Days 3 and 4. To Leeds

Day 3,- To Boroughbridge 36.9 miles Set off earlyish this morning to get back to yesterday finish point and meet a friend of my brothers who was cycling with me and kindlt carrying my bag. Truth be told I was not looking forward to what promised to be a long day. Was well fed at best pizzeria in durham last night but a restless sleep. Anyway had a good start and promised myself a run 15 walk 5 min strategy. Hit Northallerton about half 12 and stopped at the Maspns Arms for lunch, cheese amd onion toastie and chips sat outside in the sun. At this point around 18 miles in maps suggested about 12 miles to go. Got my head down after lunch and the miles slowly ticked away as we passed through villages such as Asenby and called into a shop for a drink which was kindly given free of charge. Nice man :-) Anyway kept on keeping on buoyed by the way the Spurs and Saints games were going and finally arrived in Boroughbridge and my lovely hotel after a comfortable 37.2 miles. Resting up now before heading on to Leeds tomoz. Watched Doctor Who and Ant and Dec, eaten large portion of haddock and chips and now having aero hot chocolate avnd ginger snaps courtesy of Great Western hotels. It would be rude noteat doons today but still (best Bob Geldof impression) not enough. Hhough thanks everyone. I'm off to bed, ime same place tomoz.... Day 4 to Leeds 29.6 miles Have I really done 4 days already? I know is early days really but feeling physically and mentally strong although I guess this is changeable. Take the first hour and a half this morning for instance, not great and took a long time to really get into my stride even after an intial 45 minute walk to let my full English settle. By the time i got through Knaresbrough? and into Harrogate on Leeds Road (A61) was on a roll though which is all good and well as it was mildly undulating (understatement alert). Was trying to stick to 15-5 run walk strategy and certainly didn't do more than that but most 5 minute walks were preceded by a paused watch and a drink so I would imagine you are starting to realise was a bit slower than days 1-3. I did try chia energy drink for the first time having tried the flapjacks previously. These are runners products made by a runner/master baker and are absolutely amazing. Don't worry I am not being sponsored by them but you should try them out. Anyways back to the run, after negotiating the hills it was time to search out Leeds best hidden secret, Elland Road, had to go through thé city centre and was à struggle. First sign post i saw was when stadium was in sight. Thé stadium made up for any tribulations in first 28 miles though as I met actual people. This was my first solo run of the challenge although still not with full pack as most kit was kindly dropped off at today's hotel by yesterdays running partner who also supplied much needed, yes really sun cream, thanks Abbo. Anyway back to Elland Road, took a photo of Billy Brenner AND then asked a group of people if they would take a photo of me. Turns out they were from Wales to e of them wals an avid fan and is his 50th Birthday. So had a chat with them, told them my story which they promised to look up and shook hands. They wanted to go and see Don then but I wanted to sit down, phone my brother, and get bearings for my hotel. As I was sat there an older gentleman approached and began to wax lyrical about Billy and how Leeds would be ok if they had him now. Turns out the bloke, Geoff, is a lifelong fan who had travelled over from Australia to see a few games, not for the first time either. I discovered he was from Sydney when I asked where in America he was from. Accents never were my forte :-) Anyway me and Geoff sat and chatted and set the football world to rights for a good twenty minutes during which time he chucked a fiver into my charity pot which was very kind. Apart from the charity fundraising meeting new interesting people was one of my main morivations, Geoff was one of these people and made my day. So 29.6 miles today takes me to just shy of 120 in first four days, have been down to the restaurant had a nice meal and a couple of pints and am looking forward immensely to tomorrow as my brother is meeting me on route to carry my bag and I get to spend tomorrow evening with a fellow Spurs fan Monsenb. Not as many donations as I'd ike today but is Easter Sunday so not entirely unexpected. That's all folks. See you tomorrow in Sheffield?