Ultra_Tales_Issue_13

EVENT REPORTCOAST 2 COAST ULTRAconfidence and I plodded on.pyramid I turned my torch off.I called the Ugly Unt and we chatted completetollox for a while .Although there had been stormsup on Hartside as the leaders arrived some fourhours before me, I had a clear night and saw severalshooting stars. All I could think was 'wow how greatwas it to be alive and doing this race.'I could see the headlights of the cars at the Hartsidecafe above me and eventually just as I neared thesummit Mark came down to greet me.‘You are doing fine Rob. This is the last hill, just keepplugging on.’I met Chrissy and Ross at Gargill at nearly 80 milesin and the night was perfect. As I crossed over thevery highest point the stars were shining brightlyand I turned my torch off to get an improved view. Icould see the Milky Way and the severalconstellations. I noticed that the trees werecovered in a light frosting and this just added to thebeauty of it all. This took away the pain in my feet. Ihad been wearing waterproof socks for over twentyhours. The blisters that had formed had burst andstarting to move after a stop was painful. I couldhave changed the socks but it was too late. I wasfrighten the skin would tear off as I changed themand expose the red raw and bleeding skin.I used the usual mental tricks to turn blisters intofriends keeping my feet warm and stopping as littleas possible.I dropped down into the Miners Arm Pub inNenthead and saw Chrissy with Dave’s crewmember Ginny. I had overtaken Riccardo, Tom andDave. It transpired they had taken a wrong turn. Forthose that don’t know Tom Forman is notorious forhis lack of map reading skills. My advice is not tolet him near one. However Dave confessed it was hiserror. We refuelled and march up yet another hill..Mark another hill.Chrissy drove up to mark the easy to miss turningand I soon fell behind the others and regained lastplace. It was soon daylight and just before theCounty Durham border marked by a large stoneI ran down to Rookhope passed some disused mineworkings catching up with the others and sharedmy special night fuel. A bag of Worcester saucefavoured crisps with lumps of cheese in it. Tomremarked this was like rocket fuel.There seemed to be hundreds of dead rabbits, birdsand sheep on the road. No idea why though.At Rookhope Amanda and Chole were cooking upbacon sarnies. Chrissy told me earlier she couldn’tunderstand why they argued so much. Thensomeone mentioned they were sisters, which kindof explained everything. I ate the bacon and had toget rid of the bread.After Rookhope there was yet another steep climb,for which I had to turn backwards to save myquads.Mark another hill.Just outside Stanhope I needed to evacuate mybowels. Perched on a wall and I noted this meantthat I was eating enough. I used a few leaves towipe my bum and got a little itch. Then there wasanother march up to Parkhead.Mark another hill.The climb went on forever and as I reached the topDrew and Claire said they would order a baconsarnie and tea for me. How kind! I mentioned myfeet were trashed. Drew replied that your feetalways get trashed on things like this. Whichsomehow seemed funny.Mark passed me in his car and mentioned this wasthe last hill out of his window. Yeah! Like I hadn’theard that one before.I had reached the 100 mile by 9:20am or 26 hours20 minutes I was really pleased. Ok so that is not afast 100 mile time by any stretch of the imagination,but the rain and hills had slowed this Fat Untdown. Chrissy gave me a kiss as I walked in andhanded me the bacon sarnie. Drew was on top formas we chatted to the evil cyclists.55 ULTRA TALES | OCTOBER 2014Sponsored by thehttp://