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