Post by desertray on Jun 16, 2012 17:39:01 GMT -5
After our live link by phone, during Rony Robinson's BBC radio Sheffield's show, I discovered that Kerry Levin's, the only blind participant in this years 100km challenge, was undergoing treatment on his physios table. Our challenge would certainly be eventful before the challenge was over.
Leaving Shoreham street, in Sheffield and heading out to Don caster to meet the 1645 train to London, i had many a worrying thought about the Injuries Kerry had received prior to him going blind which was caused by a crash on his motor bike.
on Sat 9Th June,and the morning of the event we met for the first time, easy to spot, Pedro his dog was a good give away.I introduced myself, and right from the start as Kerry introduced his training partner ,and guide, we hit it off and confirmed ourselves as a team. The course was described as being difficult by the officials, the weather had been stormy leading up to today, as we set off at 10.20 towards the themes river towpath, and our first obstacle, a large fallen tree. Pedro having to be lifted over, and branches removed from the tree to allow Kerry to get over.
reaching Oak Park Cafe, at checkpoint 3, arrangements had been made to drop off Pedro who was showing signs of tiredness, in the heat of the afternoon.
By the next checkpoint, 4, God stone Village Hall, and now mid afternoon, a large group of athletes had pulled out of the event, showing signs of problems with blistered feet.
Kerry is starting to struggle with his hips over the next miles, as we head out towards late evening and our fifth checkpoint, where we were met by his physio who had traveled for some time, and distance to get to the Felbridge Village Hall, and arriving around 12.30 am. work started in earnest to get Kerry back into a sate of being able to Carry on, and at the same time, once again the BVUK nurse, who deserved a medal for all her efforts, was well and truly occupied sorting out blistered feet, my help did ease the queues lightly, whilst i was waiting for Kerry.
Off we went at last leaving the warmth of the hall, and heading out to the 6Th and next drinks station, this leg soon became a very demanding section as almost immediately we encountered severe ground conditions, ankle deep mud, and great problems for Kerry, as we were unable to predict the troublesome submerged rocks. New swear words were being shouted out as Kerry, on a few occasions came stumbling past headlong into the mud. Reaching our next checkpoint, Sharpthorpe Lions Club, a distance of 67 km. An emotional Kerry called it a day, unable to carry on. His wishes were that myself and his training partner Daren carry on and make it through to the Finnish. A call had been made for his wife to pick Kerry up. time now being 3.30 am.
setting off and wishing Kerry well,
I soon realized that we had now a group of about 8 of us as we made our way through the night towards Gatwick Airport, before turning east, and onto the South Downs.I was beginning to feel responsible for our party of mixed abilities athletes, a bit like the pied piper, taking on the lead, and having to stop and regroup on many occasions as one by one they showed signs of fatigue and pain from damaged feet. All the group had severe blisters. I was now on a mission to get our newly formed group through the finish line.
Dawn brought a welcome relief, and provided a spectacular scene, as the sun broke through the mist alongside a large lake just before checkpoint 7.
severe blisters were causing problems, and the pace suffered, but I was more than determined to see them conquer the pain, especially after i had been informed by one of the young woman that only three weeks before had had her appendix removed, but the pain of her stitches pulling was not going to stop her. Sheer determination and a bit of encouragement from me was showing results, as we continued to make steady progress.
The rain was lashing down now as we continued up and over the steep range of hill on our way towards Brighton.
With just less than half a mile, with the finish line in sight, a cry from another of the ladies, Joe, who had come to a full stop, declaring that she felt as though her right foot had exploded. removing her shoe and slowly her sock revealed that due to the blister plasters 14 in all, had becoming attached to her sock, which was pulling at the blisters, cause her the pain, together with blood weeping from a busted blister. The relief on her face was brilliant. discarding her sock, as she slowly fed her right foot into her shoe. we set off again on our last climb, regrouping just 5 feet from the finish line. Linking arms, and spreading out the union jack flag above us, we all ran through the finish line together as a team of determined athletes in a time of some 30 hours.
I would like to pay my tribute to Kerry, and his determination to have reached the 67km point under extremely difficult conditions, and really against all odds, to Daren who for the best part of the challenge provided Kerry with an ongoing dialog of instructions,,, Mentally Draining!!!, and then to continue with the rest of the determined group of men and woman, Jane, Yvonne, Bernadette, Joanne, and Rory, to make it on to the finish... we became a team of mixed abilities who worked together as a group to make dreams, and ambitions come true WELL DONE, guys you all well and truly deserve your medals
Leaving Shoreham street, in Sheffield and heading out to Don caster to meet the 1645 train to London, i had many a worrying thought about the Injuries Kerry had received prior to him going blind which was caused by a crash on his motor bike.
on Sat 9Th June,and the morning of the event we met for the first time, easy to spot, Pedro his dog was a good give away.I introduced myself, and right from the start as Kerry introduced his training partner ,and guide, we hit it off and confirmed ourselves as a team. The course was described as being difficult by the officials, the weather had been stormy leading up to today, as we set off at 10.20 towards the themes river towpath, and our first obstacle, a large fallen tree. Pedro having to be lifted over, and branches removed from the tree to allow Kerry to get over.
reaching Oak Park Cafe, at checkpoint 3, arrangements had been made to drop off Pedro who was showing signs of tiredness, in the heat of the afternoon.
By the next checkpoint, 4, God stone Village Hall, and now mid afternoon, a large group of athletes had pulled out of the event, showing signs of problems with blistered feet.
Kerry is starting to struggle with his hips over the next miles, as we head out towards late evening and our fifth checkpoint, where we were met by his physio who had traveled for some time, and distance to get to the Felbridge Village Hall, and arriving around 12.30 am. work started in earnest to get Kerry back into a sate of being able to Carry on, and at the same time, once again the BVUK nurse, who deserved a medal for all her efforts, was well and truly occupied sorting out blistered feet, my help did ease the queues lightly, whilst i was waiting for Kerry.
Off we went at last leaving the warmth of the hall, and heading out to the 6Th and next drinks station, this leg soon became a very demanding section as almost immediately we encountered severe ground conditions, ankle deep mud, and great problems for Kerry, as we were unable to predict the troublesome submerged rocks. New swear words were being shouted out as Kerry, on a few occasions came stumbling past headlong into the mud. Reaching our next checkpoint, Sharpthorpe Lions Club, a distance of 67 km. An emotional Kerry called it a day, unable to carry on. His wishes were that myself and his training partner Daren carry on and make it through to the Finnish. A call had been made for his wife to pick Kerry up. time now being 3.30 am.
setting off and wishing Kerry well,
I soon realized that we had now a group of about 8 of us as we made our way through the night towards Gatwick Airport, before turning east, and onto the South Downs.I was beginning to feel responsible for our party of mixed abilities athletes, a bit like the pied piper, taking on the lead, and having to stop and regroup on many occasions as one by one they showed signs of fatigue and pain from damaged feet. All the group had severe blisters. I was now on a mission to get our newly formed group through the finish line.
Dawn brought a welcome relief, and provided a spectacular scene, as the sun broke through the mist alongside a large lake just before checkpoint 7.
severe blisters were causing problems, and the pace suffered, but I was more than determined to see them conquer the pain, especially after i had been informed by one of the young woman that only three weeks before had had her appendix removed, but the pain of her stitches pulling was not going to stop her. Sheer determination and a bit of encouragement from me was showing results, as we continued to make steady progress.
The rain was lashing down now as we continued up and over the steep range of hill on our way towards Brighton.
With just less than half a mile, with the finish line in sight, a cry from another of the ladies, Joe, who had come to a full stop, declaring that she felt as though her right foot had exploded. removing her shoe and slowly her sock revealed that due to the blister plasters 14 in all, had becoming attached to her sock, which was pulling at the blisters, cause her the pain, together with blood weeping from a busted blister. The relief on her face was brilliant. discarding her sock, as she slowly fed her right foot into her shoe. we set off again on our last climb, regrouping just 5 feet from the finish line. Linking arms, and spreading out the union jack flag above us, we all ran through the finish line together as a team of determined athletes in a time of some 30 hours.
I would like to pay my tribute to Kerry, and his determination to have reached the 67km point under extremely difficult conditions, and really against all odds, to Daren who for the best part of the challenge provided Kerry with an ongoing dialog of instructions,,, Mentally Draining!!!, and then to continue with the rest of the determined group of men and woman, Jane, Yvonne, Bernadette, Joanne, and Rory, to make it on to the finish... we became a team of mixed abilities who worked together as a group to make dreams, and ambitions come true WELL DONE, guys you all well and truly deserve your medals