To be honest, I hadn't planned on doing it. Today was the day that my husband Ian would be running with Andy McMenemy, who is breaking a Guinness World Record of running 66 Ultra Marathons in 66 consecutive days in 66 cities. We were to join him on Day 19 in Chichester and also have the chance to meet up with a very dear friend, Ray who is driving a huge RV from city to city and providing a much needed job of supporting Andy and the Challenge 66 team with anything they needed from day to day and also shopping and cooking for them each day.
http://www.challenge66.org
Originally, I had planned to go along and cheer the boys along and perhaps do a couple of laps. As time went on, I then decided to walk 26 miles whilst they do their 31 miles, as a good training session for the Moonwalk which takes place on June 10th in Edinburgh.
We set off from Bournemouth to Chichester in thick fog, whilst studying the weather reports, which had all been forecasting rain and 39mph gusts. However, by the morning, this had changed to sunny intervals and a high of 10 Deg C later that day. A very welcome change.
We arrived at Priory Park at 08:15 as the team were just setting up and getting ready to greet the Mayor. Andy arrived a few minutes later and it was great to see him again (we were introduced to Andy and his wife Caz last summer whilst staying with Ray and Ellie (Ray's wife, who I became close friends with on the weight loss website that I have been a member of since 2007).
On the dot of 9am, we stood on the start line and Andy had previously told me that in order to complete my marathon, I would need to do 51 laps of Priory Park. It sounded easy.
The Mayor said a few encouraging words and we were OFF. Andy, Ian and another runner, Kevin who had joined in set off in a 12 min/mile pace. As someone who runs half the pace of my husband, I was extremely pleased to find that I could keep up for a couple of laps before realising that I should actually be walking.
Priory Park is beautiful - especially at this time of year. There was a huge Magnolia tree in blossom and as I made my way around the top perimeter, I could see over the flint wall and into the back gardens of some beautiful Edwardian houses. I was really enjoying it.
I had downloaded Michael McIntyre's biog, which kept me entertained, whilst the laps were adding up. At one point, I looked at my HRM and was amazed to see that a whole 3 hours, 55 minutes had gone by. As the HRM only gives me a lap number when I press the lap button, I could only assume that I must be nearing the end. But then I realised what I was actually seeing was my LAP time of 3 MINUTES, 55 seconds. I had actually only been going for 1 hour 25 minutes!! But I was still feeling great and was able to run up a particularly steep (but thankfully short) hill half way around each lap.
The sun came out, so the fleece came off and I was grateful for choosing a short sleeve top underneath, rather than the long sleeved running one I had originally planned on wearing. It was really warm by now.
I could almost determine the time of day by the smells reaching my nose from the gardens. I could detect bacon and sausages in the early morning - oh, and fresh coffee...which smelt glorious. And as lunchtime arrived, I started to detect roast beef and yorkshire pudding!
I had some Jelly Babies in my belt which were gratefully eaten and I think at lap 30, my wonderful husband came up with half a banana which I was very pleased to eat.
At lap 35 (roughly 17 miles in), I was beginning to lag and Ray, who had already gone a few laps with me, kept me company again, asking what I had brought along to eat for lunch. I hadn't given it a single thought. I had dutifully packed a sports bag full of clothes that I thought I may need for the weather changes and we had bought Jelly Babies and Wine Gums for energy. Oh, and some disgusting power gels which worked, but were hard going on the gut. Ray knew I was wheat intolerant, so very kindly and ever so graciously darted off to Chichester town centre to buy me some wheat/free rolls and ham. When he got back, he then ordered me to stop and eat one (by this time, my brain was in an automated "just keep going" mode). And I did as I was told. That roll was wonderful. I have never eaten whilst exercising, and it felt odd. I was also worried in case my gut objected. But it didn't. My system was so grateful for the carbs and I definitely now know that this single roll kept me going to the end.
A few laps on, Andy shouted out to us to stop and make an arch for Ian, who was approaching his very first marathon distance. It was very emotional to see Ian running through our outstretched arms. He was in very good spirits and I hope was good company for Andy.
Ray stayed with me and was counting each lap down for me, keeping my mind on anything but the laps and the pain I was now in. My quads were beginning to hurt and although my HRM kept shouting at me that my heart rate was down to 139 (because I had slowed down), I was out of breath and finding it difficult. The Challenge 66 team and some onlookers were clapping me and encouraging me with every lap completed, bless them. I was also lapping the park in the opposite direction to Andy, Ian and Kevin, so we were able to greet each other with each lap. During one of the later laps, they had been given Cornetto's!! (I politely declined, as I knew the ice cream would upset my stomach).
I could hear Ray saying "3 more laps Caz!" By this time, I was stopping momentarily at one of the park benches to stretch out my quads and release my hips from stiffening up. There was also some really uncomfortable pain in the backs of my knees, but as I was wearing supports on both knees, this pain was manageable.
I then heard the wonderful words, "Last lap Caz" Dig deep! You can do it!" and "That's the last time you'll see that park bench ever again!". As we neared the last quarter lap, Ray then sprinted off to the finish, looking back and telling me he was off to get his camera. I also noticed Andy and Ian had run on ahead too.
I dug in deeper and began a sprint to the finish. Then I saw Andy and Ian holding the red tape across the finish line for me. I heard someone say "Lift your arms!" and I did in true athletic style (must have looked awful, but I didn't care by then).
26.2 miles, 51 laps completed in 6 hours and 02 minutes (having deducted the time I had stood to eat my roll). It felt wonderful.
30 minutes' later Andy came through the finish line and I was allowed to hold the red tape for his finish. Wonderful stuff!!
And just 5 minutes after that, I held the tape again to see Ian come through his finish. He has never ran a marathon before, let alone completing an ultra marathon, so I was very proud and emotional.
Two days after this, I am still hobbling a little bit, as the quads really didn't like that steep but short hill...
A wonderful day. And it still hasn't sunk in. I'm so pleased that my daily Stupid O'Clock walks had really helped me to complete a distance that I never thought possible.
With grateful thanks to Ray Birch (www.raybirch.blogspot.com) for all photographs used
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