I keep getting told that what we are doing is inspirational and I struggle to really understand why. I prefer the other phrase which also keeps being used to describe us “Ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. Although I do sometimes question what is ordinary as everyone I meet is different and special in their own way. I suppose it isn’t ordinary to run 10 marathons in 10 days. It is simply a very extreme challenge however you look at it, even from my perspective and I’ve done it twice before!
Anyhow I did see something today that must mean that what we are doing is inspirational because I’m sure these two individuals wouldn’t have done what they did without witnessing first-hand what us 10in10ers are currently doing. I’m talking about physios Zoe and Toby who decided to run the whole marathon course with us today with virtually no training. They both managed to do it, with Zoe finishing in 4:11 and almost collapsing at the finish and Toby battling for over 5 hours to finish. We must have inspired them and hopefully we will be inspiring others that we do and don’t know to take up sporting challenges and other important life challenges which is part of what Brathay teach the thousands of children whose lives they touch each year.
Personally I just see us as a bunch of running nutters who relish a crazy running challenge and in doing so hope to raise lots of money to help Brathay inspire as many young people as possible so they can succeed and make the most of their young lives.
The weather today was fairly sunny but we had a cold easterly wind which took the edge off what could otherwise have been a stunning day. The event is starting to affect me. I’m not injured as such but day by day I’m getting more sore, especially my calves which are taking a serious battering with me being a fore footed runner. I’m also very tired and by that I mean I don’t need to go to bed early, I’m exhausted both mentally and physically. The only proper way to get over this type of tiredness is to rest and stop doing this madness but that’s not going to happen over the next 3 days. As well as being tired and sore my energy level are shrinking. All I can do is keep eating as much as I can and keep myself hydrated. I’m eating loads and still keep finding myself hungry. I even found myself grabbing extra biscuits and a Twix just before the start of today’s race because I was still hungry!
Managed 12 minutes in the ice bath today, think that is a record for me.
If this blog has inspired you to be generous please bob a donation on my Just Giving site, many thanks, Malc.
Out on the course at mile 10 on day 7
