Snake Path 2: The Return
Problem: ‘Go Easy On Me Knees’
Video Game Mode: Co-Op: 2 Gamer
Gamer 1: Dai
Gamer 2: Ultra Nick

Hint style music. Some correct late 80s keyboard and synth Jingle jingle vibes …

With all video game follows up come brand-new characters, capabilities, enemies and brand-new methods of communicating with the environment. Essentially the playing concepts tend to stay the same. For that function the Snake Path supplies the platform for this follow up.

Back in 2018 I ran the snake path on what was rather honestly an extremely hot and bright day. That day I remembered my experience like a video game; I was the gamer and the sun was the pesky manager level character on the Snake Path. It was something I had in my head throughout the day as I ran the 100km from Haslemere to Petersfield, a type of side scrolling platform experience. 4 years later on I returned and this time it was a co-op mode with Nick being the brand-new ‘gamer 2 character’ assisting me to finish the range.

Unlike 2018 my ‘running character’ is extremely various. I feel the 2022 variation is a pumped up variation from the very first version in what was my 3rd 100km race. Metaphorically speaking of course and I’m considering running experience terms.

So here we go. Packing up the the follow up …

We camped at the goal in Petersfield Rugby club the night prior to and regretfully mistimed the food as there was absolutely nothing warm prepared (or anytime quickly) when we had actually established the camping tent. We did nevertheless discover a hamburger van after strolling over to a Gospel Celebration taking place even more along on the fields. A hamburger and 1.5 hotdogs implied it was a meat heavy little race preparation. I didn’t visualize it at the time, however this would show to be among the ‘video game opponents for me’.

4am we were awake and scrambling for toilets and sinks with the other runners prior to being rounded up onto 3 buses for the brief journey to Haslemere were we ‘d begin the level. Like 4 years previously, the start was as subtle as they come as all of us gathered in a little opening of lawn and we’re merely waved on our method by Tom the RD. The distinction this time was just that the field size was most likely 4 times what it was on my very first go. The race profile was undoubtedly growing– besides a bigger variety of individuals there are now a variety of various ranges to run over the weekend.

Level 1: Tree Tops

Unlike previously, I do not have a play by play of the miles from start to complete. This was quite, for me, a far simpler play than that very first time round. Maybe I did have it on ‘simple’ mode (and I was definitely considering conservation ahead of the next mountain occasion, the Eiger Ultra Path, in 2 weeks time!). However, playing 2 gamer mode definitely makes it simpler and the early miles simply zipped rather rapidly as I kept up the assistance from Nick. The course was likewise extremely familiar having actually run the very first 25miles of it simply a couple of weeks previously as part of our preparation. For much of the path you go through beautiful forest tracks with substantial trees and views over the Surrey Countryside.

Someplace early on in those very first 10 miles we satisfied Pete. It resembled another gamer placed his coins and pushed start to participate the enjoyable part method. After talking for a while he chose to stick to us instead of press on for his target time. Multi-player mode triggered like a great old made coin-op arcade video game! In between us we batted away all the early challenges the video game tossed at us. Little hills? No issue. Hot and sweaty? Not an issue. Rooty forest routes? No tipping over here! The good news is it was no place near as warm this year and total the playing conditions were extremely beneficial. With each help station we took a couple of minutes to refuel– in this follow up the health bar was recovered primarily with sandwiches. Jam sandwiches were my go to option at the help station. There were still no roast chickens smashed out of dustbins a la Steets Of Rage though!

From early on I did have my own individual fight throughout the day. Sort of like a side objective, as I fought with the ‘hamburger devil’ who tortured me through the majority of the race. Nevertheless, that’s not a character worth blogging about any more!

Petworth was a target and turning point for us. Our conserve video game zone. It would be the midway mark and where the story of the video game would alter as we might begin homing in on the surface. We ‘d checked off the ‘1/3 of the method’ mark and quickly enough we’re surrounding that 50km marker and heading towards the little town of Petworth. This was around the time I began clearly keeping in mind parts of the course. I began acknowledging indications, trees, lakes, particular views and all sorts of random things. I was keeping in mind where the course would go and what would follow. It was rather peaceful and taking pleasure in to remember the previous memories. The others were most likely fed up of me going “oh I remember this” …

Level 2: The Wall

Something I kept in mind prior to we got to Petworth was that there was what seemed like a never ever ending stretch of roadway along an enormous stone wall in Petworth (prior to the help station). It was longer than I remembered. This was an enemy that would sap your energy for sure as your mind would concentrate on the stones and curves of the wall for what seemed like an eternity. When we did reach the help station we were welcomed by the beaming smile (as constantly) from Dimi who took care of us as we took 15 minutes to refuel and recover. A friendly face is constantly a spirits booster!

For a brief while after Petworth we played as 4 when Pete’s bro in law, a Petworth regional, joined us for a couple of miles. The path rebooted with a charming climb through some open areas with unbelievable views. We then ran numerous kms through more of the beautiful forest routes consisting of a little additional when all of us missed out on an extremely outright indication on a downhill area and needed to back track as much as the path.

At this moment we were all sensation quite fantastic. We were over half method through and none people has any genuine concerns or issues. The energy was rather high and we were deep into discussions recuperating and forth. I especially liked the sentimental buzz of remembering the late night soft pornography television reveals from the early days of Channel 5 when we were all teens. Red Shoe Diaries anybody?!

Around 63km we satisfied Elise and Nick’s mum who provided us with cold beverages and food. It was a substantial increase and we were delighted to see them. It likewise brought another flashback to several years previously when a girl was outside the extremely exact same store providing runners with cold Coke. I can keep in mind how grateful I was for that in the heat of 2018!

Level 3: The grey roadways

The more we went, the more Pete wished for it to be over. He was still feeling great and strong and desired some roadway areas (he’s more keen on a roadway marathon than Nick and I). We concurred that he must press on whenever he seemed like it. He aspired to complete now. We likewise had a quick stop near some farm land as we awaited a herd of cows to, gradually, continue down the roadway we required to cross. Each took a look at is inm a grateful and baffled method, maybe curious regarding what we were up too. It resembled the technical part of a video game were you require to time your relocation perfect to prevent getting captured out in some way. we definitely didn’t desire a herd of livestock switching on us!

Through more help stations we went and after that we saw Elise and Nick’s mum once again at 83km. At the Midhurst aidstation with not far delegated run. They came here prepared with McDonald’s chips and nuggets. It was remarkable, a cheat code for a complete health refuel! The volunteer chuckled when I denied the jam sandwiches due to the fact that I had chicken nuggets. She didn’t think me and believed I was joking. There was one runner here who was looking a little even worse for wear and going through some knee problems. However she came through behind us and left prior to us, figured out to persevere and assuring everybody she was okay. We removed a couple of minutes later on and nearly instantly Nick began to suffer. In video game speak, he took some type of important combination hit and suffered a from a normal runner’s character weak point– blisters. He had actually been suffering aching feet for a little while and now they were beginning to impact him.

This leg of the path was carefully undulating and we strolled and ran in equivalent procedures. We were at a cross roadways where the discomfort injures more when strolling, however the legs were tired out and didn’t wish to run as much. Nick powered on. I was continuously impressed that we didn’t overtake the woman who was hopping till nearly the penultimate checkpoint nearly 7 miles later on. She was strong and focused!

As we started to strike the roadway areas, Pete now avoided at a quicker speed at this moment. He likewise had a hectic night ahead with getting house to his household post race. The roadways were long, straight and likely ever so carefully. in the passing away light they were grey and the charm of the path began to leave us. At the next checkpoint Nick sat. He placed it right in front of the aidstation table, as if talking to the volunteers behind it. All of us chuckled and I buffooned his suffering whilst consuming lollipops.

Last Level. The Petersfield loop

After a while he discovered the strength to get up and keep going therefore, with powerups and a health top up, we continued to the end of the world to the end. This was it now. say goodbye to lives or conserve slots nor continues. When possibility to attack and finish the last level: 2 brief areas were all that stayed now, separated by a little help station simply a couple of miles from the surface. We remembered the last couple of kms from a current recce and taken pleasure in (sort of) the mild modification of surface to the flat roadway areas. I believe this assisted Nick’s feet a little in addition to supplying the self-confidence that the surface was specific to take place.

As we left the path I inspected the watch. We had simply under 20mins to finish the last 2kms and surface in under 15 hours. I put it to Nick and he mored than happy to get the speed. So I did. Most likely excessive and I entered the groove and we simply kept running. The long loop around the rugby club, into the riverside course at the back. We pounded the roadways and after that the tree lined course. Simply a 100m from the surface, prior to emerging into the field, Nick required a break. He was invested from the increasing effort. So we stopped, captured our breathe, and composed ourselves prior to ending up the journey to the cheers of the fans at the goal. Obviously the loudest of them all were Elise and Nicks mum.

Relief cleaned over us as completion credits began to roll. After a fast present for Phil to take our images and sweaty hugs all round, we were delighted to get directly in the cars and truck and head house to our beds (provided the clubhouse showers had actually been closed (whhyyy?!)).

Therefore, like lot of times previously, I have actually been fortunate to be there by Nick’s side as he presses his borders and reveals what he can. It’s a terrific sensation to keep up your mate and see them accomplish. And obviously, it’s constantly pleasurable to view them suffer simply as you have actually done yourself!