I’m doing my best to train my body and mind to take on next month’s Hadrian’s Wall race from Bowness to Wallsend.
The last time I took on this incredible challenge was in 2018 with my friends Chas Allen and Jason Wright, when several things went wrong from the start.
Starting at midnight on September 29 at a time of year when the sun sets longer than it rises was not a good idea.
Then, discovering that there were several detours due to construction work on sections of the Wall caused a lot of confusion.
However, it was all my fault for choosing the start date and time and my fault for not checking the detours before leaving home.
Trying to meet up with our support crew of Baz Hipwell, Mark Hewlett and John Fensom during the race was also difficult at times as we tried to find specific designated spots along the route which was not helped by some of the diversions.
However, getting lost in a field after a few kilometres in the dark and then looking up to see the eyes of a herd of cows shining in the light of our headlamps made the moment a little surreal. Even more so when we realised we had circled the field and were back at the starting point.
This wasn’t the only time I had to take care of cows too. It was around 65 miles in when I said we needed to be careful only for Jason to say “no we’ll be fine” and then change his mind once in the field when a cow chased us resulting in us running back. We had just gotten there and Chas Allen literally threw me over a fence.
Perhaps the funniest mishap was when just a couple of miles from the finish line, when I think it’s fair to say mind and body were completely exhausted, John from our support team joined us for the last 15 miles approximately and he had it. He mapped it on his phone and said “this way” as we walked up this huge hill.
My mind kept telling me, “This isn’t right, I know it isn’t,” but since he was ahead, I didn’t argue. For the next 45 minutes or so, we found ourselves weaving through nightclub-goers emerging from bars looking more disheveled and weary-legged than when we’d crossed the street.
Needless to say, it wasn’t long until we realized we had taken another wrong turn, which also meant another small detour as we headed back in the direction we had just come. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control and it’s definitely around here,” John kept saying. At this point I was desperate to reach the finish line. “Just a little more,” he kept saying, and then “here you go, guys, you’ve done it.”
“What did you do?” I responded. I then looked at the sign we were standing next to which said Welcome to Wallsend.
I really didn’t know whether to laugh or burst into tears in the middle of the road.
—Wallsend isn’t the city, it’s the end of the Wall where we should be —I said in a somewhat stressed manner and even more so when I saw the time running out on my watch.
Our goal was to get there in under 24 hours and we were already 23 hours in. After a couple of quick calls to Baz and Mark who were in the support vehicle (which, to be fair, was only half a mile away), we were 42 minutes ahead.
Like I said, I take all the blame for not preparing properly last time and as always, it’s one thing to make a mistake or two, but it’s another to learn from them. I think I have, or at least I hope I have.
Last Saturday night myself, Karen Grapes and Craig Bowen Jones, who will also be taking part in this year’s challenge, did a 31 mile walk from Cromer following Weavers Way to Blickling before taking Marriotts Way back to Felthorpe.
I’ve never ventured down Weavers Way before, but now that I’ve hiked the first 17 miles of this 61-mile super trail, all I can say is that I’m so glad I did. The views and sights were incredible until the sun finally set around 10.30pm. After that it became a lot harder, especially as I hate running in the dark during the hours I would normally be in bed. However, it’s all part of keeping those wise words from Mr. Franklin in mind in preparation for what’s to come next month.
At the same time, watching the sunrise on the last few miles through Felthorpe Woods back to my home and listening to the birdsong was one of those priceless moments when “life really is for living.”
It also made me realize that with another 50 miles to go, plus all the climbing, there is still a lot of work to do.
Four weeks to go and the countdown continues… I just have to say a huge thank you to Steph Jones and Tracey Bowen Jones for all their support last Saturday night.
In terms of fundraising, as I write this we have already raised over £1,800 so I hope we can reach our target of £3,500 by the time we reach Wallsend… the end of the wall!
If anyone would like to help us reach our goal whilst raising money for some great causes, even a £1 donation would be greatly appreciated. You can donate here.
Have a great weekend wherever you are racing.
