Launching the Baton

Eventually the rain hit us as dawn approached (and how!), but there was hardly a word from the team – other than to joke about it – amazing people!

We all met Saturday evening at our house, where there was a definite air of excitement and anticipation.
We then boarded the crew bus and support vehicle and set off for RAF Lyneham.

The station personnel at RAF Lyneham were incredibly supportive and accomodating. We were photographed in front of a 30 Squadron Hercules, by our photographer Andy Billing of Honiton Photographics, then wished the very best of luck by Flt Lt Huw Thomas and other members of 30 Sqn who then cheered us off - starting at 10pm on Saturday night for the NMA Lichfield, with an objective of reaching it by 2.30pm on the Sunday – sixteen and a half hours to do the 110 miles.

The whole team were incredible, considering that few knew the other members of the team when we started. They all gelled fabulously through the whole event, I’d find it very difficult to express my full admiration for them all, their willingness to succeed and support for each other had to be experienced to fully understand.

A lasting memory for all of us would be running along the Fosseway in the still, dead black of night. The air unseasonably close with the leaves of the trees gently falling like snow and just the lights of the support vehicle behind to show the runner the way… a truly magic moment.
Eventually the rain hit us as dawn approached (and how!), but there was hardly a word from the team – other than to joke about it – amazing people!

We realised that we had made extremely good time and were, in fact, two and a half hours ahead of target. We used the time in hand to sort wet gear and equipment, also giving the people that had travelled up to see us in at the NMA time to arrive.

What an achievement by a team of such mixed running abilities. None of the team will forget the reception at the NMA. Family and friends who had made the effort to be there, visitors and the management went out of their way to see us in, plus a squad of Army Cadets formed a guard of honour to the steps to the main memorial, it was an emotional moment for all of us. The photo is of the team in front of the obelisk at one end of the main memorial. I would encourage all to go to the NMA and feel as we did there.

After the photo calls and filming by the BBC’s Jenny Walrond we were treated to refreshments and food by the NMA management. After that we headed home, a little tired by now but with such a sense of achievement.

Alan.