From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

HALFWAY!

This weekend I completed my 12th and 13th 10km races since the beginning of the year. This means I'm now halfway through my challenge of running 24 during 2010. Bonzer.

I'm not happy with either of my times, although the first race was particularly cruel, being sandy and seemingly mountainous to my exhausted legs. We were however treated to beautiful sights off Greensand Ridge in Surrey, and in particular the wonderful church of St Martha's, which although rebuilt significantly by the Victorians, has sat atop the hill since Norman times.

The race on Sunday around Finsbury Park was far hillier than I had expected. I managed to power up and down the inclines and sprinted the last 200 metres, but those few loses of concentration I'd experienced aside the American football field and tennis courts, took a greater toll than I had expected, and I came in around 54 minutes; six minutes more than my personal best. People often get annoyed with me for watching sport rather than concentrating on the task at home (such as listening to them talk about their day) and for the first time I sympathise with their position.

In total, I'm very happy, though. I'm hoping that the progress through the year mirrors that of the races themselves. I'm generally at my least eager at about a third of the way through, and the sight of the half way mark slipping past the wayside is generally enough to invoke a renewed sense of enthusiasm. With 11 more to go, I'm still some way from the home straight, but sufficiently through the journey to believe with confidence that my destination is within reach.

Next Races: 

• Taunton - 10th September 2010
• Woburn Park - 12th September 2010

If you would like to sponsor Joe to complete 24 10k races in 12 months and help Teacher Support Network continue to provide emotional and financial support to teachers, click here.