John Reynolds has successfully completed his biggest challenge to date in aid of Time is Precious, finishing to triumphant cheers from the crowd at the Wessex Truck Show, Yeovil, last Sunday, having run 328 miles over four days from Land’s End. The Westfield runner went without sleep, suffered blistering on his skin and had hallucinations through extreme fatigue whilst on the challenge, but the kindness of people around him and support from everyone at home boosted him over the finish line, whilst raising over £600 and spreading the word about the Coleford charity that does so much good for local families whose children are having to spend time in hospital.
Speaking to The Journal this week, John looked back over the challenge. “It was the most difficult I’ve ever done, mentally, running solo, the fatigue and sleep deprivation heightens everything. At points, I was hallucinating and seeing imaginary runners, I was running until I virtually dropped, taking on hill after hill.
“I was going into Saltash in the early hours of the morning and was so desperate for sleep, I could barely put one foot in front of the other. I found a couple of fields to try and crash for a power nap, but they had cattle in. Just outside the entrance to a farm, I found a patch of grass and decided to stop there. After about ten minutes, I was in the deepest of sleeps – it takes a while to come round from such sleep, but I suddenly woke up and thought ‘there’s something on top of me!’ It was jumping up and down and I thought I was hallucinating again until I realised it was a cockerel, marching up and down my body!”
As he came closer to home, John was joined by some of the local runners he trains on a weekly basis to keep him going. Some even found him in more remote places, such as Dartmoor, where he was joined by one runner and her daughters to keep his spirits high. There were difficult moments, and with extreme fatigue it was difficult for John to navigate, particularly in the dark, with a wrong turn costing him time and potentially meaning missed checkpoints that were keeping him on track for his Sunday finish. Pubs that were unexpectedly closed meant no food stops for fuel or places to refill water, and in such remote spots, sometimes it was another ten miles or more before he could get what he needed.
“It got so bad that at one point I sprinted to a pub and burst through the doors of this quiet country local, asked for two pints of shandy, six cans of coke and many bags of crisps – I think I gave the locals a bit of a shock!” John laughs. “It was so hot that after two days my clothes had begun to rub and I had many weeping sores that were so painful. I had to stop at a chemist and buy some antiseptic spray to stop them getting infected, and I think people thought I had invented a new form of running – after I’d sprayed that on, it was more like a jig! There’s also now a possible pasty shortage in Cornwall!
“I learnt a lot from this challenge in terms of planning and technique and saw some amazingly beautiful views and sunsets. Will (Thorp, Time is Precious Patron), met me just outside Yeovil with his partner, they were so pleased to be part of it – and I’m always glad to see Will. I did think he’d outrun me at one point though into the show ring, as waiting to make our entrance, he sat on an ants’ nest!
“It was the most incredible finish I’ve ever had with everyone clapping and cheering. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and made every step of the journey worth it.”
On Sunday evening, after he had finished celebrating, John couldn’t just stop – he had to let his body readjust, otherwise he could be at serious risk of organ failure. He was taking an hour-and-a-half sleep breaks and then going out to run for another hour each time.
He added: “I’m going to take nine months to let my body recover, as I’ve been pushing it for years. Of course I’ll keep running marathons and half marathons, but it will give me a chance to concentrate on the book I’m supposed to be writing and then plan something even more spectacular in 2018. I just want people to know that whatever happens to them in life, they can keep on going.
“Everyone’s messages kept me going – I read them all during breaks for food. At times in the middle of the night, I’d be running with tears in my eyes having read them all and it would keep me going.”
Speaking on behalf of the charity this week, Neil Halford, from Time is Precious, said: “We are extremely proud of John, and what he achieved, it was very emotional when he ran into the Showground for the finish. This was a huge challenge for him, with very hot and humid conditions and we were relieved when he completed it safely.
“We feel very fortunate to have John as a Patron of the charity and spreading the name of Time Is Precious across the whole of the South West, the area which we support.”