slightly offensive to Tara that I have placed a photo of her Guinness cake next to a cow pat, for comparison. I would like, in my defence, to point out that the whole way around the run Tara herself had been pointing to cow pats and promising that this is what we were in for later, and, that if you want to see what a Guinness cake really looks like, you should look at a cow pat in winter with ice on it, and you'll get the picture. Anyway, the Guinness cake was delicious, and tasted so much better than a cow pat. I can confirm this, as aged about 2 or 3 I fell over and landed face first in a cow pat. Anyway, mooving on, herd enough of this, what a load of bull, etc, etc, and that's enough of the cow jokes for another week.....