Its been a week, so the decision was made to get out for a little run.  My feet had recovered sufficiently and my legs were feeling good.  I took on board my mistakes after the Hardmoors 55 and went up stairs into the gym first and warmed up on the bike for 5 minutes and then a few stretches.  I wasn't interested in doing too much so just decided to run around the field for a bit incorporating a run and walk technique.  This was purely to just get back to it but in such a fashion to almost re-introduce my feet and legs to the kind of flexion and stresses that are required.  It felt great actually so really pleased I didn't push it, my previous injury in my heel or plantar fascia feel better than before attempting the The Wall so that was even better news and all the more reason not to go at it too much.

The Wall (part 4)

So after dragging myself round the first half which in there eyes was 32 miles which was a great Pit Stop where everyone was stopping and getting there feet dealt with and changing items of clothing and stocking up on food and drink for the next section of the run.  I didn't want to hang around too long as makes me feel worse, legs get tight, feet become sore and I feel like I'm losing valuable time.  So after stocking up and a brief rest off I went.  Coming out of Vindalonda Pit Stop we went into a bit of a hill which in Hardmoors terms it wasn't even a hill but it was a welcome change and actually took the strain from my hip flexors and loosened them up a bit which was well received.  This gave me a little boost powering down the road to now what was the next target the Pit Stop at 44 miles, there was a water station before then but the 44 mile mark was significant as meant only 25 miles to go which normally would sound ridiculous but on this day it made good listening.  I met up with various people along this section of the route and even pulled over to the verge at one point where another runner was just tending to his badly blistered feet and I'd thought 'I should be doing that' as had felt a soreness in the middle of my foot and I know the rules of 'deal with it as soon as you feel it'.  So there we were sat down trainers off in the lovely sunshine looking out over the hills it was superb and I could have stayed there to be honest.  We got patched up and went on together, had a bit of a chat as you do about how we'd done the bulk of it now and just needed to get into finishing mode.  This lad was really starting to struggle so I stayed with him till the next check point and left him to tend to more wounds.

At this point I was still trying to do a bit of running but my heel wasn't allowing it.  I would run for about 25 yards then get a pain going up my heel which I decided wasn't worth putting through the mill, instead to push on in what I can only describe as my 'Power Walking phase'.  This was where I would be walking and a good pace almost fast marching really, I really got into a good rhythm using my arms in this kind of swinging method that really helped.  To break up the monotony of this form of walking I'd have to go into again what I decided to call 'The Trophy' walk, now I spent a long time thinking about this trust me.  Hands on the hips head up and back straight trying to relieve areas that were in pain.  I would then break into a little trot before the pain became too much then move straight into the arm swinging march and then in to trophy pose for rest interval.  This is how I carried on for about the next 15 miles, which is a long long time!

By now the the roads and cycle tracks were really taking there toll on my battered feet I could really feel some considerable pain coming up my legs and tightening my calves and hamstrings, I new this was going to make for a very painful last 25 miles.  The rucksack was really causing all sorts of problems in my shoulders but this seemed to not bother me due to the pain in my feet. The power and strength of the mind now became crucial, as different methods of over coming pain and self doubt were going to be needed.  The pain causes you to have negative times mentally, so the only way to stop the negativity is to stop it at the root of the problem, the pain.  I had to keep convincing myself that yes my feet hurt but no more than they did 20 odd miles ago or 5 hours plus ago and this should not be a reason for me to be moaning to myself about it.  They brain was obviously sensing trauma and was starting to use methods against its own body to make it stop.  I tried to shut off the pain in my feet, i wasn't going to allow that to be the thing that stopped me as that wasn't good enough.  Breathing techniques were brought it again to change things and give me focus away from my feet.  Positivity is paramount, belief that you are going to get to the end and you will finish no matter what. Then it becomes desire to just get to the end, I just wanted the pain to stop, which unfortunately I convinced myself this would happen if I could just get myself to the finish line.

After numerous hours of self-talk and positive reinforcement and mind numbing conversations with myself I realised I had given  myself false hope, because the it dawned on me that I may well finish the race and the relief that brings is immense but the actual pain I am feeling and going through won't stop ha ha!  It will all carry on hurting, not just for a little bit longer but probably for a couple of days.  This actually didn't dishearten me, it made my chuckle because I'd been holding on to this ideal out come that the sooner I finish the sooner the pain will stop and it was a load of rubbish.  It had kept me going for a good 10 miles though so job done!

The Wall (part 3)

So after being advised not to run too fast over the cobbles coming out of the Castle as the may be slippy, I started off in may very familiar slow chug run.  As I was aware I hadn't trained sufficiently and been injured and overcome with a cold all the previous week I was just wanting a steady start.  Its easy to get dragged along at other peoples paces but from everything I have read it is very important to always remember its about you, its your race, you don't know anything about them or there history or why they are there.  Always run your own race massive bit of knowledge this as easy to burn yourself out going along with others as seems like a good idea at the time.  I was more interested in the fact I had my trainers on from York Marathon 2013, why, oh why, did I think this was going to be a good idea.  Then I had a compression top on and my waterproof, again this at the time was good to stay dry but wow it was warm.  I set off with the pain instant in my heel just letting me know its not actually recovered and I was a fool for trying to run 69 miles on it.  The in-house argument had already begun and I wasn't even at the delerias stage!

I don't actually remember too much from the beginning apart from the weather being a thin fog like rain which in my opinion was perfect we were still able to get a bit of a view so was ok.  Even by mile one my rucsack was really annoying me.  I just kept repeating to myself, ' when this bloody run is done I'm getting a new backpack or hydration pack' it was slipping down my left shoulder constantly. My thoughts were, if this is annoying me now whats it going to be like 50 miles in!  So the strap got tightened and I tucked some of waterproof under it, this later on would prove detrimental. We were running on the road the majority of the time which was really getting to my hips due to the impact, the soreness at the front just kept increasing as the time ticked away.  My hip flexors were really suffering, which actually diverted the pain from my feet at the time and gave me something else to think about.  We passed through a few trails which I was very pleased of as thought might relieve the hips, but if anything did it was the occasional uphill, I know I know, uphill is he having a laugh, it relieved the hips as started using a different muscle group.  Any way 15 miles I remember asking the next runner who was passing through a stile after me if they had seen 'The Wall' yet and they replied with a comprehensive 'NO', at least I was still alert then as I hadn't either.

After running into the first major checkpoint which on this run was call a 'Pitstop' I was able to refuel and get myself together.  My temperature had been going up and down like a yo yo so I was panicking that my internal temperature or cooling system was still affected from my cold therefore causing all sorts of problems over the next 18 hours of trauma to the body.  The sandwiches were very welcome as it was mid morning and I was starving, the greatest thing was the cut up oranges they were amazing and very addictive.  They were also offering Redbull so I was hoping it would give me wings as in the advert but not sure on that one ha ha!  Off I went sandwich in hand with sweets and a drink to consume slowly, but after seeing everyone else sat down having a picnic I just felt it was prudent to keep going and get the miles in the bank.  I soon met up with my next friend who I don't know his name but was a great guy very interesting.  He was 60 years old and had run this last year, he'd also run the Marathon de Sables in 2006 which I was just in awe of, but he continued to say how last year he'd managed to get to mile 62 checkpoint then collapsed and fainted after which he was pulled out of the race.  This was the second person that had said this as Mark on the train did exactly the same. I moved on and left him eating his sandwiches but this left me in a real quandrie as now I was panicking at either something at mile 62 or was it that bad getting there!  The game was on, and I was in the thick of it............

The Wall (Part 2)

Beep beep beep! Not that I needed it as didn't really sleep that well, I wasn't apprehensive I just couldn't sleep.  Its 5am and its time to get myself sorted, ready for action, pumped up or maybe a good time to finish packing my pack.  So for breakfast I indulged in pot of porridge that I brought with me and a banana. I decided I didn't want to eat too much as didn't want to be bloated but I needed enough to get me through the first couple of hours really.  All packed and bouncing down the road getting ready for my epic adventure across Hadrians Wall.  Passing all the early workers and shop owners who were preparing for there day ahead and heading towards the castle with what felt like nearly everyone else, it was like the gathering, drawn to the Castle by some great power!  Then I woke up ha ha! Only kidding.  Once I had walked through the town and had the Castle in my sights I dropped off my finish bag with the lorry that transported them for us and made my way to the start.  The start was in the center of the Castle with a massive inflated start barrier to run under and what I can only describe as a 'Pen' for the runners.  We were advised to cross the mat to allow the chip timer to register then await the race brief.  By now the rain had started, a thin drizzlie kind of rain which was more just annoying than getting you soaked through.  We were given all the health and safety points for the race and the check point descriptions and told there were over five hundred arrows out there for us to follow which was slightly more reassuring, even I couldn't get lost ha ha ha!.  Then to the big moment 3.......2........1....... Rat Racers GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The Wall (part 1)
Three days on and I am actually feeling quite good, can't believe my recovery rate after 'The Wall'!   Now its been sometime that I have updated this blog and I will explain why, 3 reasons really, firstly injury prevented me from doing any really training as tried to preserve myself as best I could just to get to the start line, then two I got a virus on the laptop so couldnt do anything with it and three today really I could'nt workout how to get back into my account ha ha!  Yes yes, its been said already, I know I am not good with computers but it was'nt obvious so took a while!

Back to the main event 'The Wall', since the longest run I did in training was 8 miles accompanied with a few short 3-5 milers with 'The Ginger Ninja'.  I managed the gym several times with Epoc Coaching and worked a specific aspects of my training such as the strength of my Hamstrings and Quads, keeping my upper body strong too alongside the flexibility and mobility.  Coming into the race I wasn't ready fact, I was ill the week before which really put the dampner on the whole thing as felt rubbish all the way up to the start line.

Where did this journey begin, York at 1pm Friday 19th, just finished and packing the car with my stuff already for off.  Backwards and forwards from the car to the house, remembering last minute things that I might need, but won't need, just pre-race panicking as normal.  I finally get out on the road heading up to Gateshead this is where it all started.  I turned up at The National Athletics Stadium and parked the car in a mass panick as per normal in true EBW form I was running it to the wire! Grabbed all my bags and stuff I needed, locked the car, and ran.  Off out on to the ring road in Gateshead, mmm now where ooops!  Head for the bridge my Dad said as the station is just after it, so using my limited technology knowledge I googled it and I was 2 kilometers away, well you can imagine the colourfull words that oused out of my mouth.  So I ran in the direction of the bridge eventually finding it and continuing on to the station, hopefully in time.  Next train to Carlisle 17.54 ok cool, what time is it now, 17.53 ooops again!  Ticket, how and where do I get a ticket, 'quick run to that machine I was screaming at myself'.  So as I'm about to take my turn I hear this voice behind me ' The Wall', I turn and utter 'er yeah' and he said 'yep me too so hurry up' ha ha!  We both ended up running over the bridge to platform 6 ready for the train just pulling in.  This was brilliant timing I have to say, so Mark my new buddy and myself got ourselves aquainted and settled on the beginning of our journey.

Apon arrival in Carlisle we met another adventurous type looking for knowledge that he was going to be ok and off we went.  Like the Three Musketeers heading off into the distance, well towards The Castle for registration.  This was an odd experience, as previous to this day I had been having numerous conversations on social media regarding the mandatory kit list and what was required to the law.  Filled in and signed my disclaimer, basically saying that I was insane but its ok as I know as I have signed the document and then collected my race number and baggage numbers.  I was then directed to another desk where I collected my 'Rat Race' buff which was pink so that got an instant dislike and became Olivia's (my 8 yr old daughter) there and then, and my technical shirt which we decided I was a large in (again later became aware this must have been a childs one or an XXS) so all in all I wasn't that impressed with my race goodies, hey at least the whistle works toot toot!!!

Off I trot all signed in and with all my identification and numbers ready to go.  I bundled my way through Carlisle trying to find some clues to where my B&B was.  I eventually found it after, yes you guest it using my phone's magic.  I logged in and settled for the evening with a bit of food, lemsips and TV.  My preparation is some of the best, always learning thats the key! ha ha