Day 41…Having had no reply from contacts down in the Lulworth/Studland area, I changed the route so that I did not travel too far. AND, what a blessing I did!
I completed a route which took in Cerne Abbas, Up Cerne, Nether Cerne, Minterne Magna, and the hills and footpaths surrounding them. A beautiful day, ending with a cup of tea and biscuit at The Abbots Tearooms where fortunately the owner was to be found busy in the kitchen. The family who run the tea rooms are lovely and have supported all my physical challenges throughout the years in numerous ways. My tea and biscuit was “on the house” and we compared notes on how a dear friend with terminal cancer is doing. [Vic who co-owns and runs Cerne Brewery. Both he and business partner Jodie have also been hugely supportive of not just my annual physical challenges, but also when we have met up at events such as The Dorset Knob Throwing Fayre, and other shows near and afar. Within minutes, boxes of their brews appeared each time on my stands to raffle…always so generous!]
The day was also busy for HNT, putting together boxes of food and household essentials and delivering them to a very vulnerable lady who is so isolated and fearful. She now has access to the food bank, but many of the families I see are not wanting to go down that route for many different reasons. I always have a stock of non perishable in date foods, and so if you have any unwanted items in the cupboard/gifts do pass them my way if you are local.
Day 42…another local day cycling some of the mileage as in the afternoon I drove down to Minehead ready to stay for 2 nights. Before I went to the wonderful home of a Rotary member and his wife, I completed nearly a further 11 miles on the roads, making sure that I had my bearings ready for the 2 days ahead. These 2 days were going to be hugely challenging as they were both on the coast path.
My stay in Minehead was wonderful, my hosts so kind, feeding me on Day 43 when I returned home…a welcome break to grabbing what I could from the local small supermarket to have in the evening.
Day 43…what a send off from Minehead Rotary Club…a drone covered some footage, plenty of photographs were taken, lots of hand shakes and waves as I set off, and a large donation to come.
I had got up early and covered some miles before setting off at noon, and for some reason I just could not get my head around the fact that I needed to cover 26.2 miles over the cliff paths! It did not matter how hard I tried to be positive, this seemed to be impossible. The rotary club coming out in large numbers certainly must have had a good influence as off I went and had the best run/speed walk/crawl of the so far 43 days! Mind games!! Another day completed and a lovely run through Bossington, Porlock, Allerford, along the coast and through the most gorgeous woods with streams, small “waterfalls”, and bird life. A final few miles were completed through Dunster and back to Minehead.
Day 44…again I was up early, this time to visit Foxes Hotel and College. This college supports young people with learning difficulties, 60+% having Downs Syndrome. It is a catering and hospitality college with the students all living within the town and working at the hotel. They are supported also being out in the community in every where, from joining in sports clubs to accessing other activities with the local community. Life skills are a vital part of their learning too, the aim for them to rent flats together once they leave the college wherever their jobs take them.
I had a long chat with the Principal, and without doubt we will be doing plenty of work together in the near future.
Then, off I went again, this time covering 28 miles across the coast path to Watchet and beyond. A return run along the coast past the Dunster huts on Dunster beach before reaching Minehead again.
Minehead Rotary Club came to wave me off again…superb! Thanks to all! And huge thanks to those in the town that were interested in the Rotary Foundation T-shirt, and to the chap who shouted out to me “Have you run from Porlock?” He recognized me from the day previously and I he.
Sadly I then had to drive home to Sherborne after thanking Richard, Lorna, and dog Sally.
Day 45…A last coastal run taking in Portland, Wyke Regis, and Weymouth. A nostalgic day visiting old haunts from my childhood so that I could share pictures with my sister. 29.12 miles completed albeit it at a snail’s pace…all I could do was to put one foot in front of the other I was so tired. Fortunately I went there and back on the train, and so no driving.
The Spanish wooden galleon was in the harbour which was a treat to see as I crawled past.
Day 46…Market day in Sherborne which is vast every third Sunday of the month. I always have a stand and so I was up early to set up by 9am in Pageant Gardens. And then…off to complete whatever miles I could in the 2 + hours I had before running into the band stand at 1pm.
What a welcome I had…a huge bunch of flowers and bottle of champagne, lots of hugs from many people and more…and the best thing was that my terminally ill sister made it to the end and was there to greet me. I have to say, emotionally on many levels and for many reasons it was quite tough.
Both Bridget and I were unsure whether she would make it through the weeks. I was setting off each day, mobile in hand, wondering if there would suddenly be a call to say “get home now”. But, she is still here, having 2 more rounds of Chemotherapy and immunotherapy before final scans on her brain to see if there has been any improvement. We live in hope that she may have reduced mets in size and number so that she will make a further few months.
Back to the marathons…46 in 46 days completed. A total of 1232.44 miles run/speed walked/walked/crawled, with a full marathon on a rowing machine [gruesome!], and some of the mileage cycled to rest my leg, averaging a daily mileage of 26.80 miles.
If my early on injury had not healed, I would have had to cycle all the days, but fortunately this did not happen.
Would I do it again? I certainly would love to do another physical challenge for HNT next year, but I have promised my family I will not run! [I have not told them that I will not speed walk, cycle, row, or something more nuts!]
I also would love to think of a major fundraise for Foundation in 2024, again incorporating as many clubs in our District as possible along with our twinning Rotary towns in France. There could even be scope to invite other clubs from outside our District 1200 to join in the fun…after all, Foundation is our Global Charity.
To those clubs who have supported…a HUGE thank you. I would never have been able to mentally and emotionally get through the days without the send offs, meetings at the end, tea and biscuits, fun joint events at the end, and more.
Weymouth
Portland
Yeo Vale and Yeovil
Wells
Rhondda!!!
Poundbury
Sturminster Newton!!!
Frome Clubs
Crewkerne
Langport and Somerton
Trowbridge
Mendip
Bath
Bridport
Minehead
If I have missed any club who have supported out…apologies, my list has gone missing probably due to naughty puppy Pippin pinching anything she can find!
As soon as June 30th ends the treasurer will close the account set up and then let me know the amount raised. SO, if your club did not participate in this fun event, there is still time to donate, put on a fundraise, do a bucket collection etc.
I am already back organizing a gig in June, I have a young autistic lad all week for work experience, and am about to be off as Secretary and President to a Rotary business meeting, inducting another member and giving out awards.
Bye for now and thank you all again,
Rachel
Day 34…An early train to Weymouth and then out onto the coast path. Although the day was lovely, there was still a cool breeze, and I had forgotten how much rain we had had. I had a very squelchy walk along the bottom of the White Horse Hill in Sutton Poyntz/Osmington which meant by a third of the way through my feet were saturated. However, the path up and over the hill was well worth the while, and the descent meant that I could call in at The Ranch again to thank them for helping fundraise when I was in Poundbury, Dorchester.
Day 38…Another hard West Dorset coastal run which incorporated Colmers Hill, Thorncombe Beacon, and Golden Cap…the highest coastal point in Dorset…ending at West Bay to a tremendous welcome from Bridport Rotary Club. Today was a particularly good day as many people were out in the sunshine and again the t-shirt attracted much interest. One cyclist I past at a field gate said “I keep seeing you everywhere!” which made him question what I was doing.
Day 39…Anoher early trip to Trowbridge on the train, complete with night bag as I was staying with parents of one of Trowbridge Rotary Club members at their B and B. I was collected from the station, quickly dropped my bags, and then was off on the canal tow path towards Bradford on Avon, Avoncliff, and Bath. The tow paths were full of walkers, cyclists and families enjoying picnics, the canal boats in both directions busy with all enjoying the glorious weather.
As I ran later on the tow path I suddenly heard a horn blasting from in front of me…the two Rotarians were on a narrow boat making their way towards Bath! If I had known that they were on the water I may have been cheeky and asked for a lift…I have not been on a narrowboat for many years! It would have been a fun diversion for an hour, just making my day a bit longer finishing off my running miles!
Having reached Devizes I stopped for a drink and snack, and then decided to run through the villages to Lacock…a long haul but off the main roads, or so I thought! I got spectacularly lost as nothing seemed to be signposted. The roads were full of lorries, cars speeding, little or no pavements and twisting turns meaning running would be just too dangerous. For 3 and ¾ hours of speed walking I tried to find a better way to Lacock, but my sat nav on my mobile cut out [apparently there is little signal in the area at the best of times!], and so I admit I started to panic a bit as I was nearing finishing another marathon in terms of mileage and tired. However, I did come across a farm shop on a junction to a busy A road and called in for some advice. The lady running the shop was with a local lady, and both said that there was no way to Lacock avoiding the dangerous roads. Very kindly, I was offered a lift to the road that would take me safely through Bowden Hill [beautiful views] and on to Lacock which was a complete relief. Thank you Amanda! Tracker off for that 10 minute drive, and then on again as I went off on the final 5 miles. The road was indeed a death trap with lorries going through the narrowest of village roads with a speed limit of 50mph.
The last 5 miles seemed to take an age but I ended up in Lacock with over an hour to spare before meeting Stuart Gilbert, our DG Elect who is taking on the role for 2 years…much more sense than just for 1 year in my thoughts. So, time to take in the village, the history, the architecture, and to buy the essential fridge magnets for the children before having tea and talking all things Rotary. Thank you Stuart for your kind support, and of course lovely to meet Louis the dog!
Day 28…Langport based run, and I was late getting to the starting point.
Day 29…another fairly local run today but only 14 miles completed due to my having picked up a stomach bug! What a bore!
Day 33…a very wet start and so I was late setting off. However, 36 miles later, having been as far as Shaftesbury, a well needed pot of tea was had to finish with in Shaftesbury’s lovely King Alfred’s Kitchen. You just have to mind your head as the ceilings are so low!
The good news is that today I forgot to put on my tubigrip but my leg and ankle have survived. The hours that I am out are now quite a bit longer than at the start, but I will finish the 46 days even if I crawl the last few.
DAY 11…I had a stand at The Sherborne Independent Market which meant setting up from 8am and not returning home until gone 4pm. However, I still got onto my bike and cycled the 26.2 miles. A little tiring after a full on day, but the funds raised were great, the response to the marathons bringing lots of interest to both the charities, and potentially we may have at least 2 further locals interested in joining our Rotary Club.
DAY 13…A challenge was put up…to do the marathon on an indoor rower! Obviously, it would be rude to refuse! Interestingly, I rowed the mileage faster than covering them on foot despite having weak upper body strength! Never again, however, as the blisters on my hands afterwards were not a sight to see.
The weather this day was glorious which always helps, the bird life busy, and the people I met whilst out running early so friendly. A great day!
As for any charitable organization, funding is always an issue, and so if you are in the Weymouth, Dorchester area, why not pay a visit…it would make a great social outing with partners!
DAY 18…Due to my eldest son running in the London Marathon today [raising funds for Brain Cancer Research with my very ill sister in mind], I swapped Days 18 and 19 around. The cycle happened today and then I watched in awe at the elite runners as they stormed the streets. The fastest marathon that I have ever done [and that was about 7 years ago] was a little under 4 hours. When the women are running in at around 2 hours 20, and the men at 2 hours 2 minutes, you realise just how fast they are going in terms of miles per hour.
Circa 1200 - Rotary Mid Wessex 
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