Brathay Takes The Air

Paddington Takes The Air

Even though I've been here before, I still get sweaty palms. After all it's just like preparing for take off, statistically very unlikely to crash after you've left the ground, statistically very likely to finish, but you never know? After all, just like flying, 10 marathons (or more for some astounding people) is not quite the norm is it?

Day 10, is a wonderful bit of theatre, just like any performance, there are a few nerves jangling. Apparently my nerves prevent me from recognising anyone. Walking out on to the lawn under the finish line banner, we're sort of 'clapped out' - plenty of us are clapped out after 9 days of marathons - almost like a guard of honour. There's friends, or family, but also previous 10in10ers and other runners (doing the celebration marathon which sets off about 15 minutes after our start), there to welcome us for our last lap. Everyone is really generous with their support, their kind words, heck just being there. It genuinely is the closest I think I could ever feel to being like a real athlete, a real someone, especially at my age.

Back in 2019, when we were being led out by Tony Hooper, a voice called from the crowd, I didn't recognise them, I was so intent on 'the day', it was my Mum. What sort of ungrateful so and so, doesn't recognise their own mother? Where would I be without my Mum? I think she's helped me to have a tasty chip on my shoulder, that desire and determination to prove people wrong. Occasionally, I don't but I'm working on it. I think my parents are proud of how I've changed these last 10 years or so, that I've become more of the son, more of the man they hoped I'd be. I'm happier with who I am and I genuinely believe that these Brathay events have helped me to be 'better'.

I didn't recognise my 'Brathay' mum, this time. Heading out on to the lawn today, another voice called from the crowd. but on I trudged. It was Aly. Just like 7 years previous I had to do a double take and rushed back for a hug.

'Remember Duncan, you can't be late tomorrow.' Are they mental? I haven't been late a single day, there's been no 'Duncan-time' on this excursion. Haven't been late for physio once, barely late for a single pre-race briefing (30 seconds doesn't count, especially when another member of the team drifts in and out as they wish), not been late for the start line, been late for dinner but that doesn't count though. Matt Pierson, you're such a stickler for punctuality. So, I make an extra special effort to ensure that I'm amongst the throng being ushered into the main hall. Guess what? I am inevitably bloody late though because I've not pinned my race number to my t-shirt. What an idiot! Maybe I should just accept the laurels of lateness, the tributes of tardiness. How can I be late when I wake up before my alarm goes off? Perhaps because the alarm goes off in the next room and now I'm on high alert as I know how important the final marathon of the event is, I couldn't turn over and go back to sleep even if I wanted to. A lovely person, had left hand written cards for each and every one of us at a our chair in the 'athlete' room. Thanks Claire Eadington, I really appreciate your kind words. How did you find the time to be kind to everyone, compared to Matt, you're a saint, we all know he's not a fan of people.

Breakfast is coca cola, orange juice, toast, pain au chocolat and banana, yet I'm still hungry. A few of us are having physio, a belting tune comes on, Claire loudly proclaims 'song'. Johnny's quick to point out that if she wants to get down with the kids, the exclamation is 'tune'. Song quickly becomes the mickey take of the day!

Stuart leads us out for the huddle and chunters on about making the most of the day, of the moment, Johnny chips in with his inimitable quip, it all becomes a blur and the words whirl around and around. Everything is a whirlwind. As we head down the drive flanked and followed by well wishers, there's motivational chalk words and artwork, colourfully etched onto the drive by Cumbria Sports Rehab students, loads of messages, they must have been at it for ages. Like the memory of the event, they'll all be washed away less than 24 hours later. As we set off for the final lap, I've made my mind up to have a go. Even if I blow up or get injured I'll get round, let's see if we can roll back the years. After about a mile and a half, I manage to overtake Ashleigh who seems surprised. She has dainty, delicate, deliberate strides, each foot carefully placed, I'm passing a proper runner. I mention that it'll be the first and last time I ever manage to get by her. Less than 2 miles on, she proves me right and elegantly floats by.

The miles roll on, I'm still walking quite a few of the hills but I'm running where I can. Almost at every box, Aly is there. She mentions at one point I look like I'm running out of steam, another banana perhaps...thanks for the sentiments. The Chocolate Kendal Mint Cake helped too, my gift from the Texas Gift Shop awards the evening previous.

A few previous 10in10ers pass me, Malc Collins, Rich Rex to name a few. Around mile 16 another runner passes me. Earlier in the week I tried to catch up with Claire, it kept me going and kept me pushing. I picked this runner as my 'Claire'. He surged in front, but then on the flat sections I managed to gain a few yards and so it continued until about 21 miles. Just after Bowness, a tourist stopped me and with his broadest Australian accent asked, 'is the harbor around here?' Not sure that the steam ferry, paddle boats and lakeside counts as a harbour, but 'G'day and yes it's just around the corner' perhaps sufficed?

Around 22 miles I almost caught Bassit but noticed Gary had a reoccurence of his quad injury, we walked and talked for a short while but then 118 came past me again. After quickly explaining to Gary what was going on in my head, I set off to catch the runner and thankfully he stopped to walk about 50 yards later. With about 3 miles left to go, I tried to do my utmost to keep pushing and finish with what I hoped would be my quickest time of the week. During a run, I try to avoid my watch and just move along to how I feel, if I'm smiling it's easy and might manage a run, if a little tired it's a plod, most of the time it's a plod.

The little jog to the line was a huge relief. Rexy had let me go first just about Clappersgate and then as I was rehearsing my lines up the hill, he surged past me, for the second time that day. Over the hill, around the bend, the finish line, the lake beyond, smiling faces and for the last time for 2026, a finish line ditty, that went something like

'He wears the number 20, he'll lead us to victory,

And when he's running down the left wing, he'll cut inside and score for LFC,

He's a lad from Portugal,

Better than Figo, don't you know,

Oh, is name is Diogo'

The MC with his big microphone kept talking to drown out my rendition and recognition for someone gone too soon. Not to be undone, I sat at the finish line, the dibber can wait and try to replicate a familiar goal celebration. And he's the reason I wrote in black marker pen a 20 on my running shirt for the day. May we remember Diogo José Teixeria da Silva or Diogo Jota to many.

I would never have dreamt in a million sleeps that I'd get presented with a medal for doing anything by a World Champion. And then presented with finishing gifts by the only woman to have ever completed the Barkley Marathons. Now, that is real girl power and I'm in awe of both Fatima Whitbread and Jasmin Paris. If I sit down and think about what's just happened, I don't think I can honestly believe it.

Aly presents me with 9 finishers medals, I've refused them from the previous days, the event is 10in10 and to me I don't deserve any recognition until the whole event is complete. That's just me I guess.

Ella is there supporting me as ever, gifts from her too. I'm not overwhelmed for a change, just simply happy, satisfied, but that doesn't mean I'm satiated. On to the bike for active recovery and then rehab with Ella and Sienna. Ebony is there for a chat too with her mobile phone and lip gloss. Amazing what they think of nowadays, her phone case has a lip gloss holder. I never knew lip gloss was so important? Whilst we're outside under the gazebo we're able to cheer the other finishers of the marathon and the 10in10. There's loads of people to say hello to, Granny Morris, James Thomas, Gary Dixon, Malc, Rich, Liane Warren, did I see Joni and Gary? Gosh, I hope I've not left anyone out but I probably have. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I even had a surprise visitor, an old driving student, Roo. She wanted to come and see the finish, she said she thought that what we were doing was amazing, sometimes when you think about it, people are so kind. These moments are to be treasured.

Whilst on the massage plinth, a random runner rocks up and glibly demands of Jamie (one of the 2nd year rehab students), 'just a little light massage please' and starts to take off his outer shorts layer. Who is he? Jamie duly obliges but we're all giggling at the situation Jamie finds himself in and the 'neck' of the bloke to come and grab a massage. Legs duly massaged, he hops off the plinth, pulls his long shorts back on and walks off. No offer of thanks, of money for Jamie's efforts. Sometimes, some people are bloody idiots. And yet, these moments are to be treasured too.

Stuart was the last 10in10er to finish, he was smiling but obviously in some pain. Y Ddraig Goch held aloft at the finish line to beckon him home. One of the most thoughtful gestures I've every witnessed or been a part of for the 10in10 was when Rob asked if we should all band together behind the finish line to cheer Stuart on. Rob, I can see why Katie married you. Almost all of us stayed behind the finish to clap, cheer and encourage Stuart to the line. To be part of a team who cares was one of those moments when you can feel a little frog in your throat, or wind in your eye. A moment to be treasured.

Standing on the stage, a little to the back, just so that Susie can airbrush me out of any event photos, it was magnificent to be part of a landmark event. Twenty years since the first 10in10, a record breaking achievement by Rob, 80 years since Brathay was founded, an amazing ambassador and powerful patron heralds, I hope, a bright future for Brathay and for the many, many children they could help.

Final mentions for Chris Heaton who cycled around the Lake accompanying us, offering sage advice on the previous 9 days, only to be felled by a whirlwind (could that have been ushered by Stuart and Johnny's incantantions at the start line), breaking both wrists as a result. A freak accident, a tornado in The Lakes, picking up tables, medals and spewing the debris all over the lawn outside the main hall. A lucky escape, thankfully no-one was injured, shame it had to be the elder (eldest) statesman.

Michelle Atkins, you are magnificent. Thank you so much for the company, the smiles and all of the photos you provide for us all. I don't think any of us realise what you must go through to take so many pictures and get pulled from Ambleside to Hawkshead and back multiple times to provide us with memories of the event. Thank you, thank you!

Even though I didn't take her up on the offer, it was so nice to see Aunt Lucy at the top of ice-cream mountain with ice-cold lollies for anyone who wanted one. A smile on a difficult day lifts spirits beyond measure and sometimes just affords the courage to continue. Thank you.

Three conversations have stoked the fires for more. On the eve of the final day, I rang my parents, Mum's words were as ever kind but challenging, they went something like 'are you pleased with yourself, now you've nearly completed another? You won't be doing any more though will you? You're too old to do more.' Ouch! That's got to hurt, too old, thanks very much. The second conversation; Dr Katie 'well done, pretty cool, but you know what's better than 4?' I think I know the answer to that one. Lastly, Aly Knowles who encouraged me and challenged me in equal measure to complete my first 10in10 in 2018, 'who would have thought?' Indeed, I was the last person who thought I could do this, but now 4 times. It doesn't get easier, but isn't that the point? We don't do things because they're easy, we don't succeed by doing easy, we do, by choosing tricky, awkward, hard, impossible, especially for a run of the mill chap like me, and I genuinely mean this, if I can do it, anyone can do it. What does it require? You'll find out when you finish and that's perhaps the point?

Chocks away for next year...