Captains Diary in the run up to the Burdens

Nov 1^st: Send out email asking for names… Blink… 46 unread emails saying people are keen.

Nov 20^th: Starting reading through emails and assigning teams, this involves a 36 dimensional equations that even Gwyn would be proud of.

Dec 9^th: Chat with Sam who adds 11 additional dimensions to the planning equations.

Dec 25^th: Enjoy Christmas day by putting teams together

Jan 1^st: First of the dreaded I’m not going to be able to run emails.

Jan 9^th: Send out email for finial call for entries… Blink… 28 unread emails.

Jan 12^th: Send out first draft of teams to the committee so I can shift some of the blame on them if things don’t work out.

Jan 15^th: Meet with Leyre to discuss teams… more blame shifting.

Jan 19^th: Send-off entry forms!!!

Jan 20^th: Shit… 3 teams are falling apart

Jan 23^rd: Cursed team is identified as the Mens B team… In the end the team lost, Rob H (moved to A), James C (moved to A), Me (moved to A), Neil A (flu), David F (Flu) and Johannes C (accidentally ran in the early start). But proud to say the team still finished!!

Jan 26^th: By the time I’ve replied to one whatsapp, I’ve received 6 new emails.

Jan 27^th 4 am: Wake up at in a panic… check phone… everything is OK

Jan 27^th 6:30 am: Alarm… check phone… no emails… relax a bit.

Jan 27^th 7:30 am: Leave for Falkland… phone is beeping the whole way but I don’t look… turns out it was my mum texting, she’s working in the Gambia for 6 weeks and was sending photos!

Jan 27^th 9:10 am: Registration is sorted and I think the teams are all OK. The hall empties a bit and I get a moment to relax a little. The logistics of the day are a mess especially with the men’s B team but I think we can pull it off.

Jan 27^th 10 am: I head off for my warm up. I run out to the start with Jasmin Paris and it’s good to just have a friendly chat.

Jan 27^th 10:30 am: Shit I’m running for the A team… how did this happen. I’m not ready for this…

Jan 27^th 11:00 am: I’m gutted, I feel like I’ve let the team down. I just wasn’t at the races today. Probably could have been a minute faster…

Jan 27^th 11:01 am: Right new shoes are laced up, time to run for the B’s. Off the start I feel broken.

Jan 27^th 11:45 am: This is AMAZING!!! Gregor and Mark are in First and look like they are Flying!!!

Jan 27^th 12:30 pm: I wonder which car is Brian’s… Of course… It’s the biggest in Kinnesswood.

Jan 27^th 1:30 pm: Back in Falkland, how am I ever going to get this beast parked!!! Brennan taps on the window and lets me know we won… YASSSSSSS… right I’m just going to abandon the car here and Brian can deal with the consequences.

Jan 27^th 3 pm: Most of the teams are finished and westies have pulled off a stomper of a day… the woman came 3^rd and V60s won… Quite sure we were the loudest in the hall too.

Jan 27^th 8:30 pm: Arrive in the Islay Inn… get pint… down pint!!!

Jan 28^th 10 am: Wake up hungover but happy…

 Thanks to everyone for making this fantastic day happen. Huge thanks especially to those who ran two legs (Lorna and Brian Bonnyman) and to Maya for roping her Dad in at the last minute.

Now we just have to defend out title next year