Jurassic Coastal Challenge - 26th-28th March 2010

Day 1 -

It had Rained a lot last night..woke up to sunshine which was a result.Had a bit of breakfast and was off in the mini bus to Charmouth,we started at 11.10.There were some huge hills in the first few miles and I was thinking what have I signed up for,having done no hill training...the first 6 miles took over an hour.When running it was very muddy and slippy so was hard to build up a cadence,there were times in today's race where I thought what am I doing entering this and as if I can do 3 days,then towards the end I thought I have got to take each day as it comes.I finished today in 5.05-was happy with that in the tough conditions...legs a little stiff writing this-bring on tomorrow.

Day 2-

Woke up this morning..legs a little stiff...was confident though..the starting line was just outside our sh8t caravan site. The first few miles were on road which was a nice break from yesterday.Then we hit a couple of hills - why wouldn't we.. then onto pebble paths around Portland island.There was a group of us running together - Elson, Paul, Andy and myself, I felt strong at 12 miles - I have noticed through ultra running you get these good bursts of energy and when they happen you have to take advantage so I took off from the group for a mile or so then hit check point 2. Topped up with Cheese and Pickle role, Crisps, Mars bars the lot....I ate these and realised Elson and co had kept going so caught them up. We carried along the coast and then we hit some slippy muddy hills which are v.annoying..I nearly fell over - you beauty..today was hot as well so took 2 salt tablets and consumed a lot of water. Approaching CP3 my big right toe was in pain, border line falling off but managed to run through the pain and saw the medic after the race to get it taped up.Finished on 3 monster hills, bring on tomorrow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cambridge Boundary Run (Marathon)

I am writing this at home with some stiff legs.... I ran the Cambridge Boundary Marathon today, was a lovely days weather, sunny all day, so perfect running weather...When I arrived at David Lloyd at Cambridge I registered for the marathon and was given a t-shirt and map which I thought was worrying, I asked why the map and this is just a precaution as they don't have the manpower to Marshall the course. I aimed to break 3.30 today which would be a p.b...began the race and ran the first mile in 6.40 which is way too fast, the run was off road...... running around Cambridge and through country lanes. I turned in 1.37 which I was happy with so was on for breaking 3.30, ran the second half slower on the off road terrain and ended up finishing in 3.34.36 with a wrong turning. I was pleased with that performance as most of the course was off road so breaking 3.30 was a big ask... a very well organised marathon and a great days weather. I ran today against my Physio's advise as have a swollen ankle but I needed to get a marathon in pre Jurassic......hopefully after a few days rest the ankle should be okay, I am doing the Lydd Half marathon next Sunday with my friend Ash were I aim to break 1.30....I still got the endorphins while listening to the radio on the way home today...I am up for my next road marathon were I am sure I can break 3.30......

Country to Capital- 45 miler- 16th Jan

On 16th Jan 2010 I attempted my first ultra marathon after running 2 marathons – 1st last May - Halstead Essex Marathon and 2nd in September - Kent Coastal Marathon. I was running with my friend James Elson who I ran the 2 marathons with, James being an experienced runner having run 15 x 50 mile races before, 2 x 100 mile races and 5 desert runs so this race to him was a stroll in the park. I woke up at his house at 4.50am as was nervous, went into his kitchen and made some toast and tea, sat down to watch sky sports news, then got changed, James came in the Kitchen later..Had a bit of toast and we were off to Marylebone station. I was nervous…. very nervous….the whole week at work I was quiet and this race was playing on my mind. We got the train from Marylebone to Aylesbury, the race started at a pub in Wendover and finished at little Venice on the canal in Paddington

We started the race in the pouring rain, running through muddy woods in my Asics gt2140s slipping everywhere, it was a bad decision wearing these instead of trail shoes but had a bad ankle and the trail shoes are very heavy. Was running through woods and puddles……..after about 16 miles my legs were hurting!!!!!Was thinking not even half way and my legs were hurting…..got to the 23 mile check point and topped up with water, had a wee and noticed my wee was yellow so put a stop to the salt tablets…after 23 miles I ran 10 miles very slowly just literally fast walking/slow jogging…. Got to mile 36 and was feeling sick, I had hit the wall so we walked for a mile and I was thinking I can’t finish this, after that I ran to about 40, walked for a bit then started running again…..then I saw the finish line in the distance, my eyes started watering and what a great feeling it was to finish a race of that size – time 8.06 – was very happy with that as was thinking 9-10 hours pre race or just to finish. It has definitely given me the taste to run more races of this size or even further. My next ultra will be the Jurassic Coastal Challenge in Dorset – 3 marathons in 3 days -http://www.votwo.co.uk/votwo2007/events-and-adventure/race_view.php?i=88 .

Here are some videos which James took from the race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62R8OMcKllo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oql3l6U1Qo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mNbgH2F7-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ySkdRsgFPw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQEu93hcyUQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za9zjfTWWk8