talk about a DIRTY DOZEN
does not even touch the surface
I got up at 5:45am and checked my bag
and after a few things left the house at about 6:30
got to the services at Watford Gap for about 8:45
and had my traditional last supper which is baked beans, 2 hash browns, some bacon and an egg and lots of brown sauce but it was actually horrid
normally its a challenge to eat this with the nerves etc
but as i have always done this … why not
the bacon was brittle and could not be picked up with a fork
the hash browns were indestructable and all in all – not impressed
the coffee and the fruit smoothy were great though
so off on the last leg M6 onto wolverhampton
got there before 10:00 which was good
i wandered onto site and got my number and photo passport (which they have started to do because apparently some people just gate crash and take part for free
not any more
with number and pins and passport off to the car to get changed
swimming trunks
running leggings
nike compression running t-shirt
toughguy hillbilly bodysuit ( like a short/stubby wetsuit only made ot sweatshirt material)
socks
trainers that have done toughguy before ( it would just ruin any pair i normally get 3-4 events from a pair)
silly hat
gloves ( in side pocket of bag )
running wind cheater ( makes all the difference when you come out of the water – stopr the shivers due to wind chill )
bag with bin liner and change of clothes
9 hole Dr Martins in the boot of the car incase i hurt my ankle so i can be sure of driving home safe
and in i go to get my number on my head and hand as go to the start
some kid in the number hut asked if i wanted a italian or german tash drawn on along with my number
foolishly i said do what you like
so
he drew a great big handlebar tash with freckles and dark bits around my eyes
he had to be physically restrained from continuing – must have been an arts student or just brave
dumped my bag in the FRONT SQUAD changing shed and off to the front of the queue
there were the usual camera and video people there
then the shout went up to check peoples numbers
as those with invalid numbers for the groupings get taken away and put in stocks – for real
its always funny when they get someone
which again they always do
then with 5 mins to go they light the smoke bombs and throw them infront of the start line
then the highland band strikes up
then the cannon goes off and the race has started
it was so mild
sunny even
i am so not used to this
i had to dress up warn for the icy water but they had also changed the course
they must have been worried about people being cold because the run is normally longer then finishes with 2 slaloms
this time they started it with about a mile or two run then straight into the slaloms
which they had changed from 6 to about 8 or 10 the sods
so i had earlier on the run taken the wind cheater off deciding i would only wear it for the water events
so it was rolled and tied around my waist
but with the sun the mild breeze and the slaloms
my internal temperature was soaring
so unzipped the hillbilly body warmer and rolled it down to my waist
ahh
the lungs felt better
and running became a little easier
after the slalom was the forrest section
and as they had shortened it they decided to place several of the black bagged and rolled up bails of hay in our way
interspersed with a section of cargo netting to run under
believe me after 5-6 of these your thighs and back know about it
then into the elephants graveyard bit
jumping into 3-4 different pits of cold water getting us ready for the final submerssion in the assault course
after every pit they had another cargo net crawl
some people were pushing so hard they got tangled
and you dont want to get caught up in the netting as you jump the 6-8 feet into the next pit
but people do
you see them upside down or with arms and rarely heads caught
the only way to attack these is either crawl which is not nice over wet mud and stones or sort of crouched with your head well down and your shoulders high and use an bended arm infront of you to guide the netting over you
works a treat for me
then the zig zagging of some ditches that get progressively deeper and muddier
then your done
on to the assault course
this year i cought caught good and propper by the cattle wire
after doing the first a-frame in the tiger
they have 3-4 rows of hanging fronds that are live cattle wire
mostly you can pick a path and got the odd kick on your arm
this time i got cocky or someone behing me pushed the wires
whatever was the cause
on the last set
i was just starting to run away from them
when i got hit between the shoulderblades with a voltage
i saw sparks and was thrown forward in the mud as if someone had kicked me in the back
i have been caught before but its the first time i have been knocked to the ground by it
anyway
i picked myself up and did the last part of the tiger and onto the assault course propper
the colditz walls , then the rope suspension bridges , the firey holes the tyre tunnels etc
all were fine
before i knew it i was halfway around and heading towards the water events
Going under the bridge is always the worst for me
as i still have issues with water a little this is the main event for me
they had shortened this also
normally you have to go under atleast 2 telegraph poles before the bridge
but it was into the water do the bridge then out
i cant say i found it any better
but after that the race is over for me
okay you have to get wet atleast 3-4 times more
but that is the big one
even the walking the plank and the rope walk over the lake dont challenge me as much as the tunnel
so there it was
all over in 1hr 36 .52 according to my timings
yes i do put my timex ironman through that
and it copes admirably
so you get your medal and drink then shower back to the car
dry and change and off to home
highlights
well on the run there was a little lass infront of me had problems with the bails of hay
i gave her a hand 2 times then others helped
comming out of the water one guy looked frozen and was holding his head
so i told him to keep moving
and did the pontoon bridge with him keeping the mad crowd out of his way till he stabalised and got some confidence and i dare say some feeling back
in fact after the race he was only a few behind me and as i was getting my medal he caught me up ( i had on my devil hat so was easy to spot ) and thanked me for keeping him going
i am not special all people who take part in this are great spirits
but its the comraderie that makes it special
you will always be able to help someone or be helped
and that is what makes toughguy
the people who shine through adversity
pushing yourself to not give up
or to not walk whatever you target is
you see lots of people digging deep and its wonderfull
see you at the summer one then that will be No 13 for me
oh got home just before 4:45pm so it was not even 12 hrs out of the house like the summer one
go on try it you will be very pleased you did
i am – EVERY TIME I DO IT
its not suicidal – its life affirming
sho