CRAIG’S BLOG: Norway and running laps of a cruise ship

Leyland dad Craig Goldsworthy has set himself an incredible challenge to run every single day in 2023 to raise funds for St Catherine’s in memory of his friend Michelle, who was cared for by our community nursing team at her home.

He’s being joined by a guest runner each week, and is tackling all weathers in his mammoth fundraising feat for our charity! You can read his previous blogs here.

This later-than-planned update comes from deck 12 of the largest cruise ship in P&O’s fleet. Iona is currently sailing around the Norwegian Fjords, however when you read this I will be back in sunny Leyland, mowing my overgrown lawns, while my wife Helen sorts the clothes into piles of dirty and clean. If you’ve ever pondered the idea of getting on board a cruise ship, but worry about the sway…don’t! It’s nothing like a ferry, although if it does sway it’s only mild.

Running on a cruise ship is something I have done once before and it has its challenges as well as its strengths, such as: the track only runs round a small section of the 18th deck, 7 laps equates to 1 mile and when you’re running a minimum of 3 miles each day, 21 laps can get a bit tedious. My nephew could vouch, as it was his turn to join me last week.

It was good to venture out though when we got to Hellesylt (see images) running through picturesque villages, over waterfalls and between mountains, the views were stunning and the air was so clean, the girls even had an open water swim. Tracking my runs was also a challenge, as my GPS couldn’t cope with a human running on the ocean, so I needed to improvise, setting my watch to treadmill mode and calibrating the distance enabled me to evidence my efforts at least. Now at this point if you’re drifting off, allow me to re-engage you!

As I write this, my running total (or is that sailing?) has exceeded 740% and currently stands at £3723 by the generosity of 133 supporters! I have only four months to go, but I remain optimistic that we’ll reach 1000% (£5000) by New Year’s Eve.

(Continues below)

All 52 weeks have now been filled with guest runners, and if the last few months are anything to go by, the next few are going to be equally as exciting. I’ll be running with a dentist, a vicar, other members from the ‘Two Robs’ clan, another member of St Andrew’s Runners, one of Michelle’s closest friends and something special.

As well as the excitement of running with some of the nicest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, it’s important to remember why I’m doing it. Raising money for an incredible charity, which relies on consistent donations to carry out palliative and end-of-life care. Alongside remembering someone quite special, taken too soon and the family she loved so much.

Thank you and see you again at the end of October.

• If you would like to donate or write a message of encouragement to Craig, please click here

(More photos and May to August’s guest runners are listed below)

Here’s a rundown of all the runners that laced up between the start of May and the end of August, not including the regular, weekly runners: Lee Walker, Matthew Waring frequently joined by Mark Partington and St Andrew’s Runners: Calvin Wallace, Lucie Ward and Nick Park

May
Run with Scott Ainge from Worden Park and over the M6 between Euxton and Langdale Road
With Matt and Tracy Barr through the Langdale estate
To the Green Man in Buckshaw Village and over the hill with Anna Fisher
Cuerden Valley and Leeds/Liverpool canal route with Anneke Crosby and James Michael Hughes
Pennington Flash Parkrun with the ‘The Two Robs’ (Mather and Taylor)
Through Buckshaw and over the tops with Vic Eccles
Lancaster Lane and Wigan Road circular with Paul Shannon
Worden Park 10k with Lucie Ward
Route around the original Cuerden Valley Parkrun with Ian Gore
Southport Parkrun with Scott Ainge
Pootle up Church Road and over the M6 with Lucille Porter and Sarah Mercer                                                                   

June
Langdale loop and 3 mile Preston Parkrun with Alex Wood
Original Cuerden Valley Parkrun with Stuart Lockhart
Farington Moss loop with Katy Cleece, Louise Withnell, Paulinee Moorcroft and Michelle Jolly
Langdale loop with Phil Loynd
Route from Wigan Road and into Cuerden with my 15-year-old daughters Molly and Evie Goldsworthy

July
Farington and Cuerden run with Carrie Ridley
Euxton and Buckshaw route with the Lambert family: Gary, Elaine, Phoebe and Maggie
An early morning through Whittle-le-Woods and along the Leeds/Liverpool canal with Matt and Evan Barr
Southport Parkrun with Neil Waite

August
Route from Worden Park and up Fox Lane with Paul Gordon and Mark Holden
Down Fox Lane and through Worden Park with Martin and Amanda Simpson
Around the original Cuerden Valley Parkrun with Eddie Hamilton and Samantha Edwards
Through Lostock Hall with Michael Nutter
21 laps of a cruise ship running track with my nephew, Ethan Hunter

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