Terry runs 100k at the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Thanks very much to all those who supported the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life- the entire event raised over $200,000!!! All from Central Otago, to be spent in Central Otago. Me and Ed are happy we could contribute a wee bit to this grand total.

Just before the beginning in my flash new Newton running shoes- I’d had them for 1 and a half weeks – probably not ideal because they do dictate a different running style (landing fore-foot, not heal-toe) but as it turned out they were awesome!

100ks took just over 10hrs. Only stops were for the toilet (x 4) and twice I walked 200m with my children after they had completed running several full 450m circuits they eventually tired so we had to walk back to mum.

A huge thanks has to go out to all those random participants who came and ran along beside me to keep me company and help me through the tough times! Special thanks to Craig, Ginah, Emma,  Sean (I think your name was? You were running in trousers and tweed hat??) Rachel, and so many more that in my delusional state I wasn’t able to remember your names. It truly was for me quite a moving experience that so many people I didn’t know from a bar-of-soap helped me achieve my goal. Special thanks to mates Cory, Greg, Duane and Carla too!

The last 2 hours were special. I was just head down, one foot in front of the other… if I had had to stop I don’t know if I could have got going again, even slowing down or slightly changing my stride saw pain igniting around my knee. Thankfully I had a spontaneous team around me who would run in front and clear a path for me (sincerely sorry to all those who were just out for a nice social walk), they would run ahead and get drink and food from my table and click my lap-counter so I wouldn’t loose stride, they would tell me stories and jokes and keep me motivated with ‘well this isn’t as bad as…’ stories.

My plan was to carry on walking for the remainder of the 24hrs and the first 4.5hrs of that were fine- then I don’t know what happened but boom! My Calves and knees told me under no uncertain terms that they had had enough! I thought this is it- there is no way I can carry on now so after a short rest I called my Dad to come and pick me up. While i was waiting for him to come I started massaging my calves and rubbing my knees and by the time Dad eventually turned up (what the hell was he doing!!) I found I could walk again- so I shuffled over to the massage tent where she rubbed some deep-heat into the side of my knee and assured me I wouldn’t do permanent damage by continuing on so away I went. Well, in all honesty away I struggled and mostly continued to struggle for the remaining hours until 12pm Sunday. In all I probably had 2hrs of rest between finishing the 100ks at 10.05pm  Sat. and the finish of the relay at 12pm Sun. Mainly due to bloody sore soles of my feet- the course was hard packed, bumpy, uneven dirt.

This is the last round- Mum and Dad in their kilts, Tori and Matthew and me pushing Ryan.  Big thanks to my beautiful wife Stephanie who looked after the 3 wee ones while I was out running around in circles.

Are there any photo’s of my random supporters out there?? I won’t put your photo on this web page if you don’t want want me too but I would really appreciate a few photos of those who ran with me so if you have one please email to me here.

Huge thanks to horley’s for the energy fluids through-out the ordeal and also to Newton who have sponsored me with a flash new pair of shoes!!