AAA 1st Ten Day Roundup

The 31st July feels like an age ago now. A time before cramps, blisters and an awareness of the power of a cold shower. Yet, despite the aches and pains, the boys have put in a huge effort and after 10 days we’re 622.91km into our 1600km target, but more importantly we’ve raised £530 of our £1600 total.

Day 1

The first day went well. Enthusiasm, morale and expectations were all high as I went out for run 1, planning on a 7.5km. 4km in, feeling smug about how comfortable I was finding it all, I started plotting out a route to push it to a 10k. 1km later reality hit and the last 2.5km were done against the will of my internal monologue and legs that grew heavier and heavier. A good indicator of how the first 10 days would go. While I was fighting mental battles, George was avoiding physical ones. After cycling through dense woodland he became a dodgy brake away from dropping into a giant ditch. Luckily for George his brakes worked. Luckily for the rest of us he can still chip away at the total. Liam was busy on day 1, running more than 5km before a 9.71km cycle. Keech battled through to a 3.36km run and Harry started off the month with a strong 8km showing. Callum also decided to take the earliest opportunity to eat into our target with a 6.6km run. On his bike, Aaron offered an impressive 16.32km.

Day 2

Day 2 saw Dave beginning his AAA month in style, getting out on the bike for a combined distance of 35.4km. But that wasn’t the most astonishing moment of the day. In the biggest resurrection since Harry Potter told Avada Kedavra ‘thanks but no thanks’, Patrick Quirk resuscitated his Strava to put in 5.11km of blood, sweat and probably tears. Sadly that was the last we saw of him in these opening 10 days, but he’ll certainly feature more and more as the month progresses. We hope. Elsewhere, Aaron put in another strong display as he cycled 17.1km. I got out for a 5.09km run, Keech went almost 1km better than day 1 to produce a 4.25km run and Callum found the time for two runs, the first being 6.4km and the second 6.5km. Not to be out done, Liam also went out twice. Once on the bike for almost 10k and then on foot for an extra 6.5km.

Day 3

The boys kept the momentum going with a huge day 3 effort, with 8 of us getting out on the road. Aaron continued his upward trajectory with an impressive 25.99km cycle taking in part of the beautiful High Elms Country Park. Dave went even bigger with a 27.56km ride around Bromley’s best parks. I got out for a lovely 5.05km jog alongside Southland Road’s bin collection. In other news, Keech set his 2nd best 5km time and Callum got out for an 8km that he described as ethereal eerie elegance. I’m not sure what he was on about, but it’s 8km more towards our goal so he can describe it however he likes. George cycled 10.91km and Harry got out for his second run of AAA, going a smidge over 4km. Liam also got out for 24.56km cycle to round off a brilliant day for team AAA.

Day 4

Day 4 saw a steady push to keep momentum going, with many of us employing the little but often strategy for the first week. I got out for a flat 5km, this time the bins nowhere to be seen. Keech went back-to-back for another 5km run. Liam got out for a 10k cycle, as did Dave. Callum went out for a late night 6.2km run to round off another successful day.

Day 5

After the exploits and exertions of the first four days, most of us used day 5 as an R&R opportunity, but there was still some activity as we pushed towards the target. Callum and Liam found time to visit their happy place together and pulled out a 10k treadmill run (with a 9km bike ride from Liam on the way to Virgin Active). Keech was taking in some of Hastings beachfront once again. 4.31km of it to be precise. George also managed to take in the views of Tunbridge Wells as he completed his first run of AAA, going more than 5km.

Day 6

A huge day in the AAA calendar as Keech introduced the third and final mode of transport, skateboarding down the Hastings promenade for 4.74km. You have to assume he had an iced coffee in hand and Fleetwood Mac blaring out in the background. Day 6 also saw the biggest cycle of the first 10 days. Not satisfied with the 85km he churned out in the first 5 days, Liam cycled 43.92km to wake him up for a big Nash bash, although not sure why he couldn’t have rounded it up to the big 5 0. Poor form. Elsewhere Callum went out for a 8.5km run that apparently ended with a scone and inspired by the beautiful Warwickshire countryside and Wixford’s finest silos, I got out for a 5km. Dave also made an appearance, cycling 13.61km.

Day 7

Day 7 definitely belongs to Callum Blake who, after a big day of work, put in an even bigger evening of running. The first (and probably only) AAA athlete to run a half marathon, Callum took his overall total close to the 75km mark. Not only that, but it was also his second fastest half marathon since (Strava) records began. Day 7 saw Aaron return from his mini hiatus to top his total up with another 14.90km. Rounding off day 7, George was back in his running shoes again putting in a seriously impressive 5km PB.

Day 8

Keech was back on his board again today, putting in a respectable 4.59km of sweet sweet progress bruh 🛹🤙🏻Liam went out for two bike rides totalling 25km. Aaron was also back on his bike, going a few metres past a 10km. That was all she wrote for day 8, as life and suffering legs slowed progress slightly. But it all helps towards the final 1600km total.

Day 9

Day 9 saw the return of Harry Jacobs, with a much welcome 7.5km run. Callum also returned after his well earned day off following the half marathon. This time he provided a more humble distance of 8km. Liam was also active again, getting a 9.83km morning cycle in and then followed up with a 10.03km evening ride. Aaron put in a mammoth 24km cycle ride to continue his march towards his personal target.

Day 10

Spending the weekend in Amsterdam, it was only right that Dave kept up his impressive showing on the bike, getting out for 4 rides that totalled close to 50km. I overcame the shock of working back-to-back night shoots (keep an eye out for Varsity* next year on a streaming platform you probably don’t subscribe to) to get back in the game and post a 5.5km run and with it rounded up the first third of AAA.

It’s been an incredible start but as we begin to feel the strain of what we’ve signed ourselves up for we’ll need all the motivation we can get. The best way to motivate us is to donate your money! Please if you haven’t already, follow the link here and give what you can.

1600km August Athletic Antics for Refugee Action and Living Well Bromley fundraising on JustGiving

Instructions on how to donate to both charities equally are on the JustGiving team page but as a reminder, please visit both team member pages and donate to both of them. Donating to just one doesn’t split your money automatically.

Thanks for continuing to follow and support us. One of the other boys will be back after day 20 to review the next 10 days, until then keep cheering us on!

Thanks

Michael