15 May – Stage 2 ‘Rainforest’: 19.1m (30.9km) 3593ft (1095m) of ascent

It has rained constantly all night and sleep has been more a series of catnaps than a full blown gonk. The rain does give some measure of comfort knowing that I am nice and snug in my bag. Everyone else seems to be of the same volition and again there has been no obvious snoring.

We are supposed to be awakened at 06:00 by the Hawaiian drum beat but one of the volunteer tents has other ideas. They have to be up at 05:00 each morning and on this particular morning they are letting everyone else know about it. We all lie awake and pass the time with some idle chatter before the official wake up noise kicks in.

Fortuitously, the rain that has belted down all night stops for just long enough to allow us to get hot water for breakfast and stay dry doing it. Many people are taking no chances though and there are a number of unwrapped ponchos on show. My drying plan has not borne fruit so I am forced to dress in wet clothes. This turns out not to be as bad as expected. Both my top and tights dry very quickly on my body and socks soon follow suit or at least feel warm.

We are all fed and in various states of personal admin. Young Chris is studiously applying his templated pieces of tape to his feet. He tells us about parts of his race prep that have been equally meticulous such as running to a metronome instated of music. That would drive me insane but he has used to good effect.

I have dispensed with the idea of wearing anything to replace the disastrous Runderwear and instead concentrate on getting a good fir from my tights. I also apply some more petroleum cream and pray to the running Gods. Not sure if Mokuali can help with this one but I think of him too just in case.

Slightly Damp

As we are summoned to the start line for the pre-race brief, the heavens open again for a downpour that will not stop until we go to bed later that evening. Somehow I have drifted to the front of the group so, when the start horn goes, I decide to make a break for it as Ian did yesterday and for the first 50 metres or so, I am leading the stage!! I am soon swallowed up by the serious runners but my newly found athletic prowess continues and I close in on CP1 in good time.

As I respond to encouragement by the CP staff and run up the bank their tent, disaster strikes as I

Eat my Dust

feel my calf pop.  It feels as though someone has shoved a knitting needle right in the muscle. I sit down, give it rub and the pain does subside. I leave the CP and feel that if I can get a good rhythm going I can run it off as the initial pain has not intensified. At least concentrating on my calf has shifted the focus on my chafing which, to be fair, has held up quite well with liberal applications of various barrier ointments.

The rhythm plan is soon thwarted as, although I start to get a good stride going, I am soon slowed up by huge puddles on the track. Some of the depths are close to tickling the family jewels and I wonder how some of the shorter ladies will manage wading through these. They are like mini lakes and I wonder what could be lurking in the depths!!

Dan and Gazza on Puddle Lane

The puddles are a hindrance but I continue to plough up an incline that began just after the start line and will continue to total almost 1100mtrs over 19 miles by the end of the stage, which is a mix of rainforest trail, lava flow from the 1984 Mauna Loa eruption and gravel track. We have been warned again about wild pigs but, yet again, they are nowhere to be seen.

I eventually roll across the line in 5:20 together with Richelle (for once) and Susan only to find many of my fellow racers in a holding tent as, due to logistics, the camp isn’t ready; nor is there any hot water. It’s our own fault for being so quick!! Soon enough though the tents are ready and we all pile in for admin. I hit upon the bright idea of filling one of my water bottles with the recently arrived hot water so I can have my noodles in the tent without having to come back out for hot water. I silently congratulate myself on being so inventive!!

The noodles are duly scoffed and then I set about drying clothes and body before settling down for a post stage nap. By the time I awake, tent 7 is complete and we indulge in some more chatter. Emails have also arrived for that daily dose of extra morale. Claire lets me know that she has seen the Facebook Live video and is made up with my message of love.

By 18:00 I am ready for my main meal and decide to email Claire at the same time. At the cyber tent 2 dramas unfold. Firstly the hot water has not yet arrived so I hunker down on the closest laptop, which decides to run out of battery just as I am about to click ‘send’. I let out an anguished cry but am saved from running off into the woods screaming by someone who advises me to simply plug it into the generator not 5 feet away!! I do this, power up the laptop again and am instantly relieved to see my unsent email still sat there waiting like a faithful hound 

Following dinner we sit around chatting some more, finding out a little more about each other. Ian plays some tunes on his phone and we are all relaxed. Relaxation has to come to an abrupt halt when I realise that I still need to sort out my socks which are full of gravel from the numerous puddle crossings. I sneak into the one portaloo with running water and sink and give them a good wash. After wringing them out I can now head back to the tent, crawl into my bag and settle down for the night.

It is still raining.