After the Vale of York Half, my focus switched to building the mileage back up for two long races back on the trail and more longer term, the ultra events I have planned for 2015. I initially entered these races to give me something to focus the training on at the end of 2014 and also for some company rather than weeks and weeks of banging out hours of lonely miles on my own.
I hadn't intended taking this race too seriously but when it comes around and you stand on that start line, you can't help that competitive urge to race and give it everything you've got on the day.
I had gone long the previous two weekends (24 miles) and so hadn't tapered like you would normally for a marathon. In fact I hadn't tapered at all... However I had felt good in my training and in the days leading up I wondered whether I might be able to do a personal best despite the slow course, given my only previous race at this distance had ended badly at the Yorkshire Marathon (road) in October 2013.
The event was organised by Kirkstall Harriers and was their first
running of this race. Three laps of a course on trails, riverside
towpaths and tarmac around the grounds and nearby trails of Kirkstall
Abbey. The laps were quite hilly compared to a typical road marathon but
obviously not to the scale of a race on the fells.
We lined up on a dank and cold morning in Leeds, the beautiful ancient Abbey looming out of the mist. 80 or so mostly club runners and one or two random lunatics with nothing better to do than get up before dawn to run a marathon most people have never heard of. If you're wondering which I am, I'm not in a running club. Some of the runners sported 100 marathon club or '10in10' vests. One fella was about to complete his 100th marathon and we all applauded him before the start which was a nice touch.
Having nosied at the other racers at the start, there was a mix of trail and road shoes on display, I went for the road tyres as the tough grips on my trail shoes tenderise my feet on the tarmac over long distance. I gambled it wouldn't be too muddy and hoped I wouldn't regret it. In the end it was muddy. The correct footwear choice on this terrain is wellies. The saving grace was that it was that slippery, cloying mud which just accumulates on the soles and up the sides of your shoes. It didn't seem to matter what you were wearing, everyone was doing their best Bambi impressions on the trail. In particular, one greasy downhill section which I amazed myself on by not going arse over tit in my usual style, particularly on the third lap with tired legs.
I set off at a fair pace to at least give me a chance of going sub 3.30 if course and conditions permitted. I skipped and danced (well in my mind anyway) over the puddles trying to keep my feet as dry as possible on the first two laps. Around half way I caught up with Malcolm, one of the organisers and a veteran of over 150 marathons who said he normally goes under 3.30 so I tagged along with him for a while. On the third lap, the dancing went out the window as I just plowed through the muddy water, too stiff for dancing. To be honest I didn't care by then, and besides each freezing puddle was numbing my battered feet for a few seconds afterwards.
Malcolm started to drift away in front of me as the mud, hills and my recent mileage started to take their toll and I couldn't hold on to him.
It became pretty obvious after 20 miles I was going to have to wait a little longer for that sub 3.30. As I rounded the out and back along the towpath for the last time, the chirpy marshal took my name, gave me a toot on his horn and said he didn't want to see me again! Fair play to him, it was a pretty grim morning to be stood out on your own on the canalside in the cold and he seemed really happy to be there. It gave me a lift for the final stretch.
It was tempting to just jog it home for the last 10km given there was still one last testing muddy climb to come and I knew my time had already slipped away.
I dug in though and kept racing and was glad I did. I didn't think there were many in front of me so there was still something to race for.
There was drama to come on the home straight for the seven spectators and passing dog walkers when cramp stopped me in my tracks with only around 50 yards to go and the finish line in sight. I had seen noone behind me only a few seconds previously but the next guy had rounded the corner, seen my struggles and sportingly put in a burst to try to pip me to the line (to be fair I'd have done the same). I made a pretty sad sight as I waddled over the finish line like a drunken penguin to beat him by 1 second into 8th in 3.36. It would have been a cruel way to finish had he beaten me.
Nice Selfie!
The final note on this race is that a few people I spoke to agreed that the course measured long and whilst I'm not claiming another ultra finish, my Garmin measured 26.4 miles. I clicked through 26.2 in 3.34 which would have been a new marathon pb and would have avoided the dreaded cramp (before the finish anyway)! I had fun and came away with a decent placing, only 4 minutes behind 4th and despite the time, a much improved performance on the Yorkshire marathon given the course, conditions and preparation. Whilst the time might not show it, I've come along way since then.
Well done to the Kirkstall Harriers and other organisers for putting on the event and the volunteers and marshals for being so friendly and welcoming. Thanks too for my wicked medal and ribbon featuring a fat friar!
Next up Frostbite 30 ultra...
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