Tam, feeling a little worn out, decided to send out one of the twins (Rec) to do his first event in Salisbury (ref Salisbury Fire Station website). Well Rec did us proud finishing in a time of 8:39:29 over a 50K course.

Overview:
Organisation: 10 out of 10 - Maps/route description/checkpoints all provided in a clear plastic wallet, and check point card provided in a name card neck carrier.
Route Descriptions:  The route description and maps were rarely used due to the excellent signage provided at most turns. Had to use the route description and map for the last 6 miles due to signs being removed. The route descriptions were easy to follow.
Checkpoints: Very frequent - all had water and some had chocolate bars and massive portions of bread and butter pudding. If I were to nit pick, preferred the smaller sizes that Fairlands presented. Some crowd support present.
Volunteers: All very friendly.

7th August
The night before stayed up with Hilary, a woman in her 60s about to do her 2nd iron man this year. For a very brief moment, I wondered if I could swim with a tyre in tow......

8th August
Hilary took us to the start point so at least we couldn't get lost finding our start! At that point we met GymFreak, and then Anna. Fetchie faces at the start and in fact this would continue throughout the race until about mile 15. Dave A, Magpie Rob, Foxsake (sorry for calling you Mr A) and many others whose names I forget.

08:01: Ludo directed us to the start point and we set off along a snaking river onto a broadwalk and just when I thought to look at my route directions, voila there was a sign directing us. In fact I felt very spoilt in this whole marathon. Signs directed us continually over 90% of the course and there were frequent checkpoint/water points.

There are hills on this course which Rec hates and loves. He seemed to drag his treads going up and at one point had to carry him cos he was moving too slowly. However on the way down he bounced joyfully as well as glided to the bottom.

We met a lady called Jennifer who suffers from a range of disorders one of which is OCD. She talked to me non-stop for a couple of miles and on the next hill up, I told her to go on as I would be moving very slowly. Wishing her many smiles and to keep positive, she vanished over a hill.

30 minutes later I caught up with her in the middle of the track looking flustered. She asked me to help her as suffering from OCD, if she begins checking things, she cannot stop checking. So for the last 10 mintues she had been checking her bum belt repeatedly to ensure she had not accidently dropped her phone, or cash from it as she had to open it up for tissue. She knew it was all there but could not stop checking.

I looked at it and saw it was safely zipped up, told her it was safely zipped up and got her to carry on with me until the next checkpoint.  From there we went together through the enchanted woods with gnarly trees and listened to her chirping about the beauty of the woods. Jennifer left me after the race course, as I was slowing up but still shuffling along.

Behind the race course building was a hard road with kids/youths playing on their bikes. With Ted and Tam, kids have often either laughed insanely, or yelled daft things about the strangeness, or tried to step on the tyre, asked to pull things off..... Rec got an "awesome" and one teenager put 50p into the bucket. I was really touched at what that kid did.

On the otherhand, Rec does not have the same animal charisma as Tam does. The sheep and cows didn't seem to notice Rec, and none of the dogs barked at Rec. Dogs loved barking at Ted and Tam.....guess it's a different generation ;-)

Nearing to the end, we entered into Salisbury city itself. It was strange to see a bustling city with cafes open and crowds in the streets but also kind of fun. More people chucked money into Rec's bucket.

Thank you to all the runners and passerbys who donated that day as well as runners who left money for me at the station. All cash proceeds went to the Fire Fighters Charity :). Any monies donated via Justgiving will go to Earthwatch.

Much appreciation to Ludo (race director) who responded positively when I asked him if I could bring my tyre along and thus allowed me to enter his event.

Thank you also to Hilary who put us up before the event, as well as had a BBQ ready for us when we had finished. xxx