The challenges of summer 2013

Before I start, there is a Since Summer 2012... part 2 in the pipeline. I'm still working through mini reports on events in late 2012. But I just wanted to bring this up-to-date so I could spend more time on current events, without being put off writing by feeling obligated to interrogate my memory of things that happened over 6 months ago. So takes more time to write up and I don't have the luxury of the free time I once did....

...The main reason for this is the arrival of Isaac just over 6 months ago on Christmas day. It's

been quite an adventure so far and despite getting running in it doesn't have the priority or get the time allocation it did in previous years. Clare and I are very happy parents and I can't quite put into words how much joy he brings us..... so I'll stick to running talk.

I'll detail this further in another post, but for this year I entered all the marathons in the Hardmoors 26.2 trail series as I like running in the North York Moors, enjoy the atmosphere of the Hardmoors ultra's and they were handily spaced two months apart throughout year so I have rolling targets to keep me running.

The first of these was from Osmotherley and very hilly. I had an easy one with Mark and enjoyed the many undulations and reasonable February weather. I'd run a bit off-road in the winter and the wet conditions had done good work for my leg strength despite modest mileage. So I decided to do a few more long runs and enter my usual Spring target event the Hardmoors 55 in March.

The Hardmoors 55 was a very cold and windy event (more on this in another post), but I ran well on good training and ran under 11 hours. Over an hour faster than in previous years in easier conditions.

Come April and the Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones marathon I was primed to attack another tough course and gave it real effort from the start. I probably started a bit hard, but still ran an immensely satisfying 5:06 for the 27.25m course with a HUGE 6500ft of ascent and descent packed in.

So far so good then... then my Icarus moment. Last minute personal plans meant I couldn't run the Fellsman, which I felt well prepared for. So I agreed a substitute in late May with Clare (the boss) and Isaac (her boss). They thought I was mad - usually do - as this was the Hardmoors 110. The tough combo of the Hardmoors 55 on the hills of the North York Moors and then the extremely undulating coastline from Saltburn to Filey! I started the event, again running with Mark, at a modest pace.... but knee pain and general exhaustion finished me off at 70m.

What had gone wrong! I couldn't help but think my approach had been right, I'd done the 52m of this years snow-covered, super-chilled and windblasted Hardmoors 55 in less than 11 hours. I'd covered a similar distance this pleasent and relatively mild-to-warm night and morning in 14 hours. With extra training, that seemed like a modest enough pace for me to still have the energy and leg condition to get further.... but I'd been struggling since well before the 70m withdrawal.

So what next?

I still don't have an answer as to what went wrong exactly. I guess even though I was running slower in the 110 than the 55, I was still out on my feet along time, which could be the issue. It's prossible I'm a better marathon-to-double-marathon distance trail runner than before on the training I've done, but I'd not done enough to pull off the extra distance.

Regardless, the sensible answer to "what next" seemed to be to play to my strengths for now and perhaps revisit the extreme 3-figure mileage distances at a a future time when I could devote more miles to training (some don't need mielage in training for confidence, I obviously do).

I've not completed a 100m+ event since my first in 2010, it struck me that perhaps my motivations for running 100m aren't that strong anymore and having done one I'm not prepared to "dig in" when the going gets very tough and subject myself to hours of slow and pained progress.

But, in events less than 100m I only have one DNF - which came in the masochistically tough, 70m, TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie), where time on feet was equal to many 100 milers. I've knocked out quite a few 50-70 milers over the last few years, not without some distress at times, but overall I've finished these and enjoyed doing so.

So the obvious answer seems to be to concentrate on what I can do well now and try and do it better. I still like the challenge of a hilly trail route the most and a "fresh" challenge is what is needed. So I have entered the first 100km Ultimate Trails Ultra Marathon Race in the central Lake District. Where I've enjoyed many a happy hour/day running the fell and trail in the past.

Sounds ideal, but those who know me know that I don't just want to get around. With several months to prep my target is a real improvement on my 2012 trail run efforts - the most equivelentLakeland 50, which I completed in under 11 hours (and was probably my best run last year all things considered). And I'll have to be cleverer about getting more out of training in less available time too, or the bosses won't be happy!

Since summer 2012.... part 1

Following the biggee in the Alps I didn't stop. So here's a whistlestop tour of late summer 2012 to now.

10k PB attempt and relays

Once I felt somewhat recovered from the TDS. And for something a bit different from really long runs and hills off-road. I had a midweek run in the clubs 10k Championships down at the Costello track. It was long a go an ambition of mine to break 40mins (ever since I broke 45), but I somehow lost interest in fast road runs when the lure of long and varied trails tempted me away from urban place. I often dabbled once a year and in the previous year had got to within 11 seconds, off training more specific to ultra-trail challenges - that had suprised me a bit, my previous PB was 41:24.

A track seemed a great place to dispel the 40-minute demons, I could simply count off the laps at specific pace and the lack of anything like a hill would be to my advantage. It's a very strange experiance running 25 laps of a track. I was lapped 3 times by the fastest guy and I lapped the slowest runner 3 times. And it got dark and finished in floodlights whilst I was out. I set out at a pace just under 40min pace and held it despite the laps seemingly taking forever to countdown. I got quite confused about 5k in as didn't realise the lap change board was being modified for the leader who was gaining laps on me at intervals. But I had enough time per lap to roughly calculate what time I should finish next lap in.

But I got my PB and first sub-40 - 39:26. Happy with that, but somewhat of an anti-climax when all's said and done. For years I was slightly obsessed with getting down to a sub-40 10k and couldn't do it - couldn't get within a minute of. But since I took up the longer, slower, softer but bumpier stuff when I have been in form and done a 10k its given me a PB just outside 40 and then this today. Funny what happens when your not really that bothered any more.

The weekend following I ran an even shorter distance and even faster pace at the northen six stage relays at Leigh Sports Village. Being the penultimate man up in City of Hull AC's 'B' team I had chance for a pleasent 6m or so warm-up around a local lake - possibly the longest warm up of any competitor that day? I kept topped up on liquids and energy as it was a rare warm day that summer. The start of my lap took me around the AC's track and down the back of the football/rugby stadium, I was overtaken quickly and couldn't keep up with at least two people who started near to me. I soon realised I was actually trying to run too fast, sucked into others pace. The lap went on and eventually I restored my self confidence by overtaking somebody as the track went OAB on a muddy woodland trail before coming back to the sports village to start lap 2. Though you never know in these frenetic events if those you're overtaking are actually on the same "man" as you, so you are gaining a place, or a man ahead or behind. I believe the leading 2 or 3 teams passed me on their 2nd laps and finished their event during my first lap?!

Lap 2 was a case of "keep on keeping on" and I didn't shed too much pace. I felt pretty sluggish running around the track again to finish in a fast for me 23:16 - for 3.75m - but comparatively pedestrian to many ther that day. Still I was the 2nd fastest in my team and helped us to a, not last place (so achieveing our ambition), finish of 78th of 87 complete teams and I was 478th fastest of 616 runners that day.

Hardmoors 60 - 63m - 8750' asc 9000' desc

I wasn't sure I'd make the startline for this one, but having done the Hardmoors 55 3-years running and ran some of the route with Mark Dalton when he did the 110 (gulp!), I fancied tackling the other half of the Cleveland way along Yorkshires fantastically varied coastline.

A very early start after a late night - prep left till last minute not good! - to the race finish at Filey to be coach bound for the start at Guisborough. I relaxed once on the coach and after enjoying some of the fantstic moors scenery as the sun rose I driften off into a brief sleep.

Start was a bit delayed from Guisborough Sea Cadets as the queue for the toilets just wouldn't go down quickly (glad I got in fairly early). Hint to all ultra runners: When you get off transfer coach, always kitcheck, register straight away... why... so I can get to the toilet before the queue gets big ;) (works every time). From the gun it was off to climb a muddy track through Guisborough Woods to Highcliffe Nab (yes this is a Jon Steele event so there is always an OAB to a high ground CP) and then coastward bound.

The route undulated before diving to the coast, I was already feeling a hit wooden-legged by the Saltburn CP, not good especially combined with the recent spectre of the DNF from the TDS eating away at me. I took what I needed from drop bag 1 and was forced to slow down by an ascent to run along high clifftops out of town.

Must be the training, but the revelation from here on was that my mindstate and aches in first half had me doubting I'd finish, especially coming off back of TDS DNF. But then, from 35m or so I just felt better and better - even though was slowing marginally - until Scarborough. By which time I knew I'd cracked it.

Passed a good few in second half and only one seemed to come back at me in a few places (4m from end - thought I'd lost him, but caught up again a good fifteen minutes later when I briefly stopped to take a picture, then 2.5m from end when I slowed to make sure I wasn't going the wrong way into Filey). In fact in final road/hard surface miles through and around Filey I was convinced when I looked back I could see their light several times, at about 2m, 1.5m, even as late at .5m from the end. But now I see the results, can't have been as nearest competition was 9 minutes back at the end. Kept me pushing though! Not quite sure why, but legs more mush than normal over a long trail event - must be all the steps into and out of ravines every few miles.

First 50+ ultra run using Chia Charge drinks (alongside traditional energy drinks), not sure if benefitted me as pretty much ran the pace I thought I could based on Lakeland 50. Maybe did though as not necessarily sure I'm in quite as good condition as was pre-lakes, three tough events, ran hard, since then and was on the verge of a cold at start of week. Legs felt a bit achey inside ten miles so I was just managing my effort and nutrition regularly from there, sure if I'd dipped too far into the energy bank I would have crashed at some point. So a success all in all!

Big, Mean, Moody Alps

Preface

I started writing this a long time ago in August 2012, but along the way couldn't find the time or motivation to complete this. Lots has happened since then to distract me. In running I've completed the Hardmoors 60 and the Round Rotherham 50, both of which I'll write briefly about soon I hope. I'm very happ to have completed both of these and have proved something to myself and think I can say at hardmoors especially I'm a better long distance runner than I've ever been. Outside of running I've moved out of my house and in with Clare, rented out my house and helped tidy and decorate Clares in anticipation of the arrival of my first son, Isaac. I've been busy since his arrival too, we both have, anybody who says it easy must be lieing (although I know nobody who says this).

Then today I felt the need to revisit this blog to write about new plans, but with this report half-written I had to complete it. I hope the gap hasn't ruined the reading, but I feel with much time passed since then I can reflect more factually without raw emotion infulencing the story. Though many of those who read this will know the outcome, I hope you find the detail interesting.

A long time ago in a valley quite far away

After my very satisfactory round at Lakeland 50 the main big challenge of my year was a month later in the TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie). The link provides much detail about what makes this event such a challenge - around 70 miles, but each mile providing enough ascent and descent to average about 330 feet-per-miles up and down. This stat alone and the prospect of climbs well to over 8000 feet above sea-level and the longest ascent and descent being over 5000 feet near continuous each is a big sell for those wanting a real challenge. But, the video of last years event is what really sold it, from the lunar-esque look of the top of the steep initial climb of the route, Col de la Youlaz, to the pathway cut into the side of seemingly a sheer cliff face sometime later on - filmed by helicopter on a hot alpine day.

In between I had tackled the, always challenging, Long Tour of Bradwell. Which often features in my calender, its collection of climbs in the first half being something like nectar to my climbing legs and to keep going over undulating trails for the whole distance thereafter is never easy (or hasn't been so far). LTOB's first half difficulty bias and the warm temperatures of the day made the second half tough going, but despite struggling to run much of the undulating last third I finished with a satisfactory descent and a run the length iof Bradwell to the line - in a good PB (course) time.

As per my 2011 UTMB (the 100 mile "headline" event in the same series as the TDS) attempt my stop in the Chamonix valley was once again to be a holiday around the trail run. This time, Clare and I, would be stopping at a Hotel in Argentiere - a village near Chamonix. Partly as the lovely little "Mazot" I stayed at with Mark and his family last year had been booked by time I cam to look for this years event, but mainly as a hotel seemed a better option for the time I wouldn't be there with Clare being 22 weeks pregnant.

TDS - 2 days

We arrived the Tuesday, two days before event day in the early evening at the Hotel Les Grande Montets, a very cosy and comfortable skiiers hotel near the piste area it took its name from. A comfortable room with a Mont Blanc view lived up to expectations and some good food the first night ended a longs days travel.

I had a minor panic the next day - only after making the trip to Chamonix to get kit checked did I realise I'd forgotten to put my 2 x empty 500ml bottles and my buff in the pack (to meet the minimum 1L water reservoir requirement and cap/bandana requirement of the kit list). I queueud up, half expecting to fail and have to bus back to the hotel and back here again later. But after some conversation in a language I barely know (French - btw) I convinced them I did have water bottles, just not here... the cap/bandana was overlooked. Relieved and the formalities of kit check, registration, number collection done - Clare and I enjoyed a healthy sandwich and salad in a street cafe in a warming sun and then looked around Chamonix for awhile.

On the night we headed out into quiet Argentiere for a meal and found a bar owned by an ex-pat. I filled up on carbs and just the one cheeky beer and we had a nice relaxed evening.

TDS starting day - sometime before 3am

I think it was this time anyway, those memories are gone or locked away in a dark corner of my mind. Anyway I was up with the usual 'too early in the morning sore eyes' and popped down to see what was on in the special early breakfast the hotel had put on (v.impressed they did this for such an early start time). Pretty good - juice, milk cereals, bread, nearly everything the normal breakfast offered. Although I took my own weetabix down to be double-sure I got the breakfast I'm comfortable with before a long run.

I was then back uup to Clare to pick up my bag, final checks and say goodbye to Clare - I hated to be leaving her, more than usual, but would no doubt never forgive myself for not starting now I was this close. Then I was into my taxi and away to Chamonix.

After queueing for a short time in the dark with lots of unfamiliar language around me I felt very nervous and was glad when I could get on the bus and try and enjoy the journey through the Mt-Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur.

All the busses droppped somewhere in Courmayeur, but with the start not visiblt I just followed the majority of the crowds to soon find the starting area being setup and what I can only guess was a sports centre where I found a bit of bench to get changed on. Despite having over an hour to the 7am start, after the loo queue, getting out of warm gear and bagging, checking running kit and bag I wasn't particularly happy when I was picked out for a random kit-check and had to mostly unpack my bag again!!??

Notwithstanding this, I got out to the starting area, forced out a final pee (not in the starting area) and dumped my return to Chamonix bag of warm gear all in plenty of time to have nearly ten minutes of standing around nervously amongst a restless crowd - cho mping down a double decker. If the crowds of runners hadn't woken unfortunate locals the man on the tannoy made sure until the Vangelis music kicked in and a helicopter appeared hovering above the field - capturing what I reckon might turn out to be some of the only helicopter-filmed footage of the 2012 event.

If your wondering why I made the footage comment it's probably best I fill you in that it had rained quite a bit overnight and the forecast was for more and generally cold conditions - which are very likely to be exascerbated in the mountains in my experiance.

I got a tad emotional at the off, not sure why, often seems to happen at the really long events, maybe I didn't know quite how to feel about what I was about to do now I was here having put so much time into training and other preperation. But once the tannoy countdown came to 0 it was about business and I started a slow jog, walk, as nearly 1500 competitors moved off as one along the narrow streets of Courmayeur.

Considering the time of day and how residents might react to being woken up by all the noise of the event, the support on a loop in the town was fantastic! Really special and it wouldn't be the last time today I thought this about a place on route. As we approached the end of town hundreds stopped to removed jackets on the first uphill as the humidity combined with gear-carrying generated heat warmed everybodty up quickly as we started climbing - from 4000ft above sea-level - out of town.

Out of town and the snake of competitors formed heading up a switchback, hard-packed earth path which passed cablecar/chairlift paraphernalia as we made our way up the now constant ascent to CP1. I weaved in and out of the 95% of competitors utilising "sticks", which is far more common on the continent than in long uk events. I'm sure they help to preserve some energy and maybe reduce some impact damage whilst, descending, but with so many people together at this point they just seemed to be restrictive of movement at this stage and a bit of a pain to those without to work around.

At CP1 I grabbed some honey on toast (yum) and pushed on wanting to try and work through to thinner crowds nearer the front of the fields as much as possible. It was onwards and upwards from here and onto single-track path for large sections. We also hit the cloud line and near everyone stopped to don waterproof jackets as rain kicked in combined with more of a cold wind. The climb flattened out a bit nearing 1m to the CP, but I knew the Col de la Youlaz was still way above and was just waiting for the turn off to the steep other-worldly looking climb.

When the climb came it was pretty frustrating too, the path was single track and quickly steepend so that there was no option but to follow those in front. The reality here was somewaht different to my expectation and served up the first taste of my major disappointment with the event. The line of climbers was pretty much at standstill and extremely slow moving until nearly the top, those who tried to go off-piste quicky found the climb off path too loose, slippery and steep. Even the path was slightly disconcerting and it looked like the weat weather + hundreds of runners was turning it to mush. The guy in front of me was a slightly larger build than myself and I often noticed his footfalls moving the earth beneath! I think it was the mountain trail equivalent of motorway gridlock (at over 8000ft).

It was probably no bad thing to be steadied a bit early on as my tendency is to start hilly ultra's too fast, never quite confident I'll maintain a good pace so taking advantage early (which always kills me in the aforementioned LTOB). And I reached the top at 8730ft feeling ready for a nice stretch out downhill. After a muddy, slippery start on grassy tracks the path levelled a bit and I passed a few people and started to take time back on the bank. I seemed to be having less trouble slipping on the greasy surface than most around and then we hit switchbacks of stone and then tarmac road descent allowing me to get down to near La Thuile feeling much happier with my pace to this point.

The descent leveled as we hit a single track path snaking along a hillside which brough us into town. Even though back down at ~4700ft the rain and cloud still shrowded the town on this grey day. We'd only had the briefest glimpses of stunning mountainside views on the descent and I really hoped for more later.

The support was great through the town, as per the Tour de France I'd been watching on TV a month earlier the French locals really got out there and made a big effort and noise supporting everyone - quite humbling really as it feels somewhat undeserved being cheered on and celebrated for doing something quite selfish really.

Into the CP and another experiance of "overcrowding", I figured it was just a matter of time before the field thinned out a bit so I spent minimal time here. Just topping up my liquids, grabbing a bit of cheese, biscuits and such-like and getting back on the run. Even though the CP had been inside I certainly felt the cool as I got back out and got running again to warm-up as soon as possible.

The next section was a meandering longer climb, which dipped up and down and flattened out, but overall up and sometimes hand on knee's so. I made good progress, running wherever I could and passing good numbers. But the weather seemed to cool and the rain and wind strengthened again and by time I arrived at a marquee at Col Petit St-Bernard (7178ft) I was really quite cold and the legs were starting to feel the effort of of over 7620ft ascent, 4450ft descent over just 20 miles.

On leaving the CP refuelled (nice, salty, noodle soup) I made haste to descend and try and find a land beneath the clouds and rain, assuming it wasn't like this everwhere in the region. Maybe the leaving of Italy into France would herald better weather? The next major CP would be the lowest altitude on route (2667ft) so this was going to be a big descent and as I kept on running down, trying to maintain the right pace to balance the gravitational advantage against the impact damages to my body, I was reminded once again that its the descents that really hurt the long distance runner.

Near the bottom of the descent I was in a bit of a lull as I started to get passed by more than I was passing and though the air was clear of cloud the first major landmark we ran past as things levelled out was a large electricty sub-station! Through a flat parkland section approaching Bourg St-Maurice I gave in to the urge to walk a flat section for the first time.

Running through the town offered the usual crowd boost and in the CP I took more time than at previous stops to refuel and eat a bit more. I was struggling a bit though, I was getting on well enough with my energy drinks and the local fare of cheeses and cured meats is a welcome feature of this race series (and other continental ultra-trails I believe). But otherwise I was struggling to find a carb source that agreed with me, the cereal/chocolate or protein-type bars varied from ok to pretty awful so I probably wasn't eating as many carbs as I should have been.

As is often the case though, the downs are balanced out by ups if you can see them out. And as I walked slowly out of town I was able to enjoy running in just a t-shirt for only the second time since the short stint out of Courmayeur. The rain had stopped near the bottom of the last descent and it was the warmest it had been all day in the mid-afternoon.

The effort of the climb warmed me up a treat too, the steep climb from town went on seemingly forever negotiating switchbacks on a stoney track. After a while I found some energy and rythme and went from not quite holding my own to passing more than my fair share on the way up to Fort de la Platte. I wondered what Fort de la Platte would be on the way up, some grand barons castle overseeing the town maybe? A fort it may have been, but it also now seemed to be a farm, with goats gathered up behind a string fence against a wall and a french farmer lady chatting about god knows what to runners filling up the bottles from the water tap above the trough. Anyway, "google it" for some better views then we got on our return to cloud level.

For a few minutes it seemed a return to cloud and rain was on the card, but we soon seemed to pass through this. First the visibility around improved and then the cloud above cleared to reveal what had been a somewhat reticent sun. Things were going our way and I even took the chance to remove my wet waterproof smock from my bag to han it loosely around my neck cape-like to dry it on the run.

The next section was typical of the undulations that became common in sections from here on, often quite rocky and filling the gaps between big hills with smaller ascents and descents, just to keep us on the ball. All was well again, but then came the climb of Passeur Pralognan. turns out that it has a "sunny side" and I can only describe the other side as the damn awful side. The rain actually started again and the absent wind reappeared as we approached the top (8420ft). On being scanned at the CP on top (no food here, just very cold, hardy people) it was into the breach. The wind and rain bashing into a steep, rocky, slippery climb down, cooling me within minutes even with the benefit of my smock on. Part of me just wanted to get down quickly to better ground where I could run to warm-up and get into the next indoor CP.

But a quick escape wasn't to be and I didn't want to stop to put more gear on during a descent where it was pretty much single-file so I'd be inconveniencving others. As the footing got better and the descent levelled out I burst passed a few people and got running. In my haste I even overcooked a turn on a muddy path and fell off the path, wasting precious energy grabbing foliage to stop from rolling down a small bank and of course now carting around excess mud on my gear!

Onto a flat trail road section and the rain kept coming, with energy levels lulling I ran / marched to the next CP and the hope of welcome warmth an the opportunity to gear-up. After a few km where I barely managed to warm-up at all despite good pace, as I was now so wet and tired I finally got to the CP marquee at Cormet de Roselend. The rain was really coming down now and did so heavily- if anything worsening - for the next 30mins. The drilling of the rain against marquee canvas was ominous and a slightly insidious torture!

The same could be said of CP conditions inside. 497 people retired or were timed out by cut-off here. Admittedly they weren't all here waiting for the bus down in the marquee now (we were at nearly 2000m still - but there is a road up to here and coaches parked outside taking people back to calmer conditions lower down), some will have already been removed and no doubt many were still out getting a soaking on the course. But the marquee was overly full, which made for a very frustrating experiance for me. CP staff and hundreds of tired people inside, myself included, I pushed and weaved through the throngs to get some warming soup and a few snack bars. Now came the difficult part, trying to find an area to set down, unpack bag, undress wet gear, dress in warm gear. Standing room only would have been nice, with soup in hand I couldn't find a place to put down and nowhere to unload bag quickly - all the while being bashed into by others trying to find setting down space. Beacause of this delay changing I'm still shivering and even when I do finally grab a corner of a bench and change the shivers don't stop, not good!

The waterproof top and soaked t-shirt comes off and on goes two upper-base layers, ronhill leggings, the waterpoof back on over the top, gloves and hat at the ready. I know walk around and get some more food and soup to try and warm-up, if I don't soon I'll be retiring. Outside it is now dark and feels cold although the rain has reduced. I'm now much better layered to handle the conditions, but still cold inside, which is a bad sign after having been inside the marquee for nearly 40minutes already. I push back through the marquee to the other side and ask about retiring as I'm still shivering. I go back inside and when I'm just about to pull-the-plug the shivers stop. Despite the temptation of getting out of this crazy place and back to my warm hotel as soon as possible I've done so much to get here I just can't quit yet. I get the headtorch on and head on out into the blackness.

I make slow progress onto saturated ground, which plateaus then rises, steadily at first, before heading onto steep switchbacks up over 1000ft to the the top of Col de la Sauce. My progress up here set the pattern for climbs in the miles leading to the next indoor CP, I think I burned a lot of energy getting rewarmed at Cormet and whilst trying to do other things ddn't take down enough or the right type of calories. And progress on any climbs was now increasingly stop-start and on the ascents I was being overtaken at a discouraging rate. Reaching the top wasn't memorable but the long dsecent to the next food CP my mood lifted somewhat as gravity assisted me a bit. Though I was still clumsy and struglling on the twisty, often narrow, mud strewn-with-rock paths to be efficient.

This section did have a few highlights though, I picked up a few places and headed into a wet valley and was all of a sudden running across snow. I look around and realise I'm crossing what appears to be the bottom of a glacier. Though tired I appreciated this was not an every day occurance and mentally-noted the highlight. The spectacular keeps coming as I head onto a rocky path cut into the side of a cliff known as Passage du Cure. I remember seeing this on the DVD of the 2011 event and on UTMB website front-page, couldn't wait to be running it and seeing the views. Unfortunately, no views its dark and the air is thick. The rockiness of the path also jarrs my frame, but its good progress downhill. Then into a foliage packed, twisty descent on mud, its hard to move fast here in the combo of dark, poor visibilty as the moisture in the air compromises the effectiveness of my headtorch and mud on contouring ground that barely lets you stand. Glad to get that last section over I breakout onto muddy plateau as the rains starts before I reach the La Gitte CP.

It's only a minor CP here so I grab what food I can and head into a barn to get out of the rain and add another layer, waterproof bottoms, as my leggings are starting to saturate. It's a big climb again now and I have no particular memory of it other than being in "grind it out mode" to climb the 2100+ ft in 4km of the next climb. Lots of stop for breath breaks and I recall even when on the flats on top I'm strugling to run on the muddy, rocky paths. Although after the CP on top its quite a long way downhill to the next indoor CP, its a seemingly neverending 7km still and there is a climb along the way adding up to about another 800ft (a drop in the ocean and an easy stage in TDS terms, but a real killer this far in). I'm losing places like a holey bucket loses water on thesr climbs. I can barely go 100ft uphill without being completly out of breath, I'm pretty shot and the thought has been reoccuring for awhile that I'm probably going to call it a night at the next CP.

But even getting to the next CP is work. I don't really appreciate what is probably a fantastic path on fresh legs, which climbs and skirts around a ridge and then drops steadily downwards on what is a very narrow and probably exciting path to run on in light, between rock face on one side and long drop on the other. I get going again a bit downhill, but I'm starting to fall asleep on the move - not good - which adds to my bodily tiredness difficulties, especially when I fall again and start to worry about the possibility of falling somewhere really bad in my exhausted state.

I wasn't able to fully appreciate the Col Du Joly CP, but it "had bags of" what  makes the UTMB events special. Even before the last mini-ascent to drop down to the CP, in fact from km away you can see lights and hear loud music from the marquee. Is that a CP or some adhoc rave going on? But when I arrived I decided I'd try and sleep off some of the tiredness before deciding whether to keep on. I set down for 30mins in my gear and somebody covers me up with a few sheets. I manage disturbed sleep, but wake up not feeling any better about going on, tired and with very cold feet. With the benefit of hindsight I probably should have stripped down my outer layers and taken my shoes off to get snug and I might have slept better.

I then make the descion to call it a day, satisfied to have done enough and to have survived the attrition of (I learn later nearly a third of the field at) Cormet de Roselend and made it this bit further. But at the time I didn't feel safe or have the energy and desire to go on. The next section was nearly 800m of descent and hardly any descent, I could just coast down? But no, at that moment I couldn't go on, I'd given as much as I could for now and didn't want to go into a danger zone.

As it happened I ended up at the next major CP at Les Contamines anyway. After an hour or so of snacking from the supplies in the Col Du Joly marquee and being wrapped in a blanket much of the time, I and a few others, were picked up by a 'saintly' guy from Mountain Dropoffs who were assisting with transportation during this event, who dropped us off at the lower level CP. On the road down (which was less a road and more a rough track for the first few hundred metres) not one, but two badgers ran out into the road and the 4wd chased them downhill as they stayed on the road 30 seconds before returning to the wilds. I'm not even sure I've seen one Badger before, so this seemed notable :)

At Les Contamines I snacked further as I watched infrequent runners pass through as I waited for a bus back to Chamonix. It oocured to me that even with all this waiting around at CP for transport i probably wouldn't have made it to this CP even by the time I left it on the bus back to Chamonix.

Over the next few days I slept quite a lot, but still got out with Clare to enjoy the sights, good eating and shops of the area. also seeing the UTMB off and back. Due to the weather the UTMB route was changed to stick to the Chamonix valley, below 2000m and reduced to about 100k so we got to see competitors run within earshot of our Argentiere hotel on the return to the finish.

I hated that I hadn't completed the TDS, but learning about the near 1/3 of the field dropping out or missing the cut-off time at Cormet de Roselend and that only 47% of starters finishing I didn't feel so bad and had learned some valuable lessons about how I could kit myself out better for future bad weather during events. I often thought over the following weeks and months that I should have perisisted on to Les Contamines at least. As with that descent done I may have regrouped for the one remaning big ascent and descent, bouyed on by daylight! But at the time I felt in such a way that I couldn't do this, so have to remind myself that I may be forgetting exactly how I felt at the time - much like the "never again" statement of a 1st time marathoner, who often goes on to do more...

And with 50m of the roughly 70m of this monster event covered this time, I'd like to come back for another go in the future. Despite the UTMB being the headline event, with its three figure distance and another event I've tried and failed at, I actually would like more to come back and tame the lesser known, lower key and more "roughly shod" TDS more. Not in 2013 though, young Isaac will keep me too busy, but in 2014, 2015, or 2016 never say never, I don't like to be beaten by anything.

A perfect day in the Lakes

So here I am, getting off the bus on the lawns of the Dalemain estate in the Western Lake district, surrounded by 500+ people all with a similar goal of tackling a tough 50 mile trail route from here to Coniston. Not for the feint of heart, this route climbs as high as 2200" and is basically series of Lakeland passes linked together mustering nearly 10000ft of ascent and even more descent - the ascent may sound tough and tire you and take your breath away, BUT its the descent that will wreck your legs everytime! And the paths, mostly, aren't your friendy tarmac or even nice compacted trail or grass, but damp muddy moorland, rutted rock and - worst of all - the "erosion control" paths. This latter type of path seems to have been created by dumping boulders, smashing them up and scattering them all over the path. This creates a carpet of fairly large stones so every footstep is a workout for the plantar fascia and ankle, especially downhill (as many of these paths are).

In a tent nearby an even more determined bunch are being patched up and refuelled along their way to a 100 mile version of this trail race, having already completed - what maybe an even tougher and slightly hillier per mile - 59 miles. I say hello to Jon who is just set to continue his quest along the 100. He say's he's feeling the amount of miles he's run this year (more than an ultra-marathon nearly every weeked towards his target of 50 for the year), but is still going and I know he won't give up, he just isn't sure of the way out of the grounds to continue the route (something which may be obvious to those around who haven't already covered the miles... overnight to boot).

I was here a year ago almost to the day, when my second attempt at the 100 finished at Dalemain in exhuasted failure. I was also here a year before that when foolishly I persisted and completed my first and only 100 mile trail to date - with the standard issue battered and sliced feet, pulverised legs, fuzzy head (from two nights of no sleep) BUT an enormous sense of self achievement.

Though only the shorter option this time - this is the first of two big summer challenges that my running year hangs around and will hopefully be defined by. My best training ever will I'm hoping lead to what I consider a fast completion. I'm hoping long and short runs in the Wolds a few times per week stitching together usually six to a dozen (occasionally more) hill climbs to form runs with 150ft of ascent and descent per mile to try an emulate the effect of running bigger hills in Lakeland. You may think the wolds aren't that challenging to run and walk, if so try half a dozen Mt Airey reps (alternating run and fast walk up) and then for good measure a few ascents and descents direct up the much steeper banks of Brantingham dale near the layby (especially tough when wet as it often has been this summer).

As I filter into the starting area it's the thought of these tough, but enjoyable training days that will hopefully keep my resolve from breaking over the next dozen or so hours. I'm confident in my preperation  so much so I have set myself an 'A' target of 11:40, B' of 12:30, 'C' of 13:20. Then just after 12 midday and were off. A ludicrous number of people to be attempting a 50m trail challenge surround me, I'm far more used to lone runs or LDWA challenges around the north with usually less than 100 runners, sometimes maybe not 10. I'm hoping they don't know something I don't as my first mile, a slight climb around the grounds of the estate, feels uncomfortable and hard work and half the field seem to pass me. It's not a warm day, drizzling on and off, but I decide to risk taking off my windproof top and hope a t-shirt and my efforts will keep me warm for awhile.

I take a few places back as I hit a few downhills which lead to the exit of the grounds and a few easy opening miles alongside a river to the village of Pooley Bridge. Through the settlement, onto tarmac and I seem to have found my place in the field as I naturally match those around me for pace. And here comes the first hill....

Most people immeadiately slow to a walk on the first shallow slope up the narrow road. I could afford to myself, usually if your running and others a round aren't, your in the wrong. But I place trust in my training sessions where I almost saw a mile without a hill as wasted and drop down to a low gear to run marginally faster than those walking, but at what feels fairly easy effort. I follow a run/walk pattern up this hill as the tarmac turns to stoney track - after initially feeling  like the "black sheep" some others seem to be, reassuringly, doing likewise now. All feels good barring a stabbing pain in my left second toe I've felt on an off from near the start.

Onto the moor and we intersect and join a south-west bound track. The uphill is no mostly slight so I take advantage of this to stretch my legs and try to figure out if I've got a toenail digging in. Stretching and splaying my foot out in my shoe so the toes touch the top of the toe-box seems to bring on the jabbing more - so maybe this is not a toenail. I've made good pace so far so decide to stop and whip off my shoe and sock. I soon see the culprit, a razor sharp piece of undergrowth has come right through my shoe and is sticking out of my toe like a pin! I whip it out and get the shoe back on, congratulating myself inwardly for performing the shoe-off-on operation quickly. The pain in my toe quickly disappears.

The track heads gradually intersects the lake, offering an unudlating, sometimes slightly stoney, but overall runnable downhill section. This seems like a section where the biggest danger may be to go too fast and waste energy early on. Others may be less concerned as a few really hammer pass me, esepcially on downhill bits where I don't tend to slouch. It's drizzling and there is a slight wind now, so I prepare myself to re-don the windproof at any time. The people I pass are mostly 100 milers, no doubt superfit people, but definately a lot steadier than me with over 60 miles in their legs. The other visible difference between 50 and 100 milers right now is that they without exception seem to be in water or windproof tops already - their internal heating probably a bit compromised by their efforts so far.

I'm soon descending into Howtown and their is the usual melee in the CP, with 50'ers dashing about and 100'ers keeping well out the way - often inside. Amongst the latter, I think, is Jon (who I saw leaving Dalemain prior to my start) as I don't recall passing him, but do before the next CP. I keep to my scientific eating plan here grabbing the things I listed from this CP, based on a plan I knocked up based on the organisers - much appreciated - CP menu notes. Going well, this section was much quicker than even my plan 'A' pace! 74th of 482.

Sunny moments at Haweswater

I walk away down the tarmac track pulling my windproof on as the drizzle continues with the odd blast of actual rain. People are rushing around rather a lot here and a few pass me, but I repass most of these people soon enough. Through, boggy, Fusedale before a climb wth a false summit to the highest bit on route at about 2200ft and over a 1000ft of climb from the lake. I slow down to take it easier on the way up as I encounter Mark and Simon on there 100 attempt and slow for a few minutes chat. It's been wet and Simon had a bad reaction to the organiser provided kinetica sports products, but apart from that they appear to be going strong. On top the route plateaus a bit and makes for a nice grassy run until Haweswater comes in to view and I'm trying to pick the best way down (there are several turns too early or late). I'm still fairly closely surrounded by others, who confirm my route choice.



Mardale Head bound

 Down to the lake the ascent is fairly fast in places and technical in others and I'm not going great downhill, even slipping on a dry rock. As I pick up the rocky and undulating trail around the lake I realise I'm actually suffering a bit for the fastish start and section before the descent. I keep going, stubbornly trying to keep close to a guy in front who has the legs on me, probably losing as many places as gaining for the next few miles winding around the lake, up and down small climbs as the path clings to the hills alongside Haweswater. It's also warmed up as the sun is out so the acket is back in the bag. I soon do the sensible thing and decide not to run all the mini ascents on this section.

This works out ok as I still get to Mardale Head CP in good time and take a sightly bigger feed than at the last CP to replenish - following the tough 9.5m and hilliest section on route from Howtown. I've maintained the advantage over my 'A' plan I carved out on the first leg - 75th of 478 - which buoys me as I walk and jog to the foot of Gatesgarth Pass.


Gatesgarth Pass

 It may seem strange, but I quite relish the climbs on this route. This one, like many, long and steep enough, as it zig-zags up to the pass, to make a good "march" the best option up here and save m running fr the long descent to follow. Much like my previous experiance here in 2010, the weather turns whilst going up,wind building and enough drizzle to make me reach for the windproof. I chat with others heading up, including to one guy about the HOKA's he's wearing. Unlike many in them he doesn't seem over the moon about their qualities and has been slipping a biton the wet grass.

I get to the top in good shape and break almost straight back into a run. I know from 2010 the descent here isn't too steep, but is very stoney. So I concentrate on trying to land my feet lightly and my legs and roclites oblige, taking e down quite gracefuly and without a bashing for my underfeet or toes. I pass a few people down here and nobody in the aforementioned, super-cushioned HOKAs appears to be cruising past me.

I feel good, but I've learned by now that long downhills aren't a free ride as I tackle the final undulations to the Kentmere institute CP, which is usually the culinary highlight of the route. The hospitality is great here and I get sat down and provided drinks, my bottles filled and some pasta. It'stemting to stay awhile here, but I push on. I'm over halfway and have tackled the marginally hillier half and am still about 30mins upon plan 'A' so want to push on with my advantage (up 5 places to 70th of 471).

The route again obliges with a big climb almost straight from the CP so I have to walk and digest my dinner. This is Garburn pass and from the top I recall this is one of the better surfaced long descents for me to push down and maintain my good pace. The field of nearly 500 50'ers and half as many 100'ers is pretty spaced out now and I don't see anybody on the climb or descent until Troutbeck, when I manage a good paced march past some strong looking 100'ers up the small hill from river to village.

Through the village and back onto a climbing track, contouring around the hillside towards Ambleside. I catch a couple of 50'ers as I slowly run bits of the climb, one of them I have ran a few sections with earlier already and figure he's a good standard of progress so - intending no offence - try and run away from him in the woods down to Ambleside.

After some fun woodland descending I hit Ambleside early evening to the support of many an in-the-know local as I run through the streets and many race supporters near to and outside of the next CP at Lakes Runner. In 2010 I was here a good few hours later and support was thinner on the ground and possibly more intoxicated in the streets at least. Today I was well looked after again, bottles filled, eat and drink served to me, but got moving again quickly as wanted to get the next section - the flattest on route - out of the way quickly (was down 4 places here, 74th of 464).

Not to say this section is flat though, still 768ft ascent and 699ft descent in 5 miles. Through the park out of Ambleside and I'm onto the climb up the steep road, then track, before a short section of open moorland and a descent off the other side. Then there is a section of road and 1.5m of parkland on a super-flat hard-packed path alongside the river.

There is another short climb after Elterwater and then I make a small nav error in the woods trying to locate a foot bridge crossing the river. Although its a very runnable and fast section I've lost more time on my plan, though still up on my 'A' target, I'd started to believe I coould go sub-11 hours for this run. To make this second "low" of the run a bit worse a whole group of people catch me and some pass near the end of the leg before the CP (I didn't keep track of places lost or gained here, but was down to 76th of 454).

The Langdale CP has built a reputation as an Oasis of Calm, offering music, armchairs to rest on and a good food selection. Even a move from a permanent property to a marquee further outside the village hadn't done much to alter this. As my mind plundered the negatives of my low - if I've lost time on that section, it'll only get worse on this and it'll be dark soon, this section broke you during the 100 in 20120..... I tried not to be innactive and got myself ready for another section. Out the door fairly quickly, not as quick as others and not dwelling in the calming atmosphere as long as others.

Onto the muddy and undulating tracks of Langdale, but immeadiately things were going well. I was progressing fast around the valley and the muddy and rocky surface weren't half as bad as I recalled from 2010. A timely boost and I started to catch and pass a few people - mostly 100ers - but by time I start of switchback climb out of Langdale (Side Pike pass) I had 9 people in front of me and I set myself the target of trying to pass all by the next CP a few miles away.

I feel revitalised as I march up this short pass, I've passed about 5 people by the top and then as the good surfaced trail descent passed Blea Tarn. As a group split to rund a puddle I simply jump over it and pass on, I'm feeling a massive surge of adrenelin as I continue down the descent - which gets slight more techinical and a lot more muddy towards the bottom - and I manage to drag a few of the people I passed along with me.

We locate the new self-check dib point on the road above Blea moss - put here to stop people attempting to cut though a very wet area - after a brief search in the gathering dusk. A descent on road for about half a mile follows, my feet flap a bit on th harder surface, but I'm going well still. Back onto trail again to tackle the short climb over fell to Tilberwhaite. One of the guys I passed has stuck near me and we spur each other on, he only pulls ahead a bit as I decide on the descent that putting on the headtorch can't wait till the next CP.

At the roadside CP and I only stop to dib in and down a cup of coke as I've now got the bit between my teeth and about 59 minutes to complete the course to make 12 hours - Now 68th of 453 after a very strong penultimate leg. But being able to complete the last 3.5m in one hour is by no means certain, the steepest climb of the course is followed by a gradually climbing section of fell, before a steep and techical descent, which is by no means a doddle for tired legs. With a generally exhausted body and badly blistered and cut up feet I had a nightmare trying to descend the techical part of the 1250' descent at the end of 2010's Lakeland 100, this 1 mile probably taking me an hour alone on that day, as each step down stabbed my feet, painfully opening up wounds.

But, it's been a very different day today, I've completed each section at a much greater pace and with the benefit of less miles I'm still moving nearly as fast as I was at 25 miles. I was actually quite looking forward to the climb up onto Coniston moor from Tilberwhaite, stepping up the path of odd shaped slate steps is my climbing strength moreson than walking or running up a lesser climb. I was soon up the steep bit and now just had to avoid the navigational pitfalls some people suffer up here. You simply have to stick to the path across the moor with beck on right and not go off either into the beck or randomly across the moor and you also don't want to go anywhere near the sheer drop into the quarry (thankfully I know of no L50/100 competitor who has done the latter). easier said than done now its dark.

I'm only really managing a run/walk on the gradual winding ascent of the moor, lights of those ahead seem out of reach - what happened to the guy who left the Tilberwhaite CP just ahead of me? - and there seems to be a string of lights behind, I can even hear them in the quiet of the moor. Losing places now after a strong last section seems like a defeat and this spurs me to keep up my pace with the prospect of a descent, difficult in the dark, but I suspect I still have the confidence and legs to make good time down.

I go over the "summit" lip of the moor with about 20 minutes left to break 11 hours and after initial hesitation soon hit my stride and from nowhere start to catch and pass people, mostly 100'ers I think, but I do pass the guy who was just ahead of me at the last CP and we encourage each other on - he is american and they generally do encouragement really well!

I hit the cross track at the bottom of the tough part of the descent with 10 mins left. Then a route choice, I mistakenly go right as this is downhill and lose about two minutes including tracking back. I repass my american compatriot who is going well, but looks to be slowed by a limp. Can I descend to the finish in less than 8 minutes? I'm not sure how far it is, but its good track and then road to the end.

I monitor my effort, keeping check that I'm not easing off and soon I'm in Coniston. There is some support gathered around the pubs in the centre and I acknowledge and push on through at full throttle effort.... if not speed. Brief climb after crossing the bridge, tough at this stage and pace. Then I turn down the lake road, now knowing I have about 5 minutes left and will easily break 11 hours, I'm elated and, as I turn the corner into the School drive to a wall of noise from supporters, organisers and other competitors, I get a bit emotional too - I challenge anybody not to be.

I soon see a familiar face, Nick Ham, helping with organisation and taking pictures of finishers (cheers Nick) as he's been unwell and couldn't run the 50 himself this year. I pick up my medal - very nice - and meander around before getting some food. I'm pretty much on cloud 9 for the next few hours as I talk to others including John Vernon and Chris Hare

My final finishing stats were 67th of 453 (so I'd gained positions throughout) and a time of 10:57. My good preperation and concerted effort to eat and drink the right things really paid off and now I just need to maintain and build on this for the much tougher Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie just a month away and an imposing 20 miles longer with over twice the ascent and descent.

The lay of the Land

Welcome to my new blog

I think I've needed this change for awhile, but the final idea came to me - appropriately enough - as I ran down Spout Hill, near Brantingham in the Wolds, with sweat streaming down my face during the recent mini-heatwave.


Mt.Airey, near South Cave


After a great 2010 where I racked up my first 50 and 100 mile ultra-trail, 2011 wasn't a further springboard, a mix of joy and disappointment. The latter probably a result of resting on my laurels a bit in training. But one of the undoubted highlights of 2011 was running the Wolds Way - this really made me appreciate what I have nearby. But how can running here prepare me for...

...my big challenge of the year?

Which is the TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie) of course. A circa-70m ultra trail event in the Alps, which is part of the series of - and I like to think of it as the "tough little brother" of - the 100m+ Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). I only managed 60m of the beast that is the UTMB last year, so how am I going to complete 70m of an event which packs in an extra 30 or so foot-per-mile than the UTMB (at about 330 feet-per-mile up and down)?

What I'm doing in the Wolds

So in preparation for 2012's challenges I've used this landscape of short sharp hills and v-shaped dry valleys to form the bulk of my training. Getting away to further flung fields and hills when I can and to add a variety of other landscape challenges.

Within 10 miles of Hull you can pick up the

High Hunsley Beacon on the Wolds Way

southern edge of the Wolds where the land rises from the Humber at North Ferriby. This fairly narrow range of hillocks and mini-valleys between two plains then extends through the villages of Swanland, Melton, Welton, Elloughton, Brantingham and South Cave. This is where I do the majority of my training popping up and down the small cols and dale walls, often using parts of the Wolds Way. North of here the gaps open up to form one of the most sparsely populated areas of the country.

Up towards Bishop Wilton, Millington and Thixendale the Wolds are at their highest - reaching a "dizzying" 807ft, but offering plenty of back to back climbs - some over 300ft - to make for a fun and tough run. I've had many an interesting run up here for the small price of a 40 minute drive. Once recently I fit 14 climbs and descents in as many miles - without doing reps!

And what I'm not

Long views over the plains

As my target events both involve quite big hills, even mountains, I'm often dale-hopping like a mad man to try and accumulate lots of climb in every mile. But try as I might, it's hard to surpass 200 foot-per-mile (fpm) over any distance in this area without serious hill reps.

So, as in previous years I've been taking on LDWA challenges and shorter ultra's all around Yorkshire, especially the hillier parts. But even events like these don't quite match up to the 330ft per mile standard I'll be taking on at the end of August - and thats 330ft up and down per mile over 70 miles. An example of this is a few of the longer events I've done so far this year:

February
Rombalds Stride (LDWA Challenge, West Yorks) - 22m - 122 fpm

March
Golden Fleece Circuit (LDWA Challenge, East Yorks) - 28m - 55 fpm
Wuthering Hike (West Yorks)- 32m - 147 fpm
Hardmoors 55 (North Yorks) - 54m - 165 fpm

April
Blubberhouses 25 (LDWA Challenge, North Yorks) - 24m - 106 fpm
Calderdale Hike (West Yorks) - 37m - 157 fpm
The Woldsman (East Yorks) - 50m - 95 fpm

Lonely, lovely Thixendale on the Wolds Way

So where to go?.........

How about the Lake District. And a great excuse was being asked by Jon Steele to support a leg or two of his Bob Graham Round attempt. Click the link for more detail, but the Bob Graham round is a popular, but very tough challange of bagging 42 peaks over around 63 miles in the lake district. And some of these peaks are the biggee's too - Scafell Pike, its near as mighty neighbour Scafell, Helvellyn, Ill Crag, Broad Crag, Skiddaw,... in fact all of the top ten highest peaks in England (the run is only interrupted by Cross Fell which is out of reach in the North Pennines). All of this amasses an impressive 412 fpm - "I'll have me some of that"

TBC.....