Challenge.
It’s a word that means different things to different people. What is an unsurmountable task for one may be a walk in the park for others. It’s about how we view ourselves and where our boundaries lie. As runners, we challenge ourselves all the time. We are always striving to go faster, to go farther, to beat the best, to beat our best and be our best. We all have different limits, but keep raising our own bars to push the envelope and achieve our goals.
For 2 of our audacious members, Saturday was exactly that. A new big dream, a new target, a new bar to hurdle, a new set of rules, a new bundle of self doubts asking “can I really do it?”
It was going to be the test of their lives there was no mistake there, but courageous Fay Tosdevin and Ian Russell took on the Isle of Wight Challenge.
In it’s 4th year, this ultra test of endurance takes the 1700 competitors around the coastal path of our beautiful Island. You can run, jog or walk up and down some total 1747m (5731ft) of elevation, (just as a comparison for you Ben Nevis is 1345m). The course is divided into quarters, each taking competitors from one further most tip of our sunny diamond to the next, each with a rest stop offering drinks and food.
Fay braved the first half course taking her some 33 miles. Speaking the day before the race she was nervous, but sounded well prepared.
“I’ve never run over 27 miles before. But I did 23 a couple of weeks ago and still ran The Rog Run the next day”
“I know it will be the hardest run I’ve ever done, but I have to do it now. I intend to give it my best shot and enjoy it”
Ian took the bull by the horns and went for the full course, all 66 miles of it.
“I am very nervous, but I’m sure I’ll feel ok on the day”
Ian is no stranger to ultra running. He’s completed 3 different 50 mile events before, but just like Fay, this was set to be his biggest quest to date.
Both starting at Chale separately, with fresh legs and bursting with energy they smashed through the first section taking in the dramatic views across the coastline at Freshwater along to Nodewell Farm. It’s the hilliest section of the course with over 528m of elevation within the 13 mile distance, but that was no problem for our intrepid pair as they both got to the first checkpoint easy enough.
The next quarter saw the daring duo work their way along the longest quarter from The Needles past Yarmouth Castle and Hampstead Farm. Through Cranmore, Porchfield, Thorness, Gurnard and along the seafront to Northwood House.
Both our runners found this route the most difficult despite having the least elevation.
The temperatures were rising a little and the sun peeking through by this time in the afternoon.
“I was so thirsty” said Fay “I had even been out on the course and left myself some extra water. I’m really glad Dan Williams ran with me for a little while at Yarmouth, it really kept me going”
“I doubted I would make it all the way when I was running this leg” said Ian “mentally I was struggling, I had so far left to go. I couldn’t see myself getting to Chale at this stage”
They had to rally and rally they did. Fay got to Gurnard and was determined to dig deep and find every last bit of strength to run strong for the last couple of miles upto Northwood House and over her finish line.
“I was so relieved to see the finish, I was exhausted”
She finished in a fantastic 8.26.17, making her 28th overall and 16th female
“I knew I had to get back on time, I had a party to go to at 7pm!” she quipped
Brilliant performance by her. A great show of grit and endurance.
Ian was also glad to get to Northwood House. Seeing his family at his halfway point really gave him a boost. He had a short rest and some food and he was on his way again with another 33 miles to go.
The 3rd leg saw the most tarmac, as they made their way along the main roads from East Cowes to Ryde. Ian felt good along this stretch, despite having now run over 40 miles. He lives in the area so he tried to behave like it was just a normal training run on just another day. He reached the checkpoint at Simeon Street and continued on his way to Culver Down. He couldn’t wait to get there. Not only was it the 3/4 way mark, but he knew at the top of that hill were 2 of his training partners. Dan Williams and Harry Rann were sat at the final checkpoint ready to run the last leg of the journey with their brave friend.
Just past Yaverland, Ian ventured into unknown territory, he reached the double marathon distance and therefore exceeded his longest ever run. After a few “Whoop Whoops!” and a few fist pumps the trio made their way along to Shanklin. A change of shoes and socks to help relieve his blisters from his wife Danielle, Ian and his support crew wound their way around the narrow paths through Ventnor land slip.
“It was tough terrain on tired legs” said Ian
The last few miles were testing, the hills of Blackgang were brutal. By now the crew were joined by Charlie Connolly to help bring Ian home. The wind was cold and blowing and the sun had gone down. A small crowd of family and club mates had gathered at the finish line to cheer this brave Duracell bunny over the finish. The light was really fading as they kept peering and and squinting into the distance, willing him to appear. Suddenly between the blowing tussocks of grass, there they were. Looking strong and really giving mile 66 every ounce of energy he had left, Ian bounded in.
He crossed the line in a wave of emotion, relief and exhaustion having completed 113,255 steps along the way.
His time a magnificent 12.47.11 giving him 7th overall.
What an inspiration they both are to all of us. Stuff that legends are made of. They’ve made the impossible seem possible, the improbable probable, turned I can’t into I can.
