Equinox24, Solo but never alone 2015

19-20 September 2015, midday to midday run as many 10 km laps as possible in 24 hours in the shadow of the stunning Belvoir Castle neat Grantham. I decided a couple of years ago that I would like to run 100 miles in 24 hours. I investigated 100 mile races and worried about getting lost in the dark, so I decided that a 24 hour race over laps would be a better plan. I found Equinox 24, a brand new race that had only run once, so I figured that would be a nice one but it was too close to Ironman Wales in 2014 so I planned for 2015. I picked this event because I had done a Triathlon at Belvoir earlier in 2014 so had a good idea of the route. I entered in October 2014 and planned my triathlon training to incorporate extra running, I decided to do a Runstreak in 2015 to get used to running tired and tried not to let it get into my head too often (failed) The weekend finally arrived and I was excited, I just wanted to get on with it. Billy was my support crew, he picked me up from work and we drove down to Belvoir. We arrived around the same time as Chris who I had roped in to do the challenge too and his wife Cathy. Chris and I went and registered and collected our event T shirts and then went to set up our bases. Chris had a tent and I had a gazebo. Once set up close to the first turn on the course we all set off god the local Premiere Inn where we were sleeping that night. 

We booked in the Premiere Inn and then went for tea and an early night. I didn't sleep well, what's new I never sleep well before an event, especially one so big. Next morning I had a full English, Unusual for me on a race day but it was only 07:30, plenty time to digest it before race start at midday.

After breakfast Billy and I set off to fully set the base up.

We arrived at Belvoir to a far busier campsite than the one we had left around 18:30 the previous evening, the place was buzzing. We set a table in the gazebo up with snacks within reach from the race route.  I hung Yorkshire Rose bunting around the gazebo and hung a flag on the fence. 

I was starting to get fidgety, constantly asking for time checks but soon the kids race started. 11:00 there were loads of youngsters running past the base, they had a lap of the campsite to complete, and it was a big camp. The main event was approaching.

About 11:30 Chris and I headed for the start area with Chris and Cathy for race briefing. Now the nerves kicked in, but meeting old friends soon settled me back down. Graham, Sid (Who was running in a morph suit), Julie and Chris, and finally got to meet Michelle, Sid's better half.

Johnny did the briefing overseen by Laura. These two had set this whole event up, which is a massive undertaking for two people. They seemed to gave got it right in this, the events third year, there were over 140 solo entrants and over 170 teams of 2-8 people

Time to get in position to go. We filed around the timing mats teams, solos and people doing only the first 10 km. I needed to be behind the 10 km runners to prevent going off too quick. I had a plan and that was to walk the inclines and keep my heartrate around 140 bpm. I turned my Garmin 910 xt on to get satellite signal. I'd left everyone I knew to get into my own space in my head.

The race started and it was the slowest race start I've ever had, soon the field was well spead out, even before we left the camping field. 

So this was it, stay cool (tough when the sun is blazing in the sky) keep the heartrate down, the first field had a slight incline and was rough underfoot. The course was marked in Kms and they passed steadily. The long incline was my fist walk, I walked from the ramp to the cattle grid then ran steadily again. 5 km, wow that was quick, water station, met up with Graham, then back off-road and down a really steep hill, turn and up a short steep hill, definately a walk, then running down down down towards the lake, slight up through the wood, not enough of an incline to walk, turn and back onto the camping field. That was not so bad, 15 to go. We crossed the timing mat then split, Graham to his base and I headed for my base, focusing on my flag. 

Billy topped up my Tailwind ( nutrition, a powder I add to water to give me a steady flow of carbs). I ate a couple of sweets, grabbed a mini Soreen loaf and set off for lap 2. "Slow down" Billy said. I tried, but I felt fine and had a rhythm going. I said the Kms out loud as I passed 11, 12, 13 and soon I was back focusing on my flag, only 14 left to go. This time I took my Go Pro out with me. . The footage is not great. It's too shaky really. I ran with Trudy a while, she was solo too. The team runners were cheering us on. The atmosphere was lovely and the sun shone down.

Getting there, 3 down, now just another 13, and so it went, Billy topping my drinks up and me trotting round, keeping a check on my heartrate. I kept seeng Wendy, she was running well, even after a fall. And Ruthie, she was always smiling. There was a lady with a flamingo on her head and people dressed as super heroes. Sid was steadily getting through the laps in his morph suit. It was great keeping seeing the others.

After lap 6 I recharged my watch battery. I did this by having my each charger plugged into my Duracell mobile charger which was in the bum pocket of my shorts and the wire ran to my loosened wartch. About 3 km in I was getting warnings off my watch. The memory was full. I tried to find the right screen to delete some activities, which I have never done mid activity before. I couldn't see without my glasses, I asked a passing runner to help. He did. Paul from team bear with the cowbells, read the screen and I deleted old activities and the watch was charging again, and we ran together a while.

At the end of the lap my watch had 100 % charge again and it was approaching 7 pm so head torch time. Billy said I was in second place. Whoa, I'd never considered that I could do so well.

I managed about 6 km before I had to give in and put the torch on, the sun sank, now it was the bit I dreaded, running in the dark. The route signs had glow sticks on but that was all the light there was. I thought I'd find someone to run with, but everyone else was faster or slower, so I plodded on but the times on my own were getting longer. The whispered, "well done" keep going "'s from the otherwise silent dark camp site buoyed me up Just before midnight I asked Billy to come with me. Buddies were allowed in the dark hours I changed trainers and Billy dealt with a blister on my toe and we set off together. I was now third.

We did 4 laps together, chatting the night away, encouraging others and being encouraged by other runners and the Marshall's. After 2 laps the torch batteries needed changing, tired hands and fading torchlight made it take longer than planned. On the fourth lap the sun finally rose setting the geese of chattering and as we went up the short hill a cockerel crowed, that was it, back to lone running.

I took my MP3 player to keep focused, counting down the laps doing sums in my head, counting down, only 4 more laps, keep going. Since nightfallI I had walked the incline in the field because it was uneven. Now it was daylight I couldn't find the strength to run it. It was great to be able to look around again, there was mist on the fields and over the lake, very pretty. I saw Chris still going , he looked strong.

With each lap my goal grew closer, it would be close, could I really do it? Was it really possible. I was in fourth place now, I had to keep going. On the 15 th lap Billy gave me a bacon butty with ketchup, I don't normally like ketchup on bacon butties, I didn't know If I could eat it, I set off at a walk whilst I ate it, I walked with Julie and Chris, they were on their 10 th lap, to give them 100 km. We walk/ran together for a while, then the buttie kicked in and I got back to my steady plod. I crossed the timing mat and aimed for my flag and refuelled, I was still fourth, "I've got to keep going" I said and went out on my 16 th lap. I felt a little re energised, in my head I now knew I could do this, I could run 100 miles in under 24 hours, I just had to keep going, and I did. I kept fighting back the emotion, 1km walk the field, 2 km past the wood, turn up the lane, past 3 km, turn for the long hill, through the wood, 4 km, keep going to the ramp, walk fast to the cattle grid, run, slowly, 5 km, Water station,  off road, 6 km, down the hill, up the hill 7 km, down towards the lake 8 km, check watch. 99 miles, I'm gonna do it, feel choked, fight it back, over the bridge, throught the wood BUZZZZ 100 miles, oh my Goodness. I've done it. The guy in the truck that had been topping up the water, and checking up on us all day and night got out and gave me a hug. Keep going, 9 km, turn, back onto the camping field. "Well done" "keep going"  The cowbells had moved to the finish, I could hear them, along the lake, turn, there'ds the finish, keep going. Timing mat, stop watch. 

It's over, I did it. The Marshall came over you can do #onemorelap. "No, it's over I've done 100 miles" and my brain let go of my body, I could barely stand and the tears flowed. I was congratulated and consoled by a wonderful Pirate.

And there was Billy waiting. He had been awake as long as me, supporting me, he had run 40 km with me and I couldn't have done it without him.

I couldn't stay upright, I gad to have a seat before I fell. Billy queued for my medal whilst the man from the massage tent got me some water. Johnny came over with my medal and congratulated me.Then Billy got me an IceCream. I turned round and Chris was there he had done 76 miles. We were both ecstatic with our achievements.

Every time I tried to walk I needed to lie down. I lay in the marquee, feet on a bench and eventually had to watch Billy finish my ice cream because I couldn't eat it lying down. After a while we went to buy a hoody, still feeling a bit dodgy. Chris from Swimzie gave me his coffee and finally I began to feel human again.

Billy went to check timings and I was still fourth female and tenth overall. I was stunned. There were still runners out there so it could change.

Billy had packed up the base so we got set off home and I slept the first half hour. Felt loads better afterwards.

So when the final results came out I was fourth female and twelfth overall out of 142 solo runners. I am very pleased with that. 100.9 miles in 23:38:22 

GOAL ACHIEVED

Photos were taken day and night by Glenn Curley Photography and were available for us to download and share.

I highly reccommend Equinox 24. It's well organised, has a great vibe. The commeraderie is awesome.

It's so good I've entered again for next year and so has Billy.

Thank you Johnny and Laura for an amazing event.

Thanks to Spenser for his great advice.

Thanks to the other competitors for cheering me on.

Thanks to all my friends and family for your support.

Thank you for sponsoring me

https://localgiving.com/fundraising/lenaconlin