I wish I could write while I run. I don’t know about you but I always have so many reflective thoughts and think ‘ooo that’s a good one – you’re just so insightful Jen!’ and yet afterwards I can barely remember…

I do think it’s amazing that for 11.5 hours a day I managed to walk/ run/ hobble without anything to really distract me, when sometimes I struggle to run 10km at home without music. I did treat myself to a bit of social media and played a handful of songs when I felt a little bored but, for the most part, it was just me and my brain. 

My theory is that it’s because, sometimes, there’s a mental barrier you have to break through before you really get into an activity like ultra-running, and once you’ve passed it you can just keep going.

For solo endurance events the first few hours of solitude are where I think we are most mentally vulnerable; it is always where my demons try to get me. 

I find that the point at which the initial energy has dissipated and it starts to feel tough (and you really notice that you are completely alone, in the wilderness, in a raging storm, on top of a rather large set of hills – with survival dependant entirely on yourself) that’s when you are at your most vulnerable.

It’s here that my mind can start to question why I’m doing whatever it is I am doing, sometimes it even switches to self-destruct mode; thinking about all the things that make me the most sad, frustrated and angry.

Relative to the sport and distance you are covering, this is what you have to break past. This is where you must mentally show your metal. This is the time to use those feelings to drive you up the hills and along those roads.

If done right this process is incredibly cathartic.

It is so true that if you strengthen the body, you strengthen the mind. Each I time I do a challenge I believe that more and more. The only caveat being (and no offence to my gym obsessed buddies) it’s just not the same in the gym. Getting wet and cold and being miles from another human being toughens mind and body together much better than a few heavy reps on the squat rack. There’s no support network of gym fitties, no one to impress, no pumping music to give you motivation, no post work out vegan smoothie (but maybe a sausage bap when you finally find an open cafe). 

So, I know we hear it again and again but get outside, really outside.

Oh, and before you go! (I remembered one thing I thought about on the run!) I think there are three types of people (or maybe three main motivators for people) who do crazy endurance sh*t like this: people who have a genuine passion for the activity, people who are driven by past trauma, and those that have a significant screw loose. Clearly this was during my questioning phase of the run. Personally? I would say I am a collaboration of all three (and proudly owning all of them!).

And finally, on the run itself, I would highly recommend the route (just maybe not in 2 days). The varied terrain and incredible history is like an elixir for the imagination. I honestly found myself reconstructing Roman forts and gateways, perhaps I missed my calling in archaeology?! I also very much enjoyed meeting other hikers; high fiving and hand shaking with other coast-to-coasters or helping to scare off the odd aggressive pony (I felt like a real hero after that).

The one thing you can probably count on when you meet other hikers braving the penetrating rain, is that they are probably the good sort, mad but good.

So, like I said already, get out there, go do nature.