Monarchs Way 2019 Day 6

The day’s are starting to blur a bit now, not just for the runners either.

The runners have all had a great day and are strung out over around 50 miles or so now, from the Codrington CP (6) through towards Nettwood Farm where runners could again get a shower. Nettwood Farm was also the 315 mile mark so the runners were now just over half way.

All the runners were in good spirits and apart from expected aches and pain and a few fun blisters most were in pretty good nick.

The race crew have now been on the road for 6 days too, snatching sleep in 2-3 hour sections just like the runners. Between sessions of fixing feet, putting up tents and cooking. Then taking it all apart again and starting at the next location. It’s a very small team consisting of me, Bruce and Maxine.
It’s interesting and there is a lot to learn as well as the fact it’s rewarding helping the runners to get as far as they can or if possible to the finish.

This means cooking copious amounts of beans, sausages, pasta and rice or any combination of all of those, all while endlessly watching trackers or catching up on sleep.

The runners have been smashing in food not just at the Checkpoints but on the route as well, depending on if they have gone through areas with shops or takeaways that are open at the right time.

I think John Stocker has missed every opening time along the course and been resigned to licking a few cereal bars and whatever he finds at the bottom of his bag.
When he does get into the CP he usually smashing in a bowl of rice and tinned Chilli con Carne and 2 porridge pots when he awakes and leaves. Washed down with Tea with 2 Sugars.

Ellen Cottom is all about the Rice and Butter at the Checkpoint washed down with a cup of hot chocolate. The rice and butter again in the morning/ leaving time after a sleep. After CP 6 she has progressed to double portions of rice and butter. She has also scoffed the odd burger or bacon butty on the trail.

Jonathan Rowles is not eating anything on arrival to the CP but scoffing a massive bowl of pasta and sauce with cooked sausage. Then washed down with a mug of coffee and whatever he can find on the trail as well as supplies from his pack.

Bob Wild, well where do we start? If it’s not nailed down he will eat it, twice with butter on it! He is eating a big bowl of pasta or similar food and then will smash in 2 big bowls of Pasta leaving the CP washed down with 2-4 cups of coffee and a flask of Hot Soup to go. He can then be seen on facebook eating everything he can get his hands on.

Peter Bengtsson is also trying to eat his way round Britain with everything from ice cream to full breakfast’s in strangers houses! Yes you read that correctly!
Some strangers outside a farmhouse took pity on him when he looked like he was tired and struggling and they took him to their house and sorted him out with a slap up breakfast!
It’s great to see generosity like that.
In the Checkpoints he is eating pasta and drinking coffee mostly when not staring into his bottomless bag for no particular reason.

The weather is still being kind to us and there has bee no rain yet but it is scheduled for Monday/Tuesday. That should make it fun.

Lindley