Tales from the Two Oceans

[Sweder]

It was an April morning when they told us we should go
As I turned to you, you smiled at me
How could we say no?

With all the fun to have, to live the dreams we always had
Oh, the songs to sing, when we at last return again . . .

Achillies Last Stand, Led Zeppelin

So the time has arrived. The work is done, the miles banked, the sweat shed. Fourteen months in the planning, Paris to qualify, Steyning to prepare. Muscles stretched, pounded, stretched again, injuries sustained, patched up, ignored. All this behind; ahead? A journey.

Fifty-six gut-wrenching, leg-sapping kilometres.
Thirty-four-point-eight unforgiving miles.
Six hours sweat in cold and heat.
Four friends in common aim.
Two Oceans.
One shot.