Round the misty North Devon lanes I found my destination, the car park by the swimming pool in Ilfracombe. It was now 11pm, people were tucked up in their tents, not a sound.
I hopped into the back of the van, got into my sleeping bag and slept nervously for a few hours.
Wednesday 23rd May 2012 - the day I had been waiting for, the start of the epic challenge that is The Forces March. You read what it is - 5 marathons in 5 days. For a marathon runner it sounds fairly simple. The problem is, marathon runners who run 'normal' organised events have pretty flat routes, closed roads, people with sweets and water on every corner. I had some idea that this was going to be pretty different, I had prepared myself enough mentally for it I thought.
As a runner, the hardest part is not the training, or the diet, but it's the mind. You can be the best runner in the world, but if your head fails, you fail! I wasn't going to let myself be beaten by my own head. This was it.
Around 7 am, I met Paul and then Kaja, Paul made me a cuppa and we all sat and had a good chat about the event. Already so early I had made new friends, this is something I love to do, meet new people, form new friendships, swap stories of challenges. I had a good feeling about the march now, real positive feelings.
More people arrived, the place was buzzing, I met Janine, aka The Rambling Duck! I've known Janine through twitter for a while so it was good to finally meet her in person. She is an awesome woman, to go through those 5 days dressed as a duck is amazing!
The walkers were released on to the route and then we were off!
My strategy was always going to be to plod it, walk the inclines and plod the rest. Day 1 though, I was on form. The inclines were begging me to jog them and I loved every minute of it.
Alice then came and ran by my side, we seemed to keep a good pace together and formed the first part of the the team.
Not sure what Alice first thought when I started talking to horses and cows, but by Day 5 she was fully accepting of it!
The countryside through North Devon is beautiful, it was an extremely hot, sunny day, hard work on the feet but the pain went with the stunning views. I was however starting to feel my mistake of hitting the hills so fast at the start, I had to plan better for the next 4 days.
The roads went on, and on, I knew some of this area from a previous holiday but Exford was further away than I ever imagined. We kept going on further and further, endless hills, endless straights, endless heat.
There were steps behind us, Rob Starbuck had caught up and ran with us into the campsite. This made the team to 3, and fantastic running buddies they turned out to be.
Straight into camp and straight into the cold paddling pool that was to be the saviour of the muscles for the rest of the week!
That night I was given a lift back to Ilfracombe to pick up my van. We drove back the route, it took us about 40 minutes, I then drove back along it again, remembering each and every step we had gone through that day. It was hard to comprehend at that point just what we had achieved that day, and what was in store for us for the rest of the week.
Thursday, Day 2 - my favourite running day of the 5.
Suffering a little from Camelbak chaffing, couple of toe blisters, but legs and lungs feeling good! I guess, the best thing about being a Fitness Instructor is that you are constantly training.
Someone asked me what I'd done to train for The Forces March, and I had to be honest and say, nothing! Unless you count, running with clients, Boxercise, Kickboxing, Ballet, cycling, spacehopper fitness, and the list goes on! I didn't however do any super amount of running, but when you're fit, you're fit for any challenge.
So, the new team were together, Debbie, Alice and Rob! We plodded together in the extreme heat, we hit the hot hard roads, the uneven camber, the fast cars, the wildlife, the stunning scenery and worked as a fantastic team.
When I set out that Tuesday night I could never have imagined just what this experience would bring, and the friendships that have formed.
I did lose the plot mentally for a lot of this day, but it was funny! I found dancing down hill was easier on the quads than running, and there was mention of a Steam Train at the end. What more could a geek like me want than that?!
We ran miles, miles, and more, and then hit a 1:8 downhill that turned into a 1:6! I ended up running sideways, it was hard, so hard. My toes constantly pushing into the road, blisters building.
On day 2 we were running with a guy, Lee a lot. He would pass us, we would pass him, this went on all day until we slowed at the end through the last little village. Lee was to become Team member number 4 of the Awesome Foursome!
We reached a Steam Railway Station and were given a really fantastic welcome. Then there was only a little jaunt left to get to the campsite - where the paddling pool awaited us!
Interesting camp site that night, it kept reminding me of the film, The Hills Have Eyes, the one with the inbred cannibals! That was the night of the Fox shagging! They were right outside my tent too!
I'm glad really that I knew what it was, the noise was like the sound of death, I huddled into my sleeping bag and prepared for Marathon 3.
Friday - Marathon 3 - nearly 30 miles to cover!
We had been warned about day 3, the epic hilly start from the village, and the longest in terms of mileage out of all of them.
The day started with a lovely little group of school kids singing little war songs - bless! Then we were released into the coutryside and the Quantocks.
To be fair, the much talked of hill at the start is a bugger! But I do like hills, we didn't have to rush, we just took it in our stride and faced it like a team.
How Rob made it up there in 9 mins on his 132 mile epic I have no idea. But Rob is an outstanding runner with a determination that is rare.
Again, the scenery was spectacular, beautiful rolling hills, the sun was beating down on us yet again. Another hot one.
The heat was one of the main problems for me. I used to get a lot of heat stroke when I was younger so I took extra precautions to ensure I was cool and hydrated whenever I had the chance.
Day 3 was the day I realised that by licking my own arms I got to replace a little of the lost salt! I did look like a little silly but it worked!
Rob had calf issues along the route, we took it slow and steady to ensure that it wouldn't get any worse.
The countryside in places from Bridgewater looked a little French to me. I think I was slightly obsessed by this for a time. That's the thing about long runs in the heat, you do go a little loopy! Or is it just me?
I think the heat and the fact that is was a Friday affected the drivers in the area. They were shooting round the bends into us, there was one car that came straight for me, I had to dive into the side, Rob was behind me and saw the whole thing. It was pretty scary to be honest.
Our destination that day was Somerton, a pretty bunting-filled village at the bottom of a very, very, very long hill. We made it though, straight into the paddling pool and onto the physio table for me.
The physio team were awesome, they looked after us with anything from blisters to muscle ache. After day 3 my glutes were in agony, knotty and painful. But the team sorted me out and made me better for the last 2 days.
I had to be driven back to the start again to collect my van so Lee came with me and we went for cider and a kebab in Bridgewater on the way back! And then to bed to prepare for day 4.
Day 4, officially the hardest one for me, and the one that made me realise that I can be hardcore if I want to be!
The start of the run was fine, really good, again, stunning scenery, pretty cottages and villages, more sunshine and heat.
The Team were good, Alice was strapped up and a little in pain, we took it gently. Rob had no further calf issues.
At about 9 or 10 miles I'm guessing I started to get a pain in my hip. Right on my hip bone. It niggled, it wasn't worth worrying about, until we got to about mile 14 ish.
The pain spread down my leg and around the base of my spine. It was nasty!
I moaned as little as I could about it, but it was getting me down and affecting the team as I had to go so slow. I was not happy.
I'm glad for running shades, it covered up the tears that were welling up from the pain I was in. I kept going, with support from the team I kept it together.
The Sarah drove past with ice lollies! Picked up the spirits slightly, and boosted my will to go on.
There was a lot more incline that day to do, Alice then got a second wind and she was off, unfortunately I couldn't go fast. But we kept it together.
Then not far from the end, I'd had it, I was in pain, real proper pain that I hadn't felt for a long time. But we saw the Rifles ahead.
Something in me snapped, I wanted the paddling pool first! Lee then said, shall we pick up the pace, we can get in before them! I picked up the pace and properly started to sprint. And I kept going, and we overtook them, and carried on running to the finish.
I guess we all have reserves when we want them, but the thought of that cold water (did I mention a pub) was enough to push me through that barrier and carry on.
Then, the fun started! So, you run 26 miles to a pub, what else would you do but have a pint?! Of course.
I had to see the physios though as a matter of urgency.
The problem with running on roads that aren't closed to traffic is that you run on the edge of the road where the camber is at it's worst. I was running right in the edge at times and your left foot could be as high as a few inches above your right.
My hips were knackered.
Adam (hero of the day) gave me a few little exercises, pushed my hip a bit and sent me on my way, what a genius. I knew then that I could finish the Forces March and do Marathon 5.
I was still limping about a bit but was so much better than before.
The night was fantastic, put a smile back on my face and really got me motivated for the 5th, and final marathon.
Sunday 27th May 2012 - Marathon 5 out of 5.
Guess what? Another bloody hot day! I think I'd become immune to it by then. You get used to it and also how to deal with it.
The Team set off super speedy, I was on form - I had about 8 pints on the Saturday night and I've always said I do my best running on a hangover, it's true. I could have ran the whole lot the way I was feeling.
Unfortunately one of our team wasn't on form, Rob was suffering from severe stomach pains and heat stroke. I was worried to be honest, really worried.
We plodded on, I had a poo in a field, which was nice!
Rob got steadily worse, we had to get him water, cool and something for his stomach.
There was a road closure on one of the sections and we ran down the middle of the road! No uneven camber!
This marathon did seem endless, the last 3 miles went on and on, the last mile felt so hard, but we saw the end in sight. We saw the flags, the people waiting to cheer us as we came into the finish line, Team - The Awesome Foursome. We did it! 132.5 miles in 5 days.
We didn't just run 5 marathons, we lived running, we lived the experience, everything we did contributed to that goal, our minds were tuned into hardcore and our dreams were fulfilled.
I have a tear in my eye as I'm writing this now as I just didn't want the experience to end.
Those 5 days were not only the hardest I have ever had in my life, but they were the best. Nothing can beat that experience.
I pushed myself to the hardest challenge, I did it and proved to myself when you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. If you don't get off your backside and get out there and do things like this you will never know life in it's best form.
I made some extremely special friends, some more special than others! And I have made lasting relationships with other like minded people, people who raise money for those who really need support.
After meeting Dan and Matt on the march, it made me realise just why I do challenges like this, so I can help.
I stayed that night to complete the full Forces March experience, it was hilarious! And then I had to say goodbye :(
If you've read this, and realise that actually I did something amazing last week for some amazing people, then please, there is still a chance to donate to The Veterans Charity via my Just Giving page.
justgiving.com/Deborah-Miller-Wright0 or you can text DFMW69 to 70070 and donate as little as £1
Thanks
Debbie :)
An amazing account, well done!!:-)
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