4hrs 19mins. Fastest day yet.

Better conditions today, the wind having dropped. A grey ,cold start but as the day progressed it go sunny and much warmer. The weather report over, I'm happy to say Hugh had a good controlled run in a quick time.

Hugh had his old man and uncle in support again hence the fast time - today was a personal best. He felt he had to push it, partly because it was such a better day than yesterday but also because he wants to get a reasonable time in the bag before the non-stop Brighton marathon. Of course in the scheme of what he's achieved already this is pretty irrelevant but as someone who is competitive with himself, this is totally understandable. This element of personal competition is something Hugh has discovered about himself on this trip and he has vowed to apply it to his golf on return to Blighty. This is something Samia always has her eye on from the perspective of avoiding injury (the running, not the golf) and to which Hugh has to listen; and he does.

Michael and Patrick (H's father and uncle) drove a sensible distance behind our swaying vehicle, stopping for Hugh and the occasional beer in a local bar. Wisely they opted for a sandwich in a restaurant rather than subject themselves to my cooking, though enjoyed a glass of white burgundy when forced upon them. Hugh of course, did not, lest you ask though the pasta was OK, I think.

We wound along narrow lanes today, an increasing amount of farm vehicles in evidence and a general nostril tingling pungence in evidence, not entirely due to some blokes travelling in a motorhome for some time. We have ended up approximately 120 west and and a bit north of Paris. The running route is designed to stay out of very urban areas and we are certainly doing this. Tonight on a slight detour we stay in the railway hotel of Evreux. We're above a karaoke bar but have declined requests to perform, choosing a quiet brasserie instead. Unusual for me, this, but better for the general populace.

Off north east again tomorrow, hoping that wind has abated and the rain that has been threatening has held off. Business as usual anyway, and we're moving unwaveringly ever closer to the north French coast though still some way off.

4hrs 45mins. Straight back to reality today.

A very tough day. Just in case I'm a bit flippant one should stress how wearing this ever present challenge is. This was one of the windiest days yet, running into this north-easterly which I have a suspicion is a prevailing one. Most of the day was straight into a headwind - you try to lean into it but it's very difficult to get a rhythm, the effort made not reflected in the distance travelled. In short, this was in Hugh's top ten of stinkers.

Hugh and I ran eighteen miles together and I did not envy him continuing with the last eight after a brief lunch break at which point I stopped to get on with my support duties (whatever). This was not a day for flouncing about, describing how lovely everything is but just 'grind it out' to use Hugh's words.

It's probably useful at this point to describe the average day in order to give a fuller picture of what happens on the road. Hugh has a massage first thing (if he has not had one the previous evening) and then breakfast during which he attempts to get hot milk for his porridge - not always an easy process - but necessary for slow release energy .

Next, we troop out to the campervan, load it up and drive out to the start point. This is anything from on our doorstep to 20km away. We have tried to get hotels (oganised by Media Tree, a sponsor) as near as we can to the next day's start point but this has not always possible. If they are too far away or closed up when we arrive(it's happened) we'll find something elsewhere. Generally I'll navigate (don't panic; with gps and map on laptop) and Samia will drive. At the start we park where we can find to give a large enough warm up area where we do dynamic stretching which takes ten minutes.

Then Hugh (with me when I've not been injured) runs. My role when fit is to set an easy pace for the first half marathon or so. This has generally been longer in order that he breaks the back before a ten minute break. We are on a new programme for the Brighton marathon (where there will be no stops) to extend the distance until the first break, gradually until the full marathon distance. Today it was 18 miles(including a one mile walk warm up), tomorrow it will be 21. Hugh has a quick lunch, generally of pasta of some description but always with fresh veg which we cook up on the hob in the van. He then continues, walking the last mile or so with Samia, conceivably munching on a Snickers (why are they not a sponsor?).

Having George here really helps - he can use the bike to check on Hugh, particularly in the confusing tricky road junctions where the campervan cannot always turn round. This also means Samia can nip off on the bike, particularly now I'm running again in the mornings so everyone has some downtime in the afternoons.

After the day's run Hugh sits in the back of our divan of our salubrious vehicle, looks at emails involving the event, calls Jonny PR, family members or deals with anything else pressing, then often has a doze whilst we navigate our way to the next hotel, generally about 15-20km from the finish point. This makes it a long day by the time we arrive.

We then move all the kit back out of the van - laptops, clothes, medical kit, massage table etc. (I have not yet required my brogues, sadly) then check in. We have a quick end of day drink then it's time for Hugh's massage. We generally meet for dinner then deal with event emails and often video diaries and separate sponsor pieces. This is all at the mercy of internet connectivity and speed, either or both frustratingly obstructive at times. Often we're not done until 1 or 2 am until which time I'm writing this rubbish and Hugh is trying to upload videos on Youtube. I often find Hugh 'tapping one out'at 6am and it is a relief to find this is on his Blackberry.

Tonight Hugh's father, Michael and uncle, Patrick have been here to entertain us. Relatively tame compared with what these chaps are capable of but they were up at 4am yesterday morning. I have a shorter day tomorrow, probably a mere half (Achilles flaring up again, damned convenient excuse), Hugh does not. We are hoping for a fairer wind.

We have been quite reticent on sonsorship as so many people have been willing to donate unprompted. Heart felt thanks for this. With the last nine days we now need to raise all we can for Marie Curie - we know how much it means to nurses at the charity and relatives of former patients and as we have received touching messages from them. So please donate anything you can if you have not yet had the time or opportunity to do so. Hugh has undertaken a challenge worthy of any support you can give. Many thanks for your continued interest in our venture and please also continue to send messages of support - it makes an enormous difference to Hugh and us all.

4hr 42mins. 80 % completed.

Tough but successful day through the north of Loire, with no real injury niggles. Hugh had a consistent pace throughout with very few breaks en route.

Just completing today was always going to be a cause for celebration, reaching the highly significant important 40 marathon milestone. A day that reminded us just how long each run is. Starting off north of Chateau le Valiere we ran into a stiff north easterly headwind on long straight roads, presumably built on the carriage tracks used by debauched Bourbons getting to their many chateaux in the region. This was head down stuff, leaning into the wind and never looking too far ahead. Fortunately I acted as a sort of wind break for Hugh for the first 15 miles until we took a lunch stop. I'm convinced it lightened considerably the moment he set off again.

The countryside is fabulous though, moving out of wine growing areas to rich farming country. An ultra runner whom Hugh contacted before setting off advised we should stop once in a while and take a look around. Doing so one could see the stiff wind rippling in the grass, rape growing and blossom in the trees heralding the freshness of a new season. This part of France has a big country vista - green fields as far as one can see, dotted with pleasant towns always in the distance until suddenly you come upon them, lost in the natural rhythm of running. Frequently at the top of the hills at road junctions stand small statues of Christ on the cross, often not seen until one crests the hill. The effect is a profound one, particularly in the silence and as each cross is a deep black against the blue sky.

There is a great freedom in being able to do this, travel from one place to another at this speed, every place a new experience. George, out n the bike finds this too; the ability to nip off here and there investigating and at a relatively fast speed compared with us runners. I am grateful to be back on the road doing this,Samia's exercise and treatment programme is really paying off as it clearly is for Hugh.

We arrived at Saint Calais this evening, about 40km east of Le Mans our night's stop on this oblique journey across France. We had a good meal from the hotel restaurant even though it was officially closed and were treated to some piano practice from a chap who was in the genesis of his understanding of the instrument. That shows courage and we applauded his efforts. We await further cultural experiences tomorrow.

4hrs 39mins. One thousand miles.

Hugh managed a run without protesting shins. This was a major bonus and this was a steady marathon with at a good pace on a fabulous spring day, everything in our favour.

Everyone slept well last night which makes a pleasant change. Being subjected to another Premier Class hotel which are OK as long as you want the convenience of switching on the TV whilst on the loo, Hugh decided we would go upmarket. We managed a u-turn in the large carpark and were lured instead to the centre of Saumur in rooms overlooking the Loire, and a beer on the terrace. This place had the almost unprecedented overnight laundry service which in our opinion deserves an extra hotel star. Breakfast on the terrace this morning, the chateau looming over us.

We're seeing the Loire in great weather but nevertheless it really is stunning. The river dominates Saumur and just to the north are notable vineyards we ran through today. Back to the old days with me leading out the first half at a sedentary pace, the injury genuinely healing now. We passed though Bourgueil and Santenay amongst other famous places. Grand chateaux mark the landscape, larger than others we have seen in France and built from a pleasant light coloured stone. There are also well planned small towns lining our run, each with walled large houses with their own vineyards - this appears a pretty idyllic sort of life.

This is also cider country, apple orchards vying with vineyards for prominence in the landscape as we ran through the area immediately outside Saumur. We really feel this is Spring proper now, even sunbathing at halfway having an al fresco lunch -quickly for Hugh before he headed off again.

So, 1000 miles in 39 days, well 1021 to be exact. During this time he has developed a relaxed but relentlessly efficient style. Gone are any 'chewing gum on the heel' outward flicks of the left foot, hand raised head looking over the shoulder. He also has the ability to deal with injuries by not panicking or getting irritated yet it must always be on his mind how fragile success is. The consistency of his runs is impressive even when he's had little sleep (often) or is in pain.

Only 11 left now, still 300 miles so focus is as important as ever. It's looking good though. His team is right behind him and we are aware everyone at home is too, so thank you for your continued support.

4hrs 36mins. A glamorous group run.

Big day today, not merely because we re-enter recognised wine country, hopping into Saumur in the Loire with a sigh of relief. Hugh put in a quick time with painful legs and a stop start run. He also had an entourage of WSM team members, all of whom are running the London Marathon and who used this as an opportunity to put in a half marathon of training.

The previous evening we met and had dinner with WSM (PR agency for Optimum Nutrition) and it proved a jolly affair. A smart bunch, this lot. This was not the time to regale how, during my tenure as a student, Leicester University rose to 26th from its consistent 28th spot in the University league tables. Rather childishly, and because we couldn't remember the many barrelled surnames, they were subseqently renamed in a road related manner, hence became Tanya Gravel-Tarmacadam, Julie Concrete-Slab (utterly gratuitous, her surname being Sexton but playing around with that gets us in trouble) and Patrick Motorway-Bollard . Suit yourself but we thought it vaguely amusing. Helena - who was project managing this trip - and the photographer Lee got off scott free as they arrived on a later flight and for this obscure reason were treated with greater dignity.

Despite an attempt to bring things further down to our level by ordering more Muscadet and Chinon, they resisted getting sauced and we managed an unusually early breakfast the next day followed by a dynamic stretching session masterminded by Samia at the start in the village of Chambroutet. The results if this can be seen on the website. Patrick in particular had a unique style.

There followed a warm up in black branded kit and off they went. I was supposed to be leading this one as I planned the route and had the gps. Having farted about checking the route I then had my Achilles strapped and unwisely limped/sprinted off to catch the others thinking all the time I sould have accepted Helena's offer of a lift all the way there.

This was another day of photography for Hugh so I ducked back now and then to look after his camelback whilst he donned bits of branded kit. Quite tiring for him, all this but as usual he accepted all this with good humour. Many thanks to Lee and Helena who made sure everything was done with the minimum of hassle. The ON guys wore similar kit and the girls looked very fetching in their little black numbers. Ahem. Good efficient running styles too. Patrick has immense amounts of energy and runs around, arms out like the guy in the Fast Show who says 'this is brilliant'. He'll probably nail London in sub 3 hrs. Apologies to Tanya with whom I jogged the last half of the run - having accepted a kindly offered energy gel I yomped it down, realising only later I was supposed to take a bit and pass it back. Manners, boy.

So in glorious sunshine we bid goodbye to the WSM team after slightly over congratulating each other- whooping away then falling a bit silent feeling a tad silly as Lee gathered us for another photo. We then felt a bit sad at their departure as they had been great company and had enhanced our little group for all too short a time. See you all on the 21st.

Hugh's last half of the day was quietly dealt with, running in quite beautiful countryside, up towards the Loire river. This was a mercifully gently undulating day all the more so because his shin splints have threatened a re-appearance. Spotting them in the wings we boo their approach. Samia has a strategy to deal with them and we have faith that this and Hugh's efficient style will keep them at bay.