5 hrs 24 mins. A lot tougher.

One of those grit your teeth and don't think about it days. I used to row and on a particularly bad day was told by the coach I had a 'head full of broken biscuits'. The boat just doesn't sit; nothing seems right. Hugh had a difficult morning getting focused and took 11 miles to get into it. A sobering thought for those of us who have to force ourselves out for an hour on a Sunday.

Pertinent then I think, to attempt an illustration of Hugh's day. After an early massage, medical strapping, and breakfast, he talks to BBC Radio Sussex (every weekday), checks us out of the hotel and it's off to the start of the day's marathon. At best this is from the hotel, but more often necessitates a drive, and my navigation is not infallible (staggering I know). There are then 10 minutes' warm up exercises in the car park, petrol station or wherever else convenient we can find. He fills his Camelback (drinks reservoir) with water and electrolytes; straps on his walkie talkie, phone, energy gels, wallet and Morris dancing cymbals (once a week) and only then sets off. This farting around he bears with equanimity. All before he's even started.

He runs on the equivalent of UK's B roads or busier; necessarily easy to follow as we cannot crawl along with him or always stop. Trucks, dogs, groupies - he has to deal with them all. We usually wait at difficult junctions or can talk him in but not always, meaning the occasional delay. He takes breaks in the car, not that comfortable, and eats what we've been able to buy en route - not always really what needs. At the end of the day he congratulates Team 50in50 for the day's work, handshakes all round, more stretching (necessary to keep him going) another drive to the next hotel, decants various supplements into suspicious clear plastic bags, then checks us in. He then uploads his Garmin route time, often does a video diary and leaves this to upload whilst having ice bath, another massage and then fits dinner in with the team generally no earlier than 10 pm. Bed midnight-ish, often waking up to check the progress of the You Tube upload; it has taken 15 hrs for 3 mins owing to local broadband 'speed' and I have seen him at 5am (twin room, thank you) trying to upload again owing to a failed connection.

Sounds tedious? It is. Very, and tiring. But here's the thing - he rarely has an off day. Today was an off morning, mentally, but we only know because he mentioned it, not because it looked that way. He had injury niggles in his shins and knee throughout the day which constantly gnawed at him but he got through it.

One is tempted to forget about the magnitude of this. We're in the grey 20s of a 50 marathon drive, but that's 22 marathons in 22 days. If I were superstitious I would dance a David Shepherd style jig tonight (cricket aficionados, please enlighten the others) to ward off the demons and I probably will. Hugh keeps on with the Holy water and he should. Samia conducts her ministrations, and I fret over a route. Incidentally, today we travelled from Villaviciosa to Comillas; from Asturria to Cantabria, on good and generally flat roads through a quite stunning area.

We're a funny but functioning trio out here but only Hugh can actually do this, prepared for battle each day by Samia. The comments you all send through matter - have no doubt that we check them daily. Keep 'em up and thanks, from us all.

4hrs 47 minutes. Come on man, make it look difficult.

As we're staying in Villaviciosa I planned another route for today from the original (yes, I can adapt) which allows Hugh another jaunt in the valleys. Joined by even more cyclists, Hugh and others the Tour of Spain had an easier day with only slight undulation, (600 ft height gain overall) but it is easier on the joints than running downhill. There was a long flat(ish) section along the valley floor. Easily despatched by Hugh so anything else of note?

Well, Samia had a well earned day off which meant I ordered luncheon. Despite my pronunciation, it was surprisingly both savoury and edible - bocadillos may not be known as classic runners' food but good to munch on when the day is almost completed and Hugh subsequently ran gently to finish off the day. Also I had a minor altercation with some Spanish traffic cops but I let them off with a caution. Fat men in jodhpurs riding motorcycles look absurd is all I can say, without a hint of petulance. Female one day eventers would be preferable and more appropriate.

Jonny, our PR man and head of UK HQ (too many titles?), is coming out on Friday and I hope he brings that clutch of diplomatic letters he's promised - we may need those. In the meantime we move further towards Santander and back to the coast tomorrow. Having had my fun, I will now keep Hugh as far away as possible from hills, though not easily done in northern Spain.

Footnote: should anyone want to see the daily routes, choose the Day number from the route tab of the website then click on the view in Google Earth. The last bit's essential or you'll see very little on the Google map.

5 hrs 27 minutes. Solid stuff on a very hilly day.

Forty per cent done. Halfway through Spain. Superlatives are superfluous. A lot of bookies will be getting nervous now, shortening the odds. I stand to make a lot of money at this rate.

Bit of a Tour de France day for Hugh, tough given he has shoes instead of a bike. Pipe clenched between teeth, that won't stop him. Constant climbing on small hill roads which was hard work. An awful lot of elevation gain actually - almost 4000 ft. 'How I would have enjoyed it' I told him, out of the window, 'had I been fit', before speeding off. Lots of cyclists were also struggling up there, at times almost a peleton escort for Hugh.

A cold day to start with, probably mercifully given the climb and then it warmed up in the afternoon as Hugh began a slow descent to the main road lying winding through the valley. We arrived in Villaviciosa a beautiful small town where we shall stay for 2 nights in order to get some chores done - washing and you tubes uploaded. Ah, the glamour of it all. We're in a lovely old hotel though and the surrounding countryside is the centre of Asturian cider apple growing. Fortuitous indeed.

4 hrs 57 minutes. We do hope this doesn't look too easy.

We're out of the teens. This is good news as they were dragging a little. Hugh dispatched today's perambulation with some style as well, even slowing up after being on for a 4 hr 30 min marathon. No point in rushing anything at this stage. No injury niggles today which is no doubt a result of Samia's efficacious witchcraft. Can't explain it otherwise. Even the fetching pink tape has been removed. Hugh is also running very efficiently of course.

This was a great run aesthetically; part coastal, part valleys. Hugh headed out from Navia (attractive resort) and into the sort of countryside I expected of Spain - rich farmland, sweeping vistas and lots of solid elegant houses. Quiet twisting valley roads, aquaducts, all that stuff. Attractive anyway and the rain held off.

Samia and I both joined Hugh for different parts for a bit of a walk when he was either warming up after a quick break or down towards the end of the run. These are convivial parts of the day when our thoughts wander towards post match drinks and dinner. Hugh is on strict rations of one alcoholic drink and unfortunately for him we haven't found a yard of ale yet.

Holed up tonight in Aviles, a largish town on the coast and we are conceivably at the dodgy end. Good job we're so streetwise then - time to roll up the double cuffs. We are creeping slowly but surely along Spain and have even found our hotel without difficulty the past few nights. Where's the fun in that? Hugh's and my Spanglais still annoys the waiters though so there's still amusement to be had.

Consistency under pressure: 5 hrs 15 minutes.

A filthy day. Starting on a great road dappled by the sun struggling through the trees, the weather soon set in. It rained hard but Hugh kept going, and I changed the route so that he had something long and straight to run on. Less picturesque, but safer than twisting roads when conditions are awful. We'll save those for sunny days.

Support Team, Victuals Division therefore made an extra effort to lay on decent provisions. Chicken and veg pasta; cheese and ham pastries and chocolate. Hugh's rather like a terribly polite teenager in one of those novels by Buckeridge or Blyton (alternatively choose any plucky Potter character) "Do you know, that chocolate bar's so good I think I'll have another" (his third). A quick crackle of a wrapper, a sort of snuffling and then silence. "I'll be off then, cheerio" and out he goes with a wave, smacking his lips and pulling his socks up. Trots off without missing a step as a truck driver soaks him with dirty spray.

I curse him for opening the car door on a rainy afternoon and get back to my Dalrymple. It's all about team work you know. Saying that, I skulked out for the last few miles with him on his warm down (I'm injured still, though recovering) and Samia was there in the end patiently conducting exercises, still in the rain. Hugh said it was one of those days he felt really lethargic but has no option but to keep going. A sort of Monday to Friday feeling I think.

Hugh earned himself a long bath this evening so Samia took me cider hunting. We had crossed the border from Galicia to Asturria earlier so had to sample the local stuff. This involves a long and entirely necessary arm over head pouring ritual, yielding but an inch of liquid into the tumbler, to be drunk immediately to prevent oxidation. A thing to behold. All three of us had a great meal later in the same place (steak and foie gras since you ask) though we poured the Rioja ourselves.

Footnote: we have tried to upload the videos II and III from Day 16 onto You Tube but have had constant internet problems. Hugh is basically fine, no fracture but inflammation which is painful but manageable.