We survived the Ultra Challenge (just...)

The words "Ultra Challenge" in the title should have been a red flag warning sign but we consoled ourselves with the fact that we were only doing "the quarter" distance, unlike the truly insane people who signed up to complete 50km or 100km. However that 25km "quarter" distance crept up throughout subsequent (post sign-up) race information to be 28km and then 29km for the on the day route map. In reality we ended up hiking some 34km that day with car parking, transfers and a longer than advertised route! The elevation chart also showed this was the toughest of all the sections with 3 mountain passes and 2,800ft of climbing in the first "quarter" of the race.

We were up at 5.30am to drive to Ambleside and park at the finish before the coach pickup at 6.45am to take us to the start line. Unfortunately, despite the early start, we were not actually scheduled to start until 9.30am as the other 1,000+ runners and walkers attempting the longer distances were clearly in need of the earlier start times given this was forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far. Bright eyed and bushy tailed we enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere of the start line, dreaming of all the other "Ultra Challenges" we would do in the future after this one!!!, and we enjoyed the balmy 18 degree 8.30am morning sunshine. Finally it was time for our last group of 250+ walkers to leave and we all bolted out of the gate eager to try and make up time and beat the heat by moving quickly along the relatively flat start out of Kendal and along the Longsleddale Valley. We cheered inside as we passed some of the 9.00am walkers and reached the first rest stop in Stockade at 10km before 12am. A quick drink, snack and toilet and then we hot footed it out and faced the first climb between Sadgill and Kentmere.

The first real test, and it was tough, all of a sudden it felt like all the energy had drained from my legs, my mouth was dry, I felt nauseas and struggled to get up the steep inclines. Mentally I knew this was just the first of 3 passes with the next one, Garburn pass, even tougher. We decided it was a combo of dehydration and heat exhaustion and a proper rest, drink and some food was needed. I forced down some food and drink, broke out the walking poles and at a much slower pace we started Garburn Pass. The second wind from the drink, food and rest helped me up and over the mountain pass and the breeze at the top helped to regulate the soaring temperatures (27 degrees). Josie's was like a mountain goat (with her hydration backpack we figured she did a far, far better job of staying hydrated) and she kept me moving one foot in front of the other. All around us people were really struggling and reconsidering what they'd taken on given the heat and terrain. It was tough to physically carry enough water to stay hydrated between the limited water stops.

The mountain passes and temperatures put pay to our original anticipated finish time of around 7 hours as we didn't reach the bottom of the third pass in Troubeck until 4.30pm and filled up water bottles for the last time. It would be another two hours before we crossed (or hobbled across) the finish line in Ambleside. Josie struggled more in the final 6km as fatigue set in but we just kept putting one foot in front of the other and kept each other moving (slowly). Finally, after 34km, 48,000 steps, and NINE HOURS of hiking we crossed the line, collected our medals, T-Shirt and a sandwich and headed home to cool down the screaming feet and rest those aching muscles. The kids, Nanna, Grandad and Aunt June greeted us with balloons, banners and cold drinks and the new paddling pool was a welcome place to cool down and soak the feet. In the end we feel proud to have finished the challenge (0ver 330 people dropped out and didn't finish) and most importantly we raised over 1,000 pounds for Dementia UK - thank you to everyone who sponsored and supported us... Next time we'll just do a normal challenge, not an "ultra challenge"

We did it.... (just)...