tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72610364365210603202024-03-05T14:28:18.943+00:00AnnaB's Race Reportsannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-77656903193527843422019-12-03T19:05:00.002+00:002019-12-03T20:16:16.823+00:00Florence Marathon It was a pretty much perfect race, but why am I not jumping for joy?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlxSx6qoJ6qsX4xcNM2yPR4iCjjwEeZ2kJv7mEyGIJ7e65eerUvxEkml8QpcQ4hhN3ycos4Sqnpf0rcF2t7H0nGwk2nwmHg3ORy8FPVWlQdsqUWkKHuF_-jZP-_6hqWgU2wtqWqwp3a9y/s1600/Flor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1600" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlxSx6qoJ6qsX4xcNM2yPR4iCjjwEeZ2kJv7mEyGIJ7e65eerUvxEkml8QpcQ4hhN3ycos4Sqnpf0rcF2t7H0nGwk2nwmHg3ORy8FPVWlQdsqUWkKHuF_-jZP-_6hqWgU2wtqWqwp3a9y/s640/Flor1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<br />
This race is a weird one for me. I had entered this in order to try to get a championship qualifying place for London next year. I already have a GFA place but I really want that extra step up. This would be either a sub 90 minute half marathon or a sub 3:15 marathon by the end of December. <br />
<br />
So having had a wonderful summer of adventure - two self supported runs - one through Corsica and one across Scotland. I was fit and strong, but full of hills rather than fast and flat. I had entered Swindon half marathon at end of September and Valencia marathon at the end of November. Both with half an eye on the prize. <br />
<br />
I had a few weeks of specific training before Swindon where I focussed on half marathon pacing, making a surprisingly good transition from scrambling up mountains and running over hills to the fun of flat roads. I love the structure of road training as much as I love the freedom of Mountain running, so I'm fortunate to switch between the two fairly seamlessly.<br />
<br />
Something happened (I'm a moron) and it turned out I'd not paid for my Valencia marathon entry so a quick Google search and I found Florence the week before so got my entry into that. <br />
<br />
Anyway, Swindon half marathon was brilliant. I ran a great race on an exceptionally soggy day, and got a 3 minute PB, even with having to stop twice to re-tie my shoelaces that didn't want to stay done up in the puddles. Yet I was still a couple of minutes shy of that sub 90 - I knew it would be a big ask to ask for 5 mins off my best on a course that has a bastard hill at mile 11 so I was very happy with the outcome. It was a solid effort and coming in 7th lady and 3rd in my AG I had nothing to complain about.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEJwL3LSoH1AIQ8tw0uEmJa2f6JfghhOH0RA2sEeqVJidb6G9XpBJzeznEqoMFCMCFZZsST3X5leghV4jWMwYuanaT0HS-co0iBtnxad55kq_Zok0pG1UnT1bRRhSMupY6xpmcvMkweIP/s1600/NSHA1039-original.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEJwL3LSoH1AIQ8tw0uEmJa2f6JfghhOH0RA2sEeqVJidb6G9XpBJzeznEqoMFCMCFZZsST3X5leghV4jWMwYuanaT0HS-co0iBtnxad55kq_Zok0pG1UnT1bRRhSMupY6xpmcvMkweIP/s320/NSHA1039-original.jpeg" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<br />
My recovery out of Swindon was surprisingly slow. I was really struggling with my mojo, all my training runs felt laboured a few weeks later even. I felt completely off form and Florence was already coming up fast. I was sending panicking texts to Robbie on a semi frequent basis, him doing his best to convince me that it would all come together on race day and with a good taper - blah blah... <br />
<br />
I was doing my training runs with sub 3:15 in mind, but really not feeling confident that I would achieve it. Three weeks out and I really wasn't feeling it. Comparing to how I felt coming in to London, I was a different person. Not at all excited, no confidence, tired. always tired. I just wasn't looking forward to it. Neither was I dreading it. Just a bit "meh" I guess. <br />
<br />
It's an unusual time for me to be training for a goal race, normally I'd have done my big race of the summer and be winding down before Christmas, so I put it down to this.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JdhmfMTU8kdLgasQ4qhgM_zT5bamjdb0gXYfMceotbgx5hs90Jk78622PUWe7FaEXUo5kVUk8LcKuVlvfHHxah47nsd7FsCcxmDS6-zQOezRhaquRXeRTr_P0vowcrxSTAvf-4HLBZ5M/s1600/faces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JdhmfMTU8kdLgasQ4qhgM_zT5bamjdb0gXYfMceotbgx5hs90Jk78622PUWe7FaEXUo5kVUk8LcKuVlvfHHxah47nsd7FsCcxmDS6-zQOezRhaquRXeRTr_P0vowcrxSTAvf-4HLBZ5M/s200/faces.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
<br />
Anyway, I tapered well, signed off from work and me and my friend Issy headed off to Italy for the weekend of sight seeing, wine and all the carbs. We had a lovely night in Pisa, with lots of walking and wine and gorgeous food. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYdAGrThR_J2SI9M8wbNe-fXQ39ClT527_BOyn7vvBjfvi7cOoSZF3TVt7l2RUkBgx767X_-H-GNO_Ecpt6REJgpf0shKtQm6EtL6wlNZmGGYxU12aQlpoVBe64doxjHbbOFeECZmguCF/s1600/flor161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYdAGrThR_J2SI9M8wbNe-fXQ39ClT527_BOyn7vvBjfvi7cOoSZF3TVt7l2RUkBgx767X_-H-GNO_Ecpt6REJgpf0shKtQm6EtL6wlNZmGGYxU12aQlpoVBe64doxjHbbOFeECZmguCF/s200/flor161.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<br />
We then got a train to Florence on Saturday, checked into our hotel and had a walk around the city, picked up my race pack, ate THE MOST AMAZING PIZZA OF OUR LIVES. Honestly. There has been nothing like it. We did some sight seeing then went back to the hotel for a lay down, back out for more food and some wine, picked up a sandwich for breakfast and had an early night. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhNRyxbKdn_24QFY1ULKDxsQyaqK3jWjzU1egqfpQdmsubPtfCgGnyrJvzfiYC0UvV-353A2feAcovCBsSPCJM0S4ua7KnCnmnlYpC0O_5Urgfb1v-cYMttQOiJ4Yui8M7Snl4nAWBGFm/s1600/flor17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhNRyxbKdn_24QFY1ULKDxsQyaqK3jWjzU1egqfpQdmsubPtfCgGnyrJvzfiYC0UvV-353A2feAcovCBsSPCJM0S4ua7KnCnmnlYpC0O_5Urgfb1v-cYMttQOiJ4Yui8M7Snl4nAWBGFm/s200/flor17.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianvdCxuJuFTyy1nNzocognA0q3yC7-02399n-VlOXgw3Ks4PeYBY1F4cvYoE8Au9_llZ4j7Ulh7aMjvhr5Hdxk6-VfTiP1JF1bHxEr29wHtFIycEmgLbRZ8OrGQix7SB2cjXT6GM2Xxnk/s1600/Flor13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianvdCxuJuFTyy1nNzocognA0q3yC7-02399n-VlOXgw3Ks4PeYBY1F4cvYoE8Au9_llZ4j7Ulh7aMjvhr5Hdxk6-VfTiP1JF1bHxEr29wHtFIycEmgLbRZ8OrGQix7SB2cjXT6GM2Xxnk/s640/Flor13.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<br />
Race morning, I wasn't excited, I almost couldn't be bothered. I started to feel a bit of the usual nerves as we walked to the bag drop. I said goodbye to Issy and went to my pen to start. The start was beautiful, right in the centre next to the Cathedral. Weather wise it was perfect. No wind, cool and sunny. The race got off to a start, I was in one of the front pens that took a minute to get through the start line, it was very narrow to begin with and people were jogging. Fuckers. Get out the way. Honestly, how people position themselves in the front to then jog off at ten min mile pace boils my piss (don't I sound like an arsehole!?) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X25SGeh5RkbTjnlGsoaFnFS3nPxbjJZOUCcCtqFAOZBT-Q8mD5x26UVFNxsnFG8zFowiCjuBoerdgPkGEzE8Uq5YWs00hcqNilLHO7Uleyps8yOSk76TCsQpWl7TZJ0exFg6_008UAYw/s1600/Flor4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1X25SGeh5RkbTjnlGsoaFnFS3nPxbjJZOUCcCtqFAOZBT-Q8mD5x26UVFNxsnFG8zFowiCjuBoerdgPkGEzE8Uq5YWs00hcqNilLHO7Uleyps8yOSk76TCsQpWl7TZJ0exFg6_008UAYw/s320/Flor4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
I spent the first kilometre getting myself past joggers, finding some space then setting into my stride. <br />
I did have a plan in my head before the start which was to start out at 4:41 pace (PB pace) then try to build in the last 10k to 4:35. What actually happened was I found myself bobbing around 4:30 - 4:32 pace for the first 10k. I knew I was going faster than i intended but it felt really comfortable so i just went with it. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPULD83R9m_9b05KlpXE_64_MNq1UBtSJy23QVIQWVclnbpZvKaMKITAAE7_0qJdriPBwfm-UzQCBoKdRzsYMJiawNNuLUqRQoLpUiHV7e8_UANX-UChYOxW6sU07Sg2CSlitnTjXOmOru/s1600/flor8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPULD83R9m_9b05KlpXE_64_MNq1UBtSJy23QVIQWVclnbpZvKaMKITAAE7_0qJdriPBwfm-UzQCBoKdRzsYMJiawNNuLUqRQoLpUiHV7e8_UANX-UChYOxW6sU07Sg2CSlitnTjXOmOru/s320/flor8.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq1ZO_S-wz6cfTUwes1Me71aSHYinktvD9JJgteMEMeuCXqdrH3RZ_IEq4EKOw7iHAGA1RV_amFXVog3rKqU6ZvPCAJhl0yye6MxJwRtBrGRXp6MYhSSlZtwOxBNHfB5vxQZLw6Z-5n2x/s1600/flor5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdq1ZO_S-wz6cfTUwes1Me71aSHYinktvD9JJgteMEMeuCXqdrH3RZ_IEq4EKOw7iHAGA1RV_amFXVog3rKqU6ZvPCAJhl0yye6MxJwRtBrGRXp6MYhSSlZtwOxBNHfB5vxQZLw6Z-5n2x/s640/flor5.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrsPeDNiWAwnQTLaHk21TF7BVL1gKttV1aYtFsZv7JtKtACdtioQHi2y3QnsTswKekbM2p25NgdlMCkxfHShO8EhFyIzEL-wbL7mUWme-TIAniM2ODHYHZYMSxcd_nXk4edFUawHYu2pw/s1600/flor10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrsPeDNiWAwnQTLaHk21TF7BVL1gKttV1aYtFsZv7JtKtACdtioQHi2y3QnsTswKekbM2p25NgdlMCkxfHShO8EhFyIzEL-wbL7mUWme-TIAniM2ODHYHZYMSxcd_nXk4edFUawHYu2pw/s640/flor10.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<br />
I stopped for a wee in a bush about mile 6 which brought my average back to around 4:35 which would have secured me a 3:13 ish time. <br />
<br />
<br />
My ITB had been giving my some gyp the weeks running into the race and I could feel it bothering me from the start.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrsPeDNiWAwnQTLaHk21TF7BVL1gKttV1aYtFsZv7JtKtACdtioQHi2y3QnsTswKekbM2p25NgdlMCkxfHShO8EhFyIzEL-wbL7mUWme-TIAniM2ODHYHZYMSxcd_nXk4edFUawHYu2pw/s1600/flor10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD07WmsSGPnDdZdGrHGDrowJ00c1g57HXVHHpQIDIWWyuEqYaY3m2d6YVYeEb_EeUrgcsEHGyLZ7hHJM_41j30BOngWcM93zPzwrGZZerI0e5bfwKxfFaMivMnw7hfkOzc_a3Xagum4_9/s1600/Flor2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD07WmsSGPnDdZdGrHGDrowJ00c1g57HXVHHpQIDIWWyuEqYaY3m2d6YVYeEb_EeUrgcsEHGyLZ7hHJM_41j30BOngWcM93zPzwrGZZerI0e5bfwKxfFaMivMnw7hfkOzc_a3Xagum4_9/s640/Flor2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<br />
Weighing up what my excuse would be when either my wheels fell off or my ITB took me out over the next 20k.... neither of which happened. At some point I was convinced I would realised I'd written a cheque my legs couldn't cash. What started going through my head was not "if" i went under 3:15 but "how much".... this was a new place to be in, yet I still felt quite comfortable, if not a few seconds faster than I ever expected to be going at. <br />
<br />
I passed through 30k in around 2:16 I knew that even if I ran my "easy" pace I could get in, in around an hour.<br />
<br />
I knew that at my current pace, I had nowhere to go so any ideas of picking up the pace over the last 10k were gone, if I could maintain this pace I'd do amazing. <br />
Coming into the last 8k, thinking whether I could be bothered or not.... I was getting a bit weary and the cobbles we were now running on were beginning to tire me out with concentration, running through the city was annoyingly winding, slowing things down when I was already starting to tire. I was going to do it though! I was going to get in, in around 3:13 by my calculations. I was constantly re-calibrating when I'd get through the line. I had this! But why was I still not feeling elation?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQPgTKARQjN7tSVTDCUqCQAdrYwX98TvFpFPizQlJwsSvjcBF6IMGk2jeRctrTmEc6neI9z6Bpdr7W6z7X5kuaC9kGxeDgYpCJXM9zxwLY1eMO3Zwv9vdgiM5VjDR3WHvVEW3Bt4rRu3y/s1600/flor15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQPgTKARQjN7tSVTDCUqCQAdrYwX98TvFpFPizQlJwsSvjcBF6IMGk2jeRctrTmEc6neI9z6Bpdr7W6z7X5kuaC9kGxeDgYpCJXM9zxwLY1eMO3Zwv9vdgiM5VjDR3WHvVEW3Bt4rRu3y/s320/flor15.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
I came through 40k, still on 3:13 target. I was going to do it. Yet I still wasn't feeling the love. Very quickly - too quickly, the 41k marker appeared. I looked at my watch, I'd only covered 400m since the last marker. My guts skipped. My face dropped. The course was going to be short. I was already so, so disappointed because I knew the course would then be recorded as a "Short marathon" and therefore wouldn't count as my qualifying place. My time was 3:11:01 and I was 42nd woman of 1600. I should be jumping for joy. My pacing was amazing. I had such consistency - I mean isn't that what I've been training for, for the last 5 years?<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 208px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4352; mso-width-source: userset; width: 102pt;" width="136"></col>
<col style="width: 54pt;" width="72"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="62" style="height: 46.5pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="62" style="height: 46.5pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">Distance</td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">Pace</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">5K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:30</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">10K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:35</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">15K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:32</td>
</tr>
<tr height="40" style="height: 69.75pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="93" style="border-top: none; height: 69.75pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">Half
Marathon</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:34</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">25K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:33</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">30K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:33</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">35K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:34</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 23.25pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="31" style="border-top: none; height: 23.25pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">40K</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:35</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 46.5pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="62" style="border-top: none; height: 46.5pt; width: 102pt;" width="136">Arrivo</td>
<td align="right" class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none; width: 54pt;" width="72">04:31</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMEQWnQ8gsG6_wK5YTY3Ku9Vce7vo70Y16K3ydbEXLHdncdRs5z-fP3cNDl-A4Q1p8hANq8_8nCYJa1iyWqIn-882Wl2Sd6PU6Sn29lVkD4DWSfwZTyBQEZYGy3MLdLcmvEIpbkoJPMLN/s1600/flor12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMEQWnQ8gsG6_wK5YTY3Ku9Vce7vo70Y16K3ydbEXLHdncdRs5z-fP3cNDl-A4Q1p8hANq8_8nCYJa1iyWqIn-882Wl2Sd6PU6Sn29lVkD4DWSfwZTyBQEZYGy3MLdLcmvEIpbkoJPMLN/s640/flor12.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><br />
<br />
I came into the finish, not really feeling the joy I should have done. Not pushing for the line like I should have done. Just kind of rolling through the finish, getting my medal and wandering off to find Issy, having missed her screaming her throat raw as I past her at the finishing corner. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouC6JVgdSx5eRJ5Da15vzzp_rZ6N_HcfWhHUVHKD9Zvu_h8MHMOtq1C0inni5SIifeMv3mWp0NRW973Lf8hjhoL4K3R5nyQ0oCIX_nPgxb1xpN83pUb2CpzHPCZM4PUacbmRDRfA9oNIS/s1600/Flro14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouC6JVgdSx5eRJ5Da15vzzp_rZ6N_HcfWhHUVHKD9Zvu_h8MHMOtq1C0inni5SIifeMv3mWp0NRW973Lf8hjhoL4K3R5nyQ0oCIX_nPgxb1xpN83pUb2CpzHPCZM4PUacbmRDRfA9oNIS/s1600/Flro14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouC6JVgdSx5eRJ5Da15vzzp_rZ6N_HcfWhHUVHKD9Zvu_h8MHMOtq1C0inni5SIifeMv3mWp0NRW973Lf8hjhoL4K3R5nyQ0oCIX_nPgxb1xpN83pUb2CpzHPCZM4PUacbmRDRfA9oNIS/s320/Flro14.jpg" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<br />
We went for a beer and for some more of THE MOST AMAZING PIZZA and then celebrated with a nap.I text Robbie and a couple of friends that I'd got the time but the course was short so it won't count. I was gutted. Even though I know in my heart that even on a full course I would have been safely under the time, but I just felt so flat. I know it's ridiculous, I know it's completely irrational and I should be so so happy, as if I'm honest with myself, I had a near perfect race. Yet I feel a little cheated. <br />
To be fair to the organisers and a race of 10,000 - they did a brilliant job in circumstance that couldn't be foreseen. A gas leak on the course at KM 42 meant they had to act quickly to divert the course and reducing the official distance by 600m. So I'm not blaming them. It was unfortunate and I'm positive if I contact VLM with my time they would have no problems in extrapolating my time and letting me run in the Champs pen, but I would feel like a phony. <br />
I have one last attempt to get a sub 90 half now before the end of the year, which as long as I'm recovered, I'll have a bash. If not, I'm confident in my ability for London next year. Issy was a wonderful support crew as ever and Robbie as always was right. I'm not a bad runner ;-) I've made my peace with it and I realise I sound like an ungrateful brat.annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-4551114714847019342019-07-10T23:30:00.000+01:002019-07-11T00:05:00.066+01:00London Marathon and my head up my arse.(I wrote this months ago but for some reason never posted it) <br />
<br />
As usual my posts seem to be quite few and far between with a collosal life update leading to the latest race. I'll try to keep it brief..... ha! yeah right. <br />
<br />
I'll keep it to this year in the very least. <br />
<br />
So, I've probably not made it a secret that London marathon has been my A race for the first part of this year. Last year, I bloody loved it! It didn't go to plan as it was about 4000 degress Fahrenheit but it was one of THE best experiences any runner could have. <br />
<br />
April 28th has been a date in my diary for 4 months. It's been the focus of my training for this time, and something I've been thoroughly looking forward to. <br />
<br />
As per some of my previous posts, work has been quite consuming. The beginning of the year was no different. I'm not going to lie, it got pretty bad. I was topping 80 hours a week plus travelling to Germany twice a month - sometimes more. I was drinking a little more than I should and I was occasionally secretly smoking again. <br />
<br />
However, I was still trying to focus on getting my training in. For the most part, I was succeeding. If I hadn't, I think I would have spiralled a bit further than I did. Robbie was brilliant during this time. Something he always nails, is understanding the need to balance several spinning plates in his clients' lives and never ever making you feel like you're failing. <br />
<br />
I had a skiing trip at the end of January, where I managed to run most days - not far, but keeping the legs ticking over- mostly up and down the pistes at 2000m altitude. Coming to the end of the trip, I felt the impending doom of work and a rising anxiety I'd not properly acknowledged as a real mental health problem before. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDI4dDUm1n86OH3jBNdkXvozpPvGHY22OQ6GJ6s9vClRPgkW0f_qkowENH3ze6QjjdIw8gJrgQdh3m1jeiGPkOHTWeneAAcR6jgvQoUCaOlym0wJyKS49OTaq-zt7l8Mo2u_w0zhbOx3X/s1600/Ski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDI4dDUm1n86OH3jBNdkXvozpPvGHY22OQ6GJ6s9vClRPgkW0f_qkowENH3ze6QjjdIw8gJrgQdh3m1jeiGPkOHTWeneAAcR6jgvQoUCaOlym0wJyKS49OTaq-zt7l8Mo2u_w0zhbOx3X/s320/Ski.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The following weeks, saw my mental health decline to a state that I've not seen for maybe 10 years. I was sat at my desk at 1am tears streaming down my face, sliding an unravelled paperclip up and down my arm until it drew blood. A security guard doing the rounds of the building stopped by, barely noticed my snivelling snotty face, walked back out. <br />
<br />
I got home at 2am, to be up at 4.30am to get a flight to Germany. <br />
<br />
Enough. <br />
<br />
Later that week, I went to my GP. In floods of tears, I explained how I was feeling. She told me she wanted sign me off work for a month. I stupidly negotiated that we reduce my hours. <br />
<br />
She said. "OK - 3 days". <br />
I said "OK, so 30 hours"<br />
"Aren't your contracted hours 37.5 hours?"<br />
"Yes, but nothing will get done in 24 hours" <br />
"Anna. That's not your problem" <br />
<br />
Diagnosis. Get some counselling. Get some sleep. Keep exercising. See people. <br />
<br />
(She was amazing over the next couple of months, went way above her duty, calling me to check in if I couldn't make my check in appointments -well done NHS)<br />
<br />
Right after my appointment, I had a short visit from my friend Charlie, who was passing through on his way back north after some trip to foreign parts as he does now and then, from what I understand he just runs all day and takes selfies with his top off. We went for cake and he made me question my life choices as he always does when we see each other, which was exactly what I needed right now. <br />
<br />
I went in to work and gave my boss my Dr's note. To be fair, he's been amazing. I'm very lucky to have him, he really gives a shit and he completely facilitated a reduced working solution whilst I tried to sort my shit out. <br />
<br />
Sort my shit out I have. It's been a pretty tough few months and some hefty life changes with on-going changes that I'm managing. I've been spending time with a life coach to help manage through these transitions and it's the best investment I've ever made. The most important thing here is that I've acknowledged, I'm part of the problem - if I want to change my path, I need to change my behaviours (but that is an entire volume of books).<br />
<br />
Training wise - the main goal has been consistency. <br />
<br />
I take the piss sometimes about Robbie and the "C" word and after 4 or 5 years of training together, I feel that this last few months has been the most consistent I've ever been. <br />
<br />
Yes. I missed the odd session. Yes, I never lost the 2kg I planned to lose. Yes, I've had a few too many cigarettes. But, I cut myself some slack. I've been hitting the main sessions. I've been resting when I should as well as when I need to. I've had 3 trips to the alps in the snow (I know - boo hoo) but I've managed to keep things going. <br />
<br />
I've been totally neurotic though. One day texting Robbie that I can't possibly manage my target. The next day, over confident. How he manages me is worthy of a medal. I'm sure I'm his most high maintenance clients at times, but he's always there reassuring me. 100% understanding the demands of a busy career, stressful personal life changes and everything else that comes with being a normal functioning human being. <br />
<br />
I've been really fucking boring with my training. Laps of the local lake. Running next to the dual carriageway. But deep down I LOVE this sort of structure and discipline for a time. About 4 weeks out, I really started to feel my excitement building. <br />
<br />
With a few months consistent training under my belt, and 3 weeks to race day, I pulled off a fantastic half marathon performance. Everything went as I set out - on the day the weather was hotter than planned so I adjusted some timings a little. <br />
<br />
Initial plan: <br />
<br />
3 miles @ 4:35/km<br />
3 miles@ 4.30 / km <br />
3 miles @ 4.25 / km <br />
final mile @ 4:20 / km<br />
<br />
With the weather forecast a a toasty mid 20s I decided after the first kilometre to adjust this to: <br />
<br />
4 miles @ 4:35/ km<br />
4 miles @ 4:30/km<br />
4 miles @4:25/km<br />
final mile hold on for dear life <br />
<br />
I went to Hannover with my friend Lyndon, who was carrying an injury and he was keen to follow my plan. We had a nice meal the night before and were suitably prepared. <br />
<br />
We ran together, chatting at times. He stuck with me until mile 8, where we parted company. Slowly I pulled away, I missed the 4:25 pace slightly and really hurt the last mile, the heat was reasonably tough and I crossed the line with a PB of 1:35 and a fantastic negative split and progression run. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDg7cWUAJoULJ8lZ1h9WM02wtMvecf44UVgevDH8sGNOLE7bKsI2eXx0tlYcP4R8NjpHZB-1BNHtN9T2t7X7w2gSRmS54ulLnKZ30KbNhY28duzF-AYuuq-IR2xvtgr4QYcryScBMbNTg/s1600/Lyndon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDg7cWUAJoULJ8lZ1h9WM02wtMvecf44UVgevDH8sGNOLE7bKsI2eXx0tlYcP4R8NjpHZB-1BNHtN9T2t7X7w2gSRmS54ulLnKZ30KbNhY28duzF-AYuuq-IR2xvtgr4QYcryScBMbNTg/s320/Lyndon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was very please with this - a 4th place in my age category in a large international field (32nd woman of close to 3000!). I went home feeling confident and started flirting with the idea of time goals which Robbie and I discussed. <br />
<br />
I had two goals in mind. 3:21 - because it's a good number and 3.15 which was my initial A goal that would get me a champs place for next year. Being honest with myself, 3:15 was a big ask, so I kept that in the back of my head with 3:21 as my main target.<br />
<br />
I stopped the smokes a week before the race and focussed on getting some good sleep, keeping my stress down, which for various personal reasons didn't happen. <br />
<br />
Race week was filled with the usual maranoia - niggles that weren't there, weird dreams. Is that a sore throat? Urgh, I feel sick - shit, am I pregnant? All madness. Get. A. Grip. <br />
<br />
By Thursday, I was literally bouncing in my chair at work, grinning constantly. On Friday, my legs felt like they had an electric current running through them. I had heard of this but never experienced it. I met Doug at expo to get our numbers - he was running dressed as an Emoji poo for a great cause, Bowel Cancer awareness. We had a chilled evening and bit of a lie in. <br />
<br />
I spent Saturday hydrating and met a friend for a beer then another for a coffee in London then Ellen (my number one fan) and John came up and joined us for the evening for a pint and a pizza and we all stayed with Doug. <br />
<br />
Ellen has travelled to America, Spain, the lake district and others to support me at events and I love having her around. She's such a positive force of nature and life would be a sad existence without her. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHBwNQpKAbySDQ-mVGyLZLI6YNveYIqMr-ClvtUcLLRSP_m9I0RmIyLRJrh_akpxBYq12oND8D1yiVrl7AnnoAe52U8IQyRjy0v2zGPBprAlq4Fl3Xy1N0Fb79vJmrAD_zG__axGexT4e/s1600/ellen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHBwNQpKAbySDQ-mVGyLZLI6YNveYIqMr-ClvtUcLLRSP_m9I0RmIyLRJrh_akpxBYq12oND8D1yiVrl7AnnoAe52U8IQyRjy0v2zGPBprAlq4Fl3Xy1N0Fb79vJmrAD_zG__axGexT4e/s320/ellen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Early night, alarms set, race day was here!!!!<br />
<br />
I bounced out of bed like Tigger and made porridge - I was half way through before I raised my concerns that it tasted stale. I went to the kitchen to check the packaging - sure enough it was out of date. So I left the rest. Doug sadly had eaten all his. Ellen didn't even start hers. I packed some immodium for us in case. <br />
<br />
Dressed and ready to go, some pre race pics and hugs and Doug and I headed off to Greenwich. <br />
<br />
The trip was hilarious. People asking for selfies with the walking turd. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmWEQK8AWV0nLajo1KGheEjPyVadBF5k_KpNiv-gTASHLLtORSMcZj3wxMcOFsRHsSr07geqqBcxDDkKU0IVFg6oeix0pJB6SrTtptHxHevG00kVgh7VIOKMHX-K1KOtZPeMQwX2DCFJ2/s1600/Doug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmWEQK8AWV0nLajo1KGheEjPyVadBF5k_KpNiv-gTASHLLtORSMcZj3wxMcOFsRHsSr07geqqBcxDDkKU0IVFg6oeix0pJB6SrTtptHxHevG00kVgh7VIOKMHX-K1KOtZPeMQwX2DCFJ2/s320/Doug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
At Maze Hill we parted company for our respective start points. <br />
<br />
The weather was pretty much perfect - a little windier than I had expected, but a cool 10 degrees or so - much different to last years 26 degrees. <br />
<br />
I found a discarded poncho to wear once I'd handed in my drop bag and coat to keep warm for the next 20 mins. Some groovy tunes playing to make me dance to keep warm. <br />
<br />
All too soon we were moved into the starting pens, held there for 10 mins, quick pee in someone's garden (sorry!) and then not long later the count down begun! <br />
<br />
5....4.....3.....2....1.... Good luck everyone! Enjoy!<br />
<br />
It took 90 secs to get through the start, even in the 2nd pen of the small green start, but it flowed well. <br />
<br />
Earlier that morning I'd read an article Robbie wrote about pacing, holding back, the net descent in the first 4 miles of the course. All this in mind, I got to my target pace of 4:40 and stayed there. My legs wanted to go faster, but I wouldn't let them. I knew they could go faster but I wouldn't let them - how very boring and unlike me not to go off like a bat out of hell! Enjoy the easy pace, I kept telling myself. The race starts later. My goal was to build on this and get a negative split..... the dream for any runner. <br />
<br />
My pace felt so controlled. I felt calm. I was enjoying the crowds. the silly fancy dress costumes. The man running in a tent that was taking off in the wind - he was ahead of me!! Thinking nothing more than this being a 3 or so hour run... I'm not racing yet. <br />
<br />
By 4 miles, I needed a piss. How long could I hold it before I had to go? another 2 or 3? If I went too soon, I might need to go again, so worked on my pelvic floor. <br />
<br />
I got as far as 11 before I found my opportunity. Fortunately there was no queue so it was a 30 second diversion I reckon. <br />
<br />
Running over tower bridge was AMAZING! The roar of the crowds, the incredible view was emotional. I grinned so big and bounced over towards the 20k marker. <br />
<br />
Still holding my pace of 4:40. Feeling strong, feeling bouncy. Feeling controlled. <br />
<br />
Runing into the half way point I got a bit excited on the descent. passed through half way, still on 4:40 pace and hit my lap button. From here I would try to build on my pace. <br />
<br />
I aimed at 4:38 (what a numbers bore - but hey, I'm an accountant!). My watch kept telling me I was averaging 4:36. "Too fast Anna. Chill out you dickhead" <br />
<br />
I remember a massive hill at 18 miles from last year so wanted to keep something back. <br />
<br />
18 miles came and went - I powered up the massive hill (a short flyover) I'd dreamed up last year in the sweltering heat. It was barely a lump this time. <br />
<br />
I felt like the race was going by so quickly. Were my wheels about to fall off in a catastrophic way? (probably.....wait for it).<br />
<br />
I reached 20 miles, it was still feeling comfortable. I was chatting briefly to a guy to my left, who asked how I was feeling. "Great. The race is about to start now" with a cockey half wink he probably didn't see.<br />
<br />
My watch and the mile marker were out of line - I guess the high buildings, wider racing lines create differences, I think I passed through 20 in around 2.31 or so. I knew 3:15 was unlikely now, I'd need to do a sub 45 10k - this wasn't entirely out of reach but I didn't want to dig too deep too soon, so I held the pace at what felt manageable. <br />
<br />
Mile 22 came and went, Lyndon was there yelling and cheering. I was waiting for my wheels to come clattering off. Still they were playing along. Throughout the next few miles, I saw lots of people I knew which was so lovely. The crowds along this stretch were incredible, it was impossible not to bounce along getting giddy.<br />
<br />
I passed the second crew of St Albans Striders as I was next to one of the 3.15 pacers from the blue start (not mine sadly) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySaL5qd-6KblxqybNf4AO7I0KduGnktkDP3FTxKABGo9QXDsRFPfFt3Wae-6Y02WWdxHV_gsN6jistsVixM6nlssnBl_D5OqvoMtqZ__DqemjYEtUvCXc-FHYRJxcsO4mN3WzLNA7Ll6i/s1600/57088130_10155255064002325_163828907575869440_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySaL5qd-6KblxqybNf4AO7I0KduGnktkDP3FTxKABGo9QXDsRFPfFt3Wae-6Y02WWdxHV_gsN6jistsVixM6nlssnBl_D5OqvoMtqZ__DqemjYEtUvCXc-FHYRJxcsO4mN3WzLNA7Ll6i/s320/57088130_10155255064002325_163828907575869440_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I heard her first - Ellen Screaming! AMAZING! I waved an blew her a kiss. <br />
<br />
I heard Lisa screaming and waved. <br />
<br />
40km marker appeared. I could feel that I was starting to slow now, my calves were a bit tight. I knew from training I could turn on the pace late in a long run. But could I now? I hit the lap button again to track my average pace over the last 2k. I was unable to turn it on. I felt like I was too far from the finish to dig in just yet. I knew I would get in under 3:21, but how close to 3:15 could I get? <br />
<br />
The last km sign appeared, I still didn't feel ready to dig in. 800m, there was Sarah and little Henry screaming at the top of her lungs.... 600m....400m...... come on Anna, give it a kick. 200m, I glanced at my watch and saw that 3:18 was coming round, I pushed on for the line in an attempt to get under. Boom! 3:17:59. <br />
<br />
A 21 second negative split. <br />
<br />
My only regret? I still had something in me.... I could have shaved a minute off that last 2k if only I'd had more guts. I need to learn when to push myself into the pain zone. I don't quite feel comforatable doing that yet. I'm still a bit of a rookie at marathons.<br />
<br />
I hung around after and met Simon from work who had done a ridiculous 2.52 or something crazy. We chatted. A guy passed out. I ran over and shoved clothes under his bleeding head while St Johns came to the rescue. <br />
<br />
Soon after Simon's wife appeared in tears. She'd had a tough race on little training (still sub 4 hours!) <br />
<br />
I had my phone back so was tracking Doug. He was storming it. My Dad had sent me a text to say he'd seen Doug interviewed on BBC... talk about stealing my thunder. <br />
<br />
Doug came in, in a brilliant 3.55 - surely the fastest turd (and biggest sandbagger) out there! (including stopping for a TV interview and apparently High Fiving everyone on the course watching) - total legend and raised a huge amount of money for an amazing charity. <br />
<br />
We went off to meet Ellen, John and Doug's friend Sinead. Doug was the celebrity of the day in his outfit.<br />
<br />
We enjoyed some beers and food and celebrated our achievements. <br />
<br />
What a day. What a result. What a support crew. <br />
<br />
Thank you London. See you next year! <br />
<br />
Obviously my mind is already entertaining that elusive sub 3.15 ;-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-60575128432953092142018-10-16T16:39:00.001+01:002018-10-16T17:26:32.745+01:00Post Tor Des Geants Update<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve left social media for a couple of months to focus on tangible things and be more productive. I have been feeling a little superficial lately, not really living in the moment and whilst I love that SM keeps me connected, I do feel as though I waste a lot of time on it and don’t get enough time to focus on the people I’m connected to in “real life” – after all they’re the ones who make the effort to see me physically, give me hugs when they’re happy to see me or I’m feeling blue or call me for a chat or text to make sure I’m alive. So I don’t really expect anyone to read these posts if I’m not sharing them anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So anyway, following the TDG, I had this annoying feeling of imposter syndrome and somehow felt guilty that the race didn’t mean as much to me as it did to other friends and that I somehow did it a bit of an injustice. I now feel like I should have tried harder – but really I know that in the moment, I felt like I was giving it all I had under some difficult emotional stress. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I surprised myself by the speed in which I bounced back physically. I was able to run later that week without any real issues, did some pace work, I even did a park run. I was hyperaware of not overdoing it as previously I’ve done this and suffered from it longer term. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mentally, I’d prepared myself, in the only way I know how - by having a jam packed diary for the next few weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doug and I spent a few days in Italy to unwind after the race, which I’m so glad of. Monday I pretty much didn’t leave bed all day, Doug fetched baguette and butter and basically I just dipped bread into butter and tried to put on the 6kg I’d lost during the week. I’d taken a picture and I looked vile – like an anorexic boy so didn’t care what calories I put in me (it’s all gone back on and some more – fat bitch). Tuesday we went to an incredible spa just outside Courmayeur. I have a terrible habit of trying to fit in too much into a small space of time. I’d originally suggested we drive to the beach for a few days – he talked me out of this thankfully!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUELf6eB7KBmmxnftWskXh9n1VGLAzO0WmfAwqhM2eaWW6LZOcSKzpgJQmBa8yiSXno7H8t3ryhgg1Ot0BF8m0OSlROakON841Zs_dFW-byTlTtZsKDkznnRGWY2XDxLIi66MJPynZVmT/s1600/20180918_123007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUELf6eB7KBmmxnftWskXh9n1VGLAzO0WmfAwqhM2eaWW6LZOcSKzpgJQmBa8yiSXno7H8t3ryhgg1Ot0BF8m0OSlROakON841Zs_dFW-byTlTtZsKDkznnRGWY2XDxLIi66MJPynZVmT/s640/20180918_123007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We got back on the Wednesday night, delayed and I did a little work on Thursday from home whilst I washed piles of stink kit. It was a few days before year end for me, so I knew I had a horror story for work coming up. I was supposed to be heading to Germany for a couple of days the following week but I received a call from my friend Kris Duffy asking if I fancied a free two day trip to Italy on Wednesday for some running promotional photo shoot thing with Alberto Tombo (of the Skiing fame in the 80s and 90s) – of course I did! On Friday, we drove down to Croyde for our annual trip with our friends to a gorgeous rented cottage where we ate and drank and surfed and ran and generally had a wonderful time. I can’t get enough of this group of people, most of whom I’ve been friends with for over 20 years, the others are acquired boyfriends and husbands that we’ve accepted into the group.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtlM9R7sewKiF3TxVz4NNoW3xzBn5n-iFW-iqAZy2VVXnkvzdikRyM5ZO1-Rbczh0ZQ9gckz1Aeog9368MUGDTM-DkmCoTP8L3qf_k5px8NbcoIG2_k5x5E5JGhzb6yi5E3IfKGd2phg_/s1600/20180918_123007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZWTfPEuCMTF2deIWNStklo5RYYaMGLy_oeTSYuIlVE20F_kEkQS1pn8i2q3oh6jcNosSHx5KKfFydz-o-fTFzpReZds4AF4WBHTjQfO9QC8F40ALyrj5MfCL3b3HPxY0Sn6Y-aOZ0clz/s640/20180923_151007.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF5xnbjXM0rJy4kYrial7ortvzDon32qvfrPdCJr5fSJUOwP05fUlFG9sYUiK830r4luk5hKzzRK9W6LHmNrpMW02f7tlO7TzFRzU9kTyPjlBg3LpCx2qPCK_W1zs3m090PdJVpeBL7h7/s1600/20180923_151637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF5xnbjXM0rJy4kYrial7ortvzDon32qvfrPdCJr5fSJUOwP05fUlFG9sYUiK830r4luk5hKzzRK9W6LHmNrpMW02f7tlO7TzFRzU9kTyPjlBg3LpCx2qPCK_W1zs3m090PdJVpeBL7h7/s320/20180923_151637.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0lul0wQzyocNggeG2ga0xyl3P4vJhyphenhyphen30QCOZlHmJWFuWn4lgD41A-K8XOS4A7RUG9pV8uCGPEUSfaP40PeKnfFC403afWSkXMiQfUl2BFjZXFiG8aksQGGhqLuHPmmakN61A6ssK4all/s1600/20180923_155756_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0lul0wQzyocNggeG2ga0xyl3P4vJhyphenhyphen30QCOZlHmJWFuWn4lgD41A-K8XOS4A7RUG9pV8uCGPEUSfaP40PeKnfFC403afWSkXMiQfUl2BFjZXFiG8aksQGGhqLuHPmmakN61A6ssK4all/s640/20180923_155756_001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I returned to work on Tuesday for a day rearranged my meetings in Germany and headed off to the Emlia Romagna region of Italy with a group of total strangers. I was met at the airport by the lovely Francesco and Sona, from the Czech Republic and driven to a lovely quiet hotel in what felt like a remote part of the hills</span>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobpvuSm2eymK8nGP2Bs4Mfk8oOLa55IUTRB_2a67A4vjafFJHlkV8mVk3Cj3injnc2PwPIzVdvNPQlRiPUF-wr_yT6WX047T5J2_dqV1se2WUniMvZIG-M5DawONcE3FL-onFysHT46J1/s1600/20180926_184302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobpvuSm2eymK8nGP2Bs4Mfk8oOLa55IUTRB_2a67A4vjafFJHlkV8mVk3Cj3injnc2PwPIzVdvNPQlRiPUF-wr_yT6WX047T5J2_dqV1se2WUniMvZIG-M5DawONcE3FL-onFysHT46J1/s640/20180926_184302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzDT5j4Q89XtS4YAe2u5MZXkb30EzGxCXyzOZFGHIEPCV5rXokWh1jG7lMBMN6eI1RLWxFrtPe7XeLpSit4y4sp3f7iScKHtTvTwAZbP9aRrAVg-miajqnogKFDwfCkSmYNP9gdiP15jS/s1600/20180926_181118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzDT5j4Q89XtS4YAe2u5MZXkb30EzGxCXyzOZFGHIEPCV5rXokWh1jG7lMBMN6eI1RLWxFrtPe7XeLpSit4y4sp3f7iScKHtTvTwAZbP9aRrAVg-miajqnogKFDwfCkSmYNP9gdiP15jS/s400/20180926_181118.jpg" width="225" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was quite different to the previous week in terms of terrain and vista – still hilly but much flatter and panoramic. The weather was gorgeous, the hotel was great and the company brilliant. The crew were all super lovely and we had a great time, eating and drinking, I felt like I’d been sucked into someone’s family as we sat around chatting. My understanding of Italian proving far better than my speaking of it, I was able to laugh along to some of the chatter. Over dinner I chatted to Alberto, trying to learn more about his career. He’s quite a celebrity in Italy, so I felt a bit rude that I didn’t know who he was aside from some googling whilst I was on the train to Gatwick, so was probably confused why I wasn’t swooning over him.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrJKOTkOPx914T_31Uts_NrQhuy0_VtlVDl5bdnSZHabtIrnQDp-Jy0qZgBzK3FxlR15qqRcv0roLCwghuGm4ZWaISlqX6Ww_-qMn51nQhrI7BK3n1k8wSfI2IAdWTpBSzFXt46M5JlvK/s1600/20180926_222124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrJKOTkOPx914T_31Uts_NrQhuy0_VtlVDl5bdnSZHabtIrnQDp-Jy0qZgBzK3FxlR15qqRcv0roLCwghuGm4ZWaISlqX6Ww_-qMn51nQhrI7BK3n1k8wSfI2IAdWTpBSzFXt46M5JlvK/s400/20180926_222124.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were all a bit pissed when I arranged a run at 7am the next morning – I’d like to say that everyone made it but I’d be lying. Still it was a lush morning and I got to see an amazing sunrise.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKrfo-tVParD7NxUCKMsBAPksJHIIR3SJBedvh9-C-3bCEObW8gXm524x97vfy90ukXlJyz6swpw__ZYSJZT2a8wvcjNnhiwOwwc8yAb74lgacIGPPvK_X5kuKIBbg6hVBqNq31jUNDLX/s1600/20180926_184745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKrfo-tVParD7NxUCKMsBAPksJHIIR3SJBedvh9-C-3bCEObW8gXm524x97vfy90ukXlJyz6swpw__ZYSJZT2a8wvcjNnhiwOwwc8yAb74lgacIGPPvK_X5kuKIBbg6hVBqNq31jUNDLX/s640/20180926_184745.jpg" width="640" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7MlQ5XoqwKOn4r9zPR-gVxWEZo1UEbNMZv-IxJ9zJ-s35XSkPe5DflrDnzm3Ovq5h1hJRpezvifcaGeRMPx8GW2v8WqUeW4GWg7rdy8-CkL_zeAJD36cSwNshQXdMaYPclvl6QlatZD-/s1600/20180926_184640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7MlQ5XoqwKOn4r9zPR-gVxWEZo1UEbNMZv-IxJ9zJ-s35XSkPe5DflrDnzm3Ovq5h1hJRpezvifcaGeRMPx8GW2v8WqUeW4GWg7rdy8-CkL_zeAJD36cSwNshQXdMaYPclvl6QlatZD-/s400/20180926_184640.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I ate the most incredible food I think I’ve ever eaten whilst there – and waaaay too much of it. I think the hotel staff were trying to showcase it, and that they did! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Returning from Italy was followed with year-end which went fairly smoothly, my analyst is off sick so I had several very late night/early morning finishes in the office but nothing I’ve not been used to over the last couple of years, and frankly I felt a bit bad that I’d not been in the office much lately. Over year end I had a bit of a post-race low that I knew would come at some point. So I allowed myself a couple of days of moping, where I let the self-destruct button compress a little. I spent a night alone, enjoying my sorry state, listening to Jonny Cash, drinking a few Gin & Tonics and chain smoking. Reflecting on the previous months, pondering the future, assessing my current frame of mind, how to maintain the healthy mental state I so often struggle with, generally spending a bit of time on myself - evaluating my worth which I don’t get time to do. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Year-end broadly done and there was another trip planned; a work trip to Croatia from Tuesday to Friday. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOROzTW3dAf4TslrZQKlNBcGuvrv6LbErdPgC8mTABQjF9-CNW20ZjPv-BK15lk_pwiZB8cmz30BzgG4z-7ld-0XEyIOdend2i3NTKvok8bla6QvOqqUvmmoPW0U039XZcFYFbvIlNulbE/s1600/20181009_075119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOROzTW3dAf4TslrZQKlNBcGuvrv6LbErdPgC8mTABQjF9-CNW20ZjPv-BK15lk_pwiZB8cmz30BzgG4z-7ld-0XEyIOdend2i3NTKvok8bla6QvOqqUvmmoPW0U039XZcFYFbvIlNulbE/s400/20181009_075119.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was for the Group Purchasing business unit, which I’m not directly employed by but I’m Financial Controller for a really high profile project that is being delivered for them so I was invited along. The agenda was full. Tuesday involved 2 hours sleep, a 1am drive to Luton, bus to Gatwick, Flight to Pula, bus to Rabac where we checked in to the TUI Family life hotel – which was bloody amazing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NPXOvsP01_muaVuZLy0Mo53c8yNGbD10Lg1QJ5lxGvP2pheRpV2KPZ3yvZlCg5dXNBB8oU1JZVm-s13Kj6r0oXcbYt1BOJiXBbsXXXbJd_6Hhk60N15PzMIgl5nip_nlK_bXTpwgyOit/s1600/20181009_111421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NPXOvsP01_muaVuZLy0Mo53c8yNGbD10Lg1QJ5lxGvP2pheRpV2KPZ3yvZlCg5dXNBB8oU1JZVm-s13Kj6r0oXcbYt1BOJiXBbsXXXbJd_6Hhk60N15PzMIgl5nip_nlK_bXTpwgyOit/s640/20181009_111421.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It was the end of the season but it was kept open for us for the conference – I wouldn’t fancy it during the season when there are kids there but if you have kids, you should definitely have a look and Croatia is beautiful. It’s definitely one I intend to go back to. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfrEI_hR9GqBf1svAm4zjIpQc17zJk96dAbI3McSgQJP7koWxSlSUY42_1FnS5vGefkl_famb1UvVm-X4f4Sac4WYA7v6YF66M6qPMpw-UHqpAA-jxsmTXWVwNg2KTUNQuB1YzxpM7FRm/s1600/20181009_131423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfrEI_hR9GqBf1svAm4zjIpQc17zJk96dAbI3McSgQJP7koWxSlSUY42_1FnS5vGefkl_famb1UvVm-X4f4Sac4WYA7v6YF66M6qPMpw-UHqpAA-jxsmTXWVwNg2KTUNQuB1YzxpM7FRm/s640/20181009_131423.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We had welcome drinks on the terrace, and me and Brett went for a run. It was a super sunny day and I was so happy with the trails, I could have run them all day. Surprised that they were so rugged, pretty technical but not super steep – though getting 300m vert over 8k wasn’t to be sniffed at. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaagRE55bBNw8fqZV4GVBubxS_azOFYRVOBhPFqMZhyphenhyphenuUYLs5yL369FDSOKgm_VV3y1HMceHy25BYQEdxTdIPQzTJbfJ_xTUTadgD2IuHHcLIJaOfU3KtBZM4YcEM8yuh735LPv8Afwqo/s1600/20181009_123449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaagRE55bBNw8fqZV4GVBubxS_azOFYRVOBhPFqMZhyphenhyphenuUYLs5yL369FDSOKgm_VV3y1HMceHy25BYQEdxTdIPQzTJbfJ_xTUTadgD2IuHHcLIJaOfU3KtBZM4YcEM8yuh735LPv8Afwqo/s400/20181009_123449.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNk4rAVKmW25BmvraYoxsgznB4uCeBRgMwu0Fy2QSw5h9gZ2VSoiart8L9v8mUdH1aFIVAR_1Q9WMM-cFLId6quDeB6U4tymfgDgoXYmxxVRDHifFfK5eOkHLB03VehHUvP8dCRzcJw17/s1600/20181009_123649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNk4rAVKmW25BmvraYoxsgznB4uCeBRgMwu0Fy2QSw5h9gZ2VSoiart8L9v8mUdH1aFIVAR_1Q9WMM-cFLId6quDeB6U4tymfgDgoXYmxxVRDHifFfK5eOkHLB03VehHUvP8dCRzcJw17/s1600/20181009_123649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNk4rAVKmW25BmvraYoxsgznB4uCeBRgMwu0Fy2QSw5h9gZ2VSoiart8L9v8mUdH1aFIVAR_1Q9WMM-cFLId6quDeB6U4tymfgDgoXYmxxVRDHifFfK5eOkHLB03VehHUvP8dCRzcJw17/s1600/20181009_123649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNk4rAVKmW25BmvraYoxsgznB4uCeBRgMwu0Fy2QSw5h9gZ2VSoiart8L9v8mUdH1aFIVAR_1Q9WMM-cFLId6quDeB6U4tymfgDgoXYmxxVRDHifFfK5eOkHLB03VehHUvP8dCRzcJw17/s400/20181009_123649.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Back at the hotel it was lunch time so I joined some friends. They were planning to go mountain biking next so I said I’d join them. Some of you will know I used to compete at XC and Enduro so once upon a time was quite skilled so felt confident I could show the boys up on the jump park. Could I bollocks. I underestimated the terrain. It was bloody rocky. You just couldn’t get momentum and I kept grinding to a halt on the ascent. Which finally ended up in my getting stuck, falling sideways and really hurting my ass, arm and knee. I walked it off for a bit <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but I’ve still got a huge bruise nearly a week later. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe-MGBUu3cF8L_zB5y3sxVVV7rbpe7hnUxsirJ9JY6MT3cDALzEMtxDVrXSbKbVIHV_8JSVOgiS36J8OQbsTqffA98AdHfnug62FQSdlTNO1SpFQSwkJA0UQQr1xtFztzhG-VEms748CQ/s1600/20181009_141239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVe-MGBUu3cF8L_zB5y3sxVVV7rbpe7hnUxsirJ9JY6MT3cDALzEMtxDVrXSbKbVIHV_8JSVOgiS36J8OQbsTqffA98AdHfnug62FQSdlTNO1SpFQSwkJA0UQQr1xtFztzhG-VEms748CQ/s400/20181009_141239.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">We had such a laugh and I really felt like I was living my life a bit more in the moment and making friends. We were all hopeless but it was really good to get to know each other better. We found a gorgeous little cove so dumped our bikes and went down for a swim. It was bracing and the pebbles really hurt my feet but once out on the shore the sun was warm and I found I’d cut the bottom of my heel <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on something. It wasn’t big but it was deep and really hurt. I was convinced there was something in there but even now haven’t got round to checking – and it still hurts. I did some work where I could fit it in – which was usually in the middle of the night or at lunch time as I felt guilty that I was having a nice time networking whilst the rest of my team were finishing year end reporting. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDOUUYn7iIQe5hLtojL09OvuSDiQoQvYMyoD-jwFa1duMB8-R6QNifjk5cFqbdz-kYBM2KrJNe5DkCXwXKR-T0tq3T22S0Kci23P5fqq7XG-CoMzmMf80ytPTTBqCJZJmH3OJZuADfj46/s1600/20181009_142320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDOUUYn7iIQe5hLtojL09OvuSDiQoQvYMyoD-jwFa1duMB8-R6QNifjk5cFqbdz-kYBM2KrJNe5DkCXwXKR-T0tq3T22S0Kci23P5fqq7XG-CoMzmMf80ytPTTBqCJZJmH3OJZuADfj46/s400/20181009_142320.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFq_9hks5KmB9RIwAkRGfQXOMI9ZL4cOt49SejngvaDEuRquwUzsyYS9nRt94ptRlYiYKnmFiWItlifVG_3U4s88DSE6MXxrJnGa28rY8R3Rjxc6wra-r-ruwVUdIi2-0sLUv3XZxJx91/s1600/20181009_142345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFq_9hks5KmB9RIwAkRGfQXOMI9ZL4cOt49SejngvaDEuRquwUzsyYS9nRt94ptRlYiYKnmFiWItlifVG_3U4s88DSE6MXxrJnGa28rY8R3Rjxc6wra-r-ruwVUdIi2-0sLUv3XZxJx91/s640/20181009_142345.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3JclkczDf7gb0Upcsv9IMIywzHKZtuPEy8bgW0NF8p5_vl4UzF3DmpN1RTz15itsVOJ0ZFxACT8ls5LqyUyzrezpFA2gnW5Ll0F4otK7MDMK2gAunifWAWHnEYtmA-FmqSv2Oa8W8ob7/s1600/20181009_145429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3JclkczDf7gb0Upcsv9IMIywzHKZtuPEy8bgW0NF8p5_vl4UzF3DmpN1RTz15itsVOJ0ZFxACT8ls5LqyUyzrezpFA2gnW5Ll0F4otK7MDMK2gAunifWAWHnEYtmA-FmqSv2Oa8W8ob7/s640/20181009_145429.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFFjJusHUyVCfbSnxzfMlGkA_ywvLXm07-8quumENaGBXZ147fuPvnu36NvlTuw1a8LZQq746HE6aMZPUg1LMJYunlqKn9DLCRhGbJw_TbqjTPC6cc6KwTQXqDUUqMYI9u4o3q-f2k8ar/s1600/20181014_091403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFFjJusHUyVCfbSnxzfMlGkA_ywvLXm07-8quumENaGBXZ147fuPvnu36NvlTuw1a8LZQq746HE6aMZPUg1LMJYunlqKn9DLCRhGbJw_TbqjTPC6cc6KwTQXqDUUqMYI9u4o3q-f2k8ar/s400/20181014_091403.jpg" width="300" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7v0Lw0Y492WHHrIG69CiFnPBFrtc_fXpC_89hPzguddG69YaCiyD86BkGm4JWkRjEBcYN_AF10o_-SP2gGwlU-KSwOBooHQpLapcz-XjkdH9CpCGvaQcXQeCcI_hDeSY4ksQqpJsJM9m/s1600/20181009_150652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7v0Lw0Y492WHHrIG69CiFnPBFrtc_fXpC_89hPzguddG69YaCiyD86BkGm4JWkRjEBcYN_AF10o_-SP2gGwlU-KSwOBooHQpLapcz-XjkdH9CpCGvaQcXQeCcI_hDeSY4ksQqpJsJM9m/s400/20181009_150652.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKmZjbX3-KeAfehF7SnAnYtsgOtDjj5GYyoyROWepgX5tN56pNCeSvpiCe2_aUTtAkAmzZ8umLDymplHUJceSb1iD0Isnp-_PbpiXysmL-GpfxKouPUixMyj4VL5wkkz67G2S9UqZhmdI/s1600/20181009_152209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKmZjbX3-KeAfehF7SnAnYtsgOtDjj5GYyoyROWepgX5tN56pNCeSvpiCe2_aUTtAkAmzZ8umLDymplHUJceSb1iD0Isnp-_PbpiXysmL-GpfxKouPUixMyj4VL5wkkz67G2S9UqZhmdI/s640/20181009_152209.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3vWmwWby9hkHAIvdvYwGD957_JKmVHPCr0ryV3x8LN_jxi7wMUXFNpbrE4bYXQxAzqjlmCJNpDOJy9wVUzUNZiWEkctJCwFYjpI7I14VheP3fMb7g-_L7TzJkaEPO-QDYb_Lqw98Jf0w/s1600/20181009_153603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3vWmwWby9hkHAIvdvYwGD957_JKmVHPCr0ryV3x8LN_jxi7wMUXFNpbrE4bYXQxAzqjlmCJNpDOJy9wVUzUNZiWEkctJCwFYjpI7I14VheP3fMb7g-_L7TzJkaEPO-QDYb_Lqw98Jf0w/s640/20181009_153603.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76FdS5L7NoHFFLm2eGTfVLzcTMS1JwxLcXnQLQx-HXA6zO6vNe2cKmnFq8mzv7fd426C4uueXsqwdR4rsN_50rlN32YRz03bKvTErWdUVJ_6uDNB4SHKMdHEpEbEugWV0gDtIIiOirhd5/s1600/20181009_161834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76FdS5L7NoHFFLm2eGTfVLzcTMS1JwxLcXnQLQx-HXA6zO6vNe2cKmnFq8mzv7fd426C4uueXsqwdR4rsN_50rlN32YRz03bKvTErWdUVJ_6uDNB4SHKMdHEpEbEugWV0gDtIIiOirhd5/s400/20181009_161834.jpg" width="300" /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqoBYLD0AOVxPv_4iEWZRiR67aMWGBTgtkgTThd4_LiQMLG52IkffqzB0rMZ3cVR37MrrVafcrmyc3E2DJ9B8Fs9Kd-5n4YS7Ii_q-PAXV0o-WQsGskmWI_GJ1Zg8PbPLs-MJ61HGy76Z/s1600/20181009_171137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqoBYLD0AOVxPv_4iEWZRiR67aMWGBTgtkgTThd4_LiQMLG52IkffqzB0rMZ3cVR37MrrVafcrmyc3E2DJ9B8Fs9Kd-5n4YS7Ii_q-PAXV0o-WQsGskmWI_GJ1Zg8PbPLs-MJ61HGy76Z/s400/20181009_171137.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKjMX5NmggfqtJX7wLSz801pul6km0-6Etdzm8-kWCEFZyNKCDjcSOGU9vylmpXSRTxxw5boOLoXAn2WP96-WpYCKOTAib0H1XC3ZMINFg7Ce9_dso3stsnf-SPEuc5Xysozz6lDVWr4q/s1600/20181011_091718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKjMX5NmggfqtJX7wLSz801pul6km0-6Etdzm8-kWCEFZyNKCDjcSOGU9vylmpXSRTxxw5boOLoXAn2WP96-WpYCKOTAib0H1XC3ZMINFg7Ce9_dso3stsnf-SPEuc5Xysozz6lDVWr4q/s400/20181011_091718.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rest of the conference was brilliant; lots of really interesting speakers, lots of networking, amazing food, fun evenings of drinking and laughter and really getting to know everyone better. The final night there was a big gala dinner planned, with a white theme so I finally got to wear a white dress I’d bought earlier in the year - everyone looked gorgeous and we had loads of fun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We danced to the Abba tribute band then until the DJ wouldn’t play any-more, I got to bed about 3.30 and did an hour’s work whilst it seemed some of the others were still up drinking at 5am. I wasn’t able to run the rest of the week because of hangovers and my sore heel but I was surviving on so little sleep lately I didn’t think it was a great idea anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjgtDzSOlcIQFhhwH33gvu46Do4-jHanw3YW46pUpu3ntQPuEojvHt-kOztQpb1XX0A5ctG9zr3N13-2TfsYgacVOJtaSjuP_ggqcpbT_eD7OMrmhOjjoBN_ZP6c-EbSBCCtGV8t0sG2v/s1600/20181012_001632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjgtDzSOlcIQFhhwH33gvu46Do4-jHanw3YW46pUpu3ntQPuEojvHt-kOztQpb1XX0A5ctG9zr3N13-2TfsYgacVOJtaSjuP_ggqcpbT_eD7OMrmhOjjoBN_ZP6c-EbSBCCtGV8t0sG2v/s400/20181012_001632.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sensibly, I’d only had one or two glasses of wine with dinner as I knew there was a 4 hour bus drive to Venice next morning and a race for me on Saturday. I worked solidly on the bus before my laptop died. I picked up a hire car and drove down to Lake Garda – it was such a beautiful drive. Not as nice as the Amalfi Coast drive me and Doug did a few years ago but it comes close. The temperature sitting around 26 degrees even at 5pm turning my non air-conditioned fiat panda into a greenhouse I sweated into the seats and enjoyed the route through tunnels<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>around Lake Garda that were carved out of the rocks - missed having Doug next to me nagging me to get off the car in fronts ass. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which brings us up to date and to Limone Sul Garda, which I’ll get to in a bit.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-77281377934209128062018-09-24T20:29:00.003+01:002018-09-24T20:29:50.481+01:00Tor Des Geants<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ_VtQaCgZBAYw68o1GYEFIqnAwF368sOCN4Mi3JvFtgZmh9vfhriMoK8eloP9iPpL-23d8g9ZfPWm4Se35CicpUJUeS7FHHDEBa0Jq5EZBOMsKleOEXcrmVaUe5xoY_75efTRHgjLAPg/s1600/20180918_093346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ_VtQaCgZBAYw68o1GYEFIqnAwF368sOCN4Mi3JvFtgZmh9vfhriMoK8eloP9iPpL-23d8g9ZfPWm4Se35CicpUJUeS7FHHDEBa0Jq5EZBOMsKleOEXcrmVaUe5xoY_75efTRHgjLAPg/s400/20180918_093346.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wasn't sure whether to write a blog about this for a few reasons but I'm not going to give you a blow by blow account as lots of it is a blur and lots of it I spent deep in thought. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hadn't really expected to get into this event. I felt that I was a few years away from being ready for it. I'd put my hat in the ring expecting not to get through the ballot first time but to get a few extra tickets for the next couple of years. So imagine my surprise when I got in first time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After London marathon the plan was to hit the hills hard, a trip to Chamonix for 10 days should have laid some good ground work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, you'll know from my previous blog that I've been pretty poorly for several months now. After being diagnosed with Whooping Cough, I accepted that what I had wasn't going to kill me. However, it certainly wasn't making me feel great. For months, waking up in the night unable to breath and choking has been pretty tedious. Training wasn't going to plan. Basically just getting easy runs in when I felt ok - nothing long featured. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a 24 hour relay race with some friends from work to get through the week after Lakeland, on the way there nearly vomiting I was coughing so hard, Lyndon one of my team mates had given me an inhaler to try out. Which to my surprise really helped alleviate the attacks when they were in full swing. I went into the race not knowing how many laps I could do, I said I'd see how the first one went and go from there. I'd had a couple of runs that week which had been 3 mins run, 1 min cough. Pretty miserable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As it happened, running itself seemed to open up my airways enough to get through a 9k tempo effort. I was still reserved in my pace so I didn't over do it. As soon as I stopped however, I'd have impressive choking fits for 10 mins or so. The team did great. We won with a course record and 7 laps each all really consistent, no one dropping off the pace. My laps were all between 41 and 44 mins and despite getting literally no sleep (the cough is much worse laying down) I felt strong in my legs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, we managed to fit in a trip to Brecon in the final weeks of training where we did 4 reps up the 450m climb. I felt great. I didn't quite understand how. But I was going to go with it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The final week was spent, sorting kit, buying new kit, sorting nutrition. The race on paper is 330km, 24,000m ascent (it was actually 340k and 30,000m ascent!) a lot of which is at altitude, I wasn't sure how my cough would behave. It had seen some improvement in the last few weeks. Still running seemed to favour it slightly. The fits weren't so persistent. More like a fake attention seeking cough now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My friends Jenn and Gary were doing the TDG too - it was return visits for them having completed or attempted it in previous years, we met some other return offenders who had lots of advice and spoilers of things to come. Which was a bit irritating at times. I don't recce routes because I like to be surprised by the route, so I didn't want to know too much. It's useful however to know which are the more technical or slow sections so you can be prepared for this mentally. The days before the race were spent hanging out with friends, eating pizza and ice cream - when in Italy! I was keen to get going now though. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Tor Des Geants - A la Trip Advisor:</strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Accommodation: </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Accommodation on the Tor is a mixture. You can find human alarm clocks, spa's, shower facilities and delightful eating establishments. A lot like Club Tropicana - the drinks are free. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDs13i33CDU1iPeEg_TG1nINTSfKzWKoc1NDNkAhdzerCtIUyunx1M0KplvgbNCVix0UUlIZ-QhirkJ635HOOTq45rCQXVk0zalWOkzI2r3EO8LjbCHToCTxCjEUQ-XCKCHat18eIkg5gO/s1600/20180909_183815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDs13i33CDU1iPeEg_TG1nINTSfKzWKoc1NDNkAhdzerCtIUyunx1M0KplvgbNCVix0UUlIZ-QhirkJ635HOOTq45rCQXVk0zalWOkzI2r3EO8LjbCHToCTxCjEUQ-XCKCHat18eIkg5gO/s320/20180909_183815.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life Base 1</strong> can be found in <strong>Valgrisenche</strong> - approx. 50k into the adventure. Having covered around 4000m ascent, over 3 major cols reaching altitudes of 2800m twice, you'll be ready for a break and refuel. One of the busier bases due to the volume of guests passing through at this early stage, finding a bed was not as challenging as expected - one room had a blast heater which for some would be unpleasant to sleep in. Recommendation would be to take a meal in the dining room before retiring for a short nap (I tried to take 90 mins here but only slept for 30 mins due to excitement). Food choice is wide. Hot and cold drinks, even local lager. Hot pasta and potatoes, with a choice of slop. Biscuits, cakes, and of course, as you're in Italy - CHEESE! More cheese than you can shake a stick at. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life Base 2 </strong>may be found in Cogne. After a particularly challenging section over several thousand meters of climbing, technical descents, topping out at 3000m then a breathless 3300m. If you time your trek well you can be treated by an incredible sunrise over one of the high cols you will encounter. Once more, the facilities are well equipped. You will find hot showers and comfy beds, a similar abundance of food. By this point, you will have been up and down many mountain passes and spent little time below 1800m altitude. Your appetite may be reduced but the cheese is there to be eaten! I had taken a short nap at a previous CP of 45 mins so there was no here (also there was a queue to use a bed) but I took advantage of a shower and some fresh knickers. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life Base 3 </strong>is located in Donnas - at a mere 300m above sea level and very hot! Of course before you reach Donnas you have a long high climb to 2800m before a 30km descent - it sounds like it would be easy. It's not what your quads want after a few days trekking. However it did make this section go a little quicker and get some faster kilometres under your belt. There is a particularly challenging final 7 or 8 km into the life base that can take the wind out of ones sails if allowed, the route profile isn't very detailed here. On the way in, we stopped at a gelataria for an ice cream and took an enforced 10 minute sit down on the scorching tarmac while waiting for a train to go past and the rail crossing to re-open. At the CP, i dined on Pasta slop, then laid on the floor while Doug visited the medics to have his feet taped and closed my eyes for 10 mins</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life Base 4 </strong>can be found in Gressonney. The section from Donnas is a tough one. After literally bounding out of here full of oxygen feeling incredible, forgetting to eat at the CP 1000m higher up the mountains. The next let's say 24 hours passed by very slowly and painfully, only during this time did i think that i may not finish the race due to timing cut offs. I assume someone dropped a tab of acid in my drink at the aid station as I spent several hours high in the hills, in the dark seeing things, having strong sense of De Ja Vu. I was convinced I'd been here before. I knew what was coming. There's a hill here. There's a drop here. I know this corner. But when was I here. The only time I'd run near here was UTMR in daylight.... (of course it was just my exhaustion, my brain not working fast enough to know that I hadn't been here before). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sat on a rock for 10 mins trying to eat a gel. Put on some extra layers. Reaching the top i found Doug who had had a similar experience and seeing Gary later on also had a challenging section. I recall descending a particularly technical hill. It took over an hour to cover 1.5km, thinking the whole way, I should slow down or I'm going to fall on my teeth. Reaching Gressonney was a relief. Though not without a long hike through town to get there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I took a shower here and slept on some sports hall bleachers for 30 mins. I recall the food being excellent here, the check point was well managed and staff were very friendly and you can see many of the other guests coming and going. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life Base 5 </strong>is located at Valtournenche. Here I took advantage of the spa facilities and indulged in a massage. The previous section had seen my quads throw me to the ground in disgust so I thought they would appreciate a rub. I was expecting only a 15 minute leg rub. What I got was actually a full body massage for 45 minutes, I can't be sure but my masseuse may have made some inappropriate touching. I wasn't in the right frame of mind for a happy ending but it's always good to know that this is an option at some establishments. After my massage I took an hour snooze before having a hot meal, filling up on biscuits and heading out into an impressive rain and lightening storm. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Life Base 6 </strong>is the final accommodation on the Tor located in Ollomont. It was surprisingly busy! There had been a long painful fireroad descent in and the night before I'd been particularly grumpy. I was expecting it to be very quiet but it seemed like half the field and their enthusiastic supporters were here. Here I received table service, and a great selection of food and sustenance. Sleeping wasn't an option here. It was daylight and heading into the final section I was full of energy. I wanted to get up over the next summit and down the other side before I lost daylight. I left this final checkpoint full of it. I went out with the intention of making up as many places as i could before darkness fell for the final time. Up and over i went to 2700m, running back down the other side. As soon as darkness fell, i was sleepy. So i took refuge in a check point for 23 mins. I woke up freezing, layered up. Ate some hot soup and went back out into the darkness. I was almost immediately too hot so de-layered and pushed on through to Bosses where there was an option for a decent sleep. I was very tired but this section was fast so i ran as much as I could. Feeling great I checked in, saw Gary asleep face down on a table, I'd received a text from Conrad not long before that he wasn't far ahead and to overtake him. Tempted to sneak on past him i decided on a whopping 2 hour sleep in an amazing castle type thing. (I think anyway). I woke up very confused being shaken awake by a human alarm clock. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We pushed on to the last refugio. I was really sleepy again. I needed to nap. Doug didn't. He pushed on while I took a 30 min nap face down on a table. There was only 15k to go from here. Only 2 more climbs. I wanted to reach the next major climb with the sunrise so I headed out into the emerging dawn. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I hiked slowly up the last big climb, I looked back at the view of the sun started to rise and started to cry. I was so full of emotion. The week had been immense. The end was in sight. But I wasn't ready for it to end. I sat down for a few minutes watching the sky change colour, sobbing. I walked slowly up towards the col. I took a photograph and sent it to Robbie saying "I don't want to come down!" </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaviGZVTHM8nrF1fPxlr2xCirgHVknP-j27aoYC4MAcPciN9YDQauCw32W9V_IMGCcvoSqBpJP2GRnDat5CW6TFCc8NMy7xrtCBM_CFx7678loYoG0M1VQ1ICA8zWoQgTYeW3EPkzKHff/s1600/20180915_071730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaviGZVTHM8nrF1fPxlr2xCirgHVknP-j27aoYC4MAcPciN9YDQauCw32W9V_IMGCcvoSqBpJP2GRnDat5CW6TFCc8NMy7xrtCBM_CFx7678loYoG0M1VQ1ICA8zWoQgTYeW3EPkzKHff/s640/20180915_071730.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I didn't want to be with anyone now, I needed this time for myself, I wasn't in a hurry now to finish. So let people slowly pass. Reaching the col, was a group of people taking photos, watching the sun breach the mountains in the distance. I stopped and sat with them and let out a big whoop of joy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the sun had risen i carried on. One long descent until a final 300m climb. It passed by too quickly. Coming through the valley with Mt Blanc ahead of me, i felt so small. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYLKrazBSqVhQb2g2GuC6XbdZG_T0E3oNvjrJw1sLM2y_gMi34AMXgMvI9CRaDkOMGuhYxOX0K5VtiPJnqqtRIgXBnfNzjDVF6YFbFSwW1T5XJDPTCgtDrwDvy1vN7XT9WKdbpkc3px1U/s1600/20180915_082646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYLKrazBSqVhQb2g2GuC6XbdZG_T0E3oNvjrJw1sLM2y_gMi34AMXgMvI9CRaDkOMGuhYxOX0K5VtiPJnqqtRIgXBnfNzjDVF6YFbFSwW1T5XJDPTCgtDrwDvy1vN7XT9WKdbpkc3px1U/s640/20180915_082646.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crying again. Not with sadness, just overwhelming emotion that I've never felt before. I got changed from my warm clothes into skort and vest for the final 10k. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next 10k was so much fun. The trail was lovely rolling single track, I was running properly. able to run the uphills feeling incredible. So full of energy. There were walkers out on the trails now as I started the final descent. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shouting "Allez allez", "Bravissimo" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Their shouts making my laugh and cry all at once. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Running hard down the final few km i felt so full of life, Running through town, up the final straight and crossing the line I felt massive pride. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some people I'd met on the trail were at the finish having just finished, hugs and massive smiles, their supporters brought me a beer and sat down. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Doug had been shipped to the bag drop, my phone was dead so after a while headed down to find him. Visit the spa for a massage, have a nap. He went off to eat ice cream with some others whilst i had a beer with a French guy (neither of us had a clue what the other was on about) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Entertainment and Activities:</strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Main activities on the Tor are hiking, running, trekking. It's best to commence these with enthusiasm and positivity. Leave your baggage at the start - physical and emotional and really get your head into the event. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The after party is unique. You will receive your finishers jacket the sunday after the race with everyone. No skulking off as soon as you finish. 3 hours of music, and announcements, a cat walk parade and a group photo. It's very special. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Things to look out for:</strong> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not abnormal to see other guests, laid out on the trail enjoying a few rays of sun. Or dozing quietly on a rock in the night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spent several minutes in the pitch dark just staring at the stars feeling very very small, watching the odd shooting star burn up through the sky. These are the moments that you will cherish.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You may be lucky enough to see an Ibex. Look on with envy at how the climb. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enjoy the sun sets and sunrises. The sunrise can bring with it the most euphoric state. After the night trekking through the stars, the new sun brings with it such energy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">5* recommendation </span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a massive feeling of imposter syndrome all week. I got the impression people didn't expect me to finish, a few comments making me feel a bit small. Surprise that I got that jacket on my first attempt - I may have been imagining it. I hadn't gone into it thinking that I would fail, not through arrogance, just a confidence in my body and mental state to get it done - I still had the utmost respect for the challenge. I knew there was nowhere to hide. Doug and I barely spoke all week, which sounds strange. Which was down to me. I had my head 100% in the race. I selfishly didn't want to share it. It was a strange week on many levels - personal, emotional, physical; the whole experience has given me a lot to think about. At some point it will sink in. But for now, I have a busy few weeks at work and a couple of trips in Europe whilst my body and mind recover and I decide what to do next. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSBLNRic-w1GqvHJFPHQDLvs7564tF1g1lwVne66fIRjwun5Iry31J8lZYIDjqEEb4dAYYhJFE-xkF4sNHlgkdgsheFG4Kdd5zDVQ1PxMTbctS5oFqX_zRwWfeNWVqqz7Fmds3YFFNd_a/s1600/20180916_134743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSBLNRic-w1GqvHJFPHQDLvs7564tF1g1lwVne66fIRjwun5Iry31J8lZYIDjqEEb4dAYYhJFE-xkF4sNHlgkdgsheFG4Kdd5zDVQ1PxMTbctS5oFqX_zRwWfeNWVqqz7Fmds3YFFNd_a/s640/20180916_134743.jpg" width="360" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-9661600021095710622018-07-30T23:31:00.001+01:002018-07-30T23:31:21.845+01:00Lakeland weekend<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you're up to speed now on my woes and Lakeland weekend was upon us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love this event. Most people who have done it, love it. It's more than a race. It's a proper festival of running. Whether you are taking part, supporting, marshalling it's just bloody amazing. It's my 3rd year running the 50 and I've been up a couple of times to support. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Doug and I had entered as a pair again, wwen we entered, it was the A race of the year, but since being lucky enough to get spots in TDG, it has been demoted to a B race - I feel a bit of a dick saying that as so many people would give their child in order to do this event. That isn't to say we weren't going to put in a good effort, more that we needed to keep in mind there is more training to do out of this race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hoping the arguments from last year didn't repeat we were both setting realistic expectations of finish times (me as ever over zealous with my targets) but agreed we'd run to comfort, take it steady, focus on eating, drinking and enjoyment and above all not smash our legs up for the next block of training. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'd had a chat with Robbie before I saw the Dr to discuss what I would do. It was still unclear whether I'd race or not. He wasn't that up for me starting. He suggested that FOMO wasn't the right reason to start, particularly not knowing what damage we might do by running through an illness. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">But we agreed to chat again once I'd seen the Dr. After I told him the diagnosis he said we should give the race a miss :( </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So I spent the next couple of days in a state of indecision. Not really thinking about preparing. I went out for dinner with some friends on Thursday evening and spent most of it coughing which was nice for them. Friday I was planned to go in for my xray and blood test so we dropped in on the way and got that done - VERY efficiently I might add. Good work St Albans hospital. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The weekend always starts (and ends) with a bloody awful long drive up/down the M1 and M6. always takes long than expected and always eats up an entire day. Still Doug got to enjoy my singing and with the weather topping at 30 degrees and the Air Con on the car broken it was a bit unpleasant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyway, we arrived at the Red Lion in Lowick where we were staying, Doug had a pint and I had a nap as I had a crap night's sleep, well every day this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We then headed up to registration, just missing the 100 start by 3 minutes. That's skilful. Bumped in to a few of the usual faces, Stuart one of my fave adventurers, always seen at the OMM events, always a big beardy hug and Claire who was there marshalling and supporting Dan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We queued up with a beer (Lakeland Legend no less). Still undecided whether I was going to run. I got to the front of the queue and asked what the situation was if I didn't start in the morning. Could Doug still complete but as a solo. All fine. Equally if I stopped he wouldn't be disqualified. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Kit check done, Dan C was there so had a quick hug - he was marshalling later at Kentmere so hopefully I'd see him, weigh in "one at a time please", a trip to the garage to get food and head back to the pub for dinner and a pint. I text Robbie during dinner and told him my plan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I feel well enough, but i'll see how I feel over the first 5 - 10 miles, if I cough at all, I promise i'll stop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had a short phone chat after, and I could tell it wasn't his preferred choice, he reminded me it's not our goal race, not to smash myself round if it meant I wasn't able to run this week. He wanted to see me doing some easy running this week. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We packed our kit bags, prepared snacks and an early night (woke up choking a couple of times) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Up and fed and on our way to Coniston. Quick turn back because I'd forgotten to take my antibiotics. Back to start. Missed the briefing and straight on to a bus. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The weather had changed from 30 degrees and sunny to 15 degrees and rainy. I was dressed in a skimpy pair of shorts and a vest. I'd been wearing nothing but sports bras for the last 6 weeks or so, so I still felt overdressed.... but also quite cold if I admit it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We waited at the start in Dalemain, I was pretty cold so I had my jacket on. The wind was whipping up but the rain had stopped. We herded into the starting pen and waited to be set off. I'd packed my jacket away by now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">3...2...1... off! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We set off, nice and steady. Not wanting to upset my airways. I tripped over in the firs half mile (just grass. no ouchies. but in front of 50 people and their I-phones)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We didn't run the hills. Trying to keep the effort low but we were still in a good front quarter of the pack. Playing "Marco. Polo" to make sure we're not getting separated we continued on. I was focussing on my running technique - I'm trying to become more efficient at long distances. Not lift my knees so high, use less energy etc. This helped me not get carried away with trying to "race" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I felt pretty good for the first 10 miles. We walked the hills still, and before long were on one of my favourite sections just after Pooley Bridge trotting up and over some ace single track towards the first check point. Here it started to rain quite heavily but my jacket still hadn't made it out of my pack. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Rolling in, in not a bad time - a little slower than last year, a lot slower than the previous year. I went for a slash in a cow pen while doug got drinks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Leaving the CP we put on our jackets. Here is the first substantial climb up Fusedale. It's the hill that keeps on giving. Although this year it didn't seem as awful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">However, as soon as we started off, I had a bit of a coughing fit followed by a small choking one. I contemplated stopping and going back. But stubbornly carried on. We had gone a mile or so already. The wind really started whipping up. Hoods pulled on tightly, my hands getting cold (I have bad circulation in them anyway so it's not a new thing). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After the wind and rain we received the addition of a bastard hailstorm. It was like being sand blasted with pea shooters. My bare legs were stinging! I could barely stand at times, other times getting blown across the trail. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My airways really didn't appreciate this hill. I think it was the combination of the incline, the cold, and the wind ripping down my throat. When I turned from the wind to choke it seemed to help relieve it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I coughed my way to the top, mentally planning my stop at CP2 which was still a good 21 mile into the race. I was going to ask there what the repatriation plan was and call it a day. Go back for a shower, nap and wait at the finish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reaching the top, sooner than I expected the wind was crazy. But it was behind us. So we got pushed quickly but forcefully across the plateau, intermittent rain showers splashing on us, and stinging our legs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Coming to the start of the descent we spotted Jenn, I'd seen her at the start and had a quick chat there too. She was in great spirits as we ran on past. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Where the weather has been so dry for so long, this sudden downpour created a slick of icy mud on top of the rock hard surface making the descent quite sketchy. Taking care not to fall on my teeth we reached the bottom. The Lake had seriously receded following the dry spell. I'd never seen it so small. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This part of the route, on paper always seems like it should be easy. But it's not. It's rocky, slippy not totally flat but again today it was rolling my quite effortlessly. The sun had reappeared, so jackets were off and drying, the steady pace was meaning we weren't over doing it. I wasn't needing much in the way of fuel or water and so far, no arguments! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">By the time we got to the CP, in a not bad time of about 4 hours. I was feeling pretty good again. So much so, I didn't really think about asking the repatriation situation and thought I would carry on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had a short stop to get some coke and a cheese sandwich before heading up the next hill. It's a bit of a monster, not technical but long and high. We climbed 100 meters or so and could see the clouds rolling in again so stopped for few minutes to put on our jackets (and my gloves) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was beginning to think, I'm cold, I have no spare clothes, it's only 4pm.... I had an extra light weight wind layer (supposedly waterproof but it was soaked through just being in my bag). My only spare layer was my emergency base layer, only to be used if you weren't planning to finish (i.e. in an emergency) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We continued up the hill, I was coughing again. The wind was really aggravating my airways and it was beginning to really feel laboured on my chest. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We stopped and considered things for a few minutes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'd been reading the CP evacuation notes last night and been laughing at them, but only got as far as CP3 of the 100 so I had no idea what the times were to get taken off. Doug said he knew there was a note in one of them to say if you were in X and were thinking of stopping, don't go to the next place.... but we couldn't figure it out. We had no signal to check.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We acknowledged I shouldn't carry on. It wouldn't benefit me to smash myself round and I'd promised Robbie if I was coughing, I'd stop. So I gave Doug my emergency layer so he could upgrade his to his "spare layer" - we had both underestimated the weather. I gave him our spare batteries and we said our farewells. He offered to come back down the hill - "don't be silly, it took us half an hour to get up here" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So I turned back, Doug pushed on forwards, and almost immediately the biggest crack of thunder rumbled overhead. Followed at once by an insane hailstorm. Fortunately for me it was at my back but poor Doug had gone face first into it :( </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Doing the walk of shame back down the hill I bumped in to Jenn, we had a hug, I gave her my skittles and I carried on to get myself back. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I reached the CP and explained I was stopping. Only to be told the waggon had just left, and the next one wasn't until 11pm (it was 5pm now) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Shit. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The medic said I'm best to walk to the next CP where it's a building and get a lift from there. She recommended breathing through my buff - why the hell hadn't I thought of that!?? (It helped) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I could have cried. If only I'd known. If only I'd stopped before I'd be on the bus. If only I'd carried on with Doug (I'd be coughing my way into a storm) I stomped slowly back up the hill I'd just come back down and resigned myself to a steady walk for 6.5 miles. I wasn't in a hurry anymore. My "race" was over but my adventure was not..... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I reached the top of the hill and started the long descent back down the other side, jogging steadily, the wind still throwing me about a little but effort levels were low, legs felt really fresh and aside from some moderate lower back ache (I need to do more core) I was feeling in great shape (except when I intermittently had a spasmic coughing fit) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">People walking past "are you OK" whilst I'm doubled over wheezing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On the descent I came across a couple of guys, one was helping the other. I looked an could see A LOT of blood. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The guy being helped had fashioned a bandage over his nose and his beard was full of blood. I stopped to see what help was needed and said I'd stay with him until the next CP. The other guy continued and I stayed with the guy (Kenneth). I don't really know if he wanted me to, it wasn't a chatty walk, unsurprisingly. He said he had no head pains and could see fine. mostly he was just numb and bleeding a lot from his nose. We discussed that it was probably broken. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I didn't have much in the way of help to offer, he just seemed to want to carry on. So we continued mostly in silence, me checking now and then "are you OK?", "no head pains?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reaching the bottom of the hill we came across some camper vans, out of one jumper 3 folk supporting some of their friends. Fortune had it they were actually mountain rescue volunteers and had a lot of medical kit in the van, so Kenneth got in the van and they started cleaning him up. I was getting cold so they threw me in to the van too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I waited while they patched him up. It was a right mess. His lip was split, his teeth had visibly moved in his mouth and his nose, probably broken and not wanted to stop bleeding. After about half an hour they'd steri stripped his nose, cleaned the blood up as much as possible and he was itching to leave. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So we went out into the pissing rain. I frequently checked on him. Blood dripping consistently from his nose. He wasn't really able to eat or drink because now the pain was starting to appear. I was worried how he'd cope. Suggested not having a hot drink at Kentmere. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It wasn't clear if he'd stop at the CP, he said he'd see how he felt. Coming into the CP we were greeted by a Marshal who had been sent out to check on him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Still in good spirits, despite his mangled face he trotted down the hill into the CP. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We went in, I said, "I'm stopping here"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"no. Go and sit down, get some hot food. take 5 then come and see me" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I knew what she meant, but I didn't want to carry on. I'd made my decision. I knew it was the right one. I knew I could finish if I wanted to but I didn't want to jeopardise the Tor and I also didn't think I had enough kit to get me through til 1am! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I found Jenn and Richard and had a sit down. I wasn't hungry but had a couple of biscuits. I went back to the lady to find out the situation for getting home. "6 hour wait" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">FFS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"You're better off getting to Ambleside </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">(8 miles away) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Kenneth came and found me, thanked me and said he was carrying on. What a tough guy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">While I was sat down, a guy Adam who was a friend of Jenn's said he was going to walk to the next one too. He'd just had his knee strapped up by the paramedic as he couldn't do any more than a straight legged limp. So I said, I'll walk with you. Again. I could have run. But I didn't really see the point. A nice easy walk isn't going to damage me, a run may do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We left together and started the slow journey to Ambleside. Downhill was the hardest for him so it took us a long time to get anywhere. Fortunately he was a chatter box so the time passed quickly. The weather was lovely now too. Clear-ish skies and great views. He also offered me a lift back to Conniston from Ambleside from his parents who were waiting for him which was super kind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A few miles from Ambleside we came across Simon, who was doing the 100 but was suffering similar pains to Adam. Knee pain caused by tight ITB. (also probably exacerbated by the cold). After a while of seeing him wincing along in pain I offered to tape up his knee to take some of the strain away. So we stopped on the side and I did what I could to strap him up with the strips of tape I'd packed for emergencies. His legs were pretty hairy so it made keep the tension and stickiness difficult but we had a bash. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We continued the final 3 miles slow together to Ambleside, chatting as we went about naked German pools and the like - one thing I love about ultra running is that there seem to immediately be no boundaries to what you talk about. You think nothing of saying "I'll catch you up, just going for a slash behind this wall" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We reached Ambleside and Adam's parents were there. We got our dibbers cut off, saw Simon to the paramedic and went to the chippy. I still wasn't hungry but I bought some chips and an Irn Bru for Doug (being Scottish that's all he should drink, right) I ate about 10 chips and then we got driven back to Conniston. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My phone had switched itself off during the rain so I had no idea where Doug was, I estimated he'd take about 12 hours to finish all going well. Although the amount of time he'd lost waiting to get rid of me, and comparing to last year a long way behind that time, I somehow thought that was optimistic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Adam and I said our goodbyes, I went to get my kit and charge my phone quickly so I could see where he was last tracked. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The tracker estimated he'd be back in 10 mins..... what!? That's about 11 and a half hours! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I ran to the bar to get a beer for his arrival and minutes later his smiling face was there looking around for me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was so so happy for him, and proud for doing such an amazing time. Sad that we didn't enjoy the full day together but smiling so hard at how amazing he'd done. He must have smashed that last 30 miles. I just hoped he hadn't done himself a mischief ahead of the Tor... :-/ </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I got him into some dry clothes and got him fed then home for a beer, shower and snooze. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Overall, this weekend taught me a lot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">1) It's ok to have a plan B. Or C. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">2) I really need to review my kit. It was a good timely reminder how the weather is so variable. Less isn't always more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">3) my health is more important than a medal </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'm very happy with the decisions I made, my legs felt strong, which gave me the confidence I've been lacking the last few months. I ran a strong 20 miles, and had a slow hike of 15 miles. Fuel wise, I ate very little, probably no more than 400 cals all day; obviously this needs to be considered. Though on this occasion I didn't feel like I needed it, my energy was steady most of the day and as I only walked for that last 6 hours, I wasn't consuming lots of energy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My only regret is not stopping when I first got to CP2 and got straight in the van! However, I had an eventful day and hopefully helped some others get through their day with less misery - and as the saying goes, misery loves company. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, today I was bouncing up the stairs at work instead of walking sideways. I had a lovely run on what were pretty fresh legs. The coughing has been quite bad today although it's changed a little. Feels more like there's sand in my gullet than snot. There have been a lot of choking episodes at work but only 2 significant ones during my run (when going uphill) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">On the way home I asked Doug about next year. He's not keen, in light of the shit journey. I'm going to see if I can get a place (he'll probably get FOMO and enter anyway). Or maybe we'll have a look at what else is on. We've already discussed next year, and aren't planning any big "races" but hoping to have a more informal adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">End</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-46448748006744680232018-07-30T12:59:00.001+01:002018-07-30T13:05:34.692+01:00Getting my excuses in....<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As excuses go, I don't think the ones I've saved up for Lakeland 50 are bad ones. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">If you read my last post, you'll know I've had some health issues lately. So, a bit of an update before I go on with my Lakeland report. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The weekend after I had these pains I went to Latitude festival with some friends. I had a terrible cough the whole week up to it, then totally lost my voice over the weekend from constantly coughing, combined with dancing, singing and drinking in a dusty environment. The cough still hung around. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Since then, I have stopped having chest pains and seen the Cardiologist. The night/early morning of my appointment gave me a bit of a scare though. I woke up suddenly about 2 in the morning, choking and completely unable to get my breath. Who was more scared out of me and Doug is unclear. But after what felt like 5 mins (probably seconds) I finally got my breath after some deep wheezing sounds in my chest, Doug trying to slap my back, me trying to slap him away. It was horrible, I have never experience that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Doug offered to take me to A&E but I figured I was seeing the Cardiologist that afternoon, I'd mention it to him. I didn't really sleep much more after that, between googling whether I was having a heart attack and worrying I was going to die in my sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Penny met me in Bedford for my appointment where I had another ECG and went through in detail the problems/symptoms I'd been having. He listened to my heart, read my ECG (decided it was wrong, and the lady had put the wires on wrong). He said there's nothing wrong with my heart. I told him about the choking incident, he said I probably just choked on spit while I slept. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">When he was satisfied the ECG was normal, he agreed that running shouldn't be an issue and that 50 miles the next week should be fine if I feel OK. He recommended seeing my GP if the cough persisted. Relieved, but still not fully satisfied that I was "well" I went for a glass of wine and some lunch with Penny in the sun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I was in Swindon over the weekend and did a lovely run on the Saturday on the Cotswold way, not too many coughing fits. Sunday I had a sports massage followed by a bloody awful run! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I should probably say now that every night, from that night, I woke up choking.... it was super alarming but I figured it was just normal, but not great for getting a good nights sleep as for a couple of hours after I'd be a bit unsettled by it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Doug made me get an appointment with my GP but as I was in Germany with work for 2 days I couldn't go until Weds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I explained the last couple of months to the GP and she examined me, listened to my lungs. All seemed clear. She seemed satisfied that she'd solved the conundrum. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">"You have Whooping Cough" she said </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">"what? isn't that what babies get?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">"Adults too. I had it not so long ago" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">"Oh. What does that mean?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">She explained that it was probably too late for antibiotics but gave me a script anyway in case. Booked me in for a chest x-ray (just in case) and a blood test to confirm her diagnosis. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I didn't really know what to do with this info. She said it is sometimes referred to as the "100 day cough" because that's usually how long it lasts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Since then, I've done a huge amount of research and it sounds like it's actually fairly common but often misdiagnosed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">It is however, fucking horrible. I still wake up at least once a night choking. I feel fine in myself. I have no real obvious signs of illness except when I have these violent coughing fits, which have me gagging at times (but not passing out or vomiting like a lot of cases I've read about) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">In my research, I've found out the following key pieces of info - apart from it being highly contagious in the time before you have symptoms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">1) the disease is almost undetectable when the bacteria are doing their thing. Their "thing" is essentially destroying the Cilia - which are the little brush things that remove mucus and dust and germs from your airways. Irritate the fuck out of the airways and trick your immune system into not knowing they're there chomping away at these important little brushes and leave your airways sensitive and prone to choking fits. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">2) Only when they've done what they set out to do you start getting symptoms, normally cold like ones. Mucus, coughing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">3) Once you are through this. You're pretty much locked in to be coughing and choking for the foreseeable future(100 day cough didn't come from nowhere) Most people seem to say it last a couple of months, some say it's lasted up to 8! The main cause of alarm for other people this horrible insuck of air that creates the "Whoop" sound - a bit embarrassing when this happens in meetings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">4) the vaccine we're given as kids wears off after about 10 years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">What I'm not sure about is the damage I will do by running or how long these Cilia take to come back. What I do know is that I have 6 weeks until Tor De Geants, and it's highly likely I'll be coughing then still. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">So I think I've brought you up to date to the few days before Lakeland and good news is I've not got a heart problem!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-71612110827386737912018-07-12T22:38:00.001+01:002018-07-12T22:47:32.878+01:00Take it easy for a little while.... This isn’t what you want to hear 3 weeks before your next big event or two months before the event of your life. <br />
<br />
However, right now I know this is the right thing. Right now, I feel like shit. My chest hurts constantly and I'm coughing like I have been smoking 20 a day for the last 15 years. <br />
<br />
About 6 weeks ago Doug and I were in the alps for a week or so training and working remotely. Whilst there I had a throat infection or something. Along with it was shortness of breath and some chest pains, which I’d put down to the altitude, harder than normal climbing and my sore throat.<br />
<br />
From there I didn’t think much more about it. I had a bit of a persistent cough on and off and recurring chest pains, these escalated a little bit in the last couple of weeks, becoming particularly bad on a weekend training trip in Brecon. When I say particularly bad, I felt like I had a strong man sat on my chest. I'm not talking heart attack. I'm talking the discomfort you get when you on the bottom of a pile of "BUUUUNDLES" back when you were at school. <br />
<br />
Whilst running and hiking, I was struggling for breath, and getting tight chested. I knew something wasn’t right, but I thought I was just unfit. I put it down to stress. Work has been unblievebale (whilst I’ve taken steps to make improvements there, I’m pissed of with myself having seen my post from November and things being even worse!!)<br />
<br />
Anyway, despite my guilt for not working this weekend, we had a long day on our feet on the Saturday, made longer by not paying enough attention to the map and descending the wrong hill, into the wrong valley. I was having all sorts of pains and finding reasons for them. Chest - fitness. Back - new bag, and massage the day before. Knee - I'm carrying a bit of timber at the moment. Ankle - rolled it running off Pen Y Fan.<br />
<br />
Despite that we had a good day it. It was beautiful. You could see the black mountains and beyond. It red hot and finding water was a challenge but we enjoyed ourselves. When back off the hill, I had quite severe chest pains. They were bad for several hours, whilst it settled a little during the night there was still a grumbling there. The only way I can describe it is when you're super hungry and your tummy is rumbling - like that but in the centre of my chest.<br />
<br />
In the morning they were still there. Doug suggested maybe acid reflux or some thing. Yeah probably that. What ever that is.<br />
<br />
Sunday’s run was shorter, less intensive. Hike up run down. But after, and the hours driving home my chest was super sore.<br />
<br />
I text Robbie to give him an update, I'd noted it in my training plan a few times the days prior about the curious pains. He suggested I visit the Dr.<br />
<br />
Of course the next week involved 3 lots of 3am finishes at work and a trip to Germany so this didn't happen.<br />
<br />
During the week my chest was tight still. Like someone was sat on it, I didn't have time to train. Thursday I finally got out for a run, I didn’t feel great but I put it down to how little sleep I was getting and the enormous stress I’m under.<br />
Friday I had entered a race with a friend at work that was only a short 4 and a bit km run up and down Luton runway at 4am.<br />
<br />
The race went well - I won. I didn’t feel wonderful, didn't have any great turn of speed and I spent a lot of time afterwards coughing.<br />
<br />
Saturday I planned to run the ashridge boundary trail. 16 miles of unchallenging terrain, climbs about 500m throughout, one of my favourite local routes. I got 2 miles in, I was wheezing. Double over, not able to get air in. I walked the rest of the hill whilst texting Doug. My chest felt the worst it had felt before and it was a little alarming. I wasn't even putting much effort in. <br />
<br />
I continued on at a slow pace with the pains constantly there, my breathing laboured when I tried to run up hill. I didn’t even attemp any pace.<br />
<br />
I was committed to get back to the car now so that meant cutting short to complete a 10mile route. Getting back to the car I followed Doug’s advice to go home and go to the walk in clinic....<br />
<br />
Which was closed. <br />
<br />
So I spoke to a friend who is a GP who told me to call 111. They asked me lots of questions, and said they were sending an ambulance, I refused as this was a bit dramatic and agreed to go to A&E. I was visiting some friends near Peterborough so I decided to go to Bedford as it was halfway and Penny met me there with hugs. <br />
<br />
I was seen very quickly despite the England match being on and there being quite a queue. I was quickly taken for an ECG, blood tests and other checks. <br />
<br />
After a couple of hours the Dr came to see me and ask some further questions. He confirmed my blood test was normal, blood pressure fine. However, the ECG had shown some changes he wasn’t happy about.<br />
<br />
He said few things, that he wants to rule out some things, that it might just be a virus, that the area around my heart is inflamed<br />
<br />
He made me an appointment with the cardiologist for 11 days time. Told me to take it easy “can I jog?” <br />
<br />
"Not if that is what is making your chest hurt more"<br />
<br />
Oh.<br />
<br />
He gave me some anti inflammatorieis - I assume to see if the inflammation goes and I have a normal ECG recording.<br />
<br />
So, there’s we are. Waiting now to find out what happens next week. Waiting to find out if my summer of races is going to be cancelled. My coughing is persistent so I think it's probably just a bit of a sniffle. It's probably nothing.<br />
<br />
Above anything else, nobody is more surprised than me that there is even a heart in my chest cavity!<br />
<br />
Fingers crossed I'm well enough to run Lakeland 50! <br />
<br />
To be continued......<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-75602734022264998022017-12-03T22:00:00.004+00:002017-12-03T22:02:51.364+00:00Might Contain Nuts 40 miler<br />
Today I woke up with a very bruised and fat knee, grazed chest, cuts on my hands and the most sore triceps, I assume from where I'd caught myself. I felt like I'd been hit by a bus.....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBru2-CH6IH4NtCVwPXZaIItJCajK9qfXgtx_wLdSXHSUszwm6vnLstR3la7g2dJ6EcPaG3nQzh24SrKp1VLWITYb2FMOec6Bf-cI5FG0l-uLWTRPVI1BoB-x4QxPfmD5YT5d0NC7_3Z-/s1600/IMG_20171202_071849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBru2-CH6IH4NtCVwPXZaIItJCajK9qfXgtx_wLdSXHSUszwm6vnLstR3la7g2dJ6EcPaG3nQzh24SrKp1VLWITYb2FMOec6Bf-cI5FG0l-uLWTRPVI1BoB-x4QxPfmD5YT5d0NC7_3Z-/s320/IMG_20171202_071849.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I entered this race with some friends a couple of months ago. I've not really been training specifically for it, I'd expected it to be more of a social trip. Since Zermatt I've not run further than half a marathon but I've been getting out regularly in the local hills with friends for short - medium trail runs so have been ticking over. <br />
<br />
Fresh from a 2 week break in Thailand I had been keen to get some fitness back and what better way than a 40 mile hilly race in South Wales! <br />
<br />
The week running up to the event, I'd had a cold and even up to the day before felt pretty run down and hadn't decided whether to start the race or not. My friends had since pulled out for various injuries etc so I had no real pressure to go along. I'd already planned to be in Swindon on the Friday to see dentist and my family so I was half way to Wales if I did decide to go. <br />
<br />
I decided that I'd set my alarm in order to do the race and see how I felt in the morning. Best case, I could do the original plan, there were other options - drop to a shorter race, or just stay in bed. <br />
<br />
I found myself at the start line of the 40, map tucked in my race vest, lemsip dosed up.... so you know how that decision at 4am went. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQ6BOMmK6AEnc4n_1OCzdER3ZeBqaokQ4h8E8pL6q-igDpn38VilJGgFfDnGI_qyNb2Xb1deH3PDT3auHdG_cnAsz3y8m8jENPRKgsJSrgTK_Vo39jv3F6PClvEfmmkqfNlXPyDPQyB4t/s1600/20171202_070901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQ6BOMmK6AEnc4n_1OCzdER3ZeBqaokQ4h8E8pL6q-igDpn38VilJGgFfDnGI_qyNb2Xb1deH3PDT3auHdG_cnAsz3y8m8jENPRKgsJSrgTK_Vo39jv3F6PClvEfmmkqfNlXPyDPQyB4t/s400/20171202_070901.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
The weather forecast looked good, fairly mild, low chance of rain, ice in places and generally no wind. I had opted to wear shorts but was carrying all the mandatory kit in case the weather turned. <br />
<br />
My original target before I'd been poorly was to get in sub 9 hours and before having to use my head torch. This felt like a tough target on a good day looking at the results from previous years so I had to be realistic about what I could achieve in my current state, a finish would be a big achievement.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5ejzhZDKLyAk5rDaw7D1ijci5nwYYV9SpaNnh_m-iFPSK4ohuR7OOr8Q1oo6Uewf4eipEjdroH9h5rzQnx3_iZi44qEiLF-22lBNlZBrwYlCCvY8phfN7pYwk6bTcITw_jWWksdeweQ5/s1600/20171202_084610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5ejzhZDKLyAk5rDaw7D1ijci5nwYYV9SpaNnh_m-iFPSK4ohuR7OOr8Q1oo6Uewf4eipEjdroH9h5rzQnx3_iZi44qEiLF-22lBNlZBrwYlCCvY8phfN7pYwk6bTcITw_jWWksdeweQ5/s320/20171202_084610.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5udMHl98LowLbwgecZXm66LJHV8WHnQ4OiJWpIgfmAYHVP8dJrKRcOhjg4496dqC2Vr2BpUQebs7LyhiFG6UmAaXygkRv2UjUpaMtTNPJd7zyS2zVmONcXy9RsBGtK4gGk9J8FmjDZt8H/s1600/20171202_083006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5udMHl98LowLbwgecZXm66LJHV8WHnQ4OiJWpIgfmAYHVP8dJrKRcOhjg4496dqC2Vr2BpUQebs7LyhiFG6UmAaXygkRv2UjUpaMtTNPJd7zyS2zVmONcXy9RsBGtK4gGk9J8FmjDZt8H/s320/20171202_083006.jpg" width="180" /></a>The race started really well. A little too well. With a few flat miles to start, I found myself trotting along at a good clip, trying to hold back a little, thinking I had gone off too quickly. Yet, I felt surprisingly good. Still it was a long way to go and 2700meters of ascent to get through. <br />
<br />
Before long we hit the hills, I ran them to begin with, until they got too long, then I hiked as hard as I could. I just couldn't get any air into me, I was making sex noises as I climbed the hills and chugging down a gel. Safely up and over the first hill we got an awesome descent down the other side into the valley and first check point. I was feeling better off the top, getting my breath back. The CP marshals told me here I was the first lady through (which, I knew anyway as I'd left the other ladies behind in the first kilometre). I didn't take anything here, just scanned through and jogged on. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiLyx7B3_UqnNea2qFdDoVU-huaAII366SgmNVykQPlqGtZaaYR3sWD9ute_HDEIhntM4beTDvgJ4X9PnV7xiABJ0v1hG1QArhgoUQdYv6A2t66eiJQsiAFu1zKOqkwZLSDtI4QFOEVJW/s1600/20171202_094629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiLyx7B3_UqnNea2qFdDoVU-huaAII366SgmNVykQPlqGtZaaYR3sWD9ute_HDEIhntM4beTDvgJ4X9PnV7xiABJ0v1hG1QArhgoUQdYv6A2t66eiJQsiAFu1zKOqkwZLSDtI4QFOEVJW/s320/20171202_094629.jpg" width="180" /></a>Nothing much exciting happened for a while, until mile 10 while I was on a nice piece of easy fire road, slightly downhill, simultaneously looking for somewhere to take a pee. Whether I lost focus for a second or what I don't know. My toe caught the only rock on the entire path and I took a swan dive straight into the floor. I remember as I hit the floor thinking "not my teeth, not my teeth" I can only assume from the injuries and pains sustained, I took on the form of a sky diver mid flight as both knees impacted the ground hard, my thigh skidded along the floor, followed my tits and hands. <br />
<br />
I laid there face down for a few seconds, slightly winded. I crawled up assessing what hurt. I couldn't stand up straight, my knees were trembling, part in pain, part in shock. Blood trickled down my knees. My thighs were stinging, my ribs hurt. Ouch my boobs. Urgh, there's gravel stuck in that hand. <br />
<br />
I brushed myself down, and hobbled on a little way. My legs not quite working yet. I was 2 or 3 miles from the next CP, if I had to hobble there I thought I could, so I wobbled on whilst the trembling and shock disappeared. A few minutes later 2 guys appeared and asked if I was OK when they saw my bleeding knees and I tried to jog on with them. I managed a slow jog for a while, whilst I loosened back up. <br />
<br />
Reaching the CP, I was feeling OK. Sore, but OK. I decided it was probably better to keep moving rather than stop and seize up, on the plus side, my cold seemed to have improved somewhat! The CP staff asked if I was OK, I said yes, grabbed some coke and walked on out, stumbling around the icy rocks. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5-OAdaPs22EkJM1lSryfX9uo8gE_Cp3ShYcEZAVbhKFJbJFkHR5DLW4rwrZyVFNe_8LAAAJ9BRPvdRy02nYOQjzmIlGMjtZzlI-g3aH5QwBey8dEjIE8wesMUHegFhyphenhyphen7zsiOwD1IVCR9/s1600/20171202_102045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5-OAdaPs22EkJM1lSryfX9uo8gE_Cp3ShYcEZAVbhKFJbJFkHR5DLW4rwrZyVFNe_8LAAAJ9BRPvdRy02nYOQjzmIlGMjtZzlI-g3aH5QwBey8dEjIE8wesMUHegFhyphenhyphen7zsiOwD1IVCR9/s320/20171202_102045.jpg" width="180" /></a>The next section took us up the biggest climbs, the Brecon horseshoe, the climbing was hard but I put in a strong hike, the stretch along the ridge is amazing, it was quite windy and icy in places, and the fog was down so I nearly missed the turning at the top. I set off on the descent, sticking to the grass beside the path to avoid the slippery icy rocks. The descent was great. Or it would have been had every single step not sent hideous pains shooting through my kneecaps. I gritted my teeth and pushed on as hard as was comfortable. I was a bit sad as I love this sort of descent now - it's taken some practice and bravery to get to this point but the pain was not fun.<br />
<br />
I reached the CP at 20 miles thinking that perhaps I should pull out. I wasn't in the best state, what if I made things worse? <br />
<br />
Clearly, I was looking for excuses. I was offered more excuses at the CP. "Are you OK? Do you want to stop? Can we clean you up" <br />
<br />
"No, I'll just keep moving" - part of me thinking that it would probably take as long to get back in the sweeper truck as to carry on. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiicpofuDv1wF4fQ_GX4CIBlxjkLIrKsRczze9bnyvUIx6UetGtdJLbe539RcTYlg857e4CUpP2D5MkyKC79pu_2IlvVDcsMjt19VhqMsY6-mvJuN2qaWsEG_jpORwe7RdIHlTNXC0dIA/s1600/IMG-20171202-WA0006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiicpofuDv1wF4fQ_GX4CIBlxjkLIrKsRczze9bnyvUIx6UetGtdJLbe539RcTYlg857e4CUpP2D5MkyKC79pu_2IlvVDcsMjt19VhqMsY6-mvJuN2qaWsEG_jpORwe7RdIHlTNXC0dIA/s320/IMG-20171202-WA0006.jpeg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rEZdllDYSGOpnm5mt2h8tiDThyEIJ3NyInpaPbvUbddqki8NPfnq15DlKUcmskevmyGWyyR8jmnNXq3b5LeO4_mCz-56GPErd58NKxFwu6V7EnuK5PN7INNs6Lgn6n360zoRwwmVyqCv/s1600/20171202_090032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rEZdllDYSGOpnm5mt2h8tiDThyEIJ3NyInpaPbvUbddqki8NPfnq15DlKUcmskevmyGWyyR8jmnNXq3b5LeO4_mCz-56GPErd58NKxFwu6V7EnuK5PN7INNs6Lgn6n360zoRwwmVyqCv/s320/20171202_090032.jpg" width="180" /></a>I had been thinking of what I'd tell my friends and family. I had some legit excuses. What I'd title my strava post. Stop being a wanker Anna was the overarching message to myself. What's the point in coming to do these events if you're going to shy away when things get a bit hard? <br />
<br />
The next 5 miles or so were the hardest. The ground was a bit crap, slippy, muddy, icy, camber pushing me off my feet. I could hardly stand up. Texting my friends as I went helped keep me going. As I couldn't run at the moment, it helped motivate me. Their positive messages and knowing that I was over half way. I could hike back in 5 hours if I had to. <br />
<br />
15 miles to go... <br />
<br />
Nothing much exciting to report except following a couple of guys and descending the wrong hill, a really fucking horrible one which I had to sit on my map and slide down. I got my map out for the first time and correcting myself, kept it out so as not to make any more irritating errors. <br />
<br />
The last 10 miles were fantastic. I was running more consistently, some road miles meant I got through some miles a bit quicker, I was walking the hills now, any hills, anyone who runs long knows the score when it comes to any incline in the latter stages of a race! Finally finding another human to run with was great too! A guy Tim, caught up with me around this time and we chatted and ran the last 6 miles or so together - he'd also taken a tumble and hurt his knee but we both enjoyed the company and agreed to stay together unless either of us fell over, in which case we'd leave the other to rot ;-)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQqPbQp0Zpsle8SsBjCK2S2eFy1ylNQTvHclriwZP1lO91duisY7bfBcFPPST_6XqxIPpU2yjkj96E05hqG3tA-E5XiyLagDAtXHBrTrpki_WwIuv0ijKJb3pvOAodrCiWFvOGksMmx31/s1600/20171202_202020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQqPbQp0Zpsle8SsBjCK2S2eFy1ylNQTvHclriwZP1lO91duisY7bfBcFPPST_6XqxIPpU2yjkj96E05hqG3tA-E5XiyLagDAtXHBrTrpki_WwIuv0ijKJb3pvOAodrCiWFvOGksMmx31/s320/20171202_202020.jpg" width="180" /></a>It was quite clear we would get in around 8hr 30 so we were both pushing each other to keep going to achieve this. <br />
<br />
We crossed the finish line, me in bang on 8:30 and Tim a few seconds before. <br />
<br />
I was thrilled to a) finish, b) finish well within my target time and c) win the ladies race! I managed to beat most of the men too which was a good feeling. Even if I'd been last in that time, I think I'd have been happy. It's a tough but incredible route and mostly I enjoyed it. There were points when I was looking for a way out and other times I would have accepted them. <br />
<br />
My knee immediately swelled up and I began the painful hobble around to get changed and find some food - I was starving!<br />
<br />
Thanks to my friends back home for keeping me motivated, although I might have shaved off a few minutes if I'd not been taking pics and chatting ;-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Social Media friendly Injury Book:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTf1Sg-ybTuMF3xGw8eTC1DJ_kfAO9LPLWcxVpToNTrRsUNbQko_LilbJYv61pUGcahPZsohCwcqAdcYsUBs9mopVXBY0QyeXUHTAJjBtHrAPA7J802CF0ICUX_B_xpVX9Qk0Y4C1YivE/s1600/20171203_155158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTf1Sg-ybTuMF3xGw8eTC1DJ_kfAO9LPLWcxVpToNTrRsUNbQko_LilbJYv61pUGcahPZsohCwcqAdcYsUBs9mopVXBY0QyeXUHTAJjBtHrAPA7J802CF0ICUX_B_xpVX9Qk0Y4C1YivE/s320/20171203_155158.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB7gHqR3vsRK2GCSKYp9grZttswp35IYKwzHPl-ZrFV1HySwD1YiFNin6RvbPJ6MMjouhnCutopR5vsQfuymhwN1qJlEY3F3kJm2ATU-_A20u9IXXISnYdfaBAh2NP_01BxwGXRnv-fdh/s1600/20171203_150212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoB7gHqR3vsRK2GCSKYp9grZttswp35IYKwzHPl-ZrFV1HySwD1YiFNin6RvbPJ6MMjouhnCutopR5vsQfuymhwN1qJlEY3F3kJm2ATU-_A20u9IXXISnYdfaBAh2NP_01BxwGXRnv-fdh/s320/20171203_150212.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwcsdcw-rLsNsQDThqiMI3kCaaSqwvQo9eaqWyAZ99lpoLmyvch2HPnxZsQEYTfG-KTZIF3Te7juZH6q9dXw-nb2UtA_c7hZaIYsP7Dwlq268HsH-rVE-SOCZ0uiUZK01e6CRBf29ZnKL/s1600/IMG-20171202-WA0012.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwcsdcw-rLsNsQDThqiMI3kCaaSqwvQo9eaqWyAZ99lpoLmyvch2HPnxZsQEYTfG-KTZIF3Te7juZH6q9dXw-nb2UtA_c7hZaIYsP7Dwlq268HsH-rVE-SOCZ0uiUZK01e6CRBf29ZnKL/s320/IMG-20171202-WA0012.jpeg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TglkHJkpUI9GH2j4APRG6Mxz7zKNWPXb9epDJ9Rk27taR4icITUejgw94vd61jlTnr5Y1w5Ivqfa15ADE3YcHoiPa7JeOOnVoQ2VJTfpVHX7Ej56OECFE_1u_-l7yLluE2MGVZ-m7qxB/s1600/20171203_160055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4TglkHJkpUI9GH2j4APRG6Mxz7zKNWPXb9epDJ9Rk27taR4icITUejgw94vd61jlTnr5Y1w5Ivqfa15ADE3YcHoiPa7JeOOnVoQ2VJTfpVHX7Ej56OECFE_1u_-l7yLluE2MGVZ-m7qxB/s320/20171203_160055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-84433458950338841232017-11-02T21:55:00.001+00:002017-11-02T21:55:26.233+00:00A bit of an updateI've been struggling lately. My running has been ticking over, I have been making time for it as best as I can. Work has been all consuming for several months now and it recently reached a point where I just couldn't cope anymore. My way of dealing with this was to erupt in an explosion of stress and emotion that has been building up since I'd say April time, with threats to quit and tantrums. Those who know me, know I love my job, I love the company I work for, have a great boss but lately the load has gotten too much, too many times in recent months I've hidden in the toilets crying, spent nights awake worrying how I will ever get through the ever increasing pile of work landing in my inbox constantly and as a result and the work life balance has become way off kilter and I've had to make a promise to myself to do something pro-active about this, which is easier said than done. <br />
<br />
I've also been hyper aware of the effect it has been having on my mental state and as such have been trying to ensure that I get out running even if for 20 - 30 mins, I try to meditate daily, read a bit more, avoid negative situations. I'm not really doing any quality sessions at the moment, I'm just ticking over but I feel as though it is keeping me from sliding in to the abyss I know that I'm capable of, for those who read my blog on depression a while back, no fear. I'm still in control of things. Though, I won't lie, I have been a bit concerned and have been forced to revisit the tools I have in my toolbox, however the units of alcohol and cigarettes has reached a bit of a peak which needs addressing separately.<br />
<br />
I recently set up a Wednesday evening trail running group round some incredible woodlands not too far from where I live which has turned out to be pretty popular and has created a firm commitment in my diary to 1) look forward to and 2) tell my boss (and myself) that I need to leave on time that one day of the week.<br />
Every week, I look forward to this, Conrad is generally taking charge of planning the routes and each week we've been treated to something different. There have been castles (apparently - it was dark, no castle was seen), windmills, canals, spooky woods, doggers, naked hikers and lots of fun. What's more, I've met some really nice new people to share this with who also seem genuinely happy to have a group of people to run round the woods in the dark with! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_7R_4xl-PG5gsyPu7LiZSu0wC63Tz4nPaBMEyJbbu5XXjj4n78kSwXuH882MTDltBA0HYgWFn7c1O34-wElf4jm2XTfKlpfihLWMymT3-jLhyF0y2pvghHLVc1pe62lvJinRHWg3I_M-/s1600/20171018_202506%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_7R_4xl-PG5gsyPu7LiZSu0wC63Tz4nPaBMEyJbbu5XXjj4n78kSwXuH882MTDltBA0HYgWFn7c1O34-wElf4jm2XTfKlpfihLWMymT3-jLhyF0y2pvghHLVc1pe62lvJinRHWg3I_M-/s320/20171018_202506%255B1%255D.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV31yKX7NYqUqBf_pn56rtMWFTCNBfCHE7Hu5TsRnJ85VMMNv1ilEsrVBRWrIcdZkO8I6r-77lbspvn-QRUbxMMMMGr32Xto79Rb4sN0cHpGjS7jJmPDtd3IFczflg30n4Bk3YvTN4LyOg/s1600/20171028_120618%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV31yKX7NYqUqBf_pn56rtMWFTCNBfCHE7Hu5TsRnJ85VMMNv1ilEsrVBRWrIcdZkO8I6r-77lbspvn-QRUbxMMMMGr32Xto79Rb4sN0cHpGjS7jJmPDtd3IFczflg30n4Bk3YvTN4LyOg/s320/20171028_120618%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The weekend just gone, Doug and I took a trip to the Lakes for this years' OMM. We had entered the Short Score course this year as there was no D course. The day before, we had incredible weather. Crisp and Sunny and bright. We had to wait a few hours for our bus to the camp site so we took a walk and had a few beers. <br />
<br />
We had the big tent for the night before which was much more comfortable than the little one man lightweight one we run with. We had a pretty decent sleep, improved more so by the late start time we'd been lucky to have. <br />
<br />
We woke up the next day to high winds, and low cloud with lots of rain in. We packed up our stuff, packed up everything we'd need for the next 36 hours and headed to the start. <br />
<br />
Taking our map and being released into the Lakeland hills we took a few minutes to make a vague plan. On paper the terrain looked not too bad - lots of accessible trails, lots of controls to choose from. We made a small error on the first one, overshooting the stream and searching around the wrong one for a time. We then climbed up a big fucking hill. The wind was whipping up as we climbed, and the clag was down, reaching the top a couple were coming towards us. They'd decided to retire as the wind was knocking them off their feet. Once over the top, I could see why. I was getting blown around all over the place but as we descended the other side the wind dropped as we were protected more by the high hills around us. <br />
<br />
We had 5 hours to get as many check points as possible and managed to get a couple of high scoring ones. We took a risk on a 40 pointer, knowing it would probably make us late back (you lose 2 points per minute) but hoping that the net gain would be worth it. <br />
<br />
The terrain was much harder than anticipated. The wet rocks made it technical, the winds made it cold the rain made our clothes heavy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoVsTl4fS6WbKjvFC-87KuaZojug5Cb2ldbnabOwquFePrr6bB82YYV1cnFoDG-oFNu4pU2cY8FyK3Xf94KZPrmgDEPCgbw7JwVpd21LaB4I_aSpQN2na3JBMDeTZbdLPhJWXeuSfo6RO/s1600/20171028_144406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoVsTl4fS6WbKjvFC-87KuaZojug5Cb2ldbnabOwquFePrr6bB82YYV1cnFoDG-oFNu4pU2cY8FyK3Xf94KZPrmgDEPCgbw7JwVpd21LaB4I_aSpQN2na3JBMDeTZbdLPhJWXeuSfo6RO/s320/20171028_144406.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
We made it back 13 minutes late and surprisingly in 31st place out of 137 and 6th mixed pair - for us, this was a very good result. We searched for a patch of grass that wasn't an inch deep in water, but the rain had stopped now and it was still light putting up our tent, in the water logged field. <br />
<br />
We made some dinner and had a couple of cans of G&T and got our heads down for an early night - there's not much to do once it's got dark in a tiny tent barely big enough for one. The clocks also go back on OMM weekend so it's actually the one night of the year I get more than 12 hours sleep! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nyy1GzoSeypSSsaTHlZQlkB69WqPeTuJXo_DOFfQ4_lMPHAGmFJOvKf8p_QEsBR1k_ED9IzmSQ5wvsIVntGHOGz81-7SdT_yj6B54td9QIMqgF7KUJwGomlx75LI6PhT8N_2GG-ZVPv_/s1600/20171027_232403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Nyy1GzoSeypSSsaTHlZQlkB69WqPeTuJXo_DOFfQ4_lMPHAGmFJOvKf8p_QEsBR1k_ED9IzmSQ5wvsIVntGHOGz81-7SdT_yj6B54td9QIMqgF7KUJwGomlx75LI6PhT8N_2GG-ZVPv_/s320/20171027_232403.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
During the night, the rain and wind shook our tent, I was praying it would stay up so we didn't have to get out and fight the wind to peg it down. Fortunately it stayed put and we woke up around 7.30 to some noise outside (no bagpipes this year), made some coffee and breakfast, re-packed and headed to the start once more. <br />
<br />
The weather today was entirely different! Beautiful clear skies, but bloody freezing. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxWot4giHoCynli8B_rLPRx3KaVifR83LhmFhMKZrfPtFtpMKn_myyuiNk32Wl3KXowkIetWG51dEwH29y5S3QKoEMXNz4BJdAigdpRTr7xhIwviflVAolgx1Z5Vq0n0HQw8aU2ZygwAq/s1600/20171029_091750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxWot4giHoCynli8B_rLPRx3KaVifR83LhmFhMKZrfPtFtpMKn_myyuiNk32Wl3KXowkIetWG51dEwH29y5S3QKoEMXNz4BJdAigdpRTr7xhIwviflVAolgx1Z5Vq0n0HQw8aU2ZygwAq/s320/20171029_091750.jpg" width="240" /></a>The map didn't really offer much interest for me, we could either go back over the side we'd explored yesterday, which I wasn't keen on, or stay east and adventure a new area. <br />
<br />
Doug wanted to go west, I wanted to go east. East won. However, immediately we found ourselves wrong, in a bit of an argument and wasting 25 mins trying to get to a relatively simple control. We bagged one more after traipsing across wide high fells into some crags. <br />
<br />
The next control, looked fairly easy. However, taking for granted the trail, or was it a sheep track, or was it rain water run off? We spent the next 2 hours searching for a control in a crag. We only had 4 hours today and had only managed to get 50 points. If we got back in time, we'd retain them at least but then we thought we found the right crag. Alas, another wasted 30 minutes and a hurried return to the finish, saw us with 28 penalty points and dropping down the results table to 73rd! <br />
<br />
Still, we had a lovely day, made it back in time for the coach, a beer and some dinner in the pub and a nice train journey home. <br />
<br />
What's next? 2 weeks in Thailand, a 40 miler in Brecon and Doug has apparently put an entry in for Marmot Dark Mountains which is going to certainly test our nav and patience with one another! Then I'm going to have a good crack at a good London Marathon time. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-76454282532445896732017-10-08T20:43:00.001+01:002017-10-08T20:43:04.847+01:00Bournemouth Half MarathonIt's not often that a race plan goes so well. <br />
<br />
It was a Plan B of sorts mind. <br />
<br />
I've been pretty under the weather the last few months, what I had thought was a "bit tired and run down" through excessive hours at work, limited sleep and general life stress had rung alarm bells with Robbie who sent me to the quack to get some blood tests. <br />
<br />
I'd not lost my Mojo, not by any stretch. When I managed to find time to get out running I had a great time and had been getting out with lots of friends and loving it all. Just that I'd lost my get up and go, and anything more than an hour left me dragging myself along the floor with a sad face. <br />
<br />
I got my blood test results back to find that my Ferritin level (which is some kind of precursor to Iron) was off the bottom of the scale. The doctor suggested this was why I've been feeling so shitty. She prescribed some Iron tablets and a recall blood test in 3 months to check my progress. <br />
<br />
That was about a month ago now and already I'm feeling much better. I'm also making a conscious effort to love myself a bit more, get more sleep, spend less time in the office, spend more time with the people that matter, pay better attention to my diet and lifestyle. You know. Grown up shit. <br />
<br />
Swennyway. I'd entered this race only because Doug had entered the Marathon distance, I didn't really fancy a Marathon after the busy summer of mountain races and feeling quite crap. Having done Lakeland 50 at the end of July, followed by Ultraks Matterhorn at end of August, this hadn't really left much time to recover, do any kind of speed work and get "race fit" i.e. get a chance of a PB. At best it was going to be a nice weekend at the seaside. <br />
<br />
We had a nice little mooch about Bournemouth on Saturday and watched the 10k race, then met an old friend Kris Duffy for Pizza and a catch up. He was doing the Marathon too. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBm07MSlH610gwd-GLXcTm5zrMvavPuJMDt_yGis6e0XtuBtRXyn04lZSpVyShvv1joLgeZCLydEAi2UjDO0-Tg_FmorG9N3nkPkY2JNKoNwKi3lQlfCICVdZlzQwwehDHrot2i0HZB7Y/s1600/20171007_160403_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBm07MSlH610gwd-GLXcTm5zrMvavPuJMDt_yGis6e0XtuBtRXyn04lZSpVyShvv1joLgeZCLydEAi2UjDO0-Tg_FmorG9N3nkPkY2JNKoNwKi3lQlfCICVdZlzQwwehDHrot2i0HZB7Y/s320/20171007_160403_001.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRz90A4ATUNt2PZYsHBeWoKzOoIvH2icxo57tt71epKOUHcLPY-rgwm09loVE97NzN4VZrjjhJaiPYi8GZbpPkxbpaT1lA7Cped6HVibK7MF4d8tBNk7tWnEcgvpLYYm5iFTmFTVhC3I-/s1600/20171007_160303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRz90A4ATUNt2PZYsHBeWoKzOoIvH2icxo57tt71epKOUHcLPY-rgwm09loVE97NzN4VZrjjhJaiPYi8GZbpPkxbpaT1lA7Cped6HVibK7MF4d8tBNk7tWnEcgvpLYYm5iFTmFTVhC3I-/s320/20171007_160303.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
We got an early night, although I took ages to get to sleep and had weird dreams. Probably from watching Stephen King films whilst going to sleep. <br />
<br />
My race was starting at 8 and the others at 10. So unlucky for Doug he came to my start with me. <br />
<br />
Earlier this week, Robbie and I had had a chat about goal setting for next year and discussed this race. Knowing that a PB was out of the question, he suggested that I aim or a negative split. I suggested that I do a progression run. (Meaning I would get faster over the course of the race.) Negative splits are the dream for any road runner. I've never achieved it. I've been crap at pacing forever. The closest I came was at Milton Keynes marathon where I ran an almost even split. So that was the goal. Of course, it can be achieved by walking for the first half but I still had some general time in mind (sub 1hr 40 would be awesome)<br />
<br />
I hadn't fully decided what pace I'd set off at but that I'd increase my pace by 10 sec per km every half hour. I'd see what felt right on the morning. <br />
<br />
Once I was at the start and nervous belly had settled I bounced around a bit and did some mobility stretches, the weather conditions were spot on and wind was low so I had no worries on that.<br />
<br />
Soon we were off and I settled in to a 4:50 min/k pace. It felt really comfortable so I decided to stick to that. My legs kept trying to go a bit quicker but I kept an eye on my average pace to keep it at 4:50. Knowing that the next step would be 4:40, then entering the hurt locker at 4:30 and hanging on as best I could to the end.<br />
<br />
As I hit the lap button and picked up to 4:40min/k pace it still felt *fairly* comfortable. I let myself relax on any declines and tried not to knacker myself on the small inclines. I was overtaking people all the time now, the people who had set off too quick (how I normally do) and felt pretty smug!<br />
<br />
Coming up to the hour mark I was around 8 miles in and knew there was a bit of a bastard hill coming up. I'd picked up the pace to 4:30, it felt fine on the flat but almost immediately it was time for the hill. Fuck me. It was a bastard. It wasn't that long - a few hundred metres but it near broke me. My pace dropped right off. I was gagging up over the top hoping that I'd be rewarded with a nice descent but it was a long flat/slight climb still so I continued to suffer and try to drag my average lap pace back to where I wanted it. It was dropping back gradually from 4:50 to 4:44 where it stayed. Damn it. <br />
<br />
Finally I reached the descent. I let myself go, I'm pretty good at descending now after the mountain running I've been doing the last few years, took a few more places and managed to get my average pace back to around 4:32min/k and hold it there when I got back on the flat. But it wasn't entirely flat, it was about 1.5 miles of really slightly up. But it was an out and back so I was relying on it being a slightly down back. I only had a park run to go now, but it was hurting. Hurting hard. I tried to keep the pace on. I reached the first Pier and started down it, I had dropped back to 4:33 pace, I relaxed a bit knowing that it was a slight descent to the next pier, come on, less than 2 miles. <br />
<br />
Somehow I missed the last mile marker and was thinking that it was going to be a long half, I missed hitting the last 30 min lap split. It didn't really matter. I was trying to keep my form, trying not to piss myself, keeping my arms and legs pumping and focusing on getting to the end. I was struggling to keep the pace on but only had 0.6miles to go. I knew if I held on I could get in under 1hr 40. I rounded the end of the 2nd Pier and pushed hard for the last few hundred meters. I could see the clock time getting near to 1:40 and urged myself forward to get in under it. Knowing that my chip time would be a good minute or so better due to the delay at the start. <br />
<br />
I got over the line, with sub1:40 on the clock and sub 1:39 on the chip. A decent negative split and almost the progression run I'd set out to do. The last split was 4:34 average pace. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4frTjAUYLv7P3BuTc3JMTU8-V_DKNPwVuSKWoCMJrnO5i4NkOT210DbxsFvOS4_rrlRFgVVrSs47_4xGQ9QwrUgnLFrwbGGWaCdH1oz8LtBz8APNs0yysxpvFKZkxkRxWkffcnXOMpt-/s1600/20171008_095026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4frTjAUYLv7P3BuTc3JMTU8-V_DKNPwVuSKWoCMJrnO5i4NkOT210DbxsFvOS4_rrlRFgVVrSs47_4xGQ9QwrUgnLFrwbGGWaCdH1oz8LtBz8APNs0yysxpvFKZkxkRxWkffcnXOMpt-/s320/20171008_095026.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
I am over the moon. I've never run such a controlled and sensible half marathon. I normally do a massive positive split and hate myself for the last 10 miles. <br />
<br />
I collected my bags, got changed and made my way to the beach to support Kris and Doug. Whilst I waited I took a little dip in the sea and enjoyed some amazing Autumn warm sunshine. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAv69kcILrm3EOmaJQ1QcDJlDl4xaHvpazB1E_R6HDFgBqzXBzv39NlU_RAwsNThFQugipBEwzJV4s8B_uRGi0ZkDBbpbzbvaOrmFPsKrJuuoe3KSKQq03y0yUWu5JHlZ8MBwOrU1hN5P/s1600/20171008_104158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAv69kcILrm3EOmaJQ1QcDJlDl4xaHvpazB1E_R6HDFgBqzXBzv39NlU_RAwsNThFQugipBEwzJV4s8B_uRGi0ZkDBbpbzbvaOrmFPsKrJuuoe3KSKQq03y0yUWu5JHlZ8MBwOrU1hN5P/s320/20171008_104158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH5bvpRDsayLapjaiKYThs1JsN_Aa39VyQLBmawLfn6B9Lp0l6x3kzFwrm4F8Dtgux_zRMcEQOymVEDgCy6Q68A5yoW_6uhkJhjwasgBkfr2HGaqklEUpNncxFNcM_z_ioiuOha09gflh/s1600/20171008_105247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH5bvpRDsayLapjaiKYThs1JsN_Aa39VyQLBmawLfn6B9Lp0l6x3kzFwrm4F8Dtgux_zRMcEQOymVEDgCy6Q68A5yoW_6uhkJhjwasgBkfr2HGaqklEUpNncxFNcM_z_ioiuOha09gflh/s320/20171008_105247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxWtUIUK8bt-P2c1w_CZSLqTuqD_skU6kTj_cHlGt_iuFnIc0ofILqJC8ZSFFet4FXq806HcsdO_bnLXJhQmd_d6VHZB03rPNt4NCvySawVKuMvB0TkQYVbHkxCpEWF83bdYhQRi0UYfq/s1600/20171008_110006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxWtUIUK8bt-P2c1w_CZSLqTuqD_skU6kTj_cHlGt_iuFnIc0ofILqJC8ZSFFet4FXq806HcsdO_bnLXJhQmd_d6VHZB03rPNt4NCvySawVKuMvB0TkQYVbHkxCpEWF83bdYhQRi0UYfq/s320/20171008_110006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUoehhO4GwQPXEXEzpb_INsRHJjzTxL9SavQu3fcQn2bIJctanUFMOHVA_7mpkR3hGaQFDfLt6xFyrYMJL3QlYE3rPL7fcsFYtmHLyHAfzTiacq4qenp7z0acY21wc9KOMxRAexn-tQYh/s1600/20171008_105933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUoehhO4GwQPXEXEzpb_INsRHJjzTxL9SavQu3fcQn2bIJctanUFMOHVA_7mpkR3hGaQFDfLt6xFyrYMJL3QlYE3rPL7fcsFYtmHLyHAfzTiacq4qenp7z0acY21wc9KOMxRAexn-tQYh/s320/20171008_105933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb8NLBm7J1On_KYhh-agKtw5Uf9MrSq43cmzTI_nhn5Sx9T9Wz6xTu3LeUHnR617o6o5iaAkOM36pvlTDGzdPIBdQbONy8ki-zZs1J2Rj2TbUlUoyaP8-raTW0pQprDKB2ZmGWGLXP37j/s1600/20171008_115807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb8NLBm7J1On_KYhh-agKtw5Uf9MrSq43cmzTI_nhn5Sx9T9Wz6xTu3LeUHnR617o6o5iaAkOM36pvlTDGzdPIBdQbONy8ki-zZs1J2Rj2TbUlUoyaP8-raTW0pQprDKB2ZmGWGLXP37j/s320/20171008_115807.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-M_BnHITiYWEK9UuPhq3ZbDd6CK2nl-0cBXYSS1Nb2fnstWftef1NuS8X8UirsjLaid8vWTrEYixU5BInGLDds2-58h5yytl-mtrGPkjC1lQ8TNoQJKnK9zAF78osCbZolSi3PL0zjsd/s1600/20171008_121355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-M_BnHITiYWEK9UuPhq3ZbDd6CK2nl-0cBXYSS1Nb2fnstWftef1NuS8X8UirsjLaid8vWTrEYixU5BInGLDds2-58h5yytl-mtrGPkjC1lQ8TNoQJKnK9zAF78osCbZolSi3PL0zjsd/s320/20171008_121355.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94pwGEky8pPezmkPQfiXN2jmpb4eDE8Z9SSDNHd2Tm8JJ5J96k7V52KRVi8B0uxdic2SzafNw7_WDhr2aEmmYlGX2NvFE-roIKuBVwjTcqDMtpQswOZ8gluNfPN11iKeXNRIWJ_jQ3yXL/s1600/20171008_115149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94pwGEky8pPezmkPQfiXN2jmpb4eDE8Z9SSDNHd2Tm8JJ5J96k7V52KRVi8B0uxdic2SzafNw7_WDhr2aEmmYlGX2NvFE-roIKuBVwjTcqDMtpQswOZ8gluNfPN11iKeXNRIWJ_jQ3yXL/s320/20171008_115149.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Doug and Kris both did amazing and we're all pretty happy with ourselves. <br />
<br />
Next event for me is The OMM then a lovely 2 week trip to Thailand (naturally with a little adventure in it) to recharge my batteries after a crazy year. <br />
<br />
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-10487068121170452532017-09-12T00:09:00.001+01:002017-11-02T22:02:50.379+00:00It's OK not to be Ok. I saw this on a running vest yesterday.<br />
<br />
This post is a bit different to anything I'd normally write. It's the most personal thing I've ever written and first time possibly spoken about in depth. <br />
<br />
I've thought long and hard about sharing this post and it's taken a long time and a lot of, not courage, something a bit more personal than that to write this. <br />
<br />
Those close to me, know me well. They know my past and some of the personal experiences I've been through, I'm not writing it for attention or sympathy or anything of that ilk, just that I want to share some of my personal experiences and hopefully give others hope and perhaps a little agenda behind my love of running and of being free. <br />
<br />
Mostly, it's to highlight that no matter what people see, they don't really <strong><u>see</u></strong> what is behind the self indulgence or dare I say bragging (yes, I know how my posts tend to come across). Self deprecation is something I'm pretty good at but not <strong>that</strong> good. My close friends see through that of course. I don't generally analyse things, maybe I should, maybe not doing so keeps me sane. Who knows. <br />
<br />
Often people say, "how do you run for so long? Why do you do this? I don't understand how you can spend your spare time doing this."<br />
<br />
Truth is... mainly, because I can. I have the fortune that I have the means and capability to do so, and for the best part I genuinely enjoy it. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I think I hate it. But deep down, I know it's the thing that has kept me happy and "sane". It's lead me to many amazing friendships that without which, I don't know if I'd be around today. It's the one place that I literally have no thoughts. Some people find that strange. Some people run to be alone with their thoughts. I enjoy the emptiness I get in my head when I run. The purity of just being alive, on my own or enjoying the company of others. <br />
<br />
<u><em><strong>News flash. </strong></em></u><br />
I've not always been 100% happy, but hey, who has? For me, running and fitness in general has been a therapy through some tough times and I imagine it will for as long as I can put one foot in front of another. <br />
<br />
Depression is something that generally people don't like to talk about. Thankfully it's become less taboo to talk about, which for those suffering is a life line. Depression is a word that people have become afraid of. Quite rightly, it's a terrifying illness. For those engulfed in it, from their own illness or from watching a loved one suffer from it. I have been in both camps at various points of my life. <br />
<br />
For me, running was a remedy for some dark times. I'm sure it still helps me from dipping into the grey. It adds sun and rainbows and hope to the days when I feel utterly despairing of the apparent crappy days. It adds perspective. It gives me endorphins that I crave. <br />
<br />
Rewind to several years ago. I had an amazing family, living with a great guy, a promising career ahead of me, wonderful friends, a zest for life, a natural ability for running. <br />
<br />
Yet that was the view from the outside. What you couldn't see was the crippling sadness. There was no one thing responsible. There never is. I didn't even know why I was so sad. There's probably one tiny insignificant thing that tipped me over the edge, maybe I missed the bus one day, or burnt my toast? <br />
<br />
All that I really know was that life got too much for a time. Even now I can't pinpoint one thing. Not even a group of things, which maybe makes it difficult to explain. I was just "down in the dumps" (yes, there I said it. I'd punch me if I could) Lots of those months/years are still a bit of a blur. Some of the incidents are blurry, maybe because I choose to keep them that way. <br />
<br />
Aside from a few occasions when I was at College and pretty unsatisfied with life and a few incidents of what people would label as "cries for help". The time I really remember anything of significance was a few years later, that looking back should have rung alarm bells to my mental health was sitting in a meeting staring and picking at a cut on my arm. Not really thinking (or caring) what the other people in the meeting must have thought. Vaguely remembering that I did it to myself some days previously. Staring at it made me feel somehow better. Somehow in control. Somehow satisfied that I was doing something to control my feelings of being out of control. <br />
<br />
Some months later and after several other isolated and mostly hidden incidents, after taking an overdose of various OTC and stolen substances, I was sat in occupational health with the nurse, who to this day, I sincerely feel I owe my life to. She advised me to take some time off work, they would give me time to heal. To take some time to rebuild my serotonin. Go and do some yoga, go and run she said. That's right. She encouraged me to be active. Not to go home and waste away in bed, go and see a councillor, see if medication will help, spend time with people who care about me. <br />
<br />
Something I'll always remember her explaining what serotonin is (our natural happy pill) was it is like a tap, constantly dripping, keeping your levels topped up. But if the plug starts to leak, or comes right out, it can't keep up. It just leaks right out again, and the elements that are eating away at the plug are taking it too low to manage any kind of hope or positivity. Of course I couldn't have refilled them without some help. I had a short period on medication. For me, it actually made me feel worse. It made me numb. I felt a sense of nothing. I preferred "feeling" something. Not to say for those months it didn't help, as 100% it did. Counselling for me didn't really help either, mainly because I didn't know what was "wrong" - sadly there's no magic formula of X + Y = Z.<br />
<br />
What worked for me was running, cycling, fresh air. Of course there were days, I didn't open the curtains. There were days, I did nothing but cry. Not knowing why I was crying. "What's wrong with me?" I'd wail at no-one, cuddle my cat until he was soaking with tears. But only having that to deal with for a time really helped. <br />
<br />
Of course, this didn't end the cycle of self harm. Various ways I found of controlling what I thought was my "problem". I had tried on occasion reasonably successfully methods to prevent self harming, using plastic bottles rather than my person. If you're reading this and struggling - it does help with the emotional release. <br />
<br />
"I'm fat." That's the problem. I'd tell myself. Which of course lead to an eating disorder and ultimately the end of a relationship and not engaging in social events for probably years. <br />
<br />
There are two stand out occasions which to this day both haunt me and remind me of the depth of this illness but also are why I know that I'll never let myself get to that place again.<br />
<br />
1) Whilst in the grips of eating disorders and depression - my then boyfriend who I'd made a life with. His father had been suffering from lung cancer. The day of his death. I'm still ashamed, whether I should be, is neither here nor there and perhaps it highlights how this illness can be very lonely. Instead of racing home to be there for him, I was concerned that I'd not burned off enough calories that day so cycled an extra couple of miles. Then after the wake. Rather than be there to comfort him, I was concerned that I'd eaten one too many sandwiches and logging them in my calorie counter. <br />
<br />
2) I shan't go into too much detail, but what was intended as nothing more than a small cut to give me the release I knew it would, ended up grappling a knife with my sister who was trying to stop me hurting myself. Instead I hurt her slightly and gave myself a deep wound that would stop me running for a significant period of time and for a long time, locking all sharp objects in the shed. <br />
<br />
That for me was the turning point. Laid in hospital being sewn up by a pretty pissed off doctor, my sister and mum sobbing next to me. That was enough. I'd hurt people close to me. Literally. It scared me. I hadn't intended on any of it. It wasn't easy coming out the other side but fortunately I did. <br />
<br />
Of course, the relationship ended, he moved out. I decided to make a clean start, change jobs, create new opportunities. I took up cycling, and triathlon (arguably a new obsession of control). <br />
<br />
Looking back, aside from hurting my loved ones, the thing that had the biggest impact, selfishly, was not being able to run. That's what hurt the most. I had lost my freedom. My outlet. Of course, it was good to learn new outlets, I re-engaged with lost friends, I spent time helping others volunteering, other things that would improve my wellbeing and mental health. This in hindsight was a good thing and I'm fortunate compared to others. It meant that whilst running has become a huge part of my life, I have other things that I can focus on. So even if now that is taken away, I have the ability to exist without that crutch. <br />
<br />
I was lucky. I had an incredible support network, OK they didn't understand - why would they? It's difficult to explain why you're self destructing. The tendon healed and I was soon back to jogging slowly. I could cycle again. The scar and damaged nerves is a permanent reminder for me though. If I'm ever feeling like I could be slipping again, I just need to touch that visible memory and I remember how far I've come and where I never want to be again. <br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong. I'm still susceptible to negative thoughts and have had relapses some years ago but generally I know how to take care of my mental health. I'm hyper aware of the things that could impact it. I know what situations to avoid. Maybe I can't hide forever. Maybe I don't need to? <br />
<br />
Why am I sharing this now? Today is National Suicide Awareness day. <br />
<br />
It's shouldn't be taboo anymore. There are people in my extended friendship groups who I know are battling depression. I'm not trying to glorify it. I'm hoping that I can reach out to someone who is struggling to see there is light at the end of the tunnel. Particularly with social media, generally speaking I don't care what people think of me, unless I'm being a bad person, then, tell me. I think sometimes people assume I'm very "normal". We all have histories, and skeletons. I honestly think I've never been more emotionally stable, clearly to be able to share this - whatever that is! Running isn't the answer for everyone. It's my therapy. After a long day. After a break up. After a fatty meal! Just to be alone with nothing to think about. There's no magic potion. We are all very different. I was provided with various tools to deal with my illness. I learned to use those tools. Sometimes the tools need oiling. <br />
<br />
Sadly, depression is something that is here. It's real. For you maybe. For someone you love. For someone you don't know is suffering. Let's talk about it. Someone may not appear to be suffering, it doesn't mean they aren't. We are all guilty of painting a pretty picture of the outside. No-one wants to hear the sad tales, we tend to turn a blind eye to that. <br />
<br />
If there's one piece of advice I could give, is, find what makes you happy. Not what society thinks should make you happy. That's the superficial stuff that ultimately makes you sad. Cliché as it is - life is short. Find something that makes you happy. <br />
<br />
I hope this helps at least one person. I'll be back to blabbing about my latest adventures soon :) annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-32893113149811963262017-07-06T02:52:00.001+01:002017-07-06T03:00:24.440+01:00Forgive me, for I have sinned......It's been nearly a year since my last report.<br />
<br />
That's not to say that I've been sat on my laurels. More that;<br />
<br />
a) I'm not sure anyone really reads this bilge,<br />
b) I've been pretty busy<br />
3) Nothing spectacular has occurred.<br />
<br />
A brief update of the last year in the world of my escapades.<br />
<br />
After dining out on the Lakeland result for a good few days.... some recovery and plenty of downtime and frolicking. The next stop took me to on my first trip to Italy (if you exclude the detoured flight via Milan airport the previous year for my best friends Hen Do in Barcelona) and the brief trot through during the CCC.<br />
<br />
At work a colleague had decided that TUI needed a running club (which was his way of getting some training in around a demanding job and having young children) and word reached him that I was fond of running so I and 2 others were engaged in completing a Leadership in Running Fitness (LIRF) course so that we could start our own running group and we would each be leaders. This meant that 2 days a week there was an option to run during lunch guilt free and block out an hour or so in our diaries to selflessly get others to love running! (this needs a blog of it's own)<br />
<br />
Along with Doug and JZ, I'd entered UTMR a 110k very mountainous stage race in northern Italy. It was placed over 3 days over high altitude (for a southern lass) - there was an option to do it in one day, but if I'm honest, the 3 day option looked lovely. It was the 2nd year this event was run, and split into sociable chunks with actual hotels to stay in rather than camp sites it was luxurious! Doug and I had planned a holiday prior, where we started in Naples, and Sorrento and took an incredible stay/drive up to the Alps over a week, eating pizza, drinking Prosecco, visiting the most picturesque coastal towns I've ever seen, including the Almalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre (both of which I cannot ever unsee for their incredible beauty).<br />
<br />
To be entirely honest, I can't recall all the events of the race, just that the three of us had the most incredible time. Generally we stuck together as a threesome, rooming together, enjoying banter and japes. The route was by far the most technical terrain over the distance and also the most beautiful, the mountains that just kept on giving, 1500m climbs topping out at 3000m and the longest most technical descents I've had to tackle. I've done the CCC round Mt Blanc previously and in comparison that is a race track of smooth trails this was rugged and challenging in new ways but also breathtaking and romantic....views of the snow topped mountains all around, the incredible weather we were blessed with, the wonderful company and finishers medals after 3 days were all that really matter. Also meeting the most incredible couple I've ever met, Russ and Delena from Canada, who were the most inspiring, honest and engaging people I think I've ever come across who were taking a sabbatical from their life in Canada to experience several months travelling around Europe running, cycling and generally loving life. I sincerely hope our paths cross again one day. <br />
<br />
Whilst we were racing in Italy, the Lakeland 50 and 100 entries went live, and I think I mentioned before this event is like getting Glastonbury tickets so would sell out pretty quick (in under 30 minutes it turned out) and Doug and I had decided we'd do the mixed pairs if we could get a place. Sadly, as we were mid race we wouldn't be able to enter but our incredible support crew Issy and Ellen were on hand and there with auto-refresh and managed to blag us our slots for the following year! Hurrah!<br />
<br />
Following UTMR Doug and I took our annual pilgrimage to The OMM, finally picking the right course for us - the D course where we got ourselves round with plenty of time to spare and placing 3rd mixed pair. We've come a long way from that first year we thought the B course would be a "piece of piss"!<br />
<br />
A fairly quiet winter lead to a month of sickness, so the first race I'd planned in January (the rough and tumble back in my homelands) was sacked off. The next "A Race" was London Marathon.<br />
<br />
I'd said to Robbie before Christmas that this year I needed to focus on my career so the plan was to focus on short good quality training so it didn't take up too much of my life. We met Robbie in Feb/Mar time for a 10k race in Goring where he joked that basically I was doing a 10k race plan (because I had to keep dropping runs short or doing more interval training than normal) - this seemed not to be too terrible after claiming 6th lady in a large field at Goring 10k. Some solid 5k times, a 7th place at a local 10k trail race and generally much more consistency than we've seen in a long while.<br />
<br />
Early March saw the first official "TUI Trotters" outing at Milton Keynes Festival of running - there was a 5k, 10k, half marathon and 20 mile event which was great because it meant that it was inclusive for all of the gang in the running club. I took on the 20 miler and had a prettty decent day out, a nasty hill over the last couple of miles nearly broke me but running most of the race with Doug, Lyndon and Andrew set me up for a PB and a good target for London (2hr 39 and some change)<br />
<br />
Mid March - and a month out from London Marathon and my 2nd longest run this year - I treated myself to a birthday 16 mile trail race near where I live - it was, let's say.... insightful! I text Robbie after to say how badly it went - but he called me up and gave me a pep talk - it was equivalent of the 20 mile road run that would normally be in a Marathon plan but without the hard tarmac impact and plenty of hills to add. Naturally I'd set out too hard, turned up hungover and underfed (getting my excuses in there)<br />
<br />
Now, a few weeks out from London and about to embark on the taper... my friend at work who was also running London as about my start time - as I'd secured a good for age place from the previous year I'd seen lots of spam emails coming in to my inbox and being too busy left them to read at a later date.<br />
<br />
Issy and Ellen were coming up to watch so I decided I should check start times etc. so I did a search in my inbox for London marathon details.... I found lots of info, about training about this and that.... i found my GFA acceptance - unread because I didn't need to read that, right??<br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
My heart skipped a beat.<br />
<br />
I opened the email to check the email from last June.<br />
<br />
"Congratulations. You have been successful, click this link to complete your entry."<br />
<br />
Fuck.<br />
<br />
A phone call to London marathon confirmed my fears. I hadn't finalised my entry, I'd not paid. I was not in.<br />
<br />
I text Robbie.<br />
<br />
Pragmatic as ever.<br />
<br />
Milton Keynes marathon is two weeks after.<br />
<br />
A quick check of my diary. Hmmm.... Doug and I were entered for The OMM Lite.<br />
<br />
"Doug..... how do you fancy doing MK Mara instead of The OMM?"<br />
<br />
"oh"<br />
<br />
Long and short, we entered MK, The OMM transferred our entry to The OMM in October.<br />
<br />
MK Marathon, went like a dream for me. The extra two weeks training clearly paid off. I smashed my target of getting a sub 3:30 and placed 7th lady.<br />
<br />
Since MK, there has been park runs, a few track races (5000m, 3000m) some 10k races and a 10 miler where I've placed well.<br />
<br />
However, now that Lakeland is coming round, there is a distinct lack of hill aptitude compared with last year. Work has become increasingly challenging and a Desk to 5k course with the TUI Trotters has meant that the lunch time running hasn't been as useful as I'd have liked.<br />
<br />
So, with budgets due, a lot of long nights in the office, a few overeas trips this month - Snowdon race next weekend and Lakeland 2 weeks later, who knows what is going to happen! It might end up being a couple of nice weekends away hiking in the hills. Which in itself, isn't a terrible thing.<br />
<br />
P.S I have DEFINITELY got my GFA place sorted for next year!<br />
<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-82370783994382630122016-08-12T22:32:00.001+01:002016-08-12T22:56:53.367+01:00Lakeland 50<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" this is something my old swim coach used to say, which is profound and try to live by. I'm not someone who believes in luck. Weirdly, I was also a fucking awful swimmer, so some might say it's luck that I didn't drown during my triathlon days, I say I worked fucking hard for months at swimming, to still be a fucking awful swimmer (but not drown). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've been bouncing around like a kid for 2 weeks (and the rest) looking forward to this race. I get like this when I know I've worked hard for something. I'm not just talking running. Anything. That satisfaction you get heading into something knowing that you're really prepared. That you've done all you can to achieve the best you can on the day. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'd shared some of my goals with friends, one of them being Doug. With his only hill session in the last few months being Snowdon race he wasn't feeling too confident. I tried not to let his doubts rub off on me though. He was throwing around estimates like better than 18 hours but more than 12 he'd be happy. To which I was thinking, "Well, I'm not waiting for you. See you at the finish then punk!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">I know Doug well. We've raced and trained together for years. He was sandbagging of course (this is the man, that told only a few people he was doing an Ironman; until he came home with a medal and an exceptional time!)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure he completely believed I'd achieve my goals but he is also pretty competitive when it comes to the two of us. If we're doing a half marathon or a 5k he'll totally disregard his goal pace and run just on my shoulder for a while before overtaking and staying just far enough ahead that I can't quite catch him. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Obviously we're also a fantastic team when it comes to expeditions and mountain marathon team events and are well matched pace wise and know how to look after one another when required.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Two of my oldest and dearest friends; Ellen, Issy and the gorgeous German Shorthaired Pointer, Milton somehow got talked into a "trip to the lakes". I'm pretty sure I told them what we were doing and that they wouldn't see much of us on Saturday but we'd have HEAPS of fun on Friday and Sunday. When the reality transpired I'm pretty sure they felt they'd been missold PPI. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ellen, Issy and Milton were driving up from the West Country and Doug and I from the east, we'd discussed plans and thought we'd all be up there by say 3pm. In time to register, catch up with familiar friends, see off the 100 mile runners and have a jolly old afternoon and evening. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">What actually happened was an </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">8+ hour journey up the M6 with every other fucker that was deciding on a lovely northern summer break that same Friday. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-Ap1BdX_O__VYrkfrXk5CtDQdnIp3x3sPY9HRs2LrZ5JkFN_-hYBd-ZlFQs86G_AsTJnq8BVKd6sMfu-izF15d79Ry-IOP257_IeoYn59QSGoAnO9lGXGu_d4hjZR1sghqriLOPHEwbU/s1600/123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-Ap1BdX_O__VYrkfrXk5CtDQdnIp3x3sPY9HRs2LrZ5JkFN_-hYBd-ZlFQs86G_AsTJnq8BVKd6sMfu-izF15d79Ry-IOP257_IeoYn59QSGoAnO9lGXGu_d4hjZR1sghqriLOPHEwbU/s400/123.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We found time to share some banter though. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83g6jmlEzL_bjHg9QU28G0Qjtdi-ImyAzD5YJBAOZEXMQHaKYFMB12U3-52ki7XihV_-CYDyysIkr5oWoNcdHA_RfUguV1vOoRzBzuADkDqAfznVadCzNUA5pVfltQeM82_gG2L6QBWws/s1600/bantz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83g6jmlEzL_bjHg9QU28G0Qjtdi-ImyAzD5YJBAOZEXMQHaKYFMB12U3-52ki7XihV_-CYDyysIkr5oWoNcdHA_RfUguV1vOoRzBzuADkDqAfznVadCzNUA5pVfltQeM82_gG2L6QBWws/s640/bantz.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photobomb!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjKEOf3Kvqn9bvzgzaXDRpHEnOqn-79LzFZf2bHAtFtBjLxyjuSmWy1g3Xix6peroWj06g-_TxaQUA_Em9DF_e1mW52VFw-DaM6LW_CfOxqjpiUb8QhKlDAvlWgeeAFbeUyFq5i0YiSr_/s1600/qwqw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjKEOf3Kvqn9bvzgzaXDRpHEnOqn-79LzFZf2bHAtFtBjLxyjuSmWy1g3Xix6peroWj06g-_TxaQUA_Em9DF_e1mW52VFw-DaM6LW_CfOxqjpiUb8QhKlDAvlWgeeAFbeUyFq5i0YiSr_/s320/qwqw.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was stressful to say the least. Doug and I arrived just in time to see the kids mile race off(they're swift!) sadly we missed the 100 start, which was a shame as we had some friends running. We registered and I got a text from Issy saying they were still 2 hours away. *sob* .</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KmARb0R9cnlXOIw3OgdNJjY-H9XFxF9nby6Kean1c_vbhtMmw04FG9cyyyjh58CAa3UR0JJwPYU5VrysGsLTnpNkGoomxiHHVvhnyhOIGpiu-19eUQa-d7XfjanYFjlTIH_FONAHZrH_/s1600/Sadface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KmARb0R9cnlXOIw3OgdNJjY-H9XFxF9nby6Kean1c_vbhtMmw04FG9cyyyjh58CAa3UR0JJwPYU5VrysGsLTnpNkGoomxiHHVvhnyhOIGpiu-19eUQa-d7XfjanYFjlTIH_FONAHZrH_/s400/Sadface.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#Sadface</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We got our numbers, weighed in (one at a time fatty!) etc then headed off up to the B&B I'd booked us all into. I put the address into Google Maps as I received a tearful call from the girls (well Issy was tearful, Ellen was hysterically laughing in the background). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They were still 90 mins away. We'd been trying to get hold of the b&b to let the, know we were late. But to no avail. So, stressed that the girls were upset, the B&B may have given our rooms away (had I even indeed got a booking!) and it was getting near to the kitchen shutting time in the pubs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Doug and I drove on a bit crabby at each other. Agreed we'd check in, get to the pub and order pizzas to take away for the girls. I tried once more to call the B&B and finally got through. "What booking?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">"Um.... 4 beds and a dog, under Buckingham?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">.......<lost signal=""></lost></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Shit. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's fine. We'll get there and it will all be fine. My battery was on 3%, Doug's was on 0% the car charger had stopped working. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally we found the B&B, Doug waited in the car whilst I ran in. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Only to be told, this was not the B&B we had booked. We were in Keswick. The place we should have been was not far from where we had been an hour ago, in Burness, Berwick, Somewhere beginning with fucking "B".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I sloped back to the car to Doug's hopeful face and told him the bad news. He was mad. I tried to make a call. To who? I don't even know. My phone died. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I got the map out of the back of the car and looked up where we should be. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We drove in silence back the entire way we'd come. Doug was seething. I was sheepish. Better to get the nav errors out the way BEFORE the race, right? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I suddenly realised my work phone was in the car and had battery so I waited for signal and tried a number from the CORRECT B&B. I got through eventually. She'd been trying to call us (on our dead mobiles) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn't have Issy or Ellen's numbers on this phone so sent them a facebook message to say we'd see them in the pub. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway, long and short. We all managed to check in, and get to the pub for a right jolly old time before they stopped serving. All we could do was laugh about it. (well once we got a pint in front of us)</span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0nYGWlO66XyOAY0tnmxdUrBHHyz8ZxAmPc7ZiQeEvmVSQ6EbYIRfo2ljSF2pKbqnNaQhSwcIz5vEEI0lITjYzmwkEPEydIfd6OgMzh7CEzpcJLPM7sGbW0yl86KcyaUSy7s1YkpbzhEz/s1600/erte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0nYGWlO66XyOAY0tnmxdUrBHHyz8ZxAmPc7ZiQeEvmVSQ6EbYIRfo2ljSF2pKbqnNaQhSwcIz5vEEI0lITjYzmwkEPEydIfd6OgMzh7CEzpcJLPM7sGbW0yl86KcyaUSy7s1YkpbzhEz/s640/erte.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ate pizza, caught up on our shitty travels and drank beer then walked back to the B&B to pack kit bags whilst drinking Red Stripe, some more dicking about and get to bed. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25JqZCW3unBAaeFKppW9X0dD8wZg61IvbBreDFXHQ1Nd8hrjh6I423PpSS4trkUkNzpvWLvbS865plckpvCGr_kmP_qQ3GqiKYjQyayukbB4Ohk2ZGt89aFpxoMTVJv_6_pUc8gBmeUeY/s1600/13891849_10157189275850147_88135294864373859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25JqZCW3unBAaeFKppW9X0dD8wZg61IvbBreDFXHQ1Nd8hrjh6I423PpSS4trkUkNzpvWLvbS865plckpvCGr_kmP_qQ3GqiKYjQyayukbB4Ohk2ZGt89aFpxoMTVJv_6_pUc8gBmeUeY/s400/13891849_10157189275850147_88135294864373859_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eNhzifO7Y3esFlcyi_N2YI74ZCn86XNxLFZWpXma3lNZA5aIMToUqnMBsOMwsOBoQAwxXj8nOpDUiZGE8XFpLYYH80eA-busmEl2mYFXJyb0IEBt3-oeSyIDXHuNqZLVPCOuydrcxOI6/s1600/y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eNhzifO7Y3esFlcyi_N2YI74ZCn86XNxLFZWpXma3lNZA5aIMToUqnMBsOMwsOBoQAwxXj8nOpDUiZGE8XFpLYYH80eA-busmEl2mYFXJyb0IEBt3-oeSyIDXHuNqZLVPCOuydrcxOI6/s320/y.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The race wasn't an ungodly start so we didn't have to get up too early, but it was too early to get breakfast at the B&B. There was a briefing at 8:30 which we were just in time for. Unfortunately the hall was overflowing (annoyingly supporters were in there taking up space of runners so we couldn't get in) so we fettled with bags, stuck race numbers on, went to the toilet again and again. Doug realised he'd lost his road book (mandatory) so after the race briefing I went in search of a spare. I bumped in to Conrad, from my running club, gave a quick hug and said I'd see him on the bus (I didn't) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several buses were waiting in the car park to take all 650+ runners to the start at Dalemain. Just about to get on, I saw Richard Leahy. I had no idea he was running today. We'd not seen him since sharing a tent at Dragon's back. We all hugged and greeted each other and caught up on the coach until I felt a bit queasy and had to spend the rest of the journey pretending to sleep. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We reached Dalemain and I began to get excited. It was still an hour or so until the off so we had plenty of time to go to the toilet and even get a coffee and shortbread. The 100 racers were coming through their halfway point and about 1000 people were cheering them through. It must have been a great feeling for them (despite being 50 miles into a 100 mile race and having been up running all night!) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before long we were being called into the starting pen. I bumped into Conrad once more with his friends (more on one of them later). Richard, Doug and I shimmied our way nearer the front of the pen and enjoyed the atmosphere and then before we knew it the countdown begun 10....9....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3....2....1......GOOOOO! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I shot off. I wanted to make a good start but not blow up. Before long, I could see that I was in the top section of the women, 3rd or 4th place. I tried not to get too exciting. It was only a few hundred meteres into a long day. Calm down Bucks. Even though I knew the route well from Dalemain, there was an added 4 miles round the estate to make the route up to 50 miles and it was far from flat. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I set a good pace for myself. Doug wasn't overtaking yet. After a mile or so Richard came past me, he kept intermittently stopping to fiddle with his calf guards, it later transpired he was getting thistles stuck in them. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The ground was uneven in places, thick grass like running through sand, the odd climb and descent. Before we knew it we were running back through the start area (also the CP area for the 100s) to huge cheers from the supporters and racers feeding and resting. I heard her first, then spotted Jenni in the CP pen (Jenni was doing the 100 miler. I'd been following her progress through the night and she was doing amazing, slowly picking her way up the rankings) I ran to her and gave her a big squeeze, she screamed in my ear and I was off again. Now on the route proper. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Doug had caught up with me about 2 miles ago and we were running together, ticking off milestones already "5% done... that's a park run" </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETSRXlWhyczVs0CIejh0PVvqQu_ms48TfI-x6667luAaLyCe8I0wOCBoTksCIJvDGw7YtAjAGuAIV2TuTyFgpdAMWhE2_naqckYMgZjgZAQ8HavuBrZJ_Vd-32TxFPAuAbxVFjMmqiBnc/s1600/LL1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETSRXlWhyczVs0CIejh0PVvqQu_ms48TfI-x6667luAaLyCe8I0wOCBoTksCIJvDGw7YtAjAGuAIV2TuTyFgpdAMWhE2_naqckYMgZjgZAQ8HavuBrZJ_Vd-32TxFPAuAbxVFjMmqiBnc/s400/LL1.jpg" width="354" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now out of the crowds I ducked behind a bush to go for a slash, letting Doug go off ahead. Also grateful to a bit of a breather. Not interested in pushing any harder (I already thought maybe I'd gone off a bit quick) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I ran back on, not worrying about catching up with Doug. I knew now I had gone off too hard. I love the section over to Howtown at CP1 and ran merrily in convoy of the 60 or so runners in front of me. I knew I was currently 3rd lady. Running through the single track before Pooley bridge I was grinning. These trails remind me of happy times mountain biking. I ran on through Pooley Bridge where huge crowds were cheering everyone through. I saw Rachel Ball yelling at me as I ran by, who I'd not actually met in real life until today. She was meant to be running but was injured but her partner was running so she was out supporting. I'd been watching her from afar on social media. We are of a similar standard and I had thought she'd be my closest rival and had been looking forward to running with her/against her. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13IOxK9Cc2JZT981Ci3-ru1Z2SXyELax7uKQZCPZHAKqe6S6gKiYcO4HREoij6VCN2po8nRa3up0ulDvTY82dpMTxfB2wl0qpRtxIPB_JiiJIkkUjgeHXYaqc81B2JpuDPiO5B0WzrVXo/s1600/Lakes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13IOxK9Cc2JZT981Ci3-ru1Z2SXyELax7uKQZCPZHAKqe6S6gKiYcO4HREoij6VCN2po8nRa3up0ulDvTY82dpMTxfB2wl0qpRtxIPB_JiiJIkkUjgeHXYaqc81B2JpuDPiO5B0WzrVXo/s320/Lakes+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Rachel Ball</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Already, I'd realised I'd forgotten to tape an area of my foot prone to blistering (which I'd told myself on my last recce to not forget to tape up) the inside of my right arch was rubbing. Do I deal with it now or hope it doesn't get any worse? It'll be fine. I'm sure. I don't want to waste 5 minutes so early in the race. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From here we met our first significant climb, on the road. Last time I was here I'd ran the whole way up and even managed getting a good Strava Segment position! I let myself have a walk when I felt I needed it. No point in blowing up too soon. I could see little dots climbing up across the fell to the right of the road and couldn't wait to be up there. Its an odd gradient, from below it looks fairly steep but when you're on it, you can run and run. I could see Doug not far ahead but still I didn't want to push to catch him. I finally reached the top of the road climb having overtaken several people, going past some of the 100 milers, cheering them on the way past. I was back on trail now and grinning once more. I ran on and on knowing the route well. Walking when it climbed steeply briefly, to catch my breath then running on once more. The route plateaued and started to gradually descend. Some mountain bikers were patiently waiting to get past so I pulled over to let them through. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I could see another lady on my shoulder as I started to run on again. I was pushing as hard as was comfortable on the descent and let her go by after a brief fight. She was much better at descending than me, even on this non-technical section. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, not far from the Check point, I dared to look at my watch. My pace was way up on any of the training runs at 5:39km/h pace which for this terrain was to me, really good. I rolled into the checkpoint in 1hr 35 having covered 11.5 miles and saw Doug stuffing snacks in his face and leaving the CP. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I grabbed a handful of sweets filled my cup with coke and went straight back out again. Before long I caught up with Doug.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next section is pretty long through to Mardale Head, probably my least favourite section. A colossal climb up then a plateau (the bit I keep going wrong on) a steep descent down then an unexpectedly technical 6/7 km lakeside run. On paper the lake section looks like it should be easy but it's rough rocks, short steep ups and downs and ankle breaking cambers. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Doug and I were now together, we were feeding off each other's pace. We knew this next few k was going to be more of a hike and took the opportunity to get our heart rates down, get some food in and try not to lost any places. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was much easier to follow the route with people in front than on my recces and found myself at the top pretty soon. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we reached the plateau, I could feel my stomach tightening and the unpleasant feeling of needing the toilet (sorry!) I'd taken some shitstop before we started as I'd had a bit of an excited tummy! So that may have taken some of the edge off. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I was annoyed as the plateu was a lovely easy run, gradual descent but my tummy was in knots so I had to keep breaking into a hike. I was looking around for somewhere I could relieve myself but it was just open hill tops with people intermittently passing me by as I pulled my pace right back. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By now a few women had overtaken me, but I couldn't do much about it. I knew I'd gone out too hard to start, all I could do was slow down, and get some fuel in before I bonked. I tried to eat some malt loaf (which in training had been amazing) but it just stuck to my mouth and throat and I wretched. This wouldn't do. I had some bloc shots so managed to wash one of those down with water. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before long the route dropped steeply towards the lake and I spotted in front a familiar slender shape. The long legs, long blonde hair of Jenn Gaskell. I shouted down to her, she didn't seem quite her normal cheery self but was trying her best to be upbeat I could tell. I'd been watching her progress last night too and she was doing amazing in the top 10 of the 100milers. She said she thought I was 8th or 9th lady or something and wished me well and I was gone down the tricky slope towards the lake. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Still I needed the toilet, my tummy hurt so much. Every time I thought I found a good spot, someone came past or I noticed a big drop off the edge of the trail I was bound to fall down. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We'd been going for 2.5 hours now, and I assumed Doug was far ahead. Despite my tummy ache I was having an amazing time. I was making good time, all I had to do was try not to shit myself and not run out of fuel. I wasn't drinking quite enough and the day was warm but not unpleasantly. Lots of people passed me during this section. I was picking my way over the technical rocks, me and another guy were competing for the worst descending award. (I won) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally the trail opened up a little and I could see farther ahead and the trail curving round towards CP2 in the distance. I thought I could see Doug too, but couldn't be sure. Around a km from the CP, I could definitely see Doug. He wasn't moving at all well. I became concerned. I was running a little better now and was gradually gaining on him. I caught him just as he entered the check point. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He was in a bad way. He'd bonked. He'd run out of water some time ago (annoyed that I hadn't caught him and shared mine) he'd run out of fuel and felt (and looked) like shit. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I left him getting sandwiches and cup after cup of coke, whilst I finally got to relieve myself as there was a portaloo at the CP. I felt better immediately. Also aware I was a bit low on energy I necked a couple of cups of coke. Checked Doug was OK, offered to stop a while here if he wanted to but he knew I wanted to crack straight on so he stubbornly left with me. I made him take a jam sandwich and took one for myself before thanking the CP staff and setting off up the next big climb. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(it seems to be standard practice to have a big climb after a checkpoint, which is good because you can stuff your face whilst hiking up it, I noticed this when doing Trans Wales MTB race too )</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We chatted and Doug explained he'd bonked, totally run out of energy, gone off too fast (much like myself) run out of water and was feeling horribly sick and looking a bit unhappy and worried he might not be able to finish. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hated seeing him like this, but despite my untrustworthy stomach I felt fairly good myself so didn't want to slow up too much, my legs were strong and mind positive. I led the way up the climb. Doug stopped to heave. I held back with him to rub his back (and hold his hair out of his face) but nothing came. We carried on a bit further. Doug stopping every so often to heave up non-existent bile. He asked if we could stop for 1 minute, so we stopped on a rock, I counted down with my stopwatch a minute, while Doug tried hard to be sick. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We started to move again, I started to push on ahead of him up the hill, stopping now and then to eat and check back he was OK. He saw and would wave me on. I knew he was trying desperately to keep up. He didn't want to be left behind and I didn't really want to leave him behind in this state. I knew up over the top of the climb was a big descent down, Doug is faster downhill than me so I kept pace knowing he'd catch me. The descent was tough. It was steep with lots of loose rock. The braking that my reflexes made me do hurt my legs more than the climbs. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The descending was jiggling my insides too much, my tummy was hurting again. I had to stop and find a bush. I found one. Whilst taking care of business Doug came past looking pretty worse for ware not seeing me, I shouted out and told him I'd catch him up. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once more we were together, my tummy still in knots, Doug trying to force up some of his stomach lining. What a pair. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I knew the route well into Kentmere so felt confident leading the way. Just before Kentmere we bumped in to the legendary David Lee who we have met every year on the Spine sat on a wall cheering people on and taking photos. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPZ7gcOI2rYcLbUY2O0346Gvp5dtgOdDiA6E2358jWsI9KBsSkc1edVjGUpD8Tj3ItDxTMZkQmGqA7v984lcrINBzzWeDHrxUvnbaHbMknzn1i6ZtOiEteMLW4iWLyo_FDquVF890f8XQ/s1600/LL2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPZ7gcOI2rYcLbUY2O0346Gvp5dtgOdDiA6E2358jWsI9KBsSkc1edVjGUpD8Tj3ItDxTMZkQmGqA7v984lcrINBzzWeDHrxUvnbaHbMknzn1i6ZtOiEteMLW4iWLyo_FDquVF890f8XQ/s640/LL2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Photo Credit: David Lee</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We rolled into Kentmere and found Richard who had been there chilling out for about 10 minutes. We necked a smoothie, grabbed some biscuits, refilled water bottles, and were back on our way. My knees were beginning to ache alittle so we took a painkiller each up the next climb.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were both beginning to feel better now and I was able to describe the next part of the route. A climb followed by an amazing flowing descent into Troutbeck. My blister was getting pretty sore now so on the next steep descent I decided to stop and tape it up. I was just ahead of Doug at this point having reached the top of the climb ahead of him, and stopped on the side to deal with my ouchie. I shouted once more I'd catch him up. A few minutes later I scurried down the hill to him. We were on a painful rocky river bed. It wanted to be run on, but it hurt your feet so bad so we ran where we could. We reached a corner where I needed a wee. Doug took this opportunity to have one last purge. This one seemed to finally fix him. As we ran the next section in to Ambleside he was finally back to himself. Bouncing along, telling crappy jokes and singing me songs. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ran through Ambleside full of beans and huge crowds, Once more Richard was there having been chilling for a while. A quick stop to refuel and we were back on our way. We walked for a while whilst we ate, and back up yes another hill before getting on to open moors. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I knew this next 15 miles was largely runnable. A couple of big climbs interspersed with lovely flat trails. Up the next climb, Richard joined us, and we all chatted. I led the way as I knew the route from memory, and we happily ran together through Chapelstile, finding a few minutes to play on a swing, before heading back on to the moor and a short sharp climb up followed by a wonderful piece of singletrack to a mandatory unmanned checkpoint (so you don't cheat and take the road)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">We stumbled across a swing and I couldn't resist a little play (and also a sit down)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-79pIX7PKfX_FnyV4cHD_2hzsqhNCzlPaMlY-HyYrzszwJqiMDErJvoYKSWahXlUKAnvg-4KP9PXWkzVTn9J5_uM9q2Q2qUDlX_KX2DhflSUVLZME298LEanTowjnwdQy_WvPlcG0-7oc/s1600/eqwe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-79pIX7PKfX_FnyV4cHD_2hzsqhNCzlPaMlY-HyYrzszwJqiMDErJvoYKSWahXlUKAnvg-4KP9PXWkzVTn9J5_uM9q2Q2qUDlX_KX2DhflSUVLZME298LEanTowjnwdQy_WvPlcG0-7oc/s640/eqwe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From here we were only a few km from the last CP. I had been watching my clock. I knew we could get in, in under 11 hours. But we had to push. I suggested this to Doug but he didn't want to entertain it. I knew on a good day I could do the last section in 45 minutes. So even if we left ourselves an hour we could do it. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We hit the final CP with 1:05 to spare to get that sub 11. We had a quick snack, and got back on with it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a brutal finish, straight up a set of steps. The you climb up nearly 300m over the next 1.5 miles. I was watching my watch. The light had faded and we had our headtorches on. Mine immedeiatly flashed that the batteries were dying. I didn't want to stop to change them and waste time. I'd just manage with what light was left and the dim setting from my headlamp. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The descent is equally horrible off the summit and I picked my way carefully down in the half light trying not to get too left behind. Back off the rocks and on the final steep descent, I let myself go, catching up with Doug and both of us catching Richard. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I knew now we'd be under 11 hours for sure. (unless anyone face planted now) My headtorch was slipping so I carried it in my hand. We ran hard into Coniston euphoria beginning to fill us. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Round the corner from the finish, I could hear cheering and above all of that the loudest screaming!!! I saw some commotion to my left and heard then saw Issy and Ellen screaming and jumping around and vaguely gave them a hug as they ran into the finish with us screaming with joy and bouncing around like women possessed!! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ran through the finish, dibbed out and received more hugs and screaming and the BEST EVER FINISH to a race! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We were ecstatic. We'd done well. We knew we had. We weren't ashamed to admit it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What an incredible support team. What a team Doug and Richard were. I ended up 9th female and we were all in the top 100 out of 672 runners. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3A2G3qtkL8Z9eOejFzpJpt1im4ujYqm0qQ0ieh7fV0dH9l9BhF6kUhEa5Pb3fNaZO0pLXtvYT8qnCwTX5Mtcrk0Rm37WC8Y3V-8JNep5mVF7AR3HLDpP7GyN3KShtUVvlvovIMiseluP/s1600/ll14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3A2G3qtkL8Z9eOejFzpJpt1im4ujYqm0qQ0ieh7fV0dH9l9BhF6kUhEa5Pb3fNaZO0pLXtvYT8qnCwTX5Mtcrk0Rm37WC8Y3V-8JNep5mVF7AR3HLDpP7GyN3KShtUVvlvovIMiseluP/s640/ll14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team work makes the Dream work! Photo credit: Richard Leahy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the race we headed back to the B&B, drank a couple of bottles of fizz and the girls filled me in on the day they'd had...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXrYiw79cExp8oMfKWiaxTA7MK57D4rIpJwTEgH6Lpn6PLCiYh0GacCbgMJ24crgMHTApwVuDVJGi50wuJtK-4Fzzje-AdV1CO-5qnYJRQfROVxq8GQgIcnD0R6QBpVM4Ks2LzoQt_UDm/s1600/LL4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXrYiw79cExp8oMfKWiaxTA7MK57D4rIpJwTEgH6Lpn6PLCiYh0GacCbgMJ24crgMHTApwVuDVJGi50wuJtK-4Fzzje-AdV1CO-5qnYJRQfROVxq8GQgIcnD0R6QBpVM4Ks2LzoQt_UDm/s640/LL4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredibly happy runners</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">They'd had a wonderful day, walking around the lakes with Milton, Waiting at Ambleside check point, just missing out on seeing us through, but having the fortune of glimpsing "a really hot Viking looking guy, blonde, blue eyes and an incredible moustache and beard" this ended up in a several day search on social media for him #findviking. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">We found him, and it ended up being Conrad's mate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">They'd been in the pub, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkBlMsU0sD08joe5psFlQByUaWMDqqx9AdKLUf4mc2Q5-81eDDg84A2Wzjg77nbp97tJvJDGwC_RxRZQGyP3C7h38Ao1ByKrUkV7K7bJvrYAeWcCcKGD1Ix5OHWgm2pAoCEj_8Ay7__rw/s1600/qweqw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkBlMsU0sD08joe5psFlQByUaWMDqqx9AdKLUf4mc2Q5-81eDDg84A2Wzjg77nbp97tJvJDGwC_RxRZQGyP3C7h38Ao1ByKrUkV7K7bJvrYAeWcCcKGD1Ix5OHWgm2pAoCEj_8Ay7__rw/s640/qweqw.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">chatting to the winners, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAhLNl528imJVWcg2zDrukJwWrfckyPgS5njtYDmShDtbXE5mzYKu_GJTctH_OYX1-pdBg9gwNS2OzoLb5iL6hgkV-PDo69JOKY44wPxgfT-zw3iH1lgqeSF3OtjZiNK4PLdW1B1tN5t-/s1600/LL5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAhLNl528imJVWcg2zDrukJwWrfckyPgS5njtYDmShDtbXE5mzYKu_GJTctH_OYX1-pdBg9gwNS2OzoLb5iL6hgkV-PDo69JOKY44wPxgfT-zw3iH1lgqeSF3OtjZiNK4PLdW1B1tN5t-/s640/LL5.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SeAo6Z02tImtsDUOGPnr0gn0Dr8c69Llfj6HXhyGhNIWWFuPiTXuH5OgAcwJFw6lx-dawgb9ArTiCuNFtdd1eh28CIlErUTiUqhNgtHmPVQ8iayKjJqwebkCsJ1gsEMsM2ajJQmkH_0n/s1600/ll7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SeAo6Z02tImtsDUOGPnr0gn0Dr8c69Llfj6HXhyGhNIWWFuPiTXuH5OgAcwJFw6lx-dawgb9ArTiCuNFtdd1eh28CIlErUTiUqhNgtHmPVQ8iayKjJqwebkCsJ1gsEMsM2ajJQmkH_0n/s640/ll7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";">and Milton had been getting all the attention - hardly surprising - look at that beaut!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAttPTnwMZlHIpNuZyA81jUm0TY663mkUM9r020__A8GCRk34QoO_PYEwkA5C3NC1wE5LvHWz7guLwhUzEJnrfShvcBYHZIQkIu5jd-bEemknBdaBSUi7nLvQkcTNTgeC2e28UNTF-deY7/s1600/milton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAttPTnwMZlHIpNuZyA81jUm0TY663mkUM9r020__A8GCRk34QoO_PYEwkA5C3NC1wE5LvHWz7guLwhUzEJnrfShvcBYHZIQkIu5jd-bEemknBdaBSUi7nLvQkcTNTgeC2e28UNTF-deY7/s640/milton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next day we had a nice walk around Ambleside, refuelled and enjoyed the sunshine.</span> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguysDK3IyBhB2lRHUZJeleRnFCIF809Kg9VtldqlPgysJmnpzGjrPCR6LK1iF72mngk3-A73cCbcsTnw8wJ66WQdOFX8limE7t6EqSwM8QxusqX1ov_v08-5fiYh2qxyYUXNBz5Zw_Jaog/s1600/ll2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguysDK3IyBhB2lRHUZJeleRnFCIF809Kg9VtldqlPgysJmnpzGjrPCR6LK1iF72mngk3-A73cCbcsTnw8wJ66WQdOFX8limE7t6EqSwM8QxusqX1ov_v08-5fiYh2qxyYUXNBz5Zw_Jaog/s1600/ll2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSIla2MlJGCdp9EroybPb5eUq5Mo8hjCGGaIRru3okMqbXSW07PZ1hmTAbLdPYF1H4tSw-myxV3WuHJdx60E8utCz2PYOzV0NnifzZQQeTW5ZCFxG2a2p1yVWJFkieLNHq-IH6F8jnwCS/s1600/ll6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSIla2MlJGCdp9EroybPb5eUq5Mo8hjCGGaIRru3okMqbXSW07PZ1hmTAbLdPYF1H4tSw-myxV3WuHJdx60E8utCz2PYOzV0NnifzZQQeTW5ZCFxG2a2p1yVWJFkieLNHq-IH6F8jnwCS/s640/ll6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">All in all it was a wonderful weekend. If you discount the travel issues. (the girls ended up getting home via an AA van.... )</span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDSDjQP2ys6SfuvP0e0GJaQsUeLdlwZJ_QpS6-eGUQ-IDfw-PM0laZk753-QbLRwInmArR-wEaIPIWIOMDuZCHd35bd3zcGVNzer5IaFAwo9swcxHBzqZuzLsn6YY27VDNz-_gt9TJHNT/s1600/etret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDSDjQP2ys6SfuvP0e0GJaQsUeLdlwZJ_QpS6-eGUQ-IDfw-PM0laZk753-QbLRwInmArR-wEaIPIWIOMDuZCHd35bd3zcGVNzer5IaFAwo9swcxHBzqZuzLsn6YY27VDNz-_gt9TJHNT/s320/etret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana";"><br /><br />
What an adventure, what a support team, what a result! <br />
<br /><br />
Could I have improved on this time? I don't think so. Had I gone off slower, I may not have got tummy probs for a while, maybe I still would have. Maybe that saved the race for me as I was forced to slow down. Really, I don't feel like I would have done anything differently. On the day, it all came together, we were blessed with perfect running conditions to boot! <br />
<br /><br />
Can't wait for the entries for next year to open!</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><span id="goog_768566958"></span><span id="goog_768566959"><br /></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-69948298579141438642016-08-01T19:55:00.001+01:002016-08-01T19:55:22.380+01:00Life after The Spine.It's fair to say The Spine took it's toll on various aspects of my life. Not to say it's all been bad and knowing I've not got to go back to tackle it again is a great feeling but also somehow bittersweet. I've got January to look forward to doing Cross Country and normal stuff! <br />
<br />
I've had a pretty good year so far, After the spine, Robbie and I agreed we'd work on shorter stuff through the spring and early summer and not rush back into things too hard and let my body and mind recover. I had some shorter event targets in mind, and with work becoming increasingly challenging and time consuming I felt it was time to put other things before running and focus on quality training. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPXrhwGGrfwbbb8TQTJfOsH0TW32_LkHqjs7k47yHOO2MeqCR52v8btpkXjzGH3NZG0yKErX54fgs_6jcL8zEn35TH4mtq6RjIZq6h6mv_HMwqZmk8Z7bAxIdE46B5-Ecq7Tnjju9ntLa/s1600/10k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPXrhwGGrfwbbb8TQTJfOsH0TW32_LkHqjs7k47yHOO2MeqCR52v8btpkXjzGH3NZG0yKErX54fgs_6jcL8zEn35TH4mtq6RjIZq6h6mv_HMwqZmk8Z7bAxIdE46B5-Ecq7Tnjju9ntLa/s320/10k.jpg" width="213" /></a>I bounced back surprisingly well, with a win at the Might Contain Nuts 10 mile trail race in March, followed the next day by a birthday 10k road race with some friends where I placed well. I've been desperately trying to get my park run below 20 minutes too which is becoming a bit embarrassing now! I'm 11 seconds off, but determined to get there by the end of the summer. </div>
<br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3MbW5BMwo1NHmTxUJoOx5Y8Px4NgEYLAyQv7dDbsRA5uScFD2vcH_VLTD-4WXgQ6h7Zcpxhzj0lX7eMcZOoeEAx6sVSlJgpG_Jg7HtBE4SR0UJjbs1YksanAEnIXEEfOkbCp9Hcw1JPe/s1600/Morzine+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3MbW5BMwo1NHmTxUJoOx5Y8Px4NgEYLAyQv7dDbsRA5uScFD2vcH_VLTD-4WXgQ6h7Zcpxhzj0lX7eMcZOoeEAx6sVSlJgpG_Jg7HtBE4SR0UJjbs1YksanAEnIXEEfOkbCp9Hcw1JPe/s320/Morzine+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a crack at a Vertical KM whilst I was at it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
May was a great training month with a trip to the lakes (more on that later) and an amazing week in </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Morzine running up and down the trails there, Robbie also talked me into a hellish 15k mountain race whilst I was out there. It was so hard. It climbed 1000m and pissed down with rain. That and being at a decent altitude to make me breath extra hard - Of course him and Nats both own the mountains round those parts and both bagged podium spots. It was nice to see Robbie and Nats though and experience a proper mountain race.</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-3cG2yIp25PisSXp9RAwkddN8ew9-r5H31Xx13QKMd1SLpvqJG6Bx7SFlGu4B_m93r5oatF-rbe5zvWcn3tgbFgtvYuKP4Sk7p5VOWusPRjptqQAqiM2Rw25X6gmk81P6s664pBugP4V/s1600/Morzine+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-3cG2yIp25PisSXp9RAwkddN8ew9-r5H31Xx13QKMd1SLpvqJG6Bx7SFlGu4B_m93r5oatF-rbe5zvWcn3tgbFgtvYuKP4Sk7p5VOWusPRjptqQAqiM2Rw25X6gmk81P6s664pBugP4V/s320/Morzine+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
</div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
I've been enjoying some track racing, 10k trail races and some club champs events and am loving the endorphins you get from the short fast events. I even won a 3000m race in Abu Dhabi round the F1 track which was an incredible experience! </div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
Two weeks ago, I took part in the Snowdon Race, which I bloody love! </div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KTrZUCtoxdW7csAXMZfXAYUzmPoAUQ_UYd4Q_az_N8LoGp7ffagiUeA7IT2t8pBqkxQsjHTcajnQW6ECJ5FQcsRq1UtN-PB0tIEtW9aekthsF51QlF9XgmjmGTB1042d-uh6kuioIUlH/s1600/Snowdon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KTrZUCtoxdW7csAXMZfXAYUzmPoAUQ_UYd4Q_az_N8LoGp7ffagiUeA7IT2t8pBqkxQsjHTcajnQW6ECJ5FQcsRq1UtN-PB0tIEtW9aekthsF51QlF9XgmjmGTB1042d-uh6kuioIUlH/s320/Snowdon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how happy I look!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIOYBa1MaxCLChFCs1HMZWNljbCEQOXMBIHw9QEww2niMU_RnHGCAqNqQm2WoxODVpo2WHc4w77vYyk7vNZ6Dg8gFdZD-2osDiCFWGgGZuZWacr45Z4pbigxMPDJvEGlMS9gxPSWcG09G/s1600/snowdon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIOYBa1MaxCLChFCs1HMZWNljbCEQOXMBIHw9QEww2niMU_RnHGCAqNqQm2WoxODVpo2WHc4w77vYyk7vNZ6Dg8gFdZD-2osDiCFWGgGZuZWacr45Z4pbigxMPDJvEGlMS9gxPSWcG09G/s320/snowdon2.jpg" width="176" /></a>10 miles straight up 1000m of Snowdon and straight back down. Again, I placed well in a very competitive field of international fell runners and really felt like I've improved my hill work (Up as well as down) and felt really confident, I felt a bit bad as this is kind of Chris' race which I've jumped on the back of and he's much more of a fell runner than me, and I snuck over the finish line just under a minute ahead, with Doug sneaking in the same time in front of me. The following day Doug and I spent the day hiking about Snowdonia. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hs2XvM1caslV5Eum2VI5Bd3SNnBZ6jo1ewidiCwRG2nVvrCYTPWsLo_m4UKZX7qrATX0dQ6ugE-ic4vCMdinrD_paL_ItzRJhw_DUb24Bbomvb_fE0XqzSZkxfIc6SElVQmPqLBsNjmN/s1600/snowdon3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hs2XvM1caslV5Eum2VI5Bd3SNnBZ6jo1ewidiCwRG2nVvrCYTPWsLo_m4UKZX7qrATX0dQ6ugE-ic4vCMdinrD_paL_ItzRJhw_DUb24Bbomvb_fE0XqzSZkxfIc6SElVQmPqLBsNjmN/s1600/snowdon3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
My 2nd goal race of the year however has been Lakeland 50. I've been looking forward to this for months. I don't normally approve of reccying courses. It feels a bit like cheating. But I had some serious goals in mind so wanted to prepare myself by knowing the terrain, learning the route and preparing my legs for those 3000 odd meters of ascent and dare I say it, be competitive. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0kiXVflstcwENjQrb1kqwA-fExr-CXzQmWn9Tx74Lv-aGmrTcPWaaaTbPbf8nZDbeWQR8bQzG_Je-uIgsAfs35sGi1siE3svMw9TV4yz7KFonvJKyX6CCj0yIVS_wGfqdhXCrPOOxuHa/s1600/Lakes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0kiXVflstcwENjQrb1kqwA-fExr-CXzQmWn9Tx74Lv-aGmrTcPWaaaTbPbf8nZDbeWQR8bQzG_Je-uIgsAfs35sGi1siE3svMw9TV4yz7KFonvJKyX6CCj0yIVS_wGfqdhXCrPOOxuHa/s320/Lakes1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-image: none;">
Over Easter Doug and I took a trip to the lake district with the intention of reccying most of the route over two days. This didn't go well. Neither of us took a map or a GPS with the route loaded on to it. All we had was a printed out road book. After 16k of hills in the pissing rain, we found ourselves lost, on top of the wrong hill with a handful of disintegrated papier machet. We abandoned the recce and spent several hours trying to find our way back to our B&B to drink beer. </div>
<br />
Before I went to Morzine, I headed up to the Lakes once more, alone this time and got hold of the correct map, road book and took a compass! ON the Saturday I ran/hiked the 28 miles from Dalemain to Ambleside, briefly going wrong but righting myself and getting on towards Kentmere. Somewhere between Mardale Head and Kentmere, I took the most ridiculous wrong turn. I don't even know what I was thinking. I turned off the route and scrambled up a gnarly mountain. After 2 hours scrabbling about, I finally dragged myself through some shrubbery into a farm where I begged for some fresh water as I'd run out hours before in 28 degree heat. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MHC7lxTXRuHogHrHfOdcpHMxc1WL_F_YiJ6TW8kt-UozJ5LfunS8mKjPamcS2TH0M7p6mtIiT60J-hsnZDjfSAy70NFoDOZPwaNZOHhqSRPbslX0YqK82pWXEXOtr59-UOzlUeyo0AcE/s1600/lakes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MHC7lxTXRuHogHrHfOdcpHMxc1WL_F_YiJ6TW8kt-UozJ5LfunS8mKjPamcS2TH0M7p6mtIiT60J-hsnZDjfSAy70NFoDOZPwaNZOHhqSRPbslX0YqK82pWXEXOtr59-UOzlUeyo0AcE/s320/lakes2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
The rest of the recce to Ambleside was uneventful and I rolled into the backpackers hostel, showered and went to get myself a beer and food. The next day, I drove to Coniston, dropped off my car, got the bus back and ran the 16 or so miles Coniston. This part of the route is really runnable on the whole. A few big climbs naturally but I was surprised to arrive in such good time. <br />
<br />
I went home feeling positive. I'd heard terrifying things about this course. But it all felt pretty manageable. Don't get me wrong, there are some big long hikes where it's not possible to run but it was a pretty runnable route compared to the likes of say the Dragon's Back which I'd been expecting it to be more like. I tentatively suggested my goal to Robbie (a 10 hour something time limit). There. It was out there. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpW55-Cqs5j2oMlGEzzkuLY5Pp5bjbkevpphvqqXHStDrDbbsD7AR0Y2yxreBQ3rdE8U-Hl7aTZ4POuSNoV3-kfEEvVFKCte9vmYkF6EVv8fXAdgbnmxvwZ432gw4S66gRlP1Q_MJWlG0/s1600/lakes3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpW55-Cqs5j2oMlGEzzkuLY5Pp5bjbkevpphvqqXHStDrDbbsD7AR0Y2yxreBQ3rdE8U-Hl7aTZ4POuSNoV3-kfEEvVFKCte9vmYkF6EVv8fXAdgbnmxvwZ432gw4S66gRlP1Q_MJWlG0/s320/lakes3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br />
Four weeks ago I went back to recce once more. To fine tune the bits where I'd gone wrong, having done plenty of hill training, I also wanted to see if I could actually run up any of the hills now. To my surprise I could! (well the ones early on when I was fresh anyway) I had a fantastic time, apart from taking the wrong fork up over High/Low cop and being in the rain, couldn't be arsed to get my map out, then later to find I'd lost my compass and descended into the wrong valley and continued to go round and round and up and down the same hill twice. (I clocked an extra 10k in this detour!) <br />
<br />
The rest of the trip back to Ambleside was spot on, and the weather was kind beyond that. Even with the detour I got back in a decent time. The next day, once more I made my way to Coniston. I really enjoyed myself, the weather was perfect, I was loving scampering over the last few km in the sunshine, and knowing I had to catch the bus back to get my car I had to put my foot down a bit. <br />
<br />
Driving home, thinking about the times I'd take over the sections, I felt it was well within me to get a sub 12 hour race, the dream was to get 10 something. So I set myself a few options. Some which I'd share with others; <br />
<br />
To complete in less than half the time allowed (i.e. under 12 hours) <br />
To complete in between 10 and 12 hours. <br />
My quiet target - 10 something and a top 10 ladies position. <br />
<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-44497643692327789992016-01-26T00:59:00.001+00:002016-01-26T01:22:01.256+00:00The Spine Race 2016 - the finaleWe left Bellingham into the cold. It wasn't as cold as it had seemed last night when we were exhausted and needing sleep. Although by now we were always needing sleep. i was beginning to panic we wouldn't get back in time. My panic manifested itself in a bossy, sergeant major, marching, yelling directions, telling people to keep moving. I was soon put in my place by Zoe, who gave me a talking to and quite right too! That would have been a long day for everyone had I carried on like that!<br />
<br />
The next section was a bastard. Truly. It wasn't particularly hilly which was nice. What it was however was miles and miles of moors with hideous deep snow. Energy sapping, high stepping snow that I hated. It was hours of it. I sulked my way through it like an angry teenager. There was a diversion after I believe 3 days of hiking through it to avoid the "deep snow". Feck knows how bad it was through the next bit! <br />
<br />
This section saw my first hallucinations. From here the race got weird. I can't even confirm if what I'm going to write is real or if the events actually happened. <br />
Hiking along through not quite so deep snow now towards the forest, still night, I was becoming mesmerised by the glitter off the snow from my head torch. The only other time I'd felt this way was in Amsterdam several years ago after eating magic mushrooms. <br />
I saw things in the trees. Faces that probably weren't there. People that shouldn't be there. Things that gave me a fright, things that made me giggle. I was walking along with my eyes shut, wondering if I could sleep walk. I stopped and shut my eyes, I could sleep standing up. I was totally incapable of navigating, I was just following behind Doug like a told off child. <br />
<br />
I dozed in and out of awareness of Zoe and Doug around me. Doug getting irritated by my slow movement. Zoe was struggling too now. She wanted to sing. We were hanging behind singing something, I can't remember what now. <br />
<br />
We caught up with Doug, or more accurately he waited for us. Zoe wanted to sing again. No, she wanted Doug to sing. Doug started singing "the amazing horse" I joined in, in a drunken slur. I don't think Zoe knew this song. <br />
<br />
I was aware that Esteve the Spanish racer who didn't speak much English was with us. We sung a round of frere Jacques, and some song about a caterpillar that my tired brain was unable to repeat the lyrics back. The sparkles in the air holding me in a trance. The sun was beginning to rise once more. I was so tired. What day it was I couldn't tell you. I was moaning. Why aren't we at byrness yet? Can I sleep? Looking for anywhere to curl up in a ball and sleep for just five minutes. I handed round pro plus. <br />
<br />
Doug, let me sleep, just here for 2 minutes? <br />
Why wouldn't he let me sleep? I'd be so much better if I could sleep.<br />
<br />
We slowly trudged on. Doug and Zoe had held back doing something, maybe fussing with gaitors which had clogged up with giants snow balls. I knew I had a couple of minutes On them. I kept looking out for snow holes. Trees I could duck behind. Grab just 90 seconds sleep. That's all I needed. Esteve was somewhere in the distance, escaping our increasing idiocy.<br />
I took my bag off and sat on it, closed my eyes and was immediately asleep. I woke to Doug looking angry. He was right, it wasn't safe to stop in the freezing cold. It wasn't fair on the rest of the group. <br />
<br />
It was daytime now. I needed to wake up. I ran. Actually ran. It was the only thing I could think of to wake myself up. I stopped to strip off some layers, during which time Doug passed me. He tried to wait but I told him to carry on and I'd run to catch up. The gradient was declining slightly making my amble much less arduous. I ran to catch him. He was hiking hard. Knowing we were only a few km from Byrness and a nap and a feed and a hot drink! Entering kielder forest I brightened up further. I had fond memories of mountain biking in kielder. We had dropped Zoe a little way back but we knew she'd catch us shortly, the nav was straight forward, the sun was up and the only way I could keep awake was to jog. <br />
<br />
By the time we'd regrouped, Zoe was in a chipper mood too, moving briskly, banging off clumps of snow from boots and poles. The sun was shining and it was once more a gorgeous alpine day. Reaching Byrness we bumped in to Ronnie once more. He was full of spirit and excitement. Partly at the excitement of seeing us still in the race but also to deliver some news. <br />
<br />
News was that over the Cheviots the snow was knee deep and waste deep in places, people were travelling a max on 1.5 mph though the section, the last 28 miles taking over 20 hours! He was urging us to press on, not stop too long and get the fuck on with it. <br />
<br />
I didn't really believe him. Although having coming through what we had through the night, I can't imagine it would be worse than that. <br />
<br />
We went into the forest view b&b where there was a great set up, sofas, medics, beds should we need them, hot food. We took advantage of most of it. I slept on s sofa, had some coffee, a pile of mince and mash, got to use a proper toilet. Whilst there it got pretty busy so when we felt we'd had enough to of a break we decided to push on. <br />
<br />
We almost instantly climbed up out of the forest onto the Cheviots. The Cheviots were the final legend of the spine race. Again, they filled me with fear. Stories of spines gone by had nearly taken men to the grave (or something) on paper it was a long long section with two mountain refuge huts breaking it up. We had expected to take 15 hours to cross to the finish. With the new estimate of 20 hours I'd thought that we could get a nap in at hut 1 at the least. <br />
<br />
Once up onto the Cheviots we looked back at a spectacular view across the snow and onto s perfect sky. Once more wishing I had a camera but taking a mental image. <br />
<br />
Once more, we tried to work as a team on the navigation, it wasn't too tricky to be fair. We cross referenced the summits, partly for our satisfaction that we weren't just following footsteps. The snow wasn't that bad here, mostly ankle deep, the sun on our backs, what was Ronnie on about?? I felt like we were making great progress. The air was really cold though and a breeze was whipping up. Someone back at the cp had warned against breath inning in the cold air as you could get hypothermia from it, so to breath through our buffs. This I was doing but still the cold was biting at my chest. <br />
<br />
We'd dropped down into a valley and Doug needed to stop to de-ice his boots. I confidently led the way off. Fifteen or so minutes later, dougs caught up with us and it transpired I had no idea where I was going. Doug went off back to the gate he'd stopped at, and retraced the correct route. I didn't know what was going on. Should we be following? <br />
<br />
Once more I found myself following dougs heels. We finally saw a pennine way sign and I felt better about our location. The sun was beginning to lose its shine. A misty cloud cover forming, it would be night again in a few hours. we seemed to be striding out well now Into the cold. Seeing footprints now and then to confirm we were heading in the right direction or at least the direction of other lost folk. <br />
<br />
I begun to feel a bit weird. I had a really strong sense of de ja vu. I knew I'd never been up here before but it all felt so familiar. The trail looked familiar, striding out with Zoe with me. It was very strange. It as very cold now, so I was marching back and forth while maps and Gps were being checked by Doug and Zoe. I wasn't capable of reading a map at the moment. I was so cold. We plodded on, my de ja vu becoming more and more surreal. This entire situation was now playing back like a movie I'd once watched. <br />
<br />
Doug was beginning to act strange. Whether this was just in my mind or reality. He was really tired. I suggested that we take a decent break at the first hut, have a half hour sleep. I as expecting a lovely warm hut like Gregs hut. I thought we could get our sleeping bags out and have a hot meal and good sleep. Doug was falling asleep on his feet. I was really starting to worry about him. I told Zoe such. He was acting strange. We were right by the rufuge hut all of a sudden. I stopped for a pee and let the others carry on in. <br />
<br />
When inside, the hut wasn't quite what I expected. The floor was wet. It was full of racers, mark and al were in there boiling up water and making ration packs and noodles for those in need. <br />
<br />
I was so worried about doug. He needed sleep before we carried on. I tried to tuck up in to sleep while I prepared hot water and got food going. I made a hot water bottle out of my sigg bottle. Doug may have closed his eyes for s minute. <br />
<br />
People started to leave. Suddenly I knew the ending of the movie I'd been watching, Zoe was going to leave us. We were going to get lost out in the snow. We'd miss the cut off. I was panicking. I was struggling to read a map. I could barely concentrate. My brain was making up fictional endings to a story that I thought I'd lived through before. Apparently the next bit of the route was the worst hit by snow drifts. This was the bit that would take forever to get through. It was dark again, it was of course night time again.<br />
<br />
I was so worried about this bit. I knew what would happen. Of course I'd seen it in my memory. I asked mark for advice in the nav for this bit, he said, just keep following the fence, he went through it. Head to the fence. Following the fence. Get to there and follow the fence. Just follow the fence. <br />
<br />
How hard can it be? How did I get so lost last time I was thinking? <br />
<br />
Doug was so tired, he wasn't ready to go, but I rushed him out. Forced him to put more layers on than he wanted. But you're cold Doug.its so cold out there. We can't stop when we're out because Zoe will leave us and we'll be lost. <br />
<br />
Mark ushered the three of us to the fence where we dutifully followed it. It was funny, to one side of the fence was England, the other Scotland. How funny, I thought. We starte off at a steady pace. My legs felt fine. I just wanted us all safe together. <br />
<br />
Heading up towards windy gyle was the most horrific wind. Blowing straight from Scotland, it was already below freezing but apparently with the wind it was minus 15. I remembered this part of the route from my dream. I couldn't remember when I'd been here though. Maybe it was with penny and David. But it must have been daylight. <br />
<br />
We could see lights ahead of us, which we were slowly catching up with. It was so cold. We were constantly checking on each other. Anna are you ok? Doug are you ok? Zoe are you ok? Doug leading Keeping the pace steady so everyone could remain close. The wind was biting. The hill went on forever. We weren't even at windy gyle yet. I felt like I was in labrynth. Tricked into taking a wrong turn somewhere, waiting to fall into the bog of eternal stench. <br />
<br />
The snow was getting deep again. My de ja vu just wouldn't go away. We caught up with the the others now. I had feelings of being on the Southdown way by Eastbourne. Except it wasn't sunny. The snow was creating a strange light around us. We plodded on, mingling with the group we'd caught up with who were all behaving weird. Everyone was acting like when you're drunk and trying to hide it from your parents. No one really wanted to take control of the direction we were taking. So Doug pushed on passed. We bumped in to javed who was acting weird. He was just stood still and said he'd lost his food somewhere. Could we give him some food. I searched in my bag and pulled out some malt load to share with him. I saw a bag of food in my bag. Oh no! I stole javeds food! Of course I hadn't but my brain convinced me I had. It was some food that Ronnie had given me earlier that day/week/month. The rest of the group caught up and he asked them for food too, Colin said he'd lost his food too. This was weird. <br />
<br />
We pushed on once more, moving as a detached group of maybe 8 of us. The snow was so deep. Every step was a high step followed by falling somewhere between knee and waist deep snow. There were no tracks. We can't be going the right way. The fence was still on our left. We were moving really weirdly. Doug and luke had taken control and were taking it in turns to blaze a trail through the snow. We'd been moving for hours. Javed said we had about 5k to go before the 2nd hut. This made me whimper. It had taken us so long to get to here. <br />
<br />
I was confused. I voiced this. I didn't understand what was going on. I knew I was in trouble. I felt we all were. We were all acting weird. With the exception of luke and Doug who were just ploughing through the snow. Doug was getting infuriated with me, he said to stick with him and keep moving. I kept saying I was confused, why is all this snow here. Why would this be in the race. Was this a new part of the race, a twist to make it impossible?<br />
<br />
I fell in a massive deep hole and couldn't get out. Zoe tried pulling me out, but it felt like she was laid on me pushing me in deeper. I started laughing. Uncontrollable laughter. I couldn't get out. Doug was getting impatient. I crawled out of my snow hole. <br />
<br />
By now I can only describe how I was feeling as being stoned. Not the good stoned your get from a cheeky drag. The awful paranoid stoned you get. Why was everyone acting weird? Why didn't this bit of race end? Why could t we reach the road from here? <br />
<br />
I could see lights ahead of the mountain rescue teams in the road. Only to get there and it be nothing but snow. We were physically hauling ourself along the fence like a tug of war. Through the snow drifts. It was exhausting. <br />
<br />
I was still confused. Doug force fed be as much food as he could get in me. He shouted at me. I whined. I can't do it. Can we pitch the tent? <br />
<br />
"No! The only way out of this is to keep moving. Were our best hope at getting out of this" <br />
<br />
The others were still drunk. I was stoned. Doug was focused. The bottoms of my feet were freezing. Is it possible to get frost bite out here? I wondered. <br />
<br />
For hours I was trying to remember Zoe's name. I knew it had three letter and begin with z but I couldn't for the life of me remember her name. It was crazy. Of course I knew it but I couldn't get it to come to me. <br />
<br />
Why weren't we getting anywhere? <br />
<br />
At some point Doug stopped, gave me a talking to. He was freezing. He told me he was so cold. His boots had frozen with snow and ice and he was properly frightened we werent getting out of this, that I need to focus, stay with him and keep moving to keep warm. <br />
<br />
Seeing him like this sobered me up slightly, I started panic hiking. Doug, luke and I got a march on. We marched for days. My confusion didn't go away, I still didn't understand what was going on but I trusted Doug to follow him. I looked down and saw I'd lost my map. I have no idea when or where. I checked my pocket where I keep my gps, it was open, and empty. Great.,lost that too. Just stick with Doug. he'll keep me safe. <br />
<br />
We got near the top where we were to make a turn or something and group had all dispersed. Zoe wasn't with us anymore, Dan was with us, some people were going to camp. Colin wanted to ring hq and collect us. Doug and I both queried what they'd do. There's no way down here with a vehicle. We'd be dead and frozen before we were found. <br />
<br />
It was so cold. My feet were burning for the ice on them. Hell only knows what dougs felt like. I felt guilty for dawdling so much. Dan and Doug worked on finding the route to the refuge hut. <br />
<br />
I thought the refuge hut was a different one to what we were trying to get to and that we were out of the race now. I didn't know how we'd get from here to the proper refuge hut. <br />
<br />
Doug had run off down a hill and was shouting for Dan and I to follow. My feet were so sore but adrenaline let me run hard down through the snow chasing after Doug. He saw a flashing light of someone st the hut. I wondered if someone was always at the hut or if they'd known we were out there.... I still thought we were somewhere far from the race route left to freeze on the mountain somewhere. We reached the bottom and someone told us it was about a km to the hut we kept going going going. Eventually we were in the hut, it was warm and snow free. I thought the race was over for us. We'd gone too far off course to correct it in this deep snow. <br />
<br />
When the realisation came that we were still, in the race I was happy. But where was the lady who we were running with? Why couldn't I remember her name? We should wait for her. What if she doesn't make it down? <br />
<br />
I sat down. I just wanted to sleep. Doug was keen to carry straight on. Can we sleep a while? <br />
<br />
Pretty quickly I was bundled into a foil bag, along with hot water bottles, a medic was force feeding me hot food, I just wanted to sleep. Why won't you let me sleep? <br />
<br />
I have vague recollection of drifting in and out of sleep over the next few hours, being fed hot things, Doug trying to make me lie down. Doug refusing to go to sleep so he could keep an eye on me. I was given some glucose at some point which seemed to act like adrenaline. Very quickly I sobered up, what time is it? 3am. Shit we need to get back by 10, I looked up to see that Zoe was in another corner of the Hut also in a bag. Thankful she had made it down safely. <br />
<br />
I asked the medic could we go? She said not for a couple of hours. during this time, I guess I slept some more, people came and went in varying states of disrepair. Dougs feet and ankles were still frozen up. I urge him to sleep. He refused. I felt he was disappointed. People had overtaken whilst I was being pathetic. We ended up being held there for 5 hours. We could have been back by now. <br />
<br />
We were told the last 7 miles was taking 5 hours. Which meant we need to get moving. Zoe was awake now, and we had an escort of tom waiting to take us to the finish. <br />
<br />
I'd been stopped too long. My feet were so sore. The night had destroyed them. They'd also swollen so I had to loosen my shoes off. Which meant that the snow kept pulling them off. I hobbled painfully outside. <br />
<br />
Zoe and Doug were moving well and clearly keen to be back. I just couldn't walk. It was so painful. I knew the longer I went the more comfortable it would become, but it hurt so bad. <br />
<br />
The next 7 miles were excruciating. Doug and Zoe waited patiently for me. Zoe and I knew we were joint First Lady, and had made a gentle woman's agreement almost as soon as we'd joined forces that we'd finish together, for one of us to run off now would have been a dick move but she was well within her right to at that moment as it's the only time we'd really been a significantly different pace. <br />
<br />
The last few miles went on forever. Although it was no longer night time, for a change. The snow gave way to treacherous ice. Every time I stood on it my feet flew from beneath me. Three time landing me flat on my ass. <br />
<br />
We knew we would finish now. It s just a matter of putting one foot in front of another. Doug and Zoe were so patient with me this last few hours. Ronnie caught up with us as we were coming through the final few hundred meters, so happy for us, I could barely raise a smile. I was so exhausted and the ice was pissing me off. <br />
<br />
We could see the pub now. Scott was there waiting for us. The three of us reached the pub and with a 3...2...1 we all touched the wall at the same time. <br />
<br />
It's the only race I've finished she I've actually felt euphoric. I'm sure I didn't look it, but I'd taken quite a battering. <br />
<br />
What a race, what a week. What an amazing achievement that I'm so proud of. I couldn't have done it without Doug by my side. Until those last 10 or so miles, I'd never doubted us. But it goes to show how quickly things can turn bad. annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-25553962548060109432016-01-25T20:32:00.001+00:002016-01-25T21:44:21.338+00:00The Spine 2016 Part 2The next section for me was full of trepidation. The legend of Cross Fell was something we'd heard all about. It sounded like something of nightmares, where folk disappear into the mountains, fall down disused mineshaft deep in the ground, or return a different person, scarred by what they've experienced up there. On the map, this section looked very bleak. Approx 12k of heavily contoured fells, featuring several peaks across empty high altitude moorland. I was nervous about what was ahead. Thankfully, we'd be crossing in daylight and the snow storm from the night before had passed.<br />
<br />
<div>Doug and I left Dufton a couple of minutes ahead of Zoe and we agreed she would catch us up, dawn was breaking so I didn't bother with my head torch, I got myself into my map and started trying to identify the surrounding hills, cross checking with Doug in agreement. Very soon, we were regrouped and heading up our first climb. We were all moving well, and had given each other orders to remind one another to eat. (It's easy to get stuck in a pace and forget the important bits like grazing) as we crested the first climb we all turned round to look back at where we had come from. It was stunning. The day had broken, the vast expanse of hills and fields spread out below us, above and beyond. Some way in the distance we could see huge white snow top peaks and plateaus. My phone didn't like the cold weather so I was unable to take any photos on this trip but I have an amazing mental image of that moment and it was lovely to share it with my two adventure companions. We continued up up up, and were soon above the snow line, and the mist thickening. Before long we we were ankle deep in snow and following the footsteps of those ahead of us. At times the footsteps didn't agree with our tracking so we made new tracks of our own. </div><div><br />
I was enjoying this. What was the big deal? Cross fell is nothing more than a snowy adventure! We made slow progress through the snow, across the various peaks, great Dunn fell, came and went. We stopped briefly, as the sun broke through the mist, we could have been skiing in France. Taking care not to veer off track (not that we could see the track) and fall 100ft down one of the disused mine shafts we continue our journey up towards the highest part of the pennine way. I was ticking off the peaks along my map just one more to go before Cross Fell. I finally felt like I'd clicked with my navigation, it felt empowering. We were very lucky with our crossing, the weather was largely in our favour, the fog made visibility difficult at times but the blizzard from the night before was just a memory underneath our feet. <br />
<div><br />
Knowing after Cross Fell we had not far to go before reaching Gregs hut, another legendary location on the pennine way, somewhere we'd only dreamed of reaching until today. We summitted cross fell and I tried taking a bearing. I didn't do it right. I was annoyed with myself. Zoe set off into the mist, practically skipping towards John bamber waiting for us in Gregs hut. Doug and I were eating, I was annoyed at my nav error, Doug was trying to help me take the bearing correctly. We set off in the direction that we thought right, and could no longer see Zoe. I panicked a bit and we shouted into the mist. I blew my whistle and got nothing back. Doug said let's carry on, she'll just be ahead. We shouted and blew our whistles, where was she? She was just there? What if she'd gone off the wrong way?? A minute later, a figure appeared in the mist, wondering what all the fuss was about I'm sure! <br />
<br />
We continued on, the navigation was a little tricky here as the cairns were difficult to see in the mist and visibility was down to about 25m or so. We knew we were only about a km from Gregs hut and were all excited to get there. Before long, we saw a little stone building appear down below from the mist, buoyed up by the thought of warmth and humans and a hot meal we bounced our way down and into the hut. Once inside, we were greeted by John, Paul, a medic and Paul's dog appropriately named Mist. We were given hot drinks and a bowl of noodles each. It sounded like we'd timed our descent perfectly as a big snow storm was heading in and the folk behind were sure to be caught in it. <br />
<br />
We didn't stop too long as we were keen to get off the hill before the snow came and into Alston check point for a snooze. We left once more before Zoe, down the hill towards garigill. It was easy navigation from here to Alston, so we didn't need to think much. We looked back to see Zoe was on the move again so slowed to let her catch up before moving once more as a group. Soon we were passed by Ryan who seemed to have an amazing burst of energy running briskly downt the hill. <br />
<br />
The snow was thinning and the path was becoming gravelly and making my feet sore. My legs were more than happy to jog to keep up with the fast walk of Doug and Zoe but my feet did not appreciate it so I trotted on the grass where I could to keep up. Along here we bumped in to Joe who had given us some nav instruction last spring. Hoping he was impressed that we'd not gone horrifically wrong yet he walked with us a little while and took a few snaps. Leaving joe behind to catch other racers on their descent we continued on through garigill and on towards Alston. <br />
<br />
The last km into the checkpoint was a bastard. It took us around a field and up a fucking steep Tarmac hill. We rolled into the cp and got on with eating, foot care, and I took advantage of some lovely showers. Ronnie was at the cp with Ryan, he said the weather was turning and big snow was forecast further up so Ryan was only taking an hour stop and then out to keep ahead of the weather. Outside I could see it was snowing now but I was so tired, we needed to sleep. Once more, alarms set for no more than 90 min from now we tried sleep. I was struggling. I was so cold. We had fancy beds again with duvets. I had two Quilts on and was still shivering. When I wasn't shivering my legs were spasming in pain. I finally got off and had about 30 min sleep before getting up and getting in the medic queue for foot checking. <br />
<br />
I ordered some breakfast<br />
"is it morning or night?" Always it's night. <br />
<br />
Doug was still asleep so I sent someone to wake him. He appeared Bleary eyed and very sweet but not happy with being woke up and too got in the queue for foot taping and handed a porridge and coffee. This checkpoint saw a lot of faffing. Our earlier efficiency was gone. Our kit was exploded across the room. It took us ten times longer to vacate, Zoe was ready before us and finally we were out the door. Next target was Green head. We weren't sure if there as going to be somewhere to sleep along here but we hoped so. Out into the night we went. It's surreal. It feels like morning and the sun should be coming up soon. But it quickly dawns on you that it's night. always night. And only just night, and there is a whole night of hiking and cold ahead of you. <br />
<br />
Leaving Alston was shit. I was navigating confidently through some fields. We were all tired so we worked as a team to navigate. Doug was on the gps, I was in my map, Zoe had a 1:25k map so had much more detail to offer. Cross checking with each other. Before long, we felt trapped. I poked around in the bushes and found myself thigh deep in a bog. Struggling to get out, fell backwards into it. Zoe and Doug helpless whilst I hauled myself out of it and Zoe located the correct route. The next few hours was just awful. Tricky nav, through awful wet boggy fields. We were really struggling to stand up in the mud, slipping over constantly we we getting exhausted and not to mention caked in mud, so we took the road which ran parallel to this part of the route. I looked down and saw I'd dropped my map. It couldn't have been far back so I dropped my bag with Doug and ran back to find it. I felt like a deer! Bounding easily without the restricting weight on my shoulders. This is what running feels like!!<br />
<br />
We popped out onto a road Crossing and spotted a barn to stop in and put some more layers on as it was getting chilly. Whilst Doug and I layered up, Zoe had seen what treats the barn had. Chairs and tarpaulin, some ducks hanging by their necks. She sat down for a few minutes whilst we fettled. We were jealous of her sleeping so we climbed into some chairs and pulled the tarp over us and set an alarm clock for ten minutes time. Power nap in, we felt happy to continue. It's amazing how much of a boost you get from a short nap. <br />
<br />
I don't remember much of the night from here until greenhead but we reached greenhead with the most impeccable timing, we were exhausted and wanting to eat something and have a nap, by now there was snow heavily under foot. We saw a tea shop that looked closed but there were lights on, I poked my head in to enquire if they were open and luck had it , they opened at 9am (it was 9:01!) so relieved to be inside and the prospect of breakfast we huddled round the fire and were treated to coffee, and a breakfast of eggs and bacon. Also a short nap on a lovely comfy sofa. We stayed here longer than intended but enjoyed the welcome relief from the cold. <br />
<br />
We pushed on through greenhead where Tom was waiting to offer hot chocolate but aware we'd already stopped longer than planned we pushed on through towards Hadrians wall. I'd never seen Hadrians wall before and it was exciting! It was huge and Imposing and I was feeling fantastic. We cocked up our nav a little in the beginning but were soon back on track traipsing through the the fine deep snow. Through the next couple of hours I felt great. I could have run and skipped along the whole section but as we were moving as a team I ran along then stopped to admire the views whilst I was caught up. Doug was getting some leg pain so I insisted we stopped and taped it up, it was still a bloody long way to go to risk not dealing with niggles as soon as they cropped up. <br />
<br />
The day was beautiful. I felt almost guilty for the sun being out. Most unspinelike. We were moving well as a group once more when we turned off towards the forest. I'd heard that this was boggy and unpleasant so was expecting this to be a shit part. I'm sure if I was in a bad mood or feeling particularly sleepy it would have been but I was feeling energised by the sun. When we reached the forest it was like an alpine dream. Deep snow, big evergreens heavy with glittery snow. Still I was feeling good so I'm probably rose tinting it. Zoe had reccied this part of the route so was familiar with which way to go which took a little bit of pressure off thinking. We caught up with Stuart who was struggling a bit. Saying his batteries are low. We pushed on passed, I told Doug and Zoe I'd catch them up whilst I nipped in to the bushes for a pee. Stuart edged past me and I quickly caught him back up through the deep snow. I offered him some malt loaf as I passed which he gladly took. I hung back with him a while and chatted briefly. <br />
<br />
I pushed back on to catch up with my teammates and the course opened up on to a fantastic plateau. The sun was setting and turning the sky pink and we were all enjoying the fantastic view behind. I felt like an alpine skier (minus the skis) As the day faded to night (It's always night) we approached a farm which was offering coffee, sit downs, soup and snacks. I could see Doug was struggling with his feet and needed to get off them I was tired and getting cold. We were only 5 miles from Bellingham checkpoint and he and I were keen to push on. Zoe went on in to the farm and we reluctantly followed. We discussed between The two of us what we wanted to do, not really knowing what was right or wrong. Do we push on to the cp and have a proper stop, or have a brief stop here? We were ushered inside, but we'd all but decided to carry on, but Zoe was keen to stop and enjoy a soup. <br />
<br />
I felt really rude and ungrateful to our hosts and bad that Zoe wanted to stay. Already having only stopped for a minute the cold was setting into my bones and we had a rushed stop which I still feel awkward about as I know we must have seemed so rude and we should have acted as a team and not rushed Zoe out. When we were back on the move, I apologised to Zoe that I didn't want to appear rude but was keen to get on to the proper check point. I sure if she'd stayed she'd still have caught us up! <br />
<br />
The navigation into Bellingham was pretty easy from here but the temperature had dropped significantly and the ground under foot was really icy, we stopped to look at the sky which was glowing red like a strange aroura. Eventually we found our way into Bellingham CP where we faffed and Put kit on to heaters to dry out. Ronnie was once more here, telling us to get our shit together, the weather was shit ahead. Stop faffing, and helping us in any way he could to hurry the fuck on. He was ace though, he was rooting for us to finish but knew that the next section was a beast and had our best interests at heart. We popped over to have a hot meal and Jenny was there being super lovely and mothering me a bit, which is always nice. <br />
<br />
Heads down in the hope for a decent sleep once more. I looked over to where Zoe was asleep under a table and Doug asked if she was alright. She certainly didn't look alright. I sat up and looked to where she was appearing to have a fit on the floor. What was really happening was her legs twitching severely while she slept. I managed about 30 mins of broke sleep once more, my legs were cramping horrifically. I got up and got my feet taped up, not that the medics thought there was much wrong with them. Doug had to wait as someone had just been brought off the hill with hypothermia. While he got his feet sorted, I went in search of breakfast as was donated some porridge by the supporter of Richard who was the hypothermic racer, now warmed up but sadly out of the race but in fantastic spirits already planning his return assault. <br />
<br />
As we left Bellingham. <br />
<br />
"Is it morning or night?" Always night.</div></div>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-29007401335637997322016-01-22T13:58:00.001+00:002016-01-22T14:00:29.673+00:00The Spine 2016 - Part 1<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">As </span>I write this, I’m
still decompressing from last week. I’m trying to figure out what is real and
what my tired mind created out there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s sounds dramatic but I’m struggling to understand myself
what my mind as well as body went through. It was a week like no other I’ve
ever had, nor imagine I will again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s no secret to our friends, that this was our fourth trip
to the Pennine Way on one of the Spine races. The first year, we had a
successful trip to take on the Challenger, came back with a medal, t-shirt and
a sense of deep achievement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Why then would we come back to have another bash at the same
race? Having got soaked through, kit failure (leaky jacket) and bailed not far
from Malham, being repatriated from a phone box by Scott and Justin we went
home feeling a little deflated but not so bad as we’d come along with nothing
to prove and enjoyed a couple of beers in the pub all the same. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Last year we came back with the intent of completing the
full spine and never coming back. What happened was something which we hadn’t
counted on. An ignored hotspot on my heel, which appeared 30 miles into the
event. By the time we passed over Malham Tarn, my heel was inflamed, and I was
limping. Doug did his best to go at my painstakingly slow limp. The limp caused
knee inflammation in the opposite leg. Periods of “OK” sorted by painkillers,
followed by appalling limping and whimpering. We limped our way to Hawes and
uncovered a revolting infected ankle. We were kicked out of the checkpoint
almost immediately due to our tardiness in arriving at the CP by an ever patient
Nici (though she did feed me Pizza which I loved her for!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">By the time we ascended over Shunner Fell. We knew it was
over. I popped behind a rock to make a toilet stop, returned to find Doug
asleep. It took us an hour to cover half a mile into Thwaite, the pain in my
knee too much. The time running away from us. Our dream of finishing gone and once
more, repatriated back to HQ. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Fast forward to this year. This was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">definitely</b> going to be our last Spine. There was no doubt in our
minds we would finish. We discussed our weak points, where we lose time. Where
we can cut faffing. Our Nav is so much better than it was a year ago. We’d been
on training courses, and navigating events and we knew the first part of the
course pretty well by now! We knew we could work as a team and as long as we
could avoid injury and kit malfunctions, keep eating, keep moving, keep ahead
of the cut offs, everything else was out of our control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our biggest asset was that we could now navigate on the move
much better and with much more confidence than ever before. I much prefer to
use a map, I struggle to get on with technology. Doug is very good with being
logical and keeping his head straight. With my thumb on the map, and the odd
grid reference check and Doug keeping us sane, we would prove to move pretty
well. My other asset was “Cheddars”! which I’d take on last year’s OMM as my
race fodder and found to be a great race snack when moving at a slower pace
than a trot. I bought shit loads of them, in fact too many to fit in my
overfilled drop bag, resulting in bags of cheddar crumbs. Yum! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I won’t bore you with the usual kit stuff. We had all the
kit, we’d used it all in anger at various times. The pre-race routine was as
previous years, though it’s become a lot slicker over the years from the
organisers. The briefing similar to last year, but still we listened intently.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since last year is that I respect this race. I
think I’ve been a bit flippant before. “How hard can it be”? We knew by now how
hard it can be. Or did we?? No number of blogs you can read can really prepare
you for how you will cope. We caught up with familiar faces, JZ was doing the
Challenger this year, Jenn was there to see everyone off. We had dinner with
Chris Mills and Steve (they were hoping to get round the Challenger in 40
hours. I didn’t have the heart to explain that this was likelty to be a death
March from Hebden Bridge, not a trail run, as I have no idea of the training
and preparation they had done.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The race started off well, in mild weather along my
favourite part of the route. Up and over Kinder Scout. I could run this route
until the cows come home. We were moving well. Taking off layers when required,
putting them back on. Not stopping to move whilst doing so. All saving valuable
time. Our goal was to reach Hebden Bridge in 15 hours. The main issues which we
had along this part was that Doug’s shoes did not like the mud. They just acted
like ice skates, his legs going in all directions when he met a bit of wet mud
which made the going tricky and slow at times whilst we focussed on not turning
an ankle so soon in the day. I urged him to swap shoes at Hebden Bridge as the
section following is pure bog and sludge! Nothing much else of interest
happened along this part, we were enjoying ourselves and we moved well into the
darkness not aware of where we were in the field. Just focussed on not wasting
time and getting to the first CP in a good state for a short break, foot check,
feed and nap. The ground underfoot along this first section is pretty decent,
you can run* (*the sort of run you can imagine whilst carrying a heavy pack!)
much of it. We didn’t get our poles out until we reached the last climb into
CP1, it’s a shitty part of the route, which I never fail to hate. We bumped
into a guy doing the MRT event struggling, so I offered him one of my poles.
Some folk took some interesting routes in to the CP round here, but we were
confident that we had the correct route in. The mud and slime certainly felt
right! We found our way down to the scout hut at exactly 1am (15 hours in) –
talk about sticking to the plan! I discovered I was first lady back which was a
great boost. But assuming some of the others would turn straight back out
again, I didn’t think any more of it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We had a few hour stop here, to refuel, foot admin, a short
sleep in a very hot room, as we were getting ready to leave, I saw Zoe getting
ready to go back out, and was impressed to see her pushing straight through.
She told me, her parents (who were supporting for the first few days) were
parked 5 miles away where she’d get a couple of hours sleep and some tlc. Upon
leaving the CP, the snow started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We dug out our goggles, and added some more layers in a bus
shelter. Around here, we were joined by Colin, who asked if he could stay with
us, I assumed through the snow storm as the next part can be tricky with
Navigation. He hadn’t slept at all at Hebden Bridge so was looking a bit
sleepy. As soon as we got on the moor, we took a wrong turn. After correcting
ourselves, we got back on track and continued into the snow. As we crossed the
reservoir the sun was up, and I was feeling very cold. I spotted a couple of
camper vans and hoped they were supporters of the race, I knocked on one door
and was greeted by a lady who wasn’t too happy at the racket we were making. I
asked if I could step inside to add some layers, it turned out to be Zoe’s
parents. They let me inside and asked us to keep the noise down as Zoe had just
got her head down to sleep. I couldn’t have been more grateful to them at that
point. But I took rather longer than I should have and the others were getting
cold outside. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We headed back out, across the moor and on to familiar
paths. The pace we had from yesterday wasn’t quite there. It may have been due
to the additional team member, or general fatigue or the fact that we could
barely keep our feet in one plane. We took a slight detour round a particularly
flooded and muddy area, with a steep muddy climb like the travelator from “The
Gladiators” (we’d been told this was acceptable should we think it impassable) came
across our friend Chris’ van and realised that he’d popped out to see us en
route but had gone down the muddy hill to see us. I rang him and he said he’d
catch us further along the route. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dropping into Lothersdale for a bite to eat at the Hare and
Hounds, we had too long a stop that planned (about 90 mins)as Doug managed to
lose his gloves and the usual temptation of the warmth of the pub kept us
inside. Gloves borrowed, and then gloves found, we pushed on and bumped into
Chris. He walked with us for a while back to his van and we carried on our way
towards Malham. We were expecting this part of the route to be pretty
waterlogged as it usually is without the weeks and weeks of solid rain we’ve
had lately. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To be honest, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. I’m sure Doug
would disagree with his slip sliding shoes! We reached Malham and stopped for a
while in a comfy bus shelter, Colin and Doug went to the Co-Op to pick up
snacks whilst I tended to a bit of a hotspot on my foot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Re-stocked and back on the move, we pushed on through to
Malham Tarn. Colin was beginning to get pretty tired, and starting to lose
concentration. Convinced we were going the wrong way, we took a bit of a detour
the wrong way. Doug put us back on track and we made our way up towards Malham
Cove. Still Colin was in a bit of a bad place. I convinced him we were going
the right way but he wasn’t having it. We helped each other up and over the
Cove which was slick with ice by now and not much fun crossying the icy rocks
waiting to suck you into a gap and snap an ankle or two! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We reached Malham Tarn CP1.5 and had a foot admin session, a
sleep on the floor (in Colin’s case, he was asleep immediately face down on a
table). We headed back out a couple of hours later into the dark. It was pretty
icy under foot over fountains fell but I quite enjoy this part of the route,
there’s less mud and it feels like you’re well on the way to Hawes by now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We approached Pen-Y-Ghent in the dark, I hated this climb
from the first time I was tricked up there 4 years ago in a blizzard. But after
the summer I have had scrambling shitty mountains in Wales it wasn’t as bad as
I remember. It was however very icy. I was nervous about any of us slipping to
our death. (Dramatic yes, but absolutely likely near the top) Doug took the
lead and I followed on with Colin behind me. We reached a slippery patch with a
dodgy camber, another racer was frozen in front of us and Doug was trying to
help him up. He moved on and I climbed up, managing to find a few good hand and
foot holds. I locked myself in position and turned back to check on Colin. He
was unable to get himself up. Part frozen with apprehension of the rock sliding
him off the mountain, half frozen with sleep. It took as 5 or so minutes to help
him up the next few steps with some physical foot placing and dragging, then a
few more meters and we were up and we were treated to the sky brightening!
(Although the sunrise was hidden by a heavy mist) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The descent from here was even worse. It was so slippery, it
took a long time to get down. But once down we dropped into
Horton-on-Ribblesdale for some breakfast and a few minutes of shut eye. I took
a look at the tracker and could see I was a good 7km ahead of the next lady. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The next part of the route, is my most hated section. It is
a shitty shitty long stretch of unforgiving road which just goes on and on and
on. It has a slight upward gradient which means you can’t really jog it either.
It’s just horrid. I’d been dreading it the whole way until now. In actual fact
it wasn’t as horrific as I recall. We took a wrong turn (impressive on a
straight road huh!) at a fork as there was a landrover parked up with its
lights on blocking the way. The 3 mile or so turn off into the wind was
probably worse as I’d forgotten how long this stretch was. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We descended into Hawes happy and in a good time, and had
time to pop to the kit shop to buy Doug some pants (he’d forgotten to pack
any!) before heading into the Checkpoint proper. Some friends were there so
this was a bit of a social stop, (probably too much so) we were fed, watered,
and treated to PROPER beds! Unfortunately the instant our eyes shut the fire
alarm went off. We managed about 45 min sleep here before departing once more
into the dark. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On leaving Sarah (3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> Lady) was on her way in.
She was in a bad way, crying, saying she’d had enough, was out of time. I told
her to get inside, get some food, have an hours sleep and get back out. She had
plenty of time, just needed to refuel and shut her eyes for a bit. I prayed she’d
carry on as we’ve all been there and stopping for no good reason is a shit
thing to look back on. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We continued on up and over shunner fell, some nice messages
were written in the snow and someone had even had time to make an enormous
snowman up there! We were so far improved on this time last year, some 10 hours
ahead in time, in good shape. Doug had changed into his walking boots and was
unhappy with his sock arrangement. So on the decent we stopped to sort him out,
Colin and I taking a foot each to speed up the process, removing a layer of
socks that was compressing his feet too much. We continued on, but he still
seemed unhappy with the arrangement. I continued on, while the two of them
fettled some more. I was getting really sleepy now and had pushed on enough to
have made a gap so I snuggled into a bush and closed my eyes for 5 minutes
whilst they caught up. Jealous at my sleeping, we all agreed to take ten
minutes nap. Doug set an alarm clock and we snoozed blissfully! When we woke,
we were pretty cold so pushed on and decided to keep an eye out for suitable
shelter for a nap, as we knew it was a long climb up to tan hill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Reaching the bottom and a roadhead we bumped into Ronnie,
who was supporting Ryan. We cheekily asked if he had room in his car for us to
snooze, he did offer to make room but we thought it was too much of a piss take
so pushed on. Just round the corner we found an amazing little stable, with a
lovely bed of hay. So we took advantage of a little snooze. This ended up being
an hour stop, pretty chilly too so I pulled out a foil blanket to lay over us.
We were aware that people were passing us in the dark, but we were so tired we
just wanted to nap. From Thwaites this is all new territory to us, having done
the first section a few times. Beyond here is all shiny and new! We don’t
really believe in Reccying, it kind of takes the adventure away. A bit like
peeking a look at an exam paper before a test. Not to mention we don’t have the
free time to travel up north to do so!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sleep in the bank, and we were all suddenly pretty cold, I
tore the foil blanket and wrapped each piece under mine and Doug’s jackets
(Colin seemed happy with his layers) and enjoyed the heat the hill ahead
created in our bodies. We caught up with some others who’d overtaken us in our
sleep, including Zoe and walked as a group for a while chatting sleepily. We
reached Tan Hill around 5am to the most epic joy of it being open! We hadn’t
expected this and decided immediately we’d have a good sleep here. Mark C fed
us chips and coffee and we slept on the most gloriously comfy sofa for a while.
The Pub was very busy with people with the same ideas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The three of us continued on out of Tan hill, expecting
hideous bogs from what others had said, but it wasn’t so bad. The sun came up
and once more we were treated to a beautiful morning. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The day went on with few incidents a few stops to eat, taken
in some views etc. A few miles from Middleton on Teesdale we were intercepted
by a local photographer who was keen to meet the leading lady! I didn’t realise
that I was still, so this was quite a boost. Although I did feel a bit of a
phony, as I’m no Beth Pascall. I was feeling pretty chipper, able to trot a
bit. What happened over the next hour I’m quite ashamed of. I’m not really sure
what was said or how it came about. Colin made some sort of comment I took out
of context, which ordinarily I’d take on the chin, or laugh off. I can only
assume it was my fatigue making me particularly crabby. But I got in a strop
about something and started to storm off ahead. Doug stuck with me dutifully,
while tears streamed down my face and we continued quietly down into Middleton.
Colin jogged past us down the final descent and wished us good luck. We walked
the last mile slowly into the CP as it was on tarmac, our feet were both a bit
tender and there was no value in racing in to the CP. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When we arrived, I took care of my feet and the first thing
I wanted to do was apologise to Colin for overreacting that I was probably
tired and took it out of context. This was the last we saw of Colin for a while
and I hope he forgives my outburst! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We’d seen Zoe before bed and she asked if we could join
forces from here, we obviously agreed. Her support crew had gone back to normal
life, and it’s not the nicest race to be out on your own and we were all moving
at a similar pace now so we agreed we’d get back on the move at 7. We had
proper beds again and a semi decent nap. I woke up “is it morning or night?” It
didn’t really matter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed quite a
bit of foot care at this CP and we took longer than planned to get out, so Zoe
headed out at 7 as planned and we followed on about 30 minutes later. I wasn’t
expecting to see her until several hours later but the going was great along
here, a good flat solid path to follow and we put in a good pace and had caught
up within an hour or so. We continued on together for a while, all feeling
strong. There was a diversion around Cauldron Snout to avoid some flooding. I
suddenly started to drop off the pace, Doug hung back with me, while Zoe pushed
on and caught up with some lights ahead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">My shoulders were in agony from my pack, I was whinging,
tears came. I was getting cold. I didn’t want to play anymore. Can I have a
hug? Why aren’t we there yet? I want to go home. This is shit. Poor Doug. He
deserves a medal for putting up with me. I managed to get some more layers on
and take some painkillers for my shoulders. It was so cold. The snow was now
coming. We were back on the Pennine Way now, all I wanted to do was sit down
for 5 minutes. But there was no option. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pretty soon I was feeling better again, the snow was
falling, it felt like a proper adventure. We had to use our navigation skills
as the path became intermittent across the moors up towards High Cup Nick and
we were both enjoying ourselves. This next section, I was loving it. Making
patterns in the snow, feeling like I was in the arctic, knowing that we weren’t
far from Dufton and another nap! It was cold and bleak up over the top but the
change in climate and scenery made it feel exciting. We hadn’t seen any head
torches for a long time, having passed Zoe and a few others some time ago who
had taken shelter in a funny little van on the trail. We descended towards
Dufton to be greeted by some of the Mountain rescue team who advised us that if
we wanted to continue over CrossFell, the snow was very deep and we were to do
so in teams of 3 or wait until dawn. We wanted to sleep anyway so we didn’t much
care for now. We arrived in Dufton, all but sleep walking and made a couple of
beds out of chairs and snuggled down for a while. When we woke up, Zoe had
caught up and was stirring beside us, and this is where the three of us
combined efforts to become the “dream team!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To be continued.... </span></div>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-30360890617775831102015-03-30T13:22:00.001+01:002015-03-30T13:26:09.232+01:00Welsh Trail Series - Round 1 - The Black Mountains - 46km, 1600m ascent/descent<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I entered this round at the beginning of the year, it is the full series of the event I did in December. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I love the area, the MCN team put on great, tough and affordable events in a part of the world I love. The distances are always a "guideline" with this one being pegged at "26ish miles" (42km in new money)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This was my first event back after this years' Spine Race (I'm part way through writing that up) and having been injured, I had a couple of weeks full rest, and the residual destruction stayed with me some time. Really I've only felt back to full strength the last few weeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Taking this into account, Robbie wasn't all that happy about me taking part in the M</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">arathon and asked if I could be convinced to do the Half Marathon instead I'd also signed up to do the next day! After a discussion, we agreed I'd do the marathon and just go along and cheer the Half Marathon and have an easy run that day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'd arranged to pick up my friend Rich en route, this time not dressed like a chicken (a la the Piece of String race). Thursday night, I had an epic 11 hour sleep, and woke up feeling a bit crook. There's been a lot of virus' knocking about at work and I think I'd been contaminated. I spent the day hydrating and drinking lemsip before heading to Wales via Bristol. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We stopped at the White Hart for dinner where I've been a few times - even if you're not a vegetarian - if ever you're there they do the most amazing Glamorgan Sausages! I'd booked a YHA in Talybont, about 30 minutes from the race start and at £18 a night, which I got a whole room to myself, there were no complaints. That night, for various reasons I had very little sleep. I finally got off to sleep around 4:30am, and woke to my alarm at 5:30. I put off the inevitable for 20 minutes and got my ass up and packed. There were no cooking facilities at the YHA so I had some cold oatsosimple and some paracetamol to get rid of the fuzzy head and scratchy throat I was feeling. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We headed to the race HQ, parked up, collected our numbers etc. Whilst Robbie had told me not to race, to enjoy it and have fun, I couldn't help but set myself some targets, and of course, I wanted to do well. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Some final snacking, and sitting around. Garmin on. I checked my HR, which was bobbing around 110bpm and upto 120 if I stood up! This was slightly alarming as I've been trying to run to HR on my longer runs, and this left me not very far to go! I put it down to excitement, and possibly the slight bug I'd picked up. I'd see how it went, if I worked too hard for too long, then I'd have to seriously consider not completing the full course. The weather forecast was pretty bad, heavy rain forecast between 9am and midday, and gales on the tops. So with about 15km of high ridge running, it was looking like it would be a blustery day! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">8am and the clock chimed, signalling the off. I was surprised at the spring in my step as I bounded up the road with the front guys. We were soon on grass and steadily climbing out of Talgarth. My HR was rocketing, but i put that down to excitement, the hills and the current pace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was keen to put some space between myself and the other girls so I kept up with the guys for a little while (not the front guy, he was already 100m away) we gradually climbed, over a couple of stiles, up a rooty piece of single track and onto what was possibly once a lovely gravel track. What it was now was a slimy path of ankle deep mud. I kept running through it, trying not to slip over, over a couple of fallen trees, and continued to climb slightly some more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">About 4km in, I could see a lady closing the gap behind me, and when we hit a grassy stretch of slight descent she pulled away. Another slight climb and we were on a bit of a flat, and Rich appeared to my right. I commented that my HR was going a bit mental. We ran together very briefly before he departed and that was the last I saw of him. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was running comfortably along, feeling strong, running all the hills, legs not really feeling anything. I was feeding well from the start. The main challenge was the slippery choss under foot. After a while, I was joined by another lady, Kate - who beat me right at the end of the last round. She is a very strong runner and really lovely. We stayed together for some time, we climbed up a steep rocky climb where we met our first big hit of the wind. Fortunately it was behind us, so pushed us up the steep climb, aiding us to break from a hike to a trot now and then. The trail took a hairpin turn and we were face on into the wind. We tried to talk over the wind, but it was futile. Just ahead I could see the first lady and told Kate that she was our marker, the lady in the bright yellow top. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We battled our way up to the top of the climb and hit the bogs of eternal stench. We were on high ground, with gales, and now sleet trying to keep our balance through the ankle deep bogs, the wind buffetting us around, we could barely see the shapes of people ahead in the cloud. This section seemed to go on for ages, Kate was struggling to get her coat out from her bag so I helped her out and ran on, I glanced back to make sure she was still coming and not gone off course. The rolling ridgeline over slabs that had kindly been laid to stop you falling neck deep in the bogs. The wind was crazy strong up here, blowing us sideways and forcing me to push my full weight against it at an angle to avoid getting blown off the ridge. We ran on and after a few km started to lose altitude. Coming up to half way I checked my watch - I was bang on where I wanted to be timewise and this gave me a warm feeling of accomplishment. I was still feeling great at this point. Kate started to pull away, but I could still see her. We had a good long descent down to the valley to the half way checkpoint (which actually ended up to be 26km not their suggested 14miles) I was descending well until we came a particularly shitty section. I'm notoriously bad at descending, this part was tricky steep rock, coated in slimy mud, grass patches with skid marks where people ahead had already slipped. I picked myself down, hating myself for the embarrassment I was causing. One guy came flying past. I was getting towards the bottom after a painfully slow hike down, and a girl overtook me. Shit! i thought as I kissed goodbye to a podium chance. I ran on as the descent took a less technical feel and rolled into the next Check point and put in a bit of a chase to catch her up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was closing the gap on the next climb, up we went again... but whatever happened in the next 10km isn't pretty. As my wheels fell off, she disappeared into the distance. I was struggling with energy, my glutes were tight, I was feeling the previous 3 hours running at 85% HR. I decided to have a break, hiked it out as best I could, trotted where I could. We were on another shitty ridge. With the weather battering me from the side. It was here, I wanted to stop. If there was a road to bail out at, I was going to take it.Thinking back, I had a similar feeling at the same point of the last race. I think perhaps i need to eat more in the middle sections. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The rain was soaking me, the wind was making my fingers go dead. I'm sure the views were fantastic, but I couldn't see through the cloud. I was soon greeted by another girl, we ran along together for a few km, I tried to keep ahead, but I kept having to drop to a walk in the crazy winds. We were signed down towards the reservoir where it was more sheltered from the weather. But the descent was pure shit. How I didn't break an ankle amazes me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Along the reservoir was rocky trail, puddles full of frog spawn, a few mountain bikers coming in the other direction. I decided whilst I was feeling shit, I'd get my map out and practice a bit of the navigation I'd learnt with Joe Faulkner on a Nav/Dragons back training day the week before. This i found useful, I could read the contours, count off feature, tick off streams. I hiked my way along, feeding myself out of the bad patch, reading the map, I could see it was about 3km to the final check point, then a final 5km descent to the finish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After a fun descent down to the last checkpoint, I was finally feeling strong again. I was running on through the fields thinking I could make up some time back on the final leg. Only to find myself dropping into a riverside singletrack, again I am certain in the summer this is amazing. Here it was a mudslide. To be fair passing by a fantastic waterfall, I was in awe, and semi laughing to myself at the pure shit I was trying to run through. Knowing it was only a little way more to go, I pushed on through the choss. The final km was on tarmac and into the finish chute where I finished 5th lady. I need to work on the mid sections of these, and try and up my game for the next round. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Kate and Rich were there at the finish, some high fives and chatting. Kate said "I thought you said that girl in yellow was just ahead, I caught up and it was a bloke!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Ha - did you not see her put on a black jacket in the rain?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">In summary - this round was much harder than I expected. Harder than the last round no doubt but I'm happy with how I ran in the first 30km. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Looking forward to round 2 back in Brecon this time. Sorry - no pics, my phone wouldn't take any in the rain! </span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-79090207496865636622015-02-10T23:15:00.003+00:002015-02-10T23:15:43.075+00:00X-ManI'm writing this, not knowing if I'm going to make it.... it's the first race I've approached feeling truly out of my depth - in all respects!<br />
<br />
Well, as always this started out as me looking on the net for something massive/stupid/crazy to enter. I happened upon it towards the end of last year and I made a sort of decision that if there were any spaces left at the end of January I would enter. <br />
<br />
January came and went, and I totally forgot and got caught up in new jobs, dabbling in adventure racing and enjoying weekend binge drinking. <br />
<br />
I don't know what brought me back to this, but I think maybe around April/May time I stumbled across it again - I think maybe because a friend was doing an ultra marathon in Exmoor by the same organisers. I had half thought about doing the ultra - but given i'd not run more than 10 miles in the last 6 months that was dumb, plus I'd told myself I wouldn't do anything big this year until I'd lost weight (I'm fatter than I've ever been currently!) <br />
<br />
Throughout May I was doing a running challenge for charidee - I had to run 5k everyday in May - sounds easy? you'd think. But I don't like to do things by halves and my aim was to do as many as I could - generally I was doing about 8k each day, and a weekend long one. But I also cycle a minimum of 30 miles a day commuting, so many of these runs were what multi sports folk call brick sessions. By the end of the month my running mojo was back - it had been missing for a couple of years. The last day of the challenge was poignant in a few ways, it was the last day, and two days prior an old friend sadly passed away being treated for a rare cancer at the hospital the challenge was raising money for. He'd also generously sponsored £50 - calling it "an investment" so I decided to up the challenge and do my normal bike commute on foot - 15 miles each way - before and after work. Pretty hilly too! That done, I felt like I had a bit of decent fitness in the tank so started thinking seriously about entering the race. I hadn't swam in 6 months and that was only a pool paddle, so I did a trip to the lake and limped round a lap. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh you're probably wondering what the hell this race is? <br />
<br />
It's this:<br />
<br />
a 2.4 mile sea swim<br />
a 102 mile off road cycle along the whole of the South Downs Way (through the night)<br />
a 28 mile trail marathon <br />
<br />
The event starts at Eastbourne seafront and ends in Salisbury and is to be completed in 24 hours. <br />
<br />
What the fuck am I doing?<br />
_______________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
Rewind 3 years to the event which marked the end of triathlon for me. <br />
<br />
I thought I'd written this, but I've just come across this in my drafts whilst I'm thinking about what to write about this year's Spine race and thought I'd finish this off. It won't take long! <br />
<br />
I'll keep it brief if I can. <br />
<br />
The race had to be renamed at the last minute due to copyright laws from Marvel, so it became X-24 or something, because we had 24 hours to complete the race. <br />
<br />
My first ever sea swim didn't look like it was going to be fun. With 10 foot swells forecast for the 7pm start. The weather was sunny but really windy, with the forecast looking pretty grim from about 8pm. There weren't many other women racing and I as usual, felt really out of place, too fat (proven further by the fact that I had to borrow Doug's wetsuit because mine was too small) <br />
<br />
I'd had my bike resprayed fairly recently and serviced so didn't feel the need to test anything out. My kit bag was ready, with snacks, spares, clothes. In transition a change of clothes and various bag to shove stuff in. I don't remember too much detail as it was so long ago. So let's get on with the race and the bits I can remember. <br />
<br />
We got shuttled down to the start on the seafront train, which was a pretty novel way to start the race. We then had a send off by some pretty awesome morris dancers. <br />
<br />
The Race Director. gave us a final briefing, also telling us that the course had been changed. Much to my glee the swim course was being cut short, due to the now even bigger swells. I was so happy! <br />
<br />
My happiness was to be short lived as we were told to go. The pebbles really hurt my feet as I teetered down to the water. I hobbled across the stones, and waddled into the water. It was bloody cold. <br />
<br />
Everyone else was already in the water, either elegantly dolphin diving into the waves, or swimming away from me as I tried to breast stroke out to sea. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15YJ1-1EEy2HwYwmXjuoBd1tfjcIPOXHOmhhI0kwYNE36bleE35ocVBZCNpkGF5T8ZJ-eV5ytiq_G3wqwDJxVbzbaDai_K1y56WaHLFD5JhShh6_D8zA78eljO-UNF1x134BxoYyz7K4J/s1600/Xman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15YJ1-1EEy2HwYwmXjuoBd1tfjcIPOXHOmhhI0kwYNE36bleE35ocVBZCNpkGF5T8ZJ-eV5ytiq_G3wqwDJxVbzbaDai_K1y56WaHLFD5JhShh6_D8zA78eljO-UNF1x134BxoYyz7K4J/s1600/Xman.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
I finally got out of my depth enough to need to swim rather than wade. Pretty quickly, I found myself at the back, whilst the dolphins dived away into the surf. The current was terrific, throwing me around. I tried to breath bilaterally, only to find everytime I breathed left I got a face full of the huge waves, which were now crashing over me whilst I flailed hopelessly. I tried to breath just to my right but found myself careering off course. I couldn't get any rhythm. I was getting frustrated. I hated this. I was terrified. Were there sharks? What if I drowned out here? Was the last thing I heard really gothic morris dancers? <br />
<br />
The only way I could stay afloat was to do a painfully slow breast stroke, I could see the pier which we had to swim to, way off in the distance. It couldn't really be that far since the swim was now only going to be a mile long! <br />
<br />
I realised soon that I wasn't alone. To my left, I had a guy on a paddle board, waiting for me to submerge once more, to not reappear, so he could fish me out and get himself back for dinner at a reasonable hour. <br />
<br />
He asked if I was OK. I spluttered "no, not really. This is shit" as another wave hit me in the face and he disappeared behind it briefly. <br />
<br />
The next 800 meters or so, continued like this, slow breast stroke, getting dunked, getting lifted 10 feet up as the waves swelled, getting dropped back down. Was it possible to get seasick when swimming? I was beginning to think so. That and the diesel taste of the sea water. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_1Zk9RTgsxaAc2gbjPG63Ch4_HWGWZ2tlEjAYXycXELq-fe1byeD-1ALxR6f7b_thBUGy0fWPGvbgnGCmiMpeW2F2hARnDD1XvgFrQIPenWdTJWlEYe_h_IGRb0qjM5WJtwDtorRLbEA/s1600/xman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_1Zk9RTgsxaAc2gbjPG63Ch4_HWGWZ2tlEjAYXycXELq-fe1byeD-1ALxR6f7b_thBUGy0fWPGvbgnGCmiMpeW2F2hARnDD1XvgFrQIPenWdTJWlEYe_h_IGRb0qjM5WJtwDtorRLbEA/s1600/xman2.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a>Finally the marshal next to me told me to hang a right and head back to shore. I thanked him for his company, and bid him farewell. A couple of hundred meters away I could see the Race Director waving. How was I so far out? I don't remember swimming that far out. I could see the only person left in front of me, a speck in the distance dragging himself out of the water. <br />
<br />
Now the waves were behind me, I hoped I could just surf my way back in. Boy, was I wrong. The tide was now pulling me out! The swim time has been carefully planned to coincide with tide times. Given I'd taken so long now, the tide was now against me. I was swimming with all my might and seemingly getting nowhere. The paddle boarder appeared next to me again. "are you OK?" <br />
"no I whimpered. I can't get back" <br />
"Do you want to stop?"<br />
"No. I'm nearly there" <br />
The lad, coached me back to shore, counting my strokes, telling me when to push hard against the current. <br />
<br />
Finally, I could almost see the bottom. I was nearly there. The organiser was cheering me out of the water. I found my feet and stood up. <br />
<br />
I fell straight over. My legs were not working. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsuDNqDnklzN5JJEgZWXXKcDs10yGWJN7pm0Jit6rktMg8DEqZw5pijt_IZRB6xoXdhjkhgJslblbds3LGKDzxC0DbP65kaeUloW_uPkf-Uc479EzoCknAtWXXfY_v6UeWfGZPfVRielP/s1600/fuckthishsit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsuDNqDnklzN5JJEgZWXXKcDs10yGWJN7pm0Jit6rktMg8DEqZw5pijt_IZRB6xoXdhjkhgJslblbds3LGKDzxC0DbP65kaeUloW_uPkf-Uc479EzoCknAtWXXfY_v6UeWfGZPfVRielP/s1600/fuckthishsit.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The terror that had filled me for the last 40 odd minutes, had left me wasted. The pebbles weren't helping me either. The RD helped me out, and got me back on my feet. I hobbled my way to the promenade so happy to be out of that damn water! I didn't care that I now had a 2km run back to transition in a wetsuit. I was looking forward to a night on my beloved mountain bike. <br />
<br />
I ran on taking off my wetsuit as I went. I actually overtook the man who got out of the sea in front of me. <br />
<br />
I reached transition to find my bike was one of the only three left. The man I'd over taken and another woman just getting changed to go out on the bike. <br />
<br />
I was inside the cut off (thanks to the shortened run!) a quick change, a bite to eat and I set off on my way towards the South Down way. It was beginning to get dusky already and my friend Martin Pounder and the boys from The Big Adventure store had fixed me up with some shit hot exposure lights so I was good to go for the whole night! <br />
<br />
I rode on upto the SDW and there was a short sharp climb. I dropped the front gear onto the middle ring, to find it not wanting to shift. "Shit!" I muttered as I hit the hill in a big gear, ground to a halt ad had to push up to the top. Past a marshal. Embarrassing start. <br />
<br />
The few miles went by nicely, the ground was in good condition, pretty dry, not dusty and I was enjoying the time on my own in the darkening night. The first check point wasn't for 30 miles so I had a good few hours riding to go before I reached there. <br />
<br />
Before long, the weather which was promised arrived. I put on my waterproof jacket. The rain came down. The rain came down hard. It continued for several hours. My jacket lost it's waterproofness. I was getting quite cold but continued to pedal on. I hadn't seen anyone for hours. I realised after a few miles, I'd not seen a marker for a while either. Shit. <br />
<br />
This event, was before I learned how to read (and carry) maps, how to use GPS and what kit I should carry. I back tracked the way I'd come, and I got back to a familiar place but still could see no signs. It was still pissing down. <br />
<br />
There was nothing else for it. I picked up my phone and ran (not my daddy) the Race Director, my phone was a fancy touchscreen. Not inside a waterproof case. Therefore, the screen was covered in water and I couldn't dial any numbers. I was shivering and tried to dry off the phone. Eventually I dried the phone off enough to make the call - the RD picked up and asked where I was. I tried to explain. I explained very badly. <br />
<br />
He told me that it sounded like the sweepers had gone through and taken away the signage whilst I was off course. He would try and get them to turn back and find me. but I needed to keep warm and carry on to see if I could reach the checkpoint. <br />
<br />
I wasn't really sure if I was going the right way. But some sort of gut feeling told me I was right. After another hour, I reached the Check point. It was 2am, I was cold wet and unable to carry on, having missed the cut off (and come in behind the sweepers!) <br />
<br />
I was given a foil blanket a dry coat and a hot cup of chocolate before being piled into a car with a few other casualties who'd stopped there. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately due to the car not being full, and not being quick enough to be in the front drop out car, we had to wait for a full load before being relayed back to the finish somewhere near Winchester. So we spent a few hours at the next Check point, watching people come in, coated in chalk from the wet trail, some covered in cuts where they'd come off on the ice like chalk. <br />
<br />
Eventually we found our way back where I was able to get a beer (not that I deserved it), had a snooze and waited for my kit to make it's way back before I could go home with my tail between my legs never to talk about the horror of the night ever again. (Or so I thought) <br />
<br />
It's a shame I was so unprepared for this, in hindsight, knowing what I know now about kit, and preparation and maps I was a fool to even give it a go. Swimming talent or lack thereof aside, I was punching way above my weight. Whilst on paper it looks like an amazing event, it was way too hard for me at that point in my life, and it resulted in me never taking part in a triathlon again, and not so far having the desire too. <br />
<br />
It was a shame, I didn't get to the run as that's the bit I was most looking forward to. <br />
<br />
As it happened, only a handful of people got to the finish, the ones I saw come in were pretty destroyed. <br />
<br />
<br />
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-8105523587174955002014-12-07T17:36:00.002+00:002014-12-07T17:43:00.901+00:00Brecon Winter Trail Marathon <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was back in Brecon for the second year running, last year I took part in the Ultra distance and loved it so much, I decided to come back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When I told Robbie I was entered, he was none too impressed, given The Spine is less than 6 weeks away now, quite rightly basically telling me that if I want to train well for my main events I need to not be recovering from races all the time. Point taken and ass slapped, I compromised and asked if I could do the 10 miler or marathon distance instead - he said I could do the marathon - yay! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I've recovered well since the Piece of String - rest seems to feature heavily in my training plan - it's funny as before I started training with Robbie, I would feel guilty for taking rest days but having someone tell me when and where to take them takes the guilt away a little. It also seems to make me a bit more consistent as rather than suddenly feel smashed and need to take longer rest periods of do days and days of shitty training, generally because I'm taking rest days where I should, most of my training days are good quality ones - go figure! Don't get me wrong, as he'd tell you, I'm no angel - I miss the odd session or do things I shouldn't but it's a fairly new partnership and I'm trusting his expertise the more I see the results. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I've really been looking forward to this, and had convinced my friend Jonathon to join me - he was going to do the Ultra distance and we'd make a weekend of it. I'd looked at the times from last years winners and made some plans, the course was 2 miles longer this year though which I hadn't factored in, these are the few plans I had in mind: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Plan A - go for the win in time X</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Plan B - go for podium in time Y</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Plan C - top 5 in Time Z</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Plan D - Finish, go home and sulk. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The last two weeks I've been pretty poorly, having caught a pretty bad chill during a cold and horribly wet half marathon, I was off work a few days (being a contractor, this isn't the done thing - you don't work, you don't get paid) subsequently feeling pretty crap for most of the week and not doing any running for 9 days I was approaching the race feeling suddenly unfit and unprepared. My first run back was pretty painful to say the least. My legs felt great but my chest was awful, I got home and coughed up my innards for around an hour. The next day's run, less terrible but I was still feeling under the weather and decided to call it on Friday - if I still felt shit then I shouldn't do it. No point getting sicker. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I felt OK on Friday - my throat was still quite sore and I was coughing up shit still but my legs felt good (which they should with only an hours running in them in the last two weeks) and if nothing else, at least my legs should be fresh, right? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We arrived in Brecon nice and early - too early to register so popped to the pub for a beer. We ambled back, still too early to register but managed to bag a room which we'd booked for the next two nights, so bagsied the best one and went to another pub for another beer. Finally it was 6pm and we could register so back we went to get our maps and numbers then, yep, back to the pub for another beer and some food this time. Early night for a reasonably civilised start the next morning. The ultra was on for a 7:30 start, the marathon and 10 miler at 8am. Delicious Bacon Butty for breakfast, then back to have a lay down for a bit, sort my kit out, wave JZ off, bottle of juice and a banana then off to the start. my throat was more sore than yesterday too so I took a couple of pain killers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">It's a well organised race and it's great that if you're quick you can book accommodation at the race HQ. The course was really well marked and they booked fab weather for the day! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As we headed to the start it was below freezing so I had on gloves, base layer, tshirt and a wind proof. There were lots of people with dogs attached to them - I thought this is cheating somewhat and recalled getting tangled in leads last year so I hoped I could stay ahead of them this time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Standing around the start I got my usual feeling of not being good enough, not being skinny enough, not looking the part. I shook it off - I know I need to lose a few kilos but it's too late now. I can only do what I can do. I lined up near the front and set off as we were started. The course takes a steady climb for a few km. I've been much more confident on the climbing the last few months so I didn't hesitate in setting off in front. I had several guys in front of me, but I soon realised I was the first girl. A tall hot leggy girl doing the 10 miler shot past - but there was no point trying to keep with her - she was doing a different race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I maintained a comfortable pace, feeling pretty strong, checking my garmin I saw I was doing between 5 & 5:30 min/km which didn't feel uncomfortable at the moment even on the climb. I knew I shouldn't blow it all up too early so focussed on my breathing and keeping it controlled and pulling back the pace if it felt rushed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">After a few miles, we descended down an icy rocky trail, descending is my biggest issue at the moment - I'm a pussy. I've got no confidence on where my feet are landing at pace so I backed right off the pace. Before long another girl came past me. Shit! I got to the bottom in one piece and we started to climb again. I worked my way back up the 100feet she'd pulled away and was back with her. At this point we hit a check point, where the 10 milers would peel off and we'd head off up Tor y Foel and the summit at 550m. It wasn't too horrific at this early stage and I tried to maintain a steady jog. I stopped to hike for a couple of minutes, which allowed the girl to slip back in front. Along with another lady who'd gained on me significantly on the decent. She powered on past and started to put in a bit of a gap. I stuck with the girl from before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The hill was slippery with ice in paces so foot holds weren't perfect and I've recently found that I'm not a very fast walker (something else I need to practice before The Spine) so to walk fast was actually more effort than to jog really steady so I tried to stick with that tact. When it got really steep I did have to walk (slowly to keep my HR sensible) I reached the summit right behind the girl and looked around me, the morning was beautiful. The Sun was shining brightly to our right, and the icy ground was shining back up at me. I was pretty happy right now! The hill climbed with a couple of false summits and trail which was fab underfoot aside from the frost. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The first big descent was super slippery, there was trail which was threatening to kill me on every tentative step and a slightly grassier path to the right. I took the latter where I could and slowly jogged down being careful not to die - watching the girl gradually get away, and the lead lady gradually become a dot in the distance - that was the last I would see of her! From here we started overtaking the ultra runners - it was a good feeling to be doing so, so early in the race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Another lady drew up to me, and flew past me on the descent. "For fuck's sake Anna! Stop being a pussy" I said to myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">As the hill came to lower ground it was a shallower descent and less slippery so I picked up the pace a little. We hit a bit of tarmac briefly. I could see both the two fast descenders just in front of me. Soon we were once more climbing, and I was back on them. If they hiked, I'd make sure I kept jogging and stayed on them. Again we descended, again they got away. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The race took on this format for most of the way. I was working hard on the climbs to make back the distance I lost on the descents. Around half way I started to bonk and managed to source a gel from a check point, I'd wished I'd brought more paracetamol as my chest and throat were a bit grim. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The route was brilliant, it went through lovely flowing trails, great climbs that made me feel strong, a few bits of woodland, some pretty boggy sections, as well as finding myself trapped in some thorn bushes. At one point the three of us all missed a sign post as we were all too busy looking down at the slippery rocks, we corrected ourselves and went back the way we'd come. Back up another climb. Walking this time as my calves were burning a bit. An ultra guy who we were passing said we were 1st, 2nd and 3rd females. I corrected him and said no we're 2nd, 3rd and 4th. This surprised one of the girls and she seemed to take fuel from this and started to put distance between us. I was pissing quite frequently today, I'd counted 4 already. Must be well hydrated I guess but the last couple of multi stage races, that's meant I've got a kidney infection, but this isn't a long effort so I should be fine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">She was never more than about 100m ahead at this point and the other lady just a few meters in front. I wanted to keep her in front of me so I could keep an eye on her, rather than wait for her to fly past me again. At 18 miles the route split again and the ultra guys went left and we carried on up a fire road. The fire road soon became a sticky track damaged by the recent deforestation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The next 9 or 10k was fairly uneventful, not very technical, just fairly sticky underfoot. I was still just behind lady number 3, number 2 had now disappeared. I was still in a chance for a podium. and looking at my watch, I wasn't far off my plan A time. The track descended slightly so I opened up my hips a bit to extend the pace and close the gap some more. I was now within talking distance of her and she put the pace in a little too on the descent. I saw we were about to climb a little, so waited for that to close the gap again. Back within a few meters, we hit the final check point. It was a couple of miles gradual descent now down a rocky river bed type trail. I overtook a guy who was picking his way down, and still not able to get any closer to her. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I checked my watch, and we'd done the marathon distance already and happy that I was Plan A time + 5 minutes.... we were close to the start which I foolishly thought was very close to the end. I reached the two marshals there who said it's another couple of miles along the canal to the finish. The flat terrain, really fucked up my stride, I needed a piss and I was totally out of water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I had a minor huff as I saw the lady opening up the gap. Fuck it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I stopped on the side to piss again, and jogged it in steadily to the end, I finished in 4th place about 30 seconds behind number 3 in the end, and was 3rd open female, so not too shabby. Plus I got inside my Plan B time, even with the extra mileage! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I enjoyed some of the amazing food that was being made (half a brownie and a welsh Tartiflette), had a shower, and a nap then headed back down to wait for JZ to come back in. After he'd returned, showered, we headed back to the pub for a celebratory couple of beers and some chips and back for another semi early night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I didn't get any pics out on the course today as I was kinda busy trying to win ;-) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Couple of days rest now, before getting serious for The Spine! </span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-26057211293267044602014-11-03T11:29:00.001+00:002014-11-03T11:29:22.861+00:00Bit of an update.......and The Piece of String Race<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't believe it's a year since I posted on here. I think part of that is that everyone is blogging these days and I'm not sure if people are that interested in the shenanigans I get up to, or if indeed they ever were! Also, the events I've been doing have been a bit long and I can't really be arsed to write about them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've had a pretty awesome year so far (it's only November) having completed The Fellsman, AAUT (5 day Stage Race in Spain), Snowdon Race and most recently the incredible Grand 2 Grand. As well as that I've enjoyed amazing trips running in Switzerland, Transylvania and lots of places around the UK. There have been a couple of DNFs in there too, which I'll gloss over! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here's some snaps.... </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosBDZEmV72vdExNVvD2TUlzvfl8XSio04eVw-KrkvGzdfuaokJBHsm8o8cGwDQppShAmKER7kIwusZJifMiKutV1nlWjDC1cG1zzEamxQkyb8rlbO9L1jwUjFGL2BSZ5g37_0SI9-BR6o/s1600/1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosBDZEmV72vdExNVvD2TUlzvfl8XSio04eVw-KrkvGzdfuaokJBHsm8o8cGwDQppShAmKER7kIwusZJifMiKutV1nlWjDC1cG1zzEamxQkyb8rlbO9L1jwUjFGL2BSZ5g37_0SI9-BR6o/s1600/1050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AAUT - about 40 degrees - Awesome "Holiday"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_UXZamqjw0xm1-V_KEOAZze2QNLZymHB4DaweYlidmt6djokRYSHHkx6Nhyphenhyphen_jEDzDKbEPI1dvOafpkhBp60BRAFEHepHQcWrLtGTXJNtQA-pnzFIhEtAXz3n6CkT0v-JJ7NpWXhLPDj7/s1600/1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_UXZamqjw0xm1-V_KEOAZze2QNLZymHB4DaweYlidmt6djokRYSHHkx6Nhyphenhyphen_jEDzDKbEPI1dvOafpkhBp60BRAFEHepHQcWrLtGTXJNtQA-pnzFIhEtAXz3n6CkT0v-JJ7NpWXhLPDj7/s1600/1045.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running around Zermatt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpBa5_ZgYhKMQ4wxefdknK3DzNaQnIzDsd_IkpAtNHiwPgJfqL1NMbjFby7LP33MiYSK24cLf6Gc-z1kkULmgQHFHOHn52cZr44RuULnKlr4MMZjjyJp9Z1yIE0ySfuhg0Mtroj2osopr/s1600/1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpBa5_ZgYhKMQ4wxefdknK3DzNaQnIzDsd_IkpAtNHiwPgJfqL1NMbjFby7LP33MiYSK24cLf6Gc-z1kkULmgQHFHOHn52cZr44RuULnKlr4MMZjjyJp9Z1yIE0ySfuhg0Mtroj2osopr/s1600/1046.JPG" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dicking around in the Bucegi Mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBDUtMbSsyXpmITHYptlB_AEMTMe3DqybIvmwLljnk1saw5q1az2Cf_zBUWacbML0ufcmAtiQxdoRwfI1JfldHR8bay16UBw3KxqVF64tfriks9c97fiCb-lrSmbMFC1DzhsRDIGRQy7b/s1600/1047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBDUtMbSsyXpmITHYptlB_AEMTMe3DqybIvmwLljnk1saw5q1az2Cf_zBUWacbML0ufcmAtiQxdoRwfI1JfldHR8bay16UBw3KxqVF64tfriks9c97fiCb-lrSmbMFC1DzhsRDIGRQy7b/s1600/1047.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transylvania</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsLVFNVMXffiFViG-Qs3okgIku-CZEMGjTjUeof-PS8Q6ooynK5chN2FZglBuqL6jlEVgMw4KzUskZbvPqF5SfNLxxK4KMnT5qv6kZdGlzSV_93vndy-rmLmknGVsviTHq-B15zI6hmob/s1600/1048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsLVFNVMXffiFViG-Qs3okgIku-CZEMGjTjUeof-PS8Q6ooynK5chN2FZglBuqL6jlEVgMw4KzUskZbvPqF5SfNLxxK4KMnT5qv6kZdGlzSV_93vndy-rmLmknGVsviTHq-B15zI6hmob/s1600/1048.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">En Route to top 20 place in G2G</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSP3H8Tg4XzfMhr8HA3JWfrje6WfsHCd8NE-i9kbNnbELMZjER31WADewSIaiPLwxEYNeMlsXzKHPZtWjUERJSXEFQYbY2KF7ngznkR2TmUC7ShCh41eFhLJnjtNCtU-REWhvzWjDJLeO/s1600/1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSP3H8Tg4XzfMhr8HA3JWfrje6WfsHCd8NE-i9kbNnbELMZjER31WADewSIaiPLwxEYNeMlsXzKHPZtWjUERJSXEFQYbY2KF7ngznkR2TmUC7ShCh41eFhLJnjtNCtU-REWhvzWjDJLeO/s1600/1049.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running through Slot Canyons - G2G</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've also invested in a Coach since around July time. I was losing my mojo a bit and not improving, so with the help of Robbie Britton, I've got a more consistent training structure and am now seeing improvements. I struggle with being told what to do, so I'm quite surprised that I've taken to this so well - Robbie might disagree and I can almost hear him sigh with some of the comments I send back in my training log, but I'm sure I warned him I'm a bit of a joker.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Swennyway, here I am wanting to share this weekends adventure</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> - The Piece of String Race. I had seen this event a year or so ago and thought it'd be a fun challenge to go for. I missed the entry deadline for last year so made sure I was there ready to enter this year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The clue is kind of in the name but here's the info from the website </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.centurionrunning.com/piece-of-string-2014/">http://www.centurionrunning.com/piece-of-string-2014/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As you can see - there are no details of distance, time, elevation, location or anything remotely useful in training for such an event. What could be easier!? So when the entries opened I dutifully sent in my entry email with the subject "Piece of Piss Race" - I hoped this cheeky subject would help me with my selection - or lure the race directors to try and prove me wrong or as it turned out, punish me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'd forgotten about the PoP race for a while until an email popped into my inbox in early August informing me that I'd been unlucky with my entry and had been accepted to take part. The only instructions provided were on mandatory kit, where to be and when and that no further email follow up would be provided. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I forgot about the PoP again for a while whilst I gallivanted around the Utah and Arizona Desert and ran around the mountains with bears in Transylvania. With 4 weeks between G2G and PoP and the assumption that it would be a 100+ mile race (worst case scenario) there wasn't heaps of time to recover and then get ready for another potentially tough event, throw in The OMM the week before and you've got yourself an interesting taper. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The OMM done, it was all about recovery for Saturday's start. I'd been hoping for something hilly and traily as I've been running well on the trails lately and have been working fairly hard on the hills, a long flat canal run or treadmill run would be my worst case. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Wednesday I went to bed with dreadful cold, full of fever and and sore throat and aches everywhere. I dosed up on lemons and lemsip and woke up Thursday not feeling much better. I continued to drink all the hot lemon I could and all the drugs I could find. By Friday I was feeling a little better, sore throat and snot stage now, and was thinking that if I felt like this in the morning I wouldn't be starting the race. That night, I went off to a Halloween party and managed not to drink ALL the booze, and was in bed by 1am.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My alarm went off at 6am. I checked my snifflometer. Not 100% but I could give it a crack, worst case I could do a few hours running and call it a long run..... so I made some bacon butties for the journey and packed the last of the kit I'd need for the race. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I arrived in Wendover in time for a quick briefing - "you'll be heading west along the Ridgeway" - Yay! This is one of my favourite trails in the south as it runs close to where I grew up. "it'll take no more than 2 hours to get to X and a further 2 hours to get to Y" implying we were off for a long jaunt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCKyapU56O6pzE6R2uKgCHUyJMt37FnXT0bdg1yhci20lWcoIFbJ7j7rK043wRZwAH6VUXx8hwPUrs-1GnmXKlYLRA1-YMfFrRxtgrruPw1TDD1pfVfBRs8jJuVS9dJ4iObE0eQi9KfdZ/s1600/1025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCKyapU56O6pzE6R2uKgCHUyJMt37FnXT0bdg1yhci20lWcoIFbJ7j7rK043wRZwAH6VUXx8hwPUrs-1GnmXKlYLRA1-YMfFrRxtgrruPw1TDD1pfVfBRs8jJuVS9dJ4iObE0eQi9KfdZ/s1600/1025.JPG" height="320" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My friend Rich was taking part too, dressed as a Chicken - natch. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We gathered outside and James said "go on then" so off we went, following Claire out who was leading us to the Ridgeway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I felt a little bit sickly but my legs were feeling pretty good and settled into a fairly decent pace. (Not knowing whether to pace for a 100m sprint or a 100 miler is tricky!) Soon on the Ridgeway and onto a gentle climb, I was near the front and enjoying a lovely sunny morning. A couple of miles into the run rose a large monument, I could see that the lead guy had stopped there and there was Nici with a clip board. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I instantly thought this is the finish, at the same instant Sam did and we both put in a bit of a sprint to the top - just in case! We reached the top and Nici told us to wait there until everyone else arrived, and there had been a 25 minute cut off to get to there. Already some of the back runners were going to be close to this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">When we were all gathered, we were instructed to run back down the way we came and the cut off was 15 minutes. So off we ran back down the hill, through the gate we were marshalled left down a gully of leaves and mud and roots. We gently ran down here for 500m or so until we came to James who turned us round the corner and sent us up a massive hill. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The first part of the hill was fairly runnable, some people were walking fairly soon but I picked a marker that I'd get to before I walked - at the point where it got very steep and more fell running terrain. Slippery muddy grass. I laughed to myself as I heaved myself to the top. As the gradient lessened I jogged it out over the top and I could see the monument where Nici had been again another 100m to the top and she took our times and numbers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I knew what was happening here. Hill Reps. Excellent. In total we did 8 reps each loop was a little under a mile. I was enjoying it to be honest and feeling pretty strong. A year ago, I'd have been missing the cut offs and walking the easiest of gradients. Nici once more sent us back down the hill and said we had 16 mins this time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We got to the gate and were met by a marshal who sent us back to Wendover to the start we'd left a couple of hours earlier. Nicely warmed up from the hill training session I ran briskly back to the Hall and got back in 2nd place. (not that this counted) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We took the opportunity to reload our snacks, water bottles and I necked a couple of lemsip to keep the snot at bay, whilst awaiting our next instructions. These came in the same form as the last set - head west on the Ridgeway, it's 13:00 you can go anytime from now. So off I went trying to keep pace with David, Brian and Sam. Not far behind were Richard, Antonio and I think Adam. Once more I could see the Coombe Hill up ahead, I tried to see if I could spot Nici up there waiting to give us more hill reps - they wouldn't be that mean surely!!? I got over the brow and started descending the other side. Stopped for a slash and to put some music on, went for a drink to find that I'd not my lid down properly so half of the contents was on the inside of my bag. Rich et al appeared as I set off once more, I was keen to catch up with the others. I was loving the trail, feeling strong running the hills and bounding down the other side, a few were a bit steeper so had a little walk and sent some text feedback to a couple of friends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnBgXyNreT5ffBk9JD71nZFshzsk6-tUUQY84Efc7xeWDjZnla-2YM4Q3kzdP6akiPaDEzFtUOmVIVcJSBIpzf_Nmy_1MErN2-IqS4donNXLk9JgqEgPiOr6bG8l1GM8sWYsUr_CvZ592/s1600/1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnBgXyNreT5ffBk9JD71nZFshzsk6-tUUQY84Efc7xeWDjZnla-2YM4Q3kzdP6akiPaDEzFtUOmVIVcJSBIpzf_Nmy_1MErN2-IqS4donNXLk9JgqEgPiOr6bG8l1GM8sWYsUr_CvZ592/s1600/1027.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The weather was fantastic and I was really enjoying myself, I was running well and feeling positive I think this was probably against the rules! I was soon out of water and stopped briefly at a water trough to see if there was a way of getting clean water from the tap- there wasn't but I could see that unless I wanted a dose of dysentary I'd best go thirsty a little longer. I was met at a gate by Claire and instructed to take the next right off the Ridgeway, running down the hill I was soon met by the front runners heading back my way. Then a further couple of minutes I stumbled across James and Nici with her clipboard and some water. I refilled, had a quick progress update, instructions to go back the 10 miles we'd come back to Wendover - ha! Also, I was told not to tell the others. So off I went back the way I'd come. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJdd-Ia21qyxLcRRGO3Hmt9qfjAuRTTj5gWE6tYYOkPeo7xCON20gZ187TTJFqDs0Rr4TKjpJlsQEkLyfyyFfvNI-SaibAKuGjZgjhGRWcNj33tkxkgHGKK_G1BkRPdFvx1OOpLTQqi90/s1600/1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJdd-Ia21qyxLcRRGO3Hmt9qfjAuRTTj5gWE6tYYOkPeo7xCON20gZ187TTJFqDs0Rr4TKjpJlsQEkLyfyyFfvNI-SaibAKuGjZgjhGRWcNj33tkxkgHGKK_G1BkRPdFvx1OOpLTQqi90/s1600/1028.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I gradually passed the rest of the field heading my way over the next few miles, last to pass was Rich, who'd finally got out of his chicken costume but had picked up an injury and was limping along. (Sadly he had to stop at the next CP) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was still running strong but beginning to feel a little sleepy so I decided that I'd nip in to tescos to grab some coke as it was pretty close to the CP (if indeed that was where we were really going!?) It was starting to get dark in the woods and I could hear owls hooting and I'm pretty sure I could see bears in the shadows, so I got my headtorch out, which actually didnt help as it was that awkward darkness that a light doesn't make any better, so I carried on at a quicker pace to escape the bears. I eventually popped out into the town and ran on to tescos where I had to wait for 10 minutes to be served my 12 pack of coke. I ran the rest of the way to the CP with the coke on my head trying not to fizz it up too much. Rolled into the CP after a little over 50k. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I'd set myself a few mini goals for this event: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">1) to be the first lady finisher of this event</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">2) Get a sub 12hr 50 mile section </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">3) if it goes to 100 miles - sub 24</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">With that in mind, I was keen to crack on, so I took a few minutes to change tops, put on an extra layer, down some coke and refill snacks and water. Not that I'd been eating a lot. Drew gave me a map andtook me out to show me the entrance to the Grand Union Canal, where we were to head to Berkhampstead (approx 12 miles away) I started running and quickly realised I'd forgotten my water bottle so ran back for it, Steve was just being set off. I ran back and quickly overtook Steve and was pretty surprised with my pace, knocking out 12km/h - OK so it was flat but still I'd got over a marathon in my legs by now. I could still see monsters in the bushes waiting to push me into the canal so I kept the pace up, as long as I could outrun the rapists and murderers I'd be OK, right? I was enjoying the pace and the firework displays I passed en route and was soon at a tricky junction at a pumping station, consulted my map and it wasn't any clearer, I took a right down a lovely looking trail and after about 500m I couldn't see the canal. It didn't seem right, so I turned back round and went back to the pumping station, took a different right and still wasn't on a canal, but I was heading generally north so it felt right. I found myself next to some reservoir which once more felt wrong, I got onto the road nearby and switched my phone off airplane mode and found a text from James E telling us to go careful at the junction as it goes underground for a couple of miles - I didn't believe this, I thought it was a prank. I called James and asked for advice on where I was and how to get back on track as the map wasn't really helping me. It turned out I'd gone too far west but would eventually pop out on the same canal just a mile too far to the west - what's an extra bit of distance hey!? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Finally back on the correct route I came across Steve who I'd overtaken an hour earlier and a marshall with some water. This wasn't Berkhampstead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The next instruction was to get back on the Ridgeway and head back to, yep - you guessed it - Wendover! Funny buggers. :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was told that I had now dropped from 3rd to 5th place having overtaken Steve once more - a bit miffed at my cock up, and having been told the others were only 5 minutes ahead, I set off about trying to catch them. I had a few minute walk when I got back in the woods, sent some progress updates back home before setting off again. Loving the trail again I was pretty happy right now. I'm not sure at which point I went wrong again, but there were some posts which looked like they had acorns cut into them (the national trail signs that we were following) - it later transpired that these are in fact foot prints not the acorn signs! I followed the wrong signs for a couple of miles before popping out by a spiral bridge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Time to consult the map. I ran the wrong way for a bit further before sitting down and working out my location. Unfortunately the garmin I'd borrowed, I didnt know how to find my co-ordinates. After looking in the wrong part of the map for 5 minutes, I realised that actually I was to the East of Wendover - what a muppet. I figured if I just picked up a West-ish bearing for a bit I'd hit some sort of trail. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It worked and I hit a trail - it wasn't the right one but it got me on to a road where I could try and get my bearings and myself back on track. As I switched my phone back on, James rang me, asking if I was OK - "no, i'm pretty lost" - "yep, we thought so" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">James confirmed the road I was on, would lead me back to the Ridgeway in about a mile so I set back off at a grumpy walk. I was a bit annoyed at my navigation as it's something I do try to practice, but haven't done any night nav for a while. I had something to eat - some beef jerky that wasn't a very nice brand so I spat it out and had some cheese and nuts instead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I text James to see what time the cut off was for the next CP, about 21:20 I received a reply - 22:00. I looked at the map, I was a good 5k out still, I better run! I ran into the CP with 5 minutes to spare and asked do I have to be out by 22:00 - yep. Ace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A bit of faffing, a bit of grub and a take out can of coke and I was back out the door after receiving the next set of instructions "follow this road, up this hill, blah blah, it'll be clear what you have to do when you get there" uh oh! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I found myself following some glowsticks, tempted to pinch one for a night rave, i decided against it in case I got in trouble. I popped out on a track to see David looking utterly miserable and a table with Nikki and Rich looking a little bit evil. All they needed was a cat to stroke making "muhahahah" noises. I took my headphones out of my phone and put my music on blaring, from my pocket like my own personal mobile disco - something told me I'd need it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I already knew in my gut what we were about to face - more hill reps! Fuck yeah! With 85k in my legs I wasn't relishing this. I followed David up and he'd made some unhappy comments about this being inspired by the Berkley Marathon, and that the first bit wasn't even the worst of it. He was on his 3rd loop - Ouch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nrbXkDJtI2SeJfZjsKvaU34gzycg_6Lz0Smj6T-zKOZa7jeljW4xnjz82GymK3dhsydZQsZBfs9Lm7oWVF7Tluxm5vQ2HqzK7vkEqk9b53Ls1y3oTTLhHdd6itVSuEOE_Jd3SFF1lEYx/s1600/1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nrbXkDJtI2SeJfZjsKvaU34gzycg_6Lz0Smj6T-zKOZa7jeljW4xnjz82GymK3dhsydZQsZBfs9Lm7oWVF7Tluxm5vQ2HqzK7vkEqk9b53Ls1y3oTTLhHdd6itVSuEOE_Jd3SFF1lEYx/s1600/1043.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The first bit wasn't the worst of it, no, but it wasn't runnable. It was a hard hike up, but at least it was on firmish ground. The odd slippery bit but generally fine. I reached some evil masterminds en route, Drew I believe sent me further up the hill and said to follow the glow sticks left. When I got to the top, I was relieved at a nice flat bit that I could run. After a few hundred meters I was greeting by a shape jumping out of the shadows - no it wasn't a rapist, it was just Chris Mills, apparently rolling in Badger shit. We had a quick chat, he took an unflattering pic of me and promptly sent me down a cliff. I was stil having fun but I hate descending steep hills. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This was one ridiculous. The soil was soft and skiddy, the leaves and roots made it even harder to get traction. Fortunately there were trees to career into to use as a break when you found yourself dangerously out of control. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After picking my way down I was back on a lovely lovely flat section once more, I could see a headlight in the distance and there was James Adams, waiting to send me to hell! What we didn't know was that there was a twitter vote going on, deciding who should get a trick (hell) loop and who should get a treat (heaven) loop, heaven being a flat run back to Rich and Nikki hell being, well.... hellish! I told James on the second loop that it was a piece of piss. This did me no favours and I was promptly punished (actually I was punished for tweeting - what else am I going to do walking slowly up a ski jump?) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHtiFeMDNzgCoMa4qu_a3Ko0R4LZq3sivfK44JTmCkUZBEZB3Oqk5Sk0JVmndbr70GxY4FmhSs-09IyR4uDTeQMclyEVaDhrYLR9P2EqqRYKSeZGB5asYu41xzqxB135Xu0bKxBENVU8i/s1600/1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHtiFeMDNzgCoMa4qu_a3Ko0R4LZq3sivfK44JTmCkUZBEZB3Oqk5Sk0JVmndbr70GxY4FmhSs-09IyR4uDTeQMclyEVaDhrYLR9P2EqqRYKSeZGB5asYu41xzqxB135Xu0bKxBENVU8i/s1600/1042.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reaching the top of "Hoka Hell"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I was sent up a giant hill that I wouldn't even have ridden down in my mountain biking days. It was hands and feet to the floor, pulling myself up through the mud and leaves, grabbing trees for anchorage. I couldn't see the top, just the little flashes of glow sticks. After what must about been 10 miles (Possibly a slight exaggeration) of climbing I could hear evil laughter and see head torches, but I still wasn't at the top, the last bit was the worst, feet sliding back nails filling with mud. I dragged myself over the top, to the sound of Pharell singing "Happy" - irony at it's finest - and greeted the evil marshals with big grins and ran back down the first hill I'd come up. Back to Nikki and Rich. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This routine went on no less than 5 times! Although I did get a heaven loop which was AMAZING! By the fifth, I was feeling that I was beginning to break, with a whimper I left Rich and Nikki once more and miserably went up the hill once more. The flat bit was again a relief, the downhill again a bastard. I rolled back into Nikki and Rich to be told there was good news and bad news:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Good news - that was the last rep, Bad news, I'm going back to Wendover to find out what is next. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"What else can they throw at us?" I said, I wasn't sure I had much more in me, but a can of coke and a few minutes sit down would set me up for some more I'm sure. I gave Nikki and Rich a big sweaty hug and jogged back down to Wendover hall. Greeted by Nici and James and a few other faces I faceplanted the floor and vaguely heard Nici say "Anna, you've finished" </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSR1MJwU80AjnQ276SVUeGooz9fKKFbTQn-0VQIvEfm0JMFKo-f9qFEXWKKildkQxYb-CO7ju1In_hn7HrPwzA8ffFLapJUajOmbw6X4sBBa1S4YLl_XhFJKdc-Q4GXawidJ39wJU6KPB/s1600/1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSR1MJwU80AjnQ276SVUeGooz9fKKFbTQn-0VQIvEfm0JMFKo-f9qFEXWKKildkQxYb-CO7ju1In_hn7HrPwzA8ffFLapJUajOmbw6X4sBBa1S4YLl_XhFJKdc-Q4GXawidJ39wJU6KPB/s1600/1030.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Yay!" I was so happy! I was the first and only lady to ever finish this event (ok, it's not comparable to previous years), I'd actually done a sub 11hr 50, the sub 24hr 100 can wait. The final distance was just under 60 miles and 2900m ascent. Although I think a few of those were unnecessary miles as others only clocked 55 miles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Nici drove me back to London and I was back clean and happy with a glass of bubbly by 4am. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">What an incredible adventure. It was amazing seeing the support on social media and from my friends. I better do some Nav practice before The Spine I guess! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks Centurion - it wasn't a total piece of piss ;-) but I had an absolute blast! :) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br />
</span>annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-31368828610974416062013-11-04T01:36:00.000+00:002013-11-04T01:36:42.213+00:00The Spine Challenger - Jan 2013 (Very long!)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Spine 2013</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></b> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCr722iQZl7cHJDfpKazQqKcQKcDvObHVvljoebNsgfZbhKdBsorkVqBRKP2YG3n5AbLC-Joue__2PkWbv6tdNG6ubaPPr1lGQ7F6nquEMP67PDguag5Rnc93Fz6-SkYzuYCxGAH5llgw/s1600/Spine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCr722iQZl7cHJDfpKazQqKcQKcDvObHVvljoebNsgfZbhKdBsorkVqBRKP2YG3n5AbLC-Joue__2PkWbv6tdNG6ubaPPr1lGQ7F6nquEMP67PDguag5Rnc93Fz6-SkYzuYCxGAH5llgw/s640/Spine.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m long overdue writing up this
event, to be honest it’s taken me a while to digest what was achieved and the
scale of what was overcome during this event and the run up. Having now decided
to go back and attempt the 2014 event it seemed like a good time to revisit it.
Be warned, this is going to be a long entry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How it came to my attention<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Around October last year my
friend James, who is something of a mountaineer/adventurer sent me an article
about this event which was essentially his way of daring me to enter this. He
knows I like to attempt the often downright stupid and enjoy a challenge and I
think that at times he likes to scratch some itches through me. I’m sure if he’d
been available he’d have been keen to join in the fun! So I had a look to see
what it was all about and to decide if I was up to the challenge, although,
those who know me will know that the seed would have already been planted by
now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is The Spine? <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Spine is described on the
event website as “Britain’s most brutal race. The longest, coldest and most
demanding mountain marathon in Britain. 268 miles of snow, cold and savage
winds. Competitors have 7 days to complete the race”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I devoured the details on the
website and upon further reading discovered the was a shorter (what later in
the field became known as “The Sprint”) distance – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only</b>
108 miles with a time limit of 60 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The course follows the entire length
of the Pennine Way which is a long distance walkers’ route up through the Peak
District, Dales and over the border of Scotland. It’s considered a tough route by
experienced walkers, who wouldn’t normally tackle anything longer than 20 mile
sections in summer weather. So to take on such a huge distance deep in winter
is considered pretty crazy! Oh, add to this that it is self-sufficient out on
the course carrying full expedition kit (tent, stove, food, sleeping bag
amongst other mandatory kit) with the full expectation that at some point you
will need so sleep outside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sprint version seemed like a
more sensible option, whilst it covered a large distance over the same pro-rated
time limit it meant that I didn’t need to take so much time off work and was a
more achievable completion, less chance of dying and still looked damn hard!
Note, this would also be my first Ultra. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both races started at the same
time from the same place in Edale, with only limit places<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>due to the highly challenging logistics for
the team of experienced organisers. Last year only 3 people completed the event
(2 completing the full 268 miles and 1 completing the 108 miles).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So there I was, an email
confirmation in my inbox stating I was signed up for the spine as well as a
training weekend in November. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Between entering and the Training
Weekend, “Team Chuckle Bros” had an outing at “The OMM” where we got to use all
our expensive light weight kit we’d purchased earlier that year. During the
course of the weekend and a hilariously dreadful performance both physically,
and navigationally I told Doug that I’d entered this event. Doug being Doug,
got race envy and by the end of the weekend was also going to be doing the
event so Team Chuckle would be attending, we’re a good team out in the field
though and being great friends means we can spot the tell-tale signs of
fatigue, food swings, laziness and can usually snap each other out of it, and
it sounded like the event would be one that would be safer and more enjoyable
as part of a team - plus, he had a super lightweight tent and would save me carrying
a bivvy ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Training Weekend<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The training weekend was set up
by the organisers to give the competitors (all of whom were exceptionally
experienced ultra runners), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some
frankly, lifesaving advice. I would say that had I not attended this, I would
have either died* or at least would not have got near to the finish. It was
designed for people to meet who else was competing, discuss kit, terrain,
survival techniques, with highly experienced adventurers and learn as much from
them and previous competitors as possible – their aim was to get people round,
not like some events where they seem to aim for certain levels of drop outs,
the guys genuinely wanted everyone to succeed and give them the correct tools
to do so. Physical fitness was down to us, even that though was something the
team wanted to be sure of and we had to prove ourselves on this training
weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without giving too much away as
the training weekend itself is worthy of its own blog post but it involved a 2 night
trip to Hebdon Bridge where we stayed in a scouts hut and had talks on foot
care from the amazing team of medics (a frightening insight to blisters, trench
foot and ejecting toenails), Talks on Navigation, sleeping systems, clothing,
mountain survival, trekking in winter conditions from the awesome team of Phil,
Scott, Conrad and John, all of whom have amazing backgrounds of many many years
of Mountain and Polar expeditions amongst other achievements I can only dream
of! We had to then put to the test all that we had learnt during a physical
test – a 48 mile tough off road loop of the Mary Towney Loop, with kit checks
along the way, erecting our sleeping systems, checking our stoves. All in all
it was a great day out, it put us to the test, and for me, this is the furthest
I’d ever have done in one go before and true to form, Team Chuckle Bros lived
up to our name rolling through the door last after the team had been
unsuccessfully been ringing us after we’d not been spotted since ducking into a
pub for chips and a pint about 10 miles from the end. But this late night gave
us invaluable practice at night navigation and testing out our cold kit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*may be an exaggeration<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Going home from this satisfied we
had all the gear and no idea, were likely to DNF if not die, training commenced
– for me, this meant a cheeky off road coastal marathon, followed by 3 weeks
over Christmas pissing it up in Thailand, and for Doug a more useful new year
spent in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All the kit but don’t know shit<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mandatory kit list for this
event is pretty huge, and has to be carried at all times for obvious reasons.
There were going to be 16 hours of darkness a day, sub zero temperatures,
likely ice, snow, wind, rain – we had to be prepared for all eventualities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Below is the mandatory kit list
and what I took (there is a real need for lightweight kit as you need to carry
all this whilst running/walking/sleeping), although it isn’t strictly a team
event, as Doug and I had said we wouldn’t be leaving each other during the
event we were able to share some equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compulsory<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Backpack/Rucksack – 32l OMM pack </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compass/Maps – Silva compass and Harvey maps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">GPS – Garmin eTrex 10<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whistle – Part of the OMM Pack (clever buckle with whistle hole) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Knife/Multi-tool etc – Doug took care of this (not saying he’s a tool
but….)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Head Torch with Spare batteries – Silva strap on thingy <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waterproof Trousers – OMM Kamleika <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waterproof Jacket with a hood – OMM Cypher <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hat, Gloves and spare socks<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Base Layer<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Appropriate clothing for mountain/fell running – Salamon Speedcross<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Medical Kit – Waterproof medical kit<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Survival Bag – emergency bivvy<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sleeping Bag (Extreme Rating) – PHD minimus 600<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roll Mat – thermarest neoair <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tent – Doug carried his Vaude Lizzeard (I think)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waterproof matches or similar – lighter <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stove with one pan to produce hot water – MSR micro rocket, MSR 0.85l
pot<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spork <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Water Carrying System – 2 Bottles<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Days rations – freeze dried porridge plus various other snacks and
treats<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mobile phone with charger – Samsung s3 mini and a charged power monkey<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Optional Equipment<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spare Set of Clothing – spare layers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Suncream<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>N/A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vaseline or similar – N/A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lip Salve – Cocoa butter <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waterproof Map Case – N/A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gaiters – N/A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Buff or similar – Buff<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hand Warmers – several heat packs<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Snow Shoes<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- N/A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Snow Spikes – Yaktrax<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bothy Bag<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- N/A<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As well as this I carried spare gloves, trekking poles and a down
jacket which I was given for Christmas and an ipod in case Doug annoyed me there
were also Checkpoints where we could have spare kit transported but the
checkpoints were mostly a day or so apart. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, enough of that techy stuff, let’s get on with the race weekend!
I’ll remember what I can (what I want to remember) and hopefully you’ll enjoy
what is one of my biggest achievements to date. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Spine Challenger<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, here we are the second <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friday of January in the middle of winter on a
train to Edale with a huge kit bag each looking very nervous and under prepared
as usual. There were a few other people on the train who were clearly also
racing and others we recognised from the training weekend, riding past frost
capped peaks and blue skies, we arrived at Edale station which conveniently was
100 yards from the race HQ and start. We walked across and found the organisers
setting up and waiting to check our mandatory kit, give us race briefings and
final safety info. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We seemed to be some of the first to arrive so we got our kit checked,
and a cup of coffee from one of the volunteers and chatted with some of the
others as they arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we had our kit checked someone kindly gave us a lift with our
stuff to the YHA we were staying at the night before the race, so we had the
opportunity to dump off some stuff before coming back for the race briefing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We headed back to race HQ and there were many more people, most of
which we recognised from the training weekend and we found our way to an empty
seat and enjoyed another very informative talk further putting fear into me
that we might die, talks of 100ft mine shafts out on the route, snow forecast,
50 mph winds which were expected. It was suddenly beginning to dawn on me that
I was way out of my depth, my comfort zone was somewhere south of Nottingham.
After race briefing we collected our numbers, and gave our final contact
details for whilst we’re out in the field, some people were taking part in some
testing for some research being carried out as part of someone’s masters, so
there were people giving blood samples and various things going on (and
something I’m banned from disclosing) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we were all done, we headed to a local pub for dinner and a couple
of pints (in true Team Chuckle Bros style), the YHA was about 2 miles away and
being from the south where all things are easy, we expected to be able to ring
for a cab – we were laughed out of the pub. We walked back to race HQ sheepishly
and managed to get a lift back from one of the volunteers, in time for what
wasn’t really an early night in our bunk beds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next morning came round too quickly and we packed up our things,
ate some breakfast and waited around for a lift (most of the other racers were
staying here too) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Somehow we were in the last group to leave, there seemed to be no more
vehicles to get into. We waited a little longer as the final people
disappeared. There was no mobile phone signal and the phone in the hostel didn’t
work. We waited ten minutes hoping that someone would come to get us, but no
one. It was getting close to the start time and we began panicking. We would struggle
to walk that far with our huge bags full of our spare kits so walking didn’t
seem like a great idea, plus it was pitch black and freezing. After a few more
minutes we saw some lights coming back up the drive and the girlfriend of one
of the racers had very sweetly come back for us! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After dropping our spare kit off, a quick taping of feet, pulling on of
sealskinz socks and final fettling we were ushered to the start, a few hundred
meters away outside the house of a very unfriendly woman who last year apparently
had hurled abuse at everyone. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A short speech from the race director and we were off on our way up the
Pennine Way! The route started with a steady climb up towards Jacobs Ladder – a
famous climb up towards Kinder Downfall, the front runners were off at a pace,
we were left near the rear huffing and puffing and immediately faffing, pulling
out trekking poles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we climbed up Jacobs ladder we noticed a quick dip in temperature,
the wind was high and the 50 mph speeds which we were promised did not
disappoint, the rocks under foot were frosty and slippery so we stopped in a
sheltered spot to pull on waterproof trousers and our yaktrax. These made a big
difference to the slipping we were experiencing as we climbed higher. After a
few miles of this, the field had already spread out considerably and it was clear
we were in the trailing group, not that this mattered, we weren’t here to win,
we were here for the experience and hopefully the medal! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we went round kinder downfall the wind was crazy, I was being blown
sideways into the hill, thankfully it was into and not off the hill! Forward
progress was increasingly difficult and the wind was sucking the air right out
of my mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first stage to Check Point one was about 42 miles, which would be
the same scout hut we spent the night in at the training weekend, here we could
if we chose take a sleep in the beds there, have some hot food a even a shower
if we wanted. For the sprint distance this was the only “proper” checkpoint
available to us and hence the only place we could swap any spare kit from our
drop bags. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day was a mixture of big hard climbs up, icy slabs across frozen
open windy moors and sometimes tricky navigation and of course that crazy
biting wind. I’m sorry to say I can’t remember much specific about this first
day but when nightfall came, down came a thick fog and sub-freezing
temperatures. The fog made it difficult to see where were we going obviously
and the light reflecting of it from our headtorches made it even more
difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Navigation was becoming tricky as we couldn’t make out any features, we
were among a load of large boulders which made us feel like we were on a
moonscape, GPS wasn’t helping much either but eventually we found our way back
on track. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The temperature was so cold, we put on our down jackets plus our waterproof
ones over the top, yet we were still cold. I could barely feel my fingers, even
with 3 pairs of gloves on, what I could feel of them was excruciating pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remembered the heat pads I had in my bag, stopped to pull some out
for each of us and gradually we begun to feel the relief from the warmth
spreading back into our gloves. Whilst the fog was making it difficult, it made
it feel like an epic adventure, I was glad of my team mate at that point, the
thought of being out in that fog on my own filled me with fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again I can’t remember much between here and the checkpoint, there were
patches along this section that we recognised as parts of the MTL had crossed
this section and we felt we should be close to the checkpoint, but as always
wishful thinking meant it was further than we thought. Eventually the map drew
us to the place we needed to turn off to the scout hut but on our way there hut
we had difficulty finding the way and spent a good hour trying to find the way
in and eventually picking a very precarious route down the slippery banks and
icy rocks to the hut. We were amazed to see people already heading back out
onto the next stage looking fresh and keen still. We were so tired, we just
wanted to get in and get our heads down for a few hours. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We signed into the checkpoint and had some hot food, we spent far too
long faffing around and after probably a couple of hours got our heads down for
a sleep. We set the alarms for about 5 so we could have a decent sleep and set
out just before first light. The morning proved more faffing and took too long having
breakfast before getting back out onto the next stage and saw that most people
had been and gone already. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now until the finish we would be outside, there was a unofficial CP 1.5
which we told was a tent where John Bamber would be with hot water and maybe
noodles if we were lucky and most people had made a plan to pitch up tents
there for a few hours. Fortunately the use of pubs and shops wasn’t prohibited,
as long as they were along the Pennine Way. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We set off again, knowing we weren’t even half way yet but still fairly
chipper, having had a nice nap and warmed up nicely. Once more the day was full
of big icy climbs, frozen slabs, reminding each other to keep grazing and
sipping. Throughout the second day the wind had dropped and the cloud cover had
increased. It was still cold but during the day it was much more bearable. It
was around lunch time (in normal times) and we could see on the map we were
very close to a pub so we decided that we’d stop here briefly to get warm, get
a hot drink and a snack. As we made our way down the hill into the small
village we began to see snow falling lightly around us. It looked beautiful and
put a spring in our step as we trotted down towards the pub. The snow was quite
wet at this point so we were keen to get in out of it before we got too wet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Inside the pub we met about a dozen other racers, including Dan, a guy
who was training to climb Everest, who was in a terrible state, unable to walk
and waiting for a lift off the course and very disappointed to be retiring from
the event. We had to take off our shoes as rightly the landlord didn’t want us
traipsing mud through his floors, he kindly let us put all our kit in the back
room. We ordered some drinks and crisps and had a sit down by the fire and
chatted to the other guys. Most people were in good spirits, a few people were
treating blisters. Looking back at some of the other events I’ve done compared
to this one, is that the drop out rate on this was much lower than some of the
more subscribed events as it seems that people are much more prepared for this
sort of thing than say ticking off one of the big events like UTLD. Some of the
guys were having full meals but we’d already earmarked a pub further along that
we wanted to stop at for hot food (assuming we made it there before the kitchen
shut)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After another slightly too long stop we relayered our clothing and
headed back out into the now settling snow. It was settling across the field we
were now walking across, and less wet. It was quite exciting and made the
adventure seem even more epic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the afternoon drew on, the snow thickened and the layer on the floor
obliterated the grass and mud and trails beneath it. The good thing about this
is that it made navigating a little easier, as you could see foot prints,
although some tracks were way off the track so we still kept our eyes on the
map and GPS. The snow soon became hard work, as we traipsed through it.
Fortunately the sealskin socks were doing a great job at keeping my feet warm
and dry. The snow had stopped for now although a couple of inches lay on the
ground with drifts forming. It was dark again before long and we knew that we’d
have to camp out tonight. We hoped to get to the place in which to camp by
11pm, and with our planned pub stop not far from here we plodded on and found a
lovely pub in which to get a hot feed and sit by the amazing open fire. We were
cold again and tired, the appeal of just laying down and sleeping there was too
much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We checked our maps whilst we waited for our food and it looked like it
wasn’t far to go to get to CP1.5 just at the top of Malham Tarn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After dragging ourselves away from the lovely warm fire, we had to face
the cold again, the snow was falling again lightly as we found our way back on
to the Pennine Way. The next few hours were hard, we knew it was only a about 5
miles to go til we could stop and sleep but our bodies and minds were beginning
to trick us. Doug was beginning to doubt his navigation and getting frustrated
at minor errors. I realised that he was cold and not eating enough despite stopping
for food, so I tried to encourage him to eat. We could see lights across the
other side of the river but we knew that we definitely needed to be on the side
we were on, so it looked as if someone else were having difficulty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We checked how many lights there were, there were more than one, so we
were happy to carry on rather than wait for a solitary light to find their way
over. Eventually our two sets of lights converged and we met Annie and Tom,
Annie had gotten wet when her drink bottle leaked and was so wearing her
emergency bag as a cape to keep warm. I offered her some of my water but she didn’t
take any. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Doug and I carried on and took the lead up towards Malham Tarn. I can’t
remember at what point it had started hurting but I had a really bad knee, I
couldn’t bend my right one, I was intermittently dropping to put it in the snow
to freeze it, and the next stage was going to cause big pain. We had a couple
of hundred steps up towards another moonscape, I dragged my straightened leg
behind me up each individual step wincing every time I swung it up to the next
step. As we reached the top we could see<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>it was a surreal place, of giant snow coloured rocks that could have
been sheep to our sleep deprived eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no clear route and it wasn’t clear
if we were just climbing up in order to go back down again, it seemed
unrealistic to think that anyone would be up there waiting for us. I wasn’t
convinced we were making progress as we continued through the snow. After a
long time wandering round the frozen moon we finally saw the light of John
Bambers tent and made our way in to get a hot drink, it was 2am and we had
taken much longer than we had hoped to get here. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBnSy10n7o1u4h5qqjvhlTeMsY6eldJCbthw44Nz_JU0bLIuElAtGVGoeGhJo4Tu6rY2ojWlJXBuzdozvh4OznU5xSYUbtYkxU-UhNp1pL7GGuGCfboS8LwUSg0a9qOkt-hp05EvnZaCW/s1600/Malham+tarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBnSy10n7o1u4h5qqjvhlTeMsY6eldJCbthw44Nz_JU0bLIuElAtGVGoeGhJo4Tu6rY2ojWlJXBuzdozvh4OznU5xSYUbtYkxU-UhNp1pL7GGuGCfboS8LwUSg0a9qOkt-hp05EvnZaCW/s320/Malham+tarn.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Outside was bitter, we needed sleep so carrying straight on through was
not an option, we had only until 8pm tomorrow evening now to get back, but in
our heads we broke it down. To the next big mountain climb was about 6 miles,
we would sleep, then get to there. Then from there we’d break it down further
but first, sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Setting up the tent wasn’t the most efficient process and it was so
cold we were both shivering. We both laid out the tent, then whilst Doug erected
it, I started heating water and inflating thermarests. The ground was so frozen
Doug was struggling to stick the pegs into the ground. I set up the inside of
the tent and made us some hot food whilst Doug bent pegs. He was shivering cold
so I forced him into the tent where we ate some porridge and crawled into our
sleeping bags fully clothed, still in our down jackets. We set our alarms for
5am with the hope of getting a couple of hours sleep, the sleep we had was
dreadful, I kept waking up shivering uncontrollably, and could hear Doug
suffering the same. Even with two of us huddled together it was bitter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5am came and the alarm went off, it was time to break camp, we knew it
would be horrific but it had to be done. I heated some more water to make
breakfast whilst Doug pulled down bits of tent but left it up enough so we
could shelter inside to eat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we finally got out of the tent it was miserably cold and packing
up took too long again. But we were again on our way, and onto the final (ish)
leg! The snow was deeper up here and we had a long slog to get to Pen-Y-Ghent
which I was dreading. A huge climb up with scrambling and snow. Not my
favourite combo! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the light changed through from pitch black to purple sky the air
once more filled with snow, this time, incredibly hard. Giant flakes coating
our hats, sticking to our eyelashes. My hands became unbearably cold again –
worse than the first night. The snow was becoming a blizzard and not so fun
anymore. It was a long long trek to go, and as we descended down into some
farmland the world opened up and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suddenly felt very exposed. If a car had come at that point and offered us a
lift, I would have taken it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next couple of hours, I was going through mixed emotions of fear,
hunger, tiredness…my knee seemed less sore today so maybe the sleep had helped
or maybe the cold was numbing it. The snow was still falling but slowing as we
started to ascend a thousand steps up towards Pen-Y- Ghent. We couldn’t see 30
ft above our heads so it was impossible to see how high up the mountain went or
how far we had to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was expecting it to just be a bunc of steps up, but looking at our
elevation on the GPS we were barely a quarter up. We climbed up and up and up
these fucking steps. After a long while the footing changed, and we were
beginning to scramble up frightening ridges. I was terrified. One foot wrong
and fall a thousand feet to certain death. Still unable to see the top, I was
panic breathing and really unhappy to be scrambling up here in the snow. Doug
was climbing well and seemed fearless, he encouraged me up and pulled me up
where I needed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
F<span style="font-family: Calibri;">inally we came to the top and saw the trig point. I was so relieved!
Then we saw Conrad and another volunteer waiting just past the top and stopped
for a chat with them, we didn’t think we’d make it back in time but they said
that it was about 25k to go to the end now, and we were making good time and
would make it back – 25k much less than we thought, so with that we ran on down
the next hill. Doug told me to stay right behind him, I didn’t question why (it
later transpired this was the field of mineshafts I’d been terrified of and he
didn’t want me to be alarmed).Fortunately we didn’t fall down one. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We ran on for a couple of miles through the snow, stopped for a couple
of minutes as we saw Scott climbing up towards us. He also assured us we could
get to the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Woo! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The route was a lot flatter for a while but I was starting to have food
swings and wanted to stop and sit down. Doug let us do this for a while. My eyes
were funny from the snow. I was tired, and I wanted sleep. By our reckoning it
was about 10 miles to go. We knew there was a long boring roman road to come
not far from here. What we didn’t envisage was how terrible it would be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
T<span style="font-family: Calibri;">he whole length of this (about 6 miles) I did nothing but bitch. It
was terrible, I hated it, it was flat, boring and white. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> W</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">hat was nice was every now and then, messages were written in the snow
by the front runners – words of encouragement. I was slowing though and holding
Doug back, he had to urge me on and put up with my tantrums. Finally we were
coming to the end of the Roman road and could spot where we needed to turn
left. There were some photographers there and they gave us some biscuits and
told us that it’s not far now (I know that I’m never to believe anyone when
they say this) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We left them and turned off only to thrown into the coldest, harshest
head wind I’ve ever experienced. It cut right through us and was hell to walk
into. There was no let up for some miles and the light was again beginning to change.
In the distance we could see the lights for the village where we would be
finishing. Eventually we were sheltered from the wind and started making our
way towards the lights, only to have to zig zag our way back the other way. We
dropped down into some fields and followed the foot prints across some more
fields. We hurried along trying to get back before nightfall so we didn’t have
to get our headtorches out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We must be close now surely! I could almost taste that pint! We left
the field and made our way through the village in search of the finish – and there,
there were the flags! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We hobbled through the door and into the hall to a few claps. People
were being patched up, some were napping and others leaving for the next stage.
Except us, we’d finished our race and now we were given the medals to prove it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I looked at my feet and there was a gold ball size lump of ice stuff to
my laces where snow had been gathering throughout the day. We hobbled off and
found a B & B to stay at, each had a hot shower a pint and a delicious well
earned dinner before passing out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sorry I’ve missed out details but I’m sure this January I’ll be
reminded of the bits I’ve blocked out. Having relived the above, I’m now
terrified once more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roll on the Spine 2014!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-40114490485649251612013-09-24T00:33:00.003+01:002013-09-24T00:33:31.634+01:00Hardmoors 60 (and the rest) I entered this event before I'd even considered the ring of fire and had been quite looking forward to it. I love the opportunity to explore new places and I've never been to Yorkshire where this event is set. <br />
<br />
My work colleagues are getting used to my responses when asked what I'm doing at the weekend being slightly out of the norm, but when I replied "just a 100k race this week" it still received the same questions of "why?" <br />
<br />
The why for me is that I get to visit amazing places I wouldn't normally go and push myself in ways I wouldn't normally do, with the hope of achieving the (sometimes) impossible. <br />
<br />
It has only been 3 weeks since the Ring of Fire and I've been high as a kite since then, although I spent a week hobbling round on a fat cankle which I was concerned may be a stress fracture - fortunately an xray showed up nothing although it still hurt. In these three weeks I've done pretty much nothing in the way of running, but the intention was 2 weeks rest, which I dutifully did, and before finalising transport and accommodation I went for a little spin round my local trail and was surprised at how bouncy I felt! The ankle felt fine, the groin twinged a bit (not like that) but my outer thigh hurt where I'd drunkenly cycled back to the station from the pub and fallen off then being woken up by the train manager in London after missing my stop. Fail. <br />
<br />
Anyhow, back to the race. This one as the name suggests is 60 miles in the north Yorkshire moors, it's worth 2 UTMB points, so it was never going to be an easy 60. Especially with 3500m of ascent and a pretty tight cut off of 16 hours. The route take on part of the Cleveland way which is largely a coastal trail, I knew a few people who were doing it from the Spine Race so was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and catching up on their adventures. <br />
<br />
In my brain 60 miles seemed highly manageable after the last race, I mean - I would be starting fresh and I can just stop at the end and that's it. Done. Right?<br />
<br />
I arranged my logistics so that as I was in the London office on Friday (and a tad hungover) I would get a train out to Peterborough to rent a car and drive up to Scarborough from there and hence saving about 3 extra hours in the car. Also the added bonus that I could drop in to see Penny and David on the way up and back. I got to P & D's to drop off my valuables that I didn't want to leave in the car overnight and was "talked into" having dinner. If anyone remembers PENNY'S AMAZING CHOCOLATE CAKE from my TR24 report a few years ago, you will maybe be aware how amazing her cooking is. So obviously I couldn't turn it down. <br />
<br />
I eventually headed up to Scarborough to find my hostel, half an hour into the drive I realised I'd left my charger in my laptop bag - at P & D's. I looked at the phone - 33% battery - my phone is a guzzler, and the mandatory kit stated that a fully charged phone must be carried. So I stopped off to pick up an in car charger. I arrived at the hostel around 11:30pm to find the doors locked up... hmmm..... I went round the back and saw there was someone inside and pushed the door open. He said the reception fella was in bed so I wasn't really sure what to do. I went upstairs and tried a few doors, until I found one unlocked. Poked my head round the door to find a guy in bed reading with a headtorch on. I explained what had happened and asked if I could pinch one of the bunks, we introduced ourselves - his name was Lawrence and was also doing the race - and getting up at 4am!! Waaaa! <br />
<br />
I got myself sorted and settled into a fitful sleep to be awakened at 4, I snoozed until about 4:30 and decided to get up, I had to be at Filey School before 5:40 in order to get the coach to the start at Guisborough. <br />
<br />
Packing my kit I soon discovered I'd forgotten my headtorch (another item of mandatory kit) I was wondering if they'd let me start on the assumption that I'd pull out when I got to a check point nearing darkness. I didn't think this would wash. So I hurriedly pack my stuff and set off early in search of a 24 hour garage. What I found was even better - a 24 hour Tescos - perfect - I could buy some breakfast too. <br />
<br />
So headtorch and breakfast and a cheeky iced bun for my drop bag later I'm at Filey School and waiting eagerly for the bus where I spot JZ of the Spine fame. We get on the bus and chat about the adventures we've been having, which we're planning. He began trying to convince me that attempting the full spine race would be a great idea! (it's a bad idea) in fact, on my drive up, I decided it's about time I wrote up that experience so I'll do that soon :) <br />
<br />
We arrived at the registration, signed on, had kit checked, and before we knew it, it was time to go! I was feeling pretty good and excited to get going, let's see what the day has in store. <br />
<br />
JZ, myself and his friend Nigel teamed up and started chatting and running together, almost immediately we hit a climb which took us to Highcliff Nab - I'd read somewhere that the first 3 miles climbs 1000ft - whilst it wasn't totally destroying at this stage it was a harsh start! <br />
<br />
We ran along at a fairly decent pace for the first 10 miles, getting a little carried away at the potential finish times. It was too early days to be looking at that yet! Rob (another Spiner) also joined us and the 4 of us trotted along happily for a while, enjoying the nice trails, lots of steps which came and went seemed so harmless in these early miles. I was being careful to keep grazing and sipping, so I didn't bonk and it was paying off. The weather was amazing! Gorgeous clear skies, a slight breeze and the sun beaming down no us. <br />
<br />
After the first main checkpoint, I felt a bit crappy - maybe I'd eaten too much flapjack, JZ, Nigel and I left Rob at the checkpoint as he was with his Mrs so said he'd catch us up. <br />
<br />
We then had an almighty steep climb up some steps - not the steps you get in the street, these are giant size steps with uneven spacing between and an extra lip that trips you up if you don't lift your leg quite high enough. These are interspersed with steps carved out of the mud on off camber pieces of ground. I reached the top to see the other two had made got quite far ahead of me; well about 50 meters but that's a fair amount to catch up after a leg burning climb. I let my legs flush out before trotting on to see if I could catch them.<br />
<br />
I wasn't feeling too good so I just ran at my own pace for a while, assuming they'd now gone - which was fine. I was thinking perhaps I'd set off a little quick so best to put something back in the tank. The weather was really hotting up and I was really feeling it. <br />
<br />
After a couple more ridiculous climbs of steps - the downs were as painful as the ups - I found JZ and Nige at the top waiting for me, I said to them to carry on, and I'd catch them later as I wasn't able to keep up at the moment so they trotted off and I followed behind at a slower pace, slightly glad of less pressure to keep up. <br />
<br />
The next 15 or 20 miles were a bit of non descript, I was feeling a bit "can't be assed" and was having thoughts like, I could just do 30 and go home, 30 is enough isn't it? I don't know what got into me, my heart just wasn't really in it. I was feeling a bit of pressure on the pace as the cut offs were pretty tight so there was no time to enjoy the scenery or take photos (which is why there aren't any) I was struggling with the heat too and started to feel burnt so put my cap on to stop a week of peeling forehead!<br />
<br />
There was some confusion entering one of the towns so I had to do a map check - which I'd much rather do than wander aimlessly, got back on track and carried on. The route passed over a beach and up a waterfall type thing, which I regret not getting a picture of now as it was stunning! <br />
<br />
Heading into Whitby and I'd done about 30 miles now, I was halfway and not in too bad a time - a sub 7 hour 30 over that terrain was good for me. That was a good landmark and started to feel more positive again, I gave myself a slap for having lazy thoughts and told myself off, what is the point in entering events if you can't be assed to finish. <br />
<br />
Whitby was a horrid place for a runner, it was crawling with stoppers (stoppers for those who don't know are people who mindlessly stop right in front of you; the types you get in busy London streets) the narrow streets were littered with tourists with dogs on trip wires. I showed that I didn't care by trotting through smiling like a crazy person, not really sure which way I should be heading, until I saw a sign which said "199 steps" - I recalled someone mentioning this. I found them and climbed on up - these weren't so bad after all - they were concrete ones so very much pedestrian friendly. <br />
<br />
When I got to the top, I stumbled back across JZ and Nigel who'd found an ice cream van and were tucking into cans of coke and I presume 99 flakes. Nigel had been suffering badly from cramp but we all ran on again towards the next check point which was to be at about 37 miles or so. We were running on fairly well now, and catching people and overtaking, chatting as we went. More sets of steps took as up and down the cliffs, the legs were starting to hurt with them now! Nige was really struggling with cramp and not in the greatest of moods but still carried on, although JZ and I had to force him to run. <br />
<br />
We pulled into the checkpoint where there was soup and hot drinks and salt, all had a little sit down, refuelled and then got on our way to the next check point which was just 5 miles away. My legs felt stiff after a few minutes sitting down but it wasn't long before we were climbing again up a monster of a hill into Ravenscar where we picked up a few more runners, Nigel seemed to be getting worse but still, kept going onto the next checkpoint where we topped up our water and snacks for the next stage to Scarborough, which was a long 11 miles. <br />
<br />
We set off and before long it became apparent Nigel really wasn't well, he was complaining he felt feverish and his core temperature was too high, I pointed out that he was running, of course it would be high, but he insisted that he doesn't sweat even running in the heat, he was struggling to run at all and before long he'd stopped and puked up what could have been his entire stomach contents. <br />
<br />
We let him recover and realised that looking at the miles we had left and the time in which to do it wasn't looking good to make the cut off. The sun would be setting in the next hour so I suggested we ran until the sun set as after dark we'd naturally slow so JZ and I took in turns setting the pace in the front and stopping to wait for Sick Boy to catch up, he really wasn't up for running and I'm sure he wanted to smack us in the face everytime we set off again, but I was impressed by his ability to carry on. <br />
<br />
Sick Boy made the decision to pull out at the next checkpoint and that we should run on and leave him. Of course we weren't going to do that to someone in that state, so we slowed the pace down and let him attempt recovery. <br />
<br />
The sun set a beautiful sunset and the moon rose beautiful and orange shining with a moustached of clouds reflecting across the sea, I so wanted to take some photos but we had no time. As we were trekking through some spooky woods with yet more steps, I pulled out my trusty Tesco flashlight and was impressed that it was actually pretty decent for ten quid!<br />
<br />
There was still a long way to go before the checkpoint at Scarborough and time was getting away, but Nige wasn't in any state to run. So we walked on and got caught up by another trailing group. We all teamed up for a while, one of the was intermittently heaving up his guts so I skipped past him so I didn't run through a pile. The guy who took the lead of the group set a crazy fast marching pace, but miraculously Sick Boy was able to keep up, whilst I had to keep running to keep up! It was a bit of an annoying pace, I'd rather have just run, not runrunrunrunrunrun......walk....runrunrunrunrunrun......walk but we were making better progress now. <br />
<br />
We were getting closer to scarborough now and the CP list said it was at 51 miles in, we'd done 50 now so it must be close, we walked along a twisty trail and all of a sudden the hills filled with the sound of horror... the sound of a man being attacked by a wild boar and falling from a cliff, the sound of a man falling and yelling for help!<br />
<br />
We all stopped dead, to see the kerfuffle, one of the group was on the floor yelling "Cramp! Cramp! push my toes back!" a couple of the guys helped him <br />
<br />
I immediately got the giggles - I know I shouldn't have but the drama that went on was a bit excessive. At first I'd thought he'd fallen into the thistle bushes he was near which would have been painful! I tried to urge Nige on past - they were blocking the whole trail and we were running out of time. Once more the world filled with terror and screaming, and the man seemed to have been electrocuted into a stiff horizontal state and again I just couldn't help my giggles. <br />
<br />
I don't know what had gotten into me, I think I'd been getting grumpy upto this point but we then all carried on and the group split as some of them met up with support crews as we dropped into Scarborough. We could see far in the distance round the cliffs that we had a long way to go to the checked point, the current mileage said we should be there and inside the cut off but reality was we had 3 miles to go and 25 mins to get there. I joked that if we could do 8 min miles we'd make it, JZ reckoned we could, Nige didn't want to run on the tarmac so we just trudged our way there, he was still talking about pulling out here.<br />
<br />
I was getting grumpy about the mileage being wrong and probably missing the cut off, we finally made it there (54 miles in case you wondered!) and although we were outside the cut off they said we could carry on. It was only 9 more miles to the end and I said to Nige that he should do it, it was silly to pull out now and we could walk it back in. <br />
<br />
The next 3 hours, I'd like to erase from my memory. <br />
I was an utter misery. The hills were insanely hard to get up, the steps were making my face contort, the incorrect mileage was pissing me off, I stomped behind like a spoiled teenager, huffing and puffing, grumbling every time new steps appeared. A couple of miles up was a pointless part of trail which was a whole load of steps down to the cliff edge along the coastal path a couple of hundred yards then back up another set off steps to find ourselves only 100m down the road we'd left to go down! (there was a marshal there checking that people didn't cheat here) <br />
<br />
I was walking along, seeing things which weren't there, I was so tired that I was sleep walking, I just wanted to be in, off this stupid trail and in my sleeping bag. But no, the trail went on and on and on. I could see Filey in the distance but we'd gone past it! <br />
<br />
I checked the mileage - we'd done 61 miles, we should be finished by now, but the trail went on. I moaned to myself, the guys were ahead of me still, probably wanting to slap me in the moody face! <br />
We did what felt like more pointless detours searching for a self clipping check point which we never found, and ambled along. I hadn't eaten since Scarborough but was too tired to and it wasn't far now, I didn't need to. Getting more angry that we still weren't back and we'd done 63 miles now I stamped my feet like a brat! <br />
<br />
Eventually we came to the golf course and Nige said it was just up there where those lights are and then a right turn and we're home. I could see the lights but as we walked they weren't getting any closer. It took forever to get there all the time my grumbling mardy face stuck in a big old frown. <br />
<br />
We finally came up to the lights and turned up the road to the school, every step was an effort, I was sure I'd never been this tired before. The finish was past the car park and round the other side of the school, I had the car key with me, I wasn't going to go in, then come back to the car. No way was I walking any further since checking the mileage and just being shy of 65 miles! I stopped at the car and got my sleeping bag and a few bits walked to the school hall with the guys in a daze and walked into see Jon and anyone who was awake cheering us back. We received our finishers tshirts, and were offered food and coffee. I wasn't sure what I wanted, I don't think I wanted anything. Just sleep. <br />
I went and had a quick tramps wash and crawled into my sleeping bag. <br />
<br />
There was no euphoria this time, but I am pleased that I found the drive in me to push through even when I felt like utter shit. I wouldn't have got through the last few miles without JZ and Nigel with the dodgy navigation, so massive thanks to them and up until that bad patch we'd been having a great time together - as for the Spine? I don't think so.....<br />
<br />
For going back for another Hardmoors 60? Definitely not, thousands of steps left me a broken girl! <br />
<br />
The organisation of the event though was excellent and as always with these types of events the marshals are amazing!<br />
<br />
For me next - a bit of a rest as I've done a lot of big events this year so a week off, a house move, a holiday in the Caribbean and then start a new training plan when my batteries are recharged :-) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-71448150783233277632013-09-05T23:06:00.001+01:002013-09-05T23:27:56.681+01:00The Ring O' Fire - 135 mile Coastal Ultra Marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvUZ9uA5Mj31fn9MXLFU-FAbFk7cLr1cNeJVssMvcddhyfUytYsZhQasRprT4qPhM7ggbEQ0aJ8jTt9CQlnk55GgZeS1lIwDOdNsmN198Wl3VxROsz9uzqCeLyZq7mLNZOZyWX1ndqkqb/s1600/20130901_115641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvUZ9uA5Mj31fn9MXLFU-FAbFk7cLr1cNeJVssMvcddhyfUytYsZhQasRprT4qPhM7ggbEQ0aJ8jTt9CQlnk55GgZeS1lIwDOdNsmN198Wl3VxROsz9uzqCeLyZq7mLNZOZyWX1ndqkqb/s400/20130901_115641.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another weekend, another adventure in the hills. This time in the form of a multi stage ultra marathon, called "The Ring O' Fire" - the name stands out for itself! It's a single lap of the Island of Anglesey - some 135 miles and 13,000 ft of ascent. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeirl1dl_lJkFSkB9UHbKQTSNU7X32HLg3B0cuhYc6UFk_47uHk9YQ-CBhsfAbJneODK1FuspElZdVHTa_JX7uIR_3x8FEjIHEusKtIrIzB7g_VTiMKUuijn1-McmkMCeuoZctk4Bbgjf/s1600/ROF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeirl1dl_lJkFSkB9UHbKQTSNU7X32HLg3B0cuhYc6UFk_47uHk9YQ-CBhsfAbJneODK1FuspElZdVHTa_JX7uIR_3x8FEjIHEusKtIrIzB7g_VTiMKUuijn1-McmkMCeuoZctk4Bbgjf/s320/ROF.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I was lucky enough to get a late entry to this event 3 weeks before the event. Since the UTSW I've been bitterly disappointed with myself but it has also given me a bit of a kick up the arse. So with the event entered I did a bit of training, given I didn't have long before a taper I put in a couple of solid weeks before picking up a very painful groin injury. With a week's rest, some panic physio and a shit-tonne of stretching and strength training in the gym, I was feeling less sore and excited to get to the start. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzgE9T9yQFA3FfTkJpTdmOK9h6vubyGlpuBV1i8C2AYVcexKdfMdDYuSQT04qTKCTCnroN3u07CC11R_h0MD6X11mJsoIFZ6pNlD6LfT41NflaTF8CG01X_X2KGMM0ZhQFCgS331p21B/s1600/20130830_115457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzgE9T9yQFA3FfTkJpTdmOK9h6vubyGlpuBV1i8C2AYVcexKdfMdDYuSQT04qTKCTCnroN3u07CC11R_h0MD6X11mJsoIFZ6pNlD6LfT41NflaTF8CG01X_X2KGMM0ZhQFCgS331p21B/s320/20130830_115457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The schedule of the event was as follows: <br />
<br />
Friday: 1pm Start of a 35 mile section with a 3 check points with cut offs final cut off of midnight<br />
Saturday: 6am start for a 65 mile stage and final cut off time of 4am<br />
Sunday: 6am Start for a final 35 mile stage with a final cut of 5:30pm <br />
<br />
On first look the cut offs look like you could walk it. But add in to this, coastal paths, big hills, steps, majority off road and sleep deprivation and it's not so generous after all and looking at the results from last year only half the field finished. <br />
<br />
My friend Doug was also entered for the event so we arranged to meet up on the Thursday night, get some food and have a pre race catch up. We'd previously teamed up for the OMM and The Spine as well as a couple of Adventure races so had implied that we'd try and stick together. My race plan was to do a goodish time on Day 1, and get through day 2 and 3 without too much injury. After a few beers a pizza and a check of the maps we got our heads down for an early night. <br />
<br />
Friday morning came too soon and we were up, repacking kit bags, drop bags, ate some breakfast and headed off to the race registration. Having arrived after dark last night I hadn't got a look at any scenery and straight away I was stunned by the views of the sea. The weather was pleasant and forecast for the weekend was good and I was excited to get started!<br />
<br />
Registration was from 11am but it had been revealed a few days earlier that we'd be getting a very special send off - by Prince William no less so we arrived a bit earlier to ensure we got to park. There were several paparazzo knocking around who were obviously there for us! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlRHHjpq8lt7RxH9uUxHJE38Pep2p5ugvnFHxrdGn-p4uu_lSgmWkIGO1EJFFUXL1PUdlNW4IJG_cRd9ZuumstC5Ef07hbz8FNo_VO_az4YQY-iap0RLDbFEKLyqL8qY9qbjVerFsNfyZ/s1600/20130830_115401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlRHHjpq8lt7RxH9uUxHJE38Pep2p5ugvnFHxrdGn-p4uu_lSgmWkIGO1EJFFUXL1PUdlNW4IJG_cRd9ZuumstC5Ef07hbz8FNo_VO_az4YQY-iap0RLDbFEKLyqL8qY9qbjVerFsNfyZ/s320/20130830_115401.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
We had our kit taken up to the registration area by the organisers and we made our way up to sign on and pick up our numbers. I was handed a t-shirt with a cute message on (nice touch) and some complimentary 3Bars and number 014. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLq66Ro3Ygk1ePKG9jPO4bSkond0rbQSJxRWFUfqzc-i7e-ooY9BEbjvo685o6Fh2PTrwPx4SMmihg-wV7wbF-3Y35xS88044mbihyphenhyphenwvamY4-F6MAVmXEwG0haY-hqI_jJfS3Arm8llpJB/s1600/20130830_110909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLq66Ro3Ygk1ePKG9jPO4bSkond0rbQSJxRWFUfqzc-i7e-ooY9BEbjvo685o6Fh2PTrwPx4SMmihg-wV7wbF-3Y35xS88044mbihyphenhyphenwvamY4-F6MAVmXEwG0haY-hqI_jJfS3Arm8llpJB/s320/20130830_110909.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Before long we were treated to not only Prince William but also Kate Middleton walking up to meet and greet a select few - she looked amazing - even if she hadn't given birth only weeks ago! I was desperate for a pee but wasn't sure if it was a bit inappropriate to drop my shorts and take a slash in a bush behind the royals! More to the point, I didn't want to get papped with my pants down or snipered! In any case, I only had 5 mins til the off so I ran down a lane and did my business. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25NRZnR6GQF84inRpk0hFYmpMTl2RfYWtTdJv3o1E876Io0N_s1re9GJbuwvHgw6J_7X7XBV_iKpEhMWy0eonexAVzQOH_mVqen2RPnW5QCWOKMy49sm-WafZ_zzPLPZckjHqnwgd71JU/s1600/20130830_124104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25NRZnR6GQF84inRpk0hFYmpMTl2RfYWtTdJv3o1E876Io0N_s1re9GJbuwvHgw6J_7X7XBV_iKpEhMWy0eonexAVzQOH_mVqen2RPnW5QCWOKMy49sm-WafZ_zzPLPZckjHqnwgd71JU/s320/20130830_124104.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_WHS8qaaK4hC77qeVKLGqmI3rZi4ObQ8aBvYg5TNouPPV7GPx1gF7Au66PGYQ1N7IsRpLlFFrR4ZvXKBuWZdJdvJ_VasHl9RuWSOIcE7xGByrMIrkjpdkxCK0lpxFWvvrvbi3gM6dOdD/s1600/20130830_124056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_WHS8qaaK4hC77qeVKLGqmI3rZi4ObQ8aBvYg5TNouPPV7GPx1gF7Au66PGYQ1N7IsRpLlFFrR4ZvXKBuWZdJdvJ_VasHl9RuWSOIcE7xGByrMIrkjpdkxCK0lpxFWvvrvbi3gM6dOdD/s320/20130830_124056.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Soon we were under starters orders (in the form of Prince William) and the bell was rung, and Jonny Cash played out "it burns burns burns!" and oh it would burn! <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9vHZZ0D_tl-oTQiLGxcqQyZp0uUl09OCaSPDe5SyHvW9AFKcuBaYEFIDKfAx0zOkof00M6bZOm6hQ4wYpZFEB_Ikv-5Ca4hEI9Ly63H0ATRw0wiHWQEe__2WrZ89CZbQDGqXEJL-_eec/s1600/20130830_110433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9vHZZ0D_tl-oTQiLGxcqQyZp0uUl09OCaSPDe5SyHvW9AFKcuBaYEFIDKfAx0zOkof00M6bZOm6hQ4wYpZFEB_Ikv-5Ca4hEI9Ly63H0ATRw0wiHWQEe__2WrZ89CZbQDGqXEJL-_eec/s320/20130830_110433.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
To the Race!<br />
<br />
Day 1: <br />
As mentioned my plan was to do a reasonable time this day and Doug planned to try to keep up (not that I'm much quicker than him) due to the volume of people trying to get through one kissing gate the start was fairly slow to begin with but once we spread out we set off at a comfortable 10 min/mile pace with amazing views to the left of the sea as we rose up and down the single track trails then looped onto a short section of road, only to be nearly hit by the royals in their Range Rovers! That would have been a good tale to tell! <br />
<br />
The route was following coastal walk signs which was largely well sign posted which was odd as along the road section everyone was going straight on but the sign turned right and up over a bridge. I wanted to follow the masses but Doug was adamant that the trail went over the bridge since he'd walked round there yesterday. I went along begrudged still not believing that <strong>everyone </strong>else would go the wrong way!? <br />
<br />
When we popped out of the train station and found ourselves back on the track and ahead of people who were ahead of us, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and put him back in charge of nav! <br />
<br />
The first check point was about 10 miles in and we got there in a fairly good time, feel good I made a sprint for the check point. Doug followed suit and we crossed the line together (I think I was a bit ahead!) <br />
<br />
The day went by in a blur of gorgeous hidden bays, and stunning views, I couldn't stop grinning, <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP2wc6hyxcORrteL1aRwC2WyMBST_K8zXnIfLQhouzPXkZBMS7d2Voh3KcidzfixIMq6Wo8F8Z8NlDjs_mbGkkHa4TR-mdz5AJlnodlc562QrwY30IL5FijYUSV6gBjhaxSEwrXMRMwSc/s1600/20130830_154955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZP2wc6hyxcORrteL1aRwC2WyMBST_K8zXnIfLQhouzPXkZBMS7d2Voh3KcidzfixIMq6Wo8F8Z8NlDjs_mbGkkHa4TR-mdz5AJlnodlc562QrwY30IL5FijYUSV6gBjhaxSEwrXMRMwSc/s200/20130830_154955.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
taking pictures when I saw a nice view and larking about. I was feeling strong and wanted to jog and jog along the lovely single track but there was still a long way to go! My injury felt fine - I'd put a good deal of rock tape on it but it felt fine. I taped up a hot spot on one of my feet from my new trainers (always do an event in a pair of shoes you've never worn!) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuxHIvWhylgsNSdT3_NsY3-1burhIvQkD_GVnpgZsssq3AcKQ2RbsxpOW5mpHBb7t8ktxfTGtR66PkI5beKcVmWY1fexKrm32EuOS7bQplVpQPy0i1UW5btenPezhhoS9bZKwFjRnexSj/s1600/20130830_153628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuxHIvWhylgsNSdT3_NsY3-1burhIvQkD_GVnpgZsssq3AcKQ2RbsxpOW5mpHBb7t8ktxfTGtR66PkI5beKcVmWY1fexKrm32EuOS7bQplVpQPy0i1UW5btenPezhhoS9bZKwFjRnexSj/s200/20130830_153628.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
My main pain was in my shoulders from running with my pack (again a new piece of kit) the check points came and went - the marshals were the best I've ever met at an event cheering and whooping relentlessly. The supporters of runners were equally supporting to the rest of the field. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWYdER0r3_iGJ6jTD2q9GE369RTQfguhnfmKUZ5Ad2CYKP3N4mn8CQuPlDsYjbQoSqYPP_NnmHE17mx5nE0fGg2LO4vkr8_gp7NpCJMJf0GPQDE0K2_CfvtnQleLMgZqnSMG0XViL3Bo2/s1600/20130830_145755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWYdER0r3_iGJ6jTD2q9GE369RTQfguhnfmKUZ5Ad2CYKP3N4mn8CQuPlDsYjbQoSqYPP_NnmHE17mx5nE0fGg2LO4vkr8_gp7NpCJMJf0GPQDE0K2_CfvtnQleLMgZqnSMG0XViL3Bo2/s320/20130830_145755.jpg" width="320" /></a>We kept making targets of getting to certain points and miles in certain times, each time sprinting into the checkpoint to the amusement of the marshals. achieving the targets made me feel pretty good. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLxAl-62khGWd4p1AEZNpoJSGLmzL1uUVeXfFc5eMEV7mDvIH-QG_8m7wLsW0qETMez_hMIO_YLAvU63A-a2Cnm-XaxgkyX70XE8HE1dRQcyOyfjiKpQYfWRLVVNCZ6b0uLSMA801BRd3/s1600/20130830_194130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLxAl-62khGWd4p1AEZNpoJSGLmzL1uUVeXfFc5eMEV7mDvIH-QG_8m7wLsW0qETMez_hMIO_YLAvU63A-a2Cnm-XaxgkyX70XE8HE1dRQcyOyfjiKpQYfWRLVVNCZ6b0uLSMA801BRd3/s320/20130830_194130.jpg" width="240" /></a>The sun begun to set during the final miles the most gorgeous view across the sea. The final 3rd of the route got a bit hilly and more like the coastal paths I'm familiar with - not quite like the pain of UTSW or the Jurassic Coast but up and down and challenging enough to make the legs burn burn burn! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The last few miles went on and on, I could see the lights in the distance for the village we were heading for, but it never seemed to arrive. We hit tarmac for a while - it must be soon before hitting trails again and decided to walk the last few miles in, flush out the legs a bit and since we couldn't see well and the ground was rooty under foot it was a wise decision and knowing we'd be back in time for a pizza dinner at the local Italian was a welcome feeling! We were overtaken by "the likely lads" (3 guys we'd been yo-yo-ing with all day) probably glad to finally get away from our inane chatter and singing. <br />
<br />
We made our way back into the final check point following some signed which had been put out to help us back and save using the map, with a half assed sprint and big smiles to a fab welcome committee of the marshals - how they kept their energy up all day is amazing! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4NkeBDkhW8sp5qfY778Th2fOrvR16hyphenhyphenTohdEnREccI4ZK_RmXPF3nkjx2Xolfi9KccI9KGuBNZ6NAkozEs1NpLF5_yDi1mxEKMXVyWAaKJh7X1b6Goa_TUApIEOZF4_oCCa5nErigY5r/s1600/20130830_211536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4NkeBDkhW8sp5qfY778Th2fOrvR16hyphenhyphenTohdEnREccI4ZK_RmXPF3nkjx2Xolfi9KccI9KGuBNZ6NAkozEs1NpLF5_yDi1mxEKMXVyWAaKJh7X1b6Goa_TUApIEOZF4_oCCa5nErigY5r/s200/20130830_211536.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
The accommodation for the night was a sport centre, the fast guys had been back hours, had showers, eaten and were already asleep on the floor! We laid out our sleepy bags, had showers (the best shower ever!) and walked the half km to the pizza restaurant, had a cheeky half and a pizza found ourselves falling asleep and made our way back, compression tights on and bed down for the night. It wasn't the best nights sleep but it was the most we'd have for a while!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmpcCxlZjvU5m_sPaFAo_4iFooXaCUL32_nJnoifuc2AaW0vQ6sNRGZAw7moBbRIlMtnagV-SMMqyVHHJl1G4MiV4Il8Jmh86_utwcJsQcKQVOtZJAJOpNS01j4A3q971_3ZyN8_z3zRc/s1600/20130830_223826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmpcCxlZjvU5m_sPaFAo_4iFooXaCUL32_nJnoifuc2AaW0vQ6sNRGZAw7moBbRIlMtnagV-SMMqyVHHJl1G4MiV4Il8Jmh86_utwcJsQcKQVOtZJAJOpNS01j4A3q971_3ZyN8_z3zRc/s320/20130830_223826.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Day 2:<br />
4:45 came and it was time to get up, normally after a race the normal thing to do is rest, even after a half marathon I don't normally want to do anything, but after 35 miles running round the coast, instead of hobble around in a pair of slippers the best thing to do is go out on little sleep and embark on another 65 mile adventure!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlpd17sL0rQGFp6JpUcvfw_J054OIHRUbtJJkeL4SzhjV63HvwPBmUcW5w3CEctC8M2EOovDcjCGsZ6JWlBmDolgi9OCS_Gw21UDhjAb0PCme2GCZ2P0eFqubxA_wX01eAXqJw9o1raop/s1600/20130831_055804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlpd17sL0rQGFp6JpUcvfw_J054OIHRUbtJJkeL4SzhjV63HvwPBmUcW5w3CEctC8M2EOovDcjCGsZ6JWlBmDolgi9OCS_Gw21UDhjAb0PCme2GCZ2P0eFqubxA_wX01eAXqJw9o1raop/s320/20130831_055804.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The first stage was just under 12 miles and it was a pretty hilly start. Starting off gently, tentatively testing the legs and surprised at how they felt - OK they were stiff but nothing like I expected - they wanted to run. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqBUEOLHNhHJe64LBY1B6QR7f1moHpujWV_63tH6-1Uznsl0_igZ8vBQIqUyyYbMp1Y-o5jpnHdrtPGIuPkA3MJT4tI0UCGYmtIDNahgANiuhB1oBDg5Q7GyG7xGoM8ewSOVjTYTw1n_B/s1600/20130831_062549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqBUEOLHNhHJe64LBY1B6QR7f1moHpujWV_63tH6-1Uznsl0_igZ8vBQIqUyyYbMp1Y-o5jpnHdrtPGIuPkA3MJT4tI0UCGYmtIDNahgANiuhB1oBDg5Q7GyG7xGoM8ewSOVjTYTw1n_B/s320/20130831_062549.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
The sun was coming up and looking like another nice day, I'd got pretty sun burnt yesterday but still, better than getting hypothermia again! Another welcoming arrival at the check point and we were back on our way, keeping to the normal plan of walking the up hills and trotting the flats and downs. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvdPtKuzvOp2H072pxWRFFtAKBm0JNunIDlVYaKBle5xRsFeYqV-ZCRsLHhumZA02z5lNTt3CSOamhfzN-5j1chlYXYPXmVmSXo8BsZsCp5Y33hjoQwr4uLwOSTug5LRzy2pBWZEpPDju/s1600/20130831_171104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvdPtKuzvOp2H072pxWRFFtAKBm0JNunIDlVYaKBle5xRsFeYqV-ZCRsLHhumZA02z5lNTt3CSOamhfzN-5j1chlYXYPXmVmSXo8BsZsCp5Y33hjoQwr4uLwOSTug5LRzy2pBWZEpPDju/s320/20130831_171104.jpg" width="240" /></a>The views just didn't get boring, the day drew on, and we were still in the race. We were clearly some of the back runners but it didn't matter, what mattered was finishing, others were pulling out at each check point but we were holding strong, slow but strong. There was some really shitty sections of pebble beaches to run across along the course of the weekend which was probably some of the worst parts of the route. Coming into the the penultimate check point the sun was beginning to go down so we had a little sit down with the lovely marshals who gave us some glow sticks for a night rave and put on an extra layer and headlamps on and checked the maps. We'd sort of decided that we'd walk most of the night section unless it was particularly easy going but we were both getting tired, Dougs' feet weren't in great condition (they'd not healed since Lakeland100 only 4 weeks ago) and the skin was threatening to shed again. <br />
<br />
The next section was a long one, the short ones are nice because you can visualise them better but with about 12 miles on this one it was going to be a slog, especially in the dark but the going was fairly flat. we rounded a corner and upon us was a section of river to cross with giant stepping stones about 4ft high! it was fun hopping from one to another in the dark :-) Wwith a small navigational error ending us in the woods for a while eventually got ourselves to the final check point were Bing the organiser a big group of marshals and a vat of Soup was waiting! It was much needed as the temperature had dropped and we were moving pretty slowly now. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjbyo35_fKtQlYubJzBnKhk3izMrLhVBFFcLUA2Wj0rJgyCJLYxSQ1qEd1ve_NNXpJdSsUFQSH8ObbqExIRg8mva08o-xi5UyHAZPL6un80ijNDNulFWgz9re-d9VWC4xRfWNsTbHPjXK/s1600/20130831_214943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjbyo35_fKtQlYubJzBnKhk3izMrLhVBFFcLUA2Wj0rJgyCJLYxSQ1qEd1ve_NNXpJdSsUFQSH8ObbqExIRg8mva08o-xi5UyHAZPL6un80ijNDNulFWgz9re-d9VWC4xRfWNsTbHPjXK/s320/20130831_214943.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A big group of competitors turned up behind us, they'd previously been ahead but had got lost so ended up behind. They flew in and out of the check point whilst we enjoyed the soup and chatter. <br />
<br />
After outstaying our welcome we set off on the final 6 miles, soon catching up and overtaking the other group. We took charge of navigation, and found our way back along the route, through fields and sandy tracks. I was feeling quite spritely again (I had taken a gel shortly before and they turn me into a different person) so this didn't go down well with Doug and the others whilst I was bouncing next to them limping and hopping (there were quite a few injuries in the field) <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl0mzXR-YqSxjeRw52AD-Sk1kyW6qN3nBrp8wB-GFOpVlIZbm-v6HHn458pwnQVFthpTcuL82xyyGFU3OQIdilRiYx3HBjx1p4-uaVZ9GQyChd0oQrMnw_OHAUKO-mCbkV1iby0q_nrLt/s1600/20130901_013044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl0mzXR-YqSxjeRw52AD-Sk1kyW6qN3nBrp8wB-GFOpVlIZbm-v6HHn458pwnQVFthpTcuL82xyyGFU3OQIdilRiYx3HBjx1p4-uaVZ9GQyChd0oQrMnw_OHAUKO-mCbkV1iby0q_nrLt/s320/20130901_013044.jpg" width="240" /></a>Two of the group set off in front as we hit the dreaded sand dunes and by this point Doug was in a <br />
real state with his feet. It was terrible to watch him wince and limp on every footfall as the blisters worsened. The next 2 miles across the sand dunes were the darkest time. It was grim. It was way past bed time and nearly 2am, my ankle had got really sore and every time I place my left foot a sharp hot pain shot up my shin and top of foot. I tried to encourage Doug on, it was heartbreaking but the going was so slow and the sand so deep and hard to get across it took forever!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally we came to the end, crossed and bridge and went back on ourselves. We couldn't see the guys who were behind us so assumed they'd dropped far back in the slog and gloom. We limped and hobbled the last few hundred meters to the village hall we were to sleep in to the smiley face of a marshal outside and Q giving us a double high five. There were several people still up and eating pasta that had been put on - including the guys who were supposedly behind us on the dunes! I was pretty pissed off the next day to find out they'd skipped them and taken the easy route claiming to have "bailed" but still starting Day 3!? Well, they're only cheating themselves hey ;-) <br />
<br />
The shoes came straight off to get some pressure of the feet, Doug was in a bad state and I was worried. I set our stuff out whilst he inspected his damaged feet, we didn't even get out of our kit, it wasn't long before we had to be up again so any sleep is good! <br />
<br />
Doug wanted to get up to pop his blisters but I insisted that sleep at this stage was more important. I fell asleep pretty quick but had funny hallucinations of bugs scuttling towards my head and my legs waking me up with spasms. <br />
<br />
Almost as soon as I closed my eyes I was awoken by "IT BURNS BURNS BURNS, JUST LIKE A RING OF FIRRREEEE!" played at volume into the room and Q bouncing around like a kid on red bull! There was a small part of me not wanting to carry on, my ankle was agony and first instincts were that Doug wouldn't make it today with his feet in the condition they were in. <br />
<br />
We made a plan to ensure that we at least started and would go from there check point to check point. The plan was Doug to pop his blisters, we'd tape his feet, and he'd use my trekking poles, and drugs all round. Lots of drugs! <br />
<br />
I went and got changed, came back and found him patching up his feet, I cut strips of tape and helped where I could, passed drugs around, packed sleeping bags away, taped up my ankle and got ourselves motivated for one final push. <br />
<br />
I wasn't hungry for breakfast so we just had a few cheddars crackers and gathered outside with the remaining runnners. It was cooler this morning and the fatigue was set in, although I did feel so much better for just an hour or so sleep. We set off for the final stage - somehow the front guys still running fast!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCNkgjJmjQ0JgfjuZSvIeHpkyWC2_mFU-07e0h6z8-4gJJgDMoKvNAoo5uQxU1PVqE4SFtAJsQT9XjzxzDx9FEhtZhtVg3eOMtWeKh0Go3ouFf7AQ9AgetGwqxH4gFEGHKjBwkhpG2igv/s1600/20130901_080523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCNkgjJmjQ0JgfjuZSvIeHpkyWC2_mFU-07e0h6z8-4gJJgDMoKvNAoo5uQxU1PVqE4SFtAJsQT9XjzxzDx9FEhtZhtVg3eOMtWeKh0Go3ouFf7AQ9AgetGwqxH4gFEGHKjBwkhpG2igv/s320/20130901_080523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The plan was in action, get to the check points inside the cut offs. I was very surprised at my ankle now I had taped it and compression tights on, Dougs feet seemed less horrendous and although we weren't moving fast we weren't at the back. The first check point was about 7 miles in and we knew breakfast was there waiting - in the form of bacon butties - I'm a vegetarian but I really fancied a bacon butty so when we reached the checkpoint (complete with a half hearted sprint) we boshed the most delicious bacon sarnies!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVGXTkt-N8f4FLyGPKFyvVKFtCeDElCr52DKx7o_DIPuyg0qKUCuBs4rIq223iuJKw6MHZUii_NjgHRbQLFrWLFBve_jne0OExfPKoNAy3o8w5bpsNT6WgLyW7Ro5HKtN035QxfmgaXdT/s1600/20130901_080531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVGXTkt-N8f4FLyGPKFyvVKFtCeDElCr52DKx7o_DIPuyg0qKUCuBs4rIq223iuJKw6MHZUii_NjgHRbQLFrWLFBve_jne0OExfPKoNAy3o8w5bpsNT6WgLyW7Ro5HKtN035QxfmgaXdT/s320/20130901_080531.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
With 20 mins banked at this check point we carried on to the next, another 7 mile stage, we weren't in the best shape, Doug's feet and ankle were giving grief, my ankle was intermittently giving me big issues. Yesterday I'd been pissing like a race horse - I'm talking every 20 mins what seemed like a good half a pint, and today was turning into a similar story. I wasn't over drinking so I didn't really get it. <br />
<br />
We reached the 2nd check point with 15 mins banked, telling us we'd slowed down further. A few guys we'd been yo-yo'ing with to this point retired here, We took a bit of time to do some foot admin before carrying on. <br />
<br />
The next section was another bastard pebble beach. Something I noticed was that there were a lot of people skipping these hard sections in favour of the road, whilst it's clever to use the map to their advantage it's not really in keeping with the spirit of the race to cut corners. <br />
<br />
For this section we had to do a prove we'd gone to a Bay slightly off the course rip a page out of a book that was left there and bring it back, (it would be an easy cheat to knock off a few miles) we made our way to the bay and came to a lush opening on to the beach, I felt like a pirate! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0XJOTd-teRCYTff_g-Zkwy9l874_jWpjAB28Bp-MM5EMsfAJPxernV_eiCsy1f82PQjcbB37zDIZSSwO1skV1kCKkFiW0C_q2EMAhAunBMUZw7S1kddM1VGfL6E6FkMVMNMJ-IBXyEZw/s1600/20130901_115113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0XJOTd-teRCYTff_g-Zkwy9l874_jWpjAB28Bp-MM5EMsfAJPxernV_eiCsy1f82PQjcbB37zDIZSSwO1skV1kCKkFiW0C_q2EMAhAunBMUZw7S1kddM1VGfL6E6FkMVMNMJ-IBXyEZw/s320/20130901_115113.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
After some larking on the beach some more pics and long walk along the seafront we realised that we still had a long way to go before the next check point and time wasn't on our side. <br />
<br />
Knowing how bad Doug's feet and shin were (I could tell by the swearing and faces he was pulling) that he wasn't up for running but eventually I said that if we wanted to get to the check point in time and hence continue to the finish then we had to dig deep for the next few miles and really push on. It didn't receive a great response initially but before I knew what was happening he was off! <br />
<br />
We ran, proper ran up the hills, down the hills, along on and on and on. I was so impressed with the turn of foot. I knew the pain was bad, my leg gave way a few times but I managed it as best as I could. <br />
<br />
We carried on like this for a few miles until a steep incline, I caught up with Doug who was like a man possessed! He said he'd taken 2 packs of bloc shots ! no wonder he was blasting along! <br />
<br />
After a brief walk, we were back running again until we met the tarmac. There was no way we were going to run on this, the pain was too much so we marched on, knowing the check point must be soon. <br />
<br />
Doug was so amazing that section, I knew that that had got us to the check point when we finally made it there with 20 mins spare. <br />
<br />
I insisted we take 10 mins to get our shoes off, get some food in, drug up and prepare for the last 10 miles. <br />
<br />
We'd done an epic 125 miles so far and had the last bit in sight. We could do this! <br />
<br />
Saying good bye to the lovely marshals and hoping the last time we'd see them would be at the finish line. <br />
<br />
We weren't in great shape, I was really worried about Doug as he seemed to be bonking so I slipped him percy pigs for the next couple of miles. <br />
<br />
Looking at the map was a bit depressing, it went right round the edge of the coast in a zig zag fashion. We plodded on, taking it in turns in having food swings. Lots of walkers on the trails knew what we were doing and gave words of encouragement and knowing we had less than 10k to go should have been a positive. We wound along the coast round the fields of heather taking in the breath taking views <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fph2nDS6wdBkYNjZASKftSkxaZFmOEbrpN2Y0VbrXBnsDamIsIq_i8R3Jiow-fkxFnsp6edxWO16RWa5zZQaYCyOCAcTHW0VbelTWPqt38h8NEOrEuSfqB-4hMYAQ6hjj0I0k6wSl_Z7/s1600/20130901_162248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fph2nDS6wdBkYNjZASKftSkxaZFmOEbrpN2Y0VbrXBnsDamIsIq_i8R3Jiow-fkxFnsp6edxWO16RWa5zZQaYCyOCAcTHW0VbelTWPqt38h8NEOrEuSfqB-4hMYAQ6hjj0I0k6wSl_Z7/s320/20130901_162248.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The map gave hope looking like we'd be at the finish soon. it looked like about 6k, but we had to go "around" the mountain. Climbing up to a little stone hut it looked like we just had to climb up and over, then down and right and we'd be home and dry. We had time to kill and we'd still be back in good time!<br />
<br />
We were sadly mistaken. We plodded up over the "top" only to find that we had to go along more trail towards the mountain. Looking at the map we decided that it was just to the lip of the next ridge then right.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWLKm2q9bHUnHCPxqHKqOPKMDBSaW_AvcU5zi1nra5rZ6GtXwZqnMdpNV4AemFThZC31o57lpH4VNcwBJaAFxzVoTJc8pGljSH97WtqMYVJWt4l8DBY4PCpLubsQxOjFrItm2SOwcBVzW/s1600/20130901_164344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWLKm2q9bHUnHCPxqHKqOPKMDBSaW_AvcU5zi1nra5rZ6GtXwZqnMdpNV4AemFThZC31o57lpH4VNcwBJaAFxzVoTJc8pGljSH97WtqMYVJWt4l8DBY4PCpLubsQxOjFrItm2SOwcBVzW/s320/20130901_164344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
It was not. <br />
<br />
We reached the top to see the trail go down then up again, then up some more and disappear to the ridge of the actual mountain! <br />
<br />
OK, we can do this!<br />
<br />
We plodded on. Time was a ticking.... and fast running out!<br />
<br />
The trail seemed to be dipping and I was convinced that just round the next corner would be the finish. But the trail took a dip to the left, and went waaaaay out to a point on the far left. I thought I recognised a building below and got excited and shouted to Doug who was limping badly down the big steps only to be told that "um... no, we have to go back up and over" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh123CqqCaZHMouNZwHCCQ-VSy_xaehYqDoqttAu-XsnIaWiciCKOlA0jR31MzILEylQlwbW4eMCxIwOpdIj9OiccaCF5XuVdJhX_CyX97L9DyC2S4T1wFvIsa4QTkh0f7205cI4CNYOklk/s1600/20130901_170938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh123CqqCaZHMouNZwHCCQ-VSy_xaehYqDoqttAu-XsnIaWiciCKOlA0jR31MzILEylQlwbW4eMCxIwOpdIj9OiccaCF5XuVdJhX_CyX97L9DyC2S4T1wFvIsa4QTkh0f7205cI4CNYOklk/s200/20130901_170938.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVCZBLTIR_UlLBlNdoGC6BGnyU2aBltoJ3W-V-HUjgtrfhZINhtN-_ImC2fxrLPtN_5A2MSU-yulWPF4iuvSOH76txwojjK4xhNFrnlS9T2vyTYTlsp5iPInTsnBT5jkicacTaDTLd0GV/s1600/20130901_170941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVCZBLTIR_UlLBlNdoGC6BGnyU2aBltoJ3W-V-HUjgtrfhZINhtN-_ImC2fxrLPtN_5A2MSU-yulWPF4iuvSOH76txwojjK4xhNFrnlS9T2vyTYTlsp5iPInTsnBT5jkicacTaDTLd0GV/s200/20130901_170941.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<br />
"noooooooo!" <br />
<br />
At this point, we had only 15 minutes to get back in the allotted time not to DNF and we had no idea how many twists and turns and extra climbs would appear! We started to panic a bit so again we had to dig deep, pain schmain, we hadn't come this far to not finish.<br />
<br />
Adrenaline kicked in and we ran and ran, up and down, steps and rocks came and went and checking my watch , seeing the minutes pass by. We can do this!! <br />
<br />
We rounded another corner and there! we saw it ! the finish shute! it was still about 500meters to go but the end was right there! We had so little time, we ran hard down the final decent, we saw a couple of marshals running up the mountain to meet us - screaming and whopping at us. We sprinted past, we could see the finish post and hear the cheering of the organisers willing us to finish. I looked at my watch - one minute to go. we sprinted head to head towards the finish. <br />
<br />
Crossing the line was the most euphoric end to a race I've ever had! It was the most amazing feeling! It was such a dramatic and exciting end to a race and the relief was fantastic knowing how close it had come to not finishing. <br />
<br />
We accepted our medals and the marshals and organisers seemed genuinely impressed at our comedy timing. <br />
<br />
We don't enter races under "Team Chuckle Bros" for nuthin! ;-) <br />
<br />
What an amazing event, I don't think I've grinned so much during a race before and I'd recommend it to anyone! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqV5Zhvb_QBLwS8mk7uGncdQGXRzdJKHBysbD6P_PF6p8u3Tk5slXhNFxlKon-UYMdC3eCpsQ3SwRyZDZPTtCRsMkssIZe2uywfP-TRkG5GZBhFHkdC1jH7ur0b8q4jvBiv87mc9ejeU5/s1600/20130901_185739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqV5Zhvb_QBLwS8mk7uGncdQGXRzdJKHBysbD6P_PF6p8u3Tk5slXhNFxlKon-UYMdC3eCpsQ3SwRyZDZPTtCRsMkssIZe2uywfP-TRkG5GZBhFHkdC1jH7ur0b8q4jvBiv87mc9ejeU5/s320/20130901_185739.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261036436521060320.post-4987545622687650842013-06-29T10:20:00.000+01:002014-11-06T16:17:56.607+00:00UTSW 2013<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56H1lbCJ9Nu4nniMvYMQJA2dkxNPeQxRbR17FoPSEFcgJmT_cozAunEWk-axr0o_o5ft9bKKVxw-nDmSntLN7XQyziEw4bZ3Kt_63LVVPxPIN_z4KTWnI0gxYOZO16oDMfkhmxLKDD7BT/s1280/100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56H1lbCJ9Nu4nniMvYMQJA2dkxNPeQxRbR17FoPSEFcgJmT_cozAunEWk-axr0o_o5ft9bKKVxw-nDmSntLN7XQyziEw4bZ3Kt_63LVVPxPIN_z4KTWnI0gxYOZO16oDMfkhmxLKDD7BT/s200/100.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow! Has it been that long since I wrote one of these? </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not to say I've not been doing things, I've just not been sharing my adventures. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My latest adventure was a trip to sunny cornwall to tackle Ultra Trail South West - a 100 mile trail ultra marathon. Although I'd done the Spine Challenge (a story for another day) I felt this was my first proper ultra. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't recall why I entered it, I think it was because it was dubbed "UK's toughtest Ultra marathon" but I think other events would have you think differently. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To give a brief overview of my training, after the Spine, I felt awesome, so started running again that week. (not far but far enough to break me for a couple of months. I wasn't injured, I just felt shit. Totally lost my mojo and couldn't be arsed. So I didn't. I made half arsed attempts at doing long runs, me and Doug went out on intentional 20 milers, only to come back after 12 miles and go to the pub. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was 3 weeks before the event and I realised I'd done a total of 3 longish runs (longish if you're training for a marathon maybe) the saving grace was that 3 weeks before the event myself, Doug and Bud had gone out to Wales to attempt the Welsh 3000's (again a story for another day) so a full day on our feet had put some good miles in the bank and some big hills too. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately I took a week to recover from this, then the following two weeks, I felt terrible with weird appetite loss and strange feelings in my guts. So I continued my training plan (of doing nothing) The Wednesday before the race I ran 4.5k to my mums house, arrived feeling awful! Chest hurt, legs empty. What the hell was I thinking going to this event? I was going to die after 10 miles! </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I knew the event would be tough, it is extremely hilly, it starts in the evening and with 36 hours to complete the race there's a good chance of having 2 nights out there. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday came and went, and I left work to head to Newquay. After some issues with trains I ended up at my hotel by taxi (courtesy of First Great Western) and views of beautiful sunsets and cliffs. I'd forgotten how gorgeous it is down there. When we were younger we used to have lads weekends down there and mainly we were paraletic so don't really remember much about it. </span></span></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz_jsuv_v0eJjkDpV0psTQ2MckUunkT01YQZ_CFaV_qCHXm0mM-NHk5lhfQPtZzHSOfIrkJXiyM80OL0AcWoIukH9ZUAM1NVv_5XFjZse9ISn4GLtqzBaRI3pnv3ZGFVlZ8WlzVM-uR25/s1280/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz_jsuv_v0eJjkDpV0psTQ2MckUunkT01YQZ_CFaV_qCHXm0mM-NHk5lhfQPtZzHSOfIrkJXiyM80OL0AcWoIukH9ZUAM1NVv_5XFjZse9ISn4GLtqzBaRI3pnv3ZGFVlZ8WlzVM-uR25/s320/beach.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoz0S_bB1IMqItfn-cNtIwvPf0ROtjNX2O87dsBM3Fk8DMBm6Sz6s0Jj8Ddl7VZpPpQb60qFsksdU-CCGQqtYuMyBrN6INAVlWM0k7fiCeOBxM1K9K8wAUV-wgW1xUx4msdlRgmM8LsOu/s1280/beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoz0S_bB1IMqItfn-cNtIwvPf0ROtjNX2O87dsBM3Fk8DMBm6Sz6s0Jj8Ddl7VZpPpQb60qFsksdU-CCGQqtYuMyBrN6INAVlWM0k7fiCeOBxM1K9K8wAUV-wgW1xUx4msdlRgmM8LsOu/s200/beer.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a mooch about town, popped to asda to get snacks for the race (my personal choice is cheese sarnies with humous) have some dinner and a couple of beers and head back for an early night. </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I woke up on Friday feeling fairly sleepy and headed to the pool for a dip and a jacuzzi before forcing down an enormous breakfast. I had loads of time before I needed to head to registration (15 mins on the bus away) so had a wander round town and looked at the shops, had a coffee, sent some postcards. Whilst waiting for the bus I was chatting to a couple of local men, smoking jazz cigarettes (them not me). They asked where I was heading with a giant bag on my back, and I explained what I was doing. They thought I was nuts but were pretty impressed and offered some motivational speak, which actually helped as I was feeling pretty worried about it. I'd done one of the coastal series just before Christmas last year, so I knew how hard these coastal paths can be. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I got to registration to a long slow moving queue to have kit checked and pick up race numbers. I could see no other women in the queue - don't get me wrong, it was nice spending the time chatting to men but where were all the women!? I saw a couple eventually but they looked super fit and fast and I felt like a big fatty. Race briefing followed "many of you won't finish" , then we went outside to wait for our bus to take us to the start in Polruan... we waited in the blazing sun - wow, what a great weekend to be at the seaside! We waited and waited.... then waited some more. Then were told that our bus wasn't coming. But they'd arranged another bus to collect us. The race was due to start at 6pm, the bus turned up at 6.15pm. The driver didn't know where he was going, luckily one of the other competitors did! </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4qmZ9YgNVxoGviSKD87LNcS7O0Dl70ZJ_oNdwe6mHrd5BNluwx0OAJ1ecgMJbFpZyXSwDOuq__6uDDrz6FH7XWqPBBhgQWmkG-gLY5vJ9FwGw7ByiS49HnY2VNNWO2q8DU2tpNA1ecnv/s1280/map+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4qmZ9YgNVxoGviSKD87LNcS7O0Dl70ZJ_oNdwe6mHrd5BNluwx0OAJ1ecgMJbFpZyXSwDOuq__6uDDrz6FH7XWqPBBhgQWmkG-gLY5vJ9FwGw7ByiS49HnY2VNNWO2q8DU2tpNA1ecnv/s320/map+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We arrived at the start, time for another quick pee (I'd been pissing like a race horse all day!) 19:30 with the start delayed we were finally off on our long adventure back to Watergate Bay. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt like I was going at quite a good pace to begin with, I wasn't feeling like I was at the back, I certainly wasn't at the front. The trail was quite untechnical and not too steep (yet), a nice single track that I longed to bring my mountain bike along. Soon enough we were climbing steeply and everyone was walking. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My strategy was to walk the hills and run where it was flat/downhill. I'm not very good at technical descents though so much of the steep downs involved walking/flailing. I was finding myself with people who'd I'd expected to do much bettter (some guy who was bragging about MDS) </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got to CP1 about 12 miles in and it occured to me I'd not eaten anything. Bearing in mind I'd been going for about two and half hours so far, this wasn't good. I tried to eat some choc raisins but immediatly my tummy cramped up. I'd been drinking plenty and Dawn's pre race pep talk of drinking lots was in my head - her repeating "are you sipping?" but I'd forgotten the "are you grazing?" Doug and I had been asking each other all round the Spine. I filled up on some electrolytes at the CP and tried to eat some jelly babies. It was a struggle. Shit, what now? I'm susceptable to food swings if I don't eat on a normal day never mind when trying to run 100 - I took a packet of Clif blocs as these are pretty good and thought at least I can suck them if I can't eat them. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It had started to rain and it was dark now, so head torch and water proofs went on and trekking poles came out. I always thought poles were a cheat but they're brilliant. The next stage was rooty and wet and if not for the rain would have been a lovely bit of trail. But it rained, and rained and rained. I found myself knee deep in bog and getting hauled out by some guy. I came through a gate where the sign was pointing straight on, but it looked like I could turn left, right or go into the woods further. I went back to the sign to check the direction, definitely straight on. So I went into the woods. It didn't feel right as there was no clear path through so I followed what looked like the path and eventually came out about 100 yards up the track I'd have been on had I turned right. It still didn't feel right but I carried on farther in search of a direction marker. It was annoying that they hadn't given us maps as I had compass and gps to help get me on the right track. I couldn't see a sign, so I decided to head back in the other direction. I could see headlights and was glad to see about 8 other people also confused about where to go. One of the guys (who later turned out to be John) and I went back the way I came with the view to shout back if we saw a sign. Eventually after about 500m there we saw a reflective sign pointing ahead. We shouted for everyone else to join us and carried on, I stayed with this group until the next check point, they were strictly running the downs/flats, walking anything even slightly up. This was great as upto here, I'd been on my own for some time and they were pulling me along at a much better pace. I was quite moany though, I told them I was having bets with myself when I would pull out of the race. This received a bit of a telling off "with that attitude you won't get far!" that told me, and I tried harder to be positive. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was still raining when we saw the flags marking CP2 and outside was an absolute LEGEND having a cigarette he'd left in his drop bag. I told him I thought that was quite brilliant, not that I'd be joining him though. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We'd all been looking forward to getting a hot cup of something at the CP as we'd been told that this was a food station so there'd be more to choose from and hot drinks/soup, so we were a bit disappointed with the table of coke, malt loaf and bananas. I was feeling pretty low from lack of food so I tried to eat some malt loaf which wasn't too hard to stomach, had a can of coke (I can't remember the last time i drank full fat coke, I'm guessing circa 1990) and poured one into my bottle for later. I decided that I'd leave the sandwiches I brought in my drop bag as I didn't envisage being able to eat them, and I could always get them at CP7 (50 miles from here!) </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I left the CP with Debbie and John and we travelled together for a few hours, chatting and keeping each other going. My aim had been to get to CP's inside the cut off times of the original timings (before we started 90 mins late) and I was an hour inside that at each so far, so was feeling quite good about progress - only 80 miles to go.... :-/ </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This section contained quite a lot of road which whilst it churned out the miles quickly wasn't great on the feet with XC shoes on, the 3 of us continued on, occassionally meeting another person, I felt like I was slowing them down so when we were joined by Laura it gave them an excuse to move on a bit, I chatted and walk/ran with Laura a while, but when running I was faster and soon found myself alone again. CP3 soon came - again not much to offer, I had a packet of crisps, which the salt was amazing, refilled my camelbak and attempted to get a bit warm and dry. My sealskinz gloves were soaked through and my fingers were all trenchy so left them off a bit to air. I was chatting to another girl who'd arrived. It was 3am and she was struggling to comprehend that we'd only come 30 miles. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I said, "well, the sun will be starting to rise in an hour or so, then we'll be nearly at CP4 then CP5 and we'll be half way, then it's not too far to CP7 and we can get clean dry clothes and then it's home sailing if we get to CP7"</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This sentence had a good effect on me and I started feeling better about finishing. I left CP3 alone, had to go back to collect my forgotten poles, this section was set to be tough, it went across Bodmin Moor and up over Brown Willy *snigger* this had caused lots of jokes throughout the night, "Off to mount Brown willy and I'm so wet" the course took a right on to an open moor, straight into a terrible head wind, that combined with the rain was pretty unpleasant. I trudged onwards and the mist started thickening, soon I was deep in the moor jumping from tuft of grass to tuft of grass to avoid going balls deep in bogs that were likely to be hiding there. I saw two headlights ahead stopped, I thought maybe they were lost, but I got there and they said they saw me on my own and thought they'd wait so I didnt get lost in the mist on my own. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was no clear sign of where to go, so we just held a straight bearing and hoped for the best. The wind and rain was battering us around, my face was a picture of misery! The light around us was starting to change and I realised the sun</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> rising!! This was a great thing, I said good morning to the guys and on we went, the course then took us to the left towards the great mound of "Brown Willy" it was vast, and the route up was hard, again with no clear path, giant steps were required to get up each tuft of grass or rock. A group of about 8 guys appeared behind us after long, they'd been lost on the moor for some time, so fully appreciated the guys who'd waiting for me. After a long annoying climb, we reached the top. The event organisers had told us that they'd left a note at the top which we had to report back (as proof that we'd not just gone round the hill) but I could see no note! I'd been hoping it would be something amusing but alas, so back down the hill we went and across more open moorland. The next few miles was pretty miserable, despite it now being light and the rain less persistent and threatening to stop it was a trudge, the wind was howling in our faces, after another stretch of wet moor in the distance I could just about make out the endurancelife flag marking CP4 and hot drinks and shelter! yay! But it was still a good 2 miles into the wind across now an airfield. Finally I got to the CP and was very disappointed that it was a horse trailer with a lady boiling water in a jetboil and a tray of jelly babies. It was less than satisfactory but I accepted a soup, which I then gave away. I was talking about pulling out again but once more some of the northern lads I had been with during the night told me to man up and that I'd been whinging about giving up at mile 8. That told me! I took some more bloc shots and started on again. I stopped for a wee and the northern lads over took me, I caught up with them and we stuck together for several miles until we reached a town, where they each spent 20p on some local toilets, one had been holding it in for 20 miles! ouch! There was a shop here so we got some supplies (more coke for me, pies and coffee for them) the 60 mile event was starting not far from here so were expecting to see people fly past at any moment. We had a decent break, I was wanting to get started but thought it would be better to stick with them. We set off again and we soon back on the coastal paths - we'd made it across the country back to the north coast! The terrain changed immediately from the nice wet trails to painfully steep up and down of steps, technical features but the most amazing views of the cliffs and out to sea. I didn't see the guys from here on.</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next few miles were a real struggle, I could barely place one foot in front of the other the gradient was sapping any remaining energy I had, I'd decided, that at the next CP I was going home....the front runners from the 60 were beginning to pass me now, looking annoyingly fresh but each one of them gave me a big well done and showed they were genuinely impressed that I was on the 100 and still going. (I didn't feel like I was going) climbing over numerous styles was taking its toll too and descending the slippery steps was slow going. CP5 took forever to get to, I wasn't having fun now, I was at dropping point, I had no energy and just wanted to stop. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally popped out to find a tent with the CP, the weather was nice now, lovely sunshine drying off my damp clothes warming my face. I said to the marshall, I'm probably pulling out here but I'm going to have a sit down for a few minutes and decide. I sat down and they made me a hot chocolate and handed me some biscuits. I turned my phone on to send some updates back home and received some nice messages from friends. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tim and an American guy I'd been running with at some point yesterday appeared and were in great spirits, asked me how I was, and I said I'm probably pulling out. They said "noooo!" and Tim asked if I'd been eating.... erm... not really. Quite a lot of people had pulled out already so I felt compelled to join them especially after the last painfully slow 5 miles, I couldn't do another 50 like that! </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guys said they were going to get some chips in the town just down the other side of the cliff and I should join them. It sounded like a good idea, I know from experience that as soon as i get good food in me, I'm a different person. I told them I'd see them down there and took a few more minutes before singing to them "wooooooahhhh! we're half way there!" </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I felt much better again from the hot drink and motivating chatter so I packed my stuff back up and went on. I found myself running again - wow! After about 2 miles, I dropped down into the town and coming down off the cliff I could see the others, and a group of their supporters all eating bacon butties and chips and cheering as they saw me. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I felt so much better, I ordered some chips and a can of coke and sat down to eat. The others left before me, but their support crew stayed and chatted to me. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu4rP7E-B4soxPH0lRay8rTsK38hk4bckn2D47UrE3AHRPkGUYL-N7uV5q2eivqHOU_u6s6B4x9iJzazW4mCYtMxUAxvyI_bzMa3_uYRoXRpzLbfg16H6zeX2-O8BA3LPqKYYNwEfS-Mj/s1280/chips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ffe599;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXu4rP7E-B4soxPH0lRay8rTsK38hk4bckn2D47UrE3AHRPkGUYL-N7uV5q2eivqHOU_u6s6B4x9iJzazW4mCYtMxUAxvyI_bzMa3_uYRoXRpzLbfg16H6zeX2-O8BA3LPqKYYNwEfS-Mj/s200/chips.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I decided to get my ipod out for a while now, ate half the chips and carried on once more. I was feeling so much better and ran much of this next stage feeling pretty fucking amazing singing along to Erasure. I was visualising finishing now, crossing the line, the satisfaction of completing my first ultra marathon. Yeah! I could do this! It was going to be a late finish (or early hours of the morning) but that didn't matter, I came here to do this and I could do it! Someone had told me this was the hardest section with 1000m of ascent but after that it was much easier. Come on Anna man up! </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CP6 came in no time, I was still feeling good but thought I'd take a sit down for a few minutes and chatted to some others who were there. I asked if there was any coke, but was told no, but there was a shop down the road. I had a few sweets and carried on again. my legs were a bit stiff from running quite hard, then sitting down and then going again. So I walked a bit to find the shop and bought a bottle of coke. My energy was dipping again so tried to knock back some nuts. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wind was still high and in my face and the clouds were returning, despite my face being a bit sunburnt now. If I could just get to the next CP I'd have access to my drop bag and I could sort my feet out with new tape (they were starting to blister in places now) and change into some fresh dry clothes and get some proper food again. After about 5 miles of yo yoing between different runners I had to stop to take a look at my feet and get some sugar in me. I was struggling again but continued to tell myself it was nearly time for fresh clothes and hot food! My feet were bleeding in places I'd not taped them and two toenails had blood behind them - that's two more missing toenails I'll have. I took off my wet socks which were under my sealskinz and just put the skinz back on then carried on slowly up and down the relentless cliffs. It's crazy that you'll climb 150m up, back down the other side and only cover about 400m horizontally! the progress was painfully slow but when I remembered to look, the views stunning. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming towards Rock which was were the next CP would be I lost the way a little and got some directions from a local, he pointed out on the other side of the cliffs where I was heading, to go round the beach (the tide was in so had to take the long route) and up there, left, round up, right....he thought I was bonkers when I told him what I was doing. I hadn't seen any other runners for a while so wasn't convinced I was on the right track. I dropped down on to the beach at new polzeath and wanted</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to dive in to the sea to cool my feet. I saw a sign which said "Rock - 3 miles" this disheartened me a bit as the guy had made out that it was really close. The rain had started again and the wind was worse than ever. There were no runners around now and I wasn't sure where to go as the signs had stopped. I carried on where the man had suggested but I wasn't convinced. I started to feel strange, the rain was pouring down again and the wind was cutting through me despite my expensive and very good jacket. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took a left up a ravine, I think I knew this was a mistake but the weird feeling got weirder. I was so cold and shivering. I felt confused and disorientated. I was walking aimlessly and didn't really know where I was going. I tried to get my phone GPS to tell me where Rock was but the screen got wet and I couldn't do a thing with it. I was so cold, and I started talking to myself "why didnt they give maps?" and having imaginary conversations when I got to CP7. I knew I was going the wrong way but I felt really confused and was crying and didn't know where to go or what to do. I was in a field and started trying to find my way back towards the beach I'd been at over an hour earlier (only half a mile back) I just kept trying to put one foot in front of the other, crying/talking to myself. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally got back on the path I'd turned off incorrectly and waited trying to decide which way to go, when two american ladies doing the 60 appeared, both sodden too. I asked for help, they weren't sure the way either so asked a local who said "go to Baymer Bay, turn somewhere in the car park, go... then..." I had zoned out, I hoped I could just stick with the ladies and get back to CP7. I knew from the Spine training weekend I was showing signs of Hypothermia, I was trying to keep a straight head but I kept zoning out and getting more confused. The ladies stayed with me a while but I was barely moving so they carried on. Once they were out of sight I felt even more confused and alone, I'd not listened to the directions properly. I reached Baymer Bay and in the far distance to the right I could see someone traipsing up a massive cliff, this broke me, I thought that was where I had to get to for the CP. I was shivering uncontrollably, there was noone around and I couldn't see where I was to go. I saw some toilets and went inside to get shelter from the elements a while, the wind was brutal. Once inside I broke down and cried some more I didn't know what to do, my brain wouldn't function and I couldn't stop shivering. I got my phone and GPS out and took my grid and spent about 15 mins trying to text the emergency no we'd been given so they could hopefully come and get me. The medic rang me and said I was only about 300m from the CP, could I get there. I knew I couldn't, I'd end up walking round and round the wrong area for ages. He said he's send someone for me.</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I took off my shoes and climbed into my emergency bag. I sat in the corner shivering and zoning in and out until the door opened and in came a gorgeous bloke who jumped down and gave me a hug and introduced himself as Damien. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He checked me over and ran back to his car, I felt relieved I wasn't on my own but so so cold. I knew I wasn't too far into the danger zone as I'd functioned enough to send a text and crawl into my bag but I still felt awful. Damien came back with a big pile of clothes and apologised but he'd been instructed to get me out of my clothes and into some dry ones. Ordinarily a handsome bloke trying to get me naked would have been excellent but the situation was a bit different, we joked about this a little through chattering teeth. He threw layers of dry clothes over my damp skin and had to help me out of my bottoms as they were soaked and stuck to me. Finally layered in all his clothes he bundled me into the car which was set to furnace temperature. My sunburnt face burned whilst my finger tips had no blood in and my core was failing to warm up very fast. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took about 10 mins to get to CP7 so I think 300m was a bit of an under statement but I think Damien was getting a bit lost whilst we chatted in the car. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We arrived at CP7 and Tim, the medic helped me out and checked me over, made me drink a cup of tea (I don't like tea) found my kit bag and when I was less shivery got me to change into my own clothes, I gave Damien his back appolising if they were soiled. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tim said he'd drive me to where I was staying I'd not booked anywhere to stay Saturday night, but all my stuff had been transported to CP7 so I could go wherever. He tried to get me a place in Rock but ended up suggesting I stayed at his friends B & B in Mawgan Porth so rang them and arranged it for me and insisted we went to the chippy on the way as he was starving and I should eat. We waited until I was feeling warmer an hour or so later and said my thankyous and we left. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tim was lovely, we chatted easily and he told me about his new baby, I was still not fully warm but my fingers had blood in now. We stopped for chips and Tim came back with the biggest box of chips I'd ever seen! I didn't have much of an appetite so only managed about 10 of them which didn't even dent the amount that there was. </span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He checked me into the B & B which was the most beautiful place I've ever stayed in, run by a couple decorated nicely with amazing food locally sourced and fresh and even had an "honesty bar" which unfortunately I just couldn't face. Seavista - if you're ever in the area</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a hot bath and rolled into bed. I thought I'd sleep for a day but I woke at 5am. I took some more painkillers ad ibruprofen as my legs were stiff.</span></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now reflecting back, I'm really disappointed that i didnt finish, and started the week quite upset about this fact, a mere 70 miles isn't what I set out to do and I knew that if I'd got to CP7 I'd have finished - it would have been a long night but I'd have made it. But Hypothermia beat me this time, and I'm looking forward to going back next year to try again. </span></span></h4>
annahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03679901910346706696noreply@blogger.com3