The 10 Marathons in 10 Days Challenge
Day 10 Daily Report from Brathay

The Final Day.

After successfully completing Day 9, our 9th marathon on the trot, we didn’t care if we had to crawl or bite our way around the course, we’d be finishing the challenge no matter what. As it turned out it was a great day for all of us.

It began the usual way. Getting up and having some breakfast in the Lodge area where we were staying and then heading to Amy and John for physio treatment. For some this meant just a rub down/warm up for the day; for others it meant some strapping of feet or lower legs, anything to reduce pain while running and minimise injuries, and help prevent new ones. By the 10th marathon there are plenty of ailments to go around – especially, Achilles tendinitis, swollen/sprained ankles, calf problems, iliotibial band problems, ligament issues and so on.
 
But we’re very ready.

Before we headed off to our normal start line we were asked to come to the Award ceremony stage beside the Finish Line. Here, we were introduced to the growing numbers of runners, friends and family members who were assembling to be part in the annual Brathay Windermere Marathon. Somewhere between 800-1,000 runners were competing in the marathon.
 
After some very nice words said about us we walked down to the start-line to a rousing ovation and cheers from the crowd. Quite a moving moment for us, and one which left us pumped and motivated for the final 10th marathon. As if we really needed any more.

The day was lightly sunny to overcast – a perfect day for running. We started an hour ahead of the main race. For a time it felt like the usual ground-hog day marathon runs we were now getting quite used to. The only difference was our water stations no longer existed. Instead we used stations specially set up for The Marathon. It was odd to have such support in place. Also different were the Mile Markers placed around the course. We hadn’t had any for the previous nine days, relying instead on rough approximations of distance as defined with each of our water stations. 

It was a great feeling to be running on this final 10th day. But we still had to be patient; 26.2 miles commends respect on any Day, regardless of how many marathons precede or follow. One of the most special things to happen was the non-stop congratulations to us by other runners as the field caught up with all but 2-3 of us in the latter part of the race. Almost every runner would see our shirts, (which for this day had been specially made up to show the 10 in 10 Logo, complete with the dates and distances on the back), and congratulate us, compliment us, pat us on the back or offer a handshake, or all of these things. Some commented on the toughness of the course and how 10 in 10 here at Lake Windermere was an even more significant achievement as a result.    

Fittingly, Steve Edwards crossed the finish line first, along with George Russell, in a time of 3:27. As such Steve smashed the world record for the fastest time to complete 10 consecutive marathons.  His average marathon time over the 10 days was 3:32.05.  That’s a tremendous time for just one marathon. For 10 in a row it’s phenomenal, and Steve has rightly secured his place in the World Record Books. It was also another great finish for George who was a model of consistency and pace throughout the 10 in 10.

Phil Roberts came in 3rd very soon after with a great PB time for the 10 in 10 of 3:35. On other days that time would have won him the race. Similarly Jim Mundy came in 4th with a PB time of 3:46, followed then by Ray O’Connor, with the Irish flag, in 4:20, Matt Evans in 4:51 and Malcolm Anderson in 4:54. Malcolm and Matt ran almost the entire distance together and were able to share the experiences though the day. This also saw Ray celebrate his 50th marathon – a fitting occasion for this milestone.    

Soon after Michelle Atkins finished in yet another 10 in 10 PB time of 5:18, and by so doing became the Women’s World Record Holder for the fastest time to complete 10 marathons in 10 days. Paul Adams came in next, with his second best time of the 10 in 10, of 5:25. Selina Da Silva rallied strongly from the previous day despite injuries to finish in a time of 6:25.

All the while other runners were finishing and the atmosphere was simply buzzing with the ‘rush’, for everyone, of completing a marathon. For the 10 in 10ers though it was extra special as you can imagine, and there are a number of excellent official race photographs that beautifully capture the moment of completion.    

Tears of joy from the 10 in10 runners, friends, families and supporters flowed at the finish line. Champagne was brought out and sprayed in style, celebration drinks were everywhere and for the next few hours we were on, or above, Cloud Nine.

And we didn’t have to run any more. We did though, get one final set of physiotherapy treatment from John and Amy, who were no doubt relieved we had finished and not done irretrievable damage to ourselves.  

After the awards were given to the regular marathon finishers the 10 in 10 Team took the stage, and were given their awards and a bottle of Brathay Single Malt Whiskey. Joss Naylor was back to hand the awards to the team members – a special moment in itself given the legend that he is with Fell Running over the years. After receiving wonderful congratulatory words from John Lee, the Chair of the Brathay Board of Trustees, the 10 in 10 Team sprayed the champagne amidst smiles and hugs and to a huge ovation from the crowd.

It was a wonderful moment to cap off an amazing 10 day experience. We had collectively and individually gone through a lot. We effectively navigated the challenge together. Others were commenting that we looked, and acted, like a Team. It’s a great compliment; we never ‘tried’ to be a Team, it just happened naturally.

So after showering, more celebrations with friends, toast (yes toast, thanks Teresa), and pizza, we headed for the Water Edge Inn in Ambleside where we joined Matt Evans’ family and friends and continued the celebrations. To many of us, Pip, Jane, Tom, Sophie and Matt’s family had been the perfect support team throughout the Challenge. Our memories are interlaced with Jaffa Cakes, Tea, ice-cream, encouragement and friendship. And so it felt very right to spend our last evening in their company. 

But the restaurant closed, and taxis were nowhere to be seen or contacted. In one of the greatest ironies of our Challenge we ended up walking the final Mile of the marathon route in darkness once more to Brathay Hall. The darkness wasn’t a problem; we could have walked it blindfolded.

After a large breakfast at the Dining Room we dispersed back to where we had come from. Different parts of England, Wales, Ireland and Canada. Strangers had coalesced into a team and a group of friends in just days. A common goal achieved, and despite the pain, memories shared forever.

It is quite possible to run 10 marathons in 10 days. When you do it together the reward is even greater.