A Good Plodder On-er

So yesterday I did the Action Challenge Chiltern 50. I drove up rather than taking the train because the trains would have taken an immense amount of time that I didn’t have and secondly I wanted as much warm stuff as possible as I anticipated a chilly night camping.

I managed to get there without incident which is quite a feat for me. I put my tent up in daylight and settled in for an early night. I have a campbed I had a blanket on the campbed. I wore a thermal vest, thick pyjamas a Dryrobe, socks and was in a sleeping bag. I was sorted. I was a bit chilly but not too bad until…. I had to go for a wee in the night. The toilets were nice and flushable, not too far away and I had my trainers at the front of the tent. I came back not too cold got back to sleep but then woke up with freezing blocks of ice for feet. I had neglected to notice my socks getting wet and even after my disaster of last time did not think to change them.

It was cold, there was ice on my car and I really needed to have some feeling in my feet to run. I trudged over to the registration area where I had prebooked breakfast. When you drive in you get given a ticket for breakfast so I got that out of the car where I had carefully put it in the side pocket for safekeeping. I went to the bathroom on the way, filled up my mug with coffee which luckily was freely available and went to get my breakfast. I got out my ticket and realised instead of the little card printed with “breakfast” I had a hospital car park ticket. I had the feeling that this would not be redeemable for a lovely hot breakfast so I trudged back to the car on my frozen feet. At this point I got in the car to drink my coffee, I had a search for my ticket but could not find it anywhere. I had some emergency oatcakes that I had fortunately brought along and found holding my coffee cup with my feet was not going to be enough so turned the engine and heating on. I was trying but progress not perfection is my mantra to being more green so I tried not to feel too guilty.

Things went better from then on, I packed two pairs of spare socks for the run. I stopped when one foot started to rub and applied a bit of KT tape. Because my feet have only just healed from the disaster of my 100k a few weeks ago I was being extra careful and went to the medical station at the half way point to have more sore spots dressed. The team were cheerful and helpful and put the dressings on. I then went to put my fresh pair of socks and shoes on when I noticed something odd about my shoes. I wear custom orthotics to try to deal with some of the issues I have had with injury and saw there was only an orthotic in my right shoe. My left shoe didn’t even have a normal insole. I had come in different shoes and changed the orthotics into my running shoes that morning although obviously only put in one. I have no idea how I hadn’t noticed for 22k but I hadn’t. I did notice more grit getting into my left shoe but hadn’t really wondered why. There was nothing I could do so just carried on and hoped for the best.

Just as I came into the halfway point I had a phone call from my husband. He had been tracking my phone and informed me that I was going the complete wrong direction. I then saw he had also texted me letting me know I was off track. Given that I was at the halfway point with a great big tent and food I felt I probably was in the right place. I think the map was just wrong. Given my previous diversions I can understand why he might have been concerned but I thought it was very sweet of him to be tracking me just in case. I want it on record that on this event I did not make a single wrong turn. I’m not sure that has ever happened so it was quite an achievement.

The second half was flatter and I made a bit of time up that I had lost on the first half and at the medical tent and finished in a time that I was happy with.

My favourite thing about the Action Challenge events is the range of people doing different things. This time there were people doing 10k, 25k and 50k. Some were running, some jogging and most walking. People were doing it as serious athletes but many more for the love of it or raising money for charity. Many people were using it as a social event teaming up with friends and colleagues. There were people in larger bodies, smaller bodies, young, old and everywhere in-between but there doesn’t ever seem to be an us and them feeling. Everyone has their own goals and is supportive in everyone elses. I know nothing about anyone elses journey, they do not know about mine and it does not matter. Marathons can be a bit more competitive with times being very important. My time is important to me and seeing where I am in the pack can show me how well I am doing compared to where I usually do but comparison with another individual takes the fun out of it. We are all on our own journey in life and have our own set of circumstances. Before I knew I was Autistic and ADHD I always felt less than other people. I really struggled with things that other people seemed to find easy and I felt this was somehow my fault and I needed to try harder but trying harder never worked. The more I understand about myself and the world is there are so many variables that we may never know about. Comparison can suck the joy out of our experiences and it is meaningless. I choose to be on my own journey.

The GreenRunners crowdfunding page I am supporting is still going so if anyone can spare a couple quid it would be much appreciated.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/green-runners–run-for-the-planet