But after 28 hours and 24 minutes I finished alongside my partner in crime for the challenge Mr Steve Drake!
Steve was a tower of strength throughout the race and really helped me to get to the finish line in one piece!
The race had started off really well and was going to our agreed strategy as we initially aimed to complete the race in 24 hours.
After the first 25 miles we were both very chirpy and within our 6 hour target, the only concern was that we may have gone off a bit too quick.
Leaving for the second 25 miles we both knew that it would be during this section that it would turn dark. This happened a lot quicker than we had anticipated so we both got out our torches and continued on the route.
Now to make the race more challenging the whole route was cross country which meant that the only light we had was that of the torches this made navigating our way ever harder.
The second spur also included a fair amount of climbing but despite this we completed 50 miles in under 12 hours.
Along every spur there was 4 check points, each one was stocked with food and fluids to get you through the race.
Now being a master of working the buffet I was in my element as I negotiated my way through the savory eggs, sausage rolls, pork pies and wraps all of which were washed down with a brew!
Now I appriciate that this doesn't sound like the food of athletes but this might be the reason why I've taken to ultra marathons so well as it's not just about energy gels and jelly babies!
It wasn't just the food at the check points that helped us get through, the volunteers that were on hand were brilliant throughout the whole race!
We were lucky to also have support of the family and friends and a special mention needs to go to Martyn and Viv Hodges, Eva's grandparents, who stayed up the whole night and met us at all the checkpoints!
Knowing that they were on hand was great comfort, particularly when it started to get tough!
We headed out on the 3rd spur and we knew that this was going to be the toughest section both physically and mentally, it is safe to say it didn't disappoint!
With the temperature dropping we continued on and although our pace was dropping too we kept moving trying to make sure we stayed warm!
When we finally got back to Streatley at 75 miles we knew that any hope of completing it in 24 hours had now gone.
But despite that we kept our spirits up, got some more warm clothes on and hot food down us before heading out on the final 25 miles.
It was now after 5:30 in the morning and it was still dark and things started to get really tough. As we trudged on it was becoming harder and harder to keep our eyes open, this was a very strange feeling!
With words of encouragement to each other we made it to the check point and refuelled again despite it only being 4 miles from Streatly where we had just left.
What was a great sight when we left the check point was that it as daylight and this was the moral boost that we needed!
We headed off to the final turn point at Reading which seemed to take an eternity to get to but we made it knowing that we only had 12.5 miles to go.
It now became a race against the clock to finish before the 30 hour cut off and to bring home the buckle!
We got to the final checkpoint 4 hours before the cut off with only 4 miles to complete. So we waved goodbye to the support team and set off for the last time!
It was a great feeling knowing that we were slowly ticking off the last few miles and then we saw it, the bridge we crossed at the start of the last stage, we had done it!
And we had brought home the buckle!
After the race I saw this quote and I thought how significant it was having gone through this.
So I can now say that I am a centurion runner which is a great feeling.
Not only that after the race James told me that he was proud of me which is an amazing feeling having your son say that!
I was also overwhelmed by all the messages of support throughout the day even though I didn't get to read them until I'd finished.
Surprisingly my recovery has been better then what I'd thought it would be and today I've been able to get back to the training with less than two weeks to go until the final challenge!
So it's one last push with the training and one big sponsorship drive!
If you'd like to donate please click here https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/averagejoe
So here we go on the last few days of what has been a truely epic year!
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