Marlborough Downs Challenge - 33 miles - 16th May

A scenic one lap route across the Wiltshire Downs, along the Wansdyke &
through Avebury Stone Circle.

A gentle off road course, crossing fields and rolling hills, a couple of hill climbs (one on muddy tracks up to Cherhill Monument) , 'Dyke' ridge running (quite windy and exposed), a couple of miles alongside a canal and a 'white horse' created a nice morning out running in the Wiltshire countryside.

A fast course (not for me !!) shown by the first four runners (mostly vasque team) this year coming home inside the course record, the weather helped as the rain held off for most of the run and although 'blowy' on top of the Dyke and Cherhill Monument, a lot of the run was protected and the prevailing wind was behind most of the way home.

For me, a tale of two halves - The first 15 miles to CP4 was very pleasant. A nice run through West Woods up onto the Wansdyke path with great views (from here you got a great sense of rolling deep green countryside) and down along the canal up to bridge 139. I was with a group of 5 runners (including Tim - another Grand Slammer), feeling good just ticking over enjoying the warm weather, conversation and general scenery.

Then, we started up Quakers Walk Path (after grabbing a few jelly babies), through Roundway and began the long walk up to Leipzig Plantation. This hill - done me in !! - I went from feeling good to feeling 'old and jaded' in about 20 minutes. I even had a 'brain freeze' coming out of the woods going the wrong way down the next path (considering the right route was the size of a motorway, it was quite a feat to go wrong here - note for other runners - never follow the guy in the orange wig !!).

Not sure what happened really, I had been eating and drinking but somewhere going up the hill my head switched to reminding me of the 61 miles I had done seven days earlier and my body seemed to give up - feet and ankles hurt, could not seem to run more than 50 yards - then the rain came down which was the last straw and I fell into a walk / slow jog - pathetic really !! I 'trudged' up the last climb of the day to Cherhill Monument with the wind in my face and passed the famous 'white horse' landmark (a chalk horse in the side of Cherhill Hill), where we joined the runners from the 20 mile route, heading for home.

It took me about an hour to recover and it was not until I got to the otherside of Avebury that I began to run again with any consistency - could have been the cup of sweet tea I had or the 5 minute chat I had with Fred ( a guy I met last year doing the coastal marathon series) reminiscing on what seemed easier times !!

After Avebury the route is fast and flat(ish) and with the wind behind us you could smell the finish line (maybe this was the real reason I picked up again), and it felt good to be able to keep running again.

I finished feeling disappointed in my performance, (where was my 'grit and determination') others had been at the Fellsman last weekend and managed to keep going, maybe I need to find a way to recover more quickly (I definitely wont be doing a hard training session two days before the next event- in hindsight - a stupid idea) or just get fitter !!.

It is a nice gentle course, with easy navigation and good scenery. Well worth a run out on a warm summers day.

Fellsman Hike 9th May 2009

What a monster !! 61 miles ' of very hard and rugged moorland' in the Yorkshire Dales - , 8 climbs - 11,000ft in total, crossing 3 featureless -boggy moors (local knowledge a big help here !!), with 2 hours of sleet,torrential rain and gale force winds thrown in for 'a bit of a challenge'!!

26 checkpoints to keep you on track - although there are a couple of areas of route choice that are important to get right - namely across Fleet Moss and Blea Moor. The event starts with a huge climb up to the summit of Ingleborough at 724m (quite intimidating for a rooky) which quickly stretches out the field and puts a marker down for whats ahead!! The terrain is 'black toenail' and 'quad trashing' (hills) for half the time and feet freezing and ankle breaking (moorland) for the rest - definitely a tough combination.

The organisation and logistics were superb, a mammoth operation executed with real efficiency and enthusiasm from start to finish - what a pleasure. The 'menu' on offer at the 9 refreshment stops was very impressive and a definite highlight - I got caught in the storm on the way up to Blea Moor and the Hot Pasta at the next roadside checkpoint was very welcome as I had to strip off (apologies to those in the tent at the time !!) and put all my spare gear on to keep warm and dry !! I have to admit to sitting there for a good 20 minutes listening to the torrential rain wondering why oh why I ever thought this was going to be fun !!

However, hot tea and pasta gives a renewed perspective and off I went into the rain. It was really quite a lucky event for me in terms of route choices, at Fleet Moss I happened on someone who had done a reccy of the route the week before and when darkness fell at Park Rash I was grouped with Colin - a Fellsman Veteran who knew the route home like the back of his hand (although the flashing orange beacons outlining the route helped a bit !!)

Conditions were not kind this year, high winds, sleet, heavy rain, temperature on the fell tops was close to freezing - this probably accounts for the 142 'retirements' this year (some 38% of starters). There is no doubt the biggest talking point in the 'recovery areas after the events ' was 'where were you when the storms hit - wherever it was, it probably was not comfortable.

'The terrain is tough, with most of the Yorkshire Dales’ peaks crossed, along with energy-sapping peat bogs, add in the difficulty of night navigation for all but the fastest runners, and you have an event that tests the stamina, fitness, mental strength and all-round fellrunning and walking abilities of even the toughest competitors.' Huge respect to all who braved the weather and finished the route.

You have to work really hard on the one, dig deep when needed and have the resolve to just keep going - just look at the picture opposite!! - worth it ? - absolutely - oh, and another three points towards the Ultra trail du Mont Blanc.

If you're wondering about the hair !! The wig, bottle and top are in support of the Muscular Dystrophy - the charity I am running the grand slam for - oh alright then - I like to be noticed !!

Calderdale Hike - 36 miles - 18th April

A Traditional event in its 31st year, one that I found very inspiring (and hard on the old legs!!) Lots of ups and downs, good variety of terrain, navigation and route choice were straight forward if you kept to the main routes and the weather was great, steaming in the low lying villages and warm / breezy up higher.

I am beginning to learn that not having to carry much kit and plenty of organised food & water stops is a nice way to run an ultra. Definitely makes it easier to drink and eat 'proper food' along the way when there is variety and its 'on tap', much better than overdosing on high carb and protein food (which is a bit of a trait I have).

One thing though, it seems you cannot come to this area without someone wanting you to run up to (well OK - walk up!!) Stoodley Pike Monument - this time after 30 miles !!. A real sadistic twist, especially for a guy from the fens, at least it gives the legs a well earned rest and a chance to refuel on the move.

All the fastest guys were missing from this event, saving themselves for next weekends Highland Fling / Scottish Ultra Trail Championships which explains how I managed to come 4th.(outstanding for me) How could this be ? as I know there were more people in front of me at the start. I had forgotten that as well as a 36 mile race there is a 27 mile race starting at the same time and somewhere on the route our courses split - no idea where that happened !!

There is also an option just to walk the route in teams of four, they certainly had a good day for it, and definitely have a different approach to the event, much calmer, relaxed, always time to stop and admire the view, even let the runners 'push in' to get their checkpoint card stamped - makes me wonder if rushing past, head down, watching where I have to put my feet is the best way to appreciate such great scenery - leave that for another day !

Anyway back to the route, definitely a 'must do at least once event', good facilities at start and finish (cricket club) and even a 'proposed route map on show' which definitely helped some of the route choices (Long Causeway to Holme Chapel...). I could imagine that crossing Midgley Moor to Keighley Road could be quite tricky in the mist and rain,thankfully none of that rubbish on the day - blue skies and great visibility.

It is the hilliest course I have seen and to honest quite intimidating when you listen to locals talk about this climb and that hill ! Best advice I can give is copy the proposed route and just go for it! I think lots of planning is overated - I favour a 'just run and see 'approach, I like surprises along the way - keeps things interesting.

The refreshment stations and checkpoints along the route are armed as ever with good humoured helpful volunteers who offer words of encouragement as well as the occasional 'that way' directional commentary. Well worth a day out.

Highland Fling - 53 miles - April 25th

Wow !! A scenic run along the West Highland way , including the full length of Loch Lomond, with Iconic views, forest paths, moorlands, great weather, and, I have never felt so trashed in my life !!

I walked (alright hobbled) away from this event with a truly amazing vision in my head. As you go over the top of Conic Hill and Loch Lomond opens out in front of you - its just outstanding - all who get to this part of Scotland should take look (not when its misty though), I don't think 'scenery running' gets much better.

Tactically, this was not a good race for me, I started too fast ( I found myself running with the runner up from 2008 - how stupid is that !!) after 20 miles I could not seem to get into a rhythm, could not seem to get my nutrition right, did not feel like eating what was in my drop bags, lacked energy even on slight inclines and seemed to spend a lot of time walking. My head seemed to be in the wrong place and the last 30 miles just seemed to be a slog - but what an event - I loved it!!

Its a gentle start to this event, good runnable tracks for the first 12 miles or so, easy route finding (Lots of gates though - don't run at the front or back of a pack or you'll feel like a doorman!), you get a false sense of security. Someone told me there was only one hill (Conic Hill at mile 19) on route and at this stage I believed them !

However, once you leave Balmaha, I can guarantee - 'undulating' it may be described as but 'hilly' is how it feels after 27 miles as the route meanders along the shores of Loch Lomond. There is a fantastic section between Inversnaid and Inverarnan (35 miles - ish) where the path becomes rocky, rooty and in some places precarious - a good 'fun section' that although hard makes you smile as you navigate it with tired legs trying not to end up on your face!!

When you reach Bein Glas Farm it does feel like you're heading for home (mainly because you believe that what is in front of you can't be as hard as whats behind you), however there are a couple of surprises on the final 'flat section', the climb up the old military road up to Crainlarach tests the resolve a bit - you can see the path ahead of you rising miles in the distance up and up and up !! The run through the forest is definitely hilly and at 47 miles, the steep descents really start to stress your quads, but once through that the final 5 miles run in is straight forward as you are 'marshalled' into Tyndrum flagged by munroes (big hills over 2000ft !) either side (some still with snow on!).

I have never tasted 'Stovies' but was really glad to get the opportunity at the finish as I was definitely on my last legs, and what a great goodie bag !!

It had been a great day out. Mesmerising views, my furthest ever ultra, great weather, and even points towards the 'Trail du Mont Blanc'. The step up to 53 miles for me had been a mix of pain, determination a inspiration - not a bad combination. I applaud everyone who makes this distance, it definitely commands respect - but achievable for all !!