Coming down the hill to Maiviken hut picture by Sarah Lurcock

Today was the half marathon which is 13 miles and as we live on a mountainous island involves 1500 feet of ascent, scree slopes, bogs, fur seals, elephant seals, tussock and burnap (prickly seed that sticks to everything). The course is base behind the football pitch up to Gull Lake across the dam up to the summit of Brown Mountain along the ridge down the other side of the mountain back to the fuel farm at base then out to Maiviken hut and back.

I dragged myself out of bed with a fever and against the Drs advice took to the start line. I wrunkled (basically run with some walking) and completed the course in 2 hours 46 minutes. I think I might have been able to do it about 15 or 20 minutes faster had I been well. When Claire comes through from Rothera maybe we will re do it with the Dr and Rob. Sams broken foot is still not healed enough and Rob was smarter than myself and stayed at base feeling ill. Time to sleep before my parents arrive on base tomorrow for their short visit.

Alastair was the first winterer to finish being preceeded by Hugh who was only 17 seconds off the course record, Lee (a singlehanded sailor who is tied up across the way at the moment) and Theis. Hugh, Lee and Theis are all over the age of 40! Shame on the young ones 🙂