Written by Michelle Bowen - http://www.runbowenrun.com/
I have decided to write this blog tonight whilst the feet are still warm, the quads are still tight and the shoulders are heavy.
Since my debut ultra-marathon in August last year I have squeezed in a few races, I have loved everyone and yet there was something special with the Clif Bar 10 Peaks. I think it was a combination of the close community of volunteers and marshals and this race being one that truly tested the heart and mind as well as fitness and physical capability.
I made a few mistakes in my last race – Race to the Stones, whilst still happy to finish 6th lady, I found it hard going from the 30 mile mark as a result of poor preparation. I was determined to get back on track with the preparation for this race, namely my race nutrition. I recalled the Berghaus Trail Team presentation by TORQ specialist Ben, 3 units of TORQ product per hour (energy drink, gel and/or bar) and whilst your mental and physical ability will get you to reach the end, not enough can be said for adequate fuelling of your body for such endurance events.
#Team J=Ollie my support crew
Me and my support crew, #Team J-Ollie, made our way to YHA Danywenallt in the Brecon Beacons to set up camp on the Friday night as it was a 5am start. We met some crazy guys from Nottingham, namely ‘Whack’ the ex-para who was great fun and the camaraderie I love about the ultra-running community was there from the onset. Most of us were bedded down quite early in expectation of the gruelling course ahead.
Race prep with the ultra-box
It was a 4am rise for most, in the dark you could hear and feel the anticipation as everyone finished their race prep, had breakfast, dressed and talked through their thoughts on what lay ahead. It was already warm at this point, a far cry from the Brecon’s Ultra I did in December.
The long course set off at 5am and had 2 mandatory peaks to hit before we began the 10 peak countdown… does that technically mean it was the Brecon Beacons 12 Peaks? To the first dibber it was a nice long steady climb enough to warm the legs up and to spread the field out a little, another 1.5km on from here I made my usual navigation error, not paying attention and following the head torch of the guy in front we picked up the return leg for about another 1km or so before realising. A quick off route detour, we came down a steep descent to pick up again on the right track, unfortunately losing a little ground. I figure it would not be the same if I didn’t nav wrong at some point.
I hit the climb up to Twyn Mwyalchod hard to try and pull back some places and then onto checkpoint one, which was a really long intense descent down to the road. This was the first point I saw #Team J-Ollie patiently waiting for me to arrive, all too excited I failed to notice the bridge and ran straight through the stream!
It was about another 10km to Checkpoint 2 and hard work as there was a lot of unmarked track over moorland. There were 2 dibber points along the way, Fan Fawr (734m) and Fan Lila (632m). Due to the kind weather of late, the ground was quite firm and I only manage to lose my trainer once.
Again another descent followed into the carpark for Checkpoint 2, I was feeling a few hotspots on the feet already at this point so went for a sock change before they developed.
Checkpoint 2 to 3 was relatively flat along a marked track, good to get the legs going again and to make up some ground. At this point there were 3 of us that were chopping and changing positions, I got the feeling that my ability to get past them on the climb was a waste of time when it came to the descending and they both just coasted past. We all hit Checkpoint 3 around the same time, quickly taking what I needed from my drop bag, I set off with the others to continue the cat and mouse game. After a few more climbs I called back “No doubt I’ll see you half way down”…
It was now a long way to hit the next 2 peaks, Fan Brycheiniog (802m) and Bannau Sir Gaer (749m). A head for heights was required at this point as we ran along the ridgeway, the view was spectacular and just below you could see Llyn y Fan Fawr.
On a dreaded descent
The route to Checkpoint 4 was similar to 2 to 3 there were rolling hills through marked and unmarked moorland. I was eager to get to the checkpoint as I had been out of fluid for about 30 minutes now, it was really warm and I was sweating a lot. At the checkpoint, I took on 200ml of rehydration salts and refilled my Camelpak with TORQ energy. It was a good job too as the next climb was so severe, I think was by far the hardest. Fan Gyhirych (725m) climbed almost vertical from the road, it was relentless and in my mind I was counting 20 steps upright followed by 20 steps forward pushing off my thighs. Just when you thought you were nearly there it became obvious this was going on for a bit longer as it increased from 600m to 725m. I remember at one point I was literally on hands and knees pulling on the grass to pull myself up, I had to take a few minutes breather before pushing on to the top.
Still with the same running buddies, we had worked well together on the climbs and descents but unfortunately one dropped off on this climb.
We hit another smaller peak, Fan Nedd (663m) before coming onto the roman road, which although was incredibly difficult and painful to run on at this stage it was a relief to get on some flat ground for a while. Another smaller peak to hit Fan Frynych (629m) before we descended down a tricky path to checkpoint 5, the Storey Arms. At this point my quads we shot, the balls of my feet were on fire. A slightly longer but much needed pit stop allowed 2 other runners to come up behind us unfortunately for me it was lady number 3 and she was looking fresh.
We set off in opposite directions, lady number 3 and her pacer set off according to route and took the longer but slightly less intense climb up to the infamous Pen-Y-Fan, we under the recommendation of a marshal took the more intense but shorter Beacons Way. With not enough power left in the legs, the heat and sore feet, this proved to be the wrong decision and they made it to the top before us. Dibber points 8, 9 and 10 were close together and rolling ascents into descent, from Pen-Y-Fan to Cribyn to Fan-Y-Big being our last checkpoint.
The journey back was long, the descents had taken their toll and whilst I still felt strong on level ground any slight decline was hurting now. Me and my new running buddy (Jonathon) kept a good pace to track the long 6km to the finish, keen to get in before the sun went down, the final descent to the road I never thought would end but miraculously the pain subsides temporarily as you’re overcome with adrenaline at the thought of completion.
Jonathon… 10 Peaks running buddy
As always my support crew were there when I needed them, I definitely feel like I got back on top with the preparation. I said before I ran I would run hard but not race, it’s very difficult to keep the competitive spirit at bay. Every time I complete one of these amazing endurance events it highlights my weaknesses but weaknesses that can be worked on and improved, more importantly it highlights my strengths. This one tested the legs and lungs, without doubt it was physically tough but with a strong mind and passion for what I do I proved to be unbreakable one more time.
I lay in my tent that night – after a very cold shower and copious amounts of hot sweet tea, listening to the runners coming back at midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am, 4am and my hat is off to you, the Brecon Beacons at night is not a place I would like to be. Around 5am, I heard there was still one guy out, I wonder if his navigation skills are as bad as mine or whether he simply came to exhaustion. The Brecons are an amazing place; there is a reason the SAS our elite force uses this as their training ground and I sure as hell found out why!
Brecon Beacon 10 (12) Peaks there is only one thing left to say “Good god it was a toughie!”
Amazing view from the car as we left
…Next year? Not sure yet?