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Nik Chapman

12Ks of Christmas

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I'm taking part in the Combat Stress 12Ks of Christmas challenge!

This year I will be taking on the 12Ks of Christmas challenge to raise vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.

Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.

I’m taking vital steps towards ensuring veterans can get the support they need.

Thank you so much for your support.

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£1,493 + £39.23 GiftAid

My Goal

£1,440

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My Updates

The Final Leg

Sunday 17th Dec
Day 12.  The final day of the challenge.  I am so grateful that my body had held up and I have not had an injury.  Four years ago I was training to run 7 half marathons in 7 days.  However I over trained and had seven stress fractures in my left foot.  I was determined to have the right training this time but still I was wondering whether my foot would hold up.  And it has.  Hurrah.  The final run was in glorious early morning sun and I choose a favourite to bask in my success - Old Buckenham to New Buckenham; round the common grazing land and old castle and back to Old Buckenham via the windmill.  A wonderful route and I had a bounce.  There were not hundreds to cheer me over the line but there were in my head.  I felt a sense of personal achievement - and that really mattered to me - and I felt that I had played a small part in raising awareness.  So thanks for motivating me and giving the opportunity to take part.  Best of good luck to everyone who has or is doing the challenge.

I have had a rest day on Saturday and felt quite flat!  After 12 consecutive days of being disciplined I think I am missing the draw of the dark mornings and get out of bed and dressed fr a run in the poor weather.  Perhaps tomorrow I have a little jog.....

Days 9, 10 and 11

Sunday 17th Dec
Day 9.  A six AM start.  The weather was v wet again.  I elected to stay with an urban route through and round Attleborough.  Although I was well illuminated I did have to play the dance of the flies with traffic and being splashed/drenched as they drove through the standing water.  In fairness most were considerate.  And to be honest Day 9 was a slog.  No point in suggesting that this was a memorable highlight.  But it was most definitely more of a mental challenge than a physical one.  It is not about the time but it was slow.  Nevertheless a privilege to be able to complete it. And I am super pleased that I have no injuries or niggles - just a stinking cold.  So fingers crossed the last three days will be the same.

Day 10.  Weather continues to be pesky.  I know it is not as bad as elsewhere across the country - but East Anglia is supposed to be the dry county.  Records tumbling to make it a very soggy end of the year.  And give the state of the fields that I am running through it must be super tough for farmers trying to get crops in or out.  And given the weather I elected to take the safer option of running an urban route through and round Attleborough.  Pretty similar to yesterday and not the original route i had planned.  Again it was a plod and more a struggle than I had anticipated.  I think the stinking cold is not helping.  However I was sustained by some news from the previous day about someone I know who had needed support - got the support - and was now back to a healthy position where he can repair damage and has a great future ahead.  I am so happy.

Day 11.  The penultimate day.  And I was not going to do the urban route again!   I did the there and back from Attleborough to Stackford with a loop through this attractive hamlet.  It was great to be out on the open lanes.  The weather was much improved although bouncing around 1 or 2 degrees in temperature.  The cold is abating and I felt stronger allround.  I enjoyed it and mojo was back.

Second Fours Days

Monday 11th Dec
Day 5.  Attleborough urban route.  This was a 0600 start as I had a meeting later in the morning.  Although urban we have urban visitors, deer and foxes to name two.  But I did hear two different owls.  Of course not everywhere is illuminated and there were one or two puddles stepped in which I would normally avoided. And you think you are running faster than you do in daylight.  Not so sadly.  Nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed the nocturnal run.  Dawn had not appeared when I finished!
Day 6.  Stow Bedon to Rocklands.  There is wet and there is very wet. I am show my running clothing had absorbed a couple of Kg of water.  Drenched and dripping I was not allowed back in the house until I had taken everything off.  not quite in full sight of the neighbours.  I was concerned that there would be water in my phone and car key.  But luckily seemed to survive unscathed.  Strangely there were others out running off road and along the quite country lanes.

Day 7.  Deopham to Morley and back.  An early Sunday run on what is considered to be Norfolk high ground - a couple of rises to contend with.  Awash with water running off the fields it was a soggy under foot but there were blue skies and early wintry sun.  A stiff breeze which helped and hindered.  Hardly a soul abroad so plenty of time to give thanks for all my good fortune and blessings.

Day 8.  Attleborough to Old Buckenham.  The lanes are still very wet - another downpour last nights.  Record rainfall for this part of the country.  Indeed lanes were flooded in places but managed to skip around the worst through fields.  Met a number of pooches enjoying their country walks - one v enthusiastically nearly had me over as he leapt up and said hello.  This route has many of the famous black turkeys that some of you may be having for Christmas.  Attleborough was famous as a stepping off point for turkeys (their feet dipped in tar) for the walk to London - their appear in the town's sign.  Although I have a bit of hacking cough I think we are all good for the last four days...........

First Four Days

Thursday 7th Dec
Days 1-4 have been successfully completed and enjoyed!  Attempts to take a selfie have been horrible so my dear wife will be out over this weekend to take some snaps.  It will mean a later start.
Each day has a different route.  
Day 1.  Great Ellingham and Rocklands.  This is a favourite route and with little traffic and some off road it has great views.  And the the sunrise on monday was just great.  Slow and sure (hare and tortoise) as I want to make sure I can still rumble round on day 12.  Fat fingers meant I switched Strava to pause at the 10 km.  I knew I had run the 12km but did an extra 2 km to prove to the app!
Day 2.  Attleborough to Old Buckenham.  Back roads through some great country - even a Norfolk Hill.  I had to adjust the route 'on the hoof' as came across flooded sunken lane - and I could not even get into neighbouring fields.  So detour.  Finished v wet.
Day 3.   Old Buckenham to New Buckenham and back via the OB aerodrome (the best airshow in East of England and where the actor Jimmy Stewart was Ops Offr in WW2.  Frosty.  But clear and still.  Even better sunrise and wonderful blue skies to finish.  V slippy under foot so found myself mincing along with pigeon steps in some places.
Day 4.  Old Buckenham to Hargham and Puddledock.  Blustery but dry and no ice.  I was feeling quite strong but resisted temptation to deviate from the gameplan.  Maybe next week if still felling the same.

Thank you to my Sponsors

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Nik Chapman

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Philip Chapman

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Caroline Chapman

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David Chapman

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Tracy Terry

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Nick Wiggin

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Bec Chapman

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Beverley Williams

Good Luck NiK, rather you than me.