Day 2 - So running a long a river, that'll be nice and flat then right?

Breakfast time, day three - sore, blistered, minus a few toes and 3 inches shorter than when we started.

But - morale is high, we're over half way!

Why no update last night??? Because we didn't get to the pub (the fabulous Bull in Wargrave) until 10.30. Oops.

Why the long day? A late (12) start as the Garnetts needed to go to Slough and back for an unmissable in the morning, huge thanks to the Wisemans for coming to collect us and to the rest of the crew who waited so patiently back in Abingdon - we owe you.

As a result, we had lunch at 6pm on the river bank in Goring - Vix being masterchef with the ciabattas and babybells - but none of us noticed it was so late. Speaks volumes.

Highs and lows of the day??

Lots of sunshine (almost too much for the running bits), Hattie's ability to run 25 miles (yes folks, thats a marathon distance from our favorite girl, what a star), Mr and Mrs W and their boundless energy and support, bike riding skills and for wining over the owner and all the staff at the Bull to keep the resturant open for us until 11pm for our supper and serve up pasta (an unheard of). To the Bull - a HUGE thank you. To Garnett - thats the first time I've seen anyone have pasta for starters, and then a bigger portion of the same for mains - nice job.

Two more for the road - Hattie and Qin feeling somewhat short of energy in Sonning having just finished their alpine stretch, struggling to find the lock, happening upon a local lady they asked for some directions only to receive the unforgettable response of 'lock?? I've lived here 15 years and I can tell you there is no lock' - mad as a box of frogs.

And lastly, Benny boy - setting off at the speed of sound en velo to meet Q&H on yet another of their long stretches, and being badgered by Si and Matt to take a bag of sarnies and supplies with him onto the next lock to feed the runners - the honourable Benny took on the bag, which promptly split - alot - resulting in him abandoing everything edible apart from the bag of twix bars which he carried Lassie style in his mouth for 3 miles. One of the funniest lock arrivals of the day. Genius.

And the lows - sore stuff, everywhere. Poor old Qinny, who got to run all 3 of the uphill, off river, over 4 mile stretches ('climb every mountain' comes to mind).
Having to manually carry the skiff through Sonning lock as we couldn't get it to work. And finally, taking nearly an hour to find the blimin' boat yard in the dark at the end of the day - WHERE IS IT???!!!

So, as they say, tomorrow is another day, and so here we are, sat waiting for breakfast and the arrival of Peach (one of today's drivers as Mr and Mrs W are off to see Baby Wiseman - Scott - compete in the elite triathlon team at Windsor this morning - gold star commitment again - before making it back to us for lunchtime).
The sun is shining (we're hoping for a bit of cloud later), there are no running legs above 4 miles today, and best of all we can't wait to get to tonight's venue - oh yes, it the Staines massive kids - as by then we'll be able to sniff London in the air and will know its only one day to go until its all over.

Oh, and by the way, we've already decided on next years challenge - we'll be spending these four days next year on a massive pizza and pie eating contest - bring it on.

More later, unless someone from the Massive nicks the laptop...