Ultra Tales Issue 06

Issue 06 | May 2013 | www.ultratales.com

A lone runner !nishes the South Downs Way 50 eventPhotograph | Centurion Running

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ULTR A TALES CONTENTSM AY 2 0 1 3 | I S S U E 0 6

ULTRA TALES NEWS2 Contents3 Editorial4 News & Results236 Next Issue

MARCH EVENT REPORTS13 White Cli!s 5016 Trans Gran Canaria20 Green Man Ultra28 Haworth Hobble37 D3340 Sussex Coastal Ultra45 Hardmoors 5553 Exmoor Ultra58 Thames Path 100105 Northburn 100119 Black Mountains132 Viking Way147 Perth 100km

APRIL EVENT REPORTS156 Compton Challenge167 Cotswold Ultra172 CTS Exmoor Ultra185 South Downs Way 50201 2 Oceans Marathon207 Evesham Ultra212 Highland Fling225 The Fellsman

RUNNERS PROFILES25 Luke Ashton42 Haydn Johnson103 Chris Edmonds116 Mark Burnell152 Sarah Gardner-Hall164 Gary Vernon176 James Stewart

ARTICLES35 Training Buddies56 Pre-Race Preparation123 The Road to Sparta180 Ultra Tales205 Torq Training Day233 Marathon Roundup

45 HARDMOORS 55

58 THAMES PATH 100

212 HIGHL AND FLING

123 THE ROAD TO SPAR TA

PHOTOGRAPH | TZRUNS / IAN J BERRY

PHOTOGRAPH | LINDLEY CHAMBERS / SUE ALBISTON

PHOTOGRAPH | CENTURION RUNNING

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Well here we are 12 months and around 5,000 downloads later we have reached Ultra Tales' !rst birthday!

For those people who may be new readers of Ultra Tales I have written a short article in this issue providing a brief history of the electronic magazine.

To help celebrate our birthday, our sponsors the www.ULTRAmarathonRunningStore.com have kindly donated an UltraAspire Spry pack as a competition prize to an Ultra Tales reader. Please keep an eye on the Ultra Tales Facebook page for details of how you could be in with a chance of winning this prize.

Thanks for the positive feedback we received on the new look we introduced in the last issue, the more image-based magazine-style look appears to have gone down well. We will be sticking with this look for the foreseeable future but will continue to tweak and polish the e-zine where appropriate.

We have another issue packed with content covering primarily UK Ultra event reports from March and April. The weather has quite frankly continued to be ridiculous as you will see from event reports describing harsh cold winds and freezing temperatures to inclement weather and "ooding and even some mention of nice sunshine and warmth (admittedly it was only for a short period). Once again thanks to everyone who has contributed articles or photos for this issue.

We are also introducing a new articles feature, where di#erent people have kindly agreed to write an article on a di#erent subject; Mimi Anderson, Andy Mouncey and I have kicked o# the feature this issue and we hope a few more people will volunteer to write something for future issues, the choice of subject is your own!

On a personal note, my entry for Spartathlon has been con!rmed and I will be joining 30-odd other British runners in September taking part in one of the toughest but purest footraces around in the hope of kissing the foot of the statue of Leonidas at the !nish.

For me, this event is way outside the comfort zone. There are no guarantees of a !nish here and no hiding places on this journey and so I have decided to write a series of articles over the next few issues describing my training, preparation and eventually the outcome of the race, whether it ends in success or failure. The !rst article in "The Road to Sparta" series is in this issue.

As ever, thanks for downloading and reading Ultra Tales. If you would like to contribute or provide feedback on the e-zine then please let us know, our contact details are below.

Paul @ultraavon

Happy 1st Birthday!

ULTR A TALES EDITORIAL

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ULTR A TALES NE WS & RESULTS

MARCH UK ULTRA RESULTS

White Cli!s 50 & 100m

There were 23 starters on the White Cli!s 100 and 10 "nishers. The winner Adam Rackley, "nished in a fantastic 24 hours 56 minutes (there were no female "nishers).

There were 52 starters on the White Cli!s 50 of which 41 "nished. The "rst male, and overall winner, was Lee Kemp who "nished in 9 hours 8 minutes and the "rst female, Tara Taylor, "nished in 12 hours 10 minutes. A race report from Giles Tollit is containted in this issue of Ultra Tales.

Website: http://ultra-trails.com/portfolio/white-cli!s-ultra-trails/

Green Man Ultra

With two weeks to go to the start of the Green Man Ultra 2013 organisers were getting a little concerned with the course conditions and accessibility. But with a break in the wet weather and some cold days to "rm up the ground, March 2nd turned out to be almost perfect race conditions.

Over 100 entrants took part with last year’s winner Darryl Carter "ghting o! injury to win again in a new record time of 6 hours 35 minutes (report in

this issue), knocking a staggering 43 minutes of his previous record.

With some incredibly fast times, the next 8 "nishers arriving home with only 15 minutes between them all. In 7th and taking the Ladies title with a new course record of 8 hours 3 minutes was Lynette Porter.

Website: http://www.ultrarunningltd.co.uk/green-man-ultra.html

Haworth Hobble

The 2013 Haworth Hobble was won by Duncan Harris in a time of 4hrs 22min who narrowly beat second place Toby Evans by a few seconds.

The "rst female solo "nisher was Josie Greenhalgh in 5hrs 22mins and the "rst team "nish was by the pairing of Anthony Gerundi and Cath Wood in 4hrs 58 mins with the last of the 320 "nishers arrived back in 10hrs 58mins. Reports from Darren Barnes and Richard Gordon are included in this issue.

Website: http://kcac.co.uk/kcac-events/haworth-hobble/

Have any news to report? Email us at [email protected]



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ULTR A TALES NE WS & RESULTSHave any news to report? Email us at [email protected]

D33 Ultra

The concept is simple, turn up at the Duthie park car park in Aberdeen and register and run the "rst section of the Deeside way to Banchory, check in with marshall, turn round and run back.

The winner in this the 4th running of the event was Craig Cunningham in 3:46:08 and "rst female was Rebecca Johnson in 4:02:36 for 9th overall

An event report is provided by James Stewart (pictured above) in this issue.

Website: http://deesidewayultra.webnode.com

Sussex Coastal Ultra

Paul Navasey was the 1st male home in the Endurancelife Sussex Coastal Ultra "nising in a time of 4hrs 58mins. Susie Casebourne was the 1st female "nisher (3rd overall) in a time of 5hrs 18mins.

Paul's race report is contained in this issue.

Website: www.endurancelife.com

Hardmoors 55

Like most events in the "rst third of 2013 the 148 Hardmoor 55 competitors had to endure some pretty tough conditions on the 23rd March.

Well done to Duncan Harris taking the win in 8hrs 33mins and "rst female Shelli Morgan in 9hrs 59mins.

Event reports provided by Phil Owen and Aaron Gourley in this issue.

Website: www.hardmoors110.org.uk




http://deesidewayultra.webnode.com

http://www.endurancelife.com

http://www.hardmoors110.org.uk



Exmoor Ultra

Matthew Bisco was the 1st of 42 runners to "nish Adventure Hub's Exmoor Ultra in a time of 7hrs 22mins. Second place and 1st female was Jo Meek with a strong performance in a time of 7hrs 45mins.

Report from Kurt Dusterho! in this issue.

Website: http://www.adventurehub.com

Black Mountains Ultra

The 23rd March saw both the The Welsh Ultra Running and Trail Marathon Series kick o! with what should have been a 33 mile Ultra and Half Marathon respectively. The weather had di!erent ideas and with heavy snow, gale force winds and conditions on the high ground providing an interesting challenge the decision was taken to move to a contingency route. Any initial disappointment was replaced with understanding once the athletes had experienced the conditions on the "rst climb. Despite the shorter course the 128 athletes who started will testify to the size of the challenge. This will be one of those 'remember when' events.

The winner was Mark Palmer in 3hrs 39mins with the "rst female being Katie Roby in 4hrs 43mins. Report from Guy Mawson in this issue.

Website: http://www.mightcontainnuts.com

Thames Path 100

Extreme #ooding caused this years event to be held over the "rst 38 miles of the course followed by a series of out and backs. A superb e!ort by the organisers made sure the race went ahead at the planned distance.

Martin Bacon, who'd delved in to his wealth of 100 mile experience to push through and "nally elevate himself from regular podium placer, to champion in a time of 18hrs 10mins.

Mimi Anderson the previous Ladies champion su!ered with some issues early on and unfortunately dropped, leaving the door open for Debbie Martin Consani to push out alone at the front all day for the win the ladies event in 19hrs 9mins. We have several race reports this issue from a range of Thames Path runners.

Website: www.centurionrunning.com

Perth 50k/100kIreland’s Dan Doherty was the winner of the 100km race, running a well judged race to record a new PB of 7 hours 5 minutes 23 seconds, narrowly missing Thomas Maguire’s Irish 100k record by 17 seconds. Wales’s Emily Gelder (Dulwich Runners) was a comfortable women’s winner in 8hrs 16mins to claim a remarkable 4th successive GB 100km crown.

Paul Fernandez (Abingdon) in 3hrs 4mins and Sue Harrison (Leamington) 3hrs 41mins were both comfortable winners of the accompanying 50km




http://www.adventurehub.com

http://www.mightcontainnuts.com

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race. Report from Helen James this issue.

Website: http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org

Viking Way Ultra

The Viking Way Ultra is a non-stop 147 mile ultramarathon that starts near the Humber Bridge. The course makes its way across the Lincolnshire wolds and "nishes at Oakham. The route has 2,295m of ascent and has to be completed within 40 hours. This year, the second running of the event took place March 30th and saw 30 starters and 6 "nishers.

The "rst person home was Lee Brazel in 36:05 , just half an hour ahead of Sam Robson who has written a good race report in this issue. There were only two female entrants but they were among the 24 DNF’s that characterise this event as being a very tough challenge.

Website: http://www.vikingwayultra.com

High Peak Marathon

This year’s event avoid the usual bog-slogging conditions and teams of competitors enjoy trend bucking perfect conditions. This resulted in record breaking times in all categories.

First team home was Flippers Gang in 7hrs 51mins.

Website: http://highpeakclub.union.shef.ac.uk/hpm

APRIL UK ULTRA RESULTS Dawn to Dusk

Describing it’s self as under hyped and aimed soley at those with good mountain running and ‘hill skills‘. This no tame trail race and navigation skills will be required.

This year’s winner was Kim Collinson in 7hrs 59mins and "rst female and 2nd overall was Jasmin Paris in 8hrs 23mins.

Website: http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn/

Compton Challenge

The Compton Challenge event was re-routed this year due to some minor #ooding on parts of the course and involved 2 x 20 mile o!-road laps around the trails and hills of the surrounding Compton area.

1st home and male winner was John Ward in a time of 5hrs 2mins and second overall and 1st female was Holly Rush a few minutes behind in a time of 5hrs 10mins. Event report from Paul Ali in this issue.

Website: www.comptonharriers.org.uk




http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org

http://www.vikingwayultra.com

http://highpeakclub.union.shef.ac.uk/hpm

http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn/

http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn/

http://www.comptonharriers.org.uk



Cotswold Ultra

James Poole was the overall winner of XNRG's Cotswold Multi-Stage Ultra. James "nished in a combined time over two days of 9hrs 40mins. Emily Millington was 3rd overall and 1st Female "nisher in a combined time of 11hrs 7mins and her report is contained in this issue.

Website: www.xnrg.co.uk

South Downs Way 50

A new addition to the calendar this race give runners the opportunity to see the stunning scenery on route and recce the last part of the forthcoming South Downs Way 100 event.

The winner was Mark Perkins in 6hrs 55mins (report in this issue) in at times some extreme conditions.

Emily Canvin was able to take advantage of her smooth path to the "nish to win in 8hrs 23mins averaging just over 10 minute miles for 50 miles of rough trails/ weather and 4800ft of climb, a superb e!ort.

Website: www.centurionrunning.com

Evesham Ultra

Robbie Britton won the Evesham Ultra in a time of 6hrs 47mins and his report is in this issue of Ultra Tales. Running her "rst Ultramarathon, Stroud AC's Hayley Stockwell was "rst lady in a time of 8hrs 47mins.

Website: www.http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk/page16.htm




http://www.xnrg.co.uk


www.http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk/page16.htm

www.http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk/page16.htm



The Long Run Podcast

The Long Run is a podcast of running long... Be it 1 mile or 100 miles, any distance can be long.

The hosts (Isreal and Emily) are a duo of trail and ultramarathon

runners who train in the UK and compete in

races of any distance from 1 mile ....no limits.

For further details, please visit the following website:

http://thelongrunpodcast.com

Competition Result Congratulations to Sam Robson and Chris Denison

who each won a pair of Injinji 2.0 Performance Socks

courtesy of the

www.ULTRAmarathonRunningStore.com for submitting

an article for Issue 5 of Ultra Tales.

Chris has kindly sent us this picture of him (his feet)

wearing his prize!

Highland Fling

The 8th running of the HOKA Highland Fling took place on Saturday 27th April. The race is held over the 53 mile stretch of the West Highland Way. The conditions were described as perfect on the day for the 500 runners to took part in the event.

Lee Kemp was 1st Male in a time of 7hrs 3mins and Tracy Dean was 1st Lady in a time of 9hrs 12mins.

Event report provided by Kurt Dusterho! in this issue.

W e b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w . z e n 3 1 0 1 0 . z e n . c o . u k /highland# ingrace/

The Fellsman

The 51st Fellsman took place over the weekend of the 27th-28th April with 402 starters aiming to complete the 61 mile route with 11,000 feet in elevation.

Adam Perry was the "rst person home in 10hrs 34mins moments ahead of team mate Ian Phillips in 10hrs 35 mins.

Website: http://www.fellsman.org.uk/?page_id=312




http://thelongrunpodcast.com

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http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/highlandflingrace/


http://www.fellsman.org.uk/?page_id=312




"Feet in the Clouds" Book Re-release

This May sees the re-issue of R i c h a r d A s k w i t h ’ s c l a s s i c running book , Feet in the C l o u d s , w i t h a n e w introduction from bestselling author Robert MacFarlane, and all-new epilogue from Richard Askwith.

The concept of fell-running is simple: it ’s a sport that involves r u n n i n g o ve r m o u n t a i n s – somet imes one, somet imes m a n y. I t ’s a l s o i m m e n s e l y

demanding. In this book, Richard Askwith explores the world of fell-running in the only legitimate way: by donning his Ron Hill vest and studded shoes to spend a season running as many of the great fell races as he can: an arduous schedule that tests the very limits of one’s stamina and courage. As well as meeting the greats of fell-running, Askwith’s obsession drives him to attempt the ultimate challenge: the Bob Graham Round – a non-stop circuit of 42 of the Lake District ’s highest peaks to be completed within 24 hours.

This is a portrait of one of the few sports to have remained utterly true to its roots – in which the point is not fame or fortune but to run the ancient, wild landscape, and to be a hero, if at all, within one’s own valley. Feet in the Clouds is a chronicle of a masochistic but admirable sporting obsession, an insight into one of the oldest extreme sports, and a lyrical tribute to Britain’s mountains and the men and women who live among them.

Feet in the Clouds: A Tale of Fell-Running and Obsession

By Richard Askwith | Aurum Press | £8.99 paperback

Published on the 9th of May: available in all good bookshops and online.

British Trail Running Podcast

The British Trail Running Podcast is a new show looking to promote grass roots trail, ultra and fell running throughout the UK.

Each show will be a dedicated to a UK

event and will feature interviews with runners of UK events.

Episode 1 was released in April and is dedicated to the Hardmoors Series of races and includes interviews with Jon Steele(Race Director) and his partner in crime Shirley Colquhoun. David Coxon provides an overview of his recent HM55 experiences and taking part in the Allendale Challenge.

Episode 2 is going to be dedicated to the Bob Graham Round and will be out in Mid May.

For further information about the podcast please go to website or Facebook page at:

http://www.trailrunner.org.uk/The-Podcast

https://www.facebook.com/TheBritishTrailRunningPodcast

Readers Competitions! Please keep an eye on the Ultra Tales Facebook

Page www.facebook.com/ultratales in May 2013

for details of 3 readers competitions including the

chance to win an

UltraAspire Race Vest courtesy of the

ULTRAmarathonRunningStore.com











Feet of Endurance are proud to present the UK's "rst ultrarunning holiday camp - the CenterParcs Slog Ultramarathon Weekend!

An ultra getaway for all the family!

Bring the whole family to the UK's award-winning CenterParcs holiday park in Elveden Forest. With myriad activities for people of all ages, this weekend is not limited to runners. It's a social event for everybody.

Take in a round of golf, learn to "re a crossbow, swing through the trees like a monkey, relax in the Aqua Sana spa, or ride the rapids in the Sub-Tropical Swimming Paradise.

It wouldn't be an ultramarathon weekend without an ultramarathon!

Saturday 9th November will see the inaugural running of the CenterParcs Slog Ultramarathon, a 10.5 hour looped race around the forest trails surrounding the CenterParcs site. This time frame was selected to allow runners interested in an entry to Spartathlon the opportunity to clock an o$cial qualifying 100 Km time.

Join us for the gala event of the UK Ultrarunning season!

Don your party frocks (running shoes optional) and come celebrate an end to the season. The evening will consist of a 3-course meal, presentation of the awards for the top UK ultrarunners of

2013, and entertainment throughout the evening.

With inspiring talks from Mimi Anderson and James Adams (two of the most inspiring runners in the UK), a charity ra%e with many fantastic prizes available to raise money for the Epilepsy Society, and music and dancing into the night.

And you may even learn something!

Sunday 10th November will see a series of seminars aimed at ultrarunners to help you improve your running. Mark Hines will lead a discussion on optimising nutrition; what, when, and how to eat. James Elson from Centurion Running Coaching will discuss training for race day performance. Richard Felton from Profeet will discuss key training approaches to reduce injuries. The Ultra Marathon Running Store will be on hand to discuss equipment selection. And Rory Coleman will discuss hints and tips for multi-day events like the Marathon des Sables. In addition, we will have representatives from several top brands showing o! their wares and providing people with advice.

Sign up now!

To register today or for more information, please go to our website at www.feetofendurance.com. Places are limited so sign up soon to reserve your place and avoid disappointment (£50 per person deposit required)!

Follow us on Twitter (@feetofendurance) and like us on Facebook for further updates.




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MARCH EVENT REPORTS

MARCH 2013 EVENTSWhite Cli!s 50 | Giles TollitTrans Gran Canaria | Kris Du!yGreen Man Ultra |Daz CarterHaworth Hobble| Darren Barnes, Richard GordonD33 Ultra | James StewartHardmoors 55 | Phil OwenThames Path 100 | Paul Ali, Alistair Mitchell, Chris Edmonds, Debbie Martin-Consani, Ewan Dunlop, Ken Hughes, Luke Ashton, Matt Dunn, Richard Ashton & Centurion RunningSussex Coastal Ultra | Paul NavaseyNorthburn 100 | James AdamsBlack Mountains Ultra | Guy MawsonViking Way Ultra | Sam Robson, Lindley ChambersPerth 100km | Helen James2 Oceans Marathon | Chris DenisonExmoor Ultra | Kurt Dusterho!

PIC TURE FROM THE VIKING WAY ULTRAPHOTOGRAPH | PAUL RHOADES ( WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK)



http://WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK


RACE ORGANISER | ULTRA TRAILSEVENT REPORTS | GILES TOLLIT

WHITE CLIFFS 50

White Cli!s 50Race Organiser: Ultra TrailsWebsite Link: http://ultra-trails.com/white-cli!s-50/Date of Event: 2nd March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 53 milesLocation: Oxford to HenleyStart Time: 9am, 15hr Cut O!Description: Starts at Lympne following a trail route over the White Cli!s of Dover and along the coast towards Kingsdown before taking the North Downs Way up towards Canterbury and then down through the Elham Valley and back to the "nish in Lympne.

Race Results: http://ultra-trails.com/results/

GILES TOLLIT PIC TURED DURING THE WHITE CLIFFS 50 EVENTPHOTOGRAPH | GRANT BURTON PHOTOGRAPHY



http://ultra-trails.com/white-cliffs-50/

http://ultra-trails.com/results/

GILES PIC TURED DURING THE RUNPHOTOGRAPH | GRANT BURTON PHOTOGRAPHY

WHITE CLIFFS 50BY GILES TOLLIT


E VENT REPOR T WHITE CLIFFS 50

My last two races have been the Tour de Helvellyn and the Frostbite 50 on the North York Moors, so going into the weekend, I had reckoned that this non-mountainous, snow-free course would be one of my faster outings of the winter and, with a reasonable taper over the ten days before it, I wondered if sub-11 was possible for the 50 miles: I certainly had more of a racing head on than wanting simply to enjoy it as a training run.

In the end, it turned out to be rather tougher than I had thought: we probably all follow the superstar runners on the dusty trails of the US or the snowy climbs in Europe, but we shouldn’t underestimate the unique challenges of the great British countryside: stiles, bridleways used by 4x4s, more stiles, untamed woods, even more stiles and the one surface that we all dread, the ploughed !eld.

From Lympne, (pronounced Limm, I am reliably told, but immediately renamed Limp in our family) just over ! fty started in the cold at 0900 and two minutes later half of us missed the !rst turn and so ended up at the back of the !eld as we slid and fell

down the hillside path towards the Royal Military Canal. The issue in all our minds then was how fast to be along the "at towpath into Hythe. I pushed hard enough to move up through the !eld, perhaps as far as the top ten: I do think that it pays to be

Giles Tollit

White Cli!s 50 ResultsFinish Time13hrs 5mins

Finish Position:16/41 Finishers (11 DNF)




E VENT REPOR T WHITE CLIFFS 50

surrounded by the faster runners, as it’s easy to settle into a slower pace too quickly. In fact, I’ve been working on being less social and more focused in my races this year, so apologies if you’ve been on the receiving end of that!

A little navigational relocation was required by a number of us just before the !rst checkpoint (sorry, guys), so there was still quite a bunch moving around as the route headed up past the white horse carving above the Channel Tunnel and onto the cli$-top path overlooking Folkestone.

From that point, however, the race pretty much settled down and I played leapfrog with a group of three, which included the leading lady, for much of the next twenty miles. The sea views were interrupted by some amazing military archaeology, lighthouses and some running through the streets of Dover, where we weaved through parties of slightly bemused tourists. At Kingsdown we turned inland and a checkpoint in the village hall gave us a chance to reset ourselves. I was on my own as I left, heading out now through woods, wide !elds and some lovely villages, and passed through 26.2 miles just past the !ve hour mark: all good stu$. Unfortunately, this was where things started to go wrong for me. It might have been that co$ee, or it might not, but over the next !ve miles I sank into the biggest black hole of general misery that I have yet had in a race. Everything below my waist was painful but, more signi!cantly, I was gradually allowing my brain to talk me out of the whole thing: if there had been a CP in that section, I might well have dropped. I was still moving, but suddenly slowing, and it was only slightly smoother navigation that kept me in touch with the trio I had been with.

They did pull away and then another pair of runners caught me; realising that stress levels were going o$ the scale, it was time for an enforced stop. Five minutes to regain a sense of perspective and refuel (although I'm not sure that was an issue), put a new spring in my step and I set o$ hoping to catch up. In fact my mood swung completely the other way so not only did the occasional group of ramblers !nd me greeting them like long-lost friends but all the cows got a wave too: I am sure we’ve all been there! I was making reasonable time and at least thought that those ahead were not pulling away. It was all

country paths and lanes until a short stretch alongside the A2 rather changed the mood, before the course dropped down into the penultimate CP at Kingston. The rest of the family were there to see me, which was great, but also the !ve runners who were ahead of me, just zipping up their extra layers and testing headtorches. Looking back now, jumping into that group with a very quick turnaround at the CP would have made a big di$erence, but at the time I was buoyed by how close I had got to them. As it was, it was far better to talk to Molly and the boys and have some tea and cake.

So, two legs and some 15 miles to go along the Elham Valley Way, and I set o$ quite sure that I could track down those in front. A long section of lane took me into the wooded hills as night fell, and then the route headed o$ onto smaller paths. Agh! Fallen trees, "ooded !elds, molehills, unclear paths: everything seemed to conspire to slow me down and I never as much as got a glimpse of headtorches ahead. In and out of the !nal checkpoint, some riverside running, across a golf course and one last pull up and over the high point of the day: no tell-tale lights ahead, nor any behind. This, and the thought of only another 5 miles or so to go, lulled me into thinking it was all but done, then a horrid section of rutted path and more confusing woodland awaited, before eventually I broke into some "atter running across the !elds back into Lympne. The end came soon enough, and I was feeling reasonably good, but I had not had the best of the last few hours. I crossed the line after 57 miles (advertised as 53) in 16th place after 13hrs and 5min. So, mixed feelings about what was a great event. There are several positives to take away from this, though: a very dramatic demonstration of how bad it can get, but also what to do about it and I was pleased with my good navigation, hydration and nutrition. I had a faster pace going during the day (my marathon in 5hr7m was an hour faster than in Yorkshire, although the lack of knee-deep snow might have been a factor) but the luck of the draw was not in my favour at night: if I had been able to stick with a group I would certainly have !nished more strongly. All good experience, though, and that's a 60km and two 50-milers in ten weeks! Many thanks to the Saxon Shore team for putting on this new race, which proved to be a real challenge.




RACE ORGANISER | ARISTA EVENTSEVENT REPORTS | KRIS DUFFY

TRANS GRAN CANARIA

Trans Gran CanariaRace Organiser: Arista EventsWebsite Link: www.transgrancanaria.netDate of Event: 2nd March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 119kmLocation: Gran CanariaStart Time: 12 midnight, 31 hr cut o! .Description: A 119km run across the island of Gran Canaria with 7000m of elevation be to completed within a 31 hour cut o! .

Race Results: http://www.transgrancanaria.net/"chs/"ch_472.htm

LIBRARY PHOTOGRAPH | NEIL BRYANT



http://www.transgrancanaria.net

http://www.transgrancanaria.net/fichs/fich_472.htm

http://www.transgrancanaria.net/fichs/fich_472.htm

KRIS (LEFT ) PIC TURED AT THE START OF THE EVENT

TRANS GRAN CANARIABY KRIS DUFFY


E VENT REPOR T

The race was 10 days ago and it’s left me long enough to think it through. Whilst I always run as much as possible of every race, taking photos slows me a little and with no photos to take I was amazed to !nish in 65th.

My lasting memories- Meeting some great people, notably Michael, Charlie and her boyfriend Ian. Michael had decided he didn’t want to lose any weight (I think) as he had enough food on him to feed half the villages we ran though. I forgot to ask him how satisfying a cold tin of beans was at mile 50, I’m guessing though that they were probably quite nice, such is the basic level of existance running brings you back to.

- The course runs literally straight up at the start, from sea level to 1200m and by half way up I could see a few lights twinkling at the top which would have been The Frenchman Sebastien Chaigneau (!nish time 14 hours, 5 minutes), Oier Ibarbia (14:30:53) and third place Canarian Yeray Durán (15:03:24), amazing they were up there so fast. I had an awesome view looking back at all torch

lights weaving up the mountain side, I was really looking forward to this view and it didn’t disappoint. Really an incredible sight coupled with the start line music you could still hear echoing around the mountain sides. At 10K, 1200m up was a very very loud checkpoint, the organisers had a

Kris DuffyBlogwww.kristhehungryrunner.w

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Trans Gran Canaria ResultFinish Time20hrs 0mins

Finish Position:65/265 Finishers

TR ANS GR AN C ANARIA



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E VENT REPOR T TR ANS GR AN C ANARIA

competition on ‘who could provide the best checkpoint’ and this one was pumping with music, lots of helpers and awesome smiles everywhere – seriously, it’s 2 o’clock in the morning, mist at the top of the mountain, loud music, food, laughter, fun and sense of achievement already – what an awesome moment. I do think it was the best aid station looking back, although the weirdest must have been the full Shrek out!t someone was randomly wearing at the top of a later peak. I didn’t quite know what to do other than give it a high !ve.

"..the weirdest must have been the full Shrek out!t someone was randomly

wearing at the top of a later peak. I didn’t quite know

what to do other than give it a high !ve"

I think Michael tried to hug it, but he was probably a little over excited which seemed to be his way, I don’t think anyone was enjoying the run more than him during the whole event. I don’t know how Charlie felt because no sooner had the gun blown that she was o" like the bullet in it, by the time Michael and I were at the top at the !rst checkpoint she was already 42 minutes ahead. After that !rst checkpoint the course instantly turned from mountain side trail to pine forest with soft leaf and mulch #ooring, lovely to run on and loads of fresh smells. It was at this point I lost Michael, I saw him come out of the checkpoint and called for him but he’d stopped to do something with his bag and so I headed o" hoping we’d be running back together at the next hill climb. I knew a downhill was coming soon and was looking forward to #ying down it like an idiot.

- By 5am, 5 hours into the race drizzle started and then from 7am for about 5 hours it was rain. It didn’t matter, it was quite refreshing and for at least 3 hours I was running completely alone with course to myself and I was LOVING IT. I can’t recommend enough my HOPE head torch, it had

the power of 50 million Petzl head torches or something like that and boy did it o"er hassle free running, although it was burning the top of my forehead – slight side e"ect there. Serious note though, if you are going to run all night, get a bloody good bit of kit on your head – particularly if you are a nutter running downhill like me. Top marks to the North Face, the route was impeccably well signed. I had a couple of moments where a group had gathered not sure of the way, one swing of my head torch on full beam and little re#ective strips lit the way for about 20 miles – a very proud moment of navigation for me there.

- During the dark hours there were a few small towns we passed, mainly built on steep hillsides with windy roads, held to the hillsides with carefully crafted vertical stone support walling. These areas had a lot of steep concrete descents which were hard on the feet but by twilight/ dawn you could partly see the layers and layers of valleys and hills behind them and it gave a fantastic realisation of how remote we were.

- 1 degree of temperature di"erence per 100m of climb is the general rule of thumb. At the high points you could get away wearing just a couple of dry !t tops, arm warmers and gloves, but you’d be cold, the valleys were then an easy 12/15 degrees warmer and the trails very very narrow single trail with very very dense, thick vegetation, cactus and probably unpronounceable plant names, the likes I’d never seen before. One type of plant, a sort of cross between a New Zealand Silver Fern and a UK weed was almost luminous at night and it was great to be somewhere that appeared so foreign.

- 7300m of climb is a lot. It really is. The !nal climb to the 50 mile drop bag point (also the Marathon race start point) is a single climb of around 1500m and near the top it becomes tight switchbacks of crafted stone paths with crafted stone walls, each turn of the switchback incredibly steep, impressively created. The only other place I have seen such steep tight switchbacks was in the Himalayan 100 race, on the !nal ascent to Sandakphu at 4000m. half way up this I lost 10 places as I sat down and ate the last of my foods, I was spent, energy depleted.

- This is how the last marathon went for me, downhill was fast and then a struggle to maintain a




E VENT REPOR T TR ANS GR AN C ANARIA

consistant running pace on the #ats. The !rst 10K of the marathon is mainly downhill which gives a great feeling that the race will soon be over as you quickly tick o" 10 of the !nal 42K’s. NO NO NO NO WRONG WRONG….

"The last 30K of the marathon course was

pure torture"The last 30K of the marathon course was pure torture. My memory is a bit fuzzy as exhaustion slowly settled in, 30K to 20K just seemed to take forever, that 10K I swear felt like 20miles. At the 15K to go point I remember wobbling into a checkpoint at about 4pm in a hot valley town and everyone ran up to help me, god knows what I must have looked like but I remember just staring at the #oor and mustering a clap to everyone as a way of thanks on my way out! They ! lled my bag and forced some apricot energy bar things into my hand and pushed me out the checkpoint – I sat on the #oor outside on the road for 1 minute and honestly felt my race was over. I think I tried to eat an apricot piece by putting it in my nose (I missed my mouth) my feet felt like they had been hammered with a meat tenderiser for 17 hours and my heel was REALLY sore. Somehow I got going again, such is the way of things. I even managed to run the !nal 2.5 miles in 20 minutes and do a sprint !nish! Nevertheless, those miles between 60 and 73 were awful. James Adams had written in his blog about a 2-3 mile section along a dry river bed of rocks/ pebbles. I don’t want to re-live the memory of this bit, just to say it was really awful and I’m sure the organisers put it there just to piss everyone o". Despite my feet I can honestly say that until that point I was really enjoying the event. On a positive, I’ve not mentioned that for the !nal 20 miles or so I was running with a few Spanish chaps who were absolute legends, they were running the 50 mile course but helped run me through the river bed and up the !nal hill sections.

- Food. Not something I talk about but I did something unusual for me – I dropped all the sugary sweety shite I like to eat and ate loads of proper protein based foods and each time I got such a lift. I’d always assumed protein only helped muscle recovery during sleep but I can’t explain better how it simply kept me going. I understand a whole lot more about ultra running and nutrition after this race I can tell you.

- The Spanish I thought at !rst were a bit odd, they very rarely came across as friendly almost to the point of being rude, but after 73 miles I realised that whilst they are not as instantly welcoming (annoying) as the English they become very nice once you’ve spent some time with them, about 8 miles of running together was the average point where they would suddenly start to communicate! When they do, they are hugely charitable as I found out whilst struggling with food and motivation in a few places.

- This year was the course's 10th anniversary', so to commemorate it the organisers changed the route to that of the !rst year. Rather than run the length of the island, you run a wedge of the north (circling around the middle of the islands national parks'. It was supposedly a tougher run, 4K shorter but a thousand or so extra metres of ascent, which was nice!

- At the !nish I showed how I felt, didn’t pose but just head in my hands a let out a little tear – what a pansy. I’d !nished though in what I’d call the best result so far. And to think I could have otherwise been at home doing nothing – what a waste that would have been.

Next time I’ll take photos save all this wa$e.

Here are some !nish times showing me, the leaders and last place as comparison. Last place – 30 hours (the cut o" point), absolute respect (see below).




RACE ORGANISER | ULTRA RUNNING LTDEVENT REPORT | DAZ CARTER

GREEN MAN ULTRA

Green Man UltraRace Organiser: Ultra Running LtdWebsite Link: http://www.ultrarunningltd.co.uk/green-man-ultra.htmlDate of Event: 2nd March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 46 milesLocation: BristolStart Time: 8.00amDescription: A 46 mile run following the Community Forest Path in Bristol.

Race Results: http://www.ultrarunningltd.co.uk/results/green-man-ultra-2013-results

DAZ CARTER RECEIVING HIS 1ST PLACE PRIZE





http://www.ultrarunningltd.co.uk/results/green-man-ultra-2013-results

http://www.ultrarunningltd.co.uk/results/green-man-ultra-2013-results

GREEN MAN ULTRABY DAZ CARTER


E VENT REPOR T GREEN MAN ULTR A

The Green Man Ultra is a race organised by Ultra Running Ltd. It includes the route of the Green Man Challenge, a loop circling Bristol on the Community Forest Path (CFP) and covering a total of 47 miles. This was the second running of the event. I really enjoyed the inaugural event in 2012. There is a good mixture of terrain and, although not too hilly, it’s quite technically demanding, requiring knowledge of the course and a good GPS device. I had a map with me as back-up but I knew that it would be di! cult to try to read it at pace.

The !rst few months of the year had been quite frustrating. I’d been carrying an injury (manifesting as a tight hamstring/glute). This weakness developed further during a 10km cross-country race in January. This was the annual Civil Service vs. RAF select race at the training grounds in RAF Halton. I was a good minute o" my 2012 time, but more worrying was the muscles I’d pulled in my lower back and left hip #exor. This was the catalyst for 6 weeks of sti"ness and pain, and a few trips to my Physio Helen Smith for manipulation work. On February 2nd I started the 2 x 33mile Pilgrims

Challenge Ultra race along the North Downs Way. Despite a solid start in the lead group my back problem spread through the hip and hamstring before completely cramping up the calf, and it was game over.

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Green Man Ultra ResultFinish Time6hrs 35mins

Finish Position:1/60 (5 DNF)



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U LT R A TA L E S | M AY 2 0 1 3

For the rest of February I worked hard on rehabilitation and increased core, balance and proprioception training. Luckily I shifted the worst of it by the end of February just in time for the Green Man Ultra on March 2nd. It wasn’t the perfect lead-in and my concern was now more for lack of and disrupted sleep. But at least I could now make the start line of another Ultra race and see what happens.

I’d won the inaugural 2012 event in 7hr8min, which also beat the existing Green Man Challenge record. As long as my health/!tness held together, I was con!dent I could get well under 7hrs. I felt quite sti" last year (following a 3 week period of mountain-running in Lanzarote). I'd also improved in !tness and experience over the 12 months. So the plan was to chip away at each checkpoint split from last year and pace to 6hr45min for as long as possible.

My brother Dean was also taking part in the event, his !rst Ultra. He’d not even raced a marathon before, but we both knew he would get around ok having done circa 30 mile training runs. Myself, Dean and Yve all drove up from Teddington at 5am on a cold Saturday morning. This turned out to be a blessing as the mud was harder than normal.

THE RACE

Just before 8am around 80 runners gathered for the race brief, before heading to the start line outside the Redwood Hotel. Once again the race included a Canicross (dog and runner) category, with a good mixture of dog breeds.

At the gun a couple of Canicross runners took to the front. I had a quick chat with Alex Foster, and Zoltan Lesi who was running with a Blue Merle Border Collie. You could sense the power and enthusiasm of the dog before the race even started, it had mojo. Zoltan told me they are so powerful they can even speed you up in open shorter events. I wondered though how he would manage over the many gates and stiles on the course. They not only !nished !rst (and record) in the Canicross event, but also second overall. After the race I met the winning Canicross relay team. Great dogs, I particularly liked the German Short-Haired Pointer.

The pace from the o" was around 6:45/Mile which was comfortable enough as the route started on a slight downhill trail. I didn’t want to push too hard for the !rst couple of miles, allowing the lower back and hip to loosen up. After a mile my con!dence took the better of me and I decided to increase my pace to 6:00-6:30/M. Fast starts are something I’ve been gradually developing in my Ultra races. I like to run from the front anyway but even in the two-three seasons I’ve been racing I’ve noticed starts are getting a lot quicker. Whether or not the same runners can pace themselves optimally throughout the rest of the race is another question. But I’m happy enough to lose a few minutes from an overall time if it means I can keep tabs on my rivals. My (Elagen) Beta-Alanine pre-loading has certainly helped with this. I’d run the course twice before (recce and race) but I still had two Garmin watches on my wrist, I wasn’t taking any chances. As it turned out they both had issues during the race, one of them unable to track at all. So you could say my caution was justi!ed.

Miles 2 to 6 were run over muddy !elds and farmland to a height of 750ft at Dundry. I wasn’t expecting to have a problem with navigation so early in the race but I found myself circling a !eld having completely lost my bearings. Luckily enough Alex was not too far behind, on the previous !eld hill and with a whistle/indication from him I was back on course.

"It can get quite frustrating making navigational errors

in a technical race"It can get quite frustrating making navigational errors in a technical race, but I try to calm myself down and think of it as a recovery period, and make a little time up in the following mile(s).

Summit Fever were the event photographers and I have to say they were fantastic at not only capturing photos and live footage from several points on the course, but also providing plenty of encouragement. They certainly put a smile on my face every time I ran past.

From Dundry I was able to pick the pace up again, straight through to CP1 (Checkpoint 1) at the hall






in Morton Malreward where Steve Worallo (race organiser) and another marshal were laying out a selection of foods. I was shocked to see my !rst split was 1hr14min (7mins quicker than last year). Time lost on navigational was comparable, so I was either running far too quick, or was on good form. I must admit I was close to my limit but I felt pretty good. I scanned the small-cut sandwiches, malt loaf, #ap-jacks, chocolates, sweets, and munched on a few items while I re! lled my bottle and took a few swigs from the red bull. I wanted to keep weight to a minimum during this race, but still had a decent amount of gels in my pocket to consume between CPs.

Checkpoint 1 – 9.5miles – 1hr14min (2012 – 1hr21)

The route continues over similar terrain until dropping down to the river Chew just before Pensford at 11 miles. For the next !ve miles the route darts back and forth across the river Chew through the farms and villages until reaching Keynsham at 16 miles and CP2. I tried to keep the e"ort levels up during this section and waste no time passing through/over the various gates and stiles. There were quite a few of these on the route. At CP2 I was 11mins up on last years time and still feeling pretty good. The hamstring was a little sti", but this was expected. Once again I forced myself away from the CP as quickly as possible. If I was going to eat I’d rather do it walking. Maybe I was a little too hasty as I realised I’d taken the wrong turn under the lock bridge and had to climb over the lock to get back on course again.


The next stage of the race is possibly my favourite, as you !rst continue along the river for a mile before heading up past the Willsbridge Mill and the start of Dramway and railway line. A great opportunity to stretch the legs out. I was hoping to get my pace back around 6:30-7:00/M at this point but was struggling. My calori!c intake was a little below what I took at the Brecon Ultra in November (I struggled a little towards the end of that race). At the Coxgrove Hill Quarry on 23 miles I took a cherry coke Zipvit gel (my new favourite gel) , and when I reached CP3 at 28 miles I decided to do something a little di"erent and eat around 400cals

of solid food in one go. I had a 3min break/chat at this point which allowed my stomach a little more time to assimilate the food. I was tentative for the following mile but could already feel the extra calories having a positive e"ect, and this is something I will have to consider for future races over 50 miles. Sometimes a full stomach is not a bad thing.

Checkpoint 3 – 28miles – 3hr54min (2012 – 4hr13)

The next ten miles of the race passed through Stoke Gi"ord, Patchway and Easter Compton. A good mixture of more !elds and hills, as well as road running through residential areas and across on a couple of bridges over the M5. The increase in nutrition (I was now eating and drinking to feel rather than sticking to a pre-race strategy) had certainly improved well-being. I was really enjoying my race once again and was able to bring my pace right back up to 6:30/M on the #at, comparable to the beginning of the race. I remember around the 32mile mark in the 2012 race having a bad patch and struggling to keep running. This time I felt great and although very sti" was able to keep the legs ticking over nicely. On the approach to Henbury at 38 miles I had a problem with the working watch and had to !sh out the map. Fortunately my bearings were still in check and I made it to CP4 at the Blaise Inn.


I was really pleased to be almost half an hour up on last year's time' and knew I would both break the record and get under 6hr45min. But could I crack 6hr30min?

"knew I would both break the record and get under

6hr45min. But could I crack 6hr30min?"

After a 2min break (I wasn’t depriving myself of that!) I had just over an hour to complete circa 8 miles. On the #at it wouldn’t be a problem, but this !nal section was quite demanding, with a sharp






climb in the !rst mile up through Limekiln Wood before dropping down to the Shirehampton Road and the long gradual climb through Sea Mills Estate. This was a great little challenge, a time-trial within a race if you like.

So, after leaving CP4 I headed into the local park and immediately got lost in Limekiln Wood! Not a lot of time lost but it meant doubling back and taking a sharp climb to get on the correct route. A nice one mile stretch along a mini escarpment followed before dropping down alongside the Shirehampton Golf Course. I felt a little awkward (literally) running across the tee of one game but it was a right of way. I tried to !nd a way around but couldn’t. You could say they had their revenge because as soon as I crossed the road at the bottom of the hill I headed 200m into the wrong !eld and for a while was completely lost. I turned back on myself and found a well hidden footpath and thankfully I was on course again. The sub 6hr30 time was still possible and I worked hard for the following mile uphill through Sea Mills, but once again I came a cropper with my navigational skills. On the Clifton playing !elds a number of football matches were taking place. The correct route ran across the !elds/pitches. I decided to go around them (a golf match is one thing..) and promptly lost my bearings. You’d think with something as iconic as the Clifton Suspension Bridge ( just one mile away) I’d have no problems getting directions. But I must have asked around !ve people before I was

given a bearing and before long picked up the route on my Garmin watch. A little frustrating that I’d added about 500m and 3min to my time, but I could now just settle back and enjoy the rest of the route.The views on the approach to and across the Clifton Suspension Bridge were awesome. A moment everyone appreciates in the race. Once into Leigh Woods I made the small diversion (introduced this year) to the Green Man Monument. Gave him a pat of the head as thanks, and then headed back up the hill and on to the !nal 1-2 miles to the !nish at the Redwood Hotel. My brother Dean completed the race in 10hr30mins.

I was really pleased with this race, probably my best Ultra performance to date. I just need to carry this through to the longer ultra races and trail attempts.

Finish – 47.5miles – 6hr35min (2012 – 7hr08)

Another great race by Ultra Running Ltd, and an event I will try and return to in future years. A perfect venue, great (testing) course, good organisation and friendly marshalling. I believe next year the event will be run backwards – clockwise.




RUNNERS PROFILE LUKE ASHTON




What is your running background?

I always ran for !tness at the gym, but started running outside in 2009. March 2010 I ran my !rst race, the Hastings half, then followed by Brighton Marathon. I ran Brighton Marathon each year, then in 2012 I started to run a marathon every month, then progressed to an Ultra in July and November 2012. Please see my Races page on my blog for details.

When did you !rst start running Ultras and why?

July 2012, the Grim reaper 40 was my !rst Ultra, I have always loved to run and found I am quite a natural. I wanted to see if I could push myself beyond a marathon distance. I loved to train longer so the race felt natural as the next step.

When or where (at which events) are we most likely to meet you?

Usually at one of the marathons aross the south east. Hadrian's Wall in June, then Race the to Stones in July. Centurion NDW100 in August is my next biggy.

What are your key running achievements to date?

My !rst Ultra at the Grim Reaper 40, I came in !rst place. My 2nd Ultra The Oxfordshire Ridgeway 54, I came in !rst again. 8th at the Thames Trot. Then recently coming 2nd place at Thames Path 104 in March 2013. My !rst 100 miler.

What was your best result or best race experience?

It has to be TP100, with an alternative route, the brutal cold conditions and my !rst longest race. The experience was a true test whether I could go the distance and as my !rst, I really was looking at !nishing rather than in what time. I trained hard for this and it helped me experience a really good race, I felt strong and fueling went well. I did not expect to !nish in 2nd.

What was your hardest race experience?

The Oxfordshire Ridgeway was really tough after 35 miles. I was on my own, self navigating until the end and had a few low moments of wanting to quit. I was still !nding a balance with correct food and it was a real push to get through to the end. It made me think long and hard if Ultra was right for me...

RUNNERS PROFILE

Despite being a relative newcomer to Ultra running, Luke has already started to build some impressive performances, he tells us about his running history here..

Luke AshtonBlog

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First Ultra2012

LUKE ASHTON



http://www.lukeashton.blogspot.co.uk



What are your future Ultra Marathon running ambitions?

I really feel 2013 has been a great start for my running goals. I have found that with training and regular races my body has started to adapt really well. I would like to concentrate more so on Ultra distances especially 100 miles here and in Europe, maybe one in the USA eventually, we shall see how it goes...

What/when is your next event?

Florida Keys 50 in May. This starts in Marathon Key and !nishes in Key West. The warm sunshine and humid conditions will be something else to the harsh winter we have had here...

What is your typical approach or race strategy for an Ultra Marathon event?

I am still learning with each race. Lots of rest, plenty of water and fruits up to the event. Keeping my mileage low 2-3 weeks out. Try to keep my pace slower (which is not that easy) so I have strong legs for the second part of a race. Run on how I feel. I am only racing myself and the clock.

What does a typical training week look like?

My weeks vary with 12 hour shifts I work, so I use an 8 day week of 2x Tempo runs, 1x Interval, 1x Mid distance, 1x Long (hilly), 1x Recovery/Long and 2x rest days (2 miles). I run everyday. I sometimes split my runs depending on my schedule.

What one tip would you pass on to people running an Ultra for the !rst time?

Look after your feet and wear either Injinji, Drymax socks or both. I have useful 100 mile tips on my blog

Give us one interesting fact about yourself?

I am half deaf in one ear

Most amusing running anecdote?

"For me, a day without running is like a day without eating. It's like going without food." -Haile Gebrselassie

Anything else you would like to add?

Running Ultra is the way forward and reading Ultra Tales!

LUKE ASHTONRUNNERS PROFILE




RACE ORGANISER | KEIGHLEY & CRAVEN ACEVENT REPORTS | DARREN BARNES

HAWORTH HOBBLE

Haworth HobbleRace Organiser: Keighley & Craven ACWebsite Link: http://kcac.co.uk/kcac-events/haworth-hobble/Date of Event: 9th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 32 milesLocation: Haworth, YorkshireStart Time: 8.30am, 11hr Cut O!Description: 32 miles traversing gritstone moors around Haworth, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge – 4,400 ft of ascent/descentRace Results: http://kcac.co.uk/events/hobble/13_hobble.html

PHOTOGRAPH | DARREN BARNES





http://kcac.co.uk/events/hobble/13_hobble.html

http://kcac.co.uk/events/hobble/13_hobble.html

PICKING UP THE BRONTE WAY TRACKPHOTOGRAPH | DARREN BARNES

HAWORTH HOBBLEBY DARREN BARNES


E VENT REPOR T HAWOR TH HOBBLE

Registration on the day had opened at 06:30 hrs at Haworth Primary School, where 67 paired and 302 solo runners registered and received their race numbers. The weather forecast for the day had included sleet and blustery showers. The outside temperature was 0*C with windchill in excess of minus 5*C celsius.

The race started at the bottom of Main Street and follows up the cobbled road. Heading along Cemetery Road towards "Far Intake and Bronte Bridge". Leading on to the Pennine Way, passing Widdop reservoir at Check Point (1) and Walshaw Dean reservoir. Heading west along both Burnley Way, Pennine Bridleway, passing Hurstwood and Cant Clough reservoirs. This section of the route had exposed the runners to the elements of the weather, where low hanging mist had played havoc with navigation.

After leaving Check Point (3) the route follows the "Long Causeway", passing Stiperden House Farm and Stoney Lane to Checkpoint (4). At the Check Point the runners had the opportunity to take advantage of hot food and drink that was on o"er

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barnes.blogspot.co.uk

Haworth Hobble ResultFinish Time7hrs 53mins


these included; Hot Dogs, Jam Doughnuts, Tea & Co"ee. Then heading southeast down Stoney Lane passing the Golf Course and Cross Stone Inn. Taking the steep, narrow footpath passing the back of the church and leading down to the main road. The footpath had proven di# cult to descend



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safely, due to wet and slippery underfooting.

The ascent to Mankinholes Youth Hostel had started with a steep zig zaging path, over a sty and through two $elds until reaching Check Point (5). After re$ lling water bottles the track turned east passing water troughs on the left, taking a steep track on the right and ascending until reaching the summit of "Stoodley Pike". Then heading east along the Pennine Way down to Hebble End in Hebden Bridge.

After crossing the A646 access was gained to steep steps and road, which climbed steeply into Heptonstall. Turning right and bypassing the pub at Check Point (7), following the tarmac lane down towards reaching Horse Bridge at Check Point (8).Through the car park on the left, picking up the bridleway and heading towards Crimsworth Dene at Check Point (9). Turning back on yourself back tracking the tarmac lane heading towards "Top Of Stairs" and following the track as it descends down until reaching Leeshaw Reservoir.

This section of the route leading from "Top Of Stairs" towards the reservoir had left the runners exposed to the elements of the "deteriorating" weather.

Leaving the reservoir and heading along Lee Lane until reaching the junction of Moorside Lane. Turn left heading up the lane, taking the track on the right and across Penistone Hill country park towards the church. Leading up the cobble road and out on to Rawdon Road to the $nish line back at Haworth Primary School.

On behalf of all fellow runners and myself I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Volunteers, Marshalls, Kitchen Sta", Management and Club Members for their kind hospitality and professionalism shown throughout the entire event. This was a great day to be enjoyed by all.

A big thank you to my running friends for their company and banter during the race.




DARREN AT STOODLEY PIKE MONUMENT




STOODLEY PIKE SUMMITPHOTOGRAPH | RICHARD GORDON

HAWORTH HOBBLEBY RICHARD GORDON



The Haworth Hobble is a part of the UK Ultra running Championships a 12 race series divided into 3 distance classes, of which it is the shortest of the short races.

With my usual race plan for the year no longer an option, due to my wife expecting our baby three days before the Swaledale marathon, I found myself looking for something else to do. Some friends from the club (Wold Vets) said that they had done the Haworth Hobble last year and were looking to do it again; it was a race that has been on my radar for a few years so I asked if I could tag along.

So with the race only a month o! my entry went in, I knew I was not going to be nearly as prepared as I would like to have been. I did manage to get a 20 mile run in but most of my weekly long runs were around the 10-14 mile mark.

A week before the race I started to look at the weather forecast with a certain sense of foreboding, which proceeded to worsen as the week went on. With this being a winter long

Richard GordonHaworth Hobble ResultFinish Time6hrs 16mins

Finish Position:147 / 320 Finishers

distance run, full kit had to be carried, this included full waterproof cover, map, compass, whistle etc.

During the week one of my friends had to drop out due to the Flu, so it was at 5 am on a cold and bleak Saturday morning Sandy and I set o! on our two





hour drive to Haworth from Lincolnshire

It was two hours exactly when we pulled in to the school car park (£4 charge for the day) it was grey and windy with rain and snow in the air.

After registration and the obligatory toilet stop we headed to the start which was on the main street, just outside the Fleece Inn.

Everyone just ambled about for a bit before the low key start, in fact the race started without much warning and o! we went.

The race headed o! up the cobbled main road, there was a lot of shu" ing but it wasn’t long before we were onto Cemetery Road which allowed us to run a bit more freely. Within no time at all we were on a foot path leading down to the Bronte Bridge that we crossed single # le, once across we headed up steeply to a couple of kissing gates that caused a bit of congestion. Some runners took the opportunity to take pictures with their camera phones while others chatted to each other as we headed to Top Withens (the inspiration for Heathcli! ’s house) it was cold and misty but with the wind behind us we knew we were going to #nd it tough going #ghting against the wind on the way back in the #nal 10 miles.

The route crosses and runs alongside a series of reservoirs before going along a series of paths that lead to the Sheddon Clough Area, at some point going down to the #rst reservoir I had a bit of a comedy fall resulting in mud down one side.

"at some point going down to the !rst reservoir I had a

bit of a comedy fall resulting in mud down

one side"On reaching the Long Causeway car park (and 1st Checkpoint) I tucked into a few biscuits before turning left onto a road section that was very exposed. By this point I had pulled up my bu! over my nose and mouth to protect myself from the cold driving snow. There weren’t many cars to watch out

for; the only interesting bit about this stretch was the large wind farm that we passed close by to. At the #rst bend in the road we carried on down a farm track, where we passed a woman moving very slowly, she had a race number on but clearly must have had a head start. As the track petered out we encountered a patch of ankle deep mud, we slid about for a bit before going up and across a #eld that had some cold and miserable looking sheep in it. After another short road section we came to the 2nd checkpoint and at this point we had our #rst opportunity to sample the food that the Hobble is famous for, there were hot dogs, hot cross buns and jam doughnuts.

They were all very tempting, so it was down the road we went sco$ng our doughnuts. Not long after this point I started to pull away from Sandy, I envisaged him catching me up in the #nal stages as he was far better prepared for the run/#tter than I was.

We followed Stoney Lane past the golf course and headed down towards Todmorden and our #rst crossing of the treacherously busy A646T, a kind motorist took pity and gave way to a few of us. The tough part of the course was just about to start, we soon left the road and found ourselves struggling up a steep grassy slope, my back was hurting at this from the weight of my pack, and every time I stopped for a breather I could make out everyone else up ahead in the same position.

Once at the top I was joined by a woman with two #t looking dogs that scurried around our feet for a while. We crossed some muddy #elds before taking the road that led us to the next checkpoint at the Mankinholes youth hostel. The tables had the usual fare but at the end of one table was a bottle of Laphroaig whisky, I would usually have got stuck in but on this occasion I thought I had better not due to the fact that there was almost half the race still to run, and I didn’t fancy staggering around the rest of the way. However by the looks of it some runners had decided to partake, maybe just for resulting warm feeling.

Our next objective loomed above us, Stoodley Pike; it was a mean looking hill. For a minute or two I was stuck behind a woman on a horse, but once she moved aside I made my way to the poorly





de#ned path that led to the summit monument.

"The mist swirled round the summit, it was no place to

linger"The mist swirled round the summit, it was no place to linger, we joined the Pennine Way that went downhill past the Callis woods and in to Hebden Bridge. It was at this point we once again crossed the A646T. This time the road was a bit busier so it was only after a couple of attempts I managed to cross the road.

The next obstacle was unexpected, a series of steep steps that I pulled myself up using the banisters. The road section leading up to Heptonstall was tough and pretty relentless; everyone was going forward at a slow plod. The route description said turn right at the #rst pub, so that is what I did, at this stage of a race going downhill is never good. It only means one thing; another uphill section is not far o!. At the Horse bridge checkpoint I stopped for a couple of minutes take some electrolyte tablets, as in the past few long races I have su!ered from excruciating cramp, which often led to me lying on the ground with my leg up in the air in agony. Something I wanted to avoid today as I didn’t want to get any dirtier than I already was.

The ups and the downs continued to come; mostly on farm tracks and road. Haworth appeared not too far o! in the distance, time was spent chatting with some of my fellow stragglers, who were mostly training for bigger and better (?) things to come. On getting back to Haworth I found the town heaving with tourists taking in the sights of the quaint Bronte obsessed town, a sprint saw me get to the #nish in 6 hrs and 16 min, not a bad e!ort, well within my target time.

I made my way outside with my vegetarian chilli and cup of steaming tea, to wait for Sandy, which wasn’t long. He was only 6 mins behind me and almost an hour faster than the year before.

RICHARD PIC TURED AT THE END OF THE RACE




One change that has stuck over the last couple of months or so is that once again I’ve started to worship at the altar of 'The Path Of Shared Pain'. I admit right here and now that I’ve been taking a performance enhancing substance – in the form of a bloke called Andy (another Andy)! That’s right: I’ve entered into a civil (training) partnership.

Now I’ve never had a problem getting my ass out of bed in the early hours and heading out for a session – I used to swim, remember, and swimmers are in the pool anytime from 5.30-6am – but training with Andy has closed down the wimp-out options and upped the ante considerably.

Let me qualify that: ‘Training with Andy’ is quite an elastic term for the simple reason that he is a faster than me – and that’s just a temporary state of a!airs, you understand - which means I end up su!ering like a dog in the latter stages of the session trying to hang on and at least keep the elastic as short as possible.

He also doesn’t do warm ups – I vaguely recall some muttered justi"cation along the lines of ‘getting on with it’. A couple of weeks ago for example, we were straight out of the car into a grim early morning, into a big climb and boom! – the hammer goes down. The only way I can cope is by stretching before I go to bed, doing some mobility stu! when I get up, and reassuring myself that this means that the pending su!erfest will be slightly shorter and less extreme for the "rst 10-15 minutes than would have been the case had I not done so.

There’s no faking and I have to be completely on task, but I came away from some early sessions absolutely on my chinstrap. Now I can push myself in training thanks very much, but the di!erence here was BANG – and we were o!, and I’d be hanging on for grim death in the space of a few tens of strides. Much talking to self ensued along the lines of ‘this is where you need to be, fella’ but

AR TICLE TR AINING BUDDIES

funnily enough neither did it seem to help when I also remembered the scienti"cally-proven principle that ‘pain is just weakness leaving the body…’

"And then the games begin as I started to plot ways I

could even the odds"And then the games begin as I started to plot ways I could even the odds. Early one chilly morning we were doing road hill repeats. The road started climbing gradually through a couple of bends before it kicked up viciously for the "nal bit. So I’d count us down to go, go like stink early, cut the corners, and hit the gradual bit hard in an e!ort to claw a precious few yards ahead of him before the "nal "ght up the steep bit. Nope – still second.

Next an hour loop over the fell where the last mile or so was a tricky rocky narrow gradual descent with a number of stone step series thrown in for good measure. I had to practically turn myself inside out to stay with him before we dropped into the last bit. Pausing momentarily for mutual congrats and oxygen intake – I was relieved to hear heavy breathing from someone else as well at this point – I then squeezed ahead and threw myself into the descent I know well. Forcing fast footwork and remembering that gravity does indeed suck, I banked on the fact that following someone on a descent is harder than leading and doubly hard if it’s all unfamiliar ground. And while I wouldn’t call it a score draw, neither was it a clear away win – but e#ng ‘ell, it hurt!

Then there’s the ‘scare him before we start’ ploy: Think of some outrageous combination of repeats for a session that I would never contemplate on my own, and then dare him to agree to do it. If there’s a look and a pause before the ‘yeah, ok then’ I chalk up a "rst victory – which If I’m lucky sustains me for the "rst two repeats!

Andy Mouncey, former triathlete, ultra marathon runner, coach and published author talks about his "performance enhancing

substance"




AR TICLE TR AINING BUDDIES

Andy Mouncey

Websitewww.bigandscaryrunning.com

Andy signed o! 17 years as a triathlete in 2003 by setting

record stage times for the Enduroman Arch To Arc Challenge:

A 300 mile solo triathlon linking London and Paris via an

English Channel swim. Since then he's been into his

ultrarunning. He is an accomplished speaker, coach and

published author who lives with his family in the north of

England.

Andy is author of the book " Magic, Madness & Ultramarathon

Running" which is available from Amazon in print and e-book

and from good bookshops RRP £9.99 or direct from Andy's

website for a signed copy.

Finally there’s the ‘add to the aura’ technique. After $ying down our local mountain Ingleborough recently – and I’m pushing on ahead ‘cos I have some vague and misguided notion of payback for being gapped on the climb (again) – Andy is already talking about breakfast. Oh, he does love his breakfast, and he’s admitted that some of these early morning outings are a real stretch on the food front for him. A pause. Food, I remind him, is just weakness trying to enter the body. And I then proceed to elaborate on how I can cover 50 miles eating twigs and berries and sucking on my own spit.

Results

Well, too early to tell regarding race performance, but here’s what I do know:

• I’ve been setting pbs for training sessions like it’s been going out of fashion

• It’s a blast and I get to trade trash-talk with someone else

• It’s forced me to be diligent and consistent with a recovery routine so I’m actually in a "t state to come out and play for the next beasting

Noticing Other Stu!

Guess what I noticed going through my old diaries when writing ‘Magic, Madness & Ultramarathon Running’? (see caption to the right) In the early days it was pretty much all about training with others, trying to kill each other, and having a blast. Then last year Stuart Mills www.ultrastu.blogspot.com introduced me to a new book ‘Run’ by Matt Fitzgerald. I skimmed it at the time then read it again recently.

Matt's core theme as I understand it? Do stu! which you enjoy, stu! that pushes you and builds con"dence. Anything else in a training programme is just $u!y packing.



http://www.bigandscaryrunning.com

http://www.ultrastu.blogspot.com

http://www.ultrastu.blogspot.com


RACE ORGANISER | DEESIDE WAY ULTRAEVENT REPORTS | JAMES STEWART

D33 ULTRA

D33 UltraRace Organiser: Deeside Way UltraWebsite Link: http://deesidewayultra.webnode.comDate of Event: 16th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 33 milesLocation: Duthie Car Park, AberdeenStart Time: 9amDescription: Start from Duthie park car park in Aberdeen and run the !rst section of the Deeside way to Banchory, check in with marshall, turn round and then run back.

Race Results: http://! les.deesidewayultra.webnode.com/200000099-75c5576c57/D33%2016th%20March%202013%5B2%5D.doc

JAMES STEWART FINISHING THE D33 ULTRAPHOTOGRAPH | IAN RUSSELL



http://deesidewayultra.webnode.com

http://files.deesidewayultra.webnode.com/200000099-75c5576c57/D33%2016th%20March%202013%5B2%5D.doc




D33 ULTRABY JAMES STEWART


E VENT REPOR T D33 ULTR A

The !rst ultramarathon of the season for me, and in the 2013 SUMS series, was this weekend: the D33 in Aberdeen. The race goes out from Duthie Park to Banchory and back. The course is relatively "at (not much more than 1,000 ft of elevation) and is about 70% tarmac/hard surface and 30% trail. The trail was in varying degrees of bogginess, understandably so given the recent weather. The decision to wear road shoes was taken and not regretted.

This is a pure out and back course, which in some ways is boring but when you don’t know the course it is reassuring as the !eld fans out, especially as we make the journey back from the turnaround point at 16.5 miles.

One of the features of the course is that it runs along an old railway line and there are some fantastic little homages to the history of the route. There are station houses converted into residential homes, what looks like a museum to the line (well, an old 3 carriage train and shortened out and back single track line) and just some cracking like towns – like Culter – which were obviously in"uenced by the former railway’s presence. You could imagine Julia Bradbury wandering down the route and waxing lyrically about the old train line.

Anyway, the race, what about the race?

It was parky at the start line and the BBC, Sky and ITV had taken their usual cover-all-bases blunderbuss approach to the weather forecast by saying it will be, in no particular order, wet, windy, snowy, sunny and potentially scorched earth as the Four Horsemen come to bring Armageddon. Well, the last one was only suggested by Sky. That cad Murdoch, eh?

So, this meant a decision on what to wear. Aside from stupidly jettisoning my gloves the choices I made seemed right for the !rst half of the race. I went for trail shorts with cycling shorts underneath on the bottom and an Under Armour vest with a tee over it on top. For two miles I was battling no feeling in my hands and called myself copious amounts of expletives until the heat returned. After

that I was happy.

"My aim was to beat 4:30, and as a minimum to get inside my GO33

time of 4:43"My aim was to beat 4:30, and as a minimum to get inside my GO33 time of 4:43. With the course being "atter and me being in better shape the latter was a shoe-in barring injury. 8 min miles would get me round in 4:25 (ish).

As is my way, I made an impulsive decision at the start to try to go for a steady 7:30 m/m pace for as long as I could push it. I knew I’d be good for this till 23 or 24 miles. At 8 miles I was right on it and at 16 miles I was tracking just under it. However, I erred and didn’t factor in losing 90s at the halfway checkpoint where I had to re! ll my bottle and pockets with provisions for the return leg.

I counted 21 people ahead of me at this point but there was at least half-a-dozen who moseyed in and out of the checkpoint in much quicker time

James StewartBloghttp://jamesstewart13.com

Twitter@james_stewart13

D33 Ultra ResultFinish Time4hrs 17mins

Finish Position18/252 Finishers



http://jamesstewart13.com



E VENT REPOR T


D33 ULTR A

than me. Damn you experienced ultra dudes.

As it was I sprung out of the checkpoint and was heading back strong. There then was a noticeable change in the weather at this point. The rain had started to fall more prodigiously, the temperature dropped noticeably and I repeated the curses from earlier regarding my glove-folly. That mistake will not happen again, even in summer. Oh, and the wind picked up and was kind enough to blow into us on the way back.

Then, the thing all distance runners dread started to nag at me. That wee gingerbread man started humming away in my tummy. This is something I really need to look at and try to avoid a repeat but miles 20-24 were hampered by an ache at the bottom of my stomach. It’s what I imagine a baby kicking feels like. (Disclaimer: I know it isn’t, please don’t send me strongly worded emails telling me I know nothing!).

"At mile 24 things started to come to a head, almost

literally"At mile 24 things started to come to a head, almost literally, and I had to stop just to breathe and then, it was panic as I just had to !nd somewhere ‘convenient’. I’ll spare you the details but su# ce to say, about 3 minutes later after clawing a cat hole out in the trees I was back in the saddle. Just in time for the one material hill in the race. How else would you prepare for an ascent?

I managed to get back on pace, albeit I lost nearly 4 mins at the checkpoint and pit-stop. With 8 miles to go I had tons of time in hand for 4:30 and if I could have kept to 8 minute miles I could get under 4:15, a dream time. But as the sheer distance and wind started to wear on me I slowed !rstly to 8 min miles and then eventually to 8:50 miles for the last four. This was in part due to taking a 1 minute walking break for the last four miles just to protect my legs and make sure that I !nished as best I could. The massage I was seeking at the end for a bargain price of £5 was starting to inspire me, and it was worthwhile. So glad it was available.

I entered Duthie Park at a decent pace and was happily bounding toward the small but enthusiastic crowd at the !nish. I crossed the line in 4:17:04, according to the o# cial results.

I was knackered but delighted. This was 26 minutes quicker than my November 33 mile race e$ort, and the GO33 actually measured 31.5 miles on the watch, whereas the D33 was 32.9. That’s close enough for me.

George Reid, the jolly and e$usive race director greeted me by name – a nice touch – with the brilliant !nishers pendant, handmade by Craft Works. This race, the e# ciency of the registration, the !nish, the marshalls and all the stu$ in between is a credit to George and his team and at such a cheap entry price (£12) must represent the best value ultra race in the country. The goodie bag at the end had crisps, sweets, a water bag and importantly, D33 labelled beer. And the bag is a pull string branded “D33″.

Craig Cunningham won the race in an awesome time of 3:46 and !rst female was Rebecca Johnson in 4:02, congrats to both. Exceptional performances.

I came home in 18th out of 350 entrants and 252 !nishers. I am really pleased with this and it !ts with my aim of !nishing in the top 10% of as many races as I can this year.

Overall, it was a great day. It would have been nice if it was warmer but you can’t have everything. This is a perfect race for those looking to step up from the marathon distance. The course is favourable and the welcoming crowd takes so much of the apprehension out of the event.

Without doubt a 10/10 experience.



SUSSEX COASTAL ULTRABY PAUL NAVASEY


E VENT REPOR T SUSSEX COASTAL ULTR A

This weekend I made the short trip to Birling Gap between Eastbourne and Seaford to run the EnduranceLife Sussex Coastal Trail Series race. This is a ~33.5 mile race using the South Downs way over the 7 Sisters and surrounding trails.

This was the !rst EnduranceLife event I had done and as it was local I was looking forward to it. The main aim was to use this race, as well as Sussex Marathon in a couple of weekends' time, as part of training heading to The Highland Fling.

Upon arrival you can see a small amount of the course, I was wandering around in my Inov-8 F-lites and !gured that they would be ok for the day. Nice and comfortable! – *Spoiler : They weren’t the best choice and it made it a harder day than planned!

I lined up at the slightly delayed start along with the other ultra runners and the early start marathon runners. Setting o# through Birling Gap and picking up the SDW onto the Seven Sisters all seemed !ne, until I had to go downhill for the !rst time and found that my shoe choice wasn’t particularly smart given how wet and in places muddy it was. I slipped and slid over the Seven Sisters and down to the country park. Hoping that was the last of my problems. With a fair bit of hard ground through the country park it was back to running forwards as opposed to the direction I was sliding!

Once through the park we hit some forest trails which were ok and fun to run through followed by some muddy paths and !elds where I really su#ered going up or down anything without slipping all over the place.

Through checkpoint 1 and a run along the river by Alfriston was not too muddy but plenty wet enough to slide around a lot. Pushing on over similar terrain and with a couple of climbs on and o# the SDW the route made its way back towards East Dean to start heading back to Eastbourne. Unfortunately, I must have been in a coma at some point as I managed to miss a turning shortly before

reaching East Dean, not only did I add to the route I decided it would be best to go o# course uphill for a while. I was o# course for about 10 minutes and looking at the output from my Suunto I managed to tag on an extra ~500ft of climbing over what is estimated on the EnduranceLife site. How accurate that comparison is, I don’t know.

Passing through East Dean and picking up the 10k and HM course I contemplated switching shoes when next possible, which would have been marathon distance, depending on how the next part of the route looks.

Heading back past Birling Gap and over to Eastbourne the wind was pretty brutal and made it a bit of a slog, although running along the cli# edge is always fun.

"the wind was pretty brutal and made it a bit of a slog,

although running along the cli" edge is always fun"

Paul NavaseyBloghttp://

ultrapaulo.wordpress.com/

Twitter@ultra_paulo

Sussex Coastal ResultFinish Time5hrs 9mins




http://ultrapaulo.wordpress.com

http://ultrapaulo.wordpress.com


E VENT REPOR T SUSSEX COASTAL ULTR A

Sussex Coastal UltraRace Organisor: EndurancelifeWebsite Link: www.endurancelife.comDate of Event: 23rd March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 33.7 milesLocation: Birling Gap, East Dean, East SussexDescription: A 33.7 mile run along the coastal trails based from Birling Gap.

Race Results: http://www.endurancelife.com/results.asp?title=CTS%20Sussex%202013,%2023.03.13&results=2013_cts13_sussex.htm

Fortunately, dropping into Eastbourne gave some respite before heading back to complete the marathon loop. I had a couple of issues on the 2nd part of the loop with having to hike uphill instead of run to avoid slipping but I didn’t think changing shoes would gain back the time lost by swapping them so decided to stick with what I had on.

Reaching marathon distance and pushing straight on to start a loop of the 10k course, taking in the same starting point as the ultra and marathon but cutting away from the Seven Sisters early into another massive head wind, missing out a chunk around the country park, Alfriston and into East Dean.

The route then follows the same path back through Birling Gap, back onto the cli# edge for a while towards Beachy Head and returns back to the !nish area by turning back before Eastbourne as opposed to completing the Ultra/Marathon/HM loop.

By this point I knew I had been slowed down by my shoe choice and my ability to miss obvious signs so was taking it very easy and just enjoying being out on the downs and being given jelly babies every so often I !nished o# the ultra in 5:09 feeling !ne and the !rst one home. Not nearly as fast as I would have liked but having been slower and able to back o# a little I have had a solid run out of it and have been able to slip straight back into training.

"Not nearly as fast as I would have liked but

having been slower and able to back o" a little I

have had a solid run out of it and have been able to

slip straight back into training"

With regards to the Endurancelife events, I would do another but I would probably stick to the marathon distance courses. I didn’t particularly

enjoy running through the !nish and heading out to do another lap covering a lot of the same ground and when arriving at the !nal checkpoint I had to explain that I had already run the marathon loop and was now completing the 10k loop before I was allowed to dib in, then at the !nish I had to explain I had in fact !nished and was not dropping out.

Apart from those very small points it was well run and a fun course over some familiar ground.

Next up is Sussex marathon. My !rst road race of the year so will see how it goes.




http://www.endurancelife.com/results.asp?title=CTS%20Sussex%202013,%2023.03.13&results=2013_cts13_sussex.htm





RUNNERS PROFILE HAYDN JOHNSON





Ran Harrier races through my teens. Ran my !rst marathon when I was 18. Stopped running when I was 20.

Ran my second marathon when I was 38. Joined my local Harrier Club (Athletics Nelson) in my mid forties.


It is my daughter’s fault. In 2010 I wanted to do an event with her, and she said “Dad, marathons are getting boring, let’s do an ultra”. She was 23 at the time.


Local (Nelson, New Zealand) Harrier Club cross country races. Often after having run 2 or 3 hours around the hills and timing it to arrive at the start of the race.

What are your personal key running achievements to date?

Celebrated turning 50 by running 50km per day for 5 consecutive days.


Helping my daughter win the 2010 Caesar’s Camp Endurance Race 50 miler in a new course record, in our !rst ultra.


Great Naseby Water Race 100km, August 2011.

Most of the course was covered in 6 inches of week old snow. 12 hours of that did not do my feet any favours.


I enjoyed my 5x50 km more than I expected, and like the idea of a “journey” run. So perhaps a multi-day stage race. Or just a personal journey – spend a week running from one side of the country to the other.


I have been unable to run for several months, and it doesn’t look like I will be doing anything for a while. There is a new 100 mile option at Naseby this year that I like the look of though.

RUNNERS PROFILE

Very likely to be our only reader from New Zealand, Haydn Johnson gives us an insight on his running history

Haydn Johnson

Blogwww.5x50at50.wordpress.com

OccupationAccountant

First Ultra2010

HAYDN JOHNSON



http://www.5x50at50.wordpress.com

http://www.5x50at50.wordpress.com


HAYDN JOHNSON


Start slow and ease o". Eat heaps of peanut butter and jam sandwiches.


I usually only run 4 days a week. A big week would be 120km, including back to back long runs (42 – 45km) on the weekend. Gosh, that doesn’t leave much to do during the week. I would normally do two weeks of that, then have a recovery week of around 80km.


Conserve energy. Coming from a background of Harrier club races, I struggled to accept that it is ok to go slow and take breaks. Having spent years trying to get from start to !nish as quickly as possible, it took a while to realise that in ultras

the challenge is simply to !nish.


An interesting fact? I am an accountant. We are required to be boring, I think it is in the rules somewhere.

When I was 17 my left lung collapsed while I was running on a cold wet winter night.


Nothing that is !t for printing here - my daughter reads this e-zine.


Incredibly proud to be support crew for my daughter when she represents New Zealand at the World 24 Hour Running Champs in Holland 11/12.

RUNNERS PROFILE




RACE ORGANISER | HARDMOORS RACE SERIESEVENT REPORTS | PHIL "FLIP" OWEN, AARON GOURLEY

HARDMOORS 55

PHOTOGRAPH | PHIL "FLIP" OWEN

Hardmoors 55

Race Organiser: Hardmoors SeriesWebsite Link: www.hardmoors110.org.ukDate of Event: 23rd March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 55 milesLocation: Guisborough Rugby ClubStart Time: 9amDescriptions: Guisborough to Helmsley run passing through Kildale and Osmotherly.

Race Results: http://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/cms/?q=node/394



http://www.hardmoors110.org.uk

http://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/cms/?q=node/394

http://www.hardmoors110.org.uk/cms/?q=node/394

PHOTOGRAPH | PHIL "FLIP" OWEN

HARDMOORS 55BY PHIL "FLIP" OWEN


E VENT REPOR T HARDMOORS 55

I’ve run this race before but even so going into a 55 mile , 6000ft ascent hill race with weary legs is tough even under normal circumstances but I reckoned I’d get around with the minimum of fuss and log the miles into my big races day legs. This year the race was run from Guisborough to Helmsley (ie the opposite way round to normal)

It wasn’t normal circumstances though. Not by a very long way.

As the race approached so did the severe weather warnings. The forecast for heavy snow kept changing to being right on top of the race to just skirting it. The high winds were a given though. Wanting to be nearer the start as I was bus marshal, someone to keep the RD Jon informed what was happening I booked into Osmotherly YH. Met up with some other runners who had mentioned they’d bring the beer. I’d really not paid that much attention and was keen not to repeat the pre D33 night with George. However Charlotte and Alison had other ideas. Charlotte it would seem has her own microbrewery in her cellar and heck her beer would be the envy of a lot of master brewers.

Phil "Flip" OwenBlog: http://! iperty.blogspot.co.uk

Hardmoors 55 ResultFinish Time14hrs 32mins


Armed with a dozen bottles of the most excellent beer I was held captive and forced to try a variety of her stock. ;-) Then we talked about running and tits. That’s beer, running and breasts with the footy on in the background and England scoring goals for fun. Sometimes the gods just smile upon you. I







I don’t know how this stu" happens to me. You couldn’t make it up!

So slightly groggy we head for the start and Sutton bank is closed due to snow. Slow journey and some frantic phone calls I manage to get someone else to hold the buses. Amazingly just down the road at the #nish there is no snow at all! It’s more or less the same at the start.

Strict kit checks and pre-race no nonsense inspiring talk from RD Jon Steele about the hard time we would undoubtedly have in the coming hours and we were o".

Well the rest were. I dropped an inner glove I’d just bought the day before and went back for it. Unfortunately it had disappeared but running food owner Tim had another pair that he o"ered and I am so glad I took them. So had a fair while to catch the others up but nice chat with our amazing sweeper David. So the race:

Easy enough 13 miles to Kildale as we were still in the east but looking out to our path to the west the sky looked like Mordor. On Roseberry Toping , the only out and back I took the opportunity to take as many photos of the runners as possible for the FB group and website. Probably lost a fair bit of time but time wasn’t really important just the miles.

From Kildale the fun started. Slow climb to one of the highest moorlands in the UK , Bloworth Crossing.

"The only word to describe this 5-6 mile section was

brutal" The only word to describe this 5-6 mile section was brutal.

It was already sub-zero temperatures down in the village. Up here on the moor with 30 -40 miles per hour winds bring the wind-chill temp down to estimates of -15/20. The trail is deep snow in places and the wind constantly blowing the snow from moors onto us made very tough going. My weary legs are feeling this already and that’s not good so early in a race.

I’d bought a balaclava the day before and so glad I did. However at one point I couldn’t tuck it into my jacket and couldn’t understand why until I realised it was completely frozen to my neck and rock solid. Unzipped the jacket and tucked it in along with my bladder pipe which was also frozen and had to keep it there for the whole race. I took the odd photo for the website but these were the last. It was just too dangerous to have un-gloved hands.

What seemed like an age and we were #nally o". Dave and Darren were at the next Marshal station and I told Dave just how weary my legs felt.

Long climb up clay bank followed by a series of steep long climbs and descents. The wind was still biting hard but the running was easier. Where the trail was stone slabs the ice made them lethal and the slabs steps more so.

However I was soon over and heading to Scarth moor and Osmotherly. Here Dave and Darren popped up again and I’m not sure how weary I must have looked but Dave asked me if I would #nish.

Into the warm village hall where Anna was helping out there and she was quick to give co"ee. On the race the normal way round the #rst 20 miles are considered relatively easy and i was thinking even though my legs were knackered this section (now the last 20 ) would at least help. I could not have been more wrong again.

Slow slog climb out of Osmotherly joined by two other runners Gwyn and Paul. Paul had a bit of an injury but we all climbed up together. I was asked the way a few times but I really could not remember due to running it the other way round. Once I got to a point it usually came back and it is usually straight forward and well signed.

Then we hit the snow and high winds again. If anything it was worse than Bloworth crossing and a real battle. I felt a little guilty moving on a bit now as I knew the lads I was with would have liked my course knowledge with them but I was simply getting too cold and as night descended it felt even colder. In fact I doubt I’ve ever been that cold even with 3 layers on and a thick jacket I bought for UTMB. For a good section my double gloved hands were very cold and I had them in my pockets




A MARSHALL TAKING A BAT TERING FROM THE WINDPHOTOGRAPH | PHIL "FLIP" OWEN



head down against the wind.

For the #rst time I thought about my micro $eece in the backpack along with some hand warmers which I’ve had years and never used but putting them on would have meant stopping and taking he jacket o" so I didn’t. Came across another runner who was heading onto the moors but managed to grab him and put him on the right track. Now huge snowdrifts # lled the trail and I was forced to climb higher into the exposed wind and along the edge of a #eld at black Hambleton heading towards Sutton Bank. The snow had obliterated the landmarks but I knew just to stay on the edge of the escapement and I had to come to Sutton bank.

Once there Tim from race sponsor Running Foods had some chia charge drink made up and I drank deep. Fair play to Tim and John Vernon who popped up helping out all over the place. Much

appreciated. I heard later their 4 wheel drive truck had to be dug out.

From Sutton Bank I knew we’d be out the wind and headed o" quick. Met another runner Steve (Lakeland 100 #nisher) whose knee was playing up and ran in with him. I think I said I’ve never wanted to #nish a race so much in my life!

As I arrived at the #nish Jon was in the car park and I said, you Bastard, that wasn’t a race, that was a full on battle!.

Still that’s how memories are made and the extra e"ort on already tired legs should do me some good.



TOUGH CONDITIONS AT THE HARDMOORS 55PHOTOGRAPH | JAMES HARRIS

HARDMOORS 55BY AARON GOURLEY



First and foremost, this race report would not have been possible without the countless volunteers who spent hour upon hour out in the freezing temperatures, often in quite remote places, to ensure this race went ahead. I owe you a huge amount of respect and my sincere thanks to you all.

I’m still not quite sure why I chose the Hardmoors 55 to make my ultra-marathon debut, but I did, and in the days leading up to the race the nerves were kicking in. I’d enlisted the help of two friends to provide support at the two main check points – Kildale and Osmotherley – and I was to run the race with my good friend Jen, but she’d been having real problems with her knee which had kept her out of training for at least six weeks. Jen’s plan was to get to Kildale without injury and that would be her race done, but I wasn’t convinced that was her true ambition.

The weather forecast in the days leading up the race had not been good and with a number of races already cancelled it seemed touch and go as to whether this would go ahead. A !nal email from

Aaron GourleyHardmoors 55 ResultFinish Time12hrs 35mins


Race Director Jon Steele, con!rmed that the race was still on. There and then you just knew this was going to be epic.

Race registration on Saturday morning was smooth, kit checks were thorough and there was an






air of excitement and tension as 133 runners (or as my friend put it, idiots) gathered to take their place at the start. During the race brief we were told that the out and back loop of the White Horse had been taken out due to the conditions and that a decision was still to be made as to whether we would be taking the high pass over Wainstones or directed along the low path.

And so the race began, o" along a disused railway line out of Guisborough, the cold easterly wind was biting but manageable. Keeping the pace slow, after a short distance we turned o" this path and out onto the Cleveland Way. Having run this section plenty of times before, I chose to start the race in my Mudclaws but the freezing temperatures meant the tracks were frozen solid making for very uncomfortable running.

The seven miles to Roseberry Topping passed without incident, but taking the !rst check point at the top gave me an indication as to the true conditions I would face later in the day. The two marshals manning this check point deserve a medal for standing in the unrelenting gale force winds and still smiling and chatting to competitors. I didn’t hang around and made a sharp retreat o", #ying past Phil Owen, who I think was aiming a camera at me. I don’t suspect he got much of a shot.

The next section up to Captain Cook’s Monument provided good running and shortly after, Jen and I arrived at Kildale, 12 miles in. Mission accomplished for Jen, but I could see the desire in her eyes to keep going. In to the village hall we met our respective support crews where I was handed my !rst drop bag of food and a bag I’d asked them to carry with a change of clothes. Here I changed my top, jacket and socks then decided I’d be better o" changing out of my Mudclaws and into my Mizunos for the next section as my feet were beginning to hurt.

Jen’s knee was holding out and she’d decided to keep going to Osmotherley. We left the village hall and headed up a steep climb where I took the opportunity to get some food into me. (If you’re interested I had a banana, pork pie and half a Cornish pasty!) The wind was blowing strong in our face and as we reached the top of the road we turned onto the snow covered track and head on

into the wind. This was !erce and unrelenting with 40mph winds, a windchill of around -20 and snow drifts of up to three foot made the six miles up to Bloworth Crossing check point an absolute battle of physical and mental toughness.

"By the time I reached Bloworth I was mentally

drained, the left side of my face was numb, I could

barely open my eyes and my water tube was frozen

solid"By the time I reached Bloworth I was mentally drained, the left side of my face was numb, I could barely open my eyes and my water tube was frozen solid, but for a brief moment I felt elation. Jen and I had made it; our high !ve was a signi!cant celebration. At that point you could have stopped the race and I’d be writing this report with the same sense of achievement. But this race was far from over; we had three miles to the next check point at Clay Bank, but fortunately the route changed direction and I now had the wind behind me.

At Clay Bank I was met by my supporters who forced food and water into me. Here we were to !nd out if we were taking the high path or the low. My heart sank a little when I was directed up the hill towards Wainstones, the !rst of three signi!cant climbs along the route towards Carlton Bank, the half way point. Getting up each of these was hard, the wind knocking me o" my feet on several occasions, but the downhills in the deep snow brought out the child in me.

Charlton Bank was the half way point and psychologically uplifting, but the e"ort needed to run in the conditions was beginning to take its toll on my muscles and I could feel the !rst twinges of cramp. Jen seemed to be coping well although she too was clearly feeling the strain. After Charlton Bank we dropped down into the valley where we missed a turn and ended up running in the wrong






PHOTOGRAPH | JAMES HARRIS






direction for about !ve minutes before realising our mistake. Once back on track we made slow but solid progress in our e"ort to get to Osmotherley. Arriving at the village hall we took our time to change, eat and relax a little as it was nice to be out of the cold wind.

The thirty-two miles to Osmotherley were hard won, and at that point the absolute furthest I’d ever run. I was still feeling good and Jen’s knee was still holding out. I knew now she wasn’t dropping out so o" we set. It was 4;30pm now and we made it our mission to get as close to Sutton Bank before dark, but he next three miles out of Osmotherley had other plans. This section was a steep climb back out on to the moor and I hit the wall with a bang. I’d been conscious of keeping well fuelled and hydrated throughout the race but my water tube kept freezing so wasn’t taking on board the water that I would have liked.

The climb was steep and it wasn’t long before the path was covered by snow, just as it was heading to Bloworth. Only now I was tired and had ran thirty-two miles to get to this point. The distance between me and Jen grew quickly, I couldn’t keep up and she seemed to be getting stronger. The snow drifts and wind felt more pronounced as I staggered about forcing one foot in front of the other. Like any runner, there is a point when you feel you just can’t go on; this was my limit. Part of the mandatory kit was to carry a survival bag and I was seriously contemplating getting into it and waiting for rescue. I’d reached my absolute limit; my mind was telling me to stop, but I couldn’t stop, I won’t stop, I’ve come too far now.

I have two energy gels and push on. Jen is still in the distance but she keeps turning to make sure I’m still moving. I’ve never felt so low but eventually the climbing ceases and we are back on a level track, still in deep snow, but at least its level. I manage to break into a canter and I can feel a second wind. I’m still totally exhausted but psychologically I’ve broken through a barrier as we press on. Jen is forcing the pace now, always a good 30 meters ahead of me, making me run when I really don’t want to.

We reach High Paradise Farm check point at thirty-nine miles and the light is quickly diminishing as we head towards Sutton Bank. At this point the

snow drifts are deeper than they have been and the wind is blowing across my face forcing my already sore eye to shut once again. I stop to put on my headtorch but it doesn’t help me much as I’m having real trouble seeing. I follow the lights up ahead as they take a sharp descent down a deep, snowy track. I must have been in a trance and didn’t see Jen come sliding down in front of me from a higher route saying I’ve taken the wrong path. But I’m not taking on board what she’s saying. There are about six people ahead of us as we continue down the track until Jen !nally snaps. “This is not the right path.” Everyone stops and a quick map check con!rms this. We all turn to start the long hard climb to get back onto the right path.

I feel totally dejected at this point, spending energy I simply did have on correcting a silly mistake. Once back on the Cleveland Way I !nd it hard to get going but I manage to start running again. Eventually I reach the Sutton Bank checkpoint. My support crew are there to greet me. It’s such a boost to see them as they tell me about the ultra-pub crawl they’ve been on as they follow my progress. A cup of hot chocolate and a few bits of food from the marshals and it’s o" once more with only eight miles to go.

Its pitch black now and I’m happy to still be running on what, for the most, will be downhill into Helmsley. Jen seems to be running stronger than ever and is really pushing to get to the !nish but always looking back to make sure I don’t fall too far behind. I feel like I’m letting her down. She’s waiting for me when she could probably have gone o" and !nished the race, but I’m eternally thankful she’s there to help me along and keep me running.

Eventually we drop into Helmsley with its street lights, and terraces, and tarmac roads. I’ve made it, we’ve made it! Following the signs we head up the road towards the football club and the !nishing line and burst through the door to a huge cheer and round of applause. I give Jen a huge hug as we celebrate our achievement. 12hrs and 35mins of pure hard graft, physically and mentally. Without doubt, this was an epic race and everyone who took part, whether they !nished or not, should be immensely proud that they even made it to the start.




RACE ORGANISOR | ADVENTUREHUBEVENT REPORTS | KURT DUSTERHOFF

EXMOOR ULTRA

Exmoor UltraRace Organisor: Adventure HubWebsite Link: www.adventurehub.comDate of Event: 16th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 42 milesLocation: Minehead, SomersetStart Time: 8.30amDescription: Run along a hilly South West Coast Path from Minehead to lynmouth, then turn around and go back. Race Results: http://www.adventurehub.com/Results.html

THE SUNKEN FOREST NEAR PORLOCKPHOTOGRAPH | KURT DUSTERHOFF




http://www.adventurehub.com/Results.html

http://www.adventurehub.com/Results.html

EXMOOR ULTRABY KURT DUSTERHOFF


E VENT REPOR T EXMOOR ULTR A

What can be better than running along the coastal trail from Minehead to Lynmouth? Why surely only turning around and running back again? That's the theory, anyway. This race has been on my radar for a few months, but the March schedule was a bit busy, so it was only loosely penciled onto the race diary. During February, the weekend came free, so I entered together with my friend Mitch and started to promptly panic that my Winter ultra training was fairly pants. I had a du! toe, a ropey hamstring (especially following the Threshold 10K), and not nearly enough miles in the legs. Compared to 2012, I was woefully ill-prepared for this race. With such great background, I did the only sensible thing and had a bit of a rest before the race to give my body a chance to sort itself out.

The day started early, with the alarm going o! at 3:30. I woke to the sound of the test match commentary I'd been listening to while trying to get my legs to stop twitching so I could get to sleep. Why, oh why, does my body want to start running the night before the race? I made up my tortilla-based menu for the day - breakfast of scrambled eggs in a tortilla, pre-race snack of peanut butter and banana in a tortilla, mid-race snacks of hummus in tortillas. If there'd been more leftover tortillas from dinner a few nights earlier, I'm sure I'd have found a use for them. Aside from being light on the stomach, they're a great way to carry a nice " lling without taking up much space.

Mitch picked me up at 4:30 and we talked our way through the 2 1/2 hour drive down to Minehead, arriving in plenty of time to register, eat, etc. Thankfully, we don't need our jaws much in an ultra, because I expect they would have been a bit tired by the time we arrived.

The forecast was for fog, followed by thunderstorms, followed by rain, and I'm pretty sure I saw a plague of locusts tacked on as well. The race started at 8 with a few drops of drizzle, which quickly gave way to glorious sunshine. The "rst 4.5 miles are basically uphill out of Minehead, so I had ample opportunity to take o! my jacket during one of the hiking sections. It was glorious to feel the sun on my skin, and I tried to run as much as I could with the goal of getting as far as possible before the weather turned. I enjoyed a few miles of chatting with Ted, a fellow American

Kurt DusterhoffBlogcotswoldrunning.blogspot.co.u

k/

Twitter@CotswoldRunning

Exmoor Ultra ResultFinish Time10hrs 5mins


enjoying the UK life and ultra scene. I always seem to "nd a bit of an international collection at events in the south, and this was no di!erent. American, French, and Irish voices made for an eclectic mix. The stop at the "rst check point was brief, enough time to drink a cup of water and give my number. I was running self-su# cient, other than water, in part to avoid losing time in the friendly comforts of the check points.

By the time we dropped down the rather steep Bossington Hill and made our way to the pebbly beach at Porlock, it was sunny, warm, and beautiful. I took a few pictures on the run to prove that we'd had some sun.

Leaving Porlock Weir, the route climbs for another few miles before $attening out and then presenting another big downhill just after the second check point. At this stage, I'd realized the basic pattern: 5mile up, 5mile down/$at, repeat. So, I did my best along the rough single track over the next few miles to make good use of the terrain. I knew there was at least one more big hill before the long downhill to the turnaround point, and wanted to get there as quickly as I could sensibly manage.

In truth, I was struggling to run with any cohesion. My legs were getting close to the furthest they had run in a while, and I didn't feel I had full control over where they were going. I'm also not that keen



http://cotswoldrunning.blogspot.co.uk/

http://cotswoldrunning.blogspot.co.uk/


E VENT REPOR T


C TS EXMOOR ULTR A

on steep cli!s combined with wet rock (strange, for a trail runner, really). The combination meant I felt the need to take a bit of extra care. As a result, I wasted a fair bit of time gingerly picking my way along track that I would normally jog along without too much concern. On the plus side, I'd been able to eat regularly and felt quite happy with how things were going. After all, there'd only been a few small showers and I was almost to my favourite downhill section of the Endurancelife CTS Exmoor Ultra, where I would surely be able to have a good run into the halfway point.

Of course, at this point, the weather turned and I had the chance to enjoy a heavy shower followed by a long hike up the "nal hill with a sleet shower blowing into my face. Thank goodness for a good waterproof jacket. As I slogged it up the hill, eating my "nal hummus wrap of the day and looking at the herd of Exmoor ponies, I wished I had reached this point before the storm. It would have been nice to take a picture of the young foal with its dam, and I expect the views would have been quite pleasant. Instead, the camera stayed in the dry pouch and I just kept trudging up the hill.

At last, I prepared to run down the "nal, long hill to the turnaround. I had approximately 2km of steady track to enjoy. Or, after all of the overnight rain, 2km of slippery single track to pick my way along. The front runners were $ying past at an amazing rate on their return journey, which meant lots of "keep going" and "well done" as we wished each other well on our respective challenges. Those at the front had a race on, with the front few fairly close together.

I reached the turnaround in 4:23, expecting to slow down by around an hour on the way back. The sun had come back out, so I could take o! my sodden gloves and prep my bag for the return journey. More TORQ bars and gels came out of the main pocket and went into the convenient front pouches and I pulled out some dry gloves and bu!s and headed back to Minehead. On the way out, I got a hug from Sharon Walton, who had been slowly reeling me in for a while. Sharon ran the Naunton 19, and it's not always possible to have as good a chat with runners as I'd like when on the other side of the fence. But, when we met before the race it was like meeting an old friend. She and her

husband Tim were very encouraging. Sharon and I passed each other regularly on the way back. It would have been great to run together, but I couldn't stay with her on the run, while making up lost ground on the uphill hikes.

Somehow, the way back seemed much harder than the way out. The reality of it, though, is that the "rst 10 miles is actually the most runnable section, so the middle 20 are a real struggle. I knew, once I got to the penultimate check point, that I would be able to get in somewhere near 10 hours if I just kept running. Easier said than done, but I kept my check point visits short and kept going. Yes, there was more sleet, and some rather festive snow for a mile or two, but that wasn't such a big deal. It was, after all, better than heavy rain.

My biggest concern as I headed down to Porlock was strangely my hands. The windproof/waterproof gloves weren't as waterproof as they needed to be, and I lost feeling in a few "ngers. Once the snow stopped, I wrung the gloves out and put them in a pocket, using spare bu!s as make-shift mittens until my "ngers returned to normal. Once again, the sun came out to help take the chill o! and the 10km shu%e home was on in earnest.

At the top of Bossington Hill, I knew it was a clean run to the end and did my best to carry on at as fast a jog as I could manage. The mist began to roll in and I tried to up the pace a bit to at least "nish before sunset - I didn't want to have to dig the headtorch out of my bag. I "nally reached the end at 10:06, the longest I've ever raced for both in time (by nearly 3 hours) and distance (by nearly 2 miles). My quads were shot, my achilles were ready to disown me, and I was pretty happy about the whole experience. I'd wanted to go faster, but I couldn't, so that's just the way it goes. The race was good, I had no real problems, I never got lost - in other words, it was a success.

Since the race, I have been double-checking that next month's Highland Fling isn't due to be this hard (it's not), because frankly, I think another 11 miles like that would have turned a good day into a world of hurt.




PRIOR PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCEby Mimi Anderson

With the GUCR just round the corner, training is done and the tapering is about to begin; now is the time to start putting the !nishing touches to your “Race Plan”

I know not everyone likes to plan their races, which is fair enough, but personally I think it’s essential especially for big events such as the GUCR. Not only does it keep you focused when the going gets tough but also helps the crew do their job properly.

"Put together a pacing plan. I usually have an A, B

and C plan. A and B are fairly close in terms of !nal !nishing time and C is my

backup"Put together a pacing plan. I usually have an A, B and C plan. A and B are fairly close in terms of !nal !nishing time and C is my backup. Not only is this helpful for me, it also helps my crew know the approximate time I will come into a CP.

When I set the Female Course Record in 2010 (Debbie Martin Consani now holds the record) I !nished minutes behind my goal time. I had certain CPs where I could have a 5-minute break, if however I arrived at the CP slightly behind schedule my crew informed me and it was my decision as to whether I stopped or continued. It’s very easy to waste time and 1 minute to turn into 5/10 minutes, especially when you are tired.

AR TICLE PRE-R ACE PL ANNING

Mimi Anderson talks about pre-race planning in her build up to the forthcoming Grand Union Canal Race

Have one member of your crew as “the Boss” they are the ones that will make any decisions that need to be made, much easier for everyone concerned.

Again, common sense, but make sure you and your crew have read all the information sent to you; it always amazes me how many people don’t do this.

Put your kit into separate bags. Even if you don’t have a crew you can do the same in your drop bags. I have torches, batteries, medical kit in one small bag, wet weather gear in another and spare clothes in a third This makes it much easier to !nd things in the car and doesn’t waste time. I also have a bin-bag for wet gear!

Food. This is my nightmare as I never know what I want to eat, but thankfully my crew have looked after me on races since JOGLE World Record in 2008 so know me pretty well and just tell me to eat.

If you know what suits you then marvellous, but if not take a variety of food as your tastes will change as the race goes on. When you meet up with your crew perhaps they can have a selection of food with them just in case you decide you actually didn’t want the banana you asked for 10 miles ago.

THE BOSS!




AR TICLE PRE-R ACE PL ANNING

Take a couple of thermos "asks ! lled with hot water so you can have a co#ee or a hot drink, especially at night when you might need to be woken/warmed up.

I usually carry one 500ml water bottle and have a couple of spare which my crew swop with me at CP’s. Again saves a lot of time.

We haven’t exactly been having fantastic hot weather recently, but remember to take electrolytes; you will be surprised at how much you sweat.

As well as the physical training for this type of race, try and prepare mentally. We all know that at some stage we will go through a bad patch. Think about how you are going to deal with this.

"We all know that at some stage we will go through a

bad patch. Think about how you are going to deal

with this"

I have a picture in my mind of the !nish line with my family/crew there to cheer me in or I tell myself that it was my idea in the !rst place so just get on with it “you silly woman” If I’m having a really bad patch I think of all those people who think I’m going to fail - usually does the trick!

You have put in hours of training over the last few months, bought new kit, tested everything out on your long runs, now its time to run your own race and achieve your goal.

The Grand Union Canal Run is an amazing race, an extra-ordinary distance and fantastic that we have managed to get to the start line in one piece! Most importantly of all is to enjoy the experience.

Whether you have a crew or not, prior planning prevents poor performance.

"Prior planning prevents poor performance!"




RACE ORGANISER | CENTURION RUNNINGEVENT REPORTS | PAUL ALI, LUKE ASHTON, RICHARD ASHTON, KEN HUGHES,

DEBBIE MARTIN-CONSANI, ALISTAIR MITCHELL, MAT T DUNN, CHRIS EDMONDS, EWAN DUNLOP, CENTURION RUNNING

THAMES PATH 100

Thames Path 100Race Organiser: Centurion RunningWebsite Link: www.centurionrunning.comDate of Event: 23rd-24th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 100 milesLocation: Richmond to OxfordStart Time: 10.00am, 30hr Cut O!Description: Usual route is a 100 mile run along the Thames Path river from Richmond to Reading and onto Oxford. This year the route was diverted.

Race Results: http://www.centurionrunning.com/results/2013/thames-path-100-2013-race-report/2013-tp100/

PHOTOGRAPH | STUART MARCH (COURTESY OF CENTURION RUNNING)




http://www.centurionrunning.com/results/2013/thames-path-100-2013-race-report/2013-tp100/



PAUL PIC TURED WITH WENDY SHAW

THAMES PATH 100BY PAUL ALI


E VENT REPOR T THAMES PATH 100

My !rst big event of the year after a couple of warm-ups at the Thames Trot and St Peters Way Ultra and I was looking for an improvement upon 2012’s fancy dress e"ort where I !nished in 23.30.

The slightly unrealistic “dream” goal was somewhere near 20 hours with a more realistic target of 22 hours. I had the Spartathlon cut-o! times in the back of mind and wanted to try and get under to demonstrate some improvement on last year’s e!ort.

Unfortunately my “curse of the weather conditions” was still continuing from 2012 which had resulted in an amended route due to "ooding from the planned Richmond to Oxford to an out and back route from Richmond to Cookham and back to Walton on Thames then back to Cookham before #nally turning back to Windsor for the #nish. This was going to add about an extra 3 bonus miles to the trip making it about 103 miles in total, so I added about 30 mins to my goals making it a 20.30 – 22.30 range. The only little issue I had was a slight groin strain from the Thames Trot where I had slipped and overextended my leg straining my

groin. This hadn’t stopped me running at all but it was a little niggle you could feel from time to time (i.e. when you twisted over in bed or coughed violently).

Paul AliBlogwww.ultraavon.com

Twitter@UltraAvon

Thames Path 100 ResultFinish Time22hrs 26mins

Finish Position:23/87 (Finisher) 165 Starters



http://www.ultraavon.com





I travelled up with fellow runner Michael Sartorius and Dennis Cartwright who was sweeping. It was snowing and sleeting as we travelled which along with freezing temperatures was the predicted weather for the weekend. Not what you really expect in the South of England towards the end of March!

It was fair to say Michael wasn’t particularly keen on running the race due to the weather conditions and cold weather and spent the entire trip to the start race whining about these conditions. We had planned to run together for the start of the race so I was really looking forward to 20+ more hours of this type of conversation!

We arrived at the start at the town hall in Richmond, registered (although I think I accidentally cut a queue somewhere as Wendy pointed out she had arrived before me and was still queuing so apologies if I did) and then went through the mandatory kit check saying hello to Claire and Drew on the way.

James gave his race brie#ng and highlighted the weather conditions and potential e!ects on runners and we made our way outside for the start.

Michael and I set o! in the middle of the pack but were soon overtaking people. Michael glanced at his watch and commented, “the pace is a little fresh” as we were clocking 7.15m/m at the time… time to slow down. That was the danger when my last proper run was a Half Marathon a week ago. We tried to slow the pace down and got to around 8 – 8.30’s.

I met for the #rst time and had a good chat with (Ultra Tales contributor) Richard Ashton at the start who I had missed at the St Peters Way (well he ran at the front and I plodded at the back of that one) as we worked our way from Richmond to the #rst checkpoint at Walton on Thames.

I knew the pace was still a little quick when I arrived at Checkpoint 1 to spot Allan Rumbles and Leila and was told I was in a top 10 position.. oops. I grabbed some sandwiches and then walked half a mile whilst eating these so I didn’t waste too much time at the checkpoint and rest my legs. It didn’t take long for a trail of runners to start passing me.

Michael and I continued from Walton on Thames through a suburban area and then onto a muddy trail towards Wraysbury.

"I tripped over an exposed root and went head over

heels and landed in a muddy puddle"

On this part of the route I tripped over an exposed root and went head over heels and landed in a muddy puddle as Dino Ilaria trotted past commenting that my comedy fall would have made a lovely photo for the next issue of Ultra Tales, thanks mate!

I had started to drift a little ahead of Michael who was a couple of minutes behind and after a short while I arrived at Wraysbury having covered 22 miles in 3.13 and grabbed some food and marched on for half a mile whilst eating a few sandwiches and wraps as I headed on towards Windsor.

I caught up with Mimi a little while after this checkpoint which immediately set alarm bells ringing in my head and was sorry to learn that she was not having a good day and was intending to drop out at the next checkpoint.

This next stretch was only about 6 miles and I arrived at Windsor for the #rst time around 4.12 having covered 28 miles. I didn’t tarry at the checkpoint for long but grabbed some food and walked out and then immediately encountered a slightly "ooded area of water, which was about ankle deep. There was no choice but to go through it which meant cold wet feet and I prayed the Drymax trail socks would do their job and start to expel the water.

I normally have a little slow down around the 20 mile mark but it hit me here as I got closer to 30. After a little stop start run/walk, I eventually dug out my iPod and put on some music to distract me and managed to get a little run going.

I was running largely by myself but saw the occasional person on the route as I headed towards




MUD, GLORIOUS MUD!PHOTOGRAPH | PAUL ALI



the turn point at Cookham. This leg was a mixture of trails, muddy trails and then roads in Cookham. My back was really giving me some pain here and I realised I had been ignoring the fact that my head torch had been digging into my back and so at one point I stopped, emptied my entire kit out and re-packed my bag to make it more comfortable. Unfortunately the damage had been done and I had to su!er a bruised back for the rest of the race.

As I got within a few miles of the checkpoint, the lead runners were on their return leg and I gave the lead guys and lead lady (Debbie) a wave and a clap in acknowledgement and a couple of high #ves to the odd face I recognised. I eventually arrived at the checkpoint in 6.19 having covered 38 miles. Cli! Canavan-King greeted me with some enthusiasm as I grabbed a hot drink, some snacks and then headed back towards Windsor and the 48 mile point.

It was good to start to pass runners on the way back and there was some good camaraderie between runners with a wave, a well done or some acknowledgement being passed between runners. I passed Wendy Shaw and Michael Sartorius who

were close behind me and then bumped into Matt Dunn and Sally Ford and stopped and exchanged a few words before heading on.

After the initial excitement of seeing runners on the way back for the #rst few miles the pace slowed as a few run/walk miles were thrown in and the weather started to get a little gloomier as we headed into the evening. I was due to meet Lindley Chambers at the next checkpoint where he was going to accompany me for the rest of the race and through my usual dodgy sleep walk phase at night.

I managed to hang on those last few miles and arrived at the checkpoint where I met Lindley and stopped for some hot food so probably lost about 15 minutes here. Wendy had already arrived at the checkpoint and looked at me quizzically as I arrived but I had taken a minor deviation through the boatyard and missed the left hand turn back onto the path so she had probably passed me there.

My feet were soaked again after the Windsor checkpoint puddle but I couldn’t be bothered to change my socks which would have meant more fa$ng around and headed out of the checkpoint






fa$ng around and headed out of the checkpoint and walked the #rst half a mile to let my food settle as we headed out towards Wraysbury for the second time. However, I did change my gloves from my SealSkinz pair (which kept my hands dry but not that warm) to a thick "eece pair which were a little toasty and I had to remove them from time to time to keep my hands cool.

At this point I had covered 48 miles in 8.30, so was just about on dream pace goal at the moment. I was feeling better after some hot food but the continued sleet, wet weather, mud and slippy ground conditions weren’t making this event that enjoyable and there was a long night slog ahead.

"the continued sleet, wet weather, mud and slippy

ground conditions weren’t making this event that

enjoyable and there was a long night slog ahead"

Lindley and I jogged walked a few miles as we headed towards Wraysbury for the second time through the mud. Lindley had elected to wear his Hoka’s and was slip sliding all over the place (he fell over twice during the night) and we had a good catch up about running and various stu!. I managed to slip and pull my groin muscle a couple of times here which put me in a little bit of discomfort but nothing to prevent me from continuing. The ground conditions for the race were a mix of tarmac and mud making shoe choice di$ cult and there was no right answer really.

We arrived at the Wraysbury stop (54m in 9.51) and I grabbed a co!ee. It was probably at this point where I mentally decided that I didn’t really want to run anymore. Physically, I still had a bit of energy although I was a little sti! and sore from 50 miles of running but mentally I don’t think I really fancied it with the freezing weather and continued sleet and drizzle. Therefore, we settled into a “power walk” which meant the pace reduced to about 4mph. as we headed towards the next turn point at Walton on Thames.

I remember walking over the bridge at Walton on

Thames and expecting to see the checkpoint immediately but it was half a mile further which annoyed me for a bit as I was feeling cold as my body temperature was dropping due to the slowing pace and I really wanted a hot drink. We stomped on further as Wendy passed us coming the other way (some of the leaders had been passing us on their return leg before) and said a brief hello. Wendy was running in a top 10 position and was 2nd lady so despite being laid up with an illness the week or so before was putting in a great performance and her recent training e!orts were really paying o!.

We got to the checkpoint at 65 miles in 12.19, stopped for a drink for a few mins before heading back. By now, I was not eating as much food as I didn’t really fancy anything at all and perhaps picked at some fruit or biscuits but not too much else. I had hardly touched the gels I had been carrying all day (I had consumed 1 much earlier but spat half of that out) and was trying to manage on real foods after my little sickness episode on the Winter 100.

After this checkpoint we turned back towards Wraysbury and marched on at a good marching pace but very slow running pace and the occasional runner would drift past us. We started to cross a few people who were behind us and gave them a wave or a hello. By now it had been dark for a few hours and it was feeling cold, my feet were also feeling pretty sore especially when using the trail shoes on the pavement/road sections and I could feel a couple of blisters coming onto the soles of my feet. I was regretting the lack of a sock change now.

I had my #rst little sleep wobble as I started to waver around a little and then took out my secret weapon (thanks to Matt Dunn) some Jitterbeans which are basically co!ee shot sweets. Combined with cutting out the ca!eine in my diet for 3-4 days before I was hoping a strong ca!eine hit would keep me awake and it really did. After a little while I felt quite awake and marched on although the cold weather probably helped as well with the wind and sleet hitting you in the face.

We trudged back to Wraysbury, stopped for a hot drink and some snacks and said hello to fellow Reading Jogger Adrian Lee who was crewing and then trudged back to the Windsor checkpoint (82m in 16.34) which despite all the walking and




MICHAEL (LEFT ) AND PAUL (RIGHT )PHOTOGRAPH | CENTURION RUNNING

E VENT REPOR T

6 3 Sponsored by theU LT R A TA L E S | M AY 2 0 1 3

THAMES PATH 100






complete lack of running by now was still 2 hours up on last year's time (which would have been around the Little Wittenham point).

So 2.30am ish in the morning and 20 miles to go. I had estimated the last leg and back was actually closer to 22 miles and so with an average pace of 4 mph and a couple of checkpoint stops this was going to take at least 5 - 6 hours to complete which was a little frustrating when the #rst 22 miles took me 3.13.

And so we trudged on. We were trying to guess when the #rst runners would pass us on their way back to the #nish and it was when about half way between Windsor and Cookham when the leader passed us and then Luke Ashton (2nd) and Richard Ashton (3rd). We spoke with Richard brie"y who said he wasn’t having a great time now but was in 3rd place on his #rst 100 miler (and only 3rd ultra) so was having a good run. Debbie Martin-Consani was 4th (1st lady) and then about another 15 or so runners passed us as we eventually got to Cookham.

I had another sleepy wobble as my line of direction started to waver but took another couple of jitterbeans which sorted me out ...magic pills indeed!

As we arrived I stopped for another co!ee and ate a few rock cakes which went down quite well. Unfortunately, Peter Bowles ? (I think) was here and su!ering from hypothermia as he was shivering uncontrollably as the aid station sta! threw some blankets on him and tried to warm him up and position a portable heater on him. Unfortunately, he had decided to drop at this point only 11 miles from the end but it was some indication that you were never really safe from the cold, wet conditions at any point in the race.

As we left to head back to Windsor for the #nal time it had started to get light but the temperature felt like it had dropped by a couple of degrees. I had a momentary incident when I thought I was going to throw up and started to retch but it was more due to discomfort as my bu! was tight around my neck and Lindley adjusted it for me (which was probably just as much relief to him as it was to me).

There’s not much to say about the last leg. It was

now light and I was really glad to be heading back having not really enjoyed a pretty uncomfortable trudge for 50 miles or so.

"My feet were pretty sore now and I was looking forward to !nishing"

My feet were pretty sore now and I was looking forward to #nishing, I didn’t care about the time at this point but just wanted to #nish, get home, warm up and have something hot to eat. We passed runners (and walkers) coming towards us who still had 15-20 miles to go and were probably thinking how lucky I was only having a few miles to go!

Eventually, I started to recognise the landmarks close to the aid station as we headed over the bridge through the town and towards the #eld, under the arched bridges and towards the boatyard. We had drifted past a runner who was hobbling but still moving which I later learnt was Wouter Hamelinck and I recall seeing his name on the Viking Way Ultra starters list (147 tough miles) for the very next weekend, surely not?

As we got close towards the end, I spotted two runners catching up with us and #nally with 99.9% of the race completed I #nally got a tiny bit competitive and thought I’m not going to lose a couple of places right at the death and picked up the pace right at the end, ran through the "ooded section and #nished in 23rd place (87 #nishers from 165 starters) in 22.26 to a round of applause from the supporters and volunteers.

James Elson passed on his congratulations and awarded me a medal, 100 mile in 24 hrs buckle and t-shirt and I had a lovely bacon sandwich and tea at the end. As runners were still heading through Windsor and #nishing I didn’t want to hang around and hog a chair and we decided to head o! quite quickly after thanking the volunteers'. Particular thanks to Robbie Britton aswell for lugging my bag to the car as I hobbled around and collected my spare kit bag from Michael’s wife as Michael was due to arrive about 20 minutes later.

I have mixed emotions about this race. The weather



PAUL AND LINDLEY AT THE FINISHPHOTOGRAPH | DAVE MERRET

E VENT REPOR T

and ground conditions were pretty grim, cold and wet but probably not the worst I have faced (Caesars and probably the Winter 100 last year were both worse). The cold was a factor and did get to a lot of people as despite plenty of layers (base layer, running top, thermal layer and rain jacket from the start of the race to the end) you could still get cold if you weren’t moving.

The race was 104 miles long which meant the extra 4 miles could have added 40mins if you were running (up to 60 mins walking) and so an hour's improvement on last year was probably ok but after a good #rst 48 miles in 8.30, I did not have the inclination to run at all and that is not going to get me the results I am looking for at the GUCR or Spartathlon #nish so the result is probably only a marginal step forward towards my 2013 goals. It wasn’t the result I was hoping for time wise but the result I deserved with the limited e!ort I gave it at night.

A couple of observations and reminders for me when I re-read this report next year.

• The “Jitterbeans” were amazing and ca!eine reduction tactic seemed to work. For the #rst time ever at night, I wasn’t sleep-

walking and clinging onto someone.• Obviously, I should have gone easier at the

start and may have been able to run for longer.

• Eating and then walking from an aid station worked well as I didn’t lose too much time at aid stations

• I managed the race on real food• I probably should have changed socks and

looked after my feet at the half way point and I paid for this with worse than usual blisters on the soles of my feet.

• No right decision on shoes. Speedcross were ok in the mud but sore on the tarmac but a lighter trail shoe would have been worse in the mud (but don’t wear Lindleys Hoka’s as he was all over the place).

• Pack your kit properly as my back has been sore for 2-3 days where the head torch dug into it.

Thanks to the Centurion team for putting on another event and having to deal with the late route change and weather conditions. The Centurion team have now attracted a loyal following of people ensuring these were well- marshalled and supported by enthusiastic volunteers. Great job guys!


THAMES PATH 100



THAMES PATH 100BY ALISTAIR MITCHELL



I initially entered the TP100 last year thinking that it might be an easy introduction if such a thing exists, into 100 mile ultras with a view to entering some of the harder ones in order to get the 7 points for the UTMB. However heavy rain for most of the past 9 months leading upto the event turned the TP100 into a bit of a beast with large sections of heavy mud and puddles deep enough to lose shoes in.

In the weeks leading up to the event I recced most of the route I would be doing in the dark and was hoping that the !rst 3 weeks of March were going to be warm and dry so that the route would dry up, convinced that if faced with the same conditions during the event as experienced while out on the recce runs I would be pulling out at one of the aid stations before 50 miles since the conditions were mentally and physically destroying; endless lying water, puddles up to my knees and heavy mud. In the !nal week I was actually hoping that Centurion might have to cancel the event due to the conditions but given how they managed to run the Winter 100 last year following a week of rain I knew this would be very unlikely. Two days to go and the 'Flood course’ was con!rmed, 102 miles of back-2-backs from Richmond Brigde up to Cookham back to Walton-on-Thames and !nishing in Windsor.

Leading up to race day I'd been cranky like never before but arriving at Richmond Town Hall to register I calmed down a bit when I started talking to some other entrants. When the horn went I knew I couldn't go too slow. However soon after passing Aid Station 3, despite trying to keep my pace down and not being tempted by seeing others head o" into the distance I knew I was going too fast, being on target for about 19 hours when anything under 24 would have made my year. Going at the speed I was, I was set for an early painful exit.

From about 32 miles onwards I decided to fast walk at about 4 1/2 mph until the end, getting through checkpoints without taking a break and eating on the move to make up for not running.

Alistair Mitchell


Finish Position:34/87 (Finisher) 165 Starters

"I decided to fast walk at about 4 1/2 mph until the

end, getting through checkpoints without taking

a break and eating on the move to make up for not

running"Doing this I still had the chance to !nish in around 22 hours. If some how I got to 90 miles and had anything left, I would start running again.

All was going well until about a mile before checkpoint 8 when something which turned out to be a blister went pop on my left foot. After cleaning it up out on the course and again at checkpoint 9 where I got some Compeed and a dry pair of shoes I headed o". However I was now cracking and my legs were starting to go with 20 miles still left, this was made worse by the temperature falling a few degrees.





I tried to carry on until Cookham but the weather combined with my worsening feet meant my pace slowed a lot. Eventually I stopped and got every item of clothing out of my pack and put it on. Things improved and I made it it to Cookham with about 3 # hours for the last stage if I wanted to get home in under 24 hours.

"Given how I’d fared on the last stage I was convinced I'd blown any chances of

achieving this. Rather than a quick in and out I decided

to spend 5-10 minutes cleaning up my feet and

getting warm, which in the end was a good decision"

Given how I’d fared on the last stage I was convinced I'd blown any chances of achieving this. Rather than a quick in and out I decided to spend 5-10 minutes cleaning up my feet and getting warm, which in the end was a good decision.

Back out on the course I soon picked my pace up possibly helped by the fact that I knew it would soon be over. I got to the !nish in just under 23:15 being greeted by James Elson and got my 24 hours buckle and some hot food for the !rst time in over 24 hours. Not sure what felt better, the food or the time, but my !rst questions were about how other runners had fared in the conditions and !nding out that there had been quite a high drop out rate due to the conditions.

As a !rst timer to 100 milers two things really helped me. Firstly the aid station volunteers were a huge help especially those at aid stations 9 & 10 when I started to crack, even more since I had no support crew. The other thing was volunteering for previous 100 mile ultras such as the 2012 TP100 & Winter 100 and Caesars Camp series and seeing runners arriving at checkpoints in bits yet continue

to the end, being able to blank out any issues they might have or hearing about people who walked from early in an attempt event to preserve themselves for later on.

Finishing the event got rid of some of the doubts I had about the SDW100 later this year which I had entered in a !t of pique just before my birthday last year. I know that the SDW100 is still going to be a beast and I'm sure I'll have a cranky phase in the weeks leading upto it but before the TP100 I was convinced that I would be pulling out of the SDW100 after the TP100.

Now though I'm just focusing on the 8 weeks of training I've got ahead when I've recovered from the TP100, con!dent that the glass is half-full rather than half-empty and that I have a chance of !nishing it.



TEAM MARTIN-CONSANI AT THE START OF THE RACE

THAMES PATH 100BY DEBBIE MARTIN-CONSANI



My !rst ultra-race for 2013 was Centurion Running's Thames Path 100. As the name would suggest it's 100 miles from London to Oxford on the Thames Path. Unfortunately due to severe #ooding in the latter stages, the course was rerouted to two out-and-backs. Not ideal, but still considerably better than cancelling the event. Although I still poised for the cancellation notice to appear.

Arriving in London on Friday evening, I must have checked my phone every !ve minutes for race updates and weather forecast changes. Just pleading for the wind to die down. Gusts of 30mph, snow showers and temperatures of "feels like" -8C were on the cards. I noticed on social media sites that races all over Britain were being cancelled, but I knew - based on the reputation of Centurion Running - that it would be the absolute last resort.

With no news on Saturday morning, it was full steam ahead. Sonic, Brother Sonic and the gorgeous Gillian were on crew duty for the day. After my antics at last year's GUCR Sonic refused to

Debbie Martin-ConsaniBlogwww.debsonrunning.blogsp

ot.co.uk

Twitter@UltraRunDMC


Finish Position:4/87 (1st Lady) 165 Starters

assume sole responsibility for me :-) Imagine.

Leaving the Twickenham Travelodge (I know I totally spoil them) it was pretty grim and pouring down, but certainly not as windy as the nighttime howls would have suggested. We arrived at the



http://www.debsonrunning.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.debsonrunning.blogspot.co.uk





packed Richmond Hall to register, get my gear check and listen to the race brie!ng.

The altered route was Richmond - Cookham (39 miles) - turn around - back to Walton on Thames (66 miles) - turn around - back to Cookham - turn around - back to !nish in Windsor for the fourth and last time (104 miles). Are you still with me? To some, this might seem torturous, but to gain some perspective I had to remind myself that I had run around a one kilometre loop in a housing estate for 24 hours before.

R a c e D i r e c t o r J a m e s E l s o n g a v e a f a i r l y comprehensive race brie!ng, but I'm not sure if I took anything in. Actually I'm pretty sure I didn't, as all I could think about was getting to the ladies for a last minute "make-sure" and get lubed-up. Ah the glamour.

Bang on 10am we were o$, en route to the !rst checkpoint at Walton-on-Thames. I pretty much ran the whole way there with a chap called Ben. Just chatting away, so the miles zipped by. Up until that point it was wet and mucky, but not too slippy. And every bit was runnable. Ben stopped to stock-up and I pushed on to meet the team a short distance away...trying not to think that I would be back at that point in 50+ miles time.

The route was fairly easy to follow and very well-marked by the race organisers, but I had to keep vigilant. There rerouted course made it easier, because the runners covered the full route in daylight and there was generally always someone else around. There were a few points that I could have gone wrong on, until I caught sight of a runner at the corner of my eye. Thanks to the chap with the high-viz jacket at the bridge before Wraysbury.

I was also following Wouter Hamelinck, who must have been having #ashbacks about me tailing him at the last year's GUCR. Thankfully the winter conditions meant he was wearing slightly longer shorts this time ;-) His summer wardrobe would even make the GM blush.

The section between Wraysbury and Windsor was t h e w o r s t . I p a s s e d t h e u b e r - s u p e r M i m i Anderson around 25 miles, who said she was

"#atlining". We did the girlie thing and hugged, before I pushed on to face mud, mud and more mud. I may a mentioned a few (million) times that "I don't do cross-country" mainly because I cannot run on mud. Not only 'for it's shoe-sucking' ability, but it also sucks the life out of me. Knowing that you really want to run, but can't, is pretty soul destroying. But I just had to keep telling myself that everyone was in the same boat.

Arriving in Windsor (28 miles) I needn't have worried about the mud accumulating on my shoes, as there was nice big foot bath waiting for me. As I stopped at the water's edge the lovely Marshall looked at me apologetically and informed me that there was no two-ways about it. Just man-up and get it over with. Holy Moly, it was freezing! And knee-deep. And something that I would have to do another three times before the end of the race.

"the lovely Marshall looked at me apologetically and

informed me that there was no two-ways about it. Just

man-up and get it over with"

On to the turnaround point at Cookham, it was fairly uneventful. The vast majority was runnable, but there were large sections of slippy muck, which seemed to last for miles. I was playing leap frog with Wouter who I always thought was in front and then he would creep up on me after a few comfort breaks and a detour at Maidenhead.

My race plan was to eat mainly protein (cheese/ham/eggs/nuts) for the !rst 33 miles and then introduce carbs and sugar thereafter. I've gone all paleo/low carb in recent months and been training on only protein and fats since October (but that's another blog post to itself ), basically to keep the fairies at bay in the latter stages of a long race. I was nearer Cookham (38 miles) when I tucked into some Mrs Tilly Fudge and Haribo Jelly Babies

Heading towards the Cookham aid station, a few




DEBBIE HEADING THROUGH WINDSOR



so I could gauge where I was in the !eld. David Ross was the !rst to appear a few miles out, so I took it he had about a four mile lead.

Into Cookham, passing through a graveyard (nice touch) and I checked in at the aid station, picked up some supplies and then headed straight back. My race plan was not to stop, just to keep chipping away. There was a group of people, bracing the cold, who cheered me on. I tried to say something through a mouthful of Soreen malt loaf, which must have looked lovely.

So back the way I went...all the way back to !rst aid station at Walton on Thames. And as suspected, the course was getting churned up. I knew it would only get worse. Especially with the rain and snow during the day.

It was really nice passing the others. Not in a smug way, it just perked me up to see other faces. Plus, everyone was really supportive and encouraging. I passed the second lady, Wendy Shaw, a couple of miles into the return leg and she looked really smiley and comfortable.

I sat behind Wouter for the best part of 10 miles,

but passed him just before Windsor. He then overtook as I met my crew and I passed him for the !nal time when he stopped at the aid station. I later heard he was also entered into the Viking Way the next weekend. Ludicrous, but true.

I'd picked up my headtorch as I knew it would be dark before I met the crew again at Wraysbury. On the return leg I was passed a few times by a runner I now know as Luke Ashton - who had spent far too long in the aid stations. Which I took the liberty of telling him so later on. He could have easily won the race if it wasn't for that. I told him that too :-) Actually, I even told my crew to tell him too. I was referring to him as "twinkle-toes" as he was so light on his feet I never once heard him coming. Good job I wasn't talking to myself.

I was then just focusing on the next chunk, rather than the bigger picture. Just get to Walton-on-Thames and that would be two legs down. Again, I just shouted my number - noting Luke was still in there - and headed straight back. Then I only had 10/11 miles before BrotherSonic would join me for six miles from Wraysbury to Windsor aid station. Not only was I looking forward to the company, but






I warned BrotherSonic not to wear new trainers - he's a bit of a shoe-inista - but didn't think to tell him not to wear lock laces. He managed to lose his shoes four times in the mud. When we left the Wraysbury aid station and cut straight across a !eld, he did question my navigation. I don't think he quite expected the mud to be just as bad and kept asking if it was like this the whole way. I did lighten his spirits by telling him there was at least h a l f a m i l e o f r o a d j u s t o u t s i d e Windsor ;-) Thankfully it was to be the last time I had to squelch about in that section. BrotherSonic phoned Sonic prior to Windsor to "give him a heads-up on the conditions". Surely that's just cheating ;-)

Heading across the !eld to the Windsor aid station for the third time, I was 83 miles down and people were still leaving at 48 miles to head back down. As with a l l u l t ra races, the back of the ! eld participants are always the true hardcore ones.

"As with all ultra races, the back of the "eld

participants are always the true hardcore ones"

Then it was in and out of the aid station - through the shoeshine puddle - where we met Sonic and the gorgeous Gillian. Sonic was then going to join me on the out-and-back to Cookham until the !nish. A total of 22 miles.

Sonic opted for Inov-8 studs, but it made no di$erence in the mud. Sonic actually likes mucky conditions. His friends call him "bog boy", so it must have been frustrating having me refusing to run on it. My legs were just too tired from the slipping and sliding and my enthusiasm for mud was rapidly diminishing. I guess like most people at that point in the race, fatigue really impinged on balance, so I knew I couldn't stop myself if I tumbled. I was going to mention to Sonic that I couldn't believe I hadn't fallen, but I knew that would tempt fate.

Passing over the bridge at Maidenhead we passed David Ross who was doing the death march. My vision was so blurry, I thought he was coming in the opposite direction on his !nal stint. He was shivering from the cold and looked really close

to hypothermic. Sonic stopped to try to help and David shouted at me to keep going. He didn't need to ask me twice, I was o$. Sonic sent BrotherSonic back and I looked back to see them running together for a bit.

Then Martin, Luke (twinkle toes) and Richard Ashton passed going the other way. I'm not sure in which order, as headtorches are just blinding. Plus, some had support runners, so it was hard to tell what position I was in. Not that I cared. As long as I still had the lead in the ladies race, that was all I wanted.

It seemed to take forever - mainly because it DID take forever - to get to Cookham. Sonic questioned my navigat ion when we went through the graveyard. On the way back, I must have running so slowly as Sonic stopped to read the gravestones.

W e m e t D a v i d a g a i n w h o l o o k e d p r e t t y disorientated and pointed him in the r ight direction. I wouldn't have been surprised if he was pulled from the race, but I'm glad to see he battled it out. What a trooper! Such a shame, as he was leading for so long.

Running back to Windsor into a head wind in the early hours of the morning, I was FREEZING. I couldn't stop my teeth from chattering. Sonic donated his hat and called ahead for my diva demands on ski mitts and an ice-breaker sweater. Gillian had thought ahead and put hand warmers in the mitts. Sometime it really pays to have a girl in your crew. It's the little touches that make it.

To be fair, up until that point the weather didn't bother me one bit. I was fairly comfortable with the clothing I had on, even in the rain/snow/wind. Considering the forecast, it wasn't that bad. Or maybe it's because it's what I'm used to training in. Good ol' Scottish weather came good. It was just the mud that got to me. Although regardless of how bad the mud got, it was still 100% better than a cancelled or postponed race.

The last 10 miles were a real slog. I never at any point in the race wanted to quit, but by this point I really wanted it to be over. We passed Wendy Shaw heading towards the !nal turn around. I !gured I had at least a 6 mile lead, but she looked so strong and chipper. So strong in fact, that she put the shitters right up me!!






Again, there was lots of passing other runners who were heading in the opposite direction. Most were encouraging, but some looked - understandably - downright p*ssed o$. The path was just a churned up mud bath. There were few cheers of "well done, lads". I hope that was down to headtorch blindness and not me running like a man.

Heading over the bridge to Windsor, I was quite disappointed that the castle wasn't lit up. I know it's not Disneyland, but I expected more. I joked with Sonic that the Queen, who was in residence that weekend, had asked for the race to pass by her four times and threw in some miles on for good measure. Just like the 1908 London Olympics' Marathon when the Queen requested that the o% cial distance be extended to (what is now the o% cial) 26.2 miles, so that the race started at Windsor Castle and !nished underneath the Royal viewing box.

Then I was only half mile or so, until we reached the ice bath at Windsor. BrotherSonic had warned Sonic, so there wasn't the same level of fun when he saw it. Still, his face was a picture. We were greeted at the other side by Drew She%eld and guided to the aid station for the !nishing time.

It was my !rst time inside an aid station all day. Wow! Talk about kitted out. No wonder Luke spent

so much time there. Heaters, shelter, a lovely spread, hot drinks...!t for a queen it was. I'm glad I waited until the end to witness it.

The lovely James Elson presented me with the !rst lady's trophy. In the picture I may seem ungrateful, but my !rst thought was how I am going to get it on the plane.

Happy, but knackered. My legs were destroyed. My right hip #exor was in agony for the last 20 miles. I was really worried that it was a genuine injury, but it seems to have healed. I never really knew how much you use your hip #exors for. Getting up the steps to the plane was a riot. For days when ever I had to lift my leg up, I literally had to lift my leg up!

I cannot put into words how thankful and grateful I am to Team Consani, who were truly awesome as always. Thanks to James & Co for putting on a great race, under extraordinary circumstances. Everyone I met spoke so highly of James, and now I know why. He really cares about putting on a good show, And what a show it was. Although I'd be interested to know who eats cherry tomatoes during an ultra ;-)



THAMES PATH 100BY KEN HUGHES



The Thames Path 100 is a race put on by Centurion Running in March each year. Normally it starts in Richmond, London and follows the Thames Path all the way to Oxford.

I got a place con!rmed in this year's race as part of the early opening program for volunteers (I marked the Marlow to Reading leg of the course last year). Having run 40 miles a number of times and 75 miles at the Endure24, I thought it would just be a case of carrying on the same, for a bit longer – I was wrong.

This race was a number of ‘!rsts’ for me:-

* First hundred miler* First DNF* First race I have underestimated

I had recce’d the second half of the route with Paul Ali about 5 weeks before. I hadn’t run on that section and !gured it was going to be overnight by the time I got there, so wanted to make sure I had some clue about the route. On that recce we found the Thames had "ooded most of the route. The next few weeks saw drier weather and the route dried out a bit, until a week before the race when it got wet again.

James Elson, the RD, kept us all updated via email in the last few days before the race, but ultimately the race had to be rerouted. We would now run from Richmond to Cookham (38m), then turn round, head back to Walton on Thames (65m), turn round again and go back to Cookham (92m) before turning round again and heading to the !nish at Windsor (102m).

I had the usual nerves the day before – had I prepared enough, had I packed everything, what if… – and didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before. Anyway, the alarm went o# at 5am and I had some breakfast and pottered around with the last minute bits before heading to the train station for 6:15. This got me to Richmond in good time, around 8:15 I think, where I did the registration bits and spent some time adjusting kit and shoes.

At 9:50, after a thorough race brie!ng, we all headed out to the start and at 10 the horn sounded. I started at the back as I wanted to focus on managing my e#ort correctly (and I’m too easily led into starting o# too fast…). It was still snowing in "urries at this stage and I had Ronhills, a thick base layer and my Minimus waterproof on – this kept me warm as the initial miles started to get ticked o#. The pace felt slow (about 9:30 – 10 mins/mile) which was exactly what I wanted. I purposely chose not to wear a watch or GPS as I !gured I just had to keep running till ‘tomorrow’ (this worked in some ways, but not in others).

Anyway, the !rst aid station (Walton on Thames) at 11 miles seemed to arrive pretty quickly, and I still had the sense of being in the back 10% of the !eld, I re! lled my water bottle and grabbed a couple of snacks and carried on. It was all going !ne, I was running my own race and chatted to a few people (lots of people seemed to be on their !rst 100 miler like me).

By the time we got to the second aid station (Wraysbury, at mile 22) my thick base layer was drenched and my feet were soaked and muddy. This was an indoor checkpoint, so I took the

Ken HughesBloghttp://

www.runlogbook.com

Twitter@kjhughes

Thames Path 100 ResultFinish TimeDNF




http://www.runlogbook.com

http://www.runlogbook.com




opportunity to quickly change my top and my socks – this energised me a bit and I headed o# for the next 6 mile section to Windsor. This section was particularly muddy and I was sliding all over the place, even with my Inov-8 Roclites on – I felt sorry for those in road shoes, couldn’t have been much fun.

The Windsor checkpoint was on Home Park, a food tent and then 3 big tents with all the dropbags. I was doing !ne in the kit I had on, so I just dumped my wet top and socks from the last checkpoint, ! lled my bottle, grabbed more food and carried on. Coming out of Windsor was good – a couple of places I was familiar with, a view of the castle and I was feeling good. This next section was 10 miles (to Cookham) then turn around and come back. I don’t remember much of this part – we ran past Eton Dorney and through the outskirts of Maidenhead, lots of people milling around. I passed Paul Ali about 2 miles short of the checkpoint, he was ahead of me, on his way back and looked to be doing !ne.

Not sure I remember much about the aid station – a quick stop, top up my bottle, grab snacks and head out again. It was still light by the time I was heading back to Windsor, but I knew it wouldn’t last. About halfway here it was dark enough to warrant a headtorch, but I had a warm baseball cap on and just couldn’t be bothered stopping, changing hats and digging out my headtorch, also it was getting too cold to stop moving – so I just cracked on back to Windsor.

By the time I got back to the Windsor aid station it was fully dark and way colder. I grabbed some hot food, a cup of tea and headed to the drop bag area, where I got changed into night gear – same kit, just dry versions, sorted out my torches and what have you. By this stage it was 9:30pm and 48 miles, so I was about 1-2hrs outside my target of 50 miles in 10 hrs.

I was starting to feel it as well by this point but the change of clothes buoyed me up a little. That only lasted as far as the !rst muddy section, where I was all over the place and couldn’t get a decent view of what was mud, what was water, what was path – the light just re"ecting o# everything. It was

probably around 11pm by the time I got to Wraysbury (54 miles) again, but I was past the half way point and it was an indoor, warm location so I was pleased to get there – a warm tea, a few snacks and out the door again before I got too comfortable !! Just as I was leaving this checkpoint the race leader cruised in, only 22 miles ahead of me and bouncing around full of energy…

This next section was pretty hard, 11 miles through the dead of night – we skirted some residential areas as the pubs were chucking out – a bit of entertainment was had listening to the singing and senseless debates. I was mixing walking with short shu$y runs by this stage, and I think there was an ‘ad hoc’ aid station out the back of a car boot half way along this section.

As I got to Walton on Thames (65 miles) it must have been around 2:30am – there were half a dozen camping chairs set out and 2 or 3 were ! lled. There were also some halogen heaters, which were very welcome. The aid station crew here were fantastic (in fact the crew at all stations were fantastic), getting me co#ee, o#ering porridge etc. After being here 5 mins another runner came in, stood for a second and then promptly collapsed and started twitching. He was only ‘out’ about 10 seconds or so, but then just got up, said it had happened before and didn’t stop him, had a quick tea and then set o# again – I took that as my cue to crack on, and left the aid station for the next section, 11 miles back to Wraysbury.

"By now I was mostly walking and half asleep –

closing one eye at a time in an e!ort to rest a little"

By now I was mostly walking and half asleep – closing one eye at a time in an e#ort to rest a little. I had to keep reminding myself to lift my head up. My mind was wandering all over the place, but I kept dragging myself back and trying to focus on the moment, the race and what was left. I knew that by the time I got back to Wraysbury I would only have 26 miles left, and given the current time it was looking like I’d have over 10 hours to do it –






6 MILES DOWN AND 98 MILES TO GO!PHOTOGRAPH | CENTURION RUNNING






an easy stroll at 2.6 miles/hour if needed. Although I was feeling con!dent I wasn’t really relishing having to go at it for another 10 hours. I was hoping that the morning light would perk me up a little and let me get back to a mix of walking / shu$ ing to reduce the 10 hours.

What felt like every 30 minutes I was trying to do a full assessment of myself – energy levels, pain levels, pain locations, each bit of kit, mental attitude, what I would need at the next aid station, what I would do at the next drop bag etc. This worked quite well and I was feeling quite good, but I was starting to get annoyed with myself for not having a watch or GPS – I couldn’t accurately measure passage of time, or distance and this leg seemed to be taking forever. I couldn’t quite remember the milestones along the route so I had no idea of how far I’d come or how far still to go.

About 2 miles out from the Wraybury aid station I started to feel a sharp pain in the ligament at the back of my right knee, after a short time this prevented my from bending that leg, so I was reduced to a hobble/limp. The last 2 miles to the aid station took over an hour and I had no option but to drop out at that point – 6:07am and 76 miles done. I’m de!nitely not chalking this DNF down to injury – it was simply the fact I was underprepared – I just don’t think I did enough to train and toughen my body to the level needed.

"I just don’t think I did enough to train and

toughen my body to the level needed"

Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail, and all that… I was feeling pretty weird at this point – real disappointment as my race was over, frustration as I still had su% cient energy and time, but a strange elation as my race was over and I didn’t have to walk/run another step.

Positive Takeaways

Although, overall I count this as a failure, there are

a few positives for me to take away from it:

* New distance best (76 miles, 1 mile more than my previous best).

* New time best (76 miles in 3.5 hours faster than my previous 75 miles).

* Snacking at every aid station (supplemented by hourly gels) worked well – consistent energy levels.

* No blisters.* All my kit worked well.* Changing socks and tops every 25ish miles gave

me a good boost.

Lessons Learnt

Here’s a list of what I’ll probably do di#erently next time around:

* Take a watch, and GPS/tracker.* Longer e#orts in training – it’s not energy/speed

that I need to work on, it’s being on my feet for a long time.

* Be better prepared for darkness – headtorch in an easier accessible pocket/pouch.

* I probably had too much kit in my rucksack – the o% cial doing my kit check just laughed at me and said “You’ve obviously got everything”…

The Aftermath

Well, from 6:07am, I sat in the toilets at the Wraysbury aid station (warmest place) for an hour or so, then was taken in a mini bus to Windsor to pick up my drop bags, then dropped at the Windsor train station. A 8:30 train took me to Slough, and from there I got a train to Reading which saw me just miss the 10:44 to Newbury, so I hung around Reading station for an hour and then eventually got home at 12:16, having been awake for over 30 hours.

After getting home, I had 16 hours sleep by the next morning and then had a massage. The next couple of days saw me with swollen feet, but feeling physically okay.The whole week I have been in a bit of a black mood, not sure if it has been disappointment, or just tiredness. It was only relieved with a fast e#ort 5 miler today.

Finally – I have un!nished business, I will be back next year…



LUKE PIC TURED AT THE START OF THE RACE IN RICHMOND

THAMES PATH 100BY LUKE ASHTON



Heavy rain has !ooded the Thames yet again. The path, severley compromised and the safety of the course means Centurion had to re-route. Starting at Richmond Townhall and running along the Thames path to Cookham, before heading back to Wraysbury ("rst check point). Then back towards Cookham again, the "nal leg bringing us into Windsor at 102 miles. This would mean passing Windsor three times.

I also developed a cold, so not the best start.

Temperatures will reach 2c, with -4c arctic wind chill with thick muddy terrain making this one massive challenge to the !nish.

Sunday is with me and Helen on her way. My folks will be at Windsor this afternoon. After registration from James Elson and team, kit checks and preparations. The race brief is held at 9:30, detailing the scale of the "ooding and precautions to take.

I say hello to regular Ultra runner Paul Ali and wish him well. Just 30 seconds, checking Garmin signal.

Today Runkeeper Live will be tracking my progress.

10:00: Starting o# over the bridge, to the other side of the river. I stay grouped in the middle before !nding a comfortable pace. I have no idea how to plan today, so aim around 4-5 hours per 25

Luke AshtonBlogwww.lukeashton.blogspot.c

o.uk

Twitter@Ashton378


Finish Position:2/87 Finishers (165 Starters)









I say hi to Mimi Anderson further on. I don’t see her again. This section is very urban. Over roads and junctions following the arrows and tape. I have a Nakd fruit bar after 9 miles. Eventually passing Kingston-upon-Thames, West Moseley and then reaching the !rst check point.

AID 1: WALTON ON THAMESMile: 11Estimated Arrival: 11:32Actual Pace: 08:21 min/mileRank: 5

Running for 1 hour 32 minutes. Number recorded, few cups of water and some fruits, I thank the volunteers and carry on up the trail. Some road works guide me the wrong way, dropping back position. Back on track, the group spreads and I keep up with the front. Passing Staines I lose the arrow markers. I am not the only one adding miles from going o# track.

The path leads down over the M25 then onto Windsor road, before coming out into a park for the indoor aid station.

AID 2: WRAYSBURYMile: 22Estimated Arrival: 13:12Actual Pace: 08:46 min/mileRank: 16

Running for 3 hours 12 minutes. It feels nice in the warm. The cabin is cosy. Lots of runners come and go whilst I stock up on water, oranges, water melon and nuts. Thanking the volunteers and heading outside, still munching on grapes.

Here it is thick with mud beneath. Through !elds and woods. The scenery is picturesque, despite the cold. My legs remain strong, with my pace. Up and over bridges to the other side almost approaching Windsor. I start to develop indigestion, did I eat too much? After a very long road, through Datchet and then across a park into the next aid station. I can hear Helen shouting ‘come on Lukey’. Runkeeper Live has tracked me spot on.

AID 3: WINDSORMile: 28Estimated Arrival: 14:04

Actual Pace: 08:44 min/mileRank: 4

Running for 4 hours 4 minutes. I drink coconut water, maltodextrin and super greens mixed together. Re! ll my back pack, grab some seed bars and a veggie wrap. I will need a shoe change, the New Balance MT00 are not gripping the terrain. A huge deep puddle is up next, so the team say it is best to wait until I return. My feet feel sore. I head through the cold puddle and up past the Castle.

The trail weaves through !elds and muddy woods. It is peaceful and quiet. I see other runners dropping pace. Slipping and falling in the mud has slowed me down. I try eating a veggie wrap. Over another bridge, then under the M4, the track ends and comes out at the Bath road. The runner in 1st place passes. I catch up with two others, following the markers through a graveyard then out towards the next aid station.

AID 4: COOKHAMMile: 38Estimated Arrival: 15:49Actual Pace: 09:11 min/mileRank: 6

Running for 5 hours 49 minutes. I add a Nuun tablet to my water with help. Eating fruits and some salted nuts. Luckily the indigestion has passed. The team say I am looking strong. Thanking everyone I make my way back again. It shall be dark when I return.

Once into the wooded area, runners pass from the other direction. We each say a well done and I high !ve Paul Ali when he goes by. I see Bosh runner Kevin Smith closer to Windsor.

Back past the Castle and through the deep puddle, I can’t wait to get these shoes o# my tired wet feet. I can see Helen, Sunday, Mum and Dad.




LUKE PIC TURED WITH HIS PACER SUNDAY



AID 5: WINDSOR 2Mile: 48Estimated Arrival: 17:32Actual Pace: 09:26 min/mileRank: 4

Running for 7 hours 32 minutes. I chat with the parents as Helen and Sunday help me out of my wet shoes. The LA Sportiva feel so snug, like slippers in comparison. My feet feel new again...

After a black co#ee with coconut water. I take both my headlights, some Aduki choc brownies, a banana wrap and some Nakd bars before heading on my way again. I hug everyone goodbye.

It soon gets dark, glow sticks are dotted up in the trees to guide us. I start to lose my appetite, but force down snacks and a wrap. My headlight shines the way. Past Datchet pubs and eventually into Wraysbury.

AID 6: WRAYSBURY 2Mile: 54Estimated Arrival: 18:46Actual Pace: 09:45 min/mileRank: 5

Running for 8 hours 46 minutes. My Garmin battery has died so I turn on the next one. The team help plug in my back up battery for my iPhone. Water re! ll and fruits, I head back onto the dark trail. Once in the residential area, I see some spectators. I do not recognise them. Further up a chap and small girl say well done Luke! I shake the man’s hand, thanking him. He tells me I am only 4 behind !rst place and doing very well...

I later discover it was Andy from Bosh run group and his 8 year old son! Was I delirious and hallucinating?

Once back by the Thames, passing the !rst lady,






who is in great spirits, torches " icker up ahead with cheering. I reach the aid tent with relief. That felt too long to reach.

AID 7: WALTON ON THAMES 2Mile: 65Estimated Arrival: 20:37Actual Pace: 09:48 min/mileRank: 4

Running for 10 hours and 37 minutes. I eat more fruits, some tomatoes, salted crisps and have electroylte salts as recommended. After co#ee my legs start to get cold. The other runners have left already. I thank everyone and make a move. I feel the discomfort moving again after standing still. It takes a while to warm up before I am steady again.

There is an added aid stop by the road on this stretch back. The runners are starting to get very cold and tired. I have more salts and water thanking the two guys. I start to get my appetite back. My pace has dropped but I am still moving, feeling a sense of euphoria like nothing I have felt before. My legs feel tired but my mind is very awake.

Through the darkest areas and back into the cabin at the next aid station.

AID 8: WRAYSBURY 3Mile: 76Estimated Arrival: 22:38Actual Pace: 09:58 min/mileRank: 5

Running for 12 hours 38 minutes. More fruit and salts. It feels good to get back in the warm, but I need to keep moving. I head back into the dark.

I can see specks of headlights in the distance, congratulating other runners when they pass. I see Kevin again, looking strong. I eat some more fuel, overtaking the !rst lady and other runners again. Over the !eld I can hear Sunday and Helen, then see them in view.

AID 9: WINDSOR 3Mile: 82Estimated Arrival: 23:44Actual Pace: 10:03 min/mile

RANK: 2

Reaching the aid tent, James checks how I am feeling. He tells me to take as long as I need, I have reached 2nd place. I cannot register what is happening, I feel so alert and clear, I am so high...

Another co#ee with coconut water. Plenty of snacks left and with only 10 miles to Cookham I can manage. Sunday is ready to pace me. Buzzing to come along for the ride. The company will be good. We say our goodbyes to everyone.

Back through the even deeper puddle, I guide the way, passing the lit up Castle. It is now the 24th March and over 14 hours running. We catch up on the events of the day. Walking the muddy parts. It is dead quiet except from the honks of the swans.

Eventually the trail ends and it's back through the village and graveyard, then into the last aid station.

AID 10: COOKHAM 2Mile: 92Estimated Arrival: 01:54Actual Pace: 10:22 min/mileRANK: 1

Running for 15 hours 55 minutes. Some fruits and co#ee and perhaps chatting too long before we head out again. The runner from behind, with his pacer has left already. The muddy trail tightens my sore muscles, struggling this last stretch, it has been one long day!

My lights are fading fast so we fumble to change batteries. I never thought I would get this far and to be in 2nd place! There is no need to catch up with !rst, I have proved I can !nish, smashing my 20 hour goal. Passing the castle and eventually to the glowing lights of the aid tent. I can hear Helen ‘whoop whoop’, ploughing through the cold puddle for the last time. I don’t care how it feels, I am at the end...

I feel fantastic that I !nished in less than 24 hours...

FINISH: WINDSOR 4Mile: 102Estimated Arrival: 04:13Actual Pace: 10:43 min/mile






Estimated Arrival: 04:13Actual Pace: 10:43 min/mileRANK: 2

Finished 18:14:18 in 2nd place

On Runkeeper I reached 107.50 miles, so had I not got lost twice and hung about at aid stations I could have made !rst place. But Martin deserved to win today, and for my !rst ever 100 miler I could not feel more happy.

Martin Bacon 1st Place 18:10:53Richard Ashton 3rd Place 18:35:21Debbie-Martin-Consani 4th Place (1st Female) 19:19:20

I would like to thank Centurion Running for all the planning and organisation. The volunteers and support teams for braving the cold and looking after everyone. Bosh-Run for all their continued support and encouragement as always. Sister Samantha for live updates for the whole duration of the event.

Lastly my crew, Mum, Dad, Helen and Sunday; who without them I wouldn’t have been able to complete this challenge of a lifetime...

THE FLOODED PATH AT WINDSOR AT ITS LOWEST



THAMES PATH 100BY CHRIS EDMONDS



Well this was it, the morning of my !rst 100 mile race and boy what a snow storm to wake up to.

We (myself and bro-in law Phil, my crew man) stayed in a hotel the night before and noticed at breakfast that Mimi Anderson was just heading o! so I quickly introduced myself, I feel as if I have

known her for ages, reading her blogs and chatting on Facebook etc so was nice to actually meet in the "esh (so to speak) and what an inspiration she is.

Got to the registration and was starting to feel very nervous especially looking around at all the experienced faces in the crowd. Had I done enough training, was I indeed ready for this? I knew deep down I had trained very hard and put many miles in, but was 6 # fty mile training runs going to see me through this? Well it was time to #nd out as the countdown to the start had begun.

Due to the "ooding the race had to be reorganised and what a fantastic e!ort from the Centurion team to even get this race on.

I purposely started as far back as possible mainly because I always seem to go o! too fast at most races. My aim was to run 10 minute miles for as far as I could or at least get to 50 miles in 10 hours

giving me 14 hours to get the one day buckle, which as it was, worked out perfect hitting 50 miles in about 9:30 and on the plus side I felt great although the conditions were very grim and getting worse by the hour. I made my #rst mistake here changing kit, clothing was #ne but changing shoes from my Salomon Speedcross to Adidas Kanadia was a massive blunder as my feet had swollen quite a bit. Don’t get me wrong the Kanadia shoes have been perfect in training along the muddy South Coast Path all winter but they just couldn’t cope with the Thames Path mud. So lesson number 1 is to have 2 pairs of identical shoes or not to change them.

So on into the night and this is where I was in uncharted territory for me, 52 miles was the furthest I had ever run and that was on my 52nd birthday (what a treat ), but incredibly I still felt great. I had an achilles tendon worry for a couple of months beforehand but it seemed to be holding up

ok. Through the night I put my iPod on (unusual for me) but really think this helped (David Bowie you are awesome).

Also ran straight past one of the aid stations and ended up doing 1 mile up a road before realising what I had done and heading back (lesson number 2 concentrate more).

I got to mile 82 in 17:02 hours which I was amazed at and so happy and was still feeling great, but that didn’t last long. After I left the Windsor aid station I tripped over for the 3rd time in the race and felt the Achilles really stretch badly, and from there on it was just a really painful walk, run shu$e to the #nish. The last stretch from Windsor to Cookham and back to Windsor took me 6 hours 20 minutes which is still niggling at me in the back of my head, but I will have to try and forget that and be pleased with my #nish time of 23:22:10.

A massive thank-you to Phil for crewing me in freezing conditions and doing a great job looking after me. Another massive thank-you to all the volunteers, we really could not have done this without you you are all amazing. Finally congratulations to the Centurion Running team for all your hard work to get this race on.

Chris Edmonds

Twitter@hunterwray1

Thames Path 100 ResultTime23hrs 22mins

Position35/90 (185 Starters)



RICHARD LINED UP AT THE START OF THE RACE

THAMES PATH 100BY RICHARD ASHTON



The Thursday evening before the race my nerves started to kick in. I was starting to doubt my chances of running 100 miles, made all the worse by the horri!c weather we were experiencing and the forecast made for even worse reading. I tried my best to get pysched, watching ’A Fine Line’ by Kilian Jornet 4 times.

I had my mum travelling down from Blackpool, sister from Aberdeen, Declan from Ireland and Neil my pacer from Glasgow so there was no way I could let this super team down. When I woke Saturday, after a suprisingly good night's sleep, I was actually relieved to see snow and not rain and a new found con!dence started to kick in. My aim for the race was simply to !nish it, but after being tipped as a wild card by the race organisers I felt a little pressure not to disappoint and knew I had a top 3 !nish in me if I could hack the distance.

Arriving at Richmond town hall it was great to meet up with a few faces I have met through this short journey into ultrarunning and fellow tweeters whom I had only had interactions with online.

As the race started I was so excited, my aim was to avergage 9-9.30 min miles for the 1st 50 and then see what was left in me for the last 50. Some of the !eld shot o" at a shockingly fast pace, much faster then last year's winner's average pace, so I tried to hold myself back but couldn't help run faster then

Richard AshtonTwitter@C3044700

Thames Path 100 ResultFinish Time18 hrs 35 mins

Finish Position:3/87 Finishers (165 Starters)






planned. After about mile 8 I started to feel some knee pain though and really started to panic as I have struggled with my knees since October. All I could think was there is no way I can !nish this race with this constant knee pain and hoped it would magically dissapear if I carried on. I managed to get chatting to few other runners as well and enjoyed hearing their stories and before I knew it the pain seemed to subside.

"I started to feel the race in my body after about 40

miles"I started to feel the race in my body after about 40 miles, however, was still feeling strong and knew I was in a decent position but running alone for long periods was tough. It was a joy running along and seeing other runners, it always picks me up and was one of the reasons I was more then happy with the back up route we had to run. From mile 54, it was dark and I was happy to start running with Jules who said we were in 2nd and 3rd place which suprised me. Unfortunately for Jules he was having

knee issues himself and decided to pull out when we reached the next check point at Walton on Thames which left me in 2nd place, but to be honest at that point I didnt care what position I was in, I just wanted to !nish and was starting to question if I had it in me. As I made my way back from Cookham to Walton on Thames I asked my pacer Neil who was supposed to meet me at mile 76 and get me to the !nish, to instead meet me around mile 65 as I needed the company, and told him if he could get my as close to Cookham again for the !nal push that would be amazing.

I was moving well with my pacer but we both su"ered on the boggy sections which were seriously sapping every little bit of strength out of us and causing pains in the oddest of places. I even slipped on my backside a couple of times which really wound me up. At about mile 85 I was covering the long soul-destroying leg to Cookham and ended up dropping Neil as he tried to stretch. After about 5 mins and him not catching me up I started to panic, thinking maybe his head torch could run out, he may get lost and never !nd his way back, or fall in the river and be swept into the abyss- it was freaking me out so much I decided I

THE FLOODING AT WINDSOR MEANT COLD FEET




E VENT REPOR T


had to go back and try to !nd him. I had made my mind up I would rather DNF and !nd my pal then !nish the race and something terrible happen to him, so after a few shouts I started to walk back along the trail, trying his phone with no luck and seriously going out my mind- still torn with carrying on knowing he would probably be ok, yet having that awful doubt that something very horrible could also happen which I would not be able to live with. I think at this point as I was heading back Luke Ashton passed me who went on to a storming 2nd place and then I decided to call my girlfriend to ask her advice on what to do, and to my relief she con!rmed Neil had called her to say he was on his way back to the previous aid station. This was such a massive relief and so I cracked on determined to !nish.

Once I reached Cookham at about mile 90 I was ruined and took my 1st sit down of the day, necked a quick co"ee and somehow dragged my sore and muddy gluteus-maximus back to Windsor. It was a very slow, lonely su"er fest every single step of the way. Just knowing what god awful terrain I still had to slog across and imagining all the sliding and slipping yet to come almost made me pull out, but I couldn’t let my crew and pacer down and just had to get that buckle. I strongly remember when 100

miles came up on my gps device and just wanting to cry knowing the back up course was measuring 103 miles and when your moving so slow thats long enough to seriously get you down.

Upon reaching the !nish I was greeted by my amazing crew (mum, sis, girlfriend and Declan) and my heroic pacer Neil Foster. I sat down and was shot, my muscles lost all control and I couldnt even stand or walk. I had to be carried to the car, carried to bed and was in such intolerable pain. Trying to get some sleep was near impossible, but trying to get to the toilet when unable to walk and everyone else is sound asleep was almost a disaster.

I’m now on the mend and walking, well shu# ing like an old man who has just been run over by a lorry. Loved the whole experience and !nishing 3rd was such a proud achievement and I cant wait for some more su"ering. A massive thanks must go out to all the Volunteers who honestly make these events the greatest moments of your life, and the race organisers Centurion Running who put on a phenomonal event, under spectacular conditions in such a professional and safe manner, I can’t wait to repay the favour by doing some volunteering myself.

THAMES PATH 100



http://www.ultramarathonrunningstore.comRICHARD GRABBING A WARM DRINK AT AN AID STATION

E VENT REPOR T


THAMES PATH 100



RUNNERS ARE BRIEFED AT THE START OF THE EVENT

THAMES PATH 100BY EWAN DUNLOP

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It took me three months' speci!c training followed by one car journey, two trains, a bus ride and a 15 minute walk to get to the start line of this race. And for that whole process the weather not once looked like saying "Oh go on then, have a sunny one on me mate". For me this race was my !rst step towards completing and ideally winning the Centurion Running Grand Slam in 2013.

James Elson and the crew did a monumental task just getting this gig on. I dread to think the logistics in re-arranging 80+ volunteers, aid stations and course changes etc at short notice. Many a good thing has quite rightly already been said and I'm completely seconding all that. The race as we all know had to be pretty drastically re-routed using only the "rst 38 miles of the original course. This was not what anyone wanted, most of all James I imagine, but the race went ahead with our safety the foremost concern and it would make things tactically interesting for the competitive ones seeing the leaders a few times later on.

The "rst notable point of the day was the "nal leg

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Thames Path 100 Result

Finish Time

21hrs 28mins

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14/87 Finishers (165

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of my journey on the bus to Richmond. It's not often you can walk up to a bus stop at 7am on a Saturday dressed as an ultra runner (skins, bu#, funny rucksack...) and not feel like the odd one out. There wasn't a lot of chit-chat due to the cold and rain, but there were a few wry smiles which




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subconsciously all said "Ahh, so you're an idiot as well, nice to met you".

I did get chatting to Robbie "Fare Dodger" Britton (2nd, TP100 2012) on the bus though who I've only ever spoken to brie$y on Twitter. Among other things, Robbie managed to start the day with 30p on his Oyster card, make two bus journeys, and end the day with 30p on his Oyster card, how'd e do 'dat den? I hope for his sake that none of you four people that read this blog have close connections in the fuzz.

Anyway, we get to race start and head towards James Elson on the sign-in desk:

As ever with Centurion Running, the start venue, sign up and bag check etc run as smooth as silk. It's then just a matter of waiting for the race brie"ng at around 9:40am. During this time more and more familar faces walk into the room, some I've met at races before and again some only from Twitter. I sit and chat with Richard Ashton and Pete Goldring speci"cally, both I've run many miles with and enjoy their company a lot. The plan for the day is to run the "rst 50 miles with Pete at 10:00mm pace, and say goodbye to Richard's face and hello to his arse for the rest of the day after a few hundred metres. Ater that I'd been looking to nip under the 20 hour mark averaging about 12 m/m for the race.

After the race brie"ng the usual excitement kicks in. We now know due to course $ooding we'll be running back and forth between Cookham and Walton for the majority of the race and cover about 104 miles. I don't get butter$ ies myself, just an impatient energy to get the ball rolling after months of training. As ever the buzz on the start line is great, especially with so many runners and quality ones at the front as well. I recognise faces and chat to a few but I'm mainly just re-checking every part of my kit and that it's in place.

At spot on 10am the horn goes and around 160 runners head West along the Thames for a 104 mile journey on foot. We don't know it yet but almost half won't make it to the "nish, at this point though we're all in the same boat and the cameraderie throws a big two "ngers to the weather.

"we're all in the same boat and the cameraderie

throws a big two !ngers to the weather"

As is the masterplan, Pete and I run together for the "rst few hours with nothing much to write home about. Sticking to 10 minute miles is a real challenge mind but Pete keeps dragging me back with his Garmin as we constantly dip under 9's. At mile 18 it's a real shock when Pete tells me to go on as he starts to walk. There was no sign of this coming at all and after walking with him for a couple of minutes I know he means it and I've got to crack on. I shake his hand, wish him all the best and trot o#. It turns out he retires before the next checkpoint just two miles further down the road at a local pub with a pint and a pub meal. Credit where it's due, what a brilliant way to DNF!

Little do I know that after leaving Pete I'll run the next 86 miles on my own. You generally "nd someone to run with during an ultra, maybe a couple of people for a couple of hours each even, but no, no-one whatsoever seemed to be running at the same pace as me for any amount of time during the whole race. This didn't bother me at all, I could run at my own pace and keep my thoughts to myself. I don't lack motivation when I'm on my own, I don't think any ultra runner does, and there's one quote that stuck in my head all day and night at the "rst sign of self doubt;

"If it's important to you, you'll "nd a way... if it's not, you'll "nd an excuse"

My Dad was kind enough to crew for me for the entire race. It was his "rst time on the job but as a project engineer I knew he would execute it with ridiculous accuracy. He'd personally recce'd the whole route (original and back-up) beforehand and then forwarded googlemapped extra checkpoints to meet me at between o% cial CP's. I'd organised his car being laden with medical and food supplies etc. too and he was without doubt the major reason I managed to "nish within any kind of competitive time. Thank you!




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I had two major dips at miles 38 (Cookham) and 63 and on both occasions a large mug of liquid gold (co#ee) completely turned my race around. At mile 63 in particular I was in my worst ever mental condition during a race and was running through the reasons why DNF'ing would be a "good idea":

* I would be out of the Grand Slam so could get a part refund on my SDW entry

* Being out of the SDW could mean I could volunteer at the SDW and get free entry for 2014

* I'd have a shorter recovery time and so focus better on my next race in April

* I'd be warm

* I'd be really, nice and warm

Dad met me at this time and I told him to be ready to pick me up at the next CP (Walton, 65) to go home. There was probably a sign there that I wasn't going to quit, otherwise I'd have gotten in the car there and then. There's always that "next CP" though, and during the 25 minutes to get there I'd

turned things around using the above quote. When I approached my Dad I just asked him to change the batteries in my head torch and that I'd be back in 5 minutes while I ran to check in at Walton before turning back towards Cookham.

The next 5 or 6 hours through the night seemed to merge together into one muddy slog as I "nally went through Windsor again for the last 20 (22?) mile out and back. The only nice break in the night was seeing a few more recognisable faces in Lindley Chambers, Paul Ali and Bryan Webster for a quick hello. This stretch for me, like I know it was for others, was a real e#ort. The last trail out to Cookham seemed to take an age and a lot longer than the "rst time. The only highlight was seeing my good friend Richard Ashton coming the other way in third place. I was over the moon for him and gave him as much encouragement including a whoop and back slap as I could muster. The grumpy git gave me no response whatsoever. Not even that laziest of runner appreciation gestures, the slight eyebrow raise! I let him o# though, he looked s**t!





It was during the last leg from Cookham back to Windsor that I realised that I wasn't doing too badly. I'd completely forgotten about race position and timing during the night and was just content with "nishing. I always knew I had a sub 24hr in the bag but at the same time knew sub 20hr was gone at about mile 70. It clicked though that I was seeing more and more people coming the other way (behind me) and even faces that I knew had been ahead of me some time ago. This gave me the kick up the arse to put a proper stint in and get back to Windsor with nothing left in the tank. I over took a couple of guys struggling half way home and this just further boosted my morale. I even managed to sprint the last mile after seeing someone behind as I looked back across the "nal open "eld.

So I crossed the "nish line and was met by James Elson after 21 hours and 28 minutes in 14th place. I was neither over the moon or by any means disappointed. I had another buckle, I was sure I'd be up there in the Grand Slam rankings and I wasn't in any way injured or concerned with my aches and pains. Just like every checkpoint during all Centurion events, the encouragement and support at the "nsh was massively appreciated. Along with all the other goodies for runners, "nishers were even o#ered a bacon sandwich, beautiful!

So, my primary goal for 2013 of winning the Grand Slam is nicely on track. Of the 19 runners that originally entered we're already down to 11 remaining hopefuls after race 1. I'm just 50 minutes behind the leader Barry Miller and 4th in total with 300 miles to go.

On a nutritional level, I easily consumed the smallest amount ever during a race (based on consumption per mile) but never felt that I wasn't taking on enough. I took on board:* 15 SIS gels* 10 Succeed! S! Caps* 5 litres of SIS electrolyte $uid* 5 mugs of co#ee* 1 Nutella wrap* 1 Peanut butter Kit-Kat Chunky (amazing!)* 1 Mars barI'm not sure what a nutritionist or expert would say, but I never felt under-nourished or dehydrated. It does in fact give me a lot of con"dence to carry even less during 30-50 mile races in the near future.

On a kit level, I swear by my 5 litre Salomon S-lab Skin set. I got every piece of mandatory kit plus an extra baselayer into what feels like a vest. It's just

EWAN SHOWING OFF HIS MEDAL AND BUCKLE




SALLY NAVIGATING THE "DAMP PATCH" NEAR WINDSOR

THAMES PATH 100BY MATT DUNN


When I ran my !rst 100 miler, the NDW100 in 2011, I was completely exhausted after it.. scarred in a way. I had no intentions of running another 100 miler any time soon, and in fact with one thing and another, that was to be my last ultra for 18 months.

2012 saw many things, including a lot of marathons. I got a lot faster and stronger, and I decided it was time to dip my toe in the waters of ultra running once again. I entered the NDW100 again, but ended up with lots of plans and then got a late entry into the TP100. I train often on the Thames Path as it goes past my workplace and I run at lunchtimes, often with Ultra Tales’s Paul Ali.

In the run up to this, I ran the St Peter's Way ultra, a 45 mile race across Essex. That went really well and I !nished in 7:31, with plenty of energy to spare. That was also my girlfriend Sally’s !rst ultra, and she managed to get a place in the TP100 too.

The forecast was for a lot of rain on Friday, and the course was already massively waterlogged and indeed totally "ooded in places, resulting in a

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Thames Path 100 ResultFinish TimeDNF

route change from the original Richmond to Oxford to an out and back route from Richmond to Cookham, back to Walton, Cookham again and then back to Windsor to !nish. We spent a lot of Friday looking out of the window and not seeing that weather and worrying that we’d have it all




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throughout the race. It became clear that it was going to be very cold, a bit windy and we’d have snow for a large part of the race.

So Saturday morning, lots of layers on and more in drop bags, we set o# on the train from Reading to London on a lovely warm train. We popped into McDonald's in Richmond to use the loo, but ended up bumping into Allan Rumbles and a few others there, and stopped for a co#ee and McMu$n.. breakfast number three! We got to the old town hall to register shortly before 9 and it was very busy. Lots of the usual suspects and great to see everyone. We were still walking down the steps to the riverside when we heard the hooter start the race and so we set o# from the back, trying to take it easy but passing a fair few. We chatted with Traviss Willcox for a bit before pressing on, still passing people. We started walk breaks for a few minutes every hour, making sure we ate something and the early miles went by pretty quickly.

We got to the !rst CP at Walton, about 11.5 miles, in 1:46. Allan and Leila Rose were manning the CP here and Lelia had brought some amazing cheese scones which I happily tucked into. The towpath up til now had mostly been very runnable urban stu# – some tarmac, some hard packed path stu#. All good. Setting o# again, we went over the bridge at Walton and away from the Thames a bit, through Shepperton. Back by the river again and on some !elds near Chertsey and then under the M3, heading towards Staines. Leading to Staines the path was along some roads, and then on a good surface on the towpath, but after crossing the river at Staines the path got very muddy and slippy. Bad enough here in the daylight, but this was going to be very hard work in the dark. By now my left hip was already feeling a little tight – a bit worrying this early on.

Not far after Staines we got to CP2 (22 miles, 3:33), listed as Wraysbury but actually just by Runnymede Park. This was the only indoor CP on the whole route so we knew it would be interesting to see how people got on here later in the night. I had a few ham and cheese wraps here whilst Sally took advantage of the indoor ‘facilities’ and we pressed on. The trail turned really muddy and slippery again, which was getting pretty tiresome already. The Hokas that Sally and I had opted to run in were

great for comfort, but not wonderful on slippery ground. When it was basically sloppy mud underfoot, we weren’t getting much traction. Still, onwards.. There was a really bad bit around Old Windsor, before we climbed up to a bridge and headed over the river. Straight back onto more sloppy mud before cutting away from the river and on to a stretch of road for some relief!

Through some nearly "ooded woods, across the road and over some !elds into Home Park, Windsor and the main CP at 28 miles, 4:49 on the clock. The volunteers here were telling everyone not to bother changing socks etc yet, as there was a “damp patch” just along the path.

"The volunteers here were telling everyone not to

bother changing socks etc yet, as there was a “damp

patch” just along the path"Hmm. Just a little damp then. There was nothing for it other than a bit of wading. On through Windsor and over the bridge to Eton where we were accosted by a hen do. “Are you runners?” We admitted to it. No point denying it. One of them asked to have a photo taken with us. Odd. They seemed sober too. We headed along some side streets and out onto a !eld by the river. This next section I know well, past Dorney lake, Bray and Maidenhead and on towards Cookham, from running it in both directions a few times in the Down Tow Up Flow half marathon which used to be a favourite. The path comes o# the river near Cookham, along another nice muddy bit of trail before getting to the village. We’d been seeing runners coming back the other way since a bit past Dorney, where we’d !rst seen Dave Ross who was looking strong in the lead. More and more runners coming back at us and as we went through Cookham on the roads (and Sally was mi#ed to !nd the public loos closed and locked), someone said the CP was just round the corner. Actually it was round a corner, through a graveyard, along a path to the river again and along the towpath a little.




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MATT (LEFT) AND SALLY (RIGHT)PHOTOGRAPH | CENTURION RUNNING






The 10 miles from the Windsor CP was actually more like 11.. CP4, 39 miles in 6:59. We ducked into the large tent here and had a bit of food.. I think I had a co#ee here too – !rst of many!

O# we went back towards Windsor with some hot food to look forward to. It started getting dark as we’d got past Maidenhead and we thought we might just get to Windsor before needing to get the headtorches out, but we ended up putting them on a couple of miles away from the CP. Still running well, where it wasn’t too slippery. We got back to the CP, o$ cially 48 miles but actually more like 50 with 9:27 on the clock. I’d switched Garmins after about 41 miles so was doing sums when working out times and distances now.. Another co#ee and some lovely pasta and a meaty sauce and then into the bag tent to get changed.

"It was really cold now.. ok, it had been cold all day, but I was now really feeling it"

It was really cold now.. ok, it had been cold all day, but I was now really feeling it. I decided to have a complete change – new pants, a pair of tracksters, new socks (although I rushed that and didn’t properly clean my feet), new merino baselayer, back on with my windproof jacket and another jacket on top.. new bu#, new gloves. O# we went again, back over the !eld and into the woods for an extremely muddy section.. it was de!nitely getting wetter and more churned up. A bit of road was lovely but we both knew there was a very slippery bit to come.

Back to the indoor CP at around 56 miles in 11:23 and another co#ee. Had some lovely tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches here and some amazing chocolate dipped strawberries – yum! Whilst I’d promised myself I would eat more during this race than my last 100, and I was doing so, I still wasn’t really getting enough down me. Luckily Sally had packed a full (and buttered) Soreen loaf, so we were sharing that along the way too. My chocolate covered kendal mint cake was good too. O# we went again and going through Staines we caught up with Foxy, who was struggling to wrap a foil blanket around him underneath his jacket. A mix-

up at Windsor with someone helping him meant he’d ended up having some warm gear removed from his pack – not good! We plodded on. One of the car-boot aid stations was around halfway through this section and they were there all night – top e#ort. We had a few bits of food here and pushed on. We were doing less and less running now though, which was daft, as that bit was on road.

By the time we got to Walton for the turnaround (67 miles, 14:26), I was starting to feel pretty rubbish if I’m honest. I was still very alert, but my left hip/groin was increasingly sore, my feet were feeling battered and I had a bit of cha!ng elsewhere that could only be slightly relieved with liberal applications of Vaseline. Still, it was lovely to see Rachel here and have yet another cuppa and some amazing "apjack. Why I didn’t grab more of this to take with me, I do not know. It felt good in a way to be heading back towards Windsor again though, but it was slow going now. Somewhere along this section I decided to get my iPod and a portable speaker out and we had some tunes for a few hours.

Somewhere along the way we saw Karen who’d been helping out at Windsor earlier and was now crewing for Foxy. We’d been concerned about him since we saw him earlier, but he’d been sorted out with some warmer kit and was apparently all good. We got back to the indoor CP at Wraysbury (78 miles, 17:46) where there were a few people who’d pulled out trying to keep warm. I shoved some more food in and Sally invited me into the ladies! Wahey! Ok, maybe not – it was just lovely and warm in there. There were two guys in there, one of whom was looking mighty rough – just trying to get his head together I think. After a bit of warming up, we set o# again. Despite the pain I was in, the thought of dropping out hadn’t even crossed my mind at this point. I was still very alert, surprisingly so – almost expecting some major sleepiness at some point.

The next 6 miles or so were horri!c for me. So much mud, and sliding around all over the place really didn’t help my sore hip/groin – in fact, it was gone from sore hip to very sore groin, and it was hard to even lift my knee properly now. I was cold, miserable and sore and a bit worried tbh – I’d





already taken 4 doses of painkillers and it wasn’t making a dent any more. By the time we got to the road heading towards Windsor, I’d pretty much already given in. It was daylight now, but this didn’t help my mood at all. Sally obviously knew I was su#ering and was doing a great job but my spirits had sunk. When we got to the CP and went into the tent, I all of a sudden just felt done in. I sat down and had a co#ee and just couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t decide whether to try and eat something or what. At no point was I thinking ‘what do I need to do to be able to carry on’ – I was in a bad place, and sore. I pulled out and Sally went on. 82 miles in 20:14.

After Sally left, Claire Shelley made a really good go of trying to talk me into getting going again. I nearly changed my mind, but the thought of potentially another 6-7 hours to !nish was just more than my brain could handle given the way I felt, so I stuck to my guns. I put some extra layers on and got back into the CP tent just as some bacon was cooking.. oh wow, that was a good bacon butty. I had thought about waiting for Sally but I was so cold (and she’d told me to go home and get sorted) so I got my stu# together and trudged o# in the direction of the town centre. Of course, this being before 8am on a Sunday morning, nothing was open. I got to the train station and saw I had a 40 minute wait for the next train but did !nd a cafe where I got a co#ee and saw down for a bit. I’m convinced I saw Brian McDermott, the sacked Reading FC manager, sitting at a table.. in a Reading FC training top. Maybe just a looky-likey.

I eventually got home around 10 and quickly set about showering and sorting my blisters out, before heading back out in the car to Windsor to see Sally !nish and giving her a lift back. I didn’t want her to have to repeat my journey back to Reading after being out there for longer than I had. I made it back to Windsor about half an hour before Sally !nished and it was fantastic to see her do so, and with a smile on her face!

After a couple of days, caught up on sleep and the pain starting to fade, it was inevitable that I started questioning my decision to quit at 82 miles. I was in a lot of pain, but I know I could have !nished the race. Looking back, there are a few things I regret:

1. Not taking the time to properly clean my feet when changing halfway through.

2. When I had that really bad patch in the 6 miles before pulling out, I should have shoved some food down. That might have helped with the next thing.

3. My attitude and general state of mind when I got to the Windsor CP at 82 miles – I was so negative. Wrong mindset completely.

There were a lot of good things though and it wasn’t a wasted experience in any way. It’s certainly !red me up a lot more for future races.

"There were a lot of good things though

and it wasn’t a wasted experience in any way. It’s certainly !red me up a lot

more for future races".

I can’t !nish this without a word for Centurion Running. James and his team are just fantastic. It was under very di$ cult circumstances that they were able to put on a really, really good and professionally run event, particularly after having to re-route the course after the "ooding. Just hanging around at Windsor for a while, I got a very small glimpse at the e#ort and care that James and his volunteers put in. Bravo.




THAMES PATH 100BY JAMES ELSON, CENTURION RUNNING



Thames Path 100 Results

Mens Results1. Martin Bacon 18hrs 10mins

2. Luke Ashton 18hrs 14mins

3. Richard Ashton 18hrs 35mins

Womens Results1. Debbie Martin-Consani 19hrs 19mins

2. Wendy Shaw 20hrs 58mins

3. Ellen Cottom 24hrs 19mins

Entrants87/164 Finishers

Race Resultshttp://www.centurionrunning.com/results/2013/thames-path-100-2013-race-report/2013-tp100/

It's always di! cult to sum up the experience of running, crewing or volunteering at a 100 miler. This was undoutbedly the most challenging week we've ever faced at Centurion. I was quite calm until Monday morning. At that point our careful eye on the river levels which had been in recession after one of the wettest years on record, was caught by the Henley River Cam which showed the levels beginning to rise over the path adjacent to the bridge.

THE RIVER IN FLOOD

To cut a long story short, the deluge over the weekend preceding the race had fallen on saturated ground and with nowhere for the water to drain, it simply ran o! in to the river and caused the levels to spike in an alarmingly short space of time, from well below the banks, to spilling over the top in places almost like the taps had been left on in the bath. As we drove down to the river to spend the day on the course on the Tuesday, our hearts were in our mouths as we pulled up to various sections. Walton was ok, Wraysbury was ok, Windsor and even Cookham were still ok. Then we

RUNNERS HEAD OFF AT THE STARTPHOTOGRAPH | STUART MARCH (COURTESY OF CENTURION RUNNING)






E VENT REPOR T

pulled in to Bourne End and walked down to the path to "nd a 200 metre section completely under water. All that could be seen of it were benches marooned as islands in the stream. Driving on up to Marlow things were ok again but at Henley and most alarmingly at Streatley and Wallingford, the Thames Path was under water.

The danger presented to runners of course has nothing to do with the depth of the water sitting on the path, but rather the inability to distinguish between the path and the bank of the river itself. During the event particularly at night, a runner unable to tell the two apart could easily step o! in to deep water and be carried downstream. With the current as strong as it was in the river, anyone falling in would have been swept away in an instant. Consultation with the environment agency followed. Would the river continue to rise? If there was more rain, then yes. More rain was forecast

every day between Tuesday and race day. At that point we reverted to replanning the race using our #ood route/ back up course.

THE NEW ROUTE

As a trail runner myself I've been subject to course changes and race cancellations over the years, both at home and abroad. The most important thing to me, is that should a course need to be changed due to a situation out of the control of the race organiser, that the race a. still be held as far as safety permits b. that that course remain the same distance as the original event and c. still take in as much of the original route as possible without the need for navigation (unless that be a stipulation of the initial event). The 100 mile distance is unique. It is a huge round number and as far as we were concerned the distance would need to be upheld or we postponed the race. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday poring over the maps

THAMES PATH 100






looking for alternative link ups to miss out the sections of river we knew to be #ooded, but our greatest fear remained nagging at us throughout, the possibility that the river may rise during the course of the race, leaving runners stranded or trapped by rising water levels. Our course marker James Binks had been out on Sunday where the river had risen by 9 inches over the two hours he was out running the path north of Henley.

Due to the #ooding immediately north of Cookham and the possibility of more dramatic #ooding upstream of that point, we planned to restrict the course to the "rst 38 miles of the original route only and hold the race as a series of out and backs.

I left the house at 5am on Saturday morning and the truck lurched around the "rst corner in the thick and settling snow. Arriving in Richmond the snow was falling but not settling. We had no idea how many would show up to register in this weather. All told 164 souls arrived to run 100 miles in under 30 hours.

Just before the race start at 10am I scanned the "eld and saw many familiar faces. There were the front runners including amongst the ladies, Mimi Anderson who'd won the ladies event last year, and the Scottish 100 mile record holder Debbie Martin-Consani. There were the guys and girls shooting for

the 100 mile One Day buckle, awarded to those completing the race in under 24 hours. And there were those at the back, to whom "nishing was everything.

The Race: The Thames Path, especially on the section of the trail this year's race took place on, is pan #at, however the sitting water and mud on the course were in places severe which countered the e!ects of the faster course somewhat.

Early in the day reports came in of Martin Bacon, David Ross and Justin Montague all running hard out front, clearing the 11 mile CP in 1:23 and change, pursued by a chase group including many talented ultrarunners but similarly "rst time 100 milers including Luke and Rick Ashton (not related).

After a recent operation it wasn't to be Justin's day and he later dropped but Martin and Dave continued to forge a trail out ahead until Dave eventually began to pull away in typical fashion. As they came back through Windsor mile 82, the gaps were almost non-existent and within the space of 20 minutes we'd welcomed all 4 of those runners in and out together. For me the most solid of the group seemed to be Luke Ashton who had the outstanding attitude of genuinely not being overly




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concerned about his position, focusing only on getting to the "nish line in his debut 100.

An hour later I received a call from Dave stating that he was borderline hypothermic and walking towards Cookham, at which point his wife Mel raced o! to get him some warmer clothing. I was gutted for Dave as he had put so much in to the "rst 90 miles only to have it come undone as it so often can late in a 100. That left the door open for the other 3, we had no idea until the "rst runner appeared in to the growing lake over the path adjacent to the "nish line, who that would be. It turned out to be Martin Bacon, who'd delved in to his wealth of 100 mile experience to push through and "nally elevate himself from regular podium placer, to champion in a time of 18:10:53, thoroughly deserved and a tenacious performance from beginning to end. Just under 3 mintues later Luke Ashton came home in second place, followed 21 minutes after that by Rich Ashton to round out a 1,2,3 including 2 "rst time 100 milers. Dave Ross gutted out his "nish, a superb e!ort under the circumstances and came home in 6th overall.

On the ladies side, Mimi Anderson the previous champion su!ered with some issues early on and unfortunately dropped, leaving the door open for Debbie Martin-Consani to push out alone at the

front all day for the win in 19:19:20. Debs arrived at registration fairly late on and with her husband/ crew Marco in tow. The ultrarunning talent in the Martin-Consani family is something to behold. I "rst got a report on the race from the guys at Walton who mentioned that Debs was cruising along about 30th place and looking relaxed. What unfolded was a master class in pacing, determination and planning. Debs didn't stop at aid stations, and by that I mean she literally ran straight past us at mile 82 ensuring we got her number, not breaking stride and ploughing straight through the gigantic puddle under the railway arch leading out to the "nal out and back.

As she'd gone through the day her CP positions read: 37, 27, 11, 8, 6, 5 and my money was on the fact that she'd push the guys all the way. In the end she came home in 4th place overall in a time of 19:19. On a 103.8 mile course with sitting water and mud for vast stretches that is a mind blowing performance. Wendy Shaw ran a superb consistent race from beginning to end, elevating herself from regular sub 24 hr 100 miler to 2nd place "nisher with a time of 20:58. Third was picked up by Ellen Cottom in 24:19, again a "rst time 100 miler.





There are so many incredible stories behind so many of the runners in an event like this that it becomes impossible to touch upon them all so I'll pick out just two that exempli"ed the overall event for me.

JACK AND CLIVE

My own race felt tied to that of Jack Mortassagne and Clive Bugeja, from the week following the 2012 event. Our cut o!s at that race had been staggered allowing a slowing pace towards the end. Both Clive and Jack had been captured by the particularly tight cut o! at Benson, ending a 7 mile stretch which they both felt had stopped them from completing. I listened to their reasoning and made the big decision to bring in equal paced cut o!s from the start allowing an average pace of 3.3mph from start to "nish.

Both Clive and Jack were coming back for retribution and I was determined that they both "nish. Alongside them were a group of other runners who had been stopped within 9 miles of the "nish in 2012. My main focus on race weekend is ensuring I know where all runners are on course at all times. Most times I checked in with a closing aid station and asked who were the last runners through, I heard the same two numbers: 179 and 58. Jack and Clive. They weren't together, they weren't always last, they certainly weren't fast, but they were getting it done. As I waited in Windsor to close the 82 mile cut o!, long after the "rst "nishers had gone home, through came Clive and then through came Jack. They had an hour to spare at this point. They stoically got some hot food/ drink down, got ready and pressed ahead out of the aid station for the "nal 21 mile out and back. We drove o! to Cookham to sweep the 92 mile aid station there and saw them both come through. Both were concerned about the cut o! and had a right to be so, there was now a shrinking bu!er between them and their ultimate goal, 30 minutes in Jack's case and a little more in Clive's. I head back to the "nish with 90 minutes still to go on the clock. I both love and hate this part of the race. Seeing the emotion on the face of runners, crew and supporters upon crossing the "nish line is the best part of the day. The reason we do it.

The worst part is the agonising count down to the "nal cut o!, where there is that chance that someone will miss out by minutes or even mere seconds. As the "nal hour rolled around, there were 9 runners still out on course. At 29:20 on the clock, out from under the railway arch emerged Clive Bugeja. Thinking about the relief on Clive's face as he realised he had "nally shaken o! that huge monkey of a DNF on his back from a year ago will put a smile on my face whenever I think back to it. The minutes continued to tick by and we welcomed the other "nishers home, Ann Bath a world record holder at the Vet60 distance (104 miles in 24 hours), Dave Foxy Bayley avenging his DNF at the Graveyard 100 from just 3 weeks earlier, Spenser Lane ticking o! the "rst of his planned 4 events for the Grand Slam this year, Traviss Wilcox running his 3rd 100 of the year already and Roger Davis all ful" lling their pre-race goals of "nishing.

With 20 minutes to "nal cut I ran back down the course to try to encourage the "nal runners home in time to make the cut o!. I got as far as the boat yard just before Windsor High Street where I found Jack running at an incredible clip, hotly pursued by our sweeper Jerry Smallwood. Jack looked utterly determined and focused, totally driven towards his goal and he didn't slow for anything, raising a high "ve as I informed him that he had it in the bag. We ran together the three of us through and up to that "nal puddle and through the railway arch to the "nish line where he crossed in 29 hours 51 minutes and 26 seconds. Over 8 minutes to spare. As much as we put these events on for the elite guys and girls at the front, nothing will ever beat seeing the total joy on people's faces as they "nish so close to the "nal cut o!. Running for 30 hours with the constant looming threat of a cut o! hanging over your head, that you might miss your "nish after all of that time and e!ort in the months leading up to the race but especially during it and to "nally rid yourself of all of that doubt in one beautiful moment. Nothing beats it.

All in all a total of 90 runners made it home under the 30 hour cut o! for a "nishing percentage of 55%. The Thames Path will be back again in 2014, but we will look to change the date once again to better accommodate potential environmental conditions. Stay tuned over May/ June time for the launch of the next edition.




RUNNERS PROFILE CHRIS EDMONDS

CHRIS FINISHING THE THAMES TROT IN 2012





Started running in 2005 after !nishing playing football


Have run many marathons and just needed to push my limits to see what I really can do.


After running The Thames Path 100 I think there will be many more 100s to do now.


Completing The Thames Path under 24 hours has to be the key achievment to date.


Although the Thames Path was tough ,I think one training run I did along the South Coast Path was the toughest run I have ever done with rain, hail, sleet and freezing winds battering me for nearly 9 hours.


Future plans, where do I start? The Spartathlon and GUCR are high on my list, but to do more 100s injury free would be good.


June 2013 South Downs Way if my Achilles recovers in time.


To train hard for the race but to enjoy the race as much as possible.


I have 2 border collies so my motto is “why walk the dogs when I can run them”. I usually only have Friday o" from running. I live in the wonderful county of Dorset so train mainly in the Purbecks and on the Coast Path.


To work hard in training because it really pays o" in the race and most of all enjoy it.

RUNNERS PROFILE

Recent Thames Path 100 finisher Chris Edmonds gives us a brief insight to his running background and ambitions

Chris Edmonds

Twitter@hunterwray1

OccupationPetro Chemical Industry

First UltraSalisbury 54321 in 2011

CHRIS EDMONDS




RACE ORGANISER | NORTHBURN STATION 100 MILEREVENT REPORTS | JAMES ADAMS

NORTHBURN 1OO

Northburn 100Race Organiser: Northburn Station 100 milerWebsite Link: http://northburn100.co.nzDate of Event: 23rd - 24th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 100 milesLocation: Cromwell, Central Ortago, New ZealandStart Time: 6amDescription: A looped run around a dry, hard, rocky course mostly run over high country with 8000 feet of climbing and descending over the route.

Race Results: http://northburn100.co.nz/results/



http://northburn100.co.nz

http://northburn100.co.nz/results/

A VIEW OF PART OF THE COURSE

NORTHBURN 100BY JAMES ADAMS


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The Northburn 100 is the !rst 100 mile race in NZ and is hardly a gentle introduction to 100 mile running, unless of course you are a Kiwi and your breakfast includes a mountain. I was expecting a hard race.

The registration the day before was an event in itself. There was a huge camp of runners and organisers at Northburn station. I rolled in after my skydive (where I didn't die), picked up my number, got weighed (marriage adds 5kg at least). I then heard the presentations. The race director was Terry Davis. He was clear that we were taking on a massive challenge and also warned us about "fraternising with the herbage". He retold his one running of the course and said he will never do it again. "don't think that when you are 10k from the end that you are close, you are still hours from the "nish".

You may have heard of Lisa Tamati. She is the major sponsor of the race and was helping to register us. She has done lots of crazy races in her time including Badwater, running across the Lybian Sahara unsupported and the length of New

James AdamsBlogwww.runningandstu! .com

Twitter@jamesradams

Northburn 100 ResultFinish Time39hrs 01mins

Finish Position24/30 Finishers (59 DNF)

Zealand. She told us to expect the hardest thing we have ever attempted.

We then heard from the owner of the station; Tom. Unlike any landowner in the UK he seemed thrilled to have 100 people destroying themselves on his



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land. He gave us some advice on how to deal with the animals. This guy has more mountains than we have dinner mats. Can you imagine how popular he would be. "fancy coming round mine to play with my mountains?". Though apparently some girls from Invacargil use the same line with similar success.

And for good measure the medic came to talk to us about the dangers we would face. Hypothermia and hyponatremia being the biggest risks. I had never had to carry so many layers as compulsory kit before and thought it was a bit over the top. Then he said last year 6 people got lost in an unforecast blizzard. We should be ok this year though as no blizzards were forecasted.

I woke up at 4am on saturday having slept little. However with these kind of things it is the night before the night before that is most important and that went well. I was very sleepy though as I sat in the car to the start. I woke up a bit when Jon #attened a rabbit that was dazzled by the headlights. I think here in terms of eradicating pests you get 1 point for a rabbit, two for a possum and 5 for a kitten.

The start was sedate. 100 or so runners assembled in a tent, most running the 100 miles, some 100k and some 50k. Lisa was with the camera crew doing interviews. Gemma and I explained that this was my honeymoon race. In fact I just shut up and let Gemma do all the talking.

It was not a crowded start, the 100 runners set o$ on an easy 5k loop of some farm tracks before getting stick into some of the climbing. This race consists of three loops, a 50k followed by another 50k and then a 60k. It was going to be nice to break it down like that but I imagined it would be hard to set out on that last 60k loop knowing you could call it a day at a nice round 100k.

The loop was in the dark. There was no unnatural light around other than our torches. It didn't really get light until 7.30 by which time we were out of the vineyards and starting on the "rst climbs. The "rst climb was tough, up to the top of Mount Kinaki at about 1000m having started at 200m. This was in the "rst 20k. There were more climbs on rugged path littered with tussocks (a minor inconvenience) and Spaniards (a plant with leaves

like shards of glass, very painful to brush upon).

As we got higher more and more clothes went on. I put a long sleeved top on but in an exposed area I was told by a medic near the top to put more clothes on as I was showing early signs of hypothermia, slurring speech and staggering. I was about to enter into a John Cleese tirade with something like "well of course I am staggering, I've just climbed 1000m through a mine"eld of pointy spaniards, what do you expect? Me to come strutting up here like Kate Moss? And if I could do this without slurring my speech I'll be winning". But I refrained, put on the clothes and then headed up further.

It was a good job I did put the clothes on as the wind set in and blew all the heat o$ my body in seconds. This was quite di$erent from any mountain races I have done before such as the UTMB, The Lakes 10 peaks, Trans Gran Canaria. In those you go up and then down, spending little time up high and exposed. Here you get up high and then spend hours up there exposed to the elements. It took about 5 hours to get to 24k where a marshall directed us onto a path. This was the "rst bit of path we had seen for a while and we all started running along. I think I even managed to bang out some ten minute mileing. Sonic boooom.

Now my layers were an annoyance and took them o$. The descent on the "rst loop was quite manageable and also quite beautiful, I felt like I was running in valleys in Arizona again.

"The descent on the !rst loop was quite manageable

and also quite beautiful"It got warm and the summer gear came out. I can see why there was a requirement for so much kit now, I was having more wardrobe changes than Lady Gaga.

I enjoyed the heat and the prospect of "nishing a loop but not long before the end we were diverted onto another climb right before the end of the lap. I was hoping to get the "rst one done in about 8 hours but it worked out at around 8.30 which was




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not a big deal, still plenty to go. Gemma and my new in laws were there helping me with a Ferrari style pit stop. Bottles re" lled, noodles cooked, sweets and nuts re" lled and lots of "you are doing really well". I did not hang around too long and got up and left for the second loop. I despaired as I left at the sight of a burger van right outside the tent.

The heat of the day kicked in as we marched up the long climb. We were quite lucky with having some cloud cover for most of the day, protecting us from the 30c glare that we have been having here over the summer. I thought about the many friends I had who will be starting the Thames Path 100 in the UK soon. The UK has been hit by snow and blizzards and all involved were going to have a hard time. I felt a little guilty as I splashed my face in a nice cold creek, wet my hat and looked out on the ground for little lizards basking in the sun.

On the way up I spoke to Campbell who I met at the start and had been reading my blog. He said I should have no problem doing this though he and others easily cruised past me on the ascents. The path was much better than in the "rst loop but it was still hard work. The "rst climb here was to get to the top of "TW", the mountain top that was the major aid station for the whole race. On the way we were introduced to gale, a furious high speed wind

that would be a permanent obstacle in the race. I don't think the video does it justice. I have not felt air rushing at my face this fast since, well erm yesterday. That was when I was in freefall, dropping out of the sky at 200km per hour.

I cowered behind a huge rock, sheltering from the wind to put my jacket back on. I felt a bit silly taking such a big windproof and waterproof jacket with me but now I was very pleased with the choice. The jacket stopped the wind from sucking the heat right out of me but my ability to stay on my feet was rather like Gareth Bale's. I stopped (or was stopped) a few times to regain my balance, looked back and saw other runners behind the same rock putting more clothes on.

It took about 4 hours to "nally reach this place and it was a very welcome sight. There were two vans and 4 horse carts. My drop bag was in one of the carts and we were encouraged to spend some time in there getting warm before heading out on the "loop of despair". I ate some soup and got out of there fairly quickly to try to get as much of the loop done in daylight. The loop of despair was only 13k but it involved a gnarly descent o$ the mountain and then coming right back up the other side.




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The down felt ok. The blisters that I got two days ago from climbing a couple of mountains were starting to burn. Every rock kicked felt like my foot was bleeding. After an hour of descent it levelled out but started to get dark. I tried as best I could to hold out without putting on my torch but with clouds in the sky and the sun quickly disappearing behind the mountains it gets dark suddenly. And it gets proper dark too. I was on my own for this whole loop and with no other torches around if I turned mine o$ I was in pitch black darkness. Exhilarating but also quite scary.

At the bottom I saw a marshall who reassured me that I was only 5k from being back at the top. I knew he meant 5k horizontally and that Pythagoras would have something to say about it. Realistically I knew I was 2 hours from getting back up there. I slowly wound up the valleys to the top. I had no idea now how to identify the top as it was dark. The course was marked with posts and re#ective tape, every 50 metres there was another glowing marker to aim for. It was impossible to get lost, they had marked it so well. I was zooming my light in to see further ahead to try and get the shape of the land. Sometimes I thought I saw another headtorch and would get excited that there were others in the race but it never was, just a re#ection. I had not seen another runner for hours.

As I crested the mountain I #ashed my torch near some rocks and saw a #urry of activity, lots of torches lit and moving side to side. I felt great as the checkpoint had come sooner that I expected. I walked up the switchbacks and headed around to the light but something felt odd. There was no sound. Now I was close to the lights but could not hear anything. I shone the torch at full beam directly at the area and it took a few seconds for me to realise that I was stood about 5 metres from about 12 cows all just staring at me.

We were told in the brie"ng that we might get freaked out by cows, these big white eyes lighting up randomly in the dark. I have seen how fast cows can run and was very careful about my sheepish exit. Apparently cows magnify things with their eyes and so they think we are bigger than them. That did not enter my mind at the time. I carried on, up a few more switchbacks and looked back, the cows were in the same spot, still watching me climb the hill. I looked up, unable to separate the

mountains from the clouds and sky. Every re#ective #ash in the distance was another place I had to get to and it looked so high. I saw a dim light way up. It did not disappear when I took my light o$ it so it must be a runner. It was so high though and only after many turns and this light not moving did I "nally twig, that's Venus. I don't have to go that far.

I was exposed to the wind again near the top as I tried to remember where this checkpoint was. It might be just behind the next rock I kept telling myself. Finally it came and by that time the wind was furious. Blasting me to standstill at regular intervals. As soon as I stopped I froze and had to duck into a horsebox where my drop bag was. I was shivering in three layers. I added my #eece to my layers, put on the thermal tights that I thought were a silly thing to carry. Put on a balaclava that I only put in the drop bag as a joke. I was now wearing all the clothes I had and I was still cold. I had as much hot food as I could manage as I sat in this little wooden box that was rocking in the wind. It was hard to leave but it had to be done. It was only about 11pm and it was only going to get colder.

"It was hard to leave but it had to be done. It was only about 11pm and it was only

going to get colder"I headed out of the horsebox and onto the ridge where the wind battered me further. There were 8 types of wind. Headwind, tailwind, side wind (into mountain) and sidewind (down mountain). Each of these can happen when you are heading uphill or downhill. Headwind is the worst, it slows the descents and makes uphill impossible, I was contorting myself into all sorts of shapes to try to get up some of those. Sidewinds are rubbish whether up or down too, most dangerous when pushing you into a ravine. The tailwind going down hill is the worst though, I had to lean back to stop myself getting blown away. The ground is rocky and I could not see very well. I thought I might take o$. So 7 of the 8 winds are bad, the wind was 87.5% evil, there was that sweet 12.5% that was glorious, getting blown up a hill by a gale.




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Sometimes it was perfect, I could just spread my arms out and use my jacket as a windsail and glide up the hill. Did not happen that often though.

I remained high and exposed for quite a while. After about an hour I came to a junction with a marshall who asked me "have you been here before?" I was not sure how to respond. How does he mean? I think emotionally I have been here before, paranoid that I am never going to get this "nished. Metaphorically I have de"nitely been here before, getting bashed around in all directions by a random force while I try to achieve some goal that I am no longer sure is worth bothering with. Existentially I am only "here" in the sense that you are seeing me here. I could well be over there, or anywhere. But in actual fact he was asking as to whether I have physically been "here", stood by these rocks and looking at this car in the dark. I had not and so had to turn left down another craggy ridge where the wind was 100% evil.

I was a bit confused as to why I had to go in a di$erent direction. I later discovered that we hit the same point on the third loop. He was not 100% certain that I wasn't winning. Awwwww, people almost think the nicest things.

Gemma was in bed now in Wanaka and had put a call out on Facebook for people back at home to send me messages. Most of the messages said "I hear you are wearing tights like a girl". I got a lot of positive messages that brought a smile to my face, well the wind didn't let me do that. I did a big circle in the sky and then it was time for the descent, the same one as in loop one though much harder in the dark. I was tired and looking forward to a little sleep once I got to the end of the second loop. I started rattling through the calculations in my head. If I get back at 3, stay till 4 then I have 26 hours to do 60k, that should be easy. However there were sections that I was going slower than that pace. But I was still up high. I "gured that it is net downhill from here to the end and though I am only about half way I could say I have already done the hardest bit. I have used this logic many times before and it has always been wrong. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting di$erent results, that's the de"nition of insanity isn't it?

It seemed harder the second time even without the additional loop with the other hill. On the way a

quad bike passed me and said it's only about 2k to the end. I thought that there was no way this was true, I have not covered that distance. Then there was a car with a marshall who said "you'll be pleased to know it's only 6k to the end". Well I would have been pleased for it to be only 2k but I was even more pleased that my brain was still working and could guess distances.

"I !nally saw the lights of the camp and staggered in

at about 3.30am "I "nally saw the lights of the camp and staggered in at about 3.30am. I saw Campbell again who said he had called it a day. 100k over that terrain is pretty good going but I was determined to do the whole lot, after a little nap though. The medic team sat me down and asked a few questions before weighing me. I had dropped 3kg since the start and they suggested I ate and drank if I was heading back out. I lay down on the nice soft warm grass and closed my eyes.

I don't think I slept at all. I nodded o$ a few times but I was not warm enough and there was always something making a noise. I got up about 20 minutes later and started to get my things together to head out again. I drank some co$ee that Gemma had put in a Thermos for me 15 hours earlier. It was still warm. I got up and was waiting to get directions onto the third loop but was held up slightly as she had to wait and record the winner coming in. Now I had not heard of this guy before and I assumed that all of the "elite" runners would have been at a more pedestrian 100k race in the north island the week before but 22 hours on that course is an astonishing time. Not sure how much he has raced outside New Zealand but he could be one to look out for.

When I "rst arrived here on Friday for registration I saw this sign that said "loop 3 60km". It was going to be a signi"cant moment of the race getting past that bit. I was really pleased that at no point yet I considered quitting, even at the warm cosy end of loop tent. This bodes well for another looped run I would like to complete one day. It was just gone 4am, I was back out on the track again where I was



"ONLY" A 60K LOOP TO GOPHOTOGRAPH | JAMES ADAMS

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promised the biggest climb so far.

It started with steep switchbacks similar to what I had just come down and then joined the uphill bit of the loop of despair. I thought this would take 5 hours and that would include a sunrise.

I was tired in many ways and stopped a few times to regain myself, usually after stumbling on something. The clouds in the sky were keeping us warmer in the night and cooler in the day but I wished they would leave so I could see the stars and the Milky Way. I had looked forward to spending a few minutes lying down and looking up at how utterly insigni"cant I and everything I have ever done or will do is. This always comforts me.

It was still dark as I approached TW for the third time. The only thing concerning me at this point was the location of those cows. They were not in the same place as before, I hesitantly scanned my light around but was careful not to focus it too much. I did see them, behind me. They had moved and were way down the "eld, still staring at me. Quite glad I did not have that burger now.

I got to TW in around 5 hours and was pleased with that progress. I didn't think there was much up and down left and the wind had died down a bit. The

next section was a short 4k to the leaning rock, heading back down then up again. This was into a headwind again and quite di% cult but ok. On getting there I was told to head back down another path where I would see another marshal after about 3k.

I could jog some of it but most of it was too steep for me and I had to do a power stumble instead. I was still going faster than I had been for a while, looking out for a car that signi"ed that 3k was done, doing that retarded thing where you look at the time and try to work out how fast you are going and extrapolate how long it would take to get to the end. More than an hour passed and I knew it could not be 5k, it just couldn't. Every switchback I expected a car and a smiling face but it would not come. For the "rst time in the race I thought I might have gone the wrong way, I stopped and looked back and saw far into the distance at two runners following me, much much higher up.

The car and marshal "nally appeared and directed me on an 8k out and back along the side of a mountain. The trail was a bit easier but the wind was still harsh. I got to see the people just ahead of me and just behind too and was surprised that I was close to many. With all these switchbacks and



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corners and darkness I had not seen many people in the last 24 hours.

The 8k came and went fairly quickly, now it was time to head down a little further and then back up to TW, the last big climb of the race. I wasn't quite prepared for the "water race" though.

I am not a farmer and have no reason to what a water race is. It's a horizontal irrigation system that works its way around mountains. Instead of going back up and down we ran right through this thing. There was no trail at all, I saw the posts marking the way but there was no path. It was like Barkley, in fact no it was worse than that, there was no ground. With every step I was taken by a paranoia of my feet falling through the earth. Its was not obvious what was ground and what was air. Some of the grass looked like it was suspended. I am sure it was not as bad as I make out, maybe I was tired but I quickly lost my sense of humour at this bit, it was horrible. There was about a mile of this and then a walk on a ridge that required a rope to stay on it. Who would do this 80 odd miles into a mountain race? I was not amused.

I was having di% culty with my temperature, very cold when I just wore a t shirt but roasting when I put the jacket on. My neck was warm and my head was fuzzy. I was falling asleep on my feet. After the rope ridge there was the small matter of the climb back up to TW. I debated with myself as to whether to tell the medic I felt both hot and cold. I had not quite felt like this before, not that I can remember everything. Dr Google afterwards says it could be pregnancy, menopause, diabetes, poor diet. I reckon the last one. I fuelled for this race on soup, Coke, Bombay mix, cashews and jet planes. Kiwi's will know what jet planes are. They are awesome.

The wind was at its worst now, pushing us all back. I swear they moved this checkpoint to a di$erent place each time, no amount of climbing seemed to get us up there. I could not remember exactly which mountain it was I was heading to the top of and inevitably it was the furthest one again. The whole climb was on an exposed mountain side with vicious wind.

I was going so slow I was ready to quit. It was going to be 3pm before I got to the top of this, there was about 25k of downhill after that and if

that was going to be as slow as previous downhills I thought I'd be "nishing in the early hours of the morning, perhaps nor even making the 48 hour cut o$. I was very despondent at this stage and not really looking past just collapsing in a horse box and being asked to be carted home.

As we got onto the last climbing straight there were about 4 of us getting battered by the wind. A marshal Andy ran down handing out walking poles. I laughed as he o$ered them to me, no thanks I said. My dignity already took a hit with the tights.

Lisa then came down, taking photos and walked beside me a little. "Come on James, you've done tougher than this". If I were able to get out some breath just to respond I would have said "I don't think I have".

"Come on James, you've done tougher than this". If I were able to get out

some breath just to respond I would have said

"I don't think I have".Of all the big hard climbs I have done in the big hard races this would certainly be up there. Sangas pass, Townes pass, Bovine, Rat Jaw. This one really broke me and made me think that "nishing was impossible. I gave myself a maximum of 15 minutes at the top before I was going to descent again and called Gemma to say that I may be some time.

There is a lesson here. If you estimate your "nishing times by using a "bottom up" approach of taking how long you have done certain sections and then multiplying you are going to get it wrong. I was here. Not only was I doing the wrong calculations but I was also doing the calculations wrong. I was running with a few others who all seemed in a good state and moving at the same speed as me and with the intention of getting "nished before dark. Surely that meant that I was going to too? Instead of trying to work out how fast I was going I should just be able to look




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outside and see that others around me seemed to be moving OK and they intended to make it.

I spoke to a marshal at the checkpoint who said I only had 23k left and that it was about 3 hours to the next station "Brewery". I set out at around 3pm and hoped to get there in the 6 hours that they said. I was in good spirits again but falling asleep on my feet. I texted Gemma to say I was on my way back down and hopefully back before sunset. She said she was going to meet me at Brewery. I was looking forward to this. The Northburn Station produces the Merino wool that makes Icebreaker clothes you might wear. There should be a barcode on them so if you can scan it you can see whether the wool came from Northburn Station. Recently they branched out into producing wine (which Gemma tells me is very very good). I didn't however know that they were also making beer. I was looking forward to this Brewery.

I jogged a bit down the windy winding path. It was getting cooler. The noises of the evening piped up, the birds and the crickets. I really should be on a patio in Wanaka drinking a beer and waiting on a BBQ. Instead I was trying to force my eyes open to get to this brewery. I escaped a sheep stampede as they got scared by me and tried to run into another "eld. We were told that sheep sometimes try to run away and run into you but not to worry because they are very soft. I still didn't fancy getting put out of the race by a sheep though. That gave me a kick that lasted about 10 minutes. I tried sodcasting on my phone too, blaring out a tinny version of Kashmir but that was not doing it for me. I "gured I would have to go to sleep at some stage but wanted to get as much as I could do in the daylight as possible.

My mind was playing tricks on me with the rocks. I was looking out now for a building and every single rock seemed to look like a nice building with a welcoming door and smoke coming out of the chimney. This was like the ascent up the Whitney Portal in Badwater where all the rocks were coming alive and threatening to eat me, only these rocks looked like welcoming homes, except when I got right up close and they just looked like rocks.

About 2.30 later I thought that the Brewery must be just aroung the next corner. I then saw Gemma walking the other way with what looked like a large

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bottle of Coke. She then walked behind another rock and took ages to come back out which made me wonder whether I had actually seen her in the "rst place. Indeed she did appear back around the rock with lots of Coke. I necked a load of it and was informed that "Brewery" was just around the corner and somewhat heartbreakingly that "Brewery" was just the name of a creek and there was no beer making place at all.

I got over it though. I felt more awake as soon as the Coke hit my insides. The chap in the car told me that it was 10k to go and this was the 10k he and many others around that weekend do as an "easy 10". He pointed out a peninsula in the distance as said that is the point I am aiming for. It didn't look far at all and I was quite pleased. Unfortunately I forgot that the Romans never made it as far as New Zealand. Bloody Romans.

If you want to know what Kiwis mean by an "easy 10" there is a race in the UK that is quite similar, it's called the Knacker Cracker. Though there were no more mountains it was still up and down and side to side. I kept that penninsula in my sight apart from times when I seemed to be moving in the opposite direction to it. These farm tracks winded in and out and all about. I kept the two guys ahead in sight (one was a pacer which I didn't "nd out till later). Gemma came out to see me again just before it got dark. I didn't manage to "nish before the sun came down but I was close.

"This was the !rst race I had run into two sun rises

and two sun sets"This was the "rst race I had run into two sun rises and two sun sets. That was pretty awesome. After 97 miles I saw a familiar thing for the "rst time, a stile. Here we could not open the gates we had to climb over them, they are about a meter high. After climbing over about 50 of these and worrying about whether I'd get cramp while wedged on one and having to go through the embarassement of getting rescued while straddling a gate I wondered why there were not more of these. It seems that the race organisers have an evil sense of humour putting one of these after 97 miles.



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I walked at the end, my feet were mashed. I felt blisters everywhere. Gemma told me about a sandwich that my new mother in law had made me. It's got steak, butter, mayo, mustard and onions. I salivated at the thought as was looking forward to getting in down my neck at the end. I was just looking forward to the end now. It was almost the longest I have ever spend on my feet in a race, "nishing in just over 39 hours it was only 20 minutes short of what I did at Badwater. I ran though the line and lay down, describing the race as "wonderfully horrible".

It was not over though, as soon as I entered the tent I was told by the medic that I had to stay on my feet for another 15 minutes to reduce the risk of post exercise exhaustion. I felt pretty good by that point but did what he said and after 100 miles of mountains I was doing a few laps of the gazebo. Tom my father in law came up with a beer and the medic frowned, "not until you have drank at least twice that in water or electrolytes). In the end I only had one sip shortly before crashing in bed.

We were told that this was going to be the hardest thing we had done. It was not far o$. I am not good at going up or down, particularly down. I think the "nishing time of 22 hours was remarkable (he is a 7h 100k runner). I know I could have gone hours faster if I was able to run down hill, and carried about 10kg less belly.

If this race were a 4 hour # ight from the UK I'd be here every year, it was incredible. The support was amazing, there was never any chance of getting lost, the organisers push so hard for a safe but really tough race and that is what they got. The people who helped out were amazing. Rachel and Emma manned the comms for 40 hours without sleep. A chap went up for a 4 hour shift at TW and came back 28 hours later. Virginia Winstone "nished in just under the cut o$, showing a level of determination that most don't have. I really really loved this race and hope to be back in NZ soon to do this again.

Thank you everyone for putting on this gruesome race. Hope to see you next year.




RUNNERS PROFILE MARK BURNELL

MARK PIC TURED AT THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY 100





Well it all started around six years ago in order to keep up with my better half, who had been running the Great South Run regularly for years. So, I thought to myself, I should really give that running thing a bash. I did the GSR for a few years, but never really trained for it. This lack of training kicked me into starting a local running group (Southsea Pirates) and in-turn motivated me to become a Run England Group Leader. That was just over four years ago and the running group has well over 100 members of varying abilities and I have jumped from a regular 10 mile race to 100 milers, how things have changed.


One very, very early morning just over two years ago, I found myself watching Transworld Sport and they showed a brief clip of an awe inspiring race called UTMB. I instantly went to the UTMB website to !nd out how someone enters a race like that. This is when it dawns on you that you required points to qualify and that means running very long races, much further than my usual 10 miler. Not being put o" by a little thing like distance, I did a quick internet search I stumbled across Centurion Running and the inaugural NDW50 and 100. A brief email to James, who suggested that I start by getting a couple of marathons under my belt, before stepping up to a 50 miler.


You will de!nitely see me at the SDW50 in April and again at the Winter100. I am sure there will be a few more in between, but I have not decided on

what races they will be yet. There is simply too many races to choose from (and they need to !t in with family life).


Finishing my !rst 50 miler in 2011, all-be-it limping the last 7 miles with cramp, I learnt a lot of lessons on that day, running sub 24hrs at the SDW100 last year, everything was perfect about that race, it just went well for me. And last but not least running a 65 minute Great South.


I do not have a lot of Ultra experience yet, but my best race result to-date is !nishing the SDW100 in under 24hrs. As for experiences, the ultra-

RUNNERS PROFILE

Ultra Tales team member Mark Burnell gives us an insight into hisearly Ultra Marathon running days

Mark BurnellBlogwww.southseapirates.co.uk

Twitter@southseapirates

OccupationGraphic Designer

First Ultra2011 Centurion NDW 50

MARK BURNELL



http://www.southseapirates.co.uk


RUNNERS PROFILE MARK BURNELL

community never ceases to surprise me with their friendliness and willingness to help a fellow runner. The camaraderie is second to none, I really have never experienced anything quite like it.


Dropping out of the Winter100 after 65 miles. I had gone into that race full of con!dence and was well prepared physically and with my kit. Unfortunately mentally I apparently wasn’t quite as strong as I thought. Ho hum, there’s always next year.


Ultimately UTMB is my main goal for now. However, this may well change as my ability and con!dence grows, there’s a lot of choice out there and new challenges appear every year.


I have been a bit slow this year sorting out which races I want to do, but my next race (!rst of the year) SDW50 is up next month (April 13th).


Recce the course as much as possible, keep an eye on the weather reports, make sure I have my kit prepped and ready well in advance. Make sure

watch is charged, helps me stick to my pace.


I cycle to work every day, not too far a round trip of 13 miles and I run 4 to 5 times a week, somewhere between 8 to 10 milers during the week and a 20 or 30 miler at the weekend. If I am prepping for a 100 I double up with two slow 20 milers on consecutive days at the weekend.


Find your perfect pace and stick to it, it may feel slow, but you need to practice (I still !nd this hard). Failing that make friends with someone running at or close to your perfect pace.


I secretly hate running, especially mid-way through a race ;-)


Never head out without your main head torch or backup torch in your bag, especially when it’s starting to get dark.


Never start your !rst Ultra at the front with all the seasoned runners!



http://www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com1 1 9 Sponsored by theU LT R A TA L E S | M A R C H 2 0 1 3

RACE ORGANISER | MIGHT CONTAIN NUTSEVENT REPORTS | GUY MAWSON

BLACK MOUNTAINS ULTRA

Black Mountains UltraRace Organiser: Might Contain NutsWebsite Link: www.mightcontainnuts.comDate of Event: 24th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 26 miles (Modi!ed route)Location: Cymdu, WalesStart Time: 8.30amDescription: Two loops involving three decent climbs and descents in the Black Mountains, arctic conditions in 2013 made for a shorter, but challenging course

Race Results: http://www.mightcontainnuts.com/events/welsh_ultra_running_series/results/2013/round_one_ultra_results.pdf

PHOTOGRAPH | GUY MAWSON



http://www.mightcontainnuts.com

http://www.mightcontainnuts.com/events/welsh_ultra_running_series/results/2013/round_one_ultra_results.pdf



BLACK MOUNTAINS ULTRABY GUY MAWSON


E VENT REPOR T BL ACK MOUNTAINS ULTR A

I often use words like ‘brutal’ and ‘harsh’ to describe races I’ve done, this post will be no di!erent,so – be warned, superlatives ahead!

The Might Contain Nuts Welsh One Day Ultra Series is a set of 4 races, with distances ranging from 33 to 50 miles. I’ve done all the other courses apart from this one – 33 miles in the Black Mountains which kicks o! the 2013 season.

On the lead-up to the race the weather had been slowly deteriorating, with the Met O" ce issuing severe weather warnings – and using terms such as ‘blizzards’, ‘gale-force’ etc. to describe the conditions. We’d also been treated to some snowy pictures from the MCN team, but with Cardi! still relatively balmy – it seemed like exaggeration to me.

Then, on the day before the race Britain came to a standstill with snow and blizzards, at around 4pm on Friday the word went out that a new course was to be used, a shorter version at around 26 miles – and comprising 2 loops allowing runners to drop after the #rst loop if needed. It also allowed MCN

Guy MawsonBlogwww.blogs.sandomenico.co.

uk

Twitter@Guy_Mawson

Black Mountains ResultFinish Time5hrs 57mins


to adequately marshal the course and ensure our safety. Some people were understandably disappointed – not me, I knew it would be a tough day out there.



http://www.blogs.sandomenico.co.uk





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We’d been warned about conditions and told that ski goggles would be a good idea on the high ground! I thought this was a joke, but dug out my old pair for a laugh anyway. At 6am on Saturday morning I loaded up the car and set o! from a damp Cardi! to the start.

The start was 40 miles away, but as soon as I left the city and headed towards the valleys the weather deteriorated. The roads got worse and worse and I nearly had to turn back at one point, but eventually found an ice-free route to the start and parked-up. After registration I met-up with my mate who I always run the MCN events with – he had a good laugh at my beard and goggles, yeah – well just you wait.

At 08:30 we were o! and up a muddy path, then onto a road for a couple of miles. Within minutes my feet were saturated and numb, so no point worrying about that any more. The weather was actually OK at this point and I was a bit concerned that 2 base layers, jacket, bu!, wooly hat, double-leggings, army issue $eece-lined mittens and the goggles may have been overkill!

After a couple of miles we hit the start of the loop and the #rst climb. The trail snaked around what I believe is a mountain – unfortunately, after around 400m we hit freezing point, and shortly after cloud cover and snow which was drifting. As we got higher the wind picked up and the snow got worse. The goggles went on, then the bu! to cover any remaining exposed skin and we continued to climb. Still the mountain went up, and up… We fought into a massive headwind with gritted teeth until #nally #nding a marshal in the whiteout directing us down the mountain and warning to beware of ice!

So, we headed o! down sheet ice covered in a veil of snow, most of our group took a wrong turn and all crashed spectacularly on hard ice – ouch! Eventually we hit the freezing point again and the snow and ice cleared and everything turned into mud! It was weird – one minute you’re in a white-out on an ice planet and the next skidding over muddy #elds in the sun!

We arrived at the checkpoint a bit shell shocked from the previous 60-minutes experience and headed o! again into the void.

"We arrived at the checkpoint a bit shell

shocked from the previous 60-minutes experience and

headed o! again into the void"

Basically the loop consisted of 3 climbs into the world of ice, gales and snow – each of which was followed by a treacherously icy, then muddy descent into another checkpoint.

We hit the end of the #rst loop in about 3 hours, the marshals o!ered us the chance to drop out and head for home… Some people did and to be honest, I can’t blame them. That #rst loop was insane – and to have to do it all again, knowing what was coming could break a man.

But we were made of tougher stu!, the memories of the previous loop had faded already – hey, it wasn’t REALLY that bad was it? Bugger it, let’s go again!

And so, we headed o!, back up the mountain and towards freezing point…

While we’d been basking in the warmth of the valleys, the mountain gods had obviously been annoyed by our previous intrusion. It was colder, windier and snowier than before – a lot more! We were walking about 40-50 yards apart and could hardly see each other in the whiteout. It was so bad that the person in front's footsteps were covered in snow by the time you got there. Thigh-high drifts and icy sections were the order of the day. At one point I felt like I was in a movie, there’s no other way to describe it – I’ve never been in weather like it, anyone not in decent, warm kit would have been in real trouble up there – and we had to keep an eye on a couple of people who looked a bit shaky.

Anyhow, eventually we got to the top and started the descent. Once again I took a wrong turn and crashed down hard on the icy slope – laughing it o!, I managed to pull myself together and pick my way down into the valley of mud and the checkpoint which was followed by more head-



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SPLASHING THROUGH FREEZING COLD WATER

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shaking and disbelief in what we’d just encountered.

I knew it was mega cold on the mountain because I’d lost the use of my hands, despite the $eecy army mittens so grabbing some food and water was di"cult. Fortunately, the relative warmth of the valley section let my #sh #ngers defrost to be useful for long enough to sco! some sausages I’d packed.We continued around loop 2, plodding up the mountains and sliding down the other side. The #nal big descent was something to behold – about a 200m hill of mud with a nasty downhill gradient. We’d managed to get down mud-free on the #rst loop, but this time round I was in no mood for treading carefully. Once past this hill, it was an easy 4-5 miles home.

I’d arrived at this section ahead of my pal and had caught up with 3 lads scratching their heads about how to get down mud-free. Bollocks to that, I decided to run as much as I could – then fall on my arse and slide the rest of the way. I made it about 10 yards then was over and sliding down the hill. Screaming like a teenage girl I hurtled down the hill to the cheers of the lads above. After spinning around at the bottom, I raised a #st and one by one, down they came screaming likewise! At the bottom, everyone high-#ved each other – it was brilliant fun, you should have seen the state of us – caked in mud!

My mate appeared at the top of the hill, ‘ON YOUR ARSE’ I shouted and, after a bit of hesitation he too followed us

in our ultra mudslide, I ask you – is that any way for a 51 year-old to behave?

The last few miles were a nice easy jog through the tropical rain forests, (it’s all relative) and through another couple of checkpoints. The CP marshals were astounded at how muddy we were, I think we must have been the only people to do the ‘mudslide’…

The #nish came up in around 6 hours which was what I’d predicted at the start. But what a day of contrasts? I’ve never been happier with my kit, all of it – there wasn’t an item today that I wish I had or didn’t have. My goggles were a life-saver on the mountain, though I hope I don’t have to wear them again anytime soon.

The real heroes of today have to be the marshals and MCN crew. Several times we said we couldn’t believe the race was continuing under the conditions. There were a couple of marshals up on the highest, nastiest bits of the mountain sections ensuring we were safe and OK. On the second loop they all checked we were #ne, warm enough and feeling good. Total respect to those guys – at least we were moving.

I’m already looking forward to the next race in the series in May, the 40 miler in the Brecons which includes the infamous ascent of Cribyn at the end… Let’s hope it’s warmed up a bit and I can leave the ski goggles at home!



http://sandomenicorrc.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/mcn.jpg


THE ROAD TO SPARTAby Paul Ali

This is the !rst part in a series of four articles, which will record my training and preparation for the Spartathlon event. This is undoubtedly my biggest and toughest running challenge to date and one which I may very well not be successful in completing.

Spartathlon

The history to the Spartathlon (www.spartathlon.gr) event references the ancient battle of Marathon in 409 BC and re-tells the semi-historical exploits of the Athenian messenger Pheidippides who was sent by his generals on foot to Sparta in order to secure reinforcements for the Athenian forces. He was reputed to have travelled from Athens to Sparta the day after his departure.

In 1982, RAF Wing Commander John Foden set out with four colleagues to see if a modern man could travel the 250km distance in 36 hours from day rise on the !rst day to sun set on the second day. The British group were ultimately successful with John Foden arriving in front of the statue of Leonidas having run for 36 hours and the concept of the Spartathlon footrace was born with the 1st International Spartathlon event held in 1983 and every year since then.

The race itself has a reputation as one of the toughest around due to a combination of factors such as the distance, heat, terrain, sleep deprivation and the tough time limits introduced at each checkpoint during the race. To quote James Elson’s excellent blog on his e#orts in 2012 “The best athletes in the world come here to !nish, not to race” !http://www.centurionrunning.com/blog/2012/10/01/spartathlon-race-report-2012.-the-ultimate-foot-race/

AR TICLE THE ROAD TO SPAR TA

The first in a four part series of articles detailing Paul Ali'straining and preparation for the Spartathlon Event

Entry Decision

My !rst Ultra Marathon was in 2009 and since then I’ve taken part in about 30 Ultra’s of varying distances primarily around the South of England (typically Thames Path/Ridgeway events with the odd Birmingham to London jaunt) with the last year spent focusing more on 100 mile races.

I’m pretty much a mid-pack runner and can generally !nish comfortably within the time limits of these races. At the moment everything is feeling comfortable, which says to me I need a challenge. I had a desire to tackle a foreign run, something tough, something challenging and something special. The slick marketing of the MDS event had an attraction but a massive cost and I started to think about the UTMB event but its recent history of poor weather, late re-routing and the necessity of a ballot meant an entry was not guaranteed and the search continued.

In 2012 several British runners went out and tackled the Spartathlon. Unfortunately the majority were unsuccessful but a few did succeed (including a 3rd !nish for James Adams which was reported in Issue 3 of Ultra Tales, James is also leading the British UK team in 2013) but there was a lot of positive talk about how “special” the event felt regardless of the personal outcome of their race.

The overwhelming positivity for an event is something, which caught me eye, and something which I hadn’t really experienced since my !rst Grand Union Canal Run (GUCR).

The GUCR is a great race, it is a fairly low-key event, very long and unrelenting although it does have a generous time limit. However, it has a great “family” atmosphere and a welcoming community. The race has been run for a number of years now and almost feels like a tradition in the last weekend of May. On my !rst attempt in 2010 it was the only race on my mind in the build up and was going to be my personal de!ning moment of the year (I was a



http://www.spartathlon.gr

http://www.centurionrunning.com/blog/2012/10/01/spartathlon-race-report-2012.-the-ultimate-foot-race/




relatively novice runner at the time and just about marched home having walked 20+ hours !nishing in a completely unremarkable 43-44 hours).

Popular culture also had a little sway with the Spartathlon. The Spartans as a race have been a source of cultural inspiration and I have childhood memories of watching the 1962 “The 300 Spartans” ! lm re-telling the events of the Battle of Thermopylae and many people will have seen the more recent 2007 stylised version “300”. The idea of running towards Sparta and arriving at the statue of King Leonidas at the !nish, tired, hot, dusty but having completed a heroic journey like the tales of old has somewhat romanticised the race as an outsider looking in, as I’m sure it has done for many others.

Looking into the race further and after reading various blogs and reports I’m under no illusions about the di$ culty of the challenge. To put it bluntly there’s a lot of British runners who attempted this in 2012 and were ultimately unsuccessful and I don’t even consider myself as good a runner as most of these people. So if I’m going to have a chance in hell of reaching the statue of Leonidas I need in the words of 2013 Spartathlon entrant Drew She$eld “to be in the shape of your life”. The only problem is “the shape of my life” is still probably only half the level of


ability of some of the people who have tried and failed!

To complete this race is going to take some focus for the year but that’s exactly the challenge I wanted with the build up, the challenge and a real fear of failure. My most comparative race is a 39-hour !nish at the GUCR in a mild UK summer along %at conditions. This result is simply not going to cut it when trying to !nish a 153-mile race in 36 hours with unforgiving temperatures, constant elevation changes and a mountain in the middle and with the added mental pressure of cut-o#s every step of the way. It’s all on the line here with this event the greatest threat to my “no DNF” record (yes, still clinging onto that as a mark of achievement). Therefore, for your reading pleasure I’m going to document my build up to the event in each issue of Ultra Tales (and my blog) from now until the event in September and then complete a race report afterwards regardless of the outcome. To those people who are considering this event in the future I’m going to answer the question as to whether an average mid-pack sub 24-hour 100-mile runner can complete the Spartathlon. January 2013 Spartathlon Entry The website application process came out of the blue. I knew it was due sometime towards the end of January and when the website was open for entries it caught me unawares. I had been getting ready to go to work around 7.30am one weekday morning and switched on my mobile phone and saw a few Facebook updates to say entries were open. I then immediately jumped onto the computer in a panic as I didn’t want to miss out and worked my way through the application process in a rush of activity before I had to leave for work.

JAMES ADAMS HEADING TO THE FINISH IN 2012PHOTOGRAPH | LINDLEY CHAMBERS / SUE ALBISTON




The website was not 100% clear (I’m still not sure what an “Amateur Association Athletics” form is) but I completed the entry form online, cropped a picture of me at the right number of pixels, screen printed and then scanned evidence of my quali!cation standard (the 2011 GUCR !nish, which was probably the easiest quali!cation entry) and then waited.

As I suspected, the entry limit of 350 applicants ! lled up within a few weeks (there is now a waiting list of 160 people) and I waited nervously to see if my application had been accepted. Within a couple of weeks I received the email, entry accepted and I had been allocated race number 107. “This sh*t just got real” was my quip at the time.

Word soon spread on the usual Facebook and Twitter feeds in terms of who was in and I soon learned that a large contingent of British runners had entered which was fantastic but when I glanced at the names I knew and considered the achievements of many of these runners I felt like I would be the underdog, the comedy side-kick, the person who would be tagging along for the ride but with no expectations of a !nish.

Januarys Training

January was an indi#erent month running wise. The winter months of cold days, regular rainfall and hours of darkness were starting to impact my motivation for running. I banked about 200 miles in the month with a couple of 20 mile runs but it was all at a steady pace and I felt as if I was just going through the motions.

I picked up the book “Why we Run” and was looking forward to Robin Harvie’s account of the Spartathlon event but it’s fair to say that the book didn’t click with me at all and I skimmed this in a day which was a shame as I had found his earlier summary article in the Telegraph quite enjoyable.


And so January came to an end with an entry secured but motivation lacking.

February 2013

Thames Trot

My !rst Ultra event of the year was the Thames Trot, a 48 mile run along the river Thames from Oxford to Henley and my traditional !rst event of the year. I had run the inaugural Thames Trot in 2009 (my second ever Ultra) and have a small claim to fame as the only person who has taken part and completed the event each year. I like this event as it is local to me and a good benchmark of my !tness at the start of the year. I had !nished the event last year in about 8hrs 5mins and was looking to dip below 8hrs as a minimum aim this year. Unfortunately, the event had to be rerouted on roads parallel to the river due to %ooding along the route and the event shortened to about 43 miles.

2013 THAMES TROTPHOTOGRAPH | ARTHUR ABBOT





On race day itself I somewhat surprisingly lined up at the sharp end of the !eld (normally I sit in the middle or back of the pack at the start and take it steady) and shot out with the front-runners who soon disappeared ahead but beating the crowds over the bottleneck at I&ey lock. The race went reasonably well apart from an extra 2 mile detour at the end of the race where I was unfamiliar with the route diversions but completed 45 miles in 6hrs 49mins which compared reasonably favourably to 48 miles at 8hrs 5mins the previous year. However, it was de!nitely an easier route this year with a lot of the route covering tarmac rather than the usual muddy paths so the result was nothing to get too excited about. The bad news was that I su#ered a groin pull due to slipping over in the mud several times.

Wokingham Half

A week later, I took part in the Wokingham Half Marathon. I had been starting the odd interval or hill session and had completed a handful which must have been bene!cial as I trimmed two minutes of my Half Marathon personal best in miserable wet weather !nishing in 1hr 30 mins 53 seconds averaging about 7m/m for the entire race and only starting to feel it with a few miles to go. I bumped into fellow 2013 Spartathlete Jen Bradley at the end of the race who had !nished a minute or two ahead of me.

Training

Februarys training was seeing a slight improvement with a few quality sessions being introduced and the week after Wokingham Half I did a marathon distance training run to recce some of the Thames Path 100 route from Reading to Streatley but ended up wading through %ooded river banks in several paces and diverting back along the other side of the river before plodding home hours later.

St Peters Way Ultra

I still felt as if I needed to kick start my running and bank a few more miles and took a last minute entry into the inaugural St Peter Ways Ultra organised by Lindley Chambers. It was a pretty tiring weekend for me as I paced my buddy Paul Stout for a small part of his all night Friday night charity 12 hour Park Run (starting 9pm on Friday and running non-stop through the night !nishing with the Newbury Park run the next day) and then made the drive from Reading to Elsenham the next evening where Lindley had kindly o#ered me a bed for the night before the race.

That evening Lindley recounted his !rst Spartathlon attempt last year where he was pulled from the race around the 30-40 mile mark as he hadn’t been moving quickly enough in the heat. It was great to chat to Lindley about the race as I think we are at a similar level of ability in terms of race performances and it was useful to get his insights into the race.

Lindley also retold his experience of the weekend in which he described is perception of very basic accommodation, less than spectacular organisation

2013 ST PETERS WAY ULTRAPHOTOGRAPH | KAREN WEBBER





for the runners prior to the race but of a fantastic experience for the race itself. In fact, Lindley admitted to a “toys out of the pram” moment when the organisers had mucked up his accommodation plans.

In terms of the race itself, the key observations from our discussion were the obvious a#ect of the heat in 2012 which laid waste to the majority of the British runners and secondly the constant undulation of the route which was certainly not %at at the start at all.

I was aware Lindley had already entered for 2013 and asked him directly, “So are you going to !nish this year?”. He gave a non-commital “We will see”.

The Spartathlon is a race which you have to respect and false bravado is not going to see you through here.

The St Peters Way Ultra was planned as long training run and I deliberately set o# at the back of the pack. In fact, I was last after the !rst mile after an impromptu comfort break. The route does require a degree of concentration and navigation with no obvious land marks in some areas but we had been provided with some speci!c directions and I had the route loaded onto my Garmin as a backup. I took the run at a steady pace, chatted to a few people on route, made a couple of minor navigational errors but worked my way through the !eld to a mid-pack position !nishing in 7hrs 55mins having covered 42 miles. Another long run banked. I could still feel the groin injury though. Sparta DVD The next evening I sat down with my wife (Sal) and we watched the 2012 Spartathlon Race DVD which Lindley had lent me. Aside from looking out for any

British runners I knew, it was a great opportunity to see how the event was organised and how the runners were performing !rst hand. After watching the video, the following points came to mind: * It was hot! I would have to think about some form of heat training or heat acclimatisation. * Checkpoints whilst regular look very basic and you may want to rely on food in your own drop bags. Certainly some foods being laid out in the heat all day did not look appealing. * I was reminded of Lindleys comment about the hills and the constant up and down which was very evident from the video. I’m no “hill warrior” and would really need to work on this aspect of my running as I’m guilty of always walking the hills in pretty much every Ultra race I compete in. The cut o# times at the Spartathlon event do not give you the luxury of this approach as you will simply be timed out. * Finishing the race and running towards the statue of Leonidas looked like an amazing experience.

JAMES ADAMS FINISH IN 2012PHOTOGRAPH | LINDLEY CHAMBERS / SUE ALBISTON





We have had to make some sacri!ces this year in terms of family holidays to give me the chance to !nance this race which I’m very grateful for. Sals !rst comment to me was “You really need to do more running if you are going to have any chance of !nishing this” (Iicence to run more?) and then reminded me that I had one shot at this event as we certainly can’t a#ord to do this every year.

To be honest, the size of the challenge probably still hasn’t hit home. My mind is saying to me, this is a massive challenge, you need to be !tter, faster and stronger as a runner than you currently are but at the moment that sentiment is yet to really sink in. It’s almost as if I subconsciously think I can “wing it” on the day.

February saw 258 miles banked, 2 x 40-odd mile Ultra’s completed and a Half Marathon personal best so a slight improvement on Januarys e#ort.

March

Training

I looked at the training plan and decided I needed to step it up and I started to aim to move this from my current 60 miles per week up towards 80 miles per week if I could. I was hoping to make a few of the shorter week day runs quality sessions (intervals or hill work outs) and save the longer runs for the weekend. I would also need to put in a regular rest weeks of reduced mileage but as I had a few other Ultra events lined up so this would occur naturally as part of the taper, event, rest routine.

British Spartathlon Team

James Adams had setup a website to unite the British Runners this year and is looking to develop a team spirit and bond between the UK runners. I also stumbled across the British Spartathlon Facebook page and dropped by to say hello to !nd

out that there are a few more British runners than I was aware of including GUCR legend Pat Robbins, so another quality British Runner in the team. James has already secured some sponsorship for the team with T-shirts and Bu# ’s courtesy of the ULTRAmarathonRunningStore and Bu# which is great. Now, if he can work on some shoes sponsors that would be fantastic as I’m in the need of a couple of pairs of new road shoes!

Spartathlon DVD Part 2

Surprisingly, my Mum expressed an interest in watching the Spartathlon DVD to see what I had set myself up for in September and so we sat down and watched Lindleys DVD again. We watched the runners toiling away in the heat, running and walking up the hills, pouring sponges of water over their heads, grabbing snacks and massages at aid stations, slogging their way up the mountain before !nally arriving in Sparta to the cheers of the crowd followed by the closing ceremony.

After viewing the runners heroic e#orts for an hour, she passed on her words of advice to me… ”Make sure you take a nice shirt to wear at the closing ceremony”.

Reading Half Marathon

The Reading Half Marathon took place a week before the Thames Path 100 and I was involved in organising a group of runners who had been supported by our employer. The weather was absolutely awful on the day with heavy rain for the entirety of the event. However, the run itself went well for me as I managed to set a new Personal Best and dip under the 1hr 30min mark with a !nish time of 1hr 29mins and 46 seconds. This was clear evidence to me that the odd interval and speed session were having a positive bene!t, if only I could be bothered to keep these up on a more regular basis.





Thames Path 100

I re-read my race report from the 2012 Thames Path 100 to remind myself of last years race. My tips were !rstly, don’t run a 5k Parkrun half an hour before the event and secondly don’t run the Parkrun and the 100 mile race in Fancy Dress! On a serious note, I recall feeling a little jaded and lethargic from the Thames Trot run a few weeks earlier and I had a bit of a midnight meltdown during the race before stomping home the last 20-30 miles in a !nish time of 23 ½ hours. My pre-race goals had been a minimum target of a 22hr !nish to put me ahead of the Sparta cut-o#s for the same sort of distance with my “dream” goal !nishing under this and edging closer to a 20hr !nish as this was a %at 100 mile course. Unfortunately, the curse of the weather had struck again with freezing cold, wet and sleeting conditions predicted for the race. In addition, heavy rain over the previous weeks and going back towards the end of last year meant some areas along the Thames Path were not passable and a diverted route (an out and back route) was put in place resulting in a modi!ed distance of 104 miles. The extra distance didn’t concern me but practically this would add 40 mins to an 1hr onto my time predicted time. It was a race of two halves for me; I shot o# at the start arriving at Checkpoint 1 in an unfamiliar top ten position and then slowed the pace down. I hit a slump around the 30 mile marker got a second wind and arrived at the half way aid station (48 miles) in about 8hrs 30mins where Lindley Chambers had agreed to pace me during the night. At that point, it was getting dark, still sleeting and the ground conditions in parts were getting more di$ cult with the muddy sections now totally churned up with the passing of tens of runners in both directions. We % irted with a run/walk for a leg

or two but then I settled into a power walk for the rest of the race !nishing in 22hrs 30mins.

Re%ecting on the race, on the positive side I was an hour quicker than last year so some improvement and the extra few miles distance meant it could be considered closer to a 22hr !nish. However, these minor gains were overshadowed by my lack of desire to run the second half of the race, I gave into a power walk far too easily and deep down I knew this wasn’t going to cut it in 6 months time. So in all honesty, mixed emotions over this e#ort. After a few days o# I banked a few more runs resulting in my !rst ever 300 mile month. A Half Marathon and 100 mile Personal Best and a 300 mile month is moving in the right direction but I still have this nagging feeling that it may not be enough and I am not giving this race 100% of my e#ort.

The only niggle is that my groin strain still hadn't cleared up and I aggravated it again on the TP100 slipping around in the mud although it's fair to say that it hasn't impacted my running much.

PAUL & LINDLEY AT THE TP100PHOTOGRAPH | DAVE MERRET T





April

Compton 40

Two weeks after the TP100 I took part in the Compton 40. I had entered this primarily as a long training run and with this only being a couple of weeks after the TP100 I didn’t have any planned goals. The weather was in complete contrast to the TP100, and despite a cold start the weather ended up lovely and warm. The race was modi!ed due to %ooding in one area and resulted in 2 x 20 mile loops. I covered the !rst leg in 3.15 and then stopped brie%y at the half way point to remove some layers before heading out again for the second leg. I hit a slump with about 5 miles to go and felt a little jaded mentally and took the easy excuse of being tired from the TP100 and half walked/half ran the last few miles !nishing just under 7 hours with another long run banked.

I bumped into Peter Johnson, Claire Shelley and Drew She$eld at the race and talk turned to Spartathlon which they have all planned to tackle again this year.

The rest of April saw me ticking over with my usual routine of lots of short runs during the week in lunchtimes and running home from work and longer runs on the weekend. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve really committed to the “quality” sessions I had planned during the week although I am starting to try and run some steady hill reps on a regular basis but it’s a limited e#ort and not a very steep hill but something is better than nothing.

Logistics

I received my formal con!rmation of entry in the post in April and started to think about the logistics of the race week. The race entry included accommodation but I was aware this was on a shared basis with up to 4 runners per room. Some people may enjoy this basic approach and the camaraderie of this situation. For me this did not

seem like the best race preparation especially when I’m looking to be well rested for the race (plus I snore a little so have probably saved someone else having the same sort of issue with me!)

Therefore a decision was made to book some separate accommodation. Claire Shelley and Mimi Anderson (who is attempting a Spartathlon “Double” this year i.e. there and back) kindly provided some hotel recommendations and I’m now booked in Athens before and after the event as well as a having a room in Sparti about a 5-minute walk from the !nish. Flights have also been booked and paid for, just have the small matter of some hard miles up until the event.

Shipley v2.0

I enjoy planning my longer races and putting together a spreadsheet of times, paces and distances. It helps me break the race down into manageable segments and provides an indication

PAUL AT THE COMPTON 40PHOTOGRAPH | TZ RUNS / IAN J BERRY





to crew/pacers where I will be at a certain time.

Stuart Shipley had put together a spreadsheet of all Spartathlon Checkpoints into an Excel spreadsheet and once the 2013 race rules and checkpoint times were released I set to work and built a new version aptly names “Shipley v2” which can be found on the British Spartathlon Facebook Page.

After plugging some times from my last long race (Thames Path 100) allowing a 1 minute per checkpoint average time and a fast walking pace after 100 miles, the spreadsheet tells me I would be timed out at the Marathon point (with a Checkpoint closing time of 4hrs 5mins at 26.2 miles looking a little tasty when there are still 5 Marathons to go!). Ignoring that slight concern, the spreadsheet tells me I would later be timed out at Checkpoint 70. It’s a bit of nonsense really as races and conditions are not comparable but I will be playing around with this spreadsheet a lot more I suspect over the next few months!

April saw me complete another 300-mile month so the mileage is ticking along quite nicely as I build my endurance but I need to improve the quality of some of the shorter sessions. Whats Next? The end of May sees me return to the Grand Union Canal Race which I have completed a couple of times in the past in pretty unconvincing times. This year the race has a bit more meaning as it is going to be my benchmark run for Spartathlon (more to do with the distance than conditions/terrain which aren’t really comparable). My aim is to achieve a 32-34 hour goal which would put me just about within Spartathlon cut-o#s and would result in a massive improvement from my last e#ort. In the next article, I will let you know how I get on.

2013 UK Spartathletes

You will notice I have named a few other 2013 Spartathlon runners in this article. We have a group of over 30 British Runners taking part which makes us one of the most well represented countries alongside Japan, Germany and Greece. It will be great to meet up with those people I know and have met before and with others I haven’t yet had the pleasure.

Final Word

It would be great to get some feedback both from others; in the position of newcomers to the event and some words of wisdom from the Spartathlon veterans. I will continue to cover o# my training and preparation over the next two issues of Ultra Tales in July and September and then !nish with the event report itself. You can send an email through to the usual [email protected] address.

Reading this article back, it sounds like I’m being a little too negative in terms of my build up and performance. I’m genuinely excited about the challenge ahead but accept that I’m viewing this race as an outsider and I haven’t experienced the conditions of the event like others who have taken part previously. People have talked about not “getting” the event until they are mid-way through the race. I want to understand what I can now, as I may only have one shot at this. As a !nal point for this article. I was out running with an unnamed running friend recently and asked the question, “Do you think I can !nish the Spartathlon? Give me an honest answer”.

To which he replied “No”.

I hope to turn this response into a “Maybe” in a few months time. All I want is to have a !ghting chance in September.





RACE ORGANISER | VIKING WAY ULTRAEVENT REPORTS | SAM ROBSON, LINDLEY CHAMBERS

VIKING WAY ULTRA

Viking Way UltraRace Organiser: Viking Way UltraWebsite Link: http://www.vikingwayultra.comDate of Event: 30th - 31st March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 147 milesLocation: Barton on Humber to OakhamStart Time: 40hr Cut O!Description: Starts in the shadow of the Humber Bridge. The route then winds its way through beautiful historic countryside across the Lincolnshire wolds and down towards the "nish at Oakham near the banks of Rutland Water.

Race Results: http://www.vikingwayultra.com/#/results/4575197237

PHOTOGRAPH | PAUL RHOADES - WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK



http://www.vikingwayultra.com

http://www.vikingwayultra.com/#/results/4575197237

http://www.vikingwayultra.com/#/results/4575197237


LINDLEY & COMPANY PIC TURED DURING THE RUNPHOTOGRAPH : PAUL RHOADES WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK

VIKING WAY ULTRABY LINDLEY CHAMBERS


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On Friday the 29th of March me and Sue travelled up late to Hull in preperation for my second run in the Viking Way Ultra a super tough 147 miles across Lincolnshire on Footpaths and trails. There are no o" cial race markings but the route is a known walking route and has fairly good signage although some parts are more di" cult to #nd them especially through towns and villages. You have to navigate the route using a 1:25,000 map provided via email by the organiser.

Mark Cockbain is the organiser along with Alex at his side and he has created a beast with minimal support and back up allowed, no GPS allowed at all and no buddy runners or crews. Checkpoints are set 18ish miles apart except for the last one 10k from the end.

Mark had set the cut o! time for the whole race as 40 hours and the cut o!s at 50 and 100 miles as 12.5 hours and 26.5 hours respectfully although you really need to be well inside these times to stand any chance of "nishing at all within the cut o!s. Mark does not let anyone enter and all the the runners have "nished other long distance races or

Lindley ChambersBloghttp://

!remannotsam.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter@! remannotsam

Viking Way ResultFinish TimeDNF

similar events. Nor does he expect many to "nish at all. This is an extremely hard race with no apologies for it. Last year 32 ran and 7 "nished. This year 31 started.



http://firemannotsam.blogspot.co.uk

http://firemannotsam.blogspot.co.uk


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With all the rain and snow we have had recently with the cold weather the conditions were due to be anything from cold with snow and mud to really cold with even more snow and mud, It did not dissapoint!

31 of us started below the Humber bridge at 7am with a few of us chatting about last year and greeting old friends and new, not without a few worried faces at the task ahead. It was great to see many runners that I have met before at other races and from this race last year.

My basic strategy for the race was to get to 50miles in about 10.5hours, 100miles in around 22-23 hours and hopefully make it to the "nish before the 40 hour cut o!.

"My basic strategy for the race was to get to 50miles

in about 10.5hours, 100miles in around 22-23 hours and hopefully make

it to the "nish before the 40 hour cut o#"

I knew it was on the edge of my ability and I needed to have a good run and all to go my way to stand a chance of making it. The only other race of a similar distance that I have completed took me 38:49 and that was on a $at easy to navigate canal route.

O! we went after a few words from Mark. I settled into an easy shu%e aand chatted to various people I knew, It was good to chat to some awesome runners who I know of or was only just meeting.

After a bit we settled into a rythmn and ran what we could then walked as quickly as possible over the snow drifts! Yes there were Snow drifts it was sunny but cold and where the drifts had piled up there was snow remaining on the trails which slowed us down a bit.

A the "rst checkpoint I was comfy but could feel

last weekends 56miler in the mud at Thames Patch 100 in my legs but everything was working "ne.

I grabbed a quick handfull of food and o! I went, soon I teamed up with a few other runners to make a foursome, me, Jo Kilkenny, Ben Davies and Micky Sutton. Ben and Jo I knew from other races and last year in this event (it beat all of us). Micky was new to me but a friend of Jo's from some multiday events.

We stuck together in a loose group through the next 2 checkpoints occaisionally chatting but mostly just enjoying the fact that we are linking up as a group and the company is welcome.We took turns to be at the front with it all helping to keep us going at a fair pace. We rolled into the 50 mile checkpoint just before 6pm and I wanted to get out ASAP so grabbed some food and made sure I had enough in my bladder and drunk some more $uids and changed my socks and put an extra layer on for the night section. I then got up and made sure Jo and co were ready and o! we went with 13 miles to the next checkpoint. At this point I noticed my feet were a bit tender after changing my socks. It was starting to get colder as the sun started to drop behind the hills.

The light started to fade and as we ran on we lost one of our number, ben was having a few issues and dropped back and we ran on then pick up Steve for a bit and we were back to 4. It was dark not and we started to run a great section of the Way which was well groomed and very nice to run on. We caught up with a fantastic runner Jeved who I know from a few other races such as GUCR and Thames ring 250. He was walking o! a bit of a rough period and was soon back to form and running/walking with us.

A couple of miles town the trail Jo started to drop back and I had a decision to make whether to drop her or stick with her through this section. I decided to go back and check how she was, She was having a rough patch and falling asleep on her feet. I decided to not leave her on her own in the dark being that tired and said I would stick with her to the next checkpoint about 3 miles further. As we plodded on through the dark my began to get worse and be quite tender on the ballls but we walked on and chatted, Jo made the decision to






LINDLEY PIC TURED DURING THE RUNPHOTOGRAPH : PAUL RHOADES WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK





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stop at the next checkpoint and I pretty much talked myself into the same. As we got to the checkpoint I handed Jo on to Mark and he told me I could not stop and to feck o! which I duly did once I had grabbed some food. I walked o! into the dark on my own.

I was moving "ne on the $at road bits and able to shu%e as my feet were sore but on a $at surface I was spreading the weight ok, Once I hit the cross country stu! again my feet were really sore and I was reduced to a walk on the rough stu!. I knew I was slowing down cross country and did a few calculations and realised I was not going fast enough to keep up the average pace to guarantee a "nish inside the tight cut o!s.

"I was not going fast enough to keep up the

average pace to guarantee a "nish inside the tight cut

o#s"I did some more calculations as I walked and though allowing for me feet getting worse and some slowdown in my legs I would get timed out around the 113 - 131 mile checkpoints.

I have lots of races on this year and did not see the point of destroying my feet knowing that I would not "nish and it is di& cult to motivate oneself to push hard knowing you are going to get beaten. I made the decision to pull out and phoned Sue and arranged to meet her at the next village I would come across which was Southrey. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get there as I waas in no hurry now and although I was cooling down in the freezing weather as it was bitterly cold I plodded o! into the village and met Sue.

We went back to the Hilton in Lincolnshire where Fiona McNellis one of the marshals and a friend had a room booked and allowed us to share for the night and in the morning we got a great breakfast. Fiona went to pick up Javed another runner who had dropped and we all had breakfast together which was good. Fiona also picked up my Drop bag and then me and Sue headed for home as we were

not needed for any marshalling duties.

I would like to say a big well done to Mark and his team in organising the race and building it from last year, I may well be back next year to have another go.

I am very impressed with those that managed to "nish the race, especially in the cold condistions that were set before us. Special mention must go to Andy who has completed both races and both with only minutes left till the cut o!.

This is an epic race and anyone who has a go is worthy of some respect and those who "nish are awesome.

Lesson I have learnt from this race:

* I need to build on my speed cross country

* I need to learn what works best on my feet on trails and mixed terrain as I dont think the Hoka's work well on very rough or muddy trails especially with Sealskins socks. I think I will go back to my Innov8's for proper trail stu! and they work "ne with Sealskinz too.

* Dont do a very wet muddy 56 miler the week before (Editors Note: I may have been partly responsible for that) as I think that done the most damage to my feet and they had not recovered enough to treat them badly again the following week.

Things that worked well:

* Kit apart from shoes/sock combination all my other kit worked well and I was warm enough and comfortable for the race.

* My legs were good and even whe I stopped I was still happy with how they felt and even after they did not seize up much and even with the 56 the week before they were "ne. I am happy with my endurance I just need to "x the footwear issue.

Whats next? Just less than 7 weeks to GUCR a 145 miler which I have done before so looking forward to seeing what I can do on that course again with my best being 38 hours 49 minutes. I will be trying to get around 32 hours.



VIKING WAY RUNNERS AT THE START OF THE EVENT

VIKING WAY ULTRABY SAM ROBSON



The Viking Way is a 147.8 mile route running from the Humber Bridge in North Lincolnshire to Oakham in Rutland. Quite what the Vikings thought was so important in Oakham to require such a long march from their landing point I have no idea, but I guess getting away from Hull is excuse enough. Although they might want to !re their navigator as it's not exactly a direct route. Regardless, the route is one of the longest marked trails in the country, and was the perfect location for a new race.

L a s t y e a r M a r k C o c k b a i n , a n e x t r e m e l y accomplished ultra runner who has done pretty much everything you would care to mention, announced his plans to hold the race, with the caveat that all runners would have to meet a minimum requirement to be allowed in. Somehow my entry was accepted even though all I had done by that point was the South Downs Way and a few smaller races But unfortunately it was not to be, as falling o! my bike in the ice and attempting to run the Thames Path 100 miler on what would later turn out to be a pretty dodgy ankle put me out of the running for a good few months last year. The

race was a great success, and was won jointly by Neil Bryant and Pat Robbins in 29:22. Only seven people (out of about 30 starters) "nished inside the 40 hour cuto!.

Sam RobsonBlogwww.constantforwardmotion.

blogspot.com

Twitter@stupid_runner

Viking Way ResultFinish Time36hrs 35mins

Finish Position2/6 (27 DNF)



http://www.constantforwardmotion.blogspot.com




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Not being one to let things slip, I signed up again for this year determined to make the start line, if not the "nish. Un"nished business annoys me. Unstarted business is even worse! This was my "rst race since the Piece of String Fun Run in November, and I was really excited to get back to it! I had three aims for this race (in order of importance/likelihood):

1. Make the start line (queue terri"ed cycling throughout the winter)

2. Finish the race3. Win the race

I'm not really overly-bothered with winning the races I enter; I do these stupid things because I really enjoy them. But I do like to put in the best e!ort that I can, and as long as I feel like I have put in the best performance I can I am happy no matter what the outcome. However, it would be quite nice to actually win something having come close a couple of times now.

So on Easter weekend, I travelled on the Highway to Hull (well, railway really) with suitably apt and completely unintentional musical accompaniment from AC/DC with Dave Merret, Jenner Bradley and Tom Foreman, and met up with Dave Fawkner, Riccardo Guissani and Jo Kilkenny in Hull. From there we had a rather interesting taxi drive to the wrong hotel on the other side of the city in a car that broke down several times on the motorway.

"we had a rather interesting taxi drive to the

wrong hotel on the other side of the city in a car that broke down several times

on the motorway"We just about managed to get back to the station where we found a much better taxi driver. Well, he got us to the hotel in one piece anyway. I was sharing a room with my running wife Jo (my wife is very understanding - last time Mimi Anderson

joined us as well), and after registering, saying hi to lots of people, and eating, we had an early night.

Mark is not one to molly-coddle people, and this race would be fairly minimal in terms of support with checkpoints around 18 miles apart. No pacers allowed, no GPS, no poles (walking poles of course, he's not xenophobic [Urwin, 2009]), frankly we should think ourselves lucky to be allowed to use a map! But the lack of GPS was quite nice as it meant that I could just run on feel and not worry about pace. When there's nearly 150 miles to go, pushing for a pace that isn' t comfor table could be disastrous.

We arrived at the viewing point underneath the Humber Bridge that would be the o$ cial start of the race. The weather forecast for the weekend was going to be interesting - generally sunny, cloudy, with low but pleasant temperatures of around 4C, but with the threat of snow and ver y low temperatures overnight. I got a worrying shock when Wouter Hamelinck turned up in trousers. Crikey, things must be looking bad! Although to be fair he had run the Thames Path 100 the previous week, so wasn't expecting to be super speedy.

I was in my usual shorts and long-sleeved shirt combo, with a Bu! bandana to keep my ears warm. I had originally planned to wear my new Salomon Sense Mantras, but had washed them recently and they felt a bit sti!, so I decided to stick with the Speedcross instead which have been well and truly tried and tested. I have been wearing Drymax light trail socks since the Piece of String last year where they worked brilliantly, and for me they are the perfect sock; no messing around with lubricating feet (it a!ects the hydrophobic inner layer), just pull them on and head out the door. For this race I was also trying out some Dirty Girl Gaiters which I have never used before to avoid having to mess around emptying stones and things out of my shoes. This paragraph sounds a bit like an advert. Other brands are also available of course!

The horn went and we were o! ! I jokingly headed out at a bit of a sprint, but then settled down into a comfortable pace (still able to hold a conversation sort of pace). The morning was absolutely beautiful with bright blue skies and hardly a cloud in sight. It was fantastically uplifting and I very quickly settled




A BEAUTIFUL START TO THE DAY

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into a good place in my mind. Considering my propensity for stats, I actually very rarely record my r u n s a n d a l m o s t n e v e r w e a r m y G a r m i n anymore. This year I have turned my weekday runs into more functional speed sessions so have started to use it again for this purpose, but generally I like to get out there with as little stu! as possible (as anyone who saw my half-naked running of the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon in December will testify). The "nish line was so far away that there was no point in worrying about it - just run! That's the way to approach this race, very similar to the Piece of String. Just run, until somebody tells you to stop. Simple.

I had recced the "rst 50 or so miles before last year's race with Jo and Mimi, so a lot of it was semi-familiar. My biggest worry with this race was navigation. I can navigate just "ne, but what I'm not so great at is doing it on the move while running fast. It's de"nitely a knack, and I am getting a lot better at it, but it still makes me very nervous. The route is waymarked, but sometimes very sporadically (or in some places marked as a completely di!erent trail which is useful). If at

some point you think you've gone wrong, do you retrace your steps to the last point where you knew where you were (potentially losing a lot of time), or do you push on until you can be sure that you are wrong/right? A lot of times, it is not obvious that you are going the right way until you hit the next major feature, so taking the former approach can be quite costly.

The "rst potential navigational sna!oo occurs pretty soon into the race. After a mile or so of running alongside the Humber, we headed o! along a trail which was still very snowy after the recent arctic spring the UK had been subjected to. Having to plough through regular thigh-high snow drifts for a mile or so was actually quite fun. I would soon regret those thoughts. The Viking Way takes a sudden left hand turn from this main path which is very easy to miss (not being sign-posted and all), but luckily I remembered about it from my recce. However, when I got to what I believed to be the turning, a marshall was sat in his car and told me to go straight on. Maybe I was wrong and we hadn't reached the turning yet? Oh well, he must know what he's talking about. So I went straight on




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- and promptly fell arse over tit on some black ice, landing heavily on my knee and opening up a pretty sizeable gash. Oh well, only 145 miles to go. I was still a little unsure, so checked my map again. I was almost positive that this was the correct turning, so went back to check. The marshall was less sure now, and said that maybe I was right. I might have asked, "What sort of marshall doesn't know the route", to which he may have replied, "Who said I was a marshall?". I would later wish that I had learnt the lesson not to follow the advice of other people...

I rolled into the "rst checkpoint at Bigby (15.8 miles), where Mark began telling me o! for being too fast. A little worrying to hear when you still have 130 miles to go... Other than my knee, I was feeling really good though, and the cold weather was helping to numb any pain I may have otherwise felt. Shorts were de"nitely the right choice!

"About 30 miles into the race, the weather changed

and it started to snow. It was here that I made

another mistake..."About 30 miles into the race, the weather changed and it started to snow. It was here that I made another mistake, as I missed a very well hidden turning o! of the main track. I only noticed when the track started to turn o! and became less well-de"ned which unfortunately was a while later. I retraced my steps, and started to search for where I could have missed the turning. I had built up about a half hour lead on the other runners in the "rst section, but had now wasted it. The second place runner, Cli! King, came running up and pointed me in the right direction, annoyingly obvious when you know it's there!

Cli! ran with me for a while until the Tealby aid station (30.5 miles) where I stopped for a quick chat with Mark and Drew while I restocked. I didn't want to hold Cli! up so told him not to wait for me. I actually prefer to run on my own anyway, so that I

can do my own thing and run my own race.

I could see Cli! up ahead, and could see his footprints in the big snow drifts that were becoming a little too regular for my liking... About 10 miles from the 50 mile checkpoint, I came across Cli! standing at the side of the road waving. His brand new bladder had developed a split and had leaked water all over his back. We rescued what was left and split it between my two bottles, then took one each to take us to the next checkpoint where our drop bags would be for the "rst time. The bottles contained GU Brew, or witches' brew as Cli! called it. Bitches' brew if you're a Miles Davis fan. Cli! was expecting his second child in the next week or two, so conversation inevitably turned to children. We stopped in a little shop and I was treated to an ice-cream. What a very civilised race this was!

We reached the 50 mile point at Fulletby in just over 9 hours, not bad at all given we were only a third of the way there. Unfortunately Cli! had to pull from the race due to personal reasons and was able to get a lift to the train station with Peter Foxall. I grabbed my overnight gear (re%ective gear, head torch, spare clothes just in case) and headed o! for the next section.

This section was relatively straightforward, and it was a lovely evening for running. I still felt great and was able to keep walking down to a minimum. I was listening to Salem's Lot on audio book which some people might "nd a little creepy, but I "gured I could probably still outrun a vampire if it came to it. I got into the checkpoint at Stixwould (63.7 miles) with a very annoying cough that had been getting worse throughout the day. It wasn't bad, but my regular coughing was starting to bug me. I suspected the damp air during the night section would only make things worse, but if that was the worst thing to worry about at this stage then that was just "ne and dandy!

The sun was going down and the temperature was d ro p p i n g ra p i d l y, s o I d e c i d e d to p u t my waterproof trousers and windproof on. I know, I know. What a wimp! But given that it was cold enough to freeze the water in my bottle (as well as Javed's head torch!), I "gured that it was a good idea. I didn't want to be put out of the running




SAM AND CLIFF AT AT CHECKPOINT


with hypothermia. Apparently several other runners su!ered quite badly and were helped out by kind members of the public, which is really nice to hear (nice to hear about the good Samaritanism, not about people pulling out).

The cold and the dark were making things very di$ cult, and this was not helped by some very annoying navigational issues. Most of the time the problem wasn't knowing where I was, but that the layout of the land didn't match the map. In the most annoying instance, the path led into a horse paddock that was completely surrounded by electric fencing. I went back to the entry point to con"rm that I was in the right place, and there was the Viking Way marker. So where the heck did it go next? I walked around the entire perimeter, which was surprisingly large (must have been a very important horse), several times but to no avail. I looked at the map to see if there was another way t h r o u g h , b u t t h i s w o u l d i n v o l v e a l o t o f backtracking and going a long way around. In the end I went back to where I originally expected the exit to be, and found that a small section was covered in a non-electri"ed coating (I think - well it

wasn't buzzing and sparking at me anyway). This meant that with a bit of work (easier when not wearing a backpack, with freezing cold hands having just run 70 miles) you could climb through without killing yourself. I still wasn't entirely convinced this was right, but I took the shot, and lo and behold up ahead I found the exit from the "eld. In the daytime this would probably have been obvious. Oh well!

Also there were several times where the map indicated that there should be a path through a "eld, but the path hadn't been ploughed by the farmer so it was not obvious exactly which way to go (particularly if the destination was a long way o! in the distance). Another time, I knew that there should be a path behind some houses, but I just couldn't "gure out for the life of me how to get to it. No matter which way I tried to approach it, there seemed to be no way to get through. In the end I found the entrance hidden behind what appeared to be a loading area of a hospital. Obviously. This section just did not go well navigationally. Once I found the route, the running was great and I was still keeping up a good pace. But I was conscious of







how much time was being wasted on route con"rmation.

Approaching the checkpoint just outside of Lincoln also took far longer than it should have done. The map looked quite simple - follow the route, then turn south along the road until you hit the river, then follow the river until the bridge. I followed the route, turned south (following a route marker I might add) and suddenly ended up at the end of a "eld at a fence with a very angry sounding dog barking at me. Hmm. That's not right. So I went back to the road, and tried to orientate myself to the right course. Eventually I was able to make my way down to the river, and turned West (following a route marker I might add again) - only to be blocked in my route by a massive metal fence. There had already been several cases of the real route being hidden behind obstacles, so after a bit of fruitless searching I decided to just push through it. Eventually, after almost being chased by the biggest bull I have ever seen, I found the turn o! up towards the checkpoint (81.2 miles) where Drew and Claire were waiting.

I had built up quite a lead up to the previous checkpoint, but suspected that taking 5 hours to cover 17 miles probably hadn't helped matters. Next up was the section that terri"ed me the most - running through Lincoln high street on a Saturday night. Finding my way there wasn't too bad, except for the fact that the park was closed and I had to take a detour. The cathedral in Lincoln sits at the top of a steep hill (cleverly called Steep Hill) which would take in all of the clubs and pubs that Lincoln has to o!er. I prepared myself as best as possible, then got ready to leg it as fast as I could. I was in the lucky position of being the "rst one through, so I think that by the time people realised what the hell I was doing it was too late - I was gone. There were plenty of shouts after the fact, but nothing too hurtful to my delicate temperament. I hope that no other runners got any abuse in this section. Hopefully everybody just thought they were seeing things.

All things considered, the night time section was a bit of a disaster with regards to navigation. I rocked up at the Wellingore checkpoint (96.8 miles) just as the sun was rising at 5am (ignoring the daylight saving time change). This means that the last 33.1 miles had taken nearly 10 hours.

"This means that the last 33.1 miles had taken nearly

10 hours"Not my greatest e!ort! On the plus side (in the nicest possible way), it looks like everybody else took a similar time so it wasn't just me! I'd be interested to do this section in the daylight to see if it was just the fact that it was night time that caused the problems; I suspect so. Despite this I was still enjoying myself - it was just enjoyment of running punctuated by moments of frustration. I really like night-time running; the silence and the solitude, where the only universe that exists is that which you can see in the small circle of light in front of you. If I were a philosophical kind of guy I would probably say something insightful and meaningful right now...

I decided to take a little extra time at the checkpoint to make sure that I was all set for the "nal 50 miles. I ate some food (about 2 bites of a pasty, a mouthful of pork pie, the usual), changed my socks, stripped back down to my shorts, and reapplied lubrication to my, ahem, nether regions. Just think of how many people have done that then reached into a bowl of jelly beans at an aid station on your next race. Don't worry, I had gloves on for the rest of the race! Just as I was leaving, Wouter came into the checkpoint having made up some time with his amazing navigation. I think it's the beard...

The next section looked like it was going to be pretty simple. 17 miles pretty much straight South. Easy! Time to make up some of the time that I had lost overnight. After a little bit of sti!ness setting o!, I got into a nice rhythm and started to pick up the pace. It was a great feeling to be moving at what felt like a fantastic pace (I suspect it was really an incredibly slow waddle), particularly with the newly risen sun on my face. After the freezing temperatures of the previous night, the beautiful blue skies and gorgeously warm golden rays were an absolute delight.

I came into the Marston checkpoint (113.5 miles) feeling incredibly happy. Things were going brilliantly (despite the slow-going of the night






section) and I was having an absolute blast. The cha$ng that I had developed earlier seemed to have subsided (or had become so bad it had gone numb), and my feet still felt great. The night section had been the part that I was most worried about due to the cold, and from this point onwards I would be in uncharted territory distance-wise, but now that we were into what looked to be a beautiful spring day there was no doubt in my mind that I could "nish this. As I got into the checkpoint, I had a brief dizzy spell as the lack of sleep started to catch up with me. I sat down while my bottles were re" lled, but got myself sorted and headed o! onto what would be the last long section of the race (18 miles). However, as I was about to turn o! the road back into the "elds, I realised I had made a rather silly mistake. My bottles were both sat back at the aid station. Doh! I turned tail and ran back up the hill to the checkpoint, but luckily Patrick noticed and drove down to meet me. Phew! That could have been interesting!

The next section was not a whole lot of fun. I had been forewarned about how bad this section had been last year, with lots of mud churned up by all-terrain vehicle riders. Oh how I wish all we had to deal with was mud. Instead, the snow drifts were back and were worse than ever. Unrelenting is the

word I believe! I like snow as much as the next person, but this was a running race - I wanted to run dagnabbit! Wading through thigh-high snow drifts for miles at a time, particularly after having run over 100 miles already, was getting annoying. It was a pretty straight path so there were no navigational problems, but it was impossible to get any momentum going.

My head was feeling a bit woolly by this stage, and I was really starting to feel the lack of sleep. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem as the act of running would usually wake me up, but slogging through the snow just wasn't helping matters. Combined with that, my iPod had run out of battery, and annoyingly my spare seemed to have lost its charge in my bag. Instead, I was stuck with the last song I had heard (Beelzeboss by Tenacious D) going round and round like the "rst song you hear when your alarm goes o! in the morning. No matter what I tried singing, I just couldn't get that song out of my head. I stopped brie%y to phone Jen to let her know I was still going strong, but that the conditions meant that I would be a lot later than I had hoped.

I came into the Sewstern checkpoint (131.2 miles) to "nd Mark, Alex and others cheering me in. Mark had taken to calling me Chuck Norris since I told

PHOTOGRAPH | PAUL RHOADES WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK







him about my black belt in Tae Kwon Do earlier in the race. I don't think Chuck Norris could run the Viking Way though... Despite the massive slow down, I was apparently still quite far out in front, so I assumed that everybody was "nding it tough out there. There weren't too many people left in the race now, as many people had unfortunately been beaten by the previous night's cold weather. It's a real shame as I'm sure that once the Sunday morning rolled around many people would have found a new lease of life and been able to push to the end.

There was now only 17 miles left until the "nish; 10 miles to a mini checkpoint at the edge of Rutland Water, then 6 miles into Oakham itself. When Mark told me that the nearest competitor was still quite far behind, I stupidly thought about winning. Up until this point, I was just trying to run, without worrying too much about what other people were doing or allowing it to dictate things too much. I was here to complete the race "rst and foremost. But now there was a real chance that I could win one of the toughest ultra races in the UK. I phoned Jen again to let her know that I was into the last stretch, and found out from my brother-in-law that they were coming to cheer me in. The thought of my beautiful baby girl and my gorgeous wife waiting for me at the end was an amazing thought, and I headed o! to Rutland water with purpose. I could do this. Baring something stupid, this was in the bag. Oh what a stupid thing to say...

I arrived into the Rutland Water checkpoint and saw Javed waving to me. "How many people are ahead?!" I shouted. "Wouter has just come in, Lee left about 20 minutes ago", came the reply. "Shit!", I shouted. "Shit, shit, shit!!!".

I didn't stop. I ran straight through, with Javed kindly pointing the way to the path that would take me around Rutland Water and across the bridge to Oakham. 20 minutes ahead, with about 7 miles to go. Could I catch him in that time?

"20 minutes ahead, with about 7 miles to go. Could I

catch him in that time?"I didn't stop to drink, I didn't stop to eat, I didn't

stop to pee, I just ran as fast as my legs could possibly take me (so probably not that fast), hoping to catch sight of him in the distance. If I could see him ahead, I would be able to catch him. "Come on", I thought, "you're nearly there. Think of Jen. Think of Charlotte. Think of the people that are probably wondering what the bloody hell has happened to you!". And so I ran into the night, aiming across the water to the lights of Oakham beyond. No matter how hard I pushed, they never seemed to be getting any closer, and there was just no sign of Lee up ahead. I came into Oakham high street with Drew and Claire cheering me on, and turned the corner to see the "nish line at Oakham library. People cheered, and I stopped brie%y to give Charlotte a kiss. I "nally crossed the line in 36:35, and was handed what is possibly the most sought-after medal in the UK ultra-running scene. T h i s t h i n g i s hhuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggggggeeeeeee! If it had been raining I could have sheltered under it!

I sat down before the lack of sleep and the fact that I hadn't eaten anything in the last two hours caught up with me. It was really nice to see people at the end. Mark and Alex who had organised the whole thing brilliantly, Simon Robinson who had come down to cheer my through the line (sorry for keeping you waiting around for so long!), Pam Storey who gave me a big hug at the end (despite how sweaty and smelly I was), Claire and Drew who had worked so hard throughout the whole race (even after doing the same the previous week at the Thames Path 100), Jen and Trevor who had been hanging around for hours to see me, Lee who was in the process of putting on some warmer clothes after his fantastic "nish (lovely and warm when running, but shorts and a vest quickly become poor choice when you stop!), and all of the other supporters and crew.

In total this year saw 6 out of 33 starters (18 %) claim the title of True Vikings. Not quite Barkley (two "nishers this year), but not far o! ! The race was won by Lee Brazel in 36:05, Wouter was third in 36:56, Stephen Forde came in in 38:42, Riccardo Giussani in 38:19, and Andy Horsely became the only person to "nish both years' races coming in in a nail biting 39:53 - only 7 minutes before the cuto! !



http://www.mattmahoney.net/barkley/




So there it was, I had "nished and come second in what is certainly amongst the toughest ultras in the UK. And yet I was disappointed in my p e r f o r m a n c e . I t ' s p a t h e t i c I k n o w , b u t unfortunately I'm far too much of a perfectionist and tend to focus far too much on what I can do to improve than on what went well. It's both a blessing and a curse, but regardless it's very much a de"ning feature of me and certainly isn't going to change any time soon. Most important is that I measure my expectations and my performance on my own abilities and not on that of other people. I never went into this event to race it, but to know that I lost out on the win not through performance but through stupidity is very frustrating. That's not to say that Lee wouldn't have caught me anyway of course, as he was absolutely %ying towards the end!

So how did that happen? Well, long story short, it was navigation again. I got lost trying to get to a little village called Exton after following directions from a random passer by (I hadn't learnt from the start of the race), and because I was so paranoid about losing time, I didn't want to retrace my steps. I thought I was on the right path, but it took me to a di!erent woods than I was expecting so that when I got out of the other side I was in completely the wrong place. By the time I stopped, breathed, composed myself, and sat down with the map to work things out, it was clear that this was going to cost me. If it had happened earlier I may have been able to pull it back. But this late in the game, it was over.

But looking back on things, I'm over it - no bitching or moaning or feeling sorry for myself. Sure it would have been nice to have kept the lead and "nally taken a win, but hey that's part of the journey. I'll just have to try again next year! And boy, what a journey it was! Despite the snow, despite the cold, despite the navigation, and despite the "nal %u!, I had an absolute blast out there! There weren't many times that I didn't have a smile on my face, happy to be out doing what I love. I haven't been doing this for very long, and to have room to improve is a really nice situation to be in. Certainly the good things far outweigh the bad:

PHOTOGRAPH | PAUL RHOADES WWW.PRRHOADES.CO.UK







Bad things

1. The snow was an absolute arse to deal with

2. My night time navigation needs some work (although to be fair most of the time I was in fact correct in where I thought I was and should be going, it just took time to con"rm it)

3. I cocked up the end pretty badly

Good things

1. Gear choice was spot on (I have very little to show for my journey except for a bright red nose from the cold, and one or two blisters)

2. Hydration was perfect (two 500ml bottles, one with water or electrolytes and one with half cola, half water)

3. Nutrition was perfect (about 10-15 gels, and a few bits and pieces at the checkpoints. Not much but it worked perfectly for me)

4. I can easily keep up a good pace for this long a distance (it's just that running in the wrong direction isn't terribly helpful...)

5. I really, really enjoyed it

To me, the last point is the kicker. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't fun. Sure sometimes it hurts. Sure sometimes it can be frustrating. But if you're having fun then who cares? The most amazing thing to me was when I returned and saw the amazing messages from my friends, family and well-wishers on Twitter and Facebook. It really means a lot to me how supportive everyone was, and I'm so pleased to have made so many amazing friends through this sport.

Sorry to have disappointed everyone following along at home, but at least my little twist ending kept everybody on their toes! And hey, as long as improvements can be made, things can only get better.




RACE ORGANISER | SRICHIMONOY RACESEVENT REPORTS | HELEN JAMES

PERTH 100KM

Perth 100kmRace Organisor: Sri Chimnoy RacesWebsite Link: http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/ultrasDate of Event: 31st March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 100kmLocation: Perth, ScotlandDescription: 42 x 2.381km loops around Inches Park in Perth, Scotland.

Race Results: http://run.runandbecome.com/event/self-transcendence-100k-50k-2013/

PHOTOGRAPH | DEBBIE MARTIN-CONSANI



http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/

http://run.runandbecome.com/event/self-transcendence-100k-50k-2013/

http://run.runandbecome.com/event/self-transcendence-100k-50k-2013/

PERTH 100KMBY HELEN JAMES


E VENT REPOR T PER TH 100KM

I found out in February that I had been selected to run for England at this race. I was going to run it anyway but so much nicer to be representing my country.

The race start was 7am the day of the clock change so that was really 6am. How on earth was I going to get my breakfast down at 4.30am? I took some porridge with me so that I didn't have to waste time going to the hotel breakfast. Poured boiling water over it, scoop of protein powder, brown sugar on top then just had to shove it down, at least it didn't need chewing.

Got to race start shortly after 6am, there was an England tent and a table for all our stu! so got drinks etc sorted, was freezing cold, glad I had decided on tights. Had wanted to wear the red shorts so that I looked the part but it was just too cold. Soon enough it was time for the team photo then we were o!.....42 laps.

I had done one 100km before where I felt I started a bit too fast. Since then my run all day pace has come down a bit so my vague plan was to get to

Helen James

Perth 100km ResultFinish Time9hrs 11mins

Finish Position:22/31 (5th Lady)

key goals - marathon, 50km and 40 miles in about the same time as I had done before but feeling a bit fresher then hope that from 40 miles I would fade less than before therefore improving my overall time.




PHOTOGRAPH | ALAN YOUNG






First 16 miles were felt quite comfortable, all splits were between 8.06mm and 8.16mm which is quite fast for comfortable pace and faster than I expected but then I did taper more than I normally would. Decided to set some little intermediate targets to keep me focused so thought I would see if I could a) keep all my splits below 8.30mm up to marathon and b) get to 20 miles in 8.15mm. Obviously I wasn't going to do anything silly to keep the pace at these targets but it was more something to focus on as it is easy to lose concentration and let the pace drift o!.

At mile 17 all of a sudden my pace dropped o! to 8.23. There was a little hill on the 1.5 mile lap so I wasn't alarmed by that big drop o! as it was on the hill but it was a bit of a warning that things were probably going to start slowing now.

"it was a bit of a warning that things were probably

going to start slowing now"

The next mile was 8.21 so it wasn't a one o!. I asked myself how I felt, was I just getting lazy? I put garmin onto current lap pace so I could now focus on making sure I kept below 8.30mm, as long as I did that then I would get to 20 in 8.15mm, just a few more miles to go to hit that target (which i managed to do ).

Went through marathon in 3.38, (that was o" cial not garmin) think Av pace was 8.16mm. This is where the problems started. All of a sudden I had to go to the toilet. Mile 27 was 11.04mm no idea why this happened as I had been eating and drinking the same as normal. Up to this point I had had a banana, a 9bar a bounty and a powerbar.

Got to 50km in 4.22 (o" cial) last time it was 4.34 so quite far ahead despite the toilet stop. Was getting tired but still feeling reasonably OK, probably better than at halfway last time.After 50km I had another step down in pace a bit like the one at 17 miles. Not sure if this was because I was at halfway and for some reason felt I could take it easy or if it was because I hit halfway nicely ahead. Previously my slowest mile had been

8.30 but next splits were 8.33, 8.39, 8.35, 8.49 I was still feeling quite comfortable but didn't want to try to get back to sub 8.30mm as I knew that would be pushing it too much, it was too early to be working any harder than I was.At around 36 miles my bowels started playing up so more time wasted in the toilet, not feeling too good about this and wondering what had caused it. I have never taken immodium whilst running but decided there was really no other option. Got to 40 miles in 5.43 (guessed at what was o" cial so that was 40.3 ish on Mr G) 17 mins earlier than last time and I felt better than last time so looking good for a nice PB if my bowels didn't mess things up.

Last time I had my #rst walk at 45 miles and then walked for 5 mins every 2 laps (4miles - it was a di! course). I had thought pre event that I would try to get to 45 miles before walking and would walk every 2 laps (3miles this time) to take on food as I thought every 3 laps would be a bit too long but I would compensate by having just 3-4min walk. During the early part of the race I had decided on a change of plan as there was a hill, not a big one but still a hill so had decided that when I did have my walks I would walk the hill and instead of walking every 2 laps would have a shorter walk every lap.

In the early 40s I started thinking to myself when would I walk, I was feeling ok but liked the idea of a little walk that was my lazy side kicking in. I had to have words with myself and said there was no way I was walking whilst I was knocking out sub 9mm I was not going to cheat though and deliberately do a slow mile so I could walk!

Mile 46 was 9.05 , I didn't use that as a walk excuse just incase it was a one o! but then mile 47 was 9.08 so the next level of fade was kicking in which meant I was allowed to walk when I next got to the hill I didn't really feel I needed to walk as my legs were ok, yes tired but not have to walk tired but I wanted a bit of a break and as there was still almost 15 miles to go. I hoped that the walk would slow down future fade.

With half a marathon to I started doing my calculations on #nish time. As long as a could keep under 10mm then I would do sub 9.30 (a nice big PB and the time I had as my main goal) I didn't




HELEN PIC TURED DURING THE PERTH 100KMPHOTOGRAPH | DEBBIE MARTIN-CONSANI


really think about being any more ambitious than that. My focus now was on keeping the e!ort comfortable and keeping under 10mm.

With 5 laps to go (7.5 miles) I did another time check and I was still well on for sub 9.30 if I stuck to 10mm which I was doing quite nicely, I tried to work out what I had to do for sub 9.15 but my brain was struggling so waited to 6 miles to go to calculate! Went through 6 miles to go in 8.14, my pace was still under 10mm so I was fairly sure I would be OK for sub 9.15 as long as I didn't have another toilet disaster. I was now taking on either food or drink every lap to make sure my energy levels didn't drop.

Still looking good for 9.15, no idea why I didn't think about 9.10, as I was getting closer to the

#nish and still keeping under 10mm I did relax a bit. With 2 laps to go I had loads of time for sub 9.15 so the pressure was o!. I walked a bit longer on the last walk break which I am annoyed about now as it meant I posted my only 10.xx mm (apart from the toilet breaks). The last half mile is along a straight bit so I thought I better make a big e!ort to have a strong #nish so did what felt like a sprint for the last half mile.

Finish time 9.11.49 which was a 35 min PB and 5th lady so I was very happy with that. Only a few years ago the pace I ran at (8.49mm was my marathon pace). Isabel Wykes, the other lady on the England team was 2nd so we claimed the plate for the ladies.




RUNNERS PROFILE SAR AH GARDNER-HALL





I have completed over 60+ marathons all around the world and have been running for 30+ years as I started when I was 7.


I started running Ultras in 2010 as I wanted a bigger challenge than running marathon & my Dad had always said I would be good at them.


You will always !nd me at the 24 hour Thunder Run and the 12 hour Lightning Run events.


Finishing the 160 mile Ocean Floor Race in 2013.


My best result without a doubt was winning the solo female 2012 24 hour Thunder Run running 112 miles in 24 hours and winning the Bu" 12 hour lightning run in 2012.


The Ocean Floor race.


I would love to win the 24 hour Thunder Run again

with 120+ miles and compete in more 24 hour races but in the USA or Canada.


My typical race strategy is to start steady and keep going.


Mon to Friday I run twice a day to and from work with my Dad. Saturday is usually a long run day unless I have a race on the Sunday then its a rest day.

I also run on my treadmill in the garage if I want to get some extra miles in too.

RUNNERS PROFILE

"Thunder & Lightning" Runner Sarah Gardner-Hall gives us an insight to her running career to date

Sarah Gardner -HallFirst Ultra2010

SAR AH GARDNER-HALL




RUNNERS PROFILE


Start steady and eat and drink often.


I'm currently sponsored by Bu" for my running gear and love being part of the Bu" Uk team.

SAR AH GARDNER-HALL


When running in the 2012 Adidas Thunder run I was a little tired on one lap and tripped over a branch and pulled the shorts down of the male runner in front of my whilst falling to the ground!


My next event is the London Marathon, then an 8 hour o" road Ultra event before a busy couple of months of 12 hour and 24 hour races in the summer.



http://www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com1 5 6 Sponsored by theU LT R A TA L E S | M A R C H 2 0 1 3

RACE ORGANISER | COMPTON HARRIERSEVENT REPORTS | PAUL ALI

COMPTON CHALLENGE

Compton ChallengeRace Organiser: Compton HarriersWebsite Link: www.comptonharriers.org.ukDate of Event: 6th April 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 40 milesLocation: Circular route around Compton, BerksStart Time: 9.00amDescription: A 2x20 mile circular route along footpaths, tracks and bridleways and is predominantly o! road. It’s an undulating route nearly 4,000 feet of ascent for the 40 mile route.

Race Results: http://www.comptonharriers.org.uk

PHOTOGRAPH | PAUL ALI





START OF THE COMPTON CHALLENGE EVENTPHOTOGRAPH | IAN BERRY / TZRUNS

COMPTON CHALLENGEBY PAUL ALI


E VENT REPOR T COMPTON CHALLENGE

The Compton Challenge is a 20 or 40 mile run around the around the Compton countryside. The event is organised by Dick Kearn and the Compton Harriers Running club and is put on in April each year.

The route goes along footpaths, tracks and bridleways and is predominantly o! road. It’s an undulating route nearly 4,000 feet of ascent for the 40 mile route with a couple of challenging hills at the 10-11 mile mark.

This was my fourth time taking part in the event as it was fairly local to me and the weather and conditions have been varied in previous years from heavy rain and mud 3 years ago, to blazing sunshine 2 years ago to indi!erent weather last year (I missed the snow year).

I woke up about 6.30am in the morning feeling pretty shattered after having only got home from a night out at 2am, not the best start to the day. I struggled out of bed with my head and senses operating at less than optimum e" ciency and got changed to leave about 7.30am. It was a sunny and

bright but cold day as I had to de-ice the car before leaving but the cold did wake me up a little as I drove the half hour trip to Compton where I arrived and collected my race number.

I said hello to a few familiar faces before the start

Paul AliBlogwww.ultraavon.com

Twitter@UltraAvon

Compton Challenge ResultFinish Time6hrs 57mins

Finish Position:31/101






PAUL BRACKET T PIC TUREDPHOTOGRAPH | IAN BERRY / TZRUNS






and got my gear together. The route had been modi#ed this year due to some $ooding on the course and they had elected to run the #rst 20 mile part of the route twice. The #rst 20 miles were probably tougher than the second half so a slightly harder course was anticipated.

I had planned to travel light and just took a few gels, a couple of snacks and a waist pack. I did wear a few layers and gloves as it was still pretty cold as we lined up on the sports #eld of Downs School and trundled o! to complete two laps of the #eld designed to try and spread the #eld out as there are a couple of bottlenecks on the path just after the start.

"The run was a planned long training run, no

particular goals as I had recently completed the

Thames Path 100 two weekends ago"

The run was a planned long training run, no particular goals as I had recently completed the Thames Path 100 two weekends ago. Therefore I started towards the middle to back of the pack as we trotted o!.

I ran and chatted to Guy Mawson and Sarah Thorne near the start for a while and we had the usual ultra type discussion about events we had done or were doing as we made our way up hill through a narrow wooded area before crossing a road and turning back along a #eld. Ahead you could see the lead runners starting to spread out in a colourfull line.

The weather was cool but sunny and for some reason the “It’s a beautiful day” lyric from that Michael Buble song kept popping into my head. The #rst few miles felt good at a steady pace and I arrived at the #rst checkpoint grabbed a drink and ate a few ja!a cakes and carried on.

Just after the #rst checkpoint was a steep stepped climb onto the next #eld and Ian Berry had positioned himself there with camera to take

pictures of everyone walking. So I decided to run up this steep bit purely to look good for the camera. In fact, on the #rst loop I had decided to try and plod up most (not all as there a couple of steep ones) of the hills as a bit of a hill training e!ort.

After running a few miles, I was starting to feel a little warm with 3 layers and gloves but didn’t have too many options to remove layers and carry anything with a waist pack and just carried on. The run was rather enjoyable, good footing, good weather, primarily o! road and taking a steady pace meant I felt ok at this stage and no after a!ects from the Thames Path 100.

At the 11 mile point, we arrived at the biggest hill (The Compton Mountain) which I had no intention of running but “euro-hiked” (pushing your hands down on your legs) to get up there. At the top I snapped this picture which captured the whole feel of the race for me with the lovely view of the undulating hills and a stream of runners spreadout in the distance.

I decided to take a gel after the hill and as I was fa"ng around with this Claire Shelley and Drew She"eld caught me up. Claire said she thought she recognized my rear from further out and they were aiming to catch me up which was quite strange as I don’t think I’ve ever been ahead of Claire in a race.

We started to run along together through a downhill section which had lots of exposed roots and then I heard a thud, looked around and Claire was lying in a side plank position on the ground having taken a tumble. Drew was on hand to check she was ok and after a brief stop to con#rm everything was ok I plodded on ahead. There was a further steep climb up a stepped path ahead which I walked but then I picked up the steady run as we headed over a hilly #eld down to the other side and onto the Ridgeway path for a while before turning o! and doing a loop before heading back onto the path as I drifted on ahead by myself.

It was feeling pretty warm now and I had decided to remove some clothes and drop this back into my car at the half way point. Normally, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to do this but the re-routed course passed the start/#nish point and as we headed toward the half way point (#nish for the 20




PAUL ALI OVER-DRESSED BUT RUNNINGPHOTOGRAPH | IAN BERRY / TZRUNS





PETER CHANDLER PIC TUREDPHOTOGRAPH | IAN BERRY / TZRUNS


milers) I diverted to the car park and spent a couple of minutes getting changed.

At this point, I looked at my Garmin for the #rst time to see I had covered the 20 miles in 3.15 – 3.20 with this stop. I had deliberately been keeping the Garmin display on the route map screen and not paying any attention to the time so I could just enjoy the run and bank the miles.

After the brief stop, I headed out for lap 2. There were a handful of runners around me but I ran pretty much by myself for a few miles and so I put my iPod on during the o!-road sections as my motivational treat for getting to the half way point.

Second time around and my overall pace was probably slowing as I hiked up more of the hills which I had run the #rst time. I didn’t mind the second lap as you could start to pick out certain milestones as you mentally moved yourself around the course.

I plodded around the course, struggled up the Compton Mountain second time around at about the 30 mile point. It was here that I started to feel a little jaded, I had been eating and drinking well

and had been running at a steady and comfortable pace but felt like the Thames Path 100 was catching up with me a little. Obviously, as soon as you start thinking of the excuse then mentally your will power starts to crumble. This wasn’t a disaster by any means I had just arrived at the point where I had to plod onwards without any real e!ort.

I settled into an ad-hoc run/walk and tried to motivate myself playing my “power hits” on the iPod which was marginally successful. I was gradually ticking o! the markers and checkpoints but it was taking a little longer this time around.

Around the 35 mile mark I had pretty much settled into marching it home. A few people who still had some running in them had drifted past me and there were a few quick hello’s but I was pretty much by myself. I was regretting the late night at this point as I was feeling quite tired at this point.

However as luck would have it a couple of miles later Guy Mawson caught me up and we plodded together for a while and chatted. I felt myself starting to slow again and said to Guy to go on as he could duck under a 7 hour time limit and he





took o! ahead.

I walked for a bit and then thought we weren’t too far out from the end and I could probably run the last mile or so as I recognised the landmarks toward the #nish and I set o! again at a steady plod headed towards the #nish at the school and eventually crossed the #nish line a few minutes later in a time of 6.57 a couple of minutes behind Guy in 31st position out of 101 #nishers.

Overall, despite fading over the last 5-10 miles I had managed to #nish at the same time as the previous year (actually it was 1 minute quicker so technically a new PB but didn’t really mean that much today) which I considered not too bad a couple of weeks after the Thames Path 100.

This a great value event. I think I paid around £20 which covered the support on the run, a T-Shirt (with much better choice of colour this year) adorned with the words “Kimbia Kama Upepo” which apparently means “Run Like the Wind” in Swahili although at #rst glance I thought it was a quote from the Die Hard # lms.. You also had use of the Downs School for changing/showers and a school meal after the event. Fantastic value overall and probably the best weather we have experienced in recent years which is very strange coming from me and this event.

One of the aspects of this event I enjoy is that people do stay for a bite to eat and it’s a good chance to socialise with other runners which I think is a missed opportunity on some of the shorter (i.e. not overnight runs when you just need a sleep afterwards) Ultra events. I caught up with Stuart Gregory, Drew and Claire amongst a few other runners, watched a few other runners #nish and then headed o! back home.

A quick thanks to Ian Berry for once again taking loads of great photos and putting them up for the runners to download for free. Much appreciated Ian and some of those photos will work their way into the next Issue of Ultra Tales (out mid-May).

DREW SHEFFIELD & CLAIRE SHELLEY PIC TUREDPHOTOGRAPH | IAN BERRY / TZRUNS




BEN BLOWES PIC TUREDPHOTOGRAPH | IAN BERRY / TZRUNS





RUNNERS PROFILE GARY VERNON





I started running about 4.5 years ago after losing some weight and joining a gym, I enjoyed the treadmill as a warm down and took it from there, signing up for some 10K’s and the Great North Run (2009) to give me some targets. I enjoy all distances on and o! the road. This year I am concentrating mainly on ultras. My marathon best is 4hrs 11m.


My "rst ultra was the Rosedale Rumble in November 2011 (31 mile) and the why?.....After completing several marathons I started to wonder if I could go further, albeit at a slower pace! This was a cracking run on a beautiful day, the type of day that makes you glad you got out there.


Signed up for the Hardmoors Grand Slam this year so will be at the 110 in May and the 60 in September and will also be doing the Lakeland 100, so trying to do the recce runs for this.


Each event gives me something but if I had to name a few:

The Wall – June 2012 - 70 miles, my "rst distance above 40 miles and opened my eyes to the ‘longer’ ultras!

Hardmoors 60 – Sept. 2012 – 63.5 miles, where I

learnt to hate steps!

Windermere Brathay Marathon 2010 – my "rst marathon.


Best ‘ultra’ race (so many to choose from!) was:

Hardmoors 60 2012 – to me this was a tough one, only "nishing inside the cut-o! by 13 minutes, I got a lot of satisfaction out of this!


Hardest race experience was probably this years Hardmoors 55, a brutally cold day that was a real test of character!! I very nearly lost my sense of humour.

RUNNERS PROFILE

2013 Hardmoors Grandslam entrant Gary Vernon gives us an insight to his running career

Gary VernonTwitter@gkvernon

OccupationPrinciple Science Technician

First Ultra2011

GARY VERNON




RUNNERS PROFILE GARY VERNON

learnt to hate steps!

Windermere Brathay Marathon 2010 – my "rst marathon.


Best ‘ultra’ race (so many to choose from!) was:

Hardmoors 60 2012 – to me this was a tough one, only "nishing inside the cut-o! by 13 minutes, I got a lot of satisfaction out of this!


Hardest race experience was probably this years Hardmoors 55, a brutally cold day that was a real test of character!! I very nearly lost my sense of humour.


Hopefully the UTMB if I can successfully tackle Hardmoors 110 and Lakeland 100 this year.


Calderdale Hike, Fellsman, Keswick to Barrow 40m, Hardmoors 110, Osmotherley Phoenix, Lakeland 100……..


I pack my kit bag well in advance and take more than I need. I take the compulsory kit list and then some; I never want to be in a position where I become a liability to the race director and marshals. I work on the principle that I could run the race unsupported. Some may say I am making my life harder but it makes great practice and training for when you need do to this for real.On the run I take it nice and steady, ticking o! the checkpoints in turn and I pick my battles wisely!


I usually run around 25/30 miles a week unless I have an event then I may take it easier. I use one ultra as a long run for the next one and so on.


Take it easy and try not to look beyond the next checkpoint, sometimes you can be overwhelmed by what you have to do.


I am not a ‘runner’! Up until I started in 2009 I was in no way sporting, so it took me by surprise (and a few others!) when I discovered a liking for running. I am not your typical lean, wiry athletic runner type and I do admit that I use ultras as a means of carrying on eating chocolate and ice cream! If I had more willpower then just maybe I would be nearer the front! But then, I enjoy running at the pace I do so will carry on the way I am. I have discovered though that I am quite focused, organised and determined.


I have been beaten by Scooby Doo and a Penguin, which is why I now never judge a book by its cover!


I try and raise money a couple of times a year. I have raised funds for Anthony Nolan, Arthritis Care, St. Gregory’s Hospice (Grimsby).




RACE ORGANISER | XNRGEVENT REPORTS | EMILY MILLINGTON

COTSWOLD ULTRA

Cotswold UltraRace Organiser: XNRGWebsite Link: www.xnrg.co.ukDate of Event: April 2013Event Type: Multi- StageDistance: 57 miles over 2 daysLocation: Chipping Campden, GlosDescription: The Cotswold Way Ultra takes in 57 miles of the English countryside and runs from Chipping Campden in the North to Bath in the South.

Race Results: http://www.xnrg.co.uk/results.htm



http://www.xnrg.co.uk

http://www.xnrg.co.uk/results.htm

COTSWOLD ULTRABY EMILY MILLINGTON


E VENT REPOR T

The Cotswolds Way Challenge 2013 was an inaugural event organised by Extreme Energy whose events I'd raced in before. Knowing how well organised and welcoming their events were, I chose the CWC as my !rst target "A" race for 2013.

So during the !rst quarter of 2013 my training was geared towards this back-to-back Ultra weekend. I slowly increased my mileage, immersing myself in the elements of our never ending British winter.

In between work and family life, I managed to bring my weekly mileage up to 45 miles during my peak in March, then threw in some speed-play for fun whilst beginning to taper for my racing weekend on 6th and 7th April.

I must have done something right because I secured a clear win in the ladies !eld and was 3rd overall!

Although the !eld wasn't massively stacked I was pleased with my pace with respect to elevation gained.... I do love hills and the Cotswolds has

some beautiful rolling hills that are deceptively tough!

I raced in my Merrell Mix Master Move Glides (review to follow) and although I missed what I call my "Fairy Shoes" AKA Merrell Pace Gloves.... The Glides gave

Emily MillingtomBloghttp://

blueberrytrailz.blogspot.co.

uk

Cotswold Ultra ResultFinish Time11hrs 7mins

Finish Position:3/53 (1st Lady)

COTSWOLD ULTR A








E VENT REPOR T COTSWOLD ULTR A

me a little more protection over the distance, which was in fact 60 miles over 2 days.

I wore a combination of Salomon and Strava apparel, with the new Nathan Vapor Shape, women speci!c race vest/pack.... I had zero issues with any of the kit which I'd tested during training. There was no cha"ng, #apping or rubbing... Everything felt good. Still laughing to myself at Austin's (my Day 2 running buddy) disgust at competitors who run 6 hrs with a map slapping against their ass every single step... or loose change shaking in a pocket for 32 miles!

So now I'm done with plugging of my favourite gear.... !!! Lets get onto the beauty of the race...

There were three of us Shropshire Lasses travelling down for this event and we took a hotel in Droitwich Friday night to break up the journey...

Now although my diet is generally low carb/Paleo stylie these days, I'm always up for a spot of light, pre-race carbo loading when it is in the form of beer ;-)

Race Day 1 was estimated at 27 miles, so essentially only just an "Ultra" but when there is another 30 to follow the next day, I'd say the distance needs respecting!

"I set o! waaaay too fast, I knew I wouldn't sustain a sub 9 min/mile pace with

3,000+ foot of ascent in my path, but I felt good!"

I set o$ waaaay too fast, I knew I wouldn't sustain a sub 9 min/mile pace with 3,000+ foot of ascent in my path, but I felt good! The sun was shining! The trails were dry!

I felt I'd got the peaking and tapering pretty much spot on, so I just went with my silly fast pace leaving a lot surprised runners in my wake until I settled into an easy (but not too shabby!) Ultra trot....

Now the trouble with having four di$erent starting times for di$erent paced runners, is that I really

had no idea of my placing.. so there was not a lot of tactics involved. I really just ran as hard as I could whilst trying to keep my breathing steady, and stress hormones and heart rate low with the view to live for another day!

The Cotswolds Way is probably the most beautiful trail I have run upon. Hilly but not too exposed or vast, with a mixture of light sandy soil and grass. Beautiful idyllic villages strewn along a National Trail that dips down into and up over rolling farmland, common land and ancient woodlands. Forts and a multitude of viewpoints (even though one such viewpoint was actually described to me by Austin as the biggest dogging area in Gloucestershire!!) are scattered along the Way.

We had perfect running weather. Dry, sunny but not too hot with very little wind.

So after 10 miles or so the usual doubts kicked in. Every ultra runner would probably understand me when I started to question the aches and pains that were creeping up on me. "How the heck am I going to complete this ridiculous distance if I'm aching already??!"

Then as usual things either start to go numb or I become accustomed to the pain and just keep on running.

The navigation was pretty straight forward if you were pedantic about the way mark symbols. I indeed became very pedantic about these after detouring o$ onto a CW Circular Walk! Lovely for a Sunday ramble, but not on race day please!!

I climbed an extra hundred foot or so, added to my distance and lost two places during my little detour. But it could have been worse... I overtook the two guys (again) and I learnt my lesson.

So after 28 miles I dropped down o$ Cleeve Hill, #ying down through the steep, open !elds into Bishops Cleeve for a short road run to the !nish. The usual warm welcome from the XNRG crew and news of my 1st place in the ladies !eld and 4th overall ended a great days racing for me.

Once showered, refreshed and with legs massaged by the XRNG crew, Debbie suggested we head straight to the pub for a lazy pre-dinner drinkie. Yes please!




VITAL MID-RACE REFUELLING?





EMILY PIC TURED AT THE FINISH


After a lovely big feast I had an early night and although I didn't sleep too well, my legs and body had a good horizontal rest. It was an interesting harmony of tired snoring competitors that night in the big school gym.

I was raring to go on Day 2. I was put with the late starters, the theory being we would catch the others up.

I get a real positive hit when I can start overtaking people even if they are walkers! When Austin pointed out some !gures in the distance later, we soon realised they weren't even in the race.... But that didn't matter, we were reeling them in, like predators hunting a wounded bison!

After clearing it with the organisers, Austin had arranged to meet me at mile 9 on Day 2 and run to the !nish with me. He knew the route, and being an ultra runner himself knew exactly what the score was. He was fantastic company and a real boost for my morale.

The hours #ew by and I kept going strong. I only threw my toys out of the pram a couple of times when we hit the tarmac (tarmac does that to me... its not me... its the tarmac!). Thankfully the whole route had very little road, so my grumpiness was short lived.

I had highs and lows, but even the lows were enjoyable, if that makes sense!?

As with all my ultra races I felt like I could #y the last couple of miles... its all in my mind because it matters not what distance I am doing. Its always the last mile or two. Everything seems to stop hurting and I can pick up the speed. We #ew down into Stroud at a 7.30 min/mile pace shaking o$ a couple of guys who were trying to stay with us.

I crossed the line and secured my win for the two days combined.

All in all a good start to the season for me...




RACE ORGANISER | ENDURANCE LIFEEVENT REPORTS | GUY MAWSON

CTS EXMOOR ULTRA

CTS Exmoor UltraRace Organiser: Endurance LifeWebsite Link: www.endurancelife.comDate of Event: 13th April 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 34 milesLocation: Exmoor National ParkStart Time: 8.30amDescription: The course encompasses sti! climbs and long descents, open moorland, thickly wooded valleys, cli!s and rivers along the coastline. Race Results: Not yet available

PHOTOGRAPH | GUY MAWSON




CTS EXMOOR ULTRABY GUY MAWSON


E VENT REPOR T C TS EXMOOR ULTR A

Eight weeks ago I embarked on a training regime which had me running marathon to 50-mile distance EVERY weekend. I started with the easy, relatively !at races and built up to the harder, hillier challenges, sprinkled in the mix was a track marathon and a double-marathon on consecutive days. And – before you ask, there is method to this madness… I have the epic UTSW 100 and Bear 100, (Utah USA) lined up as my 2013 ‘A’ races – both of which feature 100 miles and over 20,000′ of ascent!

Today marked the end of the cycle with the CTS Exmoor Ultra. Two years ago I did the marathon version of this race and !nished in 6:05. It was the !rst real hilly, trail session I’d done and it broke me! I couldn’t walk for a week afterwards – two years later, and after hundreds of mountain miles would I perform any better, this time it was personal – I was back, and going for the harder, longer ultra version!

As I said earlier, this was the 8th ultra/marathon in a row – and I’d barely recovered from the Compton 40 a week earlier. The AdventureHub 44-mile Exmoor ultra was also still fresh in my mind, (and


uk

Twitter@Guy_Mawson

CTS Exmoor Ultra ResultFinish Time6hrs 35mins

Finish Position:15th Place

legs) from less than a month ago. That was a really tough run as well, nearly 10,000′ of ascent over 44 miles – makes the Fellsman look like a track marathon!








E VENT REPOR T


C TS EXMOOR ULTR A

I travelled down to Lynmouth on Friday night as the prospect of yet another 4am start didn’t appeal. The hotel sta" in Lynmouth recognised me as a CTS runner immediately on check-in, they o"ered special breakfast service but as a low-carb, gluten free runner I had my food sorted so told them I’d be OK. Somehow they didn’t believe me when I said I didn’t need porridge to run 30+ miles!

The next morning I decided to grab a few slices of ham and a cup of tea at 7am and chatted to the sta" about the day and associated challenges before heading o". The Bath Hotel was apparently full of CTS runners, some of which were questioning the hills after driving down! Let’s just say, it’s very, very hilly – my car has problems on some of these hills…

It was a short 6 miles to the start, including the bonkers hill out of Lynmouth which my car struggled with – I’d be back there a few hours later, the ominous CTS chevron course markings were spotted on occasion!

The car park was about a mile from the start and at the top of a massive hill, once parked I swapped my short sleeve HH top for a long sleeve, decided to go for the wind-proof rather than water-proof jacket and headed to the start. It started raining and I wondered about my jacket choice – too late now, I’m not going back up that bloody hill… I’d also decided to run without compression gear so was in baggy shorts and no calf guards.

Once at the start I registered and was given a nice CTS tech-t, but seriously – why not give us that at the end? Now I have to carry it around with me! I chatted to a couple of lads who are doing the UTSW 100 – somehow I wish I hadn’t… It sounds bonkers!

Anyway, a bit late – we started at 08:35 and o" on the !rst 10k loop which takes you over the highest point on the course and back to the start. A mile in and we hit the !rst major climb, nice and slowly does it and it’s really comfortable up the 1,000′ climb to CP1 and a great descent back down to the start.

"it’s another long drag around the cli!s with

incredible scenery and some roadwork"

To CP2 it’s another long drag around the cli"s with incredible scenery and some roadwork, I’m still feeling strong and run/walking by feel. We then hit another massive climband fast descent into Lynton before heading back up-and-down to CP3 – you may see a pattern emerging here, up-and-down… That pretty-much sums up Exmoor, it doesn’t do #at!

More up-and-down took us into Lynmouth and through the town with it’s !sh and chip shops and pubs…. Tempting! The hotel sta" who had served me breakfast a few hours earlier were out cheering which was fab! Another big climb out of Lynmouth and it was back onto the cli" path for some great views.

About here I overtook a chap who I shall call “The Terminator”, he’d overtaken me strongly a couple of hours earlier and I’d !nally reeled him in. However, now he was my shadow… If I was running, he was running – if I was walking, he was too… I’m ashamed to say this really bugged me, FFS – run WITH me or not, I’m not going to pace you. I got to CP4 at 24 miles and hung around letting him go on ahead. Let someone else pace you fella…

Onto the marathon point was mainly downhill on fast trails and I overtook “The Terminator” and a chap with a dog! Why do dogs make it look so easy? For us hardcore ultra types we had to do another loop of the !rst 10k so we branched-o" and hit the 1,000′ hike again – hell, it was only another 7 miles…

The weather had been OK up until now, but as we shambled around the cli"s on the !nal10k things got steadily worse. I pretty much gave up the will to live after around 3 miles into the loop as the gradient kept going up. The runnable trails turned into black mush which my New Balance MT110′s combined with fatigue complained at and sent me slip-sliding all over the place a few times. Eventually, windswept and soaked I hit the !nal




GUY PIC TURED DURING THE MARATHON EVENT 2 YEARS AGO

E VENT REPOR T


C TS EXMOOR ULTR A

checkpoint with 3 miles to go. I had to sco" 2 #apjacks as my energy levels had plummeted to new lows. It was all downhill from here.

The !nal 3 miles which I’d #own down earlier were now a treacherous mudslide, behind me I saw that the dog-man and terminator were gaining ground, but I knew I was faster downhill – game on…

"Eventually after some ridiculous downhill

involving sling-shots around trees and a face

plant into a muddy verge I hit the "nal road into the

"nish"Eventually after some ridiculous downhill involving sling-shots around trees and a face plant into a muddy verge I hit the !nal road into the !nish. There were a couple of runners in front – but hey, I’m not that competitive so I let them go and !nished just behind them in 6:35 and 15th place.

So – eight hardcore weeks of racing and getting faster and stronger each week… I’ve been very lucky not to be injured and I know I’m treading a very !ne line between overreaching and overtraining. It’s now 2 weeks until a return to The Fellsman – 62 miles / 11,000′ – it doesn’t seem that bad compared to the recent training sessions so I’m looking forward to it.

I guess the other interesting point is that today I ran without my normal compression gear, (calf guards / skins shorts) and actually found I enjoyed it more – was cooler and I ran better without them… I must admit that towards the end the fatigue got to me, but this is probably to do with the volume of training and the di$ culty of the course.

Rest and recovery until The Fellsman – maybe even parkrun next weekend!




RUNNERS PROFILE JAMES STE WAR T





Up until my early twenties I hadn’t really run much. I played football and golf but a burgeoning gut and the dislike of playing football at 0930 on a Sunday morning had me looking for something else to do. I took up running. I then did my !rst marathon (Rotterdam) in 2002 and ran very slowly on and o" thereafter. I did my 11th marathon in Edinburgh 2011 but was never super-serious about it. It was a way of trying to enjoy food and drink without feeling guilty. My times were not stellar (3:43 for the marathon, 1:36 for the half ) but then in August 2011 my second son Caelan was born and the picture of me holding him resembled a man looking to devour a kebab and so my rehabilitation as a runner and journey to ultra running began.


In 2011 I had run the Edinburgh marathon in May but really panted and wheezed my way round. Then, when I embarked upon a challenge to lose 35lbs between August and December of the same year, I also got more serious about running. I had been aware of ultras as something crazy-assed maniacs did for some reason, as if a marathon wasn’t enough, and after doing some reading on it I decided it was for me. Now, it may sound clichéd, but Christopher MacDougall’s Born to Run book was the one which swung it for me. He romanticises the 50 miler in such a way that you cannot believe there will be any pain. He’s wrong, of course, or is it me?

Regardless, a challenge and !re had been set in

me. In 2012 I targeted beating all my conventional PBs (5k, 10k, half and marathon) as well as doing my !rst ultra. The Clydestride 40 in Glasgow.

I DNF’d due to a knee injury and I learned more in the 30 miles of that race than I had in the 10 years of running previously. And I loved it.


This year I am running the D33 (!nished 17th in March), the Clydestride 40 and the River Ayr Way ultras as part of the SUMS series in Scotland. I am 37 now but have an ambition to do Comrades in my 40th year and would love to give the West Highland Way a go too. I am only discovering the grand world of ultra running and the sheer breadth of races out there so will be looking to

RUNNERS PROFILE

SUMS series entrant James Stewart tells us about his recent foray into the world of Ultra Marathon running

JAMES STE WAR T

James StewartBloghttp://jamesstewart13.com

Twitter@james_stewart13

OccupationBanking Industry

First Ultra2012



http://jamesstewart13.com




broaden my horizons over the next few years.


2012 was a fantastic year for me. I completed my !rst ultra - the Glen Ogle 33 in November – and I took down all of my previous PBs at the pre-ultra distances. I also moved from being a guy who would !nish in the middle of the !eld (almost literally) to being in the top 11% on average last year and am bettering that in 2013. I have found a real competitive streak that I didn’t have before. I never expect to win races but I have !nished 3rd, 5th and 17th (twice) in 4 races this year.

So, I guess my best achievement is to have turned running from a hobby to something I get a competitive kick out of am really enjoying the personal !tness and lifestyle bene!ts of.


Have only !nished two ultras it is easy to be biased towards them. I !nished 28th out of 150 at GO33 in November and 17th out of 252 at D33. I am really looking forward to increasing the mileage in 2013 and building on these.


Without doubt the Clydestride 40 last year. It was a painful ultra debut and I absolutely approached it too much like a road race and I focused on time too much. I twisted my knee in a cow !eld about 23 or 24 miles in and lost the will to push on. I dropped out at the !nal checkpoint and whilst I could have !nished I was going to Toronto two days later and didn’t want to compromise a family holiday. As it was I managed to do a 20k race in TO the next weekend which wouldn’t have happened if I had pushed on at Clydestride.

It was a tough gig in my !rst race but the lessons I learned have been invaluable and I really wouldn’t have swapped that race for any other last year. I !rmly believe the lessons learned that day are the reason I performed reasonably well

at GO33 and D33.


The West Highland Way is an ambition but with two young kids (5 & 1) and a busy job it really needs some planning. I am pretty comfortable that I can manage up to 50 miles with current commitments.

I’d absolutely love to do an ultra or two in North America as well and Comrades is absolutely on my ‘must do’ list!


I am running the Lochaber and Edinburgh marathons in April and May respectively. Then, my next ultra is the Clydestride 40 in July.






For 50k distances I would seek to run the race as much as possible. I would take walking breaks on large hills and where I felt I needed it. Anything longer, well I am still working that out!


I will usually do c. 45 miles per week on average. This will be 3 or 4 lunchtime runs at work (4-6 miles) a night-time run of 10 miles during the week and a long run on a Sunday morning of anything between 18-30 miles. I usually mix the pace up and swap a speed session and a hill session around on alternate weeks.

In addition, I’ll usually do at least 1 exercise bike session each week and I stretch every single day, morning and night. The latter might be the most important thing I do.


Be positive. There is a ton of reading and a plethora of people out there to give you advice but if you don’t believe in yourself you might not get close to !nishing. Give us one interesting fact about yourself?

Aside from running I love music and my prized possession, aside from my wife and kids, is my Gibson Les Paul guitar. It doesn’t see much action these days but looks nice on the wall.


After my !rst marathon my mate, who had !nished just ahead of me, was standing at the !nish waiting on me. He’d looked terrible when I saw him on a switchback and as I approached him he started to faint so, instinctively, I slapped him as hard as I could. Twice.

I think I enjoyed it more than him and he’s never beaten me since.




The History of Ultra Tales

Ultra Tales has now reached its 1st Birthday since the launch of the !rst issue in April 2012 and to celebrate this fact I thought I would give you a short history lesson on how this electronic magazine came to be.

My personal journey into Ultra running started in 2009. A nasty ankle break playing football in 2008 led to a change in sporting career and after getting back to a bit of light running I targeted the Thames Path Ultra as an event to prove my recovery from this injury. At the time I had only ever run a few 10k’s and the local Half Marathon a couple of times primarily as a way to keep "t during the football o#-season and the concept of a 50-mile run was daunting but the challenge was appealing. I had little idea at the time that there was a whole niche area of running called Ultra Marathon running.

My running buddy Paul Stout (Stouty) and I ran, jogged, walked and staggered to the "nish of the Thames Path Ultra and the next few months saw a little bit of one upmanship between us which saw us end up on the starting line of the Grand Union Canal Race (a 145 mile non-stop run) a year later. It was advertised as the longest non-stop running event in the UK at the time, so what could top that?

My preparation for this event had involved some speci"c event research aswell as a bit of running and I started to scour the internet for race reports and blogs to glean whatever information I could (i.e. what to wear, what to eat, what was the terrain like and so on). I should acknowledge James Adams and Mimi Andersons blogs as the "rst ones I came across, one was very inspirational and the other was very humorous… I’m sure you can guess which was which!

Reading other peoples event reports was useful and I decided that it would be a good idea if I could record my own race “career” and hopefully pass on whatever experiences and knowledge I

AR TICLE ULTR A TALES

picked up to other people who has been in the same boat as me and so my personal blog (now www.ultraavon.com) was born.

Since that time the huge increase in the use of social media in recent years and ease by which people can set up a blog (i.e. it’s free) has created a community of bloggers, race reports and ramblings from a variety of runners all of which to me is interesting stu# to read.

However, I felt as if I scratching the surface of all of this information and I had started to think about wouldn’t it be a good idea to pull this information together in once place and so the idea of an Ultra running community magazine (along the lines of a football fanzine) was "rst conceived.

"wouldn’t it be a good idea to pull this information together in once place"

I had a "rm view that this was going to be a grass roots view of the Ultra running scene in the UK, I wanted to read about and relate to people I met and ran with at races i.e. the ordinary person in the street who runs these events for fun, "tness or as a hobby no matter what their level of experience and ability.

I have to thank those members of the Fetch Everyone running community where this was idea was born, encouraged and developed. My ambitions at the time was to spend a few hours putting together a quarterly magazine for the hundred or so people who frequent the Fetch Everyone Ultra Marathon forum.

On the first birthday of Ultra Tales, Editor Paul Ali provides an overview of how the e-zine came to be






Issue 1 – Ultra Tales was born… and a little but of self indulgence

I sent a few emails to a few people I knew or had met with running blogs and asked whether I could use their race reports for the project, everyone kindly said yes.

I then sat down on the PC for a several hours over several evenings using some free desktop publishing software (Adobe ROME – sadly no longer available) and put together Issue 1 and released this in April 2012.

I set up a pretty basic Facebook page as a front end, Twitter account and a Dropbox account to make the " le publicly accessible. The plan was to promote this via social media circles as a lot of the runners who were submitting content were Twitter and Facebook users and this was an easy way of keeping in touch with people.

Issue 1 was well received by Fetch Everyone community. However, from a design perspective (see front cover picture) there was a lot more I could do and wished to do and looking back on it now it looks distinctly amateurish. I don’t know how many downloads we had of issue 1 as I didn’t put any tracking solution in place. It was probably no more than a couple of hundred at most which was what I had expected. Oh, I stuck myself and Stouty on the front cover after Ian Berry took a great picture of us running

the Thames Path 100 in fancy dress. I’ve always wanted to be on the front cover of a magazine and I’m couldn’t pass up the opportunity of being on the cover of the "rst issue… a little bit of self indulgence I know!

Issue 2 – The Second Coming After Issue 1 comes… Issue 2. Work commenced on Issue 2 following the same template for Issue 1 and despite essentially copying and pasting reports from peoples blogs (with their permission of course) this again took several hours to complete over several nights.

I decided to add some tracking analytics through a link shortening website (bitly) to see how many downloads I was receiving as word had started to spread outside the Fetch Everyone community. This issue was also sponsored by the UltraMarathonRunningStore and Keith Godden has been kind enough to (and continues to) support this magazine initiative. I also ran the "rst public vote for the cover photograph with Debbie Martin-Consansi’s GUCR "nish photo voted the most popular and was featured on the front of Issue 2 when it was released in July 2012.

I uploaded the " le to the Dropbox account, posted a few links and waited for the downloads. Well, it was fair to say this exceeded my expectation with a few hundred downloads in the "rst week.

ISSUE 01 - APR 12

ISSUE 02 - JUL 12





Since that time we have had 1,235 downloads which was amazing and probably the "rst indication to me that this had a bit more wider appeal than just the original community form which it was designed for.

Issue 3 – Warning bandwidth capacity exceeded..

Issue 3 was released in October 2012 and was the biggest issue to date. The look and format was pretty much unchanged but I had now started to receive the odd event reports from newcomers to Ultra running and from people who didn’t have their own blogs (shock horror.. Ultra runners without a blog, surely not!).

The good news was at last I could demonstrate some original content for the magazine. There was a danger that people would have already read the blogs and race reports days after the race and not be interested in the same content a 2-3 months later hence the reason why it was good to see some original content.

Issue 3 was the Spartathlon issue featuring James Adams and through blatant acts of self-promotion he secured the votes he required for Issue 3’s front cover and I blame this issue for causing the “Spartathlon bug”.

"This is our most downloaded issue to date

with 1,400 downloads"This is our most downloaded issue to date with 1,400 downloads. Unfortunately, the number of downloads we received had exceeded the tra$ c capacity of the gratis Dropbox account after getting 300+ downloads in the "rst half a day and so I had to set up some other free " le hosting facilities in double quick time to make the " le available after the original download solution was frozen for a temporary period and we had a little bit of downtime. However, since then we haven’t had an issue with several download options o#ered to meet the demand spike in the "rst few days… and the fact that I use free service accounts on my budget of zero!

Issue 4 – Hello, is anyone there?

Issue 4 was released in January 2013 following the same format although looking back this was a little weaker than previous issues in terms of quality photographs and the issue I am least happy with. This was the point when I had decided I wanted a redesign and to introduce a more professional appearance. Due to the timing of this issue there were less event reports as this was produced over the Winter period.

We only received 730 downloads which was half

ISSUE 03 - OCT 12

ISSUE 04 - JAN 13





that of the previous issue. I’m not sure what the reason for this is but assumed everyone was enjoying the Xmas and New Year too much to notice the new issue of Ultra Tales quietly slipping out onto the internet.

5 – A little help from my friends….

Despite working on a limited budget (well zero actually) I wanted Ultra Tales to look more like a traditional magazine (i.e. portrait rather than landscape view) and give it a more professional feel.

Xmas 2012 saw me acquire a nice shiny new iMac and armed with a new computer and some bargain priced desktop publishing software (Swift Publisher 3 £13.99) I set to work.

At this point I should mention a few people who had been lending a bit of assistance behind the scenes. Matt Dunn and Matt Brown had both been providing some assistance in a proof-reading/sounding board capacity for a couple of months as well as penning a few articles. In addition, I had met a guy called Mark Burnell during the Winter 100 when he lost his head-torch and I lent him my

spare. Mark is a graphic designer by trade and o#ered to lend his skills to the project. Mark put together the new headers, logos and icons which have started to give the magazine a bit more of a professional look whilst I focused on the design and layout.

I wanted to move more towards a graphic/photo based magazine and move away from the heavy text based reports of previous Issues and thankfully following a slight slump with Issue 4, we had a lot more photo submissions for Issue 5 which really helped the magazine look a lot more polished.

The design of the “Runners Pro" les” was enhanced and we also introduced a new “Marathon Roundup” feature aswell. Yes, I know it’s an Ultra running magazine but a lot of people who run Ultra’s also run Marathons and I felt it would be useful to cover these events in brief detail to help expand the scope and appeal of the magazine further.

The feedback I received has been great and I’m sure you will all agree we have a good almost semi-professional look and something which I am now more satis"ed with.

Where do we go from here? After a year, this project has exceeded my initial expectations in terms of its appeal to the audience and number of downloads and we have got to a position where I am more satis"ed with the quality of our output in terms of look and feel.

So where do we go from here? Well I have several thoughts and ideas on polishing, tweaking, enhancing and expanding. For example, I would love to expand the reach of the magazine through wider coverage (i.e. race reports and news) of all UK ultra events and there is a lot more work we could do with Race Organisors and Race Directors.

We have some good support from Centurion Running (James) and GoBeyond (Steve) (and should probably note Phil Owen’s help getting Hardmoors reports aswell) with good coverage of their events and I would like to do the same with other Race Organisors aswell.

ISSUE 05 - MAR 13





I would also like to expand the number of reports from Ultra runners aswell with more input and more content from a wider variety of people. By providing UltraTales as a medium for it would be great to receive more reports and more original content from those people who run but perhaps don’t maintain a blog.

In terms of articles, this can be expanded even further. The “Gear Review” articles are a little infrequent at the present time (hint hint!) and I also have a few ideas knocking around for trail guides, multi-issue features, more themed issues and articles.

In terms of format, the beauty of the .pdf downloadable format is that there is zero production costs (apart from my time) regardless of whether we have 1 download, 10 downloads, or 1000 downloads and the magazine can be viewed on anything from a desktop PC, laptop, iPad, Kindle or Smart Phone.

Interactive versions of the magazine with sound and media are potential ideas but will require a lot more e#ort, content is more di$ cult to require and a better infrastructure is required so probably not feasible from a zero budget perspective.

In terms of distribution, what we do currently works (unless you tell me otherwise) but it would be great to get something onto the iTunes Newstand for example. However, my cursory investigation suggests there are costs and constraints although website sites which house and promote electronic magazines like “issuu” may be worth exploring.

The bottom line is this is all about time and e#ort. It has been a bigger time commitment than I expected but does give me a great deal of satisfaction when we produce each issue and receive some positive feedback.

I would like to grow this e-magazine further in terms of the range of articles, appeal and frequency with the ultimate aim to produce this on a monthly basis (or perhaps 10 issues per year with downtime over Xmas) but will probably require further assistance and support to achieve this (o#ers welcome!). For me, the whole ethos is to develop a community magazine with input from runners, race directors or supporters telling a story

of Ultra running at a grass roots level.

Obviously more time creates the opportunity to look at new ideas and concepts but at the present time, we have a neat new look and the focus will be on tweaking and polishing what we already have.

If there’s one request I would like to make is to keep the content coming and please try and get a few pictures even if its before or after an event as the really do enhance the look of the magazine.

I hope you enjoyed the brief history of Ultra Tales and would like to thank everyone who has downloaded, read or contributed towards this project. I look forward to your continued support in the future and hopefully the interest will continue and I can write a follow up on our second birthday.

Ultra Tales Facts (as at 1/4/13)

Download Numbers per Issue Issue 1 Apr 2012, 293 Issue 2 Jul 2012, 1235Issue 3 Oct 2012, 1403Issue 4 Jan 2013, 730Issue 5 Mar 2013, 945

Download Rate (Issue 5 only)Day 1 – 84Day 2 – 410Day 3 – 213Day 4 – 44Day 5 – 17Day 6 – 23Day 7 – 29Week 2 – 55Week 3 - 26Week 4 – 47

Download Destination (Issue 5 only)59% UK21% Unknown7% US3% Japan1.5% Denmark1.5% South Africa1% Germany6% Other (Nepal, Mongolia, Vietnam, Kuwait are notable oddities from outside the EU).




RACE ORGANISER | CENTURION RUNNINGEVENT REPORTS | LEILA ROSE, MARK BURNELL, MARK PERKINS,

CENTURION RUNNING

SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50

South Downs Way 50Race Organiser: Centurion RunningWebsite Link: www.centurionrunning.comDate of Event: 13th April 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 50 milesLocation: Worthing to EastbourneDescription: 50 mile point to point run from Worthing to Eastbourne on the South Downs Way.

Race Results: http://www.centurionrunning.com/results/2013/sdw50-2013-race-report/2013-sdw50-o! cial-results/





http://www.centurionrunning.com/results/2013/sdw50-2013-race-report/2013-sdw50-official-results/




SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50BY MARK BURNELL


E VENT REPOR T SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50

The SDW50 was my !rst race of the year (I know April’s a little late, but hey). I knew the course and was looking forward to seeing the views over the downs during daylight hours, as opposed to by headtorch.

Two weeks prior, I didn’t think I would make it to the start line, I spent 72 hours in bed with fever and a cough. Luckily for me I managed to shift the dreaded lurgy and was able to get a few short runs in the week before the race, and felt !ne.

My day started early, 4am early, the joys of having a swimmer in the house, but this allowed me to double check the weather and adjust my bag accordingly. Just as well I did, as the weather was forecast wet from about 10am till the !nish. So I packed a complete change of gear, multiple hats (the joys of having no hair) and an extra waterproof jacket, and of course all the mandatory kit. O" I trudged to Fratton Station and a date with the 6.37am to Worthing.

I arrived at Hillbarn Rec with plenty of time to spare. It was a beautiful sunny morning, you could easily have been lulled into a false sense of security it was so nice. As usual you start to spot familiar faces and of course get to meet plenty of new

Mark BurnellBlogwww.southseapirates.co.uk

Twitter@southseapirates

SDW50 ResultFinish Time9hrs 20mins

Finish Position:41/162





http://1 8 7 Sponsored by the

E VENT REPOR T

DANNY CUNNET T PIC TURED DURING THE SDW50PHOTOGRAPH | KATHI FROM KLICKCHICK.ZENFOLIO.COM

people (ultra runners are a friendly bunch). I spoke at length with a Swiss runner called Michael Büchi before the start of the race, what a nice fella he turned out to be and damned quick to boot (2nd place overall in 7hr 08mins, even after a brief altercation with a dog on the course), de!nitely one to look out for in the future, especially as he has just been invited to run in the Sky Running series.

One thing I have learnt over my very short ultra running life is the need to buddy up, it can get quite lonely if you spend all that time on your own, so imagine my surprise when just before the race brie!ng, I spotted my fellow Pompey ultra runner Ken Ivory. I had run the !rst 54 miles of the SDW100 with Ken, so I made a beeline for him. Perfect company and a perfect pace.

We all made our way to the start, I was certainly in no hurry so placed ourselves mid pack. The countdown started and on the air horn we were o". The speed demons at the front were gone, whilst the rest of us made our way at a leisurely pace to the start of the Trail. I had run the !rst 23 miles of the course just a few weeks prior and knew that this section was going to be muddy and wet, even with the dry spell we had before the race.

We started with a gradual climb towards Chancontbury Ring, trying to avoid the worlds most stickiest mud as best we could. The !rst few miles saw the main pack start to break up, as everyone found their natural pace. The running was great, but a quick look at my watch told me our pace was a little too quick, so we dropped o" a little and settled into a nice 10 minute mile pace.

After eleven very pleasant miles we reach Botolphs Aid Station where we were greeted by the usual happy Aid Station crew and the veritable feast of food we have become accustomed to when taking part in a Centurion Running event. I grab a few cherry tomatoes, ! lled my bottles and made my way to the road crossing and the long climb toward Saddlecombe Farm via Devil’s Dyke. Luckily for us the rain, which should have started at 10am had not materialised and we were still enjoying dry weather, but a brief look over my shoulder revealed a rather ominous looking sky.

The slow trudge uphill from the Botolphs Aid Station saw a noticeable drop in temperature. As the hill started to plateau just before a small road section we picked up our pace again, passing a fellow Pompey runner Mich Hardie who we seemed to play leapfrog with for the whole race. As we ran passed the YHA I quickly put on my arm warmers and hat in anticipation of the worsening weather.

Now we had a nice downhill section. In this short space of time the weather quickly worsened, the wind had picked up and the threat of rain was hanging in the air. I quickly tried to put my jacket on while we walked. However, the wind had become so bad I was unable to put my coat on while carrying my bag, so Ken kindly o"ered to hold my bag brie#y, only to moan at how heavy it was and wondered if I had the kitchen sink in there as well.

SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50





PHOTOGRAPH | KATHI FROM KLICKCHICK.ZENFOLIO.COM

E VENT REPOR T

I !nally won the battle of the coat and just in time as the rain had just started. It wasn’t until we reached the top of the hill that we realised quite how strong the wind was. We had a tricky descent down toward Saddlescombe Farm, as there was now a river of water running down the already very muddy and now exposed path. Oddly enough I quite liked fast gnarly descents, jumping over gullies, avoiding holes, roots and rocks, as well as walkers and their dogs.

We reached the bottom safely and crossed the road and proceeded to Aid Station 2. We had only just reminisced about how good this Aid Station was on the 100, with their fantastic display of mu$ns, no mu$ns this time, but still an impressive spread. There was no need to stop for long as we had only just cover !ve miles since the previous aid station, so I grab a few more toms and head out of the farm and to our next long climb. This is where the weather really started to turn, by the time we exited the tree lined lane and entered an exposed !eld the wind, we continued to climb the hill while

the clouds above came down to meet us. For the next thirty odd miles visibility dropped down to about 20 feet, which was a bit of a pain. My main reason for running this race was to see the last half of the SDW100 in daylight, not shrouded in cloud, but this we are running in England in April, so should really not expect anything less.

From here on the light hearted banter stopped and the hard slog to the midway point and the third aid station started. We were particularly vulnerable to the wind on top of the downs, so it was heads down and tilted to one side to avoid the wind whistling straight through your ears. At times the wind picked up so much it was hard to maintain your position.

We started a quick drop down towards Falmer and Fangorn Forest (thats what I nick named the woods at 2am on the SDW100). The run down to the woods was even more treacherous in the daylight, it was full of rabbit holes, fox holes and general wear and tear (I secretly enjoyed this bit).

With a hop, a skip and jump, we made it to the bottom, but then we were faced with a river of muddy to climb. I did not recall it being quite so steep, but it was dark last time. Once out we were greeted by a fast and slippery descent to Housedean Farm.

Housedean Farm was the point of no return for most, the halfway mark, marathon distance, for many the conditions were just too bad and 26 miles was enough (and I must admit the thought had crossed my mind too). Refueled and ready, we head out onto the road and over the A27. The next hill was endless, combine this with the relentless weather which only seemed to worsen as we went on, this was my lowest point (I had had enough, I felt crap, I was on the tale end of a chest infection and it was starting to play on my mind) the snot and rain was pouring from my face, it was a never ending cycle.

As annoying as the wind was, it did coming in very handy for navigation, as it was blowing all the race markers horizontally, making them much easier to !nd in the mist. We !nally reach Southease in just under 6 hours. I was planning to use this stop for a

SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50




RACE WINNER MARK PERKINSPHOTOGRAPH | KATHI FROM KLICKCHICK.ZENFOLIO.COM


E VENT REPOR T

change of clothing, which was just as well as my hands were just starting to feel cold, or so I thought, could I undo my jacket zip, nope. Finally I managed to get my jacket o", which was handy. New base layer, jacket, hat and !nally some cosy waterproof gloves. I felt like a new man and ready to head out to Alfriston, but all I really wanted was a nice warm cuppa.

We jog out of Southease over the bridge and towards the railway crossing, myself and Ken discuss how we approached this on the 100. He went through the gate and I went over the bridge (hadn’t noticed the gate in the dark, doh!). Anyway, once on the other side we continued running to the foot of the next hill, by this time we were starting to get a little annoyed with the wind and constant rain. Which was now coming down with such force that it was stinging my face, that combined with the chilling wind meant the right side of my face was starting to go numb. In the face of adversity, laugh or swear or both.

I thought we had made good time, but the last eight miles took us an 1hr and 45mins. The weather was starting to takes its toll. We and arrived at The Old Chapel, which allowed us to get out ot the wind and rain for a few minutes, while we readied ourselves for the last push to Eastbourne.

Jevington was only four miles away so this should be quick, but coming out over Alfriston I managed to slide down a muddy bank, forcing Ken to leap over me. Unfortunately Ken tweaked his back slightly, but he soldier on, we were too close to the end for something like that to stop us. Surprising as we started to climb our second to last hill and a steady climb of about 600ft. Not for the !rst we passed some poor teenagers out doing their DoE, they cheered us on and we did the same back. It was bad enough we were out running, but to be carrying a 75 lr rucksack and camping gear, it truly inspiring.

SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50





E VENT REPOR T

AID STATION CREW AT JEVINGTONPHOTOGRAPH | MARK FOX

The weather was now truly horrendous at this point and there were times when I was blown o" my feet and was struggling to stay upright. We had a nice steady descent into Jevington, where we had our photo taking by the very chipper aid station sta". I would include that image in this, but I feel it does not portray how I actually felt. My face say why, but my mind was say just under !ve miles to go.

We didn't stay long and ran, yes ran down the road out of Jevington to our !nal climb, which was now a river of mud and twigs. Heads down, we put all our e"ort into the climb. On reaching the top we made our way to the trig point and just in time as we saw another runner just starting to head o" in the wrong direction. We yelled and whistle and !nally got his attention. He followed us down the steep gullied descent into Eastbourne. Once again I really enjoyed getting up some speed (at least it felt quick to me) through this tricky section.

We shot out of the bottom of the trail (once again it felt fast) and on to the !nal road section of the course that would led us to the Sports ground and our lap of honour to !nish in 9hr 20mins.

I would just like to thanks all the Aid Station sta" and the Centurion Crew for a great event under such harsh conditions. I heard nothing but praise from everyone I spoke to.

PHOTOGRAPH | MARK FOX

SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50



SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50BY MARK PERKINS



After a week of tapering, kit checking and weather-site refreshing it was !nally time for the 2013 South Downs Way 50, which was to be my !rst ‘proper’ ultra-distance race. I’d previously paced Sarah around a local 30 miler and we had done a 45 mile personal challenge together but I was looking forward to getting a chance to compete with some other people and to check out the aid-stations/run-through bu#ets that ultras are famous for! The course ran from Worthing to Eastbourne and took in a good part of the trails that I regularly run on so I was very much looking forward to it.

This winter was the !rst one that I’ve consistently trained through, and I’d managed to amass a good solid base of training over the last !ve or so months. A fair bit of that was in pretty nasty weather too, which de!nitely toughens you up - and looking at the forecast for the race it looked like con!dence running through those sort of conditions might come in handy. 20mph+ headwinds and lots of rain appeared to be the order of the day… lovely!

Mark PerkinsBloghttp://farnotfast.co.uk

South Downs Way 50 ResultFinish Time6hrs 55mins

Finish Position1/162

After registration, kit check and a race brie!ng (full of prescient precautionary words of warning about the weather that were going to encounter later on) we ambled over to the start line to wait for the o". The start of the race went up a track that I knew from the end of the Three Forts Mud-bath



http://farnotfast.co.uk


E VENT REPOR T


SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50

Marathon last year, and as I was feeling pretty con!dent and didn’t want to get stuck behind lots of people along a narrow muddy path I set o" with the !rst pack of about !ve or six runners. As we got moving I was feeling nice and fresh and after about 5km I found myself running at the front with a Swiss chap who introduced himself as Michael, a sponsored runner with a penchant for stage races who had popped over to stay with friends and run the race. We ran and chatted together as we climbed up to Chactonbury Ring with another couple of runners following behind us about a minute or so back.

My pre-race plan was to run at about a 5 min/km pace on the #ats for as long as I could, and then just see what happened as I got more tired later on. Michael however was de!nitely pushing the pace and after a few sub-4:30 minute kilometers I decided that I’d better back o" the gas and let him head o" as I really didn’t want to burn myself out too soon. Pretty quickly he powered o" into the distance and I didn’t really think I’d see much of him after that.

I passed through the Botolphs and Saddlescombe Farm aid stations without stopping, and I was feeling pretty comfortable on the familiar ground that I do a lot of my training on. The weather was still pretty reasonable as I climbed up close to the Jack and Jill windmills and continued across the top of the Downs past Ditchling Beacon. It was a bit blustery but I was almost starting to think that maybe the forecast was going to turn out to have been overly pessimistic… how wrong I turned out to be!

My stomach has always been a real weak point for me, both in normal life and certainly when out running, even on shorter distance stu". As I passed the Beacon I was getting some worrying twinges and had the odd wave of feeling slightly nauseous. I’d had a few gels by then and was de!nitely a little worried that it was going to cause me some serious issues later on. As I couldn’t see anyone behind me I opted to take a quick ‘comfort break’ in the bushes - although I knew I’d be losing yet more time on Michael I gambled that it would see me better in the long run. There were still a good few miles to go! Anyway, thankfully my stomach settled down a bit after that and I cruised down into the

Housedean aid station feeling pretty positive.

On arriving at Housedean I was informed by the guys there that Michael was about three minutes in front of me, and had unfortunately been bitten by a dog as he ran through the last section. They also told me that he wasn’t looking all that fresh which although I took as more encouragement than truth it still gave me a boost to head out of there at a fair pace to see if I could at least get him in my sights. I didn’t really expect to catch up with him to be honest - he’d looked so strong powering it away from me at Chactonbury Ring - but after crossing the A27 and starting the next climb up I suddenly saw him and realised that he actually wasn’t all that far ahead of me. I could also see that he was walking towards the top of the hill and so I forced my somewhat heavy legs to plod their way up there as quick as I could.

"At the top of the hill I got a !rst glimpse of some of the nasty conditions that were

rolling in"At the top of the hill I got a !rst glimpse of some of the nasty conditions that were rolling in. The visibility decreased rapidly and the rain and wind really started to pick up, but I managed to keep Michael more or less in my sights and pulled up level with him about 5km out from Southease. He was de!nitely having a bit of a low point and there was (understandably!) lots of swearing about ‘%$&*ing dogs’, with a painful looking bite on his hand. We ran for a few minutes together until I decided that I was going to try and capitalise on his dip in con!dence and put a few minutes on him as the trail dropped down towards the road. I hate to take advantage of someone else’s misfortune but sometimes you just have to make the most of what you get given…

Within a few minutes of arriving at Southease and just as I was getting a water bladder top-up the whole aid station canopy got picked up by a gust of wind and blew into the road! I was also pretty damp by that point and so elected to put on my waterproof jacket as I’d previously recce’d the next section and knew it to be pretty exposed. I




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warned Michael of this as he ran into the aid station a couple of minutes behind me but he didn’t seem too bothered - he lives in the mountains in Switzerland where I’m sure the conditions can get pretty nasty so I guess he would have been used to it.

The climb up out of Southease was de!nitely hard work, and the reward for making it up there was a stonking headwind, mud, rain and terrible visibility! Proper nasty English running conditions, and whilst certainly not nice to run in it was not entirely unfamiliar to me after the winter that we have had. I trudged onwards, stopping occasionally as my legs were cramping up quite badly at points (which I have never had before whilst running - most unpleasant) and just tried to keep my head down and get on with it. The weather had come in properly by now and for me this was by far the hardest and most miserable section of the course. I took one wrong turn when I followed the fence-line round a corner instead of heading straight on (because the !ngerpost up ahead was pretty much invisible in the mist and rain) but luckily noticed and corrected myself pretty quickly and with only a minor amount of swearing.

I was seriously glad when the path started dropping down into Alfriston and I could get out of the weather at last. All those who spent more time up there and managed to pull through it I have nothing but the utmost respect - I think the weather deteriorated even further after I got through it and it was miserable enough when I was up there! Really nasty conditions.

"I think the weather deteriorated even further

after I got through it and it was miserable enough

when I was up there! Really nasty conditions"

I took at few minutes at the Alfriston aid-station to grab some crisps and a glass of coke and mentally re-charge before the next climb up and over to Jevington. I had no idea how far Michael was

behind me but I thought that I had probably managed to put a good few minutes on him in the previous section as I hadn’t caught a glimpse of him in a while. My legs were de!nitely pretty battered by this point and after crossing the river the next climb up was seriously painful, and I resorted to a run-walk strategy, alternating about a minute of each to try and keep myself moving without slowing down to a crawl. Towards the top the track takes a big loop around the hilltop and glancing back down I suddenly saw the orange blur of Michael’s calf compression sleeves #ashing up the trail behind me! That gave me a hell of a shock as I thought he was de!nitely further behind than that, and to make it worse he seemed to be moving strongly up the hill whereas I felt that I was barely managing more than a fast walk.

I’ve never been in the lead of a race before, and for a little while there I had made the fatal error of starting to believe that I might actually win it. I think I had started getting a little complacent and had stopped pushing myself that extra little bit. But on seeing Michael behind me I suddenly felt like a hunted animal, and paranoid that he had gathered himself and was now feeling fresher than me (which wouldn’t have been that di% cult at this point!). So I forced myself on, trying to squeeze a few quicker kilometers out of my legs on the way down to Jevington. I dashed in and out of the checkpoint there without stopping, really worried that at any point I was going to !nd myself getting overtaken just a few miles from the !nish.

My uphill muscles seemed to have nothing left for the last climb out of Jevington, and I the best I could manage was a medium fast trudge up the muddy hill. But I knew that once I got to the top it was all downhill to the road section, and if I got there without seeing Michael too close behind me I was pretty con!dent that I would have the leg speed to carry me in without getting overtaken. However the ‘chute’ round the back of the golf course and down to the road was way too slippery for my Salomon Sense Mantra’s to handle, and I took a face !rst spill half way down, accompanied by a few choice words that I won’t repeat here! But i dusted myself o", hit the road section and just ran as fast as my legs could take me down the main road and round into the sports center grounds, checking behind me every two seconds to make




MARK BEING AWARDED HIS 1ST PLACE TROPHY BY JAMES ELSONPHOTOGRAPH | CENTURION RUNNING

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sure I wasn’t being chased down.

I hit the track and with the encouragement from the loudspeakers I forced myself around that oh-so cruel last 400m before running though the big bouncy-castle of a !nish line in 6:55:37. Exceptionally happy to have won but also incredibly pleased to have squeaked in under 7 hours in what was really quite brutal conditions. I certainly didn’t think that was on the cards before I set o" !

Michael came in about 13 minutes after me in the end, so I could have probably saved myself some last minute pain and paranoia, but at the end of the day that fear of getting overtaken so close to the !nish was probably the only reason I made it in sub-7 hours. Had it not been for him getting bitten I have no idea whether I’d have been able to overtake him for the win, but that is racing I guess - sometimes you get lucky! I was also fortunate that a few of the other speedsters that often grace these ultras were not running this one, but regardless I was super pleased to take the win on

what I’d consider my home turf.

By all accounts it got even tougher out there later on, and with a search and rescue being carried out later on in the night I was really glad to hear that everyone was !nally safely accounted for. All those who were out in those conditions when it was getting dark and for ten plus hours deserve a huge amount of respect, as do the whole Centurion Running team whose professionalism and organisation was really top notch.

So a huge thanks to James and the rest of the Centurion crew, plus of course to all the fantastic volunteers who spent a long day out in the terrible weather giving people help and encouragement all the way.

This was my !rst proper brush with the ultra community and I was very impressed with how friendly and supportive everyone was - and I’m now really looking forward to volunteering at the SDW100 to hopefully give a little something back myself.



SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50BY JAMES ELSON, CENTURION RUNNING



South Downs Way 50 Results

Mens Results1. Mark Perkins 6hrs 55mins

2. Michael Buchi 7hrs 8mins

3. Reece Ingram 7hrs 39mins

3. Martin Rea 7hrs 39mins

Womens Results1. Emil Canvin 8hrs 23mins

2. Susie Casebourne 8hrs 48mins

3. Sarah Morwood 8hrs 56mins


Race Resultshttp://www.centurionrunning.com/results/2013/sdw50-2013-race-report/2013-sdw50-o! cial-results/

The South Downs Way 50 was the only new addition to our race calendar for 2013. The SDW remains my favourite UK trail and the intention was to create a race out of the eastern end of that route, giving runners the opportunity to see what I believe to be the best parts of the trail, as well as providing the SDW100 runners a chance to run th last 45 miles of the course, supported, prior to the longer event in June.

The runners gathered for registration in bright sunshine down in Worthing, as the weather attempted to lull everybody in to a false sense of security. The forecast for race morning and the following day, were bright sunshine with light breeze.

The weather for Saturday afternoon and evening was however forecast to be wet, very windy, bringing with it low visibility up on the ridge due to the encroaching low cloud and mist and runners were warned of this at registration, many having come prepared after checking the forecast and pre-race brie!ng emailers. Kit check was carried out as usual and before the day was out the majority of

RUNNERS REGISTERING AT THE START OF THE RACEPHOTOGRAPH | CENTURION RUNNING






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SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50

runners had cause to employ almost every single piece of their kit.

The race began at 9:30am and as runners wound their way up to Chancontbury Ring, and down to the !rst aid station at Botolphs. Mark Perkins and Michael Buchi led the way arriving at the 11 mile mark in under 8 minute mile pace. Michael had travelled over from Swizerland from the race, a young runner but with some top results in mountain ultras I had hoped he would push the pace and was not to be disappointed. Closely behind followed Martin Rea, an Irish National 100km runner and Reece Ingram. The !rst three hours of the race were in the bright sunshine extending views out across the weald to the north and the coastline to the south. Conditions changed quite dramatically in a short space of time as the !rst spots of rain were felt around midday.

The runners pressed on through Saddlescombe Farm and began the section on to Housedean Farm and the marathon mark. Already we were getting drops, some struggling with past injuries and some with the sticky underfoot conditions and

worsening weather. At Housedean, Michael Buchi arrived in the lead in 3:26. Mark, Martin and Reece followed him in to the marathon point, with Mark just three minutes back, all well under the 4 hour mark for some !ne running. In the ladies race Edwina Sutton came through in 3:58 with Emily Canvin 12 minutes back and Sarah Morwood 22 minutes back respectively.

The weather had by this point turned nasty, with a headwind forcing runners backward as they continued their journeys east and on to Eastbourne. Volunteers and race sta# fought to maintain order at the CPs, managing runner safety as job number one. The !nish line team were set up at Eastbourne ready for the one lap of the track !nish many had dreamed of seeing during their hard training for the event. Mark Perkins arrived !rst having made his move and held the lead from shortly after the Housedean CP, and made his victory lap to !nish in a total time of 6:55:37, a stellar time in extremely di$ cult conditions. He was visibly cold at the end and expressed how rough conditions had been particularly on the tops.




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Michael followed him in 7:08 considering all he had been through a gutsy display for sure. Martin Rea and Reece Ingram came around the track together for joint 3rd overall in 7:39:35. In the ladies race Edwina Sutton unfortunately dropped at Southease (mile 33) which left the door open for the ladies behind. Navigation in very low visibility conditions proved di$ cult at times and Emily Canvin was able to take advantage of her smooth path to the !nish to win in 8:23:30 averaging just over 10 minute miles for 50 miles of rough trails/ weather and 4800ft of climb, a superb e#ort. Second place was claimed by Susie Casebourne in 8:48:52 with Sarah Morwood picking up third in 8:56:14 having gone wrong after the !nal CP where she had held the lead. Great running all around.

As the back markers left Southease at mile 33, Paul Navesey in control of much of the course marking late in the race and myself, drove up to Firle Beacon the midway point on route to Alfriston to ensure runner safety on the tops. Southease as the only outdoor CP in the last 5 CPs had wrestled with the shelter at times but had dealt %awlessly with everything that had been thrown at them. Visibility at the top was down to around 30 metres but each runner came through with a smile on their face and only one required the warmth of the car before

continuing on.

The rain at the track continued to pound down with high winds necessitating the removal of the !nish line gantry for safety reasons. As the hours ticked by the number of runners coming in to Alfriston su#ering from the cold and wet was growing but the vast majority were able to gather themselves after warming up a little and press on through the last indoor haven at Jevington and on to the !nish. The medical teams and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure runners had what they needed to either complete their journey safely, or to simply get warm again.

Returning to the track the !nishers were coming in thick and fast as hours 10 and 11 race time, rolled around. With a !nal cut o# of 13.5 hours (10:30pm), runners needed to have departed Alfriston a little after 8pm in order to make the cut there, however one runner remained unaccounted for at the back of the pack. Our !nish line sta# and volunteers continued the supply of hot food and drinks to the runners who had pushed themselves all the way to the !nish. Despite the conditions many had recorded very impressive times and the drop out level remained less than expected which said a lot for the determination of the !eld. In the end 124




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out of 164 starters completed their journey for a !nishing rate of 77%.

After communicating at length with the missing runner, a search and rescue operation was instigated and together with our race management team, the runner was recovered to safety before the day was out. Incidentally the runner was recovered on the course itself, re-inforcing to us the importance of the mandatory kit and course markings which we insist on at each event.

I'd like to extend an extra special thanks to our volunteers who would have gone home just as tired as many of the runners from working all weekend to ensure runner safety and enjoyment.

The event will be back in 2014, bigger and better and blessed with better weather I hope that it will become one of the most beautiful but challenging 50 milers we have here in the UK.



SOUTH DOWNS WAY 50BY LEILA ROSE



Yesterday's SDW50 was hell! I still haven't seen the funny side yet (if there is one) and I have never hurt so much in my life.

Things started well. I arrived at the start, and the sun was shining. Got registered and had my kit checked and got ready for the o!.

A quick brie"ng from the Race Director James Elson mainly pointed out that the good weather was not going to last and the trails had been nice and dry until.....yea, you guessed it...today!

Everything started well, sunglasses on, jacket and gloves o! Was making good time, and was on track for a 10 hour "nish. I #ew through checkpoint 1, and felt very sorry for the volunteers as it was so windy, everything kept blowing o! the table!

ITB started to hurt at about 13 miles, I was gutted. It was agony on the downhills, but "ne on the up.

Checkpoint 2 arrived, still making good time, and had a quick stop to stretch my ITB. The weather was starting to get worse. Sunglasses o! and bu! back on. I already had a waterproof/windproof jacket on, but it was time to put the Gortex on, which was almost impossible with the high winds.

"The weather just got worse and worse. The wind

was so strong I was struggling to open gates

and the rain was horizontal and viciously biting my face

with every drop"The weather just got worse and worse. The wind was so strong I was struggling to open gates and the rain was horizontal and viciously biting my face with every drop.

Halfway, and I was still making good time. ITB was getting worse, my shoes were completely wrong for the terrain, but I just didn't realise it was going

Leila Rose

South Downs Way 50 ResultFinish Time11hrs 2 mins


to be so muddy. I fell quite badly, but luckily didn't hurt myself, or I was just too cold to notice.

At checkpoint 3 I wrung out gloves and wiped the worst of the mud o!. It was so nice to be out of the wind, even if it was in a cold barn, but when I left the cold felt worse. The marshalls had said it was only 6 miles to the next checkpoint. 10k. How hard could that be?

Running became plodding. I hiked hard up the hills, mainly to keep warm. The wind was incessant. The rain never ending. I was soaked. Every few minutes I would clench my "sts to squeeze a stream of muddy water out of my gloves.

This was about the time that I mentioned taking up knitting to another runner. About 2 minutes before I fell over again, wrenched my shoulder and covered the other side of my body in mud.

The visiblilty up on the exposed ridge was poor at best. No view, vague runner type shapes and almost impossible to see the route marking tape.

I was hanging in there. I wanted to quit. I wanted to make it to the next aid station. I was still making pretty good time and was pleased with my progress.




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Checkpoint 4. Cleaned myself up with some kitchen roll. I was covered in mud, and totally fed up. The next checkpoint was 8 miles away and I knew there'd be tea and a toilet - I wasnt even going to attempt peeing in a bush when I couldn't move my "ngers!

I slogged it out. My face was agony from the stinging rain, I was soaked. My hands were swollen and I was really starting to get cold. I just kept moving, running when I could.

Finally!! Alfriston! Checkpiont 5! Yaaaay!!

Got a cup of tea - the most awesome tea I've ever tasted, and got chatting to a couple of lads that I'd met at a race over a year ago! God knows how they recognised me, I was an absolute state! So were alot of other people, much worse o! than me - a few cases of hyperthermia I think and medics buzzing around.

So, tea and a toilet stop and I was o! again. I'd got about 200 yards, and it was so cold. Being in the warm for 5 minutes just made it worse. I thought sod this, I'm going back.

"I'd got about 200 yards, and it was so cold. Being in the warm for 5 minutes just

made it worse. I thought sod this, I'm going back.."

I really wasn't sure what I was going to do. I got back into the warm hall.

This was not going to beat me. People were surprised to see me back, but I'd decided that more layers were needed.

I put on another layer, unfortunately over a wet layer, but that couldn't be helped and put on 2 more pairs of gloves. I also found my other bu! which I could use to protect my face from the evil mean rain. Sorted. I set o! again.

Only 5 miles to the next checkpoint, but I knew there was a HUGE hill coming. I stomped up it with

avengence. I had to stay warm. I had to "nish. This was not going to beat me. I would not get hyperthermia.

The checkpoint arrived sooner than I thought. More tea, a few biscuits and a salt tablet and I was o!. Another 'massive' hill to conquer. It seemed never ending! Where the hell was the trig point??

Finally it arrived! I shouted to a couple of guys, who'd walked straight past it and then I proceeded to get us all lost! It was starting to get dark, and we all wanted to have "nished running the slippery gulley before it got dark. After stumbling around for about 10 minutes we found the right gulley and we were o!. The light was fading, but I could still see and then I was in the residential area, which was pretty well lit.

I pushed on. Only a couple of miles to go. No mud and no wind, but it was still raining. On and on. And then it appeared - the stadium!

Lots of people clapping and cheering, it was fantastic! 1 lap of the track, and I was done. 11 hours and 26 mins. It was over, I'd done it!

So good to see "London" Nici at the "nish, and she even had a little box of cakes just for me Another cup of tea and a sausage and onion roll and I was sorted.

Despite the weather, it was a fab race. Well organised as always by James Elson and Centurion Running and awesome marshalls and volunteers.




RACE ORGANISER | OLD MUTUAL 2 OCEANS MARATHONEVENT REPORTS | CHRIS DENISON

2 OCEANS MARATHON

2 Oceans MarathonRace Organiser: Old Mutual 2 Oceans MarathonWebsite Link: http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/homeDate of Event: 30th March 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 56kmLocation: Cape Town, South AfricaDescription: A road race starting and !nishing in Cape Town, the route crosses the Cape peninsular, taking in the Indian to Atlantic Oceans.

Race Results: http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/results/individual-results

RUNNERS ARRIVE AT THE FINISH AFTER THE CUTOFFPHOTOGRAPH | CHRIS DENISON



http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/home

http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/home

http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/results/individual-results

http://www.twooceansmarathon.org.za/results/individual-results

2 OCEANS MARATHONBY CHRIS DENISON


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Cape Town's Two Oceans 56km marathon, labelled the most beautiful in the world (by its organisers) was to be my !rst taste of an ultra on 30 March. This year was also the !rst time that the race had sold out, with 11,000 runners having registered to take part. There were several of us travelling there from Abu Dhabi, where I presently live, and also Riyadh where I moved from last year, most of us running an ultra for the !rst time.

I was set to get to the start with Margo, a Canadian friend from Riyadh, but we had a slight hiccup with the hotel not having booked the taxi. Luckily we jumped in a car with a friendly South African group which got us to the startline 1 hour early. We wished each other good luck and got into our respective starting pens. I'd made the B seed, having run a sub 3:30 marathon in Dubai this year. Margo started further back with the E seeded group. Despite the number of runners I !rst bumped into Henk, a fellow Abu Dhabi Strider, on the start line, and then Suzette, a South African who I !rst met at the Riyadh marathon in Saudi Arabia a few years ago.

Chris Denison

2 Oceans Marathon ResultFinish Time4hrs 54mins

Finish Position:1167/11,000 Registered

Starters

Following the South African national anthem the race started promptly at 06:30, just before sunrise. The !rst 15 km saw us running through the suburbs of Cape Town to the coastline of the Indian Ocean and the town of Muizenburg. The route was lined




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with vocal supporters despite the early hour, and after all of the training I was glad to be starting this race, settling down into a comfortable sub 8:00/mile pace. Weatherwise, it was a cool, mostly cloudy morning but with strong gusty winds.

On reaching Muizenberg we were treated to a guy sat in his garage, belting out a Status Quo number on his electric guitar before turning a corner and being hit by a very strong head wind. The crowds at this point helped us along as we had our !rst sight of the ocean, a spectacular coastline with huge rolling waves, not surprisingly popular with surfers. We followed this for the next 5 km which wasn't too windy, before reaching the town of Fish Hoek where we headed inland, crossing the Cape peninsular to ocean number two, the Atlantic. I had to laugh at some of the signs marking the route: looking good read one (I didn't notice any of these later on in the race!) and one ocean down, one two go read another. There were also lots along the entire route saying run Ralph run. I didn't !nd out until the end who Ralph was.

Leaving some rowdy support at the water station in Fish Hoek the road started to climb for several hundred metres before levelling o", but luckily the wind was behind us for most of the next 8 km to the half way point which I reached in 2:16 hrs. At this point I was running alongside a guy from Johannesburg who was wearing a pink Florida Running Club vest and getting lots of support. 'I want one of those vests next time.' I told him as yet more people cheered him along. There appeared to be a lot less support for Abu Dhabi Striders en route!

Shortly after the half way point was the !rst of the two major climbs of the race, 4 km up Chapman's Peak, with the road clinging to the cli" edge all of the way. Fortunately the wind was mostly blowing in the right direction, and despite the uphill we could enjoy some spectacular ocean views. 'This is one of the reasons why we're all running this race.' exclaimed one runner which we all agreed with. I certainly can't argue that it was the most scenic race I have ever run.

I reached the top of Chapman's Peak, the 34 km mark in 2:45hrs, feeling fairly strong, but wasn't

prepared for the !erce winds on the descent.

"I reached the top of Chapman's Peak, the 34 km

mark in 2:45hrs, feeling fairly strong, but wasn't prepared for the !erce winds on the descent"

A strong head wind on the !rst part of the down hill made it feel as if we were continuing up hill. Round the corner though, we had a tail wind so powerful in parts that we were almost blown o" our feet, and that's no exageration. This was part of the race that I had been looking forward to, but I couldn't wait to get to the bottom where the route would then take us inland on a less exposed road.

Relieved to reach the bottom, and just before the marathon mark we were greeted to some encouraging support in Hout Bay. With our names printed on our race numbers it was good to get some personal cheer now and again. Although the only person who calls me Christopher these days is my mum; my mistake, should have just recorded Chris on the entry form.

Having taken a pounding on the downhill, my legs started to feel tired as I reached the marathon mark in 3:33 hrs and still 14km left, which included a 5km uphill section to Constantia Neck. With a kilometer to the top, the steepest section reached a 10% gradient and I had my !rst walk of the day. This was also the only part of the race that I didn't feel cold. I could hear a band playing at the top, but a fellow runner completing his 30th Two Oceans race warned me that the road still went up once we reached the music, albeit less steeply....great!

Reaching the top of the hill, with only 9km to go there were plenty of supporters to cheer us on as the road went downhill through woodland (yessss...no more wind). I caught up with Henk about 5 km from the !nish and gave him some encouragement shortly before my legs started giving up. He pushed on to the !nish a couple of




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minutes before me while I stumbled on, getting slower with each step.

Reaching the university sports ground signi!ed the last few hundred metres of the race and I picked up my stride past the stands of specators; after all, I had to look good in front of my wife Tracy and daughters Hannah and Emma who would be poised with cameras. I scoured the crowds looking for them, but gave up as I approached the !nish, punching the air as I crossed the line to complete my !rst ultra. I'd achieved my goal and broken the 5 hour mark by six minutes.

What about my family? Not sure how they managed to miss me since they were watching with full view of the !nish line and saw everyone else around me !nish. And my fellow runners? Suzette came home in an incredible time of 4:31hrs to be the 34th female overall, but unfortunately Margo had to pull out shortly after the half way point due to an aggravating knee injury. I know she was very disappointed and but for the injury I'm sure she could have completed this, her !rst ultra marathon too. Oh and Ralph...he was the CEO of Old Mutual, the main sponsor, and was also running race for the !rst time. There probably aren't many other company CEOs who could run an ultra.

This was certainly an excellent and well organised race which I thoroughly recommend, and on a good day perhaps the views do make it the most beautiful marathon in the world.



http://2 0 5 Sponsored by theU LT R A TA L E S | M AY 2 0 1 3

Saturday April 13th was the second TORQ Trail Team day, at Church Stretton.

You may know of TORQ from their gels and energy bars, but hey actually started as a performance coaching/consultancy by Matt Hart, a former pro/elite mountain biker and as such they’re well known in the MTB and triathlon worlds.

I’ve actually been using their gels for over a year now after buying some of their black cherry yoghurt gels from Wiggle – one of my favourite gels for sure!

TORQ recently started a “TORQ running” initiative, which they’re launching by setting up a trail running team – a non-elite team at !rst, although they plan to add some elite runners at some stage. This was all dreamt up by Simon and Julie from Freestak, who it turns out are behind a number of other campaigns which have caught my eye recently, notably the RunCommute campaign they’ve done for Ashmei (who make some of my favourite running kit!)

The day was great – !rst a bit of time to chat and mingle and a chance to have a good catch up with Lindley Chamners and Sam Robson and meet others, followed by a great talk from Ben of Torq about nutrition, fuelling and the Torq “system”. Given the audience was a room full of dedicated runners, there were plenty of opinions around and this lead to some good debate.

After a bit of lunch and more chat, there was an excellent talk from Stuart Mills - http://ultrastu.blogspot.co.uk/ - which I was really looking forward to. I’ve known of Stu for a while as a multiple Beachy Head Marathon winner and winner of the Lakeland 100 in 2010. The main topic of his talk was about mental preparation for races. It’s often said that ultra running is just as much mental as physical (if not more) and he made a very good point – how many of us train for the mental side of things as much as the physical? Great session, and

much food for thought after my recent DNF in the TP100.

ARTICLE TORQ TRAIL TEAM

MATT PICTURED AT THE TORQ DISCUSSION

Matt Dunn "Talks the Torq" and tells us about his Torq Trail Team day experience



http://ultrastu.blogspot.co.uk/

http://ultrastu.blogspot.co.uk/


ARTICLE TORQ TRAIL TEAM

We then set o# for a run over Long Mynd – this turned out (as expected) to be a pretty hilly run, but also damn wet and cold with plenty of snow up high. Great fun.

I had to get going after that, although some of the others stayed on overnight for a long run on Sunday.

"Those successful in being selected for the team will spend a year

as part of the TORQ Trail Team"

Those successful in being selected for the team will spend a year as part of the TORQ Trail Team, with many of the bene!ts usually only available to professional teams, including:

* A nutritional assessment and nutrition products from TORQ Fitness

* Team-branded kit for training and racing

* A three day training and preparation trip running in the Alps on the UTMB course around Chamonix from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd June 2013

* Appearances in features in Trail Running Magazine

* Support and advice throughout the season

The day (and the previous one in London) went down so well that TORQ are looking at putting additional days together for the trail running community, not just for people selected for the team.

Keep a look out for those!

RUNNERS ENJOY A RUN ALONG THE LONG MYND

TOR Q TR AIL TEAMARTICLE




RACE ORGANISER | COTSWOLD RUNNINGEVENT REPORTS | ROBBIE BRIT TON, COTSWOLD RUNNING

EVESHAM ULTRA

LADIES WINNER HAYLEY STOCKWELL AT THE FINISHPHOTOGRAPH | SARAH MILLS

Evesham UltraRace Organiser: Cotswold RunningWebsite Link: http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.ukDate of Event: 21st April 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 45 milesLocation: EveshamDescription: A single loop course starting and ending in Evesham taking runners along the River Avon and trails and surrounding valleys.

Race Results: http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk/USERIMAGES/Results/EveshamUltraMarathon2013-Results.pdf



http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk

http://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk/USERIMAGES/Results/EveshamUltraMarathon2013-Results.pdf



EVESHAM ULTRABY ROBBIE BRIT TON


E VENT REPOR T E VESHAM ULTR A

With the World 24 Hour Championships in 3 weeks time in Holland I needed a last long run before the big day and I thought 21st April would be a good day. I couldn't really !nd any events on that weekend of marathon distance (God knows why?) so went for the 45 mile Evesham Ultra in the lovely Cotswolds run by Cotswolds Running.

After arriving in Evesham on the Saturday night and practically sleeping in someone's garden near the start, I then pinched a free breakfast the the hotel (I think the breakfast was solely for runners staying at the hotel but I was staying just outside) and got to the start line in my Team Centurion top and La Sportiva Raptors, thinking that the tough, dry, rocky trails underfoot would warrant a tough mountain shoe more then usual.

At the race brie!ng Kurt Dusterho" reminded us of those who had been cruelly attacked in Boston, had lost their life at the Brighton marathon and others who had been victims of a large explosion near Waco, Texas and we took a moment's silence. I vowed to not take beautiful days like this one for granted and to enjoy every second of it in honour

of those mentioned before.

Setting o" ahead of the pack I took a wrong turn quite early on and then met the chasing pack who'd reclaimed about 5-10 minutes, then, for a reason unbeknown to me I them went in the wrong

Robbie BrittonBloghttp://

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.co.uk

Twitter@ultrabritton

Evesham Ultra ResultFinish Time6hrs 47mins




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E VENT REPOR T

direction again and had to put a bit of a spurt on to catch up with the now leading pack.

I t was at this point we realised that some unscrupulous swine had been sabotaging the directional signs, at !rst we thought kids but the organised manner and planning that had gone into the sabotage, plus the need to have a staple gun with you on a country walk, led the majority to think it was disgruntled land owners who didn't like 60 runners nipping across their !elds.

So I set o" again and kept with someone who had the route on a GPS device, until we were sure the route was una"ected by the route changing fairies, or so we thought. I don't generally agree with having routes planned in Garmins, but on this occasion it saved a lot of hassle at the start of the race. I feel it can give an unfair advantage in some circumstances but I wasn't to grumble on Sunday.

After about 10 miles I slowly increased the pace again until no one was with me, taking it easy on the up hills and pacing on the down hills. There were lots of rolling hills, relict ploughed !eld and a generally undulating landscape. Oh and bundles of sheep, over-protective of lambs and a little aggressive. They were to provide my main audience for conversation today, although it was a little one sided.

"I kept pushing on and got lost a few more times,

probably losing 30 minutes or more by

the end but they were just free extra training

miles.."I kept pushing on and got lost a few more times, probably losing 30 minutes or more by the end but they were just free extra training miles that I didn't have to pay Kurt for. I'll take that.

I kept on moving at a comfortable pace, enjoying the jelly meerkats and super sour snakes that I had put down as drop bags at two sites, what more does a runner need? Coming down from the penultimate checkpoint it was mainly downhill and #at so I got to open the legs a little and jog quite nicely past the site I had slept the night before. Ahh, memories.

I tried to make sure my time was under the 7 hours I aimed for and managed to !nish in 6:47, a time I was very happy with.

The La Sportiva Raptors held out well on the ground and my feet felt good at the end of the day as they de!nitely help with rockier, hard ground yet still allow me to pick the pace up on the technical downhills.

Last long run before world championships done, never out of my comfort zone and feeling good the day after. Three easy weeks now and o" to Holland for a little jolly out there and see what I can do. I'm pretty happy with my form at the moment but how far do I gamble for at the Worlds? Or should I just !nd out which one is Mike Morton and stalk him like a crazy man?

E VESHAM ULTR A



EVESHAM ULTRABY KURT DUSTERHOFF, COTSWOLD RUNNING



On April 21st, 120 runners from around the country came together in Evesham to take part in Cotswold Running’s Evesham Half Marathon and Ultramarathon.

The two races, based at Jacksons Bar on Waterside, gave participants the opportunity to enjoy the countryside of the Vale and surrounding hills with either a 13.5 mile or 45 mile route.

Following months of rain and treacherous mud, the sunny weather served to brighten spirits and dry out the trails, making for excellent running conditions.

Following a brief remembrance of those a!ected by the tragic events of the week in Brighton, Boston, and Texas, the runners made their way to the starting line in Hampton.

Due to the local main bridge in town being taken out of action recently, the participants had a relaxed 1.2mile walk/chat to the revised start line.

The runners set o! at 8:30 on a route that would take them through the local villages of Charlton,

RUNNERS AT THE START OF THE EVESHAM ULTRAPHOTOGRAPH | BEN HESLOP

Cropthorne, Elmley Castle, Beckford, Gretton and on to their halfway point at Winchcombe. On their way they crossed Bredon Hill, Alderton Hill, and Langley Hill.

Approaching 4 miles into the route, the route markers had been uno" cially “redistributed”, creating an unexpected challenge.

"Approaching 4 miles into the route, the route

markers had been uno!cially “redistributed”,

creating an unexpected challenge"

However, all of the runners were prepared and were able to get back on track by the 10km check point with the help of either maps or a call to race HQ.





For those that beat the half-way cut-o!, the return to Evesham came via scenic highlights such as Hailes Abbey, Stanway, Stanton, and Broadway Tower, adding plenty more hills as the route wound its way up and down the escarpment’s edge.

"With over 4500 feet of total ascent, the runners

faced an unrelenting battle against the terrain, as both

the uphill and downhill gradients tested their

strength and endurance" With over 4500 feet of total ascent, the runners faced an unrelenting battle against the terrain, as both the uphill and downhill gradients tested their strength and endurance.

Team GB ultramarathoner Robbie Britton from Surrey dominated in the second half to complete the gruelling course in six hours and forty-seven minutes, nearly 25 minutes ahead of Herefordshire’s Mark Davies and Londoner Mark Denby.

Running her #rst ultramarathon, Stroud AC’s Hayley Stockwell, of Stonehouse, won the ladies race in 8:47, passing Stourbridge’s Joan Clarke in the #nal quarter for a 10 minute lead.

London’s Sandra Goldsack #nished third, a further 15 minutes behind Stockwell. Having completed a momentous tour of the area, the 48 ultra runners were full of praise for their beautiful surroundings.

Volunteer and local runner Sue Wright, who helped the ultramarathoners at the #nal drinks station re$ected, “I was amazed at how many were still smiling after 40 miles’ hard running! It was a pleasure to meet some amazing and inspirational runners.”

Evesham Ultra Results

Mens Results1. Robbie Britton 6hrs 47mins

2. Mark Davies 7hrs 11mins

3. Mark Denby 7hrs 12mins

Womens Results1. Hayley Stockwell 8hrs 47mins

2. Joan Clarke 8hrs 57mins

3. Sandra Goldsack 9hrs 12mins


Race Resultshttp://www.cotswoldrunning.co.uk/USERIMAGES/Results/EveshamUltraMarathon2013-Results.pdf

MENS WINNER ROBBIE BRIT TON AT THE FINISHPHOTOGRAPH | SARAH MILLS






RACE ORGANISER | HIGHLAND FLING RACEEVENT REPORTS | KURT DUSTERHOFF

HIGHLAND FLING

Highland FlingRace Organiser: Highland Fling RaceWebsite Link: http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/highland!ingrace/Date of Event: 27th April 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 53mLocation: Milngavie (near Glasgow)Description: A trail race over the southern 53 miles of the famous West Highland Way Path., starting in Milngavie (close to Glasgow) and "nishing in the scenic village of Tyndrum.

Race Results: http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/highland! ingrace/FlingGunChipResult.xls

SANDRA BOWERS PIC TUREDPHOTOGRAPH | TZ RUNS / IAN J BERRY





http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/highlandflingrace/FlingGunChipResult.xls

http://www.zen31010.zen.co.uk/highlandflingrace/FlingGunChipResult.xls

HIGHLAND FLINGBY KURT DUSTERHOFF


E VENT REPOR T HIGHL AND FLING

The Highland Fling is, among other things, a traditional dance performed more or less on the spot while trying not to injure oneself on some sort of sharp weaponry (mostly the weaponry thing is left out of o! cial competitions these days). It's a fascinating dance to watch, and I'll admit that it requires a bit more "eetness of foot than I am likely to muster anytime soon. The uncharitable might describe it as "prancing around trying not to cut your feet o# ". It is also a 53 mile ultramarathon run along the lower portion of Scotland's West Highland Way. For those who only ever read these to look at the pictures, they're at the bottom after all the wa$e.

I put the Fling on my race calendar not long after !nishing the River Ayr Way challenge last year. I really liked the fun and relaxed atmosphere of the Scottish ultra scene, and it's kind of like a local race, in a roundabout sort of way. With the start only an hour and a bit from Nic's parents (who are super crew!), it means that with a little organisation we can mix business and pleasure.

On Thursday evening, I picked up Nic and we headed up the dreaded motorway. Long drives always make a mess of my hamstrings, so I was keen to get the extra recovery day to loosen up. After a bit of family time, and a trip to town to get a WHW map to replace the one I left at home (doh! #1), we headed to Milngavie (pronounce nothing like "Milngavie") to check in to the race and the motel du jour.

Registration was slick, leaving us plenty of time for the pre-race meal (a pint of rather !ne beer and the perfect nutrient mix of haggis, neeps and tatties). I was shockingly relaxed, given my normal pre-race stress-bunny tendencies. I knew I had everything sorted out and was ready to run. Unlike before last month's Exmoor Ultra, I was out cold by 10pm and was somewhat startled by the 4:45 alarm.

As I rubbed my eyes, I suddenly realised my contact lenses were sitting in my toiletry kit, back in Prestwick (wasn't going to shower, so why take the bag?). Big "Doh!" I've only done one trail run in my specs since I face-planted on my way down a hill a few years ago, partly due to the lack of vision under the line of the lenses, and partly because I was an

Kurt DusterhoffBlogwww.cotswoldrunning.blogsp

ot.co.uk

Twitter@CotswoldRunning

Highland Fling ResultFinish Time10hrs 44mins


idiot. So, I didn't really enjoy waking up to the knowledge that I'd be in specs again (thankfully, with slightly larger lenses than the o"ending pair) and am still somewhat of an idiot. Still, I wasn't going to change either of those facts, so had to resolve to take downhills and tricky ground with a bit more care than usual and just get on with things.

The race start was the usual milling about. Nic kindly dragged herself out of bed at stupid o'clock to walk down to the start with me. The 1km walk was a great loosener, and was then followed by standing about for half an hour while I checked out the wide variety of shoes that would be on the route. As I'd suspected there would be, there was a wide range of both road and trail shoes on display. I would be in my Roclite 295s, sacri!cing a bit of responsiveness for protection against the rocks.

RD John Duncan gave a very quick safety brie!ng (pretty much "If you don't have a foil blanket, get one at registration. Have fun!"), and we lined up in our pens. A trail race with pace pens! It was a bit of a novelty to be in a trail race big enough for pens, but it seemed like most people used them appropriately because I didn't feel any bunching as we set o". I chose the 11-12hr pen, since my target was "somewhere between 10 and 12 hours". I'd



http://www.cotswoldrunning.blogspot.co.uk




E VENT REPOR T


HIGHL AND FLING

KURT APPROACHING THE FINISH WITH BEN MORE IN THE BACKGROUNDPHOTOGRAPH | NICOLA DUSTERHOFF




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HIGHL AND FLING

learned from RAW in September, and decided to set o" at a fairly relaxed jog.

It wasn't long before we found countryside, and the sun began to poke out over the hills. All of the slow running I've been doing lately paid o" as I trotted along at between 9 and 10 minute miles, depending on the direction of the gentle gradients. With a few exceptions, the !rst 13 miles weren't taxing enough to justify much walking, so I happily ran my !rst 1/2 marathon of the day in 2 hours. Plan A, when I entered, was to get to 40 in 8 hours and then get to the end in however long it took. Knowing that the route would get tougher after 13, I felt on track for Plan A but had no idea how things would pan out.

The second quarter introduced a few hills at last. The walk up Conic Hill was a welcome change. The WHW wardens had been busy in recent weeks, transforming what I'd been told used to be a wretched bog into a !rm footpath. I took the opportunity of the walking breaks to take o" my base layer, with the sun giving us a nice warm morning. Following Conic Hill, the route kept its gently undulating feel, slowing my pace now that there were some hills that needed walking. As we approached half way, I was starting to #ag a bit. The combination of a fairly poor training winter and a busy March meant I would be running the last 30 miles on tired legs.

I completed the 1st of the day's 2 marathons in just under 4.5 hours before taking a short break at the next checkpoint. Most of the check points in this race are at visitor centers, which have the added bonus of actual plumbing. Comfort restored, I got stuck into my 2nd marathon with renewed enthusiasm. At around 34 miles, I encountered the section of the WHW my friend Roy had warned me about. It's basically a rocky scramble with a few roughly runnable sections. The front of the pack can speed-scramble this with the dexterity of a mountain goat. I was more like a 3-legged elephant on valium as I made my way across the slippery boulders. I lost 15-20 places as the lighter of foot disappeared into the distance. By this stage, the relay teams started to pass by regularly, adding to the number of times I stood aside to avoid blocking the path. As I continued to scramble my way through, I kept thinking of prancing about trying not to shred my feet and

decided this section was indeed reminiscent of the Highland Fling. Although it felt like forever, the vile stu" only lasted for a few miles, giving way to the more standard rocky path that allowed some running at last. This 3rd quarter took me a shade over 3 hours, allowing me to somehow hit my Plan A time at 40miles.

As I re! lled my water at the !nal check point, the volunteer told me the rest of the route was "undulating" with that glint in the eye that means "hilly". I'd studied the pro! le a bit before the race, and was expecting a few hills in the !nal quarter. What I wasn't expecting was the marvelous combined e"ect of a ca"einated gel, a handful of jelly snakes, and a couple of pieces of Maggie's famous tablet (aka Rocket Fuel). Before I knew what had happened, I went from dragging my sorry butt along the trail to a slightly faster jog/shu$e.

Hyped up on sugar and ca"eine, I decided to race the !nal miles. I had lost a lot of places on the scramble, and was pretty aggrieved. I picked up a few at the check point while others dawdled, but as I ran, I started to see familiar shirts in the distance, coming back to me. Chasing, I could see where the next "target" had started to walk a hill or restarted running. So, I focused on running a few extra metres before the walk and restarting a few metres earlier. One by one I was able to reel in runners, using each as motivation to push that little bit harder than I really felt comfortable with. To keep cool, I kept dipping my hat into little rivulets of run-o". The !nal 12 miles took around 2.5 hours, with the !nal hills much smaller than I'd anticipated.

The !nish was fantastic. Nic and her parents were about half a mile out, cheering me on. Nic decided to run the !nal bit in with me, which was both lovely and slightly disheartening as she found it rather easy to keep up - I tried to sprint away as she goaded me that she would "chick" me, but almost lost my lunch and decided that a sociable run in would do nicely. With the piper playing and encouraging us to the last little twist, I ran into the funnel of noise that made up the !nal 20 metres and crossed the line arms aloft in 10:44 and change and a top quarter !nish to complete an excellent run on a perfect spring day.



HIGHLAND FLINGBY ANDY JOHNS


E VENT REPOR T HIGHL AND FLING

Saturday morning, Milngavie; there is the sound of high-pitched beeping in the air. I walk slowly from a courtyard of Portaloos, worried that this is a mistake. The crowded car-park is now strangely deserted as 500 distinctly-clad ultrarunners have recently vacated it to begin a strange ritual migration to distant Tyndrum, some 53 miles to the north. I move slowly through the darkness of the now empty underpass, trying not to do more than walk, but start to run slowly in spite of myself. There is a beep as I pass over the starting mat and the journey begins.

So what made me change my strategy for this year’s Highland Fling, apart from the Tesco toilets not being open quite so early this year? For my last few races, I’ve tried the other end of the spectrum, heading o" fast and then gritting my teeth later on to keep moving as fast as possible: this has worked pretty well, but I needed to #nd that balance point: just what is the right pace to get the best result for the day?

For those in a hurry, I’ll cut to the chase. For a PB time where I squeeze every possible second out of my race, starting at the front and running in a

Andy JohnsBloghttp://mindthoseknees.blogspot.co.uk

Highland Fling ResultFinish Time9hrs 2mins


relaxed yet still pretty fast manner is the answer. For me that means seven minute miles until Drymen, with a gradual fall-o" over the more undulating and technical stu" later. Maybe if I’d done this I’d have had a quicker time in the race. But maybe not. Perhaps the pacing I followed was

ANDY PIC TURED DURING THE HIGHLAND FLINGPHOTOGRAPH | IAN J BERRY / TZRUNS



http://mindthoseknees.blogspot.co.uk




E VENT REPOR T


HIGHL AND FLING

almost perfect for me on that day, but I just don’t realise it yet. It’s all part of the game we play.

Here’s my reasoning for a slower start for the 2013 Fling:

* Four weeks earlier I’d beaten myself up at the Perth 100k. Flat, tarmac and 42 laps. Not my cup of tea. But I’d wanted to have a go at something di"erent and had convinced myself that it would be good psychological training. It’s the only ultra I’ve raced where I’ve ended up clear in my mind that it’s not my idea of fun. I had a happy 50k in 4 hours and then an horri#c time for the second half, struggling to run properly and wondering what damage I’d done to myself – but I had toughed it out to the bitter end.

* Ten days after that I’d had my ever DNF with a sprained ankle during a hill race. A nasty experience that didn’t do much for my con#dence and meant a week of zero running before careful steps to recovery afterwards.

* Compared to a year earlier I’m maybe half a stone heavier, at 13½ stone and 20% body fat (yeah, really!). If someone knows how I can run fast ultras with numbers like those, please let me know. I do subscribe to some study that once found that each pound of excess weight equated to about two seconds per mile di"erence in pace. That’s just over twelve minutes for me compared to last year if you were wondering. Oh, and this year’s route was 0.4 miles longer, so that’s almost four minutes extra at my expected pace for that section.

* Longest training run of 2013 so far was 20 miles; no back-to-backs managed. That doesn’t look too good does it?

So my con#dence wasn’t high going into the race and I had given some serious thought to the DNF situation on account of the ankle. Once that sort of thing happens to you once, you start to appreciate being able to #nish a race that little bit more than you used to. I was genuinely worried that I might not make it to Tyndrum today.

Back to Saturday morning and the butter% ies in the stomach excitement that I still felt for this race, undiminished by the previous times I had run it. With hindsight, I’ll admit that starting at the back was a mistake. Admittedly, half of the #eld went

o" too fast, but I should have started halfway down the #eld so as to avoid the crowding and congestion of the #rst mile. If I went past you during that mile I do apologise: I’m wondering how many runners watched me head past and thought I was some rookie making a huge mistake by going too fast too soon.

Even so, that #rst mile passed in a little over nine minutes and I did enjoy the chance to speak to so many friends and wish them well for the day, adding that I was trying an alternative pacing strategy when they raised their eyebrows in surprise that I wasn’t up at the front, where the Ferraris were speeding away. After three miles of this, there were some gaps in the #eld and I soon found myself running with Bob Steel, Ross Lawrie and Norry Mcneill for the fabulous Dumgoyne downhill section. The views were stunning and there was a tangible excitement about what lay ahead. I was careful with the pace since I wanted to preserve my legs for when it really mattered – it’s all too easy to %y down this bit and cause early damage to the quads.

"I was careful with the pace since I wanted to preserve my legs for when it really

mattered – it’s all too easy to !y down this bit and

cause early damage to the quads"

Once we hit the %at section of the old railway line, I pushed on and ran as relaxed as I could manage past the Beech Tree Inn and all those gates. Memories include encouraging words (as ever) from Adrian Stott, chatting to a minimalist-shoe, ultra-bearded-dude from Bolton, pushing a little to catch up with two groups of 4 and 5 runners in front in order to make the gate opening a bit easier, but as I caught up, three of them has a simultaneous ‘just watching the view’ stop and I ended up just going past the others – did they slow or did I not? So I found myself on my own for the




E VENT REPOR T


HIGHL AND FLING

#rst mile on the road to Drymen, one of the few parts of the day without company.

A mile before Drymen, I was met by Marinos who had agreed to come out for the day and throw food and water at me. I’d made up drop bags anyway, but had given them to him so he could hand me things on the move at each checkpoint rather than add to the huge number of drop-bags the marshals had to organise. M had been a bit worried about whether things were going wrong for me, but seemed pleased when I told him everything was just #ne and I was taking it easy today. He also told me I was in 42nd place which surprised me since I hadn’t thought I’d passed quite so many runners. In any case, that sort of thing is pretty irrelevant so early in the race.

And so to Drymen, with an extra detour to the right around the evil bog in that #eld just before the checkpoint – it claimed a few victims on Saturday – over the road, bleep over the mat and then the diversion through the village. Impressive support indeed, and I was fresh enough to appreciate it. Heading up the hill I #nished my banana and fell in with Jude Boulton and Matt Moroz, who proved to be great company for many miles.

Fast-forward through the woods, the amazing views over Loch Lomond and the great new path over Conic Hill.

"my focus was to run relaxed and not push at all. Sometimes we walked the steep bits, mostly we ran and I tried to not worry

about times and just enjoy the day"

Again, my focus was to run relaxed and not push at all. Sometimes we walked the steep bits, mostly we ran and I tried to not worry about times and just enjoy the day. As we climbed Conic Hill I looked at the runners spread out ahead and could already see who had gone o" too fast and who

looked comfortable with their pace – there was quite a mixture. The piper at the high point was brilliant (thank you, whoever you were) and the descent was much easier than previously, with careful, light steps all the way down. M had wanted to climb to the top of the hill (he’s a hill runner by trade) and gave a report about the leaders coming through.

Balmaha had the same awesome buzz as ever, since everyone goes there. A three minute pit-stop at the toilets was not as fast as the red-bull team manage these days, but was essential. It also meant that at the end of Balmaha I came across Matt swapping notes about the imminent 24-hour World Championships with Antonia who was directing runners up Craigie Fort (no sneaking around the bottom and missing the view). This was a great stroke of luck since it meant we ran together all the way to Rowardennan – thanks for the company Matt. He was stopping there since this was a short training run for him, what with a GB vest to carry at the World Champs in Holland in a fortnight.

The Balmaha to Rowardennan section really isn’t very %at is it? But it certainly was beautiful. My aim was still to keep things moving steadily but not overcooking the pace, and I was targeting the long climb up from the University Research Centre at 25 miles as a place to not run too much (as I had last year). The chip-timing mat was 0.2 miles early this year – wisely placed so as not to miss runners who might take varying routes through the Rowardennan car-park – but the earlier detour meant that it was 0.2 miles of extra running into the race. So a direct comparison of split times with previous years should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Speaking of which, I was now 13 minutes slower than last year (hey, only 30 seconds a mile) but feeling good because of this easier pace. Well, not perfect – since I ended up walking a bit next to the Youth Hostel as I #nished o" a pot of custard and said goodbye to M as he headed o" for the long drive round Loch Lomond. I had told him that I reckoned my #nish time was now in the 8:50 to 9:30 region, depending on how things went. There’s always a real sense of entering the next chapter of the race here, of leaving behind the excited hustle and bustle of friendly marshals, relay




E VENT REPOR T


HIGHL AND FLING

ANDY PIC TURED DURING THE HIGHLAND FLINGPHOTOGRAPH | IAN J BERRY / TZRUNS




E VENT REPOR T


HIGHL AND FLING

runners and supporters and heading o" into the wilds for a LONG journey up the wild side of the loch.

As I reached the start of the long, long uphill climb, a relay runner came %ying by. Or maybe not – it was Ryan Mackenzie who was putting on a burst of speed. We ran together for a bit and although my steady running proved a little faster than his walking uphill, he vanished on the later downhill and ended up #nishing in a great time of 8:54.

Towards the top of the climb I ran with Gerry Craig who not only claimed Scottish Championship medals at the Perth 50k four weeks earlier, but had run an impressive 2:51 just six days earlier at some other race in London – inevitably he was starting to feel this in his legs. I pushed on and ended up with Fraser Scott, who had generously handed me 4th place at last Octobers’ Jedburgh 38 mile mud-bath race by virtue of getting lost near the end of the race. I couldn’t hang onto him on the downhill either and he had a blinder along the lochside to #nish in 8:46. We also ran with Tracy Dean, who was su"ering badly with a leg injury, yet still able to move forwards with an impressive turn of speed. She had a great Inversnaid moment where she never broke stride at the check-point and just grabbed a bag from her support crew, who had driven all the way round to meet her: by such margins are UK Championship races won or lost.

Beyond Inversnaid it was time to push, although my three 15 minute miles that followed seemed to drag on a bit. I do like this section and certainly had the legs to move over the terrain. I’d have liked to be able to push a little harder here, like Dave Troman who came steaming past towards the end of the section, but the limited training mileage meant that there were signs of fatigue in my legs and the wriggling maggots of cramp threatening just below the surface. Eventually the top of the loch was reached, which always seems to happen twice – once when the technical section #nishes and there’s a lovely bit of %at grass, and then again just after Doune bothy. I know what’s going on really, but the sense of relief at #nishing the tricky section fools my brain into thinking that Beinglas is closer than it really is. Much of this was run with Kevin du Plessis until I paused behind a rock for a minute (to “enjoy the view”), and it took me until Dario’s post to catch up with him and Tracy.

Is it me, or do the mile or two to Beinglas always take longer than anticipated? I felt good and was running comfortably still. M had come back down the trail here and was a very welcome sight, so I didn’t have to stop at all at the checkpoint, but did take a walk break just afterwards on the climb so I could eat another pot of custard which, along with a few gels later on, I hoped would get me to the end. It didn’t, but more on that later.

I felt so much better on the climb up Glen Falloch than during previous years. However, I had come through the Beinglas checkpoint at 6:50 compared to 6:35 last year, so would need a massively improved #nal section for a PB this year. Although I’m a natural optimist and was feeling good, I was also realistic about my chances of hitting 10 minute miles for the next two hours. Still, no point in holding back now, might as well go for it.

M headed o" to the car near the Falloch falls and I ran with Kevin until some way beyond Carmyle Cottage. On the uphills I would drift away, but he would then reel me in. I apologised at one point to say that I wasn’t trying to drop him or anything like that – I was simply running whenever I could – I hoped the target of running together was helping to spur him on.

We closed on a runner ahead and at the last minute I realised that it was Peter Buchanan. He asked me how I was and I gave an honest reply of feeling great – to which he gave a most appropriate response, indicating that he wasn’t quite 100%. My arrival seemed to % ick a switch in his head and he raced o" with me on his heels, until the steep climb after the cattle creep and road tunnel where cramp slowed him down momentarily.

Again, unlike last year, my legs felt much stronger, in spite of those bullet points you read way back at the top of this tale. I ran everything from here to the big gate, with Peter working hard to stay in touch and then push the pace even more towards the end. We ran the whole of the section to the road crossing together and it was fantastic. He had a little more running on the uphills, but I could just about keep up with some quick walking, and we seemed to %y the downhills of the roller-coaster – it was everything I could have hoped for.




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M had taken the car to Tyndrum and then headed back to the road crossing to meet up with us and was full of encouragement. We rushed along the path next to the road at what seemed like a great pace, although it was only ten minute miles. Alas, it wasn’t to last. We crossed the bridge approaching Auchtertyre farm and somehow I just couldn’t stay with Peter – he eased ahead and my legs wouldn’t respond, even with a manual override from my brain telling me not to lose contact. It wasn’t a disaster, but it was annoying not to be able to run together, which I’d expected we would do.

Now I was pushing hard, giving it 100%, trying everything I knew to keep on moving, but the legs weren’t having it. The last three miles were slower than comparable times for my last two Flings and it was so frustrating. The nine hour target had looked very achievable, but suddenly that was starting drift away and I just couldn’t get it back no matter how hard I tried.

That #nal mile wasn’t good. I struggled to run up that nasty incline at Dalrigh, and then had an intense spasm of cramp in my left quad over the #nal rough section. And to add insult to injury, I was passed just before the woods by a relay runner from our club (great run – they came 6th overall and took the 2nd mixed team prize). By now I knew that the sub-nine hours target was gone and eased o" so I’d have something for the #nish straight, which didn’t disappoint.

Thank the pipers, turn the corner, reeeelaaxxxxxx into a bit of a sprint, soak up the atmosphere and hit the line, with a cheeky heel kick to #nish (although I was relieved to land it without the cramp coming back).

"That feeling of stopping running at the end of an ultra is a pretty unique

thing and should always be savoured"

That feeling of stopping running at the end of an ultra is a pretty unique thing and should always be

savoured.

Massage, soup, beer, shower, more soup, another beer, all mixed with lots of chat with the awesome ultra family at the #nish line. That atmosphere for the next #ve hours was as good as it gets. As a side-note, I found out that I’d #nished 24th in a chip-time of 9:02:22 and the back-of-the-grid start had only put me two minutes behind the leaders from the starting gun.

And would I race it this way again? Starting so much slower than I might have? Well, yes and no. The slower start made the whole day a far more memorable experience, but my hopes of a faster time, 8:50 or 8:45 (or quicker) will only come if I have a bit more pace early on. If everything goes well next year, maybe I’ll shoot for a lifetime best time, not have such an enjoyable race, but be over the moon with a faster time. But only if all the other factors pull together and I’m ready for it. As for my 2013 Fling, I see it as a much more mature race in terms of how I approached it – the scenery, terrain and people were much more of a focus this year and the memories I’m left with will stay with me for a very long time.

And for an unexpected bonus Adrian told me that I was in line for 3rd Veteran medal in the Scottish Athletics Ultra Trail Championships - which really put the icing on the cake, since it was quite unexpected. I'll take that over being a few minutes quicker any day.

I couldn’t really #nish this without a wee roll-call for so many people who made the race happen, but to save you time, I’ll wrap it up quickly, since you’ve spent a while reading this far down and probably have something else you should be doing right now. Hats o" to John Duncan for making the race so totally epic.

There were just so many detailed touches in the organisation of the day that I could write a couple of pages on that alone. The team of 80 marshals were fantastic. Marinos was an inspirational support: thanks for agreeing to come along again and thanks so much for not crashing my car this year. That was a real bonus.




DREW SHEFFIELD PIC TURED DURING THE HIGHLAND FLINGPHOTOGRAPH | TZ RUNS / IAN J BERRY

PHOTO GALLERY HIGHL AND FLING




PHOTOGRAPH | TZ RUNS / IAN J BERRY





SANDRA BOWERS PIC TURED DURING THE HIGHLAND FLINGPHOTOGRAPH | TZ RUNS / IAN J BERRY





RACE ORGANISER | THE FELLSMANEVENT REPORTS | GUY MAWSON

THE FELLSMAN

The FellsmanRace Organiser: The Fellsman RaceWebsite Link: http://www.fellsman.org.ukDate of Event: 27-28th April 2013Event Type: Single StageDistance: 61mLocation: Ingleton, Yorkshire DalesDescription: The Fellsman is a high level traverse covering more than 60 miles over very hard rugged moorland. The event climbs over 11,000 feet in its path from Ingleton to Thresh!eld in the Yorkshire Dales.

Race Results: http://www.fellsman.org.uk/?page_id=17

RUNNERS PIC TURED DURING THE HIGHLAND FLINGPHOTOGRAPH | WWW.SPORTSUNDAY.CO.UK



http://www.fellsman.org.uk



http://WWW.SPORTSUNDAY.CO.UK

THE FELLSMANBY GUY MAWSON


E VENT REPOR T THE FELLSMAN

The Fellsman… Last year this race chewed me up and spat me out after 17 hours wind-blind, hypothermic and with mild frostbite in my hands, I swore for a long time that I’d never do it again.

It remained in my memory as the hardest thing I’d ever done – even after the 100-milers I completed in 2012.Then Christmas rolled-around and I started building up my 2013 race portfolio, included in this are two 100-milers, the Endurancelife UTSW 100 and The Bear 100, both which feature massive amounts of ascent and tricky climbs and descents. I started building up my training race portfolio with 40-50 mile races – then there was a gap which needed ! lling.

Staring me in the face, there was The Fellsman! A year had passed, my ultra experience in the mountains must have improved, I was going to go back and confront my demons – let The Fellsman know it hadn’t won.The initial training had gone really well, I felt I was running and recovering well – several ultras featuring 8-9,000! of ascent were easily completed so by the time The Fellsman !nally arrived I was con!dent I’d be able to give it a


uk

Twitter@Guy_Mawson

The Fellsman ResultFinish Time18hrs 20mins

good bash.

I drove the 250 miles up to Thresh!eld on the Friday afternoon, which took nearly 7 hours, arriving in time for the obligatory, ruthless kit check by the Keighley Scouts. The mandatory kit

PHOTOGRAPH | WWW.SPORTSUNDAY.CO.UK









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had been ‘upgraded’ after last year to include 5 tops and waterproof gloves so it was a bit of a squeeze to get it all into my pack, it was also a bit heavier than I’d have liked – but still positively anorexic compared to what some of the runners were sporting. The hikers especially looked like they were packed to go on a week’s holiday.

Once given the all clear I headed to the sports hall to bed-down with a hundred-or-so other Fellsman and women. Bagging a spot near the door and toilets I settled-in and met my new sleeping partners, exchanging tales of last year and other ultras. I stayed-up chatting to a chap until around 10:30pm when it was time to try and get some sleep. My earplugs managed to block out the snoring and other bodily noises and I got a few hours sleep until around 5am when people started stirring.

As the Fellsman is a point-to-point race you get bussed-out to the start for 9am, I’d opted for the later 07:30 bus so had a few hours to kill before the bus turned up. My normal low-carb ultra breakfast of avocado and ham drew a few comments from the porridge eating masses! Eventually 07:30 came and still no bus, one of the organisers told us the bus had got ‘lost’ but we’d get there on time. In the end it turned up and we were o# to Ingleton, I always chuckle on these “one way” trips at a comment someone once made that “it was like an evil school trip, where the teachers drive you out into the middle of nowhere and you have to make your own way home!”

It was chilly in Thresh!eld with a slight frost when we set o#, as we got closer to Ingleton the imposing lump that is Ingleborough and the !rst climb of the Fellsman came into view… The clag, (that’s cloud to us southerners) was touching the summit and there seemed to be a substantial layer of snow dusting the !nal couple of hundred feet. Welcome to England at the end of April? Honestly… It could have been worse; a couple of weeks earlier there were massive drifts – but still, snow at the end of April?

The bus dropped us o# at around 8:40 and we shivered in the queue to pick up our number and “tally” which is a plastic disc with the 24 checkpoints on, this gets “clipped” at each checkpoint to ensure you’ve visited each one. As

with standard fell running, how you get between each checkpoint is up to you and there are several routes of varying di$ culty depending on your experience and navigation skills! This year, for the !rst time an electronic chip was added to the back of the tally to provide recording of splits between the major checkpoints! Well done the scouts, !rst Facebook, now chip timing? Whatever will you give us in 2014?

Due to the late arrival of the bus we were 5 minutes late starting from the !eld outside the community centre. Jez Bragg wasn’t running this year, he’d obviously heard I was out for payback – either that or understandably knackered after running 3,054km across New Zealand recently – poor excuse Jez!

So, o# we went… Out of Ingleton and on the 2,000! climb up the lump that is Ingleborough. Right from the start my legs were tired, less than half a mile in before we hit the trail I was worried that this was going to be a long day at the o$ ce. Stupidly though, I kept a good pace up the !rst couple of miles up to the start of the snow line on Ingleborough. We hit freezing point a few hundred feet below the summit and the climb up to the checkpoint was as long and arduous as I remembered, once at the top the wind and cold was bitter as we headed across the summit to start the descent.

"I’d remembered the descent o! Ingleborough as dicey, but nothing like

this! It starts o! rocky and then goes vertical for a

while. This coupled with a slippery covering of ice and

snow made it lethal" I’d remembered the descent o# Ingleborough as dicey, but nothing like this! It starts o# rocky and then goes vertical for a while. This coupled with a slippery covering of ice and snow made it lethal.




PHOTOGRAPH | WWW.SPORTSUNDAY.CO.UK

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Some bloke recklessly came down too fast overtaking and nearly took down a group of people including some hikers coming up – idiot. Once the rock climbing was over a long drag on stepped %agstones and duckboards took us down to the !rst ‘roadside’ checkpoint, which has food. I was still OK on some cold sausages I’d bought so grabbed a cup of water and carried on.

We ran past the “Three Peaks” fell race HQ which was taking place on the same day and also takes in two of the same summits on the way up to Whernside. While not as bad as Ingleborough, the ascent up Whernside isn’t to be taken lightly and it goes on bit once you hit the ridge to the CP, depressingly you have to go up there and then come back down – so you get to see the runners enjoying the descent as you, (or I was) are hu$ng and pu$ng up to the trig! Once at the top it’s a nice descent down to the next roadside CP, but this was where it started going wrong for me. My co-ordination went which made a tricky descent di$ cult and I just lost the will to live. The terrain got quite boggy and slippery which wouldn’t normally be a problem, but I just couldn’t concentrate. At this point, and with the insanity of the next climb of Gragareth looming I was almost certain I was going to drop out. However, getting to the next checkpoint I told myself to eat like it

was going out of fashion, get to the top of Gragareth and then onto Dent. I’d been going for 3 hours on nearly zero carbs – plus, I’d not had my usual ca#eine !x, no wonder I was failing! Normally I’m not working this hard, this early in an ultra.

Gragareth is an insane hill, the steepest terrain I’ve ever climbed. It’s short, but brutal and it must have taken me over an hour to do the 1.5 miles or so to the top. I got there though and remembered the checkpoint team who call you Mr / Mrs & your number, so I was Mr 359. I was also in 201st place which wasn’t far o# what I seem to remember from last year. I took 3 proplus tabs and set o# towards the peat bogs which loomed ahead.

It took a few minutes, but the combination of %apjack and ca#eine started working its magic and by the time I got to the next CP at Great Coumb I was back on top of the world and enjoying myself again. Amazing how you can turn around like that? An entertaining descent o# Great Coumb and through Flinter Gill took me into Dent, the !rst major roadside CP of the day. My low-carb, gluten-free ideals went out of the window as I grabbed a sausage roll sandwich and cup of tea with extra sugar before stomping o# up the road towards the next big climb.





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Out of Dent on the road then o# on the trail up towards Blea Moor the sun came out and it started warming up, I stopped to get rid of my waterproof jacket, base layer and waterproof gloves. After stu$ng it all back into my pack and continuing I went to check my little Garmin eTrex which was in a backpack pocket only to !nd it was missing…. I need that for the dark bits so turned around and went back down the trail. fortunately after 5 minutes or-so I came across a group who’d picked it up – thanks lads!

Up until now I’d been running on my own, but now started chatting to a chap who was on a similar pace to me and we carried on a conversation for a good hour-or-so across to Blea Moor which is a long old slog across bogs and hills! I lost him somewhere on the descent o# Blea Moor towards the forests and the Stonehouse Turkey!

I’d been waiting to see the Stonehouse Turkey all day! He is impressive, absolutely massive and a Fellsman legend. I wasn’t disappointed, there he was in all his glory, chaperoned by a proud owner who told me his name was “Blue” when I asked! It made my day…

I jogged down the road and into the next roadside CP at Stonehouse with a chap but only lingered long enough to re! ll my water, grab a handful of chocolate digestives and a slice of cake. I knew it was a long slog up to Great Knoutberry so could eat en-route. This is where my shoes disintegrated last year, so it was a particular landmark for me. It’s a long climb and another out-and-back to the checkpoint then a fairly easy run into the next roadside CP at Redshaw.

Shortly after leaving Redshaw I meet up with Brian who I click with and we resolve to get through to Fleet Moss before the “grouping” at 7pm, this is a Fellsman rule which states that you must be “grouped” into 4-or more in the dark, (basically – after 7pm) it’s going to be close but we run-walk across the moors, over hills, through peat bogs and across Dodd Fell while chatting about all sorts of stu#. With a few minutes to 7pm we see the crest of the tent over a hill and manage to slip in at 6:55pm, just inside. Brian knows someone at the CP and is chatting to them, but I just re! ll my water, grab some more digestives and a couple of hot dogs, bid him farewell and head o# again. It’s now a race

against the dark!

"Fleet Moss is a nasty bit of work, I "nd myself tailing a couple of lads who are soon

turned into a trio when they catch another chap. I

start thinking – and I make four, could this be my

group?"Fleet Moss is a nasty bit of work, I !nd myself tailing a couple of lads who are soon turned into a trio when they catch another chap. I start thinking – and I make four, could this be my group?

Eventually I catch them and Gareth, Ian and Kevin seem like people I could spend a night with on the Yorkshire Dales. There’s not a lot of running going on now – we’re about 40 miles in and the consensus opinion seems to be that it’s going to be a walk into the !nish. Fine by me! We gather quite a group before we hit Cray and spend quite a long time at this CP eating, adding layers, switching on headlamps etc.… I think I have three portions of soup and a couple of sandwiches… carb overload!

We get grouped and Brian, (from earlier) and Colin are added to our group. Gareth and Ian get out their poles for the !nal section and I realise I know these two. A year earlier at the two-day, 66-mile Pilgrim Challenge I got lost at the end of the 2nd day with these lads! I mention it to them and yes, it’s true…! Small world and some more conversation fuel to see us through the night, I also learn that they did the UTSW100 last year which is more to talk about through the dark hours.

We leave Cray at 10pm for the penultimate climb up Buckden Pike. It’s a long, nasty climb and the temperature has dropped well below freezing now. We struggle to the top, taking a breather every now and again – but the end is in sight and there’s only one, (major) climb left. There’ll be no more running now – it’s a power-hike through the last 18




E VENT REPOR T THE FELLSMAN

miles.

The time passes quickly, once you’re in the depths of an ultra the hours really do just slip by, and if you have company they %y! Conversation %ows easily between the group – they’re a top bunch of lads, I couldn’t have asked to be grouped with better. I’ve often said that I’ve yet to meet a real idiot during an ultra, someone you’d want to run away from, I guess it’s just the sort of people we are!

Walking takes a long time compared to running, so we’re glad to get to Park Rash which promises hot chocolate. It’s now well below zero and my hands have stopped working – even with gloves and mittens on. I put on another base layer as I know I won’t be moving that quickly.

After shoveling down a cocktail sausage sandwich we psych ourselves up for the !nal climb up Great Whernside which I’d imagine is challenging in warm daylight – however, I’ve only done it in freezing dark so wouldn’t know.

Kevin expertly navigates us to the CP at the top which I missed last year, another long slog through tussocks and peat bogs, (which thankfully are frozen solid on the higher ground) takes us to the !nal hill CP at Capplestone Gate. It’s nearly all over now as we descend to the !nal roadside CP at Yarnbury.

Our team of 6 collectively decide we’re not stopping at Yarnbury and are going to push on the !nal 2 miles to the !nish. It’s all downhill, on tarmac and we might even, (gasp) jog into the !nish.

There’s a downhill stretch out of Yarnbury and we try out our running legs – it’s around 3am and a good 7 hours since we did any running. Lots of ‘ow’, ‘aargh – my quads’ and various expletives are shared with the sleeping residents of Thresh!eld as we head towards home and through the now alien landscape of streetlights and civilisation.

Eventually the school at Thresh!eld appears and we jog into the !nish, relief pours over everyone – especially for those members of the group who have attempted and failed to complete the Fellsman before. It’s been a fantastic team e#ort, nearly 8 hours of hiking through the night has

been tough – but a pleasure.

In and around the showers is like a scene out of a zombie movie! My feet are shredded and painful, and I’ve had some major rubbing on my achilles which has left them raw.

After a shower I climb into my sleeping bag and grab a few hours sleep. Aside from the 3 proplus I took at noon and the cups of tea I’ve been o# the ca#eine so manage to sleep OK, but eventually have to get up at around 6:30am, pack, say my goodbyes to a couple of people and hit the road.

We !nished in around 18hrs 20min which is over an hour slower than I did last year in worse conditions. BUT I nailed myself into the ground last year, whereas this year I feel OK so I’m happy with the result.

The added bonus of having a fantastic group made the tough night section enjoyable too.

"So, The Fellsman is still the toughest, meanest, baddest race I’ve ever

done!"

So, The Fellsman is still the toughest, meanest, baddest race I’ve ever done! Chatting to people around the course it’s apparent I’m not alone in this, I talked to people who’ve done the Lakeland 100, UTMB, Bob Graham round etc. and the consensus opinion was that The Fellsman tops them all!




THE FELLSMANPHOTOGRAPH | WWW.SPORTSUNDAY.CO.UK

E VENT REPOR T


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BRIGHTON MARATHON

The Brighton marathon was my !rst marathon for 2013. Arriving at Sussex University nice and early on the Sunday morning for the park and ride, I jumped onto the bus to the start. A dry and overcast morning so I opted for long sleeve compression top and charity vest. The start was pretty uneventful accept for seeing the Elites come past from their separate start area. We immediately made a loop round Preston Park, before heading into the city centre. The crowds were great here and a nice early push before heading up the hill towards Rottingdean.

This is the point I realized my long sleeve compression top was a bad choice!! Just before mile 10 I binned the top o" and continued in my vest back into the city centre. Just before half way out the front of the Thistle hotel, I saw the front running Elites heading to the !nish! Wow they were motoring. This is when I found the course a little dull and boring with two out and back stretches on the similar routes. Although the course was rammed full of partying supporters which made it more enjoyable. After 20 miles the sun was really at its height, and I was glad not only to have removed my top, but also that I had brought along my running cap. Which I swiftly put on. The last few miles along the seafront were tough and the Pier just didn’t seem to be getting closer. Eventually it did appear and shortly after !nished in a steady 4hrs 41. An ok course which can be a bit uninspiring but the crowd makes up for it!

DATE | 14th APRIL 2013WEBSITE | WWW.BRIGHTONMARATHON.CO.UKREPORT | DENNIS CARTWRIGHT


BOLTON HILL MARATHON

This was the !rst race put on by Phil Eccleston, a tough and hilly race following some of the most beautiful trails and country roads on the West Pennine Moors, taking you up and over Winter Hill, past White Coppice and along the famous Anglezarke Reservoir, past Rivington Pike and Barn, through Barrow Bridge village and down the famous 63 miners steps.

It was a very cold and windy day with plenty of snow still on the tops of the hills. Luckily I’d decided to wear basically everything I’d brought – good decision. The !rst 4 miles or so were mainly uphill to the top of Winter Hill, which seemed very aptly named on the day! The terrain was brilliantly varied, from country road, a snow and ice covered stone path across the moor, the cobbles of an old roman road, open fell, woodland trails and more. Oh, and hills.. lots of that.

The race was brilliantly supported – some of the aid stations were in the most incredibly windy and cold locations but that didn’t stop the volunteers from being full of beans. Lots of high5 gels on o"er to keep you going too. The forest trail alongside Anglezarke and Rivington Reservoirs was stunning – even a bit of sunshine! The climb back up Winter Hill at 21 miles thoughwas as tough as it gets. Possibly the steepest approach there is, plus an incredibly strong and freezing cold headwind. I had to really push the !nal few miles but still missed out on a sub-4, !nishing in 4:00:49 and 23/150. Lots more to come from Hill Runner, including some tough multi day events in the same area. I’d highly recommend these if you fancy a challenging marathon!

DATE | 10th MARCH 2013WEBSITE | WWW.HILLRUNNER.ORG.UKREPORT | MATT DUNN

E VENT REPOR T MAR ATHON ROUNDUP

2 3 3 U LT R A TA L E S | M AY 2 0 1 3


http://WWW.BRIGHTONMARATHON.CO.UK


http://WWW.HILLRUNNER.ORG.UK



LONDON MARATHON

London, my !rst world major. This race was about running London and enjoying the experience. After running Brighton Marathon the weekend before, I wasn’t expecting any great time. The day was perfect weather wise. Black ribbon was tied to my vest in memory of those killed or injured at the Boston marathon. A 30 second silence was amazingly observed, and a timely reminder of our togetherness in the running community. I was expecting it to take a long time to cross the start line, but 8 minutes later I was o".

The thing that struck me straight away was the supporters. From the start line it was 3-4 people deep! Cheering as if we were in the !nal mile! With the crowds cheering the !rst few miles went by happily waving. Eventually we joined up with the red wave and headed to the !rst real iconic London marathon image, the Cutty Sark. Holding back the tears, realizing what I was actually doing, I became conscious that my legs really were tired. I was in for a long day! I persevered and it wasn’t long till iconic image number two, Tower Bridge. It has a slight uphill in it, but the buzz of the crowd and running Tower Bridge I ha

rdly noticed. It was not far after this that I realized two marathons in 8 days is tough! Heading into the Docklands, I had one thing on my mind; I need to see my running buddy at the 25km marker. I needed a familiar face! It wasn’t long till I saw it. That gave me the push I needed to get to the 30km marker, where another familiar face was waiting. Fortunately at 18 miles an unexpected familiar face was shouting at me! A brief stop and an o"er of beer, sadly declined at this point, I continued on. The 30km marker eventually loomed, surrounded by the large buildings of the Docklands. A friend said it can be quiet here, it wasn’t!!

Pushing on, I felt like I was on the !nal straight, but one more familiar face which I really needed to see was my wife’s! Just before mile 22 it arrived!! Hug time!! With me feeling sorry for myself, my wife gave me some encouraging words and I headed o". The crowds were really growing now, shouting and encouraging us all!! It was almost impossible not to smile. The only muscle in my body that wasn’t hurting! Big Ben (St Stephens Tower) soon loomed, symbolizing the start of the !nish. I suddenly felt a little refreshed and lifted my pace a little.

This wasn’t exactly quick. Forever the tourist I decided to do a little ! lming heading towards Buckingham Palace and the Mall. I then tactically maneuvered myself into a position for a great !nishing photo and crossed the line in a personal worst of 5hours 26. But hey, I had just ran one of the world’s most iconic marathons!!

DATE | 24th APRIL 2013WEBSITE | WWW.VIRGINLONDONMARATHON.COMREPORT | DENNIS CARTWRIGHT


2 3 4 U LT R A TA L E S | M AY 2 0 1 3


HTTP://WWW.VIRGINLONDONMARATHON.COM



MANCHESTER MARATHONDATE | 28th APRIL 2013WEBSITE | WWW.GREATERMANCHESTERMARATHON.COM REPORT | LUCJA LEONARD

Dubbed as the #attest marathon in the UK, and being in my home city, I entered this marathon with the dream of qualifying for Boston. For my age group this means a sub 3:35, or possibly 3:40 as I go up to the 35-39 age group for next years Boston. Given the recent disturbing events at Boston, this felt even more important to achieve now.

Race day dawned and it was perfect running conditions, a cool 6 degrees, maxing out at 11 degrees, with just a slight breeze. Fuelled up on carbs and plenty of #uids the last 3 days I got to the start line in plenty time to !nd my place in start area B next to the 3:30 Brooks pacers. We had a 26 second silence followed by 26 seconds of applause for the Boston Marathon which pulled at the heartstrings.

And then we were o". I set o" at a blistering pace out of Old Tra"ord at 7:40/7:45 which worried me that I might have set o" too quickly, but I thought stick with it, you’ve got to give it your all. I passed the 3:30 pacers and settled into my pace which was feeling surprisingly comfortable. Keen to reach mile 8 in Sale, where hubby & a friend would be, I kept the pace up and was soaking up the great atmosphere from all the supporters. Hubby was super pleased to see me so soon and ran alongside me for some quick words of encouragement and an o"er of half a #apjack which I declined.

Headed out through Brooklands & Altrincham, then back through Brooklands where hubby was again at mile 16 for a strategic bottle swap, and again some words of encouragement and a running hug!

The next 4 miles went past quickly, still holding my strong pace out past Carrington, where Manchester United train,until I hit mile 21….that’s when the pain started, my right quad was screaming pain, but I just kept thinking its only 5 miles to go, its not even your run commute to work, don’t let this awesome pace go now. Things did slow down, I had another friend out at mile 23 in Urmston which gave me a boost, but still 3 miles to go. I checked my watch and I could see a sub 3:30 slipping away, I needed to keep 8 min miles, but at this stage I was on 9 minute miles, this gave me a kick and I managed to keep my speed in the 8:30/8:45 to see me home. It was an amazing sight to see the majestic Theatre of Dreams up ahead and the last 200 yards down to the !nish were in a world of hurt, I couldn’t see or hear the crowds, it was just me & that !nish line! 3:33!!! I could hardly believe it myself, there were tears and plenty of smiles & hugs too. Absolutely elated! I even rang my Mum in Australia and got her out of bed to share my news.

The support along the way from all the Mancunians that come out was immense, if you are looking for a fast, #at marathon with great support then sign up for next year!




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ULTR A TALES NEX T ISSUE

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We need your contributions each and every issue to keep this electronic magazine going. Contributions should be sent to the [email protected] email address in a text document format (word document for example but text included in an email is !ne) with photographs sent in a .jpg format.

Please also include your name and a small photograph of yourself so we can credit you with the article. If you are submitting an event report then please include details of the race as shown in the articles (i.e. website link and details of the event, distance etc).

If you are submitting several photographs then please ensure that individual emails are less than 10mb in size. Please ensure that you have permission to use any photographs you submit. If these have been taken by other people for you, then please let us have their name and we can credit them with the photograph.

Issue 6 Contributors

Thank you to the following people who all contributed towards Issue 6 of Ultra Tales:

Matt Brown, Matt Dunn, Claire Shelley, Mark Burnell, Andy Nuttall, Giles Tollit, Kris Du!y, Daz Carter, Luke Ashton, Darren Barnes, Richard Gordon, Andy Mouncey, James Stewart, Paul Navasey, Haydn Johnson, Phil Owen, Aaron Gourley, James Elson - Centurion Running, Alistair Mitchell, Debbie Martin-Consani, Ken Hughes, Luke Ashton, Chris Edmonds, Richard Ashton, Ewan Dunlop, James Adams, Guy Mawson, Lindley Chambers, Sam Robson, Helen James, Sarah Gardner-Hall, Gary Vernon, Emily Millington, Mark Perkins, Leila Rose, Chris Denison, Robbie Britton, Kurt Dusterho! - Cotswold Running, Lucja Leonard, Dennis Cartwright, Ian Berry - TZRuns, Grant Burton Photography, Ian Russell, James Harris, Stuart March, Dave Merret, Arthur Abbot, Karen Webber, Sue Albiston, Paul Rhoades, Alan Young, Kathi - KlickChick, Mark Fox, Sarah Mills, Ben Heslop, Nicola Dusterho!, Dave Bradshaw - SportSunday.co.uk, Andy Johns. Apologies if I have missed anyone out!

Issue 7 - July 2013

Our next edition (Issue 7) is planned for release in July 2013 and will cover race reports from events taking place in May or June 2013. If you are participating in an Ultra running event over the next couple of months then please send us a write up and photo. We would love to have a report for every UK ultra event.

Download links to future issues of Ultra Tales will be communicated via the website www.ultratales.com , Twitter @ultratales and the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ultratales. Alternatively, we can also send an email version of Ultra Tales out to you upon release so its right there in your inbox. Please visit the website and complete the mailing list form if you would like to received your copy this way.

Finally, thank you for reading and supporting this e-mag! If you have any feedback, comments or suggestions then please let us know.

Disclaimer: Ultra Tales is put together through individual contributions by runners and members of the Ultra Running community. Any comments that may be found in the electronic magazine are the express views of their individual authors.

Ultra Tales makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the electronic magazine or found by following any link contained in the electronic magazine.

Ultra Tales will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information and will not be liable for any losses, injuries or damages from the display or use of this information.




http://www.ultratales.com


Ultra Tales Issue 06

Documents

Transcript of Ultra Tales Issue 06