Soon after the event, I wrote up an account of the run, so I’ll reprint it here as I wrote it then:
RUNNING THE WEALDWAY – SATURDAY AUGUST 23rd 1986
I discovered the existence of the Wealdway about a year ago and having enjoyed running the 31 mile stretch of it from Gravesend to home on a number of occasions since, the idea occurred to me to attempt to run its 78 mile length in one day. I tried to raise some charity money for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Tonbridge Athletic Club in conjunction with the run, but my main purpose for doing it being for my own pleasure and satisfaction. With the weekly mileage in the ten preceeding weeks only averaging 72 miles per week, with a few days to go I suddenly felt very under prepared. An ankle injury with ten days to go added to my concern.
Anyway, the day arrived and began for me at 4.05am. Up quickly for a breakfast of Alpen and tea. Left home at 4.30, arriving at Andrew’s at 4.45, and he drove me to the Tollgate hotel for the start. Day was only just breaking and the weather seemed a bit unsettled when at 5.38 I started running.
The nerves of anticipation soon faded as I settled into an easy pace and set about enjoying myself. The drone of the early morning traffic on the A2 soon died away behind me as I headed south across country toward the first checkpoint at Sole Street ( 3 miles ), with a light northerly breeze blowing on my back. At Sole Street (6.04am) I was joined by Iain Presnell who accompanied me to Great Buckland (6.30am). Alone again for the next stretch and feeling good and thoroughly enjoying myself through Royal Oak, Wrotham at about 7.25, being rejoined by Iain at Platt and the run through the Mereworth woods down to West Peckham green in glorious early morning sunlight was a delight. Iain left me at West Peckham and I was solo for about 15 miles. Moving steadily toward, and then along the river Medway, being assisted by Brian Mitchell, at about 22 miles I encountered an unforeseen problem. Work being done to east lock meant that a footbridge was closed, leaving me the choice of a very long detour, or a “tightrope walking act” across some metal girders to cross the river. I chose the latter option. Having “crossed that bridge”, the next surprise came upon reaching Tonbridge. My estimated time of arrival at Tonbridge Castle was 10.10am so I was more than a little surprised when I saw the time was only 9.28. This caught my next support – Steve Barrett – completely by surprise, with me having to run off route and make a reverse charge phone call (mobile phones were still decades away!) to let him know that I was running early and to notify my back up people to adjust my E.T.A’s as necessary. Pressing on out of Tonbridge I met T.A.C clubmate Chris McKane and we ran together for a couple of miles. Support man Jon Welbon caught up with me at Fordcombe, and along with another couple of Tunbridge Wells Runners we ran together to Withyham at 39.5 miles. After stopping for about a minute to eat and drink I continued, joined for this stretch by Rex Allen, Dick Barnes and another T.W.Runner – possibly Chris Elvy ?, but after only about a mile I suddenly developed a sharp pain in my right knee.
This was to plague me for the rest of the run. With the knee problem, combined with the first onset of general tiredness I had to stop and walk briefly a couple of times during the 5 mile stretch up to the top of Ashdown forest. After drinking and eating some rice pudding I felt better and started moving fluently again. At Camp Hill I was met by Mike Temple and colleague from the WealdWay steering group, who stopped me to present me with a cheque for £20 toward the I.C.R.F. The next 5 miles was a pretty strong spell, moving through very quiet wooded countryside, and I knew that waiting for me at Hempstead Mill would be the back-up team, complete with sponges, hot and cold drinks and a hot meal of spaghetti, and a change of shoes and clothes.
Arrived at Hempstead Mill at 2.05pm (51 miles) and felt fairly refreshed as I set off 1/2 hour later, not too daunted at the prospect of the remaining 27 miles. I wasn’t too many strides into it though before I started to regret having stopped and rested up for so long, as extreme stiffness in my thighs added to the knee discomfort and brought me to the realisation that I was now into the really difficult part of the day’s efforts.
Things suddenly became very tough on this stretch with my pace dropping drastically and me being unable to do anything about it, taking 90 minutes to cover the 7 miles. Just before the village of Hellingly at 63 miles the knee problem worsened to such a degree that not only was running impossible, but for a brief spell I couldn’t even walk. Struggling to walk over the next mile I seriously thought that the run was coming to a premature end when I surprised myself by breaking into a slow, painful jog again. Supporters encouraged me through this very bad patch. Through the village of Upper Dicker, where the shopkeeper gave Kim a donation for the ICRF ( I know that sounds odd, but my wife is also called Kim ! ), I reached Arlington – 68 miles at 6.37pm. Another rough stretch got me slowly to Wilmington where despite feeling pretty depressed and exhausted I realised I was going to get to the finish – eventually !
(Welcome to my first ever blog slideshow)
As I walked along Jevington high street, with Kim encouraging me and darkness falling, I set out on the last leg of the journey. Climbing over the high point of Willingdon hill, the last of the climbing was done in complete darkness. Accompanied for the last mile or so by Jon Welbon and Peter Griffiths, we traced the route by torchlight down to the golf course and finally down through a steep wooded gully to emerge into the glare of the headlights of the VW and Iains car parked at the youth hostel which marked the end of the day’s work. 78 miles and 15 hours 23 minutes after leaving the start at Gravesend. Slideshow #2 :
*This route is the one described by the WW handbook at the time (now out of print) Start point – outside The Tollgate hotel, Gravesend – finish point outside the YHA youth hostel, Eastbourne – 78 miles.
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