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GRAND UNION CANAL RACE official blogWe will be tracking Ernie Jewson on his epic journey from Birmingham 6am Saturday to London some 145 miles later.His official sub-webpage is here Good Luck Ernie. Please post messages in the previous thread, and I will endeavour to keep this update with all Ernie's happenings... |
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| Ernie |
Cheers Godfrey, I think it'll be more swimming than running though !
ps Godfrey , we'll be in trouble as we shouldn't be in this thread ; Karl wont be happy ! |
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| Karl C |
So, here we are
DAY 1 - Ernie started at 6am this morning. 
10 miles at 7:50am this morning, so he is off and running well. The plan is that he has to run the first 70 miles on his own (thats the rules) and then Andy Kennedy is meeting him at approx 9pm tonight, to run the 26 odd miles through the night with him. He then meets up with me, Godfrey and Sharon. We will then run with him in 5 mile slots to get him through to 105 miles. We will then meet and hand over the Mike Mason and Mark who will between then see him through the finish in Little Venice, London sometime between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday morning. |
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| Karl C |
9:45 am 20 Miles Heading for Hatton Locke. Spoke to him on the phone, and he is sounding good. He wanted to do this section slower than last year, and he is on target. Map- http://www.gucr.co.uk/route.asp?map=5 |
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| Karl C |
11.30am at 30 miles.
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| Karl C |
40 miles 1:30pm
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| Karl C |
Heart Of England Checkpoint 53 miles 4:45pm
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| Karl C |
60 miles at 6:40pm
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| Karl C |
Navigation Bridge 70 miles
9pm Saturday Night, and half-an-hour faster than last year. 
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| Karl C |
text from Andy they are at 11pm Bridge 78 11pm Saturday
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| Karl C |
6am Sunday morning, and they (Andy & Ernie)
just one through Lock 34. 97 miles and well ahead of plan ! |
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| Mike Mason |
Ernie and Andy made stonking progress through the night. Karl, Godfrey and Sharon have taken over at Bridge 140 (Berkhamsted) at 08.45hrs.
Mark and I will be leaving home at about 11.00hrs and heading off for a pickup at 13.00hrs. Weather horrible............ rgds Mike |
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| Steffan |
Thats superb.
Cheering him on from sunny Basildon. I'm off to the gym for some dry treadmill miles! 
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| Mike Mason |
just to update from official GUCR web - 75 started and 15 retirements by Saturday midnight........................hang in there Ernie.....
rgds Mike looking out the window at the rain and already developing twinges ..... 
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| spokey42 |
12 o'clock Sunday - Ernie at 115 miles
Going well |
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| debbie g |
Report from Karl that this gets Ernie to Bridge 167. Well done Ernie. | ||
| spokey42 |
12.50 - Ernie at 120 miles
Still going well |
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| Steffan |
Awesome stuff. | ||
| Sharon G |
What an awesome race Ernie is having. Constant rain can't even dampen his spirits. Was in top form- even making more sense than Godfrey as he was running 
I am amazed at what these guys can put their bodies through. Go Ernie
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| Karl C |
Sharon is right - Ernie was making more sense then Godfrey.
First pics are up (sorry Sharon, haven't had a chance to vet them, let me know if you want any e-rated) 
http://www.benfleetrunningclub.com/gucr.07/index.html 4pm just passed bridge 191! |
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| Pammie |
mindblowing.
Well done Keep it up |
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| Karl C |
GO ERNIE....
a finish before 10pm Sunday is on the cards...unbelievable...! |
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| spokey42 |
An antipodean adventureOk, Ernie was talking more sense than me, but remember, my job was to be there in a supporting role.Karl, Sharon and I left Ernie to the "B" team (Mason and Williams) at 1.00 pm after he'd completed 121 miles. So he's either going to blitz it in 8 hours + better than last year or end up in South Wales! Anyway, it was a great job done by Andy Kennedy overnight and we just picked up where he left off. Ernie was in full control and making great time as most of the field were retiring around him. Come on Oz! We love you, Ern! Godfrey |
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| Karl C |
133 miles b199 AT 5PM !!!
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| Lucycat |
Just catching up. Go Ernie ONLY a few miles to do now | ||
| Steffan |
Seriously, this is something else and from now on its IRON Ernie.
Hard as nails. |
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| Karl C |
Bridge 15 Black Horse approx 135 miles....7pm
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| Steffan |
Has he crossed the finish line?
Come on the suspense is doing me in! |
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| Karl C |
9:08 pm Sunday night
ERNIE HAS FINISHED 145 MILES !!!!!!ERNIE HAS FINISHED 145 MILES !!!!!! ERNIE HAS FINISHED 145 MILES !!!!!! ERNIE HAS FINISHED 145 MILES !!!!!! ERNIE HAS FINISHED 145 MILES !!!!!! ERNIE HAS FINISHED 145 MILES !!!!!! |
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| Sharon G |
FANTASTIC EFFORT ERNIE!!!!! WELL DONE
p.s Karl- did I win the sweep stake- i'm sure my last bet was 9 o'clock??? |
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| runningman |
BLOODY WELL DONE !!!
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| Pammie |
I've not met you Ernie but that is Awesome running
A fantastic achievement Well done
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| Steffan |
Iron Ernie, what a legend, that is something else and to do it that quickly too.
Awesome, just awesome! Send him my congrats Karl. Well done to the support crew too, if he does this again, put my name down for a helper.
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| debbie g |
Ernie I am in awe. You are amazing and deserve 6 months off. I look forward to your killing me on those short runs again soon - like 20 milers!!!
Be very proud massive achievement and incredible PB - ten hours that'll take some beating
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| Karl C |
9:04PM OFFICIAL TIME
AND 22ND FINISHER OUT OF 80 STARTERS 1st - Tim Holsgrove (29:39) 2nd - Stuart Gillet (31:0 
3rd/1st Lady - Vicky Skelton (31:25) NEW RECORD! 4th - Pat Robbins (31:45) 5th - Brian Davidson (33:05) 6th - Harley Inder (33:39) 7th - Jason French (34:14) 8th - Mark Cockbain (34:44) 9th - Stuart Shipley (35:43) 10th/2nd Lady - Karen Rowntree (35:56) 11th - Mike Smith (36:14) 12th - Peter Chandler (36:17) 13th - John Poole (37:00) 14th - Andy Ives (37:12) 15th - Ed Milbourn (37:14) 16th/3rd Lady - Alicja Barahona (37:34) =17th - Bob Brown (38:01) =17th/4th Lady - Susan Bateman (38:01) 19th - Carl Sommer (38:07) 20th - Mark Wheatley (38:11) 21st - Scott Hamer (38:52) 22nd - Ernie Jewson (39:04)
brilliant achievement, and great day had by all. Ernie take a week off, see you next Sunday as normal ! Well done mate - honour to run with you today. |
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| Graham |
Awesome. Amazing. Bloody well done Ernie. | ||
| Mike Mason |
He took over 5 hours off last years time......I think that is what is called getting a PB!
recover well Ernie..remember the pain goes eventually..and then you will be able to smile about it...even the medley of Kylie songs..... 
rgds Mike |
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| Ernie |
Back in the land of the living !I'm up and walking around and quite happy that I've come out of this a lot better than I thought and certainly a lot better than last year when I was Bed-ridden for over 2 days.The big plus was the PB of over 5hours which was surprising since I have been suffering from a debillitating foot problem for quite some time stopping me from doing any real training at all which was why I had only given myself a 50/50 chance of finishing. My feet have come out of this really well and the bonus is that it appears that I will only lose 8 of my 10 toenails ! For sure the quality of my support crews was a major factor in the success of this race and I personally look at this as a Team event . I will in due course be thanking everyone involved personally and on this Blog as there are some unsung heroes out there that did a lot for me and I want to do this when I get all my senses back so as not to omit anything. Love the Pain ! |
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| jacklarge |
Congratulations Iron Ernie you have won the respect of the entire club!
Truly awesome stuff - mad as a chocolate frog - but awesome none-the-less. Cheers, John. |
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| Karl C |
don't tell Gary,
but I sent an article to the Echo yesterday..should be in print tonight... http://www.echo-news.co.uk/search...ernie_tows_path_for_145_miles.php |
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| Mike Mason |
Karl, excellent spread.....do I get any royalties....he is wearing my flaming lovely Raidlight jacket. I still remember my heart missing a beat when he uncovered the messed up contents of Mango God knows what in one of the pockets.....................the dirty git!
rgds Mike |
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| Lee O |
Well done Ernie, Nice Spread in The Echo, Feet up now and Chill out..
Well Done |
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| Ernie |
So much for "waterproof" jacket ... cost me 1/2 packet of dried Mango which turned to puree and a mobile phone which was caked in dissolved dextrose and Jelly Baby syrup. | ||
| Mike Mason |
Next time - close and zip up the flaming pockets.............
rgds Mike Mango |
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| Ernie |
Oh so thats why there wasn't one dry patch on my body ... because I didn't do up those tiny pockets. The fact is that I did do them up untill it made no difference.
I still like your jacket though as its thermal properties are superb and lets face it I got through that race without catching exposure. The jacket probably needs re-proofing ; I will see what I can do. I've tried Mango Puree to no avail, any ideas ? |
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| Mike Mason |
oh well at least the new addition to the family - The North Face DIAD (Done In A Day) jacket kept me dry and toasty.....
ps you can borrow it for next years GUCR....................
rgds Mike |
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| runningman |
 I MUST SACK MY AGENT !
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| Ernie |
Post race thoughtsIts been some time since completing this race but one thing and one thing only has been troubling me..... I actually had what I thought to be an intelligent conversation with Godfrey somewhere around the 110 mile stage.Why this troubles me is that it is the only time I've had an intelligent conversation with Godfrey and the thought has crossed my mind that just maybe one has to run 110 miles to converse on the same level as the "enlightened one". |
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