Goring & Streatley (how did I get here?)

Arriving at registration for a Centurion ultra marathon is like coming home.  It’s like arriving at a gathering of family that you haven’t seen for a while.  Whether I know people or not, they all just feel like people I belong with. Home is not a place, it’s a feeling of belonging, and that is exactly how I felt.

It was Saturday morning and Goring Village Hall was buzzing.  Upon arrival, I was greeted with a big hug from Stuart March, a fantastic guy (pretty awesome ultra runner) and amazing photographer, who always manages to capture the real essence of an event and who brings our adventures to life, capturing the moments that make the memories.  Honestly … check out his work! stuartmarchphotography.co.uk   The greeting from Stuart made me smile, he had recognised me from my previous race, NDW100 and it settled my nerves to see a friendly face. A strange feeling, having catapulted into this ultra world pretty quickly, it just amazes me how many people I have met and how they are so welcoming.  I never dreamt I would be a part of anything like this – never dreamt.

I went through kit check, always feel a bit clumsy at this point.  The volunteers and staff are great and never rush you, but I always seem to have to pull out the complete contents of my race pack to produce the items that they ask for at the kit check.  They always smile.  Disclaimer signed, drop bags dropped to the lovely lady with a handmade sign on her head saying. ‘I’ve got baggage’, race number collected.  I almost forgot to collect my order from the Centurion store (maps of Thames Path and Ridgeway National trail in case of loss of navigation – but more for souvenir status!), but I remembered so all was well.  I wandered around the hall, taking in the atmosphere, and nibbling on a brioche roll.  Runners were greeting each other, taping muscles, packing ultra vests, filling water, nibbling on snacks, chatting excitedly and giving instructions to crews. It sounds manic, but it is actually very calm.  Nici Griffin (how can I describe Nici? – the heart and sole of Centurion Running) was calmly (on the outside) organising everyone, smiling and making us all feel good – as only Nici does. I bumped into Paul, and it was good to see him.  I ran most of NDW100 with Paul, really nice guy, we kept each other going.  Paul was going for the Centurion Grand Slam (all 4 Centurion 100 mile ultras in a year – well actually in less than 6 months).  I had was about to undertake my 3rd (had missed South Downs Way 100).

I had spent the night before at a pub/hotel in neighbouring Pangbourne to be close to the race start.  The hotel was fine, if basic, but I do wonder if it was actually the same place that was illustrated in the photographs on their website!  In the morning I met other runners on the train to Goring.  Walking to registration I found myself chatting to a woman, who I couldn’t place but knew I’d seen before. She told me about the numerous ultras (100 milers) she had run, and confessed to just getting over a lung infection!  After chatting to her again at reception, the penny dropped and I realised it was Roz. I knew of her through a mutual running friend, Bruce, and she had actually given Bruce and I the kick we needed to get out of Reading Aid Station at mile 74 (I think) on Thames Path 100, with hot sweet coffee, when we were both flagging!  Thinking back to that race, and realising I was rocking up to the start of my third 100 miler reminded me of the surreal journey that I had been on so far!

Somehow I was starting my third 100 miler (all 3 Centurion races).  I was never sporty, started exercising at 40 (originally to lose weight), started running really only less than 3 years ago at 45/46, following some foot issues (which I still have to manage).  I ramped up distance quickly, discovered this thing called trail running (to me much more exciting and motivating than road) and pushed myself to complete a couple of trail marathons.  Then I learnt about these ridiculously long distances that people run called ultra marathons. I read some pretty inspirational books and learned that people do actually run 100 miles non stop.  Well the rest is history, as they say.  I am not belittling this challenge by any means at all, quite the opposite, but little old me got it into my head that I was going to run 100 miles! In 2015 I ran 2 ultras (The Wall – 69 miles and White Rose 60).  Then I entered Centurion’s Thames Path 100 (TP100).  I went for 10k to 100 miles in 2 years.  You can read all about my journey to 100 and my TP100 race in my blog  Did I really run 100 miles? – TP100.  Needless to say it was the toughest thing I’d ever done, but I loved it, you soon forget the pain a relentless challenge to get to the finish line.  So on the waiting list I went and ended up getting a place in North Downs Way 100  (NDW100).  Now this one was a different beast, in my view the terrain was a lot tougher but I got on better with nutrition and hydration, and despite the hot August weather, I think that one was actually my favourite.  You can read about that one too North Downs Way 100 (another 100 miles).  After NDW100 I joined the waiting list again (don’t even remember doing it), and just 4 weeks before the race I entered my 3rd 100 miler, Autumn 100 (A100).  It was just 5.5 months since the first, and seeing as my goal was just 1, it was a pretty surreal feeling being at the start of my 3rd in less than 6 months, already having earned 2 coveted 100 mile buckles!  Despite my late entry, I had not stopped training. I have been lucky with my post race recovery and after both TP100 and NDW100 I was back to full strength and mileage pretty quickly.  I cover a lot of mileage, averaging probably 75 -80 miles per week, peaking at higher in preparation for a race. I run 30 plus miles pretty much every Sunday and I like to build up 40 miles before a race. I’m not saying that is the right way to train or that I am fast or a good runner (I am definitely not), but it seems to work for me.  I also try to do a lot of cross training, strength, cardio, a bit of weights, core, circuits etc.  I have had Personal Training for about the last 2.5 years with a good friend and great trainer, Cameron at jensenexercise.com.  Cam has supported and encouraged me, and is particular good at tailoring training to his clients’ needs, getting fantastic results.  He probably realised that I wanted to run ultras before I did, and he has worked with me on my strength and core training in particular, and constantly reminds me of the importance of rest, recovery and hydration.  He’s also an awesome Sports Therapist, I swear by his deep tissue massage.

Anyway, back to that Village Hall in Goring – I spotted the Centurion Grand Slam Buckle. It is awesome, it is big. I was kicking myself for missing South Downs Way 100 (in June), I was about to complete 3/4 of the job and felt that I had it in me and could have gone for that GS Buckle.  But that was not the original plan, and so I had to remind myself to happy with being on the start line for third 100 (the last one being only 9 weeks ago).  I saw Alf outside the hall at Goring.  I originally met Alf at The Wall (my first ultra in June of last year).  He is a good ultra runner but has dogged by injury so today he was volunteering.  It was good to see him, the world of ultra running seems a small one.

I walked with the other runners the short walk to Streatley where the race would start.  James Elson (Ultra Runner supreme, founder of Centurion Running and Race Director) gave the race briefing.  James was the course record holder, and smiled wryly as he said that conditions were good and he expected both male and female records to be broken. At 10:00am on the dot we were off. A100 is formed of  25 mile 4 spurs (or legs), each roughly 12.5 miles out and back.  The first is little shorter and the last a little longer, but there or there abouts.  The first and fourth spur are Thames Path National Trail and the second and third are Ridgeway.  At the end of each spur the runners return to Goring & Streatley. The other 2 100 mile races I had run were both point to point, so this was a different dynamic and a slightly different mental challenge.

Spur 1 – Goring to Little Wittenham and return – Thames Path

Running an ultra on the Thames Path is difficult as it is relatively flat and therefore the terrain does not determine pace.  When I ran TP100 I went out too fast and probably paid for that later on.  There is a fine line between getting the first half of the race completed quickly (bagging time for later) and over cooking it early on.  I was determined not to go out too quick on A100, but go out too quick I did, as did quite a few others.  The first 12 miles went well.  It was a sunny morning, hot for mid October.  For the first part of the race runners are less spread out, so whilst I ran on my own a lot, I did chat fellow runners and there were always people around me.  The first Aid Station was about 6.5 miles in, I was feeling good, stocked up on water  and made sure I ate some food.  At the turnaround for the first leg I met Paul, and we ran together for a while heading back.  At this point I was aware I’d gone out a bit quick (Paul said he had too), so we reined in our pace just a little.  I say ‘we’ but I actually lost Paul after a while.  I stopped to check for stone in my shoe and he was moving well, so I didn’t actually catch him up again.  Paul went on to finish the race in 23 hours, so not only did he get his Grand Slam buckle, but also got a special ‘1 day buckle’ for completing A100 in under 24 hours – awesome achievement!

I ran with a guy for a while who had a fantastic blue mohawk hairstyle.  It was hot and he was running without his shirt, just his ultra back and sporting some cool tattoos.  It’s good to see a bit of colour and eccentricity on the trail and I complemented his hair.  He said that he liked my purple hair, but I don’t think I was pulling off my look anywhere near as well as he did his.  I can’t remember his name, but unfortunately he pulled out of the race after 25 miles with severe plantar fasciitis pain (I know all about that so I was full of sympathy).

Shoes – should have got new ones!

I am proud to say that I have never had blisters from running shoes (or at least I was until A100).  For distance I wear Brooks Adrenaline ASR (a hybrid shoe), which although not the best for technical trail, are supportive, comfortable and good to my feet. I have had pair after pair and they work for me.  So, back to A100 – first leg –  I stopped to check for a stone in my shoe, but it wasn’t a stone.  What I discovered was the material coming away on the inside of my left shoe and had started to rub my foot. Later on in the race the outer part of the shoes would actually start to come apart.  It’s not that they are bad shoes, it’s just that the pair I was wearing had done more miles than they probably should and I should have bought a new pair before the race – Schoolgirl error number 1!   I adjusted my sock and shoe and carried on, it wasn’t too uncomfortable at this stage.

I completed the first 25 mile leg in about 4 hours 20mins (having checked my pace a bit) so was happy with that. Stocked up on water and food (Alf looked after me), now for leg 2.

Spur 2 – Goring to Swyncome Farm and return, Ridgeway (a leg for the girls)

The second leg was the most fun.  It was only 4 miles to the first Aid Station, so that came fairly quickly.  It was still pretty warm so I was glad of the flat coke and water top ups.  I was making myself eat.  The terrain was a bit more varied.  I had slowed down, maybe a bit more than I would have liked, but I was still going ok.  The shoe was still rubbing and my hips were feeling it but nothing too bad.  The race leaders passed me, coming back on their return, both male and female were absolutely flying, they just seem to glide over the trail.  The leader was running 7 minute miles, how on earth does he sustain that over 100 miles? Wow!

Ultra running is a male dominated sport.  No, that probably doesn’t paint the correct picture.  There are many outstanding women ultra runners, but percentage wise there are a lot more men than women in the races. However, I seemed to meet a lot of crazy, lovely women during A100. I ran on an off with a group of ladies during the second leg.  One of them was Emma, she was great fun and really encouraging.  Ultra running does strange things to your digestive system and I’m not sure who was burping the loudest out of me and Emma!!  There was Jane and Becky too, and we paced each other well.  The turnaround seemed a long time coming, it was about 8.5 miles. I was trying to spend as little time as possible at the aid stations.  The longer you stop, the more you seize up and the harder it is to get going again.  It seemed a long way back, you have some long fields on this section of Ridgeway trail plus woodlands.  By now my feet were a bit sore and I could feel it in my legs but I was going ok and was enjoying occasional chat and banter with the girls.  We pushed on well.  Early evening, it started to rain.  I like running ing the rain and at first it was quite refreshing.

Goring is Evil

I made the half way point at Goring (50 miles) in about 10 1/2 hours, I was happy with that. Before the race, someone had said “Consider Goring as evil”.  This was the best advice.  You really have to stop yourself taking root at an aid station.  It’s all about knowing what you need to do before you go in and just doing that and getting out again.  I was trying to do this but I did faff around with my drop bag a bit at the half way point (didn’t really need it to be honest).  Alf helped me fill bottles and made me coffee. I ate some food but finding it more difficult to eat by now. Nici was calmly having a crisis with her laptop and dealing with everything else at the same time!

As I said before, the half way point is a big boost mentally, effectively you are counting down from then on.  But it is also where the race really starts.  I was already tired, my foot was sore, hips were aching, it was dark and thought of another 50 miles was quite daunting.  But you just have to get out there and carry on and that’s what I did – on into the night for leg 3.

Coke, coffee, electrolytes and grub

Ok so maybe that heading should be ‘Hydration and Nutrition’.

I don’t take gels, I never have done.  I try to eat something at every aid station.  As the race goes on it gets more and more difficult.  By the half way point I was finding it more difficult to swallow food, I had to chew it a lot or eat soft foods.  In the latter miles, it was a real struggle to get food down, but when I did it would really help.  I can’t say it enough – flat coca cola – gets me through ultras.  I never usually drink coke, but in both NDW100 and A100, I was craving it and the thought of coke was spurring me on to the next aid station.  Electrolytes – I putting an SIS tab into a bottle of water every so often and I really believe it helps.  A cup of warm coffee at the aid stations was another ‘pick me up’.  These are the things that work for me!

Spur 3 – Goring to Chain Hill and back (not my best leg)

I set off on the 3rd leg and found myself with Emma and Becky again.  It was 8.5 miles to the next Aid Station at Bury Downs, so quite a long section. The trail was quite uneven in places, so I was feeling it on my feet. Emma had a friend of hers, Keith, pacing for her on this leg.  He was a friendly guy, and a pleasure to run behind – his backside was the best view on the Ridgeway!  ;0)

Bury Downs Aid Station – quick stop and push onwards.  Not long afterwards, at about mile 60 I took a tumble, just lost my footing and came down hard on the trail.  It took me a minute to recover before I got up (Emma later said that from a distance she thought I was being sick), and it took me a few more minutes to walk it off.  I wouldn’t recommend falling over at mile 60 but I eventually managed to get going again.  Chain Hill seemed a very jovial Aid Station and everyone was in good spirits.  I got moving again quickly on the long slog back to Goring.

I lost Emma and the lovely Keith whilst faffing around putting my garmin on charge.  It was beeping ‘low battery’ so I charged in on my wrist from a portable USB charger.  I was still making good time (for me), managing to run at a decent pace and walk when I needed to.  The trail was uneven and I worried about falling over again.  By now, my feet were quite sore and ankles and shins were hurting.

It was a beautiful night, the sky was clear and the stars were bright, at this point I could still appreciate it (just about).  This section of the Ridgeway is very open and the night was so bright, you could probably have run it without a head torch on (not that I tried).  I was keeping good pace running and walking a bit when I needed to.  It seemed a long leg but I passed back through Bury Downs and kept moving forwards.

The detour

By my reckoning I was about 4 miles from Goring, it was 3am. Once I got back, there would just be one leg left to go. It was getting tougher now.  Early on, if you feel pain you can pinpoint where it is, but as the race goes on it gradually blends to an all over ache until it’s a case of ‘everything hurts!’

I was running on my own, had been for a while. I was pretty zoned out intent on getting back to Goring.  I suddenly came to my senses and thought, ‘I don’t recognise that section that I’ve just run’ and became aware that I hadn’t seen a course marker for sometime.  But I had been going straight with no junction, so decided to keep going a bit further, sure that I would see a marker soon – Schoolgirl error number 2!  Shadows and tiredness can play tricks on your eyes in the night on the trail and I kept thinking I could see a marker only then realise it was just leaves or a branch.  I came to a section of houses and thought ‘this definitely doesn’t look right’, so I back tracked a bit.  I saw no other runners and faffed around for quite a while convincing myself that I had not actually gone wrong. – Schoolgirl error number 3!  Not sure why I didn’t get the map out of my pack! Not sure why I didn’t straight away go back track to the point at which I had last seen a course marker.  I was getting a bit panicky worrying about lost time.  In the end I did backtrack, which I should have done much earlier and I eventually found the left turn that I should have taken about 3 miles back.  As soon as I got back on track I could see other runners.  I had lost time and added distance, it was a big mental blow and would put pressure on me despite still having enough time in the bank, I could have kicked myself (but that would have hurt too much :o).  All I could do was suck it up, put it out of my head and keep moving forward.  I got back to Goring at 5am, a good hour later than I would have, had I not taken the detour.

The last leg – Goring to Reading and back -Thames Path – (a little bit of hell)

I was annoyed with myself for going wrong and losing all that time but had to push it out of my mind.  I set off on the last spur, the longest section to Reading and back again.  I was back on the Thames Path, which is anything but pretty when you have been running for 19 hours!

My feet felt shredded.  My shoes were falling apart.  Then came the rain, heavy torrential rain.  It was ok at first, but as it got heavier and heavier I was getting more and more soaked and started to feel cold.  There was a section of woodland with a lot of tree roots, rocks and slopes.  There were fields, which in the rain became muddy and water logged, my feet were so sore.

Whitchurch Aid Station was only about 4 miles from Goring, that was a welcome site.  The Marshall there encouraged me to get going again quickly.  The race was still doable within the cut offs but it was advisable to keep moving forward.

The 9 miles from Whitchurch to Reading felt like 90.  It was pouring with rain, I was soaked and I started to shiver.  My feet could feel every stone, every step.  My garmin battery was low again (I hadn’t charged it for long enough earlier).  I tried to put it back on charge, but it just didn’t seem to be charging.  I think maybe I hadn’t charged the USB charger for long enough – Schoolgirl error number 4.  Subsequently my watch became a bit flakey, sometimes working, sometimes not (due to the low charge), when I desperately needed it to work out my cut off times and mileage.

Relentless Forward Progress

There is a book about ultra running called ‘Relentless Forward Progress’ and in my view it is the most aptly named book you will get.  That is exactly what an ultra marathon is!  Before I did my first 100 miler, I thought that the night would be the toughest part.  Running all night long isn’t easy, but I actually like it.  It is the next day when the sun is up, it’s a new day and you are still going – that’s what I find the toughest.

I eventually got to Reading, shivering and in pain.  The Aid Station was Wokingham Waterside Centre seemed and it seemed to take forever to appear.  I asked other runners, who were returning on their way back how far it was and they kept saying I was nearly there – nearly there was forever!

The last 15 (ish) miles of a 100 miler is  relentless,  painful and filled with a desperate need to get to the finish.  That return journey from Reading to Goring seemed to go on and on.  I was thinking that I was closer to the cut-off than I actually was. I had time to make it, but by now my feet were in agony!  Despite this feeling, there wasn’t a moment when I wished that I wasn’t there, not a moment when I regretted and not a moment when I doubted I would finish.

The Finish

I eventually made it back to Whitchurch and then the longest ever 4 miles to Goring.  As I approached the finish, I felt myself welling up.  I have never had a crew or a pacer for my ultras, happy to run with other runners and make the most of the amazing volunteers at the Aid Stations. But amazing daughter Natalie always insists on being at the end of every race, and as I headed towards the finish I could see her cheering me on.  I felt the tears come (have never shed a tear in previous races), Natalie noticed, took my hand and ran the last few steps with me.  At 26 hours 56mins I reached the finish line.  Had I not taken the detour it would have been somewhat quicker, but I got there and was proud.

I was whisked into a side room of the Town Hall, where the ever smiling Stuart was taking superb Finish photos.  I was congratulated and hugged by Stuart and by Nici (who had hugged every sweaty runner). Nici presented me with my t shirt and my 3rd 100 mile buckle.

I joined the other finishers in the hall, sat down and everything hurt.  I somehow managed to get my shoes off.  My feet were a state, massively blistered underneath.  I threw my shoes away, they were fit for nothing.  I wondered how on earth I would get anything on my feet to travel home.  I had been hoping to go straight to friends’ barbecue but realised that that had been a bit too ambitious.  I ate some food a bit too quickly and felt a bit sick.  But that didn’t matter as I was holding my 3rd 100 mile buckle :o)

Volunteers

Once again, the volunteers were amazing.  Some worked 30 hour plus shifts. Everytime I got to an aid station, there would be someone offering to fill my water, make me coffee, pour me coke.  There was food and incredible words of encouragement.  It inspires me to volunteer myself.

The People

Ultra runners are awesome.  I’ve made some great new friends through running and at each race I meet more incredible people.

Several people I knew were celebrating completing the Grand Slam, including Paul (who I ran NDW100 with), Tracey and Kate, an outstanding achievement by all.

Tinu

At A100 I met an incredible lady.  Tinu epitomises ultra running. She had attempting 100 miles twice before but unfortunately had not made the finish.  It was Tinu’s birthday on Saturday when we set off and she lit up the trails with a smile and tinsel skirt!  She was the last runner for a lot of the course, but she did not give up.  A lot of people may have thought it was beyond her, but Tinu perservered and finished well ahead of the final cut off.  When she arrived at Goring everyone sang, ‘Happy Birthday’ as she was presented with her buckle.  I honestly don’t think there was dry eye in that village hall when Tinu finished.

 What Next?

I have a dream of doing Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB).  I have sufficient qualifying points, so I will enter the ballot. Not sure I have that much chance of a place but will keep trying each year until I get in.

Now I’ve seen the Centurion Grand Slam buckle and it is special.  So do I go back next year, do the 3 races I’ve done this year plus SDW100 and get the Grand Slam?  That will be foregoing other races and there are quite a few I’d like to try, so we’ll see.

All I know is that I was never a runner, I set a challenge, had a go, enjoyed it, so tried it again and then again!  Every achievement starts with the decision to try.  I was never sporty I’m not fast, I’m not a great runner.  But I saw something that I really wanted to do, so I gave it a try and I think I’ve found my sport.   I am proud of my 3 buckles, here’s to many more! :o)