Reflecting back...

Definitely the hardest thing I've ever done in my life physically. Running injured is always tough, and 40 miles a day isn't the best "rest cure"! I wish I could have run more consistently. It was not to be - but finishing was an achievement given the state of my shins and ankles for the middle 10 days of the race.

Jean-Benoit (race director) and all the volunteers were simply fantastic - impossible without them. 18 days of superb organization and support.

There was tremendous spirit between the competitors. Everyone was pulling for everyone else. 24 starters, 24 finishers - a unique occurence in ultrarunning? I miss my fellow sufferers, now we've gone our separate ways in life.

And finally, thanks to everyone - family, co-workers, friends - for the great support. I couldn't have completed without the positive thoughts coming at me from afar. An unforgettable experience.

My big fat "cankles"...

The finish...

Running...

The start line in Roscoff

Day 18 - Final Day!

Woooooo hoooooooo - I’ve finished!! 1166k in 18 days! 725 miles!! 28 marathons!! Whatever way you say it, it is a long way!! I cannot put into words how this feels right now – it is incredible! For the first year since the race began all of the participants finished - I’m pretty sure I came 11th. About 1k from the finish we all stopped and waited so we could all cross the line together. It was an emotional moment and a great way to end! I’ve already been for a swim in the Mediterranean and Claire and I are going to spend the next couple of days here in Gruissan Plage relaxing on the beach. I am looking forward to not having to get up and run tomorrow morning! Tonight there is a big celebratory dinner and awards ceremony and tomorrow we will all go our separate ways. It has been an amazing time, I’ve taken pictures along the way so will update the blog with them when I return home. Thank you, everyone, for all of your support along the way!! Finally, in the words of Sir Steven Redgrave after winning his 4th Olympic gold - "if anyone sees me about to do this again they have my permission to shoot me"… but then we all know what he did 4 years later!

Day 17

Just one day to go! The 72km today was tough and very hilly – finished in 12th place with a time of 7h 52m. Claire ran some of the race with me today, which was really great. Apart from a bit of pain in left knee I’m doing ok. Feeling a bit tired but the adrenaline will kick in tomorrow. Tonight we are staying at a hotel near tomorrow’s start line. Everyone is feeling excited and so glad we have all made it to the last day – just 70km left!!

Day 16

Wooo hooo!!! Great news - Claire arrived today and surprised me!! We were all having a drink and well deserved rest in the town square and suddenly there she was across the street – it was wonderful and a complete shock! Today’s stage was a very hilly 55km, I completed it in 5h 52m, 9th place - legs are feeling a bit better. Tomorrow’s stage is 72km and extremely hilly – there is a 1400m climb. With two days to go things look good and Claire being here to share it with me has made it even better!!

Day 15

I am lying in my nice comfortable bed in the B&B. Today was a good day. I am back to running and not just struggling to get through the day. 57k in 6hrs 18mins 9th place today and I think still 11th overall. Another hilly route and basically the next few days will be that way. Still hot and sunny with head winds. We have been very lucky to only have had 1 day of rain. I have heard the weather for the next few days might be stormy. We are having dinner tonight at a local restaurant, which is always good.
My days are pretty much run, eat, sleep, repeat each day.

Day 14

Hi,
Did well today and felt much better. 62k - 7hrs almost exactly, 12th place and still 11th overall. It has been getting hotter and hotter each day and today was 90f. My legs felt better; I am not running with constant pain anymore. I pushed it a bit today and hopefully I won't regret it tomorrow.
It was another beautiful run today. We ran 10k straight downhill into a beautiful gorge over the Lot river. The downhill was hard on the legs but worth it for the view. Everyone is so supportive of each other and wants each to succeed. We all recognize how hard we all have to work to keep going each day. That support has had a big impact on us, so much so that no-one has dropped out yet. I think at this point we all want so much to finish and barring any severe injury we will all complete the race.
Well, I'm off to the bar to have a well earned beer.

Day 13

Hi,
Good weather day today and another lovely town and area that we ran through.
Distance 67K plus 4K...I got lost, missed a turn and ran an extra 4K. Day dreaming I guess..until that point I was doing really well, I was staying just ahead of 3 others trying to make sure I did not slip any more in the overall rankings!! They got ahead of me and I never managed to pass them. But still my time was 8 hrs 23 mins. 15th place and 11th overall.
My legs are feeling better and swelling is going down. My right hamstring is starting to talk to me. I spoke with Victoria and she gave me some stretches to try, which are helping. Tonight dinner is being brought in so we don't have to wander the local streets looking like extra's from a horror flick as we shuffle and drag our legs behind us, along with an occasional moan!
I have heard from some of the folks that have done this race before - yes there are a few that crazy - the accommodations for Wed and Thur night are pretty dire. So I managed to book into a local B&B in each town for those 2 nights. It will feel great to actually sleep in a bed. Problem is, one of reasons we get up each day and run is the cots on the floor are so uncomfortable. Once I get into that bed I may not leave for several days. My mantra now is "4 more days", "4 more days" 'til Saturday. I know if I make it 4 more days, Saturday will be run on such a mental high, it should be a piece of cake!

Day 11 and 12

Hi,
Sorry about not posting yesterday, but I could not get service for the mobile phone. The day was good only 50K. I ran with 3 other runners which was good for the company, but I feel that I may have run faster than I should have. It is another beautiful town; very small with only about 300 people. The local children greeted us with cakes and asked for our autographs and took our photos. It was so nice.

Today was the grueling 77K. It was good for the first 40 miles but the last 9 were all very steep hills. I ran alone today because I knew it would be hard and I didn't want to go too fast, like I did yesterday. Wanted to do under 10 hours and I just made it with 9hr 55mins. Legs are holding steady, not getting any worse with the swelling. I think the swelling has actually gone down a bit. Several of us walked into town to get dinner, we found only one place open because of Sunday. Food was great, but I think I could eat almost anything at this point. The next 4 days will be slightly shorter runs with the last two days returning to the longer lengths to which I have become accustomed! I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, only 6 more days. This actually sounds achievable!!

Day 10

HI,
Good weather! Nice course, getting more and more hilly as we get into the Massif Central. Ran the first 25K today but then had to do a combination of walk/run..more walk then I would have liked. 64K, came in 22nd. Terrible but still in 10th place overall. My shins and ankles are so swollen they are officially 'kankles'. I can't get the socks over my ankles, so I had to cut my socks.
Still a great group of people and we are all trying to hang in and make it to the end. No one has dropped out yet. Tonight we had drinks with the Mayor of Bourganeuf.
Tomorrow is 50K but hilly so we shall see how it goes.

Day 9

HI,
Today was the most physically challenging day I have ever had in my life. Not just the run which was very hilly but the weather was brutal, windy and rainy. Windy all day, at times it felt like gale force pushing us around and having to fight it the entire time. The rain lashing down and coming at you from all sides. Not sure what the weather for tomorrow will be, but at least for now the rain has stopped. We have been lucky, so far we have had 8 days of great weather.
The day took a long time 70K in 9H can't remember how many mins... 13 place.
Good news my legs are staying about the same, not getting worse, a bit more worn out today because of the hills but I think they will be ok. I wear the compression stockings every night. I look like Paula Radcliff, wish I ran as fast as she can.
Today we passed the halfway mark in distance and just at the halfway in time, 9 days down 9 more to go. Tomorrow is 64K, Saturday 50K, and Sunday the monster 77K.

Day 8

Hi,
Pretty good day today. 64K in 7h 27m came in 9th and 9th place overall. The first 5k the legs are stiff, sore, painful, the middle of the run you get into a groove and it is pretty good, the last 20K are hard.
Glad to report legs are no worse. If they stay like this it should be ok. The compression stockings and anti-inflammatory pills are helping as well.
The town we are in today is called Angles Sur L'Anglin, it is ranked as one of the prettiest in France. Each day I report what a beautiful town we are in, but today it really is beautiful. It would be even more beautiful if Claire was here with me...
We run past many locals that see the race numbers on our shirts and ask where are we running to and we say Narbonne. They look puzzled because they only know of one Narbonne and that is on the coast!! They just can't believe we are running all that way. So they cheer us on and say "Bon Courage".
We passed the 500K mark today. That felt great, we are actually getting closer.

Day7

Hi,
Much Much better day today. Legs still sore but not in agony. Actually easier to run than walk. I felt more positive at the end of today than I did yesterday. I think I can do this!
Another beautiful route today. If you look on this site, http://www.yanoo.net/index.php4?cat=12&id=215 this is one of the roads we ran today...just beautiful. Today was 57K my time 6:44 9th place, tomorrow is 64K.
The runners here are a great group of people. Everyone is very friendly and helpful to each other. Each day as we come into the finish as well as the school gym we all clap for each other. It is quite emotional, we all have our good days and days that we suffer. So far no one is willing to not try another day.

Day 6

HI,
Is it really only day 6???? Can't imagine what day 16 is going to feel like...
Well this morning started off really painfully, for the first 25K I walked and hobbled, but the last 25K was better and I actually ran most of it. 55K in a time of 6h 33m. The race organizers stated this is the first year in race history that no one has dropped out by stage 6. Pressure is on.
Raife and Victoria cycled along the last half of the course. Victoria has been so helpful with my legs. They bought me a pair of compression stockings to help with the swelling. The course today was beautiful, winding through the Loire Valley, lovely vineyards and beautiful countryside.

Day 5

HI,
Hard run today. My shins are very, very sore.
But on the positive side a friend and work collegue from the UK, Raife and his partner Victoria arrived today. They have a tandam bike and cycled along with me a good part of the day. It's really great to have the company. We will meet up for dinner tonight and they plan to stay with the race for a few days cycling along as I run. The best part, Victoria is a Physiotherapist, she massaged my legs and assisted with the icing. The ice supply is slim to none, France is not big on ice and it is Sunday so almost everything is closed.
Today was a long day 70k, my time 8hr 33 mins, 11th place today. I had to walk quite a bit on the hills. Tomorrow is a shorter day 55k. At this stage last year 4 people had dropped out. I am not sure if anyone has dropped out yet. At least 50% of us are experiencing very sore legs. All trying to keep off the legs and ice.

Day 4

HI,
Well, up at 5am to get ready for the 7am race start. We are all beginning to move just a little bit slower in the mornings. Today was a good day with a few minor aches, definitely getting harder, 68k in 7hrs 17mins. I finished in 6th place today which puts me in 6th place overall. My shins are beginning to talk to me...I'm thinking tomorrow I will do a combination of walk/run. It should be a nice run, we are heading towards the Loire Valley. Spent this afternoon shopping in the local food store to stock up on food. Sunday in France can sometimes be scarce of places open to eat.

Day 3

Hi,
Feeling really great today. Much flatter course and I felt great, although today was one of the longest days at 78k/42miles. My time was 7:45. Came in at 4th place but not sure where this puts me in the rankings...
Had a great meal in a little French restaurnat last night and a great night sleep.
I absolutly love my Garmin Forerunner 201. It's great to know how far you have run and how much more you have to do each day. It also keeps track of the calories, so far I have burned 15,000 during this race!
Tomorrow will be a shorter day 68k/42miles. We will arrive in the town of Chateaubriant.

Day 2

Hi all, Today's distance was 65k. completed in 7:28 and 10th place today which puts m in 6th place overall.
The course today was hilly and my hamstrings were not enjoying the trip! Neither was my stomach. Eventually both settled down and I had a good day. I never thought that freezed dried shepherd's pie (meat and mashed potatoes) could taste so good. Had 2 servings after the race; yummy. I was feeling like a celeb today, the local newspaper interviewed me this afternoon. Hopefully I can get a copy of the paper. Each day at the end of the race there is a banner we run under and many of the locals come out to cheer us on. It really is a nice race running through some lovely French towns. Last night the race organizers provided a delicious dinner of Spaghetti Bolognese. During the race today we had lots of bananas and oranges. Tonight though we are on our own, so I am waiting now for the french restaurants to open up for dinner!!
Tomorrow a slightly longer course 75k, hoping to do around 9hours. Wish me luck.

Feeling great after day 1

Hi All, Completed first day of 68k in 7hr 11mins, 4th place! Slightly less then 10k per hour. Basically 10k per hour is what I hope to maintain each day!!
Feeling great, a bit tired but well. The race support team that supply drinks, food and directions throughout the day are really wonderful.
This following link is being maintained by the race team. click on the date for the Transe Gaule http://www.yanoo.net/index.php4
Copy and paste the french text into this link http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr to get the english version.
Looking forward to a great night sleep on my cot in the school gym!
Stay tuned.....

Roscoff D-day minus 2

Ran comfortably for 90 minutes this morning to St. Pol de Leon. I met the race director and some of the other competitors and we went for a wonderful French lunch -a whole roast pig. After a while Janne from Finland and Hiroko from Japan arrived. Both had run Trans Europe (Lisbon to Moscow) in 2003. Janne placed 5th overall! Hiroko had abandoned after 42 days because her leg literally snapped - which finally forced her to stop!! Jacques was interesting too - he cycled around the world for 7.5 years, because he couldn't stand his office job!! Usually I feel like a Kenyan with 'normal people' - today, with these folks, I felt like a Sumo wrestler. This is going to be a tough race I think....

I'm sitting here at ABIA (Austin's "International" airport), reflecting on the days ahead and the wonderful send-off from my friends and colleagues at Hoover's yesterday. Thanks for the support, everyone!

I leave for Paris on Friday, arriving Saturday morning, then on by train on Sunday from Gare Montparnasse to the start in Roscoff. The race starts Wednesday, August 17 at 9 a.m.