The days are starting to blur as they always do on a long event like this. You get into a routine as crew. Take care of runner, eat, snatch some sleep and then repeat when the next runner comes in. Constantly monitoring the trackers and keeping an eye on the runners each day.
Not thinking about the days but just focusing on the next task. Getting irregular sleep and being tired and grumpy and having to coax your brain to do good maths and focus.
That’s just the crews. For the runners it’s harder, they have to run and battle sleep demons and navigate and take care of themselves between checkpoints.
On leg 4 Chris and Alan are still a partnership and moving well. They came into CP4 just south of Stratford upon Avon early afternoon and immediately got some sleep, they dispensed the usual big feed before bed as they had just been to a pastie shop in town! They got some kip and left again around 6pm off on the next 43 mile leg. Both were looking as good as expected at this stage and although a little tired and stiff they were in very good shape and spirits.
They are now officially the longest single journey travellers on the Monarchs Way. They have walked the whole book one of the guide book in one sitting. Not a small achievement at all.
Lee was a little behind them and came in in the early hours of day 5 and went to bed and as I write this at 5am is still sleeping and will be leaving here around 7am to follow the other 2. Again he is in good spirits and moving well. Though he seems to have lost his trousers and is running around in his pants! This is due to the wet grass soaking his leggings and not any particular fetish or the wish to scare young ladies off the course.
The crew of Brian, Maxine and myself are getting through each day and have not killed one another yet!
Normally in a race (such as TR250) with over 180 miles done you would be thinking nearly there and only another day to push etc. But we are not yet a third of the way into this race and anything can and likely will happen as the weeks progress!
My truck electrics are mostly being as a battery charger for charging blocks and headtorch estimates and a supply of power to the cool box! This means we have to run the truck every few hours for 30mins to keep the battery topped up.
I actually forgot this at the last CP and when we went to leave I had a flat battery. Luckily I have a charging battery block that can also be used as a starter pack with some attached jump leads. It started and off we went.
This race is an adventure for all involved from the runners to the crew and I am sure the runners appreciate the efforts as do I.
So back tomorrow for another riveting instalment on how to destroy your body and smell as much as possible!
We had a small ceremony for Tim Welch the previous furthest traveller in this race. We marked this passing by sacrificing some chocolate will and Monster Munch!
I may also have changed the names again for some amusement!
Lindley.
