27.08.24

I arrived back in the office to a card from my colleagues that read “Congratulations, you’ve done it, now shut up about it”. So, I’ll be brief.

Most importantly, we’ve smashed the £10k target for YANA. Thank you to everyone who contributed. The generosity of our Members, suppliers and my AF colleagues has been humbling and heartening.

About 2,600 people entered the race, but only 60 in my age group of 60-64. I completed the course in 12 hrs 40 mins.

The swim took place in a soulless lagoon near the airport, but it was calm. I thought I’d mastered my irrational fear of crowded open water swimming, but I hadn’t, and for a few minutes I panicked and thought of quitting. I pulled myself together and thrashed my way to the shore in one of the slowest times of the day; 1 hr 39 mins.

The bike ride was much better. The course took us out along the coast and the gently rolling Danish countryside, which looked remarkably familiar.  At the halfway point we passed the still-smouldering wreck of a New Holland combine, a surreal reminder of work and home. The bike ride took 5 hrs and 51 mins, averaging 30 km/h.

The marathon was 4 laps of the city, out to the docks and back to the centre. The first lap was painful as legs adjusted after the cycling, but it eased and at the halfway point the race was almost enjoyable. The last lap was a plod and although I thought I was running, the video shows me waddling across the line in 5hrs 43mins.  

Copenhagen is a beautiful city, and the race coincided wonderfully with Pride weekend. The encouragement from spectators was relentless and uplifting. The training paid off, there appears to be no permanent damage, my support team was impressed by the cleanliness and friendliness of city, and everything still works.

YANA is a brilliant charity that does great work for the farming community, I am sincerely grateful to everyone who has donated. Thank you.  

The end, no more, I promise.

David Horton-Fawkes AF CEO

execoffice@af.farm 01603 881 881