I am sat in a comfy chair at Mardale, cup of tea in hand, trying to focus my eyes, stand up and face the climb up Gatescarth Pass. It wasn’t meant to be like this, with the taste of vomit still clinging to my throat. I expected to breeze in, share a few happy words with the Spartan Army and fill the bottles before marching on to Kentmere.
The weekend so far had been fantastic. Camped in a field with around a 1000 like minded ultra nutters gave me a buzz and the air of anticipation was heightened after cheering off the 100 runners.
I'd hoped to do the L50 in 2012, so when the chance came round in 2013 I grabbed it and made sure I was as ready as I could be. If confidence was currency, I wanted to be feeling minted!
It's past one o'clock in the morning and I haven't had my supper! Not only that, I am stuck. Trying to find my way across a river I cannot see. It is all that Rangers' fault. But I can't go back without the apple. What would I say? What would he do!
As Steph returns from her early morning swim in Hatchmere Lake I'm desperately pulling my last few items together. The last few days have been very hot and I want everything in order for my run, plus the next few days I'll be living in Sheffield so I need to pack a bit extra.
As bad as it sounds I needed to get out of the house as soon as possible, I was been hunted down by external forces.
I'm in the van and on the road, I breath a sigh of relieve. The odds are better stacked now, this is it, it me against me and there can only be one winner!
Life's getting a bit crazy at the moment and something has to give. I seem to be great at organising people/groups/walls but when it comes to me I sort of just muddle through it and hope for the best!
I did the Outlaw last year, it was my first, and to be my only, Iron Distance Triathlon. With lots of good training advice from Alvin, Bryan, Daniel and Dani (Merseytri), it was the end of 18 Months of preparation. During that time I cycled around Northern Ireland, ran my first Ultra, PB’d marathons, learned to swim, rode some sportifs, dropped 10kg and generally became fit, strong and focussed. I was so happy with my 12:41 (against a target of 15) that I entered straight away for this year.
