Day 10

It is Sunday and one week on from finishing the Brathay 10 marathon in 10 days challenge for my record breaking 8^th time. It is a lovely sunny early morning when I would normally be out running but today, I’m enjoying a quiet moment while the family are in bed to sit on the sofa with my feet up on the coffee table and write this final account of the event.  Many people think I find this event almost effortless considering the number of times I have now completed it. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I would prefer to be out running this morning but have an ice pack on my right shin which is still very sore after its bizarre red swollen appearance when I woke on the morning of day 10. Yes, I haven’t come out of the event unscathed, hopefully it won’t be too long before I can be out in the sunshine enjoying a run with my sun cream on.

I’m looking out of the window at the unblemished blue sky and gorgeous sunshine, we had moments of this during our 10 days but far less than I would have liked. The weather over the event was still fairly cold for the time of the year and we had plenty of wet days, this suited some of this year’s runners but I would have preferred something a bit drier and warmer. At Least the weather was a marked improvement on last October, which was dreadful with heavy rain almost every day.

As I get older, I have been pondering more and more as to what is important in life. While running long training runs and marathons, I have plenty of time to ponder on the meaning of life. Is it wealth, money, fame, success (whatever that is), good health, how you interact with others (kindness and selfishness etc) or something else? Just before starting this Blog, I have read the blog of fellow 10in10er, Duncan. He has a wonderful way of explaining things, far better than me but touched on what I had been thinking and that is, happiness is the most important thing in life. If you have happiness then how important are all the other things I have listed before?  Surely they become of lesser significance if you find a way of life that makes you truly happy and content.

This brings me on to where Brathay fits in, helping and supporting children and young people. Brathay can’t make people rich, nor improve their health but they can guide them through life’s challenges, help them make good life decisions, equipping them for the future and leave them with special memories of their time with Brathay and experience of the beauty and wonder of the Lake District, which will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Hopefully this will put them on the road towards happiness.

Stuart Hamilton, a running friend of mine kindly donated to me last week and wrote the following on one of my Facebook posts;

“For anyone reading this who doesn’t know yet, Brathay run outdoor centres for kids, Hinning House or Low bank ground. I was lucky enough to go to Hinning House on a week long trip with primary school in the late 80’s, and it’s fair to say it was one of the highlights of my childhood. First time away from home and probably the first time I’d set foot outside of a building or car anywhere outside of what would be considered an urban area. At the time, the adventure of a lifetime!

These places are important, so if you’ve bothered to read this and haven’t sponsored Malc yet – do it!”

Over the ten years I’ve been raising money for Brathay, it isn’t the first time I’ve heard this kind of story and goes to show the positive effect and long lasting impact Brathay can have on children and young people. Thank you Stuart for sharing your story and to all who have supported me this year and especially those who have repeatedly done so over the past decade.

It’s hard to believe, only one month ago I wasn’t even in the event. In that short space of time since I was kindly allowed to join the team by Scott from Brathay only two weeks before the event started, I got myself mentally ready, collected together everything I need, put my sponsorship plan in place and fitted in a bit of focused training with a bit of hill work to try and prepare.

This sounds like complete madness and in a way I suppose it was. What I had on my side was lots of 10in10 and marathon experience, being relatively injury free with a reasonable base of training. I took this last minute plunge with enough mental belief I could pull it off.

Anyway, back to day 10, how did I get on, I hear you ask? It didn’t start off very well. I woke in the morning to the surprise that overnight my left shin had turned red, had become swollen and painful, how did that happen while I was sleeping? I usually like to push the run on day 10 as I don’t have to save anything for the next day but what do I do now with a shin that is sore to walk and run on? Not to mention the right groin which I had pulled two days earlier, nor the blisters on my left foot, hmmmm day 10 wasn’t going to be a straight forward lap of honour as it is often described by Brathay and 10in10 runners.

In previous years, the 10in10 runners have gone off an hour before the main mass marathon start. In a way this is quite relaxing for us 10in10 runners as we had a head start which our tired bodies could do with. For the slower 10in10ers who get caught by many of the main marathon runners they get lots of support which I know is a wonderful boost. Usually, I’m a faster runner and consequently few catch me and day 10 often seems like all the other 9 days with many miles ran on my own.

This year due to Covid-19 the situation was reversed. The main marathon started from 8am with waves of 40 runners at five  minute timed intervals and we were still planned to set off at our usual time of 9:30am which meant the last marathon runners would be setting off with us but most would be miles ahead.

The start on day 10 is always a bit special with most of the runners having family around to see them off and an air of expectation that all starting day 10 would finish the challenge, you can certainly feel the excitement building. We took out turns to dib our chips and set off along the road which today was closed due to the main marathon so we didn’t have to worry about any traffic.

I was one of the last to start, I wanted to soak up the atmosphere and was enjoying the company of friends and especially my family. Not to mention my apprehension about running considering my leg issues especially the newly sore shin. Finally, it was time to dib and I set off, walking at first and then a very slow, short stepped jog. It wasn’t pleasant, didn’t look good and I was worried it would be a long day. I was at the back of the main marathon and also at the back of the 10in10 runners, with the feeling I was dropping further behind everyone. The groin loosened up after a couple of miles as it had done the previous day. The shin however, stung every time I planted the foot and more so on the down hills. At least by the time I got the Hawkshead I was running with a stead fairly even stride so settled for that. I also felt like I was low on energy, could this just be the effect of the 9 previous days or the altered running style? I don’t know.

I reached and walked up the largest hill on the course at mile 7, called Devil’s Gallop and still hadn’t seen another runner. On a day when you are struggling it is made mentally worse when you know you are last. I got fuelled with a gel and drink at the 8 mile water station and pushed on through my favourite section of the course down hill through the wonderful trees with their fresh lime green leaves through miles 9 and 10. Eventually seeing the first back markers from the main marathon.

The next water station is at mile 12 just past Lakeside, there I was greeted by Aly, Trudi and Paul, all previous support crew and friends, it was such a lift to my spirts to see them unexpectedly, thanks guys. Even though I think all I muttered to them at the time was how knackered I felt.

Half a mile later and I was running past the Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge with its beautiful old stone bridge, an idyllic spot at the foot of lake Windermere and even though not quite halfway a psychologically positive point, as you turn to run back up the other side of the lake.

It was wonderful seeing other 10in10er’s supporting out on the course or running, including, Su and Paul, Craig and Caroline, Chris, Gary, Sonja, Noel, George and Rexy, sorry for any I’ve forgotten to mention.

The toughest section of the course is from Fell Foot Park to Bowness (miles 13 to 18), it is either going up or down but never flat. I’m used to this terrain so was comfortable to keep pushing on steadily catching other runners from the main marathon, which continued to lift my spirt as I knew I was getting further from the back.

The course starts to flatten out at mile 18 near Storrs Hall before running into Bowness and along the front with the jetties. This is the 20 mile point and with only 10k left I start to sense the finish and even though tired and sore, somehow find the strength to start to speed up. The next mile again is flattish before going steeply up to the viewing point and car park on Rayrigg Road where there is usually an ice cream van, affectionately called Ice Cream Mountain by us 10in10ers. Definitely not a mountain but a very short, tough, steep climb.

3 miles to go and I really started to push the pace and finally caught Avril and shortly afterwards Duncan. Sorry to Duncan for zooming past him, I think I took him by surprise, it was not my intention just the way I always mentally aggressively attack the last few miles. I always think positively near the end of a marathon and this is increased at the end of day 10. My attitude at the end of a marathon is to always think positively and don’t dwell on what I have done nor how tired I feel but look forward at only having few miles to go and push hard. I’ve got to admit I was tiring the last mile but that didn’t matter, I had done it and I was running up Brathay Hall’s drive to complete my 8^th Brathay 10 marathons in 10 days and breaking my own record. This was a moment when the finishing time didn’t matter, just finishing was all that was important.

I threw my jacket off just before I ran over the finishing line. I’d have loved to have some kind of signature celebration but nothing special had come to mind so dibbed to finish, Chris gave me 10 medals and then I when over to Yuk-Lam, Abbey, Lucas and my parents to celebrate.

Sadly, I missed some of the other 10in10 celebrations as the runners crossed the finish line and had to catch up with these by watching videos online. There were some really special moments this year, Avril ran in with her four children which was lovely, Michelle did a Morris dance with her troop straight after finishing but nothing can top Neil proposing to his now fiancé at the finish line, wow what a wonderful way to finish a 10in10!

Time to thank all who make the event tick and have helped me once again to complete this most difficult of marathon running events. Firstly, I must start with the race organiser Scott and his support team Chris, Michelle and Graham, who look after us before, during and after each run and for much more besides. Next all the Brathay staff especially the cooks, Steve and Mark and the other catering staff who fed us fantastic food, I don’t know how I could have kept going without my daily intake of fish finger sandwiches and soup which I kept taking up into the physio room with me, not to mention the wonderful evening meals with great deserts, we were all totally spoilt!

I want to thank Doctor Katie and all her student physios for their professionalism, caring and positive energy over the 10 days, in particular Melissa Rogers who kept looking after my battered legs and making sure I ate my fish fingers in “Café Physio” which is what I started to affectionately call the physio room. I think I spent more time in there eating than having treatment, certainly on some afternoons.

I better not forget to thank Yuk-Lam, Abbey and Lucas for letting me have the time out from family life to come up here and take part. I would also like to thank my parents, family and friends, including Chris and Phil from Astley and Tyldesley Road Runners, who have taken the time to come up and support me over various days and over the final weekend. To see familiar faces and especially when unexpected really does lift my spirts during the many hours of lonely running over the ten days.

After all the running was over and we were all settled the customary presentation was held. Normally in non-Covid times this would be on the front lawn of Brathay Hall for all the runners to see but this year it was a quieter affair in the Hall’s theatre, just for family and close friends. Joss Naylor the legendary fell runner and the event’s patron presented us all with our finisher’s trophies on at a time, giving us our own individual little chat. The trophies are made from Lakeland stone, everyone unique and so very special.

Joss’s conversation to me was that of which he has teased me with for the last couple of years, challenging me to be the first to complete ten 10in10s. Part of me feels tired and wants to call it a day but the other part of me wants to complete this challenge thrown down by the fell running master and complete the challenge for him to see. Will there be another chapter or two to this 10in10 saga for me in the coming years?