Christmas Morning Running

One of my favorite runs of the year is my Christmas morning run - nothing too extreme just a relaxed potter. It is just so quiet, very few people are out and about before 9 am and so there are no cars on the roads - nothing to get run over by or disturb the peaceful morning atmosphere. This is the third year I have got out for an early run and it wasn't any different this year, running along the top of the hill on a gorgeous (and pretty mild for December) morning. No rucksack, and a comfortable amount of clothes - no MdS focused things here, just fun for once!

Mini-Adventure #3: Isaac's Tea Trail

So, Boxing Day 2013, and time for my next mini-adventure. I had been planning this for a little while, knowing that I needed to find something of the right sort of length to do over Xmas. I searched around on the web and came across Isaac's Tea Trail on the Long Distance Walkers Association and the North Pennines Website. It is a 37 mile circular route around remote villages and hamlets in the North Pennines, following the route of an itinerant tea seller called Isaac Holden.

The area south of the A69 in Northumberland and Cumbria is pretty sparsely inhabited and includes some of the most remote places in England. With the small hidden valleys, hill and high exposed moors, it seemed like a good place to get out and train and experience the landscape.

So, having organised my bag the day before (5 Kg), I started out from the market place in Allendale Town where the trail starts half an hour before dawn in attempt to maximise the amount of daylight available (only four days after the winter solstice, this was going to be the biggest issue).  It was a beautiful clear frosty morning and there was a very satisfying crunch underfoot as I started up the valley alongside the River East Allen. The pack didn't feel too heavy and my legs felt fresh which was good but progress was hampered by the number of gates and stiles and working out where the path went across each field - the route is probably more obvious if its light and you're walking! The only company at this point were the sheep in some of the fields who kept following me, evidently convinced I was there to feed them. The only unfriendly on was rather a grumpy looking up in one field, though fortunately I managed to navigate around him without upsetting him - I had a long way to go and didn't fancy being chased!

Frosty road at the top of Allendale before starting out over the moors.

Along the Black Trail looking towards Allenheads

After about 5 miles the trail turns out onto the moors, initially climbing on a well defined track and then heading off to the west over the moors. The views were absolutely stunning and it was clear from the snow on the ground that I was the first person up there that day (probably unsurprisingly!), and could well have been the first person to travel along the path in several days. I felt really privileged to be up there, on what felt like the roof of the world with these amazing views all to myself. I did have camera out a fair few times which hampered progress a little but I was never stopped for long - the wind was whipping across the moor and it was very chilly. These were clearly not conditions reminiscent of the Sahara, however the snow lying on frozen grass and heather on the trail made a good approximation of sand, so I may not have been moving fast (with the rucksack it wasn't so much as a run as a fast walk and bounce between tufts of grass and peat at this point) and been pretty cold, but the terrain was good practice.

View south from the path down to Coalcleugh

There is something about grouse - they never seem to want to fly away until you are within a couple of meters of where they are hiding, and then they jump into the air with very loud squawks, almost as if they are trying to give you a heart attack. Even though this was happening every couple of minutes, it still took me a good couple of hours to stop jumping out of my skin.

Having made it over the moors, admittedly slowly with the terrain and the photo-taking, but feeling fresh, I passed through a gate with a little Welcome to Cumbria sign on it and headed down into Nenthead. It was a little odd to suddenly be down in some form of civilization again and the next section was down the valley to Alston. At this point I was a little concerned about the time, so after following the trail for half an hour or so up and down through fields and round the back of some gardens (one of which had an interesting collection of old red telephone boxes and model villages in), I decided to drop down to the road of a little bit which wouldn't be any shorter but would allow me to make faster progress.

 After rejoining the path and following it down by the river I got to Alston. I took the South Tyne Trail along by the steam railway and I started to make faster progress, rejoining the trail at Kirkhaugh Station and crossing the river. At this point I was starting to feel the distance and was a little worries about the time, knowing I had a fair way to go. I organised to be picked up by the pub in Whitfield instead of going back to Allendale - not too far from the end but I knew the route.

Anyway, the brief section on the road from the river crossing was very pretty and I came within a few meters of a red squirrel on the wall- I haven't seen one in years. The trail then veered off up the side of the valley through some fields to Ayle. At this point I started to feel something pulling slightly in my left hamstring but it didn't get any worse. Another short section on the road and some backwards running up a hill to help with the hamstring and the trail joined a track below some old mine workings. I've seen these from the road above before and always been curious - all part of the adventure.

Abandoned buildings above Nenthead

 Next it was up a rocky track and up over the main road and past the pottery (another thing I've driven past many times over the years but never gone into). Then it was back up onto the moors with the sun getting lower in the sky and casting a lovely golden glow. At either end of the track I came across some old rea advertisements attached to the gate posts which was a nice curious touch. The views were stunning again in the evening light as I got up over the moor and started the descent on the icy track down towards Ninebanks. It was at this point I saw the only other runner I saw that day, dressed in red and coming in the opposite direction. It turned out to be my brother with two dogs which was a nice surprise - he had come with my mum and dad to meet me in Ninebanks which was a nice moral boost - I had started to feel a little tired. 

My brother joined me for the last few miles which was nice company having spent the previous several hours in my own company. We carried on up the road, through the village and then up the hill and through some final few fields and into the woods above Whitfield Hall. I had a surprising amount of energy left and enjoyed the last few miles and it was a lot more fun with the company. 

I had only drunk 1.5 liters (all I had carried with me) over the course of the route and two and a half Clif Bars - not ideal for speedy progress but good practice I think (hope!). We made it down to the pub just after 4.30, completing 8 and a half hours and 32 miles of trail running - a great day out and mini-adventure in a stunning part of the world that I now know that bit better... Onto the next one! 

Back to Back Runs: 15 + 10 + 15 miles

So this set of back-to-back runs was originally supposed to be three 15 milers but I had the opportunity to head out to the seaside to run up some dunes on Saturday, and I wasn't sure my poor little legs could cope with doing the whole 15 miles on the sand with my rucksack so I stuck with a few less miles in the middle.

I have got quite used to go heading out for my runs after work in the dark now, but it is just a little bit more difficult on a Friday when everyone else is heading out to the pub! Anyway I got my first 15 out the way nice and easily running near home. Then it was up early on Saturday morning to meet one of my colleagues at Formby beach for to run up and down some dunes. This is another place that isn't far away from home but I've never been before, nor would it probably occurred to me if I hadn't been looking for some sandy terrain to train on, so it was great to have an excuse to visit.

The first few meters on the sand were decidedly uncomfortable - while my legs felt fine on solid ground, I could really feel the extra effort of moving over the sand, particularly with a few kilos on my back.* We started running up an over every dune we came across, managing a blistering 14 and 17 minute miles for the first 2 miles. This did include a certain amount of route finding  but nonetheless progress was not fast! The ups were tough, often on all fours and once on top we were greeted by amazing views down the coast over the dunes in the winter sun. The downs were a lot of fun and I felt the need to provide a suitably silly accompanying soundtrack on my way down - I'm never really going to grow up!

After three miles or so of grueling dunes, scratchy grasses and nasty spiky plants we ran out of dunes and carried on for a couple of miles (ish) down the beach to take in a little more distance before turning back into the wind. It  had seemed a nice gentle breeze on the way out but suddenly seemed 10 times stronger running back, picking up sand and blowing it in our faces as it went - our very own scouse sand storm! Not fun getting sand in your eyes - definitely need a good pair of wrap-around sunglasses for the MdS. We headed back into the dunes and made it back to the car having done just over 9 miles - quite enough for me!

The next morning I was up and dreading the next installment. In the end though it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I had expected. Once I had got my legs going and used to the weight of the pack again it was almost even pleasurable! My legs were tired but didn't seem to have any problems plodding along and I enjoyed a few loops round Salford Quays, dodging a few thousand santas the were pouring in from Old Trafford on the way. I even managed to build in a little more exploration, down the side of the River Irwell on my way back which, while not the prettiest on an overcast December day was interesting, and there is some impressive graffiti (not sure I'd want to head down there on my own with my camera though).

So next set of back-to-backs done and not too sore for it - may have been slow but got some good terrain and a good chunk of distance in, lets hope I keep it up!

*A note on the training pack

I've been using my smaller Inov8 pack (RacePac 16) which is very comfy and made of the same materials as the larger version I'm planning to use in the race. For weight I've been carrying 1.5 litres of water, an old Good Beer Guide wrapped up in a hoodie, supplemented with as much additional clothing and odds and sods I can fit in. Not sure how much it weighs (need to weigh it over xmas!) but I think I'm moving in the right direction and I have a few more iterations of the Good Beer Guide to add as we go on.

Mini Adventure #2: The Edale Skyline

My second mini-adventure started with an unwelcome alarm at 6 am on Saturday morning signalling the need to get out of my nice warm bed in time to get over to Edale in time to see the sun rise. I was planning to run the route of the Edale Skyline,  an annual fell race race of 21 miles and 1400 m of ascent, starting at Edale and hugging the skyline around the valley.

I crawled out of bed, got some porridge and coffee down me and headed off in to the Peaks. After some minor unplanned detours due to a road closure and a stupid car park ticket machine not wanting to let me buy a ticket until 8 am, I set off from the car pack by Mam Tor (just missing the first bits of the sunrise as a result of that ticket machine!). 

There was biting wind but I warmed up quickly, gaining a bit of height getting up onto the ridge and then quickly getting cold again as I got the camera out – couldn’t resist, it was a stunning morning.  The ridge took me up over Lords Seat and after a bit of indecision as to the best route to take over to Brown Knoll I found the path.  This section is hard going over the bog (good training for the sand!) and I wished it had been a little colder over the preceding days as there was only a thin skin of ice over the peat.  I can be a real wimp when it comes to first getting my feet wet, so there was a bit of fannying about trying to keep my feet dry. Once even a tiny dibble of water gets into my shoes I don’t care anymore and will run through anything – you would have thought I’d have grown out of this by now!

Anyway it was a beautiful morning, I had only the grouse and skylarks for company and I was buzzing – definitely worth getting out if bed for. Once I had got by feet wet I was really enjoying the terrain – not moving terribly fast it has to be said, but this wasn’t about speed. I got up onto Brown knoll, had a quick breather (not the first I have to confess, but the earlier stops were mainly driven by photo opportunities), and headed off over towards Kinder – more fun bog and then… out on to a walkers motorway – not nearly so much fun! I met my first people on my way up toward Kinder Low – all nice and cheery having been up for the lovely rise too.

I briefly departed from the route here to pop up to the trig point on Kinder Low.  I’ve only ever been up on Kinder Scout in the cloud so I was curious to get a view over the plateau – and this was supposed to be about exploring after all.

After this point the trail becomes quite rocky with lots of amazing weathered rock formations in a strangely alien looking landscape. I may have been hallucinating, but I was sure I saw what looked like the outline of a family in one of the formations (sculpture not real of course – I’m not that loopy yet). There was a really fun bit with the trail going between the rock in a formation, with some rock acting as stepping stones over a small gully. I was glad I wasn’t doing this bit in the dark!

After a couple of miles I reached the path split down to Edale and having been robbed my opportunity to do the route from the correct start point by the stupid ticket machine, decided I had to go down to the bottom of the valley to make sure I didn’t miss any height gain. The sensible people out for their Saturday walk evidently thought I was out of my mind as I passed them for the second time on my way back up.

As a reward I stopped back on the top for a little lunch and to take in the view. Then set off again round the edge of the moor with a wide open view over to Win Hill. The downhill stretch was lovely but I realised on the way back up again that I hadn’t been quite vigilant enough with my sugar and suddenly found myself very grumpy at the path for daring to go upwards, however gently. That uphill seemed to take ages (I wasn’t moving very fast) but the views were lovely and the sun surprisingly strong. From the top of Win Hill it was a quick (or not so quick) downhill into Hope, past the Cheshire Cheese Pub which looked far too inviting. The final uphill was a 300 m ascent up to the top of Loose Hill, which wasn’t too far but it felt like a very long way with my knackered legs. The views were definitely worth it though, and I could see the entire route.  From there it was just a last couple of miles along the ridge back up to Mam Tor, into the sun. I was rewarded with some spectacular views of some hang-gliders to finish off with.

Back to Back Runs: 4 x 12 miles

Last weekend I did my first set of back to back runs on the run up to the MdS. I have put together a set of training 'elements' that I want to tick off in my training that cover different attributes of the end event , and back to back runs are on my tick list to help me train for the multi-stage aspect of the MdS. Running day after day requires the body and mind to recover quickly and I definitely found that the couple of back-to-backs I did in training for The Wall really helped. If nothing else, they forced my to practice my recovery routine which I like to think I have reasonably well honed by now (compression sleeves and milkshake as soon after finishing as possible).

So... Back-to-back set #1 - four 12 mile runs over 4 days - ok so not really quite proper back-to-back, a little too much time in between them... Ah well, going in the right direction though. I definitely felt that I gained momentum over the runs (I originally intended to do three, closer together) but my legs felt in good enough fettle so I thought I might as well keep going.

Now 12 miles in itself isn't terribly far, not much farther than a normal mid-week run, however, it is the repeated drain on the legs and body day after day that I need to get used to. I will scale up the distance, aiming to do three 25 mile runs in three days towards the end of February - that should be a little more taxing and hopefully I'll be prepared for it when I get there!

I didn't go anywhere interesting to do these runs (12 miles hardly seems far enough to get anywhere anymore!) - I just did some pretty boring loops round home to reduce the faffing involved getting ready for and getting back from the runs and maximise fun time the rest of the weekend. Only problem is the energy drain over repeated days and I have a habit of not eating enough which isn't very helpful! I suppose good training for when I have limited food during the event but not the best for real life!

Mini-Adventure #1: 24 Miles of Thunder, Lightning and Locks

In the process of trying to find ways of making my long runs interesting, I came across Alistair Humphreys' website. Among other many other interesting and inspiring entries on his website (along with some great photography), he has a section on 'micro adventures'. This gave me the idea of turning my long distance training sessions into mini adventures and do a bit of exploring.

So this was my first mini adventure (not ever of course), running from Salford up the Rochdale Canal to Littleborough to meet a couple of friends for a run and a few pints down the pub afterwards. This route has the advantage that the canal follows the route of the railway pretty closely so it would be easy to escape if anything went wrong, like an injury playing up.

So I headed out from Salford and down onto the canal in Castlefield which I would follow all the way up through north Manchester and on up to Littleborough. I could see a storm up ahead and it looked like I was heading into oblivion it was so dark. Spend any length of time outside in north west England and any time of year, particularly in November and you expect to get a bit wet... I was about to get more than just a little wet!

It felt wonderfully silly to be setting out on my mini expedition into a storm, exploring new places I have lived so close to for so long but never been to. Manchester has such a rich industrial and cultural heritage that it doesn't make enough noise about in my opinion. The route of the canal shows off a great cross-section of the city - not all of it pretty by any means but so interesting passing all of these big old brick industrial buildings in various states of decay, some still in use and whirring away. The housing and old factories eventually give way to countryside and more and more picturesque locks and views. By this point it was absolutely tipping it down with a mixture of rain and hail which was just about hard enough to sting exposed areas of skin, and I was thinking that I should have brought a torch with me. All these factors may have contributed to be getting fairly convincingly lost around the M60 crossing where the tow path disappears - all part of the adventure! I did eventually manage to find the canal again after consulting Google Maps a couple of times and a stop off in an off licence (only for directions, promise).

I'm not sure whether I just kept running into the same storm, or if there were several different storms but I got comprehensively drenched at least 3 times. The advantage of all this weather was that there weren't may people to get in the way on the tow path, save the odd slightly very damp person out for a walk and some very silly people out angling. They must have been absolutely freezing sat there not moving - at least I was generating a fair amount of heat as I went!

It is a while since I can remember being outside during a thunder storm and I'm used to windows and walls dulling the sound slightly, so when there was the first flash rapidly followed by a very loud peel of thunder overhead, it almost made me leap into the canal! I quickly got used to it though and it made things just that bit more interesting.

After three hours or so running, I made it up to Littleborough and met my mates just in time for the sun to show its face. The took me for a lap of Hollingworth Lake and then we headed to the pub so I could undone some my good work with a pint or two of the local brew.  

So is the anti-boredom strategy working? Well, lately during my long runs I have needed music to keep myself entertained which works, but that is really just numbing the brain to the monotony - not a proper fix. This time I didn't need or even feel like listening to any music - I was just happy pootling along and taking in my surroundings - a good sign I think!

I also used my newly acquired rucksack - the smaller version of the Inov-8 pack (Race Pac 16) i used for the OMM - as expected very comfortable and very stable with no bouncing around as I ran. Can thoroughly recommenced it.

OMM

A couple of weekends ago I went down to the Brecon Beacons to do the OMM with my sister. It's great fun bowling across the fell side, map in hand with horizontal rain whipping across your face. Its amazing seeing hundreds of runners flying in different directions clad in tights and brightly coloured waterproof tops! Other than being a lot of fun and a good training opportunity, it was a great opportunity to test out a couple of bits of kit:

Shoes

I've been trying to decide between two different shoes for the MdS -  the Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 and the Inov-8 Roclite 315. I have been using Inov8 Roclites for several years and I currently have a pair of the slightly lighter weight Roclite 295's which I love but I'm not too sure how comfortable they would be over 155 miles. They are very light and comfortable during a day out on the fells but I'm just concerned about the level of cushioning. So as a comparison I bought a pair of the Salomons which are larger and more squishy. The jury is still out on which I prefer - I think the Innov8's would have been better suited to the OMM so I don't think it was a very fair test - more testing required here.

Pack

After lots of reading and pondering I've decided to go away from the standard issue Raidlight and OMM packs and go for an Inov8 pack. I like their kit in general; their designs are clever and well built and so I thought I'd risk it. I particularly wanted a pack I could use out on the fells as well and wouldn't just be left in the cupboard after the race. So I've gone for the Race Pac 32 which I hadn't managed to find in a shop anywhere to look at. I was very pleased with the construction though when I took it out of the packaging when it arrived.  I filled it with 7 or so kilos of kit and water during the OMM and it was extremely comfortable - I hardly even noticed it was there, so a big thumbs up there. I even liked it so much I've ordered its smaller brother to train with.

In other news, the training plan is developing and I've been finding myself some nice long routes to do in the Peaks and Lakes - more detail on that later! 

Motivation....

I recently had a bit of a dip in motivation on my way towards Berlin Marathon at the end of September so it seems a good time to stop and reflect a little on what caused it and discuss some remedies so that I can apply them to my training going forward.

The Negative bit - The Problems

Boredom....

This is the most topical issue for me at the moment. Training for The Wall I got into a routine of doing long slow plods which was ok at the time, particularly with the longer distances allowing me to get further away and run less familiar routes. The new goal, pushing limits farther than I had done before also helped.

But with the return to marathon training bringing with it less long routes at more familiar (for which read shorter) distances I didn't like I was pushing anything. It all became a bit monotonous....

Energy....

As my mileage increases I often find that my appetite decreases - not a good thing when you're using more and more energy! This can result in me crashing, feeling like training is the last thing I want to do and generally becoming a bit (more) of a grumpy bugger. Also, after running in the evening when it is late and I'm tired, there isn't much incentive to eat as well as I should if I'm not really hungry.

Time....

Training can take up a lot of free time and it can be frustrating when you have to make compromises with other commitments, even when they are things that you want to do, because they can feel like they are getting in the way. Focus is good, but not to the extent that you're not able to find a compromise with other life pressures. This whole thing is (for me at least) a hobby and so I really should enjoy it! Well most of the time at least...

None of which is to say that if you're training well and hard, you shouldn't get tired and have to make some compromises - just that it should be within reason and not drive you (and your friends / loved ones) into the ground! However... getting the right balance can be easier said than done!

The Positive Bit - The Solutions 

Mix Up The Training

As I mentioned boredom has been a bit of a problem for me recently so making sure it isn't a problem is going to be very important over the next few months. To try an avoid it I have tried to be a bit more varied than I have been in the past when thinking about my training routine. I put to together a list of different things I think I need to cover to make sure I am prepared for the desert - things like strength (e.g. for carrying a pack over long distances) and heat training. Among other things I have built gym sessions in my weekly training so I can exercise inside with clothes on and do some strength exercises.

Get Some New Music

Another boredom-busting method I now use quite regularly is to download some new music before a long run, or if I am feeling a little down with it all. It can really help to enthuse and entertain me. If there is no new music that I like when I need it, rummaging about in my music library to put together a collection of my favorites also helps.

Talk / Write About It

Talking with friends or a coach can help to get things off your chest and get another more independent perspective. I have also found that writing about my training, along with giving me record to look back at, helps put things into perspective. Writing takes a lot of concentration for me so it can help to focus and refine my thoughts while ironing out the irrational bits.

Get the Nutrition Right

This is something I have got wrong a few times and can ruin an otherwise good training period and a food diary can make a big difference. Eating the right things and enough of them makes me feel so much better!

Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon

I've been a little distracted over the last few months training for the Berlin Marathon which has taken my attention a little away from dedicated MdS training. The training didn't really go to plan - a few other things cropped up in the weeks leading up to the race, so it was never going to go particularly spectacularly. I did really enjoy it though, having decided to relax and not have my eyes glued to my watch the whole time. It did my confidence good finishing comfortably (not fast!) and feeling good. I even felt I could happily run another 10 - 12 miles which is reassuring.

Anyway, I've had a couple of weeks off to relax and get my head around the next 5 and a half months. I'm quite pleased with my fitness base but I do need to get back into some longer distances and some more specific training. I've put together my training plan up to the MdS and done some research on some good prep races to enter. 

I had some motivation issues during my Berlin training (mainly due to boredom of plodding the same old routes over and over), so I've been particularly thinking about how to get round the problems I was having, especially heading into the winter months. I'll cover that and the new nice shiny new bits of kit which I've procured recently in other posts soon, but bed is calling now!

Wall Run Learning Points - Part 2

Recovery

One thing I was particularly unsure about, and wanted to get some experience of was my recovery overnight for the following day’s stage, and how I would fare over the second day. During training I had got into a routine of having a recovery shake* within 15 or 20 minutes of finishing and wearing some Compressport calf compression sleeves for two or three hours after. This seemed to work as my legs weren’t too bad at all the next morning despite having been confined to my sleeping bag and small tent. I think the massage and slowly walking about did their bit as well.

* I’ve found I get on well with the ‘For Goodness Shakes’ but they are a touch on the expensive side so after normal training sessions I’ve been using skimmed milk with a bit of Bourneville cocoa powder and a little sugar which seems to work pretty well.

Nutrition

I didn't end up really using any of the food I had with me, other than a few Clif shot blocs (about 4 each day). I’ll know for another time what the pit stops are like and lighten my pack a bit (not that the extra weight did me any harm from a practice point of view). Each day I had a few handfuls of chocolate covered raisins from the check points, and some peanuts, flapjack and bananas from the more substantial pit stops.

I am surprised by how little I took on, and it probably wouldn't be sustainable for a longer stage race, but I did help me practice eating more ‘real’ food on the go, rather than just swallowing sickly gels all the time. Real food is definitely the answer over these longer distances and timescales.

Training

My training broadly followed the suggested training plan, topping out at about 60 miles per week, with a longest run of 30 miles with a pack. I was surprised how well my body coped in the race, running two days back to back further than I have gone before. I did do two back-to-back sessions in the couple of months before the race, but only short (12+12 and 15+12). I think the combination of the back-to-backs and longer singles runs did work together even though I got nowhere near the actual race conditions. I practiced walking during longer runs (fast walking, not slow ambling, which was tempting at times!) which I think helped me keep the pace up when I did walk.

I could probably have done with a little more trail training, though – I really need to find myself some slippery slopes to run up to practice for those dunes! A little more down hill practice might have been good as - the down hills started to become a bit of a challenge towards the end!

Wall Run - Learning points (Kit)

I haven’t been running too much over the last 3 weeks or so, so there’s not much to report on that front. I have found since I’ve started running marathons, spending 3 or 4 months training for a specific event, that I tend to have a down period afterwards, loosing concentration a bit. While that hasn’t mattered too much in the past, it is going to matter more now, with the goal further away with many practice events in the meantime.

So, while it is still (sort of!) fresh in my mind it thought it would be a good idea to jot down some thoughts on what I learnt from my first ultra and multiday race and get my mind back on track. One of the main reasons for wanting to do The Wall was to learn something about ultra-distance events with enough time to use it to help shape my training and kit choices.

What it has also done is given me confidence. It has shown that I can cover distances that I previously thought were almost beyond comprehension, and get up the next morning feeling (though tired) that I could go out and do another stage. Definitely positive stuff!

So what exactly did I learn? Probably easiest to split this up…

Kit

I tried using some of the kit I’m hoping to use in the MdS. The main bit of kit I was texting were my compression shorts of the 2XU variety. Reading around I had seen these recommended for use in the desert so and they seemed to be pretty popular so I thought I’d give them a try. I’m pleased to say they were very comfortable (no sign of any unwanted friction). I don’t really know how much the compression helped as I have no experience to compare it to, but the support on my quads did definitely help over the miles.

On my top half I used a Helly Hansen Dry top – I have been running in these on fells for a long time and have always been very comfy and it did its job well here as well. I’m not sure about their SPF however – an important factor in the Sahara, so this might need some investigation.

The socks were hilly twinskins. My feet generally stayed in good condition and I only changed socks at the overnight stop. The only issue was a big blister on the inside of my big toe which I only discovered when I took my shoes off after I’d finished. Unfortunately while the twinskins do seem to work week, they are probably a bit thick and warm for the desert – they’re pretty toasty in the UK! I think the way forward is probably some thin toe socks which will minimise friction between my toes which will be a particularly good thing with sand about.

For hydration I used my Camelbak bladder which was good (very convenient to drink from) but maybe a bit fragile and unhygienic for the desert – it would be a bit of a disaster if it started leaking. It is also more difficult to know how much you have left and it takes longer to refill. I think I’ll stick with bottles.

More to follow on recovery, training and nutrition…

The Wall - Part 2

Day 2

I woke up early and listened to the rain hitting my tent, trying to work out how stiff my legs were. Despite having a warm comfy bed less than 20 miles away I had decided to spend the night camping out with everyone else in order to gain some experience of sleeping cocooned in a sleeping bag with limited space to move. Other than wanting to continue to feel part of the event and not disappear off and come back when it was convenient, I thought it would be a good learning experience, managing recovery with more limited means than back at home.

Having waited for the rain to stop crawled out of my tent I went about sorting myself for the day ahead, getting fluids and food down me and the obligatory visit to the little boys room. I was ready at the start well before 8 am, the earliest start time, with several other eager runners, several of whom I had met during the previous day. We were all ready to get under way and start up the rather steep and scary looking hill we had heard about from the previous year, and seen people going up the previous day.

I was pleasantly surprised at the state of my legs – there seemed to be no obvious niggles, and while stiff, they weren't excessively so and certainly felt like they could keep going another day, though 37 miles gives plenty of time for things to go wrong! I was especially pleased as I was a little worried that I had gone a little fast the first day, and the fact that I didn't feel anywhere near broken helped buoy my confidence. The first climb certainly woke the kegs up but it gave a good excuse to walk early in and gave us something to bond over as we struggled up the heather covered slope. Once at the top it was a nice gentle bimble down the path onto the road towards Newborough with little ascent and I found a comfortable rhythm that felt maintainable with my tired legs, having a nice chat with a lady I had got talking to after the first pit stop at Lanercost the previous day. Curiously, the fact that they felt tired from the outset didn’t really bother me too much – it was expected and didn’t get any worse over the first few miles and so I sort of forgot about it and kept going.

The next stage of the trail took us over Whinnie Hill and down the path behind the house that I grew up in – it was quite a nostalgic experience running down through fields I used to go sledging in and then along the route by the Tyne to Hexham where we used to go on cycle rides when I was small. For me it added a nice personal touch to the experience, which certainly helped. 

I made it into the Hexham pit stop by the rowing club at the end of the third stage (13 miles) in about 2 hrs 8 mins , a bit faster than expected, but then there had been a lot of downhill to help things along. My mum and dad and their friend Sue were waiting to give me a cheer on which gave a bit of a boost, along with the other people at the pit stop clapping people in.

I quickly got my fluid and food down me and then carried on, over the Tyne and on towards Corbridge along a road I have been down countless times in a car and which was surprisingly flatter and shorter than I had remembered it to be. Just before Corbridge the markers directed us down onto the side of the Tyne, a nice change from pounding the roads. We then went up through Corbridge and proceeded to climb a long hill, longer than I remember it being which was quite mentally exhausting but I was pleased with my efforts, running a significant proportion. It was about this time that I started to regularly find myself around a very friendly pair called Dave and Norman, who I would end up running right to the end with. As there weren't many people around us at this point in the race, and sometimes fair distances between marshals it was nice to have people in sight. There was also another nice bloke running close by (who for some reason I never actually introduced myself to) who I had been running with on and off from half way through the third stage on the way to Hexham.

When the route took us back down by the Tyne I had a few miles where the others were behind me along a quite flat road. Although there had been no obvious alternative routes I could take I began to become paranoid after a little while that I had gone the wrong way – there had been a couple of instances earlier in the day where I had managed to miss signs through lack of concentration and Dave and Norman had had to correct me. Fortunately however I came across some course arrows directing me down on to the river bank and I was thoroughly relieved – I knew I couldn't have been far off (I knew the course followed the river at this point) but with those few miles to myself I had had far too much time to over think things! The section along the river involved some nice slidy mud and tall undergrowth which provided a nice change, with a particularly interesting bit with a steep slippery downhill to cross a rocky shallow bit of river. In retrospect that was fun, but with my tired legs I was fairly sure I was going to flying down the slippery slope into a crumpled heap onto the stones below. Fortunately I managed to maintain a little bit of dignity!

I ran the vast majority of that 4^th stage mentally ticking off the familiar railways stops into Newcastle as I went (Stocksfield, Prudhoe, Wylam… etc.) in a rhythm that didn't seem too hard to maintain until we were a mile or two from the final pit stop. At this point (crossing the impressive disused railway bridge at Wylam) the couple of miles I knew were left to the pit stop began to seem never ending, though I did have Dave and Norman in the distance up front to help drag me a long.

Eventually that slog into Newburn was over, and I made it into the pit stop tent just in time to avoid being drenched in a heavy downpour. I was greeted by a comforting sweet smell of toasting waffles – some of the marshals had put a couple of waffles in front of the jet heater in the tent which I thought was a great idea, unfortunately I couldn't stomach one at that point and I grabbed a banana and headed off munching as I went.

At this point my nameless friend I had been running near all day gained a second wind and disappeared, with what must have been an impressive surge of energy. I wasn't in any state to be doing anything remotely similar! I did at least know that as a minimum I could walk the last 7 miles to the end, achieving my aim of completing the race. What I didn't know was how much I could persuade myself to run!

Dave and Norman had set off a couple of minutes before me and they quickly came into view around a corner up ahead. I caught them up and we set off into Newcastle together. Strangely it wasn't much more painful to run than it was to walk, and although I knew I would get to the end significantly quicker if I carried on running it was very very tempting to walk. I am hugely grateful to Dave and Norman for keeping me running over those last 7 miles, it would have been so much more difficult to manage the same pace without them.

We got down onto the quayside and kept expectantly looking out for a first glimpse of the bridges as we rounded the curve in the river. There were the odd small turns we had to make round obstacles on the quay which under normal circumstances would have been easy, however by this point rather being able to dart round them it was more like maneuvering a small oil tanker… The legs were very tired by this stage! 

Eventually the first bridge came into sight and the thrill I had been waiting for started to build. As we approached the first bridge we passed a couple walking down the quay and the gentleman asked where we had run from. At the reply ‘Carlisle’ he responded ‘Bloody Idiots!’. It was a great comic moment, and as he had uttered it in a strong Geordie accent it felt entirely in keeping with the location and experience.

I have loved the view the bridges over the Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle for as long as I can remember. Running under them, counting down to the Millennium Bridge and the finish, absolutely exhausted and emotional was an amazing experience. There were no crowds or spectators apart from a few at the very finish, but that didn't matter, the rush was better even than the end of the Great North Run where there are thousands of people lining the seafront. Despite being more knackered than I can remember, I ran under the Tyne Bridge and found some energy to pick up the pace which, helped by the man in front, turned into a (sort of) sprint over the Millennium Bridge and into the finish. 69 miles, 12 hours 25 minutes and 23 miles over two days, and my first ultramarathon over!

A thoroughly knackered and pretty red Tom! 

The Wall - Part 1

On Sunday 23^rd of June I completed my first Ultra distance event, The Wall ultramarathon, a 69 mile race across the north of England, from Carlisle Castle to the Baltic Quay in Gateshead. There was the option to do this in one (Expert class) or two days (Challenger class), and I am very glad I decided to go with the latter. The rationale behind choosing this option (other than me being a wimp) was that it would be good practice running along way (32 miles) one day, sleeping in a tent stuck in the shape of a sleeping bag overnight, and getting up and running another long way (37 miles) the next morning.

Day 1

I am fortunate enough to have grown up in Northumberland and I was able to persuade my parents to drive me over to Carlisle the morning of the race. I arrived in time to drop my bag to be taken to the half way point at Vindolanda and make my way into the castle with half an hour to spare before the start at 8 am. The crazy people taking on the whole distance in the Expert class started an hour earlier and by the time I made my way into the castle there were plenty of people milling around. I felt a moment of intimidation as I looked around at all these very fit and experienced looking people, but I soon got chatting to some people nearby as I debated if I should pin my number to the front of my top or onto by rucksack, and if my timing chip needed to go around my neck or could go in my bag.

It turned out that they were newbies as well which was comforting, and we got chatting about the challenge ahead. I also got chatting to a friendly gentleman call John who, I noticed had a Raidlight bag that looked very much like the ‘standard’ MdS bag, with a Union Jack sewn on to it. It turned out he had done the MdS four years previously and was very patient with my sudden barrage of questions. I also bumped into a pair of fellow (but infinitely more experienced) Challengers I met in the registration queue the previous day. I started to realise that there was no need to be intimidated; the atmosphere was so much more friendly and relaxed than at all the road races I have done previously. Some people new to this scale of challenge and others old hands but all in it together for the long journey over to Newcastle.

After a short introduction and brief we were sent on our way, moving slowly together out of the castle gates (and despite a warning about trip hazards on the way out I managed to almost go flying 10 metres over the start line!). The route took us onto the banks of the River Eden and out of Carlisle into the country side. I found it difficult to know if I was going at the right pace, my fresh legs wanting to speed my forward past people, and my head trying to rein them in. After 5 miles or so I fell into step behind pair of very amiable gentlemen and got into a comfortable rhythm. We continued to see each other passing each other every now and again for the most of the remainder of the day. I loved meeting people, albeit briefly sometimes, as I went along. 

 

After 15 miles we reached the first pit stop at Lanercost Priory where there was great support from the spectators that had gathered to meet runners they knew. I had not expected it at all, and it really gave me a boost. I quickly got a couple of cups of fluid, a banana and some peanuts (which have never tasted so good) down me and carried on… just 17 miles and few hills to go before the camp at Vindolanda. The elevation profile of the route is such that the first day has a net height gain and the second a net height loss, with the majority of the first day’s height being gained over a couple of long steep hills in the second stage. To my surprise I didn’t really mind the hills, in fact they presented a very good excuse to walk and use some different muscles.

At the top of the first hill soon after the first pit stop we got our first sight of the Wall, the remains of a turret and a short section of wall. Despite having visited more eastern bits of the wall many times over the years as I was growing up I don’t remember ever having seen this part of the wall, and the next few miles along the road past sections of wall to Birdoswald Fort and Greenhead. It was great to be discovering new areas so close to home.

I kept going, feeling remarkably energetic and in a comfortable rhythm all the way to Greenhead wondering if my energy was causing me to overdo it a bit, knowing very well that that energy could evaporate in a second. I knew from experience of the area that there was a long and very steep hill up out of Greenhead, and it turned out to be even longer than I remember it being! I got to the top of it maintaining a reasonable walking pace, though I was not pleased to discover at the check point at Walltown Quarry a short while after that there were another 8 miles to go which for some reason suddenly seemed like a long way away! I was starting to flag a little at this point, but set off again after the usual couple of mouthfuls of fluid and a handful of jelly beans. In retrospect these last 8 miles were the nicest of the day, up in proper Wall country with great views and a break from pounding the tarmac, though I wasn't really thinking along these lines at the time. The last 4 or 5 miles I just wanted it to finish and I was very glad when we started to see supporters by the side of the track leading into Vindolanda.

I was absolutely knackered with I finished and couldn't have contemplated going any further. I have a huge amount of respect for all those people carrying on to Newcastle. I got my soup and sat down to rest for a little before going to find my bag and put up my tent, drinking it slowly to let my stomach adjust (it had been feeling a little churned up for the last few miles). It was just before 2 pm and I had until 8 am to wander about, get a massage, relax and do my best to recover for the next 37 miles.

Tents at the overnight camp - that dark hill in the background on the right is the first challenge of the second day - we had plenty of time to admire it!

Crossbay Challenge

Last Sunday was one of my favourite events – the Crossbay Challenge. It is a 13 mile (ish) race across Morcambe Bay. The route, which changes slightly each year due to the movement of the sands takes you out into the bay, crossing the two rivers that flow into it. It involves a lot of sand and water which, depending on the height of the runner and the year can reach over your waist. The race is led by rangers on quad bikes, the tracks of which provide the principal method of marking the route. The distance varies from year to year due to the inherent variability of a course run over a tidal bay which adds a little mystery as you’re never entirely sure how far you have left to go (the mile markers are very approximate, and the organisers are fond of putting dog legs into the route!)

It is so fun and different to all the other races I have run, and the views as you run out into the bay are amazing with Heysham power station on one side of the bay, and the fells of the lake district on the other. There is a huge sense of space and your sense of distance is warped by the flatness of the sands. The runners form a great winding snake across the sands and is quite a spectacle to see, if only to be impressed by the number of loopy people wanting to take part.

Anyway, unfortunately this year the Crossbay Challenge fell the weekend before the Wall Run, my first attempt at an Ultra, and smack bang in the middle of my taper. Not ideal, though as it only ended up being 12.4 miles this year (according to my garmin) you’d have thought this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. However unlike the previous two years I have done it when it didn’t matter I’ve ended up with a nice deep blister on the inside of each foot… Hopefully it shouldn’t cause too many issues but we’ll see! Also, though I’m probably being a little hyper sensitive about it, my calfs and shins still feel a bit stiff two days later. I’m having a nice relaxing week so hopefully they’ll loosen up before Saturday!

Back to Back Runs Prep, and other Wall Run training

Since doing the Manchester Marathon at the end of April I have more or less followed the suggested training plan on the Wall Run website, which by the looks of it is designed for someone new to ultra marathons – perfect for me! My maximum mileage has been just under 60 miles, further than I have done in the past when marathon training and it hasn't seemed to cause any problems. During the week days I haven’t strayed too far from my previous marathon routine, though with a higher sustained weekly mileage. The main difference has been with the long runs, doing the main distance runs every other week.

As suggested by the plan I did a 30 miler (see separate post) four weeks before the race, and I have done a couple of back to back training runs, a couple of weeks either side, one 12+12 miles, and another 15+12 miles. I organised these by doing the first on the Friday evening and the second on the following morning, trying to keep less than 12 hours between them. I could feel that I was running on tired legs on the second run, but in the scheme of things they didn't seem too bad. I guess being used to longer distances in individual runs helps put the shorter ones into perspective.

I’ve done all the long runs with a pack, attempting to use a greater weight than I’ll be carrying in the Wall Run on the assumption that it is better to be used to a heavier pack than a lighter one! Anyway, I’ll have to carry a significantly heavier pack during the MdS so the earlier l get used to increased weights when running, the better.

So training down, only the race to go! Should be an interesting learning experience... and hopefully at least a bit of fun! (the weather is looking a little wet though..)

First Ultra Distance Run!

Last weekend I completed my first ultra distance training run - i.e. my first run longer than the 26.2 mile marathon distance. At 30 miles it was the longest distance I have ever run (or more accurately run with a bit of walking / staggering). See route below:

Not having any experience of running this far I wasn't entirely sure how it would go, particularly as while I have run 4 marathons up to this point, the mentality and atmosphere during a race is very different. When you are completely knackered during a marathon, there are at least others around you going through the same thing and people cheering you on. On a training run it is just you plodding along the pavement while the world goes about its business around you, which can feel quiet lonely sometimes.

The farthest I had ever run in training before was 22 / 23 miles which had seemed like a bloody long way, and a lot of time spent running, though at less than 3 hours it was significantly less time than I expected it to take me to cover 30 miles (with a practice weight rucksack). Planning the run I arbitrarily decided that I wanted to do it in less than 5 hours, which when thinking about it more seemed quite ambitious! It is a very different type of running pushing past the 26.2 mile distance, moving at speeds that make your marathon pace seem very fast indeed in order to keep your body going.

To make the distance less daunting I broke the distance down into 5 mile segments in my head and promising myself a reward (like some sugar or a walking break), a method that has been commonly recommended through the reading I have done. Happily it seemed to work - less than 5 miles left until the next reward is a lot easier to deal with than 15, or 20 miles!

I was lucky to have a couple of good friends run the first 15 miles with me, which must have been frustrating for them pootling along at such a painfully slow pace, but they were very nice about it! This helped no end psychologically, making the run feel half the length. These first 15 miles were in a big loop around Knutsford and Tatton Park which was lovely change from the standard trudge around south Manchester. They then left me in Knutsford, and I carried on, running home. It really helped to have an end destination rather than just a distance to reach.

I had originally decided to try running and walking at regular intervals, however in the end I ran (slowly!) for the first 10 miles before having my first walking break and taking on some sugar. After that I promised myself a walking break every 5 miles, for half a mile. This held up until the final four miles when I resorted to walking more frequently. I was starting to find it difficult and I could feel the effects of dehydration when I approached the 26 mile mark but I really wanted to be running when passed the 26.2 mile point, as that was the landmark point of the whole experience.

I knew beforehand that walking breaks would be necessary to help me cover the distance, however I had decided that I would not stop, and any walking would be fast, ideally around a 12 minute mile, ensuring that I continued to make sensible progress. Looking at the data from my GPS watch I spent much less time walking than I thought I had and kept a reasonable speed, which was satisfying. Curiously towards the end it was actually less uncomfortable to carry on jogging than it was to walk.

It was a hot day (20 C ish) which was a good thing from an experience point of view, but made the distance all the more daunting. The warmth made me concentrate on drinking more than I might have otherwise have done, which will be crucial in the desert. I took on less food/sugar than I had expected (a clif bar, 3 shot blocs and a bottle of powerade), though I had taken plenty along with me in my rucsack. It wont have helped my pace but I didn't feel any ill effects which is good for confidence that my pace was right.

Anyway 30 miles... a step into the world of ultrarunning and the unknown, pushing the boundaries of my experience and confidence. In the end that is really the whole point of this MdS lark.

Marathons etc.

A Bit of Dodgy Wiring

My first experience of endurance running began with the Seville Marathon in February 2011.  I had heard while living in Madrid that this was a good race, particularly owing to its extremely flat course.  Prior to beginning training for this race I had been getting palpitations when out running and it was suggested to me that it may be a good idea to go and talk to the doctor about this before beginning training for a marathon. I was eventually diagnosed with Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT), meaning I had a dodgy bit of wiring in my heart. The treatment for this involved putting some electrodes up through a blood vessel in my groin and neck to find the dodgy connection and burn it away. Unfortunately this would prevent me training for some time after and I therefore decided to have it done after the race and was given some pills for the meantime.  

While these tablets worked during training, possibly not terribly surprisingly they didn't hold all the way through the race, and at just over 30 km my heart rate jumped to over 240 bpm.  I stopped straight away to try and stop it but after the thick end of 10 minutes it wasn't getting any better so I decided to carry on. I can’t say it was the most comfortable experience with my chest hurting and my heart pounding but given it was the last part of my first marathon I would probably have been feeling fairly uncomfortable anyway. Ironically I think it may have helped slightly, giving me a sustained adrenaline boost over the last 10 – 12 km and making up for my complete lack of knowledge and experience of marathon nutrition which I suspect would have resulted in my hitting The Wall otherwise.

A few weeks afterwards I had the operation, and to date have had no symptoms since, though I found the recovery a little bizarre - going from running a marathon to taking an hour to hobble less than a mile to the doctors is a bit of a contrast! Anyway it didn't last long.  

Chester, Edinburgh and Manchester 

The next marathon was Chester the following October.  There’s not much to tell about this race, other than to say that I didn’t entirely agree with its description as a flat and fast course. This wasn’t helped by my first experience of The Wall and, in my confusion, ending up convinced that I had passed the 23 mile marker three times! Suffice it to say I then got a feeling for the importance of getting my nutrition right…

The next one was in Edinburgh the following may which, while warm (over 20 degrees) was pleasant (lovely views) and everything seemed to come together to give me a time I was pleased with. 

More recently (April 2013) I ran the Greater Manchester Marathon as a training race on my way to The Wall Run.  This did not go well, and I managed to run it a full 8 minutes slower than Seville, having managed to progressively improve my tie over the first three.  Several things went wrong (no good excuses!) and together resulted in a terrible race, though it was a good learning experience, and I managed to come through it without injuring myself, so on the whole I decided it was a positive experience! Looking on the bright side is important in this business!

About Me

I have been running since I was 12 or possibly even earlier, I can't really remember. Initially it was an effective way of avoiding being made to play other sports at school! I kept it up when I was at university but it was only towards the end of 2010 that I got into endurance running when I decided to enter the Seville Marathon in February 2011. That was supposed to be to be a one off... It turns out that this marathon running lark is quite addictive... A succession of other races have followed (which I'll cover in another post), and now I've ended up entering myself for the Marathon des Sables in 2014. Hmm..., this should be interesting!

I am a fairly typical runner of average ability, not really competitive, except possibly with myself. My interest and enthusiasm for this sport has increased hugely since joining my running club the Manchester Frontrunners where I have made many good runner friends. 

This is me on top of Robinson in the Lake District after a very impressive hail storm (you might notice my legs are a little pink - hail stones on bare legs hurt!):

... not exactly your tall, lean and strong runner type!

I wanted to find a way of ensuring that I kept a bit of a record of both my preparation and of the event itself. Hopefully this will also be a useful tool to keep myself focused on the end goal, especially when I forget why I am putting myself through all this! 

There are many blogs and other websites out there detailing the experiences of people training for and completing the Marathon des Sables, and from these I have taken quite a bit of inspiration over the past year or so since entering.  A particularly good one is justajog.com by Kate Lee.

My musings are therefore unlikely to be ground breaking, but this is my contribution to the pool of information out there. I have absorbed a huge amount from what other people have generously shared, and it has helped my motivation enormously as well as providing me with very valuable insights over the last year or so.

I hope this account will provide at least a little useful information to others mad enough to be considering entering the MdS or similar events, and some insight into my motivation for others who can't comprehend why on earth someone might want to run 150 miles through the Sahara with a heavy pack on their back!