So what's all this Conti nonsense all about, I hear you ask!

"It sounds awesome but tough"

"I'd love to do it but dont think I can "

"Surely it's a thursday night run thing"

"It's so competitive & I'm not"

STOP!

Yes it's tough, yes its competitive if you want but it doesnt have to be, yes it's crazy nonsense & YES, YOU CAN DO IT!

So what is this nonsense?

Its 24 hours of running........yes, 24 hours!!!

You can choose to do this on your own 'solo' (which some crazy yet inspirational fools do!)

Or as part of a team whether that's competitive or not. I was part of a non-competive team of 8 'smooth snailing'

You run a 10k lap before handing over to your team mate & basically keep repeating (relay) until 24 hours is up.

So, I've been an 'up & coming' runner for 5 years. My relationship with running has been a positive one until recently after gaining a fair bit of weight & seeing my running suffer as a result. My first lap at conti was 6pm ish, following a considerable amount of rain & hundreds of runners before me churning up the ground. I love a bit of mud but my lap was a very slippery and treacherous one. After a few slips my confidence went & I found myself walking like bambi on ice!

I struggled on & finished unharmed in a shameful time BUT I finished! I returned to camp and embraced cheers & hugs in the way EGRC delivers each time without fail.

My next lap was scheduled for 03:55am & prior to my first lap, I was looking forward to a night run.

However, What I just experienced was horrendous, tough, scary & I HATED IT!

Have you ever felt you wanted to hang up your running shoes for ever??

That was me, I'd rather go through the labour of both my children back to back than to run that again!! & in the dark too!!!

My team captain (Steve) & fellow team mates (Deb, Caron, Mandy, Simon, Sharon, Ceri) were fantastic & they assured me that I would not be letting the team down if I chose not to run again. Deb 'my hero' took on my 4am slot & I would run her 6.50am lap instead.

Regardless of my positive team chat & reassurance, I still went to bed an emotional mess.

I didn't sleep & found myself in my running kit & fuelling on porridge at 04:45am.........that doesn't paint a picture of someone hanging up their running shoes for ever, does it?!

It was time to go again & this time the ground had dried up a fair bit & I found myself enjoying it again, taking in the scenery, listening to the birds & actually managing to run most of it.

So what made me pick my shoes back out of the bin?

TEAM EGRC!  It goes without saying really but we all came together to support our own team to cross the finish line on our final lap.

We came together to support the other teams get through it & finish. 

We came together to support the 'nutters' running solo.

We came together to locate a campsite, to pitch tents & look after each others children & dogs!

We are one big supportive EGRC family, regardless of our varied running abilities & life challenges!

Are you in for 2020?

Would I do it again?

Yes, but next time a few stone lighter! 😉

See you there!