Although she lives and works in England many Athenry AC members will be familiar with marathon and ultramarathon runner Selina D Silva (aka Shades) from her adventures at the Connemara Marathon, Longford Marathon, Cork Marathon and various other Irish races. Last May our very own Ray O'Connor became the first Irish man to complete the Brathay 10 Marathons in 10 Days Challenge and Shades took part in the same event. Shades has kindly agreed that we can reproduce her blow-by-blow account of her big adventure on www.athenryac.com and we do so below.

Congrats from all of us Shades...it was an amazing10 days of running.

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The Brathay 10 Marathons in 10 Days Challenge

Windermere 9th to 18th May 2008

By Selina Da Silva

A brief preambleā€¦.

I ran my first marathon at London in 1995 with the intention of just running the one marathon but I enjoyed it so much I decided to have another go. In 1996 I ran my 2nd marathon then upped it to 7 marathons in 1997, 13 marathons in 1998ā€¦you can see the marathon addiction was getting stronger, peaking at 25 marathons and ultras in 2002 and in 2003 I completed my 100th marathon.

Letā€™s skip forward to 2007, and running a marathon at Enfield in May with a friend of mine Sue, we discussed the first 10 Marathons in 10 Days Challenge that had just been completed by 7 men. Sue and I agreed that it was a shame that no women had taken part in the Challenge and perhaps we should consider putting that right. A week later after running Cork marathon, we adjourned to the nearest pub to the finish line and supping a well earned Guinness, I found myself sitting next to one of the guys that had completed the Challenge. I grilled him for details and thought ā€˜Maybe I could do this tooā€™, so on arriving home I emailed the charity that holds the event and put my name on the list.

How do you train for 10 marathonsā€¦the truth is I donā€™t really know, Iā€™ve done a couple of triples, several 12 hour and a couple of 24 hour track races, but this was different. So I just did my normal winter training peaking at 100mpw over the Xmas period but averaging 70mpw the rest of the time. Training went well and all was going to plan until the Duchy Marathon in March when I sprained my ankle badly, it was touch and go whether I would even make the start line at Windermere on 9th May as I lost 7 weeks training, missed several marathons and a 12 hour race in that period. I needed to test my ankle in a marathon so ran Lochaber at the end of April and managed to finish pain free in 4.59. Everything was in place now, Iā€™d reached my sponsorship target set by the charity of Ā£2,000, thank you everyone that sponsored me.

7th May ā€“ It took me nearly all day to pack and load the car; I had so much kitā€¦thanks to Asics who sponsored us with over Ā£600 worth of running kit. I finally set off for my Travelodge at Knutsford in Cheshire, checked the AA route, 235 miles to drive today, just had a wobbly moment realising that I would have to run in excess of the distance over the next few daysā€¦eek!

8th May ā€“ Day Zero - Arrived at Brathay Hall near Ambleside, itā€™s a beautiful place with a stunning view across Lake Windermere. Met my fellow runners, 11 of us in total, 3 women and 8 men, during the Challenge we were being housed in a large lodge in the woods, not sure how Iā€™ll cope with the communal living but most of us have our own rooms. All our food is being provided for us, we have to prepare our own breakfast but lunch and dinner every day is in the dining room at Brathay Hall. Have been driven round the course, not flat but really stunning scenery and weā€™re all a bit nervous and just want to get out there and run.

After an excellent dinner we met Robin from Team Nutrition who is sponsoring us throughout the event by supplying all the sports nutritional products that we need. This guy gave us a talk on the science aspect of his products and he was superb. As you all know you should never try anything new for a marathon unless you have tested it outā€¦ well that went completely out the window. We were all so impressed with Robinā€™s talk that we all ditched our own favoured products and decided to use those provided.

We also have 2 physios, Amy and John for pre and post race massage and treatment. John also will follow us around the course each day in his car to make sure that weā€™re OK.

9th May - Day 1 - Hot and humid, this is a tough course, much tougher than I expected. I started at an easy pace and to my horror the 3 runners who are about my marathon pace all shot off at great speed so within 5 mins I couldn't even see anyone. Was telling myself remember the fable of the Tortoise & the Hare. Got to 10 miles and was told that Sue was a minute ahead, caught up and passed her at 11 miles, also caught up and passed Michelle at 12 miles. Then I managed to pass Paul at 19 miles.

One runner was taken to hospital having collapsed 20 mins after finishing, he has since discharged himself, not sure if he's running tomorrow, don't think it will be his decision. This is worrying for all of us as this guy did the Challenge last year and if he was having problems on Day 1 what chance was there for the rest of us?

I will be going slower tomorrow, this was too fast for me in these conditions on this course and weā€™ve a long way to go yet.

Time 5.23.

10th May - Day 2 - The guy who went to hospital yesterday was given permission to run as long as he slowed his pace, extra medic on route to keep an eye on him and he was fine.

We started earlier today due to the hot weather and it was very hot and humid for the first couple of hours, then cooled a bit and a couple of light showers. Ran with Sue to the first hill of note, which is a real toughie at 7 miles, then pulled ahead as I can walk faster up a hill, then settled down to run the rest on my own, ankle giving me a bit of trouble for the first half but was OK in the 2nd half. Saw two cock pheasants sparring in the road and all the holidaymakers on the steam train at Newby Bridge waved at me. I ran better today than I expected. Bought an ice cream at mile 24 to get me through the last couple of miles. .

Tomorrow will be the first real test as the third marathon starts to test whether you've replaced those carbs. No injuries of note amongst us yet, there are a few blisters and sore toes.

Time 5.36

11th May - Day 3 - Well, the wheels fell off for me today. I didn't sleep that well again, I've probably only had about 12 hours sleep in the 3 nights I've been here, quite a few of us are not sleeping well. So I didn't feel great lining up at the start, it's now becoming hard to eat enough and at the right times for fuelling too. Started off really easily and it was very warm and humid for the first couple of hours, I was hoping that as we headed towards the lake and the well shaded roads it would cool but it just got hotter and hotter and peaked at 29 degrees and the humidity was very high. We send our own drinks out to the drink stations which are every 2 miles, had an electrolyte drink at 8 miles, then decided I didn't want any water at 10 miles but when I got to 12 miles my bottle of electrolyte was missing (also Michelle's sandwich had also been taken and we couldn't blame the squirrels as they'd left the cling film behind.) Onto the next station at 14 miles but I only had water put out there so had to wait until 16 miles to get my next electrolyte, during this time I was feeling pretty rough, a bit dizzy now and then. At that drink station Paul was sitting on a step in the shade so I joined him for a few minutes then we made our way onto Bowness, where we bought tea and sat in a cool churchyard to gather out strength for the last 6 miles.

Onto the road again and I stopped to buy another ice cream (the Dales ice cream is very good) and then noticed a parked car with an Isle of Man number plate and the owners of the car turned out to be a couple that I know and last saw in August at a barbeque after the Isle of Man marathon. This distraction helped and I was able to start run/walk again and felt OK for the last 2 miles which I ran. It was truly a very hard day and during the worst part I hadn't told the physio how bad I was feeling in case he pulled me off the course.

Sue had another tough day but she battled on and we celebrated her completion of her 150th marathon by walking down to the river this evening and she and Paul (her hubby) sat in the cold water to try and ease their painful legs.

Am dreading tomorrow as we've been told the weather is going to be hot again, we've since had a thunderstorm but it hasn't cleared the air

Time 6.12

12th May - Day 4 - 104 miles done now, phew. Hot again today, but not humid so better than yesterday. I took it easy as I didn't want another awful run like yesterday. Finished in good form, had to slow the last 3 miles as the sun was too hot to run in. No problems with drinks today, all where they should be.

Didn't sleep well again last night and I'm not the only one, no particular reason, it's not too hot or anything. It's Michelle's birthday today so we're having a drink in the bar, tomorrow we will be half way so another drink to celebrate.

Time 6.01

13th May - Day 5 - Tough day again for me today, felt OK but my legs are starting to complain about all this mileage, sore ankle (not the sprained one), sore calf and sore shins. Have had to resort to physio and massage today so that's how bad I am, but the physio says I will be OK. Unbelievably the injury to my left ankle has been caused by my Asics socks, will switch brands tomorrow. But Iā€™m still feeling positive, as we're halfway now. We're off to the pub now!

Time 6.08

14th May - Day 6 - Iā€™m very tired and have picked up a calf injury. Michelle has also now got an injury. Sadly Sue had to DNF today at 20 miles and she is now on crutches, looks like a stress fracture. Her husband Paul was very upset but is carrying on. Not a good day, weā€™re all sad about Sue. My friend Hilary has arrived and she is going to cycle round the course for the next 2 days to support us as sheā€™s training for a cycle ride from Lands End to John Oā€™Groats in July.

Time 6.07

15th May - Day 7 - Another bad day, temperature still 20 -22 degrees which is sapping all energy, the left calf is feeling better but sadly the right has started to niggle! Pains where I didn't know pains could exist! First, and what turned out to be my only blister of the challenge. Iā€™m still having problems sleeping. But still running, or rather mostly walking today! One of the group did a PB today. Went to Ambleside for fish and chips tonight with Hilary and Ray (who did the PB), my favourite pre marathon meal to try and get some energy back.

Time 6.52

16th May - Day 8 - 209 miles done. Felt good today after a better sleep but it hurts a lot, very painful for first 4 or 5 miles every day knocking out the stiffness in my ankles, feet and shins. Calves are now very sore and today I had to have treatment twice en route to get me round. Physio says the pain in my calves will continue for the next 2 days so that's something to look forward too! The start time of each race has now been put back 30 mins as the physios need that extra time to get everyone ready to run. Quite a few are running with quite severe strapping now, so I've been lucky so far.

No chance of me now achieving the world record, Michelle is too far ahead time wise to catch up, she's doing brilliantly especially as she's running with a fairly severe injury. Even with all the injuries we are having a great time, the 11 of us get on so well and there's lots of laughs too, we're already planning a reunion at Connemara Marathon next year. Last year 7 did this challenge and they called themselves the Magnificient Seven. Eleven is a difficult number and we couldn't think of a suitable title so we have called ourselves The TiT'S (Ten in Ten)'s

We're all looking forward to Day 9 tomorrow, the race finish is now up here in front of Brathay Hall and the signs are being put up around the course and we are getting more support from the locals every day. Some of us stop in Bowness (20 miles) for a cup of tea during the marathon to take away, it used to be 95 pence, then the price dropped to 50 pence, now it's free, the locals are very kind and friendly.

Time 6.38

17th May - Day 9 - I nearly dropped out today as I was having so much pain from my calf muscles in both legs and I couldn't bear the thought that I would have that pain for all of Day 10 too. A huge thank you to a Runnerā€™s World forumite, Marathon Maiden who had travelled all the way from Ivybridge In Devon and met me en route and then accompanied me for a couple of miles, also thanks to her patient husband who waited in the car. After that it was the physio John who kept me going and persuaded me to finish Day 9 before deciding what to do about Day 10. Michelle also came out and accompanied me for the last mile, despite the fact that she is injured too. Iā€™ve switched my phone off, I donā€™t want to talk to anyone today, I have to deal with this on my own. I was at my lowest physically and mentally today, this is so hard, Iā€™m exhausted and not sleeping more than 4 hours a night, my legs hurt even when Iā€™m in bed, I want to go home.

Time 7.26.

18th May - Day 10 - Overnight I had got my head together and was determined to finish, I decided to go off an hour earlier than the other Tit's. I also decided not to have any of the physio's strapping on my leg so maxed out on painkillers I set off at 8.30 am and as usual the first 5 miles was sheer hell, pains in calf muscles, ankles and shins. The first of the Tit's caught up with me at 10 miles, and then the leaders of the marathon at 14 miles and the support from the marathon runners and the spectators was fantastic and kept me going and I knew nothing would stop me from finishing. My left shin was very sore and despite treatment from John the physio just got more painful as the miles went on, yet another injury.

The finishing straight at Windermere is superb, great support from the crowds and the rest of the Tit's were waiting for me, lots of hugs, kisses, tears and champagne. I should have gone for physio then but ended up in the beer tent...whoops. Then the presentation, which was fabulous. Steve Edwards has broken the world record by a staggering 2 hours 19 minutes, Michelle has set a world record for being the first woman to complete the challenge, I was a poor 2nd, but just so happy to have finished and we are all on a terrific high. Weā€™ve done it!!

Time 6.25

I'm crocked now, John the physio says with treatment 6 to 7 weeks for calf injury and 2 to 3 weeks for shin injury on other leg, but I said ā€œcan't I just run through these injuriesā€, he just shook his head and said that he can't wait to deal with 'normal' people again. I tell him that I think Iā€™ll be OK for Cork marathon on the 2nd June..

Well it was the most amazing experience but also the most painful, mentally and physically this pushed me to a limit that I didnā€™t think was possible.

Would I do it again?.....NO, NEVER.

P.S ā€“ Iā€™m recovering well and ran Cork (5.13) now back to normal training and preparing for my next race which is a 24 hour race in July and plan to be celebrating the running of my 200th marathon at Anglesey in September.

Selina Da Silva.

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=3491