Tough Guy 2010

eoin4789

cloneslad R.I.P

cloneslad

eoin4789 wrote: »

cloneslad R.I.P

ha ha ha, we should have a meet up after it......I will be the one in the coffin!!

Oryx

Ill say hi before it if ye want.. Wont be able after.
You sound like you done it before eoin?

eoin4789

ha ya sure we should all meet up at the start, strong irish representation!!

No none of our crew have ever done it but we are doing a good bit for it as the youtube videos look sick!

How did ye get on before oryx??

cloneslad

Something to warm you up on this cold day: Link

You're welcome

Oryx

Cant check your link. m.boards..

Last year has faded from my memory a bit. The run section was ok, the slaloms evil, and the water slalom was really fun. After that I hit the killing fields and it was just a matter of one foot after the other till its over. If they hadnt closed the plank last year Im pretty sure I wouldnt have finished. Had big problems with cramping calves, a combination of insufficient training and cold.

On another note, according to the website the water there is all completely frozen right now.

cloneslad

Oryx wrote: »

Cant check your link. m.boards..


On another note, according to the website the water there is all completely frozen right now.

That's what the video shows.

I can see them closing the plank this year if they closed it last year. It may be too dabgerous to get people to jump into such freezing cold water, peoples bodies could just shut down and render them useless........mind you my body will be rendered useless just standing around in the cold at the start!!

Oryx

They only closed it after at least the first 600 were through, and only then cos they couldnt cope with the casualties. They never make anything easier unless forced to like that. The harder it is the happier they are.

cloneslad

Oryx wrote: »

They only closed it after at least the first 600 were through, and only then cos they couldnt cope with the casualties. They never make anything easier unless forced to like that. The harder it is the happier they are.

that's sound, I will be in the last 2 or 3...not hundred just 2 or 3 hopefully the water will have all disappeared by the time I get there

toomuchdetail

never seen this event before , looks nuts but great at the same time ,anything like that this side of the pond ?

cloneslad

http://www.mud-madness.com/info.html

this one is in armagh, was held in November

http://www.runamuckchallenge.com/website/index.php

this one is held in the moyvalley hotel & golf club in Kildare.

Both are no match to the Tough Guy event but they are muddy. You would have to think there is a market for a good event like this somewhere in an adventure area or forest!!

Oryx

cloneslad wrote: »

Both are no match to the Tough Guy event but they are muddy. You would have to think there is a market for a good event like this somewhere in an adventure area or forest!!

Id say event insurance (esp in this litigious country) would be a nightmare. I know my insurance broker lolled down the phone when I asked for personal cover for it.

Anyhoo, 19 days to go, which means for me, just over a week left to train/acclimatise/visualise/lobotomise in order to prepare. Am praying for no more snow, not so much for the event, but so that I can travel there the day before!

kildara

Oryx wrote: »

I know my insurance broker lolled down the phone when I asked for personal cover for it.

Did you manage to get cover for it in the end? Struggling to get some myself.

Oryx

kildara wrote: »

Did you manage to get cover for it in the end? Struggling to get some myself.

In a word, no. I looked into the cover that they show on the site (or used to anyway) and it was like one of those Combined Insurance things, x euro per limb lost, so much per day in hospital etc, but didnt seem to be like regular travel insurance, which is what I wanted. So just dont fall off anything.

kildara

I suffer in the cold weather with one of my knees - even more when its cold water. Last night I smeared it in vaseline before we went out. We dipped into the North Sea at one point. Came home after and the knee that I put vaseline onto was nice and warm while the other was freezing. No pain from the vaseline knee either! Great stuff!

Oryx wrote: »

and the water slalom was really fun.

What is the water slalom?:(!

Oryx

Here is a good site showing pics of 2008, the slalom (dunno what they call it) is the one he has marked as the track crossing the creek. Now they have it fenced instead of taped and you have to cross the stream about ten or fifteen times. It looks very benign, but its slippy and muddy on the day. I loved it last winter, not so good in summer with bare legs.

kildara

"I loved it last winter" Jesus Oryx, you're sounding like a lunatic!

I am thinking of doing the nettle warrior in the summer - trying to get a mate, who's not doing this winter one, to sign up. Although I think I will wait until after I (hopefully) complete this one...

Anybody in the Front Squad?

Oryx

kildara wrote: »

"I loved it last winter" Jesus Oryx, you're sounding like a lunatic!

That bit was before it got horrible. I was laughing like a lunatic for that section. Later on my jaw siezed and my legs cramped and all I could do was make this mad gutteral grunting sound from cold. And I didnt even do the plank. Am I loony? Well, Im going back for more...

I am thinking of doing the nettle warrior in the summer - trying to get a mate, who's not doing this winter one, to sign up. Although I think I will wait until after I (hopefully) complete this one...

The summer one will be a doddle. A few of my friends are vaguely considering it, I wasnt going back after this one, but you never know.

Anybody in the Front Squad?

Too cheap to pay for it. Have you seen the current last minute pricing? Jesus wept.

Jip

Oryx wrote: »

Here is a good site showing pics of 2008,

I never realised it was that vicious, electric fencing ! And there's some nutter in the pic below where he mentions "Jesus Bridge - K16", there's some nutter basically naked crossing the ropes, I suppose he won't be weighed down by the mud and water on his clothes.

Oryx

Jip wrote: »

I never realised it was that vicious, electric fencing ! And there's some nutter in the pic below where he mentions "Jesus Bridge - K16", there's some nutter basically naked crossing the ropes, I suppose he won't be weighed down by the mud and water on his clothes.

Anyone who does it with little clothing must be sooo fit that they can move and get through it before succumbing to cold. Mad as hatters. Must be.

cloneslad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emaMMl2y-1Y

went into the sea in rosses point today after I did my run. I have another video but haven't uploaded it. I will put it up later.

Cool Running

cloneslad wrote: »

went into the sea in rosses point today after I did my run. I have another video but haven't uploaded it. I will put it up later.

F****** Hell!!!!!! I was out running in Hazelwood today and I taught it was cold. Fair play, id say the wind in Rosses Point made it way worse:)
Your takin it seriously anyways

cloneslad

Cool Running wrote: »

F****** Hell!!!!!! I was out running in Hazelwood today and I taught it was cold. Fair play, id say the wind in Rosses Point made it way worse:)
Your takin it seriously anyways

yeah it was quite cold, when I was getting changed in the car park at the beach for my run I was freezing but once I got running I was fine, ran out to the radisson and back again, a little over 6 mile for the run according to my garmin then back and into the sea.

I got back in after that video without my top on, the cold water on your body is not so bad, but your head starts to get very painful.

Going to go out for a run tomorrow, driving into town, parking at the regional complex and the g.f is going for a workout and I will do the loop around by the riverside and back out the pearse road, gonna hit the racecourse as well, haven't done it in years.

But I will be doing rosses point again on saturday if anyone fancies going for a dip?? gonna try last a bit longer in it next time.

cloneslad

My second attempt a few seconds after the first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K8iR7STbHI

I'm going out again tomorrow. If I can persuade my g.f to come with me I will take some more video footage of my pathetic attempts to beat the cold water

EDIT: I wonder if a rubber swimming cap would help me in there?

yhwh

Did the winter event last year and I have to say it was one of the most fun (aswell as nutty) things I've ever done, you guys are gonna have a ball. Had stage 2 hypothermia at the end of it and was unable to stop shivering for about 3 hours afterwards, trying to drink my cup of hot chocolate at the end was hilerious most of it ended up down my front.

One thing I would say is get yourself a good parking spot near the entrance cause the traffic out of the place after the event was a nightmare.

Oryx

yhwh wrote: »

Did the winter event last year and I have to say it was one of the most fun (aswell as nutty) things I've ever done, you guys are gonna have a ball. Had stage 2 hypothermia at the end of it and was unable to stop shivering for about 3 hours afterwards, trying to drink my cup of hot chocolate at the end was hilerious most of it ended up down my front.

I had someone hold my chin and pour it down my neck. Funny how anyone whose done it knows all about the 3 stages of hypothermia....:)

One thing I would say is get yourself a good parking spot near the entrance cause the traffic out of the place after the event was a nightmare.

There will be no right turn leaving the event this year to cut down on the jams.

Got me a neoprene hat today. Seems to be the business...heres hoping. Will probably toast on the run and still freeze in the killing fields.

Oryx

Well that was bloody cold. how did yall do?

Highway_To_Hell

well done, have you thawed our yet?

The Fool

Few Photos

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8490812.stm

kildara

Wow - what a day! Great craic.
It was pretty cold. The ice in the water was a killer - inch thick tearing at your shins - and people still smiling throughout.
The crowd were great. You hit a low point and someone lets out a shout and you smile and get another wind.
How cold was the water?!!
The underwater tunnels were awesome (bad, cold awesome!). The Death Plunge was immense as you know exactly what is waiting for you once you jump...

All in all a great day. Already planning the next one!

Oryx

Well done kildara. Good job. Any idea of your time?

Epic fail for me on the death plunge. Knew Id be mad about it afterwards!! My race report is here.

Saw a skinny young guy at the start, in tough guy squad, with a yellow cotton tshirt, baggy shorts and untied laces. Wonder how far he got??

kildara

1hr 51mins. Very happy with that. Wasn't in it for the time but now I want to do it again to try to do it quicker!
Plus I managed to keep my leprechaun hat and beard on the whole way round - more of a feat than the actual race itself!

Edit to add:
Times for race are up now on
http://www.tdl.ltd.uk/

Oryx

Amazing time, kildara, fair play to ya. Yeah, want to go back and kill it properly myself this time. Fugging plank, lol.

Still 40th female. Whoop, whoop.

cloneslad

What a race, I am happy I will be in Korea for next year's race so I can't be tempted to join it

We registered for the event the night before; it took us about 20 mins from our hotel to the registration area. So on sunday we left our hotel shortly before 9:30 and made the journey out, only to get caught up in traffic, we didn't actually get starting the race until after 12:00.

We were cheered and heckled by loads of supporters at the as the guys who forgot their alarm clocks, we had a clear field ahead up us until the slalom where we got held up a bit but managed to over take hundreds of people here. We decided to do it as a team so when we finished the slalom we had to wait around for some of the other guys to catch up.

Time was not important to us, we wanted to do it together and be able to talk about the things that happened throughout it. It was all going well doing the zig zag across the water, climbing the a-frames etc with only some slight 5-10 minute delays in places, until we hit the three walls you have to climb over, we got to the last wall at 13:05 and didn't get over it until 13:40, we were really freezing with all the waiting around.

we stuck together as a group for as long as possible and helped each other out, but when we got to the cargo area that required you to join in a line and link with others we got split up, me and another guy went on ahead through the cargo and by the rope over the water (we didn't bother using the rope, just hopped in the water and got across it...why delay the inevitable, right?) so when we got to the other end we realised some of the lads were still at the first part of the cargo, we knew we had to leave them behinf or we would freeze waiting on them.

From here on in it was pure torture, especially ducking our heads under the beams and water tunnels, I swear if someone had of asked me my name after the tunnel and offered me €1million for the right answer I would be still as poor as I am now.

The beam was okay, major problem was the gallon or two of water I swallowed as my body forgot how to swim so decided to drink my way out.

Managed to get out way through the rest of it with a few minor problems such as the guy at the barbed wire who thought it would be fun to tell us there was no water obstacles left, and in my delirious state I thought he was telling the truth...little did I know e still had the dirtiest, deepest water obstacle to go.

was still overtaking people the whole way home as I knew running fast was better than walking even if my feet felt like blocks of ice. Got as far as the concrete tunnels you have to climb over and put my left leg up, got cramp, and just fell backwards, I could only laugh at myself at this stage. the steward told me to go around them instead of over them, but there was no way I wasn't doing an obstacle. I made it over them, climbed up that hill with the ropes, fell back down that hill with the rope while trying to grab the stewards hand, then climbed back up again and finally finished the race.

I wasn't able to speak after the race, a woman asked me if I wanted tea, I just said 'ugh, oooohht hoclit' so she pointed me towards the hot chocolate and I proceeded to spill it all over my hand with fast action wrist movements a 14 year old boy with no girlfriend and access to porn would be proud off.

Some strangers noticed I was a shivering wreck after I had gotten dressed and went and got me another foil blanket, I managed a small 'hunk ha' and they said 'you're welcome' and after about 45 mins to an hour after the race, another hot chocolate which I managed to drink a little bit off and sitting in a warm car back to the hotel I managed to come around to myself a bit. One of the other guys in the group was in as bad a state as me, or possibly worse as he really dizzy and thought he might faint, he was supposed to drive one of the cars back to the hotel but wasn't able to, so another had to drive it for him while he borrowed my foil blanket.

Ended up doing it in a time of 3 hours and 9 minutes. I think if I was to go back and do it I would try get to the front of the starting pack so I could avoid most of the queues and save myself the waiting around. I would probably ditch the other guys who we had to wait on and just keep going on my own and try get it over and done with as soon as possible

eoin4789

what an event! never in my life felt that sort of cold and i believe there is no possible training that could soften the sting of it!

4 of us started in the dickhead group after the first 5000 or so went thru and we finished overall in 1700 position so we were delighted after completeing it in 2.30hrs.

hard to know if wel be back next year but it surely was an extreme weekend, also i know now why all the front runners wore leggings, i on the other hand stuck with shorts and am suffering still!!

Legs and arms are destroyed with cuts and bruises but such an amazing experiecne!

Well done to all who took part this year!

Oryx

Great report cloneslad, I was a victim of the traffic too, made it even more hardcore getting there. The more I read the more :mad: I get over failing the plank, lol. At least there was no wind this year, or it would have been even worse.

So who is up for next year, seeing as I have to go back??

cloneslad

Oryx wrote: »

So who is up for next year, seeing as I have to go back??

Maybe in 2 years, not gonna be around next year....thank god!!

On the downside, Birmingham nightlife on a sunday night..................brutal!!

kildara

Started writing an email earlier about how I did.
Here goes:

Epic! It was so cold though. We waited around at the start for about half an hour longer than we should have cos Mr Mouse waiting for people to get in from the traffic jams outside. It was pretty cold standing around.
Eventually, kicked off at about 11.20 or so. A big cannon fire started us off. About three quarters of a mile cross country, then hit these water obstacles - it’s about 20 ditches with water in it (ice covered water - inch thick ice covered water!) then a muddy climb up out of one and into the next. Lots of people cheated at this part and ran along to the right hand side of them completely avoiding the water. Gheys. They only cheated themselves.
Then you hit the trees - felled trees lying on their side. Some you jump over, others you have to go under. It wasn't too muddy underfoot when I was there as I was close enough to the front at that stage.
Up then and around the woods and head back towards the killing fields (where all the obstacles are). You then hit the Rabbit Hill - where you think the Slaloms begin and you think "This isn't too bad"... then its over and you realise you were nowhere near the slaloms at all!
Gradient gets a little steeper then and you are running cross-ways along a hill. Plenty of rabbit holes and branches to watch out for so you don’t twist your ankles. Up the first of the slaloms and into a snow covered field with long grass. A big loop around the field brings you back to the start of the dreaded slaloms. The slaloms are a series of zigzags up and down a steep - really steep at the top - hill. You can run at least half-way up the first few. Then it’s a tough plod to the top. Close to the top in some cases you revert to crawling on all fours to get you their. Then it’s down the hill - watching your step near the top where it’s beginning to get muddy and dangerous.
You have to keep this up at least 8 times - possibly even 78 times. Your thighs are burning by the time you get close to the end of these. Stewards all the way along shouting words of encouragement. Things like "6 more to go now Tough Guys" and, on the last one "Last one, then the warm-up is over..."
Next up is the woods. At the entrance to this one of the stewards shouted to us "Keep it up - you're in the top 500". Gives you a bit of a boost to keep up the pace. The woods are easy enough - jumping over a series of round plastic-covered straw bales, and then ducking under that cargo net. If I never see another cargo net it will be too soon. The "squares" in it are large, large enough to catch your arm/leg/head at various points, so you end up stuck like Nemo. Best way to go is backwards - arse in the air. Tough going though, cos you trying to get along as quickly as possible bent over, running backwards – all the while trying to keep your leprechaun hat and beard on you!
Up next after a short relaxing jog out of the woods was the Gurkha Grand National. Pretty much a water filled ditch that you have to cross over many, many times. Water gets deeper in each successive crossing – and the jump out gets steeper and higher in each one. Add to this the inch thick ice that, luckily, had been broken up by those who were out in front, but still floated in their waiting for their titanic… Camaraderie was great between participants in this part of the course – when it came to getting out each time; you had the guy in front pulling you up and the guy behind pushing you to get you up as quickly as possible. When you got up, you automatically turned and pulled the guy who was, seconds previously, touching you! Great craic! Also in this part of the course was those dreaded cargo nets to contend with, before landing back in the cold, cold water again. You have to do this crossing about 10-15 times – it all blurs after the first few.
An “easy” 8 foot high log wall to jump and then it’s a short jaunt to the start of the Killing Fields…
First up is the Tiger. Two massive 40 foot high A-frames with netting and greased poles to climb up. Between each of these A-frames is what’s called the Tiger Tails – electrified wires that you try to stalk your way through without getting a nasty shock. I was lucky enough to get through without electrocution. But judging by some of the screams and moans coming from others around me – it was quite a shock!
All obstacles from this point on are pretty much one after the other – with just enough time between each to question your sanity.
After the Tiger there are stewards giving out drinks to anyone who wants them.
Colditz Walls: Three log walls getting higher – 2m, 3m and finally 4m high. I met a guy from Roscommon just here. Lost him just after saying hello. On a normal day these walls would not be hard, but add in the fact that you are cold and wet and also the fact the course is getting muddier and muddier and you have energy sapping conditions. Up next was the Bohemoth. This a series of four towers connected by rope crossings (with a big drop under you). You have a rope you walk along and a rope overhead that you hold onto. Not hard in theory, but when you have guys ahead of you and guys behind it takes a nice bit of balance!
Next up is the famous Battle of the Somme. Water/mud filled ditches with floating platforms you can attempt to jump onto to avoid the iced water. Between each water-filled ditch are burning bales of straw; a nice reprieve at this stage to thaw your hands or backside or eyelids before facing into the next wet, muddy ditch. There are about 5 ditches to contemplate.
Tyre Crawl: Straight into the tyre crawl – tyres (15-20?) are arranged on their sides forming a short(ish) tunnel that you must crawl through. You have to watch out for the little bits of metal shards sticking out of the tyres as you haul yourself through – into a waiting (again) ice-cold muddy water filled ditch. Lovely!
To be honest I don’t remember the next obstacle – the Dead Leg Swamp – it’s apparently a very muddy part of the course – which could be any or all of the course, which may be why it doesn’t stick out as a separate obstacle.
Vietcong Tunnels were the next delight to be encountered; Concrete tunnels (roughly 2 feet diameter). Pitch black. Cold. Wet. Muddy. Claustrophobic tunnels. I have no idea how long they are, 40 foot maybe. But you can’t see the other side when you get in first so you just try to head away feeling forward as you go.
There were stewards handing out Jelly babies at the entrance to the tunnels. Open your mouth and they pop one in. Mmmmm!
Next up is the Skywalk and Paradise Climb. Just before you hit this is the most horrible smelling midden in the entire course. Vile, organic, unnatural smelling boggy poxy place. You come out of this stinking and head up the Paradise Climb – up a 40 foot net and then the balance beam along the top with a substantial fall for any misplaced step. Most people were attempting the left hand beam – I jumped over and went down the middle, gaining a few places as a result. Descent is either via a cargo net and cross another lake, or attempt to cross using ropes, again.
Then comes the infamous Water Tunnel. You start off here sliding into the water. Chest high water. Chest high ice-cold water. Chest high, ice-cold water with large slabs of ice floating around. A quick duck under a telegraph pole introduces you to the dark world of hypothermia! My hat filled with water here and almost strangled me as I surfaced. I took it off, folded it neatly and stuck it down my shorts to come out upon my exit. You have to then slog over to where the actual underwater tunnel is. I swam this part as best I could. I say swam – I mean I attempted to move my arms in a swimming type motion to assist in getting out as quickly as possible. The Water Tunnel itself is a number of underwater ducks to get across a distance of about 20 feet or so. First one is not too bad – second is worse. You struggle to keep your mind focusing on breathing and moving. After the last one your brain is only just ticking over. Marshalls try to tell you what way to go next. I get out and pull my, now truly sodden, hat and beard and place in a pile on top ma heed!
Brandenburg Wall: A 30-40ft cargo net climb (again) with nothing to break your fall bar your front teeth. Shivering, cold and wet from the prior submerging this is a difficult climb. Up on top there were numerous National flags. The Irish flagged mocked my Leprechaun-clad pitiful existence. I pushed upwards and onwards. Stumbled across the top and down the other side.
Easily the most difficult part of the course for me Death Plunge. You emerge from the previous pond onto a wooden platform and walk to an empty plank – six inches wide, you edge your way up to the end of it. I told the marshal I had a fear of heights and I couldn’t swim. I truly believed it at the time. The biting wind at the height makes standing around thinking about jumping impossibile – so I jumped in. It took a few seconds to surface and I noticed (once I opened my eyes) that my Leprechaun hat and beard were floating away from me – not in the same direction as I should have been exiting. Looking back I should have said “Okay, it’s made it this far, leave it”. No. Not me. Not then. I swam frantically towards it. The frog-man shouting at me to come towards him. Nope, not until I had my hat. My Castaway Wilson moment!
Hat and beard back in grasp I exited by the smiling diver. Crazy man smiling in those conditions…
Hat and Beard back onto their proper place I continued on. This was then where the highlight of my day (apart from finishing). Throughout the whole race spectators are shouting words of encouragement from the sides. Because I had a leprechaun hat and beard on I was getting plenty of “C’mon the Irish”, “Up the Leprechauns” etc - a good bit of craic. But along here someone shouted from the sides “C’mon Santa Clause”… My hat was green.
My beard was ginger.
I had to stop, hands on knees and laugh. A coughing, gurgling laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. The smiling must have released some sort of endomorphines or something cos I got another seventh or eight wind at this stage, and continued on to Dans Deceiver – yet another cargo net climb obstacle. Nothing out of the ordinary at by now.
Up onto a platform with many ropes coming out and stretching across the Dragon Pool (possibly 100ft). I picked an empty slot that seemed quiet enough at the time. Two guys ahead of me way down the rope. So I went on, hand-over-hand concentrating on placing your feet on the rope under you. The guys in front fell off, resulting in a whip on the rope. I held on and continued on down. Started to get shaken from side to side – looked back and there was someone on the rope at the start – not balancing very well. He fell off. I continued on down and towards the end the rope hung into the water, wetting up to almost my knees. But I made it to the end without falling in.
The course then goes back under the bridge you cross when coming into the killing fields from the Tiger. There are marshals giving out iced water at this bridge. Iced Water? Why would they do that?!
On then to the Somme Surprise – very narrow planks of wood going over a pond. These were narrow, wet, slippery and still frozen. I picked the very left hand one – the ice remained unbroken across the pond – I was determined not to be the one to fall in and break it.
Made it through the Somme Surprise then to the Stalag Escape – basically a barbed-wire crawl. Again, I went left… bad idea. The water was about a foot deep and the barbed wire approximately 6 inches above the water. So face-down crawling, trying to keep your head away from the barbed wire so as not to scalp yourself, and not too low that you inhale the muddy, cold water you are crawling through. I ripped my hat at this stage. A muddy tear rolled down my muddied cheek. It was ok though, I hauled myself out from under the barbed wire to carry on under a bridge and into the Tyre Torture. This was a 400-500 mile stretch strewn with thousands of tyres – making progress very laboured and slow. I took care so as not to twist an ankle on this, the final leg of the course.
Under the Pedestrian Bridge to the Anaconda Sting. The Anaconda Sting is a set of about 10 rows of concrete pipe you try to vault over. They are not that high - 4 foot or so. Had this been at the start of the course it would have been no problem. But it was here. And it was queer. Plenty of arse-skin adorned the tops of the pipe from previous competitor’s attempts to get over. You take your time and you get there. Slowly, but surely. Up along the Green Rolling Hills leads to another (unnamed obstacle) whereby you cross a pond and climb up the hill on the far side. Cross over the top of the hill and slide down the other side of the hill towards the final obstacle: Cold Foot Hill. Simple enough, in theory. Climb the hill and your home. But the hill is steep. And wet. And cold. And has to be climbed using the ropes. And it's cold and wet. The stewards on top try to shout instructions how to get up “Hand over hand, don’t stop, keep it up”. Then you’re there. I collapsed here unable to get up. I was giddy (probably hypothermia setting in) and was helped up by one of the army-clad guys. I slipped again, he helped me up again. I slowly got down off that hill on the back to turn and attempt a sprint finish…
Heard the double-beeping of the chip as you cross the finish line.
Finished.
I was wrapped in an emergency foil blanket to keep me warm. It was only then, on stopping, that the shivering started. A young guy who was handing out the medals attempted to get mine on over my leprechaun hat looked at me as if to say “Take off the hat”. I glowered back at him in a universal “That’s my Leprechaun hat – it’s been with me for the whole race, it’s staying put” sort of look and he squished it over and it hung proudly round my neck.
The tea ladies were unsure if I was male or female as they offered “Sir, or Madam?” a nice up of warm, sweet tea to heat me up. I couldn’t drink much to be honest. My hands were starting to shake violently at this stage as I struggled to hold the cup in my hand let alone drink any of it. I sort of threw it at my mouth and swallowed whatever entered.
I made it round the course in 1 hour 51 minutes and 33 seconds.
Finished in 328th place.
600 people were treated for hypothermia.
It was bandied about that this was the coldest year.
I am now a Tough Guy.
I think…

Oryx

kildara, I take my (leprechaun) hat off to you in faint hearted admiration. Brilliant run, brilliant report. Well done just doesnt say it.

And it was nice to meet you on the day, btw.

kildara

Oryx wrote: »

kildara, I take my (leprechaun) hat off to you in faint hearted admiration. Brilliant run, brilliant report. Well done just doesnt say it.

And it was nice to meet you on the day, btw.

You too.
We're planning next year already... in kilts:p. Cazy Scots...
It's amazing how quickly you bruch the cold, wet, ice aside and remember the craic and banter.

Oryx

kildara wrote: »

You too.
We're planning next year already... in kilts:p. Cazy Scots...
It's amazing how quickly you bruch the cold, wet, ice aside and remember the craic and banter.

Well if Im there, please pick me up bodily and throw me in at the death plunge. Ta.

Ill just do my usual incognito helly hensen cat burglar.

cloneslad

Great report Kildara, you weren't with the bunch of scottish people at birmingham airport from about 1 o clock till 3 o clock on monday afternoon by any chance and drinking in the vu bar???

kildara

Yep that was us.
Agree with you about the nightlife in Birmingham the Sunday night...

cloneslad

kildara wrote: »

Yep that was us.
Agree with you about the nightlife in Birmingham the Sunday night...

We were in the pub too, we were sat on the small comfortable seats at the window, about 10 feet from you guys nearer the entrance of the bar.

We were also giving out about you guys cos you wore your medals to the airport, but I suppose if you were flying ryanair it's better not to have a 100kg medal in your bag

Oryx

cloneslad wrote: »

We were in the pub too, we were sat on the small comfortable seats at the window, about 10 feet from you guys nearer the entrance of the bar.

We were also giving out about you guys cos you wore your medals to the airport, but I suppose if you were flying ryanair it's better not to have a 100kg medal in your bag

Thankfully, they never checked my bag in that size rack thingy. Everyone else got checked! And if security had decided to go thru my stuff, the medal was the least of it, god knows what they would have thought... 20lbs of wet muddy lycra, grass and slime and boggy running shoes...

kildara

cloneslad wrote: »

We were also giving out about you guys cos you wore your medals to the airport, but I suppose if you were flying ryanair it's better not to have a 100kg medal in your bag

We weren't flying with Ryanair. No point putting yourself through all that and not showing off your medal!
You should have introduced yourselves as fellow Tough Guys - join the session! We saw another couple in the cafe downstairs with medals around their necks and we all gave and received a big cheer, and a knowing nod...

cloneslad

Oryx wrote: »

20lbs of wet muddy lycra, grass and slime and boggy running shoes...

I washed my clothes in the bath in the hotel after the race then dried them out on the heater, god rid of about 400lbs of mud I reckon, they got a proper wash in the machine when I got home.

As for my runners, I kissed them goodbye after the event, I had done well over 350mile so they were due a nice retirement, I'd imagine they wished they had of been let out to pasture one race earlier

cloneslad

kildara wrote: »

We weren't flying with Ryanair. No point putting yourself through all that and not showing off your medal!
You should have introduced yourselves as fellow Tough Guys - join the session! We saw another couple in the cafe downstairs with medals around their necks and we all gave and received a big cheer, and a knowing nod...

We were content with sitting like zombies on the seats and wishing for death to strike down upon us I am not even sure where my medal is, I know it's in the house somewhere, but as with any awards I have ever received throughout my life, it will end up getting boxed up and thrown in the attic soon enough

Oryx

cloneslad wrote: »

We were content with sitting like zombies on the seats and wishing for death to strike down upon us I am not even sure where my medal is, I know it's in the house somewhere, but as with any awards I have ever received throughout my life, it will end up getting boxed up and thrown in the attic soon enough

Nooooo! Mine are hanging in the room where I train, pride of place. I keep the numbers as well, for luck. Horses for courses I suppose, I never won a medal for anything before last year, so it matters to me.

And arent you some kid... doing your washing in the hotel. I couldnt give a damn and went and had some bevvies instead.

cloneslad

Oryx wrote: »

Nooooo! Mine are hanging in the room where I train, pride of place. I keep the numbers as well, for luck. Horses for courses I suppose, I never won a medal for anything before last year, so it matters to me..

I have quite a few sporting medals and stuff knocking around from throughout my teenage years, from rugby, gaelic and hurling. I won the ulster league and cup with my u18 rugby team and couldn't tell you were the medals are, in fact I am not even sure if I took them home after it.

I think this one will get thrown somewhere and ultimately forgotton about (the medal that is, not the fact that I done it) perhaps when I build a house of my own I can buy a display cabinet and put my medals and awards in it, or as is likely, take them from my dad's attic and throw them in my own;) I do however have an entire room dedicated to me (as my brother and sister say...although it's only the spare living room) cos it's decorated with photos of my graduations and my degrees are on the wall too, but I don't have my masters on display cos I'm too lazy to go find a frame for it, plus I don't feel to proud of it since I couldn't even get a bloody job after getting it

Oryx wrote: »

And arent you some kid... doing your washing in the hotel. I couldnt give a damn and went and had some bevvies instead.

By washing it and drying it I got rid of about 20kg of mud, there was no way I was paying ryanair any more than the ticket price. When I went to manchester on the thurs before my flight they weighed nearly everyones bags and put them in that sizing thing too, people who had those hardbacked suitcases got robbed of €40 cos they wouldn't fit in, even though they were under the weight limit.

I was willing to take my clean clothes out of the bag and wear them all on the plane too avoid paying them any extra. I only weigh 10 stone so I wasn't gonna be stopped from adding another few stone worth of clothes to my body