29 minutes in & my watch beeps at me. I stop & slow to a walk as a steady stream of runners pass me, several pausing to ask if I’m okay. I guess they’re not used to seeing someone walk quite so early on in a race & I appreciate their concern.
My walking is intentional though as I have a plan.
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It’s mile 51 & I’m having a one-woman sit-down protest. I’m sitting on the grass by the river in Henley refusing to move.
I’ve spent the previous ten miles listing all of the reasons why I’m stopping.
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I shout about the good ones so it’s only right that I also shout about the ones that *don’t* quite go to plan.
At the end of 2019, I ran the Wendover Woods 50. The hilly woodland trails were everything I love about running & it instantly became one of my favourite races. When Centurion Running announced they were holding Wendover Woods 100 for only the second time, I knew I had to be on that start line.
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I’ve been pondering over this blog for days, weeks, not really knowing what words to write. Mainly because I’m a typically reserved Brit who doesn’t like to shout about their own successes. But there really is no other way of writing about this race. Because you know what, I did good on the South Downs Way.
In fact, I did bloody good.
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My stomach turns in nervous anticipation as I see the sign ‘this way to the finish’. Turning into the stadium grounds I hear the excited buzz of the finish area. I hold myself back for a moment & take a deep breath. A few quiet words as I compose myself.
I’ve done it.
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Wendover Woods 50, where do I start?
I wasn’t going to write about Wendover Woods 50, in fact, I’m only now sitting down, a few months post-race, with some words to say.
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How do you condense the story of 100 miles into just a few hundred words? You don’t. Mix a G&T, this is a long one.
A few weeks later & I’m still not sure if I have the right words to accurately tell my SDW100 story. I sit here, trying to think of the words I need, not just to paint the picture of the physical journey from start line to finish line, but also the words to describe the emotional journey because this adventure was as much about the mental challenge of completing 100 miles as it was the physical. Continue reading
With 5 miles to go I thought I’d blown it.
I had a goal time in my mind for the South Downs Way 50 but at the bottom of the final hill I just couldn’t see how I was going to do it. I was tired, my knees were in agony, my stomach was churning with every faltering movement. Every step was a painful effort & I still had what seemed like a mountain to climb. Continue reading
Toronto Waterfront Marathon, I did it! The marathon I didn’t think I’d be fit enough to start, I started AND I finished.
I could stop there, I don’t know if there’s a story in this race or not. There should have been the most amazing story had the best laid plans not gone AWOL but life has a habit of happening, and anyway this Toronto story was never just about a marathon, it was as much about the family as it was running. Continue reading
Photo Girl Runs 