I'm sorry, I'm so far behind in blogging and time is against me now. Work is bonkers so it won't be until my 2 week xmas break (which trust me cannot come soon enough) that I can really catch up properly on here.

Therefore I'm going to keep it brief.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

To Warren for starting the adventure off early on the Thursday and for the good chat all the way up and back and for doing all the driving.

To Vicki, Richard & Ollie for being wonderful hosts throughout the weekend.

To the support crew for being crazy enough to spend a whole day just waiting to see some sweaty folks run by. You've been on the otherside, so you know how much it means.

To Rob for managing to sleep through the dawn chorus ;-)

To Hollywood for the biggest surprise of the weekend and taking the time, as you always do for those quiet words.

To all buzzers out there supporting from afar, I caught a wifi signal at mile 22 and my left arm vibrated for a good 30 seconds with all the updates pinging in.

To fellow buzzer runners for gritting teeth and getting the job done.

Finally to us all for a fab evening of connecting together and reinforcing how brilliantly a bunch of people from far and wide, united by a passion and friendship bonds, just "click" when we do meet face to face.

 

As for my run it went as I hoped

Steady run (with a bit of walk at the steep bit) up to Pen y pass. Then Whhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee down to 8 miles. (Made up 150 places between the YHA and halfway)

A round of applause from spectators high on a bank that I hadn't noticed when I went for a pee in what I thought was a secluded bush.

A cheer from Anna at 11 miles and a big boost to see the cracking support crew at 13.

A steady grind then using run 5 walk 1 for the next 10 miles (surprised how well this worked (only lost 16 places))

Then the big push up (playing Conquest of Paradise and Men of Harlech on the phone to keep the legs moving), knowing that if I could just keep it going sub 4hr was still on and then downhill all the way from Mile 25 and I flew past people all the way (99 people passed since mile 23) to sneak in with 2 mins to spare.

Happy days.

 

A big run looms with Jim at midnight on Friday / Saturday, we've got a live tracker like Angus had which should be visible here

http://racedrone.net/event/escape-from-meriden

Running home to Hawkesbury makes it feel like it's downhill :-)

 

All the very best folks