Dear friends
It is now just 1 week to go until I run in one of the world's toughest road races - the Brathay 10in10.
Having only run one marathon in my life (even in training) I don't quite know how I'm possibly going to manage 10 marathons in 10 consecutive days over a demanding course Lake District course (especially as I am currently suffering a painful calf muscle injury). But I am absolutely determined to beat this one. You will be able to follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
I have now completed over 1000 miles in training, which has been tough - particularly during the inclement winter weather. A big thank you to all who have sponsored me very generously already. It has really helped to motivate me through some difficult (and painful) times. Your continued support will be hugely appreciated as I try to raise funds for two fantastic and very needy causes:
· The Brathay Trust is a fabulous charity with a mission to improve the life chances of disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people. It's a charity that makes a real difference and it has the research to prove what a difference it makes, not only to the children themselves but also to their families and communities (see http://www.brathay.org.uk/).
· The Udaan School in Mumbai provides life changing opportunities for children in Mumbai. It provides an education that would otherwise not be available to these children. Without the opportunities provided by the Udaan school the boys and girls would end up on the streets or in very low paid hard manual work or married off by the age of 13 or 14. The Udaan school provides a chance for these children to realise their dreams and leads to jobs and career opportunities, such as teaching, that would not be possible otherwise.
My employer, JLT, has promised to match donations £1 for £1 thus doubling the impact that your support can make. You can sponsor me at
www.justgiving.com/charlescowling
or
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charlescowling
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Well the Brathay 10in10 is underway and I have survived day 1.
It was cold and wet here in the Lake District for the start of the Brathay 10in10, but it didn't stop a sense of excitement and a large crowd of press / tv / well-wishers gathering on the lawn at Brathay Hall to see us off - and it was great to have the legendary Joss Naylor there to wish us well.
The race was underway at 10.30am and all the runners except me shot off down the road at high pace - no doubt due to a combination of the adrenalin and bodies in fit shape after many months of training. Not me. My survival tactics were based on a slow and steady running pace and in the end I completed the marathon in a respectable (given how tough the course is) 4hrs 58mins.
Whilst my legs and recent injuries behaved well today, some serious pain did kick in at 19 miles and the last few miles were really tough. But the support team is great and there was lots of encouragement on the roads from passing well-wishers.
More serious pain was to follow with the ice bath (supposedly good for me - but quite unbearable) and then some heavy duty sports massage which discovered numerous pains in my muscles I didn't know existed.
Somehow I've got to go through all this again tomorrow and the next day and the next Just 236 miles to go
A really big thank you to all who have sponsored me so generously already. It has really made a big difference and helped to motivate me. Your continued support will be hugely appreciated as I try to raise funds for some great causes including the Brathay Trust (see http://www.brathay.org.uk/) and the Udaan School in Mumbai.
My employer, JLT, has promised to match donations £1 for £1 thus doubling the impact that your support can make. You can sponsor me at:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charlescowling
or
www.justgiving.com/charlescowling
You will be able to follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 2 was a day of some serious pain. I was back in rehab first thing this morning as they tried to put my body back together again for another 26.2 miles. It was the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced and left me quite knocked out and hardly ready to run a marathon. I was then taped up like a mummy to try to hold all the sore bits together.
Then we were underway at 10.30am and the first few miles were as tough and painful as mile 26 had been the day before, but without the hope and promise of an imminent finish line. Somehow I survived the first 7 miles and then the pain began to dull and I got into a reasonable rhythm. Yesterday I had run every step of the way. Not today. I had to walk up the very steep hills and several of the not so steep hills. The pain then stepped up around mile 17 and I had to dig very deep over those last 9 miles. However, I still completed the marathon in a respectable 4hrs 59mins.
After compulsory food and stretching it was into the ice bath again (still shockingly cold but much more pleasant today as it dulled the muscle pains in my legs) and then more excruciating pain in the torture room which is our rehab centre as the team worked on my legs for a good (very bad) hour during which my screams of agony could probably be heard right across the lake.
I am now sitting numb with the shock of it all, and not at all sure how I am going to manage another 8 days and 210 miles. I keep telling myself I am doing it for some really great causes that deserve our support and whilst I might be suffering for a few days, I can go back to afterwards to a very comfortable and enjoyable life.
So a very big thank you to all who have continued to sponsor me so generously already. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for some very worthy charities especially the Brathay Trust.
JLT has promised to match donations £1 for £1 thus doubling the impact that your support can make. You can sponsor me at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charlescowling
You can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
My employer, JLT, has promised to match donations £1 for £1 thus doubling the impact that your support can make. You can sponsor me at:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charlescowling
or
www.justgiving.com/charlescowling
You can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 3 was a bit of a disaster. I awoke in a state of some considerable pain and was barely able to hobble down to breakfast. Then it was back to rehab as they tried to put my body back together again for another 26.2 miles. Thankfully the angels of torture there felt sorry for me and decided to go easy on me and gave me just a light work out before putting even more tape on me than yesterday.
Then, just limping down to the start line was tough enough. I really didn't think I could make 100yds let alone 26.2 miles when we started - the attached picture at the start shows me in some serious distress after just 5 yards! Somehow I struggled on and whilst I got some movement back into my legs after about 7 miles, running was never going to be easy today and so it proved as I limped home a distant last in 6 hours 28 minutes (but still 14th out of 15 runners overall).
Extra time in the ice-bath and then more painful rehab ensued as some of the damage to my body was repaired but as the physio said tonight "if you walked in to my clinic in this state I would tell you to stop all running for 2 months". Somehow I've got to get out again tomorrow for another 26.2 miles and then the next day ... Only 7 marathons and 183 miles to go.
A very big thank you to all for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for some great charities especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to all messages but it's not always easy here.
My employer, JLT has promised to match donations £1 for £1 thus doubling the impact that your support can make. You can sponsor me at:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charlescowling
or
www.justgiving.com/charlescowling
You can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 4 was similar to day 3 but I have survived - although this is truly a brutal challenge! I awoke in a slightly better state than yesterday. But with significant pains in both legs I had a weird kind of double limp. The angels of torture in our rehab centre did a good job of sorting me out and taping me up to get me fit enough at least to start today's marathon although I needed a lift in a car just to get down the 200 yards to the start line (downhills being particularly painful).
At the start I again was in some considerable distress and was restricted to a feeble limp for most of the first few miles, although I still managed to overtake one of my fellow competitors who was in an even worse state than I. But as yesterday after about 5 miles of limping the worst of the pain was flushed out of my legs and they were numb enough to manage some running. Approaching half way (Newby Bridge) I was just beginning to kid myself that I had got through the worst of my pain, when in a stab of pain my right knee just gave way under me. I all but collapsed in the middle of the road and thought my 10in10 was over. I had to pull myself together and try to sort out my leg. After a few exercises and convincing myself that it was still usable I gingerly set out again taking it very easy for the next few miles. I then had a some good miles but the running was by now getting seriously painful with an ankle injury also causing serious problems.
The last 5 miles in were really tough and painful - I felt like an extra in the film "They shoot horses don't they?)". I finally made it in after 6 hours 24 minutes - 14th (out of 15) on the day and I have now slipped back in to last place overall (see http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/Brathay10in10/marathon.html ). You can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
Again I had to have extra time in the ice-bath and then more painful rehab and an ice massage (to reduce painful swelling) as the angels of torture tried to put my body back together again. So we are back again tomorrow for another 26.2 miles. Only 6 marathons and 157 miles to go.
A very big thank you for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for our some great causes, especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to messages but it's not always easy here.
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 5 and half distance. I'm still hanging in there but needing regular ice massage from our wonderful angels of torture to keep the painful swellings in knee and ankle under control. Again I needed a lift in a car just to get down the 200 yards to the start line.
Today there were 3 of us at the start line in some distress and restricted to a feeble limp for the first few miles (myself Paul & Shane). I have soon discovered that the first couple of miles each day in this event are most definitely the worst (the other 24 aren't much better mind you) and it can easily take an hour to cover the first 2 miles and with lots of shouting at very sore legs as they slowly respond to blood circulating through the damaged limbs. For the next 2 or 3 miles a more sensible walking pace is possible and after that you just see what your body will allow you to do. There is a school at mile 4 (at Hawkshead) and the kids all come out to clap and cheer us - which is great encouragement and allows you to forget the many pains in your legs.
Of the 3 of us at the back, poor Shane was in the worst state and sadly he never made it through the day and had to pull out (so we are now down to 14 runners in this "race"). Paul and I swapped positions a few times until around mile 16 when Paul's legs suddenly started working well and mine finally gave up for the day - Paul ended up finishing an hour ahead of me. We were not helped today by some horrendous weather - a thunderstorm with monsoon like rain was then followed by a painful hailstorm. We were therefore cold and drenched as well as very sore.
I had to limp home for most of the last 8 miles but got much encouragement from our support team who sorted me out with a hot Earl Grey tea and a change of clothing in Bowness. The dry, warm clothing and hot tea just about gave me sufficient energy to complete day 5 in 6 hours 48 minutes - in a distant last place. You can see the results at http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/Brathay10in10/marathon.html and you can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
Again I had to have extra time in the ice-bath and double ice massage (before and after dinner) and am now sitting with a pile of ice on my ankle all ready for day 6 and another 26.2 miles tomorrow. Only 5 marathons and 131 miles to go.
A very big thank you for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for our some great causes, especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to messages but it's not always easy here.
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 8 was a day of ups and downs (or rather downs and ups). My very large and very painful blister from yesterday developed nicely overnight and I wasn't sure I was going to make it more than a few 100 yards this morning. The first 14 miles or so of Day 8 were probably the darkest (and the slowest) of the whole week for me. Trying to move forward (let alone run) was painful and every time I tried to shuffle in a way that protected the blistered foot my unnatural gait just exacerbated other injuries. I even got quite emotional at the thought I might have to consider quitting (which had never been remotely considered as an option before this morning).
But around mile 14 I had several lifts - firstly from our support team in the shape of lunch and some company on the lonely road and then it became clear that my blisters were not getting worse and that I could cope with the pain. And then some of the pain in my knee started to ease and moving, even running, became possible and less painful. Quite strangely I finished day 8 feeling better and stronger than I had 26.2 miles earlier, surprising both myself and the rehab team (aka angels of torture). I was still a distant last in 7 hours 13 minutes and I still needed some serious sorting out and patching up from the angels of torture. But I now feel a lot more confident about the last 2 days. Just 52 miles to go - I'm going to do this!
You can see the results at http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/Brathay10in10/marathon.html and you can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
A very big thank you for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for some great causes, especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to messages but it's not always easy here.
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 9 was a good day. Yes, I was tired from lack of sleep (due to pains in the legs). Yes, my knee still hurt, my ankles and shins hurt, I am a walking advert for rocktape and the blisters aren't getting any better. BUT after an hour of gentle walking and trotting for 3 or 4 miles it became apparent that my optimism from the end of day 8 was well founded - the pain in my right knee had eased sufficiently to allow me to run again. How the body manages to make a recovery when you are putting it through a marathon every day is beyond me - but that was what seemed to be happening. Moreover it got better as the day wore on and my running became smoother and less painful, until the very last mile - when the knee problem flared up again and I slowed to a walk for the last 15 mins.
Day 9 was good in many other ways too. It was a gloriously sunny day around Windermere. Maybe a little too warm for marathon running, but I was enjoying myself and didn't mind at all. Then there was loads of support out on the roads and at Brathay Hall cheering and tooting their horns - which always gives the runners a great lift. Also for the first time since last Saturday I managed to overtake a fellow competitor(s) - I ended up finishing 12th which Is my highest position since this mad challenge started. Big celebrations today too for fellow competitor Davey Green who completed his 100th marathon today - well done Davey! Then a family visit from Becky, Hal and Sally (it's her 12th birthday today) was also hugely uplifting plus a surprise visit from the Sheriff of London (Adrian Waddingham) and his wife Angela - checking up that this marathon running lark was for real - was equally welcome. The only slight problem was that I had told Becky that I would probably take around 7 hours (as I had the last 3 days). So finishing 2 hours earlier in 5 hours 8 minutes meant that they all missed me crossing the finishing line - but at least Hal and Sally got to try out the ice bath!
So it's just the final day and 26.2 miles to go. I am determined to enjoy tomorrow!
You can see the results at http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/Brathay10in10/marathon.html and you can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
A very big thank you for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for some great causes, especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to messages but it's not always easy here.
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Yes - I've done it !! 10 marathons in 10 days !! I knew it would be tough, but I never imagined how tough it was going to be. Apologies for the late delivery of this final report - but a celebration party last night left no time for writing up a blog.
Day 10 was a fantastic day. The lack of sleep and resulting fatigue were increasingly a problem but I was now operating on adrenalin - sleep would have to wait. The blisters, pains and injuries - all slightly exacerbated by my phoenix like Day 9 run - were still very present, but I could now ignore them "comfortable" in the knowledge that I didn't have to protect my body for any future days. I just had to grit my teeth for one last effort.
Again, it was a gloriously sunny day in Windermere. Too hot for marathon running. Indeed the winning time (at 2hrs 53 mins) in the single marathon event was considerably slower than normal. The final day of the 10in10 is a great day of celebration with big crowds to cheer us on - giving us all a huge lift. The 10in10 runners get to start an hour before the full event on Day 10. So we have own special start (an hour earlier than normal at 9.30am) with a big crowd to cheer us off.
My legs took their usual 3 or 4 miles to get going and it was soon clear that whilst I could run on them, they weren't going to give me quite as good a day as on Day 9. But they were good enough and by around mile 5, I was able to get a reasonable rhythm going. By now I was completely alone - the other 10in10 runners had gone on ahead and as the road was closed today (because of the full marathon, with ~1000 runners) it was eerily quiet. Until that is I got to the big tough climb at mile 7. I wondered what the strange noise up ahead was and when I turned the corner in the road there were 2 pipers in full national dress, piping just for me and inspiring me to an extra effort up a very steep incline - just one of many great uplifting moments.
I managed to get to mile 10 before the main race caught up with me and suddenly I had runners all around me - a novel experience. But I hadn't reckoned on (or been prepared for) the response I got from all the other athletes. To get claps and slaps on the back with words like "fantastic", "hero", "inspirational" and "awesome" from all these elite athletes as they swept by was very humbling and again hugely uplifting.
The race swept me on in a hazy, happy, emotional and painful cocktail. With Lake Windermere looking at its finest and the crowds cheering us on, I wasn't sure whether I was desperate to get to the finish line or whether I wanted it to keep going on and on so that I could continue to soak up this heady mixture.
By the time we got to the big climb at mile 21 the athletes overtaking me were closer to my pace. This gave me the great satisfaction of re-overtaking several runners as I charged up "ice-cream mountain" with new strength in my legs (I was still much stronger going up than down - the downhills were just a bit too painful). The last few miles through Ambleside and back to Brathay just flew by (although I wasn't going particularly quickly) and then I was back at Brathay Hall for the final time. The last killer climb up the driveway suddenly seemed easy. I could hear the crowds clapping and cheering and suddenly there was the finishing line in sight - I had arrived in 5 hours 10 minutes (13th out of the 14 surviving 10in10 runners). I confess I got quite emotional at the end. I had achieved something that had stretched and challenged me more than I thought possible and I had got through it. More people have gone in to Space or have conquered Mount Everest than have completed 10 consecutive marathons and I was now part of a small elite group - it felt very strange.
There had been dark moments along the way. But we had a fabulous support team led by the wonderful Aly Knowles and all the messages of support (and the generous donations) that continued to flood in, kept me going when it might have been easier to quit. There was one song in particular that kept leaping in to my head during the darker times (and some of the sheep even got to hear a strange rendition from this passing excuse for an athlete):
When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm there's a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone, you'll never walk alone.
I had achieved something I shall always remember with pride and along the way I met some very special people. I finished last of the 14 runners who competed this epic challenge, but I only ever wanted to complete the event - the time and position were irrelevant. The final results can be seen at http://results.sportident.co.uk/home/multistage.html?multistageid=a9ad0ee1-9023-4d87-960c-04535a595e43 and the video updates (including my tearful finish) can be seen at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx.
Thank you so much. I haven't been able to respond to all the many messages of support. But I read them all and they kept me going.
Charles
Dear friends
Day 6 and the pain levels ratcheted up a further notch (if that were possible). I awoke at 5am with my knee and ankle in some agony and wasn't sure I was going to make it out of bed let alone down to the start line. But the body has amazing powers of recovery and by 7.30am and after ice packs at breakfast I was able to hobble down for further physio and ice massage treatment which at least got me vaguely mobile. Again a lift in a car was needed to get me down to the start line, but by 10.30am I was there again at the start with the other (now just 13) runners and then we were off.
As for the last couple of days, those first few miles are really tough and painful as it takes a good hour of getting blood circulating in the legs before they will function anything like normally. But sadly today even by miles 5, 6, and 7 my knee was simply not going to allow me to move freely and every step was painful. Indeed running today was nearly impossible and I spent most of the day hobbling around this beautiful course at Windermere in a rather pathetic limp, trying to find things to take my mind off my complaining legs.
Once again, our fabulous support team kept me going when it might have been easy to find an excuse to quit. An ice lolly in Ambleside was particularly welcome for the last 3 miles (it was a hot beautiful day in the Lakes today) and gave me enough of a lift to get me home in 7 hours 9 minutes - again in a distant last place, but at least I'm still here. You can see the results at http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/Brathay10in10/marathon.html and you can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
Today the ice-bath was actually extremely relaxing - I never thought I would be saying that - as it numbed the many pains in the legs. Further physio and ice treatment followed after dinner and I have been passed fit for day 7 and another 26.2 miles tomorrow. Only 4 marathons and 105 miles to go!
A very big thank you for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for some great causes, especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to messages but it's not always easy here.
Thank you so much
Charles
Dear friends
Day 7 and its not getting any easier - but I'm still in there fighting. None of the injuries are getting any better / less painful and new injuries keep appearing. But the fab physio team aka angels of torture passed me fit to "compete" in day 7 after some serious patching up. They really are brilliant at fixing us up for yet another day of marathon "racing" - actually some of the 10in10 runners are still racing and its quite amazing what times they are continuing to achieve, when I've seen what state they (we) are all in. Again a lift in the car needed to get me down to the start and at 10.30am we were off again.
My right knee finally decided to quit today. It was simply not going to let me run on it - the pain was just too much and I was restricted to an ungainly shuffle. The constant sound of my knee cracking with every pace was both disturbing and painful but it held together long enough for me to do yet another lap of Windermere. Existing injuries were compounded by further muscle problems and a very large and unwelcome blister (my first in 183 miles). Also general fatigue is increasingly catching up with all of us and one of the problems of being so slow is that you have even less recovery time before the next "race" starts.
I was kept company for the first seven miles by fellow competitor and sufferer Paul Mason. But he finally got his legs working when mine were simply not going to take any notice of any instructions from me. Once again, our fabulous support team (and in particular Chris Heaton) then kept me going with continual encouragement and supplies of food, drink and an ice lolly, all of which allowed me to forget about the pain and keep shuffling on to eventually finish in a time of 7 hours 12 minutes - again in a distant last place. More desperate treatment from our angels of torture, who rushed back from their last university exam today to be with us, and I was passed fit to attempt day 8. Just 3 days and 79 miles to go - I might just do this.
You can see the results at http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/Brathay10in10/marathon.html and you can follow the progress of the race (and see video updates) at http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/brathay-10in10/video-updates.aspx or follow me on twitter @MasterActuary
A very big thank you for the many messages of support and especially to those who have continued to sponsor me so generously. It really helps me get through the day and, of course, it is raising vital funds for some great causes, especially the Brathay Trust. I will try to reply to messages but it's not always easy here.
Thank you so much
Charles
