The BIG run - the last 40 - or the Jonathan miles

6 October

Now I'd never met Jonathan before, and I still don't even know his last name, but he'd heard about what I was doing and said he'd come out for a bit. Initially he said he'd do 8 miles or so. He'd had a few the night before, needed to be at a party later and the furthest he'd ever run was 10 miles - he was a self-confessed short distance runner. Now - you only need to look at the photos to see that he's not your average 5k plodder! He is clearly a very fit guy!

At one point - I think in the last 40 - J jumped back out the car and re-joined the team (there were briefly four of us running) to complete his marathon. But it was clear Tom and J were both in quite a lot of pain, so at around 82k (I think) they threw in the towel and Jonathan and I continued. It was about now that my misfiring engine started working properly again and I just started feeling better and better. I wasn't much fun as a running companion and by this time Jonathan had already run 13 miles, the furthest he'd ever run. A quick call to his wife (thank you whoever you are!) before his phone died and he saw himself clear to enough time to attempt a marathon. Amazingly, as he'd joined me at 58k, his first marathon would coinncide with my first 100k - so we put our heads down and cracked on.

That 20k from 80-100 was a nice bit of running. My legs were working far better than I had any right to expect and the North Downs Way was just straight, slightly downhill and pretty smooth - perfect. Most importantly the psychology had changed - I believed now I could and would make it and that I might even be able to run all the way. By the time we pulled into Wye with him at 41.5 and me at 99.6 kilometres I knew I'd run it all the way.

Jonathan sprinted round Wye green to get the 700m or so he needed to complete his first ever marathon (WHO does that! A marathon with no training on a bottle of wine?!) and then I set off on my own for some of the most emotional moments of my life. I clicked over 100k and punched the air. Then the hilly section started. From Wye to Hythe is the toughest part of the run from a hills point of view. But by now I was moving freely and speeding up. There were sub-6 minute kilometres and even a couple of sub-5:30 splits. And nothing was really hurting while I was running. It was incredibly hard to get running every time I stopped or had to walk for a bit and I certainly couldn't run up the hills, but the energy was flowing. I was a big bundle of adrenaline and euphoria.

It was actually really nice to have this section on my own, to reflect on all the ridiculous long runs I'd done over the last 18 months, the 3am starts, the chafing, the exhaustion. For it to have all worked was amazing. I remember Strava calling out "Distance, one hundred and four point five kilometres" and just starting to cry. I had run 104.5km and I was still running and my body was ok. My wildest dreams about this run had come true. We have raised a bunch of money (over £5,300 as I type tonight), engaged a whole bunch of people in the work a couple of very special charities do and my wonderful family and friends had lifted me up on their shoulders to enable me to do something I will never, ever forget. I know how priveleged I am to hear that Strava readout.

But I wasn't done yet. There was still 16.5 kilometres to go and 16.5k is 16.5k. I still had time for the toughest hill of the whole route (at 111k - a high point only from an elevation point of view) and a sudden and slightly alarming pain to develop in my neck and head at around 114k. Fortunately that went off with some pain killers and then I got the news that Claire was going to join me for the last leg. That was another big emotional moment for me.

Claire doing what she does mean I can do what I do. None of this, none of my running, my part time leadership consulting, my (plentiful) time with my kids, my application to be a magistrate - none of this, none of what I am and do would be possible without her. Having her with me for the last 3k was extra special. As we ran through Saltwood, down roads familiar to me from childhood, Strava clicked me over 120k - we had a selfie (see below) to mark the moment. A moment I will never forget. I'd run 120 kilometres. And I was still running and I felt amazing. At that moment I wanted someone to say "let's keep going - could we get to 150!". Of course, I know that really I was moments from total exhaustion, but right then, it felt just incredible.

At the end of Mum and Dad's road there were some people, my brother Tom, my children Leah and Owen - cue hugs and tears. Leah and Owen ran with me to about half way to the house where there was a crowd of people clapping and cheering as I gave my Mum a great big hug - another very emotional moment. I don't know who all the people who were there were to be honest and I remember little of what happened next! But I am very grateful to everyone who came along and supported me and my family - it was amazing and totally unexpected.

I remember racing Owen to Mum and Dad's house - he won! I remember the house was decorated and looked amazing (thank you everyone) and I remember Leah plying me with crisps and people pushing drinks into my hands. There were photos and pizza, beer that went straight to my head and water that tasted like the Elixir of life. And lots of lovely people saying well done and shaking my hand and giving me hugs and recoiling somewhat at my pong! And then there was a point at which I just began to fall apart. The adrenaline was fading and so was I. Adam and Ximena kindly took us all up to the house we'd hired a short walk from my parents in their car and I fell into a hot bath and then bed.

Unbeaten, but very tired. I can run 120k. And I'm glad I did.

(Strava reckons I ran 121.42 kilometres in around 16 hours 30 minutes. Apparently I was only actually moving for 13 hours 30 minutes and had an average pace of 6:40/km.)