5 hrs 7 mins. A tough day. Into France. Eventually.

An extremely long day. Hugh was due to start on a bridge in San Sebastian with the film crew with Jonny and I meeting them outside the city rather than navigate the narrow streets with the motorhome. There was an idea to change the first bit of the route to avoid a busy starting point and seeing the value of an off beaten track we arranged to meet them later. They had filming to do after all. Unfortunately this track ended up being up a mountain. Cyclists had painted their names at various points on the road, marking points of achievement and limits of their endurance, well before the summit. Vegetation ceased to grow above the apparent snowline. The carcasses of beasts lay strewn upon the moonscape, vultures circling. Poetic license but not much.

The problem for Hugh is that he then had only done 10 miles when we finally caught up with him - virtually all uphill by early afternoon and he now felt under pressure to get the run finished. For the remainder of the day he got his head down and concentrated on running along generally flat roads, back on the route and finished with Jonny at the lighthouse at the far end of Le Grand Plage. He had made it from one beautiful Spanish city to an equally splendid French one. It wasn't supposed to be so hard for him though, but typically he made it. Biarritz is on a dramatic coastline and this provided a fitting backdrop for more photography. Tim and Toby were unfailingly enthusiastic and great fun during their few days with us and fortunately the weather held for some atmospheric filming.

Later that evening a monsoon style rainstorm heralded the next day's drama as waiters rushed to close the restaurant shutters. This had been a long and stressful day with everyone trying to keep track of everyone else and get their various jobs done. Hugh did his with the usual aplomb in an exhausting environment. He needed sleep and everyone needed to let off steam wh ih led us to a karaoke bar (a new song called 'Day 27' may have been improvised although it's unlikely to be on general release) followed by what appeared to be a predominantly trans-sexual nightclub. Filming throughout but I imagine (and hope) a lot will end up on the floor of the editing suite.

4 hrs 52 mins. Over halfway - it's all downhill now, apart from the hills of course.

So, Hugh tees off on the back 9 having played the first 651 miles steadily with very few bunker shots and generally on the fairway with a little play in the light rough to keep the fans interested.

Coastal and spectacular day today. We saved this route up for the film crew. Hugh left town of Lekeito from the harbour and up onto road snaking around the headland. Lots of shots for Tim the cameraman, ably assisted by Tripod Toby, looking after equipment and stopping traffic. Splendid coastline this, similar to the Cost Brava or a miniature Great Ocean Road.

Hugh is at the stage where he is getting very competitive with himself and wants to finish in under 5 hours. It is important that he builds in walking time for the last couple of miles but this requires self discipline. Fortunately he has this and another super effort on another day without injury.

We ended up in San Sebastian, Hugh and Samia staying in town. Samia is fighting through her lower back injury so had an early-ish night after massaging Hugh. Really important Hugh gets a single room and a good night's sleep so I left him to it and another campervan night for Jonny and me up on the hill. The van's big enough to ensure sleeping arrangements are not too cosy though.

Sadly, the van has the wrong power adaptor so no electricity for the second night running. I'm consequently writing this in the shower block, plugged into the shaving socket. A few unamused hirsute campers here but such is life.

We head off for France today (day 27) from the centre of San Sebastian. Hugh looks increasingly like an extra from a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western (only a slight height differential preventing him looking like the man himself), weathered and tanned and able, ready to push on once more. I do wish he'd take that poncho off though - it doesn't make this challenge any easier.

4hrs 55mins. Calm and competent. 50% there.

Apologies for the delay - no power for the last two nights hence unable to send blogs.

Something for everyone today on Day 25 - a fitting drama for the halfway stage. There we were in our pressed 50in50 shirts to help Hugh reach an auspicious milestone. A slick performance was required. We didn't get it.

The main road on the route winding up through forest came to an abrupt end owing to a landslide. This meant a new route had to be devised in a different direction. Still a very pleasant road though if a bit uppish and Hugh bore it all with his customary good humour. Jonny joined Hugh for the first 10 miles - a cracking effort given his breakfast of a single espresso.

Hugh completed the run in just under 5 hours and then we had to get to our billet for the evening, a long drive as we were now some distance away from our planned finish point. We finally arrived at Lekeito (a delightful coastal town). Unfortunately the hotel didn't have the requisite number of rooms ending in the team necessarily being scattered over the town. Almost midnight before we got ourselves sorted hence no champagne celebration as planned. Very late supper instead, meeting up with Tim and Toby, the film crew who had flown in for a few days. Jonny PR and I slept in the campervan by the harbour. Very salubrious. Not much better for Samia (with a bad back) or Hugh though H did manage a large breakfast at his place - this machine must be fuelled afterall.

Great effort by Hugh in getting to the halfway stage with minimal fuss. Somewhat an understatement.

4 hrs 54 mins. Solid stuff.

Hugh had a good day on a testing but beautiful route. It started on a long flat beach road and he got into a rhythm which he maintained, heading south alongside Rio de Teto estuary from Santona, the last stronghold of Franco's political party. It was very windy which, combined with some winding hill roads in the afternoon, made it tough going.

Actually, I'm in danger of going soft as I changed the last bit into something less steep. Frankly Hugh doesn't seem to mind, leaning into the hills with dogged perseverence. The landscape is what it is and can't be avoided.

Using the motorhome for the first full day was splendid as it allowed Hugh to recline in the manner to which he is accustomed. With his grey tinged but otherwise distinguished beard he looks like a mad old adventurer uncle which he is of course. He gets a proper cooked lunch now, well until the novelty wears off for the chef anyway (could be hours). At the end of the day he can then relax and grunt away until we jettison him from the vehicle into the hotel. It's not always a restful drive though - driving this round the switchback roads reminds me of the last scene of the Italian Job though we are intent on neither allowing us nor our gold bullion to teeter on the edge of a cliff.

Our head of the UK desk, Jonny, joined us yesterday which we celebrated with just a touch of Rioja (both white and red) and we're looking forward to listening to his ideas for PR. I shall be suggesting he spends a good deal of time on the road with Hugh to impart his wisdom.

Almost halfway now. I can feel some celebratory champagne coming on.

4 Hrs 59 mins. Much better.

Remember Connors and Mc Enroe - match going back and forth; difficult to see who had the advantage? No? Ask your father. This is a bit like that. On tenterhooks one day, wondering what the problem was the next. Some well positioned tape applied by Samia (blue and pink have the same remedial properties I am sad to learn) isolates one tired muscle; allowing others to take the strain. Treatment for the sore shins and knee is working and no real niggles for Hugh on day 23 - a good day and a great relief.

Excitement was instead provided by the daily BBC Radio Sussex call. Steve Ovett (800m Gold Medallist 1980 Moscow Olympics & 1500m World champion) spoke to Hugh about the challenge. Hugh spoke laconically about the 50in50 and there was a pause. Would any advice be forthcoming he wondered?

Steve: 'Get on the first plane out'

Hugh: 'Ha, ha. Excellent. Any advice though?'

Steve: 'Really, get on the first plane in the morning.'

Not so Steve, partly because we're still some way from Bilbao thus no airborne steed available. But any chap who's performed behind the iron curtain at a time when an iron lady striding about back home should understand we need to hold firm. There is a succession of daily goals to be knocked off.

And so it was today. We continued our journey through the fabulous Cantabria) known as Green Spain), one visual sweep took in beaches on our left, farmland and rolling hills and the snowcapped mountains (Picos de Europa) to our right. We're hugging the coast again now, having crabbed northern Spain via Santiago for the last 10 days or so. Important to keep to the coast and away from the foothills in order to give Hugh a clear flat run as possible into France in a few days' time.

The hottest day yet, topping out at 22 degrees. I joined Hugh for a test run for a couple of miles, and it was good to be back on the road, albeit briefly. One sees so much trotting along. Lizards were sunbathing on the pavement and skittered into the verge on our approach; long lines of them, like reptilian dominoes.

We also now have our repaired support vehicle back, which we picked up from Santander. Good news and we can now cook Hugh what he needs as lots of supplies of pasta on board. At least Jonny can who's coming out this evening. Owing to all this we changed hotels to stay tonight at a surf hotel just opened by Samia's friends. De Latas Hostereia is a splendidly welcoming place on the beach in Loredo. We're not here to surf though so head off ever further east to within striking distance of Bilbao.

Footnote again - bits I can't easily fit in the blog. Steve Ovett is starting the inaugural Brighton Marathon on April 18th in which Hugh and I are VIP competitors (ooh). Come and cheer Hugh along if you're in the area