Leg 7, Lower Swell to Moreton-in-Marsh (10.0 miles) - Mick O'Shea
Travelling down to the start of my leg I was keeping a close eye on the
temperature gauge in the car. As my start time approached the temperature
gauge was reading 32°C. Still, it didn't seem too bad with the air
conditioning in the car.
The start of Leg 7 is in a lane in the middle of nowhere. The change over
point is a painted line on the road, found by the line of parked cars
bringing all nearby traffic to a standstill. After parking the car, we
found out just how hot it was. It was an effort to get changed, and my
attempt at a warm up was soon abandoned. My legs felt crap, so I sheltered
from the sun under a tree, listening for reports as to where our leg 6
runner was. I soon found out with the arrival of Nathan, followed by the
Andrew's Citroen 2CV. I was warned I had about 5 minutes, so I started to
get prepared. I walked up & down the lane, it was all I could muster.
On learning we were about 15 minutes behind Kenilworth and 3 minutes behind
Leamington, I started out not thinking I could catch either. The start of
the leg is downhill and I felt good with the customary adrenalin rush and
the excitement of finally starting the leg. I was enjoying the surroundings
and the heat wasn't bothering me too much. The first 7 miles of this leg are
undulating; a couple of hills but generally not too bad. Support from the
family, Nathan, Paul, Emma, Joan & John Andrew was helping, and the spray of
cold water with offers of drinks every time they stopped was helping too.
They were shouting warnings to "Slow down, there's a long way to go!" but at
this stage, about 3 to 5 miles into the leg, I was still feeling good. Then
I started to breathe a bit hard. I noticed my breathing wasn't recovering
even after downhill sections and I knew I needed to slow down a bit with the
big hill approaching at approximately 7 miles.
I started to climb the hill through the wooded section. This was pretty shaded
so the heat wasn't too bad, but then I climbed out of the woods & started to
climb the steepest part of the hill. It went on forever. Finally I could see
our support car (The Andrew's Citroen 2CV) at the top of the hill. I had about
had it.
Over the top of the hill I managed to get running a bit faster, but I was
struggling. I had gone too fast in the early stages and I was suffering. Then
down a hill and into the last mile. This is normally a fast part of the leg,
but unfortunately not today. I was finding it hard to put one leg in front of
the other by now and I struggled to the finish in Moreton-in-Marsh, my legs
buckling after I had crossed the finishing line.
A swift pint, put into my hand by my son soon rectified the problem.
A great day. A very hard run. Well done to everybody that took part and thanks
to the people who supported us so well.
Mick O'Shea.
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The start of Leg 7 is in a lane in the middle of nowhere. The change over
point is a painted line on the road, found by the line of parked cars
bringing all nearby traffic to a standstill. After parking the car, we
found out just how hot it was. It was an effort to get changed, and my
attempt at a warm up was soon abandoned. My legs felt crap, so I sheltered
from the sun under a tree, listening for reports as to where our leg 6
runner was. I soon found out with the arrival of Nathan, followed by the
Andrew's Citroen 2CV. I was warned I had about 5 minutes, so I started to
get prepared. I walked up & down the lane, it was all I could muster.
