Tuesday 25 March 2014

Might Contain Nuts Black Mountains 40

With UTMB looming a good mountain race was in need, and given the MCN crowd do put on a bloody good event, The Black Mountains 40 seemed the obvious choice.


Race day was on a Saturday so I packed up early on Friday, knowing from previous experience that the journey to South Wales on a Friday evening is shite to say the least. I left at 2 and picked my mate Jeff up an hour later. Talgarth here we come.
The journey was as uneventful as ever, the only break from the monotony of the M4 was the absolute shock of the toll price £12.80 for my van! At least it gave me something to moan about for the rest of the journey. Five hours after leaving we arrived in Talgarth and promptly went to Jeff's hotel which was adjoining the local chippy, Classy. I had intended to kip in the back of my van in the car park of the hotel but this must have been the only chip shop for miles and it was heaving so there was no way I was kipping there. I left Jeff there and parked in main town car park and walked back to the hotel so we could eat. The menu in the hotel was straight out of next doors eatery, so chips it was. I had chicken and it was err... fried with chips dripping with fat. It was not pleasant at all, but I needed some fuel for tomorrow so I ate it. I then felt guilty as I've been eating almost perfectly since my last race and this was crap and the night before an event. We chatted for a while and I wondered off about 9ish to get my head down.

My usual ultra vehicle is my T4 camper but it is becoming expensive to run a car, a van and a camper so the T4 is uninsured and up for sale. My idea now to keep costs down is to sleep in the back of my van. I have a mattress, sleeping bag, radio, gas stove, a light  and a portaloo, what more could I possibly want? It was a
bloody freezing night but I was snug and slept well.


My alarm went at 5.30 and after a bit of shuffling around in the cold I managed to get the kettle on, have three mugs of tea, a bread and butter (no toaster as yet) and was I raring to go. On the way down I had told Jeff that snow had been forecast for high ground, his reply to that was that I must be getting mixed up with the highlands of Scotland and that was a common mistake???? Little does he know that after working outside for the best part of 25 years, I am fanatical about the weather and weather forecasts. Highlands my arse. Anyway as he arrived at my van he declared "look!! There's snow up there". Well I never.


I like to get to reg a good hour before the start so I don't have to queue for anything, the toilet, my number etc and I can then take my time to get ready. I was unsure on what to carry but the mandatory kit is almost identical to UTMBs so I thought it would be a good time to carry all of it. I have been waiting to buy the new Hagloffs gram 12 pack for my Mont blanc foray but my trusty Raidlight pack has served me well for years and  I'm struggling to find fault with the old girl. I may just give her the nod for big event but get the Hagloffs anyway because as Ultra runners that is what we do, buy new kit even if we don't need it. Now I pretty much always wear shorts, whatever the weather I will wear them but it was so cold at reg and during the brief we were warned of blizzards and wind chills of -13 on the high ground it would have been fool hardy not to heed the advice. So my 3/4s were in order with two shirts, buff and gloves.


We were warned at the brief that the first six miles were hard so we should take it easy early and build up. You should always worry when the start line is on a steep hill looking up. We were off and I set off at a fair pace. I soon realized that the first six were indeed hard, very hard. We were just going up steadily for those first six. I reached CP1 reasonably quickly and soon after we were going up really steeply and out came my sticks. I have a pair of Black Diamond sticks and am really getting used to them now. They fit into my Raidlight bag perfectly, they are easy to carry, have good comfortable grips are easy to deploy and fold back up, I can't imagine there being many better sticks out there.


I soon realized though things were not going well I had nothing in the tank. The previous week I had been trying not to eat any processed food and I had stuck to it. No alcohol, no junk, nothing but things were going wrong today. I had to have a gel around 10 miles which saw me right for the next few miles. Somewhere around 16 mile we climbed a steep bank which was probably as steep as you can go up without using your hands. I used my poles and got to the top but it took it right out of me again and I hit a really bad patch at about 18 mile. Although the scenery was drop dead gorgeous it took me a few miles to recover from this one. I left CP5 still a bad way but soon felt better and before long was running along happily again. I reached CP6 feeling rather chipper, filled my bottles and stuffed a few jelly babies. As we ate the CP crew said the next climb was a monster as was the next section, 13 miles to the next CP.


That climb indeed was tough and as we reached the top we could see the weather closing in from the left. We had some sporadic hail storms earlier in the day and they had been rather brutal. Short but brutal. As we ran across the ridge we were having to leap the mud and several times I sunk deep in over my shoes, it was hard going but fun and my new Mizuno Wave Harriers were more than capable of the job. Around the 32 mile mark the wind picked up to gale force and the hail and snow swept in again. This time it was horizontal and hammering in. Three of us ran together as it was hard to see more than five metres ahead. We had to shield our eyes as the hail battered our faces and stung like hell. There was no shelter it didn't matter how tired we were, we ran just to get out of this storm. I have bad circulation in my hands due to years working with vibrating machinery and I really feel the cold in my fingers. This cold was really painful and now it was setting in big time. My gloves were doing little to stop the cold. It seeped into my thumbs then forefingers and before long spread right across my hands. I could now no longer use my hands at all, they were extremely painful and useless, I couldn't even fold my sticks up. I was really worried, for the first time ever I really thought I was in trouble. My only option was to get off this mountain fast, so all my other tiredness issues went by the wayside and I ran like the clappers all the way down to the last CP. As I descended I couldn't even unzip my coat away from my face, I had to put one hand to the zip using the other hand and push my fingers together before I could pull it. I ran into CP7 and couldn't pick up any food so i got the crew to tip various sweets in my hand which i then stuffed into my mouth. As i ran the feeling started to come back slowly and before i knew it the finish was there and i was done.


I finished in around 9hrs 2mins which given the terrain I was happy enough with. The race was an education in mountain running and how I must never underestimate the conditions. How it went from a chilly spring afternoon to a full blown storm was shocking and I will certainly keep this in my mind when I arrive in Chamonix later this year. UTMB is definitely going to be a just get round kind of race.


Once again I'd just like to thank http://www.kentphysio.co.uk/ for there ongoing support.

Thursday 13 March 2014

3 Peaks on my 40th 2013

This is a video I made in 2013 on my 40th birthday. It was my attempt to run the three national peaks in daylight hours.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqlZk4UbzI

Grand Union Canal Race 2013

I wrote a race report last year for this race before I started my blog so I thought I'd throw it in here as it's my biggest race to date.


Well that was fun, wasn't it?
We travelled up Friday to get settled in plenty of time. On arrival at the rather shabby Travelodge I checked in with Race control,chucked my bags in and went to O'Neils across the rd where i had a pint with some of the other competitors everyone seemed excited about the days ahead and some looked like they were having more than one pint. So to resist temptation I left early and had a walk to the start in Gas street.
If you ever decide to do this race do NOT stay in the Travelodge. I had the worst nights sleep ever! The night clubs feel like they are in your room constantly banging bass till gone 2am and then from then you get a steady flow of piss heads going back to their rooms and shouting like they are still in the clubs. So I probably got 2 hours kip.
We was up at 4.30 quick cuppa and some porridge then the short walk to the start. It was very busy in Gas street and all the usual suspects were there. Everyone was so preoccupied chatting that before we knew it we were ushered to the start and most of Dicks speech was cut short for a prompt 6am start. With a loud ready, steady, Go we were off.
The run out of Birmingham was nice enough and although a few chatted I kept myself to myself trying to get my head around what lay ahead. Once out of the brick paths of Birmingham it soon turned into a lovely trail. The miles soon ticked by and before I knew it we were at the first check point which I ran straight through. I always have a rough patch around 18 mile and true to form I had it but soon got over that. My plan was to run straight to Hatton locks (22.5 mile)and meet my crew. I arrived there in 3 hrs 40 but had run out of water a few miles previous so not perfect. I then agreed to meet my crew every 10 miles.
We met again at Stockton bridge (35 mile) and again I had run out of water it was really getting hot. I reached here in Just under 6 and a half hours and was running well. Just after this point Paul Ali caught me up and we ran together for a while just chatting the miles away often leap frogging but still not far from each other. The next 20 mile went really well I was running good, eating right and staying hydrated in the hot sun. I had one stop and reached my crew at 55 mile in 10 and a half hours. I can't remember exactly what running surface was where during the race but it was a fair mix of town pathways, good runnable trail and long and short grass. I don't particularly like running on grass but there was a substantial amount of it to come.
My next main stop was to be Navigation Bridge at mile 70.5 where I intended changing into my night gear but it was still light and warm when I arrived there so decided to hold on. I did have my pasta dinner though which was lovely if not a bit filling. I also cleaned and re-creamed my feet I stopped for about 20 mins my longest stop in all.  It was 8.20pm and I had been on the go for over 14 hours. I decided to meet my crew in 5 more miles to have a quick change ready for the night. My wife was crewing me on her own so after this meet I told her to go to mile 99.8 have a kip and we would start again from there. I put on my long sleeve t, hat and gloves. Picked up 2 cans of red bull, lots of gel and two bottles of water knowing I could get more water at the next official checkpoint and off I went.
The next 9 mile to the Bridge 99 were pretty non descript apart from a pain developing on my shin very similar to shin splints. It very quickly became quite painful. Bridge 99 checkpoint didn't go well I had half a bottle of water and needed two bottles to get to the 100 mile point but the aid station guy said I should have got my crew to meet me for water and I could only top up my half bottle. That really peed me off so I trudged off with the hump. This was mile 84.5.

The next section broke me, it was an absolutely freezing evening and I was walking due to the pain in my leg. I think Paul was behind me but I didn't see him during the night so it was lonely. It was long dew covered grass under foot so my feet were getting wet. I was also falling asleep on my feet despite the red bull. Thirsty due to the lack of water and to top it off it was the most boring piece of trail I have ever had the displeasure to run on. I reached mile 99.8 at 4am so had run a 22 hour 100 mile but was ready to quit. I woke my wife and said I was thinking of quitting and her explaining how I would regret it and me thinking I didn't want to have to do this again was enough to get me going again plus I had my pacer turning up soon.
I left her at 4.15 and agreed to meet her at Boxmoor mile 108. Soon after leaving I was in real trouble again it was now light but even with the pain I could not stay awake. I stumbled and almost fell in the canal so decided to ring my crew to get me coffee asap. I met my crew after about a mile and drunk the coffee. I started walking again and promptly threw it all back up. I was now slapping my face to try and stay awake. It took me a few miles to shake off the tiredness but I did now it was just the pain to deal with.
As I was running early my pacer wasn't there to meet me at Boxmoor and the urge to pack it all in was now strong again. I was now walking all the way because of the pain but it was about 6.45 and the chill had gone so it was just bearable.
I was now re-signed to the fact that Gary (GKD) my pacer was not coming and was totally despondent. Then from behind Gary came running up the trail at quite a clip. It was like a breath of fresh air he had painkillers for my leg, ibruprofen gel and got my food back on track even though I felt really sick. I then explained how much pain I was in and he explained what a pussy I was and we would be running again soon. We did indeed run into the Springwell checkpoint. Running was now a very painful experience and my grunts, screams and grimaces did nothing but amuse Gary.
We saw Alan Rumbles and Paul Stout at Springwell who made it clear the job was almost done and I would be finishing. So off we went with 25 miles to go and a new found clarity about the job in hand. We carried on running,walking and chatting and the miles started to tick by again. Gary shot off at about mile 130 and came back with a cold can of coke and an ice cream. That was the best ice cream I have ever tasted. I was now feeling ok apart from the excruciating pain in my leg and now my feet,my anti blister techniques were starting to fail.
I was running as much as I could muster and Gary wasn't taking no for an answer. I briefly met my crew at Cowley lock (mile 127.5) but only stopped for water, a shirt change and a last bit of cream on my feet. I had it in my mind to get to the last checkpoint grab some water and crack on. It was now midday and we were 30 hours in.
Soon after Cowley lock we reached the last major junction and turned into the home stretch the Paddington Arm. Within no time at all we met one of the crew members from the last checkpoint who saw I was in agony and ran with us for about the half mile to the check point. This was Henks checkpoint and after the young lady had dispensed with the niceties Henk promptly told me to f**k off.
This was it I knew I would finish now. One path, 12 miles and it would be over. We had one last water stop at 133 miles and carried on. With about 4 miles to go my leg gave up totally. I told Gary that was it for running the pain was just unbearable and I would have to walk this one out. I even had to pause every so often just to compose myself before carrying on. I could have cried. Literally.
Before I knew it the finish was upon us. I had that feeling of uncontrollable emotion but managed to reel it in and shuffled across the line in 35 hrs and 3 mins, 15th place overall. Dick shook my hand and put the medal round my neck.  A kiss for my wife, a shake of Garys hand and it was over.
My final thoughts are that without my wife/crew these things would be a whole lot harder. A pacer is a great thing especially one that puts so much into it. 145 miles is a bloody long way. I personally thought in places the route was astoundingly beautiful and apart from it's flatness can't understand why any ultra runner wouldn't have a go. My feet are still my downfall. Given how well the first hundred went I reckon I've got a sub 21 100 in there somewhere. The bruise on my shin looks like I've been run over not a running injury.
The big question is would I do it again? Well yesterday it would have been a no but today i'm thinking without the injury I could have smashed hours from my time so maybe. Like I said to Gary the only bit I didn't like was the bit by the canal.
Thanks to all the volunteers and especially Dick who puts on a cracking event. Just hope when he retires someone just as capable takes over.

Sunday 2 March 2014

The Steyning Stinger

I love this race it has it all, hills, mud, The South Downs and its hard as nails as far as marathons go.



I spoke with my running buddy Jeff a few days previous to this one and we decided to run it together after all we are both training for bigger things so no use bustin our balls too hard.  I went in to this with one primary goal and that was to run the whole thing. No Walking! If you've run this race you'll know that is a tough ask but with UTMB looming in the not too distant future hills are everything.
The Stinger has an unusual start basically you can go when you are ready or wait for the mass start at 8.30. I arrived early and after checking in and a quick cuppa we decided to go straight off, probably about 8.15.
I had read on FB that the course was exceptionally muddy and that was for all to see, within a few miles we had been up to our shins in it and I was lovin it.
After the first few miles we start to ascend rather dramatically out of Washington and all the way up to Sullington hill covering about 2 miles this was ok and we were feeling good. Then was a nice drop down to the A24 things were going well and we were putting the world to rights discussing all things running. No stop for us at the water station as we were both carrying fluid and didn't need a refill just yet.
Leaving the A24 you rise again for the second of four "stings" all the way to the top of Chanctobury ring. This is at least 2 mile from the A24 and a tough climb it was certainly a relief to reach the top. Chanctobury is approx mile 10. Just after this i started to feel it in my legs and come mile 11 my first Gel came out.
 We ran along happily to the Cissbury ring at 12.5 mile and refilled bottles before cracking on. Cissbury is quite nice, as you leave the water station you circle a golf course and rise back up before dropping back into the same water station 3 miles later. Three stings down and one to go but my legs were now letting me know about it. Mind you it is a nice feeling coming round and seeing all the other runners having to start their loop. Jeff and I ran along steadily albeit quietly as we arrived at the final loop around Steep down. I was struggling at this point as i did the previous year but told myself once I had rounded this final loop I would have a Gel to set me up for the final push in. From mile 21 to mile 23 is another hard uphill slog and the final sting, luckily enough we had a nice tail wind that pushed us up the hill. Then the final downhill push for a couple of miles and a nice muddy finish. I told Jeff there was someone right behind us and we needed to sprint the last 800 mtrs of course there was no-one behind i just wanted to inflict some pain.
 As you can see from the pics we were caked, just how I like it.

The day was completed with a medal and a cooked breakfast. Very nice.

Today was a funny old run I done what I had set out to do and that was to run the whole thing which i was pleased about. Jeffs company was great and we were just a smidge over 4hrs which isn't too bad given the hills and mud. What I wasn't too impressed with was my own performance. I've lost weight, I cross train, cut alcohol, my running training is smarter and yet I still had some real rough patches. My time was an improvement on last year but I wasn't interested in the time I wanted to feel strong for the whole race. Sadly I didn't, ok I am training a lot at the moment and have run almost everyday for the last two weeks so that may be it? My main concern is still my diet I could do with shedding another stone but food is my weakness. I do feel though to be able to push to the next level I will have to sort the diet thing out. This will be the hardest sacrifice yet.
 Incidentally my wifes words of wisdom on my performance were "Well you are 40". Hmm thanks for that.

Finally a special thanks goes out to my new sponsor.

http://www.kentphysio.co.uk/

Go team Kent Physio.