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.
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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.
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Looking
in less pain than I was letting on!
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Another
lady finished 10 minutes after me, which was absolutely awesome too,
as she was packing in at Maughold at around 3am!
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Wonderful
Amanda holds me up.... She was awesome!!!
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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.
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