I took up running about 4 or 5 years ago. Why? To do a race for life. Before then you would have definitely said my hobbies were baking, craft projects and the avoidance of exercise at all costs. But, running and cycling have now become a huge part of my life and have released my inner tomboy (yay!) They have also improved my health and my quality of life and opened up whole new worlds to my family.
I have participated in a few short adventure races over the last few years. I have been part of the Beacon Adventure Racing Pink Ladies teams for 3 different Questars events. My first one was a 5 hour, the other two were the weekend events, 10 hours over two days. Then I did a Gorrick orienteering cycle thing near Basingstoke about 2 years ago and a Tri-adventure 4 hour adventure race in about 2012. Last year I ran 2 half marathons,, they were organised by our little adventure racing club, Beacon AR. And, I cycled around the Isle of Wight in the Randonee. I got lost (navigation is not a great skill) but I did do 100km. And didn't my bum know about it!!
I am by no means a seasoned adventure racer. I think right now, I am an enthusiastic novice. I am fairly fit, former teacher, stay at home mother to 4 sons and aspiring writer. I also have asthma, but that didn't stop Robin Benincasa (expedition racer) so I don't want it to stop me. It's under control now anyway. My inexpereince hasn't stopped the idea festering in my head that I want to this adventure race. I thought I had taken a big step agreeing to train to participate in the 12 labours of Hercules with my husband, Ross and our 2 oldest sons, William and Jack. That is a 24 hour race in Shropshire.
I know what level of commitment this is going to take to meet the Beast of Ballyhoura. I've watched my husband train for a couple of these bigger adventure races. In fact I do remember that I got absolutely fed up with his pre-race focus and lack of availability due to training. Then I watched his little GPS tracker thingy on the screen for both the 50 hour Slovnenia Adventure Race and for the Bimbache Raid - an ARWS race held in Spain last year with pride and excitement. And even though I was a bit worried about him on and off the whole time he did the races, it doesn't seem to have put me off. I have got this idea in my head and I don't want to let it go and this is after I told Ross he wasn't allowed to do any big expensive event this year. Oops!
So by 9 o' clock of 20 April 2014 I had found the event online and decided I would like to have a go. Ross had said he thought it would be feasible and was really up for taking part. Of course I want to do it with him and so he's got dispensation from the not doing a big race embargo I had placed on him after Spain! If this works out it will be the first time that Beacon AR will field a mixed gender team in a big adventure race. That means we would have official status in the race. I am effectively going to be the 'mandatory equipment' on the team.
Two team members down but who else would be willing to commit? We secured our third team member before breakfast, as our oldest son, William, who would be 19 shortly, leapt at the chance and was happy to commit financially to the event despite writing his final A levels during training. So by the time we had the hot cross buns and crumpets in the toaster we had three team members.
As church plays a hugely important part in our lives, the rest of the day was taken up with Easter Celebrations.
On Easter Monday, I was too full of Chinese lunchtime buffet to be of any use to anyone and besides none of the other ladies from Beacon AR were running, so I decided to give it a miss but Ross went out for a run. I thought that was very committed of him because he was feeling sluggish from the lunch. The club, which started in our church, meets outside our house every Monday night. Like many bank holiday Mondays, there was a very low turn out but that didn't stop the wheels of this juggernaut I set in motion the previous day from turning!
I was lying in a sweet and sour and soy sauce induced fug on the settee, gawping at the television when Ross came in, reeking of the outside and full of good news. We had our fourth team member, Andy. He and Ross had raced together previously in Slovenia and Spain. Ross reported that he was very excited about the race and the team.
It would mean that that had to be the last Monday run I could miss.
It really seems to be happening. Why am I doing this? I really want to, that is why!
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