I really was not looking forward to this event. Having done it last year I knew how much the hills take out of you so I was dreading the long climbs towards the end. I'd done much more training this year so I just kept trying to tell myself this year was going to be different. I could do it this year. And none of that being ill afterwards!
We got out to the start nice and early and met up with the two brothers willing to take on the challenge again this year - Richard and Matthew (David was away in Las Vegas for someone's wedding or something). Richard was starting up near the front somewhere due to his decent performance last year, I was starting near the back somewhere due to being a plodder and Matthew had somehow blagged a mid field starting spot.
After the warmup event the run got underway so I stood around with everyone else at the back waiting to be moved towards the start line. Eventually we got somewhere near the start and my run began. A couple of minutes later we were running on the motorway with people peeling off all over the place to empty their bladders. Dodging runners desperate for a toilet break is an event all by itself!
6 miles seemed to appear fairly quickly and the mencap bus support lifted my spirits for the next hill climb. By this point there were walkers all over the place and I was adding mileage on having to go sideways. I think I'll have to practice running through a dense forest in future!
At last the final climb came into view and I realised how much better I'd done than last year. "By this point I was broken and walking last year", I thought to myself, "There's no way I'm stopping for that hill this year, bring it on!" The sight of the sea as we approached the top lifted everyone's spirits and someone shouted out "Last one one the beach buys the beers" or something to that effect as we charged down the steep incline towards the beach. The last mile was thick with supporters cheering us on and before I knew it it was all over! 2 hours 15 minutes and 59 seconds after crossing the start line I could stop running. Now all we had to do was find everyone so we could begin the wait to be let out of the car park.
My finishing time was about 8 minutes better than last year so I felt pretty pleased with myself until I found out that Matthew had smashed his previous time coming in with a 2:10 and Richard had done his usual and run a 1:50 with a hangover!
Maybe I can bring the time down a bit more next year...

Thanks to everyone that sponsored me, it helped spur me on through all the training that you'd all supported me with your donations. I'm sure Mencap will put the money to good use!