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Prezels and Kendal mint cake

The Lake District. Home of the greatest and most famous glucose based peppermint flavoured confectionary that has ever existed.

 However before we get to that, let's turn back time to just under a couple of weeks ago: I'm sat on the grass at the finish line for Man vs Coast.


It's so hot, and so sunny, with not a hint of cloud in the sky.

 I've spent hours following distance markers and trying to count down the miles whilst the kilometres add up.

 My thighs are literally stuck together with salt water chafe, and every time I move I'm peeling them apart taking more skin off.

 My calves are red raw with sunburn, having continually washed off all of the cream I topped up at every pit stop.

 My feet are blistered and swollen, and feel a bit like walking on hot coals.

 Someone said to me "will you ever do this again?" and unequivocally, the answer is no. I feel terrible.

 Five days of stretching, therapy, and regular moisturising later... and I'm packing for round two!

 A week away in Berlin may not have been the best preparation for "the most adventurous marathon distance running journey in Britain", I must admit.

 Bratwurst, weissbier, schnitzels and bocks.

 Delicious! Anything to take my mind off part two of the Nature trilogy, Man vs Lakes.

 I'll arrive back tomorrow and have to dash straight to registration, full of trepidation for Saturday.

 It's 28+ miles (yes, +), 4200 feet of ascent, and a 9 hour cut off to finish in.

 We start off with what one runner in Cornwall described as "a 10 km warm up over the quicksand" before heading off into the hills, forests and lakes.

 This then gets wett... Hold on a minute. Quicksand? If ever there was an appropriate time for an emoji face screaming in fear, then this is it. 😱

 We've got an assault course floating on the lake, swims, jumps, slides and some kayaking thrown in for good measure.

Until I'm on the start line I can only imagine how tough this one will be, and my imagination... well it's certainly running wild.

 Having carb loaded by eating my weight in prezels, it's nearly time to strap on my kit and pray for a miracle.

 And if praying doesn't give me the energy to get this one done, keep your fingers crossed that Kendal mint cake can.
Instagram: philvsnature
Twitter: @PhilJ0606
JustGiving: fundraising/philvsnature

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