Pre-race taping in the treatment room
Rain and Pain!
This 10in10 is dominated by the weather, no lovely rainbows today nor any sun but just rain, more rain and heavy persistent rain! Marvellous! And, I’m going to leave the subject there and not mention it again. Bloody awful weather!
Next, my injury list from yesterday, the goods news there are no more items to add to the list. The bad news is my left Achilles is very painful when under load and making running questionable. Being this is a running event this is a serious problem.
We all started the day, in the rain (ooops I wasn’t going to mention that again) with the physios and a small group of spectators, mostly Brathay staff cheering us off. I couldn’t run so started with a walk, it was so embarrassing not running in front of people. I hoped that after a few hundred yards things would loosen in my legs and I could get running but this didn’t happen. A couple of miles passed, and I was still walking and watching the other runners steadily overtake me and disappearing into the distance.
By Hawkshead at mile 4, I was actually in last place, not something I’m accustomed to and I was starting to wonder how far I would end up behind second to last. I desperately tried to keep some of the runners in sight, while I tried to find some kind of running motion that worked and I could maintain without hurting too much.
By 8 miles at the Graythwaite Estate I started to find a way to run, very short strides but at least it was running and noticeably faster than walking. It took concentration to keep this new running style going without it developing into anything else that was more painful. It was a comfort to move a few places through the pack. I got to halfway in 2hours 42 minutes, extremely slow for me but I was happy that I could tackle the second half now running of a fashion.
I feel I must give thanks to the few who braved the elements to support us, some people I didn’t know, some of the physios in two cars screaming out of the windows, they are mad! Nice to Craig and Caroline at Esthwaite water, Michelle once again at the Swan Hotel and Aly when I was coming back up the far side of the lake. I also want to thank the support crew today, Graham, Michelle and Chris, they are so supportive and they also had to put up with the elements the same as us runners for many hours.
At 18 miles we pass Storrs Hall, the road was flooded at this point today, like many other places along the route. I want to give a special thanks to the car driver who came towards me from the opposite direction at speed straight through said flood creating a massive wave that was several feet taller than me and went right over my head. It covered me from head to toe, I had to put my forearms in front of my head to protect my face from to blast of very cold water.
On the run
I finally crossed the finish line on the lawn in 5:21:39 which makes for a negative split. One hell of a long time to spend in the rain, I quickly wrapped up in warm dry clothes and a towel. Thanks once again to Zak for looking after me in the physio room.
I also want to thank Ian Bramwell, Jeff Prestridge and Lynn for their kind donations today, I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that I am doing this challenge to raise money for the Brathay Trust.
Not a pleasant day but relieved to get the job done and I’m still in the game. In fact, all 11 of us are still in the game which is brilliance considering the weather we have endured so far.
