Day 4 not quite done :(

This is the swelling in my right foot/leg after day 3. Not to bad really and I thought of this is shin splints I can deal with this. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol every 3 hrs and sailed through the 76 k.
Then got up yesterday and it was a bit tender but that's to be expected after running 150 hilly miles in 3 days. I started out great. Kept taking my pills but I only had enough pills for 2 doses and yesterday was a public holiday in France. So Russ struggled to beg more pills for me. The problem was I was in so much pain I was double dosing every 2hrs. I know taking that much is not good but I figured I would beg forgiveness from my liver n kidney later. Well I hobbled into the 3rd aid station (41k) and just started crying from the pain and knowing my race was most likely over. The volunteers were wonderful and tried to get me to continue but I was going to miss the days cutoff because I was really not able to run. Russ and i decided I would only be doing damage to myself and I would not even if I finished yesterday be able to continue. So sadly I had to DNF. I can't describe how disheartening it is to have worked so hard and to not be able to finish the race.

Here is a photo of my foot just after I had to quit.
The blisters on my 2 toes, I never even felt them, I was so focused on the shin and ankle pain.

Russ and I are currently on our way back to England. Sniff sniff.
Xx

Location:Rue d'Alençon,Condé-sur-Sarthe,France

Day 3 done-16 to go

I had a pretty good day. Felt good and finished strong considering ithe distance was 76k not 75k (48) miles. The only problem is I am developing shin splints in my right leg. I have ice on it now trying to bring the swelling down. I think the next few days of running are going to be very painful.
We just finished dinner and I still have to get all my stuff ready for tomorrow.
So that's it for now.
Xx

Location:Manoir de Saint-Gurval,Guer,France

Day 2 done - 17 to go

Today was a complete mixed bag of aches and pains, weather and terrain.
I started the day with my right knee very tender. Really worried me, thinking if this gets worse, I'm screwed. But after about 15 miles it eased and was only mildly irritating for the rest of the day. When I have done these multi day runs in the past, it's not unusual for my big toes to get pretty messed up. My husband will bandage me up and cut the toe boxes off my shoes and I'm good to go so we did just that but all day today the toe was just not happy. Not sure what we are going to do to fix that problem. Then with about 10k to go I bent down to pick something up at the aid station-big mistake. The rest of the run my lower back was Killing me. So I walked the last 10 k. The good news is my legs actually feel ok. I think the issue with my back is, sleeping on school cement floors on a mat and then running with a back pack. Not good for an old lady like me. So tomorrow I will run with a handheld water bottle and Russ will try to get me water in between aid stations.
The weather was cool, sometimes sunny and mixed with torrential rain. No thunder n lighting, which is my fear. I hate running during a thunder storm.
The course was another hilly route. But we did have 9k along a lovely canal. The last 5 k was through a town/ small city with crazy fast cars and no shoulder to run on. Kinda like playing dodge um. Some trucks just would not move over so we had to quickly jump out of their way with a aching back and torrential rain, for me it was scary.
So the day finished up with me being bummed with a back issue but at the same time happy my legs are ok with the 85 miles in 2 days.
Tomorrow is a long day 75k. If today is anything to go on, it will take me all day to compete.
The phone service is not great and I can't seem to load my photos without it timing out. Guess it will have to wait till we get wifi in one of the overnights.
Xx

Location:Place Mathurin Guilloux,Pontivy,France

Day 1 done

Phew. That was harder than I expected. 42 miles of very hilly, heavy rain and wind storms. Sun eventually came out. But I finished up strong and happy in 8hrs 51 mins. Tomorrow is hilly too and 4km shorter. I also think today was hard because the start was at 8:30 so it made for a longer day. Tomorrow starts the regular 6:30 start.
Here's to another good day!

Packet pickup

Today was spent relaxing and a bit of walking to keep the nerves in check.
Then packet pickup and race briefing followed by dinner in a beautiful very old French restaurant.
I'm all ready for a early morning start by the Roscoff light house!
Wish me luck!

Each runner was presented with one of these custom painted bowls. Plus a nice goody bag.

Location:Place Lacaze-Duthiers,Roscoff,France

TranseGaule -2days to go

Waiting in line at the Euro tunnel. Rainy day but better than 8 hours of gales on the ferry.
Had a fun time at our friend Peter's birthday party last night. Up at 4:30 this morning to get on an early train. Roscoff here we come!



-Arrived in Roscoff. First 250 miles of the drive was very rainy n windy. 2nd 250 was better, little rain and by the time we arrived, miraculously the sun was shining. No hint of remnants of tropical storm Bertha. The town is lovely. This is a photo of the light house where the race will begin. Just had a great meal but I resisted getting the Moules and frites. Too close to the race to risk an upset tummy. So I had old reliable chicken and veggies.



This is the view from our hotel room.

Location:Place Lacaze-Duthiers,Roscoff,France

Fast forward 2 months

So all my aches and pains have been overcome and I find myself just 4 days away from the race start. Yikes.
Russ and I had originally planned to take the ferry from England to France. But that was putting us right on the path of tropical storm Bertha. Not wanting to risk the cancellation of the ferry or worse not having the ferry cancelled and being tossed around on the ferry for 8 hours we changed to the channel tunnel. It means the 8 hour drive in France we were trying to avoid, by taking to ferry, we now have to do.
Oh well.

Location:Hertford,United Kingdom