Marlborough Challenge. 33 miles

I did a 33 mile hillrace I did on Saturday morning. Nothing compares with that insidious, creeping agony which takes over the body in extra-long distance runs, particularly the joint rattling multi terrain jobs. I am hugely respectful of these individuals I meet, many of them women, who do what I know many people could not do even after years of training. The pain is particularly difficult to live with because it just goes on and on.

I came 30th out of 121 and I swear I wasn't expecting to be in the top 50%. If you're in recovery take note because 12 months ago I was chuffing 20 a day, and now I'm taking part in the Vasque Ultra-Running Championships (if only in an amateurish capacity). Until 7 years ago I was abusing myself daily with class A drugs. When you do that for 15 years it really does put you at a disadvantage to people who never even smoked but therein lies the answer. From the start I just relaxed and let everyone pass me, I had no expectations whatsoever. Then I just spent the day catching people up in true Tortoise fashion. I'm not saying that I've never tried to be the Hare, I'm just immensley glad that I can enjoy the ride now.

Wansdyke 28 miles

This one took me through some deep country. I didn't notice it at the time but looking back the Wansdyke was fantastic. It is an ancient fortification which was built by the Saxon kings to protect the northern borders of Wessex. At points you can see 10-20 miles on both sides. It is high up on the Marlborough downs which are a peculiar ridge of high ground in Wiltshire. I stopped to eat something next to some derelict barns and noticed that I could hear insects buzzing. That's when I realized that the nearest roads were out of earshot and out of sight. Southern England doesn't have many areas that are this quiet. At the end of the run, I discovered that one of my toes had peeled down to the flesh.



The next day I met some really interesting people who help to treat people in addiction using Tai Chi and martial arts, even some of the hard stuff like Tae Kwondo. It was such an excellent feeling to meet people who share my outdoors philosophy of physical therapy. life seems to be throwing these like-minded individuals my way at the moment, and a plan is now afoot for a group of recovering people to make a pilgrimage by bike or foot from one major city to another, off road, using only the ancient trails.