For the last two years I have run the 22km version of the Coastal Challenge, no, that's a lie, I walked most of the first year and ran quite a lot of the second year! I was inspired to do so by Carol and the team at North Shore Hospice, who had supported a couple of work colleagues. This year I decided to attempt to run the Full Monty version- 33km including two considerable tidal river swims. I had been running 4-5km, once or twice a week, over the past year and decided to step up my training regime about three months ago. My training went well until I fell victim to shin splints. This reduced me to cycling, rolling my foot around on a golf ball and using strapping tape and ice to freeze and depilitate my shins for 2 weeks. Luckily the golf ball worked and that left me two weeks to get back on track.
Here is a video flyover of the course.
And here are some pictures to prove I made it!
Relatively happy having swum two rivers, traversed bouldered beaches and navigated treacherous shallows.
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This was a relatively easy section!
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Is it really still 11km to go?
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Finishing line in sight.
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Made it!
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Rehydration is an important part of post-run recovery!
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Some pain was endured.
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But soon put right!
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Would I do it again............ we'll see!
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The challenge is for a great cause and setting out to complete what seemed to be an unachievable goal and making the finish line also gave me a huge amount of satisfaction.
If an old, bald, pom can do it- anyone can!
