I (we) arrived in Weilerswist in September, a small town outside of  Cologne. I had already committed to running the Cologne Marathon and  whilst training for that event I discovered the Erft.  I like running alongside the banks of rivers or canals anyway  but it's flat,  very flat. That said, the flatness of the Erft got me ready for the  flatness of Cologne so I am not complaining. Running along the Erft though, did not feed my soul in the same way running in the forest did and still does. Linslade Woods or Rushmere being great examples. So here I am discovering Villewald on my own! It was a slow process and I logged my routes on Komoot,  in fact thanks to Komoot I managed to find my way through the paths  that are not shown on normal maps like google maps or apple maps. So  actually I can highly recommend Komoot. Villewald is  a really nice place to run,  it's not flat either and there are a few lakes to run around. Now I  feel that my soul is being fed!

The Devil whispered in my ear: ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’ I whispered back: ‘I am the storm’

We travelled over by train on Friday evening, meeting up with Sean at St Pancras at around 7:30. He was a bit knackered, we were a bit knackered so we opted out of meeting up and eating together. Heike and I were in Richmond town centre so we found an Italian restaurant and took our seats outside. To our left, 2 blokes kitted out for what seemed like a long run and to our left and elderly woman who we had previously passed limping along the street. The fit blokes were obviously doing the L2B and I eavesdropped a bit. Not their first ultra but definitely their first 100km. They discussed future events pending their success on Saturday. I demolished spinach ravioli, two bottles of sparkling water and an espresso affogato. The lady on our right finished at approximately the same time as us and as she rose I couldn't help but notice a t-shirt adorned with the Jurassic coast 100km ultra logo. Aha! She was also doing the L2B. As she passed I wished her good luck. She thanked me and asked me if I too was running, I told her it was my first time and that I was running with my son who'd run it last year. She wished me luck and told me that she'd run the Jurassic coast 100km a week earlier. I was genuinely speechless and told her so. "Oh it's nothing at all, I do them all the time. I'm not fast but I just keep going"

I still couldn't see how this woman who was clearly struggling to be mobile could do 200km in the space of 8 days. That sounded like a good mantra and one my mom would have approved of so just keep going it was.

I woke the next dayat 5:30 and made my way to meet Sean at the station in Richmond. 

10 minutes later we were there at the start, drinking coffee and eating oat bars. As with most sporting events, the atmosphere is incredible! We checked our gear and lined up at the start, both of us trying hard to conceal our excitement.

I did a better job than Sean who was clearly really looking forwarded to this. I was too but in all honesty I was facing a distance I hadn't yet run. I was indebted to his positivity. it set us up for what was going to be one of those days that you wont ever forget.

Off we went at a nice, relaxing pace. Past some park runners who seemed to be sprinting! along the Thames to Kingston upon Thames, Ashley's old hunting ground. I was transported back to those days, beery evenings in the pub and evenings at the red rose Indian restaurant in Surbiton with Ashley.

We chatted along with the other runners as we made our way through the housing estates of south London, Maldon, Happy Valley and Chaldon. The leafy suburbs of Surrey finally gave way to the High Weald National Landscape, the garden of England. We trod the paths the ancients had taken on their way to the coast of old Albion. We were both transported back to the Sunday mornings in Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable Downs as we chatted continually about sport, politics, family and future.  Ducking under the M25 motorway and into the sticks, Sean became super charged as his feet padded along the wooded trails. I kept up and couldn't stop myself thinking about his first 10km about 6 or 7 years ago in Leighton Buzzard. He obviously struggled and Colleen and I had to cajole him into trudging on. Here he was after 30km or so cruising, lapping it up, cheering others on, he had become a machine!

Slowly, as the kilometres faded away, my tank began to empty and I was now the one flagging. In my head I was trying to see a way to complete the 50km or so we had left, my legs were telling me that they couldn't do 4 let alone 40. I became silent and sluggish but  in front of us, Sean pushed me on, reminding me that at the midway aid station we can reset. I couldn't see or didn't want to see how an aid station would transform my flagging moral and revitalise my broken legs. I pushed on as his optimism  and spirit dragged me along. Eventually we were within reach of the aid station, I happily wolfed down some veggie pasta, a couple of cans of fizzy drinks (I wouldn't go near them normally), a coffee and stocked up on tribe bars. We also changed our tops and removed our shoes to let our feet breathe a bit, oh how good that felt! Reset we did and I couldn't believe the response as we ran out of the aid station heading south to Brighton. Now I was feeling good as we crossed fields full of cows and sheep, the endless gates and styles posing problems for our ragged legs.

We celebrated the fact that we only had another Marathon to do!

My mind was developing another relationship with distance and time.

Somehow as we headed out across the north downs, our spirits were lifted and I was beginning to believe what Sean had never doubted. The destination was in sight!

The last 20km was met with hoops and cheers as we approached Burgess Hill.

We texted our support team at the last aid station, telling them we only had 12km to go.

At this point we only had the hill just after Plumpton to contend with.

It was a bad one that hill, it was the kind of thing that wiped out your hope when you're looking at the bottle of Champers, contemplating how the cork will be removed. That hill could have been a killer if it had been a few km earlier. As it was, we laughed at it and soon it was history.

Downhill!!! we sprinted downhill, well.. it seemed that way. Gone were the chains that had dragged around our legs.

We counted down the last 5km as Sean shouted at me to forget the distance, head for the lights of the Racecourse, his pace increasing as we closed in. I have no idea how I kept up with him!

Our unbelievable support team broke into cheers as we hit the final straight.

I couldn't quite believe what had happened but here we where. My legs were sadly gone as I tottered around, I had no control over them anymore.

One thing that is very important to mention, at least for me. This was a shared experience, so no the lonelyness of the long distance runner here. Sharing it with Sean and then of course sharing it with the group. The videos and pictures that we sent on route are a great way of feeling connected. We all need to feel connected and we all love to share experiences. You're alone but not that alone, its the freedom to test and push your body and mind in a safe environment.

I am writing this a few days later wishing I was back out there whilst when I was back out there I was counting down the kilometres.

It was an unbelievable experience, full of surprises as in the surprise that I can actually run a 100km. An experience shared with my oldest offspring who tried to convince me a few years ago that he was a sprinter but he would give running a go. Now he's a Kung Fu running master! it's his domain. Somehow I always knew his deliberate, relaxed style would suit ultra running. Anyway he knocked off 3 hours from last years time and I am pretty sure he'll knock off another 3 next year. There's a part of me saying I ought to be out there with him again!

Thanks to Heike, Chloe and Alicia for being there for us at the end when we needed you!

Thanks to Sean for pulling me through, putting up with me for 100km and providing the spirit we needed when we had none!

He's put so much into running  over the last few years, he deserved that result.

There was a lady in Stone Cross who used to say, don't stop, keep moving.

The Devil whispered in my ear: ‘You’re not strong enough to withstand the storm.’ I whispered back: ‘I am the storm'

The picture above is my son Sean Buckle who ran a 100km from London to Brighton this time last year. He never stopped smiling! This year he has convinced me to run it with him. I've run one Ultra before and if you're not sure what an Ultra is then I asked ChatGPT for you and...

An ultramarathon is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers)

As always I find it such an incredible experience when running with my siblings, maybe because my two brothers and myself used to run  a lot together in the past. There is definitely a huge legacy. I've run with all my kids and recently did a half in Paris with Jennifer my niece. Such a fantastic experience! Running a 100km with Sean is a massive event for both of us. I seriously cannot wait!

I think I have prepared enough, running the forests and hills around the Eifel, including running in zone 2 far below my anaerobic threshold for the last month. Normally I just blast around but that's not the way to prepare for an Ultra. Well!!! lets see how it goes, I'm sure Sean will pull me along, if anyone is yet to sponsor him a couple of quid then please click here.

Massive thanks to all those of you who have already contributed, it always blows me away how generous you are. He is raising funds for mental health.

So now I am off to pack all of this stuff into my bag.

You're wondering why I need all that stuff, plasters, tape, salt tablets, figs, headtorch, spare socks, spare underwear, Vaseline, iPhone charger and a kitchen sink.

Better to have it than not, not the kitchen sink but the other stuff and there's bound to be something I forgot!

My next post will be post the 100km, wish us luck!

The photo is 5 years old! In 2017 a very good friend and myself ventured to Berlin in order to run the Marathon. 5 years later I am back again but this time with Colleen my daughter. She is attempting her first marathon and together we are going to blast through the Brandenburg gate in around 4 hours. Berlin is one of my favourites, as is Köln (more about that to come). There is very definitely an international vibe along with tte fact that you're running on the same tarmac that Eliud Kipchoge is running on, the current world record holder. That's a bit special! We have 5 weeks and 5 days left to go and Colleen is beginning to realise that those 42km are getting closer. She's prepared pretty well with some great runs around Berlin, she's already pretty fit and she's definitely streamlined. The crowds will pull us through! The event will summon up the adrenaline, the dopamine, the endorphins and the mind and body will slide along through the streets of Berlin. The wall, the runners wall will not be a factor because just like the Berlin wall we will pull it down! For me it's another marathon in another great city somewhere. I am not stopping yet. Now I am going to write about those 10 plus Köln marathons I have done. Until then ... keep on running! 

Running in Villewald

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