Packed lots of stuff! Extra clothing, foods... Been caught out in past events with insufficient clothing when weather turned. Hoped we'd be bringing it all back unused but good to know it was to hand.
Feeling positive now for the race. Had been thinking a lot about it, confident in my training and abilities and finally it was here! Runners are never certain if they’ve done sufficient training, or the right type for 100 miles. Get to the start line as fit and as healthy as possible. I managed both, if not for a niggle in the groin that had come on in the last month. At least it was the last part of training.
I hadn’t done any training runs longer than 29m, mostly comprised of some 10m morning runs, followed by 10m afternoon (commute) runs to break them up, plus smaller versions of those runs. Also a couple of little marathons thrown in. Wasn’t sure if I should have done a 50m race or not. By the race weekend it was immaterial, nothing more to be done. Regular 65-70m weeks with minimal breaks between them offered me some comfort in my training, but we'll find out if that's sufficient.
I
had a crew of two, my ever-supportive wife Tania and ever-keen friend
Phil. Both have been there for me on previous epic events I’ve done, but
at least 10 years ago. So here we were, older and hopefully wiser. Phil
is great with stats and logistics which was fantastic for me
to leave navigation to him and, if I wanted it, time updates for a predicted
finish. This event is well supported by the organisers so wasn’t 100% reliant on crew to provide me with all my replenishment needs. In the past they’ve dashed to next checkpoints, not because I had a speed wobble, but to set up gas cookers, prepare foodstuffs, etc. In this race, Centurion Running provide decent spread of nutrition at all checkpoints, with hot food after halfway. Also, we’d been unlucky with the weather in some past events, so they were rushing around to keep warm as well! I was going to try the nutrition drink Tailwind which was supplied. Never used it before (not recommended using unused products during a race!) but all evidence that it doesn't upset the stomach gave me confidence to use it.
The three of us are at the start in Richmond feeling under less pressure as our meticulous plans were in place. The overstuffed car of extra clothing, food and water was safely parked in a pre-paid car park (much less stress than driving to a race and trying to find parking!). All that needed to take place was the start.
I was dedicating my race to my cousin currently battling with cancer. With all the agony she's been going through, this seemed the least I could do. It certainly put everything into perspective for me.
A fairly low-key countdown set off around 300 runners from Richmond at 10am. I chatted to a couple of runners in the early stages, clearly on a run/walk strategy to hopefully stave off too much walking later on and delay the inevitable fatigue. I enquired of them what strategy they were using. One was regularly passing me and I was passing him. He told me he was doing 4 minutes of running, 2 of walking after the first 4 minutes. I hadn’t heard of that strategy before. I saw he had finished about 45 minutes ahead of me after the race so it clearly got him to the end before 24 hours.
Spencer Milbery was doing 9 minutes of running, 1 of walking. Another doing 25/5. It got me wondering there and then should I adopt a similar approach? The conditions were ideal – coolish and dry underfoot, great to (relatively) push on too hard too early on and end up walking too long too slowly later on burnt out. I reckoned I’d run comfortably within myself, walk around the checkpoints, or when I felt like it. There were no hills to aim to walk up, this is a very flat race. A downside according to some runners around me early on, or was it a convenient (but valid) excuse to get in early? Having varied terrain will break up the engagement of the same muscles. Whatever the theory, we still had 100 miles to cover.
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| The crew at Maidenhead |
A Nutella sandwich at 22m from the crew was a mild distraction and took some food on while the stomach was still ok. Bit of chocolate spread didn't do any harm this early on.
I worried my mother early on, sent her a message saying I had just left the first aid station, meaning the first checkpoint. Of course she read it as the First Aid station for medical purposes! Had to pacify her panic response that I was fine, I meant to refuel, not seek medical attention!! They were called Checkpoints thereafter!
Passed my friend Rodrigo Freeman around mile 30. A veteran of these events, he was walking saying his legs were feeling like jelly and getting cold sweats. He was going to walk a lot of it in. He had thought of quitting but I, amongst others, urged him to just keep walking and see how it goes. He soldiered on to the end and finished with walking and some running. Testament to his resolve. An example of the human spirit right there.
Having not run a single distance of further than 50 miles in the last few years was a fact I was trying to shove further and further back in my mind. It’s been (almost to the day) 10 years since I completed GUCR, 145 miles in 41 hours. Despite it being a long time ago I was trying to bring that up the queue in the row of positive thoughts I was reaching for. I knew that would be the main way I was going to complete this event.
The crew, meanwhile, were doing a fantastic job. The tracker, first time we've used it, was working well and they knew when I'd be arriving! Which was odd for me, in the past I've arrived, "Oh, here's Ryan" sometimes later than expected or, rarely, sooner than expected! Tania was plying me with a fair amount of fruit which I was enjoying. Concerned I could upset the stomach by forcing food in, this seemed a compromise.
Having recced the bit through Cookham, heading along confidently when suddenly I was directed (by official race volunteers) through the churchyard! During our recce we'd gone between houses, now not the case. Anyway, who was I to argue?!
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| With Sam |
A bit further along the towpath was the Cookham checkpoint. An incredibly good runner I know, Sam Amend, was there, as she said she would be. She won the Women's race of this event last year in a wee's worth over 16 hours! I was inspired to see her and we had a quick photo. The checkpoints were running out of Tailwind nutrition drink which I was relying on, as I wasn't stomaching the food they were providing -sausage rolls, sweeties, chocolate biscuits. On other days I'd guzzle the lot, not now. Managed to salvage the last bit of Tailwind they had left at Cookham, literally scraping the barrel!
38 miles, 7h40 in is getting to the business end. Was worrying a little I may not get sufficient nutrition in me. A 'wobble' leaving Cookham with walking, a few minor self doubts. Chatted with another runner, told him I wasn't feeling great, in the vague hope I'd hear myself say this and get over it. I did, but it took a short section of running and walking. Time is a great healer!
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| With Tania at Marlow |
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| Bridges at Hurley |
Spoke with two ladies before the start from Yorkshire. They were saying all their training was on hilly terrain and in the cold and wet. Here they were running a flat race on a warm and dry day! Perhaps they relished the bridge undulations!
Reached halfway (Henley) around 20h30, 10h30 into the race, still on target for
sub-24, knowing the slog was coming. My first bit of warm food, a bowl of baked beans and sausages. Went down well. Had this meal on previous events and know it works for me. Tried desperately to not think "Bloody hell, only done half of it and 50 miles to go!" which can be dispiriting. I was still breaking the race up into small chunks, get to that bridge, aid station...
Tania and I had done more recce runs along these sections from Henley where the path veers away from the river and which can become daunting at night when fatigued and dark. That was a mental lift as many have got lost finding their way back to the river. Any psychological lift was welcome!
Steady progress towards Reading (58m) I ran with Lee for a while. Had to ascend about 20 steps at the Reading checkpoint!! A bit unfair! And 20 down again! More fruit from Tania and a brief sit-down. Conscious of not doing that, I just really fancied it.
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| Volunteers who do such a good job |
I did wonder at one stage if we were walking a bit too much. I was in two minds as the walking was quite nice, but conscious it could be hampering my ambitions of a sub-24 finish. But at the time with 30 miles to go I reckoned I could possibly afford the walks now to potentially run later when it was needed, so I hoped. But in ultras, anything can go wrong at any time.
The ground was very dry (rather that than wet) and subsequently rutted in parts, so extra care needed through grass and in the night to be sure an ankle doesn’t turn on the numerous uneven surfaces. No excuses of sodden ground to blame for slow progress, but still a bit tricky.
Annoyingly my new (expensive) and fancy headtorch failed me. Mainly because on the Friday night before the race I was stuffing about with its settings on the computer while it was plugged in, yes it's that fancy! Can put programs on it of varying brightnesses and battery life, rather than just turning it on and off! As it's new to me I hadn't got to full grips with it (amateur!) and it must have been on full beam during the night, so battery was dying after an hour! Managed to tweak the brightness which preserved the battery for a while longer, but the damage was done. Had to swap for the reserve (but still very good) headtorch I was carrying. 
At 85m checkpoint knowing I would finish, just a matter of within 24 or not. Phil informed me I needed to do around 14 min/mile to do it. Just a bit faster than my current run/walk strategy. That would be fair bit of running on already sore legs, and some walking. I can do this. Buoyed on by this I set off before the other two to walk off some tea and bits of food I actually fancied at the time. Breakfast!
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| With Lee at 85m |
An
executive decision was made for Tania to join me with 9 miles to go at
Abingdon checkpoint. We’d discussed her running with me at some stages
in the night (buddy runners only allowed after halfway) but as I was
with the two guys I didn’t need her. She'd been ready to jump in with me earlier and been fobbed off! I think she understood! But now on my own the timing was
perfect. Her instruction was to keep me moving, cajoling me with singing and telling jokes and jogging up ahead! My sense of humour had failed by now, but it was still having a positive effect. Also reading messages on social media to me which were were sinking in and pushing me along. It worked a treat having her a few yards ahead urging me along, chatting incessantly which took my mind off more pressing matters. Again, it's these small psychological lifts.
A couple of times during the race I tried to have an 'In The Moment' moment where I would look at my surroundings (during light hours!) and appreciate where I was, why I was here, etc... A bit of perspective every now and then helped break the tedium. It also reminded me why I was here in the first place! During weaker moments I had been questioning my sanity during the painful times.
"I Like To Move It, Move It..." was belting out ahead of me! Tania's Motivational Moments were in full swing! Again, these minor moments all contribute!
Relatively little fatigue from going through the night, the lure of the end was huge, down to single figure miles. A runner in the know on the towpath informed us less than 6km to go. Still a drag but within reach. Mild panic with 20 minutes until the 24 hour cut-off, the finish seemingly not in sight. Each corner of the towpath not revealing a field with CENTURION RUNNING banners. Asked a couple of runners already finished and walking away with dread how much further, hoping they wouldn’t say “Couple of miles and you’re there!” Instead, the angels they were, said “Round this corner, you’ll see the field! Well done!” Sheer relief when saw they were right.
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| With the finisher's belt buckle |
115th finisher (not that that matters) out of 205 finishers within the 28 hour cut-off. 88 retired. It was great and inspiring to see familiar faces at the finish helping out, who have also completed epic and long events. But for now I was wallowing in my achievement.
Expecting to chat excitedly with the crew on the way home lasted 15 minutes, then the fatigue hit hard! For them as well. Legs had inevitably stiffened in the car and were painful getting out! Knowing bath and bed was only yards away the motivation to hobble was there!
A decorated front door with chocolate and balloons from our running neighbours Julie and Danny brought my achievement to the fore once again! Had the rest of Sunday afternoon to snooze, couldn’t eat much dinner but slept well that night!
There was a fair amount of relief that it was successfully over. Always the nagging doubt beforehand something may go awry, so was nice for it to be complete and in one piece!
Managed a 4k walk/run on the Tuesday to try flush legs out and had a massage that day.
Now 11 days later a 10km slow run was managed, slowly recovering!
My Brooks Caldera were the perfect shoe for me – cushioned, light grip (didn’t need too much) and slightly wider for expanding feet. I had taken extra shoes but had no desire to change. I wore gaiters the whole way as well to prevent debris creeping in. Hardly any blisters, just small ones so again, lucky in that respect.
Some of the timings Phil documented if anyone's interested in some stats!
