Written by Richard Stillion - https://richyla.wordpress.com
26.11.2016
1st Male Jeff Pyrah: 7.9.26
1st Female Samantha Amend: 8.51.00
The inaugural Wendover Woods was the final Centurion Race of 2016, the four 100s were done and this was the fourth 50 of the year. It was also Centurion’s first lap race consisting of 5×10 mile loops, the course resembling (to me anyway) a badly drawn hoody figure with elfen shoes and long arms.
The overall elevation was 9,500 feet of a lot of ups and downs.
I can’t help thinking that this race had the feeling of a fun run about it, only without the fun, or indeed the running, hehe. Sections of the race had been given names, possibly for a bit of fun, and possibly if someone was injured they could describe the section they were on. Section names were Power Line, Hell’s Road, Railing in the Years, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Hillfort Loop, Gnarking Around, The Snake and Crossroads Loop (although I can’t remember seeing this sign). I did think of a few more names for parts of the course, namely:
Root Avenue
Root Plaza
Root Canal
Joe Root Street
Root……there were plenty of roots – I suppose if you’re in a wood, then it goes without saying. Amazingly, it wasn’t until about mile 48 that I had any grief with the aforementioned trip hazards, more of which, later. There was one point I saw the ubiquitous Stuart March – race photographer extraordinaire – on the floor. I’d assumed he was going for a certain camera angle, but who knows, he may also have tripped over a root and decided to stay there for a bit.
I hadn’t run this sort of distance since 2014 and training was going well until a road marathon about five weeks ago where my right foot ended up in a lot of pain. I tried a few training runs, but the pain persisted, so it was a case of rest. Annoyingly, the pain didn’t go. Even on the morning of Wendover I was wondering whether to call it off, but I just went on the theory that if it hurt when I wasn’t running, I may as well go and run. I really needed to get out and I’m also doing the Arc of Attrition in February and I saw this as essential training so the alarm was set for 5.20am, I sorted a pretty minimal mandatory kit and off I went. It was foggy and pretty cold when I got to the trig-point field. I was wearing a long sleeve running top and jacket, beanie and gloves, but I didn’t want to put any more on because once you start running, you overheat. So it was a case of hanging it out until the start, which wasn’t long in fairness. We all walked across the field, queued politely to get over a stile and assembled for the start. Whilst waiting for my turn to go over the stile, I met Victoria – the person who inadvertently got me into this fine mess in the first place. It was good to have a chat and a catch up. Following a “power” briefing, James got us away bang on time. We were on a bit of a slope so l planted myself at the back and walked up. I was unsure about my foot anyway so wanted to start gently and the route was going to be a difficult one – the three other Centurion 50s had a 13 hour cut off, this one was extended to 16 hours, read into that what you will!
It was also going to be a psychological challenge because as a looped route, the drop option was available every ten miles, so this called for a strategic approach.
First loop was an exploratory one. I’d read a few Facebook comments from people who’d covered the route a few weeks ago and there were plenty of reports of very steep ascents, so it was going to be interesting. The first mile included a bit of an incline, but then some easy running, passing a Gruffalo carving. For the next twenty miles or so I was trying to think how the rhyme went about terrible teeth in terrible jaws, but I couldn’t remember what it was that was all over his back. I remembered the poisonous wart on his nose.
The course was all over the place and pretty complex but was exceptionally well marked – Centurion staff were constantly doing the rounds to check on the markings throughout the race. Some parts of the course came very close to each other and in the briefing James had pointed out, if you want to cheat, then do so, but you’re only cheating yourself. Even now, it’s difficult to remember which bit of the course came first but I’ll write as I remember it.
As I mentioned, I can’t remember seeing a crossroads sign, but I think this was possibly the first loop which wasn’t too long, bit of downhill, around then back up again.
Next was Power Line – basically a path under a power line which opened out onto a field and across to another part of the wood, then back up again.
The next section brought you down to the aid station which was situated around halfway, but hold on, you can’t go in, you have to go that way – Hell’s Road. It goes without saying it was uphill. For quite some time, I might add. And then there was an even steeper uphill. Followed by a downhill. Oh, hang on, and then uphill again to the Go Ape area. Now it was downhill and then along a rooty bit and eventually a road track down to the aid station. I recognised Corinne here and said hello. I tried not to faff for the first couple of laps so carried on up a long and not too steep hill. Then there was a good, clear, stretch of running leading eventually the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. I’m assuming a Green Day fan was in residence when they were thinking this one up as it certainly wasn’t a broken dream to run, it was possibly the best bit of open stretch to run on. Regarding markings, on loop 4 I was daydreaming with my head down and missed the turning, but thankfully there was an orange X sprayed on the floor to show it was the wrong way! Saved me a bit of time backtracking.
On next to The Snake, just above Wendover town/village. This part was used in the Piece of String race a few years back which I was helping out at. I remember a few of the runners – Anna Buckingham and David Pryce to name a couple of them – just ran up this part, loop after loop. It’s only when I was slogging a walk up it myself that I had an appreciation of how good these runners are.
So a long slog later and then I turned back on myself to the Hillfort Loop which was a pretty nice section to run on. The hillfort being of similar ilk to Segsbury Camp, Uffington, Liddington and Barbary Castle on the Ridgeway. It was around here that I caught up with Charlotte and Julian so it was good to say hello. The route took you downhill until you met a marshal and there it was – Gnarking Around. I looked this word up and it’s in the urban dictionary. It was pretty apt. But to me it became Gnarls Barkley. There were quite a few of us slogging up this bit, it was very steep but pretty short and I mentioned out loud that this would be fun at mile 49. So one mile to go to finish the loop, a bit of down and up then along to Railing in the Years which were some of the worst bits of railing I’ve ever seen, you had to bend double at the start of them to grab hold of them. Crossing the road, there were some wooden railings and I found that they were good leaning posts to empty my shoes, which I found myself doing every lap due to the crud that got in them. Gaiters may be an option. A bit more of a climb at this point to the top, then turn left and you could see the end of the loop. Over a stile then on to shout your number, pick up some food, then out again.
So that was the loop. Up and down, up and down. We had to have our head torches with us after 1pm. James Elson (race director) had suggested people may drop at the end of the third loop, so to make sure I didn’t do this, I didn’t want to hang around at this point, so I picked my head torch up at the end of the second loop, along with a ton of gels and a wad of Vaseline. I carried the splodge of Vaseline with me until I reached the woods before applying it!
The fog had also lifted after an hour or two showing the woods and surrounds in its autumnal splendour. I kept bumping into the Centurion guys checking the course and it was good to see Drew, Claire, Chris and Gary and another chatty guy who I didn’t know.
I was wondering how long it would take for me to get lapped by the front runners and was praying it wouldn’t be the first lap! In fact it was around mile 19 when two guys absolutely flew past. The race was full on, they were ten miles ahead of me already. They came hurtling down one section and then up again, so light on their feet. Good to get a glimpse to see how it should be done! I was pretty pleased in the end that I think I was only lapped by about 20 people in all, I thought it would be more.
As for the psychology of the loop running. For my part, I broke it down as loop one being an exploratory loop, taking it easy. Lap two, reaching the half marathon mark, then 17 miles saw a third of the race done. Loop three would reach the halfway point, marathon point, then anything more, would be ultra territory. Loop four – well, 33 miles was the most I’d run in the last two years, so it was good to go past that, and for the rest of it, I just thought, for every step I’m taking, I only have to do this once more. The final loop – well, that’s okay because you know that you don’t have to do it again!
I picked up a niggle at the end of loop four on the outside of my knee and it really hampered my running for about four miles. It went as soon as it came so I could get on and run thankfully. As for the root incident. This was around the Hillfort Loop. Down I went, quite hard on my left side which jarred a bit. Wanting in on the action was my right calf which simultaneously went into full on, rock solid, cramp. I was really impressed with my theatrical yelps and aaaaaahs, but where’s an audience when you need one? I just lay there until I could feel the calf loosen up a bit. I was wondering if it was going to be cramping for the rest of the race, but thankfully it was fine. So, off I waddled and finished the race in a time I, personally, was delighted with. I was so euphoric I was thinking of stage diving the finish gantry, but it would have just been my luck to have punctured it. That would have gone down well. I settled for a bit of a bounce off it. And then my medal, t-shirt and some welcome, wholesome soup.
Is that the finish? Nope. For the finale, I must thank each and every person involved with this race. The markings were absolutely faultless on a thoroughly demanding but really fun course. Marshals, out on a cold day for the full 16 hours duration of the race – plus putting up and putting away. A lot of the 100s don’t require that amount of time. Everyone involved was cheerful and encouraging to the last. Thank you, thank you.
Congratulations to Centurion – James, Nici, Drew et al. on another successful year and kudos to all the 100, 50 and 100+50 mile grand slammers – to remain fit throughout the year is no mean feat and is something that eludes me.
I dedicate this race to my wife, brilliantly supportive in the last month and waiting for me when I got home with a hot bath, followed by food and lots of simpering noises to my self-inflicted agony.