I whistled. The little train failed to show up so I had to run instead.
For the final day’s Janathon, I ventured off to Haigh Hall with Ginge. The day began with a false start, we parked up and then discovered that my Garmin had been on all night and had run out of juice. So home we went, put the Garmin on charge, did a couple of jobs, went to town, went back to Haigh Hall, crossed our fingers that there would be enough battery to clock my mileage and set off.
I ran up a hill to take this.
The first (downhill) half was splendid – I felt strong and happy. The return journey was literally an uphill struggle. I was pooped and grew increasingly sulky. There was a certain amount of walk-running and then sheer relief as we hit 4 miles.
Disused train tracks
Further than usual down the canal
Ducks!
So what have I learned from Janathon?
- It’s harder than Juneathon. It’s cold, dark, there’s not much day left after everything has been jogged, logged and blogged.
- If it wasn’t for Ginge, it would have been many times harder. He’s been fabulous.
- The community on twitter and the comments on my posts have been brilliant – there’s been so many inspirational people involved that you can’t help being swept along by them.
- I ran further in the first week of Janathon than I did in the whole of January 2010. Ooops.
- I ran further during Janathon than I did between January and the end of April 2010. Ooops again.
- I’ve enjoyed taking photos on my runs (even though they all seem to be of sheep, trees and water), I’ve enjoyed venturing out onto new routes and I’ve enjoyed realising that there’s some lovely scenery on my doorstep.
- There’s no reason that I can’t run outside most of the time – when I signed up for Janathon I had a plan to join a gym for a month or so, but was too scared of being an annoying newbie. Turns out I didn’t need to anyway (though I have been lucky with the weather).
- I am fitter and stronger. With some more effort, I can be fitterer and strongerer.
- Fish and porridge is a dubious combination.
- It’s possible for me and Ginge to run together without falling out. Hurrah!
I will work out the final totals of Janathon asap. In the meantime, this is how we celebrated the end of Janathon. Barbecue in 0C weather. The madness seemed apt.
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Travelling Hopefully 
Fabulous photos – I want to run there!! Have really enjoyed your blog and will be coming back to check in and say hi regularly! Congrats on finishing Janathon.
Oh well done, that’s such a good list of things to come out of Janathon. Exellent work on the BBQ by the way, very apt ending to the month, in some weird way.
Like you I think Juneathon would be much easier, but for the opposite reason. It’ll be our winter, a much easier time to run, away from the heat and humidity we have in January.
Brilliant photos and well done on finishing although a barbie in this weather!?!
Lovely photos – looks like a really nice run. Well done on Janathon and for celebrating the end in such style!
Congratulations on another successful (month)athon. It has been wonderful to watch your fitness and confidence increase.
Keep strong
Oh yes, that’s a lovely place to run, you are lucky. AND a BBQ to boot! How very Juneathon of you!
Three cheers for Ginge, the support of partners is vital in all this madness AND you got him out running with you too. Really well done all round.
I look forward to meeting you in a few weeks x