An early start

Early on an August Saturday morning I found myself in a Primary school hall in the beautiful Farnham, registered and waiting for the pre race briefing for what would prove to be my toughest challenge yet.   This was my second 100 mile ultra marathon, as I had run Thames Path 100 just 3 months earlier.  You can read all about that (and my journey to get there) in previous post Did I really run 100 miles? – TP100.  Wind back 2 years and you would find me training for my first trail marathon (having only just completed a half marathon, and only having been running a matter of months).  A couple of years back I didn’t even know that Ultra marathons existed, and had no idea that people ran 100 mile races, but as soon as I did know, the seed of an idea was sown.  I was a late comer to exercise, finding a bug for it in my 40s, and was even later to running, following a lot of problems with my feet (which I am still managing).  So here I was (at 48 years old) standing in a hall full of ultra runners about to embark on my second 100 miler in just over 3 months.  Despite being a relative novice, a part of me had wanted to have a bash at the Centurion Running ‘Grand Slam’ which involves completing all 4 Centurion 100 mile races in one calendar year (in reality it is actually within about 5 1/2 months).  But cost, planning (or lack of it) and other circumstances prevented me from entering them all, and having missed South Downs Way 100, it is not a possibility for me this year.  That said, my original goal was to run 100 miles (so TP100 was this year’s objective), but anyone who either knows me, knows the wretch of the’post race low’ or both will understand exactly why I went on the waiting the list for NDW100 during my post TP100 blues. So I had entered the race just 5 weeks ago meaning not too much time to build up and think about this one.  That’s not to say I didn’t train.  I train hard, with high mileage each week supplemented with other training too, including PT with my friend and trainer Cam (jensenexercise.com).  I had recovered well after TP100 and got back to training quickly, and so just needed to increase intensity and focus when I entered NDW100. It was Cam who got me to the start on Saturday morning, literally (and physically and mentally).  I was both nervous and excited in equal measures, knowing I would need to dig deeper than ever and thinking to myself, “Am I ready?” I never start a race with any other outcome in my head than finishing, but I was thinking “Where am I going to dig this from?”

So back to that hall, kit check complete, drop bags dropped.  James (Elson), Race Director (and founder of Centurion Running) gave the pre-race briefing.  I digress but must point out how well Centurion is run.  The races are organised fantastically, the waiting list is managed really well, and if you ever email a query, you always receive a quick, friendly and helpful response from James or Nici (the other lovely face of Centurion).  “Look after each other,” James told us, “Don’t get lost, it is hot out there, make hay  when the sun goes down.”  Wise words these would turn out to be!

The first 25 miles

Let’s get on with the race (before you all switch off.  Off we went at 6am, 240 of us started this time.  The first few miles I settled in quite well, the group is fairly close at first so there are always people around.  I remember earlier on, I was running behind a couple of guys who were chatting. Both of them relayed stories of experienced ultra runners they knew of who had been completely broken by this race and not completed it.  I put my fingers in my ears!

During TP100 I had got very dehydrated and had not taken on enough nutrition, which had made me feel pretty rough and I was determined to be better with that this time.  So from the start of NDW100 I made sure I drank and I ate at least something at every aid station.  The bacon sarnies that a very nice guy was handing out went down well too!

The first 25 miles was an enjoyable run, great trail, great company, good spirits.  Puttenham and Newlands Corner Aid stations came and went with the first of the amazing volunteers that looked after us so well.

 

At mile 20 we were in woodlands and I managed to trip (on a tree route or something), making a spectacular dive and landing face down with a tree trunk straight in the chest and stomach. It got me in the diaphragm so winded me completely. Other runners came to my aid, a particularly nice guy was telling me not to worry and to breath slowly, others stopped too.  I sat in the dirt for a minute while I caught my breath, then got up and carried on.  It was a bit early in the race for circus tricks and I was determined not to let the tumble ruffle me.  That said, I was pretty shaken and felt rather bruised and scraped.

I’d heard people say that it got tough from Box Hill and they weren’t wrong.  The first 25 miles almost lulled us into a false sense of security.  The stepping stones at Box Hill were a bit of fun and Stuart March (the superb photographer) was there getting some great shots. After the Box Hill aid station we had our first taste of those STEPS!  A big hill that we climbed via woodland steps that appeared to be never ending.  At the top we were rewarded with the most stunning views but by now it was starting to get hot.

 

Hot slog to half way

From the top of Box Hill onwards, the course was hilly, but the scenery was nothing short of breathtaking.  It was getting very hot.  I had been running with a guy named Miles, it was his first 100.  I saw him on and off during the first 50 miles.  From about mile 26 ish (I think) I ran with a guy named Paul.  We got chatting and ended up sticking together for pretty much all of the race.  Paul is a great guy, really good to run with and I am so grateful that he was there to keep me going (particularly later on).  Conscious that I needed to keep hydrated, I was making sure I drank lots of water and filled up at aid stations (those awesome volunteers were quick to fill our bottles throughout.  I also took electrolytes and was consciously dropping a tab into a water bottle every so often.  Haunted by the memories of feeling sick during TP100, I was ensuring that I ate something at every aid station.  Bananas, sandwiches and wraps were going down particularly well, and at Reigate Hill we were treated to ‘Percy Pig’ and ‘Colin the Caterpillar’ sweets!   The heat was energy sapping and it kept getting hotter (far hotter than the forecast!).  We were up and down a lot of hills now too … gone was the comfort of the first 24 miles.  A lot of the hills were steep (or were wide woodland steps), not particularly runnable and difficult to push yourself up or down.  By now the quads were starting to protest.  Paul and I were running and walking intermittently.  Paul is a ‘Slammer’ (so going for the Centurion Grand Slam), so he’d done Thames Path too.  Both of us said that we had run out of steam and pretty much walked the last 30 miles  of TP100.  We didn’t want to do that this time, and heeded the words of James to take it easy and not overcook it during the day.  It was still tough going though and, feeling sore from my fall,  I was still thinking “Where am I going to get the energy for 100 miles of this from?”.  I text my daughter Natalie at around mile 38 (Caterham), just to let her know I was ok but that the race was brutal.

Coke saved the day

At the aid stations I was guzzling Coke (that brown fizzy liquid really is a endurance athlete’s best friend).  I very rarely drink Coca Cola, but on a race I positively crave it!  Paul was feeling the same, and throughout we were desperate to get to each aid station, not only to chip off the miles, but to get to the Coke!  At Botley Hill and Knockholt, the volunteers couldn’t pour the stuff quick enough.

Halfway boost

As my fellow ultra runners will know, when you run 100 miles you are always running to the next aid station, so the aim is always the next checkpoint, and gradually you chip them off.  There were a couple of tough sections leading to half way but the thought of getting to the halfway point was big mental plus.  I ran with Paul a lot, and Miles too leading up to Knockholt.  The field was starting to space out more, but we would see some of the same people every so often.  People walking the trail would ask us what we were running and were often amazed at the distance we told them.  One guy said “Oh so you should be finished by about tea time then?” “Erm a little bit longer but hopefully by tomorrow midday was my reply!” Not even the winner would quite make it to Ashford in time for tea! Knockholt Pound seemed a long time coming, but eventually we got there, a town hall this time (a lot of the aid stations were gazebos or tents), and we had drop bags and hot food. I think I made it there in about 12.5 hours, which I thought wasn’t bad considering the toughness of the terrain.  I managed to eat pasta, which was a big positive as at the TP100 halfway point I had been unable to eat anything.  I spent a bit longer at this aid station, people generally do (and I actually sat down), but as much as you want to stay in the comfort of the room, the legs will cease up and it will be harder to start again.  That was a mistake I had made during my first 100 miler.  The volunteers at Knockholt were as lovely as as at all stations.  There was one particular guy who was asking us how long we had been there and telling us not to ‘take root’, so armed with paper cups of hot coffee (for me) and tea (for Paul) we headed off again.  By now my feet and legs were hurting, but knowing we had past the halfway point was a massive boost.  My friend Vikki (who I met through ultra running) text me with kind words of support – that helped.

Passing home (almost)

There was a tough section after Knockholt (all of it was tough really) but this was a 10 mile stretch and seemed a long one.  I had actually run not too far from where I live and at one point I was faced with a sign ‘9 miles to Bromley’, which probably meant it would be less than that for me to actually run home …. how tempting!  Actually not tempting, just a little odd feeling.  I had not given too much thought to the route before the race, had I checked or thought about it a little more this would have been obvious.  We passed through Otford, a village where I have run through a few times on my training runs, albeit from  a different direction.  I made a mental note to make sure I include a bit of the North Downs Way next time I am in that area.  We ran through a lot of corn fields, which reminded me of my training runs arounds Lullingstone and Shoreham (makes sense as we were not that far away).  And the hills kept on coming!  Paul and I were running whenever we could despite being tired.  This ultra was tough.  A lot of people were dropping at the aid stations, I really felt for them.

Garmin times and getting lost

My Garmin (Fenix 3) was always ahead on the mileage.  The mileage can never be exact (as James had reminded us during the race briefing, this is not exactly 100 miles, it is a trail race).  I was a bit ahead of the published mileage, so was making a point of asking at each aid station how many miles to the next, then working out on my watch roughly when we should get there.  When you are pushing onto the next aid station (everything hurting, so tired and craving Coke), if it takes a lot longer than you are expecting it is really hard mentally. Wrotham seemed to take forever to get to and by now it was getting dark.  We were in and out of the aid stations quickly. Despite the fact that the body wants to stop for a while, it is better to get moving as quickly as possible.  I was hurting and aching but the good news was that I was still eating and drinking. My Garmin bleeped ‘low battery’ warning (so much for 24 hour battery life hey).  But no problem, as it is very easy to charge on the go provided you remember to pack the charger lead and a USB charger (which I had).  I think it was between Wrotham and Holly Hill that Paul and I took a wrong turn, I should know but am not sure.  It was around about mile 65 I think.  Throughout the race I was a bit paranoid about going the wrong way.  The North Downs Way is a National Trail so is way marked, and in addition to this Centurion Running mark with reflective tape, particularly at points where we deviate from the trail or where there is a choice to be made.  There were several occasions when I was worried as I had been going for a long time without seeing a marker.  Spotting a strip of reflective tape in a tree was a major comfort and stress relief.  The further you get into the race (and particularly at night) the more tired you get an less you want to get lost or run extra miles.  But that’s what Paul an I managed to do. We came out what I can only describe as a ‘cow proof gate’ and set off down a path that we thought was the right way.  After about a mile (probably a bit less), we were conscious that we hadn’t seen a marker for some time.  Out came the map and Paul attempted to locate us on Google Maps.  When you are not sure where you are, it is difficult to work out where you want to be, and I think I should give most of the credit to Paul for getting us back on track (albeit I did dismiss his idea of a different route to meet the correct trail, insisting that we back track).  So that lost us a bit of time and added about a mile onto our distance.  We picked up pace to get back on track and make up time.

Pushing on….everything hurt ….

The night time was dark but still warm.  I didn’t even need a long sleeved top.  (TP100 had been very different, the night had been very cold).  By now everything hurt.  The hills were still coming and steps too.  The trail was loose and hurt my feet.  A few other runners would pass and we would pass them, and at times with the pack we ran.  Running as much as we could and walking when we needed to, we all tried to push each other on.  I was desperately trying to keep up as I didn’t want to be left on my own during the night, too paranoid that I would get lost.  The trail was tough and it was easy to trip in the dark.  Everything hurt. Bluebell Hill to Detling, we pushed the pace, I started to worry about time  (although there was enough, I just wanted to chip off the miles).  The guys I was running with on and off  (including Paul) made up pace and got ahead.  I was slow getting up some hills and extra careful down the steps.  But I managed to push on, upped my pace somehow (not sure how) and caught up at the aid station or just after.  I wasn’t really stopping now, just to fill water and to grab food.  My feet were so painful!

Rob

There was a guy named Rob who I met several times. He was running his first ultra in a bid to break the record for the largest person to run 100 miles.  A super guy, he had friends pacing him for various stages from half way.  At one stage towards the end he seemed to be a bit despondent and I really hoped that he would manage to keep pushing.

That Bridge

I think we passed over the motorway 2 or 3 times.  There was one passing where we went over a very very long bridge.  It is obviously a bridge where people take themselves at desperate times, as there were numerous signs on it saying ‘Samaritans are here to listen 24 hours every day’ and listing their number.  I found that quite poignant :(

Detling (82 miles) to Lenham (91 miles) …. OH MY GOD!

Ok so picture this ….. I’ve run 84 miles (by my watch), the quads are screaming, feet are shredded, it’s 4am, I’ve been out there for 22 hours, eating is now getting difficult, I’ve just pushed for a few miles to make time and progress, everything hurts!  Then comes some of the toughest 9 mile of the race.  I’d heard people say early, ‘If you make it to Lenham, then you’ll finish!”and I soon found out why.  Hill after hill, loads and loads more woodland steps, up, down, up, down.  Field after field, hilly and bumpy.  The hills were often steep and the steps unevenly spaced. More steps!  It took everything to push the climb or get down the steps (down was often worse).  The legs said NO, the quads screamed, everything hurt.  But I had to keep going.  I was pushing a run whenever I could.  I was worrying about time (doing bad Maths).  I just wanted it over!  The sun came up, which was probably stunning but I didn’t really notice. More steps, more hills, more bumpy trail.  I kept tripping but managed to gain my balance (I was thankful for all the core and balance work my trainer Cam gets me doing – I’m sure it helped).  Every jerk of the body hurt all over.  This section was long and had some big hills and so many steps.  If anything was going to break me it was this section, but I wasn’t going to let it …. I was determined to get to the end and get that buckle!

Cows on the trail

One particular field (which was occupied by cows), the field led straight onto the trail, the trail being narrow through the woods.  Some cows had got right onto our track, and the only way to get through was for me and another runner who was just behind me to literally  nudge them out of the way!

The final 12

At Lenham I didn’t stop, I just gave my number.  I asked the Marshall if there were more steps.  He promised that there weren’t and that it flattened out from now on.  I had about 5.5 hours left before the 30 hour cut off and had 12 miles to complete. Pace was slow now, everything hurt and I felt there was nothing left in the legs. But I managed to keep pushing.  I had dropped back a little from Paul, but I caught him again and we jogged on as much as we could, walking when the legs ceased up.  It was a lot flatter but the trail was often stony and there were other obstacles such as gates and styles.  My Garmin bleeped 100 miles, and no sooner had I acknowledged it, I was faced with another style.  Lifting the legs at this stage was was unthinkable (but only if I thought about it), it had to be done.  We weren’t totally sure of how far we had to go, but when we finally made it to Dunn Street (the final aid station), the volunteers confirmed that it was about 4.5 miles. All I can say is that it seemed the longest 4.5 miles ever!  The first 1.5 – 2 miles was trail, then we deviated from the North Downs Way and headed along roads to the Julie Rose Stadium for the finish.  That stadium seemed to take forever to come.  At one stage I asked a man how far it was, he told us about 800 meters, but it was at least another mile!  Paul and I were watching another runner ahead and kept waiting for him to turn but he kept going.  By this stage I couldn’t run.  There was grit in my shoes, my feet were hurting, my back ached, my legs were shot and I was feeling battered and bruised.  My arms were scratched and grazed from the trail and I was bruised from my early fall. I just needed it to be over. But I was almost there and I was going to get my second buckle!

The finish

I eventually shuffled into the stadium with my new buddy Paul, and of course you have to run to the finish line.  It was only 100 meters and somehow you find it at the end, so I pushed the legs and feet to run to the finish line.  My daughter Natalie and my friend Nina had come to ‘scoop me up’ and had been waiting patiently.  They cheered and filmed me as after 28 hours 34 minutes I finished the North Downs Way 100! I clocked up 105.7 miles, not quite sure how I completed that race but I did it!

Stuart was at the end (with Sarah) taking some amazing photos.  Of course Nici was there too dishing out buckles and hugs.  I was presented with my second buckle and felt so proud, despite being barely able to walk.  Oh and Rob finished not long afterwards,  putting him in the record books!

As for me, well  240 people started the race, 153 finished, 23 of those who finished were women, and the 13th woman was little old me! I’ll take that.  Oh and guess what ….. I want to do another one!

 

Family

When you run an ultra, you are not running alone.  You can run in solitude if you choose to, but every runner out there is looking our for each other.  It’s like you are a family on the trail, the camaraderie is second to none.  Then there are the volunteers, they are just amazing.  They feed us, fill our bottles and bladders, look after us, fetch for us, make sure we are ok, encourage us and direct us.  They are always smiling even throughout the night and they give up their time to help for free.  I would like to volunteer at a race and I would love to give to runners some of that special support that volunteers have given to me!

What next? …..

My bucket list needs a very big bucket …. there are some amazing ultras out there.  As many know, I have a real ambition to do UTMB.  I now have 11 qualifying points, so only 4 needed from 1 more race.  2018 is the plan for that to celebrate 50th Birthday.  There are a few others that I would love to do too.  Right now, I have an adventure running up Mount Snowdon in a few weeks time with my lovely daughter.  But I am also eager for another ultra to train for …. so watch this space