This week was always going to be a shorter week. Fewer miles, and less elevation. It was described by some as an 'active rest' week. It turned out to be even shorter. More later on that.
It was a week of Fawlty towers, numerous visitors along the way, hot weather, and crossing the border into Scotland.
Week 3 Statistics:
- Distance: 138 miles
- Moving Time: 45 hours, 11 minutes
- Elevation Gain: 1821m
Cumulative statistics
- Distance: 599 miles
- Moving Time: 184 hours, 41 minutes
- Elevation Gain: 16311m (1.8 x Mt Everest)
Rest day at the Park Hall Hotel was a little bizarre. We arrived the night before for a tea that took ages to come with staff not really knowing what to do, and I couldn't get to sleep, partly in anticipation of the rest day (?!?), but also because of the excessive heat in the room.
On the actual rest day, the chaotic carry-ons continued with staff over-worked; a bizarre layout that resembled a worn out theme park, with the lift not stopping on the dining room floor; and when it did stop, it didn't align with the floor; things in odd places; a pool and sauna that involved a walk around several corridors in dripping swimming gear to get back to the changing rooms. All very Fawlty-esk.
And then, as of by magic, Basil himself appeared, with Sybil and Manuel.
That sleep deprivation was causing hallucinations until it became clear that there was some sort of Fawlty-themed entertainment going on.
A wedding party, a rave and the Fawlty party kept everyone awake that night, but it was good to see Lesley and Ella who were staying for the run tomorrow, as well as Alice who stayed for tea. All looked after me, doing little chores that seemed just one step too far for me.
Day 16: Whittle le Woods to Catterall – A Shin Splint Shortened Shuffle
The leg swelling hadn't settled much over night and everything took longer than usual to get going after a 7.15 start back in Whittle le Woods. All taped up on both shins I needed to see how things were.
The route took us across the Ribble to Preston. Junior parkrun was starting in the park and it was great to see so many enthusiastic young runners. I yearned to be able to run. If only to cover the the ground quicker. I was more impressed with Preston than I thought I would be as we came through UCLan in the centre. Onwards along a green algae strewn canal. Lesley and Ella joined for a bit.
The hill in the park tested my shins out and the intense pain I was getting only fleetingly last week in the left side on top of the constant gnawing pain became unbearable. I made it to the pitstop where new physio Sam offered some extra taping of my left shin which I can only describe resembled an external tendon.
It helped.
But the same intense pain then started and persisted on the right side during the next leg. I made it to the lunch pit stop at 18.5 miles but with maximum pain relief taken and no opportunity for more taping to the right until the end, I decided to be sensible and call it a day for today. It felt right and I was happy.
Miles missed: 16.2
So when the tracker shows me doing 100kph on the M6, that's because I got picked up by Lesley and Ella, who were going to join me later on the day, and taken to the hostel and got a nap with my legs up before tea which hopefully will make all the difference.
Day 17: Lancaster to Kendal - Claro champions
Today, after more cyro compression of my ankles and calves, and extensive taping, I was met at the start line in Lancaster by Chris and Owen. Chris is the inspirational runner and mountaineer in my club who is in the other side of his 70s, the founder of Claro Enterprise, one of the charities I'm doing the run for (
https://www.justgiving.com/page/bruceclaro), and can still crack out a 26 minute parkrun. Owen manages Claro.
The first couple of miles were a real struggle. Hobbling along. But as the pain relief kicked in and muscles warmed up, we reached a steady 3mph.
Canal paths, Morecambe Bay, West coast train line, and the M6 were the constants. Despite some moments of excruciating pain when ironically tripping on a speed bump, we stopped at pit stop 1 for some refreshments and carried on for 13 miles until Chris and Owen's lift home.
I carried on and finished the day fully in Kendal, pleased it was a shorter day than the usual Run Britannia ultra, made all the better that it finished in the hostel with no transfer. Chris and Owen gave me that push to complete it. Thank you.
Day 18: Kendal to Sadgill - shortened shin splint scrambling
Happy birthday Isaac! Taped even more aggressively, iced and ready to go, today is a short but mountainous day. Along and up over High Street to Askham.
We left Kendal hostel but it took me even longer to get anything like a stride going. My roomie Sean stuck with me. The stride came, but it was slow. Along a meandering path gently rising into the hills. Randy from the USA, a volunteer for this week, who ran RB last year, was tail walking and him catching me up, allowed Sean to go on.
We talked Trump, sports economics, and shin splints as he had suffered similarly last year. The tolerable constant pain was ok in the left side, but the intense pain on the slightest decline on uneven ground on the right, causing me to freeze and stumble, made my decision that climbing a 2700 ft peak was not sensible, especially as the weather was wet and cold. Under normal circumstances this sort of route is my sort of route. Not today though.
Miles missed: 16 (32.2)
However, every cloud has a silver lining and I ended up being treated to an ice cold dip in Ullswater for my legs, coffee and a lift to Carlisle with my friend Caroline who lives in the Lakes. A win!
Day 19: Askham to Carlisle - team work makes the dream work
Taped again with my exoskeleton for the shin splints on both sides, a 45 minute transfer back to Askham to be met by Matt. Matt from my running club who did RB 2 years ago. Matt who, when I exclaimed on his return 2 years ago that I would love to do something like what he had achieved but could never possibly do anything like that, said 'Why not? What's stopping you?'. And here we are.
So we set off. The legs so much freer today than yesterday. A steady walking pace, using poles. Constant but bearable shin pain in both sides, and the odd unbearable twinge in the right. Past Lowther Castle, views of the lakes, through Penrith.
To be joined by my son, Isaac, who'd parked in Carlisle, caught the train with his bike to Penrith, and caught up with us. We made a good team.
We were to pass the hospice where Caroline from yesterday works. Where was it? Never fear, we could hear it. Not only had Caroline come out, but what seemed like all the staff did, chanting ' Brucie', with placards to boot. Using the tracker, they knew other runners' names as they passed, who were equally surprised and appreciative as me.
A good day again. Good friends and support makes such a difference. Thank you.
Day 20: Carlisle to Lockerbie - border blubbering
Big day today. Crossing into Scotland. 12 miles winding up to Gretna. A brief but welcomed visit from Alice and Jo on their way to Glasgow
What a treat as we crossed the border. Very emotional to realise how far we'd come.
A hearty second breakfast and then some 16 miles still to go in the searing heat.
I can feel my left ankle bones again. Fingers crossed things are improving. No excruciating pain today. Just the tolerable constant pain.
Day 21: Lockerbie to Abington - autopilot A road
A short transfer back to the sheep in Lockerbie to start what for me will be the longest day of the week. And the forecast is hot, hot, hot. The route pretty much mirrors the A74(M) all the way up. Glimpses of fine scenery of the Teletubby hills with windmills. Auto pilot switched on. Ice creams at the end.
Job done. No intolerable pain again! The swelling persists but is improving.
Rest day at the New Lanark Heritage centre awaits.
My reflections on this week are varied. The obvious one is having to come to terms with the fact that I'm not going to complete every mile of this adventure. On doing so, recognising that every mile missed was one that I feel content that it wasn't just my mind telling me to stop. It was needed as my body was giving up and I couldn't have done anything more.
Despite this, the emotions of the realisation of coming so far when we crossed the border into Scotland were immense.
And, as I write this, I've been looking at the routes for next week and am so excited as they start to get really interesting again as we head into the Scottish wilderness. This and the South West Coastal path, apart from the challenge itself, is what I came for.
But most of all, this week has been about family and friendships. Thank you.
Happy Birthday Lesley!
Just a reminder as people keep asking:
You can track my every move in real time with the updated link to the tracker https://live.opentracking.co.uk/rrrunbrit25/
You track my daily miles with a few photos on Strava at https://strava.app.link/wLBReUCj0Tb
I'll post a weekly round up on the rest day via FB and the blog.
And don't forget you can always donate using the link below. Thanks to those that have already.
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