What a journey it has been. At the end of September 2017 I had completed the Grand 2 Grand challenge and was sitting at the airport with no race lined up for the future. My phone pinged and one of my new friends from G2G asked me to check out the Tahoe 200. I bit as soon as I read about the race and I’m delighted that 6 of the G2G gang will be toeing the start line at 9am on Friday 13th September.
In case you’ve forgotten it’s 205.5 miles with 40,200ft of ascent and descent and all above 6,500ft topping out at just below 10,000ft. That’s going to present some new challenges which is what excites me and attracted me to the race. It will be new territory and I will be pushing myself beyond anything I’ve done before now.
I’m going to be assisted by Becky who will join me at mile 63, 23 hours into the race, and she should be running with me for 100 miles. This will help when, not if, I start to hallucinate - another new experience. Reggie will join me for the last 30 miles which I am so happy with as mentally and physically it will be tough at that stage with a big climb and descent.
My wife Fiona will be my crew. She can have contact with me from 63 miles and there are some big gaps in time between check points. I’ve already apologised in advance for the behaviour she is likely to witness and I’ve told her on no account let me quit - it’s her 1st and possibly last time of crewing! Any ultra runner will tell you that during the race you question your sanity, swear (a lot) that you will never do this again and will want to quit. But that’s just your mind in “Diva mode”. Unless the medics are taking control of the situation, she’s to remind me why I’m doing this. I’m dedicating this race to my good friend Carol O’Docherty who was taken too soon. The money raised will go to Maggie’s who provide such valuable services to cancer sufferers and their family. So no matter how much pain, and there will be plenty, I am going through in a weeks time I’ll be fine.
But before I sign off I have to thank my amazing coach Genevieve who has once again delivered me to the start line of a major race despite all the challenges we faced during the training. She has worked her socks off making sure the programme was absolutely specific to me, my fitness, my life and my body. Thank you Genevieve.
Then there’s my training partners. You guys absolutely rock. You support me while taking the piss at the same time. You need thick skin but you’ve given as good (possibly better) than you got. You’ve headed out in hellish weather into the mountains without batting an eye lid in order to support me. Even though you’ve been tired you’ve come out the following day to keep me company or to push me as I’m the one that’s tired. You’ve guided me in the mountains as I can get lost in a car park and even introduced me to Greggs as a fuelling station! Thank you.
And finally my long suffering wife and family. Many missed social occasions or me trying to sneak out at 5am without disturbing them only to set the alarm off! Early morning runs when on holiday and then of course there’s the Lycra washing!
I’ve always talked about the journey being the most important part, and it is, so you need to enjoy it and I have loved it. My stats say I’m fitter today than I have been in 7 years. The race, or adventure as I like to call it, is the icing on the cake. However you need a bit of luck as one turned ankle, snake, bear or upset stomach and it could be curtains. But I’m 100% focused on delivering this result and know that I’ll have your support. I’ll post a final blog before the race and give you details as to how you can track me live - it will be like watching paint dry! Fiona should be posting a daily blog when she gets a spare minute and a signal. Thank you all for your support during the last 2 years. It’s been a blast.
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