Got the week off with Andrew. Booked a "cosy wooden chalet" in Kingsdown for a festive winter break. Kingsdown (near Dover) might sound an odd place for a winter break, but it is near to Samphire Hoe, where the SVN Winter Seaside Series 10 in 10 events are going on. Booked the first three events, then thought it would sound nice to have a few days relaxing doing tourist type things, and relaxing in the cozy wooden cabin, then booked three events at the end of the 10 in 10 too.
Cozy wooden cabin is nice, for the summer. Right now it is like a cold shed. All the castles and tourist places are shut during the week, as it is winter.... so holiday plan seems to have changed slightly....eeek.
Day 1: The Black Knight Challenge, Friday 26.11.21
First day, and Monty Python theme with plenty of coconuts! Love the medal, which seems topical considering for the amount of time I have recently spent acquainted with the floor during runs. 4 x 6.55 mile laps around Samphire Hoe, through the tunnel, and up on the cliffs. Love this route the most! Ran a marathon today. Andrew started his extra challenge of having an ice cream from the cafe after each event (Eton Mess today). Went to M+S and the Dover retail park afterwards. Checked into the cold shed. Decided it was too cold, and went to the pub down the road (The Rising Sun) on Sam's advice, for dinner, and to warm up.
Day 2: The Fudgeathon, Saturday 27.11.21
More folk around today, it being the weekend and all, including Storm Arwen. The weather kept setting off the car alarm, so for the first few laps, we had to keep checking it.
Amazing Jackie had made a huge selection of fudge flavours for the annual race celebrating fudge! Thanks Jackie!! Smaller laps today, around Samphire Hoe and along the sea wall, which was all very lovely, apart from Storm Arwen's presence. Very cold and wet, windy and hail storms! Wore two running jackets, plus my other layers! Went through three pairs of gloves attempting to keep my hands above freezing, but none worked, so eating and drinking were mostly impossible for most of the day. Going east on the sea wall was the worst part, with the rain/hail horizontal in the face. It was a tough day, but I still loved it, and seeing everyone, still smiling though the rain from underneath various extra layers of clothing! The weather was so horrid, that I joked to myself, that if it stopped raining by my last lap (as if it would ever stop raining!) for the marathon (lap 8) then I would do an ultra. Oddly enough, it did stop raining, so I had to keep my promise, and did 50km today (9.5 laps). Once my hands warmed up, I sampled some delicious fudge flavours (including, biscoff, peanut butter, and chocolate orange). Enjoyed warming up and drying off with coffee and hot cross buns by the radiator in the warm room afterwards with Andrew and Richard! Cold shed still too cold to warm up in, so went to another pub down by the sea (The Zeatland Arms) which was toasty warm.
Day 3: The Bobble Hobble, Sunday 28.11.21
Weather better! Same route as yesterday. Loads of people running today, at the popular Bobble Hobble, where everyone gets an SVN Bobble hat at registration! Everyone looked fabulous all day running around in the colourful bobble hats! Sarah and Jon came, so that was great fun, running with Sarah for the first half, then we joined up with Andrew and Jon.
Did another 50km. Tried some more fudge flavours! Thank you Sarah for my new detangling hairbrush! Beautiful weather today, you would never guess how different it was yesterday! Had a deadline to be back for a table booking at the Zetland Arms at 4.30, which was a good incentive to get ready quickly and out of the cold shed without faffing. They ran out of veggie roasts, but still had a delicious meal. Also had some red wine, and accidently entered tomorrow's marathon, even though Andrew has hurt his knee.....
Day 4: The Dragon Run, Monday 29.11.21
....Andrew has fashioned a knee support out of his 40th birthday sock. Quieter again today now it's Monday. The route was back up on the 6.55 mile cliff loop, so 4 laps and another marathon day.
Andrew's sock support seems effective!
Absolutely amazing day up on the cliffs, like being on top of the world in the sunshine! Was almost getting too hot, but still not quite warm enough to take off the double jackets yet.
Saw Baywatch the pony (bleach blonde mane and tail) and his friends up on the cliffs.
New sheep in the Hoe (think we saw them arriving yesterday) and the cows were on form (including donkey cow and the little cows).
Had a trip to the retail park to buy some new jumpers for wearing in the cold shed. Got one from Next which makes me look like a giant sheep, but it is so warm and toasty, that I don't care how I look! That, plus another purchase of a base layer and a scarf, and it's almost warm in the cold shed! Went to Nandos and got the spicy sauce in another attempt to warm up, but might have overdone it, and it was too spicy to eat much. Entered tomorrow's run whilst trying not to cough too much from the chilli, and incur the acusing glares that you get these days if you so much as clear your throat.
My cold came back overnight, so I couldn't sleep for some of it, and was up drinking hot drinks in my sheep jumper. Got back to sleep eventually, and felt better by morning.
Day 5: St Andrew's Day Challenge, Tuesday 30.11.21
Fabulous day! 3 x 8.8 mile loops for a marathon, though the Hoe, along the sea wall, all the way to the cliff, back again, through waste land, up the tunnel and along the cliffs and back.
The day went by so quickly - sunny, much warmer, amd loved the big laps! Some waves came over the sea wall! The man in the Samphire Hoe cafe knows our finishing order now (lattes and crumpets - not pikelets, Andy!) and that Andrew will have an ice cream each day (classic vanilla today - yellow, not white, as proper Cornish ice cream). Happy St Andrew's Day to Andrew and all my Scottish friends! Some great Scottish themed outfits out on course today. Tunnocks teacakes and wafers and shortbread at the aid station. Fish and chips at The Sea View in Deal afterwards!
Super proud of Andrew, who says he can never do a 10 in 10, but has now done 5 marathons in 5 days, and looks to be getting stronger! Have entered tomorrow.......
Thank you Traviss, Rachel and Team SVN 😀
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