After my ‘confusion’ over the route description on Day 1, and the fact that at 35.5 miles today was nearly twice as far, I wasn’t really looking forward to it. However, it needed to be done now rather than having the frustration of going wrong on the actual event when the clock was ticking.

Luckily, there was a bus stop outside the B&B that would get me to the start in Aldeburgh (in 1.5 hours), then the finish at Woodbridge was only 5 miles away and ‘taxiable’ if I missed the last bus at 7:10pm. Anything was possible in terms of how long it would take.

So I arrived in Aldeburgh at 8:10am, greeted by more grey skies, a temperature of 10 degrees and a slight tailwind, so good running conditions. The first thing was to plan ahead, so I called into the Co-op for a Meal Deal lunch for later.

The first part of the route followed the Sailor’s Path along woodland trails and then a boardwalk amongst the reeds across Snape Marshes to Snape Maltings, famous for the Concert Hall established by Benjamin Britten.

I pushed on through quintessential Suffolk landscapes with thatched cottages, some of which are painted Suffolk pink.

Leaving Sudbourne, I got nervous as the route took me into another woodland, where navigation has been tricky and, yes, was tricky again. However this time I managed to find my way out on the right gravel track fairly quickly. A bit further on as I approached Chillisford, I encountered my first (and only) recceers of the day; three people from East Lancs. After the usual exchanges about where we’re from, what we’re doing and how we’re finding it, I cracked on.

With it’s church ruins, castle and scenic River Alde, Orford is a lovely little village, deserving of more of my time, but I’m pleased to have at least seen it in daylight. I had an opportunity to stop at a teashop on the estuary, but declined, a decision that I would regret later.

The route then took me out towards Hollesley and my fear of going wrong came back as I couldn’t find a ‘left turn through a rough / sparse hedge into woodland’. What I didn’t know at the time is that Hollesley is known for HMP Hollesley and Young Offenders Institute and that is where I emerged, with lots of young offenders milling round. Rather than ask, I consulted Google maps on the quickest road to the Hollesley checkpoint, passing several ‘Out of Bounds’ signs on the way. I need to get this sorted before the event.

Leaving Hollesley eating the last of my food it was getting colder and I was slowing, although I had at least been able to refill my water at an outside tap at one of the many closed pubs. From previous trips I know Suffolk is famous for its turf ‘farms’ and seeing another field of finely cut grass is unusual (for me), although remote watering of crops is becoming increasingly more common.

With more frequent and longer energy sapping, sandy tracks, I was getting tired physically and mentally and could have quite easily laid down for a ‘power nap’. And my spirits sank further when a warning in the RD about a diversion around ‘footpath repairs’ at Ferry Cliff alongside the River Deben, was verified by a notice on a gate, with a poorly reference map. Being miles from anywhere left me no choice but to carry on regardless which proved to be the right choice as the works had finished, but the notice had not been removed.

Passing through Sutton Hoo, the famous Anglo-Saxon burial ground took me down to Wilford Bridge over the River Deben and along the waterfront passing boatyards, HMS Vale and houseboats into Woodbridge for @5:45pm. I had done @73,000 steps.

Conveniently I came across the Woodyard Pizza restaurant on Woodbridge Waterfront just before it got busy which provided a much needed meal in advance of getting the bus back to the B&B.

It had been a tough day but I had now broken the back of the training. I had been reminded of the importance of regular food and water and the need to be rested and fresh for the event. On retiring for the night my lower legs and feet were swollen remedied by compression socks. This is why I would be switching to a larger pair of running shoes tomorrow to accommodate my slightly swollen feet. I would be wearing them for the second half of the event.