Post peaks recovery

Recovery from the Peaks last week been good so far.  Had Monday off work to recover but felt fine, was properly tired on Tuesday, ran 2 miles on Wednesday, 4.5 on Friday and 7.5 today.  Just taking it easy.  Still finding myself thinking about that wrong turn last week and how different the race would have been, but heh it's all running (I think the great Killian Journet who won UTMB yesterday says of wrong turns- more miles equals more fun).

Still not sure what my next race'll be.  I'm seriously considering Greensands marathon, but there's also the Surrey Badger half, which'll put less pressure on training for the distance.  I've also got this idea about running all the park runs in the area (and inbetween) in one go, but that will take a bit more research and preparation...

Ultrarace Peaks

So that's it.  DONE!  UltraRace Peaks, 40 miles, 6 hours 54 minutes, 24th place.

The race set off from Cromford with everyone bunched up along the canal, but as soon as the first hill hit the field was spread out quite far.  I walked up the first hill with a guy who gave me a good tip ("if you can't see the top, walk it!") and we stuck together for the next 26 miles.  The route along the High Peak trail was fantastic, really scenic and whilst there were a few ups, there were enough downs to make the pace back up.

After hitting the first check point (1:25) the route cuts across some fields and then down to the Tissington Trail, which is flat and long.  It was easy to keep up the pace along this section and soon enough check point two came along in just under 3 hours.  I was feeling pretty good, downed a can of Coke, tried a 9 bar (not nice, I think I'll stick to brunch bars in the future!) and set off again.

At the end of the Tissington trail the route goes round the houses (literally) through Ashbourne but soon enough we were back on the trails, at one point running through a field of corn where the path had been cut out, bit like a maze (a maize?).  We hit the marathon distance at just under 4 hours and I was still feeling good and settled into a pace of around 9 min miles, passing a few folk who were walking.

I was amazed to hit checkpoint 3 at 4:30 and apparently in 6th, catching up with some runners who had taken a wrong turn at Shirley.  From checkpoint 3 it was a long slog along the appropriately name 'long lane' which was surprisingly lumpy.  At around mile 34 disaster struck...

There was a road that went off to the right, and on a sign post on the other side of the road there was one of the UltraRace direction arrow stickers.  Due to my middling eyesight I was about to cross the road to see which way it pointed, but the guy behind me shouted out 'right turn here mate'.  I should have checked that arrow, because it must have been pointing straight on.  A mile or so after the wrong turn I was starting to worry as I hadn't seen any markers.  We got to a farm and worked out where we were.  The road we took backtracked away from Derby!  Disaster!  I had printed out a map of this section of the route and worked out how we could complete the square and get back on to route.  This little diversion added on about 2 miles and I reckon with the map reading about half an hour of my time.  Unlike when I was lost at the Croydon Ultra however I wasn't pissed off about it.  I'd worked out where I was and how to get back on to the route and was still on for my aim of sub 7 hours.  I think with Ultras sticking to the route is all part of event.

Back on route we met up with some other runners and I realised how much time I'd lost.  It was getting warm but the route markings were good and I eat (took?) my emergency gel and soon enough we were running through a council estate (quote of the day, a women leaning out of her window shouted "well done runners, you can do this f**king thing!), pass the ring road and then a sprint(ish) finish.  Then I collapsed!  It was a great feeling to finish, and after a bit of a sit and another can of coke I managed to walk to the car.

Whilst the detour was annoying, it was my own fault.  The race organisation was really good, Ultrarace are a smooth operation and I'll definitely do one of their events again.  The route was really good, with the exception of the road section, and the atmosphere was great- the right mix of friendly and competitive.

I was also really please with my running, pacing the first 30 miles in pretty much equal 10 mile splits, and didn't hit 'the wall' (more of a slow gradual reduction in pace!).

So that's that.  My first proper ultra completed.  What's next?  Not too sure.  May do Greensands Marathon in October and make it 3 Trionium races for the year.  I think that's the main plan- use my ultramarathon training and fitness to take on the Surrey hills.  The other option is to drop the distance and see how quick I can do a half?  Who knows.  For now I'm mainly resting and eating!  What ever, I don't think this will be my last Ultra...

Face Plant!

Went for my last run before the race today. Just 6 miles round Hyde Park on my lunch hour. It was all going well, feeling fine. I was 300 metres from the end of the run- just a small hop over the barrier (about half a foot high) between the path and the pavement in St James’ Park...

Caught my foot on it and face planted into the pavement. Luckily I used my chin to catch my fall! Even better I was wearing a white running shirt which meant I was pretty soon looking like an extra from Dawn of the Dead with blood spread across my shirt [as an aside only one person asked me if I was OK]. Most of the injuries were grazes but my chin had quite a lump taken out of it so I ended up in A&E for a clean-up and a stitch to hold it together.

You know what I was thinking most of the way through all this. Phew, no twisted ankle, don't think I've pulled a muscle, should be able to run- and my first question to the doctor once they'd finished patching me up; can I run on Sunday?

All being well, the peaks dream is still alive! Now then, where did I put my pride?

1 week till UltraRace Peaks

A relatively relaxed week, did some speed work on Tuesday (4x1 mile reps) and a relaxed 10k round Hyde Park on Thursday.  On Sunday, as I was up in Cheltenham visiting some friends, I managed to go for a really good hilly 10 mile run up on to Cleeve Hill which had about 1,400ft of height gain and loss.  The descent back in town was awesome, absolutely flying along through the brambles and stinging nettles!  It was the kind of run that reminds me why I like hitting the trails so much.

This week will be even more relaxed as I taper/don't run ahead of Sundays race. I think I might just get out for a 6 mile run on Wednesday and then that's it before Sunday; UltraRace Peaks 40 miles of fun from Cromford to Derby!  Not sure what kind of time I'll be aiming for, but my broad tactic is to run the first 20 miles at around 8:30 pace, walking any steep hills and then see how I feel for the second half.  Just got to hope I don't get lost or the wheels fall off too bad after mile 30...

Back to back drinking (and some running)

Whilst the last two weekends have sun back to back long training runs, this week was somewhat less focused on running, and more on beer.

Tuesday saw speed training with the club (14x200m) and Thursday a brisk 6.5miles round Hyde Park, but Friday was all about the Beer Festival...

Highlights this year included a very strongly flavoured Stout/Porter from the Spectrum brewery in Norfolk called 'Old Stoatwarbler' (6.0%), a surprisingly good ginger flavored beer- subtle rather than over the top -from Portsmouth (Bowmans's South Sea Spice (3.9%)).  My favourite was probably Dancing Duck's 'Gold' (4.7%) a hoppy IPA- influenced by the ultra hoppy IPAs of the States but still with the more British real ale taste.  Also had a half of Surrey Hill's Shere Drop, which was as always fantastic.

The next day saw more drinking meeting up with mates from Uni (mainly Tribute) and no running.

I did managed to get out today for a undulating 14 mile run and felt surprisingly strong and ran the whole thing pretty fast.  Feel absolutely rubbish now though!

2 weeks to go till my first proper ultra...