Bob Hayward & Nick Baldock have now run 14 consecutive marathons out of the 34 it will take to get to John O’Groats from Land’s End. This is all in aid of Podge the 13 year old boy who was so badly burnt in an attack last May.
Most of us know someone who has run a single marathon or joined in a fun run and we occasionally hear of a group of people walking or cycling from one end of the country to the other.
Running marathons back to back in order to travel the 887 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats has only been done by a hand–full of people. Most professional athletes who hear about the run are amazed at the extent of the project being undertaken and appreciate what the two runners are putting their bodies through. A top OIympic distance runner would do a maximum of 100 to 120 miles a week in training sessions spread over the 7 days with plenty of rest. Our two lads are clocking up 175 miles a week with only hours to recover.
The day starts at 4.45 with tea, a small portion of cereal and some vitamins. Their bodies are carefully prepared with a series of stretches, plus plasters and bandages for the sore spots. Both lads carry a bum bag, wear a “give the lad a chance!” t–shirt, running shoes, 1000 mile socks and proper running shoes. Bob tends to carry a 500 ml water bottle while Nick tends to carry a carton of fruit drink. In the bum bag are plasters, nurophen, wet wipes, tissues, some money, the camera and the drinks. At 6 am they start with a walk for a couple hundred yards to compliment the stretches and warm the body up thoroughly. The pace generally is about 5 – 6 miles per hour as they have to run again tomorrow. The motorhome drives on for 10 – 12 miles and when they catch up with it at about 8 am there is tea and toast waiting – sometimes if their driver is being generous, they get milky scrambled eggs or even beans! After a quick fuel stop and a stretch the next run they attempt is 7 – 8 miles and so by 11 am they often have completed 18 – 20 miles. The pace is dropping all the time, even with fuel or drink stops, their limbs getting tired and muscles tight. The second fuel stop is often fruit, yoghurt or cheese and biscuits. The last 6 to 8 miles is as you would expect the toughest and they tend to break that into 2 runs of 3 – 4 miles with a drink stop in–between. Throughout the run, they do stop to look at the view, sell some tickets to people they meet, or walk for a short period if they are feeling out of sorts or in pain.
They talk about everything and nothing, spend much of the time side by side and occasionally up to half a mile apart. Their commitment is to start and finish together, doing whatever is best for both each step of the way and that sometimes means giving each other some space to be alone in. Their one constant companion is sweat and tiredness, their two constant companions are sweat, tiredness and a fanatical devotion to Podge, their three constant companions are sweat, tiredness, a fanatical devotion to Podge and – oh stop mucking about and run!
Lynn Henry (their physical therapist for the last two days) and her husband Paul invited them to their home for a wonderful meal. Lynn had already been to church that day where the congregation took an offering for Podge and raised over 120. The meal and the company was wonderful and yet again Bob and Nick are struck by all the caring, generous people they have meet in the last two weeks.