Written by Gordon Hughes

The night before the biggest challenge of my life,I'd finished work and surprisingly calm,got home finished sortingy bags out,huw Williams came round to double check everything,we said our good lucks and goodbyes I went to bed all excited,morning came quickly,Donna my girlfriend and me was on our way to Anglesey,we stopped at McDonald's for brekkie,the phone went it was Cassidy where are you I said I was on my way we got to the breakwater at 11ish I started chatting to a runner and I asked for a bit of advice then headed to registration got my number 138 and tracker,nerves and excitement started to kick in,Cassidy was reassuring me and talking me through check points and where we were meeting up,Donna bless her looking nervous and worried was making sure I had everything,quick briefing (1pm) that was it the ring o fire had started,I shook Cassidys hand and gave donna a kiss and went on my way to check point 1 (alaw estuary) 9.6 miles away,I hadn't done a mile I noticed donna was parked up by the side of the road taking pictures I gave her a kiss and went on my way,5. Mins later I seen a man from Pwllheli who was in the race to but was unable to walk on he had injured himself a few weeks earlier he was pulling out of the race I offered him pain killers and knee support he didn't want them,he wished me luck and off I went,i soon caught up with a lad called rhodri and a older man in sandals,we took the odd wrong turn and got back on track,from time to time I was walking/running with Al pepper the man I was chatting to before we started,check point 1 Cassidy was waiting we got chatting filled my water bottles up and went for church bay it was getting hilly at times and the pace was a quick walk I wanted to save energy for day 2,the views was spectacular and it was a dry day that made it a little bit easier,check point 2 Cassidy was there to greet me which was great had some fish and chips crisps off him and sis caffeine tabs and off I went for wylfa,I got chatting to a good bunch of people who would become my friends further into the challenge they helped me through some difficult parts some of them did it last year so I knew I was safe with them I soon took a step back to save my energy as I was going to quick and I got chatting to another couple of runners who turned out to be a lovely couple called claire and martin we soon reached check point 3,10.4 miles to go,it was getting cooler now it was getting dark I waited and waited to get the head torch out,soon we were at some steep hills I was amazed at the sights I seen and the sounds I heard like the seals and birds,we were heading for bull bay we had to keep a look out for an honesty book near a water tower,Martin was leading the way he was awesome we got to the honesty book I'm pretty sure that al pepper joined us as this point we went sure which way to go eventually we got there through a field and soon we were at Amlwch,I was greeted by donna huw and cass,I handed the honesty page in and told huw and cass I was giving up their faces dropped hehe I was joking I was buzzing day 1was over,(many thanks claire and martin for all your help and encouragement on day 1) I had lasagne at the leisure centre,cass was awesome support throughout the day many thanks mate,Donna was working early the next day bless her had to drive at stupid o'clock home, huw I owe you big time mate for being there every step of the way,it was roughly midnight I tried to get my head down no way I was still buzzing that I finished day 1,as I was falling asleep -boom johnny cash came on,huw fair play came in at 5 in the morning get some cereal down you your going in 45 mins I taped my feet like Dan Sutton told me to,filled my bag with reeces pieces peanut butter sweets and jelly beans,I wasn't hungry at all considering I hadn't eaten that much quick briefing and it was ready for day 2
I felt great my legs felt great and the bell went,headtorch on amd off we went I took the headtorch off after a while the was enough light off other runners,soon after leaving Amlwch leisure centre we were back on the coastal path the sun was rising more fantastic views I was running with claire and martin again and ahead of me was the lovely group from day 1 soon I got chatting and asked if they minded if I tagged along no problem said one of the girls (claire) I got their names suzzy,Claire,Lynn Simon and Carl they were talking about different runs and races they had done what an awesome bunch of warriors as we went from check point to check point it was a lovely warm day and we were quite lucky with the weather,huw and cass was at each check point I had a walkie talkie so I could save my phone battery I would shout over huw Huw can you hear me,I'd ask him a few miles in advance to sort food or shoes or something ready,all of a sudden I'd get iawn mate how you doing and feeling,it was great to hear from him by now I was at Penmon point check point 28 miles or so into the 66 miles,huw got me sausage rolls a change of shoes,deep heat painkillers for me my ankle was playing up I had done something to it after 40 miles going from Amlwch to traeth Lligwy it was just a niggle but it was there,I had sis caffeine tabs I was all wired up huw and cass the best support team anyone could want without you and the people I ran with I wouldn't have done it,half way point 5 miles away so off we went claire Carl suzzy and me I was running with 3 inspiring people,Carl had done an ultra the week before he was truly amazing all day cheering us along with his rendition of ronan keating song,Claire and suzzy also genuine people and I was running and walking with them,heading to Beaumaris I saw a figure standing on rocks as I got closer I realised it was my brother lester,(many thanks for turning up to see me) is there anything you need let me know I'll see you at the next check point,so off I went to catch up with Carl,suzzy and Claire,by now I had a blister coming up on my foot and my groin was playing up again,(half way point) greeted by lester,huw,ray and Susan Cassidy,amazing feeling seeing them there I got a bit of pasta down me,claire passed me a blister plaster (many thanks)suzzy had pain in her back but like a trooper plodded on,said my thank yous and goodbyes to lester and in the words of Alice Gordon s angels,and off we went to st Marys church it was getting dark we were now heading for sea zoo,head torches on Carl singing away suzzy in pain bless her and Claire done her ankle in three weeks ago going for it (hats off to you)I got a chocolate covered coffee bean off Carl very nice ordering some as I'm doing this,we were heading for sea zoo when we saw Darren coats (donna s brother) many thanks for your help and support,he shouted you got minutes to get to the check point or you get disqualified we went for it claire was calling out suzzy s number as well as hers I was shouting mine Carl was with suzzy,we got there with seconds to spare,at that point I couldn't feel my toes Im not sure if I knew where I was apparently I ate marmite sandwich I.don't like marmite,also apparently I asked donna if Donna rang and if Donna had fed Mr pickles my african pygmy hedgehog (I can't recall that) I'm also pretty sure Susan and Raymond was still there while huw was feeding me coffee and coca cola awesome stuff,come on Gordon claire said we're going so off we went again heading for Newborough minus suzzy she couldn't carry on,I felt gutted for her the mood dipped a little,but Carl picked us up again he asked if I ever done a 6 minute mile,my answer was never,well mate we are going to have 2if we are going to get to the finish line in time,I'm still not sure if he was pulling my leg or serious,we carried on the pace quickened it was 12 miles to next check point,this is where I hit a wall miles of trees sand and dunes over and over the same picture until we got to the honesty book we carried on and that's when we seen Simon lisa Lynn and a.few others these 3 are awesome I got total respect for each and every one of them,Lynn a fantastic woman I didn't get to know these people that we'll but everyone of them have made memories that will last withe forever,we carried on to the check point we had made 20 mins from last check point some how,huw was there with Darren and Donna,I was shattered but high on adrenaline caffeine and to much sugar,6 and a half miles of sand and dunes to go and another honesty book to find,eventually we found it and we could see Aberffraw but we had to run like mad for a mile and a half to make check point,claire bless her you ok Gordon every now and then not far now we're going to do this we got there with around 5 mins to spare (started day 2 at 6 am - ended day 2 at 3.55am)(65.9miles in 21 hours 55 mins)
Huw came from his car didn't think you were going to make it mate,I had but was dead on my feet I got a bowl of pasta and a brew from the marshalls and it soon became 4.30 there was no point going to sleep I tried but hadn't had any for 2 days johnny cash started again huw looked fresh he took a photo and laughed I went over to Carl and suzzy more bad news,Carl wasn't coming today I felt gutted again he said some kind words and said claire would look after me so would Simon lisa Lynn( many thanks Carl and suzzy,I hope I get to meet you and run with you again sometime) we were off again at 6 am,7 miles to Rhosneigr,I was wondering how did I manage to get to this point,I never done more than 31miles before and here I was doing over 100 miles my groin hurting my ankle swollen my toes blistered but numb,off we went headtorch on and I was talking to Simon I hadn't talked to him much before but he s great I laughed and so was lisa and all the girls i enjoyed their company we were going nice pace until we realised we had to be at sandy bistro at a certain time so here we go again we started running and walking fast we made it brew qnd a bacon sarnie (nice one Rof) thanks again huw for being there for me deep heat and offer we went for four mile brigde where im pretty sure i met ieuan and rachael somemore nice people they ran with me for a while,as we were getting closer to the finish i was getting more and more confident then we realised we had to go back 2 miles we missed the honesty book i owe lynn big time for getting us through it and pushing as a team to make time up( lynn thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for everything without you we wouldnt have done it) so off we went to treaddur bay where i felt awesome the codeine off lynn and other painkillers kicked in mixed with adrenaline and knowing we had 10 miles to go i sprinted to the check point at treaddur bay to be greeted by a happy smiling huw and cass they couldnt believe i was still full of running off we went heading for holyhead the views was amazing all the way round as we were heading towards holyhead mountain I seen becky from llamwyr llyn striders and I seen lester again at the top of im sure the cafe at south stack waving so just the mountain to go,so close now and not much time to go i seen rhodri go ahead then we wasn't sure which way to go al pepper came and went so we were scratching our heads wondering which way he went then we found the path I started to get butterflies as I knew nearly there at my first attempt,I'm so proud of what I've achieved in 2 years,we came across a couple of marshalls lynn knew them,he turned round take your time your going to make it pickles will be proud of you I laughed,we got down to the grass around that corner and we've done I thought we all stopped a moment to compose ourselves we held hands and ran I seen donna my support team my brother and Shelley with the kids becky everyone clapping and cheering johnny cash playing I noticed donna had tears in her eyes as I crossed the line she came over gave me a hug and kiss cass gave me a hug he was a bit emotional lester came over and gave me a hug and said he was proud(that's the first time I heard him say that) and a da iawn huw was beaming evie and indie was clapping I went round and gabe lisa claire s hug and I even had a swig of purple moose I dont drink but I deserved it I couldnt believe it I did it,Darren many thanks for pushing us at sea zoo,lester,Shelley,evie and indie for coming along becky and all of llamwyr llyn striders For the support,simon,carl,suzzy,lisa,jackie,claire and martin,lynn,claire,ieuan,rachael you will always have a place in my heart thank you all so much for everything
Donna thank you so much for everything and putting up with me and my silly challanges love you xx
Susan cassidy thank you for coming and supporting me
Thank you all at ring o fire you were all amazing,home bargains for the train shirts all the people that donated
The biggest thank you goes to huw Williams and Raymond Cassidy for everything taking time off to support me,sleep in a car,all the time and effort,all the help and support,advice you gave me I would not have done it if it wasn't for you people many thanks now get training as we're doing it again next year. If we start together we finish together
Loved every minute of it I got to see views I'd never seen before and got to see a red squirrel for the first time made new friends and created new memories thank you