What an incredible day!
For context the day started as usual with a 5am alarm, with much of the time between rising and 6:30am breakfast devoted to taping blisters and then physio taping of left ankle. Like most of the team at this stage I am largely held together with K-tape!
So at 7am we set off from Carlisle with "Pacer Pete" leading the way for the first half hour or so before he returned to the hotel to shower & drive up to Gretna. At that point I buddied up with Jamie to do the fields section down by the River Eden. The cows were suitably placid and the thistles small, so we made good progress.
In a strategic move to try and keep feet dry we then opted to stay on a back road rather than trapse through further fields. This enabled us to reach Metal Bridge (about 3k south of Gretna) very efficiently where we were joined by some of Jamie's relatives for the advance on Scotland.
At this point the Saltire came out for the run in to Scotland (see video below). I was the first of the runners to arrive, closely followed by Jamie & what a moment it was being greeted by the crew plus Pete and Stephanie (a friend from uni who I hadn't expected to see). Really quite a moving moment and a few of us had grit in our eyes at various points.
A moment to reflect, thank the crew and cheer in the rest of the team. As well as arriving in Scotland this moment means we have run the length of England, which, even if accident or injury strikes now, feels like we have got a "bronze medal" in the bag.
There were of course refreshments, photos, hugs & congratulations and some kind words from Abbi the Rat Race leader.
The afternoon was a warm and slightly more mundane affair of 25k up the B7076 to Lockerbie. I changed into hi-viz, put some road shoes on, tunes on and decided just to bang it out The blisters are improving and I didn't even use painkillers in the afternoon.😉
It was good to reach Lockerbie and having had an early brunch at Gretna, decided a visit to Greg's was in order. Pizza, sandwich, biscuits and drinks all consumed in an effort to fill the calories deficit.
Just one more day to go in week 3: 52k slog up the B7076. Calling on "Pacer Paul" to help me with that....
Made it!
Pacer Pete with me ready for "project slingshot" - ie get enough momentum to get me to the border.😉
Reaching the border
Gretna signpost.
Just chillin' at the border.
Sarah at the border. We've shared a few moments of pain in running the length of England, so great to both make it.
Randy (Run Brit class of 24), Sam (Physio), Mike (Medic), Martin (Run Brit class of 23) putting the world to rights at the border. It says much about the Run Brit family that Randy has flown over from the US to crew this week. What a guy!
Part of the selection of Scottish delicacies at the border.
What a fabulous surprise to see Stephanie (uni friend of 40 years) at the border.
Still 25k to Lockerbie on the B7076 after Gretna. Only one thing for it....Head down, tunes on & bang it out!
Greg riding a ram in Lockerbie - not sure what to say about that!
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