I don't know where to start. Really. What a day. There is so much that I want to record on my blog that there might be three separate entries. I will just start typing and see where it leads.
Yesterday, on the 5th June 2015, I completed my challenge of running for 365 consecutive days. I had known for some time that barring a disaster in the realms of a leg break, I was going to manage it, so there was no feeling of euphoria leading up to the end. I did start to feel some excitement in the half hour before heading out for the final run, and I did crack a big smile when my Garmin ticked over to 3km during the run, but what was ahead of me on this day I could not have guessed. First off all, thanks to Kata, Rachel, Keith, Iain, and Matthew for joining me on the final run. Or what I thought at the time was the final run.
The finishing line
When I entered the bar that marked the end of the run, the first thing I saw was a table full of champagne glasses and then I saw the cake. In almost the same moment I realised that Chariots of Fire was playing on the stereo! I was shell shocked. Kata had arranged all of this for me and it was utterly fantastic. When the very kind barmaids started the three cheers "hip-hip hooray', grateful as I was, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I was mortified. It was so nice of Kata to make such an effort to mark the occasion like this and I really wasn't expecting anything at all. Words escape me. So, so nice. Thank you!
Thanks to these two girls from OCP who were super friendly
Champagne!!
Cake AND Champagne
Old Chain Pier isn't just a great bar, it's also a route (OCP), as in "shall we run OCP today?"
Cake eaten and champagne drank, we headed home. Later on Kata said that our friend Carrie was sorry that she couldn't make the lunch time run, and wondered if I wanted to go out again at 6pm as she wanted to be involved in the last day. I thought that was really nice so accepted the invitation and headed off to meet at another pub - The Stockbridge Tap.
Leaving the flat we immediately bumped into another friend and HBT runner, Mark. I thought that was an amazing coincidence but didn't suspect anything. When we arrived at the pub and I saw not only Carrie but also 6 other HBT runners, I realised something was up. I turned to Kata to ask if she knew about this but I didn't need to ask as the huge gin on her face told me all I needed to know. Again, there are no words I can use to accurately describe how I felt, but I'll give it a try; shocked, proud, excited, embarrassed, delighted.
I chose a run for us and we all (me, Kata, Carrie, Brian, Mairead, Dave, Jamie, Jon, and Mark) headed off along the Water of Leith to run one of my usual 5km routes that would bring us back to the pub. It was a beautiful night for a run and it was great to run with a group of friends and chat about the last year.
We arrived back at the pub and went in to celebrate with another beer or two. I was amazed when Carrie went home to "change her t-shirt" and came back with a cake and cards! She did change her t-shirt as well. The surprises kept coming and before long the pub was full of HBT members who apparently had all got an email during the week telling them that this was my final day and to join me for a beer. Well I can't list everyone that was there because there were so many, but thanks to everyone. It was a great night. I am still stunned.
Thank God someone took all these photos because I did have a lot to drink and can't remember some of the evening. I had a bit of a fuzzy head this morning!
The candles say 365 (days), the card says 1 (year)
Dave, me, Mairead, Brian
Dave is a bit sad that the candles are being blown out
Uh huh.
It's possible that some of these people have had too much beer.
Thanks so much to everyone that joined me and was involved in making this a day that I remember forever. A truly unexpected and fitting end to this amazing year. I'm gobsmacked.
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