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