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Mike Wood completes Cotswold Way in under 24 hours

Nick Lewis, Mike Wood, Marek Wojaszek and Duncan Mounsor celebrate at Bath

A note from Mike Wood

Dear Almost Athletes,

I can't begin to thank all the people who have been involved in sponsoring and supporting my running of the Cotswold Way last weekend.

My four running partners - Matt Reid, Nick Lewis, Duncan Mounsor and Marek Wojaszek - did a brilliant job keeping me sane, on course, nagging me to eat and carrying my water. I would not have got round without them.

Matt and I started from Chipping Campden at 9pm as the light was fading. The first section went according to plan. We had a very pleasant surprise when we met David Chittock in Stanton in the darkness.

Around 12.40am, there was a great welcome at the quarry car park on Cleeve Hill with club members carrying banners and cameras. Then I said bye to Matt and hello to Duncan.

The rain started, I twisted my ankle on Cleeve and when we hit Leckhampton Hill, we were running through thick fog and rain. When we reached the Air Balloon for a pit stop, I had a 13 minute power nap! It was 5am, I felt better, so we carried on.all the way to Edge. Marek then took over from Duncan for the next stage. This stage was particularly hilly, through Dursley and North Nibley. I did an interview with BBC Radio Glos on the hoof.

I was pleased to reach Wootton under Edge at around 1.30pm where Nick was going to run the last section with me. Nick knew what I was going through mentally and physically and so took charge of me! We had a good run. As we passed Dyrham Park, we noticed the gates were unlocked, so nipped in and posed for some photos!

At mile 80, we caught up with a Stroud runner who had started at Chipping Campden at 7pm the night before (2hrs before me), so that gave me lift. From Little Sodbury Fort onwards there appeared a growing number of supporting Almost Athletes. With 11 miles to go, at Cold Ashton, we crossed a field heading towards the White Hart Inn and I spotted a group of 20 or more Almosts which was an amazing sight. I thanked then whilst running past them and then bumped into another 30 supporters waiting by the van! What had I done to deserve this - surely I am not worthy!

Dave Elliott and Ken Sears joined us for the last 11 miles when it promptly started to rain again.

As we approached Bath, with 4.5miles to go, Nick informed me we had just 53 minutes left to finish inside 24hrs. I think the chocolate covered coffee beans Chris Midgley had given me had kicked in and I picked up the pace. We dropped down into Bath and had to run up some nasty sets of concrete steps - we all complained about these! It was a relief then, to meet my fellow runners from the club, who escorted me through the town centre to the finish. I sprinted the last mile - adrenaline is a great thing!

Graham Fletcher had some pink champagne which we popped and all enjoyed.

What a great finish - with an official time of 23:48:07. £1500 has been raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and what a truly fabulous running club.

Thank you once again to all of you who have been involved and/or donated.

Mike Wood

Almosts greet Mike, accompanied by Nick, at Cold Ashton 11 miles from Bath Abbey at about 6:30pm on Saturday.

The AA news bulletin ....

Starting at 9pm on Friday from Chipping Camden, Mike Wood ran the whole of the Cotswold Way (103 miles) in less than 24 hours - 23 hours 48 minutes and 8 seconds to be exact!). Although a previous runner holds the record for the fastest time of 22 hours and 23 minutes, Mike is the first runner to complete the distance with official time keeping throughout and therefore has a fully ratified record.

Many congratulations to Mike and thanks to Matt Reid, Duncan Mounsor, Marek Wojaszek and Nick Lewis who ran approx 26 miles each to pace Mike and keep him both sane and on track.

Mike's main motivation for accomplishing this great feat was to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust - his 9 year old daughter has the condition - and he believes he has raised approx. £1500 so far.

If you would like to donate money to this great cause or to congratulate Mike, please email him at michael.wood9@yahoo.com

Much, much earlier the same day ...

1am Saturday morning in Cleeve Quarry car park where the AA support crowd were lying in wait An hour later their patience was rewarded with the first glimpse of their prey Seconds later they were able to confirm the sighting Mike Wood Mike is checked out by the official timekeeper, Rich