LDWA 100 mile virtual (SDW 100) - 29.05.2021

Normally, the end May Bank Holiday weekend is the annual LDWA 100 miler. Last year it was cancelled due to Covid and postponed to this year, but in in end it couldn't go ahead this year either with all the Covid uncertainties and restrictions. So they made it into a "virtual weekend" where you could do your own 100 miler instead, and submit your evidence to get it checked for your finishing certificate and badge. 

So, I ran one with my running buddy Alan, starting at Eastbourne train station and running along the South Downs Way to Winchester. Andrew brought the car, and drove around doing checkpoints and looking after us - thank you, Andrew!!

After what feels like the longest winter on record, the day before the run the temperature suddenly increased by about 15 degrees - I don't normally complain about the heat, but it was a bit of a shock!

After a small navigational mishap on leaving Eastbourne train station, we started off running well, and were aiming for finishing in 24 hours. 

Running the first part along the Severn Sisters in full Saturday lunch time sunshine was beautiful, and even more magic after months locked in a city! Miles of views all around! Freedom!!! 

Met Andrew after 9 miles or so, at the Severn Sisters Visitor Centre for the first checkpoint, then on along the trails past the Litlington White Horse to Alfriston.

Was struggling a bit in the heat, but proud I managed to deal with the beginnings of a migraine and stop it from ruining my run! About 26 miles Andrew met us for another checkpoint at Housedean Farm, and I was feeling better enough by then to have some food and Coke, and from then on, I solved the pain and nausea, and could eat and drink for the rest of the run, no problems.

At Ditchiling Beacon, we found an ice cream van! 

Other nutritional delights discovered on this run was cold water mixed with a tiny bit of coffee and sugar (AKA - beer water)...

Dusk was beginning to set in.

But luckily, we made it past Chanctonbury Ring just before dark (Chantonbury Ring has some of my favourite ghost stories, which always seem entertaining and quite fun, until you happen to find yourself in the very place in the dead of night, with no one else around). My favourite story is that if you run around the ring of trees in an anti-clockwise direction, 7 times, the Devil will appear and offer you soup/porridge/milk (I guess depending on what's available in the fridge in hell, where space is probably in demand, with it being so fiery and hot down there). If you accept, he will take your soul!! There was actually quite a lot of people around given the time of day and the location, someone sat by the trees, a cyclist, a walker, and us. No Devil though.

Alan was battling very bad gastro issues from the afternoon. He was a total trooper, literally putting up with basically everything going wrong and must have been feeling absolutely #*%! I think! But he just kept going and going, dealing with problem after problem and never even considering giving up. If it had been me, I don't think I could have stuck with it.

There was another race (actually, a couple!) going on over the weekend, and the  "Since 1664 Royal Marines Charity Yomp" was on (the same route, in the other direction). So it was fun running into others yomping through the darkness! At just over 50 miles we met Andrew for the night time checkpoint, and from here, Alan and I continued to Amberley.

And on through the night.

To Cocking to meet Andrew again at about 65 miles.  Alan was really ill by this point, so we had an extended checkpoint so he could recover a bit, and I even had my first power nap on a run, which felt very luxurious! From here, we adjusted our pace and mostly walked the rest of the route. Very lovely to see the dawn!

Then it turned quite misty!

Found a dalmation horse!

Just before the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, we got photo bombed.

The morning light in the forest in the park was stunning!

Then it was up Hillhampton Down (which isn't down, going this way).

 It was turning in to a beautiful morning!

We had to take selfies along the way for evidence, and almost got into an altercation with the owner of Coombe Cross House, who I think thought we were up to mischief taking photos of his country pile!

Then it was up over Old Winchester Hill, which is the most ridiculous name, as it is absolutely no where near Winchester whatsoever.

We met Andrew for a checkpoint at Exton, lovely and nice to sit in the shadows of a stone wall by the Church as the day was heating up again.

From here, we met Andrew one last time at Beauworth, before heading off on the final stretch to Winchester.

We stopped at Holden Farm to fill up our water bottles. The owner was in a barn by the tap, polishing a 1958 red tractor. He was the loveliest man, insisting that I pour out the old warm water from my bottle and filling it with cold water from the tap, as it was so hot. Top man!

From here, it was just a hop, skip and a jump (well, 10km) to the finish in Winchester! 

It was not the easiest 100! And I am in awe of Alan for sticking with it despite all the troubles! I really learnt a lot from him, about sticking with things when the going is tough! And thank you Andrew for all your support! We finished in 31:13, in time for Pizza Express tea in Winchester!