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fussballclub
Oliver Schick
@h2o
DNF at Alston here. Kept well to schedule the first 24 hours with a decent buffer of time in hand (even after spending too much time in the Louth bedlam), but started dropping off the pace in the afternoon on the leg to Thirsk as I was finding it hard to focus my attention on the road and the hills were taxing me more than they should. Used up some more of my buffer having a shower and 1.5 hours kip at Thirsk, which made me feel refreshed but also a bit worried that my chest was wheezing a lot when I was lying down. Hoped it was because I forgot to take antihistamines, popped one and headed off to Barnard Castle. Made reasonable time for a chunk of it, but still finding my attention drifting. Music helped a bit, but then settled in with a bloke who was riding a similar pace and chatting helped as well. Until he rode into the side of the road while looking at a combine harvester working at night... spent a while trying to get his bike sorted before carrying on, but as his wheel was rubbing on something we weren't making as good progress, and my light failed about 10-15 minutes ride from BC, which ended up with us taking about 25 mins riding by his light with me navigating.
Got to BC, ate, slept for 3 hours, chest getting worse - wheezing has progressed into coughing up thick gobs of phlegm. Headed out just after daybreak, and really struggled - dawns on me that I'm probably struggling to concentrate because I'm running a temperature and to climb because my lungs are full of liquid. So called it a day at Alston and called in a lift.
Gutted, if I'd managed to keep up the pace I set the first 24 hours I think I could have made it there and back. Also ironic that for all my worries about one of my old ligament injuries flaring up, I got waylaid by a random chest infection. Oh well.