Felix Clay
Sponsor Felix and Wil's Marathon here!
Fundraising for Stroke Association
Story
From Felixs Webpage (http://members.tripod.com/cassius_cat)the day after we did the run:
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Yesterday Wil and I ran the Sarsan Neolithic Marathon. After nearly a week of miserable drizzle it was a most excellent morning and we even arrived on time. The race started at the mystical Ayebury Stone Circle and went across Salisbury Plain finishing at Stonehenge.
We started off very optimistically, it was a lovely sunny day we were running across gorgeous undulating plains, it was a bit hilly but this made it more varied and we even spotted Penny, Brid and Ruth driving past on the way to see us at the finish.
It wasn't until Redhorn Hill just before the half way point that we had problems. Whoever decided upon the route for this run was deeply evil as we had to go for about 2 1/2 miles up a steep hill at this point. On reaching the top we had a nice flat palin to run along for the next 5 or 6 miles. Unfortunately during this period Wils knees gave out and although he battled valiantlyy on at around the 19 mile mark he had to walk. I'd been staying with him for support but decided at this point that I really wanted to run the whole way so went alone.
Perhaps because we'd been going so slowly before but at this point I was charged full of energy and decided I was going to run at full plelt to the end. Things started to get a bit odd around 21 miles, I felt massively high (self administered morphine through endorphin release!) and felt like I was floating along the track. I figured others would be in similar states but everyone else looked a lot more grounded. Slightly concerned I was going to faint I powered on and fuelled by Kendal Mint Cake over the last few painful miles as my body started to give up finished in 4 hours 35 minutes.
I'd felt really bad about leaving Wil and had decided in my endorphined up euphoria that I'd go back after I'd finished and rested and do the last mile with him. After stopping, stretching and having some cake this seemed much less like a good idea but just as I was about to commence my blistered hobble back along the track along came Wil a mere half hour after me and running full plelt! After swearing never to ever even consider running a marathon again he explained that he was able to make the last section so quickly not because he was keen to make good time but because the realisation dawned that only the only way to stop the pain in knees was to finish and the best way to do this quickly was to run fast then collapse. ---------------------------------------------------------- Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: The Stroke Association will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor us now! Many thanks for your support. Felix and Wil Thanks to: Catherine Ames, Tim Dixon, Zeng Biao, Jian Li, Carol Walthew, Markus Damian, Damian Williams, Marie Cahialle, Jeff Bowers, Brid Cronin, Ruth Doherty, Tom BRadbury, Laurence White, Lara Heard, Jo, Ben Vincent, Penni Grewcock, Kathy and Paul Crossthwaite, Charles and Julia Clay, Zanna Clay, Ewan (Toms Mate), Colin Davies, Sam Bird and Eric Wheater for sponsoring me the cash which is included under Felix's card payment (£127.60 total).
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Yesterday Wil and I ran the Sarsan Neolithic Marathon. After nearly a week of miserable drizzle it was a most excellent morning and we even arrived on time. The race started at the mystical Ayebury Stone Circle and went across Salisbury Plain finishing at Stonehenge.
We started off very optimistically, it was a lovely sunny day we were running across gorgeous undulating plains, it was a bit hilly but this made it more varied and we even spotted Penny, Brid and Ruth driving past on the way to see us at the finish.
It wasn't until Redhorn Hill just before the half way point that we had problems. Whoever decided upon the route for this run was deeply evil as we had to go for about 2 1/2 miles up a steep hill at this point. On reaching the top we had a nice flat palin to run along for the next 5 or 6 miles. Unfortunately during this period Wils knees gave out and although he battled valiantlyy on at around the 19 mile mark he had to walk. I'd been staying with him for support but decided at this point that I really wanted to run the whole way so went alone.
Perhaps because we'd been going so slowly before but at this point I was charged full of energy and decided I was going to run at full plelt to the end. Things started to get a bit odd around 21 miles, I felt massively high (self administered morphine through endorphin release!) and felt like I was floating along the track. I figured others would be in similar states but everyone else looked a lot more grounded. Slightly concerned I was going to faint I powered on and fuelled by Kendal Mint Cake over the last few painful miles as my body started to give up finished in 4 hours 35 minutes.
I'd felt really bad about leaving Wil and had decided in my endorphined up euphoria that I'd go back after I'd finished and rested and do the last mile with him. After stopping, stretching and having some cake this seemed much less like a good idea but just as I was about to commence my blistered hobble back along the track along came Wil a mere half hour after me and running full plelt! After swearing never to ever even consider running a marathon again he explained that he was able to make the last section so quickly not because he was keen to make good time but because the realisation dawned that only the only way to stop the pain in knees was to finish and the best way to do this quickly was to run fast then collapse. ---------------------------------------------------------- Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: The Stroke Association will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor us now! Many thanks for your support. Felix and Wil Thanks to: Catherine Ames, Tim Dixon, Zeng Biao, Jian Li, Carol Walthew, Markus Damian, Damian Williams, Marie Cahialle, Jeff Bowers, Brid Cronin, Ruth Doherty, Tom BRadbury, Laurence White, Lara Heard, Jo, Ben Vincent, Penni Grewcock, Kathy and Paul Crossthwaite, Charles and Julia Clay, Zanna Clay, Ewan (Toms Mate), Colin Davies, Sam Bird and Eric Wheater for sponsoring me the cash which is included under Felix's card payment (£127.60 total).