12 / 12 - Patrick - The Final Run

So what can I say, this had a lot of emotions and weight to the run and this update. I'll do a further one when I've had a chance to properly process what I've done over the last 48 hours.

My legs felt ok, I was stiff and sore, but the sun was out and it felt an honour to have this last run with Patrick. He's been the driving force in so many things in my life. Getting me back into football after years of an Achilles injury. Getting me to join his mens' running group on Sunday mornings, where the focus is equally on exerting our running energy, but also the coffee and chat at the end. Patrick has a truly unique balance of his ADHD talking about all sorts of aspect of his life, but also caring about what's happening with me and listening. He got me to do my first half marathon and dragged my arse over the line. He's been there for a beer when I needed someone to talk to. He calls me randomly just to say hello and check in.

Bringing this back to the root of the event, many Men are rubbish at opening up about their feelings, I was one of them and my relationship with my wife and son suffered for it. We are conditioned and shown by society that we need to be strong, and tough, and valued for our output - that's why men's suicide levels are so high. The Men's Shed charity is not focused on 'fixing' guys and connecting them with their feelings, but leans into the fact that many lonely guys just need a purpose, and through that purpose can find community and companionship, and that is how they help prevent idle minds falling into dark spaces.

So thank you, for all the men and women who helped me through this crazy 48 hours, who donated and supported a worthy cause, who messaged me when I was in my dark places over the recent years, and read to the end of this post.

Be brave, reach out to say hi to someone and just be open to listen when they talk.

Stats: 7.06 km, 40:40, 5:45 /km

Tshirt: Spa F1 track, my most recent tshirt from a few weeks ago, I turned up for a hilly marathon in Belgium in March to find it was 2C and snowing. I was not prepared for that and didn't have the right kit. So despite what I said in my last post, even though I didn't get a PB time, or the time I hoped for, I was bloody proud of getting it done. Not every PB is a fastest time, its the story behind it and the achievement you carry inside you that is much more important