tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74587330555995508452024-03-05T10:52:13.945+00:00Get Out Moor!Outdoors. Wild Running. Cycling. Trekking. Devon. Dartmoor. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-24940360181583653582018-03-30T20:30:00.002+01:002018-03-30T21:46:14.205+01:00Basil Bites Back: A tale of depression, running and medication.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.999999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil Bites Back:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When I named my depression, ‘Basil the Alien’ (</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/basilthealien/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil has his own FB page</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> ) , </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was just coming out of a mild depressive episode. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It seemed like a good idea at the time, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to name this parasite which had taken up residence in my mind and body. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I thought: “I will own Basil; I will belittle Basil; Basil will not control me”. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To give my depression a slightly humorous name would help put everything in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">perspective </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">it would help making talking about depression easier, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">especially if it had a form, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">rather than </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">some elusive ‘feeling’. I am in control, not this pathetic little alien parasite. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But recent events have made me re-evaluate this. Basil is anything but funny. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil is a nasty vindictive, corrosive, homicidal Alien. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Growing, incubating inside of me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I am harbouring an Alien. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But stuck with the name Basil.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil was for some time locked up,safely, in a cage. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With big, metal, steel doors keeping the little bugger safe. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I could hear him scuttling about every so often, reminding me he was still there, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but he couldn’t hurt me, or anyone else. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Running was one way I used of keeping Basil in check.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> But then around September 2017 I began to notice he had got out. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">At first I didn’t realise. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The little shit had probably been partying for some time, in the shadows. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The sneaky little fucker scuttled about making things nasty and difficult, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">not just for me,</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">but also for other people. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Slowly and imperceptibly taking over my moods and ability to function.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Bit by bit, stalking and killing my good moods, my confidence, my self esteem, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">my ability to react</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">rationally & appropriately to situations, my sociability, my energy, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">my enthusiasm. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I turned nasty. I hurt the ones I love. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sometimes I am aware this is happening, sometimes I’m not. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And finally it took my ability to function at all. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Including my ability to be a reasonable human </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">being. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Including my ability to run or do any exercise. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">By the time I became fully aware, it was too late. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The damage had already been done. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil was strong. I was unable to even get out of bed let alone go outside. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Running was not an option. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil gloated and goaded; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>“You're worthless; You’re shit; You don’t deserve anything; </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Things will never get any better; Everyone hates you; </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You’re a worthless human being, a crap friend, a shit husband; </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You’re shit at your job; Look how pathetic you are, you can’t even go outside; </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>There’s nothing wrong with you, no one will believe you’re ill, </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>stop feeling sorry for yourself. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>You’re shit, you’re shit, you’re shit, you’re shit......."</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>…….. </i><b><i>SHUT THE FUCK UP</i></b><i>………...</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Just Shut Up</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please. Please. Please.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please be quite.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leave me alone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Alien had not only resurrected, but hatched new babies. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There was no violence, no deaths, no bloody mess; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but there might just as well have </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">been for </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">all the emotional carnage it had caused, not only to me, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">but to those closest to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was in hell; but so was my wife.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">All Hail Netflix</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I went to see my GP. He listened and was sympathetic. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He made a referral for me for CBT ( Cognitive Behavioural Therapy). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">started medication again (Citalopram and then Sertraline) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">I needed it and I took it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fresh air and running can only take you so far. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Which is why I really take issue with this </span><a href="https://themighty.com/2017/02/meme-antidepressants-wrong-stigma/?utm_source=share-bar" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">fb meme</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> .</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> I was signed off work, then went back to bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> After a few days I had the energy to move down stairs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> As I lay on the couch, I tried to watch ALL of Netflix. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I couldn’t even do that. Loser. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But to be fair, there are a LOT of films and TV programmes on Netflix!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">However, I did my utmost to succeed. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I found most of ‘Netflix Original’ programmes which had run</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> for several series were the best, as you didn’t have to do anything; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">one episode automatically</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> rolled into the next. You don’t even have to press ‘play’ </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(well, apart from at the beginning!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Can You Outrun an Alien? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Can you outrun an Alien? Sigourney Weaver might argue otherwise, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as she always fought the</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> Alien, usually by blowing it up, setting fire to it </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">or blasting it out of an air lock. I didn’t have those </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">options to me </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">(unless I fried the bugger with ECT, but I’m not at that stage; yet. (thankfully). </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I needed to tame my Alien in other ways, and running is one of those ways. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One of the (many) reasons I run is to keep sane. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But when I’m at my lowest points - and thus arguably in need of a run the most-- </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I can’t do it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I just can’t summon the energy to get out of the house, let alone do any exercise. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Netflix and antidepressants will just have to be enough for now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">The evidence that just being outdoors, participating in outdoor activities / exercise, especially running, improves and helps to manage your mental, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">as well as your physical, health, is </span><a href="https://www.runultra.co.uk/Articles/December-2017/Running-and-depression" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">substantial</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> ; </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">but at times, </span><a href="http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/depressionbusting-exercise-tips-for-people-too-depressed-to-exercise/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">you just can’t face getting up</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"> . </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Even an active person like me finds it hard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fuck it. Let’s watch more Netflix. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But after Netflix, what do you do? Personally, I find having a goal helps. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Entering a race / organising a walk or activity with friends can often help motivate you. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">t generally helps me. I enter lots of races (but there are always more to enter!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">I like the ‘bling’ (!) and you do get to meet great people and run in scenic countryside. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">This time I had a pretty big goal to aim for; the Arc of Attrition, a 100mile coastal race in </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">February 2018, and I needed to get back out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">(I appreciate that a 100 mile Ultra is not your </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">average distance, but I had been training for this for a long time). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But first I had to finish watching ‘Stranger Things 2’, then ‘The Sinner’, then </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">‘The Punisher’;</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">then anything else on Netflix that didn’t involve actually doing anything </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">other than lying about </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and trying to block out all those negative, destructive thoughts. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Days turned into weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I went out, but not for long. It’s scary outside, but the dogs needed a walk.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Oh, it’s not so bad. Oh, there’s someone coming, please don’t talk to me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Days passed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The medication had started to calm my mind slightly. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Maybe I’ll go for a short run now. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So I did. I wish I could say I felt better. I didn’t. It was hard work.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> I felt ‘wonky’ , ‘dissociated’ and, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">well, alienated. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">I barely made 3miles. It felt like wading through treacle with lead boots on. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A few months before, I could run 48miles. I hadn’t suddenly lost my fitness, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Basil had eroded my joy of running. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My mind had turned against against me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Basil had turned on me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I had a Netflix day, then went back out the next day. It was just as hard. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This is shit. I feel like shit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> The lure of the couch is strong. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Small steps. I need to get better, but it’s blimmin hard work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Loved ones are helping. Friends are helping. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The medication is helping, but I want to get out </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">more. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Walk the dogs. Go for a run. Try and admire the countryside. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Take in the scenery. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Get back on it. A chat with my coach. Feel better. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But not by much. Try again. And again. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fresh air and exercise is meant to help. It always used to work. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The science says it works. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Why don’t I feel it? Back home. More Netflix. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Try again next day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s good for you, and besides, you have a 100miler to train for, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and you don’t want to fail at that</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> as well, do you? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Now that was a little below the belt I thought, (even for my own thoughts!), </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as for anyone else, a </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">100miles is a long way, especially a Mud Crew 100miler! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Slowly, but surely, I got myself back out running, and back together. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A schedule was certainly helping. I’ve given up too much for this. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Can’t let myself down. Can’t let my coach down. Can’t let my wife down. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Surely that’s in the wrong order? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Days blurred into one. Eat.Sleep. Netflix. Running. Training Peaks. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Walk the dogs. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fuzzy brain. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What’s causing it, Depression or Sertraline? Don’t care, must run. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Feeling better. Legs still strong.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Brain still fuzzy, but the fresh air helped.The running helped. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was getting better. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The support of my wife, family & friends helped. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The medication helped. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Luna & Georgie helped (my dogs). The CBT helped. My GP helped. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Eventually, I was finally strong enough to go back to work. That helped. I like my job.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Normality (!) was resumed………..I was back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Aftermath</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As I write this (March 2018), I really, really, really wanted to report that it </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was running that was </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">the all conquering activity that saved my soul </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and delivered me from the darkness. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Especially as I originally started writing this article for </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sarah.cooke.31105?hc_ref=ARQ_BK8mnrTrLdggVD7mJZ2PQvq4Mv1AI2riiO4f9EnZh1ls69hdKztThX5Ifd-yvu0&pnref=story" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sarah Cooke</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on the premise of running </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and depression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I have depression, and I run. I like running. I like running on trails, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and getting dirty, and wet, and muddy. I like running a long way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s cathartic, atavistic, and cleanses the soul. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I feel alive, refreshed and revitalised, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">both during and after a run, especially if it is wet and muddy. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Running helps keep me sane; and I don’t say that lightly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I enjoy it. It brings me joy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It brings me peace. It makes me feel good. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But sometimes it isn’t enough to stop me feeling shit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> To stop me feeling depressed. To stop me BEING depressed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I knew I suffered from depression, and so I took steps to help myself. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Exercise, especially running, is a </span><a href="https://www.runnersworld.com/rw-selects/for-depression-and-anxiety-running-is-a-unique-therapy?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_term=1299397949&utm_campaign=Runner%E2%80%99s+World" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">proven activity for helping that</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And for me, and for many others, running is the solution. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But what happens when it it stops being the solution; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">what happens then? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Run further? Run Faster? Run more? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Spend even less time with the people you love? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What if running isn’t the solution to everything? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I love my wife, I love my dogs, I eat reasonably well, I like my job, I’m happy. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I like running. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But that didn’t stop me being being depressed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So where does that leave me? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Where does leave us runners who suffer from depression……?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Running is great. I love it. It has undeniably helped me. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There is no question about that. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But if you (like me) suffer / experience quite serious depression, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">running (or any other exercise) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">is not the only answer. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You can run, but you can not hide.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There may well be the need to find other ways to address your depression,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">along with your </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">running. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Talking to people. Your partner / friend / GP / therapist (*all of the above*). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And , as far as it affects me, taking medication as well. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mindfulness based techniques have also been incredibly helpful. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Once you have done that, then you can really enjoy, and benefit from, your running.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Until then, Basil will always be on you back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Post Script</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I started this article in November 2017, and finished it in March 2018. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A lot happened in between.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I got to the start line of the Arc of Attrition , but , after all of my training </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and sacrifices, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I didn’t complete it </span><a href="http://getoutmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/soup-and-salbutamol.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">due to a virus</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">At times, the Universe fucking sucks. No two ways about it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As I finish writing this in late March 2018, I am (mentally at least!) ) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in a better place than I have </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">been for a long time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Whilst running, dog walking, a mindfulness practice and general activity </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">have undoubtedly helped, this is not the complete picture. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In fact ,it isn’t even the main picture; </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that accolade goes to my wife and my family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Without their love and support, I’m not sure where I’d be now. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sertraline also helped. As did therapy. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As did Ruby Wax (but that’s another story).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Sorry if that’s an anti-climax; </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but love, mindfulness & medication helped me in this instance </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as much as running did. </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But who’s to say that without running, I wouldn’t have been in an even </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">worse state of mind to </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"> with? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Maybe running helped in keeping Basil occupied, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">and therefore less dangerous, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for longer. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Maybe......... </span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So I’m not giving up running </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(or loving; or mindfulness; or my medication). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ever.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Because then where would I be?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-87383431834762425622018-02-17T22:35:00.001+00:002018-02-17T22:35:13.249+00:00Soup and Salbutamol <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Soup and Salbutamol</u></h2>
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<b>A short story about an attempt on the Arc of Attrition</b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">It was 6pm on Saturday evening, and I was sat in the pub with a friend, pint in hand. I was warm and dry. Outside, it was cold, misty, wet and windy. But outside was where I should have been, for this was not just any Saturday, this was Saturday 10th February, Arc of Attrition weekend, and if my race had gone to plan, I would have been somewhere on the north Cornish coast path, heading towards Porthtowan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Towards my first 100mile Buckle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">But my race had not gone to plan, and in fact had ended in a flurry of violent coughing fits at Lamorna Cove, on the South Cornish Coast, in the wee small hours of Saturday morning; not even half way through the race.</span></div>
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<u>Friday 9th February. 2018. Race day.</u> </div>
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Alarm went off at 05.00hrs. I was ready. I had trained hard for this. I had given up a lot over the past year. A year of planning had gone into this race, and I was excited. I felt slightly off colour, but put it down to nerves. First Breakfast; porridge, toast & coffee, and it was time to go. Thanks to one half of my excellent support crew, Martin & Hilary, I was picked up for an uneventful drive down to Porthtowan for kit check and race briefing. Second and third breakfasts followed. </div>
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More food. </div>
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More fluids. </div>
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On coach to start. </div>
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Nerves and excitement rising. </div>
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Breath. </div>
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Focus. </div>
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You're ready. </div>
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You've got this. </div>
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Game on.</div>
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Coverack 12:00hrs: GO!!</div>
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I raced from the start, as the going would be tough and the cut offs tight. I wasn't going to be chasing cut offs. Not me. Although mucky underfoot, and a cold wind, it was a gloriously sunny day and I settled into the race. My legs felt a bit weak, but they'll warm up soon enough. Look at the scenery. Rugged splendor of the South West Coast Path, sweeping panoramic views. </div>
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Chat to fellow runners. </div>
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Try not to slip in the mud. </div>
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Eat. </div>
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Drink. </div>
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Move forward.</div>
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Kennack Sands, first contact with the other half of my crew, Rachel & Jo. Good to see them. Quick chat. Food, water, carry on. First detour along the lanes. Back on the coast path. </div>
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Up. down. Around. Mud. Rocks . Mud. More mud. A few hills. Steps. Beach. Rocks. River crossings. Bogs. More steps. More mud. </div>
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Can't get no rhythm. </div>
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Very, very scenic. Can't stop to look at the view though. </div>
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Why do my legs feel so weak still? </div>
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Around Lizard Point. 10miles done. All my crew in one place. I love my crew. They will get me through this. Food and onwards. Not far off planned times. The Lizard really is some of the most dramatic scenery on the course, but it is exposed, and the wind is cold. Coming down into Mullion, I needed to put leggings and jacket on. I was beginning to have trouble breathing and eating at this point. Rachel got cross with me for not eating. But it's because she cares I told myself. My chest hurt. I was beginning to cough. Maybe it was just the effect of the cold air on my poor , old, asthmatic lungs. My 'Bricanyl' inhaler was having little effect. </div>
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Press on though. </div>
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Look at the views! </div>
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Think of the Buckle! </div>
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I so want that Buckle. </div>
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I was slowing down though. Get a move on. </div>
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Loe Bar and the big detour. Got chatting to another runner, Adrian. Headtorch on and prepare for the big slippy mud fest that awaits on the detour; and it did not disappoint. </div>
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Energy sapping fields of mud. </div>
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Mustn't grumble. </div>
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Almost at Porthleven.</div>
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The Arc Angels of Porthleven were welcoming and efficient, and between them and Rachel, I got sorted. Soup. This weekends Nectar of the Ultra Gods. Breathing wasn't good, and the medic decided I needed Salbutamol, and said I should have shit loads of it. So I did. (<i>NB: I am a bit deaf, and may have misheard and misquoted the medic here, but he def gave me some Salbutamol!)</i></div>
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A combination of soup and Salbutamol, and I was back on it. For some time after Porthleven I felt good. I like running at night and find it quite meditative; your vision is limited to the area of your head torch, and, especially during an event, there is nothing to do but move forward and concentrate on your running. The simplicity of it is soothing. The rhythmic sound of the sea, swishing on the rocks below and the clear shiny stars above, helped bring some much needed clarity. </div>
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This is it. </div>
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This is what it's about. </div>
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Nature and running. </div>
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I'm enjoying this. </div>
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I'm in the zone. </div>
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But another violent coughing fit shook me out of my reflective mindful state. </div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Fuck, that one hurt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">My brain is rattling around I coughed so hard. You're slowing up. Shock those legs into action and run fast for a bit. So I did. But not for long before I coughed again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">My whole body began to ache with the tell tale signs of a flu virus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Tough shit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Deal with it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Move on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">At various points my crew popped up, Food, water, inhalers and words of encouragement were all dispensed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Runners passed. I couldn't keep up. I've still got this though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Marazion. First costume change. Out of wet muddy shoes and into road shoes for the next stretch which was all on tarmac and mostly flat. Make up some time here. Hilary did the dirty work (thank you!) whilst I ate a porridge pot. I felt good. Let's do this. With renewed energy I trotted along the seafront to the Penzance CP. It was 23:49hrs. Rachel and Arc Angels sorted me out. Soup & potatoes. Medic gave me some more Salbutamol. Out the door, soup and snatched flapjack in hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Only 10mns inside the cut off. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I was chasing cut offs now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">This was not in the plan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Plans change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Deal with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">As I shuffled through the deserted quay side streets of old Penzance, I re-evaluated my situation. It's OK. You can slog this one out. You've trained well. You have an excellent support crew. You know the course. I remained positive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Mousehole. Rachel & Jo changed me back into trail shoes (thank you!) Pizza. Water. Encouragement. Back on the coast path proper. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">A technical section. Narrow paths, slippery rocks. Jagged outcrops. Sheer drops. Racking coughs. Getting more violent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I can't go on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Cough, after cough, after cough brought me quite literally to my knees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I was bent over double leaning on my poles. I'm sure I've bruised my frontal lobe with all the coughing, it hurts so much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I had to sit down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Fuck, I feel like shit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Week and feeble. Nothing like a highly trained Ultra runner at the top of my game. Oh, how quickly things change. I turned off my lights, took a moment. Ate some food. Drank. It was like swallowing broken glass. I looked at the stars. Listened to the sea. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Regroup. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Get up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Move forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">It was now taking all my energy to stay upright. This isn't safe anymore. Runners caught up. I moved over to let them pass. All asked if I was Ok. Fine, I lied to them, just a bit slow. If I actually told anyone how ill I was now feeling, they may actually stop to help (because that's how considerate ultra runners are), and that would ruin their race. So I lied to them. I had a phone and an emergency bivy bag if it really did go all Pete Tong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">As I saw the lights of Lamorna Cove, I knew that was where I had to stop. I was barely moving. My coughing was now relentless and very, very painful. My whole body ached. I still had 60miles to go. This was not something I could tough out. I knew my body well enough to know that I was rapidly becoming proper poorly. I just hope there would be mobile MudCrew support there like last year. There was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">And I stopped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">My race was over, less than half way through. It had ended with a cough and whimper. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No feats of heroism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No stories of fighting sleep monsters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No athletic feats of endurance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No fireside stories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No bragging rights. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No buckle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Just a DNF. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Just disappointment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">And a broken dream.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"> As I left the pub on that Saturday night, I reflected on what might have been. Could I have finished? Could I, Should I even, have slugged it out? Then the cold , damp air got into my lungs and I bent over double, coughing relentlessly and painfully. </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">No, I couldn't have made it. It was a hard reality, but I had made the right decision.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">More importantly. I was safe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- </span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Saturday 17th February: As I finish writing this, a week after my DNF, I can report that I really have been very ill over the past week. I also managed to infect most of my support crew and my wife (sorry!), who can all attest to how nasty this virus has been. I am also aware that in writing this, it could sound a little bit like one of those sick notes you got your friends to write for you at school, when you were little, so you can miss P.E:</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">" <i>Dear MudCrew, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Sorry Murray could not finish the Arc. He had a cold. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Lots of Love, </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Murray's Mum". </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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But I did develop a virus, and I was too weak to finish. But that also begs the question, would I have been strong enough to finish anyway? Maybe, maybe not. The Arc had a 65% DNF rate this year and you really have to be on the top of your game to finish. </div>
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I wasn't. </div>
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And I didn't. </div>
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I guess we'll never know if I could.</div>
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Until I return...........</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-56519156055425542552017-02-26T19:49:00.002+00:002017-02-26T19:49:48.746+00:00Slackers Guide to a 100km<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h2>
<u>Slackers Guide to a 100km</u></h2>
As many of us gear up for the running season ahead, and training is in full swing for our ultra's, the question :<br />
" how far should I run in training?" is on the tip of everyone's tongues.<br />
<br />
After <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7458733055599550845#editor/target=post;postID=6399837361367369885;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=5;src=postname" target="_blank">DNF'ng</a> the Plague in 2015, I was determined to complete it in 2016. It was my mission, a year in the planning. But in December 2015 I began to get a recurrence of a foot injury and couldn't run for several months.<br />
<br />
Bugger. Bugger. Bugger. Bugger.<br />
<br />
Towards the end of March 2016, I began to run again. Between April - July (four whole months) I only managed 364.9miles running. When training for an Ultra, that's not a lot, especially when it is 100km of the Cornish Coast Path.<br />
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<br /></div>
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For the sake of fairness, I should add I had a reasonable fitness base (having completed several 50km runs the previous year in 2015) and was also cycling and walking, as well as doing 1 session a week of circuits and 1 session of yoga per week; I also ran some specific step sessions and recceed some of the route on the coast path; but running wise I was averaging around 100miles per month.<br />
<br />
And if you want to do well in a running race- you need to run. A lot. Especially when that is an Ultra.<br />
<br />
And I wasn't.<br />
<br />
But that's the way it was. Family. Dogs. Time. Commitments. Work. Couldn't be arsed days.<br />
They all conspired against me.<br />
<br />
But I started the Plague; and I finished the Plague.<br />
100km of Cornish Coast Path.<br />
It wasn't fast, and wasn't pretty, but I enjoyed it; and I finished.</div>
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;">And here is how I did it:</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;">MARCH:</span><br />
Sunday 27th March -- First run for nearly 12 wks --2.78 miles</div>
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Total distance covered: 146 miles (run /bike /walk) of which only 7 miles total run</div>
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<span style="color: red;">APRIL</span></div>
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In April 71.9miles of running<br />
Longest single run 10 miles</div>
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Total distance covered: 202 miles (run /bike /walk)</div>
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<span style="color: red;">MAY</span><br />
May 107 miles running</div>
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Longest single run 19 miles</div>
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Total distance covered: 158 miles (run /bike /walk)</div>
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<span style="color: red;">JUNE</span></div>
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June 104 miles running ,<br />
Including a 15 miler followed next w/end by Giants Head Marathon (27.2 miles)</div>
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Total distance covered: 117 miles (run /bike /walk)<br />
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<span style="color: red;">JULY</span></div>
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July 89.miles running<br />
Longest run being Ham-Lyme 50km</div>
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Total distance covered: 178 miles (run /bike /walk)<br />
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<span style="color: red;">AUGUST</span></div>
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August 12miles week before Plague in 3 runs,<br />
Followed by The Plague 100km (64miles)<br />
<a href="http://live7.sportident.co.uk/home/multistage/stage/results.html?multistageid=02d8f0c2-2d9a-4554-a72e-1bef99ac817b&multistageclass=off" target="_blank">Finishing time 19hrs 5mns.</a><br />
Not fast<br />
But I felt comfortable all the way around and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7458733055599550845#editor/target=post;postID=8004733899551502918;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=3;src=postname" target="_blank">finishing was never in any doubt</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So there you have it boys and girls.<br />
How to run a tough 100km Ultra on an average of 100 miles a month.<br />
Now, although I finished, and I enjoyed my race, and it was never in any doubt I would finish;<br />
I knew my limitations.<br />
The winner that year was <a href="http://live7.sportident.co.uk/home/multistage/stage/results.html?multistageid=02d8f0c2-2d9a-4554-a72e-1bef99ac817b&multistageclass=off" target="_blank">Dan Lawson in 10hrs 55mns</a>.<br />
Over 8hrs quicker than me.<br />
<br />
But here's the thing.<br />
If you're not injured<br />
If you've got the time<br />
If you're more dedicated than I was<br />
If you have no other commitments<br />
If you have the talent<br />
And if you run more miles<br />
You can run faster than I did.<br />
Obviously.<br />
<br />
But if you don't<br />
And you can't<br />
You still can run 100 km<br />
All on less than 30 miles per week.<br />
You just need to know when <b>not</b> to stop.<br />
And you don't stop until the end.<br />
<br />
Happy Running,<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-3365070662486954852017-02-17T18:51:00.000+00:002017-02-17T18:58:12.190+00:00Salted Potatoes, Rice Pudding and Dirty Socks: 34hrs in the life of an Ultra runner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<u>
Arc of Attrition</u></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Views from a support crew</h2>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnY98yPguZIF9BCVENMGpiIHn2l_qlAYNJgvBK0KFsA_3Y71zbYl6XGwSIm8qkij7LJ6hY3-yhvYJVSJlK6GV5m_QcnNfa5-QnYBKnwXpuqeIppftFcww8oewaCfIUUg36wJTiuI5I0U/s1600/16587311_10154556154949965_3860061892139490242_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnY98yPguZIF9BCVENMGpiIHn2l_qlAYNJgvBK0KFsA_3Y71zbYl6XGwSIm8qkij7LJ6hY3-yhvYJVSJlK6GV5m_QcnNfa5-QnYBKnwXpuqeIppftFcww8oewaCfIUUg36wJTiuI5I0U/s400/16587311_10154556154949965_3860061892139490242_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all about the bling.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/I1ET7U02_jfOPr3ketAwT4phEiz2yZxpo-z9U2q7XbcazpXJxlrGhHSGk6kpx1VUnUDy99ktWsyPsMrVLX6bRM7XxcGCTAVSUzt18pkUYTsGKlQ-NmtGcJfA50ipvnz4ENrQUodU" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/I1ET7U02_jfOPr3ketAwT4phEiz2yZxpo-z9U2q7XbcazpXJxlrGhHSGk6kpx1VUnUDy99ktWsyPsMrVLX6bRM7XxcGCTAVSUzt18pkUYTsGKlQ-NmtGcJfA50ipvnz4ENrQUodU" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="319" /></a><br />
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0pt; border-left: solid #000000 0pt; border-right: solid #000000 0pt; border-top: solid #000000 0pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0pt; border-left: solid #000000 0pt; border-right: solid #000000 0pt; border-top: solid #000000 0pt; padding: 3pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lands End on a February night time is an unforgiving place and it was blimmin' freezing. I was part of the team crewing for Rachel Wood and from the relative warmth of the vehicle, I was drifting off to sleep watching the 'bob, bob, bobbing' of a slow stream of torch lights coming into CP3 at Lands End. I wanted to be outside cheering them on. But it was cold. And i was tired. Rachel was not due in until about 03.30hrs and it was only just past midnight. It was a stunningly clear sky, with a large full moon. It was cold, but it could be worse. It could be raining!</span></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I had just drifted off to sleep, buried beneath layers of clothing , sleeping bag an duvet, along with fellow crew & driver, Jo, when:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Bang! Bang! Bang!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Wake Up!"</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WTF......</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Wake up, your runner has dropped out and he is being brought back to the check point."</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"But she was doing so well, what happened"</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Don't know, but he will be back soon and will need you"</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was about 02.00hrs, Saturday 11th February, 14hrs into the Mud Crew Arc of Attrition, a 100mile point to point coastal run around the Cornish Coast Path and we were being woken up by the terrible news our friend and ultra runner Rachel had dropped out.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bang!Bang! Bang!</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Wake up please"</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was awake now and untangling myself from the layers of warmth it had taken so long to accumulate. As Jo opened the car door to speak to Mud Crew, an icy blast blew through the door, ensuring I was now fully awake.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"So what happened- is she OK?"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yes, we think so, he just can't carry on"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"He? We're supporting a 'she'. Rachel"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Is this a blue Mitshibushi Shogun?"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"No. Our runner is Rachel, 115. What number has dropped out? "</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" Not 115, it is 70something. Oh, shit. Sorry. It's dark and cold and we are tired as well !."</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Don't worry. Sorry to hear about the other runner, but we're glad Rachel is still in it"</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(NB: To be fair to the MudCrew Marshalls, we were in a dark coloured Mitshibishu 4x4 truck-style vehicle. Just not a Shogun or the one they were looking for! It was dark, and they had probably been up since dawn on Friday themselves. Hope the other runner was OK; and no hard feelings. It wasn't a very comfortable sleep anyway!!! )</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So we settled back down and watched the runners lights snake their way along the coast path, making sure our alarms were set for 03.30hrs.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thankfully, that was the most drama we had that night. So let's retrace our steps a little, and go back to the very beginning. Because that's a very good place to start.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Team Weirdchicken</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Actually, I lie. I wasn't at the start. Along with Jo, I didn't get to the race until about 19.00hrs Friday, a whole 7hrs in. But here is the story of Team Weirdchicken at the Arc of Attrition, as far as I remember! Gilly was team leader. She drove Rachel Wood (the star of the show and the one actually running!) down on the Thursday night, ensured that pre-race faffing was kept to a minimum and that Rachel got to the start on time.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The start was at Coverack at mid day on Friday 10th February, and along with Gilly at the start were Martin and Hillary - who had a luxury motor home. This meant that along with moral support and their kindness, there would be hot drinks as well along the way . Gilly, Martin and Hillary would take care of Rachel for the first 7 or so hours, until Jo and myself got down after work.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As with many long distance races now, runners had tracking devices; which meant that 'dot watching' on a screen was becoming a pastime in itself. So during breaks in work on Friday, I was able to monitor Rachel's progress, and along with Facebook updates from the support crew on the ground, could see Rachel was doing well. Time at work always drags on a Friday, but 16.30hrs couldn't come soon enough as I finished what needed to be done at work and waited excitedly for Jo to pick me up and the week end adventures could begin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, we at Team Weirdchicken take our crew responsibilities very seriously. While there were checkpoints along the way, for this race, it was very beneficial to have a crew as well. Unlike many 100 milers where checkpoints / aid stations were about ever 10 miles- at the Arc, they were about every 20miles. It was possible without a crew, but a lot easier with one. Rachel had a 5 person & 3 vehicle crew. And a lot of food! There was also fancy dress and kazoos, but that is a story for later on. Perranuthnoe was the first place </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jo and I actually saw Rachel at about</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">20.30hrs. The whole crew of Martin & Hillary and Gilly were also there. They had been doing a sterling job of looking after her for the first 8 or so hours, but I was excited about seeing her for the first time.</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0pt; border-left: solid #000000 0pt; border-right: solid #000000 0pt; border-top: solid #000000 0pt; padding: 3pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weidchicken Crew & Vehicles at CP2, Penzance.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we waited, we caught up on how Rachel had been doing so far today (very well), chatted to other crews and cheered on other runners. This is one of the pleasurable social sides of ultra running - meeting other people and runners. As Rachel trotted into the car park she still looked quite fresh and we all cheered. We also made sure she ate and drank, whether she wanted to or not. It didn't matter whether is was sweet or savoury. You need to eat and drink. In the early stage of a race, you can give your runner a choice; after about 40 miles or so, your runner begins to lose the ability to think properly and then they get what they are given; which in Rachel's case was nearly always salted potatoes or pizza.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel had been running with another runner, Lisa. They looked to be a good team and ended up running through the night together. So throughout the first night, Team Weirdchicken Support Crew leap frogged each other (figuratively speaking; not literaly!) through the various car parks that had access to the coast path. As we stood around in said car parks, we got to know Lisa and her support crew quite well, and they became part of our team. As the night got on, it got colder. The wind was bitter. At around 0c it was cold; with the wind chill factor, it was approaching -5c.</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0pt; border-left: solid #000000 0pt; border-right: solid #000000 0pt; border-top: solid #000000 0pt; padding: 3pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Darkness, takes its toll!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Or maybe it was a constant</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ear worm of Moonlight Shadow</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(L-R) Jo, Me, Gilly</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sky was clear and bright. the full moon was imposing and the moonlight shadow meant my ear-worm for the night was the Mike Oldfield tune. ALL FRIGGIN' NIGHT. Round-and -round-and -round my brain......</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But enough about me. This is about Rachel and the other AoA runners. We are but bit players. But hours waiting, in the cold and dark, can change a person.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so we moved around the coast, the southern bit of the 'Arc' until we reached Lands End, before the runners headed north and east, to complete the 'Arc'. I've never been to Lands before. It was starkly beautiful, exposed and cold. And the buildings looked very , very tacky. Cheep theme park tacky. But Mud Crew were in town and the cafe was rockin'. Albeit rockin' with Angels, broken runners and those who don't know one Mitsibushi from another (!). There was an air of organised chaos. The warmth of the welcome from the CP Angels (as MudCrew call them) , the sweet aroma of hot food, all mixed with the pong of sweat and wet muddy feet. Runners were waited on and kindly cajoled so as not to get too comfy and waste valuable time. Rachel & Lisa rocked up just before 04.00hrs and Team, Weirdchicken swung into action. Food, change of clothes and change of socks, all taken care of. Hot, sweet tea and hot rice pudding. Water bottles filled up. Hugs all round and then Rachel and Lisa disappeared once more in to the night. The cold, windy, moonlight night. On time, and well within the cut offs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunrise at Pendeen</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cape Cornwall is apparently quite stunning. I'm sure it is on a balmy summers day. As the night began to turn a lighter grey on a February morning, with a bitter south westerly wind, it is a bleak old place. Thank goodness for Martin & Hillary's kindness of heart, hospitality, camper van and hot tea. At 07.30hrs, a little behind schedule now as they got lost, Rachel & Lisa came in to view. It had been a cold night. Quick warm drink and off. There was time to make up now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Morning Tea!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(L-R) Gilly, Rachel & Jo </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Pendeen, the sunrise was spectacular. There's nothing like a good sunrise to lift the soul after a long cold night. It's what I look forward to when running all night anyway. Fresh as a daisy, all be it a little behind time, Rachel and Lisa ran past about 09.00 ish. No time for stopping now. The second half of this section was brutal and they really didn't have a lot of time. About 5 hrs seems a lot, when you're fresh, to cover about 13miles. But after 21hrs of running it's a big ask. And anyone who knows the coast path, knows it is anything but flat. It is very, very, unforgiving. They would have to dig deep now. Very deep. If they do not reach St Ives by 14.00hrs, they will miss the cut off. And that's the end of their race. Mud Crew are a nice bunch, but their races are anything but nice- and the time keeping is strict. Miss a cut off at the check point and it's over.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wig blew off- but I'm still in a tutu!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel In Red</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> To surprise them and offer some additional moral support, Jo and I decided now was the time for the fancy dress and kazoos, and a little further up the coast from Pendeen we dressed up and walked to the coast. I mean, after over 100km of brutal coast path running, who wouldn't be cheered up by the sight of me & Jo in a wig and a tutu, blowing a kazoo?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So as Rachel and Lisa came into view, they got a right sight and a rendition of "Damn Busters" on a kazoo. What a great start to Saturday. Except all was not well. Rachel knew the cut off was tight and for the first time doubt was creeping in. Self doubt is a terrible, terrible thing in an ultra. If your mind is strong, you can push your body through almost anything, but the slightest doubt and your mind begins to unravel. Maybe the kazoo was ill- conceived. Worried now, that for the first time Rachel & Lisa were struggling, me and Jo decided on another coastal jaunt. Parking up at Zennor we trekked from the road onto the path. Before long we saw Rachel. But not Lisa. Disaster. Lisa had dropped out. Gutted. Over the course of the past 23hrs, it felt like she had become part of our team as well. Hope you are OK Lisa if you are reading this. But we told Rachel she wasn't dropping. Or we would get the kazoo out again. Now pull your finger out jog on to St Ives, quickly, we told her. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were no more easy access points again until St Ives, so Jo and I drove to St Ives, with Gilly following. Martin and Hillary were there already. We got our shit together, got Rachel's kit together, and we waited. And waited. And waited. Where was she? Tracker said she was close. The clock counted down. We spread out over St Ives looking for her. Martin & Hillary on the cliff tops, Jo & Gilly in the town, I was at the CP. Tick-tock. Tick- tock. I was getting worried. At 13.56, with four minutes to spare, Rachel came into the Guildhall (CP4), cold , tired and wet - for it had been sleeting - and she had 20mns to get back out again or she would be timed out. Gilly was close behind and got to work. It was emotional.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" I can't go on " Rachel said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shut up and sit down, we said. ( although I think we may have been a bit more tactful)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Socks, dry shoes, change of clothes. CP Angels fed her rice pudding and sweet tea. Whilst Gilly actually did practical stuff like take off Rachel's dirty shoes and socks, dry her feet and put clean kit on, I faffed , gave words of encouragement (whilst being inwardly concerned) and kept a close eye on the time. And in essence, that was how the race crewing went!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Banner. Don't forget the banner. Luther, Rachel's son, had made her a banner. We unfurled it,</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Don't Give Up" it read in big, colourful lettering.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And she didn't. And it was all down to Luther's banner. You saved the day Luther.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The last cut off at St Ives is tight, but she now had 8hrs to do the last 20ish miles. No worries. Even after 80miles and 26hrs of running.</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Feeling very emotional (and that was just us, her support crew!), Rachel headed back out. Mud Crew crew and Angels cheered the loudest, because that's how they are,</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breath And Relax. The hardest part was over. For the crew, at least. Rachel just had to dig deep and grind out the last few miles.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There were a few more points along the way where we bumped into Rachel. Team Weirdchicken caught up and chatted. Loitering in remote, cold dark car parks along the Cornish coast had become second nature to us. Salted potato, officer!!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel had new people to run with. New people to thrust salted potatoes and pizza upon (I have to get rid of them all!!) but no real drama's. Rachel was cruising now, finishing was never in any doubt. She was fully focused and as strong as at any point in the race, so we retired to the finish to have a well earned pint at the Blue Bar, Porthtowan. It is, after all, stressful and thirsty work crewing.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At 22.21hrs, we were waiting for her as she crossed the line. Over an hour and half to spare. By the end of the race, over 50 % of the field had either retired or been retired. But not our Rachel. She had finished, and deserved all the praise & applause. Job done!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well Done Rachel!</span></div>
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<a href="http://live.opentracking.co.uk/arcattrition17/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Full Results and race splits here</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://live.opentracking.co.uk/arcattrition17/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JXuVjdrmrEin91Vyb8aHUI8IXG2mgzLNkSL4BBdhY7gp7r3Ip96lvfjjtWnMkB5J6owaJ3zyJH3uHOcvxqBF5foZEUYoh7j-HqxylBGHfml9Wg8GTqR7AYGilF_8i253e6fNjWEW" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="267" /></span></a></div>
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<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0pt; border-left: solid #000000 0pt; border-right: solid #000000 0pt; border-top: solid #000000 0pt; padding: 3pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And relax!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laughing with co-crew Martin & Hillary </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Blue Bar, Porthtowan</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look what I got!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking a bit too fresh after 100 miles.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-80047338995515029182016-09-16T21:29:00.003+01:002016-09-16T21:31:47.720+01:00Plague 2016: Closure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u><b>Roseland August Trail</b></u></div>
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<u><b>The Plague</b></u></div>
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<b><u>Infected Until You Have Finished</u></b></div>
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<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scared? Not me!</td></tr>
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It was 00.05hrs Saturday 13th August and I am lined up at Porthpean, on the Southern Cornish Coast for my second attempt at the Plague, a 100km of the South West Coast Path. Which is basically a 100km / 64miles of running up & down steps.</div>
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Navigation is easy, you run out from Porthpean to St. Anthony's Head (32miles) and then turn round and run back. Made more interesting by the strict cut offs. The whole event is made more bearable as Mud Crew have a superb team and there are also other runners out there (setting out at various times during the day on Saturday), doing other R.A.T distances, which are conveniently colour coded; BLACK R.A.T is 32miles (St Anthony Head- Porthpean); RED R.A.T is 20miles (Portloe - Porthpean) and WHITE R.A.T (Goran Haven-Porthpean). <a href="http://getoutmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/the-plague-still-infected.html#links" target="_blank">Last year did not end well</a> , but this year I was better prepared. I had unfinished business. I had a race plan. I had a positive mental attitude. I hadn't had alcohol in two whole weeks. I was ready. I was not going to quit. I WAS GOING TO FINISH.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steps!</td></tr>
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Countdown; 5-4-3-2-1-GO! And we were off. The first 5 miles were incredibly fast for me, and made Pentewan in under an hour, on some of the toughest and roughest terrain of the course. I knew I would pay for this later, but I got carried away (!), however, within the first hour, I already had a 45mns cushion regarding the cut offs. Result. The rest of the night didn't go too badly. It was very humid, and at times I did have trouble eating and drinking, I felt a bit sick. I mean, it's not natural to be running at this time, is it? But following the troubles of last year, I made myself eat & drink. History would not repeat itself. Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.<br />
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Mevagissey, Portmello. So quiet & calm at night. No problems, keep going. Goran Haven check point, 11miles in. In & Out. Fill up water bottles, drink of coke, slice of melon. GO! Focus on the positives. The night was stunning- bright and starry and the steady progress of fellow Plaugers' in the night, head torches weaving up & down & around the coat path, bathed in a blood red moon, resembled a troupe of Wood Elves. But where were they headed. Mordor! Or rather St Anthony's head and back. Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.<br />
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The runners were spreading out now, and I suddenly found myself running alone. No one in front. No one behind. All alone on the coast path. Up down, around. Up, down, around. Oh look, more steps. Repeat. All alone on the coast path. Up, down, around. Up, down, around. Oh look, more steps.</div>
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It was around here my race began to unravel last year, and right on que, The Voices started.</div>
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"<i>You're all alone again. You're going to fail AGAIN. Just like you did last year. You're rubbish" </i></div>
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I'm not having this again. I'm finishing this year. " SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I told them. And to be fair to the voices in my head, they did shut up, and I didn't hear from them again for some time. Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.</div>
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Somewhere along this stretch of coast I bumped into Paul & Juliette (?) from Plymouth coastal runners. A lovely couple of runners, who were fantastic company through the last hours of the night. And we shared the most fantastic of day breaks.. As black skies rapidly turned to cobalt blue, with streaks of orange of red, a new day dawned. The night was over. Torches off. Now for the day race. In and out of Portloe. Still time in hand. Bottles filled. Drink of coke. Piece of Melon. Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.</div>
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The front runners were passing now on the way back. Words of encouragement all round. Oh, to be that good!</div>
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Round the Roseland Peninsula. Still going strong. The day was hotting up, even at 06.00hrs. Must put on some sun cream. In the early morning light, the rugged beauty of the South West Coast path was plain to see, and we had it all to ourselves. I was even enjoying the steps! Portscatho loomed. By this point last year, I was done in. I wanted to quit. In my head, I had quit. I carried on to the St Anthony's Head, but stopped on the way back . Not this year. Oh, no. Stop for food, drink, put on sun cream and head out. Get to St. Anthony's head before the Black RAT starts. This few miles is the easiest running of the whole course, undulating, only a few sets of steps, wide paths and actually, well, run-able. Pity it only lasts about 4miles!! Passing more Plague runners who were on the return. High five those i know. Vicky. Martin. Shaun. I made it at the turn around, grabbed a drink, and back; before the Black RAT started. Oh yes! Race plan going well. The Black RATS shouted words of encouragement as they past and I picked up my pace, chatting to a few along the way. One guy ran with me for mile, really helped. A mud crew runner (Mike?). I may be shit with names, but I remember you running with me! Spirits were high. Back in to Portscatho. Drink bottles filled. Quick chat with Mud Crews' Justin and Lloyd, who saw me broken person last year, and cheered me on my progress this year. More words of encouragement and out I went. Further than last year. Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.</div>
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I HAVE GONE FURTHER THAN LAST YEAR</div>
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The way back was hot. I remember that much. There was a brief reprieve from the heat with some light rain and cloud, but that didn't last long. The sun was back out soon enough. My feet hurt, but my determination to finish never wavered. The soft flasks of my Salomon S Lab vest (which is a very comfortable and great piece of kit overall) were now really irritating me. Soft, floppy, flaccid, useless things. Disappearing into the pockets, sliding to the bottom. Hard to get to. Never the less, one must maintain a positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.</div>
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Melon and cups of coke. Freshness and rocket fuel. That's all you need. Oh, and water and electrolytes. Words of encouragement at every check point. Feet sore. Carry on. Chat to random runners. The day got hotter and the steps were beginning to hurt, going down more than up! Somewhere along the way, around Portloe I think, I ran into Vicky, which was a surprise as she was way ahead of me at one point. She'd had a bit of hard time over the past few miles, and we ran and chatted for several miles. Scrambled over the rocks at Portholand and there was a little shop. Ice lolly time. Thank you Vicky. Feeling much better. Almost forgot to run! Run. Don't loose track of cut offs with idle chit chat, however fun it might be. Sorry I couldn't sing any Queen songs Vicky. Up through some woods. Cool reprieve. I don't why I swallowed a fly, but it made me cry. And puke. And almost lose my false tooth. Disaster. Come to a halt. Retch. Recover. Pick up tooth and put in pocket. Drink. Walk. It took me a while to get over that, as I watched once close runners, disappear up the coast line. It was some time before i caught Vicky up again. Remember the mantra: Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!</div>
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Goran Haven. Tourists enjoying themselves in seaside cafes. Sweaty tired ultra runners shuffling past. Taking longer to get in and out of check points. Only 11miles to go. When I leave here, it will be the furthest I've ever run. Ever. My feet hurt. Do I stop and get them sorted, or carry on for the 11 miles? I mean it's only 11 miles. Mr Chair is not your friend, Do not sit down. Do not sit down. So I didn't. Mistake. Big mistake. Not getting my feet seen to by the medics would cause me much pain. Oh well, too late now. Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!</div>
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The coast line is stunning. The sea, a crystal clear turquoise green. I'm hot, tired and sweaty. My feet hurt. The sea looks so inviting. The voices pop up again.</div>
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" C<i>an we just pop in for a little swim. It's so inviting . You don't really need to carry on. Loooook, clear, refreshing water"</i></div>
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<i>" I suppose i could.....NO! Stop it. Just Stop it. Shut up. I'm not listening"</i></div>
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Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!</div>
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It was somewhere around Portmellon I crossed paths with Kensa. I was tired. Kensa's conversation kept me going. Not far now. Keep going to the end. Let's grind this out. Chat. Shuffle. Run. Mevagissey. Late afternoon now, Still full of tourists. Let's run a little to show off. Ouch. it hurts. Whose idea was this to run? Oh, mine! My feet hurt. Smile! We do this for fun. Smile. I am smiling. Look!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1S50e6X0w9bGFF-79sTq9JMxM2LvfFBjiwm0hGmUHYqekFTuLgIfpuou9Pwj5im8Ny1p1f6QSG83sSXr0DVO0r2G3OUgtVKFXv0L3mKq7ZE_JFx8vzAZUj-CamsouB2vi-9PwBxQyxM/s1600/13937870_10157253136400035_3065607506799688919_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1S50e6X0w9bGFF-79sTq9JMxM2LvfFBjiwm0hGmUHYqekFTuLgIfpuou9Pwj5im8Ny1p1f6QSG83sSXr0DVO0r2G3OUgtVKFXv0L3mKq7ZE_JFx8vzAZUj-CamsouB2vi-9PwBxQyxM/s320/13937870_10157253136400035_3065607506799688919_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mevagissey: Kendra & myself. <br />
I am smiling. Look.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's only about 6 miles to go. Fuck, I wish I had my blisters seen to. I can feel them growing by the second. Swelling on the bottom of my feet, squishing with every footfall. It is like running on a water bed. But more painful. Not long to go. Nearly there. Talk more rubbish. Encourage each other. Let's do this.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Pentewan. Beer festival and final check point. 5 miles to go. Miss out the beer for now. A quarter of an Orange and a melted ice pop. Water top up. Took tooth out of pocket. Washed false tooth and slotted it back in. Must keep up appearances. Now contemplate the 5 miles of steps. This is the worst of the course. I hate the coat path now, but am still over an hour inside the cut off. Keep moving, but plenty of time. Don't mess up now. My feet hurt. Despite my Hokas', I was now feeling every stone and lump and bump on the path, to painful effect. I could manage uphill and up steps OK, but my right knee was now threatening to give way going down steps- and there were some mighty steep steps to negotiate. Ouch. Ooohhh. Ahhh. Knee hurts. Squishy blister feet. Don't fall down the steps. it will hurt. A lot. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!</span></div>
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Almost there. Suck up the pain</div>
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Almost there. Suck up the pain</div>
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Almost there. Suck up the pain</div>
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Almost there.</div>
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Almost there.</div>
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Almost.</div>
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There.</div>
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Then I saw Vicky again. Ouch. Struggling for a minute, like I was. Lets finish this together. I was hardly able to walk down the steps any more. There was a real danger I could fall, and they were steep, long stretches of steps at this point. Don't fall. Don't fall. I could, however, easily run up the steps. Vicky was skipping down the steps with slight of foot and a big smile, yet barely making the uphill. We made an odd sight together.</div>
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Round the corner, along the coast. Almost there.</div>
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Positive mental attitude. Eat & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!</div>
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Shall we finish this together?</div>
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Yes, let's do it.</div>
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Round the corner, up the hill, and there's the finish. Fellow Bere Alston Trekkers shouting encouragement. All of them having run their own various RAT routes. Orla (my wife) runs to meet me. Very emotional. Big hugs. Big sweaty hugs!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emotional<br />
Orla meeting me at the finish</td></tr>
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And then it was over. Crossed the line in tandem with Vicky. Job done. Thank you Vicky, it was a pleasure running with you. A hug from Jane Stephens of Mud Crew who gave me my medal. My hard earned medal. I had finished the Plague. 100km of Cornish Coast Path, in a little over 19hrs. My feet hurt, I was tired, but my spirit was not broken. In fact I was elated. I'd done it. It wasn't fast, but I'd comfortably finished inside the cut offs. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BLING<br />
Mine. All Mine.<br />
RAT Plague 2016</td></tr>
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Beer. Now for beer. I want beer. Thank you David Garcia. That beer washed the dust from my throat! Your advice after last years DNF was invaluable as well.<br />
<br />
I hobbled. I could barely walk now, but I didn't care. My wife was at the finish to share with me longest Ultra to date (Love you!). Many of my club mates were also at the finish (Thank you!). I had my medal, and I had beer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my many blisters.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
And after a year of plotting, and hard training, I conquered The Plague. I am no longer infected. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you Mud Crew. Thank you Jane. Thank you Justine. Thank you Lloyd. Thank you to all at the Aid Stations.</div>
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You all looked after me.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-63998373613673698852015-08-16T23:11:00.002+01:002015-08-17T09:12:28.186+01:00 The Plague: Still infected<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Plague: Still infected!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, I'm going to be sick. " Bleugh" . Bugger, stomach turning inside out, but nothing coming out. I'm tired, sick, hungry and thirsty; and it's only mile 20. It's going to be a long night. Maybe I really am infected! My demise at the Plague was swift. Everything unravelled with breathtaking speed. Unfortunately, everything didn't turn out in the long run. In fact my long run - my first attempt at a 100km - didn't last more than 36miles. How did everything go so wrong, so quickly?<br />
<br />
I have had a whole day to reflect and analyse on everything that could have contributed to my demise, and the list is long. Maybe they all contributed, maybe none did. Maybe it just wasn't my day or maybe I just wasn't good enough.<br />
<br />
Anyway, let me go back to beginning. As far back as last year. My place this year was deferred, as last year I had an undiagnosed sharp,intense, shooting pain, along the base of my right foot whenever I went above 20ish miles. GP's, X-ray, ultra sound, podiatrists all failed to pin point the exact problem. The best guess by a podiatrist was an inflammation in soft tissue between 3rd and 4th Metatarsal. Advice: rest for 6weeks and roll your foot on an iced bottle of water or tin. Which I have done post run ever since, and no pain since. There is permanently a frozen tin of soup in the freezer! That's that problem solved.<br />
<br />
So, that meant I have waited a year to do The Plague. For those of you not in the South West of England, The Plague is a 100km of Cornish Coast Path, organised by <a href="http://mudcrew.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mudcrew</a>. Their tag line is "we don't do easy". No shit, Batman. You start at Porthpean, St Austell, at 5mins past midnight, run 32 miles through the night to St Anthony Head, turn round and run back. Simples.<br />
<br />
My training had gone well. I was confident. I had mixed it up, adding cycling, circuit training and yoga to my routine, in addition to my long back-back runs. I completed the <a href="http://www.albionrunning.org/#!ham--lyme-result-2015/culz" target="_blank">Ham to Lyme 50km</a>. I felt strong. Until about 3wks before the event. I had a disastrous training run. It was one of my last scheduled long runs and I ran out of energy. It knocked my confidence. I rested then and only ran once before the Plague. The days before I was nervous as hell. My guts were in turmoil. I packed, unpacked, packed again. Checked the kit list again. And again. And again. Calm down dear, it's only a race.<br />
<br />
Maybe the writing was on the wall when, on the morning of the race I was doing the last bits of washing up before leaving home, when I sliced my finger on a shard of broken glass. Omen? So, we get to Porthpean by 17.00hrs on Friday {'We', being my friend, training partner and fellow runner, Rachel}, put the tent up, ate and chilled. The weather was good and the vibe around the site even better. Mudcrew run exceptionally well organised events and this was no different. Once the tent was up and last minute food and hydration was taken care of, I felt a sense of zen like calm. There was a surprising lack of nerves or even excitement. Just zen. Or maybe it was denial of the pain ahead, I'm not sure. Whatever the feeling was, this was it. Nothing left to do but run.<br />
<br />
Time for safety briefing: watch out for badger holes. Stay safe. We are there to look after you and get you through. Miss the cut offs and you will be pulled off the course. Be nice to the marshalls, they are there for you. Look after yourselves and have fun.<br />
<br />
Things went wrong from the start. Lost a good few minutes at the first kissing gate, only a few hundred metres in, which caused a bottle neck. Didn't start near enough at the front. Rookie error. Ten minutes gone within first few metres. The cut off times are fairly tight. Porthpean to CP2 at Gorran Haven is a total of 11miles with cut off at 02.45hrs. A running time of 2hrs 40mns. Not as easy as it sounds, on the coast path, in the dark. Dodging the badger holes, I was slowly getting in my running vibe, but Rachel wasn't feeling too good. But we made it OK, grabbed some food and water, and left. Now, Rachel completed the SDW100 recently, so knows what she is doing; she was meant to be getting me round this. So what happened next was not in our race plan. Not able to shake her stomach pains, we were losing time. Many times she told me go, she would be alright she said. I wouldn't. She would get through this, run it off. It would pass. I tried my best motivational pep talks . I think that even made her feel worse, but I was trying.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I had to make a choice. Stay with Rachel and be timed out at CP3, or leave her. She knew this and was getting increasingly frustrated with me for not going on. But how could I? Now, the S.W. Coast path is not easy terrain, but it is not remote. It was a balmy summers evening and she wasn't seriously ill or injured, just not feeling the love for this event right now. She was still moving, just not very fast! There were also sweepers not too far behind. I realised I had to make that choice. It was 04.00hrs and we had only done 14miles. There were 6miles to CP4 at Portloe and that had to be reached by 05.15hrs. Mudcrew are lovely people- but they are strict with their cut offs. And for very good reason. I gave Rachel a big hug and legged it. I had just over an hour on the coast path to cover 6miles. It was a very stressful hour. My race plan was in shreds, I was against the clock, alone, in the dark, and feeling incredibly guilty about leaving my friend and race buddy. My mind began, ever so slowly, to turn against me. <br />
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I made it. Just. The volunteers were great, helped me fill water and a flask, took some electrolytes - but all I remember was the cute little dog asleep in amongst the chaos! Got some supplies and went. Then my race really went pear shaped. Minutes out of Portloe I started to retch badly. Dehydrated, I was unable to eat or drink. I was in bits. I had 8miles to Portscatho. It was a long, long, long 8 miles. I have read many tales of the dark places you go in Ultra's, how Ultra's are in large part a mental challenge and how you have to be ready for it when it happens. Well it was happening. And I was not ready. My mind was turning against me. It was not my friend any more. I had barely done a marathon at this point and knowing that made me feel worse. I was unable to cope. I was not ready. I mentally quite at that point. As I shuffled towards Portscatho, I started to mentally compose my Ultra running obituary; he tried, but he failed.<br />
<br />
As the sun came up, I tried to gain some solace from the spectacular beauty of the universe. I was, at least in my line of vision, alone on the coast path and the scenery was quite spectacular. The sea was calm and the rhythmic sounds of the waves a soothing soundscape to the vibrant orange sunrise. A new day dawns. I even ran for a bit. It didn't last. Failure. You are not going to do this. Failure. What will everyone say?. Failure. I wanted to cry. SHUT UP HEAD. Twentyish miles? What has gone wrong? I can easily do 50km. Problems weren't meant to start until the return leg. Bumping into a friend and another fellow Plague sufferer, Ken, helped for a bit. But not much. We chatted and shuffled. Then even he was gone! FAILURE.<br />
<br />
My new master plan was to get to Portscatho, just past the cut off at 07.45hrs. I would be timed out. I would be pulled off the course and it wouldn't be my decision to quit. But the bastards wouldn't let me stop. The conversation with aid station volunteers and medics went something like this {although I may have imagined some of it!}<br />
<br />
Anything physically wrong with you?<br />
Not really. Stomach issues. Probably dehydrated. Just not my day. My head's fucked. Can I curl up in the corner please.<br />
No.<br />
Why not?<br />
You don't really want to stop.<br />
Oh, but I do.<br />
If you drink this magic potion {said the medic, I think}, and leave with these people here, you can make it to half way.<br />
But I don't want to. Please let me stop.<br />
I drank the water with the fizzy tablet in.<br />
Get up, put your pack on and go. Or else.<br />
I don't want to. I want a pint of Proper Job. {CP4 was in a pub, I could see the bar!}<br />
GET UP<br />
No<br />
GET UP<br />
I was too tired to argue further, got up and went. Bastards, wouldn't even let me quit.<br />
<br />
Leaving Portscatho, it was only 4miles to the half way point. I wasn't alone now, with Andrea and Steve, fellow strugglers, who actually seemed in a more positive frame of mind. It started to rub off on me {thank you!}I felt better. Then came the tsunami of Black Runners {RAT also had Black 32milers / Red 20miles / White 11milers starting at different points on Saturday}. So about 08.45hrs we were suddenly running into a few hundred fresh faced and eager runners, all, and I mean ALL, shouting encouragement and clapping as they swarmed around us. They knew how far we had come, but I also knew how far they had to run. Poor bastards. You will suffer. But thank you for your support. For the second time that day I nearly cried- but I was too dehydrated! Quite emotional this running lark. The support from fellow runners really did mean a huge amount.<br />
<br />
Newly enthused, the 'last' 2 miles were quite pleasant. St Anthony's Head. Half way. YIPPEEEEEEEEEEE.<br />
I was, for the first time in about 4hrs, feeling positive again. The sun was out, the day was hotting up, and I was feeling hungry again. About time! But my legs were not responding to my new positivity. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. One foot in front of the other.<br />
<br />
Mudcrew did all they could to get us to at least the half way point, but on the return leg, they needed to make a decision. They even came out onto the route to check on us. But I was done. So were Steve and Andrea. We were also after the cut off {10.10hrs}. Decision made for us. Stop. Relief. But more importantly for me at least, was that I was in a much better frame of mind. Yes, my race was over, but at 36miles, and not 28miles. Psychologically, that made a huge difference. I had gone through a dark place, and still made it over halfway. With a bit of time to spare, if I could have stopped for some real food, I know I could have carried on. But I was already chasing cut offs, time was not something I had on the day. However, I ended happy, and mentally in a significantly better place than just a few hours previously. Today was just not my day. I did not have the experience, or the strength, to continue. I know that now. But I am also happy with that knowledge now. If I had been allowed to quite at 28miles, I would still be in that dark place. As it is, I'm raring to go again. Thank you Mudcrew and medic.<br />
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Back at Porthpean, I met up with Rachel again, and she was OK. Dehydration apparently. We chatted, debriefed and the very nice Dan made me a cup of tea. Rachel was sorry she held me up. Don't be silly. Running with friends is a pleasure. Did my race unravel due to Rachel? NO. I know not what happened to my race, but it wasn't anyone else's fault, that I do know. I would stay with her {or any other friend or ill runner} again. My only regret is that I didn't stay with her- my suffering would have been over sooner then as well :-)<br />
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After food and fluid, I was a new man. Ready for pizza and beer! Meeting other friends and watching runners come in from completing various distances was uplifting and inspiring. I was well pleased for all of them. Their kind words and support for me also made me feel less and less like a failure. I started to feel vaguely normal again, almost wanting to do it again. <a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/" target="_blank">BATs</a> are a pretty amazing lot. Rachel, Dan, Mel, Emma, Fran {both of you!}, Sarah, Sam, Martin, Hilary, Mathew, Sam, Andrew. I salute you!<br />
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I still don't really know why everything unravelled so very, very quickly. It was scary actually. I know the coast path is brutal, but after 20miles. Really? I know I can do at least 32miles. Maybe that's what completely threw me into a tail spin. Knowing I could do more, but unable to. Maybe I need to do some more reflection. But what I do know is- I WILL BE BACK.<br />
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So what have I learned? Well:<br />
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<li>Dark times do not last for ever; they will pass. </li>
<li>Other runners are awesome. I know we all know that, but the support from all the 32milers made me feel like a champion- even though I was last.</li>
<li>My friends and fellow club runners are awesome. You may not know that. I do!</li>
<li>Constant eating / grazing / fluid intake IS REALLY IMPORTANT. However you feel, eat and drink. However bad you feel, not eating and drinking will make you feel worse.</li>
<li>Marshalls and check point volunteers are nice people. Even if they wont let you stop.</li>
<li>If you feel like quiring? DON'T!! Not at first anyway. I did another 8 more miles; it gave me the confidence to know that next year, I can, and will, complete the Plague. </li>
<li>Oh, and Mudcrew, you know how to put on an event!</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-46969240214692771892015-06-06T11:42:00.002+01:002015-06-06T11:42:34.946+01:00Piccolo Sportive. Fun, but could do better<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gran Fondo: Piccolo (60km). </span></u></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plymouth, May 31st 2015</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">There is a saying around around here, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">that really early mornings are 'sparrow fart o'clock'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The time we had to get up to travel to Plymouth for the <a href="http://plymouthgranfondo.com/" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gran Fondo</a> , t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">here were no</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">"Butt cream anyone?" An innocent question for a cyclist just about to embark on a sportive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Maybe not so in a city car park early on a Sunday morning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">We all made it down to Sutton Harbour, Plymouth , for the start of the inaugural </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">'Rockets&Rascals' Sportive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The weather forecast for today, the last day of May, was not good. Fantastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> But the salty </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">sea air, combined with the smell of fresh coffee in the shop was comforting. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">did not want to chance it. Anyway, I digress. We registered, posed for a few photo's </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">were all set to go. Adrenaline was pumping, despite the early hour [or maybe that was </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">the caffeine?], but then I realised something was not right. I had a puncture- and we </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">hadn't even</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">started yet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A quick inner tube change, with help from the nifty hands of Julian, and all was good. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Breath and Relax. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Now we can start. Let's hope nothing else goes wrong!.Quite sensibly, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">the timing was not started until we </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">had gone through the centre of Plymouth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">We snaked through town, through Saltram , and then off. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">But Sportives are not races, are they? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The weather so far, held off. It was damp, but it was not raining. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Passing through the suburbs, we </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">were warming up, literally. It was too warm. Starting at sea level, it was </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">inevitable we would be going up. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">And up, we did. Sparkwell, Lutton, Cornwood. Up, Up, Up! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">We were also dressed for wet weather, and were getting hot. Stop to take off jacket? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Decisions. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">However, we were soon up on the Moors and the choice of clothing was vindicated;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> it started to drizzle. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It was also slightly misty, so the stunning vistas of Dartmoor were not declaring </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">But the cycling was good and Mel [her first Sportive] was still strong. The climb from Cornwood </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">to Lee </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Moor was something special. It was long. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not as relentless as some of the classic climbs in the cycling world, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">but uphill for a long way, none the less!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Pootling across the moors from Lee Moor to Sheepstor, there was some remittance </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">from the climbing and the </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">weather. Both had eased off. A nifty decent to </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Burrator Reservoir and an almost flat, semi circuit of the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">reservoir, raised spirits. Out towards Dousland and then the rain really did begin to fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Proper Dartmoor rain. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rain that showed no respect towards Gortex. Basically, we got wet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Very wet. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Our hope, was that we were almost at the feed station. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The thought of cake kept us going. Dousland, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yelverton. Crapstone, Buckland Abbey. FOOD. Oh, how disappointing. No cake. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fruit only; Banana or orange. Water or sports drink. That was it. Quite poor really. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not impressed at all. Wanted cake. Or at least something more than fruit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">mostly downhill, </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">on the Plym Valley cycle path. Quite a lovely way to finish, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">especially since the rain had now stopped. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">But all that changed when we got back into Plymouth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Joining up with the SkyRide was part of the route, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and quite pleasant, on account of the road closures. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">But then as we turned towards the finish, it appeared a </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">lack of marshals and signage caused more than us to go the wrong way </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and end up in city traffic. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Again, quite poor</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">The finish itself, once we found it, was OK. A good medal and a packet of Burts lentil crisps. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Tasty. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">There was some consternation amongst riders, as there was one medal for all distances, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">the 60km, 100km </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and 100mile, all got the same medal, and there was no time categories, as there is </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Or any T-shirts. Or a goody bag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">As an inaugural sportive, it was OK. But nothing more. The organisation was Ok.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> The signage and marshalling </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">was OK- until the return into Plymouth when it was poor / non existent. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Feed station was poor. Ok, we only </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">did the 60km, but I still think a feed station should have more </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">than a banana & orange. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The medal was nice- but if I had done the 100mile, </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">I had a nice day out with my friends Mel, Julian and David and the atmosphere of the event </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">But it could do better for next year. </span></div>
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Murray Turner</div>
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<a href="http://www.getoutmoor.co.uk/" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">getoutmoor</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GetOutMoor?ref=settings" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">GetOutMoor</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-15201071191516441762015-02-16T22:21:00.000+00:002015-02-17T08:18:37.446+00:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Frozen soup, Horse feet and Hokas: </u></h2>
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<u>The ongoing saga of my sore foot</u></h2>
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Since the Imerys trail marathon in May 2014, I have periodically suffered from extreme pain in my right foot. I cancelled several races last year and had to abandon my fledgling Ultra running career. No Race to the Stones; no R.A.T Plague. Although I did manage to complete the Dartmoor Discovery Ultra [50km] in June, despite the last 10km being complete agony, so I am officially an 'Ultra Runner', and have a very nice medal and T-Shirt to prove it. Anyway, I digress. Back to my sore foot.<br />
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Since May I have seen sports therapists, GP's, Chiropodists, Podiatrists, been poked, prodded and had both an X-Ray and ultra sound scan. I have messed about by putting new insoles and extra padding in my shoes. I self diagnosed from Google, read books, read blogs and even stopped running for a few weeks towards the end of last year! Nothing was found and nothing seemed to work. I was given false hope by the negative results of the x-rays and ultra sound, I had scaled back my running and all was OK. I started increasing my running again, and the pain returned.</div>
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I was becoming disheartened, but still determined to get this sorted. I could run for a short while[3+ hrs], then it would hurt. Should I only run short distances? The horror!! The scans say there is nothing wrong, so why the pain?</div>
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Then it was recommended, by the podiatrist I had been seeing, that I should see another podiatrist, <a href="http://www.podiatrypages.co.uk/pl/pl3/pl3-spooner.htm" target="_blank">Dr. Simon Spooner</a> . So on Valentines Day morning, 2015, I went to see Simon. He really should change his profile picture. Anyway, I started by explaining the history of my foot. He listened intently. He nodded. He asked questions. When I said I had had x-ray and ultrasound scans and there was nothing wrong, he got angry. There is obviously an injury, he said, whether the technology picked it up or not, or my foot wouldn't hurt. Pain is your bodies way of saying 'there is something wrong, just stop it, now'. Which makes sense. But why? He examined my foot. Prodded my foot. Videod my foot. Even made me run on a treadmill. Explained without an MRI, he couldn't be sure, and even then, it may not be clear. And then he told me, in his opinion, what was wrong. He seemed to know what he was talking about, as he had name dropped his qualifications and the athletes / teams he had worked with, including the Exeter Chiefs [Premiership rugby union team, to those who don't know].</div>
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I have odd feet. I know that. But I didn't realise how odd. My toes curl up and don't touch the ground. This causes the tightening of tendons & muscles and undue stress on the ball of my foot. Or something like that. Simon used long words and I tried to keep up. Swelling. Fluid build up. Over use. Tight muscles. 2nd Metatarsal stress syndrome. I'm sure he mentioned 'equine' at some point. Do I have horses feet? The biomechanics of my feet mean they do not strike the ground as 'normal' feet do. This causes huge amounts of stress on my foot. At one point he said I may need to stop running for up to 12 weeks. If I was 18yrs old, it would be more like 6wks, he said, but I'm not 18yrs old. I'm 45yrs old. I must have nearly started to cry, as he said "don't worry, I haven't told you NOT to run yet, have I?" Phew. That was close. We talked about my race schedule, and mention of the <a href="http://www.bodminultra.co.uk/bar8/bar8-ultra.html" target="_blank">Bodmin Bar8 Ultra</a> in March, didn't get the reception I had hoped. I'm quite intuitive, and sensed he didn't think this was a good idea. I asked him if he thought I shouldn't do it. He said he was neither my coach, my mentor nor my Mother, so it wasn't up to him. I asked him if as a clinician, what his advice would be, and said don't do it. So I said I wouldn't do it, and we shook on it. Very firm handshake he has. This agreement on my behalf seemed to gain me some brownie points. </div>
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So what were we going to do then? A treatment plan was needed. I would agree not to run for 6wks. That was a decision that was hard to take, but one that was well received. Now we are getting somewhere. In return I would get some custom, hand made orthotics, which were knocked up there and then. Very skillfully cobbled together by someone who knows what they are doing. I was to wear these in all my shoes from now on, to rebalance my feet. I was also to do some foot rolling with an iced tin {simply put a tin of 'whatever' in the freezer}, take a course of anti inflammatories for few weeks, and quite possibly the best advice I have received from a practitioner: buy some Hokas. I like this man. Apparently running in these would [or should, we hoped] alleviate much of my discomfort. After my rest, of course.<br />
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It seems then, that a solution to my foot pain may have been found. It took an experienced & trained pair of hands and eyes to get to this point, following several false dawns, not to mention an over reliance on technology. That's not really being fair to technology, as there may have been something wrong, such as a stress fracture or a neuroma, which needed ruling out. My Ultra running career may not be over after all. I will re start running in April, which gives me 16wks to train for the Mud Crew 100km <a href="http://mudcrew.co.uk/event/inov-8/" target="_blank">R.A.T Plague,</a> in Cornwall. Plenty of time. If training is going well {in my new Hokas!}, I really want to do <a href="http://www.albionrunning.org/#!ham--lyme-100k50k/cvn" target="_blank">Dave Urwin's inaugural 50km Ultra </a>in Somerset. But I'm sorry Dave, I wont be able to commit until May /June time. Hope there is a place left for me. <br />
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And if all doesn't go well? I will just have to get really good at 26.2 miles and be happy with that!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-66710689041036809242014-07-25T00:03:00.000+01:002014-07-25T20:22:36.772+01:00Snippets from the Sidelines: A support crew views of Race to the Stones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Chinnor: Start of RTTS</b></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Traffic. Lots & lots of traffic. As Rachel {who was running} and myself {who wasn't running, but should have been, but was told not to due to injury} headed north up the M5 and then East along M4, all we could see was traffic. Cars , lorries, caravans, vans. Stop.Start. Stop. The shear volume of motor vehicles - and idiots who think it is their divine right to drive in the middle lane and not on the left. Sorry, had to get that off my chest. This is a blog about Rachel's superb effort at her inaugural <a href="http://www.racetothestones.com/" target="_blank">100km Ultra</a> and my inaugural attempts at support crew</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Five hours after setting off we reached our base camp for the week end, <a href="http://www.blacklandlakes.co.uk/" target="_blank">Blackland Lakes Campsite</a> in Calne. Pitched our tents and started last minute preparations for the big day tomorrow. So far so good, except Rachel realised she had forgotten her purse. Too late now, and it's not like she would need it for the run. Plans for a good nights sleep were shattered by several hours of violent and very loud thunder storms and rain. So after only a couple of hours sleep, it was coffee time at 04:00hrs. As this was a 'one way ' race, we had decided that it would be better to stay near the finnish {Avebury}, than the start {Chinnor}. Precise and detailed pre planning had calculated that it would take us 2hrs to get to Chinnor. Plenty of time to park and register. No worries. So off we went at 05.00hrs. Best charge you phone as we drive I said. Oh, no phone [required kit], so a quick return to campsite to retrieve said item. Ok, no worries, plenty of time. It's all in the planning. Motorway was , thankfully, quiet {yet there were still vehicles driving in the middle lane on a virtually empty motorway}. Route was planned with military precision. Half hour to go, turn off motorway, head north to Chinnor. Oooo, something is wrong. This doesn't look right. Let's stop and look at the map. Ah, problem solved. We had been on the M4 and not on the M40, where we should be. Ooops. I wont say whose mistake that was Rachel, OK? Time was now running tight. Don't panic. We can still do this. And so we did. Just. There was a last minute panic as traffic was backed up all through Chinnor, but I guess thats what happens when you arrange the start in a small rural town with no transport links and expect 1600 people to turn up at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">So Rachel got out of the car and ran to the start. What's a few more hundred metres when you're about to run 100km? Registration completed. Last toilet break. And relax.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We had made it to the start, not just on time- but with time to spare. Now all Rachel had to do was run 100km. The start was late and the safety briefing was inaudible for a lot of us; but at least it wasn't raining yet {the forecast was for major storms}. Last good wishes and then it was off. Good luck! My job for the day was to drive around and meet Rachel at certain places along route, and make sure she was OK. Race to the Stones is an Ultra Marathon along The Ridgeway. One of Englands oldest trade routes, it is over 5000yrs old and stretches from the Dorset to the Norfolk coast. A route as important as this needed to be well defended- and it is. There are several magnificent Hill Forts along its route as well as other important sites, such as the <a href="http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/oxfordshire/featured-sites/uffington-white-horse-and-dragon-hill.html" target="_blank">Uffingtom White Horse</a> . The runners and long distance walkers would be following the Ridgeway from Chinnor - Avebury</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our first rendezvous was along the Thames Path, some 20km or so from Chinnor. I had the luxury of driving to South Stoke {and other sites} and ambling along the Thames and its countryside. The runners had to run it! So I ambled and took photo's and ran a bit, cheering along other runners and meeting up with Rachel. We ran some together before reaching the Aladdin's Cave Smorgasboard of the boot of the car. The weather was very , very humid , so I ensured that Rachel drank extra electrolytes. As well as eating plenty of Marmite Cheeses. Food of the Ultra Gods. A little sock faff and that was it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Next stop was in another few hours around the 50km mark. Time for a spot of lunch and chat with other support crew /spectators / family / friends in the sun before a little stroll to meet up with Rachel </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">again. I came across her near one of the check points [4 or 5?]. She was looking very sprightly. Toes looked a bit odd, I discovered as shoes and socks were changed. Tapped up, Patched up and go. But not before more cheese & electrolytes. The weather so far had been kind. OK, it was humid, but there had been reports of major thunder storms. And just at that point the first rolls of thunder were to be heard. Ho hum. Maybe a little rain would cool everyone down. I didn't say that too loudly in front of any running though. Time for a little sight seeing for me know</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of the next stretches of the Ridgeway contained Uffington White Horse, <a href="http://www.berkshirehistory.com/castles/uffington_castle_hillfort.html" target="_blank">Uffington Castle</a> and <a href="http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/stone/wayland.htm" target="_blank">Wayland's Smithy</a>. I was quite excited about this, but just as I arrived at the site of Uffington Castle, The Weather arrived. Temperature dropped, big black clouds, high winds, torrential rain, lightening, thunder and then hail. BIG hail. Large pebbles of ice being thrown out of the sky with some force. Then the sun came out again. I was still in the car, but I did fear for the safety of those runners. Slight delay, but there was still plenty of time -based on previous contact & race pace - to have a wee look around Uffington White Horse and the Hill Fort, before meeting Rachel again. It is easy to see, even now some 3000yrs after it was first constructed, why it was. Sitting on the Ridgeway, it not only guards the trade route [which actually predates the fort], but also holds commanding views. In medieval times, scouring of the neighbouring chalk White Horse was accompanied also by a massive community party in the remains of the hill fort</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A quick circuit of the Hill Fort, a couple of photo's , and back on the Ridgeway. I ran a fair section of this bit, in opposite direction of race, so as not to miss Rachel. Taking in the atmosphere, admiring the views and shouting words of encouragement at the participants. But after a while I began to suspect something was wrong; there was no sighting of Rachel. I had passed all the usual suspects who over the past few hours I had confused by running past them in the opposite direction several times, and knew were running at about the same pace as Rachel, and started to see new faces. I was now worried; she shouldn't be this far back unless something serious had gone wrong, so I decided to stop and get my phone out, to check if there had been any messages. Lo and behold there had. A text from Rachel saying she had just seen the car parked up. This was sent at 19.05hrs. Time now was 19.45hrs. Rachel was now ahead of me. I had one job to do. And I blew it. Whilst having a jolly around Uffington Castle, Rachel had gone past. I hadn't seen her and had set off in the in the opposite direction intending on finding her. Ooops. I'd had a nice time none the less, taking in the views and archaeological sites; even had a nice little run. But that wasn't why I was here. It would be unlikely I would be able to see Rachel again before the end, so I hope she didn't need anything from the car. I did feel bad</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">My drive back to Avebury was a slow one, racked with guilt about my failed mission, hoping it hadn't messed up Rachel's race. Parking up at the finish, the sun was just setting. A beautiful sunset over the Wiltshire countryside. I hope the runners appreciated it. As I had missed Rachel in broad daylight, I decided against running back out on the Ridgeway in the dark looking for her. Probably a sensible move, as I would also have been running into oncoming racers and blinding them with my headtorch. After 14hrs on your feet, you really don't need someone shining a torch in your face, however well meaning and accidental</span>. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So I waited in the 'stones' section of RTTS, the one short section of Avebury stone circle that the race covers, cheered in runners, looked at the stars and messed around trying to take some arty photo's. <a href="http://www.avebury-web.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Avebury</a> is an interesting village, springing up amidst one of Europes most spectacular Neolithic stone circles and ancient spiritual landscapes. The stones themselves being largely abandoned, destroyed or buried, either deliberately or through pure neglect, until the Victorian era. Leaning against one of these giant monoliths, head tilted upwards, a glimpse of the MilkyWay, transported back millenia, my inner hippy was awakened. Just why was Avebury built? How bright the sky must have been 1000's years ago! Where's Rachel? Ah there she is. Nearly missed her again!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After over 15hrs of running, Rachel was nearly finished. Less than 2km to go. I ran the last leg with her [and her new Ultra friend whose name I forget, sorry] and there was still life in the legs for a sprint finish. Outstanding. Collect medal. Get results. Sit down. Eat melted ice cream [long story]. All that was left was the short drive back to the campsite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The day dawned on a new day and realisation that she was now an 'Ultra Runner'. Respect. Returned to Avebury for a touch of sight seeing and a photo opportunity. Wear that medal with pride</span>. <span style="font-size: small;">You've earned it.</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Post race thoughts</span></b></u>: </div>
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Rachel finished 255th / 594 finishers. Almost 100 DNF. {<a href="http://www.resultsbase.net/Results/IndividualResults.aspx?Id=1977&utm_source=RTTS+2014+Participants&utm_campaign=15ee09be50-Event+info+pack&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c5a6dc29fd-15ee09be50-349240829" target="_blank">Full results</a>}. That's pretty damn good in for a first 100km. She enjoyed the route and said the official support and pit stops along the way were great. Special mention she said should go to the crew at pit stop 6, who rescued many a runner from the hail stones, held the tent down AND still served hot drinks. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-64611897939030825182014-05-24T22:27:00.004+01:002014-05-24T22:27:36.209+01:00Musings of a Wannabe Ultra Runner: Half time report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's week 8 / 16 of my Ultra training programme. Half way there. <a href="http://www.racetothestones.com/" target="_blank">Race to The Stones</a> on July 19th is D-Day. Eight weeks to go. I am, as they say, entering the 'business end' of the training now. If it didn't seem real before, it certainly did now. It all suddenly became very real this week end. Do I have what it takes to make the transition from marathon runner to ultra runner? I guess I will find out over the next 8 weeks. Why did it hit home this week? I think the turning point was Imerys trail marathon. It was 'only' 26.2 miles, yet it was tough and it hurt. Race to the Stones is twice that and then another half on top. Then there is the <a href="http://mudcrew.co.uk/event/inov-8/" target="_blank">Roseland August Trail</a>, {August 16th}, which although the same distance {100km / 62.2miles}, I have a feeling may be tougher. And I barely finished 26.2 miles! I hurt, yet I rested. I saw a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Thefootprofessional?fref=ts" target="_blank">chiropodist</a> , who mended my feet and was back out Friday for a 5.5hr run, only five days after Imerys. It was during this run that I began to fully appreciate the effort that was now required. A moment of clarity, if you want.<br />
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It had all seemed 'do able' up until now. A few hours run her, a few hours run was mostly enjoyable. But from now on, there would be no resting up. A marathon would become a regular weekly training run. Then get up the next day and do it all over again. Towards the end of this run though, I also began to realise that maybe I could do this ultra thing after all! The weather was good. The country hedgerows, glorious in full bloom of blue bells, cowparsley and pink campeon. The views North - East - South - West were a soothing panacea to my tired limbs. My mind wandered and the end result is a few other musings from this week ends efforts:<br />
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<li>Use of barrier cream is essential: apply liberally to all essential areas, then apply more. And then take some with you just in case.</li>
<li>Take time to stop and admire the scenery. If only to take a photo and post on facebook so you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.</li>
<li>Taking in the views whilst running is recommended- but do keep half an eye at least on the ground & where you are going. Or you may fall over. Or run into something. Or not notice the path has changed direction when you are running in straight line.</li>
<li>Singing 'pain is an illusion, pain is a dream' to the tune of the Buzzcocks 'Everybody's Happy Nowdays' doesn't actually make the pain any less real, but it does take your mind off things for a while.</li>
<li>When passing through a field, if you see a cow smelling another cows bottom, this is natural and nothing to be afraid of. If you then notice this cow is larger than the others, is different colour, has no udder and is sporting a very large ring in its nose, then it is not a cow. It is infact a bull. Probably best to leave said field quickly.</li>
<li>A 5.5hr training run, may only be a training run- but it is still a 5.5hr run. Prepare properly and treat it with the respect that it it deserves. Or it will make you suffer.</li>
<li>Chafing occurs on training runs as well as in races. </li>
<li>What is the best post run treat; beer, pizza or cake?</li>
<li>If all else fails. Smile. You are, after all, doing this for fun, right?!</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-61692561258225380612014-05-20T23:03:00.003+01:002014-05-21T18:24:28.639+01:00Imerys Trail Marathon 2014: Cornwall's answer to Marathon des Sables!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The weather all week had been hot. Very hot. The sun had been shining, winter layers of 'Gortex' had been shed and people were down to single layers of clothing. As Sunday drew closer, I actually found myself in the strange position of wanting the weather cool down. Maybe a light shower on Sunday, please. A 26.2 run around a hilly Cornish china clay pit would be tough anyway; in baking hot sun shine it would be worse. As Sunday dawned, a colony of <a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/" target="_blank">BATs</a> set out from their roostings on the Bere Peninsula and swarmed across the boarder to Cornwall. At first light it seemed as if the weather would be kind to us, as it was cool, damp and a bit misty. Perfect running weather.<br />
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As we all congregated at Cornwall College , St Austell [race HQ], the tension was mounting- as were the nerves. The cool wind was still blowing off the sea and sky still cloudy. As I burn at the first hint of sun, I covered myself in sun cream anyway, just as a precaution. Took my new desert hat as well. English weather is known for its changeability and unpredictability; but we were in Cornwall, and Cornish weather has its own protected minority status! <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">The Imerys Trail Marathon offers a unique experience to runners. For one day the land of Cornwall’s China Clay Industry are open to the public and the operational working sites along with land which has been regenerated from the industrial past provides a challenging and spectacular course. With only short sections of road, this multi terrain route takes runners on sand roads which will leaves them thinking they have been on the moon! Together with private farm land and picturesque tracks and trails, the course also offers stunning vistas of Cornwall’s countryside and coastline at its very best.</span><br />
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I had never run this event before, only read race reports, and descriptions were full of phrases such as 'moonscape' , toughest race yet' , 'hilly' and 'scenic'. All said it was friendly and well organised. I was just about to find out for myself. Five BATs were running the full; nine were running the half. We were ready. Altogether <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">284 taking part on a course which offered no shade.</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;">The split between the two distances was 110 for the marathon and 174 for the half</span><br />
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10.00hrs, and the race began. Twice round the college grounds 'to thin the runners out' apparently, before heading up our first hill. As if on some sadistic cue, the sun also burnt its was through the morning cloud and the temperature began to rise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6VUKaT8aJ1QcaMjnxxDCYVEc1zUm0c5yws16t3N5DsukvoBVaggdHOsXgtI9Y7wiyGI-I2P_Um3IWEamc5mv-Ew9qt1znH8QY5IHkn2Ptqdfjacif-Sky-vDO560cWhFMVHfVDXDaPQ/s1600/Imerys2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6VUKaT8aJ1QcaMjnxxDCYVEc1zUm0c5yws16t3N5DsukvoBVaggdHOsXgtI9Y7wiyGI-I2P_Um3IWEamc5mv-Ew9qt1znH8QY5IHkn2Ptqdfjacif-Sky-vDO560cWhFMVHfVDXDaPQ/s1600/Imerys2.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a></div>
Within the first two miles, it was hot. China clay is white. The mine scape is exposed. There is no shade. The heat was reflected back off the surface. The temperature was increasing with every step. I was feeling very glad of my suncream and hat, despite all the comments my headgear received about the French Foreign Legion. I would be running in this heat for the next 3 - 4hrs at least. <br />
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Oh dear. The scenery was, as promised, quite spectacular. It was a surreal, artificial landscape. Nothing in it was natural. It was a landscape hewn by dynamite and very large machinery. Yet it was undeniably dramatic and stunning. A bizarre, hot, alien- esque scenery. And I, along with a hardy / foolish bunch of other runners, was running around it. Over the hottest part of the day. <br />
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My sense of direction is usually pretty good, but I'm sure we were running around in circles! Maybe it was the sun. Maybe it was the pain. Maybe we really were. But we did pass at least 3 drink stations twice, that I am sure of. In this heat I was very glad of the drink stations and the friendly faces that greeted us there. Unusually, I hadn't looked at the course profile or route prior to the event. If I had, maybe I would have had a better idea of where I was going!<br />
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As the temperatures sored, I kept thinking this is what it would be like if Cornwall did the Marathon des Sables. I had the headwear anyway. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was advertised as being a tough course, and it was. The heat added its own set of challenges. By the end, it was a matter of slogging it out. Finish it, I would! Of the nine BATs who took part in the half marathon, Philip King was making his distance debut and finished in a great time.<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Mike Smith was the first man home with Pam Adams and Heather Smith running together to be the first ladies home, (the Imerys marked the 30<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">th</span></span> half marathon for Pam). It was PB of 30mns by Hillary as well.</span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For the marathon, I was the first BAT home with Rachel Wood and Dotty King being the first ladies.<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Rachel and Fran Morgan were making their marathon debut. Although Rachel had actually run an Ultra [Dartmoor Discovery] previously.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Team Bat Imerys 2014 are pictured with their times.<span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>Half marathon: </span>Mike Smith 01.58.29, Dave Adams 02.02.03, Philip King 02.06.24, Grant Lawrence 02.17.00, Martin Head 02.19.58, Pam Adams 02.28.59, Heather Smith 02.28.59, Sarah Cohen 02.32.37 and Hilary Head 03.24.35.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Full marathon: </span>Murray Turner 04.15.52, Paul Mingo 04.59.56, Rachel Wood 05.19.59, Dotty King 05.19.59 and Fran Morgan 05.32.42.</span></div>
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Full results <a href="http://www.imerystrailmarathon.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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It was a hard & hilly course, but well organised and friendly event. Marshalls of all ages were fantastic and the massage at the finish was very welcome for my hot & tired limbs. And any finishing goody bag with a bottle of 'Tribute' beer is an excellent goody bag.</div>
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Thank you to St Austell Running Club for all the hard work. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even if my feet didn't.</div>
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A special mention to Paul Mingo who took most of the photo's, the official photographers who Took the one of me in full stride with desert hat and to Dotty King, who is not only our head coach, but from whom I shamelessly plagiarised bits of this race report.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-56616647637747439372014-04-10T22:40:00.002+01:002014-04-11T20:39:30.712+01:00Brighton Marathon: Sunday 6th April<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-04496978-432b-9a21-64d2-3c3eac219a66" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brighton Marathon was my first big target race of the year and I was very excited and very nervous in equal measures. My training schedule since December 2013 had been geared to this race and I was hoping for a good time. Apart from a few scares over my ankle, my training had gone pretty much to plan, but that didn’t seem to reduce my anxieties. Nor the nagging doubt; was I was as fit as I thought I was? All week I had a knot in tummy, which got tighter and tighter as the race day got closer. The gels and supplements had been ordered and my legs had been given clean bill of health from <a href="http://www.kinetiksportstherapy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nathan</a>. But first we had to get to Brighton and that turned out to be quite stressful - but not as stressful as the journey home turned out to be. More about that later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Friday</b>: After days of packing, unpacking, checking, re-packing, angsting, it was time to depart Devon for East Sussex. The journey to the Brighton Marathon had begun. It started reassuringly uneventfully, until we got to about to about Taunton on the M5, when we hit heavy traffic, and things didn’t get much better until we got to Northiam in East Sussex some 8.5hrs later. It was, apart from a brief reprieve on the M4, solid traffic, with the M25 especially living up to it’s reputation as the worlds largest car park. However, as we approached our friends Katie & Neils house in Northiam, crossing over the River Rother, from Kent into East Sussex, the stress of the journey dissipated. Following a brief hello, it was time for a run. Neil understood- he was running Brighton as well and had been kind enough to collect my race number. It wasn't a long run, just enough to stretch out the legs, but as I headed out into the E. Sussex countryside, everything seemed all right with the world once more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As well as kindly collecting my race number & pack, Neil had also been slaving over a hot stove cooking dinner. A curry feast, consisting of Dahl, Aloo Gobi, Chana Korma, rice and bread. Carbo-loading was in full swing. A tough part of training eating lots of food, but a necessary part and after returning from my run, I was refreshed and ready to eat, and eat I did!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Saturday</b>: A day of rest. Oh, and eating. Rest & eat. That's all I had planed on doing. My kit was laid out, race number was pinned proudly on my BATs vest, gels sorted and photo's had been taken and put up on Facebook to validate the whole experience! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the day wore on, my nerves increased and as they did, my gut reacted. All I will say is that a lot of trips were made to the toilet. I tried to relax, but couldn't, so took the dogs for a walk. Georgie decided the E. Sussex countryside was too scary, and went back to the house, so I carried on with just Daisy, Katie & Neil's Labrador, who was a proper dog and enjoyed being outside. She was a little upset about the shortness of our outing, but still showed her appreciation as only labs can. The weather was checked and re checked when we got back, so final kit alterations could be made. All forecasts pointed to a very wet day, with strong gusty winds, so I panicked a bit and went for a short sleeved base layer and gloves. Stop panicking. Keep calm. It will be all right. Any way, dinner was ready. Katie had made a tasty roasted vegetable lasagne, which I ate a lot of. Pasta, a long distance runners friend. After that I was sure my glycogen were fully stocked. A near perfect rest day was spoiled slightly as Georgie misbehaved and tried to eat the cat, but timely interventions </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">thankfully </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">prevented any feline injury. Bad dog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sunday</b>. 06.45hrs. A deep sleep was shattered by by alarm. It was race day. A hasty, yet hearty, breakfast of a large bowl of home made muesli, yoghurt & honey and strong coffee was consumed before jumping in the car for the hours drive to Brighton. The weather forecast was correct; the weather was wet & misty. Neil kindly drove, so I ate and nattered, nervously. Further pre race nutritional intake was a banana and a High5 energy drink. As we approached Brighton, the weather improved. All that was left [apart from run!] was to park up, get bus into town and meet up with other BATs for team picture.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b9fJb7f0w95PVhpSxwmeXlXYVrEQX03e5tui63Kg1NUlBa55P6p_D5wIMkCsI9hWtDIrYEuwJf_aU-uTDYLnpWDYEQiuRdyLMtvP6Fo8S5AMia96GAIjkR8z_gOJLHyRMtMMmyvnb6M/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b9fJb7f0w95PVhpSxwmeXlXYVrEQX03e5tui63Kg1NUlBa55P6p_D5wIMkCsI9hWtDIrYEuwJf_aU-uTDYLnpWDYEQiuRdyLMtvP6Fo8S5AMia96GAIjkR8z_gOJLHyRMtMMmyvnb6M/s1600/IMG_0396.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simon, Johny, Pam, Dave, Me!</td></tr>
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I had also arranged to meet up with an old friend from Uni, Marcus, which I did. Good times. As the tension mounted, it was time for last food intake, which consisted of </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">a SIS sports energy bar and SIS </span><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">electrolyte&caffeine hydration tablet. Oh, and a few chocolate covered coffee beans.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">By now, I was fairy bouncing. Adrenaline, excitement and caffeine is a heady mix! Into the starting pens, squash up, starting gun, then we're off. High five Paula Radcliffe on way past and run. Except it was stop / start for the first few miles, before I could get into a steady rhythm. Dave Adams, a fellow BAT, had agreed to buddy up and pace me for good time. We had our race strategy planed out; it was 6 gel race. One for every 4miles. Contrary to popular opinion, not all of all my gels were caffeine infused. Ok, 3 were; but 3 weren't! I had a mixture of High5 Isotonic and caffeine and SIS electrolyte and caffeine. I also had a sneaky little SIS bar stashed away for when the going got tough. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was my first proper marathon distance race and first mass participation run, and I was very impressed with the crowds. They really do make a difference and give for an altogether louder and more surreal experience than a quite and lonely wind swept Dartmoor, where the majority of my training took place. I was out for a good race time, but I also wanted to enjoy the experience. Little kids had arms outstretched, waiting for high-fives, and I didn't want to disappoint. I doubt I lost much time, but it seemed to make them happy. The route was predominantly through the centre of town, passed a few major landmarks such as the Pavilion and then out and along the seafront and back, with a few twists and loops inland. There were a few slight undulations, but no hills to speak of. The weather was good. The rain didn't make an appearance after 09.00hrs and the wind was gentle, certainly not gusting at 30mph. To be honest I was glad, but I was overheating slightly in my gloves. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Routine of gel taking was working well and it also helped break down the race into bite size chunks of 4miles. Dave was an excellent run buddy, far more experienced than me and I was learning a lot about race tactics from him. We passed the half marathon mark at 1:47hrs, a tad slower than our target time, but nothing to panic about. Besides, my legs were starting to hurt. The next 6miles were the toughest of the race, physically and mentally. My right leg threatened to cramp on several occasions and the balls of my feet were sore. Dave saw me through this. Despite the increased tiredness, our pace was relatively stable; we weren't just continuing to move forward, we were actually overtaking tired runners. That felt good. I kept saying to myself that pain is an illusion. But it still felt very real. As we did the final switch back and started to head back along the last few miles to the finish, I realised I could do this and do it well. Everytime during the past 25 miles I had asked my legs for more, they had given me more and best of all they kindly didn't cramp when I asked them not too. At this point the euphoria and adrenaline took over and I found the energy for a sprint finish. I willed Dave on, but he couldn't. Taken in by the whole atmosphere, I kicked again and went for the line. Sorry Dave.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was a fantastic experience running through a wall of sound to the finish. I had done it and although I knew I hadn't quite got under 3:30hrs, I wasn't far off. I cheered Dave over the line, only slightly behind, and we collected our medals together, big smiles on our faces. Exhausted, but elated. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Time to collect bags, get changed, eat pizza and drink beer!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was free <a href="http://www.gatorade.com/products/g-series/post-game-recovery-beverage" target="_blank">Gatorade</a> Recovery Drink, which I decided to try. It was disgusting. Don't try this at home, or anywhere else for that matter. Horrid stuff. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My brother had been following me on live text and let me know my time; 3:35hrs. Not too shabby! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other BATs times: Dave Adams 3:36. 37 ; Pam Adams 4:26.34 ; Simon Griffiths 4:38.12.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Significant others: Neil Baker 4:27.32 ; Marcus McTurk 4:13.23</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sun even tried to make an appearance as we made our way to the beach and our meeting point. Post race photo, beer, Pizza and catch up was had; then it was time for home.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers!</td></tr>
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As Neil drove back, I contemplated the race that had just been run. My experience would not have been as rich without Dave Adams, that's for sure. The crowds were fantastic, that much was true. But what I really took away from Brighton was that the training really does work. Now that might sound an odd thing to say, but let me explain. I started off the year aiming for sub 3:30hrs, followed the training plan found on the <a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/training" target="_blank">BATs website</a> , but I found the training too hard. I revised the time, and the schedule I followed, to 3:5hrs - 4:00hrs. I put in the miles, I put in the time. I trained smart [don't laugh!], did circuit training and yoga. My time was 3:35hrs 20sec. The training works- if you believe in yourself. I now have the confidence that any distance is possible, provided you train. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once back at Katie & Neil's , a celebratory meal and drink was in order, with more race talk. Before sleep beckoned. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Monday</b>: Woke up with slightly stiff legs, but still elated. Said our goodbyes and left. After the journey up, was hoping for an easier journey back to Devon. Wrong. M25 was still bunged up. We crawled along. Stop. Start. Stop. Stop. Start. Then our exhaust fell off. Then it rained. Several hours later we left a garage in Leatherhead with a new exhaust system. Avoiding motorways, we headed West, to Glastonbury to stay with a friend. The journey, was, thankfully, uneventful, and as we approached Glastonbury, the sun came out. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15.454545021057129px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Thank you to Dave Adams for support during the marathon, Katie & Neil for their hospitality in East Sussex and Marcelle for her hospitality in Glastonbury</i>. </span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-60872247605598175742014-03-31T21:58:00.002+01:002014-03-31T21:58:59.426+01:00Neal's Yard Remedies: Product Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Lotions, Potions and Creams:</u></h2>
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<u>How to sooth sore limbs</u></h3>
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Over the past few months I have been using a few Neal's Yard Remedies {NYR}. One - Arnica - was a freebie to be reviewed, the other two, Foot Balm and Warming Oil, have been presents from my wife, Orla. All have come from Tracey, our friend in Teignmouth. Tracey runs her own NYR franchise, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeignNYROrganic" target="_blank">Lavender Fields</a>, as well as a life coaching enterprise, <a href="http://www.indigolane.co.uk/" target="_blank">Indigo Lane Consulting</a>.<br />
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Tracey and Orla have been very keen for me to try products from NYR that will aid and smooth my tired limbs through my long winter nights of training. Normally, I'm not one for too many creams, but I was willing to give them a go, my legs after all were tired. </div>
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<u><b>Arnica Salve</b></u></h3>
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Arnica was the first product that was given to me to try. Apparently it 'supports a hard worked body'; just what I needed. Within days of getting this I was laid up for 3 weeks due to a sore ankle [see <u><a href="http://getoutmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/things-i-have-learnt-this-month.html" target="_blank">Things I have Learnt this month</a></u>]. Not able to use on my sore and tired muscles (due to the fact I had no sore and tired limbs as I wasn't running!), I could at least rub it on my sore ankle. </div>
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Sports muscle rubs is a big market, with varying degrees of claims made by the manufacturers for the effectiveness of their products, but few, I am willing to bet, are as lovely smelling as Arnica. It smells almost good enough to eat. I didn't, as I'm sure it tastes disgusting, but it does feel very good rubbed into your skin. Daily I rubbed it into my ankle, along with using a heat wrap, and it worked rather well. Within weeks, I was up and running again at <a href="http://getoutmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-grizzly-2014-withering-heights.html" target="_blank">The Grizzy</a> , and Arnica played a part in that I'm sure. I used it again yesterday after my 12hr walk on Dartmoor and my leg muscles didn't hurt as much this morning as they did last night. Did arnica cure me? I doubt it, but on these occasions arnica certainly didn't harm the healing process, but it was soothing and I'm sure it was beneficial to my aching muscles. It smells nice, it feels nice, it's organic, it doesn't leave any greasy stains and as part of an all round pampering for sore muscles, why not? </div>
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<b><u>Comfrey & Mallow Foot Balm</u></b></h3>
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For several months Orla had been questioning why I don't look after my feet. I have books on training for ultra's , nutrition for ultra's, footwear for ultra's, technical clothing, I have sports massages, go to yoga, stretch; but do not look after my feet. Phh, I thought, what does she know. Truth is, who talks about their feet. I couldn't remember reading an article on feet in any of my magazines. Foot care - even for runners- is not high on the list of things we talk about. </div>
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Then Orla gave me this foot cream. It 'revitalises tired and overworked feet', it says. Ok, I'll do some foot research. I am planning on running a couple of marathons and a few ultra's this year after all, so I will be spending a lot of time on my feet. And that's when I discovered John Vonhof and his foot obsession. His book and website are both called <a href="http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/" target="_blank">Fixing your feet</a>. I now have the book and my foot fetish is developing nicely.</div>
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Orla was right. I wasn't taking care of my feet, and apparently neither are many other active people. We have expensive kit, we obsess over said kit, research nutrition, test trainers and, well, everything else; except feet. Yet in-spite of the months of training, a small - often preventable- foot problem can ruin your race. So by buying my NYR foot balm [from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeignNYROrganic?fref=ts" target="_blank">Tracey</a> ], Orla made the biggest contribution to my training regime yet. Hard skin and callouses are out, foot care and soft skin is in. What better way to care for your feet than NYR comfrey and mallow foot balm. It has a hint of marshmallow, is soft and silky on the foot, it feels divine and works on even the harshest of skin. So don't delay, buy some today; it may just save your race season!</div>
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<u>Ginger & Juniper Warming Oil</u></h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-align: center;">Ginger & Juniper<br />Warming Oil<br /></td></tr>
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A recent addition to my stock, this warming oil was a birthday present from Orla, bought, I suspect, from our friend Tracey at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeignNYROrganic?fref=ts" target="_blank">NYR</a>. I have only used it once, but am satisfied it will be used many more times to come! After my long walk on Dartmoor yesterday, I rubbed arnica into my legs and foot cream on my feet. This morning, I felt better and decided to try the warming oil on my legs. Warning: Be careful when you pour this. The lip of the bottle is small, but still big enough for a lot of oil to come out if you are not careful. Thankfully, I was, but it has the potential to be very messy. I considered this warming oil to be a better option for massaging whole legs / larger areas than the arnica. It goes further and is easier to apply; I also feel that this warming oil is more effective on sore and tired legs. I would recommend using the arnica for smaller aches and pains and warming oil on larger areas. I feel this will oil will be used quite frequently.</div>
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As I said earlier, I didn't tend to use lotions & potions that much. But after trying the above, and as part of a programme yoga & stretching, I will now. I'm sure my tired feet and legs will thank me for it.</div>
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Thank you, once again, to Tracey at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeignNYROrganic?fref=ts" target="_blank">NYR</a> for supplying the above products.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-59203977798956066802014-03-23T20:59:00.002+00:002014-03-23T21:16:06.041+00:00The Dark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>The Dark: 13 Mud Crew Miles</u></h2>
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<u><b>The year of silly just got sillier:</b></u></div>
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<u>Running at night in tights, tutu and fairy wings is surprisingly liberating!!</u></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxz95Of1x_KYP7g4J_NavXO1s2lZ8_gEuyvp6-taloUkHB8ztHFRLxZFYI60dwVO1PxkoPwhDR-wQCU6CxrDefpxkPci695NS9z1_6bezN1XauCzZhseWWlFVmdraYOlWo5ecj78WTPg/s1600/P1030416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxz95Of1x_KYP7g4J_NavXO1s2lZ8_gEuyvp6-taloUkHB8ztHFRLxZFYI60dwVO1PxkoPwhDR-wQCU6CxrDefpxkPci695NS9z1_6bezN1XauCzZhseWWlFVmdraYOlWo5ecj78WTPg/s1600/P1030416.JPG" height="217" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">[L-R] Were Chicken, Vamp-bat, Batman, Psycho Fairy, Glo stick badger, BatWomen 1 & 2</td></tr>
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Mud Crew don't do easy. So a trail run, at night, in fancy dress, with beer, to celebrate a friends birthday was an opportunity not be missed. <a href="http://mudcrew.co.uk/event/the-dark" target="_blank">The Dark</a> is , according to the official blurb, "a 13 mile race by head torch, through <a href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/cardinham" target="_blank">Cardinham Woods</a>, following the infamous Beast of Bodmin mountain bike trails. This is a spectacular undulating course that takes runners through the depths of the woods". Add beer and fancy dress, what could possible go wrong?!!</div>
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I had been planning my outfit for a while, however I wasn't entirely sure what the finished article would look like. Psychotic -psychedelic- tutu- totting -fairy anyone? I decided that gold wings would look better [of course!] so purchased some glitter gold spray paint, but didn't get around to colouring them prior to the event. Note to self: spray painting fairy wings only an hour before running in them is not a good idea. I was followed around the course by a very strong smell of solvent. Very strong. </div>
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Being a birthday, cake and beer was needed. So BATs, in full fancy dress, headed to the bar. Fairy in a tutu was joined by a Were Chicken [with squeaky beak], a Badger [with glow sticks], Batman [far too serious], 2 Bat Women [Good look girls!] and a genuine vampire bat [with fluorescent fangs]. Ken the Werewolf Hunter [nice fishnets!] also muscled in to the fun.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1vtn-m80ebXdtnMzJuripTCgdvtABAP4PEaskaC0WIn1Lq27f0dIMYcVLc1o_IukM-LoUYHZjwv_wBotNFor9UL8oK-O7-MLEXROe5FXQvpiTrXFWsX0GAMisRwrN2F92NpWPZQYaks/s1600/P1030412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1vtn-m80ebXdtnMzJuripTCgdvtABAP4PEaskaC0WIn1Lq27f0dIMYcVLc1o_IukM-LoUYHZjwv_wBotNFor9UL8oK-O7-MLEXROe5FXQvpiTrXFWsX0GAMisRwrN2F92NpWPZQYaks/s1600/P1030412.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badger helps BatWomen1 light candles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jos6IfbzWXmuf0UrNFbIVoLtRDNDELaY_AS50dm8-SsmPLJRq13LNlBRvWJr15yiI4hg-ZCRzB-PZObQD0LhOuUx1LMT-icgcBcAtSG7NnqVCgh_CjxOQwxhnao53C3Rj6ES9lXHlNk/s1600/P1030411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jos6IfbzWXmuf0UrNFbIVoLtRDNDELaY_AS50dm8-SsmPLJRq13LNlBRvWJr15yiI4hg-ZCRzB-PZObQD0LhOuUx1LMT-icgcBcAtSG7NnqVCgh_CjxOQwxhnao53C3Rj6ES9lXHlNk/s1600/P1030411.JPG" height="200" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Vampire Bat cuts cake <br />
with help from Were Wolf Hunter</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Beer & energy gel consumed. Check. Team photo. Check. Costume all in order. Check. Sing Happy Birthday to Sarah. Check. Let's run! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Start!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Our costumes did not go un-noticed; Of a field of 300 or so runners, I believe there was only one other runner in fancy dress. So we stood out a bit, despite the fact it was dark. It was time now to stop posing and get running. And oh what fun we had. River crossings (x3!) , up & down and around and up some more. Zig-zagging and looping round the Cornish hillsides. Through the woods </span>a dazzling line of torches weaved & bobbed there way through the countryside. Twice. Some of the technical sections of the trails were as exhilarating on foot as I imagine them to be on a MTB- and almost as fast. There was a stunning section of open hillside with sweeping switchbacks and jumps, aptly nick-named by Vamp-bat as the human roller coaster section. I have to admit this bit was fun, hurtling down hill, screaming like a banshee, taking off, no idea where you would land lurching left, then right round corners, all the time the wind blowing up my tutu! <span style="text-align: center;">Running at night in tights, tutu and fairy wings is surprisingly liberating.</span> As much as possible, we stayed as a group for the first lap. Apart from the Irish Werewolf hunter and Batman. They ran off into the dark woods together! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4jX_bF7QQm5Ww9V0gPE4IDNkgTpa1VLz7JqpXN2Jovc3jVSRGeLLODvATBXn0JLLUjy1cIpIw3HIBZai9cNLhNLv8iyTvNeNHoxN5CKLsFgTqfpyRtFVk881GmDbvoHRP_Vg0RhZJ-g/s1600/P1030419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4jX_bF7QQm5Ww9V0gPE4IDNkgTpa1VLz7JqpXN2Jovc3jVSRGeLLODvATBXn0JLLUjy1cIpIw3HIBZai9cNLhNLv8iyTvNeNHoxN5CKLsFgTqfpyRtFVk881GmDbvoHRP_Vg0RhZJ-g/s1600/P1030419.JPG" height="180" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I was really enjoying the run. OK, it was slightly bonkers and our pace wasn't that great, but the conversation & company certainly were interesting. Vamp-bat was overheard having a very detailed chat about the relative culinary merits of different species of road kill, there was debate about who would win in a contest between <a href="http://youtu.be/svcH_pfDqw8" target="_blank">Count Duckula</a> & WereChicken as well as much musings on the topic of what the offspring between a badger and a bat would be like - or a werewolf hunter and batman! I have been reliably informed since, that a random fellow [non fancy dress] runner was upset by our varied topics of conversations. I don't why. Maybe he swallowed a fly? Maybe it was because we were all in fancy dress, having fun, had enough energy to talk and run, yet were still in front of him. Who knows. Running should be fun- even when it hurts. We do it because we enjoy it, don't we? </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">The marshals were many and friendly, and most commented on our outfits [especially my tutu & wings for some reason!] There were surprises to be had in the woods, with zombies, Blair Witches, a haunting Clanad style music drifting through the woods and general all round spooky shenanigans laid on by The Mud Crew. Or at least I hope they were. But then we were in Cornwall, so who knows!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">After 3hrs of sweaty joviality and frivolity, we had achieved a half marathon P.W [personal worse]. In fact Sarah, AKA Vamp Bat, runs Marathons in that time, [and also wins Ultra's for Mud Crew] but it was her birthday and she ran with her parent group, Bere Alston Trekkers. And had lots of fun. We salute you Sarah. Even in fancy dress you would have {probably} won this event, but you dressed up, drank beer and ran with us. We enjoyed your company; hope you enjoyed ours as much. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Beer was very much on my mind as we finished, so it was straight to the bar. Pint for the fairy, pint for the Vamp Bat [WereChicken doesn't drink and we had lost the others on lap two!] Then it was time for a quick change, into something warmer and more comfortable and back for hot food. The veggie chilli was most delicious and most welcome. The beer was also welcome, but if there was one criticism of this event , it was the beer. Kernov Lager is well, a lager. Albeit be a fairly good one. But it is not an Ale. Proper Job? That's a Cornish Ale is it not? Anyway, a minor detail to a very well organised, extremely well marshalled and an all round fun event to run. BATs served there civic duty by taking in a stray Muskie Wereworlf Hunter, whose "friend" had driven off with his bag [clean clothes, money, phone etc..] We took pity on him and cared for him.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">By 23.30hrs, the evening was winding down. I was almost falling asleep in my beer. Thank you to Rachel for driving. Up the lane we went, turn left at roundabout onto A38. Except we couldn't. Roadworks. Diversion. That went nowhere. We were trapped in Cornwall. They wouldn't let us back into Devon. There were no signs and we were on our own. Hi tech Sat-Nav was going into meltdown as it wanted us to to go back the way we came. So we turned it off and allowed a Werewolf Hunter in fishnets to guide us through the wild and unlit Cornish countryside to get back home. And get home we did [thanks Ken]. Shattered, but happy. A lot of fun was had but it was now time for bed. Thank you all at Mud Crew and my fellow fancy dress BATs for a great evening. Can't wait for next years event. But better beer next year please! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[L-R] Batwomen2, Badger, Vamp bat, Werechicken, Batwomen1</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-10243521140531806192014-03-10T22:50:00.002+00:002014-03-12T08:12:51.182+00:00The Grizzly 2014: Withering Heights (Featuring Heath and Cliff!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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See that cliff; We ran up that!</td></tr>
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<u>The Grizzly</u></h2>
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It's March, therefore it must be Grizzly Time. The sun was shining and <a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/" target="_blank">BATs</a> were out in force. We were ready. We were psyched. Let's do this! Except I wasn't sure I was ready. I had been suffering [or at least everyone else had been suffering from me not running!] from a recurrence of of an old injury. I had been sidelined for a few weeks and although I had been told by <a href="http://www.alensparrow.co.uk/" target="_blank">Alen Sparrow</a> I could run, I was nervous. I knew I could do the distance, as I had been doing 20+miles in training throughout January; I was nervous about how my ankle would hold up. Would I be OK or would my race year be over? If my ankle hadn't healed and I hobbled out of the Grizzly, it would need several weeks, if not months, more rest. I would miss Brighton Marathon and then would probably not have enough time to get miles in my legs for Race to the Stones. My mind was racing with all of these thoughts come race day morning and I babbled nervously and continuously in the car on the journey to Seaton. Sorry Rachel. But I had done all I could. I was rested, I</div>
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Neil's Yard Organics</td></tr>
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had stretched my ankle, I had a few sports massages from Nathan at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KinetikSportsTherapy" target="_blank">Kinetic Sports Therapy</a> in Bere Alston and I had been using Arnica, supplied by the lovely Tracey from her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeignNYROrganic" target="_blank">holistic consultancy business</a> in Teignmouth. All that was left now was to run on it!</div>
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Right, where were we? Seaton. Race day. And a colony of BATs. Our beloved coach and purveyor of fine</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIDuGP8rAFj1TxUHhVAafYffsujGVbkXJxhJhTJ3LaurchDDc1GBV2bN7T1ht8ZurGgzIvS5Sl0DGIycgdcPy5y44Dpfi09DOlDqRssOSZTzM1rZQKoyn9gFUq3A9Ji8gAdyYJDjoEpc/s1600/IMG_0312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIDuGP8rAFj1TxUHhVAafYffsujGVbkXJxhJhTJ3LaurchDDc1GBV2bN7T1ht8ZurGgzIvS5Sl0DGIycgdcPy5y44Dpfi09DOlDqRssOSZTzM1rZQKoyn9gFUq3A9Ji8gAdyYJDjoEpc/s1600/IMG_0312.jpg" height="111" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Selfie in Seaton</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
cakes, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/DotTeas/420631797975900?fref=ts" target="_blank">Dotty King</a> , had arranged for us to meet in the same place we always do. Spirits were high, the sun was shining and I had made some rather delicious <a href="http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/02/15/healthy-eatmore-fudge-chocolate-bars/" target="_blank">fruit & nut fudge</a> ,which went down a treat. Once photo'd and fed, 'twas time to head for the sea front for the start. There were thousands of runners at the start, both for the Cub and the full Grizzly. A traditional rousing speech was given by the town crier and then we were off. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nervous smile at the start </td></tr>
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Shingle. That's all I can say. After a quick warm up along the shingle beach, it was a loop along the promenade and then up the first hill of many, many, many hills on route. Did I mention the hills? There was lots of running [or walking!] up hills. And down hills. And along beaches, through rivers, bogs, muddy fields and muddy hills. I'm not sure where we went, as I didn't track it or map it- but we did pass through Beer and Branscombe. The weather was great, the mud was deep [very deep; thigh deep!] and the shingle beach an energy sapper like no other. The marshals were, as always, friendly, helpful and encouraging. That's why we love the Grizzly.</div>
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I started the race slow, towards the back of the field and kept a steady pace. Walking up some of the earlier hills was not so much a race strategy as a necessity, due to the vast numbers of people on small narrow lanes. But today I didn't mind. By the time we hit the second stretch of beach and the obligatory river feature, I was warming to this run; quite literally really as the weather was hotting up. Bruce {a Greyhound} was there with his BATs vest, cheering us on, with his humans, Heather & Mike. But they didn't have cake this year. Oh well.</div>
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By about mile 7 I was feeling good. Very good. My ankle was not causing me pain. I decided I could do this, so I sped up. I started to overtake people. I stopped worrying. Well, stopped worrying about my ankle. I thought I was getting blisters. I wasn't- but I was breaking the cardinal sin of racing by wearing new trail shoes, so I kept worrying that I might get blisters!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghA2sKWz6GxoH1b7KxIutHKicq4YMy5e1v78XTcB4RZSgTpR4-zhwKbIWmt-Hlk4aTyQCojn9ERPx7oAm-aRbQllmH6R9nLyWqCKJwI7vgbXT2fT_8PiWPL3F7iFlhk2O2mMywP65HtmM/s1600/IMG_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghA2sKWz6GxoH1b7KxIutHKicq4YMy5e1v78XTcB4RZSgTpR4-zhwKbIWmt-Hlk4aTyQCojn9ERPx7oAm-aRbQllmH6R9nLyWqCKJwI7vgbXT2fT_8PiWPL3F7iFlhk2O2mMywP65HtmM/s1600/IMG_0269.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Shoes<br />
Very Good in the Mud!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">But I was beginning to enjoy this. Sure, it was wet & muddy underfoot, the hills were steep, my lungs were bursting and my thighs were aching; but I was feeling strong. The weather was good, the scenery spectacular, the marshals splendid and my fellow runners were an amicable bunch. I was genuinely surprised to catch Ken, a </span><a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">BAT</a><span style="text-align: justify;">, who thinks he is a </span><a href="http://theplymouthmusketeers.webs.com/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Muskie</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> [sorry, in joke], as he has been in such fine form this year having already run both the Anglesey Coastal Marathon, the South Devon Coastal Marathon {both raced in atrocious stormy weather} and the mud of the Steyning Stinger Marathon. But he was wearing his 'other' club vest and not a BATs vest, so I had no qualms about passing him. </span></div>
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So we battled through bogs, thigh deep in mud, worried we might drown and never be seen again until next March, perfectly preserved. But dead. Slightly melodramatic, but the mud was deep and extra slushy this year. Just how I like it. The haunting melodies from the piper at the edge of dawn could be heard, his tuneful bagpipes rebounding around the hills and valleys, keeping our spirits alive. Last rites were said at the Buddhist temple. A few more ups and downs and then it was back into civilisation with cheering crowds. Sorry Ruth, I was in the zone by then. I was focused, I was hurting. I didn't see you. Shame on me.</div>
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The beach. Oh the beach. The shingle beach. Oh how I love thee. After 16 gruelling miles, a few hundred metres along a shingle beach is just what I was looking forward to. I was hurting so much , that I was actually relieved to reach the Stairway to Heaven, a welcome reprieve to the shingle torment. Albeit an almost vertical climb up a cliff. But the end was nigh. It was only a few miles to the finish. I stopped at the top of the cliff to have a gel and admire the view. Simply stunning.</div>
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Back to the task in hand. A race. The finish was, quite literally, in sight. Only a few more miles. I could do this. But then I got cramp in my right foot. Never had cramp in a race before. It hurts. A shooting pain up my leg every time I put my foot down. I thought I would fall at every step. I gritted my teeth. I swore [silently as there were children about] and carried on. As I came down the last hill and along the promenade once more, the pain disappeared. The raucous crowd welcomed us runners in, and I sprinted for the line. BATs were massing at the finish and a rousing cheer was a very welcome end to the pain. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcJDktvGY9hgEQb-oeWCrxGxRwLbDXiRQGE3uOkPKBJq2P7Gc0ZO-aDpEhqvuSX30WGwxhIXDzQehUfpwvT8bE_v8iuN0YmF64WMeyF00LAMRBFfjPgmKINUsOvQM3Q0-gVpVUCeM_8s/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdcJDktvGY9hgEQb-oeWCrxGxRwLbDXiRQGE3uOkPKBJq2P7Gc0ZO-aDpEhqvuSX30WGwxhIXDzQehUfpwvT8bE_v8iuN0YmF64WMeyF00LAMRBFfjPgmKINUsOvQM3Q0-gVpVUCeM_8s/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grizzly 2014 T-Shirt</td></tr>
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Water, a banana, a finishing T-Shirt and then a dip in the sea to wash off the mud and cool down, and it was time to slip into something more comfortable. Full results <a href="http://www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>. BATs, overall , were fab. But that goes without saying. I had a 9mns P.B and was 100 places better placed from when I last ran the Grizzly in 2012. RESULT. Best of all for me though, was not the result, but the fact my ankle was OK. I can run again. Now that really made me happy.<br />
BATs results are as follows:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b><u>Grizzly</u></b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Nathan Newton 03.10.22</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Paul Williams 03.33.38</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Steve Watson 03.33.41</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Murray Turrner 03.40.07</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Francis Dix 03.51.19</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Tracey Oxborough 04.01.38</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Derek Hicks 04.15.09</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Matt Luckham 04.21.55</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br />Emma James 04.32.51<br />Rachel Wood 04.48.04<br />Dotty King 04.48.06<br />Julian Setterington 04.48.56</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJAD_gMEZuXi4nZE8Dg4TsBhSIwCylfRxgQYRu-gqxp4lbhFmOE2Z4ZUxO1qLzZRUCJkHBzGbY6IW3nHrJu8Us8azVrZoqxCb2aAtP0lfXUum9fEVxDqkRf4xJhDVXeF-CnMpJtmy4NE/s1600/IMG_0326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJAD_gMEZuXi4nZE8Dg4TsBhSIwCylfRxgQYRu-gqxp4lbhFmOE2Z4ZUxO1qLzZRUCJkHBzGbY6IW3nHrJu8Us8azVrZoqxCb2aAtP0lfXUum9fEVxDqkRf4xJhDVXeF-CnMpJtmy4NE/s1600/IMG_0326.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">BATs @ Finish</td></tr>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b><u>Cub</u></b><br />Philip King 01.34.42<br />Toby Rankin 01.44.15<br />Grant Lawrence 01.44.36<br />Frances Morgan 02.00.16<br />Emma Dooney 02.15.12<br />Melanie Greaves 02.15.15<br />Donna Luckham 02.15.44<br />Paula Lawrence 02.15.47<br />Alysia Maciejowska 02.15.50<br />Hilary Head 02.41.24<br />Martin Head 02.41.59</span><br />
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Congratulations to Nathan for being 1st BAT home in the Grizzly and to Phil for leading the Cubs home. A special well done mention to our very own Sarah Morwood [albeit running for her sponsors, Mud Crew] was third women home overall. To be fair, the distance was a bit short for her!</div>
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Following a rather excellent day out in the sun [and mud / shingle / hills / valleys / bogs] of the South Devon Coast, after the last BAT was safely home, there was only one thing left to do- and that was to go to the pub!</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AvWLy1pmaeGEEIBYps4bVocxmmX8KB-hRShXSJKeEXIpiX8BJ6dSivy9WynnEbp2JBKpggbq4EhUB0vUG-dTg9YBWRyOWUjcAwmsKZZS6B4mRW6LWmxHoGYZxqRXG_rNqNRxyonnkHs/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AvWLy1pmaeGEEIBYps4bVocxmmX8KB-hRShXSJKeEXIpiX8BJ6dSivy9WynnEbp2JBKpggbq4EhUB0vUG-dTg9YBWRyOWUjcAwmsKZZS6B4mRW6LWmxHoGYZxqRXG_rNqNRxyonnkHs/s1600/IMG_0329.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BATs in the Pub</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHGK8HUoWMz6MQkvP6tTgqN7B2jvyK76k7k2YYMAWkF6l00fmPiFl-dsj9kptm2Sh5mF811iBI1Kz4EoG0vS6NUQ0SGORh2mKUcT7amUpg1F26_Y1ggSN-n7bn-kxfhXlAFv0HqQXwWw/s1600/IMG_0330.jpg" height="150" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BATs in the Pub</td></tr>
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CHEERS!</div>
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A Big thank you to Axe Valley Runners for , yet again, putting on a fantastic event.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-18881014045154646862014-02-23T20:39:00.001+00:002014-02-24T08:18:17.636+00:00Things I Have Learnt This Month<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH75A3B3ihVA85BDBLS4AYbgOOcD2x1a-yTcNyqyGg2uXxmW2c5k_OQZHEM-rC9NV_otB3QKaiksCj6Oep2cPR3cKvVUKxGnhqie-vzZaxj2lcWLsKoWT4-Wetfo-UaNAuT16aoG0JgY/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH75A3B3ihVA85BDBLS4AYbgOOcD2x1a-yTcNyqyGg2uXxmW2c5k_OQZHEM-rC9NV_otB3QKaiksCj6Oep2cPR3cKvVUKxGnhqie-vzZaxj2lcWLsKoWT4-Wetfo-UaNAuT16aoG0JgY/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destruction in Denham Woods</td></tr>
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February 2014. Eight weeks into the Year of Silly. Not everything is going as well as planned. After an excellent start to the year, training was going well; diet was going well; confidence was high; books on Ultra running were bought and read. What could possibly go wrong? Then, in few short weeks, it did all go wrong. My training schedule was not so much derailed, as destroyed and washed away, as rapidly and violently as the railway line at Dawlish.<br />
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Shortly after my previous blogg entry, I felt tired and drained. I thought I had been careful and trained hard but smartly; but when running close to the edge, occasionally you fall off. I had over trained and needed a few days off. I rested, and felt good again. Revitalised, I hit the trails again. The weather was as foul as ever. Wind, rain, mud, fallen trees, meant some runs were as much assault courses as anything else- but that was part of the fun! Week end runs were regularly hitting 20+ miles. I was strong. I was confident. I felt invincible. This was going to be a great year.<br />
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Then an old injury stopped me in its tracks. In November 2013, I turned my ankle. I didn't think much of it. I rested it a bit. Iced it. Went to see a sports physiotherapist. Told there was no major damage, so carried on running. Thought nothing of it. Until it became sore again some 3 months later. Went to back to have it checked. NO RUNNING FOR 3 WHOLE WEEKS. Well, only 3 x 5 miles per week maximum. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turned Ankle<br />
8th November 2013</td></tr>
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There was no muscle or ligament damage, but it was weak, and I had been overcompensating, so my other leg muscles were very tight. I didn't take this well. I was relieved that I was not damaged goods, but not that I couldn't run! I was allowed to cycle, so it wasn't all bad. I like cycling- but this was a year of running!<br />
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It was a bad week. I was not in a good mood. I read up on ankle sprains & rehabilitation [I know, I know; bit late I hear you say?] and that made me even more depressed. Seems they can be quite serious and hard to heal. Great. So why not take the time to build a website. I have been meaning to do this for a while. Watched a YouTube video and away I went. It wasn't as easy as the video made out (!), but I now have the skeleton of a website: <a href="http://www.getoutmoor.co.uk/" target="_blank">Get Out Moor</a> now has a website. How exciting. It needs work, but I'm pleased with it so far. February hasn't all been doom & gloom then!<br />
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So, what have I learnt this month:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Training too hard, too quickly, is not advisable.</li>
<li>A turned ankle is a more serious injury than I realised.</li>
<li>When your coach says,rest, ice, compress, elevate. Listen to her. [I was reluctant to do this when I first turned my ankle, as I did not recognise the serious of it; my coach did!]</li>
<li>I don't take being injured very well!</li>
<li>How to build a website: this is a skill I never thought I could master, but YouTube is a marvellous source of information. </li>
<li>The wind and rain will stop, eventually, and one can go out for a lovely cycle in the sun {not that I'm a fair weather cyclist you understand; it's just more pleasant}</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-84555891994250583112014-01-22T19:01:00.004+00:002014-01-22T19:01:56.588+00:00January 2014: The Year of Silly!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>The Year of Silly: The Story So Far</u></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Years Day: Brown Willy<br />Bodmin Moor, Cornwall</td></tr>
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I know, I know, it is maybe a bit early for a retrospective view of the year, but how have the first 3 weeks of this brand new year been for you? Wet? Well, yes, pretty much everywhere and most of the time! It has been the kind of rain that does not fear Gortex. Someone ought to tell Tlaloc & Zeus that waterproof clothing ought to be just that- waterproof. So please, stop sending down rain that makes a mockery of our wet weather gear Soggy kit is scattered around the house, in a vain attempt to dry it out before next heading out of the door. A dedicated drying room would be fantastic right now, but alas, funds do not allow for such right now. </div>
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This year will be tough, but hopefully also fun. I hold out high hopes for this year. Towards the end of last year a few hardy / crazy few of us from the best running club in the world [<a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/" target="_blank">BATs</a> ] decided it would be fun (!) to enter a couple of Ultra's this year. So we did. <a href="http://www.teignbridgetrotters.co.uk/dartmoor_discovery/dd_general_info/" target="_blank">Dartmoor Discovery</a> , <a href="http://www.racetothestones.com/" target="_blank">Race to the Stones</a> and <a href="http://mudcrew.co.uk/event/inov-8/" target="_blank">The Plague</a> have all been entered. Oh, and also <a href="http://www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dartmoor Classic</a> sportive.</div>
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My race calender so far for 2014 is March <a href="http://www.axevalleyrunners.org.uk/races/grizzly.htm" target="_blank">The Grizzly</a> ; April, <a href="http://www.brightonmarathon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brighton Marathon</a> ; May, <a href="http://www.staustellrunningclub.co.uk/Imerys_Marathon/2013/Main.shtml" target="_blank">Imery Trail Marathon</a> ; June Dartmoor Discovery AND Dartmoor Classic ; July Race to the Stones; August The Plague.</div>
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I've only ever raced once above 26.2 miles, and that was at the Dartmoor Discovery in 2012. Now I plan to run 2 marathons, and 3 ultra's-- 2 of which will be 100km [62 miles] - in consecutive months. Some of these races will be brutal and will test my physical and mental strength in ways they have not yet been tested. Fun- really?!!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope I'm still smiling at the years end!<br />A short rest at Princetown</td></tr>
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The year started in a manner it was to continue - wet; and the Brown Willy run on Bodmin Moor beckoned. Nothing clears the head more effectively than a 7ish mile run across , and up, wind and rain swept moorland on New Years Day. We nearly didn't make it though, as many of the roads were flooded. Glad we did- if only for the pint at the Jamaica Inn afterwards. It was the perfect start to 2014. Training in earnest was now very much on. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honest, this IS the footpath!<br />Georgie Enjoying a 15miler </td></tr>
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Training is now 6 days a week and occasionally accompanied by Georgie . She has been transformed from a sprinter to a long distance runner in little over a year. Go Georgie! I have so far managed to stick to a training plan for a 3 - 3.5 hr marathon time at Brighton, with an ultra training plan kicking in immediately after the Brighton Marathon. I'm stretching regularly, had a sports massage [something I had previously neglected until injured] , started circuit to improve strength and core stability, continued cycling for some cross training and am eating well. I'm feeling pretty good and my continued dedication to a plant based diet [29yrs veggie] is still proving effective as my training increases. However, my hardest [and proudest] training achievement so far though is not drinking alcohol yet this month - well not since the 1st, but that doesn't count(!) - that's 21 whole days!!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burrator Reservoir: Early morning<br />An unusual light is seen in the sky!</td></tr>
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How long can this enthusiasm for training last? Can I really do this for 8 months? Will I stay injury free? Can I really run 100km? Really?? Positivity is the key. I believe I can do it. A super friendly and <a href="http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/" target="_blank">supportive running club</a>, training partners as dedicated / insane as you, a coach who feeds you cake and a stunningly beautiful wilderness in which to train, all help. But by far the most important aspect of my training programme is the love, unwavering support and wholesome meals I receive from Orla, my wife. Training [and life in general] would be so much harder without her support. Thank you my dear.<br />
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So, as the Year of Silly enters they dying days of it's first month, all, so far, is good. But why the Year of Silly? 2014 was named as such during a splendid New Years Party, in the first few minutes of the year. Others may have slightly different recollection, but I believe the combined facts that someone had just fallen into the hosts pond [head-first!] , many of us were running in a few hours and the races we had all goaded each other on to enter were now becoming very real, led to only one conclusion: 2014 was, quite clearly, the Year of Silly. Enjoy!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fellow BATs: Friends and training partners <br />Nuns Cross, Dartmoor</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-34342684213747249412013-12-30T14:41:00.000+00:002013-12-30T15:58:34.532+00:00New Year, New You? or New Year, Same You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.</div>
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<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/albert_einstein.html" style="color: #0000aa; text-decoration: none;">Albert Einstein</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Einstein was a clever bloke and realised that nothing will change if you keep doing the same old things. It is unlikely he was thinking of keeping active / running / walking / cycling when he said this and was probably deep in thought on some complex and meaningful physics related quandary; but I'm going to borrow this thought and relate it to either starting or improving a fun, healthy and active lifestyle. I don't think he woould mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The start of a new year is traditionally the time of new beginnings. Tradition is, for the sake of argument and to allude to the <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfThree" target="_blank">Rule Of Three</a> , anything that occurs three years in a row. In recent years the 3 most commonly heard vows on New Years Eve are usually for the holy trinity of "lose weight; exercise more; drink less alcohol". All very worthy and no doubt genuine and heartfelt. We make our resolutions, we enter January full of enthusiasm for our 'new selves' , spend money on all the latest gear, and by March have given up! Or even if you are already active and have all the gear [?can you ever have too much equipment and too many gadgets?!], we set our selves a new challenge, or goal, or dream to aspire to, yet don't do. Year, after year, after year. So, why, why , why???</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reasons why we repeat this kind of behaviour over and over and over again,are varied and many- and best left to sports / behavioural psychologists to explain. (Advice on activities and sports psychology is plentiful. Regular articles can be found in a wide variety of outdoor and fitness magazines such as <a href="http://www.trailrunningmag.co.uk/" target="_blank">Trail Running</a> , <a href="http://www.outdoorfitnessmag.com/" target="_blank">Outdoor Fitness</a> and <a href="http://www.220triathlon.com/" target="_blank">Triathlon</a> magazines) . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, I often find it is 'life' that gets in the way of many of our good intentions! Yet there is one simple thing that can be done to begin the process of change: Do something different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without wishing to state the bleedin' obvious, Thinking about doing something, in itself, does not change anything; doing, does- and then only up to a point. And the two may be more closely related than at first seems, especially if we behave in the same way. Let me explain. Or rather, let someone else explain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Step forward Albert: If we think the same way all the time, we get the same answers; if we do the same things all the time, we get the same results. If we want things to change, we have to both think and do things differently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So the simple piece of advice and worldly wisdom I shall leave with you at the end of this year, to take forward through 2014, is 'do something different'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Walk a new way to work. Cycle to work instead of using the car or bus. Walk a different way around the park. Run in the rain. Do more yoga. Try a 10km run. Try a 100km run. Cycle a sportive. Cycle to a friends. Cycle with friends. Go swimming. Walk in the countryside. Run across the Moors. Go out running in a group. Run alone. Look at the {outside} world in a different way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just don't do the same as you did last year. Unless of course, this was a great year for you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm not saying I had a bad year, or have any regrets; I didn't and I don't [well, not many!]. This is not about radically changing who you are, for as the late, great, Kurt Cobain once said "wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are". This is just about maybe doing something slightly different, to maybe achieve different results. Or to just get a new perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So don't be insane in 2014, do something different</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">From Get Out Moor, have yourselves a great and safe 2014</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">"</span>The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start<span style="font-size: 14px;">.” - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106937.No_Need_for_Speed" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">John Bingham</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-65744217112977863942013-10-14T22:31:00.003+01:002013-10-14T22:35:42.582+01:00Day 9 of Murray & David's Northern Frontier conquest: The Journey Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Day 9: Bowness on Solway - Bere Alston</h3>
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Weather: Sunny</div>
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Distance Traveled: 413 miles<br />
New beers tasted: 0<br />
Caffeine Consumed: Way too much!<br />
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<b><i>Caveat & disclaimer: No laws [traffic or otherwise] were broken in the writing of this blog. I have exaggerated events for [hopefully] comic effect.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tide In</td></tr>
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Tuesday 10th September. Time to go home. Orla had kindly agreed to drive up [with Georgie] and collect us, but she wasn't arriving until about 11am, so David and I had time to explore the coastline of the Solway Firth. Apart from being spectacularly beautiful, it is<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View towards Scotland<br />
From abandoned docks at Port Carlisle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View Towards Port Carlisle<br />
From abandoned docks at Port Carlisle</td></tr>
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renowned for its plethora of bird life. Neither of us are 'twitchers' and couldn't tell a Coot from a Tern, but I can report there were lots & lots of pretty looking birds. Yesterday evening the tide was very much in. This morning it was right the way out, so we took the opportunity to stroll across the mud flats to the abandoned docks. this was the West coast [well, sort of] and we had walked from Tynemouth in the East, to Solway Firth in the West. It felt good. It was also very quiet and very beautiful. Worried / paranoid that we may be caught out by the notoriously quick in-coming tides, we darted back across the mud flats to the camp site and struck camp for the very last time on this expedition. As we did so, one man and his dog walked in to the camp site and started to talk to us about our journey. Very nice man he was too. Turned out he was Henry Stedman, author of <a href="http://trailblazer-guides.com/book/hadrians-wall-path" target="_blank">Hadrians Wall Path</a>. We had many tales to tell and were very enthusiastic. Top of our priority was the closure of the Centurian pub in Walton. Nearly ruined our trip! Promised us we would be mentioned in the next addition of his book [out February 2014]. Fame at last! </div>
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Packed up and ready to go, my dear wife Orla and devoted Greyhound Georgie turned up. Time to go home. Yay! After a whistle stop tour and revisit of Bowness, we headed south. We stopped off for a quick, yet delightful lunch at the Drovers Arms, Monkhill. Food was delicious, good choice of beer- but I was driving, so had coffee. So the coffee fiend was born. As we wound our way through the sleepy Cumbrian coastal areas back to Carlisle, we recounted our stories of the past week. Oh, what fun we had had. As we hit the M6 at Carlisle, it was Motorway all the way South back to Devon. Orla had driven up to collect us- I was driving back. I was tired after 7 days walking. So I needed coffee. Motorway services, after motorway services were stopped at so I could refuel. Caffeine was consumed in huge quantities. Americano's with extra shots. I was buzzing. More Caffeine. GIVE.ME.MORE.CAFFEINE. I was gibbering. I stopped making sense. My driving became erratic and way too fast . Other drivers were not being considerate. Scenery blurred due to warp speed. My hair was blowing in the wind and the window wasn't even open! [or that's how it seemed; see caveat & disclaimer above]. </div>
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Within minutes we were back in Devon. Time stood still. Relax. Breath. Reality. The warp speed journey of the M6 / M5 was over. Heart rate returned to normal. I was banned from any more caffeine. Maybe none of the above really happened. It was light when we started our journey. The sun was behind us. Now it was dark. Perhaps it had taken longer than minutes. Maybe I shouldn't drink so much coffee. It makes me nervous. And loose track of time. Maybe my memory of the drive home was compromised. Maybe I made it all up. But we all got home safely [Legally. Honestly].</div>
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David & Murray's Northern Frontier Conquest was now officially over. We were home.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>THE END!</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-64881639996104279282013-10-13T21:06:00.000+01:002013-10-14T20:05:52.973+01:00Day 8 of Murray & David's Northern Frontier Conquest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Day 8: Carlisle- Bowness on Solway</h3>
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Weather: Dry [apart from a 10 minute monsoon soaking]</div>
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Distance Walked: 13miles</div>
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New Beers Tasted: 2</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>The End is Nigh!</u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The morning of our last full day walking dawned. After an early night and a good nights sleep in a warm and comfy room [as opposed to a multiple occupancy camping barn], I jumped out of bed with a spring in my step. This was most definitely a 3 porridge sachet and a 2 cafetiere day [single sachet servings of flavoured porridge -with extra honey- had been breakfast every morning, accompanied with fresh coffee!]. Met a young woman in the hostel cycling Lands End - John O'groats. Her Aunt was car support. Hope she completed her challenge safely. We made short work of the walk out of Carlisle. Nice a city as it was, it was still a city, and walking through a city with a back pack is odd and well, just not very pleasant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">With actual remnants of the wall 'in situe' long behind us, our first interesting historical 'artifact' was the church of St. Micheal's, in Burgh-by-Sands. Interesting on several levels; it stands on the site of [and is partially built of stone from] the Roman Fort of Aballava; it is also partially fortified itself. After Edward I , "Hammer of the Scots", had bankrupted </span><a href="http://www.lanercostpriory.org.uk/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Lanercost Priory</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> , he continued his war on the Scot's, but not for long. He died not far from either Lanercost or Scotland, in Burgh Marshes, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">of dysentery on 7th July 1307.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Edward I<br />
Died near Here</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Michael's Church</td></tr>
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When he died the Anglo-Scottish border area descended into chaos, lawlessness and violence. For several decades the violent clan rivalries of the <a href="http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/BorderReivers.html" target="_blank">Border Reivers</a> made life very difficult for those living in the area and houses, even churches, were fortified to provide protection for the local population from these raids. St Michael's church is one such example. By now we were very much looking forward to a pint, especially as the the local pub is <a href="http://www.thegreyhoundinn-burgh.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Greyhound Inn</a> . Unfortunately it was not open when we passed. It looks like a very nice pub, but keeps 'odd' country opening hours. We had our sandwiches at the foot of the memorial statue to Edward I instead.</div>
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Fortified ourselves by the rest, we pushed on. The sun was out, the land flat and the scenery pleasant. We were not far now from our coast-coast destination. The flood prone road from Longburgh to Drumburgh was straight, exposed and prone to flooding from the Solway Firth. As we walked across, spirits were high, but we could see the weather in Scotland across the river. It was dramatic. And wet. Thankfully the tide was not yet in, as we could have got really wet! <span style="text-align: left;">As we marched across Burgh Marsh, we kept a close eye on the weather- all of a sudden it came. Very quickly.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"When water reaches this point <br />
maximum depth is 3 feet"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rain Commeth</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The pressure dropped. The wind changed direction. It got colder. Then it rained. Hard. </span></div>
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The scenery was quite dramatic and there were 'photo opportunities, so it wasn't all bad. We also found out what cows really do when it rains. They don't lie down at all. They shelter under trees. Or at least try to! In Drumburgh we passed 'Drumburgh Castle', another example of fortified residence from the Border Reivers era of 14th Century. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drumburgh Castle</td></tr>
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The white door in the centre is the original main front door. The sweeping steps up to it are a modern addition. In the 14th & 15th Century, an extendable wooden ladder was used for entry / exit to the house. Drawn up at night for protection from murderous border raids. It was by now mid afternoon and we were thirsty.<br />
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The Greyhound had been shut and we were holding out that the Highland Laddie in Glasson would be open. It was. Dripping wet and thirsty we entered the <a href="http://highlandladdieinnglasson.co.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Highland Laddie Inn</a> . This was purely for research purposes, as like many buildings in this area, it is partly built of stone from the Wall. The pub was warm, friendly and served an exceptional pint of <a href="http://www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/beers/" target="_blank">Cocker Hoop</a> . Very well kept beer which slipped down a treat.</div>
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David and I were now only a matter of miles from the end of our walk. The rain had stopped. The sun had come back out. We were good to go! We reached Port Carlisle and pitched our tents at the Chapel Side Camp site. Realisation came that this was the last time we would have to carry our ruck sacks. Bliss.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Chapel Side Camping<br />
Port Carlisle</td></tr>
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We would have sampled the Ale's at the <a href="http://www.hopeandanchorinn.com/" target="_blank">Hope and Anchor Inn</a> in Port Carlisle, but is was under new ownership and being gutted and re-furbished, so we had the arduous task of the last 1 mile walk to Bowness without the fortification of Cumbrian Ale. Countries have been invaded for less! In fact at <a href="http://vindolanda.csad.ox.ac.uk/exhibition/setting.shtml" target="_blank">Vindolanda</a> [which we visited a few days ago], one of the tablets that have recently been uncovered was inscribed by a patrol commander, pleading for more ale for the troops, presumably before there was a mutiny! Ale does , after all, help one deal with the weather up here in northern climes. This was after the all, the Edge of Roman Civilisation.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Solway Firth<br />
Looking North towards Scotland</td></tr>
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It wasn't all about beer. We did take time to admire the natural beauty of the area and big, dramatic skylines. Before heading to the next pub!</div>
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The end was in sight. One mile to go. Tents up. Face washed [you can't arrive smelly & with a dirty face!], clean[est] cloths on, off we trekked. We arrived at Bowness-on-Solway and before visiting the last pub, the actual end of the Hadrian's Wall Walk needed to be visited, The Banks.<a href="http://www.thecumbriadirectory.com/Town_or_Village/location.php?url=bowness-on-solway" target="_blank">The Bank</a> is an Edwardian 'promenade', recently renovated, on the banks of the Solway Firth. Our 7th, and final stamp on our Hadrian's Wall Path Passport, was collected here. We had officially finished. Elated, it was time for a final drink. The Banks may be the 'official' end. The <a href="http://www.kingsarmsbowness.co.uk/" target="_blank">Kings Arms</a> is, however, the 'spiritual' end of the walk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is there no end to the <br />
good beer Jennings brew?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a quick one!<br />
Well I have just walked 84 miles</td></tr>
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The value of the food here is outstanding [not bad veggie options], as is the welcome from both landlord and locals. Beer isn't bad either (!), so we stayed for the entire evening. It would have been rude not too. We had to move tables for the Monday domino league, but we didn't mind. The diary / log book of walkers who have finished the trail is kept here and my entry is scrawled herein, dated 9th September 2013. Well worth a read in its own right [the book that is, not necessarily my entry]. Comments and bragging from all over the world. As for us, well, we broke no records [that goes to a local lad who ran it in just over 16hrs] and we didn't "do the wall" in 3 days, knee deep in snow. But we did have fun. We came, we walked, we conquered. And we drank beer! It took us 7.5 days and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Highlights? As far as the actual Wall is concerned, the complete sections of the wall, on the Crags, the middle section [day 3,4,5]; museum & fort at Vindolanda; Halstead fort, were the most dramatic memories. But as for the whole experience? We went for the walk. We did the walk. Coast to coast , along the whole length of Hadrian's Wall. It wasn't just the Wall that made the memories- it was the people we met along the way, the fellow walkers, locals, the places we stayed, the pubs we visited, the general scenery, not to forget the all round great company, whit and intelligence of my friend David. And of course the beer we sampled was, in most cases, rather good.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WE DID IT!<br />
[photo bombed by Georgie]</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or, if going West-East<br />
The Beginning.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-72978096870117210462013-09-22T14:29:00.003+01:002013-09-22T14:34:29.374+01:00Day 7 of David and Murray's Northern Frontier Conquest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Day 7: Sandysike - Carlisle</u></h3>
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<u>Weather: Mostly dry, odd shower</u></div>
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<u>Distance Walked: 12 miles</u></div>
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<u>Different Beers Sampled: 3</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandysike looking South to the Lakes & Pennines</td></tr>
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Morning! Penultimate days walking. The sun was shinning. Porridge and coffee had been consumed in sufficient quantities. Time to leave the basic, but cozy camping barns and their eccentric owners behind. Our night at Sandysike had proved to be eventful, let's hope the days walking was as well. Classic Hadrian's</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cam Beck Weir</td></tr>
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Wall <span style="text-align: justify;">country was now behind us, as were the hills and crags. </span>As we walked, the Cumbrian countryside opened up into green fields and then the flood planes and water of the River Eden. It was nigh on flat from here. Our packs seemed less heavy as well. Fitter, or just numb to the pain?! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vallum on North Wall<br />
Nr Newtown</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmm......<br />
Inside Stall-on-Wall<br />
Bleatarn Farm</td></tr>
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The remnants of Roman occupation were more subtle, such as the path following the North Ditch of the Vallum near Newtown; interesting & picturesque though in their own right. A welcome modern addition to the Wall, was the Stall-on-the Wall at <a href="http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/cumbria/carlisle/bleatarnfarm" target="_blank">Bleatarn Farm</a> , packed full of goodies. You can also camp here, which we didn't, having only been walking for 2hrs, but you could if you wanted.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't mind if I do!<br />
The Stag Inn</td></tr>
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After about 3hrs of gentle walking the path enters Crosby-on-Eden and <a href="http://www.staginncrosby.com/" target="_blank">The Stag Inn</a>. It would be rude not to, especially as the sun was shinning! As with a lot of rural pubs, there seems to be a fashion for small stuffed dead things and the Stag Inn, does indeed have a Stag's head. Thankfully we could sit outside. Beer was well kept. Lunch was the Potato & Butter pie [a Northern special!] we had carried from Bramptom and ale was supplied by <a href="http://www.jenningsbrewery.co.uk/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Jennings</a>. Pie and Ale. Perfect marching food. Our new Dutch friends [although they live in Manchester!] had also stopped so lunchtime gossip was to be had as well. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David and our new Dutch companions <br />
Stag Inn, Crosby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M6<br />
Modern Day Chariot Racing</td></tr>
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Post lunch saw us head across fields, along the Eden, before crossing the M6 and venturing into the suburbs of Carlisle. Penultimate stamp for our Hadrian's Wall Passport was at the Sands Centre. No great ancient architectural sights here, but there is an impressive series of metal plates outside demonstrating the sites of the main Roman Forts along the Wall. It did, however, provide time to have a cup of tea and some cake. Always a good thing. Found out Vettel had just won the Italian FI Grand Prix. No surprise there. Being in a city, we were staying a YHA. But not just any hostel, <a href="http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/carlisle" target="_blank">Old Brewery Residence</a> which was once home to the Theakstones Brewery. Quite fitting really! But we couldn't check in until 16.00hrs, so we had a mooch around town.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxLfG6VcRmQxtFp0WOIzzj7aMOdKbA8m8qFROAmXk2HiThfIt8gz3ii-TGUDbJ7jM78XctKGX6X_42Tny1imHwSkCmz6g5dKEs4PSicDGCDbxo6xlcHOLOzFjQhDkRkffxRaG-ARoZGI/s1600/IMG_0706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxLfG6VcRmQxtFp0WOIzzj7aMOdKbA8m8qFROAmXk2HiThfIt8gz3ii-TGUDbJ7jM78XctKGX6X_42Tny1imHwSkCmz6g5dKEs4PSicDGCDbxo6xlcHOLOzFjQhDkRkffxRaG-ARoZGI/s200/IMG_0706.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Brewery Residence</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkQ3OrD_MLQIhBblN1GlTRuYVtElqmsVQkeRCB2uwTrEbD4CQxTp3M9WdCgPXN_kEgA8ZxRyXMiVPM_Z0uvEG7z_7JLyZB_W45LOIv6iTEiHSRsPy-tAouYaLEgY4qou5gasYOHH9XGI/s1600/IMG_0705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkQ3OrD_MLQIhBblN1GlTRuYVtElqmsVQkeRCB2uwTrEbD4CQxTp3M9WdCgPXN_kEgA8ZxRyXMiVPM_Z0uvEG7z_7JLyZB_W45LOIv6iTEiHSRsPy-tAouYaLEgY4qou5gasYOHH9XGI/s200/IMG_0705.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlisle Castle</td></tr>
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Carlise appeared to be an attractive and thriving city, steeped in millenia of history. The Roman Fort that once stood here was the largest on Hadrian's Wall and where the highest ranking officer of the Northern Frontier was stationed. Today however, there is very little in existence of this once mighty fort of <a href="http://www.roman-britain.org/places/uxelodunum.htm" target="_blank">Petriana or Uxelodunum</a> [debate over name]. The current castle stands on part of the site, as does the A595 dual carriage way and part of the Tullie House. Having time we went inside the <a href="http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tullie House and Museum</a> .<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man who started it all</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attack!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLMnzs9JcF3_Z7bstL-tNOWZXZt1oFVscKcpRMxL-sWb2dvVYb2DqOYg02LYd8AyqqBLOj-wSjy9fJ3gFz8Hd9tS6qWfleFzZbnjjyYjAjrX7Q8vxm1dFEGY0KjRtTt-9FcwFQ3kero8/s1600/P1030103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLMnzs9JcF3_Z7bstL-tNOWZXZt1oFVscKcpRMxL-sWb2dvVYb2DqOYg02LYd8AyqqBLOj-wSjy9fJ3gFz8Hd9tS6qWfleFzZbnjjyYjAjrX7Q8vxm1dFEGY0KjRtTt-9FcwFQ3kero8/s320/P1030103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some things never change!</td></tr>
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An interesting museum, with not just Roman artifacts, but social and political history of Carlisle, art galleries and wildlife galleries. There were even interactive exhibits. The Roman shield was not particularly heavy on it's own, but I can imagine it felt that way after a days marching / fighting. What I was impressed with was the public underpass near the museum. Usually grotty and smelling of wee, this one was all 'pimped up'! A hot shower and food beckoned, so we checked into the YHA and headed back out into the city in search of food once cleansed. Now after 7 days walking, with packs, I had been fantasising about pizza and one of the first places we came across was a pizza place; so we had a Happy Hour <a href="http://www.francoscarlisle.com/" target="_blank">Pizza at Franco's</a> . Very tasty [and cheap] it was too. I was feeling quite tired by now, so a quick stroll around Carlisle, accompanied by a cheeky pint and a bag of chips [I've expanded a lot of energy over the past week!] before crashing out early at the YHA. Last full day walking tomorrow......</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underpass next to Tullie House</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-33356965379725897102013-09-21T18:30:00.002+01:002013-09-21T18:33:28.012+01:00Day 6 of David & Murray's Northern Frontier Conquest <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Day 6: Birdoswald - Sandysyke</u></h3>
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<u>Weather: Showers</u></div>
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<u>Distance Covered: 12 miles</u></div>
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<u>New Beers Sampled: 2</u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDeLLfvGM-g2G1Zn49EJUkbcZowXhH-qCt0sIBhmsh1LpQNvvIPOHJDN99j9aBLVAZvqmGEx3k7pN8Ai8vEOQPxys0vwxg5a0-bOBLYoqOw8luwj-dpzjK6ALAX4lvDhGivhb4fF_zm4/s1600/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birdoswald Farm on site of Roman fort<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDeLLfvGM-g2G1Zn49EJUkbcZowXhH-qCt0sIBhmsh1LpQNvvIPOHJDN99j9aBLVAZvqmGEx3k7pN8Ai8vEOQPxys0vwxg5a0-bOBLYoqOw8luwj-dpzjK6ALAX4lvDhGivhb4fF_zm4/s1600/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDeLLfvGM-g2G1Zn49EJUkbcZowXhH-qCt0sIBhmsh1LpQNvvIPOHJDN99j9aBLVAZvqmGEx3k7pN8Ai8vEOQPxys0vwxg5a0-bOBLYoqOw8luwj-dpzjK6ALAX4lvDhGivhb4fF_zm4/s200/IMG_0692.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheese of the highest caliber </td></tr>
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After a superb nights sleep, breakfast was to be looked forward to, as cooked by Dianne. Every bit of it fresh, local & delicious. Bread, whole earth beans, scrambled egg. We were dry; we were warm ; we were rested; we had been fed well; we had bought exceptional bread & cheese for lunch; now walk! We revisited <a href="http://www.roman-britain.org/places/banna.htm" target="_blank">Birdoswald Fort</a> first, to get stamp 5 of our passport, but didn't loiter. <span style="text-align: left;">The rain came and </span><span style="text-align: left;">went </span><span style="text-align: left;">throughout the day, as did the sun, creating some quite dramatic & creative cloud patterns in the sky. Almost made up for being wet! But we had our Birdoswald bread and cheese [which we stopped for at Hare Hill]</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South towards Pennines & Lakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKMxmsFBKJ8qnRO13qZnGOf6Pj9hoEViaW9Gopxq0TKo0-NNLUfuwVUqvJOeuUW9Kvjj80elBW3lddGGjkn_oV7PXbuAVlCrlBov8IrktNTCnA9ag_DcaQ6lVJeNmgYe3c4RNtwIQmJE/s1600/IMG_0690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKMxmsFBKJ8qnRO13qZnGOf6Pj9hoEViaW9Gopxq0TKo0-NNLUfuwVUqvJOeuUW9Kvjj80elBW3lddGGjkn_oV7PXbuAVlCrlBov8IrktNTCnA9ag_DcaQ6lVJeNmgYe3c4RNtwIQmJE/s200/IMG_0690.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">BATs on Hare Hill</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Along this section of the walk, the scenery was changing quite rapidly. Down we came from the upper moors of Northumbria National Park, off the Crags and we we had crossed the border into Cumbria. In this part of Cumbria, the hills are gentle, with lush rolling green pastures. Less stark. The Wall was also changing in appearance and becoming less visible. Much of the wall from here [and in other stretches] had been constructed mostly of turf banks with timber palisade. Some was later replaced with stone wall and there are only fragments of wall- but stretches kept surprising us, such as Sandy Sike Turret 51a and ,</span><span style="text-align: left;">a third of a Roman Mile, 333 marching steps away, </span><span style="text-align: left;">Lea Hill Turret 51. Not to mention Pike Hill Roman Signal Station. However, due to being rested and well fed the night before, and well fed by Birdoswald cheese at lunch time, we had stormed this section of this walk and had time to detour and visit <a href="http://www.lanercostpriory.org.uk/" target="_blank">Lanercost Prior</a>y. So glad we did, not just because of the historical & moody ruins, but we also wouldn't have met Angie, the highly entertaining, highly intelligent and highly energetic English Heritage member of staff.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7HTfjTb68XnENdoFNYWNnAOFRB6KgijO6UhuOVFqpPigM4QsiZxLDqZn5bDbnCdLT-tTaMyEFx3JsZlKxk6Cb1Rv4jwgEnefQZEh9yVW7JIYDxjbFIui21IJG7sZ9WouKurP3kbfYVQ/s1600/P1030087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7HTfjTb68XnENdoFNYWNnAOFRB6KgijO6UhuOVFqpPigM4QsiZxLDqZn5bDbnCdLT-tTaMyEFx3JsZlKxk6Cb1Rv4jwgEnefQZEh9yVW7JIYDxjbFIui21IJG7sZ9WouKurP3kbfYVQ/s200/P1030087.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lanercost Priory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvgMW7bf9zcsBK3QpQnkeai-tMz1bffm5ue7InVXjCzm44g-PkaOMIKKBLzJFLSkwIJHGnbgAmhSq84vWRUUQ9f_ZaCLJ7DoXS6fb2BRT8Zb8oa3NMSn9DURHmDiTcQKOvhbGMaUtwpU/s1600/P1030084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvgMW7bf9zcsBK3QpQnkeai-tMz1bffm5ue7InVXjCzm44g-PkaOMIKKBLzJFLSkwIJHGnbgAmhSq84vWRUUQ9f_ZaCLJ7DoXS6fb2BRT8Zb8oa3NMSn9DURHmDiTcQKOvhbGMaUtwpU/s200/P1030084.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lanercost Priory</td></tr>
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Lanercost has it's place in English history as after being fraternised and almost bankrupted by Edward I in 1306, repeatedly sacked by the <a href="http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/medievallife/borderreivers/index.asp" target="_blank">Border Rievers</a> during the 15th / 16th Century before finally being dissolved [and dismantled ] by Henry VIII's policy of dissolution of the monastery's between 1536-1541. A bit unlucky you could say. The ruins were impressive and 'moody' in the alternating sunshine and showers.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Part of the ruins also now contain the parish church, which contains a William Morris Dossal, newly refurbished as well.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2VcVRY-7vPj3anL2G_wZzlDcjuiPs4KMDbgOg-WaVY2FKnQAILWWX3E_9VcCY4xBu35nDiehTlNwNlzOEoXMwEvna2XBEhiySzJxI3XCylvaBoaF_C66WCthUPvUmyoG1ERJDUbt680/s1600/P1030090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2VcVRY-7vPj3anL2G_wZzlDcjuiPs4KMDbgOg-WaVY2FKnQAILWWX3E_9VcCY4xBu35nDiehTlNwNlzOEoXMwEvna2XBEhiySzJxI3XCylvaBoaF_C66WCthUPvUmyoG1ERJDUbt680/s200/P1030090.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Morris Dossal</td></tr>
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Filled full of even more English history , it was now off to the Centurion Inn in Walton for food & beer. Except when we got there, the Centurion was closed down. Don't panic. Breath Deeply. Relax. There will be a solution. Walton, thankfully , had a little cafe, where we sat and planned our next move. A big mug of tea and a sublime slice of meringue pie put things in perspective. We were staying at Sandysike Camping Barns and B&B<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px;">, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">only a few miles away. The nearest settlement with food and beer was Brampton, 3 miles away from where we were staying. Fortified by tea and pie, we came together with a plan during our walk to the Bunkhouse. Let's get a taxi into town. Problem sorted. The plan got even better as a Belgium man and his son who were also staying there, shared the taxi. Brampton. A Cumbrian Market Town which has fallen on bad times. It reaked of faded glow, its glamour now a bit tatty. Shame. The first pub we entered didn't do anything to change our minds, The Nags Head. Rough, ready and smelly. We had a [bad] pint of -wait for it - Doom Bar. We didn't stay long, before heading back out on the thriving Saturday evening streets Brampton. Our next choice of pub was better with </span></span><a href="http://www.thehowardarmsbrampton.com/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">The Howard Arms</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> being much more </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">salubrious.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> An excellent choice of </span></span><a href="http://www.thwaites.co.uk/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;" target="_blank">Thwaites Ale</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> to be supped ; 'Little Bewdy' a little fruity & hoppy number, and a 'Lancaster Bomber' and a full bodied, </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">chestnut</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> coloured ale [the menu was OK as well]. Feeling refreshed and </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">emboldened by ale, we did a little shop for the following days supplies, before deciding</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> to walk back. Lovely evening for it. The rain has cleared and there are stars in the sky.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Further chess games were to be had over a beer, back at the </span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">bunkhouse; I think I may be getting better!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-39090119060673002682013-09-21T14:28:00.002+01:002013-09-21T16:16:47.398+01:00Day 5: Persistent Precipitation! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Day 5: Twice Brewed - Birdoswald</u></h3>
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<u>Weather: Persistent Precipitation</u></div>
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<u>Distance Walked: 10 miles</u></div>
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<u>New Beers Sampled: 1</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsbA3ESlr8btWHt6nMuGNNrmaKYMY5oTEaKsdWARTq_ZZkd8NtUiGw0K-RkqHaFsPh727Qkr7fKsxDZYq2_f4sSrVlYyYBLSq5IlqrTi0mrRQRjMOZyFYjmfc-NMp_VtCac7awuGRK2A/s1600/P1030045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsbA3ESlr8btWHt6nMuGNNrmaKYMY5oTEaKsdWARTq_ZZkd8NtUiGw0K-RkqHaFsPh727Qkr7fKsxDZYq2_f4sSrVlYyYBLSq5IlqrTi0mrRQRjMOZyFYjmfc-NMp_VtCac7awuGRK2A/s320/P1030045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vindolanda</td></tr>
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Daybreak on day 5 didn't so much break on a crest of golden sunshine as we had been used to, but was washed in; the predicted rain had arrived. But, unlike the Tories, we had a Plan B. Or rather, David had organised a Plan B. Whilst I has half asleep in the pub, David was running around being very organised sorting out our day. Thank goodness for David. The forecast had been grim , and it was grim, but David had not only booked us into the bunk house at Slack House Farm, but also planned to have our luggage sent on to the bunkhouse at Slack House Farm. There are several services which do this along Hadrian't Wall and are very useful at times such as this. So we walked today with no packs and had a guaranteed dry place to stay and dry packs when we got there. Thank-you David. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ch5U716omx2f_D-2A1W6GgYWl9ZzAcepNpItp0aZ7PZ30_qxHUosyum8Y7nHfesMovWyBj7gFNtT_hqEtTh8ddcKYVaPU4C29FOVgWwv3DOzielQ7lpVakzcvDzAyAlL5CPjJj90jow/s1600/P1030048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Ch5U716omx2f_D-2A1W6GgYWl9ZzAcepNpItp0aZ7PZ30_qxHUosyum8Y7nHfesMovWyBj7gFNtT_hqEtTh8ddcKYVaPU4C29FOVgWwv3DOzielQ7lpVakzcvDzAyAlL5CPjJj90jow/s200/P1030048.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking towards fort <br />
from civilian village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfktf_SEDLH9CPiRhb-GCK1XgMd8Cj-ouycqMdXljbE9_ZuHcapG-04dCzmKUpP7n1crw76Yw_2Mnhw7-4eA84K9YGSWJoNdC84o1W-Ioz5zRZJzbm673DhtHsA0pzs7Pos9n7kuuXtw/s1600/P1030046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfktf_SEDLH9CPiRhb-GCK1XgMd8Cj-ouycqMdXljbE9_ZuHcapG-04dCzmKUpP7n1crw76Yw_2Mnhw7-4eA84K9YGSWJoNdC84o1W-Ioz5zRZJzbm673DhtHsA0pzs7Pos9n7kuuXtw/s200/P1030046.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Site of civilian village<br />
Vindolanada</td></tr>
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This meant we had time to spend a few hours this morning at <a href="http://www.vindolanda.com/doorway-articles/life-at-vindolanda" target="_blank">Vindolanda Fort</a> , which was one of the highlights of the trip. <a href="http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/hadrians-wall/getting-around" target="_blank">Hadrian's Wall Bus 'AD122'</a> handily stopped at the YHA and went the short distance to Vindolanda. The bus arrives a few minutes before opening times, and today the very kind staff took pity on us and let us in early. <a href="http://www.archaeology.co.uk/specials/the-timeline-of-britain/vindolanda-2.htm" target="_blank">This fort</a> spans many centuries and has several incarnations , both wood, earth and stone built, literally on top of each other over the centuries. The museum , unlike the weather, was exceptional. Every artifact on display was uncovered on site- and there are many thousands of them- and they offer a unique insight into daily life on a frontier town. From a vast collection of leather footwear [over 4,000!], to pots, pans, coins, armour, weapons, beauty products, clothing and the 'piece de resistance' being the recently uncovered haul of writing tablets. These are an eclectic mix of letters & postcards written in ink on wood blocks, detailing daily life in a frontier settlement. Ordinary tales of invitations to parties, concerned parents, requests for clean underwear and demands for more beer to sent out to troops on patrols! Not much has changed in 2,000years really...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-k44ipNzEMjxcGCX2BXAtyo16k2EFFYvaj28DuJr25sOI3Bw00_4cYLQVj3d3vxtWZmMK_G5E76JbLwyK9RLLa32ka65isBCfk8xTDOnStiBf83WPnX0njYk3XNyZj7VE1Y1yTCHLdU/s1600/P1030051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR-k44ipNzEMjxcGCX2BXAtyo16k2EFFYvaj28DuJr25sOI3Bw00_4cYLQVj3d3vxtWZmMK_G5E76JbLwyK9RLLa32ka65isBCfk8xTDOnStiBf83WPnX0njYk3XNyZj7VE1Y1yTCHLdU/s200/P1030051.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Gateway Vindolanda</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ab_SQ-hjn4fjFzEhV7Ro6GFn_Nw_iBuJ1EYyw8YXs49PmeAzn_NXa5fk-Z-8B7CHje4PLQ71WOaQWvsWosGIyxcVS6m2QKZxMK9LGWCpZ8rxDPg_EDUihQhckOC5td7f-HOKg36Qm3Y/s1600/P1030050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ab_SQ-hjn4fjFzEhV7Ro6GFn_Nw_iBuJ1EYyw8YXs49PmeAzn_NXa5fk-Z-8B7CHje4PLQ71WOaQWvsWosGIyxcVS6m2QKZxMK9LGWCpZ8rxDPg_EDUihQhckOC5td7f-HOKg36Qm3Y/s200/P1030050.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vindolanda</td></tr>
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After a relaxing and, mostly, dry morning in the fort and museum, it was time to get walking again, so bus AD122 back to the YHA and picking up of the trail where we left off yesterday. It was wet, but visibility was OK and walking without a pack was a doddle!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5_vjmvznya2Vwg0Mwa57skQRqEY6xOJfPx79_enYjALB1QmuJGzJNMXrPV4VLvGJaRLCBVAaGah4m7pAljhaF-1FfS8yKFsypZf5oUIgaGLNTUOS-v90kOk_F_6Gdfo-8DgFxZ_xVNw/s1600/P1030054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5_vjmvznya2Vwg0Mwa57skQRqEY6xOJfPx79_enYjALB1QmuJGzJNMXrPV4VLvGJaRLCBVAaGah4m7pAljhaF-1FfS8yKFsypZf5oUIgaGLNTUOS-v90kOk_F_6Gdfo-8DgFxZ_xVNw/s320/P1030054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking East towards Winshields Crags<br />
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We were making good time, no pain in shoulders or back and we could even pose happily for photo's .</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa1_3DBtyyZiqVPX6n9KbdnMr5tYlFqWmhYpllKNln4Hh4NOVbzqUdXiKGWd8Eq-ZH_k1k0y9u_6ksKQF62SuJlFuxPft50qTYdmpkPoy9-yz3my5NXhKlA3rnqhaKOQAKr3nyvbn2s0/s1600/P1030055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa1_3DBtyyZiqVPX6n9KbdnMr5tYlFqWmhYpllKNln4Hh4NOVbzqUdXiKGWd8Eq-ZH_k1k0y9u_6ksKQF62SuJlFuxPft50qTYdmpkPoy9-yz3my5NXhKlA3rnqhaKOQAKr3nyvbn2s0/s200/P1030055.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me! Near Caw Gap [East View]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2g2rjWgR_TjXg1330_gFnf9rP1e10tBH3ezfC2LU6iL-MEWVa54ljmfKv3Fs28rQpTCAtptpkZ61H8cfHBYudyRw248rnlkuGDNKUxbTEIzSGrYQXNGhm2yuUgHqpgkFxGFHr1XsVBc/s1600/P1030057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2g2rjWgR_TjXg1330_gFnf9rP1e10tBH3ezfC2LU6iL-MEWVa54ljmfKv3Fs28rQpTCAtptpkZ61H8cfHBYudyRw248rnlkuGDNKUxbTEIzSGrYQXNGhm2yuUgHqpgkFxGFHr1XsVBc/s200/P1030057.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above Bogle Hole</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAL33j81LPdtkQasF4h-_MwJmWkuyvFXnd9hImO3yiaa2izlGsnOTcPzR64GfVNw_UggOa0qgqT49Uk8Dn_DmlbPFxcyZE_9hHN_DQYFyQQM961WWlsDz8k5UyeBYBcwh9cLKwqi20To/s1600/P1030059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAL33j81LPdtkQasF4h-_MwJmWkuyvFXnd9hImO3yiaa2izlGsnOTcPzR64GfVNw_UggOa0qgqT49Uk8Dn_DmlbPFxcyZE_9hHN_DQYFyQQM961WWlsDz8k5UyeBYBcwh9cLKwqi20To/s200/P1030059.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milecastle 42</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWLM_RePwzjhgShGef0visbuZgdfu9rGPw_qyFgg9D3uwXWRCyUxzhtU5PgGCenWf-aQnnyWZRJDP6yK7Wu2X5usm_GB_qKqEGfd8rsjzmjX4wWssXkLqXBTQwZql04x8p4mI_2ef4J4/s1600/P1030061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWLM_RePwzjhgShGef0visbuZgdfu9rGPw_qyFgg9D3uwXWRCyUxzhtU5PgGCenWf-aQnnyWZRJDP6yK7Wu2X5usm_GB_qKqEGfd8rsjzmjX4wWssXkLqXBTQwZql04x8p4mI_2ef4J4/s200/P1030061.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cawfields Quarry<br />
Where once there stood a wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nin9w0-ZJbAHgKMp5KBCd1dQ-0zA4lp0OiQYa8oWLl7WpAB5Va6U3ePnWUEONjqQE6xMkbZYzbyWiQhBjpD_gDb5Wott_wG7uOqwfWiMjN2oXW6kUTAV4W3G-uyLs8ltYU_eMlYY6zc/s1600/P1030064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nin9w0-ZJbAHgKMp5KBCd1dQ-0zA4lp0OiQYa8oWLl7WpAB5Va6U3ePnWUEONjqQE6xMkbZYzbyWiQhBjpD_gDb5Wott_wG7uOqwfWiMjN2oXW6kUTAV4W3G-uyLs8ltYU_eMlYY6zc/s200/P1030064.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping Lookout<br />
Milecastle 44b</td></tr>
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<u></u>As was the case yesterday, today offered up classic, exceptional, if wet, views of Hadrian's Wall. Mile upon mile of wall of sections of wall and its turrets and milecastles'. Roman imperial authority stamped across the landscape, disrupting trading routes [as at milecastele 42 where the Roman's decided the 'natural route' where there is now a gate, would need to go uphill to their fort] which most likely pissed off the locals and onto myth and legend such as at Bogle Hole [which means 'goblins hollow', its name betraying local superstition about the little folk.] Unfortunately, even in the high crags, in places the wall has gone completely, thanks to 19th and early 20th Century quarrying. Actually, as can be seen from the photo of Cawfields Quarry, not much remains of the crags either! Blasted apart and carried off for building material. Progress. But then again, Hadrian's Wall is a symbol of an imperial conquering army and was no doubt hatted as a symbol of oppression. No wonder it's gone in places. In fact, it's a wonder there is anything left all. Mussings' over 'twas time to continue our mission for the day, which was to get to Birdoswald via pub. We were beginning to get a little damp, Gortex or not , this northern rain was persistent. My feet were wet now as well. Pah. Blimmin' Romans! And then we saw it. A cafe at Walltown Quarry. Hot tea and cake. Mmmmm. We also came across some fellow travelers, of the feathery kind, also wet and weary, also seeking shelter from the storm. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZVRXfwFI8HEjhXu_p25c-Zt8pi9m_q6gYO07JoDf8fQwqpBiD524iuXQG0Vd4pD8lkVMmEAHG-RjNTqjOvQXhqDUT8Gc93Zexz_6K1B9Wcr_0378-q1o6os3tDZ2gXTe-2xcio2IQvo/s1600/IMG_0682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZVRXfwFI8HEjhXu_p25c-Zt8pi9m_q6gYO07JoDf8fQwqpBiD524iuXQG0Vd4pD8lkVMmEAHG-RjNTqjOvQXhqDUT8Gc93Zexz_6K1B9Wcr_0378-q1o6os3tDZ2gXTe-2xcio2IQvo/s200/IMG_0682.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting section of wall, <br />
built below the natural high ground<br />
'Heathen lands ' are on the left and <br />
'Conquered Land' is on right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToWCM0c4KX_xKmTwo1_Zb_jz2t8aa4zei3Who-jwMKLmb5v_VzrvQ3SqQW5ypcNHXUqYlnGQ8AW35Zcz0-AqmmzSgDip4rEfoVvZR4xcWxfOXs7Hst7BD-tvjv3xOK5x9HUL6BRA4AX8/s1600/IMG_0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToWCM0c4KX_xKmTwo1_Zb_jz2t8aa4zei3Who-jwMKLmb5v_VzrvQ3SqQW5ypcNHXUqYlnGQ8AW35Zcz0-AqmmzSgDip4rEfoVvZR4xcWxfOXs7Hst7BD-tvjv3xOK5x9HUL6BRA4AX8/s200/IMG_0683.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelter from the storm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMBzg0FDhyNCrfYS-a08l5j3-FmAGMUD3VrY-CUPJ42HQ8cFND2tT2loY5H00WpA3GmWePDSxs2oswLJIAKhTXoRyQ6wd0sWXGUXHPQGKVQNs3siuk6qnLX3pfsAWgR35MlD_VAjbQEY/s1600/IMG_0684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMBzg0FDhyNCrfYS-a08l5j3-FmAGMUD3VrY-CUPJ42HQ8cFND2tT2loY5H00WpA3GmWePDSxs2oswLJIAKhTXoRyQ6wd0sWXGUXHPQGKVQNs3siuk6qnLX3pfsAWgR35MlD_VAjbQEY/s200/IMG_0684.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, you can't come in to my field.</td></tr>
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Whilst we enjoyed a well earned and<span style="text-align: justify;"> well timed cuppa, our feathery friends [house martins?] huddled together for warmth. It was time for food and beer. The packed lunch from the YHA was all gone. The cake wouldn't fill me up for long. I was hungry. And damp. Pub beckoned There was, however, the small matter of getting there. This cow was not going to let David [nor me!] get over the stile. It's calf was in that field and we weren't allowed in; right of way or not. So we had to make a slight detour. Cow is bigger- and never, ever, get between a mother and it's child. Unless you want trouble, which we didn't. Soon, and without further incident, the bright lights of Gilsand came into view, and more particularly the lights of the <a href="http://www.thesamson.co.uk/" target="_blank">Samson Inn</a> and a pint of Wylam Angel. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgGhVAbnZ1jIJgApwi9NyDI8K1zIOw-RWRc35TgX391si66JIdeRVH8CreesMRIq_rCnI61GCEfq8WR5KjtqjezicU_po77c2-dHLtgKlu7SMYetzx-ZTd5WMkb8ch2hxCO3AZ98Tk0g/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgGhVAbnZ1jIJgApwi9NyDI8K1zIOw-RWRc35TgX391si66JIdeRVH8CreesMRIq_rCnI61GCEfq8WR5KjtqjezicU_po77c2-dHLtgKlu7SMYetzx-ZTd5WMkb8ch2hxCO3AZ98Tk0g/s200/IMG_0685.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Wylam Angel</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Several pints actually, as it kept out the cold. Drying out and warming up in the inn were also a few other 'groups' of walkers we had come across over the past few days, including our new Dutch friends who very kindly bought us a pint. The menu of the Sampson also looked good. A puye lentil and root vegetable stew with roast squash, deep fried camembert and toast. Divine. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">It was very, very tempting to stay in the in, as the wood burner was on, my tummy was full and the beer and company were equally as pleasant. However we still had over a mile to walk until we reached Birdoswald, it was still raining and it was getting dark. Head torches ready, we braved the wet once more. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTG7aUbkO6ikGHkHa2L6kjodlKFF4LdsA8yAQLR0iziLprwxnP0L9cjG6a5CaULG3pgq7MOLU0NDax3HUa8rZB-yQM9WbklwI0vuGQx1uYmMCKMHU6AHsaCW1Wj2B8gD9y4JHuAZenBw/s1600/P1030073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTG7aUbkO6ikGHkHa2L6kjodlKFF4LdsA8yAQLR0iziLprwxnP0L9cjG6a5CaULG3pgq7MOLU0NDax3HUa8rZB-yQM9WbklwI0vuGQx1uYmMCKMHU6AHsaCW1Wj2B8gD9y4JHuAZenBw/s200/P1030073.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down towards bridge abutment <br />
nr Willowford Farm<br />
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Funnily enough, the rain didn't seem so bad after a few pints! There was some interesting sections of wall to view along the way, which we duly did and by the time we got to Birdoswald, we needed our torches. Our bed for the night beckoned. It was dark. Only another half mile until we reached <span style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www.slackhousefarm.co.uk/" target="_blank">Slack House Farm</a> . We were settled in to the camping barn by Dianne Slack who is one of life's dynamo's. A truly inspirational and interesting woman. Passionate about food, where it comes from, its trace-ability, the sustainability of food sources and power sources, helping people set up local sustainable businesses. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slack House Farm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunkhouse at Slack House Farm</td></tr>
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Dianne and her husband also run a cafe, tend to an organic dairy herd and make the one of the tastiest cheeses I have ever had- and I like my cheese, so that is high praise indeed. The bed was comfy as well and the wood burner was very welcome. After a few games of chess, we slept well that night. Warm and dry at Slack House Farm.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-5058871318976102422013-09-13T22:15:00.000+01:002013-09-21T10:40:55.319+01:00Murray & David's Northern Frontier Conquest: Day 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Day 4: Chollaford- Twice Brewed </u></h3>
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<u>Weather: Sunny</u></div>
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<u>Distance Walked: 13 miles</u></div>
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<u>New Beers Sampled: 3</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David at the Temple to Mithras</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhmY9P890d8LNw_cfJYo692_QanAKG-DAZkwSXDAWCtJYIzj5zWHg0LuL5KjkBIpHxInpYQiGmYkUGNmeKRDr2nPY4eAPhrMFYMRURraiKA22GlCP-dCwCeUxdnH8ybICw6T9Jf8YI9I/s1600/IMG_0650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhmY9P890d8LNw_cfJYo692_QanAKG-DAZkwSXDAWCtJYIzj5zWHg0LuL5KjkBIpHxInpYQiGmYkUGNmeKRDr2nPY4eAPhrMFYMRURraiKA22GlCP-dCwCeUxdnH8ybICw6T9Jf8YI9I/s200/IMG_0650.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chesters Fort Information Board!</td></tr>
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A new day dawned, and again it was sunny. Rumour on the trail was that the weather was on the turn and that it would rain later in the day and all day Friday. But this morning was hot and sunny, so day 3 of walking began with the collection of our third stamp on passport outside Chester Roman Fort. We were there before it opened, so missed out on the 'best preserved cavalry fort in Britain'. Oh well, there will be more [and we had planned to visit two over the next days]. Before long we had got to Brocolitia Fort [a grassy bank] and the well preserved <a href="http://www.roman-empire.net/religion/mithras.html" target="_blank">Temple to Mithras</a>, which was worth a look around. Both here and along the way we kept bumping into fellow walkers from all nationalities, with an American, and a Dutch couple [who we later found to be Church of England Priests!] This was one of the delights of the walk- swapping tales with fellow travelers. Everyone has a tale to tell, and this is mine.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJL8_Mkem2n9F_yOPBCqaDusC0Dq7qog43nKtAcNw6fcG2GiWRw7_bLL1UvvmgfIF6InRYLmNwsoXXQSszWC0a4poKcsYNTCFCQklgt7e_oxcjwWg-R2_LTmGEwrHWO-yYn9NLgemz0A/s1600/IMG_0661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJL8_Mkem2n9F_yOPBCqaDusC0Dq7qog43nKtAcNw6fcG2GiWRw7_bLL1UvvmgfIF6InRYLmNwsoXXQSszWC0a4poKcsYNTCFCQklgt7e_oxcjwWg-R2_LTmGEwrHWO-yYn9NLgemz0A/s320/IMG_0661.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Lunch!<br />
Sewingshields Crag. Milecastle 35</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAPbxQnq5SecCEcHVeuB8dKqkAMarmpniksCiY740PvIAlGC3m2w1UezSBkWCEHyF12C_ilOmNtVwRrej5G7RfU0FsHt3cJ-sq8oMM-xDv1Fjx3ukbWIVELyE7yZMLNxWP8EZJqkaZJw/s1600/P1030016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAPbxQnq5SecCEcHVeuB8dKqkAMarmpniksCiY740PvIAlGC3m2w1UezSBkWCEHyF12C_ilOmNtVwRrej5G7RfU0FsHt3cJ-sq8oMM-xDv1Fjx3ukbWIVELyE7yZMLNxWP8EZJqkaZJw/s320/P1030016.JPG" width="320" /></a>The scenery really was changing now and we were climbing up onto the Crags- Sewingshields Crag to be exact. Very dramatic escarpments caused by volcanic action some 295 million years ago - that's even before the Romans! Dramatic and picturesque they may be, but hard work to walk up even for fine athletes (!) like David and myself. We were now immersed in the high moorlands of the <a href="http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/" target="_blank">Northumberland National Park</a> and the range of Roman ruins and natural panoramas were breathtaking, quite literally at times. It was time for lunch, so we found the extensive ruins of Milecastle 35 and I cooked up a boil in the bag vegetarian curry. Very tasty it was too. I wonder if the Romans had boil in the bag curries? Must check that out. Refreshed and raring to go, we set off along Sewingshields Crag, down into Kings Wicket / Busy Gap, up again onto Kennel Crags and finally onto to the Roman Fort of Vercovicium [AKA Housesteads]. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View West from Kennel Crag</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & David, <br />
View back [East] to Kennel & Sewingshields Crag</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pDPuOSgqvk-UjimECgOp_c9dynQdTXwjGWVMYiI-hYbAjTboluqBEzvX-xu_3HrOGYlTGH2IB0-5vLrjs03cVBvPlUrrQaKrPhqWN_XyKdokm5uedcYuWMlCMbVjlfosk4AHHubBvv8/s1600/P1030023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leading up to Housestead</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Housesteads<br />
Looking East<br />
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There were wooden benches <br />
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Housesteads was the first-and best preserved- major fort ruins we had stopped at since leaving Newcastle. Perched high up on a Crag, it commanded superb views. It didn't take much imagination to see why Hadrian chose such sites to build major forts such as <a href="http://www.roman-britain.org/places/vercovicium.htm" target="_blank">Housestead</a>. For many of the 800 troops stationed there, it was probably a wild and bleak place, and really did feel like the Northern Frontier of the Roman Empire- the end of the earth. Why not a posting to Italy, Spain, North Africa - anywhere except here! Today it was hot, sunny and stunningly beautiful, but again, it doesn't take much imagination to picture this place in a northern winter. Brrrrr. Unless. of course, you were a high ranking officer, who unsurprisingly had underfloor heating all year around. Must have felt just like home [almost!]. But at least there were well designed and functional latrines.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crag Lough from top of Highshields Crag<br />
Looking East</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking West down to Sycamore Gap<br />
What was Robbin Hood doing this far north ?<br />
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Further stupendous views were to be had on the final leg of today's walk. Which is just as well, as it took the mind off the pain of the ruck sack. It was beginning to hurt now. Legs were OK. Back and shoulders hurt. The sun was also still shining and the sky looked clear. Which was a bonus. Descending off Peel Crags, a short walk along the road took us to the <a href="http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/once-brewed" target="_blank">YHA Once Brewed</a> where we had decided to decamp for the night due to impending rain. The staff at the YHA deserve a mention for being extremely friendly and helpful. A quick bottle of beer [Cumberland Ale] and hot shower. Bliss. Perchance there was a pub - <a href="http://www.twicebrewedinn.co.uk/" target="_blank">Twice Brewed</a> - next door. So called because original brewery, that was there many years ago to cater to the Navvies building the Military Road, became greedy, started watering down it's beer, so the navvies demanded that the beer was brewed again- hence Twice Brewed! A big bowl of mushroom pasta followed by a few pints of <a href="http://www.yatesbrewery.co.uk/Yates_beer.php" target="_blank">Yates IPA</a> and <a href="http://www.allendaleale.com/" target="_blank">Exp5256</a> replenished most of my lost energy. Thankfully the beer is not watered down now. It had been a tough and hot day. I almost fell asleep in my pasta! Scenically and Wall wise, it was by far the best day yet. This was classic Hadrian's Wall countryside and it did not disappoint.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Nick Mile Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steel Rig-View East</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14456369533105948758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458733055599550845.post-82282284728266142602013-09-13T12:56:00.000+01:002013-09-13T13:09:22.666+01:00Murray & David's Northern Frontier Conquest: Day 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<u>Day 3: Harlow Hill- Chollaford</u></h3>
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<u>Weather: Sunny</u></div>
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<u>Distance Walked: 12 miles</u></div>
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<u>New Beers Tasted: 3</u></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cross Section of construction of Hadrian's Wall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopTha3QaNZKhyvJzSsLu1Fo8GADFCJ872oeEih_Ht8Kwb9OHG0YHDfA7WI02DKtwwQmyAVCKmHMIDwH9Ob_9qpcrTz8cfkHT2ScCQzDDH0AWahNys8l-JgN8d51Ouhgaf5QVwTeC7f18/s1600/P1020991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopTha3QaNZKhyvJzSsLu1Fo8GADFCJ872oeEih_Ht8Kwb9OHG0YHDfA7WI02DKtwwQmyAVCKmHMIDwH9Ob_9qpcrTz8cfkHT2ScCQzDDH0AWahNys8l-JgN8d51Ouhgaf5QVwTeC7f18/s200/P1020991.JPG" width="200" /></a>A stunningly beautiful day dawned on Harlow Hill and it was time to breakfast. One of my luxuries was to carry a small cafetiere. I mean, what difference will a small cafetiere make to a 20kg pack?! Fortified with porridge and coffee it was time to strike camp and head out along the wall again. Except for now there still wasn't much wall. What we did have was some fine examples of the mound and ditch which made up the Vallum- although there wouldn't have been trees growing in them in Roman times! By mid morning we had reached passport stamp No.2 outside the <a href="http://www.robinhoodinn-militaryroad.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Robin Hood</a> [too early for beer, even for me!]. Heads down and a few hours more walking, however there were further outstanding examples of the earthworks that made up the frontier defenses- it's not all about the Wall!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vallum on Down Hill</td></tr>
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By early afternoon, over a day and half of walking with a full 20kg pack had started to take it's toll, so it was with grateful eyes [and bellies] that the <a href="http://www.erringtonarms.co.uk/default.htm" target="_blank">Errington Arms</a> at The Portgate came into view. A well earned rest and much refueling and re-hydration was needed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Errington Arms</td></tr>
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A reasonable value set lunch menu was on offer, with the veggie option looking tasty. I have to say that the vegetarian moussaka really was delicious. I had a thirst, so a few pints were required. Following a good rest and a decent sampling of the <a href="http://www.cullercoatsbrewery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Shuggy Boat Blonde</a> , the afternoon stretch seemed less arduous [funny that!] A few teasing remnants of the Northern Frontier were visible, but you needed to use the full range of your imagination. Still, the walking was easy underfoot, even if the packs were getting heavy. Maybe I should have packed less?!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Oswold in Lee</td></tr>
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The landscape was opening up, we were walking in some nice countryside, there was some interesting local history to investigate and the sun was shining. Not all bad! One of the many small detours we made was to St Oswolds church. This little church is built on a small hill overlooking the convergence of 3 ancient route-ways and is built largely of recycled stone from Hadrian's Wall. Recycling of the wall was common in many areas and another reason there is not much left in many lowland places! This little church is also on the site of one of the earliest 'Christian' Battles in England, when Oswald, the Christian King of Northumbria took on [and beat] the 'Heathen' King of the British Tribes, Cadwallon in the <a href="http://www.rcdhn.org.uk/about_the_diocese/saints/oswald.php" target="_blank">Battle of Heavenfield</a> in AD635.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broad Wall becomes Narrow Wall at Planetrees</td></tr>
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Nearing the end of our second full day walking , remnants of the wall started to become more numerous and more spectacular. At Planetrees we are presented with our largest section to date [I will be saying that a lot over the next 2 days!] , but what is significant about this section is that the base is significantly larger than the actual wall. For some reason [ time/money/energy/resources/mutiny ? ] the decision was made after the foundation had been built to make the wall less thick and a 10ft thick Wall became an 8ft Wall......<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turret 26b, [top] Chester Bridge Abutments [centre] Bath House of Chester Fort on opposite bank [above], <br />
Chollaford<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">......and so we traipsed into Chollaford on the North Tyne, weary but excited, as the promised Roman Ruins were now coming thick and fast. There was also the most spectacular sunset and reflection of sunset in the placid waters of the North Tyne. Time to pitch tent and eat. Another little campsite, Riverside Tea Rooms & Camping, was just over the bridge and on the route of the walk. Unfortunately the closest hostelry was the </span><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/preview#!q=The+George+Hotel%2C+Chollerford&data=!4m10!1m9!4m8!1m3!1d38543!2d-2.1429177!3d55.0286884!3m2!1i1440!2i809!4f13.1" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">George Hotel</a><span style="font-size: small;"> , which was , unknown to us at the time, a rather posh establishment-and didn't serve bar meals or snacks. Good job we had a good lunch earlier, as there was nothing else around that was open and there was no way we could afford to eat there -even if they had let us! We were begrudgingly allowed into the bar to have a drink, but I nearly had to mortgage my tent to afford even a drink and packet of crisps. Oh well. There was always porridge for breakfast. So in the bar we sat, in our walking boots, surrounded by rich pensioners, looking slightly out of place to say the least and had a few games of chess. David is very kindly attempting to bestow some of his substantial knowledge of the truly beautiful game upon me. Hard work, but he is very patient. To use a football analogy, bit like a Premier League [David] side taking on a non league [Me] side!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKgnlVyy7TK89zpRC28dfaligPLiKSHSFjwLZzJZ5Vo2f0KA35gIt_sUCzmCyBvwJl9JxZX7yZ2t5NVDfIlzbeLQvD7gU6qrV07RykC4NfcVq9G8XDHbwyczcAeUoo7NJXNSBEv47WaA/s1600/P1030009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKgnlVyy7TK89zpRC28dfaligPLiKSHSFjwLZzJZ5Vo2f0KA35gIt_sUCzmCyBvwJl9JxZX7yZ2t5NVDfIlzbeLQvD7gU6qrV07RykC4NfcVq9G8XDHbwyczcAeUoo7NJXNSBEv47WaA/s320/P1030009.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Sunset over North Tyne<br />
Chollaford</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRaDKwXHAv_xNlufqu4JB2pIUgqFDsA4GQCNV0SMbDw0fynSs3UnaojAUZZGpAsD6nPPQ3koKPy-IJD1hZ7qQ7Cc9YxxQA5_U6FuvttPOwQNetLlRXm-AEh4L1DAg8a5ZeGvXIIJMtHo/s1600/P1030007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRaDKwXHAv_xNlufqu4JB2pIUgqFDsA4GQCNV0SMbDw0fynSs3UnaojAUZZGpAsD6nPPQ3koKPy-IJD1hZ7qQ7Cc9YxxQA5_U6FuvttPOwQNetLlRXm-AEh4L1DAg8a5ZeGvXIIJMtHo/s400/P1030007.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Sunset over NortTyne,<br />
Chollaford<br />
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