Run Britain Day 9: From Leigh-on-Sea to Tilbury

A day of two halves. Well, maybe more like a 10/90 split.

The 10% came in the morning when I failed to heed the warning on the capsicum muscle rub that a pea-sized portion was all that was required. I covered my aching hamstrings liberally in the stuff, ready to stretch them out for my final day in Essex. Big mistake. It took me 20 minutes of cold towels to make the burning stop. In hindsight it was a hilarious mistake. At the time I thought I might have to call an ambulance.

And then came the issues with a bag that wouldn’t close. I had been over-ambitious in how much I could carry for a stint on my own and had ended up with far too much stuff to run a marathon on very tight hamstrings. I limped to the station to get the train that would take me back to yesterday’s finish point, with a second bag draped over my arm and a packed of digestives (which I couldn’t bring myself to leave in the hotel) in my hand. And then I cried. For the first time, Run Britain felt like it might be too much. Too much for my body and my mind.

I had been told that days 11 to 14 are the hardest of a multi-day endurance event. But this was only day nine and I felt like I was failing.

But one step at a time, if I had to walk to Tilbury today, that is what I would do.

And then, at the station there was a familiar dog, a familiar dog straining to reach me. Shadow was there!

Beth and Ryan had driven around the M25 to surprise me with Shadow and to run with me for half a day with a couple of friends of theirs who live locally. We ended up having a lovely morning, despite relatively rubbish terrain and increasingly poor weather.

The difficulties of the morning were gone in an instant with good company. I made it to Tilbury before the real rain came down and crossed the Thames to complete Essex, feeling refreshed.