Tour blogDay 8 - Friday 14 March, 09:35Thank you! by Chappers (Geldof), marathon man I have managed to avoid writing a blog all week until but finally I have relented. And what a place to write it from - Wembley Stadium. The view and the special atmosphere is slightly ruined by the screams coming from the massage table behind me. Chris himself is on the receiving end at the moment of Steve's special elbows. Today's first mile is done - only another five to go and the total just keeps on rising. I could try and write something amusing, note that I said try, but all I want to say is thank you if you have donated so far and if you haven't then please give whatever you can afford for Sport Relief. Me and Diddy Dave have had an unbelievable week. Every single football club has been superb and the people we have met have been fantastic. Thank you thank you thank you, it has been a very humbling experience. Day 8 - Friday 14 March, 07:50The final countdown by Matt, web updater person The tour team have now met up with the Moyles crew at Wembley. Here's a snap from the press room where we're doing the show...
And Dave in pain whilst getting some physio...
More photos to come soon on the site. Day 7 - Thursday 13 March, 17:13At the Villa and the Blues by Matt, web updater person 26 miles down now and we're on our way to Reading for the last club of the day. It's fair to say that everyone is pretty shattered now. All I can think about right now is a hot shower when we arrive in London tonight. The highlight of today has to be Dave dressed as Villa mascot Hercules the lion. Very few of the mascots at the clubs we've been to have got to the end of the mile, and with good reason. I think Chappers got away lightly with the kilt at Rangers. Check out the photos of Dave looking sweaty. As a Birmingham boy it was a bit special going to St. Andrews and getting the chance to run the mile with Chappers and Dave (and Greg James in his pants). We clocked a pretty decent time too but I don't envy them having to run in some of the harsher conditkions we've experienced over the last seven days. We've just pulled off the motorway so time to sign off. Day 7 - Thursday 13 March, 13:31Running out of socks by Pete, producer of videos Anyone that travels a lot will have done the following... washed a couple of pairs of socks in the hotel sink with shampoo. You've all done it. I always pack enough and every time I go on tour I run out. I packed my swimming trunks as well thinking there might be some spare time and I could get a couple of swims in. No, silly. I met Ricky Hatton yesterday, I say met... I said hello. I touched the grass at Old Trafford as well...funny old life. I've put loads of films on the site, have a look. Thanks. Day 6 - Wednesday 12 March, 17:49Counting days by socks by Toby, technical linchpin I don't know about running a mile at each ground but I've now run up and down all the terraces of every football ground we've covered to set up the portable studio we use to broadcast live into Radio 1 back in London. Surely there's some charity money in that as well..my bags weigh a ton! Sitting in the press box seats of such fabled commentators as John Motson and Jonathan Pearce, its a lofty view across each pitch. Some so high we have to use walkie-talkies to communicate less our voices get lost in the wind that batters us each time we arrive at a ground. Six days in now and each club is beginning to pass like a blur. The only way I'm keeping track is by the 'days of the week' socks I'm wearing that were a belated but welcome Christmas present. Seeing as this challenge finishes on my birthday in London, I'll be hoping to get a well earned rest and some quality time in a pub. Day 6 - Wednesday 12 March, 07:34Blowing a gale by Matt, web updater person Another early start this morning as we're on the road again. Chappers and Dave don't know where we're headed first but it's going to be a busy day. We've still got 14 grounds to visit and only three days of the tour left. Last night was spent in the hotel, mixing work, food and football. Chappers and Dave left the bar disappointed as Liverpool made it through to the quarter finals of the Champions League. Obviously, Chappers is just worried that Man Utd will draw them in the next round! At present it's tipping it down and we seemed to have landed ourselves in the middle of an 80mph gale. That might be enough to slow the runs down today. Day 5 - Tuesday 11 March, 09:39Scotland to England by Matt, web updater person We just crossed the border as Dave was chatting to Moyles on-air...
We've got amzing views on this route but the sat nav certainly seems to have sent us on a roundabout journey. Its going to be close getting to Newcastle for 10.30. Day 4 - Monday 10 March, 18:23From the hearts Chappers, marathon man
Day 4 - Monday 10 March, 16:58I need chocolate by Dave, speeding bullet Dear Webfriends, It's day four I think in a very wet Scotland. Started off in Inverness this morning after yesterday's amusing Portsmouth and Caley Thistle combo and today we tackled the east coast. We're currently soaked through, but we've had a lot of people running alongside us in awful conditions which have made the miles go a lot quicker. People have been stopping us in the streets and stuffing cash in our collection box, which is brilliant, so for everybody we met today that we sadly didn't get time to thank on air, many many thanks for being so generous. At the time of writing we have the two Edinburgh clubs left to run, so I'm going to go now and mentally prepare my body fully for the next challenge, have a curly wurly and possibly treat myself to some clean socks. Until next time. Dave Day 4 - Monday 10 March, 12:59 Rain, curry and make up by Pete, producer of videos Hello. Its tipping it down, proper nasty horizontal rain...the big storm has arrived. I'm starting to look dishevelled. We got back from running the mile at Inverness last night shortly before midnight and I edited a film for the site. Got up this morning and we left before we could have the hotel breakfast, how rude. Are you bothered about our eating habits? Don't know, anyway...four of us did get out for a bit of dinner early last night. An 'all you can eat' curry buffet thing. We all ate too much and then felt a bit sick which is pretty much the law at those places. Then it was off to the airport to pick Chappers and Dave up after they ran at Portsmouth. I suggested to Chappers that he looked like he'd had something of a spray tan as he looked quite brown. He was horrified that I would question his tough Manc reputation. He informed me that it was make-up. That's all right then. Day 4 - Monday 10 March, 09:06Chappers in pain by Matt, web updater person We're in the cars on the way to Aberdeen listening to Moyles who spotted Chappers looking in pain at the start of the Inverness video. Watch it with the sound down and think colonic irrigation.
Day 3 - Sunday 9 March, 20:04Self filming by Dave, speeding bullet Watch our mile round Fratton Park, as filmed by me and Chappers.
And the post mile analysis...
Day 3 - Sunday 9 March, 17:29Now a message from the Scottish tourist board... by Matt, web updater person Like Pete said in his post earlier, the drive up from Glasgow to Inverness had some stunning scenery so we got out and took some team snaps.
Some of the guys have gone for a swim at the hotel after the long drive. I didn't bring my trunks so I've been toiling with my internet connection instead, rubbish. Chappers and Dave are on their way back north now so we'll be meeting up soon and then they'll be running at Inverness CT tonight sometime after 10pm. It's gonna be dark, and cold. Day 3 - Sunday 9 March, 13.55On the road to Inverness by Pete, producer of videos Hello... My names Pete and I'm on this trip producing the videos that appear each day. I'm not planning on running round the pitches as well... although I would like to run round Old Trafford or Upton Park just to say I've done it. We'll see. Its 1.55pm and We are heading up to Inverness through some staggering scenery. The plan was to drive the 4 hours up here with a coffee break along the way. A good plan, not thought through properly as us soft southerners expected to see a service station somewhere - we havent seen a house for about an hour let alone a service station. We stayed in Glasgow last night and this morning I got one of the cars from the car park while the others loaded the bags outside so we could fill the car. With the wagons ready to roll it occured to me that I hadn't seen my video camera. After accusing the others of leaving it unattended in the hotel lobby I went back in to retrieve it... Then sloped off back to my room when I realised I'd forgotten to pack it. Schoolboy error. Day 3 - Sunday 9 March, 09:41Multi-tasking by Matt, web updater person How to stretch and eat at the same time by Comedy Dave...
So, Chappers and Dave have been told by Nihal this morning that they're going to Portsmouth today (nice timing for Chappers after they beat Man Utd yesterday). Most of the team are up in Glasgow at the moment, but our paths will be crossing again soon. Day 2 - Saturday 7 March, 22:21I've got the key, I've got the secrets by Stuey, he runs things Hello Sport Relief fans... I'm Stuey, the man responsible for producing this tour and making sure Chappers and Dave get to all the grounds this week. I'm the only one who knows where they're going to be and what they need to do - so I've spent the last 2 days trying to stop the boys finding out what our plans are for them. As we've travelled around Scotland today I've been making important calls in the car and at times I've had to ask them to put their fingers in their ears and hum loudly so they can't hear what I'm planning for them. That tactic also proved useful as a break from Chappers moaning about Man Utd being knocked out of the FA Cup.  We've had good fun today, my favourite bit was probably Paolo Nutini joining us for the run at Celtic. He turned up in skinny jeans and plimsols, and he'd been partying with his mates until 4 in the morning which wasn't really ideal preparation, but he really wanted to do his bit for Sport Relief. So he started the run and we were amazed as he went sprinting off at a ridiculous pace - however, after 2 laps of the pitch he collapsed on the sidelines and couldn't go any further. Fair play to him though for taking part, he's a top bloke and loved the chance to do the run at his beloved Celtic. So thanks to St Mirren, Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell who were all great to us today - we've sent Chappers and Dave off on a plane to London where something special lies in wait for them so keep listening to find out what they'll be getting up to over the next few days and keep donating! Day 2 - Saturday 7 March, 19:11Stretchhhhhhhhhhhhh Matt, web updater person Bit of a manic one today to keep up with the blog. But I remembered we had this video from yesterday at Goodison Park. Chappers seems to like reminding Dave that he's shorter than him, and this gave us all a few laughs...
Day 1 - Friday 7 March, 22:25Oh what a lovely tour! by Dave, the speeding bullet Dear webfriends, Dave here at the end of day one as we overnight in Kilmarnock. It certainly wasn't where either of us thought we'd be heading having woken up in Liverpool, but that's all part of the charm of this week. Chappers and I have been left totally in the dark with regards to the route that we'll take, and it's providing us with quite an intriguing puzzle. Conveniently the lanky Manc one has got to do his Football Italiano show on Five on Sunday afternoon from London, which means that tomorrow night we need to be in shooting distance of the capital. Kilmarnock doesn't fit into this category. What we do know however is that, today has been brilliant. Goodison to start off with for me was a dream start, followed by Liverpool where we were treated far better than either of us deserved. Then it was north to Gretna who couldn't have been kinder to us. Our arrival coincided with the club's sad announcement of impending administration, which brought with it camera crews and national journalists to cover the story. Even with all this going on they were incredibly hospitable laying on sandwiches, teas, coffees, cakes and a great atmosphere, despite the crap weather. The day then ended in Kilmarnock where we were met by loads of people in the carpark, an incredibly 82 year man called Peter who's triple bypass hasn't stopped him from doing half marathons, plus first team players and the warmest Scottish welcome from everybody associated with the club. It's already been a day of great memories, and if the rest of the journey is anywhere near as good as today, then it will be top week. Thanks to everybody we met today. Speak to you later d. Day 1 - Friday 7 March, 15:55Hat-trick by Toby, technical linchpin  No-one seems to like the hat I've bought for the trip. Its like a soft trilbee with ear flaps. Think 'policewoman from Fargo meets country gent'. I'm sure it will come in handy when it gets wet and windy and cold! Though I wish it could do other things as well - like sort out the radio mic problems we had this morning at Everton. It seemed the only way I could get Dave's mic to work was to hold on to the aerial in a crusafix-like position while aiming myself at them as they ran round the pitch! Thankfully nothing else has gone wrong and fingers crossed we'll have the sound of the boy's breathless voices while they run back on air very soon. Standing in the press box scrathing my head doesn't make good radio ;) Highlights so far - Japanese tourists at Liverpool taking photos of us when they have no idea who we are; the children of Gretna Primary school chanting and singing their classmates on while they thrashed Dave and Mark running round the pitch, and driving through the beautiful Scottish landscape. Day 1 - Friday 7 March, 15:02Chappers and Liverpool by Matt, web updater person Chappers is a Man United fan. Chappers, its fair to say, is not a fan of Liverpool FC. Chappers had to run a mile round Anfield today.. One of the highlights of the day thus far came whilst we were waiting in the tunnel at Anfield. As Chappers was getting undressed into his running kit, a tour group being shown around the stadium walked by and started taking pictures. A bit weird we thought. Then we reaslised they were actually taking photos of the famous 'This is Anfield' sign in the tunnel..not Chappers getting his kit off! They'll have something a extra special for their photo album now.
Chappers won't thank me for this, but I got a picture of him with the Anfield sign in the background so I couldn't resist putting it online. Day 1 - Friday 7 March, 10:15A warm Anfield welcome Chappers, marathon man
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