Sunday 13 April: day 23 (the last day!)

Bernie completed his 35th and final marathon today, running with over 35,000 other people in the 2008 Flora London Marathon. Unbeliveably enough, the 26.2 mile race was going to be a 'light' day for Bernie, accustomed as he was to running an average of 50 miles every day.

The weather was every bit as bad as it looked on the TV, but Bernie still achieved his target time of 5 hours; his official finishing time being 5 hours, 5 minutes and 37 seconds. If you saw the BBC highlights you might even have spotted Bernie being helped across the finishing line as his billboard was too tall to get under the arch!

So, 22 days and 35 marathons later, Bernie headed to Barnardo's post-race marathon party for a well deserved rest.

Congratulations Bernie!

It isn't too late to sponsor Bernie, just go to www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney

Thursday 10 April: day 20

It’s been an eventful couple of days out on the road with Bernie. It started with a simple task for me – fill up the VW van and head down to the next stage to book some accommodation. So while Bernie was already out there hitting the tarmac and knocking off the miles, I headed off to the nearest filling station.

30 litres of diesel, a dozen cones, 10 buckets of sand, and 3 bags of absorbent granules later the filling station was subsequently closed… Now I’m not saying I did anything wrong,  but I really ought to pay more attention to the difference between the drinking water filler and the fuel filler on the van! So after polluting half of North Cornwall, I decided to head south and join the main man – by which time he’d already knocked off the best part of half a marathon.

I joined Bernie for the afternoon session and we reached Hayle in time for a ‘little light refreshment’ at the local – the beer was only to soak his feet of course.

More glorious sunshine and spectacular views as Bernie heads south past St Ives, through Penzance and is almost within sight of Land’s End. Again I joined Bernie for the second half of the day. I think I could do this multiple marathon thing – let the real athlete get up early, clock up the hard miles through the snow and gales of Scotland and the monotony of running the length of the UK then join him for an afternoon run in the sunshine of Cornwall a few miles from the finish!

It’s an early start tomorrow but with just a few miles left Bernie should arrive at Land’s End at about 9am before heading up to London to complete the 35th marathon of his journey on Sunday!

Another attempt from ‘Team Bernie’s Journey’ tonight at the Salt bar Thursday Night Quiz. But  this time we were fairly and squarely beaten. However an announcement from the quiz master and subsequent whip round raised more than the quiz winnings for the cause and everybody left wearing Barnardo’s and Lloyds TSB ‘For the Journey’ T-shirts!

Tally so far this week:

Litres of Diesel spilt at the garage – 30

VW Campers – 1 (don’t drink the water)

Blisters (Bernie’s) – 3 or 4 new ones and many more old ones

Big guys with big hearts driving taxis – 1 –(There’s only one Waine and he’s been at it for 3 weeks)

Miles run – more than I could count but that’s nearly 900 so far!

Money raised – lots, through very many of generous donations. Thank you - but still a long way to go!!

So, if you want to help our stats, either show me how to fill a van properly or go online to www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney and show your support for Bernie.

Wednesday 9 April: day 19

I can’t believe how well Bernie’s looking considering wat he’s been up to. He is as cheery as ever – good old Bernie – undoubtedly buoyed by the knowledge that he’s on the home strait.

Not only that but he’s also amazingly nearly a full marathon ahead of schedule!! So much so that this morning, for the first time in nearly three weeks, Bernie didn’t get up at 5am and hit the road but instead treated himself (and his feet) to an extra 90 minutes or so in bed. Of course this was also an extra celebration – not only did Bernie cover over one and a half marathons yesterday, but 'Team Bernie’s Journey' (me, Waine and Bernie!) were triumphant in winning the Victoria Inn Tuesday Night Pub Quiz last night – beating many (slightly disgruntled) locals, the only team to score over a hundred!! Yes, I know..brains as well as brawn, mental and physical stamina (Bernie that is, not me).

Talking of his feet, I remember as a lad studying Wilfred Owen’s First World War poetry in English (yes I remember some things from those days) and seeing the horrendous pictures of soldiers suffering from trench foot with blistered feet. Well, despite his feet suggesting otherwise, Bernie hasn’t been fighting in the trenches, but he is completing an incredible feat (pun fully intended) and hoping to raise £100,000 to help improve the lives of 50 young people in Barnardo’s projects.

Please go to www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney and show your support! Thank you.

Sunday 6 April: day 16

Bernie is a man without fear. Oblivious to a worsening blister crisis and a swollen left ankle, he is into the last third of his epic voyage, still averaging 50 miles a day, day after day, remorselessly. Besides running the gauntlet of speeding traffic, yesterday he was attacked by a large dog; a beast of proportions comparable to the Guardian of Hades. It bit his arm and, ahem, glutinous maximus. Luckily, an impenetrable layer of dirt and several layers of waterproof clothing prevented any serious damage, although bruising meant that he couldn’t sleep on one side last night. Horse riding, particularly the rising trot, is out of the question for the foreseeable. One of the factors that spurs him on is seeing contributions register on the website, but we are running out of time to raise sufficient funds to make a difference to the lives of 50 young people.

So if you haven’t been to www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney now is the time to do it

Tuesday 1 April: day 11

Check out Bernie's photo blog below and marvel at the dreadful weather conditions he has endured on his challenge. Bernie, we salute you!

  

  

Monday 31 March: day 10

Scotland is full of historical interest. So, after listening to the travel report this morning I’ve put it into historical (Roman) context. A chariot overturned after hitting a tumbrel on the Carlisle – Vindelanda road. The Praetorian Guard have said that it will take until the sun is at it’s zenith to clear, and the legions are backed up for three mile castles.

I don’t know about you, but I think if you’re going to sponsor someone it should not be for something that they would have done anyway, but for an activity that is a real challenge, like eating sprouts.

Bernie is ticking all of the boxes when it comes to a feat of endurance, determination and commitment. For the eight days I was with Bernie I saw him get up and start running at first light (5.30am) and run until the light failed at just gone 7.00pm. He has averaged 52 miles a day for the last five days. That’s ten marathons in five days in some appalling weather conditions which often meant spending most of the day completely soaked through. His ankle is not too bad if he wears the support bandage and he is as determined as ever to see it through. It is over a week since the start and all is on target for a new world record. And that’s despite a 5 mile detour as a result of a map reading error yesterday. How Bernie laughed. Not.

So, just like Bernie we need to go the extra (5) miles, and visit www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney because it will make a real and direct difference to the lives of fifty young people (Bernie has met some of them) between the ages of 11 and 17, who face tremedous difficulties through no fault of their own whatsoever. This money will be paying for skills and vocational training to help them have a better start in life. So, have some compassion or you will get a knock on your door and it will cost £10 (see previous).

Tuesday 25 March: day four

‘Wherever you like’ was not the ideal answer to my enquiry where the toilet might be at the first campsite we stayed at near John O’Groats.  To make it even more enjoyable, we were on the top of a hill, fully exposed to a hail and snow storm that came straight in off the Pentland Firth. I particularly enjoyed sleeping in the canvas awning, which extends out of the roof of the van and caught the wind nicely!

We found a sheep wedged upside down in a ditch giving birth. So we named the newborn Bernie Lloyds TSB Ingenico JourneyPay MBT Ron Hill Volkswagen London Taxi International Tom Scullion after all our corporate sponsors.

Bernie ran the first 37 miles, tweaking the nose of blizzards and gale force winds. He has seen no one else at all on the road. The second night was much more comfortable and the snow makes the dramatic scenery even more spectacular. Whilst I have had the cushy job of travelling ahead and planning each stage, ‘cabbie’ Waine has been attending to Bernie’s needs, providing drinks, snacks and moral encouragement as he goes along.

On the second day, Bernie covered another amazing 37 miles. At one point, whilst calling into someone’s house for a toilet stop he was presented with a £10 donation. I know what you’re thinking: ‘if I had a crisp £10 note every time…’.

A combination of walking along a road camber and against some very strong winds has caused Bernie’s left ankle to swell. Ibrobufen has helped, as has a tubular bandage. Then, despite some blizzard conditions on day three, he managed 46 miles, many at a gentle jog.

I have popped into a branch to send this. However, my photo ID does not look like my new ‘gentleman of the road’ image and my military style wash in the sink may have been a step too far. Still, needs must, and Barnardo’s needs us all to visit www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney or you will smell like me.

Saturday 22 March: day one
It's day one and Bernie has set off from John O'Groats. Good luck Bernie- just 874 miles to go! Please support Bernie at www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney

Wednesday 12 March: 10 days to go!

With just over a week to go, Bernie met with his doctor to have a final MOT and was given the green light. He didn’t check the bit between the ears.

Support for the third week has been established with two excellent new gentlemen of the road (the support team). Ian Crompton, Head of Healthcare Banking Services, has kindly offered to cover for four days and Clint Wilson, CEO of ParentPay, has heroically offered to cover the last two days into Lands End. And by gentlemen of the road, I mean someone who can plan ahead, who finds somewhere to pull over for the night and who makes friends easily.

Bernie visited two Barnardo's projects on Friday to see what impact the money we raise will have and to meet some Barnardo's carers and children.

He found it a very humbling experience and it reinforced his determination to raise awareness for Barnardo’s throughout the UK and to raise £100,000.

So, in gentlemen of the road parlance, “I’ll tek the lot of yers” if you don’t go to www.justgiving.com/berniesjourney.