Giant's head 2024

A note from Oct 2024: This even took place in June! That's how behind I am, in writing all this up. It will all become clear why in the subsequent blogs if you care to read them, but I'm now in a place where I have the head space to feel up to writing up these events. So out of all the events this year, this was the one I had wanted to do for the longest time. I first had the idea visiting the in-laws in 2019 and seeing the event in the village and it just looked fun and I was all over the entry, securing a place for 2020. Sadly that didn't happen, because of Covid, and then the following years, we were to into Adoption for me to have this event in me. So finally here we were, albeit, far from my best, in a number of ways. Still the night before we arrived at my mother-in-laws, and I was feeling upbeat, my family were with me and I really enjoyed relaxing the night before and registering the night before was good, as it meant a much more chilled morning beckoned. Having brought myself a t-shirt, I don't think I was popular with Em and Zoe for buying K a cowbell, but I was very excited by him being at the event. Anyway it was a beer, bit of food, then bed. I enjoyed the fact that I was staying at Zoe's and had a pretty good nights rest, and a fairly chilled morning, with literally a five minutes walk to the start line. It was nice to be able to say bye to K and Em, and he was very sweet (although he didn't do much good listening for Em, the rest of the day! Kids eh?) The start was very congested, one draw back to a trail run on some narrow country lanes, but it did mean my first mile, which was pretty much up hill from the go, was very slow and steady (a 13 minute mile as opposed to my normal unsustainable 8) till I was able to get clear and find a steady pace. It was strange to be running in places, I've walked a lot, in an actual event, but music on, weather was cloudy but not hot, perfect conditions and to start with I felt good. It was a good mix of scenery, some hills and some pretty paths, the weather brightened and I was enjoying it. But I had no willingness to be sociable or talk to people, it felt and effort, and was another warning sign of what was to come.

Around the first feed station, the weather turned a little and so did my mood. This run became a slog. Now it wasn't that I wasn't enjoying it, but I felt rough, I just had no energy and in was very laboured. By 10 Miles in, I went from 9 minute, well paced miles, to 12 minute miles and it was very early in the run to stap in and hit the wall. The weather changed to a constant drizzle and by the next feed station, the wind and rain was very heavy and it was a hard effort running down the hill.

Then the weather improved again, which lifted my mood, but by then the damage was done. I just did not have the energy, and there was a lot of run and walk. I had to dig deep to keep myself moving, I really wanted to see my family at the finish, to have that moment, and to not give in. The time became irrelevant, this became about getting over the line. I was having doubts about doing all four events, my gremlins were having a rare moments of winning, so I Had to put that to bed and dig in. Slowly but surely, mile after mile, I made it to the the infamous love station and boy was I not feeling the love. I was grumpy, not at all sociable and just wanted food and to move on. I regret not embracing the spirit of the event, realising now this was another warning sign but I set off and up the last hill, where I was being over taken more and more, but I just had to keep going. On the run into the village, I had a nice chat with another runner and started to realise my mood had lifted and I was going to do it. I was texting Em, letting her know I'd be coming in to the finish and she let me know they were there. I suddenly remembered my why. I was about to get event three under the bag, and I had pushed myself to my limit and came through it, to here, I felt proud and hoped Paul and Dad would be too. I went round the bend to the village green and well you can see what greeted me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA2qUHK3XAc

It was the best feeling to see my family and made the mental test of the run so worth while. This was an event I survived, some events, you enjoy, you feel blessed to be a part of and remember it vividly. This was not one of those events, the irony being I had so looked forward to it and wanted it to be like that. But, looking back months later, I remember the strength I found, not physical, I had nothing in me. But the mental strength to dig in and over come, to not be beaten, I've come along way with these events, and I'll always be proud of that. After this we went back to Zoe's for a much needed shower, and I already had a headache and felt groggy. I staggered back to get a burger and I just didn't feel like being part of the post event activities, which are such a big part of the event. But I was broken, I didn't know how much yet, but it took a toll. Already, doubts about the next event were niggling. The rest of the day is the most spent I've been after an event, and by 7.30 I was done and off to bed, I had chills one minute a fever the next. And just had to hope the morning would bring about some improvement.... It didn't and as well see, next came my breaking point....