The Flying Geese - Dream Achieved

 Four days after completing The Wall Run, a 69mile ultramarathon from Carlisle to Newcastle and I feel like I've lost something.

Hard to explain.  I've spent 18months to reach this point and I exceeded my own expectations and then some.

Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted to have finished what was a gruelling test of endurance but there is something that just doesn't feel right and its taken me this long to pin point it.

We started at 8am on Saturday morning.  I say 'we' because there were 5 of us running the course as a team.

I wouldn't call us 'friends', more like acquaintances who shared common values, beliefs and goals.

The first few hours were spent mainly in a throng of the other 400 or so runners doing the event.  We chatted, talked about our training, kit, nutrition etc.  All fairly superficial conversation that could be held with anyone.  Not giving anything away of ourselves, such as the fear of failure, our worries or concerns.

After 13miles, things began to get more personal....a little more in-depth but still we were wallowing in the shallows.

15miles and we're at our 1st checkpoint and our support crew is there with shakes, thermo tea and tigerbalm!

As we set off for the next 17miles, it's almost like the ice has been broken!  We've got the mini speakers playing music from an iPhone and people are laughing with us as we run by.

Over the course of the next 4 hours, we begin to get more 'comfortable' with each other and less comfortable in our trainers!  Checkpoints become a point where we have personal 'timeouts' to gather our thoughts before reforming and heading back out.

Checkpoint 2 - Walltown Crags

Approaching the end of day 1 at 32miles, we are all feeling the effects of the day.  Physically we are tired and the same mentally.  We push on, very aware we want to finish strongly so as not to concern those waiting for us.  Encouraging each other, we each share what we are looking forward to at the day 1 finish line.

Almost end of day 1, just around the next corner!

Several hundred metres from the finish and we take a moment to thank each other and pass congratulations.  This is private - its for us only before we arrive into crowds and potentially lose the opportunity. 
Once we've crossed the line and had something to eat, we find out our support crew (my wife Vicky, our kids and Rosina - relay runner with Vicky H) have established camp.  Food is being cooked and we head off for a shower.

The next few hours are spent reminiscing about the day, comparing blisters, getting kit ready for tomorrow and generally enjoying ourselves and each others company.

It rains through the night, hard!  The wind picks up and its not anyone's best night sleep by a long shot.  Nonetheless, everyone is up and getting ready to move from the agreed time.  We work together and break camp, pack away and don our gear.  Time for a foto before we start out on day 2 - 37miles today!

The Race Director jumps in for a photo!

Everyone is stiff and sore but there is no question of not starting.  The fear of letting each other down is overwhelming.

After the initial 3 miles, most of which is trail or hill climbing, we hit tarmac road for the next few hours.  I'm starting to struggle with stiffening calves...not relaxed enough or stretched enough since the ironman duathlon 3 weeks earlier and its not coming to haunt me.

My team-mates slow the pace and work with me.  Our chatter is about all sorts but mainly about how sore we all are.

As we arrive into Hexham for our checkpoint and meet our fantastic support crew, the fact we have now been running for 49miles is beginning to show.  15minutes later and we're ready to go.  The [now] obligatory mickey-taking of each other is relentless at every stop, as is the photo opportunity!

With less than a marathon to run [funny how that seems normal and a short distance now] we set off with renewed vigour and a spring in our step.

Our strategy of walk uphill, run flat and downhill has served us well and is taken extremely literally now..every incline is treated with respect and we break to a fast march.


We've got 13miles to get to our next checkpoint and it is here we will run, for the first time, as the two doing it as a relay join up to run together.

We are now running on road, through trail, woodland, crossing a stream by stepping stones and at some points surviving torrential rain and thunderstorms.


At a pit-stop along the way, we find it funny to start trying to through chocolate raisins at each other.  In the last 5 miles we've been clocking 6minute 30sec kilometres....not a bad pace for all of us for whom we are in unchartered territory for distance.



At our last checkpoint, with just 7 miles to go, we're together as one unit for the first time running.  Not only are we bouncing off each other but everyone else in the checkpoint thinks we're nuts!  More foto's.......

And this time all sense and sensibility is out of the question as we pose for the daftest photo's of the whole weekend.

We don't care what we look like.

We don't care what people think.

All we care about is we are still together as a team with 7 miles to go to complete one heck of a journey.

And as we set off, another runner asks us 'What are you lot on?'

As one, almost in unision, we reply 'Herbalife'!

We're proud of what we are and who we are.  Its through our involvement with Herbalife that we came together for this venture and despite aches, pains and blisters, we are enjoying ourselves.

With 3 miles left on the clock, we are all digging deep now.  The close proximity of the finish line gave us a surge of adrenaline but its not enough to carry us through to the end.

Right now, as this point, we are formed into our 'V' - each taking turns to lead and set pace, with the others behind honking in encouragement.  If one needs to rest then we all rest together until ready to begin 'flying' again.

With 1mile left, the 'honking' takes over any pain.  The pace quickens, the tears begin to flow, we realisation we are going to finish, together, overwhelms us.  We're knocking on the door of a 5min 30sec km pace now - unbelievable at this stage.

And then the mightiest 'honks' of all.....our family and friends....we see them, hear them, feel their support from the crowd as we cross the line together!

People often talk about the loneliness of the long distance runner.  I believe in the camaraderie of the ultra distance runner.  There was one thing that got each and every one of us through this weekend and 69miles....team work.  

Quote from Vicky H
"WOW.. What a weekend!! So much emotion.. what an amazing feeling.. We started as a team at Carlisle Castle, We continued 69 miles together as one and we crossed that bridge to the finish line STILL as a team!! The strength and support these guys have is mind blowing & inspirational. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and that doesn't matter how much pain they are in. Keeping the team together was the most important bit for everyone!!!
To say on Friday, i had never met any of these guys before (except the amazing ickle ros ;)) I can walk away today and say we are just one massive family, exceptional close friends and this is an experience i will NEVER forget!!! Love you guys and thank you for everything... 'BRING ON THE WALL' xxxxxxx"

That just about sums it all up...the forging of lifetime friendships through a weekend of endurance.  And it wasn't just the runners....it was everyone who helped, supported and 'honked' in their own way!

This started as a personal journey for me.  To run an ultramarathon.  I did it, but I got so much more from the experience by doing it with other people for whom I have the utmost respect, admiration and who inspired me on the way.  No better way to achieve a dream!

Rosina, Vicky H, Kit, John, Vicky K, Charlotte, Jules, Martin