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The Beginning
 “Thursday’s Child has far to go!” I was born on
Thursday November 4th 1971. Perhaps that explains my passion
for long distance running and walking.
I watched the 2004 London Marathon and vowed that
I would run it the following year. It inspired me to put my trainers on
and run. However after shuffling along for 200 metres because I was
very unfit and slightly overweight, I realised it would be no easy task!
1997 saw me move from Manchester to the Isle of
Man to ‘get better’. For 2 years I had had horrendous problems with
stress and spent a year in a psychiatric hospital battling with extreme
self-harm, anorexia and severe alcohol abuse. I hated myself, my life
and everyone in it. The next 7 years saw myself gaining weight,
stabilised on medication, controlling my drinking, divorcing my husband
and being able to live independently.
Running and walking have changed my life
completely. They allow me to cope with stress and look and feel good
about myself. My weight is normal and I am fit, strong, healthy and
happy. I have not been in hospital since exercising regularly. I now
use a powerplate machine to build strength and have a toned, lean,
well-defined body.
The Parish Walk
This is an 85-mile non-stop walk round the 17 Parish Churches on the
Isle of Man in less than 24 hours. Walkers can finish at any church
along the route. Many stop at Rushen (19 miles) or Peel (32.5 miles).
The race has taken place on the solstice weekend for many years and now
has about 1,500 walkers competing with about 150 finishing the 85
miles. It is a true test of fitness, stamina and endurance and the
ability to work well with a support car and crew.
The Parish Walk
Website
My Parish Walk History
In
2003 I walked to Rushen (19 miles)
In 2004 I reached Peel (32.5 miles)
In 2005 I finished the 85 miles with my mother in
23 hours.
In 2006 I finished the 85 miles by myself in 22.5
hours.
The 'Double’ Idea
In
2006 I raised money, as usual, for a charity. A friend sponsored me £10
per lap. I laughed at the thought of ‘laps’ in an 85-mile walk.
However the seed had been planted in my brain and over the next 12
months I began to think – would it be possible to walk two laps
totalling 170 miles? Would it be possible to walk it under 48 hours?
Would I be able to do it? After discussing the idea with the Race
Secretary I decided in last year to attempt it in 2008 and to raise
money for the ‘Hyperbaric Chamber’ on the IOM.
My Training
 I
cannot manage routines so I don’t have a training plan. I train when I
want to and if I feel okay. I am good at listening to my body.
Physically I built my strength in my arms, legs
and core muscles using a powerplate machine. I incorporated several
long runs and walks of 20-30 miles into my training with short fast
races to build up speed and add variety. I trained on the roads of the
Parish Walk route. In 8 months I covered 1000 miles with 20 races from
5k to 50 miles, in which I achieved personal bests in all of them! My
bodyfat % dropped from 26 to 22%, I was very hydrated and sustained no
serious injuries.
Mentally I use positive affirmations and a lot of
visualisation. I wrote encouraging words down to wear round my neck in
a plastic folder to help me. I publicised my ‘two laps’ and had several
radio interviews and photos taken. Most people thought it would be
impossible to walk 170 miles and that I was totally crazy.
I organised a wonderful crew of friends working in
shifts to support me over the 2 days. I had crates full of water, food,
clothes, trainers, a ‘foot aid’ box as well as medication etc. I
prepared for every eventuality.
The weekend arrives
 On Saturday 21st June 2008 at 8am the
gun signalled the start of the race from the ‘National Sports Centre’ in
Douglas. I was very excited and a bit nervous. I was dismissing the
thought that it would be Monday morning before I next went to sleep.
Lots of walkers wished me good luck, including Chris Moon, an amazing
ultrarunner, with a prosthetic leg, who would go on to finish the 85
miles.
The weather deteriorated rapidly, as was forecast,
and soon it was very wet, windy and cold. It got no better until the
night and was to be the wettest Parish Walk ever! I was dressed for the
Arctic, though, but many walkers were not and lots retired early.
My support, Alvin, joined me after the steep hill
called ‘Ballakillowey’ (20miles). I changed my soaking socks and
trainers and began the long climb up the ‘Sloc’. The weather was
horrible. Severe gusts lashed heavy rain into my face and my fingers
were numb with cold. I marched as fast as I could to get down the other
side near the west coast, where the wind would ease. I was well ahead
of my predicted time.
The rain turned into a monsoon near Bride (52
miles) and I stopped in Andreas (55 miles) at a friend’s house to remove
my soaking wet clothing and trainers, to put on warm dry clothes and
shoes, as I was very cold. After a cup of hot tea I felt much happier
and marched onwards, with my support Ernie, into the night.
The End (of the
First Lap)
It was very misty down the east coast. I did not
realise my blood sugar was low. I had not eaten enough during the walk
so far and was snapping at Ernie, felt tired and was slowing down
slightly. On the second lap I began to feel when my sugar levels were
dropping. I finished lap one, and in a personal best time of 20 hours 56
mins. I was on schedule and was upset that nobody seemed to care that I
had a PB. People were shouting at me to start the second lap when all I
wanted was to have a rest!
 The next 20 minutes were crazy. A felt very sick
and almost collapsed during the interview with the BBC film crew. After
changing my shoes I left the war memorial at 5.20am on the Sunday, to
head out of Douglas. My crew, Jon, told me I had to eat. I tried to
swallow a rice pudding but started to retch. I knew if I was sick the
walk was over. I kept it down and struggled to swallow a pasty. After
a few minutes I changed to cold creamy mashed potato which went down
better than solid food. I also ate bananas and Jon bought every yoghurt
in Ballasalla Stores. At Santon (96 miles) my parents were there to
cheer me on. The food was working and I felt very energised, happy and
confident I would finish.
I got my first blister at 92 miles. I lanced it,
drained it, sprayed on iodine to clean it and covered it with a
transparent bioclusive dressing. I was to get 3 more blisters. My
heels were sore but once I was walking at speed the pain was okay.
After Malew Church (100 miles!) Dawne gave me a
leg massage at her home on the route. She was amazed at how well my
legs were doing. They were very cold in the wet running tights and I
think it was like having an ice-pack on them! The weather was dry but
windy and cool.
I was drinking water and also energy drinks made
with isostar tablets. I drank one dioralyte sachet in water every 15
miles. This gave me salt and other electrolytes and I never suffered
cramp.
It was very quiet on the roads down to the south.
A few people came out to see and cheer me on. At Rushen (104 miles)
Gareth took over the support. He is an experienced ultrarunner and was
amazed as to how well I was looking and walking. I was well ahead of
schedule.
The Radio
Manx Radio phoned me and I did a live interview
before the ‘Sloc’. Suddenly cars were beeping their horns as they
passed by and people were stopping to cheer me on. For the rest of the
way the support from Manx Radio and the IOM people was phenomenal. Over
£1,000 was collected in the support cars for my charity. It really
helped to keep me going.
The ‘sloc’ was very misty and the wind was very
strong and gusty. It was better than the previous day though! I was
still eating and drinking constantly. I reached Peel (117 miles) to
meet and chat to my family for a few minutes. I felt on top of the
world. I worried that I was making it look too easy!
Several racewalkers cheered me on and walked with
me. The winner, Jock Waddington, was there to support me. I was so
honoured to have these people come out especially to be with me. Robbie
Callister, five times winner and had finished second to Jock, walked
with me and could not believe how well I looked, how fast I was walking
(4mph) and I was talking ten to the dozen, (as usual!)
The Manx People
 After changing into clean clothes in Andreas again
(140 miles), I left the 100 or more supporters cheering me in the
streets and headed into the night. Manx Radio had devoted their evening
show to my walk and were telling people where I was. My support crew,
Ernie and David, were doing live radio interviews every few minutes. It
was crazy! When I walked through Ramsey (147 miles) at midnight there
were 200 people waiting to cheer me on. It brought tears to my eyes. I
could not now not finish – I would let so many people down. The whole
island was wanting me to finish.
The Painful Last Few
Miles
I
began to feel very sleepy tired. I had been awake for more than 40
hours and desperately wanted to sleep. A support car drove behind me
for the last 25 miles as it was dark. The country lanes were lit up as
tunnels and I began to hallucinate. The ferns blowing in the breeze
were colourful, detailed people, dogs, children, even the ‘Queen of
Hearts’, waving at me. The road through Laxey was an Egyptian mosaic!
My friend David walked with me to keep me awake.
Then my Mum took over and she was magnificent in keeping me going: one
foot in front of the other! She talked to me about anything to distract
me from the severe sleepiness. She linked arms with me as my balance
was not good. I could not think, talk or even smile for photographers
as I was so tired. I lived on Kendal mint cake as I needed raw sugar.
I could not eat anything else. The diarrhoea was extremely embarrassing
– my body was giving up. Physically I was fine; feet and legs were
good, back was upright and I could walk well. But I was so tired and
getting slower. The downhills were painful for my knees. I began to
panic I would not make it under 48 hours. I was walking at 3mph by now.
 The sunrise was beautiful but I could not see it.
I was concentrating all my energy in staying awake and walking. The
three local radio stations started up again at 6am and were telling
people I was in Onchan (168 miles). People were again cheering and
clapping me, even in dressing gowns and slippers! As I walked through
Port Jack (169 miles) a green leprechaun smiled at me and I knew I would
finish, (it was actually a plant!) I followed Ernie’s car down the
promenade. I had an hour to reach the finish. I could do this!
The Last Mile
The last mile was excruciating. I was going at
2.5mph and it took so long. The last 20 metres I walked by myself into
Ernie’s outstretched arms. It was such a relief to stand still. I
could hear lots of noise; people clapping, cheering, rattles going. I
had finished! I had become the first person ever to complete TWO laps
(170 miles) of the Parish Walk in 47 hours 22 minutes.
Bending my knees and sitting down in my Dad’s car
was luxury. I was too tired to talk but I was so relieved, happy,
satisfied and proud of myself. The publicity and attention afterwards
was very hard to cope with and I am a ‘celebrity’ on the IOM. Everyone
is so proud of me and amazed at my achievement. I felt honoured to have
united the island with my challenge.
I Did It
I recovered very well and very quickly. Apart
from a slightly mis-aligned back, which has been treated, some numb toes
and feeling exhausted, I have no lasting problems.
I have raised so far £5,400 for the Hyperbaric
Chamber! I had 8 sessions in the chamber afterwards as part of my
recovery.
I showed people that if you have a goal, have the
determination and put in the physical and mental training and are
organised, anything is possible. It still seems like I dreamt the
weekend. It was like a fairytale – I became the ‘Forrest Gump’ of
Parish Walking!
Bethany Clague
Double Parish Walk Finisher
June 2008
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