Monday 23rd August- 3.18. Aberfeldy or Bust

Once again Matty has amazed me.  It doesn't matter how knackered or in pain he is when he comes back in the evening, he showers, has food and a massage and by the morning he is up and ready to run again.  The man has my admiration as I don't think I could do it.

Let me explain at little of what Matt is going through each day......30 miles of road and traffic....although he's now off the main roads for a while......pushing himself through the pain barrier, through wind and rain....occasionally sunshine!  His shin splints are not quite as painful as they were (good news) but he has a very swollen ankle as the tendons connecting his foot are inflamed with over use and the fact that his left knee pain is causing him to run with an awkward gate and not the way he should (bad news). Still...........he goes on.  NOT to prove a point, as he is in no way  out to permanently damage his young body; but for Chris and the 'cause'.  He needs your support...all the time.....but we need to make his effort worthwhile, so please donate what you can and show him the totals on the blog donate buttons are going up......this will make a huge difference to him at this time.

We have met many generous people on our journey who have given freely of their money and time to find out what Matt is doing.  But not just money, offers of free swims and beds and cottages to stay in and people willing to pay for hotel rooms so he can soak his aching limbs in the bath.  For all of this, Matty is extremely grateful,although at the back of his mind is 'the cause' and feeling that the money should not go to him, but to the charities he is running for.  An added dilemma for him to brood over while he is running.  For, if he can't keep running.......in his head.......'the cause' will fail.

So, the going is tough, not a run in the park, but a HUGE undertaking, which Matty has willingly taken on, not for self gain, but to raise money for charities that, one day, WE or somebody we know may need...............Run Matty.......run, run.............

Off my soap box....................Matty started running at 8 this morning, in good spirits and looking forward to getting onto some quieter roads.  They were quieter all right...single track across the wild Scottish moors.  Utterly stunning scenery, but a bugger on the knee.  Up and down, round and round....more like Fell running than marathon running.  Then, it started to rain with just ten miles to the finish.  A quick change of clothes from the roaming support car, a bite to eat and within ten minutes, back on the road again....I'm waiting at Aberfeldy now to pick him up and take him back to the campsite where he still has another free swim and sauna booked.   Today he will have reached the 210 mile mark.....in a week....

WELL DONE MATT R KID!!!!!!