Day 3 of the Great Barrow challenge

I started Day 3 in a happy mood. I was heading back to Barrow for marathon number 3. I was still in a ridiculous amount of pain and I knew today was going to be a struggle but Chloe (my girlfriend) was coming to support me and the boys today and that gave me new motivation. Having done big town marathons such as London and Brighton before, I have experienced how much getting support from such a huge crowd helps you. It really motivates you and spurs you on. But as I said on day 1, the great Barrow challenge offers none of that. However this to me that is part of the appeal. That's what makes it what it is. This was raw and lonely and took massive amounts of mental strength. Trees,  fields and the odd car is all that we saw mile after mile so to see Chloe 2 or 3 times on the way round at the check points really did give me a massive boost.

So off we set, about 8.45 a little later than the previous 2 days for marathon number 3. One word... Horrific!!! Day 3 was by far the hardest. Our bodies were still smashed to bits from days one and 2, and yet here we were doing it all again. Day 3 was a mixture of off road and on road through windy country lanes and through vast baron fields. But today was where we really needed to spur each other on and we didn’t fail to deliver. Every time one of us slowed down the other 2 offered encouragement or said something that would make us all laugh (normally a quote from the Ricky Gervais comedy The Office!!) and got us all back on track. There really was a sense of team work amongst us and it was a massive help. As I said, seeing Chloe, Ian’s girlfriend Claire and Charlie’s girlfriend Lisa plus Ian and Charlie’s families at the check points really was a much needed boost. They helped us with refreshments as well as sorting out our creams, Vaseline and deep heat for all the pain that ran through our ravaged bodies. It was great to see everyone but we could never stop for more than a few minutes. Charlie’s dad Steve wouldn't let us! As soon as we had had a drink etc he was straight on our backs to get going. Truth be told we were all very grateful. It was what we needed.
 
So 20 miles done on day 3 and 6 miles left to go. I really thought I had entered hell. This was a feeling I'd never experienced. Tiredness, pain, aches and burning like I can't explain ...you name it, it was hurting...so close but yet still so far! The last 6 miles seemed to drag on forever. This is where we really needed to get on each other’s backs and not let each other stop. But stopping wasn't an option for any of us! No way! It was a long, hard drag, literally dragging our feet one step at a time until we completed the final 6 miles. Although the day was slow we did it. 3 down 1 to go!

 

So back to our temporary home for yet more food and rest before we prepared ourselves for day 4.
We had nearly done it!!!