The Mad Coast to Coast Challenge
Madeleine Harmens is raising money for Stroke Association
Story
Hello!! So yes, I have decided to take on the Coast to Coast Rat Race across Scotland - don't get too excited I have no false expectations of winning! It's the taking part that counts ( and I'll still get a medal just for finishing as that'll be an achievement in itself!)
I have chosen to raise money for the Stroke Association because in February my Dad suffered a stroke. He ( unlike me...yet!) is a slim, fit and healthy chap that has never smoked a day in his life. Therefore, it was a horrendous shock when it happened. Over the last couple of months, he has come on tremendously. From not being able to stand, he is now walking and even putting small sentences together. Strokes are the 4th leading cause of death in the UK (stat from 2010). With the support from the Stroke Association (aswell as amazing doctors, nurses and the best of friends) we as a family are able to remain strong and hopeful for a continuing recovery. Therefore I am doing this challenge to raise money as a way of saying thank you and so that other families and sufferers can also get the help and support they need. Yet, with it still being unknown why my Dad had a stroke, I am also supporting Stroke Association for their research into prevention and improving the recovery prospects.
No I'm not a runner nor extremely active. I do like the odd game of tennis but mostly mixed doubles as while the guys battle it out, the ladies can enjoy a cheeky natter at the net! So I wouldn't say that will really have prepared me for this challenge that is, have I mentioned, 170km over 2 days.... Ooops! Don't worry, the training has begun...just! - timing has never been my strong point but better late than never eh!!! I have begun the couch to 10k app training and it's not completely killed me!! But yes I know I have a long way to go! Think I may have bitten off more than I can chew but guess that keeps life exciting doesn't it?!?!
So this is the beginning of my mammoth journey. I shall be in touch with more details of the race and the challenges I have to come. After cooking 2 roasts, winning 1 egg hunt and endulging in scrumptious chocolate, the Easter weekend must come to an end; bring on these 'fun' morning runs!
Thank you 😊
Hello again! Thought it's time for an update on how it's all going.......
6months on, Papa is still doing tremendously well. His english has dramatically improved - we no longer get to the end of the sentence and I have forgotten what he said at the start (Yes it was him that had the stroke although sometimes it is hard to tell b/w us!!) I have been helping him with his English work too, although in these latter weeks even I have found them challenging (worrying I know!). For instance, last week dad had to fill in the missing words in the similes so together we came up with 'as old as the world'. Supposedly it's meant to be 'as old as the hills' - oopsies! English has never been my forte!! Besides a slight hiccup in June, he has been out and about and is constantly growing in confidence and improving. He is even driving again - so stay off the roads!!! Only joking!!
Now the 'race' I signed up for - well to say the least it is definately going to be a challenge. It is over 2 days. I start on the east coast at Nairn (above Inverness so far far away) where I run the first 10k, then cycle about 70k and finally kyak just over 1k. I then camp that night at fort Augutus and do a similar journey the following day to reach the west coast at glencoe, all across the Scottish highlands. The only training I have not begun - and I am not sure I will get round to, is kyaking. Not to worry I have a plan! The kyaks are 2 seaters so as long as I sit in the back the front rower will never know if i can't (don't!) row - shhh dont tell anyone tho!!
So the training. Well after we last spoke I had exams where revision and icecream sadly took priority over any sort of exercise! I did do some during exam week as thought the positive endorfins from exercise were better for me than the hitting the gin bottle!! After that I started getting into training and managed to complete the 10k Race for life in 58minutes. I was really shocked and it gave me the boost I needed as I was now at the minimum fitness level to enter this rat race- yes I didn't read till afterwards that this was recommended for those who wanted something more challenging than a marathon.... Oopsies - note to self: always read the small
print!! Now I have the running under control, I thought it's time to tackle the next challenge. Cycling. Well I have to admit I know very little here. After dusting off my bike I went out and was trying to multi-task by cycling, changing the song and as I was coming to a dip I thought I better stop too. Innocently I squeezed the break expecting to slow down till finally coming to a smooth halt. No that did not happen! Instead, the bike stopped instantly and so I flew (yes flew!) over the handle bars and landed flat on my face, grazing both my knees and elbows. They always say you learn the most from your mistakes and these cuts and bruises definitely won't let me forget not to use the front break too soon!
Before long it was August. This month was meant to be the final push in training - emphasis on MEANT TO BE there! After finding out I passed my first year :), I realised my august was completely empty. I hadnt booked anything for fear of needing to revise for retakes. So I now thought I should try to get some work experience for a week or 2, however instead I managed to find 4 weeks paid work as a finance assitant ( yes very fancy I know!!) - so who could complain there! I was so excited to start yet I did not realize how exhausting sitting down from 8-6 could be! This meant when I got home instead of training I tended to just hit the pillow - oops!!
Now after completing the 4 weeks I am actually slightly worried about attempting a 10k run again. With only 3 weeks to go I have to get back in the swing because there is no turning back now! Scotland here I come!
Thank you so much to all those who have donated, it really means a lot to me and my dad as I couldn't imagine a world without him. And without the help of stroke association he would never have come as far as he has today.... And he is still improving 😊.
I shall be in touch soon, hope you are all having a lovely summer!
Madx
Thank you 😊
170KM. 2 coasts! I DID IT!! would I do it again? No! But the views across the Scottish Highlands were absolutely spectacular. I couldn't have done it without all your support. Thank you so much. Shall let you know how I got on shortly!
I still cannot believe I did it! And reaching £500 really is the cherry on top!
I know it's a tad late but here's a quick (well short-ish!) update on how I actually managed to run/cycle/ and kayak 170km across the Scottish highlands ( although I think I'd call them mountains!)
Up in the depth of Northern Scotland in a town called Nairn ( where those tasty crackers come from!) we queued up to complete our registration. Suddenly, I felt extremely under trained looking round at other competitors. There was a bootcamp group from Norway, looking all fit and in tip top gear! I was there with my kids skater helmet from John Lewis which I'd personally decorated with butterfly stickers! Panic was rapidly rising as I felt more and more out of my depth.
Nevertheless we went on to get our bikes. There I passed this little, old lady. Surely if she can do this, my youth should give me a much needed advantage. Hope had been 'temporarily' restored!
7:30am Saturday 13th September 2014
We were off! The 11km run began. People were passing from both sides but singing along to Mamma Mia kept me positive.....until....5km in. I was looking majorly worse for wear and there she was. That little old lady that had previously given me such hope of completion whizzing right past me. HELP! Doubt flooded the mind - 'I can't do this! What even am I doing?! It's absolutely insane!'
Finally I reached Cawdor Castle. Waheeey!! The first stage was complete. Just having finished one part gave me a huge boost of confidence on being able to complete it now.
From Cawdor Castle it was a 77km on-road cycle through the highlands to Fort Augustus, followed by a 3km mini run and kayak in Loch Ness. The views were absolutely spectacular (besides the odd YES for independence sign - oh slightly controversial there ;P !!) Although it was tough it was surprisingly do-able and by 5pm we had arrived at camp and even set up tent.
To my surprise my Mum and Dad showed up and treated us too a much needed hot dinner .... and cheeky glass of wine!! All was going extremely well.... If not too well!
7:30am Sunday 14th September
Tent packed, cooked breakfast demolished and we were back on our bike ready for a 33km off-road ride. It began just along a canal and besides the odd lumps and bumps it didn't seem too bad. Oh how naive I was at thinking that was the off road bit!! We soon came to this rocky trial that went steeply up into the woodlands. Well I definately was not ready for this! It took us 4hrs just to do this part alone - yes it was literally insane!!
Knowing I was lagging behind, there was no time to stop for breaks now I still had 22km on road cycle, 23km run/ trek and a final 1.5km kayak to go - I had to finish this, I wasn't going to give up now!
By 12:30 I had finished the cycling and began the trek/ run round Ben Nevis. Pain was taking over all my muscles, exhaustion was kicking in and my water was running dangerously low. This was not looking good. I couldn't take much more. I'd trek up the hills and ran down them each time loosing a bit more control of my body. Feeling weaker and weaker until the inevitable happened. I tripped. With grazed hands and knees, I pulled myself off the floor, pushed the pain to the back of my mind and I headed onwards. I had no time to dwell on pain, never mind energy to waste. Finally I came to the last 5km of the trek. This was a boost I needed. I gave a small sigh of relief, 'I was nearly there!' 'I can really do this!' It wasn't over yet though!
Along the final muddy path I came to a river. I looked up and down it for a crossing. There wasn't one. With minimal energy to waste faffing I simply jumped in and waded across to the other side. Now quenching along, I looked along the path to see it didn't go round this hill(/mountain!). No instead it went up and over. SH&£!!! Every muscle in my body hurt. Running on empty now I was beginning to feel light in the head. I couldn't take anymore! I wanted to stop!
I had to keep going though. I knew I had to. My Dad is my hero. I had to complete this for him. To show him that he can do it too. He will keep improving and we will both learn new words daily! If he can relearn to walk, and talk the least I do is can complete this. After all it's nothing on the challenges he's faced. I wasn't going to let this final hill stop me. On I pushed. Motivating myself each step. 'I can do this. I will do this!'
I reached the top. With new found energy I raced down the otherside to the final stage. Slipping and sliding in the mud. By the bottom I was covered but I didn't care one bit. I could almost see the finish line. Only the 1.5km kayak to go.
The kayak was done in twos and miraculously I was partnered with a gentleman from the army. Praise the Lord! We set off. In agony, with our legs now cramping we paddled away (well I tried!!) and 20minutes later we were yards from the finish. Onto the last 100 yards I raced along the final path and crossed the line. I DID IT!! I actually did it!
Looking back on this challenge I didn't realise how hard it would actually be. I knew it would be physically insane but I hadn't trained for it being so mentally testing right from the start. Nevertheless, 'where there is the will, there is ALWAYS a way!'
I surely couldn't have done it without all your support though. I can not thank you all enough. Not just at getting me through this 'Mad' Challenge but keeping me and my family going over the last few months too. We surely couldn't have come through so strong without all of you that have been there every step of the way.
Lots of Love
Madxxx