After the atrocious weather throughout November/December at the end of 2015 I was keen to boost my ascent quite considerably going into 2016. Finishing on 28,000ft in 90 miles for January, I was a bit disappointed, having wished to have been nearer to 40,000ft. However looking back, maybe I did better than I should have.
As the calendar weeks work differently from work weeks, I found myself without a day off in the first 7 days of the year, so no long run that week. The 2nd week I spent 3 days in Leeds working from early morning to late evening, week 3 saw me undergo heart surgery and week 4 a combination of 2 nights in London followed by a severe onset of gout due to a new medication, oddly enough, to combat gout! So taking into consideration the activities outside of running, perhaps I didn't do too badly.
The biggest noticeable difference is that an after work bimble is now 6.5 miles and 2000ft ascent, whereas previously even 3 flattish miles used to be enough! My legs didn't feel battered by the end of the month either.
The biggest talking point of January is obviously the film, Life On The Fells. Its success has been phenomenal, which is amazing for the guys that made it, James and Todd. So how did it come to be that a hairy monster like me ended up being in a running film?
James & Todd are studying Wildlife & Adventure Media at Carlisle Art University, for their project this year they decided that being so close to the Lakes, they would make a fell running film. Quick search of #fellrunning on Instagram and you invariably end up on my page. I take lots of photos on runs as an excuse to breathe again. They saw my Bio and my history and thought that I'd make a good subject.
We spent 4/5 days in a few locations running up and down and over and through in pretty much every weather system imaginable, and a hour or so in the house doing an interview. After that it was up to them to create the film they wanted.
I saw nothing of the film until the premiere at the university, though people there had seen it already, and we're asking 'are you the guy?'
The film is amazing, mostly because they made me look like a real runner in the footage! But also the way they didn't lead with my history, and made it a shock discovery for the viewers. In the premiere there was an audible 'gasp' from the crowd as they figured it all out.
Afterwards several people came and shook my hand and offered words of awe and inspiration etc.
The film was then released on social media, and as the say, the rest is history. It has gone above and beyond any of our expectations in as far as the reach it has achieved, and though not its primary purpose, hopefully it has encouraged a few people to sign up to be organ donors.
For me, I want the guys to get a good mark at university. It's not a publicity stunt for me, nor to blow my own trumpet. It was me running and the guys and filming, 3 people doing what they love. If I've inspired people to do more then that is great. For me, I'm nothing special, I have an odd history for sure, but I'm just another person who loves to run.
February has no external commitments so I'm looking forward to beasting out some big hills!
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See the Film Here: https://vimeo.com/152971030
Todd Gardner: https://www.facebook.com/ToddGardnerMedia/
James Stevens: https://www.facebook.com/JEGSMedia/
