A dad said he was left with blisters the size of golf balls after running 10K a day for charity.
Phill Hayward, a PE teacher from Prenton, Wirral, said he had decided to take up the challenge of running the distance every day for a year during lockdown.
The 31-year-old said the first month, last year in September 2020, was the hardest and he struggled to learn how to pace himself and juggle work with his demanding running schedule.
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He said: "The first month was hard - I had blisters the size of my palm all over my feet.
"I had to strap my feet up to carry on, it was so painful, but I was trying to do my 10K straight after school on a Friday and then in the morning on a Saturday to get it out of the way and I realised I wasn't giving myself enough recovery time.
"It became really difficult getting in and out of the bath."
But Phill powered through the pain and never missed a step even when he had to go into isolation.
Instead of running along the scenic coast of Wirral he ran his daily miles on a treadmill but managed to keep it interesting by asking the kids from his school Our Lady of Pity in Greasby, to give him extra challenges such as running in high heels and on his knees.
He said: "They have all be so supportive drawing pictures and sending messages like 'not all heroes wear capes'."
And it is not just the kids who have been fundamental in helping Phill achieve his goal, he said his partner Sarah Tosney, 37, and two daughters Lottie, 13, and Halle, 10, have been cheering him on every day.
He said: "I wouldn't have been able to do it without them - many people see the happy pictures of me completing a 10K but they don't see how some days I really had to push myself to do it.
"And all my friends and family helped, even with just little things like running me a bath or making me my dinner - it all helped so much."
And the hard work has paid off, not only has Phill completed 10K a day for a whole year, leaving him in the "best shape of his life", but he has already raised over £13,000 for the Wirral MIND charity.
He said: "I think many people struggle with their mental health and we have seen it here in Wirral, particularly during the pandemic so I just wanted to help in any way I can.
"And the running has helped me, I am not the type of person who can sit still, I have to get up and out.
"I am now in the best shape of my life. I have always been fit because I am a PE teacher, but when I look back at photos from when I first started the 10K a day, my face looks quite chubby.
"But now, and since being on a nutrition diet from January, I feel great."
Phill who completes his 10K a day today (Wednesday, September 1), intends to continue running, but perhaps not every day.
He said: "I think I am going to do about three runs a week, but it is something anyone can do.
"You just have to remember to start at your own pace and give yourself time to recover from each run.
"I didn't focus on time when I was doing 10K a day, so some days it would take me an hour, other days, if I really pushed myself, it would take me 40 minutes - this is something I can focus on now."
You can donate to Phill's chosen charity via his Just Giving page here.
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