So it had been a year since my first
attempt of this ultra race and my first ever for that matter. This time I had
being running for a year and three months instead of three months.
I have a little bit more experience and
have done a little bit more training than I had before. I have done some
training runs around the route and felt that my memory served me well. I was hoping not to get cramp after
lose hill and first 12 miles this time. I don’t fancy crawling along the
footpath again!
I was a little nervous, as I hadn’t spent a
lot of time doing distance runs like I usually do, instead I have been doing
shorter runs and races. This in doubt has made me faster over the shorter
distances but I wasn’t sure how it would affect my longer runs… I was about to
find out.
My brother had generously volunteered to
help support me on the course and also to offer words of encouragement once
again. I was happy to have him help
me and this gave me more food options. As well as cutting down on weight.
As like last year I was nervous and worried
about the events that were about to unfold over next few hours. The weather was perfect conditions for
running, overcast with little chance of rain or sun.
There was also the half tour of Bradwell
this year that Gareth Briggs was running.
Nick Ham, Helen Skelton and Paul Evans were also running the full tour
and looking to improve their times.
After a mad five minutes of changing some
food and checking my weight I ran to the start with a few minutes to spare.
After a half brief the whistle had gone and we were off. There were a few comments on the odor I
was sporting, I relieved that I had once again smothered myself in deep heat (maybe
a placebo thing). There’s no mistaking it, once you know the smell it will
never leave you.
Start of Long Tour of Bradwell (Photo Ant Bethell)
I started off with a slow pace and let a
few people go past me, this time I planned to walk any uphill that looked to
challenging unlike last year where I ran most of the ones to cave dale. Its here were you have to watch your
footing as the mixture of water and limestone equals poor grip. I took it slow
and let lose once I left the stream behind, this is one of the best parts of
the course technically and for the scenery. I moved on down to Castleton feel
fresh and as I went past the outdoor educational centre headed to Hollins
Cross. This was the first time I saw my brother since the start of the race, he
informed me who was winning and where a few over people were. He gave me some
food and asked how I was, I felt “okay” I replied. We climbed to the top and I agreed to meet him at loose
hill. He also said Gareth was
winning his race for Team Raidlight, where as I were about middle of the pack.
Start of ascent to Hollins Cross
Descent Hollins Cross (Photo Ant Bethell)
After falling over a few gates, running
through a hoards of cows, walking up some very steep steps to ringing roger,
and diverting on the right route to the fourth checkpoint where as others had
taken a different line I was running down farm fields back to Hollins Cross to
meet my brother.
Nick Ham climb to Hollins Cross (Photo Ant Bethell)
At this point of the race I was with Pete
Slovakian runner, we had being following each other since Castleton. I took on some salt and vinegar crisps
and a chocolate bar. I also had some salt tablets, unlike last year. I still felt okay and comfortable with
the pace I was running, I just hoped to maintain it. It was here I also meet
Janson Health and a man called Chris.
It was here that I decided that I should
try and start to race against people, so therefore I decided to try and keep up
Janson and Chris. So I followed
them, Pete, and my Brother down loose hill. After the refuel of more crisps and
coke I was ready to go. I enjoyed
the descent and saw Lisa, Janson’s wife at the next checkpoint. My brother had come on to meet me at
the next rendezvous.
I carried on to Ashton Hall and where I
meet up with Pete and a few other runners, we were also joined by Chris and
Janson, we headed up to one of the few climbs remaining which leads down to
lady bower reservoir. I headed down the descent and decided to open my legs a
little, this brought a slight twinge in my knee. I did some stretches and moved
on at the checkpoint with Janson. Pete and Chris who were in pursuit. We moved
on into Bamford and headed towards the escalator. I meet up with my brother
once again, we walked up the growling uphill, you would be foolish to run up
this, you are a brave person if you do.
I took on some more coke and a sis gel. It was at this point were I
started to struggle, well at least I made it further than I did last year and I
had the thought that I completed last years race despite all the pain from
cramp in both legs.
Helen Skelton leading the women's race (Photo Ant Bethell)
Janson Heath in Bamford (Photo Ant Bethell)
My brother offered me words of encouragement
and made me run once we had the opportunity. I did, but it was at a slow pace, Chris,
Pete, and Janson had moved about half mile past me. I could see them heading up
to Stanage edge.
Photo (David Bradshaw, Sports sunday)
I then ran down toward Heathersage, and
then past the Fox Inn and headed towards the water works, but before I got
there I was once again greeted by my brother in the Abney Moor. Here I also saw
Janson again, he was running back as he missed a checkpoint, he still looked
really fresh. I knew I would probably see him again.
My brother tried to take my mind off my
cramp and told me to keep running as this way I would finish the race quicker.
And that was the plan from there on in. I just tried to run the rest of course
as best I could. It went well for
awhile, I even managed to run uphill in the woods for a while. As we approached the final ascent, we
were passed lots of cars on a narrow road, this slowed our uphill walking down
a little. As we approached the last hill that looks down on Bradwell, I was
passed by Janson again, well there was no way I was catching him due to risk of
cramp. I continued down the fell at a slow pace, I was running as if I was
drunk and I had lost some of my senses. The trees, bushes and the trails became
all the more impassible when normally I’d fly down them. I stuck with it and made
it to the road into the village before all my right leg locked up. I screamed
with the pain and asked my brother to help release the muscles. We were then
approach by a women who asked if I had broken my leg! “No just cramp” I replied.
It was time to once again to pull out the Jaddle a cross between a jog and
waddle. This was invented last time I was here. I tried to go as quickly as
possible I almost made the finish when Chris passed me just before the line. I
was gutted, but that’s how it goes.
Finishing the race, last few metres (Photo Ant Bethell)
Me and my brother at the finish (photo Helen Skelton)
I got to the line and I felt a sense of
relief, joy and as well as the release of endorphins. I heard claps and cheers from Helen, Janson, Lisa, Paul and
my brother as I crossed the line.
I knew it was quicker than I went last
year, in fact it was almost two hours. I managed to finish the course in 6
hours and 30 minutes. A whole 1
hour and 42 minutes faster than last year.
I can tell I was exhausted when I finished
the course, I couldn’t walk probably and it took me about one hour to take my
socks off and a further two hours before I dared myself to sit down. Having the tea, and soup, o and a pint
Guinness definitely helped my recovery.
I also know that I would not of finished
the course as quickly as I did if it wasn’t for my brothers support. Thanks Ant
I owe you a million.
I later found out the Stuart Walker had
broken a course record and finished in a time of 4hrs and 53 minutes. I don’t
know how you get round this route in that time. That is outstanding. Well done
Stuart.
I also learnt that Helen had won the
women’s race for 2nd year in a row, well done Helen. Amazing.
Gareth Had also won the Half Tour, well
done Gareth, I also believe he also set a course record.
I managed to finish 37th
overall, an improvement from last years 83rd.
