Mission to Morocco - MDS 2011 by Birdypie

Slight delay on getting this blog post up – thank you BT for cutting off first my phone and then my internet! Get a cuppa in – this is a long post!!

I’m pleased to say that the Atlantic Challenge went well and I had a brilliant time down in glorious Cornwall. The format is the same as the Jurassic- a base camp at a local holiday camp with the runners/walkers and bumblers like me being ferried to the race start each day. The route for the ACC was split into three marathons starting just outside Padstow on Day 1 and eventually taking us down to the finish at Lands End on day 3. The scenery was uniformly wonderful – it actually was even more spectacular than the Jurassic with breathtaking coves and cliffs and wonderful sandy beaches. I met up on the first evening with some friends from the JCC and was rooming with Jannine – my companion on the Jurassic.

Day 1 easily had the worst weather and we set off in pouring rain and high winds. The route took us along the coast and into Newquay – where we arrived in descending sea mist! Thankfully once we escaped from the clutches of this seaside resort the rain eased up and miraculously the sun came out. The day ended with a long stretch along the beach – I walked this. I was feeling OK but just wanted to not push it on day 1. We had all been hearing horror stories about day 3! Day 2 started in much better weather with the sun out on the coast. It was a lovely stage – more challenging than day 1 with some more climbs and drops but not quite the extremes of the JCC and our team...now a threesome as we were joined by injured bimbler Kirsty – actually pushed on pretty well. Our efforts were slightly undone by another long beach section at the end but we crawled into the finish at base camp in 6.24 – actually quicker than our day 1 time.

Saturday night ended up being a bit of a red wine evening with relaxation in front of the TV and tales from the trail from our friends at the race. It really does have a great atmosphere this event but was helped this time by seeing afew friendly faces from last time out...plus my MdS compatriots Nicky and Kerry. The weather arrived on Saturday evening  - winds and driving ran. We were very lucky it didn’t turn up on Sunday but it did its damage on Saturday night – the course was waterlogged and bog like in places and we were faced with a diversion or two.... I was shattered on Sunday morning – I got very little sleep on Saturday night –mostly just over tired I think. I really wasn’t quite ready when we set off towards St Ives and wasn’t helped by my adductor muscle going ping in the first mile. Thankfully it seemed to settle down and our little trio was soon back to its bimbling best through the lovely streets of St Ives.

St Ives is the last bit of civilisation before Lands End and we set off into the improving weather well aware that things were going to get tough. Actually they got tough pretty quickly and we discovered why day 3 has such a reputation – it was unrunable for large stretches! Rocks, mud, bogs, boulders, more mud, more boulders and at one point I had mud up to my knees. We also had a couple of streams to ford! The views thankfully were amazing and our little trio worked very well-all of us had highs and lows but we kept encouraging each other along. We caught up with Nicky and Kerry just ahead of Checkpoint 3 at Cape Cornwall. It was lovely seeing everyone and we shared a cup of tea before heading off over the last six miles. Six miles is a long way when you’ve already run 70 – but this was some of the most beautiful running I’ve experienced. It was really tough to keep going but the end literally was in sight. We finally crawled up the last hill and could see the finish line – just half a mile! Crossing it was brilliant- we finished as a team and were given our trophies and hot Cornish pasties. Wonderful!

Truly an awesome weekend and the bubbly flowed on Sunday night! I’ve had a week off this week just getting out, catching up with friends and having a few beers. I finally got out and exercised today- 13 miles on the bike which was great fun. I managed my first cycle into and back from work yesterday which was a bit scary but not bad. Today....trainers back on for first run post ACC....next week...Beachy Head Marathon!