I have one ask: if I ever suggest doing another 100km, please talk me out of it immediately.
As the pain starts to subside, I'm left with the most incredible memories of this bank holiday's ultramarathon on behalf of Dentaid The Dental Charity.
Some of the participants I already knew, but when you endure something like this together, you really get to know people. Bonds form in ways that are hard to explain.
Words cannot do justice to how tough this weekend was. Sweltering heat. Uneven terrain. Walk, run, walk, run, hike, stop, struggle to start, mind over matter. The mental and the physical were constantly at war with one another.
Picture this: you wake in the night and your knees buckle. You crawl to the bathroom. You're sick, your feet are covered in blisters and you've had barely any sleep. Would you have started this knowing that's how you'd feel? I know I wouldn't. But that was the reality after the first 58km, with 42km still to go.
What kept me going? The people. Emotions ran high, but they were also the most powerful fuel. I had some of the most honest, memorable conversations of my life out on that course.
Julie Dale, Katie Palmer (Eldridge), Anni Seaborne, I cannot thank you enough for the support during some of the hardest moments.
We were stopped in our tracks by an aggressive dog, scaled the highest point of East Sussex, tripped over countless stiles, cried, laughed, watched Dr Farzeela Rupani eat her first pot noodle, went the wrong way, got stung by nettles, got heat stroke and fell over. We endured it all.
A special thank you to Joe Lovett, who continues to push me to do things l'd never have thought possible. If you know Joe, you know he is efficient, sharp and above all, someone you can completely trust. Many of us cursed his and Mark Allan’s name out there for having organised this, but there was just as much love for this dynamite duo.
And to my colleague Ashley King: you are so much more than a colleague. A mentor, a brilliant friend and the most patient person I know. You are a MACHINE! You've seen my battery fully drain and somehow helped me bounce back. I am truly so grateful.
Finally, it's no coincidence that the women I did this with have the most extraordinary work ethic. Julie Dale, Katie Palmer (Eldridge), Anni Seaborne, Kathryn Bell, Amanda Setter, Charlotte Low , Dr Farzeela Rupani, Ashley King, Catherine Rutland, Ami Lock, Emma Barclay, Alina Merison, Linzy Baker , Arvile R. You are some of the toughest, most impressive people I've had the pleasure of working alongside, on and off the course.
The mental and the physical had to work together to get us through. And they did.
Never again!
Pearl, Bupa Dental Care UK, Colosseum Dental UK Ltd, Boutique Whitening Harry Zalk Weareozen - Lee Catlin Bryan Mckellar Align Technology Anthony Sweeney Neil Sikka vVARDIS Nick Garrison Geraldine Moreno Danielle DeArment Roll Sam Hogg Sarah Parker #ultramarathon #ultra #londontobrighton
