Sunday, 8 April 2018
Sunday, 4 February 2018
Pilgrims Challenge - Day 2 - 04/02/18 - 06:53:06
After finishing Day 1 of the Pilgrims Challenge at around a quarter past three in the afternoon we finish at the Warwick School in Reigate. I take a shower, use a roller and protein recovery drink as part of my cool down, have some dinner, give the MDS Q&A session a miss (too tired) and have an early night sleeping in the schools gymnasium. The following morning I have some breakfast and then start off again at nine o' clock.
The race route is in reverse to yesterday so instead of going from The Sands to Reigate, this route goes from Reigate to to The Sands. The plan is the same as yesterday - not looking for a PB but just to jog at JOGLE pace and to see how I fare - jog for four miles at ten minutes per mile and then for the fifth mile power walk at fifteen minute per mile. Any hills I don't feel capable of jogging up I'll walk it.
It soon becomes apparent that I'm feeling fresh so the plan to take it easy has gone out of the window for the time being as I find myself at the front of the starting pack. This become apparent when comparing the first five miles of Day 2 to the last five miles of Day 1 as the Day 2 pace is one a half minutes up on Day 1 using the Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP). Will the faster pace takes it toll later on? The next five miles are pretty much neck and neck - with Day 2 times coming in 30 seconds quicker. The next five miles (eleven to fifteen) sees me going quicker again as I'm nearly four minutes quicker for Day 2 which reflects the fact that I did not power walk on mile fifteen (9.51 min/mile). If I can carry on at this pace I will certainly beat Day 1's time. Without taking a power walking session for the last five miles, I decide to take one for miles 16 to 20 but although I'm jogging one mile each at 9, 10,11 and 12 min/mile on Day 1 I'm jogging 8 and 9 min/mile apart from the power walking session. This five mile split is now over seven minutes slower than Day 1 which is also reflective in 'traffic'. I was not able to pass some joggers on certain parts of the trail and when I do it's going uphill on mile 17. The faster pace is now beginning to take it's toll. For miles twenty-one to twenty-five I've decided once again not to take a power walking session as I'm now trying to recoup the time lost in the last five mile sector. This makes me nearly four minutes quicker than the last five mile sector. The early stages of the race have now taken it's toll as for miles 26 to 30 I'm down a massive twelve minutes on the previous day this is despite doing no power walking. For the final section again (miles 31 to 33) I'm down another six minutes as I'm struggling to jog along the road to the finish. I make it to the finish in a time of 06:53:06, 84th overall, 31st in my age category and 73rd for the men. Time to recuperate and reflect on making sure that I stick to the plan for JOGLE, jog miles 1-4, power walk mile 5 and repeat ....
Saturday, 3 February 2018
Pilgrims Challenge - Day 1 - 03/02/18 - 06:29:10
The Pilgrims Challenge is 66 miles in 2 days. I've decided to use this race as a warm up for JOGLE: test my equipment, see how I cope with a back-to-back run and to work on JOGLE pace - jog for 3 miles at 10 min/mile and walk one mile at 15 min/mile and then repeat. I'm not planning on doing a PB for this distance as it's more of a training session. Having said that the last time I did the Pilgrims Challenge was in 05/02/11 (first completed Ultra-Marathon) but I only did the first day in a time of 06:59:00.
Didn't get too much sleep and arrive on race at 07:00. There are three starts - the walkers start at 08:00, the main group (me) start at 09:00 and the fast runners (sub 5 hours) start at 10:00.
The route is part of the NDW so having done the NDW 50 and twice done the NDW100, plus having downloaded the route onto my Garmin I should be familiar with the route.
The race starts at Sandy nr. Farnham and ends up at Redhill.
By mile 5 I power walk at 14 min/mile whilst drinking a energy drink. Come mile 9 I power walk again at just under 15 min/mile before heading for the first checkpoint (01:34:17) where on the menu are pretzels, crisps, bananas, pieces of cake and sweets. Mile 12 comes a hill (230 ft) so is a mixture of walking and jogging as the pace is just over 11 min/mile.
Mile 13 is power walking again at 15 min/mile before reaching checkpoint 2 (split time 01:58:14 and total time 03:32:31) at mile 17. Mile 21 is power walking again but the pace drops to just under 17 min/mile. Mile 24 is Box Hill (518 ft) so no chance of jogging up this hill but power walking means it's just under 15 min/mile pace before reaching checkpoint 3 (split time 01:25:41 and total time 04:58:12). I'm meant to be power walking for the next mile but I decide to give this a miss and spend half the time jogging and half the time walking up a hill and this means that mile 25 is just over 12 min/mile. Mile 28 is meant to be power walking and I give this a miss and then comes mile 29 and the final checkpoint 4 (split time 01:03:55 and total time 06:02:07) at 284 ft so decide to power walk this hill at just over 15 min/mile. Heading into Redhill for the last few miles is downhill and my quickest min/mile is the last mile at just under 8 minutes and I finish in a time of 06:29:10. This is in line for what I planned for JOGLE as if JOGLE was the same distance this would take me 06:10 jogging and walking plus 5 minutes at each checkpoint (4).
At the end of day 1 I finish 93rd of 244, 32nd out of 151 for the over 40's and 83rd out of 183 of all men.
Didn't get too much sleep and arrive on race at 07:00. There are three starts - the walkers start at 08:00, the main group (me) start at 09:00 and the fast runners (sub 5 hours) start at 10:00.
The route is part of the NDW so having done the NDW 50 and twice done the NDW100, plus having downloaded the route onto my Garmin I should be familiar with the route.
The race starts at Sandy nr. Farnham and ends up at Redhill.
By mile 5 I power walk at 14 min/mile whilst drinking a energy drink. Come mile 9 I power walk again at just under 15 min/mile before heading for the first checkpoint (01:34:17) where on the menu are pretzels, crisps, bananas, pieces of cake and sweets. Mile 12 comes a hill (230 ft) so is a mixture of walking and jogging as the pace is just over 11 min/mile.
Mile 13 is power walking again at 15 min/mile before reaching checkpoint 2 (split time 01:58:14 and total time 03:32:31) at mile 17. Mile 21 is power walking again but the pace drops to just under 17 min/mile. Mile 24 is Box Hill (518 ft) so no chance of jogging up this hill but power walking means it's just under 15 min/mile pace before reaching checkpoint 3 (split time 01:25:41 and total time 04:58:12). I'm meant to be power walking for the next mile but I decide to give this a miss and spend half the time jogging and half the time walking up a hill and this means that mile 25 is just over 12 min/mile. Mile 28 is meant to be power walking and I give this a miss and then comes mile 29 and the final checkpoint 4 (split time 01:03:55 and total time 06:02:07) at 284 ft so decide to power walk this hill at just over 15 min/mile. Heading into Redhill for the last few miles is downhill and my quickest min/mile is the last mile at just under 8 minutes and I finish in a time of 06:29:10. This is in line for what I planned for JOGLE as if JOGLE was the same distance this would take me 06:10 jogging and walking plus 5 minutes at each checkpoint (4).
At the end of day 1 I finish 93rd of 244, 32nd out of 151 for the over 40's and 83rd out of 183 of all men.
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Centurion Wendover Woods 50 - 25/11/17 - 11:53:15
This is the final event of the Centurion calendar and when I finish this event I will have completed 4 x 100's and 4 x 50 mile runs in one calendar year.
A week prior to the race I decide to reccy the event and the course looks as though it's going to be tough going. The race itself will comprise of 5 x 10 mile laps but having reccied the event there are some climbs in there.
Having reccied the event I end up doing about 15 miles in about 3 hours so realistically I should be looking at a 10 to 11 hour mark to finish the race instead of going for a PB.
The race starts of cold just a few degrees centigrade and it's not until the end of the first lap that my body has fully warmed up. I start the race towards the back and end up being quite cautious sticking to about 3-4 mph as in some places there is little room to overtake and there are some climbs.
I finish the first lap in a time of 2:00:16 in a position of 139th overall. I don't spend too much time at the checkpoint and soldier onto lap 2. I realise that I'm going to struggle to do 2 hour laps from here on. I finish the second lap in a time of 4:05:33 and move upto 106th loosing only 5 mins from the previous lap. Lap 3 takes me to 06:27:17 as I'm now starting to struggle with these climbs. Nevertheless I move upto 101st position. Lap 4 finishes in a time of 09:10:00, it's now taken me nearly 3 hours to complete one lap instead of two for the first lap. For lap 5 I struggle even more but the lap time for lap 5 shows the split time is the same for a lap 4 as for lap 5 - 02:43.
I'm glad that I've managed to finish that race as it was the toughest 50 miler I've done.
Saturday, 21 October 2017
Centurion Autumn 100 - 21/10/17 - 22:20:25
Took a couple of weeks of from the WW50 hoping that the rest will do me some good for the A100. Strategy for this one is to try and aim for a PB but given that storm Brian is on it's way it maybe unlikely.
Decide to set of at an average pace of 5mph which should get me a PB (including breaks) if I can maintain the pace throughout the race.
As the course is out and back for each 12.5 miles (four separate spurs), before reaching checkpoint 1 the front runners are already going at a cracking pace and they seem to be a few good miles ahead already.
Decide not to take on any water or food at checkpoint 1 and crack on back the way I came.
Coming back to checkpoint 2 the only obstacle seems to be crossing a main road, apart from that the first spur is flat, most of which is trail running.
I reach the second checkpoint (Goring village hall 25 miles) in a time of 04:22:47 and have moved up to position 108.
The second spur takes me from Goring to Swyncombe and (37.5 miles) in a time of 06:57:05 (86th) and the return leg in 09:26:24 (71st for 50 miles).
The third spur takes me from Goring to Chain Hill and back again. This is when Storm Brian starts to take it's effect as I struggle in the cold and wind to make some impact. Especially when darkness falls and I'm no longer on course for a PB. With the effects of Storm Brian I struggle to jog along level paths as the wind bites fiercely against my face. At the checkpoint I huddle in a back of a lorry but I'm soon feeling the cold and decide to have some JD cakes to see if I can warm myself up. I then leave the checkpoint cold hoping that the return leg will be quicker with the wind helping to push me along. The JD cakes didn't work in my favour and I am feeling a bit sick now. I loose a bit of time carrying on a track instead of taking a left turn despite having gone out already and now done the return leg and this is also my third A100. I'm still struggling with Storm Brian and I recognise that a PB is out of the question so instead I aim for second fastest time instead of 21:59:45. I reach Goring in a time of 15:54:37 (75 miles) moving up to position 60.
Reaching the fourth and final spur despite the effects of the cold (my gloves are not doing the job) I feel energised heading in the checkpoint as I see fellow runners struggling. This final spur takes me from Goring to Reading.
I've lost time at the last spur plus taking a extended break to eat some hot pasta. Nevertheless my aim now is to finish the race in my third best time for a 100 miler sub 23 hours.
This spur is easier with Storm Brian no longer taking effect. I manage to what seem to be going at a faster pace as I finish in a time of 22:20:25 finishing in a position of 45th - 3rd quickest time for a 100 miler and competing the grand slam of four 100's in a calendar year.
Decide to set of at an average pace of 5mph which should get me a PB (including breaks) if I can maintain the pace throughout the race.
As the course is out and back for each 12.5 miles (four separate spurs), before reaching checkpoint 1 the front runners are already going at a cracking pace and they seem to be a few good miles ahead already.
Decide not to take on any water or food at checkpoint 1 and crack on back the way I came.
Coming back to checkpoint 2 the only obstacle seems to be crossing a main road, apart from that the first spur is flat, most of which is trail running.
I reach the second checkpoint (Goring village hall 25 miles) in a time of 04:22:47 and have moved up to position 108.
The second spur takes me from Goring to Swyncombe and (37.5 miles) in a time of 06:57:05 (86th) and the return leg in 09:26:24 (71st for 50 miles).
The third spur takes me from Goring to Chain Hill and back again. This is when Storm Brian starts to take it's effect as I struggle in the cold and wind to make some impact. Especially when darkness falls and I'm no longer on course for a PB. With the effects of Storm Brian I struggle to jog along level paths as the wind bites fiercely against my face. At the checkpoint I huddle in a back of a lorry but I'm soon feeling the cold and decide to have some JD cakes to see if I can warm myself up. I then leave the checkpoint cold hoping that the return leg will be quicker with the wind helping to push me along. The JD cakes didn't work in my favour and I am feeling a bit sick now. I loose a bit of time carrying on a track instead of taking a left turn despite having gone out already and now done the return leg and this is also my third A100. I'm still struggling with Storm Brian and I recognise that a PB is out of the question so instead I aim for second fastest time instead of 21:59:45. I reach Goring in a time of 15:54:37 (75 miles) moving up to position 60.
Reaching the fourth and final spur despite the effects of the cold (my gloves are not doing the job) I feel energised heading in the checkpoint as I see fellow runners struggling. This final spur takes me from Goring to Reading.
I've lost time at the last spur plus taking a extended break to eat some hot pasta. Nevertheless my aim now is to finish the race in my third best time for a 100 miler sub 23 hours.
This spur is easier with Storm Brian no longer taking effect. I manage to what seem to be going at a faster pace as I finish in a time of 22:20:25 finishing in a position of 45th - 3rd quickest time for a 100 miler and competing the grand slam of four 100's in a calendar year.
Saturday, 16 September 2017
Centurion Chiltern Wonderland 50 - 16/09/17 - 09:23:23
Having had a couple of weeks rest from UTMB my legs felt fresh but decided to run the race trying for a PB of under 08:50 which would be around 5.5 - 6 mph. After the race start had a quick chat with a fellow runner whom at the SDW100 (Jamie) whom says that last year he started the CW50 off to quick and paid the price later on. At this stage I'm thinking the same - start slow as it's 50miles and see what the hills are like. This plan went out of the window as my legs felt great and I decide to push myself. Going up a hill I get caught out by photographer Stuart March taking a photo as I'm trying to get hold of one my salt tablets. I wasn't ready for the customary pose as per below:
Came to the first checkpoint in good form (about 25th position) above 6 mph and got the go ahead not to stop at one of the refreshment areas. Carried on without taking on any food or water but at the next hill ate one of my energy bars and had some water which saved me some time.
Got a nice remark from one of the volunteers crossing a road - nice T-shirt as once again I'm wearing the Centurion Grand Slam from 2016. I seem to be making steady progress the field and I'm still running at just over 6 mph. Later I go up another hill and once again I'm caught out by Stuart taking a photograph as I'm taking another salt tablet. Once again no time for a pose. I manage to gain a few places going into checkpoint 2 - up to 22nd.
I try to minimise time by not stopping for food only to top up with Tailwind. A few more undulating trails have now started take their toll and I soon find myself going up the mother of all hills. Whatever this hill is it makes Box Hill seem like a slope. I'm not one for stopping up a hill but this has taken the stuffing out of me. One fellow runner comments whether we should be going left or right and I've replied I'm not sure - luckily the runner behind can see the marking and it's a slight left up this hill. Three quarters of the way up I see Stuart this time hopefully not catching me out as I give a customary smile. That hill was tough (Whitchurch). I've not reccied the course before and from memory I think there will be another two like this one.
Whitchuch hill
I reckon I've now lost places going into checkpoint 3 - in fact I'm down to 30th. I'd still take that position for a finish. This time I decide to take on some food and grab a couple of energy gels. I top up my water bottle and have to use my Incredible Hulk cup (which I'd had to have to keep in my leggings - another story) so I can have some coco-cola. I'm still struggling at this stage going over undulating hills. I persevere and realise now that I've overcooled the start and a PB is looking unrealistic. I soon find myself taking a wrong turn going down a trail and thankfully the runner behind me puts me in the right direction. It must be what I've eaten or the energy gel as I've suddenly got a new lease of life as I overtake the runner whom guided me in the right direction. I tell him it's the gels and he tells me he needs a new achilles! The PB might now be back on track. We end up going down a hill and at the bottom seeing a hill and thinking to myself I hope I don't have to climb that! Sure enough a few hundred meters later I start climbing. Half way up and going along a trail I'm met with a couple of volunteers, cheering me on and asking me to a look at the view - the scenery was amazing. Those volunteers throughout the day never stopped cheering and they were at multiple locations which made it mor special. I didn't find this hill as tough as the mother of all hills as there was a flat section but my pace has dropped right down and I'm now just trying to see if I can get under 9 hours.
The undulating section seems to go on for ever and taking my eye of the ball I trip over a tree root. These are the vain of my life - I don't have the energy to lift my legs high enough when jogging so I end up constantly looking at the ground and then realising I've missed a wrong turn. The fall is the worst one I've had so far. My elbow gets scrapped along the ground but my thumb has taken a battering. I don't realise it at the time but my thumb has started to swell and bruise slightly. I lay motionless on the ground for what seems an eternity but in reality is about a minute. I struggle to get up as the cramp in my legs is having a severe impact. I manage to soldier on and soon the final checkpoint in 29th position.
With 8 or so miles to go I realise that a sub 9 hour finish is out of the question and look instead for a sub 9:30 finish. I spend the longest at the checkpoint taking on some food, Tailwind, gels and coke. I speak to a fellow runner whom recognises me UTMB and then after some coke, Tailwind, food and gels I crack on. The final section is undulating again before heading downhill into Goring.
The undulating section seems to go on for ever and I now get quite a few people passing me by. Heading towards one hill I hear some sirens and then going up the hill I see a runner with a paramedic - hope he's OK. One woman overtakes me whom says that I'll soon overtake her back again. The undulating section starts to head downhill but it's not Goring yet and a mile later I can now see some houses so surely this must be Goring? It's now road so no more tripping over tree roots and heading downhill. Coming into Goring I've got one runner behind me but tryikng not to relinquish my position this gives me a boost to crack with the two lady volunteers back again to cheer us on. Just before the finish I manage to drop my Garmin, hurrily picking it up before finishing in a time of 09:23:23 in 32nd place.
Rest up now for a couple of weeks, if I feeling fresh I might try a marathon, before taking on the Autumn 100 in just under 5 weeks.
Came to the first checkpoint in good form (about 25th position) above 6 mph and got the go ahead not to stop at one of the refreshment areas. Carried on without taking on any food or water but at the next hill ate one of my energy bars and had some water which saved me some time.
Got a nice remark from one of the volunteers crossing a road - nice T-shirt as once again I'm wearing the Centurion Grand Slam from 2016. I seem to be making steady progress the field and I'm still running at just over 6 mph. Later I go up another hill and once again I'm caught out by Stuart taking a photograph as I'm taking another salt tablet. Once again no time for a pose. I manage to gain a few places going into checkpoint 2 - up to 22nd.
I try to minimise time by not stopping for food only to top up with Tailwind. A few more undulating trails have now started take their toll and I soon find myself going up the mother of all hills. Whatever this hill is it makes Box Hill seem like a slope. I'm not one for stopping up a hill but this has taken the stuffing out of me. One fellow runner comments whether we should be going left or right and I've replied I'm not sure - luckily the runner behind can see the marking and it's a slight left up this hill. Three quarters of the way up I see Stuart this time hopefully not catching me out as I give a customary smile. That hill was tough (Whitchurch). I've not reccied the course before and from memory I think there will be another two like this one.
Whitchuch hill
I reckon I've now lost places going into checkpoint 3 - in fact I'm down to 30th. I'd still take that position for a finish. This time I decide to take on some food and grab a couple of energy gels. I top up my water bottle and have to use my Incredible Hulk cup (which I'd had to have to keep in my leggings - another story) so I can have some coco-cola. I'm still struggling at this stage going over undulating hills. I persevere and realise now that I've overcooled the start and a PB is looking unrealistic. I soon find myself taking a wrong turn going down a trail and thankfully the runner behind me puts me in the right direction. It must be what I've eaten or the energy gel as I've suddenly got a new lease of life as I overtake the runner whom guided me in the right direction. I tell him it's the gels and he tells me he needs a new achilles! The PB might now be back on track. We end up going down a hill and at the bottom seeing a hill and thinking to myself I hope I don't have to climb that! Sure enough a few hundred meters later I start climbing. Half way up and going along a trail I'm met with a couple of volunteers, cheering me on and asking me to a look at the view - the scenery was amazing. Those volunteers throughout the day never stopped cheering and they were at multiple locations which made it mor special. I didn't find this hill as tough as the mother of all hills as there was a flat section but my pace has dropped right down and I'm now just trying to see if I can get under 9 hours.
The undulating section seems to go on for ever and taking my eye of the ball I trip over a tree root. These are the vain of my life - I don't have the energy to lift my legs high enough when jogging so I end up constantly looking at the ground and then realising I've missed a wrong turn. The fall is the worst one I've had so far. My elbow gets scrapped along the ground but my thumb has taken a battering. I don't realise it at the time but my thumb has started to swell and bruise slightly. I lay motionless on the ground for what seems an eternity but in reality is about a minute. I struggle to get up as the cramp in my legs is having a severe impact. I manage to soldier on and soon the final checkpoint in 29th position.
With 8 or so miles to go I realise that a sub 9 hour finish is out of the question and look instead for a sub 9:30 finish. I spend the longest at the checkpoint taking on some food, Tailwind, gels and coke. I speak to a fellow runner whom recognises me UTMB and then after some coke, Tailwind, food and gels I crack on. The final section is undulating again before heading downhill into Goring.
The undulating section seems to go on for ever and I now get quite a few people passing me by. Heading towards one hill I hear some sirens and then going up the hill I see a runner with a paramedic - hope he's OK. One woman overtakes me whom says that I'll soon overtake her back again. The undulating section starts to head downhill but it's not Goring yet and a mile later I can now see some houses so surely this must be Goring? It's now road so no more tripping over tree roots and heading downhill. Coming into Goring I've got one runner behind me but tryikng not to relinquish my position this gives me a boost to crack with the two lady volunteers back again to cheer us on. Just before the finish I manage to drop my Garmin, hurrily picking it up before finishing in a time of 09:23:23 in 32nd place.
Rest up now for a couple of weeks, if I feeling fresh I might try a marathon, before taking on the Autumn 100 in just under 5 weeks.
Friday, 1 September 2017
UTMB - 01/09/17 - DNF - 65.6km - 15:22:33
UTMB Pre-Race Report
Arrived at Geneva airport yesterday at about 11:00. Managed to get on a earlier minibus to Chamonix. On the minibus were a couple of Centurion runners and Nicola, another previous Centurion whom runner lives in the UK but born in Italy. Instead of being dropped off at the Youth Hostel I decide to get dropped off at the Centre Nautique et Sportif Richard Bozon to get my race kit checked along with Nicola. Thankfully I manage to pass the kit check but Nicholas has needed to buy a waterproof jacket and a emergency blanket to pass the kit check. Nicola then suggests his friend, Wes can drop me off at the Youth Hostel instead of me walking about 7 km. We then spend the next couple of hours chilling but were tired - I didn't sleep at all on the previous night (too excited) and Nicola due to jet lag having just flown back from holidaying in California. Ben arrives (Nicola's support crew) and we then spend a further hour walking around Chamonix getting some leggings for Wes.
I then get dropped off at the Youth Hostel at around 17:00. Manage to get a spare bunk bed in the dorm and have some dinner - Spaghetti Carbonara. There are two CCC runners in the dorm whom are impressed that I'm taking on UTMB. I later find out that the bunk bed has been occupied by Michael! As it turns out the dorm has been overbooked and a Romanian should be in a different dorm. I'm too exhausted by this time and just crash out on the bunk bed. Waking up again at about 02:00 and then intermittent sleeping until 07:30 before getting up and heading off for breakfast. Still feeling nervous/excited about the race ahead I don't really have the stomach for some food but I manage to slowly eat a orange, 2 yoghurts, some bread and some muesli. To drink I have 3 glasses of orange juice and 2 cups of black coffee. This takes about an hour and a half to eat/drink and then I head off into Chamonix center to drop off my drop bag and then for a race start of 18:30.
Get a bus to Chamonix center and arrive at about 11:00. Head off to the Center Sportif and start messing about on the phone trying unsuccessfully to download these notes to my blog. I here a bleeping noise coming from my bag but I think it's coming from the till entrance so I ignore it. Still messing about on the internet and I realise that my phone charge is down to 50%. I carry on regardless until it's now down to 10%. I go into my bag and realise my power charger is not there! Without a fully charged mobile phone at the start of the race will be a time penalty at the very least or disqualification. I also don't have European adaptor. It's now about 15:00 and the race has been delayed until 18:30 (they've had to alter the course slightly due to ever changing weather conditions). The bus back to the YHA leaves every 30 mins so instead I jog back taking about 20 mins. I get back to the YHA, check the dorm and it's there either. It's not there either and I don't remember putting it in the storage locker (which is another story). I phone me Dad and I've only gone and left it at his house! Using one of the dorm's charger I manage to get it charged to 60 % but it's now 17:15 and the race briefing starts in15 mins! I could stay and charge it a bit more but it's not going to get fully charged so I start to jog back, this time to the race start. I manage to get to the race start at 17:45, whilst listening to the race brief I start to organise my race pack.
UTMB Race Report
After what seems like 30 minutes of chanting the race starts. The front runners head off like a bullet train but I start at the back. Unsure how to tackle this one - never done a UTMB before. Technically your race number determines where you should finish - I'm number 1729 out of about 2500 or so I don't want to take it too easy as I might not make the cut-off. Due to the sheer numbers in front of me I don't manage to start jogging for the first 10 minutes. My Garmin is completely dead (I managed to leave it on hence the bleeping noise) so I've got no idea what pace I'm doing. By the stats later on I've reached the first checkpoint Le Delevret by 20:45, just 15 minutes ahead of the cut-off (6.09 kph). At this stage the elevation gain is 820m. I reckon I can have more cut-off leeway to the next (St-Gervais) as this is downhill. I take some time out by putting my waterproof and head torch on and to eat a snack bar as the last checkpoint had no food just water hoping that St-Gervais has some food. When you go up a mountain you only have to go back down again (eventually) and this is the case (but it does give me a chance to pick the speed up) as I pass Jennie whom suggests that I'll regret going at that pace later on. I also manage to drop one of my head-torches in my packet but can't find the batteries. Your not allowed to drop litter so loosing my batteries would have been another penalty. I approach the next checkpoint (St-Gervais) in some dire need of some food so I go down one aisle of food and have some pices of orange, banana, melon, a few different bisuits and some soup and then go down the other food aisle and have the same food. I'm now full up! With now just a elevation gain of 80m from Le Delevret I'm 30 mins ahead of the cut-off (6.51 kmph). From St-Gervais to Les Contamines it's up another mountain this time a elevation gain of 491m and I'm now running a couple of minutes behind Jenny as I head into the Les Contamines checkpoint (5.4 kmph) 45 mins ahead of the cut-off. Still full up from the last checkpoiunt I feel a bit sick so just decide to top-up my water bottles. It's more uphill again from Les Contamines to La Balme with a elevation gain of 564m Iand pass Jenny again with a average pace of 4.23 kmph but I've managed to maintain the cut-off pace as I reach the La Balme checkpoint 45 mins ahead of the cut-off. Ideally I'd like an hour buffer as I'm going to jogging two nights in a row. From La Balme to to Col du Bonhomme (2456m) elevation gain 778m I'm now really struggling. The temperatures dropped down to about 0 degrees (but -3 with the wind chill factor). This is having an effect as my race pace has considerably dropped down to 2.34 kmph only just ahead of Jenny. I'm having to take refuge at the Bonhomme checkpoint - the tips of my fingers are numb even with gloves on so I put on the waterproof over-mitts as well. My upperbody is warm (even with just a tee-shirt underneath) as the waterproof jacket is keeping me warm but I put on my buff as I don't always wear the waterproof hood. My legs are a bit cold as I can't always keep on jogging so I put on some waterproof trousers. I'm now bang on the cut-off time (0 minutes). No longer feeling the cold and now reached the summit it's downhill to the next checkpoint, Les Chapieux so let's see if I can make for lost time. To Les Chapieux it's a elevation gain of 0 metres and my race pace has unsuprisingly increased to 3.73 kmph but having cramp going uphill now I've got cramp going downhill as well. Nevertheless I reach Chapieux (50 km) 15 minutes ahead of the cut-off but I spend 15 minutes at the checkpoint. No time for a hot meal I decide just take on some fruit. The next stage is crucial to maintain the pace but from Chapieux to Col De La Seigne is uphill again to the summit of yet another mountain. I've lost the plot this time - I'm strggling to walk up this mountain even with some walking poles and it seems like every 50m I'm having to take a break. At sometime going up this mountain I'ved managed to cross an open border into Italy. It doesn't feel as cold as Bonhomme but there is now light snow falling not what I need trying to get to this summit. I'm rapidly heading towards the back of the pack and eventually I get reach the Seigne summit (2516m). I've managed a 3.16 kmph pace which was better than trying to summit Bonhomme but I'm now a staggering 45 mintues behind the cut-off. I have no idea I'm this far behind but there is no time-barrier to exclude me from the race. From Seigne to Combal is downhill again but I'm totally beet now - really struggling to jog downhill unbeknown to me that I need to make up 45 mintues. Jenny was right I started off too fast and paid the price. I manage a pace of 5.67 kmph with just a elevation gain of 67m with 23 minutes behind the cut-off. Unaware of this (and one of the volunteers speaking to me French) I grap some food and carry on. I then hear someone speaking to me in French behind me, look back and my instinct tells me to stop. I head back into the checkpoint zone and ask them for a translation. I'm told that I've missed the cut-off time and I have to pull out of the race. Looking at my cut-off guide I explain that I've got until 10:00 (it was 09:53 when I came in) but the cut-off guide had to be altered to the changing conditions. The right decision was made. I would have had to make Courmayeur by 13:00 - 18 kmph in 3 hours. No chance even if it was predominantly downhill. There are six of us at this stage to pull out and then we get on a minibus to Col Checruit. We then get on a coach to Courmayeur (there's now about 20 people at this stage whom have dropped out) to pick up my drop-bag. Another bus
back to Chamonix ...
UTMB Post-Race info
Going into the UTMB with too many races this year is not ideal
4 weeks recovery from the NDW100 is not enough recovery time.
Check, double check and triple check your kit - bringing my charger could have made a difference.
Make sure you have the correct cut-off times to hand - even when the course alters.
The jury's out on whether walking poles are necessary
Saloman agile long tights - stitching has started to go after one use.
Montane Via trial gloves did not keep out the cold from my fingertips.
Hoka Speed Instinct trainers didn't live up to expectation - didn't feel like I was running on cushions - I felt the impact running on stones too many times with 30 miles With my previous trainers Inov-8 Roclite 280 this usually happens after 80 miles.
Saloman Bonatti waterproof trousers, La Sportiva hail waterproof and Montane Minimus waterproof mitts kept out the rain and cold.
Dirty Girl gaiters kept out the debris and look cool.
UTMB - amazing experience - pasta parties, great support, Allez! Allez! Allez! ...
YHA - I'd thought I'd be the only runner there - how wrong was I - great experience reminiscing with the other runners ...
Next race Chiltern Wonderland 50 in two weeks time ...
Dirty Girl Gaiters
The race course outlined in red
Race start
Arriving at St-Gervais
Arrived at Geneva airport yesterday at about 11:00. Managed to get on a earlier minibus to Chamonix. On the minibus were a couple of Centurion runners and Nicola, another previous Centurion whom runner lives in the UK but born in Italy. Instead of being dropped off at the Youth Hostel I decide to get dropped off at the Centre Nautique et Sportif Richard Bozon to get my race kit checked along with Nicola. Thankfully I manage to pass the kit check but Nicholas has needed to buy a waterproof jacket and a emergency blanket to pass the kit check. Nicola then suggests his friend, Wes can drop me off at the Youth Hostel instead of me walking about 7 km. We then spend the next couple of hours chilling but were tired - I didn't sleep at all on the previous night (too excited) and Nicola due to jet lag having just flown back from holidaying in California. Ben arrives (Nicola's support crew) and we then spend a further hour walking around Chamonix getting some leggings for Wes.
I then get dropped off at the Youth Hostel at around 17:00. Manage to get a spare bunk bed in the dorm and have some dinner - Spaghetti Carbonara. There are two CCC runners in the dorm whom are impressed that I'm taking on UTMB. I later find out that the bunk bed has been occupied by Michael! As it turns out the dorm has been overbooked and a Romanian should be in a different dorm. I'm too exhausted by this time and just crash out on the bunk bed. Waking up again at about 02:00 and then intermittent sleeping until 07:30 before getting up and heading off for breakfast. Still feeling nervous/excited about the race ahead I don't really have the stomach for some food but I manage to slowly eat a orange, 2 yoghurts, some bread and some muesli. To drink I have 3 glasses of orange juice and 2 cups of black coffee. This takes about an hour and a half to eat/drink and then I head off into Chamonix center to drop off my drop bag and then for a race start of 18:30.
Get a bus to Chamonix center and arrive at about 11:00. Head off to the Center Sportif and start messing about on the phone trying unsuccessfully to download these notes to my blog. I here a bleeping noise coming from my bag but I think it's coming from the till entrance so I ignore it. Still messing about on the internet and I realise that my phone charge is down to 50%. I carry on regardless until it's now down to 10%. I go into my bag and realise my power charger is not there! Without a fully charged mobile phone at the start of the race will be a time penalty at the very least or disqualification. I also don't have European adaptor. It's now about 15:00 and the race has been delayed until 18:30 (they've had to alter the course slightly due to ever changing weather conditions). The bus back to the YHA leaves every 30 mins so instead I jog back taking about 20 mins. I get back to the YHA, check the dorm and it's there either. It's not there either and I don't remember putting it in the storage locker (which is another story). I phone me Dad and I've only gone and left it at his house! Using one of the dorm's charger I manage to get it charged to 60 % but it's now 17:15 and the race briefing starts in15 mins! I could stay and charge it a bit more but it's not going to get fully charged so I start to jog back, this time to the race start. I manage to get to the race start at 17:45, whilst listening to the race brief I start to organise my race pack.
UTMB Race Report
After what seems like 30 minutes of chanting the race starts. The front runners head off like a bullet train but I start at the back. Unsure how to tackle this one - never done a UTMB before. Technically your race number determines where you should finish - I'm number 1729 out of about 2500 or so I don't want to take it too easy as I might not make the cut-off. Due to the sheer numbers in front of me I don't manage to start jogging for the first 10 minutes. My Garmin is completely dead (I managed to leave it on hence the bleeping noise) so I've got no idea what pace I'm doing. By the stats later on I've reached the first checkpoint Le Delevret by 20:45, just 15 minutes ahead of the cut-off (6.09 kph). At this stage the elevation gain is 820m. I reckon I can have more cut-off leeway to the next (St-Gervais) as this is downhill. I take some time out by putting my waterproof and head torch on and to eat a snack bar as the last checkpoint had no food just water hoping that St-Gervais has some food. When you go up a mountain you only have to go back down again (eventually) and this is the case (but it does give me a chance to pick the speed up) as I pass Jennie whom suggests that I'll regret going at that pace later on. I also manage to drop one of my head-torches in my packet but can't find the batteries. Your not allowed to drop litter so loosing my batteries would have been another penalty. I approach the next checkpoint (St-Gervais) in some dire need of some food so I go down one aisle of food and have some pices of orange, banana, melon, a few different bisuits and some soup and then go down the other food aisle and have the same food. I'm now full up! With now just a elevation gain of 80m from Le Delevret I'm 30 mins ahead of the cut-off (6.51 kmph). From St-Gervais to Les Contamines it's up another mountain this time a elevation gain of 491m and I'm now running a couple of minutes behind Jenny as I head into the Les Contamines checkpoint (5.4 kmph) 45 mins ahead of the cut-off. Still full up from the last checkpoiunt I feel a bit sick so just decide to top-up my water bottles. It's more uphill again from Les Contamines to La Balme with a elevation gain of 564m Iand pass Jenny again with a average pace of 4.23 kmph but I've managed to maintain the cut-off pace as I reach the La Balme checkpoint 45 mins ahead of the cut-off. Ideally I'd like an hour buffer as I'm going to jogging two nights in a row. From La Balme to to Col du Bonhomme (2456m) elevation gain 778m I'm now really struggling. The temperatures dropped down to about 0 degrees (but -3 with the wind chill factor). This is having an effect as my race pace has considerably dropped down to 2.34 kmph only just ahead of Jenny. I'm having to take refuge at the Bonhomme checkpoint - the tips of my fingers are numb even with gloves on so I put on the waterproof over-mitts as well. My upperbody is warm (even with just a tee-shirt underneath) as the waterproof jacket is keeping me warm but I put on my buff as I don't always wear the waterproof hood. My legs are a bit cold as I can't always keep on jogging so I put on some waterproof trousers. I'm now bang on the cut-off time (0 minutes). No longer feeling the cold and now reached the summit it's downhill to the next checkpoint, Les Chapieux so let's see if I can make for lost time. To Les Chapieux it's a elevation gain of 0 metres and my race pace has unsuprisingly increased to 3.73 kmph but having cramp going uphill now I've got cramp going downhill as well. Nevertheless I reach Chapieux (50 km) 15 minutes ahead of the cut-off but I spend 15 minutes at the checkpoint. No time for a hot meal I decide just take on some fruit. The next stage is crucial to maintain the pace but from Chapieux to Col De La Seigne is uphill again to the summit of yet another mountain. I've lost the plot this time - I'm strggling to walk up this mountain even with some walking poles and it seems like every 50m I'm having to take a break. At sometime going up this mountain I'ved managed to cross an open border into Italy. It doesn't feel as cold as Bonhomme but there is now light snow falling not what I need trying to get to this summit. I'm rapidly heading towards the back of the pack and eventually I get reach the Seigne summit (2516m). I've managed a 3.16 kmph pace which was better than trying to summit Bonhomme but I'm now a staggering 45 mintues behind the cut-off. I have no idea I'm this far behind but there is no time-barrier to exclude me from the race. From Seigne to Combal is downhill again but I'm totally beet now - really struggling to jog downhill unbeknown to me that I need to make up 45 mintues. Jenny was right I started off too fast and paid the price. I manage a pace of 5.67 kmph with just a elevation gain of 67m with 23 minutes behind the cut-off. Unaware of this (and one of the volunteers speaking to me French) I grap some food and carry on. I then hear someone speaking to me in French behind me, look back and my instinct tells me to stop. I head back into the checkpoint zone and ask them for a translation. I'm told that I've missed the cut-off time and I have to pull out of the race. Looking at my cut-off guide I explain that I've got until 10:00 (it was 09:53 when I came in) but the cut-off guide had to be altered to the changing conditions. The right decision was made. I would have had to make Courmayeur by 13:00 - 18 kmph in 3 hours. No chance even if it was predominantly downhill. There are six of us at this stage to pull out and then we get on a minibus to Col Checruit. We then get on a coach to Courmayeur (there's now about 20 people at this stage whom have dropped out) to pick up my drop-bag. Another bus
back to Chamonix ...
UTMB Post-Race info
Going into the UTMB with too many races this year is not ideal
4 weeks recovery from the NDW100 is not enough recovery time.
Check, double check and triple check your kit - bringing my charger could have made a difference.
Make sure you have the correct cut-off times to hand - even when the course alters.
The jury's out on whether walking poles are necessary
Saloman agile long tights - stitching has started to go after one use.
Montane Via trial gloves did not keep out the cold from my fingertips.
Hoka Speed Instinct trainers didn't live up to expectation - didn't feel like I was running on cushions - I felt the impact running on stones too many times with 30 miles With my previous trainers Inov-8 Roclite 280 this usually happens after 80 miles.
Saloman Bonatti waterproof trousers, La Sportiva hail waterproof and Montane Minimus waterproof mitts kept out the rain and cold.
Dirty Girl gaiters kept out the debris and look cool.
UTMB - amazing experience - pasta parties, great support, Allez! Allez! Allez! ...
YHA - I'd thought I'd be the only runner there - how wrong was I - great experience reminiscing with the other runners ...
Next race Chiltern Wonderland 50 in two weeks time ...
Dirty Girl Gaiters
The race course outlined in red
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)