The Long Road Back · Bridport to Paris · April 2028
The Blog
Training logs, route notes, fundraising updates and the honest account of what it takes to run 350+ miles to Paris.
Day Zero — Where the Road Starts
Admitted late at night to the Prince of Wales Ward at Dorset County Hospital after a severe relapse — 107kg of mostly water, and a face swollen beyond recognition. I left it too long, again. This is the honest starting point of the road back to Paris.
Not My First Rodeo
Home after five days on the ward, and going nowhere fast. Still 105kg, most of it fluid. I’ve been at this since 2019 — hopefully Rituximab is what finally fixes it.
Slowly, Slowly
Eight walks in eight days, from 1.29 miles to 6.24, with running buddy Nellie at my side. The meds are working — under 100kg for the first time.
First Run Back
Three weeks after the hospital bed: 3.69 miles at 9:57 a mile, with recovery running buddy Nellie. 97kg — 10kg down. Well ahead of schedule and really chuffed.
Back on the Drip
Second and final Rituximab infusion — and a side-by-side with Day Zero that says it all. Then home for a recovery walk with Nellie, 18 minutes quicker than the same loop in August.
We’re Really Doing This
A sunny Sunday run to West Bay with Andy — 7.75 miles, double my first run back. Somewhere along the way the idea became the plan: Bridport to Paris, 350+ miles, April 2028. 95kg and counting.
A Long Road Back
The morning after agreeing to run to Paris: 3.67 miles round town with Nellie, rattling with fourteen tablets a day. “It’s going to be a Long Road Back!!” — words chosen very deliberately.
Bridport 10k — First TOL Training Event
Today James and Andy ran the Bridport 10k — the first formal training event under the Thinking Out Loud banner on the road to Paris. A full write-up will be available here and on the runner website shortly.
Full post coming soon.
Mr. Stork, Back on the Tarmac
A month ago people were getting me out of the door. Now I’m the one knocking. 5.46 miles to West Bay with Lee on his first run back — and one tablet down on the doctor’s orders. 94kg.
Two of My Girls
Three days after Lee, Sarah’s back out too — 3.13 miles round Bridport with Nellie, in Thinking Out Loud colours. Two people back running in a week. 93kg.
Thinking Out Loud, by Moonlight
The first ever TOL Runners test event — a moonlit group run to West Bay. And a photo that told me the truth: if I’m going to make 350 miles, the ciggies go and the booze comes right down.
Through Hell Lane
Test sticks clear, steroids coming down — 13 tablets a day to 9. A brutal 10.74 miles through Hell Lane and over Thorcombe Beacon. 91kg. And today is the day the ciggies stop.
One Last Little Blowout
Ten days in Malta: two very hilly runs, four Anjuna Deep venues and a 57,317-step night. The ciggies won that round, so the clock resets. Back at 90.5kg, with no prescription tablets left in the cupboard and the test sticks still clear.
Updates Starting Soon
The Road Begins Here
The first posts will go live as training builds through 2026. James and Andy will be writing from the road — the miles, the setbacks, the fundraising push, and everything between Bridport and Paris. Come back when the running starts.
Training Logs
Weekly mileage, long run breakdowns, and what preparing for 350+ miles actually looks like when you have a job and a life.
Route Notes
The stages, the terrain, the logistics. From Bucky Doo Square to Poole, across the Channel from Portsmouth, and on to Paris.
Fundraising Updates
Progress toward the DCH equipment targets, sponsor announcements, and what the money is actually going to fund.
Stay in the Loop
Follow the Journey
Posts will appear here as training progresses. Follow along on Strava and social for the regular updates — the blog is where the longer pieces will live.
Blog posts launching 2026 · Updates via social in the meantime
The Long Road Back
Start at the Beginning
350+ miles. Bridport to the Arc de Triomphe. April 2028.