Friday 15th April
29 miles
The day was finally here, after a significant amount of planning and preparation it was stage 1. It felt a little unreal, when you've been planning something like this I guess that's inevitable. But we were actually going to do it. It was happening.
On the coach to London there was a lot of nervous energy at least at the start of the journey. Spirits were high, they settled in the middle and as we got closer picked up again. It flew by.
Once in London there was a coffee stop some photos and then we were off. Stage 1, next stop Slough. We quickly became two groups, Rob, Jez and I pushing on and Trevor, Dale and Malc travelling at a slightly slower pace.
As the team left London the sun came out and it looked like it might be a great running day. This was short lived as within 6 miles or so the dark clouds gathered and what was a sunny day became a grey day and then an incredibly wet and rainy day. Thinking it just a shower we decided that it was not worth putting our jackets on. The rain persisted but wet through we decided that to put them on would just make us uncomfortable. Basically we would be wet inside and out.
Followed the route out of London along the Thames Path what was most striking was the number of building developments. Flats overlooking the Thames clearly a premium business. That and the pubs. Lovely looking proper London puns on the river banks. There was temptation to stop but it was fleeting.
As the path got more rural the designer flats were replaced by industrial units and derelict warehouses. Remnants of the time when rivers and canals were essential infrastructure.
We were making good pace and had a nice rhythm. When we needed a walking break we took one, our pee stops became synchronous, it just flowed. Unfortunately so did the rain. It was constant with the only variable being the intensity. After about 20 miles we stopped under a bridge to put our jackets on. Accepting that however wet we were we needed an additional layer to provide some insulation. This worked and for a period after we picked up our pace a little. Perhaps a mental lift if not a physical one.
We were now seeing lots of birds, moorhens, swans, ducks and geese. Most got out of way, the swans and geese were not phased by us In the least. There was lots of talk of shopping trolleys in canals and odd places, we saw two in the canal and one inside a house, mysterons, the hood, that bit in only fools and horses when they drop the chandelier. Talks of races, injuries, routes.
Still the rain fell.
There was a point on the route where we needed to exit the canal and take the Slough arm. We were struggling with the directions. We made a slight error and as we corrected there was a heart stopping moment. Jez, taking the lead, slipped on a sleeper that had been used to make a stair. He fell in a split second hard on his side. That it happened so quickly probably helped as it meant he could not try to break his fall possibly doing more damage. Luckily his run was not over but he'll be a bit bruised for a little while. A reminder that you need to concentrate as it can all be over that quickly.
The last part of the course was interminably long. There was a path that was flooded by long, wide muddy puddles. So much water. Avoiding them was difficult and treacherous, Rob nearly took us all into the river a couple of times, so run through the we did.
We reached the turning that was to take us into Slough. So close now it was frustrating to see that there was still a mile to go. We were now, cold wet and hungry. It had been a long day and conditions were awful. We just wanted it done.
As we ran through the town we hit school run traffic, cars and kids in Blazers everywhere. The distance meter ticked slowly down and we reached the hotel. We'd done it. Stage 1 was complete. We were intact.
Jen, one of the support team them appeared like an angel with bananas and red bull!
As we approached the check in desk we were given a serious sideways look. We asked to check in and were asked if we had a car in the car park!
In the rooms hot showers, food and drink all making us human again.
It had been a cracking day of running, a great course and some good laughs along the way. The second wave came in not that long afterwards, Trevor came in followed by Dale and Malc. Our bags were then delivered by Rachel and Giselle who had driven down from Cheltenham with them.
Team planning had worked a treat!
The team then had massages before an evening meal where the day's events were unravelled and retold. Great fun.
Everyone knows it was only day 1 of 4 but rather than get to hung up about tomorrow we enjoyed today.
