Mile 26!! I've done a marathon!

 You know when you have a really good idea, and then you have to do it? Yes… well I seem to do that a lot! My most recent idea involved me running/ walking a mile a day in May in memory of my dad and Bev, in the hopes of raising some money for Cancer Research UK and the Bowel Babe fund.

I can do that, no problem, I thought to myself as I typed my name into the “sign up here” box! I don’t know why I had so much self-confidence, I haven’t run more than about 50 meters since 1996. Anyway, I clicked the button, and for the whole of this month I have somehow managed to do this challenge.

 My legs are aching, I’ve cried more that I ever thought I would, at one point I think I hit “the wall”, but on the 26^th May I passed a very significant milestone for me. Mile 26, the Marathon mile. (Yes, I know that an actual marathon is 26.2 miles, but 26 is close enough for me.)

 

Mile 26 was always going to be significant for me because dad ran 3 marathons in his life, and one of those was when he was 46, the age that I am now. And although it has taken me 26 days, and not 4 hours and 20 minutes, I think he might still be proud of me for getting this far.

 

Marathon man in action!

I am not a natural runner, by any stretch of the imagination, but knowing that I’ve been doing this challenge in memory of my dad, and feeling like he’s been at my side a lot of the time has motivated me to keep going, along with such kind words, support and donations from so many of you, so thank you.

Like most of the UK, we are mid heatwave here in sunny Kent, and the 26^th May was like standing in an oven, so I concluded that running an entire mile, even in the evening was a bit dangerous! Instead, I thought that, in honour of my dad and his love of birding, I would do a birdwatching mile to see how many birds I could see and hear on my mile… I think dad would have approved.

So once the air was of a slightly less sizzling temperature I set off for my mile.

 

One of our resident pigeons.

Before I’d stepped out of the gate, I was greeted by two plump wood pigeons and a collared dove, as well as the parliament of rooks who live in the trees behind my house.

I had wanted to see some spectacular bird of prey, the buzzards had been circling over the garden all day, or maybe the barn owls that hunt across the fields, but I had no luck with that. However, I did see lots of swallows darting around over the fields, a pheasant, blackbirds, jackdaws, a song thrush, a robin and a few crows.

I knew that there were more birds around me that I could hear and not see, and Benno had told me about an app called Merlin, which you can put on your phone, and it records and identifies birdsong. Although we both spent years with dad wandering through wild places, our knowledge of birdsong is not a patch on his.

So, even though he would probably not have approved, I used the app to see what else was around me, and it added a wren and a dunnock to my little list. I was quite pleased that I hadn’t missed too much.

I know that these apps are not always accurate, and they are nowhere near as good as my dad’s well-trained ears, but it seemed to work for these purposes, and I am learning a lot about the different bird songs through using it.

So, as I plod on through the last few miles of this 31-mile challenge, I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me and sent kind messages about my dad. We have raised over £1000 so far for Cancer Research UK and the Bowel Babe Fund. If you would like to add to that total, this is the link. (Click here.)

Benno and I are still trying to work out how to reply to comments on here, we are so grateful to everyone who has taken the time to write them, we read them all.

In other news:

 

Leeds Castle

Aside from running, Evelyn and I have also been busy visiting places and getting out in nature as much as we can. A recent trip to Leeds Castle was pretty spectacular. There were plenty of birds across the whole estate, and Evelyn made friends with the ducks! She also loved the falconry and has decided that’s what she wants to do for her birthday this year.

 

The Red/Black Kite who lives at Leeds Castle

Egyptian Goose on the wall at Leeds Castle

Making friends with the ducks

We also had a wander around Goodnestone Park Gardens, with lunch (and strawberry ice cream), where we found newts and tadpoles, beautiful flowers and a Green-Veined White butterfly.

 

Goodnestone Park Gardens

Green Veined White butterfly... I think.

And of course, Evelyn has been busy in the garden and at farm school, growing vegetables and hanging out with baby goats and enormous alpacas. What a life!

 

Alpacas at the farm! 

The moth trap has been on overnight, so I am about to empty it with her. I am intrigued to see what we have caught… I may be asking you all lots of moth related questions, once I’ve finished the 31 miles, that is! Thanks for reading.

 

Sarah and Evelyn.