It’s now just over a month since finishing the 10in10. I thought I would blog a few thoughts looking back at the event.
Generally my times were better than I had hoped for. After completing the event in 2013 with an average daily time of 3:41 I actually wondered if it was possible to improve. My aim was to start off with times about 3:35 and just see how the body coped. The fact I managed 3:31:56 as a daily average totally amazed me.
As the event progressed my leg muscles became progressively more tender each day, especially my calves which by the latter part of the event felt bruised when touched but strangely weren’t actually injured and would still allow me to run a daily marathon once they had loosened up over the first 3 or 4 of miles.
I feel so relieved to have completed it injury free. Before the start of the event my biggest fear was that a sudden injury would occur and halt me from completing the whole event. I didn’t want to disappoint the many people supporting and sponsoring me in my quest to raise money for Brathay. I didn’t want to let Brathay down after them trusting me with one of the few places they can offer each year.
Finishing Day 10
On the Monday, the day after the event I felt so drained from it all. I think I had mentally kept myself going for the planned 10 days but once it was over the body needed to rest. I had gone in work but struggled to concentrate, in fact I had struggled to stay awake so I left a bit early. Even during the drive home I was struggling to keep my eyes open. I got home shortly after 5pm, asked Yuk-Lam if she needed me for anything, the answer was “No” so I went straight off to bed. I was woken at 9pm when the kids went to bed so I got up briefly to eat the tea Yuk-Lam had made for me some hours earlier. Then it was straight back to bed where I stayed until 7:15am the next morning. That’s 14 hours sleep! I’ve never done anything like that before! I ended up spending most of the next week catching up on my sleep and eating like a horse. It probably took this whole week to get back to a normal level of eating and sleeping and a similar period for my tender calves to recover.
Last time I raised about £6,000.00 for Brathay. After badgering family, friends and work colleagues only 2 years ago so my aim was to hopefully get somewhere similar but I never expected to get any more. Somehow I did, a little over £8,000.00 I’m totally over the moon with this and can’t thank everyone who supported me enough “THANKS EVERYONE!”
Whilst running during the event I’ve enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Lake District which I think is particularly fabulous when the leaves are just appearing in early May and glowing florescent lime green in the sunshine. Under the tress there were blue bells and the lovely sent coming from the wild garlic. I felt so privileged to have been able to spend 10 days running through such natural beauty at a perfect time of the year.
Mile 10 Day 10
Thank you to Peter Harris for taking the above picture while kindly helping out at the water station at mile 10. Peter is just one of the many volunteers who helped make the Brathay marathon so special. This is my favourite photo of this years event. A lovely memory for me as I was running through my favourite part of the course amoungst virtually unspoilt woodland.
I have been asked by numerous people am I doing it again next year, with offers to sponsor me again. I feel flattered that people are so supportive of my crazy running obsession and their generosity towards my charity endeavours for the Brathay Trust. I’m afraid to disappoint everyone but I’ll not be applying for 2016, I do feel like I need a long rest from this year’s intense 10in10 but maybe I’ll give it a go another year if Brathay would have me back?
