Running ultra marathons and trail runs wherever I can. Finisher of the Northern Travers, Winter Spine Challenger South and numerous other 100 mile races.
Yesterday I did my first stint of volunteering. and I really enjoyed it. I took on the 3am to 11am slot at Pangbourne for the Centurion Running AUTUMN 100. This was the aid station between Goring and Reading so, was the final station before the finish line.
I was a little concerned that the graveyard shift would be tough. I knew I wasn’t going to get any sleep (or nothing worthwhile) before heading out. I also wondered if we would get the real walking wounded, dead on their feet runners that really needed massive help.
I have to admit that whilst I have always been grateful to volunteers and the work they do, until now I have never truly appreciated what effort it takes to cover all the support a race like this needs. The long hours, lack of sleep, countless cups of tea and marmite sandwiches – and that’s just the volunteers themselves 😂 But what I saw in my 8 hours were the most inspiring support from a bunch of near strangers I can describe since I started running just for people to go out on a run and take part in a race.
Runners of all shapes and sizes, of all ages and races all with one thing in mind – getting their 100 miler buckle. So many felt beaten and broken, so many questioned they could continue. But for every one that felt down there were a dozen that (even after 95 miles) came into the station with a jolly Sunday morning skip. They weren’t going to let anything get in the way, they had this. A quick refuel, some shouts of encouragement followed by pointing them in the right direction and they were off.
At times there were tears, snoozes, sickness – we had most things – but what we did was make sure nobody gave up just because their head was telling them too.
We made tea, more tea, soup. Gave people a few minutes to compose themselves and then they were out. Sometimes with a bit of leverage from us to avoid them staying too long and regretting it. We counted them all in and we counted them all back out again.
We had no retirements. We sadly had one time out at 95 miles. But he was the perfect example of what running a first 100 means to people. So pleased to have made it to 95. Disappointed, but now so much more prepared for the next crack at doing a 100 miler. Well done 👍
And that’s not where things ended. We had the pack down, cleaning, van loading all to do.
The team at Pangbourne were great. The runners inspiring and the experience humbling.
I always appreciated volunteers. I am always grateful for their help, encouragement and endless positivity. Now, I have a deeper and far greater appreciation for the efforts taken to help us somewhat madcap runners achieve the targets we set ourselves.
It was definitely a chillier than hoped for morning but as I walked from the car park at the station to get my train to Goring at 7am I still knew it was going to be a good day.
CW50 was another of the races I had chosen to build the body up ready for the Arc in January. Hills, trails, varying terrain – all sounded good.
The race itself starts on the riverside in Goring, heads south on the Thames before turning away from the river and heading eventually north into the Chiltern Hills. This first section is narrow river paths so not a time to be a front pack runner starting at the back!
Riverside start
The route then takes you north, through stunning Stonor Park, and onto the Turville windmill – yep that one from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 😊. The path takes you straight past it, however there is a beast of a hill to get there!
From there hang left, head to the highest point near Christmas Common and Watlington Hill. This then means a good long descent is due heading down to join the Ridgeway and begin the stretch through Swyncombe and eventually Grims Ditch.
Finally it’s a weave through some pretty runnable rolling trails until you find yourself on the edge of Goring again and finally stumble across the ‘Finish this way’ sign.
The route is stunning. The hills are great, the downs just as good. There’s also plenty of forest/woodland running which is one of my favourite terrains – must have strong ankles then ! haha 😆
Aid Stations
Usual Centurion style. Simple but very effective. Water, squash, coke and tailwind to drink – and a variety of sweet and savoury snacks including fresh fruit and sweets. They put on 5 stops. The first around 10 miles in and the rest 7 or 8 miles apart. Just about right 👍
As usual volunteers were ace. Enthusiastic, supportive, quick to help you through the aid station. Centurion volunteers are the best!
Approach
This was a B race for me. I wanted to do well but it was still training for the big one. I focussed on nutrition, really hitting it well in the first half, struggling a bit as time went on and I need to get more wet food in my plan to fix this.
I wanted to perform well but not batter myself either. I have London marathon 15 days after and I want a good time! So a little reserved in the second half – holding back a touch on a few hills and coasting a few flats.
Challenges
Not many – beside the race itself !
About halfway (I think) I got a tweak in my right achilles. Carried on a little and thought it’s a blister brewing so stopped. Nothing obvious but it wouldn’t go. So I stopped, shoes, sock off. Plaster over my taped heel to add some more cushion and off I went again. That fixed it and no issues after.
Result
Though I was not putting everything into the race I still smashed my 50 mile Pb by about 2 hours to 8:15.01. That blew me away. I thought 10 hours but 8 😮!!
And a top ten finish at a Centurion Event! I’ll take that every day of the week.
What’s next?
London is around the corner, my first attempt at the iconic race. I would like a good time but I’m just really excite to have made it through the ballot! Then it’s the long run into the Arc in January. That’s going to be here before we know it.
When we go on UK holidays I am always thinking of running opportunities. In recent years Cornwall has featured heavily and I have taken on the challenge to run as much of the South West Coast Path as possible.
This year we were staying by Towan Beach. A stretch of the coast path which is around 43 miles long, with a ferry from ‘Place’ to Falmouth, via St Mawes to the west and a ferry from Fowey to Polruan in the east. Towan beach is about 2 miles from Place.
As I have committed my self to running the 2023 Arc of Attrition 100 mile race I thought this was a good chance for two particular firsts;
Running with as close to full kit as I could get
Running the Coastal Path in darkness
So Monday evening (after a long day out with the family in Falmouth) at 8:40 is I setout on my run. Heading east towards Fowey as the sun was getting low in the sky.
Kit:
To cover most of the Arc kit I ran with my Salomon Adv Skin 12 – a new Salomon vest for me and my first time using it!
I had all the usual night running kit – torches, batteries etc. I also carried waterproof trousers and a jacket, long running tights, base layers, hats gloves etc. These are Arc gear and not stuff I would expect to need (and I didn’t – thankfully!).
I had 3L of water (there was no refuelling or topping up on the route) and I also had my Leki poles. A real opportunity to test my Pole running abilities out.
I ran earing my Trailfly 300 from Inov8. Im not sure if these will be the ones for the Arc. In the winter conditions I might need something with a little more grip, however these have a pretty good grip, are comfortable, and may well be my shoes of choice. Winter training will determine that decision.
In this run they managed well and I felt well connected to the trail, with the exception of the one time I tripped over my pole (I was getting a little lazy with my technique)!
Route:
My route was strictly the coastal path – where I could find it! There was a detour just west of Charlestown (nr St Austell) but otherwise I was on the usual path all the way.
The path in this area of Cornwall is pretty mixed. It doesn’t have the giant boulders you might find around the North Coast near Sennen, and it has a good bit of Beach at Par Sands. It has more steps than Riverdance concert and some beautiful sights – even in the dark.
One of my favourite points about this 41 mile route I took was that there was so little of it involved built up civilisation. I found myself in endless miles of fields, woodlands, steep ups and downs and just the occasional fishing village (like Mevagissey) or a short couple of road sections around Charlestown and Par.
The photos show some of the beautiful things I saw on the run. My favourite point was Dodman Point. I had read about this but forgotten the fact that there was a large cross on the top of the cliffs next to the path.
I came up the climb towards the top of Dodman point and was taken a little bit by surprise when I saw this magnificent stone cross. The story of Dodman is here (https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walksdb/37/#). The cross dates from 1896 and was built by the Rev George Martin as a navigation aid for shipping following a collision between two naval destroyers near Dodman Point earlier that year.
The final approach to Fowey seemed to take a long time – though I suspect that as just some tiredness also kicking in. It’s a lovely route though, over the final headland and then through some wooded areas and finally into the harbour village of Fowey – one of my favourite Cornish towns.
Running Buddies
Apart from the first 2 miles to Portscatho and the route from Par to Fowey, I was alone. Not a sole to be seen. Yet I had a whole host of running buddies. Running in the dark has the added benefit that you have only a short field of view. My head torch is pretty powerful, but the varied terrain underfoot means a lot of time is spent illuminating only the few metres in front of you. So it can be a little surprising sometimes when you come across other living things on the way around.
Firstly, at this time of year, and in the middle of the night, all the spiders come out. Spreading their massive webs across the path to catch moths etc, many of them caught this runner that night. I encountered dozens, a good few I spotted only as I hit the web, with many being brushed off my torso, head and the occasional (well 2) which were unfortunate to find their way into my mouth – urgh!!!
My second encounter was a first for me. When running along the path, only metres from the cliff edge and the sea, to hear things rustling amongst the undergrowth is a little disconcerting. So I was a little unsure when I heard things I couldn’t see. I carried on, trying to just ignore, until an animal like a pretty large domestic cat ran across in front of me, stopped and stared as if to say – “What the **** are you doing here and this time?” I found myself face to face with a badger for the first time in my life! It was just brilliant. As quickly as it appeared it shot off into the bushes. This happened three times during the night, firstly around Nare Head and then just after Pentewan.
How did it go?
In a word … well. I got through the run, I found the time with my poles was really useful and by the time I got to Fowey I really had gotten the hand of the poles, double planting or staggered planting, uphill, downhill, flats etc. I really found them helpful.
I tried some new nutrition in Supernatural Fuels. They were good, particularly the maple one! They sat well in the stomach and were easy to eat.
Water was an issue. During such a warm spell in the UK I always knew my limitation was going to be liquid. I ran with 2.5L in my vest with 500mL emergency water in my Salomon Pulse belt. Once I had to start to use the emergency water, I knew my race would need to end at the next place I could be collected. I’m always a little worried about water, and so from halfway was rationing my intake. To reduce my use a little I throttled back o effort a little, to ensure I kept my hydration a little more in control. I reach Fowey consuming just the last few drops of my emergency water. Well judged maybe, lucky, or just good management of consumption. I would have liked a little more buffer, but I was in good shape when I reached Fowey.
Recovery
This was a real bonus. I finished just before 7 on Tuesday morning. I was back out Wednesday morning running 6 miles on the path with my wife. Whilst my legs had some miles in them, there was no aching, no niggles, they were good. I have really found recovery now I follow a real training plan, to be where I have seen great improvement. I have SIS Rego recovery protein, I try and hydrate before, during and after my runs, and I try to take on the right amount of calories.
Some other things I have found that have improved my recover:
Keep moving – I find I recover best when I don’t crash after a long run. I get up go for a walk. Go out with the family, just keep a gentle amount of exercise immediately after.
Yoga – new to me in 2022 but something I have stuck with since January.
Stretching – Yes I know, runners should do this, and most of us don’t! But I have made a little more effort ton this point – especially post run.
What I learnt
Successes:
The Salomon vest took all my kit and had plenty of room to spare. I had most of my Arc kit onboard but the few other bits I need to add will fit with ease.
The maple flavoured Supernatural Fuel was really good.
The Leki poles were a real win, in combination with the Salomon custom quiver to hold them – on the rare times I wasn’t using them!
Foot preparation went well, a bit of taping, my 2Toms powder. No sock change and no blisters after 41 lumpy miles.
Running in the dark on this terrain was a good win in itself.
I run with my inReach from Garmin. My GPS tracker so the family can always see where I am when out in remote places. I rant his for the full duration of my time out and in the 10 hours or so it use less than a third of its battery, a good sign for some longer running.
Areas to improve:
The Leki poles were great, but the shark grip hand straps are too big. I have the M/L/XL size and need the smaller ones. The caused a few rubbing hotspots around my wrists as a result.
Upper body strength isn’t were it needs to be. Using poles really helps take some of the weight off the legs, but I found that my shoulders – which are more bone than muscle – ached the next day. I’m already addressing this with some upper body weights work.
Downhill running – hen things are steep my technique needs improving. I fell during Race To The Tower this year on a steep downhill and on the odd occasion on this run I felt unstable going down the steep downhills. I got this improved by changing the angle I took on the downhill – I was previously just going straight down. Adding a little more of an angle to go across the gradient a little was much more stable and gave me much more confidence.
Where to hook my hat? An odd one, but I found that I wanted to run much of the night period with my hat off. I am a cap wearer and when I took it off I didn’t want the hassle of taking my vest off and putting the hat away, so I hooked it on one of the bungees on the vest. This looked like it would be fine, but I found it constantly bounced about and the Velcro on it kept catching on the Velcro of my leki grips – not the worlds biggest problem, but annoying over long distances.
Conclusion
In summary, this was a great run in practice for the Arc 100. The route may not be part of the Arc but running on the path at night poses equivalent challenges and difficulties. Fuelling was good, pace was great and whilst I felt the effort at the end, I was in good shape and felt strong.
The coast path is a splendid place to explore. I feel I’ve been very lucky to have time out on the path to run day and night, and see some stunning sights.
So what’s happened? I would say a decent amount. I started this quarter with 1 race under my 2022 belt, I now have 6, so April, May and June have been busy – April especially:
2022 races Jan to Jun
I’ve been very satisfied by the progress this year.
Reading Half was a race that I took with one eye on Brighton Marathon only a week later. So I took that easier than I could have done and so was really pleased to get a 1:30 time.
Reading Half Marathon, 2022
Brighton Marathon was ace. I really wanted sub 3:30. I had in mind sub 3:15 (to beat my treadmill marathon PB from 2020), and given how well I was running, I had a bit of a dream that I might get close, or just sneak under, 3Hr. I didn’t quite make that but it was close – still comfortably a BQ time (!!!).
Brighton Marathon 2022
The IOW ultra has been bounced from year to year due to COVID and I was finally so pleased to take it on. A great race, some fabulous scenery and a lot of hills! A 6th place finish was very satisfactory.
Isle of Wight Ultra, 2022
The Hampshire Hoppit – a replacement for the cancelled Race To The Castle. A changed route to the now I ran in 2019, but still tough. Big hills, steep downhills and again, stunning scenery. Finishing 19th was better than expected.
Hampshire Hoppit Marathon, 2022
Race To The Tower – This was amazing. The Cotswold Way is beautiful. Views go on for miles. The route is very challenging with hills a plenty. Some of the downhills are so tough they are harder to get down than some of the ups! Combining that with a nasty fall at around 20 miles, a 7th place finish and sub 10Hr for a double marathon was more than I dreamt of. That race is an instant winner in my book.
Race To The Tower, 2022
And that is the quarters events covered. The rest of the time training has continued following the Krissy Moehl guide I have used for a couple of years now. The mileage has been steady, but as we enter quarter 3, the mileage is going to grow towards the 100mile/week mark. Things are going to get tough.
The rest of 2022 has more races in the schedule. Most excitingly for me though is a return to Cornwall for some South West Coast Path running. My spiritual running home. The target of taking part in the 2023 Arc of Attrition means taking on some of the hardest hills I’ve ever run, over 100+ miles. So some time on the path this summer is going to be key to my training and conditioning for this challenge.
I also need to tackle some training with poles. I feel they are important to taking on the Arc. But not without practice. I have some cool Leki carbon fibre poles and a Salomon Quiver to hold them, so there’s no holding me back now.
One final thing for 2022. Nutrition. A lot more practice and research needed to fine tune my nutrition package for those long endurance events. I have good food options for mid distance ultra’s but long tough 20 hour plus races I need to work on. I have just started to look into Supernatural fuels so will report back on those. Im continuing to enjoy Veloforte gels/bars and have found Mountain Fuel a good addition to this, along with their night and morning fuel pouches.
So here’s to another 6 months of training and putting in the work to get me to the Arc start line in. January 2023. It’s going to be a real journey.
Getting ready to run into the second half of 2022.
Getting the fuelling wrong can so often be the reason behind a DNF. As the endurance requirements for a race increase, so does the need for thinking about fuelling that activity.
Usually the right answer is very personal and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ option here.
The top folk at Precision Fuel and Hydration have this great post about it and there’s some good tips and advice in there to help you out. Their nutrition products are also pretty good (and that’s just my personal opinion!).
With the Brighton Marathon in 2020 being cancelled and the world basically imploding with COVID for 2 years, my plan after Brighton 2019 to break the 3:30 mark took a back seat. It’s not that I stopped running – just ask my wife or check my Strava!! But the organised events and in particular marathons that I could sign up for and had sub 3:30 potential dried up.
My focus moved on to trail events, and in 2020 I signed up for the 2021 Robin Hood 100. A 100 mile event around Sherwood Forest. Read about that here.
Robin Hood 100
But doing that meant a training plan , and a training plan that was aimed at serious endurance, not a mere 26.2 miles! (I can’t believe I just wrote that – my how things change!! In all honesty 26.2 miles is anything but a ‘mere’ distance. It’s a marathon, its a lot of miles, its hours of running – even for the best in the world.
That training plan however did more than just prepare me for the endurance of a 100 mile event. It built my fitness up, it tightened my speed work and physical strength. It made me feel more capable and able. I began hitting numerous PBs at 5Km, 10Km during interval sessions, I really felt good. So whilst it wasn’t;t the plan, I felt that the sub 3:30 marathon experiment still had some chance. So I signed up for the 2022 Brighton Marathon. I didn’t target training for it. I ran my 100 miler and then restarted the same training program with more ultras in the calendar for 2022 (this time for the Chiltern Wonderland event ran by Centurion Running. Brighton Marathon just happened to fall into the training timetable, but I felt good that I would be able to turn in a good result.
In the run up to my 100 miler I ran the 2021 Big Half and set a new PB of 1Hr 23. I felt I had really smashed that, and the thought of doing a 3:30 marathon no longer filled my marathon sights, I was now thinking the 3Hr dream might just be the one I needed to aim for. Sub 3 would be beyond my expectations. I didn’t believe I had any reason to think I deserved to be that good, to break a line that is so far detached from what I thought I would be doing in 2017 when I started running.
The Big Half
As Marathon day approached I felt in good shape and put in a sensible taper for 2 weeks. Well that’s a lie, I ran Reading half marathon 7 days before the marathon and foolishly ran a 1:32 !! I should know better by now!
I decided on race day to run with the 3Hr pacer, see how I got on and if I had to I would drop back. But if I don’t try …
My first problem was that the pen I was in (sub 3:30 expected time) had no 3Hr pacer. They were in the elite group and so were some way ahead of me. Arggh!!
I worked my way to the front of the pen but couldn’t;t eve see the 3Hr pacer as I started, what do I do! 2 options …
Run my own race, pace with my watch and control things myself.
Catch the 3Hr pacing and use them to control the pace, knowing that they would do a better job.
Well, I opted for 2. I am not the best at self pacing and thought I could do without the added concern of keeping an eye on my pace. So catch the 3Hr pacer I did. According to the official timing for the marathon, this was a much bigger error than I thought. Official my first 5Km was 17 minutes ! Far far too fast. I would end up paying for that.
Sticking with the 3Hr pacer
Now my other issue is that I am a runner that sweats a decent amount and I need fluids. I really need a good amount of fluid 500mL to 1L over the course of the marathon. I carried a bottle (500mL) hoping I would manage, but again this fell short, and the use of paper cups at the race – though commendable and something I support for environmental reasons, are just useless for taking on fluids if you are trying rot run fast.
So I had to refill my own water bottle, costing precious time.
At around 20 miles I started to slip back from the 3Hr pacer and immediately felt my 3Hr target was done for. I did however pull my big boy socks up and refuse to just let it fade into disappointment. I kept pushing, knowing now my target was 3:15 – which would be a PB (beating my treadmill PB from April 2020).
The crowd as ever was brilliant, the. whole town is so supportive of the race and the runners, so much cheering, encouragement and joy out there. The race brings Brighton to a virtual stop, driving anywhere near Brighton that weekend must be a nightmare, but embrace it they do and I’m so grateful for that, without that support it would be so much harder.
Eventually I hit Madeira Drive, saw the finish line and the customary extra skip in my step meant I crossed the line in 3Hrs 4minutes. Not the 3 Hrs I wanted, not the nirvana state of a time starting 2Hr … but still, 3Hr 4 – WOW. I cannot begin to comprehend what I would have said back in 2017 if people started telling me the ti would one day complete a marathon in that time. Its bonkers, it’s nuts, but it’s my time, I did it and nobody can deny me that.
The last few miles …
One day I will try again for sub 3Hr, but for now I can look at that medal and the photos and think, I finished 276th our of over 8000 runners. That’s a memory to last a lifetime.
I signed up to the IOW ultra as a continuous 106Km challenge in 2019. It should have happened in 2020 but we all know the challenges that beset the world in early 2020. COVID meant 2020 never happened, and the rescheduled 2021 event didn’t fit with other events. So finally I got to take this challenge on in 2022.
The challenge was a continuous run around the Isle of Wight , starting and finishing at Chale in the South West, and taking in around 6000 ft of elevation and 106Km of distance.
The run up to 21 Km and the first major checkpoint is mostly coastal path, on grass, footpath, and some decent hills. The views are fabulous, the hills in the distance near the needles an ominous future challenge, which kicks in from 11 miles (Freshwater bay) onwards. But the views are amazing, some of the best views are here. The hill to 12.6 miles goes on for miles (!) before a drop to checkpoint 2 and a decent chance to top up and refuel.
There’s then a brief retracing of my steps a few hundred yards and head uphill a bit more (like I needed it!). Once I get to the Needles New Battery, at the top of the headland, I turn right and head downhill to the needles attraction (a good place for the supporting family whilst you are busy running).
A half mile climb (in places pretty steep) on some nice trails and hills before a drop down to Totland Bay, and a fab run along the coast. It’s not a headline grabbing coast but a lovely stretch, fresh and a great break from the past few miles of ups and downs. I take the time to settle in to a comfortable rhythm for a while on the flat.
After heading inland and a bit more up and down, I reach Fort Victoria Country Park. This is ace, some great woodland, some undulations, but I like woodland running and I love this mile stretch (yes only 1, but there’s more, hold on!). From here, it’s through Yarmouth, some residential streets and then some of the best routes on this North Eastern part of the Island – Bouldnor Forest Nature reserve, coastline forest trails, ups, downs and some amazing forest. Fort Victoria country park is the little sister of this amazing stretch, one of my favourite parts of the route.
Reaching the last checkpoint before halfway it’s then country lanes, trails and fields before some hills and a climb through Parkhurst forest as you approach Newport and the 53Km halfway. To reach the halfway point I find myself taking on a little more road running and an uphill climb takes you to IOW showground and a great stop, food, support and cans of coke – what more could you want.
There’s a road crossing before the showground which I learn has confused a few and a number of people have gone off route here and missed the checkpoint, realising at 1-2Km later before retracing their steps and getting to the halfway point a little later than hoped. Easily done given the signage, and I notice an additional sign is later added to make sure people don’t make that mistake for too long!
I enjoy the pause at halfway. I change my shirt, socks etc and then head out of the checkpoint and back onto the roads and down to the BioGas works on the edge of the River. Medina – part of the Medina River Walk. A nice stretch. But this is soon followed by around 7 miles (37-44) of roads. Not the nicest and a good few undulations, but not all ultras are solely beautiful walking routes and footpaths.
I eventually head into Ryde eventually hitting coast around Appley park just before Seaview. I’ve had the pleasure of the company of another runner (Andrew) for that road section and it certainly made it more pleasant. We enjoyed a good few conversations about races.events we have done and the miles soon tick by. We will end up running together until the last 2Km!
From Ryde it’s then some more roads, but also some great trails, before heading into St Helens and eventually Bembridge. The route takes us past the beautiful Bembridge windmill and then heads towards the top of the headland, overlooking Yaverland and Sandown with the penultimate aid station. A nice break after some decent hills and an amazing view. If I was a walker I could so easily spend hours just looking at the view over the coast here.
It’s then a drop down to sea level and a run along the very classical feeling seaside region of Yaverland, Sandown and Shanklin, but the hills were looming!! This coastline gives the legs a rest from the climbs, its busy with tourists (many of them supporters of people in the event it would appear) but the resorts are sadly looking a little tired and unloved. In years to come I would love to think these towns are rejuvenated as this part of the coastline is beautiful and the resorts deserve another opportunity to flourish.
The route carries on and I make my way through Shanklin Chine, up some pretty steep inclines and steps, before a false sense of ease is waved at you in the drop down to Ventnor, the final aid station at 60 miles and a chance to refuel and restock before the final 6/7 miles of what turns out to be unrelenting hills.
From the Ventnor stop there’s a stretch. Of easy running with some modest. Ascent, but the. Knowledge that there is still a lot of elevation pending looms heavy!
Things head up at Woody Bay, west of Ventnor. Lots of road running and lots of ascent, this was tough, hard and never ending, the biggest climb! This was tough given the distance 4-5 miles from the end! At 65 miles things eventually plateau back on trails and high on the cliffs overlooking Chale, the end is insight. There’s a lot of descent to go, but it really is all down hill from here!
I start to get that lump in the throat feeling at this point. I think about the charity money I have raised and the wonderful support my friends, family and colleagues have given me. I also start to picture the finish where I know my wife and youngest kids are waiting for me. This has been the second biggest event I have completed and the first Ultra that they will be there at the end of. It’s a challenge to keep the emotions in check.
At this point I decide to empty the tanks and move off into my own space a little. My focus now on reaching my family at the finish line.
This final descent is technical in places, some roads around Blackgang, and just when I can smell the finishers barbeque, the route turns left directing me down some trails, out to the coast path again and I lose sight of the finish. Eventually the flags come back into view. Approaching the finish from the South the sound of the support builds, the finish arch is tangibly close and the challenge is over.
Finish time 12 Hrs 40 minutes, 5th across the line and 6th overall (due to the staggered starts).
I collect my medal, a finishers shirt and some champagne before a few finish line photos and the opportunity to welcome the next few runners in. This was a big challenge and I am grateful for the support the other runners gave during the event. Would I do it again? Yes, for sure. But then there are so many events out there I want to do that I might leave it a while before I come back.
IOW you were immense, especially your hills, but I absolutely loved the opportunity to run around you and experience some of the beautiful scenery you have.
Ridgeway Runner 