Hardmooors 55 - 18/03/2017

Why do we fall sir? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up - Alfred Pennyworth

Wow, not quite sure where to start with this one.  This was my second attempt at this race having had a good day out back in 2015.  It would be my sixth ultra over fifty miles since 2014 so I should be getting better at this thing by now right? 

This year, the race would be run the opposite way from Helmsley to Guisborough with the hills in the second half and a sting in the tail in the form of Roseberry Topping, the perfect mini mountain which is the jewel in the crown of the wild and woolly Yorkshire Moors.

Taking the warm up seriously with my trail partner Ben...

In a nutshell, things didn't go to plan.  The wheels fell off early and it ended up being my roughest race day yet.  To be honest I'm still getting my head around it so I forgive you for skipping to the end if you want to avoid a gloomy read.

I am taking on the challenge of a lifetime this year at the UTMB.  It is the pinnacle of ultra running and I have worked so hard just to get to the startline.  This race, along with several others in the diary are all about preparing for it but that doesn't stop the racer in me wanting to perform well (it is a race after all) and this is where some of my problems started.

My preparations were very different to what they would be for a target event, I didn't taper, I had a heavy weekend with two late nights prior and work commitments meant I was away in the days preceding.  This meant interrupted sleep and little time to get my head in the right place in the days leading up to the event.  None of these are excuses, but the optimist in me is clinging to the chance that these factors may partially explain why I had such a miserable day.

Let the agony commence!

The day started well enough as the ground is quite runnable between Helmsley and Osmotherley.   I had made a schedule to beat my 2015 time of 10hrs 20mins which meant getting to Osmotherley (the first major checkpoint, 23 miles in) in 3h 30 or so. 

Heading down to Rievaulx at the race start

Smiling because I don't have cramp yet...

Unfortunately, the cramps had already set in by mile 17 and whilst I was still on target, my energy levels felt really low.  I even felt a little faint as I entered the village hall at Osmotherley for the first major checkpoint where my dropbag was waiting.  The weather was mild out of the wind and I was cooking so I lost my base layer here, stuffed it into my pack, and scoffed down my trusty rice pudding hoping the calories might lift me.

At White Horse still moving ok at this point.

Unfortunately on this occasion the cramps were in for the duration.  No amount of stretching would ease them off and they only worsened as they spread from my calves to my hamstrings on the first proper climb onto Clay Bank after Osmotherley.

At Clay Bank and caked after a fall in the woods near Osmotherley.

I already knew it was going to be a long and painful day from here. Photo credit Craig Kilday

By the time I reached half way and the three sisters in five hours I was already reduced to a run walk and was contemplating what to do for the best.  My plan was in tatters and I was contemplating my first DNF.  I figured if I quit now I would be able to reduce the soreness caused by the cramp and resume training quicker. 

For better or worse, stubbornness won out and I resolved to stick it out despite my misery and finish, even if only to save my first DNF for another day.  I called Bobby to adjust her arrival time at the finish.

Things did brighten a little as the cramps receded on the long descent into the second major checkpoint at Kildale.  I got talking to a fellow runner about his Bob Graham exploits which distracted me from the pain for half an hour or so but the relief was short lived. 

It was a relief to reach Kildale.  I took my time here as my only remaining goal now was to finish.  The volunteers here were great as ever and I refuelled on pizza and coffee.  Now resigned to my fate, the pressure lifted and in a weird masochistic way I started to see the funny side of my predicament as I headed back out into the fading light.  

Runners streamed past as I hobbled (think foot dragging zombie) my way up to Captain Cook's Monument, the penultimate climb of the day.  Whilst I had planned to not have to use the headtorch, there was a silver lining in getting to see the beautiful snake of lights heading up and down Roseberry Topping in the dark.  From there, all that remained was a five mile limp to the finish on legs battered by 8 hours of unrelenting cramp.  I made a sorry sight by the time I finally left the old railway track and hobbled the last few yards to the finish at The Sea Cadets in Guisborough.  I had added one and a half hours to my 2015 time.

On a much more cheery note, a special congratulations to my old mate Ben.  Seven years to the day he quit smoking, he has had his own epic journey to the start line of his first 50 mile race.  It really was the best moment of the day to see him bound through the door at the finish with the biggest grin of all.  What an achievement, well done mate you are ultra!

Looks like you were powered by smiles all the way round mate

I've suffered with cramp in sports off and on my whole adult life and it seems I am going through a particularly bad phase at the moment.  When it struck at the Hardmoors 30 in January I was able to manage it and still have a good day, but here it hit me much harder. 

Thank goodness that is over.

This performance has rocked my confidence.  There are one or two mitigating factors but I still feel a long way away from being in shape to finish one of the toughest endurance events in the world.

All I can do is keep plugging away, upping the training and commitment and trust that my conditioning will improve and see off the cramps.  If this happens again in the Alps there is no way I will make it to the finish and I'm worried...

Fingers crossed for a more enjoyable Hardmoors 110 in May and an upswing in form.

Hardmoors 30 - 01/01/2017

The world is mud-licious and puddle-wonderful - E E Cummings

So for most people going to bed before ten on New Years Eve is not their idea of fun.  But for me the first of January is my birthday and my idea of a fun birthday is not to spend it with the hangover from hell.  This year would be different, I resolved to ignore the call of the bottle and spend it doing something I love, running on the trails of the Yorkshire Moors.

Need a new pose for these photos!

The Hardmoors 30 is the first of Jon and Shirley Steele's Hardmoors ultra series and previous readers of my posts will know that I am a huge fan of these races.  Racing with the Hardmoors guys was all the excuse I needed to bail out of the festivities in exchange for a righteously smug New Years Day.

At the end of last year I decided to enter all of the races to make the Hardmoors 'grand slam' a major target for 2017.  Since my success in the UTMB draw last week though I will have to see whether it is possible to complete the slam with the final event, the Hardmoors 60 coming only two weeks after the little trot around Mont Blanc.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see how things pan out. Nevertheless, I will still be towing the start line at the 55 again and the 110 for the first time.

Bobby on the 15 route

Starting at Robin Hoods Bay the route for the 30 (miles) follows the Cleveland Way coastal path between Whitby and Ravenscar linking them with the disused railway line cinder track.  Unlike some of the shorter Hardmoors races, this one didn't have any 'bonus' miles which was a relief so early in the year!  I had run the coastal section several times before including at the Hardmoors 60 in 2015 so knew how beautiful the route would be but also how tough the climbs could be up and down to the bays and beaches.

Ben was there again using the event as a good warm up for his first 50 miler at the 55 (good luck with your training buddy) in March and Paul making his marathon debut (why make things easy with a road marathon eh?).  Bobby would be trying the 15 taking in the Whitby loop of the 30 route.

No finish - No shirt!

I have made huge progress with my road times in the past 18 months but not so much on the trail. This year I need to make some headway off-road so my target was to get under 5 hours and get towards the top ten percent which would be an improvement on my last few outings.

The weather was what you would expect from the Yorkshire Coast in January.  Cold and windy (think waterfalls being blown upwards and then showering down on you) and the coastal trail was very muddy but this is what we came for right!? Despite this I knew that some serious headway could be made on the flat, sheltered and runnable Cinder Track if I kept enough back in my legs from the muddy coastal sections.

What better way to spend New Years Day?

I dithered a little over the right shoes (good grip but less comfort or less grip and more comfort).  In the end comfort won but at the cost of some seriously sketchy mud sliding.

The race was hard but I managed my mental state well even when the inevitable cramp struck after 20 miles or so.  Keeping a steady pace and finally emerging after the killer climb up to the Village Hall at Robin Hoods Bay in 4hrs 50 mins.  My position was 22 out of 217 finishers which is much higher up the order than I have been in my last few runs on the trail.

I was quite chuffed with how the race went.  Starting a bit more conservatively meant that I was still passing runners all the way to the finish which is a far more satisfying way to race than be hanging on as everyone streams past at the end.

Well done to Ben and Paul who both finished under their target times and to Bobby for finishing strongly in the 15.  We're starting to accrue a proper little trail running posse, I wonder who we can rope in next!?

I am so happy and proud to have finally earned my place on the start line of this years UTMB.  To say finishing this race would be a step up would be a massive understatement but I earned the right to be there the same as the others. I need to up my game on the training front and give this race my full focus to maximise my chances of a finish.  As a result, I still intend to run the Hardmoors 55 and 110 but they will be part of my preparation now rather than as being the major targets for the year.

From here all roads lead to Chamonix for the race of my life...

2016 - The year of the pb

“You would run much slower if you were dragging something behind you, like a knapsack or a sheriff.” - Lemony Snicket

Having just finished my last trot of 2016 I thought I'd post something about how its gone with my running this year.

After a slow start and a while taken to relocate my AWOL mojo, two goals for the year slowly started to emerge.  To maintain my UTMB qualifying status and to post some quicker road times at last.

Training weekend in the Lakes

Fewer miles this year, 1,740 to be precise, fewer races too, but faster times.  So how did I get on? Well, by sneaking in a Parkrun with only a couple of weeks to spare, I'm chuffed to say I got both bagged...

Best bits

• The best hug ever from my dad after finishing proud at the Ultimate Trails 110k in the Lakes.
• A mega day out in the Lakes and a boat ride home with my old mate Ben for his first 50k.
• Posting fastest ever times at 5k, 10k, half and marathon.
• Finally joining the world of Parkrun. 
• Running with the BDB crew at the Leeds Abbey Dash.
• An awesome solo wintry epic on the Moors in November.

Worst bits

• A seriously muddy day out ending with a wrong turn at the end of the Haworth hobble.
• Missing my 3.15 target at the marathon.
• Return of the cramps at Osmotherley and the Yorkshire Marathon after a cramp free 2015.
• Falls one to nine of a very wet UT110k in July.

Its been great to post some faster times this year but I have learned how difficult it is to improve as much as I'd like at everything from 5k to 100 miles (well, duh!).  To get close to a three hour marathon is going to require much more focus and it certainly isn't going to happen any time soon as I'm still loving the trails too much.

2017 will be the year of the ultra, starting in a few days on New Years Day at the Hardmoors 30 at Robin Hoods Bay for what promises to be a bracing 50k on the coast.  Unlike last year, I already have my major races lined up for 2017 with the two most exciting being the Hardmoors 110 (my second 100 miler) and the V3k in Snowdonia (my first Skyrunning event).  

Then there is the UTMB ballot again in a few weeks time.  Double chance this year for the greatest race in the world but I'm trying to not get my hopes up too much.  If I'm unsuccessful this year, its guaranteed for 2018 assuming I finish what I've got planned.

Couldn't finish this without showing off my one of a kind medal hanger created for me by my dad for a Christmas box.  Had loads of fun loading it up and reminiscing of battles won and lost...

Looking forward to more running adventures in 2017.  Happy New Year!

Sweating the small stuff - 11/12/2016

"If I can get better, why not?"- Emil Zatopek
One of the reasons I started writing this blog was to record my thoughts and experiences about running my first ultra distance race when I finished the Race to the Stones in 2014.

This post is partially about Parkrun so its amazing to see how far I've come in the last three years and over 4,000 miles!

One of my major running goals this year was to put down some times on the road I feel happier with and having got personal bests at half and marathon earlier in the year, the past few weeks have been about maintaining consistent training but also squeezing in a 5k and 10k road race.  

It might sound strange but I've never raced over these distances so any time would be a personal best but I still wanted to see where I am at and put down a marker for each distance before the year is out.

The 10k was at the Leeds Abbey Dash with my colleagues and some clients from BDB.  It was a cool and wet morning perfect for running if a little cold.  Bobby and Ben were also there hunting down a pb (and succesfully I might add).  

From BDB there were some notable performances.  Andrew nailed a sub 40 time after a long recovery from a horrific leg break (nice one fella) and Gill and Amy completed their first (and last Gill?) ever races.  It was great to share the experience with so many friends and a mid morning beer afterwards!  Awesome running by everyone 

I had a good run if a shade too conservative at the start on reflection.  I finished in 38.16 which was well inside my target of 39 minutes.  

Sporting my red BDB shirt at the Leeds Abbey Dash

Despite having a reputation for fast times, having reviewed mine and others Strava records it looks like the course measured a little long (maybe 100 metres?).  So sub 38 minutes looks like a great target for the next 10k attempt.

I have been saying I want to do a Parkrun for ages but because i do my long runs on Saturday it has never quite happened.  Yesterday I realised I was running out of time this year so I just fit York Parkrun into my long run and did the rest after (a grim 11 miles after charging around a 5k so I will not be making a habit of this!).  Getting my excuses in like a proper amateur athlete, I have a rotten cold and made loads of mistakes.  My time was 18.36 which felt ok all considering.  18 minutes looks like a worthy next step to aim for...

That completes the slam of road bests in 2016.  It has certainly given me a confidence boost and a better feel for where I am with my running.  Hours on the trails is the best fun but its difficult sometimes to see how you're progressing as no two runs are the same.  

I'm not sure what opportunity I'll get to shoot for faster times next year.  I have some major ultra plans which is about going long and not fast so its been great to get some quicker markers down for the future.

I am already into my training plan for the Hardmoors 110 in May 2017, with the next major target being a 50k on New Years Day at the Hardmoors 30.  What better way to spend your birthday!?

   

The North Lincs Half - 15/05/2016

Since being bitten by the ultra trail running bug almost two years ago I have run a lot of slow miles. They've been beautiful, muddy and tough but slow.  This training was essential for getting through three mighty ultras last year but I have been wondering whether I have been simply training myself to run long and slow.  

I do have a decent natural pace when I put my mind to it, so in addition to my one big trail race this summer at the UT 110k, I want to rediscover some of it and make some inroads into my road times this year.  The first opportunity would be at a race that is becoming a fixture, the North Lincs half in my boyhood town of Scunthorpe which I would be running for the third time.  It is pancake flat with a great opportunity for fast times and also to run with some of my old buddies from home.

Great to see you Mr Ellis
Photo credit Chris Pickwell

About five weeks out from the race I started to introduce one quicker run into my week to get myself used to clocking some faster kilometres ready for the race.  The sessions were hard as I'm so used to just steadilly accumulating the miles, but as a result my natural cruising pace quickly dropped by around 15 secs per mile.  After a few weeks, I was able to increase the distance covered at the faster pace and I started to feel more confident in having a really good crack at my half marathon time of 1h 28mins at this race.

Spot the Matt...
Photo credit Roger Kimberley-Scott

As it happened, the day dawned with perfect conditions, bright sunshine with a gentle cool breeze. As with last year, my old pals were there with me.  Ben, whose running is improving all the time was also looking to crack a personal best and Mark was just seeing how it went after having run a cracking race here last year.  On the start line it was a lovely surprise to bump into a friendly face in Gary Ellis, an old school friend who told me he has started running relatively recently back home in Liverpool.

Perfect conditions
Photo credit Scunthorpe Telegraph

As well as being flat, the course is quite scenic as it winds its way through villages outside the town and it still ends on the pitch in the football ground which is a nice way to finish.  I hope they can retain this when Scunthorpe United get a new ground soon.  Plenty of folks had turned out to cheer us on  along the route in the morning sunshine.

Mark breaks his 5k pb at the start, oops!
Photo credit: Roger Kimberley-Scott

I had worked out my splits for a one minute pb and resolved to stick with that pace as long as possible, fully expecting to fade a little at the end.  In reality I found that hitting the splits bang on was quite hard and ended up running several seconds per kilometre under.  I just went with it as we raced through the country lanes, fully expecting some painful payback later on.

I did hit a tricky patch around ten miles but it was more of a drifting of concentration than physical fatigue.  I quickly snapped out of it though and with only three miles to go I managed to get back on track and it wasn't long before we were rounding the corner for the long straight back to Scunthorpe. It was here I started to pass those who had gone out too fast and started to wobble but passing them gave me more confidence and I was able to lift the pace again which came as a surprise given my faster than expected start.  Entering the stadium straining for a few extra seconds, I knew I was on for a decent time but I hadn't looked at my watch for a wee while so I had no idea until I saw the race timer on the finish line.

Photo credit Claire Lewis

Before the race I thought that to put a minute into my best time would be a brilliant result.  In the end I battered down the doors of my pb by two and a half minutes to get home in 1h 25min and 31sec, a dream time given I have only really started thinking about faster stuff recently.  Perhaps there is something in this speedwork thing after all...

Suffice to say I am chuffed with that.  Its nice to have a time which better matches the amount of work I put into my running.  Turns out it was a day for smashing records. The course record was broken and Gary (see you next year?) and Ben also claiming new pbs.  Mark had a tougher day out than last year having overcooked it a little at the start but was still smiling at the end and even Harrison came away with a medal for bossing the fun run.

Proud fun run finishers
Photo credit Scunthorpe Telegraph

Afterwards we retired for a gravy dinner and a couple of shandies to top off a fab weekend.  Thanks to all the volunteers and organisers who put together a really well organised race.

I'm returning to the hills next weekend with the awesomest trail running community at the Hardmoors Osmotherley Marathon.  Cannot wait!

Yorkshire Marathon 11/10/2015

'It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.' - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Exactly two years ago I had a harsh lesson delivered to me in the form of a painful and ultimately disappointing introduction to marathon running at the inaugural Yorkshire marathon here in York. 

 I followed my training plan and thought everything was in place to get me round in my target  time of three and a half hours.  In the end though I paced it badly, I hit the wall, cramped up and hobbled home painfully and disappointed 6 minutes outside my time.  

I know now that I was seriously underprepared.  

I found it tough to take but what happened to me in that race essentially kickstarted two years of incredible trail running adventures as I resolved to train harder, run further and be stronger so that I never have to feel that way again.  I am a different runner now, much stronger and I've certainly learned how to suffer better...!

Fast forward two years and my home marathon was looming again and I had got myself a number thinking I'd be in great shape to run a time I'd be happy with.  In reality though its been a tricky few months with injury curtailing my training and then a tough day out dragging myself round the Hardmoors 60 only a few weeks ago with the sprained ankle.

In my mind I had decided to withdraw from the marathon soon after finishing the Hardmoors.  The ankle has improved a lot but I knew a super quick time (for me) was out of the question.  In the few days before the race though, my decision not to run had started to nag at me.  I slowly started to realise that the desire to chase a time had blinded me to what an incredible experience and privilege it is to run a marathon and even better when its on your doorstep.

In the end the fear of missing out won.  I decided to run on the day before and immediately regretted overindulging at a function the previous Tuesday evening!

But what would my tactic be?  I didn't want to just trot round and treat it like a training run,  but I also knew that my recent prep would preclude a super quick time.

I decided to try to run the race I wanted to two years ago.

I ran comfortably with the pack surrounding the 3h 30 pacer telling myself that if my ankle started to hurt at any stage I would withdraw.  The weather conditions were perfect, the Minster looked glorious and the good people of York lined the route in their thousands cheering, clapping and keeping everyone supplied with jelly babies, musical entertainment and lots of love.

The ankle discomfort never materialised and I got stronger as the race unfolded.  The wall never came, the cramp never appeared and I ran a negative split coming home in 3h 25mins.

It was immensely cathartic to finally put those 2013 demons to rest.  To comfortably deliver the race I hoped to back then with no specific preparation shows how far I've come.  I'm so glad I didn't listen to my stupid ego telling me that its all about the time.  I know I can go faster but that's not the point.

Top photobombing.  I wondered what happened to my free yoghurt!

When I jump off this ultra treadmill for long enough I'd like to see how big a hole I can put into my marathon time.  For now though its good just to have one in the bank that doesn't have such a painful memory.

As the nights draw in, the call of the sofa and the duvet gets stronger.  To all of you braving the elements this winter and pounding the pavements and trails over the next few months extra respect. Good luck to you whatever your challenge.  Its certainly harder this time of year but way more rewarding.  You have my permission to feel that extra little bit smug!  See you out there...

The South Downs Way 100 - 13/06/2015

'Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way!' - Dr Seuss

So, the day finally arrived. My fourth ultra in twelve months only a year and eight months since that painful first marathon.  In my broken state then, I would never have guessed I'd be here at 6am in Winchester on a warm and overcast morning about to attempt run 100 miles.  I've crammed in a lot of running adventures since then and learned so much about this awesome pursuit of trail running.

Friday night registration and kit check - it all sounds so simple!

All ready for off - 6am start at Winchester

The South Downs Way 100 is one of the tougher 100 mile races in the UK due to the 4,000m of ascent between Winchester and Eastbourne.  It carries a weighty 4 UTMB qualifying points and is also a ballot qualifier for the original and most prestigious 100 mile race in the world; the Western States Endurance Run. Based on previous years, around a third of the starters wouldn't be making it to the end in time for the 30 hour cut off.

I had a dream target to get one of the special '100 miles one day' buckles and had made a schedule for 23 hours based on previous finishers times.  In the days leading up to the race I tried to reconcile that this was my first 100 and not to be too disappointed if it didn't work out that way given how much can go wrong.  I knew my pace would be fine for the first half but everything beyond mile 62 would be a step into the unknown.

I had my elite race crew of Rachel and Bobby in tow with a boot full of kit and produce resembling a 5 year old's birthday party buffet.  This was in addition to the 14 aid stations on the route.  Shortage of food was not going to be an issue although I realised if I spent 5 minutes in each I would be adding 70 minutes onto my time even before I spent any with my crew.  Don't hang around at aid stations!

I set off too quick, landing at the first major check point after 22.6 miles in 3hrs 33 feeling brilliant and being swept along with the excitement of it all.  My crew informed I had gained almost 20 minutes on my schedule already.  I wasn't too worried though, I knew the first half of the race was more runnable than the second due to the hills being more rolling than the steep ups and downs to come. My tactic was to run long and hard from the start and see what I had left at the end, I didn't want to finish in 24.01 wondering what if?

This was pretty naive in hindsight and I would be paying for it soon enough.

Time for a refuel Queen Elizabeth Country Park

  
I would next see Rachel and Bob at Cocking after 35 miles and what a difference a couple of hours had made.

Whilst I was still moving quickly, I now felt terrible.  The heat was building, I wasn't injured but I felt weak and I had so far to go.  I had hit the wall big time, my head was mashed.

A playlist of negative thoughts swishing around my brain.  Why am I doing this? It is stupid and pointless.  What am I trying to prove? and, Who even cares?

The only thing that kept me going was the thought of living with a DNF only a third of the way in just for 'not feeling it'.  I grunted and grumped at my crew and tried to smash as much food into my face as I could in the hope it would shake me out of my black hole.  I was then off again heading back up into the hills with a dark cloud hovering above my head.

What happened next was amazing, my biggest low was followed an hour later by the biggest high.  I started to feel strong again as the calories kicked in.  I had the most amazing runners high which made the hairs on my neck stand on end.  I was running strong and free again after 45 miles and breezed into Amberley grinning like a loon.

Amberley crew station - Feeling good

I now knew what was to come having recced the remainder a few weeks previous. This gave me a boost despite the huge distance still to go.  We were into the most beautiful part of the SDW now, a stunning rollercoaster of chalk hills with views down into lush green fields and wildflowers all set to a skylark soundtrack.  There was nothing to do but drink it all in and eat up the miles whilst the legs still allowed. What a stunning landscape.

Half way passed and then the Washington aid station where I high fived Elvis at 54 miles in 9hrs 46. Around 45 minutes ahead of schedule now.

The next 15 miles passed in a blur, the sun came out, it got hot and then cool again, shadows grew, the landscape became more beautiful and colours were turned up to eleven as the end of the day got closer.  I dropped into Clayton Windmills at 70 miles and found myself back amongst a group having being on my own quite a while.  I was now starting to do those sums in my head, I think I can do this, I can walk 30 miles, even if I run only a little I've got a good chance of my 24 hour dream if I can just hold it together.

My feet were feeling pretty battered now from the rock hard chalk and flint under foot.  I joined the other guys in running a few yards off the trail on the softer grass to relieve the punishment.

Big skies - summer shows itself on the SDW

Man those chalk and flint trails are tough on the plates of meat

Soon after a quick stop at Jack and Jill the iconic windmills at 70 miles, I was climbing up to Ditchling Beacon and a familiar face was running towards me.  Rachel had hiked up the trail and it was great to run with her for a mile or so.  When we got towards the car I stopped to check out my feet as I could feel a pressure blister building on my right heel.  Bobby quickly slapped on some compeed to provide a little protection and I winced in pain as I eased my battered foot back into my shoe.

The night was beginning to draw in now and it was soon time for the planned change of shirt and adding of a base layer.

Housedean Farm was the next stop where we were met by the most brilliant aid station crew.  They really were looking after people here in a brilliant and super efficient way.  Emotions are running high after 77 miles, just the right combination of words of comfort, steel and encouragement struck just the right chord.  I was lifted once more.  Thanks guys, you were amazing.

The feared night time section was now just around the corner.  I wasn't sure whether I would see my crew again now until the end.  I had given strict instructions for them to rest after such a long day trailing around after me, not that they paid any attention!

As the night drew in the mist descended and visibility dropped to only a few feet.  Headtorches simply reflected their beams back like the lights of a car in fog.  I was worried that progress would become painfully slow or worse, I would take a wrong turn.  The temperature had dropped away and I stuck on my waterproof to keep the increasing wind at bay.

By now I had buddied up with my new pal Ron from Northern Ireland a veteran of 20 ultras (doing the SDW100 as part of a stag weekend!?) and we resolved to get this thing done together.  We chatted through the night and I was glad of the company.  We fed off each other during the toughest part of the race and worked as a team so as not to make any navigational mistakes.  Running had now pretty much turned into a quick march due to the visibility, the hills and fatigue. Getting lost now would be devastating.

I couldnt believe it when Bobby and Rachel were at Bo-Peep stood on the top of a cold moor in the fog at almost 11 pm.  They gave us a lovely welcome.  Now that is what you call proper support!  Ron was amazed by their commitment and when asked by Rach if he wanted anything he just responded with 'a hug' so I duly obliged!

The last two aid stations came and went in a flurry of sugary tea and soup. The volunteers here truly are legends giving up their own time to nurse the remaining zombies home in the middle of the night.  Some people we passed were really starting to struggle now but my own discomfort had pretty much plateaued, I could smell that finish line now.

Two big hills to climb and we were then up by the trig point above Eastbourne.  You could almost reach out and touch the lights of the running track blazing into the night and calling us home.  A couple of hardy volunteers were camped up there to guide us the right way down a never ending bone crunching descent down a flint chute before being deposited onto the streets of Eastbourne.

I am afraid that running had long since ceased and all I could lift myself to do was maintain a quick march the last couple of flat miles home under the street lights of Eastbourne.  I was passed by quite a few people here, most had been lifted to run it home on the flat accompanied by words of encouragement from their pacer.  I was jealous of their pacers, I didn't even have Ron anymore.  He had drifted behind as I tried to keep up the marching pace.  It is my only regret that I lacked the will to lift myself to run again for the last couple of miles.

After what seemed like an eternity I was rounding the bend onto the athletics track.  I heard Rachel shout for me and the others there clapped.  I was glad to be able to run those last 400 metres round the track finishing wearily in 21hrs and 43 minutes.

It was done.

I felt strangely numb as I was handed my buckle.  I think I left my emotion along with everything else out there on the trail.

Scary eyes! - A 176,000 yard stare

So that's it, all over.  Well done for reading this far.  So much happens on a long ultra, yet your brain isn't working very well by the end.  It is hard to remember it all.

I can't quite believe I ran 100 miles. I still don't know how I feel about it other than it feels big.  My body has never taking this much punishment but I am recovering well now that the pain has subsided enough to sleep properly.

Buckles are awarded at 100 mile races rather than medals to acknowledge their roots in old horseback trail events in the US 

100 mile events are brutal and could not be achieved by mere mortals without the assistance of so many volunteers who deliver care, compassion and encouragement in truckloads all in their own time.  Thankyou so much for making this possible, the Centurion Running community is very special.

Equally huge thanks to Rachel and Bobby, you did everything I could have asked for and more.

Finally, a huge well done to everyone with the courage to stand on that start line to take on this or any other 100 miler.  Whether you finished in 17hrs or DNF'd after 20 miles, every one of you are an inspiration and I doff my running cap to you all.

The North Lincolnshire Half Marathon - 02/05/2015

A good friend knows your best stories, a best friend has lived them with you

A rare return to the road this month to run the North Lincs half which is held in the town I grew up in (not so sunny) Scunthorpe.

The main draw of this race was to run with three of my oldest friends Mark, Ben and Chris. They each had their own goals for the race with Mark looking to go under 90 minutes for the first time, Ben looking for a pb and Chris looking to finish his first half. I decided to run in my Scunthorpe United colours in a cynical ploy to get more jelly babies on the course. Ben had opted for the old school singlet in an attempt to channel his Normanby Park AC under 12s form and Mark was obviously chasing the fetish support having gimped up in a ravishing pair of comedy black foot marigolds (vibrams).

We shivered together on the start line in the pouring rain for what seemed like forever before we were finally off, around 1,500 runners streaming out of town and onto the country roads.

Poser - note marigolds on the left

Mark and I decided to run together as I was feeling pretty confident about going under 90 minutes and it worked well as we paced each other for the first 10 miles. The weather even eased a little after an hour or so and the yellow flowering fields of rape looked spectacular with the purple storm clouds as a backdrop. The route is fast and flat and passes through the villages of Butterwick and Burringham before heading East back to Scunthorpe with a lap of the pitch at fortress Glanford Park, home of Scunthorpe United to finish. The shirt drew a few cheers from the hardy supporters braving the downpour on the route.

A pacy peacock

As 10 miles approached we were well on track for Mark's sub 90 target and I realised if i got a wriggle on i could still have a crack at my own pb so I decided to push on and see what i could do. I was able to make up some time but a combinaton of my recent heavy mileage, a lingering cold and a return of the maelstrom for a testing last mile meant I just missed out.

Mark digging deep for the final mile

In the end i was pretty satisfied with 1.28.18 on the day given i have mostly been running slow and long on trails this year.  The time didn't really matter, the best thing about this race was sharing it with my mates and it was awesome to be there with them and see them achieve.

Mark followed me home soon after I'd finished breaking the 90 minute mark for the first time despite a tough last few miles.  Equal kudos goes to Ben who blasted to a 10 minute pb and some nicely chafed nipples to sneak under 1.45 and Chris getting home looking fresh as a daisy in his first half marathon.

Shiny

I think putting a decent dent in my Half Marathon pb is going to require a different approach with some focussed training targeted to take me under 1.25.  All of this mileage for the trail ultras is great for endurance but not very good for improving speed over these shorter distances on the road.  Its quite cool though to feel like there are potentially faster HM times in there waiting to be extracted!

Although there were one or two issues with parking and some examples of rather militant stewarding, if you are after a fast half you can't go far wrong with this one and the finish in the stadium adds a nice touch.  Well done to everyone who braved the elements especially the heroic marshalls.

Next up a tough marathon in the mountains at the Howgills Trails 26 before the big one fewer than 6 weeks away!

Rombalds Stride Winter Challenge 07/02/2015

The Rombalds Stride is a 23 mile race following a loop from Guiseley taking in Yorkshire's finest scenery.  It goes up the Airedale Valley, over Rombalds Moor to Ilkley and across Otley Chevin.  The event has a great reputation locally for being a tough challenge given the distance, ascent and wintry conditions it is often run in.

It is an LDWA event however there were certainly more runners than walkers on this occasion.

Yes I did look this tired before I set off

The route is tough and beautiful with a nasty sting in the tail where you have to climb the Chevin (where I had my arse handed to me by two guys giving away at least 20 years) before the final descent back to Guiseley.  The conditions on the day went from freezing cold skating on ice and snow up on the Moor to squelching through the mud in Spring sunshine on the Chevin.

Up on the Chevin

If all that doesn't sound tough enough, I'm now going to take a few words to offer some top tips for making it a little harder for yourself...

• Go out drinking all afternoon the day before at the Ilkley beer festival so that you are really dehydrated and you get horrendous cramp after 17 miles.
• Go to bed late and struggle to get to sleep until 3.30 am the night before the race.
• Pack your gloves away out of reach so that your hands freeze up like blocks of wood up on the freezing moor.
• Tie your shoelaces like a three year old so that you have to stop TWICE! to tie them which takes ages because your hands are now made of wood.
• Fall over, batter your knee and squeal like a big jessie so that the guy in front of you (thanks again fella) has to turn around and run back to you to check you're okay.
• Don't bother having a proper recce of the route so you take a wrong turning and end up on a shiny housing estate where you get gawped at (understandably) by the locals out washing their cars.
• Run with a rucksack which contains 3 times more kit (and weight) than you need where the water bottles are strategically placed just out of reach.

Just a flesh wound

The main problem was complacency.  I had done okay in my two races at the end of last year and presumed I could just turn up, run well and basically get away with it.  Some of the things were unavoidable (for example, all of that kit was a test carry for the Hardmoors 55 next month) some were just schoolboy errors.  I still ended up with an okay time of 3.41 but it felt like a poor run and it is pants when you are hobbling along with cramp as other racers stream past you.

Finishing in one piece - just!

On the plus side, after being recommended LDWA events by so many people I now know why.  The route was stunning with plenty of aid stations where there was ample drinks, fig rolls and even a bacon sarnie if you fancied one!  Thanks to all involved at the LDWA and the 15th Airedale Scouts who organise this cracking event, I promise to do it justice next time!  To top it all there was a full on gravy dinner waiting for the finishers back at St Oswalds Junior school at the end.

As I write this my calves have just about recovered and I reflect on lessons learned, particularly around the kit carry and pack for the Hardmoors.  It seems I needed a kick up the backside and this one is timely given there's only a month or so to go until the next big one.

Frostbite Ultra 06/12/2014

"Run fast, don't fall over, have fun" - Sarah (Bobby) Fisher

These were the strict instructions given by my missus before the race.  I only achieved one off the list but it was the most important...

Keep running up that hill

The Frostbite is a 30+ mile ultramarathon around the skyline of beautiful Nidderdale from Pateley Bridge. This was the third running of the race and for various reasons to date no two have been over the same course.

Ever since I ran a recce of part of this route a few weeks ago, I had been really looking forward to this race.  What a beautiful place to come challenge yourself on the trails and a brilliant last race to top off a great year of running adventures.

A cold dawn breaks over Nidderdale

Arriving to a beautiful morning and a hard frost just raised the excitement for this run, perfect conditions for a race called the Frostbite!  The race HQ was at the scout hut in Pateley Bridge where I grabbed a coffee and a banana whilst I registered (aka signing your life away).  The room was buzzing with nervous energy and I indulged in a little people watching.  A wide range of ages, characters and kit on display.  I carried a couple of 9bars (awesome seedy flapjacks) in my race vest as back up but I knew there were going to be aid stations at 10 and 20 miles so packed relatively light with just the required waterproof and O/S Map apart from my two vest bottles which I'd made up with Torq Energy drink the night before.  I wore running tights and a base layer on top, a wooly hat and gloves which proved a perfect setup as I was neither too hot or cold all day.

Rob the race organiser gave a quick safety brief, and we all filed out the cosy scout hut into the fresh morning air.  I said a quick hello to my sister who had dragged her friends Ruth and Greg and their dogs along to wave me off.  Thankfully given the temperature we were off pretty sharpish heading out South alongside the river on the road which provided a great little warm up for the climb to come.

The Starting Horn Sounds

The first 10 miles were a loop ending back at the Scout hut including a steep climb for which there was going to be a 'King of the Mountains' prize.  I had made my usual mistake of starting too far back and I did get a little slowed down by other runners whilst we hiked up the narrow trails.  Once the top was reached, I was able to get by a few and it was great fun, hurtling back downhill on the frozen trail, blue skies overhead, all of Nidderdale in front of us and Pateley Bridge down below.  This is why we do this...

Descending through the woods after 4 miles I tripped and faceplanted.  I'd been enjoying the run so much I wasn't being careful with my feet.  Fortunately just a graze and a bit of bruising was all.  I joked with the fella behind me that it was good to get my fall out of the way now rather than after having run 25 miles!

A few miles later and another runner near me laughed at our pathetically careful descending skills down through the old mines and joked we'd never make fell racers.  I was being careful not to trash my quads on the descents early on after having learned the hard way at the Swaledale marathon in June.

 

This first section seemed to fly by and we were back at the scout hut in no time.  I topped up my bottle and smashed a 9Bar (I passed on the Jagermeister though) and was out on the long loop I was familiar with from my recce a few weeks earlier.  This time though, the bullocks which had chased me out of their field when I was here last weren't there.  The muddy trail was still frozen so good progress could be made, but I knew once thawed this was going to be hard work on the way home.

Soon we were running alongside the reservoir and then crossing over the river to Ramsgill, the trail heading uphill through farmland before a steep descent and then ascent to the pretty village of Middlesmoor after 18 miles and just under 3 hours.  It was here that it started to get tougher with a 2 mile steady climb over In Moor.  This was made much tougher by the broken up old road we were running on, I was on my own by this point with a group of three racers ahead of me, I matched their hike/run strategy along this section and tried to at least maintain the distance behind them.

At Scar House Reservoir

When it came, I was pleased to start the steep descent to Scar House reservoir and the second aid station to regroup.  That last section was deceivingly tough and the beautiful weather was being replaced with a cold wind and mist.  I quickly topped up the water bottles again and was just about to set off when the marshal stopped me in my tracks with an offer of hot Ribena which was too good to resist.  It was hot, strong, sweet and just the job.  Its amazing how little things can lift you when it's getting tough.

Then off again across the dam at Scar House reservoir in pursuit of the three ahead, climbing high onto the grouse moor with Nidderdale down below on the right and we were now heading home.  Frustratingly I was catching up with them on the hiking sections but would lose ground again when the running started again.  At one point I got within a couple of yards and I think that gave them a surprise when they saw how close I had got and this coincided with a flat section.  They trotted into the distance, I wasn't able to hold onto them and was alone again.
 

The next hour was about maintaining the momentum across the increasingly misty moor.  When there is still a long way to go and the legs are stiffening, it becomes a mental and physical battle.  It was an advantage having run this section before and good to know that most of the days climbing was now behind me.  Eventually I recognised the spot to turn right to make my painfully slow descent into the valley and my watch clicked over 30 miles in just under five hours.

I knew the course was likely to be longer than the advertised 30 miles from my recce but I hadn't anticipated quite how far there was still to run.  I admit to feeling a little sorry for myself for a moment as the realisation sunk in.  I guessed another four miles and perhaps another hour.  It made the next few miles mentally tough despite being so close to the end.  The trail had now defrosted back into the churned up mud and the light was starting to fade, it had certainly strayed into 'class B' fun at this stage (that special type of fun you don't realise you're having at the time...).  It is really hard to make yourself run when your legs and feet feel so trashed, but the alternative is worse, hours of walking to the finish.

Another runner caught and passed me, and then a lady appeared at my shoulder soon after.  I told her how strong she was looking and she said she was rushing to the finish because she was so thirsty! I had half of one of my bottles left which I shared and we chatted briefly before i urged her on for the last two miles.  She was much stronger than me despite having got lost along the way and ended up finishing second lady.

After five and a half hours I started to sense the finish line and I was about ready for it.  The bridge and scout hut came into view and it was all over.  Rachel and the guys had waited all this time and it was really good to see them there at the finish.  33.7 miles, 3,553 feet of ascent in 5hrs and 39 minutes, 12th male and 14th overall.  I was disappointed I lost those few places near the end but I really couldn't have given any more on the day.  The day had become really gloomy, it seemed so long since we set off under blue skies and I thought of the other runners still out there battling, some of whom would surely be finishing in the dark.  Well done to everyone who finished, a real test.

I have to say this was a great day out, thanks to Rob and his team for putting on the event in a beautiful part of the world and for the sarnies, cake and hot soup which really hit the spot at the end.  This is one race I'd love to have another crack at, highly recommended and at £20 entry, great value for money too.

Next up, the training begins for SDW100 next summer and preparations for the Hardmoors 55 in March 2015...