I picked Bucket up from Heathrow Terminal 3 on the Saturday night and we head out to Steyning at 7am Sunday morning from Battersea. On route I had to have a quick pit stop behind a bush which made us late. In the end we turned up at Steyning Leisure Centre at 8:25 and I convinced the guy on the car park entrance to let us park right there. We registered and ran up to the start line to see the competitors heading off into the distance. We'd missed it by 40 seconds. They held us back and set us off exactly one minute after them. Classic entrance.
The first 5 miles tracked along the base of the downs before the first of 4 'Stings' sent us up to the South Downs way path. We started with 10 minute miles but slowed after the first couple due to the frozen ground and muddy hills. Once up on the Downs we kept a steady pace, without overtaking anybody and just enjoying the incredible sunshine and views across the Downs to Shoreham and the Channel.
The sun began to warm up the ground as we plodded on through 15 - 18 miles and the frozen mud began to turn into clay like porridge. Pete began singing/ screaming vocals from Iron Maidens live back catalogue as we rounded the golf course just outside Shoreham.
On the way down from there we hit checkpoint 4 at the 19 mile marker. Pete was interviewed by one of the marshall's who recognised he may have been from out of town given the revealing tight lycra shorts, muddy arse and beaming smile at least 4 hours in and with another couple to go. The man in the ambo popped his head out and asked if we were ok. We were more than ok we were ROCKING.
We hit the 18 - 21 mile section of the course where you get sent off to round a big hill. On the return section rounding the last bit, Bucket slipped on the porridge and fell on his arse into a thorn bush. There was a muffled scream of protest but he got up and soldiered on like the true endurance hero that he is.
We got through to 21 miles and began the 2.5 mile climb which is the final sting up to the downs. At this point the conversation somewhat died but we muscled on through to the last aid station at 23.4 miles before eating some biscuits and heading back down the track and to the leisure centre.
We hit the 18 - 21 mile section of the course where you get sent off to round a big hill. On the return section rounding the last bit, Bucket slipped on the porridge and fell on his arse into a thorn bush. There was a muffled scream of protest but he got up and soldiered on like the true endurance hero that he is.
We got through to 21 miles and began the 2.5 mile climb which is the final sting up to the downs. At this point the conversation somewhat died but we muscled on through to the last aid station at 23.4 miles before eating some biscuits and heading back down the track and to the leisure centre.
We were out for a massive 5 hours 55 in the end. A good 2 hours and 8 minutes slower than my race last year but it was a throughly enjoyable day out. Bucket seemed to have a great time, made better by the free fry up and shot glasses at the end.
We drove back and went down to the pub for a few beers, some wine and some cointreau. In the end we hit the sack about 11 ish after skyping both Frank and Hully.
What a great weekend.
We drove back and went down to the pub for a few beers, some wine and some cointreau. In the end we hit the sack about 11 ish after skyping both Frank and Hully.
What a great weekend.
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