— 3rd May —
These past weeks we’ve been buried in PhD life – conference deadlines, grant documents, ethics, lab reports – you name it. Running fell off our radar after that epic Cramblinton adventure, and we’ve felt the tension build. Today we finally carved out an hour, laced up our shoes, and headed out toward Jesmond and Gosforth. The sun was gentle, the paths familiar, and with every stride the stress of email threads and manuscript edits melted away. We laughed at our creaky first kilometre, but by the halfway mark we were back in rhythm. It felt so good to run again – and we’re determined not to lose the stamina we’ve worked so hard to build.
— 12 April 2025 —
We set off from Newcastle just after breakfast, our running sneakers on and spirits high. The sky was clear, the air crisp, and every kilometre felt easy at first. But as we veered off the main roads into country lanes and muddy tracks, it quickly became clear that there was no simple trail to the spoon. We navigated around hedgerows and across farmers’ fields, following Google Maps as best we could.
By kilometre seven we were both laughing at how lost we’d become. There were moments when we thought the landmark might have been a prank. When the map pointed us to a clump of trees with no sign of metal in sight, we wondered if anyone else had ever found it. Still, the challenge only made us more determined.
Just as we were about to turn back, I caught a glint of silver just beyond a row of saplings. There it was – huge and gleaming, its curved bowl half hidden by branches. We sprinted the last few metres and high-fived in front of the spoon, grinning like kids who had just discovered buried treasure.
After snapping a few photos and letting the novelty sink in, we made our way into Cramblinton village. We treated ourselves to a late lunch at a typical british pub, refuelling on chicken tikka and a steak. By the time we hopped onto the bus home, our legs were heavy but our hearts were light.
It was a full-day adventure we won’t forget. Chasing that giant spoon reminded us why we love running: for the unexpected discoveries, the shared laughter, and the stories we collect along the way. What landmark should we hunt next? Let us know your favourite hidden gems and we’ll lace up for another epic run!
— 30 March 2025 —
Today we headed out for a 10 km run to Jesmond while the sun was shining and the sky was clear. We slipped into our training sneakers and set off full of energy. Jesmond’s routes are steep and winding so by kilometre six we were feeling it in our legs and lungs.
On the way back we spotted a cosy café tucked between the trees and treated ourselves to an iced matcha latte. There is nothing like a cool, creamy lift after a tough outing.
Still, we are growing tired of the same old trails. We need fresh challenges. Maybe a run that takes us to the coast, or through new neighbourhoods, or on trails we have never explored. Any suggestions? Let us know where we should head next!
— 28 March 2025 —
At the center of the flyer we placed a QR code that takes you straight to our donation page. Since leaving the first copies in the Henry Wellcome Building on the Newcastle University campus, we have already seen colleagues pause, admire the artwork and scan to learn more. That instant connection – when art meets action – makes all the difference.
We are so grateful to everyone who has stopped by our labs to chat about the cause, offered suggestions for where to post more flyers or volunteered to help at upcoming Parkinson’s UK community events. Every scan is another step toward better research, better support and, one day, a cure.
If you spot our flyer around campus or anywhere in town, please scan, share and spread the word. Together, we can turn art into awareness, awareness into donations and donations into real change for people living with Parkinson’s. Thank you!
— 17 March —
Parkinson’s touches more than 145,000 people in the UK alone and millions worldwide. As neuroscientists, Varun and I have spent years peering into the brain’s hidden wiring. We’re fascinated by the biological puzzles of Parkinson’s – how subtle shifts in neurons can ripple outward into tremors, stiffness, and struggles with balance. Our dream is to translate those insights into real treatments.
The spark to partner with Parkinson’s UK came straight from Varun. His PhD dives into a groundbreaking frontier: detecting early-stage Parkinson’s by analyzing micro eye movements. It’s a cutting-edge window into the disease’s earliest whispers, before tremors even appear. Over the last year, Varun has worked hand-in-hand with Parkinson’s UK – joining community events, recruiting participants, and hearing firsthand from people living with the condition.
We saw how hope can flourish when research, care, and community collide. So we decided: for every mile we train, every penny we raise, we’ll dedicate it to Parkinson’s UK’s mission – funding vital research, offering support groups, and providing advice to families navigating this journey.
Signing up for the GNR feels like more than a running goal. It’s our promise to the Parkinson’s community: we’ll run with you, for you, and toward a future where Parkinson’s can’t steal someone’s morning coffee ritual or their quiet moments of concentration.
In the months ahead, we’ll stick to our training and also join Parkinson’s UK community events. We’ll meet people living with Parkinson’s, hear their stories, and engage. Will you join us? Follow our journey, donate whatever you can, and spread the word. Every share brings us a step closer to better treatments – and one day, a cure. Lace up, stay tuned, and let’s make these miles matter.
— 17 Feb 2025 —
Come weekend, we stretch our legs on longer runs (10 to 13 km along the riverfront and beyond) testing endurance and mental grit. Each run teaches us something new: how to keep our shoulders relaxed on uphill sections, how to breathe through the cold gusts, how to find that extra gear when the kilometres drag.
We’re committed to improving our pace, dialing in our form, and cheering each other on every step of the way. Stay tuned for our next update, and if you’ve got a favourite Newcastle running route or pace tip, drop it in the comments – let’s keep this momentum going!
— 1 February 2025 –
Reaching the Baltic at kilometre four felt like crossing into a new chapter. We paused to admire the angular glass façade before turning east toward the old shipyard, where rust-red cranes stand sentinel over the Tyne. With every step, Varun’s confidence grew. He glanced at his stopwatch mid-run and let out a whoop: “I’m halfway there already!”
From the shipyard we curved back south, tracing the riverbank toward the Swing Bridge. By kilometre eight, the familiar roar of city life drifted up from the quayside pubs below us. We pushed on, buoyed by the thought of that final stretch.
As we rounded the last bend and spotted the Wetherspoons sign coming back into view, we dug deep for a finishing kick. Crossing the 10 km mark right outside the pub – where we’d both vowed to toast our success – felt incredible. We slowed to a jog, high-fived, then collapsed into hearty laughs on the bench outside.
Varun, who just weeks ago could barely manage 3 km, beamed as he caught his breath: “I never thought I’d feel this strong. Count me in for the Great North Run!” I couldn’t have asked for a better training partner – or a more fitting finish line.
Hitting 10 km together this afternoon wasn’t just about the distance; it was proof that we can push past our limits when we commit, encourage each other, and celebrate every milestone. Next stop: signing up for the half-marathon and mapping out our training plan. Lace up tomorrow, same time, same place – this journey is just getting started!
— 26 January 2025 —
— 18 January 2025 —
Back in Newcastle, I couldn’t shake it. I spotted the route for the Great North Run, Britain’s biggest half-marathon, and thought: why not me? Thirteen miles – more than double my usual distance – but imagine the rush of conquering that many miles along the Tyne, the roar of 50,000 fellow runners, the sunrise over the bridges.…
I pitched it to Varun at the office. “A half-marathon?” he laughed. “That’s a serious leap from 10 k.” He wasn’t wrong. It’s one thing to knock out ten kilometres on New Year’s Eve; it’s another to train steadily through winter rain, knee-deep in Newcastle’s January grey. Yet something about the challenge ignited us both.
So here’s the deal we struck: if we can each smash a 10 km run together by the end of February, we’ll sign up for the Great North Run. We’ll map out our training plan, share every wobbly first mile, every high-five at a new personal best.
Will you join us? Follow along as we swap excuses for early alarm calls, track those kilometres on icy mornings, and push each other past the point where we’d normally quit. Subscribe to our updates, drop a comment with your running goals, and share this post with anyone who needs a little nudge to chase their own next milestone. Let’s make these miles count together!
Why we are fundraising for Parkinson's UK
We’re PhD students at Newcastle University, spending our days studying the brain, running computational and experimental neuroscience experiments, and this year, along with running experiments for the early diagnosis of Parkinson's, we are also running 13 miles for Parkinson's. This event will be our first-ever Great North Run. We’re equal parts excited and terrified but fully committed!. We are running to raise vital funds for Parkinson’s UK, All the money raised will go to Parkinson’s UK nurses, to provide much-needed advice, support and information for people who are living with the condition. Please help by sponsoring me whatever you can – every donation makes a difference!
Thank you to our sponsors
£10
Anonymous
£5
Rohan Thakrar
£5 bro
£30
Laura Young
Go for it! Best of luck!
£15
Viktorija B.
Good luck guys!!!
£5
Anonymous
£20
Rohan
£20
Stephanie Quinn
It's all in the training, best of luck!
£50
Alejandro's Family
¡Ánimo, chicos! ¡A por todas!
£10
Ilgın Çebioğlu
Good luck guys!!
£30
Anya Hurlbert
Go Varun!!!
£10
Martha Chisholm
Best of luck! 🙌
£20
Knectt
Go on lads! It’s in your head.
£20
Maria
£20
Jacob Manley
🫡
£10
Yuri Elias Rodrigues
£10
Nithin Mathew Sabu
£10
Neenu Pauly
£20
Penny Lawton
Best of luck with the run guys :D
£20
Alejandro Rodriguez Garcia
Let's goo!!!
£20
Varun Padikal
Lets Go.....!
Our team members
Our fundraising journey
Good luck!