3 x 25 Miles Back-to-Back

It’s been a relatively quiet period since the Pilgrims Challenge, with me trying to rest my ITB hoping it will sort itself, and getting a nasty cold which wrote off training up in the lakes.  I've started doing some hot yoga, which I had planned to do anyway as party of an attempt to acclimatize to the Saharan temperatures, but which is also really good for stretching things out.

I had planned to do a big three back-to-back session last weekend (aiming for 3 x 25 miles) and started out with 5-6 kg on my back on the Saturday, planning to run up to Hebden Bridge from Salford up the Rochdale Canal (28.5 miles), extending the run I did last year.  I could feel my ITB twinging from the beginning but it didn't seem to get any worse so I kept going. Then at 18 miles-ish I felt it go properly and so that was the running finished for the day.  I kept going, walking as fast as I could manage, up to Walsden (22.5 miles and 4.5 hours on the move), from where I caught the train back down to Manchester – frustrating but at least the scenery was beautiful, particularly the part I hadn't done before over Littleborough Summit to Walsden. Not an entire loss!

At this point I gave up trying to push things any further by running the following two days, which would have just made things worse with the leg, and so I decided to do the sessions in the gym instead.  Not quite the adventure that I had hoped for; on the Sunday I had planned to run up the Ashton Canal up to Diggle where it (called the Huddersfield narrow canal at this point) goes into a tunnel under the Pennines.  Anyway I got 4.5 hours done in the gym on the Sunday and another 4 hours on the Monday, alternating between fast walking up a 10% gradient (at first at least!) on the treadmill, and time on the elliptical cross trainer with the same pack as the first day (30 mins each and then repeat).  This was the best thing I could think of that would be low impact and minimise aggravating my ITB but still get the extended period of exercise in.  I think it worked but it was VERY boring!  I wasn't as sore afterwards as I expected – I don’t know if that was as a result of the reduced impact, or if the intensity was lower – hopefully the former!

Anyway I think I am going to have to restrict my exercise to the Yoga and this gym work over the next few weeks to let my ITB heal; and spend lots of time on the foam roller!

In other news, I now have my shoes back from the Shoe Healer with the Velcro on and my Gaiters fit nicely – just need to test them out now.  Otherwise I have procured all of the main things (I think!) I need, except for the camera and sunglasses. Need to whittle everything down now to get the weight down now….

Pilgrims Challenge 2014

This weekend was on of my key training events running up to the MdS - the Pilgrims Challenge, a 66 mile 2 day event in Surrey. This would have been a key distance and back-to-back training event but.... My ITB went just after the second check point running down hill. For a little while I wasn't 100% sure it wasn't just general fatigue in my leg so I kept going (I can deal with fatigue!) but after another couple of miles in the valley it became obvious that it was something more significant. I decided to carry on to the next checkpoint which was up a nice steep hill, this was actually a relief because it didn't hurt going uphill. The next 5 miles or so along the top were less fun and I needed up hopping down muddy paths but we got there in the end. Max, one of my tent buddies to-be who I had been running with up til the problems started very kindly stayed with me for 4/5 miles of fast walking and hopping down muddy slopes - despite me telling him to, he refused to leave me on my own. I felt very bad to have to abandon him at the checkpoint, and a huge fraud to have to get a lift to the overnight point - even more so as I got out and walked in next to people who were finishing - not a good feeling! So my first DNF...

...I even finished the Seville Marathon (my first) in a respectable time with my arrhythmia playing up and a heart rate upwards of 240/250 bpm so dropping out isn't something that comes easily. I had to remind myself that this wasn't my target event (if it had been I'm sure I could have finished, just in lots of pain!), and that I had more to loose than to gain by carrying on, potentially preventing me running the MdS if I damaged myself badly enough. So hopefully the right decision to stop where I did and not try starting on the second day. Sophie who I met at the end of the C2C, and had been running near for much of the day actually, told me she would knock me out if she saw me at the start line for the second day - I think she was joking... but it is good to have the support of more experienced runners, knowing when to stop.

Anyway, now the negative bit is out the way, back to the beginning for the positives from the weekend - and there were lots of them. The terrain was difficult - lots of mud which was very tiring and good training for sand. I felt my legs tiring a lot earlier than I expected (probably partially due to a fairly intense training schedule recently) but it was good to have some time running on tired legs knowing that we nowhere near then end - there will be LOTS of that in the desert!

There were also loads of other people doing the MdS and it was great to meet so many of them. Great like-minded people, really up for the challenge. I'm really looking forward to getting to know them better in Morocco, particularly my tent mates to-be. There was loads of conversation about food, weight and kit in general, and the over night camp in the school gave a great opportunity to look at all sorts of different night kit. I also got loads of tips, specific and more general. Danny Kendall's Q&A on the Saturday night was really good - not sure I'm going to be going quite so extreme lightweight (or anywhere like as fast...) as him though!

My favorite part of the weekend however was when the final walkers made it to the finish and came into the canteen. We were in the middle of a talk but everything stopped and they got a round of applause and some hugs. This sport is so inclusive and I think it is great. Even the elites are so friendly and shot encouragement on their way past - so different from a road marathon which is so serious! While we were waiting for our bags back at the start on the Sunday I me a couple of older ladies (at least one of whom was a grandma!) who were just amazing. The had all done the MdS or equivalents and one had done 14 multi-day endurance stage races, including one on every continent (including Antarctica), and the North Pole. How many other events would you meet such amazing and inspiring people?

Overall it was a really friendly and well organised event - definitely one to go back and finish in future. It also struck me how far I have come now that only having completed 26 odd miles was disappointing - a year ago I would have been very happy with that (particularly given it was off-road), and other than the ITB problems, I could have easily carried on and finished in a very reasonable time.  Not all bad then!

Country to Capital 2014

So time seems to be going faster and faster and suddenly one of my key prep races has come around. Not being the final target I hadn't given this as much thought as I probably would have done and so despite this being farther than I have ever run before I wasn't really nervous. The furthest I had run in one go before last Saturday was 37 miles on the second day of The Wall, so this was going to be a few miles longer but at least I would be starting with fresh legs this time!

I woke up early as I normally do before a big race and got my porridge down me (seemed a good opportunity to try out one of the dehydrated breakfasts I'll use on the MdS). I had organised everything the night before so was nice and relaxed and headed down the road to Wendover with plenty of time to spare. After registering there was lots of time to mill about which gave me the opportunity to chat to a couple of other 2014 MdS'ers - the first I've met!

At 8.30, 400 of us (it is amazing that there are so many crazy people out there!) headed out onto the country trails of Buckinghamshire. Couldn't have asked for a better morning - clear skies but not freezing, and the light on the countryside was beautiful. The only issue was the low sun that prevented you from seeing where your feet were going. It was mentioned at the pre-race briefing that there was some ankle-deep mud... I did end up quite muddy, all part of the fun and I didn't get any blisters because of it.

I hadn't appreciated quite how much the map booklets we were given were actually needed - in the past any races I have done have been pretty comprehensively way-marked. I was just sort of expecting to put my head down an plod my way through it... Fortunately there were quite a few people about who had done the race in the past and knew the route. I have to confess (a little ashamed) I was pretty lazy when it came to navigation, despite being used to running over the fells on my own and needing to keep tabs on where I am.

The first couple of checkpoints passed pretty quickly it seemed, running through some lovely countryside and pausing every now and again as we came to the odd gate or stile, or points where it wasn't terribly clear where to got (I'm sure I'd have had a better idea of where we were going I'd actually got my booklet out!). I was surrounded by a very friendly bunch and the conversation was great. I love how this sort of running is so much less pressured than running shorter distances and people are more relaxed.

After crossing over the M25 and carrying on along some more rural trails we reached the Grand Union Canal - easy navigation form here on I had been assured, with the exception of a turn off to Paddington 13 miles from the end (which was pretty obvious thankfully!). I have to confess that I wasn't hugely enjoying things at this point as I stomach had been feeling dodgy ever since the first checkpoint where I had pretty stupidly decided to try the fruit cake and carry on running with it. The cake was amazing (worth doing the race again just for that, and I'm not generally a fan of fruit cake), but I should have known better and I paid for it over the next 20-25 miles.

It was much easier going along the canal and despite the state of my stomach I managed to keep a better pace... until the hiccups. I HATE them! They're the perfect thing to make a dodgy stomach worse. I got to checkpoint 3 and decided that the best thing to do was have something to eat even though I didn't feel like it - either it would stay down or it would make me throw up - either way I'd feel better! And it did - a few miles down the canal just after the turn of to Paddington... I disturbed a poor young couple who had evidently come down to the canal for some quite time together with some of the most horrendous wretching noises I am sure anyone has ever come out with (secretly very proud of myself). I did at least manage to get a few meters past them and not do it on their feet, I'm sure they were very grateful.

Anyway by this point there were just over 13 miles to go, and I suddenly felt great. I sped off down the canal determined to make the most of my second wind while it lasted. After a couple of miles it wore off and I fell into step with a couple of other runners who I stuck with for the last 12 miles or so from Checkpoint 4. One of them, Sophie, was an experienced ultramarathon runner and MdS veteran who kept me going with a mixture of her 10 mins running, 2 mins walking routine which really helped with discipline, and some amazing motivating words. Nick, a professional sailor, found his finish legs shortly before the end and managed to pick up the pace (there was no way I could follow!) and Sophie managed to drag me (psychologically) to the end at a very respectable pace for which I am extremely grateful!

My body didn't seem to be in too bad condition all things considered, no blisters at all, which gives me confidence in the shoe and sock combination. I was carrying 3 to 4 kg in my pack which I think I could have done to make heavier (need to carry more on the next race). A good confidence boost overall though!

On the way into Paddington I caught sight of another C2C-er coming in the direction. We caught each other's eye and smiled at each other - no words were exchanged but you know instantly when someone has just been through the same pain as you and come out the other end wincing and grinning at the same time that you have quite a bit in common, and they stand out even in a busy station!

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! 

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!

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.