Just like our run my overview needs a start and that start has to be Malcolm, for without him there would be no tale to reflect upon. I am fortunate to have a friend whose vision in all things running matches mine, there is no divide - we love to plan and we then love to run our plan!
The planning and procrastinating was such fun, evenings spent with maps and trail guides, measuring daily distances (accurate to within 10 miles!) booking 49 nights accommodation - quite a challenge even before we set off.
Our journey has been memorable, the sights and places, the wildlife, the flowers, the wonderful natural phenomena - Couldron Snout, High Cup Nick, High Force, the valleys and mountains, the website sky, the Spring moving with us up the country, the gale force wind on Cross Fell, the Cheviot Hills, Dunrobin Castle, fording the estuary on Sinclairs Bay; all have added up to an experience I will cherish forever.
Laughter has always played a big part in each day, we have had fun - even when Malcolm became stuck in a bog on the Cheviot Hills and then shortly afterwards got an electric shock - boy did we giggle, well one of us did!
The people we have met along the way, to name but a few; Clive - the Ashby 20 guy we met at Porthleven, Jude and Dave -the cyclists from the Wirral who we met in Lower Slaughter and again at Chipping Campden (on both occasions we were sitting down - honest we did run!), Carolyn and Mike - who we met at the end of a tough days run in Yorkshire, Carolyn becoming our Fairy Godmother near her home at Drumnadrochit! You were all the very nucleus around which our trip took shape and turned out to provide some of my warmest memories - thank you all.
To my friends and family that have always been there, I can only thank you and say my success was down to you.
Thank you's also to all who have kindly given to our chosen charities, Marie Curie and Macmillan nurses.
To Jessica and Matt whose devotion knows no bounds - few would happily have stayed in a matchbox in Tyndrum with us and appeared to enjoy the experience. Also to Jessica for her PR skills which are second to none!
Charles, I love your clouds.
To Barbara, a remarkable friend who has always inspired me, a lady whose kindness is boundless.
To 'Miss' Joanne and Dave - friends in a million.
To Gary and Mary, for their unflappable support and raising the bar in the catering competition!
To new friends Gill and Bernard, who took me under their wing.
To Pam and Frank - who made Uttoxeter to Youlgreave a day to remember rather than to forget.
To Chris and Justyna, it was a pleasure to meet you and we loved the Toblerones.
To Linda, Barbara and Harry - what a great conclusion to our trip.
To Chris, whose devotion never ceases to amaze me, whose belief in me is unwavering. Thank you for never doubting me and being selfless in helping me to achieve my goal.
To the many who appeared throughout our trip to support us or run with us. You all helped to make my dream come true - a million thanks to you all.
Much love, Aly xx
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Malcolm’s Reflections.
So we did it – phew! Before we started my big fear was injury or illness meaning we had to abort without finishing which would have been soul destroying, and considering the pounding our legs took over 7 weeks without a day off, it’s a minor miracle that neither of us did suffer any serious injury. We ran on some very difficult surfaces, from rocky paths to bogs, from boulder scrambling to river wading and we went up and down some very steep inclines (down being much harder on the knees etc than ups). The back problem at Lands End car park was an horrendous scare, but after that I got away with only some sore and blistered toes.
So, been there, done it, got the tee-shirt (courtesy of Chris, who presented us with commemorative tee-shirts he had got printed). The signpost at John O’Groats says 874 miles to Lands End, so our 1204 miles clearly wasn’t the most direct route. But for anyone wanting to experience the incredible beauty and the wonderful variety of beauty of this island then I honestly believe our route couldn’t have been surpassed. Spring is far and away my favourite season, when everywhere looks at its best and we had primroses, bluebells, brilliant yellow gorse and soft green beech leaves with us from start to finish.
I think my favourite area was the Cheviots in the Scottish Borders – an area I had only ever passed through by car. The Cheviots are uncomfortably boggy underfoot, but the stunningly beautiful views from the hilltops make the difficulty of access an irrelevance. An early return to the Borders is a must. But there were so many other fabulous places en route – Malham Cove, High Cup Nick, Couldron Snout, High Force, Loch Lomond, etc, etc, that it seems churlish to select a favourite. We loved all of it from start to finish (well there were perhaps a few boring bits but I’ve blotted them from my memory). It was a long time to be away and I was ready to come home at the end, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was a fantastic experience.
And finally some thanks:
To everyone who has donated to our charities;
To Charles for the website;
To everyone who ran bits with us, everyone who came to visit us en route, and everyone who has taken an interest via the website.;
To Carolyn from Drumnadrochit for her totally unexpected kindness;
To Hilary for the bunting;
To Gareth and Judith, my partners at Atkins Bassett, for letting me go and Trish and Shelley for covering my work for 7 weeks;
To Katie for being proud of me and for making me feel proud;
To our wonderful back-up supporters; Jess and Matt; Jo and Dave; Barbara; Gill and Bernard; Gary and Mary; Chris Brassington; Pam and Frank;
To Chris Wren for his fantastic support, encouragement, assistance and inordinate patience from the very inception of this idea, throughout the months of planning and during the trip itself.;
And to Aly for putting up with me for 7 weeks; for waiting for me (mostly); for sharing with me an unforgettable adventure and for being such a good friend.
Friday, 29 May 2009
Final Day 49 - Thursday 28th May
Keiss to John O'Groats - Turned out to be only 9 miles to John O'Groats - now that's a more sensible distance to run. Sprint finish (naturally) and arrived there at 10.15am! Done it - 1204 miles. Back to work then!
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Day 48, Wednesday 27th May 2009
Lybster to Keiss
Only 21 miles today, most of it again on the A99 but with the last 3 miles along the beach at Sinclairs Bay. The first 1.5 miles along the beach was fantastic - perfect sand, no stones, no seaweed, no people. However, we then reached a fairly big river crossing the beach and were unsure how deep it was. As it looked fairly deep and fast-flowing and as it seemed a shame for either of us to be drowned with less than 20 miles to go to John O'Groats, we sent Linda in first. When she got to waist level we started to worry, but she made it across and we followed her route (we knew there was a reason why we let her join us). Greeted at the end by Kev and Louise, who had run the first few miles with us at Lands End and had driven up to run the last few miles with us to John O'Groats - blinking glory-hunters!
Only 21 miles today, most of it again on the A99 but with the last 3 miles along the beach at Sinclairs Bay. The first 1.5 miles along the beach was fantastic - perfect sand, no stones, no seaweed, no people. However, we then reached a fairly big river crossing the beach and were unsure how deep it was. As it looked fairly deep and fast-flowing and as it seemed a shame for either of us to be drowned with less than 20 miles to go to John O'Groats, we sent Linda in first. When she got to waist level we started to worry, but she made it across and we followed her route (we knew there was a reason why we let her join us). Greeted at the end by Kev and Louise, who had run the first few miles with us at Lands End and had driven up to run the last few miles with us to John O'Groats - blinking glory-hunters!
Day 47 - Tuesday 26th May
Helmsdale to Lybster - 24 miles.
All our route today was along the A9 and the A99 - not really our thing. There were however several redeeming features, namely sunshine, no wind, hardly any traffic and panoramic views over the almost becalmed North sea.
Given that there wasn't anything else to do but keep running, we finished nice and early and went for a refreshing swim in the sea at Lybster harbour. It was most invigorating (which in gaelic is "blea din frea sin"). Only 35 miles to go - looks like we might make it!
All our route today was along the A9 and the A99 - not really our thing. There were however several redeeming features, namely sunshine, no wind, hardly any traffic and panoramic views over the almost becalmed North sea.
Given that there wasn't anything else to do but keep running, we finished nice and early and went for a refreshing swim in the sea at Lybster harbour. It was most invigorating (which in gaelic is "blea din frea sin"). Only 35 miles to go - looks like we might make it!
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Day 46 - Monday 25th May
Dornoch to Helmsdale - 29 miles
Despite a lack of sunshine, an excellent day. Chris drove us back from Dornoch to Skelbo where we had finished yesterday afternoon. Lo and behold the tide was out and there at our exact starting point were 48 grey seals on a sandbank, overseen by a heron. Our route followed the main A9 road which we had to run along for short spells, but mainly we were able to avoid it by a combination of coastal footpaths, tiny roads and several miles along deserted sandy beaches - brilliant. Went past this stunning fairytale castle straight out of Disneyland called Dunrobin.
We saw a number of what Aly thought were common cormorants (or shags) but Malcolm was unable to verify what they were as he could not remember what a common cormorant was like.
Day 45 - Sunday 24th May
Alness to Dornoch - 28 miles
Nice bright morning with all road running but on pleasant country lanes. Reached Tain after 12 miles, where we met up with Linda, Barbara and Harry, and soon afterwards were also joined by Chris who had driven up to join us for the rest of the trip.
Linda ran with us to Dornoch, a delightful small seaside town with a cathedral, a world renowned golf course and beautiful sands. As is our wont we immediately went into the sea for a paddle (Harry went in after us and promptly fell in headfirst but came up smiling!). Although we were staying in Dornoch we had another 5 miles to go to try and equalize the daily distances, and this took us along the coast to a spot called Skelbo on an inlet where there was a possibility of seeing grey seals. Unfortunately the tide was in and there were no seals to be seen.
Went past 1117 miles which was what we originally estimated to be our total distance, but unfortunately we still have 4 days to go. We did however see our first sign for John O'Groats - 85 miles!!!
Nice bright morning with all road running but on pleasant country lanes. Reached Tain after 12 miles, where we met up with Linda, Barbara and Harry, and soon afterwards were also joined by Chris who had driven up to join us for the rest of the trip.
Linda ran with us to Dornoch, a delightful small seaside town with a cathedral, a world renowned golf course and beautiful sands. As is our wont we immediately went into the sea for a paddle (Harry went in after us and promptly fell in headfirst but came up smiling!). Although we were staying in Dornoch we had another 5 miles to go to try and equalize the daily distances, and this took us along the coast to a spot called Skelbo on an inlet where there was a possibility of seeing grey seals. Unfortunately the tide was in and there were no seals to be seen.
Went past 1117 miles which was what we originally estimated to be our total distance, but unfortunately we still have 4 days to go. We did however see our first sign for John O'Groats - 85 miles!!!
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