I would really recommended them for anyone considering an ultra. So wonderfully inclusive and supportive. All the food at the aid stations was vegan and gluten free, which was particularly helpful for my friend and I 😀. Their cut off times are very generous so you can focus on getting to the end not trying to keep ahead of a certain time.
The ultra was just under 40 miles, there were 4 checkpoints. Start to checkpoint 1 was great, we were right at the back and the path was narrow, so there was plenty of enforced walking in the first couple of miles, very helpful to remove any temptation of setting off too fast. First 8 miles was great, super friendly folk at the checkpoint and while we were spaced out there was enough people that we didn't have to think about navigation as you could see people in front of you.
Checkpoint 1-2 (miles 8-15) was very similar to the first. There was a big long hill around mile 13. For the life of me I cannot picture this (and I've tried many times). There was a bit where there were a couple of signs (most of the route relied on you navigating) which were different to the gps file, which lead to several confused runners together trying to work out where to go, definitely part of the fun! We went the right way, got close to the checkpoint, hid in the hedge while some very friendly farmers took a herd of cows past us, got to the checkpoint as a nice group.
Checkpoint 2-3 (miles 15-22) still felt good, being very conservative and walking plenty to reserve energy. Started doing maths about what time I thought we'd finish (these weren't accurate 😆). Some slow hilly miles, some quicker downhill miles, all as planned. Lovely indoor checkpoint 3 with our drop bags. I had one of the best cups of tea I've ever had (on a par with the cup of tea I had during the Loch Ness Marathon!), I attempted to eat lunch and managed most of it.
Checkpoint 3-4 (miles 22-32) there were lots of very muddy fields where my shoes picked up massive amounts of mud and weighed a tonne. But every time I cleaned them off they picked up more. Plenty of walking here, we'd gone beyond just walking the uphills. But still quite a bit of running too. It had been raining on and off all day, but rain was getting worse here and I think because we were walking more I noticed it more. So while I'd packed my waterproofs not expecting to wear them, they went on and really helped.
Checkpoint 4-finish (miles 32-39.5) The first mile or so we ran. After that I pretty much walked to the end, with some attempts at running in the last couple of miles. It was dark, rain was quite heavy in places, my knees hurt. But we kept going, made it, ran through the finish and now I'm an ultra runner!
It is addictive. I shall be doing more! But I shall continue to find ultras with very nice cut offs 😀
Written by
R4inbow
Ultramarathon
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That’s an awesome, and inspiring run. Your approach to the race seemed spot on and you paced yourself through to the end which could do so easily have not happened if you had not walked when you did. I think this is an inspiring post for any wannabe ultras out there. Well done 👏👏👏👍🎉💪
Thank you, not sure I'd consider myself inspirational, but I did want to share my day in case people think everyone doing an ultra is like the guy who finished in about 5:30 and the lady who was under 6:30.
Amazing feat R4inbow; congratulations on completing a really exacting event in very challenging conditions. I hate mud ….second only to ice. It sounds as though the organisation was really good. Most important, you clearly enjoyed it and it has left you wanting more (in due course). Fantastic achievement.👏👏👏🥇🏆
my marathon route has some real mucky bits especially if it’s wet as it was last year. My shoes were hopeless and wicked that much water that my feet were blistered to hell 🙄.
My trails are pretty hard. You meet the occasional claggy bit, but there is usually a way around it. The only disadvantage is that if you are in a real downpour the water collects very quickly, so you can’t avoid the puddles. At the moment I am running in Brooks Adrenaline for everything ( the 12mm heel drop and stability seem to suit); I will have to look for some trails with a decent heel drop for winter, or I will get wet feet.
I ran for a while in the Glycerine but they played hell with my Achilles so I cut down the stitching 🙂. I transitioned to lower drop and am now down to zero drop Altra’s. I still have 10, 8 and 5mm shoes. My trail ones are 4mm and 5mm. Good to have a mixed bag of a rotation
I think the zero drop help strengthen the calves 🏃♀️
it was the physio I saw when I had my shin splint that got me to shift to lower drop shoes. It took a while but I find myself wearing the zero’s most of the time now. They’re not minimal though - quite cushy in fact 🙂.
My friend I was running with said he wouldn't have felt like a proper ultra runner unless it rained, I think you've just got to embrace it! For me it was better than a hot sunny day.
If you're capable of getting to the second checkpoint, then I'm sure you could get to the end if you wanted to. There was such a variety of people there and everyone so supportive!
If you'd actually very much like to do one, then you should!!
I got to 16 miles (26.2km) in April, but have slacked off a bit since. I didn't even get my customary HM in last month! When things get a little more stable, I need to try to stretch my distances again.
I don't think you've much to be concerned about nowster ! It's almost a year since I last ran a HM, and a month since I last ran 17k. It's pretty demoralising, but I figure that I built up before so I can do it again, when the time's right. You're much better positioned than I am, so you can definitely increase distance again if that's what you'd like to do.
Congratulations R4inbow , that sounds like a wonderful event, all about the challenge and the experience, not just the finishing time. Not too many people either from the looks of it, even better!
You're so right about the sociability and the single file paths - while the latter are a pain for those who want to run fast, they're great for helping keep pace under control and for chatting to other runners. In my book that's much more fun than just hammering on!
Wow fantastic achievement R4inbow especially in those conditions towards the end! Sounds like you paced it just right. And you seemed to really enjoy it so there will be more to come I’m sure! 👏👏👏
Oh wow!!!!! Just amazing to read 'it is addictive'. The weather was pretty grim wasn't it? And yet you want to go again? Wow, you are made of stern stuff. Massive congratulations to you 👏👏👏
Great post and what an achievement, well done. It sounds like a well organised event. Did they have loos at every stop? I keep looking at the ultra London to Brighton one, they have long cut offs and loos. I'm such a light weight when it comes to facilites, 😂😂😂.
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