The medic told me over and over again that he really shouldn’t let me carry on which I said thanks but please just tape my ankle up so I can get going again? After being told another 5 times that I shouldn’t carry on he finally gave in and taped me up and sent me on my way. So we took my shoes and socks off to be greeted with a nice throbbing swollen ankle. I decided to try and get him to tape up my ankle in a bid to hold it in place. I think the medic heard my crying and thought someone had been stabbed because he came running over to ask if he could help. I arrived at the Llandudno aid station and Mike was waiting to help resupply me at which point I just burst into tears as my ankle was so sore. I was getting more and more frustrated as I could only run for 10 meters and then had to walk again to get over a rock or a boulder. I could feel my ankle swelling and my speed was reducing rapidly. At this point the pain killers had started to wear off again and shit was getting real. It arrived and hurrah I managed to get some 4:50min/km in the bag but as I was enjoying the flat and just as I was getting into the swing of things we got back on the path of death where my speed was reduced to a hobble. I knew there was a road coming up and couldn’t wait to get on a flat surface so I could at least attempt to run again. The climb across the mountain was tough and way more technical than I remember with tree roots and boulders to throw in the mix of things to navigate. I know this is silly but it motivated me to get up that mountain and proof the boys wrong. I mean we all have sore quads’! I decided to take this point fully to heart ‘ha I might have a sore ankle but I am not bloody stopping in case I get ridiculed’. As I was climbing there were two guys behind me saying ‘oh shame did you hear one of the top girls has already pulled out because she has a sore quad. The real climb up Plataklip Gorge then started with the sound of bag pipes reeling you in as you climbed, it was quite nostalgic. At Kloof Neck corner the cowbells and cheers were awesome and raised my spirits and I thought I would try and shuffle as I hit the contour path to which I nearly sacked it (again) in front of all those people hearing the sound of ooooo! As I nearly went over I bounced straight back up and acted cool as I shuffled away into the distance. The climb up to Table Mountain was tough but going up hill hurt a little less I guess as I was putting pressure on my toes instead of my ankle. Amazing, so I took a couple and after 30 mins or so the pain started to subside. I sent Mike a voice note asking him to get me some paracetamol, at the next aid station it was there ready and waiting. Turns out there are a lot of these around Table Mountain so the pain just wouldn’t ease up. My running speed was significantly reduced and every time I went over a stone, rock or twig it sent a pain up my leg. Rolling my ankles is not new and I can normally walk it off so I tried but god it hurt. Unfortunately this jump resulted in the rock I landed on falling to the side and then me feeling my ankle go and a searing pain shoot up my legs. I heard a guy running down behind me so jumped out the way to let him past. The first little climb up Lions Head was in the bag and we started the decent to signal hill. As you climb higher you can see all the twinkling lights below you as everyone is still all cosy and tucked into bed. The route finally gets onto the trail and starts winding it’s way up to signal hill. The first part of the race winds its way through Cape Town and despite feeling like I was running slowly we knocked out a couple of 3:50min/km. The gun went off and accompanied by flares which looked great but the ash from them flew into our eyes as we ran across the rugby pitches, not ideal when it’s already dark. I normally go off at the start of races like a maniac with a “Go to you blow” approach but I decided to be sensible this time, hold back and chill and let the race unfold a bit before I put the hammer down. I had trained hard, felt fit and was ready to race. Lining up at 4am on Saturday morning I was super excited about the day that lay ahead.
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