Run > Race

Herts Stroller 54 - this is a hard report to write as I had real problems with blisters and spent a large part of this run grimacing through pain and never feeling I could push on and be competitive but just trying to survive to the end. But these are the things I want to remember. Firstly my 2 ultra boys. Ultra Brian who was as bouncy as Tigger all the way through, always looked capable of running off and doing a 7 minute mile, the only difference at mile 54 was that he was a slightly more sweary Tigger, and he assured us this wasn't due to any tiredness or achy legs but chaffing and blisters in his "shorts area" . Ultra Bob was just as strong, he told us he was having a purple patch between 15 and 25 miles, but it actually seemed to last to the end all the time retaining fine sense of humour, managing to laugh as Brian, I and the checkpoint ladies were in stitches as Bobs bladder seemingly emptied itself through his shorts and still not minding in the couple of dark miles when I couldn't stop giggling everytime he slipped into a puddle. You are hardcore afleets and got me through a day that really wasn't my day with a smile on my face. The other outstanding feature was the food at the checkpoints, at 30 miles we got a sit down 3 course meal! So if our time looks a little slow it could be because I felt obliged to sample all the delicious checkpoint food on offer. Navigation wise we did pretty good, getting lost early on showed us we really had to follow the 8 pages of directions line by line. The only other mishap happened when the boys were left to their own devices. At mile 39 my blisters had got so badthat despite popping and bandaging I was still having to grit my teeth even to walk. Luckily my Mum was there and I said I would have a bit of a break and then walk the last 14 miles. I couldn't bear the thought that Brian and Bob who were going so strong would have to walk to the end but they refused to leave me. I basically had to tell them if they refused to go on without me then I'd drop out and my Mum too insisting they leave me for them to reluctantly carry on. I luckily had a change of trainers which helped enormously so I pootled off on my own the 3 miles to the next checkpoint. On arriving I asked how far ahead they were but they hadn't actually arrived yet. I had time for some jelly a cup of tea and a chocolate bar before they arrived - from the wrong direction. Luckily team ultra was back together again. The last challenge we had to face was about 2.5 hours of running in the pitch black. Finding our way was a real challengeand this nearly sapped our will to live nevermind our will to run, we did all however manage a strong finishing run in the final mile to the end. Overriding memories of this run are rain, wet ploughed fields, puddles and finishing as a team!