DAVE KING is a keen runner who in 2007 embarked on a marathon running tour of the British Isles.
The challenge started in Milford, Derbyshire, at 11.55pm on New Year’s Eve, and finished there 12 months later on December 31st, 2007, during which time he competed in 80 races, a total of 672 running miles while travelling 22,448 miles around the British Isles.
Dave 44, is the former deputy editor of the Southern Daily Echo. He lives in Locks Heath and has three children and is currently editor of the Swindon Advertiser.
This is his blog tracing a gruelling year of running around the British Isles from as far north as Cape Wrath on the north-west coast of Scotland to Penzance. At the same time he was raising awareness for autism and the profile of the Hampshire Autistic Society.
THANK heavens for that. After 365 days of running, my single-minded challenge to run around the British Isles came to an end at 12.05am on New Year's Day.
PICTURE this: it's a crisp Sunday morning and you're on your hands and knees crawling on all fours across the mud flats of a river estuary. The rotting vegetable smell is retching, the feel of the gloopy mud presented in various shades of brown makes your skin crawl and the need to control your nerves with the mud clinging to your body, trying to suck you under is paramount.
EVER heard of Merthyr Mawr? No, nor had I until I turned up in the Mid-Glamorgan village on a cold Sunday morning in December. But I won't forget the place too quickly either.
WITH the finishing line in sight, so the tension becomes greater. After today, it's 74 races down, with six to go, and put bluntly there is no way I'm not going to complete this epic journey. I've told friends that even if I was to pick up a major injury now, I would take pain-killing injections and limp over the line if need-be.
I COULD get quite used to this running on drugs malarky. Not that I would ever condone drugs use, but, since sustaining those couple of cracked ribs earlier this month and dosing myself up with painkillers before races, I've not looked back!
AFTER 71 races I've had my fair share of race mementoes. Besides the usual mugs, t-shirts and medals, I've had a sack of potatoes, beer and a lovely towel thrown into a goody bag.
