Night Fever

So... a marathon starting at 4pm in temperatures nudging up towards 30C; obviously the sensible approach would be to start well within yourself and proceed cautiously until the heat subsided to a more comfortable level and then push on to the finish without any target time.  Only a complete idiot would storm off at quicker than PB pace and think he could maintain that level.  Guess which option I took...

My plan had been to follow the run for nine minutes, walk for one minute approach which had worked so well in hot conditions at Viking Coastal.  What I failed to do was reign in my early exuberance with the result that between my walk breaks I was actually pushing pretty hard and was up with people who are a fair bit quicker than me on a good day.  I had in mind that I am now able to complete a marathon in four hours and should start to improve on that mark.  What I had completely forgotten was the wisdom of the countless marathon running guides I have read over the years which assert that at 30C you would expect up to a 20% reduction in normal pace.  It was a pretty stupid display and did I pay for it!  By 15 miles I was spent and the race became a real grind to the finish, most runners were suffering but I was still being regularly overtaken, it actually became impossible to walk fast without going dizzy and regular rests on convenient benches became necessary.  I was amazed that I didn't record a 20 minute mile at any point.

I don't think I need to highlight what I learned from this experience!  Still, another marathon in the bag and with potentially six more in the next seven weeks, I hope the message has lodged in my brain now!

25th July 2014  Enigma Night Fever  5:24:41  #40

Endure 24 & Ranscombe Challenge

These two events were time rather than distance based which I went into with two objectives; to go through the night without stopping and to see how far I could travel in eight hours.  I managed to fail in both objectives but strangely wasn't in the least bit bothered by the failure.  As ever when we fail in objectives there are excuses I could list but they would be just that, excuses, and therefore worthless.  Far better, I think, just to accept that the failures were down to me, smile and move on.  In any case I really enjoyed both events and that is the fundamental reason I run.

Endure 24 is an event in which teams or individuals run from midday Saturday until midday on Sunday to see how many five mile loops can be completed.  Mandy and I had entered as a pair with the idea that we would share daylight loops but I would run through the hours of darkness.  As Mandy had to work on the Saturday morning I had completed four laps by the time she arrived for her first run.  Heavy rain had already turned the largely woodland course into a muddy mess, as well as soaking me to the skin.  I enjoyed a partial change of clothes and some refueling before setting off for another couple of laps.  At that point we calculated that Mandy could get another lap in before I took over for the night shift.  I ate, drank and had a complete change of clothes before heading out warm, dry and snug ready to push on through the night.  Ten minutes later a deluge had once again soaked me to the skin.  I trudged on through the dark, slipping and sliding on the now liquid mud, in a dreadful mood.  The thought of another six hours of shivering through the darkness was too much for me when home was only ten minutes drive away.  I finished the lap and told Mandy I was heading back for a bath, comfortable bed and warm, dry clothes.  She concurred that this sounded a very reasonable idea!

I had intended to get up about 6am and head back for another five laps but it was past 8am when we awoke.  We managed to get back in time for me to complete another three circuits, giving us a team total of 60 miles.  This is an excellent event, dubbed Glastonbury for runners by the organisers, and it does have something of a festival vibe though without the same level of illegal drugs, and we fully intend to return next year with the same plan.

The Ranscombe Challenge was an eight hour event based around hilly 3.8 mile loops of the picturesque Ranscombe Farm nature reserve in Kent.  My initial plan was to jog round continually maybe completing ten circuits in the time allowed. I therefore set off at a very comfortable pace in the cool, misty early morning; ideal conditions for endurance running.  I pretty much coasted around the course for seven laps, at that point I had officially completed a marathon and made a snap decision to ring the bell, signalling that I had finished.  It was a decision that almost took me by surprise and had only really occurred to me in the final quarter mile or so.  Having taken things so steadily it meant that my legs felt good and I was able to relax and wait for Mandy to complete her circuits whilst socialising with others who had 'only' completed marathon distance.  By the evening I felt as if I hadn't run at all that day.

I think all I really learned today is that when offered a choice between an easy five and a bit hours running or pushing myself for the maximum amount of time I took the easy option with no sense of guilt whatsoever!  Nevertheless this was a very enjoyable day and it is a format I am interested to try again but with the awareness that I might try and catch myself out with an unexpected change of plan!

12th July 2014  Ranscombe Challenge  5:16:49  #39

Mountain High

Back in 2012 when I had very little marathon experience I entered the inaugural Trail Marathon Wales as the idea of running through the remote, rugged terrain of the Snowdonia National Park appealed to my nascent inner trail-runner.  On the drive over to north Wales that year I was hooked by the imposing natural beauty of the area and the marathon itself proved a truly exhilarating experience.  At the finish, in the midst of a profound runner's high, I vowed to return each year until I was no longer able to do so.  The third running was every bit as awe-inspiring and enjoyable as the first two and I'm delighted that the enchanting magic of the event continues to hold me in thrall.

The continuing development of the Coed y Brenin forest park enhances the event which improves still further with each running.  The extension to the visitor centre lends an amphitheatre feel to the new start/finish area as spectators view from the balcony areas high above.  From a runner's perspective the stark, grey Cadair Idris mountain, upon which local giant Idris is said to have reclined in order to study the night sky, is framed by the starting gantry serving as a reminder that despite the laid-back feel there are some very testing elements to this race.

The start viewed from the visitor centre

The visitor centre viewed from the start

The start is traditionally signalled by a shot from the gamekeeper's gun, usually from a position on a platform beside the gantry, however, on this occasion he was running late.  The race director was in the process of asking whether we wished to await his arrival when he appeared, scrambling down the hillside, set himself and fired us on our way.  The unusual start always adds to the palpable excitement which pervades the build-up to this event and smiles abounded as we set off ascending the first of many hills.  Unlike the first two events, the weather for this one was quite warm and I had decided that there was no point in trying to achieve any target time; I was going to relax, take photos and enjoy myself.  And that is exactly what I did...

The course, altered in each iteration for various weather related reasons, consists of a variety of forest tracks and trails and always manages to include some tremendous climbs and descents along with testing technical sections which on tired legs can lead to some spectacular falls.  Despite being someone that can quite literally trip over nothing, and regularly does so, I have never taken a tumble in my time on these trails, a record I am very keen to maintain!  This year the route took us over to the western side of the A470 for the first time.  Driving along that road, the inclines to that side always seem more severe than those to the east, however, once over there the route consisted of fairly similar terrain and the hot, hard work continued up and down some of the renowned mountain bike runs.  How people manage to cycle down parts of those trails I have no idea, it is tough enough remaining upright on two feet through the rocky twists and drops.

View of the start/finish from mile 21

And the reverse view looking back up to mile 21

Despite having taken things very easily, the nature of trail running in this area combined with the sun had me exhausted by the end, and it was with relief that I staggered across the line to meet the ever-supportive Mandy and was able to rest in the shade before a somewhat stiff-legged shuffle back up to the car-park.  The scenery and toughness of this event is like an addictive drug to me and so ten minutes later, back in our log-cabin, the date of next year's TMW was already entered onto my marathon calendar.  I really can't get enough of it and just hope the magic never fades.

21st June 2014  Trail Marathon Wales   5:29:23  #38