So here's my personal Staff Challenge to celebrate AP's 50th year in business: to run 5 x 10km Trail Running Races in 2019. That's 5 x 10 = 50 km total. 

Luckily the excellent Freedom Racing peeps organise exactly that in their Summer Sessions programme - 5 x Cornwall coastal path and/or moorland runs from May to September.

#5 - The Tin Coast 10

Five down, challenge completed, job done. On the last day of 2019 I thought "it's now or never" and dragged myself up to the north coast in the early hours, getting to Geevor Mine car park just as the dawn was breaking. This was the run that defeated me with a twisted ankle back in the summer but this time round I was more careful with my footing and all went well.

#4 - The Penrose 10k

Four down, one to go... Finally recovering from a twisted ankle and knee injury from a fall on the Tin Coast run back in August, I am trying to fit the remaining 2 x 10ks in before the end of the year. For the first one I took on my local run around Penrose Park and somehow managed to not injure myself and log a PB for the distance this year. Wup!

#3 - THE POLDHU 10K

Three down, two to go... That's the third of the five Freedom Racing Summer Session 10ks completed. I ran/staggered/walked and stumbled the Poldhu 10k on Thursday 11th July.

It was spectacular scenery on a dramatically misty evening along the Cornish south coast from Poldhu beach to Halzephron, past Gunwalloe to almost Loe Bar and back via Church and Dollar coves... Unfortunately it was less than spectacular running from me as I really struggled with that one for some reason (too much training obviously). I finished in over an hour and a half (again, not quite last) and I was very, very happy to see the finish line.

Photos again thanks to Andrew Benham from the Freedom Racing crew on their FB page in aid of the Cornwall Air Ambulance.

#2 - The Polzeath 10k

Two down, three to go... That's the second of five Freedom Racing Summer Session 10ks done. I completed the Polzeath 10k on Friday 31st May.

More of a scramble than a run - up and down rocky crags - so no PB's set on this one. But yet another fantastic location with perfect running weather and (by the time I finished!) the sunset was spectacular. 

Photos thanks to Andrew Benham from the Freedom Racing crew on their FB page in aid of the Cornwall Air Ambulance