Where to start? Of all the challenges/races I’ve done this is definitely up there as one of the hardest and most rewarding.

Before we began our race hike, I did wonder how I would cope with the no jogging/running rule. Any jogging could lead to instant disqualification. Walking was going to take longer and so might be mentally more demanding even if theoretically its physically easier. Having now completed the race I can definitely say it’s not easier on the body but more on that later.

After a lovely warm up with a lady who took us through some basic aerobic class style moves we all set off on our hike, starting in the Bakewell show ground.

The best way to deal with any race is to break it down into parts and only think about the next bit you have to cope with. Most races have feed stations and so it’s easiest to just think about the next stop where you will get food/drink and a sit down if you are so inclined.

We had to do the challenge within 24 hours to get the medal and felt that we could meet this deadline.

In the beginning there was a lot of slow walking. We set off with people doing different challenges at the same time. There were some doing a 25km run, some doing the 100km continuous race (where you are allowed to run if you so wish – although they all appeared to be walking), some doing the first half of the race etc. We actually lost count of how many different coloured bibs we saw indicating different methods/types of races.

All of this alongside some narrow paths for the first 10km led to an easy beginning with perhaps a tad of frustration at not being able to move a little faster. If we could get past we needed to speed up the walking pace and find away around together.

After the first 11km we came into the first feed station. We agreed to get in and out SAS style. Looking at the results I think we achieved this stopping only for a few minutes and managing to refill water bottles, get food and visit facilities.

Before the race I’d been very concerned about the weather forecast. It was supposed to be incredibly hot all day and I know how much I suffer in this kind of heat. It’s not just energy levels but the inevitable impact on my sweat levels and subsequent chafing that results. Thankfully there was a strong breeze and although unbeknownst to be at the time I was still chafing badly, I couldn’t feel it and we both felt comfortable.

We passed a lot of people in the first half of the race. Hiking at speed with poles clicking on the ground on the ascents, we both feel strong going uphill. On reflection (after the race) we went too fast and paid the price of this later on. This is a useful lesson for the upcoming Race Across Scotland though. I enjoy striding uphill but need to curtail this urge and the desire to maximise my energy resources so early on.

This can ultimately impact your speed later down the line.

We stopped a little longer at the next aid station, having a sit down and some much needed sandwiches. We both prefer savoury to sweet and found that a lot of the food stops included a lot of sugary treats. Despite this we did both enjoy some cans of cola. This always helps with endurance. It’s an easy way to digest calories for energy.

Somewhere around this time I looked at the live trail app and saw that we were 12th/13th and I was 3rd female in the race. I was suffering quite early on with pain in my right hand from overuse of the hiking pole and tight glutes but reading this gave me a massive lift. It turns out there were only 12 women in that race but I didnt know that at the time and I felt this sudden determination to find and pass numbers 1 and 2. Chris was more sensibly saying lets just finish. I wish I’d listened.

Shortly after I saw two women wearing our coloured bibs and passed them as they were taking a selfie. It occurred to me that overtaking them would mean I was first. That would be amazing! For about 10-15km I threw the gauntlet down and went at full tilt through this very hot valley. Chris later said it had probably added to his foot pain. Sorry hun. It almost certainly made my later IT band pain worse too. You live and learn. At least I hope I do.

Finally we found ourselves nearing the Bakewell show ground after 53km, the half (ish) point of the race. We had already decided to take more time here and do a complete change of clothes, have the free dinner offered there and check feet.

Mentally I found myself on a real downer just before coming into the showground. If Chris had said I don’t feel like going on, I think I would of happily stopped. I’m normally extremely motivated. Giving up is simply not an option, so I was very surprised at myself and how I was feeling. Thankfully he had no intention of giving up and this motivated me also to continue on. He was always supporting me. This was my time/turn to pull out the stops and support him.

After some fries and veggie chilli we changed at the car and treated each others feet. Eek – not a pretty site. Multiple blisters and white trench foot like appearance on the heels. A few blisters were popped, some were simply covered in plasters and we taped everything else up as best we could. I changed into my hiking boots and new socks (big mistake as this made my feet too hot later on). Chris stayed in his hiking boots. Unbeknownst to us his insoles were wearing thin. This contributed to his foot pain in the last 30km. Again another lesson for us!

The second half should ‘only’ be 47km and would go through the night with an expected finishing time early on Sunday morning.

Setting off, we knew the first feed station was just 9km away so this motivated us onwards. As the evening wore on the breeze dropped and it got surprisingly muggier. None the less I donned a long sleeved top as by now I was feeling the deep welts under my arms where my sports bra had not only dug in but cut into me. The downside of being a salty sweater. Think sandpaper and skin and you’ll get the idea.

The second half saw me slow down considerably. Chris continued doing well but I started to hold him up on the downhills. My right IT band had now completely locked up and I can only describe trying to descend a hill as eye wateringly painful.

In endurance you get used to pain and suffering. It sounds mad but its true. Your feet will hurt. You may get chafing. You will almost certainly get blisters and possibly lose some toenails. Everything can hurt a fair amount but it’s usually manageable as a 5/10 kind of existence you try to park at the back of your mind.

The sharp pains in the side of my knee caused by above mentioned tendon tightening would be a 9, then a 5 then a 9.5 and so on. This made me quite vocal. It must of also been difficult for Chris to listen to. I would gasp in pain or just try to breathe in and out slowly through it. I ended up taking ibuprofen even though I hate the stuff and it’s an incredibly bad idea when you are doing long distance races.

Despite all the difficulties, there was still some joy. Walking through the night was really special. It never got too dark although we were wearing head torches and the organisers put out glow sticks everywhere so that helped a lot obviously. The people at the feed stations were all going through the same thing. You kind of bond in the experience and end up chatting and supporting each other.

It was the first long race that Chris and I have done together. I’d never walked or run further than 60km and Chris never more than 30km. Hats off to him as thats quite some jump up in distance.

In the last 9km we found ourselves thankfully on flat ground but we had lost a few places due to my downhill hobbling and we saw a number of people with our coloured bibs move ahead of us (including 4 women). I didn’t have the ability to pass them again. It would of been too painful. At this point we were both just happy to finish within the 24 hour cut off. In fact we completed in 23 hours and surprisingly 4 hours of that was downtime at feed stations. I thought we were being quite efficient but turns out we obviously did stop a little too long after all. Another lesson for me for RAS.

Its now exactly one week later. Chris has recovered 95%. He had some major issues with his feet and had to see a podiatrist. He is now a lot better and managed a short walk today (without the hobble he’d had all week).

I’m getting there still. My IT band is still slightly tight but its significantly better and I have tendinitis on top of my left foot (extensor tendinitis). I managed a walk yesterday but am not sure if it made it worse. Today was swimming which was fine. I’ll get there but I’m realising that 100km is a big deal and recovery takes a while. Only 5 weeks to RAS so not optimal but I’ll try and get back to running by the end of this week.

Now for some more resting. There has been a lot of sleeping this week and I’m now thinking I’ll sleep for a solid month after RAS 😂.