Brathay 10in10 2023, Pink Day 9

Early in the morning I parked my car at the Shackleton Lodge so it was out of the way for the main marathon event on Sunday. It brought back memories of staying up there in the early years of the Brathay 10in10. It is a building with bunkbed accommodation set in the woods well away from the main Hall, without Wi-Fi and with very little mobile phone coverage. Although communication is very poor there, the woods are very beautiful with all their bluebells and the occasional deer, and I think it is a very special place. I wandered around for a bit looking at the bluebells and taking a few photos in the sunshine. I also was able to look across the fields and get a lovely view of Brathay Hall with Todd Crag in the distance. I do love the stillness and peace offered by this place early in the morning before people start stirring. it’s like the place is all mine to explore.

 

Sadly, these early mornings don’t last, and I have to prepare to run a marathon. One day I will have to take a holiday up here without running a marathon. Time moved on, I got checked over by Charlie, my physio, not too much wrong with me, in fact I seem to be fairing extremely well, just very tired and tender calves. I am amazed that my worn right knee joint hasn’t caused more problems for me over the past 8 days.

The next part of the daily routine is to go to the athlete’s room and finish getting ready for the run, suncream, Vaseline, running kit, race number, timing dibber, bit more food and drink then keep myself lose and stretched. The athlete’s room is the size of a typical school classroom and is set out with chairs running around the walls and the middle of the room being kept clear. We all have a chair each, these are not assigned to us but on day 1 we pick one and invariably it becomes our chair for the whole 10 days. Scott, Brathay’s race director will give any final instructions for the day before we walk down the drive to the start. Today, was a bit different, he began to talk about my impending completion of a 10^th 10in10 and how I often run in pink cloths and that there had never been a pink 10in10 top. As he said this, he pulled out a pink Brathay 10in10 running top from a plastic bag for me. This was a very unexpected and wonderful surprise but that wasn’t all. I then started to look around the room, as everyone else took of the jackets to reveal they also had a pink running tops, even the support team. Wow, I was in a room of pink. What a fabulous and fun gesture from everyone. I quickly found out it was Jonathan Carter’s idea, I am very grateful for his thought and efforts, and also to Suzanne, Yuk-Lam and others that were no doubt also involved.

At the foot of the drive, I got another surprise Aly Knowles, Brathay’s 10in10 previous race organiser was waiting there to cheer us all off. It was a lovely surprise to see her here and get a hug, she was also wearing pink! I can’t believe so many people knew, yet I had no idea.

The first half of the run went well, I ran at a good pace in the sunshine and felt strong. Sadly, it didn’t continue that way for the second half, and I started to slow. I got the drinks box at mile 16, it had loads of previous 10in10ers present and a few support staff, most of whom were also wearing pink! There seemed to be no end to the sea of pink all the way around the course. I didn’t say anything to the people there but I didn’t feel my best I was putting it down the hot weather and a bit of dehydration. I continued on for another mile or so and started to realise the problem was actually my stomach and I needed the toilet. Where was I going to find a toilet out here?

Our next drinks box is at mile 18, it is on raised position and overlooks lake Windermere. While I drank my hydration drink, I looked around and a short distance further along the road I saw a small oasis, a building site with a Portaloo! I finished my drink and went to investigate, it was right at the side of the road, at the top of a steep bank that dropped down to the lake. No one was about and it was unlocked, time for a pit stop. As I got inside, it started to rock and as I went to sit down it seriously rocked backwards. I felt very insecure, it reminded me of the last scene from the “Italian Job”. I had to get back out just to make sure I wasn’t going to roll down the hill. The ground was very uneven but I decided it was safe enough and went back in very carefully. After this pitstop, I quickly felt much better and began to run more comfortably. By mile 19 I had got back to my 10 minute mile pace.

Just before Bowness I met my good friend Spencer on his bike, who was up with his wife Charlotte in in their camper van for the weekend. He cycled with me into Bowness which was mad busy, with tourists. I saw Yuk-Lam, Abbey, Lucas and Charlotte, which was a lovely boost. Spencer cycled with me for another mile or so, to the bottom of a small hill where there is often an Ice Cream Van so has been affectionately named Ice Cream Mountain by us 10in10ers.

Waiting for me and the other runners at the top, were lots more 10in10ers dressed in pink with Lucy from the 10in10 Support team. After a quick drink and “Hello” to the supporters I quickly got back into my 10 minute mile pace which I kept up all the way to the finish.

I had another nice surprise when I saw friends Phil and Gail pull alongside me in their car on the main road into Ambleside, near the Low Wood Bay Hotel.

As I ran into the finish on the lawn, everyone piled in behind me, including my mum and dad, all wearing pink and we all came over the finish together. I was unaware they were all behind me, if I had known, I would have run a little slower through the finish. It was a lovely surprise to see them all follow me across the line once I had finished.

Aly was there with the support staff and all my family and friends, she gave me a medal for completing the marathon. Sadly, Aly could not be with us tomorrow.

All the fuss at the finish was lovely and much appreciated but it was nice to get away for some peace and quiet with close family and friends down at the Brathay jetty. I sat on the jetty with my feet daggling into the cool Windermere water, this was so satisfying as my feet were hot and throbbing from running a marathon. Lucas had been threatening to go for a swim in Windermere, I didn’t believe he would actually do it but to my surprise he did. I was suitably impressed.

This lovely eventful day was finished off with a very tasty beef Lasagne for tea, now time to rest for the final lap tomorrow.

Thank you to all who were involved in arranging and being part of my really enjoyable “Pink Day 9”, probably my favourite marathon day ever, certainly it will stay with me as my most memorable for all the right reasons.