With only 2 days left the finish starts to come into sight and I knew I had to have a day that didn’t make my injury any worse. I was allowed to start half an hour earlier in case things were as slow as yesterday or got any worse. I walked for most of the first 4 miles but then did break into a few jogs. The other runners started to catch me, first Darren, Paul Mayson and Tony at Hawkshead.
Next to overtake me was Paul Busby, Duncan and Pat. I appreciated the company for the short time and it was still nice to slowly watch them run in front of me before they finally disappeared into the distance. My mum and dad were out driving around the course and it was nice when they passed me. At around mile 10 I enjoyed the company of Jo and Matt and manged to stay running with them for about a mile before once again they slowly moved ahead and into the distance. Next to catch me up was Sonja at just past half way and again the same format of running with her and then being left behind. Just before the Swan Hotel in Newby Bridge I met up with friends Phil and Gail, it was a lovely boost to see them out on the course. Gail actually walked along side with me all the way to the Swan which was lovely.
Mile 11 with Jo and Matt
I passed half way in 3 hours dead, this is always a psychologically positive point for me. Shortly afterwards I got to box 7 at 13.5 miles and started to run with the intention to keep it going for longer. I found a way of running with my right leg doing most of the leading and the left leg following. This seemed to work and my pace started to dip under 9 minute miling for the first time in nearly 50 miles. I kept it going for a few miles, every time my left foot struck the ground it hurt but it reached a constant which I was able to cope with. I thought that as long as the pain didn’t get worse then hopefully I wasn’t making the injury any worst.
I started to catch some of the runners again, first Sonia then Jo and Matt and even Richard. All the time it was painful but I had a rhythm going. I was having to mentally work hard every step to keep it going through the pain. To do this at times I let out roars, it was also fun and made me smile. Maybe I was also smiling because I was back running? I roared pass Richard, he was so surprised but was so pleased to see I’d found a way to run. I roared at the support staff at Box 8 at mile 16, Linda smiled but I don’t think the camera man Giles had a clue as to what I was up to, maybe the thought I had gone completely mad.
I had speeded up so much that my mum, dad and my friends Phil and Gail all missed me in Bowness. They ended up returning to the finish at Brathay Hall after I had finished. My final finishing time was 5:05:41 and 12th place, a terrible time normally for me but all things considered and especially after yesterday’s time it was brilliant. Also on a positive note, it was a 54 minute negative split, my biggest negative split ever!
