Remembrance Run 131 sadly over

 

The day started with stormy skies and seas at Instow. A walk with the dogs to see how my body felt about running with an injury. 

I decided to go and see how far I could do, if I managed a half again that would be good, but also in my head I was thinking of self-preservation because of my job.

After training two clients I set off gently, walk, jog, through the wind and rain out towards Appledore again. The woods were far more slippery today than previously but I know them well, as they are on my regular running route, it was fairly safe ground……

Photo courtesy of my friend Sarah on Monday. This was the result of fall number one. 

I suppose by now you realise that I wouldn’t number a fall, unless there was another?

Here is the sad news…..

Fall number two, was just as epic in proportion and happened this morning just outside of Appledore, beyond the ‘slip’ and I hit down hard on the rocks, slamming down on the other hip! 

I lay there for a moment in a puddle, no one was around to help, and after a short while I managed to get up and try to walk. 

I’m grateful that I already had paracetamol in my system from the other injury, and also shock had delayed any major pain. But now as I sit and type, I can honestly say that there will be no more running this week. 

This is an extremely tough decision to make, firstly because of my hurt pride, secondly because of my hurt derrière and most importantly because I was doing it to raise money for The Veterans Charity, I don’t want to let anyone down. 

But….. the fact is that, had I done this a few weeks earlier the path would have been less treacherous, I have run in conditions like this before on the coastpath, when training for the 103 miler, and whilst remembering this, I also remember falling over out there miles from anywhere and spraining my ankle! 

Sensible decision now is to postpone any further coastal runs until the path dries up a bit and the weather improves. It’s just too dangerous to be out there on my own now. 

I need to thank Sarah, who came to my rescue today after I had fallen, and drove to collect me from the Burrows and take me home. Not sure what I’d have done otherwise! Thank you Sarah. She also took these photos of my bum! (We have known each other for a very very long time!) 

I am so sorry to have let you all down, and I will let you know when I plan to continue and finish the 131, I’m guessing some time in the spring? I will let you know! 

Thanks to everyone who has supported me this week and all who have donated, I do still hope that we can get some more donations please? I can’t help being clumsy! 

Justgiving.com/remembrancerun131

Remembrance Run 131 Day 2

 

I think, after today, that I need to re-name this challenge because I have already failed at getting the distance in this week! 

I woke up, felt tired and sore after yesterday. My shoulder was slightly improved but I had some concerns over my hip. 

After speaking on Radio Devon I felt slightly more positive about the task in hand, but I was choosing a sensible route just in case anything went wrong. 

The problem is, if I had a sit down desk job it wouldn’t be so bad, but I need my body in one working piece for my work and so I have to listen to it! 

I set off from Bideford with every intention of running to Westward Ho! and back twice. 

I made it to Appledore and met a man walking his dog on the beach there who had heard me on the radio. He inspired me a little to keep going as strong as I could, but the pain in my right hip and back was getting worse. Shooting up my back and down my leg from the point of impact yesterday. 

I made it to Westward Ho! pain increasing, which was affecting my running, I was fed up, and unsure what to do next. 

I decided to continue back to Bideford and see how I felt, but the pain only got worse the further I went.

I did a sort of weird jog-walk thing and by the time I had got back to Appledore I felt like crying. Not just because of the pain, but because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to complete the full marathon and I would be letting everyone down, and myself. 

I had though, made that decision that for today, I would only be running a half marathon. Maybe I could make it up another time with another half, but not this week. 

I have made a sensible decision however, and many people have said I made the right choice and that my health and well-being is first and foremost, and they are right. But it doesn’t change the fact that I feel like a failure today. 

I have had to, on a few races had to bail out, and not felt bad, but this one did. 

As for tomorrow and the other 3 expected marathons, I’m going to have to play it by ear. It’s not worth ruining myself over, but I hate failure. 

I will let you know tomorrow what I decide but chances are, I’m going to try, even if I do another half, but I will update you then.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and donated so far, I will try and not let you down. 

Remembrance Run 131 DAY 1

 

The day started off well, though the rain was consistent, the wind was not so strong for the first half marathon. 

I was waved off by Danny Greeno from The Veterans Charity who I am running for, and also my friend Sarah. 

I headed off towards Bideford, across the swamp that was Northam Burrows, through the pretty Appledore, up some hills, through some woods and eventually out the other side heading along Bideford Quay. 

I ran over the long bridge and up the hill before turning round at 10.5km.

The return journey was just as good, although the rain and wind had picked up again by now, and I made it back to halfway, at Westward Ho! in about 2 hours and 10 minutes. 

The first part of the second half was okay, the wind had certainly picked up in ferocity and I was way more exposed in this section. The views however from the top of those cliffs make up for the effort involved in climbing them. 

I was now skidding and slipping all over the place, the wind blowing my poppy wreath, ripping out the lower cable tie that secured it to my hydration vest. 

This was where the fun really started. The paths got steeper, both up and down and running, I couldn’t find my footing, I was literally skating all over the path.

I lost it a few times, gliding into gorse, tripping over mud-hidden rocks, and then, at 27km, it happened, I went over with the biggest thud a person could make. 

Sliding down the massive hill landing on my right hand side, it felt like my shoulder popped out completely, before righting itself as I put weight on it to lift myself out the mud. 

My hip also took a bashing and sloping and sliding to right myself I made a very adult and sensible decision to turn back towards Westward Ho! I was 5km short on distance in that direction, but I didn’t want to risk further injury out there in the exposed cliff top. 

I walked and ran carrying the damaged poppy wreath in my hand, doing what I could and decided to head back out towards Appledore across the Burrows to make up the lost distance, I was in pain, but I had set out to do a marathon, so that’s what I was going to do. 

Very sore, and fed up at this point with the wind and rain I made my way back eventually to Westward Ho! Sarah welcomed me back and took a photo of my very muddy behind! 

Day one done, nursing my injuries now and have planned a slighter less demanding route for tomorrow so I can recover better. 

Don’t forget to donate by going to justgiving.com/remembrancerun131

Thank you 

Remembrance Run training

Can you see how excited I am?! I had an unexpected day off to myself, and to me, that means getting some training in. Although I am fit (for my age!haha) I do need to remind my body what it’s got to do in a weeks time.

Ive not run a half marathon since early summer, and I haven’t run a marathon since May 2021! I need to get some work in. I also needed to get out training with my rucksack, as I am unsupported next week, I have to be self sufficient with extra clothes, food, water etc. 

Ive not used my camelbak rucksack since I ran the 103 miles in 2011! I needed to know if I will get chaffing, and where, and I have found out! 

For the most part the sun shone today, I went out just after the downpours were over, the ground was soggy, muddy and skiddy and I lost my footing several times, but never went completely over! Glad about that, there were a lot of holiday makers enjoying the coastpath today! 

 So I covered a half marathon over all, Bideford to Westward Ho! and back, in about 2 hrs 12 mins. I didn’t rush it and I felt fit. 

These marathons are the first that I am running with the affliction they call ‘peri menopause’ and also my first ever sugar-free! It’s going to be a challenge and a half! 

Not long to go now. 

Please donate to the veterans charity by going to justgiving.com/remembrancerun131 thank you. 

Remembrance Run 131

 Another year, another challenge! 

It’s sort of standard behaviour in Debbie-land don’t you think? 

Due to circumstances out of my control, I couldn’t take part in The Forces March this year, and so I have decided to take on the South-West Coastpath again.

From 7th November 2022 I will be taking on another 5 marathons in 5 days to raise money for The Veterans Charity. 

I have recently moved to North Devon, the last time I took on a challenge like this I was based in South Devon. Now, I’m not saying areas of the South Devon coastpath are easier, but some of the route I’m taking on this time is seriously rough, mostly the area around Hartland Point.

I’m going to continue blogging on here as I get closer to the challenge itself. 

I have a just giving donation page that you can use to donate to The Veterans Charity (blog and challenge in November 2022)

It’s justgiving.com/remembrancerun131

Catch up soon! 

The best fairytale ever told (by me)

 

Once upon a time in a teeny tiny town, there lived a lady of magic. She was well-known through the local area for helping those who needed guidance, and showing a way forward with the future. No one knew how she did it, because she was full to bursting of magic, and no one would question her abilities, because she was just amazing.

One day, a broken Princess arrived at the door of the magical woman. The Princess was outwardly happy and inwardly sad. She also helped a lot of people in the town area, but sadly, neglected herself when it came to dishing out the love.

The Princess had been repeatedly broken down and punished by bad Princes. They were, of course, the Prince Charming to everyone they met, but one in particular, kept the Princess imprisoned in her tower, for years on end. He kept her away from her friends, and her enjoyment of life, and if she ever managed to escape the tower, she was punished, beaten, and put back there, with the door locked and the key taken away.

The magical woman knew this, but wanted to help the Princess find a future of joy, because the Princess, herself, had helped out the magical woman from time to time. The lady did a special reading for the Princess, she saw way into the future and told the Princess that there was one more Prince coming for her. The Princess protested this, she had no faith in Princes, no faith in any man anymore, and ignored the words of the magical woman. But this was to no avail, and the woman again read for the Princess, and told her, she must listen this time. There was indeed a Prince, made just for her. One that she could trust, and even fall in love with, if she let her fears fall aside and let him in.

This carried on for many weeks, with the Princess finally deciding that she should trust the words of the magical lady, she should maybe be open to one more chance at happiness. And so with an open heart and mind, she carried on her daily doings, and by chance one day, was made aware of a new Prince when she was on her travels, because the Princess liked to travel very much. He was admired and respected by a few mutual friends of the Princess, and he carried an air of mystery around him, not arrogance like other Princes she knew. He was different, and the Princess wanted to know him more, so they agreed to meet one day in her very favourite village, to see if they could maybe be friends, that maybe they could like each other.

One day in Spring she did just that, she decided to keep an open view on things and go for it. She was ill-prepared for meeting a prospective romantic partner, as she had been doing charitable deeds all day, and was ever so tired and mucky, and very badly dressed for the occasion, but she wasn't intending romance, so she decided it didn't matter.

The moment arrived, she was summoned from the small dwelling she was staying in for the evening, with a blast of a horn, gathered up her many hounds and went out to greet the stranger. He was being escorted by three smiling children, the Princess knew that the Prince's offspring would be coming with him, and the four of them strolled along the open space in front of her. Her first glance of him took her by surprise. He was tall, handsome, commanding, but smiling softly, kind eyes and she felt straight away that he had a massive heart beating inside that firm, manly chest. She was completely taken aback, and straight away wished she had been better dressed for the occasion, but he seemed to care not of her appearance, and introduced himself and his three children to her, before they made a tour of the village together.

Dragged by her excitable hounds, she matched the pace of the long-limbed Prince, they walked the riverside, watching the boats bob, and the children run and jump along the way. They talked with ease and humour about all the things, they didn't seem to run out of things to say, and the Princess realised that this Prince didn't have any false charm, he was genuinely a kind man. They continued walking towards the place of dancing and merriment, where they met mutual friends. The Princess talked to the lady and Prince to the man, and slowly, their gaze wandered and met. Stars and moonbeams leapt through the heart of the Princess as they continued to make eye contact, the Princess fell in love in an instant, without even realising what was happening, because she had let her heart be open, she had let the Prince in to her world, and it would change it forever.

The Princess and Prince had to go their separate ways, but agreed that they should meet again, and arranged to meet the following week whilst the Princess was on her travels. As the Prince left, the Princess felt full of life and hope, she felt alive for the first time in years, she felt love and excitement and a passion for her future. She didn't want to ever be without the Prince, she was certain of that.

And so, the next week arrived, and the two of them connected in a way that the Princess never thought possible, and as the weeks passed, they met again, and again, and the weeks turned to months, the love built, the trust fulfilled, and every week was full of laughter and happiness. The Prince was truly the sole mate of the Princess, and on Christmas Day, the Prince got down on one knee, and proclaimed that he, wanted to be with the Princess, every day, for the rest of their lives, he asked her to marry him, and she was overjoyed, that was all she wanted, right from that very first day, when their eyes met, and she fell in love. 

And they all lived happily ever after.

Special thanks to Kay Avalon for helping to make this story, a story.

Even more thanks to Ryan, for loving me more.