Thank you so much for all your support especially (Jane, Andy, Titch and Amanda once her heels had turned into fully covered blisters).  Your sponsorship money will be greatly appreciated by the Penny Brohn Centre.

How far did we go?

Did either of us make it?

Amanda walked all the way to the parish of Jurby, 45 miles at storming pace over 12 hours of walking.  We were cold and very wet by 8pm, and Amanda's feet had well and truly given up the ghost.  

One of Amanda's Heel Based Hydration Packs.
Pierce & Suck....  

The pain was excruciating and she was also worrying about slowing me down.  There were time stipulations at every parish, where you clicked in electronically.

I decided to plough on, Titch heading home now as Jane and Andy with the new addition on Amanda were there to offer full support through the night.

I didn't know how far my legs and mind would be willing to carry me.

My right and left ankles were in terrible pain and my left knee seized up each time I stopped to water the hedgerows, not that they needed much as it rained from about 12pm until 3am ish... I think!  Each time I stopped to pee, I would literally hobble like Long John Silver for 3 minutes until the ligaments loosened on the outside of the knee.  Things weren't looking great.

I also allowed myself to get cold, shivering and talking drunken gibberish.  A quick change into my Under Armour thermal layer and snowboarding hat saw my temperature revert to normal, in fact toasty at times.

As I entered the Parish of Bride a beautiful barn owl silently wafted across the road and into the field, seeing such beauty lifted my spirits for a few minutes.   

As the remaining walkers were enclosed in the wet gloom the parishes drifted by more and more slowly.  My time advantage of one and half hours earlier in the evening diminishing with each check point.  I was now chasing each church, having to push harder and harder, each time thinking I may miss the check, but with a final 5 minute push making it by 2 or 3 minutes each time.

My crew kept chatting to me, feeding me little flapjacks which I'd made the day before, along with banana chunks and baked potatoes.  I swigged soup at roadside tables where locals were still  out supporting everyone even during the early hours.  I couldn't believe there were still people out!

I kept asking was I last, my crew kept telling me 'nooooo, you're not last', Amanda hopping out of the van at various intervals, squelching behind me in her socks (she couldn't get her trainers back on due to the blisters) with words of encouragement.  She was great.

The final parishes were killers, at times my mood fell so low I sobbed with pain, my feet slowed and I felt I had nothing left.....

The sky began to brighten as daybreak took kicked in.  I lost various walking companions I'd picked up along the way during the hours of darkness, leaving them behind on the up-hills (which were my strength), no  doubt they caught up on the down hills.  As I reached Laxey my ebb was low, but I was now only about 2 miles from Lonan parish, the penultimate church.  I was running twenty minutes late, the darkness, gloom and continuous dampness sapping my energy, will and strength.  This is where your support crew kick in (thanks again guys).

I powered as hard as I could up the steep hill towards Lonan parish church, knowing I'd just walked 78.5 miles and had only 6.5 to go to complete the entire Parish Walk.  Would they let me continue with me being 20 minutes late.  

I pleaded as the woman told me I was outside the deadline and I'd have to hand in my electronic timer.  I pleaded more telling the male official (a previous winner) that I could still do.  She told me I couldn't make it as I had an hour and a half to complete the final 6.5 miles.  I said I could make it, give me a chance.

He then said, 'OK let's just do what we meant to in this position.  You can carry on, but if you fail to make it in under 24 hours you will not receive a finishers certificate.'  Everyone was elated.  

I now had to walk at an average pace of 4.33mph.  That doesn't sound much, but when your ankles are swollen to fook and you've been awake for over 24 hours.... 4.33 is a fast pace too, believe me!  I put my head down knowing what I had to do.  An hour and a half of intense ankle and knee wrecking pain.  

2 miles in I didn't think I could maintain the pace, at times I was walking at 5mph!  Text messages started to flow through, and Amanda passed them on to me as the support van drove past each time.  Titch came back in at 7.15am, it was great to see him.  I had two painfully steep downhills and uphills before the final stretch along the Promenade.  As I ploughed my way the main road in to Onchan, a truck driver passing in the opposite direction gave me a big thumbs up, little things like that didn't half boost me.  Everyone is rooting for you, not just your crew, family and friends, it really is beautiful.

As I staggered slightly out of control down the steep hill to Onchan Parish Church, the old official form the previous Lonan Parish was there to meet me.  He was amazed to see me arriving with a couple of minutes to spare.  He congratulated me informing me he didn't expect me to make here and that now completing the Parish Walk within the 24 hours was now very possible.

My brother-in-law walked down the steep hill to meeting me half way as I forced myself up the  incline with everything I had, 'You've been walking at over 5mph, it's 2 miles from here to the finish line, you're going to do it!'.  I arrived back up on the main road, Amanda was so excited I had 30 minutes to complete the final two miles..... I even believed it was possible now.  The pain in my ankles was becoming unbearable, but I powered on.  Hitting the promenade my old PE teacher (who used to compete in various UK iron man contests, a super fit fella now well into his fifties, but looking about 43) came cycling towards me on his racer, 'Come on Boyda!  What an achievement, I can't believe it.' He said.  'You are the fastest person along this promenade in 3 hours!  You're going to make it!'.  He was so excited, it was lovely to see him.  My brother who was being driven along the promenade by his wife shouted 'Come on you stubborn b&$*ard.'  That may have seemed harsh, but he was right, and that's what had me coming along the promenade with 15 minutes to complete the final mile.

It was a wonderful feeling to have the support of everyone around you.  The cheers as I crossed the line, the emotion that filled the air.  Even Titch & Andy shed a hidden tear!  It was overwhelming.  

I completed the Parish Walk in 23 hours 56 minutes and 1 second...... The final finisher to complete the walk in the allotted time.  

Looking in less pain than I was letting on!

Another lady finished 10 minutes after me, which was absolutely awesome too, as she was packing in at Maughold at around 3am!

Wonderful Amanda holds me up.... She was awesome!!!

This was the interview immediately afterwards, they've edited out all my awesome humour!  ( I wonder why?) http://www.manxradio.com/newsread.aspx?id=60285

On getting back to Jane and Andy's I was really hobbling, my ankles, particularly my right ankle was incredibly painful.  It's being iced and elevated as I email!

My calves were in bits, and I'm still hobbling around like a crippled 80 years old!

I had a 10 minute bath to soothe the legs, then decided to shower off the soap.  Unfortunately I blacked out in the shower, collapsing in an eye rolling head apparently.  Screams from Amanda alerted Jane (and the neighbours no doubt).  When I came round I was in a tangled mess on legs and genitals as Amanda trickled cool water over my face and neck which was lovely.  

The next three hours were spent sleeping.

Amanda's heel based water balloons have been popped and dressed, so she is feeling better.  She is being an awesome nurse to me too!

I was hoping not to let anyone down who sponsored us to raise funds for the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre  -  Job done I reckon!

27th June 2012

This morning when I woke my left ankle didn't creak, neither did my right one, though in the last hour it's started again. Unfortunately they were both as painful as they were yesterday.... I'm elevated (just my ankles, not my mind) and resting....

Today I've decided to crawl and scooch (like a worm ridden dog) keeping the weight off them to see if they'll fix themselves quicker!

At the presentation do last night held at the Villa Marina I shuffled (unable to bend my ankles) on and off the stage extraordinarily slowly to collect my finishers trophy. Embarrassing to say the least. The audience had to clap twice to allow me to make it from the right hand side of the stage to the left. Dear oh dear oh dear!

Thanks again to you all.