English
Race Report: The 50 Mile Challenge
When alarm clock one of the two I had set the night before went off, I awoke feeling refreshed and with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
This was to be my first ultra marathon of the year. As always, the underlying demons of self doubt were creeping in as I brushed my teeth and thought about the day ahead. Had I really done enough training, would I be able to push on when the going got tough and would my body stand up to the onslaught it was about to undergo?
I had already neatly packed my kit the day before and I passed it silently as it sat idly in the corner of the kitchen. I went ahead and made coffee and porridge, conscious that the kit was “watching me” and running my mind over the kit list perched delicately on top of it:
Race number & pins
Race instructions & directions
Team wiggle running kit
Spare Teko performance socks x 2
Pearl Izumi wet weather top (long sleeve)
Pearl Izumi wet weather top (short sleeve)
Pearl Izumi wet weather jacket
2XU tights
Spare shorts
Spare shoes
2XU Calf guards
Space blanket
First aid kit (inc blister plasters, scissors, iodine, Ibuprofen)
Maximuscle Viper Energy Bars x 6
2 bananas
Maxi Muscle Viper (enough powder for 6 litres, split into 12 x 500ml bags)
Each item was carefully labelled (in permanent marker) and stored in a pre-designated part of the bag so I would be easily able to locate each in a hurry. This may sound a little over zealous on the admin front but I have enough memories of being cold, tired and confused, trying to fumble around in a bottomless bag in order to locate a much needed energy gel, a glob of Vaseline or a warm and dry top to have the sense to employ some kind of a system. Many of the runners on the day had large (clear) plastic storage boxes for all their kit and these would have worked just as well (and probably better).
I hadn’t brought as much food as I would normally bring as the race instructions stated that there would be plenty of food and drink provided. Indeed, the banquet set out at the race control area (which represented the start / finish and passed by runners on each lap) was very impressive and included energy bars, chocolate, bananas, sweeties, fruit and hot / cold / energy drinks. This was the best spread I had ever experienced at any event by far.
Conversely, given that the course was a 6.5 mile loop to be completed 8 times, I had packed more clothing and supplies than I would have taken for example, on a point to point run. This coupled with the excellent support and management made it a perfect introduction to an ultra distance event.I had travelled down with Mat Browne and we reached the start in good time to register and find a place for our kit and get prepared for the race.
For me, this meant losing any excess ballast in the portaloo, firing up the Nike + on my Ipod Nano (I had loaded up a new play list a few days before, including some pod casts as well as music), stuffing a few gels into my shorts pocket, taping up my nipples and vassing up all parts of my body where there might be friction; the inside of my thighs and arms pits being the most susceptible to burn.
Mike Inkster, Race Director, greeted each and every participant and made a grand old speech before setting the 150 of us off at 6 am through the fields and tracks of Marshside. Some were using the event to train for other ultras and you could identify these by the rucksacks and water systems that were being carried (why else would you carry one, if you didn’t have to?). Some were clearly out to break the course record and went haring off at the start, others were just there to enjoy the day and see how far their legs could carry them. It was heartening to see that each and everyone person, irrespective of ability, was treated with same level of regard, diligence and kindness by the race support team.
Trading Standards might have something to say about the naming of this event; the official distance for the course is actually 52.4 miles (a double marathon).
I had never run a loop course before and whilst it has its plus points, I was a little concerned about passing the start finish line 7 times before the actual finish. As most runners have at some stage, I have experienced the overwhelming desire to quit and have always managed to overcome this, usually because of a reluctance to pull up and deal with the misery and dejection at having to make it to the finish somehow in any case. Would the temptation of taking the easy option might prove too hard to resist?
My plan for the day was a simple one; complete 4 laps at a comfortable enough pace so that by the end of it, I would feel like I hadn’t run at all. After that I would adjust my pace up or down, depending on how I felt.
Mat had decided to stay with me to avoid going off too fast and we kept up a good regime of a sensible pace with considered refuelling and re-hydrating strategy.
I reached the midway point feeling good and strong. My knees were playing up a bit but you can’t run a marathon and expect to get off Scott free. I was also having problems with my nipple plasters as these kept falling off, leaving my nipples sore and a little bloody. I slapped Vaseline all over them, banged down a couple of gels, changed my socks (I could feel a hot spot coming on) and headed out for the second part of the run.
Any concerns I had about quitting were unfounded. I actually found that breaking the total distance down into manageable 6.5 mile chunks made the whole thing a lot easier. The finish line was only ever 3 miles away at the most and this was reassuring rather than disquieting. It was around loop 6 that I had my first of several “fragile moments”. I have learnt to expect these but am always surprised at how sudden and intense the emotions are. One minute I am running along quite happily, taking in the moment and feeling strong in my running. Then a sudden thought will pop into my head and bang, the bottom lip goes, I well up and end up with a face full of tears and snot. The one consolation is that these moments pass as quickly as they come, but the first few times they happened I really thought I was losing the plot. I guess the muscles, joints and tendons have their way of telling you they are suffering through pain and this is the minds way of doing the same.
I reached lap 7 feeling incredibly good and stepped things up a little. I had it in my mind that Mat would be pushing hard on his final lap and I really didn’t want him to catch me. My motivations for running are usually self fulfilment and a desire to reach my own personal goals, but I now found myself being driven by something else. This spurred me on to what was my fastest lap, some 9 minutes quicker than the previous.
I reached the start / finish line for and commenced the final lap, taking a more rational approach. I was especially enjoying this one and I even stopped and had a 5 minute chat with the old fella at one of the drinks stations out on the course. I regret I cannot recall his name, but his blue tracksuit top was full of running patches from ultra marathons across the globe. He had been out on the course the whole day, serving up drinks and offering encouragement. I could have sat all day and listened to his stories of the Marathon De Sables and Two Oceans and would have done so had he not reminded me that I needed to push on and the finish was only a mile and a half away.
I crossed the finish line for the final time in 14th place in a time of 9 hours 14 minutes. I had paced it well, managed the administration and kept a clear focus. I was injury free and happy with my performance. If only every race ended like this.
The next day I was up at 5 am as I had a flight to Belfast for work. I have been out here for a week and a half now and have migrated from the cross trainer (much kinder on the joints) to running through the streets and around the mountains of Belfast.
I am back in London on 30th July. I am toying with a few ideas for my next run. All I know for certain is that it is going to be unofficial, unconventional and will take place around 18th August. Watch this space for more details.