#TR24 2012 - Race Report

After lap 2, still smiling, but for how long?

Such a special event and before last year I had never heard of it - after a last minute substitution I joined a team of 6 other women and together to raced and bonded. After that there was no doubt in my mind I would be back in 2012. I started to scout for a team amongst the Petts Wood Runners immediately ready for registration to open for this years event. Volunteers signed up and we had the 5 required and the team was entered.

As the weekend grew closer we had changes to the team with a few personnel changes. Momentarily we were down to 4 runners but knowing that we needed the full contingent we had first registered my Dad - originally coming along to support - was invited to join us. It was clear where my team and slightly competitive spirit comes from when he promptly agreed and a t-shirt was ordered!

Three of the team arrived on the Friday evening, Myself and Mike suffering from a long long traffic filled journey, only made better when we stopped for an ice cream and a road atlas. By the time we had arrived my Dad had followed instructions, secured us a superb camp HQ and started the set up for our team... Pimp My Stride.

Once the tents were up we headed to race HQ to register, collect t-shirts and watch the Olympics opening ceremony on the big screen near the start line. When we headed back to the tents for a good nights sleep we were subjected to the unwelcome musical styling’s of a cover band or really bad karaoke - we could not determine which but relief was short-lived at the final song played at midnight when they announced their return for Saturday night... noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

On Saturday morning the rest of the team arrived along with more support and our official catering manager for the weekend, Karien's hubby - without the tea and kebabs we might have never made it through! I also spotted both Anne-Marie and Karen from my team last year getting ready to take on the challenge solo along with Karen's hubby Tim, I was quite envious at this point and a seed was sown.

Before long it was time for the briefing and we made our way to the start line. Soon we lost track of Mike R and panic ensued as we realised we did not have a team photo and as soon as one team member was on the course we wouldn't have another chance until the end..... emergency!!!! We scanned the crowds, I finally found him, reprimanded him accordingly and dragged him to the others for a photo two mins before the gun went off to start the race!

Lap 1 - In the Summertime

I was second up and set up on my first lap in the sweltering heat but determined and excited to get off. The course had changed a little since last year although so much was familiar and I was so enjoying being out in the sunshine and enjoying the woods and the enthusiasm of all the runners and marshals that it was incidental. This was my quickest lap and I knew if I was going to get in more than my 4 last year I would need to rein it in a little so I could keep going.

Lap 2 - Continental Challenge

Most runners were now in their stride and on their first, second or third laps. I chatted amicably to a variety of runners throughout my lap as we fell in and out of pace with one another and shared our stories of what had led us to sign up to this event.

The continental challenge happened upon my lap, oh dear. It was offering a prize to the fastest male and female to run up a rather long steep hill. I gave it my all even though I knew it wouldn't be enough I tried my damnedest!

After my lap I thought I'd better freshen up so headed for the shower blocks. I came out looking for food and as I turned a corner there was my husband... making a surprise visit to support me. What a lovely surprise, we picked up a baked potato after a long potato based saga in the food tent and headed back to camp for a while.

Lap 3 & 4 - Tree hugger and the light brigade

Night time had arrived as I set out on my double at just after midnight. With head torch in place, a spare dangling from my wrist I was impatiently hopping around in the change over area getting chilly. I knew once I started running again I would be fine but right now I was cold! The runners waiting all seemed to have gone a little loopy by this point and we all started heckling when runners came in, nothing bad just mostly shouting 'get naked' the new runner would pass their layers to the runner coming back from their lap or shouting the name of the person who seemed to have failed to show up to run.

The first lap went by with a few stumbles and a little caution but I was hot, too many layers, I knew it! As I passed our camp at just after 9km I detoured and de-layered, grabbed my powerade and carried off on my way along with the other bobbing lights in the darkness. Passing through the start and onto lap two I wondered if I doing the right thing but it was too late now. I was getting pretty tired now, the band had been playing again so I didn't have any sleep prior to the run.

Onto the second lap and I was really feeling the pressure now, my pace had slowed and I was getting nervous. I started chatting to a man whose torch seemed to be dimming and he was on his first of a double lap, I gave him my little spare as it would have been pretty awful in the dark alone, we continued to run together for a while before hitting a hill that I needed to power walk up and he was off. The questions of why started to enter my mind, was this really a sensible thing to be doing... running through the night, hmmm not so sure.

I found a nice running buddy, a lady whose name I will probably never know but we kept each other company. I moved to the side to let a runner pass and went flying through the air and collided with a tree, lucky it was there I think as I would have landed on my face... as it was I stubbed my toes, bumped my arm and felt a bit silly. The other runners stopped and checked I was oaky, reassuring them I was I sent them on their merry way through the woods at night!

Lap 5 - Nectarine Rolling Contest

Like the infamous cheese rolling that takes place... this was of no such scale. Quite simply a solo runner looking exhausted and using sticks went to eat a nectarine from his supplies, it fell in slow motion at the top of a steep and grassy hill. I leapt into action seeing the look on his face that had written on the delectable piece of fruit. I managed to prevent it's tumbling and hand it back to him so he could enjoy it's sweet if slightly dented flesh. He thanked me and I was on my way again... good running Samaritan act number two!

Lap 6 & 7 - Anyone for a double?

As I started my 6th and what was meant to be my final lap I was once again struck by the feeling that maybe I could do this solo and all the tough parts had faded away. I was happily trotting along and chatting to people as I approached the 8km mark I started to think that there was plenty of time for a final lap but I don't think anyone from the team wanted to do it. I hollered words to that effect as I passed the camp and then with their confirmation they were happy for me to continue I set my mind to the task... another double was coming my way!

Just after the 5km mark where the water and sponge station was I took a moment to douse myself once again stating that that was possibley the greatest moment of the last 24hours, feeling that cold water cool me down before the final few miles. I crossed the line for the final time around 12:17pm on Sunday 29th July and I knew I would be back again next year.

The results:

• The other runners and marshals were so support, this really is an all inclusive event that welcomes everyone from tortoise through hare and everything in between.
• The team were fantastic in spirit, effort and support of each other.
• Pimp my Stride came 50 out of 70 Mixed teams of 5
• We ran 210km in total (21 laps)
• I ran 70km (7 laps which included 3 singles and 2 doubles)
• I might just sign up for a solo run next year!