Although it was still early in the morning, the day felt very warm and
humid. After Pete Austin had passed the baton to me, the first mile or
so was down a quiet lane just south of Long Marston. This part of the
leg was fairly easy going but, because of the humidity, I was soon
dripping with sweat. I could see just one other runner ahead, wearing
the colours of Sphinx AC.
The route then passed through the village of Mickleton. The going was still OK, if hot, and it was about this point that Tony Hoy (who ran Leg 3) and Bob Adams began positioning themselves along the route with much-needed water at the ready. Coming out of Mickleton I managed to pass the Sphinx guy and then began the long climb towards Chipping Campden.
With the climb behind me I made the most of a short downhill stretch
into Chipping Campden. Once through the village, there was another
steep climb. The road went sharply up. Then it twisted. After that it
went up again. And then it continued, up and up, for what must have
been a couple of miles. I knew the hill ended at a junction with a main
road and I just focused on getting to that point - if only to disguise
the feeling that sticky tape was being torn continuously off the inside
of my lungs.
At last the junction appeared. I crossed it and began the last couple of miles of the leg to Snowshill. At this point I didn't feel as if I had very much left. So, although the route was now undulating, the remaining small hills seemed like mountains as I pushed on with my legs getting heavier and heavier. I forced myself up yet another hill and, after this, I remember Bob Adams shouting words of encouragement as the changeover appeared on the horizon. Somehow I found enough for a final effort and, completely spent, passed the baton to Tony Hoy.
Howard Andersen.