Challenge 1 - DONE

Well I'm happy to say that after 7 hours and 49 minutes I completed the Country to Capital ultra marathon.

When I got up on them morning of the race I didn't feel great as my cold was starting to take a grip on me. We all got up from a pretty good nights sleep and went and had breakfast, and whilst I was eating 3 weetabix followed by a bowl of porridge my supporters were tucking into bacon and eggs!

Following breakfast I went and registered, as I walked up to the start the wind started to whip up and the rain started which turned in to snow, I was starting to think what had I let myself in for.

After I registered I went back and got changed into my gear and made sure I vaselined up. Then with the support team in toe we headed up to the start. Here I got to see the other competitors for the first time and they looked pretty serious.

Just after 8.30 we set off on the 45 mile trek. The first 5 miles or so were very stop start and it was very hard to get in to any rythmn. Although it was a bit frustrating it did mean that I didn't set of too quickly and peak to soon!

The first check point came in no time at all and I was feeling ok. I topped up on a bit of go beyond cake and some jelly babies. My support team were waiting so with a quick hello and kisses for everyone I was off again for the next leg. It was at this point I started running with a guy called Steve who was training to do the marathon des sables. We got talking and stayed together for most of the second stage which was just under 10 miles, I left Steve just before the next checkpoint where again I had some of the nice cake and a handful of some more jelly babies. The support team were doing well too and were at the pub which the checkpoint was at.

So with 17.5 miles completed I set off again for check point 3 and the lunch station. This was probably the toughest leg for me and I felt like I was starting to struggle. My head was starting to feel blocked and I felt like I was hitting the wall which wasn't great as I was not even are half way.

The first 22 miles were pretty much off road and my feet were caked in mud, as you will see from the picture of my feet the mud had gone through my trainers and socks.

After 22 miles we reached the grand union canel, which meant no more muddy fields and on to toepaths.

I reached them 25 mile checkpoint which was a relief, I grabbed some food and took some sinus tablets said my goodbyes again to everyone and set off again.

It was here that I met up with Steve again and he got me into a steady rythem again, at times he left me but I always had him in signt. Then we saw a signpost which said Paddinton 13.5 miles which was a welcome sight to us, it was at this point we were talking about finishing in under 9 hours.

We reached checkpoint 4 feeling strong but unfortunately my support team weren't there, I had thoughts of them being sat in a warm pub eating lunch.

I couldn't wait to see if they turned up so we set off again for the last checkpoint before the end. We had been really lucky with the weather as it had stayed dry but the wind was very cold and against us. As we set off the end was in touching distance and now we were talking the impossible of finishing under 8 hours.

The last checkpoint came around a lot quicker than I had anticipated and again no sign of the support team so I thought they had gone straight to the finish. Steve was a great motivation and really encouraged me to keep moving, so we set off for the last 10k.

I'm not sure where it came from but I was feeling great and strong as we started to pick off runners in front of us. Someone on a bike cycled past us and told us we had under 2 miles to go which gave us another lift.

With the end actually in sight now we picked it up again for the final push and then it was all over as we crossed the finish line together. A well earned cup of tea was had while I admired my medal.

What about my supporters? Well I must have gone quicker than expected as unfortunately they weren't there and sounded a bit surprised when I called them and told them I had finished.

As you will see from the picture a reward of pizza and beer awaited my return home.

So how am I feeling today the day after? Well pretty good really my legs aren't too sore but I plan a week of rest before I start training for challenge 2 the London Ultra on 17 February.