On the 24th of May, Director at Broadway Veterinary Group Alex Green took on the extraordinary challenge of running 100km in a single day to raise money for Vetlife. Below, he shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between – from pain and perseverance to community and purpose.
The calm before the storm
Heading into the day, I felt calm.
I had some stiffness but I was well prepared so not worried at all. I ran with a couple of guys for the first 25km then we split up. I pushed comfortably through to about 45km when I started getting some pain in my legs.
I was worried I was going to be going for much longer than planned which put a lot of pressure on me as I had people waiting at the next stop.
I pushed on through to the halfway point 58km where my family had been waiting for me. I rested, spent time with my kids and gave the family an update. Everyone was so supportive both family and other runners. I changed clothes, got some water and headed off, stiff and a little concerned.
My pain got worse and worse of over the next 3 km as I started to hobble and limp putting the pressure on my hips and back. One of the people I ran with at the beginning caught up and explained he had had his ankles wrapped and took some Ibuprofen. I realised I had some in my bag so took them and started to limp on. At this point I was tearful and very low watching people pass me seamlessly. It felt as if all the training I had done was being undone.
The turnaround
Then… the drugs kicked in. I started to walk. then jog and before I knew it I was back to running, and comfortably. I was hobbling at about 13km/km, then I was moving at 6.15m/km. I felt good!
I stopped for some fruit and water at the next stop and kept on going, this is how I should have been feeling. I then continued to take back some of the time I had lost. Running up the hills, passing people who must have thought I was done about an hour ago. I felt I needed to keep going as long as I could as I wasn’t sure when this feeling would end. Km after km I was flying. I could see messages from the team at work cheering me on and tracking me which was incredible. The whole team back home were rooting for me.
Drawing on motivation
I got to about 82km when I met someone I had walked with earlier. We decided to stick together to the end as the weather got really windy, the dark was cold and the ground uneven. We pushed each other explaining why we were putting ourselves through this pain and anguish. He had a heart condition and wanted to raise money for this unknown condition.
I explained I wanted to make sure I did what I could for the veterinary community in need. I have never been in a position where I have needed to call a helpline. I have always been a happy go lucky kind of guy. I have come across too many people who have used or needed to use Vetlife and I am not in a position where I can help those people. But I can do something else. I can raise money for those people who are helping the ones in need.
My new running partner and I helped a few people along the way, with company, jokes and a torch. We pushed on 1km after the next. Then we saw the sign… 1km left. We looked at each other and silently agreed… this is it. We ran for the last km and over the line.
It was the most amazing feeling, the sound of the bells, clapping and cheering. Some of the staff back, my family and a few friends had been watching the finish line, waiting for an update just to see me complete the challenge.
