Day five was ace, running with good friends in perfect English summer conditions was glorious. I had such a great day but unfortunately all that unraveled very quickly that afternoon just before dinner.  I had overdosed on the protein drinks at the finish of stage five, or so I thought, and came down with a bad case of diarrhea  as soon as I got back to the accommodation.   After dinner I did my normal routine of preparing for the next day, stocking up on gels, hydration (including bix tablets https://bix-hydration.myshopify.com/en-au) and a half an hour on the massage gun and human tecar massage spray. ( https://athleticus.com.au/ )  As the night went on I started to feel a chill coming on and decided to call it early and scuttle off to bed. That night I think I probably spent more time in the toilet than in the bedroom which was difficult as I was sharing a three bedroom apartment with two toilets and five other runners.

Needless to say the next morning I was not at my best and after packing (we were moving accommodation that evening) I struggled back to bed feeling very ropey. Eventually I had to leave the comfort of my bed and staggered to the van that would take us to the day five finishing point to start our journey.  As the image below shows I wasn’t looking great and knw I was in for a long day at the office.

Once we arrived at the start I knew I was in trouble. The conditions had changed from day five and we were faced with a very chilly, foggy morning and I was completely unprepared. As the group disembarked I was the last to leave the sanctuary of the van and was soon left behind as I had to make several unplanned toilet stops as my diarrhea had not gotten any better.  With the fog engulfing me and the cold air going right through me I was not in a good place, add in the diarrhea and it was a perfect storm, I was in trouble.

As we moved off Exmoor the early morning fog disappeared and at least I could see my surroundings.  The terrain didn’t make running fun though, lots of stones testing every step.

Coming off the moor we ran through a really cool forest with some great running but by this stage I was leapfrogging from toilet stop to toilet stop and constantly looking for places to answer the call of nature without the possibility of being seen. Around this time Andy Gray did catch me as I was in the prone position and he was backtracking as he was lost, a tad embarrassing for both parties. I explained the situation and he had some anti-diarrhea tablets which I gobbled down. It was good to see other runners and I latched on to the group albeit keeping my distance as I scuttled to yet another toilet stop.

There was some really good running off Exmoor and before the first aid station but all I could muster was a walk and a slow ‘death jog‘ at best. Saying that I was able to hold onto the last group and we came upon aid station one together.  I was going to call it at this stage but a cup of tea with three sugars and the sun coming out persuaded me to continue. I felt like death but what other option was there really.

Eventually the sun came out and things warmed up and the trail just got better. Again I was dropped by the last group and walked more than I ran. I was going downhill fast but just had to keep moving forward.  Unfortunately diarrhea was still a big issue and as I moved through towns and more densely populated areas it was becoming a real problem, for me and the general public.

Just after aid station one I came across a café and decided to get a Cappuccino that I had been promising myself for the last six days. It felt good to sit down in the sun and drink a coffee but this was a temporary reprieve, I was goosed and when I set off went backwards pretty fast. With aid station two coming up, around thirty kilometres into the stage, I ran though a small coastal town and on a whim decided to pick up a COVID test. In the back of my mind I always knew there was a chance I could catch COVID with the flight from Australia and I think I knew , deep down, I had it by this stage.

Not sure what beach this is but there’s a funny story attached to it.  While running on the trail my diarrhea finally got the better of me and I was forced to scuttle off the trail and into the ocean to wash off my shorts. So here am I,  shorts in hand,  unbeknown to me two walkers right behind me. Needless to say both parties didn’t know where to look. Funny now, not so amusing at the time.

I made aid station two in last place and pulled out my COVID test which proved my diagnosis, positive. Devastated doesn’t get anywhere near what I felt. I rang my Wife in tears , my dream shattered, a broken man. Two things would stop me finishing, an injury of course and COVID. I was having such a good time and was living the runners dream, Run Britannia was everything I imaged it to be and more,  and to have that taken from you was just gut wrenching, even now I find it hard to describe the feeling.

I had always said if I did catch COVID during the event I would pull out. I wasn’t prepared to risk possible long term physical damage trying to run an ultra a day while recovering from the virus. Recovering from any virus takes time and the strain on the heart , combined with my age, was a risk I was not prepared to take. It was the right decision to leave when I did and return home to recuperate, the right decision but it didn’t help.

Back in Oz I spent two weeks sleeping more than anything else. COVID drained me physically and I was mentally destroyed leaving Run Britannia early, not a happy chap truth be told. It took me over six weeks to even think about running and I cut myself off from family and friends , working from home but really just existing. What made it worse was I knew the event was ongoing and I cut all ties with social media , it was just too hard .  Dark times indeed.

As the image below shows I was fairly inactive post Run Britannia, physically and mentally broken.  Probably my longest time without running , bar injuries, in the last ten years. Dark times indeed. I also discovered how easy it is too put on weight, without really trying and am now learning how hard it is to shift it. !

The last seven or so weeks I’ve found my mojo and training has stated in earnest for the Feral Pig 100 miler in the first week of November. ( https://feralpigultra.com.au/ ) The best advice when you fall off a horse is get back on , this also rings true for ultra running albeit riding a horse in an ultra will probably get you disqualified ?  Post Feral is my fourteenth 6 inch ultra start in December ( https://6inchtrailmarthon.com ) and then the Australia Day Ultra 100k late January ( https://australiadayultra.com/ ) before Delirious West 200 miler in February ( https://deliriouswest200miler.com.au/ ) , Light horse Ultra April ( https://lighthorseultra.com.au/ ) and Herdy’s Front yard in May.  ( https://herdysfrontyard.com.au/ ) Looks like I’m well and truly back on the horse from a racing point of view.

So that’s it for Run Britannia, didn’t even finish the first week so very disappointed but had so much fun when I was there. Met some wonderful people who I regret not getting to know better in my short time but I always envisages five weeks of togetherness not less than one. The organisation was top class , thankyou James and his crew, and if you’re thinking about throwing your hat in the ring for this beast of an event I recommend you do. Will I go back ? I would love to but the cost and time away from the family is tough to justify two years in a row but never say never, if the dice rolls my way who knows?

Would I like to go back ? 100% yes, it was such an incredible adventure there is nothing I’d rather do but sometimes you’re dealt a hand and you just got to play it, this year I twisted when I should have stuck.

fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered.  It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.

We left our accommodation which we had been in  for three nights and boarded the bus to take us back to the finish from day four, which was a carpark outside a pub in Bideford.  Straight away I saw the answer to my prayers, a motorised scooter, just what I needed for another day mainly on concrete paths or b-roads. This was frowned upon by my fellow competitors , and probably the owner of the vehicle, so off on foot I scampered.

 

The first ten kilometres from the start was on concrete paths that run through stunning scenery. Not quite the coastal beauty we had experienced previously but flat and fast.  It was good to get some kilometres under the belt early and we hit the first pit stop very quickly. I ordered my obligatory tea with three sugars and wolfed down a few Rat Race bars. I had ran with my good mate Dave ‘Dangerous’ Douglas and we shared some great stories and bad jokes, time disappeared quickly, funnily enough like Dave at the pit stop. Dangerous didn’t like to hang about and treated each stage as a mini race, I was more than happy to chew the fat , and drink the tea, at aid stations, after all it was Run Britannia  not Race Britannia.

As well as myself there was one other Australian who had made the long trip from down under, here the two of us ham it up for the camera.

 

 

Highlight of day two was definitely spending time with Dangerous Dave. We were room buddies and two peas in a pod, time with Dave passed very quickly despite his very bad jokes. Meeting someone for the first time but instantly knowing you’d be good friends is rare and with Dangerous I had that connection. I have many regrets with leaving Run Britannia early but missing out on spending the extra four weeks running with Dave is my main one.  He killed it of course and was one of the dozen or so runners who finished every stage, despite a dodgy ankle for a few stages where he had to hobble the whole stage and his Father passing away in the first week. Dave is a genuine nice guy, plain and simple. I look forward to spending some time in his company, someday.

Dave was also useful to act as a human shield so I was always keen to let him lead as we ran along the b-road ‘killing fields’ , as I call them.  As I said in a previous post cars aren’t expecting runners on these roads and you really need to approach every corner under the assumption there is a Volkswagen van being driven by a homicidal maniac just around the corner, whose sole purpose in life is to add you to his hood ornament.

Saw this outside a local church and couldn’t resist, you’d be mad not to surely.

Dave and I made our way through the countryside stopping only for the odd photo opportunity too good to turn up.  He has a flare for photographer Dave, as well as running.  How good is the scenery ? Clean streams flowing under beautiful hand built bridges from a by-gone era, so quintessential English.

A Dangerous Dave original; photo.

The day was spent mainly on back lanes with the odd section of b-roads , running through picture postcard English countryside in perfect summer conditions. The organisers couldn’t have hoped for these conditions in their wildest dreams, we were truly blessed.

 

Leaving the last aid station for the day I started on the last climb and was met with the Union Jack flying in the wind. An in credible view on a day of incredible views, this day really couldn’t have got any better.

The last trail in the Dunkery and Horner wood, how bloody English is that ?  The image below shows the last rise to the finish aid station on Exmoor. Conditions really were stunning and a sharp contrast to the start the next day.  I was just behind Martin and we both finished within a few minutes of each other. There were three or four other runners waiting to greet us, as well as the Rat Race crew, at the finish, hugs all around and then onto the food.

We finished day five on Exmoor in glorious conditions. The Rat Race crew were there and I gorged on protein shakes, donuts and fruit. After running all day it was an oasis of food, just what us runners needed.  My Altra Vanish Tempo’s had been through a rough couple of days and looked the worse for wear but had been a good shoe choice for the day. Probably back to the Altra Olympus trainers for day six as there would be some time on Exmoor, which was mainly single track trail. Unbeknown to me at the time today would be my last full day on Run Britannia and it was certainly a day I will never forget, similar to day six but for completely opposite reasons.

fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered.  It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.

We viewed a forty one day stage, mainly on road, as a rest day after three brutal trail days running nearly sixty kilometres each day.  I’d miss the ocean views but not the testing terrain, I was ready for a short (relatively speaking) , easy road day.

After about ten minutes running it was time to say good buy to the coast and we wouldn’t see the ocean again until we arrived in Bideford at the end of the stage.

Once we got on the back roads I even bumped into a deer which I wasn’t expecting so close to civilisation. A surreal moment where we both stopped and just eye balled each other before the deer vanished, pretty cool start to the day.

 

A lot of day four was on back lanes and b-roads, the back lanes were ok but the b-roads were like the killing fields. Motorists didn’t expect to see runners and drove accordingly, you had to be very careful how you crossed any corners making sure you gave yourself and the vehicles space to avoid a collision. You needed to keep your wits about you that’s for sure and on a number of occasions I was forced to find safety deep in the hedgerow. To be fair it’s not the motorists fault , we were invading their territory. Still made the day interesting.

 

It was another big day as we left our first county moving from Cornwall into Devon. I don’t think you will ever get those conditions for the Cornwall stage again, they were absolutely perfect. Constant sunshine but never too hot that you couldn’t enjoy your surroundings and what surroundings. I truly believe, when conditions are that good, there is nowhere in the world I’d rather be. If they could just warm up the water , maybe climate change will turn Cornwall tropical , or should I say more tropical?

There really are no words for Cornwall, it had put on a show and delivered the most magical conditions showcasing all she had to offer, perfect , just perfect.

So it was over to Devon and see what she had to offer us, I was leaving my comfort zone as I grew up in Cornwall and we always had a rivalry with our nearest neighbour, albeit I was looking forward to some Devon Scones with Jam and Cream.

Truth be told it was very hard to distinguish between a Cornish lane and a Devon one. You were also just as likely to meet Lewis Hamilton wanna-be’s in their Volkswagen Vans so you still needed to keep your wits about you or you’d end up a hood ornament.

The one oasis of hydration and nutrition , apart from the local village shops or town supermarkets,  was the Rat Race pit stops. These were a gourmet smorgasbord and manned by the best helpers since Father Christmas discovered Elves. We were treated like royalty  and the hardest part was leaving albeit the next one was never far away. The crew were so good and the tukka was delicious , again I must mention the Rat Race bars.

Funnily enough I did manage to miss a few pit stops and this was entirely my fault as they were well marked and before each day we were drilled on their locations. The old adage ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’… it’s like you can put out a pitstop but you cannot guarantee the runner will stop and find it !

The final part of this stage was the South West Coastal Path which was stunning. We left the ‘take your life in your hands’ b-road , ran over a picturesque bridge (see below) and then followed this path to Bideford. Some great images and I even persuaded a cyclist to take a photo.

The images never do the actual scenery justice, I even went to the expense of buying an iphone 14 pro but still the final photos never show how good it really was. A photo doesn’t show the whole picture so to speak, the summer sunshine warming you as you move along trails that make you glad to be alive, breathing in the beauty of all around you.  I really haven’t got the vocabulary to fully describe the feeling, if there are even words that are available. You just need to get out there and experience it yourself. Crossing this bridge, leaving the road, and heading onto the South West coastal trail was invigorating as I also knew the end was in sight and I was feeling great. No fatigue just enjoying the moment and cruising to another finish.

Although there were sections of concrete the surroundings more than made up for the terrain underfoot. So much greenery, England in full bloom is a glorious place to be.

There was trails as well as the concrete footpath so you were never too far from some great trail running and the odd stile to keep you honest.

When I persuaded a cyslist to take this photo I was close to the finish and feeling so good. The stage was relatively short compared to the previous three days so I had lots left in the tank, it was virtually a rest day as we had also left the testing undulations of the coastal path. It had been a great day.

All that was left to do was get a great selfie with some of my housemates and then all scuttle off to the pub for a good feed, tell a few tall stories of the days adventures and prepare to repeat the whole process the next day, we really were living the dream.

fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered.  It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.

Day three and it was another glorious day in sunny Cornwall. Padstow to Bude would turn out to be very , very special. It 59km kilometres of incredible running over scenery that defied logic at times, it was just too perfect. I felt like I was seeing a picture postcard around every corner, each one outdoing the previous.

 

 

Managed to get some video of the ferry crossing and Dave ‘Dangerous’ Dougla getting reprimanded for standing on the seats. I wish I’d taken more video, next time !

The highlight of day three was running through Port Isaac, an iconic village made famous by the TV series Doc Marten.  It did not disappoint. I’ve added three images below but could have added hundreds more, the place is a picture postcard on steroids’ and the conditions were absolutely perfect.  When the weather is this good there is no where else you’d rather be, nowhere.

The only downside is the water looks so inviting but if you venture in there there is a good chance you’ll lose the family jewels for many hours , post dip, it ain’t warm.

How incredible is that view, it was hard to move on , leaving such a paradise and a true Cornish iconic village. Thankyou Port Isaac, you delivered in spades.

We were warned on day one that North Cornwall was one of the hardest sections and although we were blessed with perfect conditions it didn’t disguise the terrain which was testing. If you weren’t going down steep slopes you were ascending similar gradients. Luckily there were no time pressures and it was up to each runner how quick they’d run the stage. Stopping for a photo was also an excuse for a well earned rest or a break for some hydration and nutrition.

The beauty of the Cornish coast is the splattering of small village stores hidden in the coves supplying the best refreshments, like unplanned aid stations filled to the gunnels with delicious offering. I was parched and this ice cream , together with some lucozade energy drink, recharged my batteries big time. I skipped off up the next hill with renewed vigor before bumping into some tourists who offered to take a photo, the day just kept on giving.

Experiencing the runners high after a great Cornish ice cream and also happy for a rest after the hill I had just clambered up. Notice my foot wear in this photo. I had gone for the Altra Vanish Tempo’s , which were brand new at the start of this stage, this was a mistake as I was taking my life in my hands on some of the steep climbs, especially going down. My logic was the path was very runnable and there was road sections ahead, with hindsight I should have packed my Altra Olympus runners and swapped at one of the aid stations.  My lovely white tempo’s were christened early in the stage when I jumped into a cowpat (a flat round deposit of cow dung) while coming off a sty.

I have added an image of an example of said cowpat, sort of landmines for ultra runners . Needless to say my lovely white Altra Tempos would never be that colour again.

It was a blessing to leave the coast to the back roads where we offered some protection from the sun. You were always on the look out for water and this watering hole was extra special as it had goldfish, I assume they had been deposited there and just survived ?

Maybe they’re dangerous and thus need the cage to protect the general public from being mauled to death, a Cornish version of a Great White shark perhaps ?

As well as backroads there was a few trails to keep you on your toes and these were heavily shaded which was a respite from the unforgiving sun.

Eventually the days running had to end and I was disappointed when I reached the finish for day three, albeit I was looking forward to a sit down and some tukka. Imagine how excited I was to receive an authentic Cornish party , bloody stoked. I devoured the beast quickly and then stripped off and had a relaxing (and invigorating ) swim in the ocean.  Laying in the ocean I reflecting on the best day yet and wondered how much longer the event could keep producing the goods.

After the Cornish pasty it was back on one of the buses and we were whisked away to our overnight accommodation.  We’d be here for three nights and I was grouped with five other runners in a three bedroom chalet, with sea view of course and close to a great pub which would feed and water us.  As you can see from the image below it was burger , onion rings and chips, real ultra food.

Finally a perfect sunset before retiring for the evening and preparing for day four, Bude to Bideford, a 41km day, virtually a rest day. I could hardly sleep I was so excited.

fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered.  It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.

We spent the first evening back at the Lands End YHA which meant a thirty mile return journey. There was little conversation on the minivan on the way back, we were all toasted from a hard days trail running and contemplating a similar fate the next day. Apparently the North Cornwall sections of the event are among the hardest trails and also you have to run seven days straight before your first rest day. All these factors were playing on everybodies minds as we sat in silence on the journey back to the start.

Once back at the YHA it was time for a well earned hot shower and some great dinner before I went straight to bed and sweated out the head cold that had been bothering me all day. I was out like a light and awoke the next day invigorated, unfortunately for my three running room buddies I had also snored all night , allegedly.  So back on the bus we went to drive the thirty or so miles back to Portreath and restart the adventure at yesterdays finish line. It was surreal to be back at Portreath and without any fanfare we were off again. A good friend of mine, from my youth, Zelah Lewis joined me for the first ten or so kilometres and her company made the time disappear as we caught up with probably forty years of news.  We were so focused on reminiscing  I missed the first aid station which meant as we parted company I was out of food and drink, rookie error.

Luckily as Zelah turned for the return trail to Portreath I was caught by four runners who restocked me with Rat Race bars (my go to food on the run) We stayed together for most of the day and the highlight was ice creams from a pub later in the morning as the temperatures heated up.

Managed to find aid station 2 albeit I was travelling in a group of five so I just followed everyday else.  Enjoyed sitting down and grabbing some great tukka, from memory a wrap of some sort, not important at this stage in the day , you just want food and as much as possible. On a side note the Rate Race bars are awesome and I would mainly use these throughout the day.  The Cornishman pub was just next to aid station two and had to get the image below, just perfect. I use that term a lot in these posts.

Conditions for day one were perfect but day two was even more perfect, if that is even a thing ? Cornwall really was tugging at the heart strings by showing herself at her very best, it really does not get any better ? These were new trails to me as when I left Cornwall nearly thirty years ago I was a hard drinking surf chasing machine and running was only a thing you did if you were late for last orders at the local pub. !  The views on day two were incredible, just incredible. When the weather is this good Cornwall is probably the best place to be on the planet, in my opinion. I was blessed.

Along the coast trail you are constantly coming across beach crossings that last a lifetime and every one is picture perfect, breaking up the undulation of the coastal trails. These beach crossing are a welcome relief and give you time to relax and smell the roses, so to speak.  You breath in the views .

Linking the beaches, coastal trails and small Cornish villages are the incredible back lanes over grown with lush greenery, and stinging nettles ! You needed to be on your guard as you moved through these lanes though because Cornish drivers can all take on Lewis Hamilton in their Volkswagen campers and consider a runner a potential kill rather than an obstacle to be avoided.  A few times I made a life saving dive into the hedge and on a number of occasions was met with a wall of stinging nettles, which as the name suggests, it an unpleasant experience.

Its hard to describe the day without continuing the perfect, awesome, incredible theme I have been using so far on this journey thus far.  Cornwall was just putting on such a show and the images will live long in my memory. On so many occasions I wanted to strip down to my shorts and dive into the Cornish ocean which was so inviting, albeit I knew it looked a lot warmer than it actually is , so resisted. I was also worried about the possible chaffing issues I would be facing running for hours covered in salt water. My T8 running wear is good but salt water and clothing, mixed with exercise, are not good bed fellows. !  On that note a big shout out to T8 clothing who supplied me with all my running apparel. https://t8.run/ I cannot recommend this brand enough, clothing so good you feel you’re running naked. I remember the first few times I tried their shorts I kept checking to see I was still wearing them, they are that good. Chaffing is a thing of the past, no need to cover the family jewels in Vaseline. (albeit I use to enjoy that ?)

I felt strong as the day progressed and came into Padstow full of beans knowing day two was finished, a chalk and cheese experience compared to the day one slog. There were so many highlights it was just another perfect day, there’s that word again. I feel like I’m missing out describing so many experiences from day two but with time my memory becomes jumbled , a benefit of my advancing years.  I should have kept a journal like Steve , maybe next year ?

My little group of runners had split up by the time I reached Padstow and I was relieved to finally sit down after a long day at the office. Funnily enough I was a matter of metres from the finish but couldn’t see it and standing looking at my phone, confused, was saved by James, the Race Director, tapping me on the shoulder  and pointing me the one or two metres to the finish line. At the end of an ultra you really are a zombie ! It was great to sit down and admire the harbour views before being whisked away to our accommodation for the evening.

So day two done and dusted, a massive improvement on day one with the head cold banished.  Finished well up the field,  albeit it’s not a race,  but good to finish strong and enjoy the day compared to the slog on day one.  Now it was back in the minivan to the whisked away to the new accommodation for some R&R, a good feed before repeating the whole process on  day three, I really was living the dream.

fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered.  It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.

 

Run Britannia is the brain child of Rat Race events and was trailed last year by eight test pilots. 2023 was the inaugural running of the event with a cap of forty runners for the 35 day, 1,000 mile,  running smorgasbord.  On the day there were 27 starters , myself included. This was going to be the adventure of a lifetime, and then some. https://www.ratrace.com/run-britannia

Simple concept, start at Lands End in Cornwall and run the length of the United Kingdom ending up at John O’Groats 35 days later, over 1,000 miles, (1,634km) averaging between 50-60 km a day with four break days. Sounds reasonable. Rat Race events put on all the accommodation, transport, food and drink for the whole event; all you do is wake up each day and run an ultra, simple.

We all gathered at the Lands End Youth Hostel for our first night together and the first of many race briefings from the RD James.  It was incredible to finally be in England and at the start of what promised to be life changing. All the runners introduced themselves and what an eclectic bunch we turned out to be.  From Plasters and Decorators to Company Directors, athletes to runners who had not even run an ultra, the whole spectrum of the running society was on show. The thing was no one cared , everybody was as equally nervous and excited together and to a runner it was all about finishing but finishing together. Hence the name I suppose, Run Britannia, rather than Race Britannia; it really was a run with like minded people.

Funnily enough I spent my youth in Cornwall, England, so knew Lands End very well, growing up surfing the first two beaches we would run over on our journey. The memories came flooding back as I clambered over boulders on the coastal path between Sennen Cove and Gwenver. It must be over twenty five years since I run amok on these beaches but it felt like yesterday.

 

 

So here’s the start, excuse the commentary from my old friend Paul Magnet’ Hutson…

Running through Sennen and Gwenver was surreal, I had spent the best part of ten years surfing these beaches in a misspent youth and as we were out early the cove was deserted bar a few on lookers bemused seeing so many runners. It was an incredible experience and I soaked it all in. The images can never do it justice, so special.

I found myself alone running across Gwenver until a good friend from a different lifetime came down to cheer me on. Seeing Chris, who had been camping with his sons, gave me such a boost. Old friends from decades ago reconnecting instantly. It’s hard to describe the feeling running across Gwenver , probably close to thirty years since the last time I really run amok there. It has a special place in my heart and I deliberately keep it locked away , probably explains why I never return, too dangerous, it claws at you and you can feel the urge to return building in your stomach.  On this day I got my head down and moved on knowing I had a long day ahead of me and best not dwell on what could have been, more time for that later in the journey.

The coastal path is challenging but the views make up for the hard running surface and boulder clambering. Cornwall really is God’s County and is was putting on a show for day one.  The early morning cloud cover was soon banished and it was pure sunshine to the finish. I was probably the only runner who kept his jacket on and this was a godsend later in the day,  running across Gwithian Beach,  when the wind got up. I was freezing and without my jacket it would have been hard to carry on while my fellow runners all basked in the Cornish weather, they’re a funny bunch Poms.

For some reason it looks like this is the only video footage I took on day one. I was suffering with a head cold but I’m sure I took more ? Obviously not which is such a pity as it was a biblical day. I always set off with good intentions but on day one I failed. This was taken at aid station two, just coming out of St. Ives.

After St. Ives we had to hot foot it to Hayle estuary and catch the tide, miss it and we were faced with an extra six or so kilometres. Most elected to run to the end of the estuary  where it was the shallow; my group decided to go as the crow flies and just wade through up to our arm pits , holding our packs above our heads, SAS style. Because of this I didn’t get any photos or video, I was more worried about not dropping my iphone into the drink.

After we dried ourselves we checked the GPS tracking page and saw the front runners were finishing while we had more than twenty kilometres to go. Incredible pace which was unsustainable of course long term but first day, perfect conditions, you could forgive their enthusiasm.  I was more interested in just finishing and recovering, time on feet run and trying to soak up the views. Cornwall really was delivering in spades on day one.

Post river crossing the wind got up and although it looks warm in the photo I was freezing, of course this was down to my head cold but I was so lucky I had my running jacket, without it I would have been in real strife. Once we got off the beach we were protected from the wind and things warmed up a tad. After Gwithian beach it was a case of head down to Perranporth where the bus was waiting to take us back to the start for a good nights rest, and man did I need it !

By the time I got to Portreath I was well and truly done, I had nothing more to give and just needed to eat and sleep. We headed back to the Lands End YHA and after a good meal I was straight to bed and out instantly. That night I sweated out my cold and unfortunately snored all night, according to my room mates. This was down to the head cold, I’m assuming, as there was no more complaints for the remainder of the event.  Either way the next day I was feeling so much better and ready for day two.

fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered.  It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.