Sad to read the update but glad you’re ok - that’s all that matters. x
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Thanks all. I’ll read more later but my charge cable is in my drop bag. Battery is low. Hotel now and took a migraine spray
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Time to rush home to be with your loved ones…and teach them to spell properly 
Managed to blagg a cable from reception, can’t sleep anyway.
So I experienced 25% of Arc only but it was a great to even be part of it but ultimately, given the stress I had about the race and compromised build up and outcome probably not worth it.
Thurs was miserable, cold, wet and windy but Friday was a different story. It was absolutely freezing at race HQ with loads of putting on extra layers and I decided to put on my running tights.
When we got to Coverack though it was sunny and warm for the time of year, still windy.
I took my tights off again, and between changing in and out of them meant I was in and out of my bag a few times.
The build up is great. The start is manic, all pretension of the ‘laid back trail community’ goes right out of the window 
you have about 600 mtrs to get to the ‘narrow bit’ and once you do, that’s your place for a good 4km.
It’s extremely narrow and gnarly for the start of a race with little overtaking or drop back opportunities. I was probably mid back but hard to tell.
The sun was warm. I was ok but lots of people struggling with layers but you can’t stop or slow down in that first 30-40 mins.
Plan was to get to Lizard about 2hr40. I was a little behind but think I left there at bang on 3hrs after a top up from the Angels.
I had crew envy already at this point
Eating and drinking had all gone well but a couple of km out of Lizard I could feel a bad headache coming on.
As you know I suffer from migraines and having special sprays, which don’t always work but usually do. They only work on migraines though and conversely, normal headache tablets do not work. The problem is, a bad headache and migraines for me, start the same way, so I have to see which way it’s going and take a spray when I know it’s a migraine. You can only take one in 24hrs.
If I don’t take a spray or it doesn’t work, I’m in for hours of vomiting. That is nailed on guaranteed.
I realise it is one, so I sit down to find a spray. Go through my medical bags, I have two. One for general stuff and with paracetamol and a spray . Except the second bag isn’t in there!
I look again, nope.
In my packing and unpacking the tights, I reckon I took it out or it fell out and just stayed there.
This is where my heart sank as I knew what was coming. Severe head pain that of course means you can’t run and loads of stopping for vomiting.
I slowed down to a point where I was barely moving and knew I must have been close to last.
Got to the Angels a Church Pt, about 5miles from CP1 at Porthleven and they tell me I’m done, which I knew. We waited for the last runner but they had crew and bailed in their car.
Got taken to CP1 and we all had to wait until they closed the station and they took us to HQ.
I continued to be sick even back at the hotel but I had a spray in my wash bag, so that helped.
I think I had little realistic chance of finishing but getting half way would have been nice! That race is very hard and my legs feel like they’ve done 50miles, not 20!
It was an amazing experience but even without being sick, that s not a race for my skill level. I just don’t have the chops!
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Damn bad luck about losing the spray FP, you would have definitely got to see more of the course if that hadn’t been the case. At least you got to experience some of it and if you ever want to get to the startline again, you’ll be better prepared for what’s to come. Tbh this race sounds horrendous, the type of thing that I find motivating actually 
I know this event has a special place in your heart and I hope you’re not feeling too disappointed with the outcome.
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Well done for toughing it out as far as you could. I haven’t had migraines so can only imagine how bad it really was. Rest up and recover strong.
I’m on the coach to the start of the Wychacom Way. No real expectations, just to get to the finish.
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Good luck Doug, have a great race 
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Thanks Anna. It’s definitely an inspiring race and I can see how it gets under your skin but I’ve had my shot. I won’t be back, it was always a one time thing.
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That sucks about the spray FP. But you seem much more reflective about it today than I would’ve expected if you don’t mind me saying. Which I think speaks volumes to the way that you’ve managed to process this race compared to your posts a few months ago. I hope you still enjoyed the experience!
My buddy has literally just rocked into St Ives CP and is looking good.
Great running conditions with pretty much a full moon. Course record went again (beat his own record) and now stands at sub 19! That’s absolutely mental!
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Cheers buddy, yeah I was always realistic in my mind about my chances but tried to stay positive.
My disappointment isn’t that it ended early but the way it ended . That’s on me because I should have paid more attention to what I was doing with my bag. 
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It’s a different day weather wise today, cold grey and windy again
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Sorry to read this
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Finally a race finish for me . Last one was May 2022 . Urgh it won’t let me upload a photo. It really didn’t go to plan - but my headspace is Iin The right place . I tripped ( on a perfectly flat road in daylight) and bashed my knee open quite badly - I couldn’t weight bare for the following mile and was muttering to myself ‘walk it off’ . I did managed to get a few more miles before I walked the last 10 miles , where I think I was compensating learning on my right side . Anyhoo I got there it was really hot but the route was amazing time 11:40 due to walking the last 10 miles . But a finish is a finish right . (Will upload pic when I have better WiFi)
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Well done for toughing it out! Would love to see some pics!
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Great to hear @p00key
Love to see some pictures when you can
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Yeah, well done pookey, hope the knee recovers.
I’m sure we’ve all walked races home and it’s better than a DNF
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I’ll get some pics up , when I get home . Not sure why I thought a 13 hour flight the day after running 64km would be a good idea …
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Congratulations P00key 
Hope your knee recovers quickly and well done on toughing it out 
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Fantastic to hear @p00key . It’s so hard when you get a run of DNFs, well done for battling on a digging yourself out 
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My mate in the 50 is through St Ives
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