Sian completed the 30-Miles Challenge in early 2010:
After committing myself to the 30 miler challenge in Jan, I had to reassess my current training and decided that I would change absolutely nothing!! - except that is, to wear a hamper on my back on all runs.
The first 20 mile test came as a big shock to everyone I think, as it was meant to, and I decided to attend the remaining tests as training and to increase my hill work. So prior to every spin session I spent an hour going up and down St Giles hill - with my very annoying pack.
A few hilly ten mile runs told me I was going to walk alot on Dartmoor.
So to be told I was passed fit for the 30 miles was brill, but it didn't last long as it was heavily suggested that I join the 30 mile 'quick' group and aim for 8 hour completion time. So me and the spring chickens standing together didn't feel quite right. I knew I would get to the finish but in my own time darling...
Sitting on the sofa in the hostel waiting for the off, and letting the other groups have a 2 hour head start was a very anxious time, wanting to get going but wanting to go home too.
The start was as I remembered but soon forgot the scenery as we paced up the road, and then it started... the running. Hey guys wait for me I am old enough to be your mother etc... Then the ankle breaking rocks and shale downhill at speed, don't they care about fractures... got to the next river and they went into a walk on the slope, apart from me as I had to run up the hills to catch up. This was not the deal!
It went on and on, and then at the top the rain came and so so did the group running - yahoo lets go! - and they did, so I tried very sad really, but you can't be 5 mins behind otherwise you are out and on the support bus. We were soaked from rain river and standing water, but no time for coats - that's for sissys. Anyway, the first checkpoint allowed 4 mins to refill water, eat pasta, banana, mars bar and hot squash, so sod the coats!
Interestingly, the boys could wolf this food, incredible. If Simon (boss man) ate the amount I ate I think he would have been in our body bag. It was physically impossible for me, and it would sit like a brick. I had 2 gels, 2 thirds of a mars bar,a mouthful of jelly beans which was stupid as I chocked on them when running, a fruit bar loads of water, and the best thing was the cheese and onion crisps- fab.
Anyway, the pace was beyond my comfort zone the whole way. Many times I would have thrown myself onto the bus and stayed there, but it was never there at the time, we were in the middle of bloody nowhere, so I had to go forward. The team were lovely and all helped each other with water and encouragement. There was no point in trying to encourage me to go faster as I was maxed out anyway!
Simon probably guessed that it would not be a good idea to take some of my rucksack as I would have bitten him!
Over the vibrating bogs, rocks, tough bracken, knee deep mud, energy sapping gunge, streams now rivers, relentless pace - feeling yuk, not one look at the views as too dangerous to look up. Maybe 25 mins sleep the night before took its toll - but that was not by choice and another story!
Each checkpoint gave opportunity to give up, but Si cleverly said the other group were so many minutes ahead and we could catch them, so maybe I could give up at the next checkpoint then??
As we progressed other people seemed to flag a bit so I wasn't at the back on my own - hooray. People kept their injuries quiet and pain inside but it eventually surfaces. A couple of people went down and were bussed off, and that was sad. When Chris was told to do so because of knee problems I think that was tough, as we had said we were of similar fitness levels and both in the sub 44 (year) group.
Anyhow we got closer to the end and the sun came out. The last 2 hours were ok actually. Simon asked if my energy levels were low but it was just the pace, my body was fine, but everyone else had long legs!!
We finally saw the others in the distance and the speed increased can you believe, and the front 2 and Simon had a mission - the 8 hours. I didn't even wear a watch and didn't give a stuff about the time as I just wanted it to end. The worst thing about this was that it is the first endurance event I have done as a team and I didn't want to be the reason they fail.
I waved to them as they went for the last mile to get their goal of time. The rest of the group were behind me somewhere, but I kept running where possible emitting animal noises by then. It was fabulous to come the last mile with other people and groups, all very encouraging, but still kept running...there was the bridge - JOY . To cross over the finish point with great friends was marvelous, and to take the pack off was even better.
Those in front of me did 7.53 and I did 7.55, but it wasn't just completing it it was how it was run, and yes it was awful but I will not forget it...thanks team and 121!!!
