The Lahrig Ghru

As has become my recent habit, I am writing my blog from being stuck on public transport. This time, it is a plane, which I have been sat on at Inverness airport for about an hour. As much as I like sitting on planes, I was hoping at some point this one might move somewhere, back to London, say, but alas so far, it seems firmly grounded.

Hey ho. I'm only going back for work. I'm not in any rush, come to think of it. In fact, maybe the plane will become so delayed it won't be able to go, and I will be stuck in the Highlands indefinitely.

Because the running here is great! Up on a social trip, so no races this weekend, but got to do a great run along the Lahrig Ghru, so had to  say something about it, because it is a dramatic and bewitching place! 

The Lahrig Ghru is a mountain pass that goes through the Cairngorms, from Speyside on the one side to Deeside on the other, passing under the shadow of Britain's second highest mountain, Ben MacDui. My main experience of it so far, has been to gaze at its moody hights from afar, during holidays in Aviemore. Most of the time, it seems to be covered in swirling clouds, every so often clearing to reveal a long passage stretching up into the mountains, framed by dark and forbidding peaks, only to be covered in clouds a moment later. It fills me with awe and fear! I did brave it and do some of it once with Andrew, and it was his birthday wish (I'm not allowed to say which birthday, not even mention it, woops, haha!) to return and run the whole thing. And when it's your birthday, your wishes come true! 

So it was, that we found ourselves on an early train from Inverness to Aviemore. After a quick stop at a petrol station to fuel up (alas, to fuel us, not a car) we set off to run a couple of miles along a nice mountain bike track through forests to reach Coylumbridge, and then turned right off up towards the Lahrig Ghru.

I like this bit. It's uphill, but along red soil tracks, through pine forests and heather. I was trying to enjoy the moment, and ignore the Lahrig Ghru ahead, where the clouds were gathering....

We climbed higher and the weather stayed good for a bit longer.  

But as tempestuous as the weather is in the Scottish mountains, it turned in second, and the rain poured down. We rounded a corner, which had turned out to be sheltering us from the full force if the wind down the valley, and boom! I stared back through the cloud, and saw Aviemore in a little pool of sunlight far below. Oh, to be running happily through those pine forests! But no. Birthday wishes and all! We pressed on up the boulder field, and as we reached the highest point below Ben MacDui, it started to hail. It was really quite cold. I was regretting not bringing more hardcore mountain gear. I had a sudden premonition that this was going to be like an episode of that 999 programme with Micheal Burke narrating. Motivated to not to become a headline story, we pressed on, running through rivers, picking over boulders, which wasn't always successful, and I made a short diversion to land upside down in some heather....

Luckily, as we'd passed the highest point and started coming down the other side, the weather cleared up, and as it was so windy, we dried out pretty quick. 

It even cleared up enough to see some wildlife, and Andrew spotted a haggis running along the mountain...

The views coming down the other side were out of this world! The sun even came out as we came down towards the Forest of Mar. I absolutely loved this part! It was so nice to feel warm after being so freezing, and so nice to feel content after feeling so anxious up in the mountains. Pictures speak much better than words sometimes....

Soon enough, we made it to the Linn of Dee (which means, the waterfall of Dee) and the end of the run, and 22 miles of adventure! 

Marathon #128 - Forrest Run, 11.08.2019

Run Forrest, run!

Today was another lapped course, this time with Saturn Running, along the River Thames near to Reading, where you can do as many 5km laps as you like within 7 hours. It was a Forrest Gump themed run, and I LOVE Forrest Gump.

I felt alright when I woke up after yesterday's hilly marathon, which was a suprise. I had another running nightmare in the night (something about being chased around a vineyard by Gollum waving a wine bottle about, and shouting that if I didn't run up the hill ALL the way, then Gandalf would put a spell on the grapes, and there would be no more wine, and it would all be my fault, and everyone would hate me). So I woke up at 4.30, so I was early and everything was going well, I even navigated around all the drunk people in Shoreditch, who were running in the road and bursting balloons in front of cars and screaming at people. I thought, if I can get through this, I can do anything! The train left, and got to Ealing. And then it just stayed at Ealing, because it broke (the doors got locked shut). I think it was the same train guard from last night, but he'd moved up in a level of stress, and was now even walking up and down the train, calling out "This train is a pain in the BACKSIDE! I'm SO sorry! I know this is a TERRIBLE start to your day" over and over and over. It was quite similar to last night, in that there were the same two types of people stuck on the train, really angry people, or really drunk people. Only now all the drunk people were asleep, and the angry people were REALLY angry, as they were trying to get to work. I was somewhere in the middle (asleep, not drunk, of course, and not angry, but upset, so nothing like everyone else, so I'm not even sure why I said that at all), so I dealt with that by joining in with train guard, and having a breakdown too. I cried, which at least got that over with early today, had a tantrum like a three year old, and was about to storm off the train, before I realised 1) the doors were locked shut, 2) I might be over reacting a touch, and 3) the driver somehow managed to fix the doors, and the train started moving.   

I felt knackered right from the start today. I love this course, it's a nice mix of meadows, and towpaths, woods, and a lock (and even though I thought it couldn't get any better, now it has a pizza boat at the far end of the course), and I love the aid station, but today every lap felt like a mountain! On my second lap, one magpie flew in front of me and sat down on the path. I always think of "one for sorrow, two for joy, blah, blah, blah...." when I see magpies. I know it's daft because it's just a magpie, but it was definitely doing it on purpose. It kept flying up and then back down at me, and staring me in the eye. I told it, it could bloody well do one, but it didn't. Then I saw another bird join in, so I thought, ha! Two for joy! I've won, move over magpie! Then I realised the other bird was a pigeon. Then a dog, called Bert, ran up to me and tried to knock me over, and then started licking me. Did Forrest have to deal with these things? Yes, he probably did, and just got on with it. And he'd have said "that's all I have to say about that", instead of going on and on and on. I need to be more like Forrest. 

I made it through a few more laps, and was finding it hard, so was thinking of more Forrest's words of wisdom to distract myself:

1) Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks. Well, that's not something I thought of today at any point. My feet are a disaster, I've got three blisters and only 9 toenails left, and my favourite running shoes have had it. This is awful and now what will I do? Somewhere along this train of thought, which was going on a bit to be honest, and wasn't overly helpful given the circumstances, I became aware of Forrest whispering....that's all I have to say about that....so, moving on...

2) When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went. When it comes down to it, that's running I guess. If I could just stop thinking all these negative thoughts all the time, I'm sure this would be a lot easier.

3) What's normal anyways? Now, there's a question, that not even 8 laps of thinking can answer...

I didn't think I was going to make it very far today. But so many friends were there, that each time I kicked another rock, or a magpie blocked my path, and I thought that that was it, I wasn't good enough to be here, and I should go home and stop taking up space on the towpath, someone smiled/waved/hugged, and I thought, no! I will stay! Forrest said, "I ain't a smart man, but I know what love is." And I know that I love running (although, sometimes, quite deep down), and I (always) love my running friends! There will be peaks and troughs, and right now I'm in a trough, but soon there will be a peak, and I'm not giving up! Soon after that Craig lapped me, and because he's the best, he stayed with me in the trough, and ran with me till he finished. I know I am lucky to be surrounded by people who are there always, not just at the good times. Forrest has something to say on this matter, too! "If you do not like my family and friends, I do not want to hear anything about it. They may mean nothing to you, but they mean everything to me."

Then, I had one lap left, so I went back to thinking about Forrest. He said, "some people think miracles don't happen - well, they do." So maybe I could finish a marathon today, after all! And I did, so Forrest is right. I knew it.

Thank you Charlotte, George, and Saturn and the marshals for another brilliant event. I love Saturn, it's always nice and chilled out, and always a good day full of support and cheer, and a lovely medal. 

And so, to finish on my favourite current Forrest thought. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we just be floating about accidental like on the breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Which I have been wondering about lately, but maybe it is a bit deep for the evening at the end of a double marathon weekend, and a dinner of a pint of cider, watermelon sweets and mashed potato (I've got to sort myself out) so maybe I'll change it to this one.

 "There's an awful lot you can tell about a person by their shoes". 

Which might not be so philosophical, but has reminded me, I need new running shoes....

Marathon #127 - One Run To Find Them All, 10.08.2019

This was a Lord of the Rings themed run by Phoenix Running, in a new location, at the Denbies Wine Estate. If that's not a good place to have a run in, then I don't know what is.

That's what I'm Tolkein about!

I wasn't sure whether to go today. I wasn't well in the week, and the week was total absolute rubbish, and everything felt a bit beyond me right now, and I kind of wanted to hide from everything. But it was laps (each one 5km) today, and the good things about laps is you can finish whenever you want. So I thought, I probably won't feel any worse for going, in fact, I'll probably feel better for seeing everyone, so I'll just go along and see how it goes. I'm so glad I did, because I do feel much better!

The route was so pretty. It was really hilly and quite tough, but I loved it. It's very green, with lines and lines of vines stretching out towards beautiful views of the hills in every direction. Due to the weather, I didn't take any photos, as my bag was sheltering from the rain, deep inside the bag tent, but some views don't need a photo to remember them by.

For the first time in ages, I felt still inside. I know that sounds silly, because when running you are anything but still, but that's how it felt, running alongside the vines, and looking at the views. It even got sunny towards the end.

I think it is one of my favourite routes, and I wish I was still there, really. 

So many friends there, thanks a million for all for the chats and hugs! Witnessed lots of celebrations today too, and congratulations Alan on your 100th Marathon!

The only bad thing about today is that I'm right now stuck on a train home, somewhere near Wimbledon, because someone is trespassing on the railway. The train is full of a mixture of people who are either a) really angry, or b) totally trollied. A couple are having an arguement over "what is a trespasser" which quickly escalated to them getting off early and her shouting "if this makes us more late, I'M GONNA BE SO ANGRY WITH YOU!!!" Someone just spilt a bottle of wine everywhere. Her friend is trying to work out how long it's going to take to get back to London, based on us going at half speed, but is being corrected by the wine lady, who, (and I'm quite impressed by this given how much wine is slugging around the carriage right now), has pointed out that that won't work, AS WE AREN'T MOVING. 

I think the train guard is having a breakdown because every two minutes he keeps making an announcement to say he is so sorry for the delay and he knows this is the worst thing ever to happen, and just in case anyone missed it, he'll tell us what's happening again. How could anyone have missed it?? No one has got on it off for half an hour, because WE HAVENT MOVED! 

Did I say that already? Sorry. Still not moving. 

I'm wondering whether I should just crack open the wine from Denbies, and just join in with it all. 

Thanks Rik and lovely Phoenix Marshals for a fab run, and thanks to all my running friends today for being so amazing - love you guys big time!

There is the obvious problem that of the trilogy of races, I only have one. Yet I am encouraged that my ring is the Ring To Find Them...so I think that this is the most useful, as if you can find things, you can find the other two, right? Plus, being able to find things might help with my navigation....

Marathon #126 - The Vanguard Way Marathon, 04.08.2019

I couldn't sleep last night, so I had plenty of time to consider the questions that had been puzzling me yesterday. I figured the bus changed direction, because the chicken was crossing the road in front of it. The chicken was crossing the road, because she needed to go to her friends house to use the shower, as there was a spider in her shower (yes, chickens shower). And as for why the spider was in the shower, and not anywhere else, I couldn't answer that one, because I'm not sure what the actual point of spiders is, anyway. I even fell out of bed at some point, which I haven't done since I was a kid, which must have been because I was thinking so hard. So, as you can imagine, I was pretty tired this morning after worrying about it all.

But at least I could rest today. Oh wait no, today was the Vanguard Way Marathon. 

Oh.

The bus I was meant to catch had broken down, so the bus was late, but thanks to my late night philosophising, I understood why this might be, and so managed to maintain a (sort of) state of calm whilst almost missing my train, and prayed that all chickens had crossed roads safely.

I still wasn't feeling 100% my usual self today really, but at least I made it around a full marathon without crying once, which is an improvement on yesterday, and was really thanks to running with Craig and Richard, which was fun - thanks you guys for today!

The Vanguard Way Marathon is along......The Vanguard Way. The Vanguard Way is a footpath that goes for 107 km from Croydon on the outskirts of London, to Newhaven on the coast. I didn't know much about it, but the idea seems (like many of the best ideas) to have begun in a pub, at a meeting of The Vanguards Rambling Club in the 1960s, who came up with the idea, after I imagine several pints (the person who came up with the idea of all the hills must definitely have downed a few, to think they were a good idea), and then made it  a reality. 

The Vanguard Way Marathon is put on by 1m2go events, and it starts in Croydon, and goes for 13.1 miles in one direction along the VGW, and 13.1 miles back. The last time I did it I got really lost. It's mostly marked with tape and arrows, which is fine if you pay attention to the tape and arrows, but not fine if you don't. To be fair to us, we made it to quite close to the end before becoming lost. So close in fact, that we had disregarded a pub stop, in favour of pushing on, as we were almost back, and we had been doing really well with finding our way. But then, of course, we reached a golf course, which it is a guaranteed place to be lost (especially if you aren't actually meant to be running through a golf course at all), so we got some extra free bonus miles and an extra hill. Which was lucky, as we'd done HARDLY ANY hills all day.

Ha! The Vanguard Way is SO hilly. It's got some crackers. But hills give you views, and there were some great views. I especially like running along the bit where you can see the M25, and everyone stuck in traffic, while you're running along up above on a nice trail. 

We finished in 5:50 something or other. It was a pretty hard and hot day, but in a different way to yesterday. A nice crowd out, and good to be out on the trails again; the VGW is a nice route. 

It felt like a really hard double this weekend, and I'm not sure why it felt so hard. But sometimes stuff just is, I suppose. Hey ho and all that. Some questions are not so easy to answer as why chickens cross roads. But it's good to know that things can still be fun, even if they are hard, if you have good people around you - thanks everyone for this weekend! 💜

Marathon #125 - The Summer Phoenix Marathon, 03.08.19

Today was very very hard. It was my first marathon after my Running For Hannah Challenge of 6 ultra marathons. I would have thought that that would have been quite good training, but what do I know. After 125 marathons and ultras, I still don't get it. 

I haven't been feeling very good for a couple of weeks, a bit low and all, so maybe that was it. I started off running alright, so that cheered me up a bit. But then my foot started to hurt, then most of the rest of my body after that, and quite quickly my mind jacked it in as well. I don't mind saying I had some tears on the way round (when no one was looking), but then this was Phoenix, and loads of my friends were there, so it was never long before a friendly face, so I'd feel better again for a while. Although four laps of the Thames path, to Hampton Court and back is flat like a pancake, emotionally it felt like a very hilly marathon today. 

But, whatever. My mind can do one, if it thinks it's going to dictate my day, and although it was tough, I finished in 4:15, so up yours, mind. Although for the effort it took, I kind of feel I should have been keeping up with Mo Farah (although he wasn't here today), but there you go. 

My running family is awesome - thank you, you lovely lot! Haven't been to Phoenix for ages, and it was great to see everyone. I love Phoenix. So many hugs and smiles and chats today. Having good friends is a very lucky thing to have. And Rik has got a new freezer for the aid station, so there were ice lollies on the way round. And I saw a chicken on a bike. I did. 

When I took my sock off at the end, it was covered in blood (nice!) so that explains the foot pain. I think it was just a blister. Another thing I don't get, apart from the seeming randomness of why some runs you feel good and some you don't, is why is the same exact pair of trainers really comfortable when you get your first pair, and then when you see them on sale and by three more pairs (I might have got a bit carried away there), are NONE of the rest the same as the first pair?

So I'm going to have to wear the original pair with a massive hole in for tomorrow's marathon. Which will probably fall apart mid run. If you don't hear from me, please send someone to look along the Vanguard Way, around the Croydon area, where I shall probably be hopping around in circles. Which will either be because 1) I will have only one trainer left, or 2) because the last time I did this marathon, I got lost, and ran about 30 miles, so I imagine the same thing might happen again, and I'll get lost in the same place, and do what I think I did last time which was essentially run around in circles in a wood on the outskirts of Croydon.

As well as the above, other questions that have been puzzling me today include:

1) Buses. For example, if early on a Saturday morning, you need to catch a bus to Waterloo to catch a train to a marathon, and there are two buses you could catch, but one is faster, but the slower one arrives first so you let that one go as the faster one will be only 3 minutes behind.....does the faster one suddenly change it's destination and only go HALF WAY to Waterloo?

2) Spiders. Why, as soon as you will be home alone for a while, do ALL of the spiders come into the house. And if a spider had a choice of ALL of the places in the house that it could sit (if spiders sit, I don't know what they do when at rest), does it sit in the SHOWER. And why does it do that AFTER a difficult marathon, when you don't want any more difficult things to deal with? 

3) Chickens on bikes. Why WAS someone carrying a chicken on a bike? Where had it come from? Where was it going to? Was it about to cross a road? And if so, why did the chicken cross the road?........

I hope that tomorrow shall not present so many difficult questions.....

What a nightmare......

On Friday night I had a dream, two in fact. I dreamt it was the start of the London Marathon. I was in a field, with thousands of runners all pushing towards to start line. I glanced at my watch, and it said 9.27 which meant three minutes to go until the start. How exciting! So exciting, in fact, that I decided at this point, that I really needed a wee. Really really needed a wee. I looked at the loo queue, which had been snaking all around the field until then, and saw it had almost gone. I sprinted over, but by the time I got there, other people had already jumped in before me, and were barricading my way into the toilet block. But because I'd already thought I needed a wee, I couldn't unthink it, so I had to wait. When I came out of the toilet block, the field was empty, apart from a few horses, and a cow who was wearing trainers (each a different colour) and a sunhat. I had missed the start! I jogged over the start line, and completed the marathon, but ran it all on my own, and, interestingly for the London Marathon, didn't see a soul, or any of London. 

I woke up in a panic. Goodness!!!! Then I realised it was just a dream. Or, a nightmare. I'm not sure which. So I fell back asleep again, and then, and I'm not joking, I dreamt the same thing. The exact same thing! Only the cow had moved a bit to underneath a tree (I was going to say, mooooved, but I didn't), and had taken off it's sunhat and trainers and given one trainer to each of the different horses, who were all prancing around the tree in circles.

I woke up again in panic and this time I couldn't get back to sleep. I think I have a real problem. I wasn't running anywhere this weekend, and it must have been on my mind. What was I missing! I hadn't got anything else planned! Everyone else would be doing things, and seeing each other, and here was I with a whole weekend and nothing to do.

I found it a bit hard this week, after I'd finished the Running for Hannah Challenge, feeling a bit empty, like I had no purpose anymore. I always do, after I finish something. I know that this is probably actually a real problem, all joking aside, that I can't just step back, and relax for a bit, and think that oh yeah it's quite good that I managed to do that. But I decided that now wasn't the time to deal with this problem, I've ignored it for long enough after all, so I spent Saturday booking races. I realised that I could just about do 52 marathons in 52 weeks, if I got my act together. If you do that, you achieve a Global Marathons Challenge, and you can get a special vest and medal. I've done 40 marathons/ ultras since the beginning of November last year, so if I do 12 more before the end of October I'll have done it. To make myself feel better, and give myself a focus, I booked them all up yesterday:

03.08.19 - Phoenix Spring Marathon

04.08.19 - Vanguard Way

10.08.19 - Phoenix One Run to Rule Them All

11.08.19 - Saturn Forrest Run

24.08.19 - White Cliffs 32 miles

25.08.19 - Woldingham Marathon

😎😎😎HOLIDAYS!😎😎😎

21.09.19 - Phoenix Race to the Thrones #1

21.09.19 - Phoenix Race to the Thrones #2

05.10.19 - GBC Autumn #1 (thanks Jon for the prize in your prize draw!)

06.10.19 - GBC Autumn #2

19.10.19 - X-Run Saturn

20.10.19 - Zoovengers Run Saturn

I also booked the Athens Marathon in November, and maybe Lanzarote or one in Thailand in December, as it is time to extend my horizons. One thing I love is exploring new places through running, and it's outrageous that so far the only abroad marathon I have done is the Palma Marathon back in 2012. I spend far too much time worried and stressed about work and the future, and not enough thinking about other things right now. After spending a whole day with nothing to do but think, I realised that this must be fixed! I also realised that to complete my A-Z Marathons/ Ultra Challenge (where you collect races beginning with different letters) I only need Q and Y. So far, I found Queenstown in New Zealand or Quebec or Queen City in Canada, for Q, which sounds like the basis for another holiday. And maybe the Year End Marathon at Phoenix for Y, if I can get the day off from work..... And then once I've done those, I might start on some other stuff.....

Then I went to bed on Saturday night, and had two more dreams. The first dream, I was a phoenix, and I was going to Phoenix to do two marathons in a day (I can kind of see where this came from, as I had entered those races earlier in the day)...this time I made the start line, but I'd forgotten to take a change of clothes, and hadn't taken any socks. I woke up, and was about to get up and put them in my bag, before I realised I wasn't going to Phoenix today. So I went back to sleep and had another dream, where this time, it was time for another Phoenix race, but this time I was late, as it was 08:00 and I was still at home, and the race started at 09:30, and I would have to drive, but there was no petrol in the car. Somehow I made it (maybe in some kind of a spacecraft, it being 50 years since the first moon landing and all), and was sat at a picnic bench waiting to start, when one of the nurses from work arrived, and told me I was eating the wrong things, and that I had order the wrong feeding tube for a patient. As I said, I need to stop thinking about work. 

Anyway, I woke up and decided that all this thinking was too much, and it was time for a run. I was very proud, as for the first time in a few runs, I managed to run past an ice cream van without stopping:

This is was mostly because we were running through the Olympic Park and the athletics was on at the stadium, and I felt a bit pressured to look like I was putting maximum effort in. 

I do like running around here, it's such a great space to run in:

People always say to me that it must be really boring running in London. It's not exciting in the way that running out in the countryside is, I agree, but I never find it boring. There's always so much to watch, even on my standard run home from work, which isn't a nice route at all. And east London is brilliant to run around with all the canals, rivers and parks; it sounds kind of weird I know, but it is really green for a city, and I love it in a different sort of way to how I love running in other places. It's even got cows and horses, just like in my dream.

East London - it's Gnome Sweet Home!

Running for HannAH Challenge = completed! Run H (The Hallow 12 Parish Challenge, 13.07.19) and run A (The Andredsweald Circuit, 14.07.19)

This weekend it was time for the last two runs of my Running for Hannah Challenge. My friend Hannah is battling bowel cancer, and I've been spelling out her name with ultra marathons, to show my support for her, and to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and the Pelican Cancer Foundation, two charities from the centres she is having treatment. 

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runningforhannah

Due to some logistical trouble, and races beginning with the right letters not being on the right days (how inconvenient!) they were the wrong way around, so 'H' the Hallow 12 Parish 40 miles was on Saturday, and 'A' the Andredsweald Circuit was on Sunday. So technically it was the Hannha Challenge, I suppose. So, I'm really sorry Hannah, but it was the best that I could find, and I hope it's OK!

Due to the lack of H and A races this weekend, the two I found were quite far apart from each other, so it was a bit of logistics to get to the right places at the right times. Thanks Andrew for coming too, and running as well, and helping with getting between them! I love these parts of doing events - staying in random places, travelling at weird times, portable food....

The Hallows 12 Parish 40 miles Challenge was in Worcester, and it was organised by the Worcester Scout Group. Fabulous surprise to see my friend Kirsty at the start! I only realised the night before when I looked at the map that she lived close to the start, so big thanks to her for at the last moment getting up really early on a Saturday, and seeking out a random scout hut in a little village (and on the wrong side of the River Severn), to come to say hi! 

The route started in Hallow, then followed the River Severn for a few miles, before making a big loop around Worcester, the Malvern Hills, and the surrounding 12 parishes. 

It was pretty scenery......

There were lots of helpful signs,

And some really helpful ones,

It was pretty tricky underfoot for most of it, and some parts were even like a jungle,

And we had to run through fire,

And Andrew wasn't too well (nothing to do with the fire). So it took longer than usual to complete it. But it was still a very good run! 

My favourite bit was seeing, not just llamas,

But a baby llama! 

😍😍😍😍😍

The checkpoints the whole way round were brilliant, but special mention has to go to the food at the end. I was worried might not be any (that's just a general worry, not just specific to today), or worse, that it was going to be Worcestershire sauce based. But no! It was a giant baked potato with homemade veggie chilli. It was completely delicious. I've never seen such a big portion in my life. I think the cost of ingredients for that alone must have cost more than the entry fee (which, I must say, at £15 was incredible value for money, even without the potato). I definitely recommend the event, well organised, friendly, brilliant marshals and checkpoints, and a good route - thank you 12 Parish Challenge! And, Run H = done!

All too soon it was time to head off, for a long drive to the Premier Inn (#2 of the weekend) at Gatwick (glamour!) in time for the last part of the challenge tomorrow.....

Which was the Andredsweald Circuit, organised by the Kent LDWA. This was a marathon, so, as I wanted all of the runs in the challenge to be ultras, we got there a bit early and I ran about 3-4 miles before the race started, to make it an ultra. So to prove I did it, here is me leaving at the start,

Here is the path (The Forest Way) that I ran along,

 

And here is me at the turn around point:

Then it was back to the start for half an hour or so, for some coffee and chats (which I'm sure was how I used to spend Sunday mornings before I started running), then it was off for the main event...

I was pretty happy to have completed my challenge up to this point, I didn't really think at the start that I could do any of what I'd signed up to at all, but I had a reason to be doing it, and I've always focused on that, whenever things have been difficult. Knowing why I'm doing it makes it easy; I would keep running forever, through mountains/ fire/ storms/ anything, to support Hannah. 

So I kind of thought that this would be the most straightforward run of the challenge, it was the shortest, and I have lots of experience with marathons (way more than 100s!), plus it was the final run, and in my mind I knew I was almost there so I thought it would feel easier. As always, I was wrong, and, genuinely, I think this one felt the toughest of the lot! I couldn't understand how I could go from feeling so in control the day before, to feeling so incompetent the next day! But, like I just said, I had a reason to do it, and I was going to do it no matter what!

The run was all around Ashdown Forest (including Pooh Bridge!), which is close to where my Mum is from, so I've spent a lot of time around there, and I love it so much. It was brilliant to be back, and it was a really beautiful route,

The route description was fantastic, including guidance such as "begin a remorseless ascent" , "turn right to shimmy thru clump" and "pass lonely small metal gate on left". But it was just a tricky route to follow, and we spent most of the day being lost, to be honest, which was mostly my fault, although Andrew and Craig were too busy poncing around to help correct my mistakes much, until the directions mentioned a pub, and then they were suddenly all over it (😂😂😂  - just kidding!)...

A pub stop part way through a marathon might not be seen as that professional, I suppose, but in my defence, it did say in the route description "turn right to Foresters Arms, if needed", and well, it was needed. I know that people think Kent is flat. I thought Kent was flat. Until I did the Andredsweald Circuit. It was really tough, and difficult to run, and it was totally knackering. And I don't care if I sound ridiculous saying a marathon in Kent was harder than 100 miles in Northumbria, because that's how I felt, and the route description said that we could go to the pub if we needed to, and we needed hydration, and so we went. I think there should actually have been a self clip in there to be honest, and everyone else should have been disqualified for not following the route. 

Anyway, I felt, briefly at least, much better for the pit stop, until we realised that we were actually quite close to getting timed out at the next checkpoint, it was still about a mile away uphill, and there was a herd of cows in the way. An elderly gentleman, when we said hello to him, smiled back and called "are you hoping to get lost?" Which made absolutely no sense anyway, but especially because 1) why would you hope that, and 2) yes, we already were. 

We made it to the checkpoint, which was only at about 16 miles, and we still had about 10 miles to go. Or, so we thought, but as it was LDWA, it turned out to be about 28 miles by the end (extra, free, bonus miles!), but I'm glad we didn't know that then. Soon after, we went through a gateway, which set of a sensor, and Victor Meldrew's voice started bellowing out. I'm not making it up, I promise. Then right after that, we saw a dead snake, which was probably quite small and brownish in colour, but I remember now as being at least a foot long, maybe two, and bright green with black zig zags and definitely looked deadly. I'm not making this up either. It was all quite bizarre. I began to wonder, what had I had 1/2 a pint of in that pub?

Anyway, we made it to the end, without too many other things to deal with, other than a mile or two where the instructions included avoiding cricket balls, bowling balls and golf balls, which we made it through without injuries. Thank you Andrew and Craig for a great run! It was really really really hard, but it was so much fun with you guys! 

So, my Running For Hannah Challenge is complete! 290 miles in total, and I'm so happy I managed to do it all. Thank you so much everyone for your support. I've been totally bowled over by your kindnesses, messages of support, good wishes for Hannah, and your donations. Together we've raised over £1000 for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and The Pelican Cancer Foundation, which is absolutely brilliant, and I know this money will be put to good use, and make a difference!

And, Hannah, the reason I did this! Every step I thought of you .... you are the most amazing, strong, positive, and inspiring  person I know. I am so sorry you are having to go through all that you are. Even though I've completed the challenge now, I'll carry on running every step thinking of you! I know you can beat this, and so do all the people who I've spoken to throughout the challenge, who send you their love, wishes, and who think you are amazing. Sending you all of my love 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/runningforhannah