Salomon GTX Active Shell

-

Activities in the hills and mountains require conditioning, respect and preparation. Part of this ongoing learning is constantly seeking to find solutions that meets all the demands these endeavours bring. But finding a single solution is often impossible when trying to balance optimum performance and safety.  My own preference is one of minimalism, an ideology oft championed in this era of mountain trail running. And while minimalism brings advantages to the table as we can undoubtedly move faster and lighter, but to what detriment?

Clearly the first and most important consideration is that of safety.  As passionate as we can be, this is an activity for fun and fulfilment after all – albeit one that carries an inherent and manageable risk. And this is the point of managing risks in a sensible and responsible way that keeps both ourselves and others from harms way.

This brings me to the crux of the matter.  In our constant pursuit of speed and performance what is sacrificed? I often despair when I see talk on social media of going light on mandatory kit for mountain ultras. Individuals either completely omitting items or in some cases going as light as humanely possible. I‘m not here to preach from a pedestal, merely to share the experience of my own short-comings and the subsequent learning.

The best way to demonstrate my own learning whilst wearing an insufficient jacket for the prevailing conditions, is to reminisce a specific point of learning;

I’ve been berated numerous times by a good friend and mountain expert in the past for my blasé attitude regarding certain safety equipment. And it was during a recce for the Lakeland 100 earlier this year I had my reality check. It was a typical Lake District day, a relentless sheet of rain cascading into the hillsides, feeding the streams and rivers, manifesting into raging torrents. Dark clouds clung to the mountain tops with a tenacious grip. Despite the incessant weather me and my two running companions, Mark and Stu plied ourselves from the warmth of the car into the bitter and windy conditions. It may have been deceiving in that it was in fact early May and I expected some level of heat in the atmosphere. Of course moving quickly in most conditions allows the body to keep warm and stave off hypothermia. Which is fine until things go south and movement is limited or even ceases entirely. Although I was only wearing shorts, t-shirt and a feather weight waterproof jacket, I’d packed some waterproof over trousers and a spare dry long sleeved top. Confidence, or indeed arrogance held me to believe this would be more than sufficient. After all it was only late spring in the Lakes - it’s not like we were high in the Alps…

Some twenty miles in to our recce, we were sodden through to the bone, Stu had rolled his ankle to add to his injury woes of an ongoing dodgy knee. Yet still I marvelled at the astonishingly beautiful route. Even in such inclement conditions, the Lakes can shine through with its majesty. I can’t say I was particularly suffering at this point. We had been moving relatively well and at low altitude, although wet I felt warm enough in my flyweight jacket I’d often relied upon with its meagre insulating properties. However as we began ascending Black Sail Pass my situation evolved for the worse. With Stu’s injury and the ever steepening ascent we slowed to a crawl. The wind was driving rain horizontally in my face, battering my body and sapping me of all my heat. My jacket was unable to fend off the howling icy wind which penetrated through to my already damp clothes underneath.  I was rapidly losing heat from my core and shivering uncontrollably. I resorted to an improvised fartlek session up the mountainside, sprinting between large rocks for shelter from the wind. I could almost laugh at the hilarity of my plight, yet the impending sense of danger that pervaded me prevented this outlet.

As we crested the top of the pass and descended into the next valley, I informed my running party of my plight. Luckily as we descended I could see the lights on at the Black Sail YHA which sits at the top of the Ennerdale Valley. This proved more than fortunate as we could get out of the weather and finally get warm and dry. It was the spare, dry long sleeve top and water proof trousers that saved me that day and the lesson was consolidated. But what was prevalent was how my waterproof jacket had fallen short of the mark in keeping me warm and dry in such conditions.

The jacket was fit for a purpose, and moving at a ‘race pace’ it has served me well in the past. Yet I’d found a situation which exposed its weakness, despite the advantages of being super light-weight with great breathability. It would be unfair to name the brand and model of the said jacket as under certain circumstances it has proved more than competent. And this brings me to my point, our ancillary items for our mountain sports need to be relevant to the specific activity or type of session we are engaging in.

My search for a waterproof jacket that would tick these boxes started and ended with the Salomon GTX Active Shell. Admittedly, a premium item but justified in its merits. Manufactured from GORETEX, the materials achieve impressive levels of breathability despite 100% waterproof properties. As regards weight the jacket comes in at 240 grams which throws it nicely in the very light, but not necessarily ‘fly-away’ category. This is fine because it still packs down into a small stuff sack (included) that is compact enough to fit in modern race vests. It also has glued seams meaning the waterproof properties are optimal and it’ll easily pass any kit check I’ve experienced.

Be under no illusions the GTX is made with the sole intention of keeping the runner warm and dry, but with the breathability of GORETEX ACTIVE to aid when things speed up. And this brings me full circle to specificity, there are certainly jackets that drop down into the (admittedly impressive) 150g range – but I don’t believe that’s the intention of the GTX. For me the GTX fits most situations where I need to have a contingency to keep warm and dry. If I want something lighter for shorter and warmer 
conditions, I can opt for other jackets such as the Salomon S-Lab Light (70g!) or the Salomon S-Lab Hybrid. But that’s not where I see the GTX fitting into the range. I’ve run in warm and humid but damp conditions and found it fine, although some underarm zips or venting to aid cooling might be nice. But again this flies in the face of the purpose of the jacket and that’s 100% waterproofing without compromise. As previously mentioned no single solution exists for every situation, BUT the GTX is the nearest I’ve yet experienced.

Functionality aside the GTX is a stylish item, one which I’d admit I often wear to keep dry on a casual trip out with family or friends. The fit is excellent, with a nice cut that promotes movement whilst running without looking loose in places. The sleeves are cut slightly long to allow the user to pull them over the hands a little when things get chilly. There's a small chest pocket that can be useful on for holding a couple of gels or even a pair of gloves. Another useful and well thought out feature is the ‘Skin fit’ hood which has an elasticated, vented mesh inside that stretches across your forehead. This effectively keeps the hood comfortably in place whilst running, even during high winds.

If you venture into the mountains I’d highly recommend the Salomon GTX. It’ll give you the confidence that you’re well protected should the weather ever take a turn for the worse. Be under no illusions though, this is a premium product, but one that'll reward your investment with comfort, style and performance unparalleled in my opinion.

White Rose 100 - Keeping the Focus

 -

My season closer was again to be at the White Rose Ultra in the Colne Valley. A beautiful hilly location providing some great views and fun trails. The driver this year was motivated by the insanity that is accumulating UTMB points. After the disappointment that my Lakeland 100 run wouldn't be providing any points, I was left with the daunting prospect of running three 100 milers next year (I was entered for the Lakeland again as my A race for 2016 so I'd need 2 more for enough points). However I'm determined to exercise some restraint as regards the number of 100 milers I race in any given year, due mainly to the ever prevalent danger of over training syndrome. The warning signs for me being a 12 week virus exacerbated by a crushed immune system. So having entered the White Rose 60 miler this year it seemed 'wise' to upgrade to the 100 mile option to bag those elusive 4 UTMB points and take some pressure off of next years schedule.

In approaching a second 100 miler of the year I felt much less pressure to perform. I wanted a good result to take into the long winter months, but I also knew I was tired from my experience at the Ladybower 50 post Lakeland. As it turned out the week rolling into the race my cold finally lifted and my energy levels improved. The 100 mile route starts at midnight on Halloween and commences with an extra 10 mile loop before pushing onto three larger thirty mile loops. I'm accustomed to running looped courses, although I'm aware they can be tough mentally. Overall there was to be around 14'000ft of ascent over the route, which suited me fine as late on in races I can pick up places on the climbs where others often start walking more.


The day leading up to the race I tried to stay rested, but with a poor sleep the night before and a failed attempt at a snooze in the afternoon it wasn't the best prep. Equally my parental responsibilities meant  I was out trick or treating with my two younglings. Then we packed the car and set out for the hour drive to Golcar near Huddersfield. My wife dropped me at the race HQ at about 10pm, wished me well then took the kids home for some much needed sleep. I found myself sat in a chilly room full of anxious runners waiting about for the start of the race. I took the time to get some food in and some caffeine and chat to some of the other runners. With about an hour to spare my friend Chris Baynham-Hughes turned up. A well known face in the ultra-running community with his affiliations to the UK Skyrunning series and an impressive win at the Marmot 12hour this year. I caught up with Chris having not seen him since August when we'd met up for some adventures in Chamonix.


With about 10 minutes to spare we all filtered outside to the start line. I'd started to get quite chilly during the waiting time so had donned my Salomon GTX Active Shell to stave off the cold. I knew I would get quite warm when we started though so I stripped back the layers to just an S-Lab tee and an S-Lab Light Jacket. The weather was cool and foggy which held some moisture in the air. I mentioned to Chris about moving to the front of the pack to start, but he remarked that we should set off near the back to keep our pace in check. This seemed a sound strategy and with my lack of discipline in such matters I was keen to play along, so we lined up pretty much at the back of about a 100 runners. However this ended up being short-lived as Chris merely charged through the entire field up the 200 or so metre cobbled path before we hit some road. I chuckled at Chris' apparent impatience and eagerness at the start of an ultra that was comparable to my own 'shortcomings'.


And so it was, me and Chris ran out in front as the road pulled slightly uphill. I took a glance over my shoulder and saw the field were already 20 or 30 metres back. A brief conversation and we agreed to ease back a little to keep the effort levels low. This 10 mile loop was unknown territory for us both so nav was a little tricky in places. There appeared to be 3 or 4 marshals with vehicles that were leapfrogging to various points to direct the entire field.  This was great in principle but the race was spreading out already so we found the marshals driving past us shouting directions from their cars. The comedy of the situation was amusing us, but equally frustrating at times as we had to stop and wait for other runners who could point us in the right direction. The highlights of this 10 mile loop were a section along the canal and a climb into a muddy, foggy field with no clue as to where we were supposed to get out - cue the other runners catching us again! Annoying in most other scenarios but I was just enjoying myself so much chatting to Chris about running and politics. As we neared the end of the loop we discussed aid station tactics and agreed to pretty much run straight through the HQ. So as we ran in, quick water refill and out. The HQ sits at the bottom of a steep cobbled road on an industrial estate and as we ascended back out for our first 30 mile loop we saw 3rd place coming the other way. So we pushed on and put some pace in up the next steep climb to try and create a cushion.


The race turned into an exciting game of cat and mouse. It was easy to pin point other runners as we were all on head torches, so as anyone appeared to try and bridge the gap to me and Chris we just pushed on until we apparently broke them. This worked well till the sight of head torches behind us became less and less and further away. Despite this early charge I felt we were conservative on most of the bigger climbs, easing back where necessary to respect the distance. The 'bog of doom' was our first encounter with this suitably muddy section and I wasn't keen on drenching my feet this early on like I did at Lakeland. We managed to skirt the worst of it with only my toes getting wet really. I spent the next 10 or so miles reminiscing of my 60 mile race from last year. There's some really nice sections of single track that climb and fall with some quality gradients.


Typically of me, 20 odd miles into the race I had a small lull in energy levels. Luckily the steady pace we were moving at wasn't causing a major issue so I just soldiered on glad of the company with Chris. What was becoming a concern however was a nerve pain running down through my left calf. Typical of any taper, on the last few days before the race my back had started hurting quite badly on the right side. My experience earlier in the year with this is that the pain had then manifested as sciatic pain down my right calf. Oddly at this point in the race my right side felt fine, yet the left calf was coming out in sympathy with an agonising nerve type pain. One of the upsides of a race of this length is that most problems can be overcome or merely drift away and forgotten due to the sheer amount of time elapsed by the end. I don't mention these issues in my blog to serve as an excuse, far from it. I think in recording my experiences, both the ups and downs, I can gain the necessary learning to improve. It's through self assessment and reflection that I can grow as a person and an athlete.


Later down the trail we got stuck into some fast and fun muddy sections of descent and some pleasant rocky climbs that served to distract from the intersecting road sections. A highlight of this course for me is the ascent up to Wessenden Head. A valley that steadily keeps climbing, the trail hugging the side of the hill in a meandering single track. I really felt I was getting into my groove here so held what felt a comfortable pace pushing towards the 'summit'. Looking back at that point we couldn't see anyone in sight which is where I think we took our foot off the gas a bit, which wasn't helped as I think Chris was hitting a bad patch here. The last little sting in the ascent of the valley and the gradient kicks again, it was here Chris told me to just run on as he was suffering. I was torn with what to do here, hang on to the great company and ride out his bad patch together or push on. I looked down into the valley below and could see a head torch maybe half a mile back which made my decision for me - I trotted up to the aid station at the top where I took my time filling my bottles up. I looked back to see if Chris had caught up, but in his absence I knew the decision was made to push the pace and get on with the race.


That was a pivotal moment in the race really. Me and Chris had discussed this very scenario prior and also during the race. It was inconceivable that we'd be able to run an entire 100 miles without suffering lows. And my learning from the Lakeland 100 was exactly that, in running in groups you only end up running to everyones weaknesses. Equally I'm sure if I'd have waited for Chris, some miles down the road I would have ended up slowing him down somewhere.


And so here I was in the lead in a 100 mile ultra, feeling comfortable on the whole and moving relatively well. As I pressed on across the next section of moorland I glanced back and saw a couple of torch lights pursuing but it was difficult to gauge the distance back to them. The crushing reality that I would need to keep putting in this effort for another 65 or so miles weighed heavily. But I was also getting a taste of what was required to win one of these events. And with that taste came the hunger. I'd already planned that as I hit the Headquarters again I would grab what I needed and run straight through. I didn't want to dangle the metaphorical carrot to any would be pursuers. As I arrived at HQ the marshals were busy signing people in for the impending 30 and 60 mile race starting over an hour later. I shouted my number to be registered but initially I just received blank looks as I don't think they were expecting anyone just yet. I got my tick, filled my water and pressed on.

Happy and cruising

The adrenaline boost from running up front kept me from throttling off too much when I felt tired. With the sun now fully up the daybreak had given me renewed energy and I powered up the hills, danced the descents and kept my cadence high on the flats. Things were nicely going to plan.


My nutrition plan for the race had been ambitious - a friend, Conrad Wild had recommended a product called Tailwind. A product that has almost comedically received huge hype on social media in the ultra running community. Essentially a powered drinks additive with carbs and electrolytes combined. Hardly revolutionary, yet numerous people were singing it's praises even over 100 mile races. A product of clever marketing or a genuinely great solution to running nutrition? Well although a huge gamble I was going to find out. I'd carried enough for the first 12 hours of running and my wife & kids/crew would be arriving later and be able to stock me up if necessary. It turned out that throughout the entire race other than a sausage roll and a banana, I fuelled entirely on Tailwind. I was pleasantly surprised by this revelation - I never felt sick or suffered any real sugar lows or cramps. I can think of at least two previous races that were hampered due to being unable to eat with stomach issues - hopefully I've found my solution!


As the second large loop progressed I expected to start seeing 30 and 60 milers come past, but was surprised to literally not see anyone for hours. The next 20 miles were pretty uneventful, my pain in my left calf had eased to be replaced by what I can only describe as a tear in my right lower calf (soleus). It's an old injury that sometimes flares up post ultras, not normally during. Running on the flat the pain was more than manageable, it was ascending where I had to lift on to my toes as stretching the calf was agonising. It didn't feel like a race-ending injury, more something to be managed and nursed accordingly. Despite this I felt I was moving at a good clip and keeping the field off my back.

Coming into the aid with cowbells in full effect

As the race continued I felt myself naturally slip into that transcendent state where the mind empties completely. It's meditative and you almost get the sense that you could run forever. It's so hard to explain this phenomena and one needs to experience it to fully understand the sensation. It's apparent that running solo on such a long journey is what can manifest this state. Moments of joy, with movement the only concern of the body - breathing, perspiring, light legs bounding across the land, fully self aware. It's this focus that if maintained allows us to run distances that many think inconceivable. I would argue that almost anyone could achieve the same with the right motivation and conditioning. I'm certainly not superhuman, but I am determined. When pain reaches a certain zenith, you have to be confident it can't get any worse. Then it's just a matter of the body and the nervous system adapting to that stimuli and continuing to move on. From here on out it was just a matter a keeping the focus...

Running up to Wessenden Head

As I ran along a sweeping ridge line looking down at the stunning countryside below the tranquility was broken by the beautiful sound of my children screaming encouragement. At first I contemplate whether it's an hallucination before Ava and Cam barrel into me at full speed. My greatest joy at that moment is to see the excitement in their faces when I inform them I'm currently leading. My wife Emma arrives and I take the time to walk along with them all for a minute to regale my overnight adventures. As we hit the top of the road leading down to the base of Wessenden I see our Jeep parked up so I take the time to sit down on the bumper and sort my feet out. I'm content to sit with my family, wanting to share my experience with them. Unfortunately I'd lost focus, I took too much time enjoying the company I'd clearly longed for over the last few hours. It was then female runner appeared on the horizon, moving well. I recognise her from the start as a female Raidlight athlete from Norway called Irene Kinnegim, a veteran of many ultras and Ironman events. I know she will be impressive over this distance and spare no time in making things easy for her.


I jumped up and charged down the hill towards Wessenden, adrenaline pushing me on in the moment. As we hit the climb and the adrenaline wore off a little I tried to return to an easy effort to push on up to Wessenden Head. Unfortunately I just didn't have the energy at that time, my legs suddenly feeling leaden from the 65 miles of pounding they'd received. And here came the crux of the race for me. I looked back at Irene and saw how well she was moving and knew then it wasn't if but when she would pass me. Although competitive, I love that our community in ultra running is so friendly so I took the time to pass pleasantries with Irene. I complimented her on her pace before committing the cardinal sin of asking how far back third place was. The answer was a comforting 'oh, long way back' but I'm sure it would have given her the incentive to move ahead knowing I was concerned about who was behind me rather than first. But I guess it's how these things play out sometimes. I was fairly happy to let my body come round before trying to mount a counter attack. So my main aim was to keep in touch with her and see if I could turn things around. First thing was to get some calories in with the Tailwind, which over the next 30 minutes or so turned my low around.


It was on this climb I was also passed by first place in the 30 miler, Matty Brennan. After a quick chat and an update that Chris (Baynham-Hughes) was in third and still moving well despite a problem with his back, Matty moved on ahead up the climb. It occurred to me then that in my last 100 miler at the Lakeland, Matty had come charging past then too running to an impressive 2nd in the 50 miler.


After a little sulk about losing the top spot I had a word with myself and soldiered on with a purpose. I got my head back in the right place and regained my focus. I even started truly enjoying myself again out in the hills doing what I love. As the end of the final lap approached I reflected on my day so far, fairly pleased with the current outcomes. Yet my ambitions weren't yet extinguished so I  fuelled up and headed straight back out into the hills. I think part of what I truly got right during this race was to avoid hanging around at the aid stations at all. I was literally grabbing water and moving on. The accumulative time I wasted in aid stations during the Lakeland 100 is quite astonishing, something I will remedy next year when I return.


The last 30 mile loop entailed some decent running which fills me with confidence as regards my improving endurance over this distance. At about 80 miles in I passed the first of several 100 milers who were a full lap behind. I took the time to chat to each one and both congratulate their efforts and will them to keep moving and finish the event. The thought of being out for a second night would have filled me with dread so fair play to any of them that managed to get round the full 100 miles. One of these guys commented I was first male as I passed. This wasn't something I'd even considered, I enjoy racing and like most I want to win. I suppose there are two categories in ultras and I guess I was on course to win one of them at least. A hollow victory in my mind but all the same it gave me a boost to hold on when things felt tough.


I had run the first 80 miles in the Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra which had served me amazingly. They were grippy enough for the slick sections of trail, comfortable on the rocks and more than sufficient on the roads. That's not to say the sheer amount of pounding over the miles hadn't taken it's toll. I took the opportunity to change into some Salomon S-Lab X-Series. A road/trail hybrid shoe that just gave me a little extra cushioning late on when I needed it.


The end of the race started to pan out for me about 85 miles in as two guys running together caught me. I'd seen they were slowly closing me down over the last 10 miles or so, but the way they were moving led me to suspect they were probably 60 milers on their second lap. Sure enough when they caught me, just before the ridge line where I'd seen Emma and the kids earlier, they confirmed they were leading the 60 mile race. Both called John, one of them kindly commented on how well I was moving for the distance I'd covered. With this confidence boost I took the opportunity to run along with these guys and spent the next 3 or 4 miles tagging along, thankful for the conversation.


It was only as we climbed Wessenden for the final time the two Johns started to drop me. This wasn't all bad though as I got to enjoy the view of the sun dropping in a gorgeous blend of red and yellows, illuminating the sky in a vista worth framing. These moments make the pain and suffering seem worthwhile. To feel truly alive, exercising outdoors as a dichotomy to a society that continues to destroy the need for fulfilling movement in a generation of Apple worshipers. As a comical hypocrisy to that statement I took a minute to pull out my iPhone and take some pictures to capture the view...

Wessenden again as the sun sets

As the darkness descended, the last 10 miles were punctuated by a pair of headlamps pursuing me through the blackness. This incentive pushed me ever harder to the finish line. Rationally I knew it was unlikely to be another 100 miler, but equally in my tired state I couldn't be sure, neither did I want to get caught napping again. I was even still holding out hope I might catch Irene for an exciting race to the finish. As it turned out I wasn't to catch Irene, she ran a better race than me both pacing and clearly in her strength as a runner. With more experience and conditioning the better runner won. So with my 2nd place (1st male..) to hang on to I ran. And I felt I was running hard. The pair of lights haunting me every step of the way.





And as the final miles ticked off painfully slowly I could sense the finish. Digging deep I charged into the finish with no sight of the chasing lights anymore. I checked in to finish and my Suunto Ambit 3 had recorded a time of 18hours 58minutes for 1st male and 2nd overall.

At the finish before I've checked in

Prior to the race if I'd have been offered a sub20 and a podium I'd have been more than happy - so to fein any disappointment is disingenuous of me. My progress continues at a pleasing rate. Third place came in over an hour later so my fear was unfounded in the end, but that's not to say the thought didn't help me sneak under that sub19 time.


A few minutes after I finished, Matt and Richard Wilson came in for joint 3rd in the 60 mile race (the two chasing head lamps), and they were shortly followed by Debbie Martin-Consani who took 5th overall, 1st female and CR! Under normal circumstances this would have been business as usual for Debbie, but not for the fact she'd been hit by a car mid-race!! Hard as nails, that's all I have to say on the matter. Debbie had jokingly set the challenge before the race that I wasn't to let her catch me, so I must thank her for that extra incentive not to ease off late in the race.


A mention should also go out to Chris, who despite a crippling back problem he'd developed the week before held on for an impressive 5th place in the 100.

Quality nutrition post race

I also want to extend huge thanks and love to my amazing crew in Emma, the kids and the Garratt family. And also thanks to Salomon and Suunto for the ongoing support and having faith in me.

The crew sat waiting in Hank the Jeep

Ladybower 50 - Running on Fumes

(Fotografia2007)

≈

Nostalgia

The Ladybower 50 holds a certain reverence with me as back in 2013 it was my first 50 mile ultra. It’s also local so a night in my own bed always helps in allowing me to turn up well rested. It's an incredibly friendly event and a little lower key than some of the ‘championship’ events I've tended to enter throughout the year. The course is not particularly demanding compared to the more mountainous routes I often prefer these days, despite 4250ft ascent (according to Strava) it’s really only undulating throughout and underfoot generally very good. It certainly makes for a rapid runnable course, but this of course means it is also generally a fast race.

My history with the event has served to demonstrate improvement each year, from an 8:50 in ’13 to a 7:15 in ’14. I was pleased to take a decent chunk of time off my PB last year, and in doing so beat the previous course record by about 15 minutes. The caveat to this was that I was beaten by a runner (called Gareth Bowden) by about 50 minutes, who took even more time off the course record in the process! Since last year I’ve seen further improvements in my running, and as such I was curious as to how fast I could run, and equally if I could try to secure a victory. My primary goal for the day though was to beat my time from the year before, ideally with a sub 7 hour time.

Unfortunately, despite these aspirations, eight weeks prior to this race I had run my first 100 miler in the Lake District. The Lakeland 100 had dominated my training requiring me to amass lots of steady vertical ascent and time on my legs. Exacerbating this training demand further was a long bout of sciatic pain and subsequent physiotherapy to relieve the issue. The point being, that race was for me the pinnacle (short of the UTMB) of my running journey so far – a distance and course profile I had aspired to reach.  The issue with this was I had literally poured my heart and soul into achieving what, for me was a respectable showing on my first 100 miler. It continues to represent a distance which fascinates me and feeds my motivation to run these events. The downside was it has left me depleted, not only on a physical level but also mentally to an even greater degree.

This isn’t meant to represent a list of excuses for a poor performance, on the contrary I’m pleased with my race at the Ladybower. Rather I want to document my evolving motivations to push when mentally and physically challenged by the debilitating nature of ultras.

The Race - LB50 20th September 2015

The morning brought a calmness I don’t usually experience on race days. I’m normally a torrent of emotions ranging from excitement, nervous energy and often a feeling of readiness. I was in a great mind set, content to drive steadily down to the Derwent Valley where the race is held and take whatever the day served up. The sunrise was truly magical on the drive over the Strines Moor, a low mist in the valleys adding to the dramatic effect. All this ensured my good mood continued with the promise of a dry and possibly warm autumnal day. On arrival I signed in and was greeted by the race director Steve King who asked me if I was going to win this year?!? While flattering it did serve to bring the first flutter of some nerves. The support I’ve been lucky enough to receive from Salomon and Suunto has, at times added to the expectations by some in respect of my results, but has also contributed to my ever increasing improvements over the last six months. While this can help, it also adds to the pressure when I just want to focus on enjoying the experience and get the best out of myself.  I am of course hugely grateful for the support both Salomon and Suunto provide as I use all of the products to my advantage – particularly in the use of the fantastic equipment they provide for me! For this particular event, the Salomon S-Lab Sense Hydro Set handheld water bottle system was perfect due to the distance between aid stations and in addition. I also used the Slab Ultra Race Vest for a couple of the main laps capitalising on it's super lightweight but with extra room for food. This was also the first time I'd tried the new Salomon S-Lab X-Series which ticked all the boxes for this type of terrain with added comfort, precise foothold and assured traction.

Before we set off I was fortunate enough to bump into last year’s winner, Gareth, as we hadn’t had chance to chat last year. Not knowing who else was toeing the start line with us we set off together and led the race out along the first bit of trail. I love this section of woodland trail that gently winds up towards the A57 before skirting back up towards Slippery Stones via Ladybower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. It was great to spend some time talking to Gareth and get to know him a bit – top bloke and a cracking runner to boot. We progressed at a brisk but manageable pace dropping into the high 6 minute miles on the first little 5 mile loop before commencing the 3 larger 15 mile loops. This was the sort of pace when I ran the Highland Fling I was extremely comfortable at, maybe even a touch quicker, yet today it just felt a bit forced. My stomach hurt a touch and my breathing was a little laboured. I put the effort down to not running many fast miles since the Fling in April with the Lakeland being my primary summer focus. I resigned myself to continue for a while longer to see if I settled down at all. Another runner joined me and Gareth as we neared the first aid at mile 5, but as we ran through it split the group. Gareth ran straight through, I stopped momentarily to sort something with my wife (Emma) before charging on in pursuit and the other guy seemed to stop for water or something, but suffice to say I never saw him again.

I kept Gareth in sight all the way through the woodland trail again, but it was apparent he was running slightly quicker. I assessed my situation and how I was feeling in general and came to the annoying realisation that I was going to have to throttle off for a while. I found this disappointing as I’d been keen to race closer with Gareth for at least 20-30 miles then see how I’d feel for a strong finish. I love racing especially when you get embroiled in a battle, it's the times I can get the best from myself especially when someone’s pushing me all the way. It just felt a ridiculously early point to be experiencing relative defeat. I can honestly say I wanted to push at that point, yet surprisingly looking at my previous years run I was actually running a faster average pace, I just believe I was missing an extra gear that could have made for an interesting race. A pain in my stomach and a deep fatigue in my legs were threatening to make the wheels fall off my day. I certainly didn’t relish the idea of a DNF having not suffered one up to press (touchwood!). So I resolved to grind it out, if things turned round I might still salvage the day, if not I could be proud to force a finish on such a tough day.

                                                                         (Fotografia2007)

With the resolution to enjoy myself I moved on with a purpose and started to get back in the moment and soak it all up. The easiest way to move on was to concentrate on my form and ensure I was running efficiently and covering ground the best I could. And so my race became an exercise in good running form, focussing on every step, assessing my arm swing, leg-pull through, posture and cadence. All these elements ensured I continued to chip away at the course while repeating the mantra ‘Don’t walk’! As I ascended the far side of the reservoirs towards Slippery Stones at the top end, I got into a good groove and essentially broke the chasing pack. Sections of the route take big doglegs alongside the reservoir that serve to allow a good view across the water of competitors in front and behind. This confirmed that after about 16-17 miles into the race I was at least 10 to 15 minutes clear of third place with no view of any pursuers whatsoever. But this also did the same in relation to 1st place showing Gareth was once again putting the hammer down and breaking clear. I was in a better place mentally though and I was happy to run on feel despite my legs suffering a dead leg sensation.

(Fotografia2007)

As I ran into the 20 mile point my family were waiting to cheer me through which gave me a huge lift. I came through in 2:31 which was 7 minutes quicker than 2014, so I guess I was running well despite my internal concerns. I told Emma I wasn’t eating well with an upset stomach but grabbed some flapjack and a banana to get some solids in. I managed to eat them both over the next mile or so which helped my energy levels a bit. But I couldn’t help but wonder if my general low feeling was a product of the Lakeland still in my system. To add to my low feeling my hips started tightening up at around the 22 mile point making my movement laboured and slowing my pace a little. Back to form! I concentrated on my cadence and arm swing to ensure I kept a reasonable speed going. I’d already resigned myself to a hard day racing, but I was keen to get some positivity out of the experience. My middle 15 mile lap proved to be a complete suffer fest where my body didn’t want to respond to my ambitions. At the 25 mile point Emma failed to turn up with any coke, which I’d already figured would be the most effective way to keep my glycogen levels up to prevent me bonking. Another low!

(Russell Tanner Photography)

The High

Things started to come round eventually; I plugged into my ipod and got some inspiration from the music I’d selected, then Emma randomly appeared at the 30 mile point armed with a huge bottle of coke. I managed to throw about half a litre straight down my neck and psychologically it immediately boosted my energy levels. Despite this when Emma asked how I was I replied ‘I feel awful’, which prompted a National Trust warden to literally stop me. I assured him I was fine but he insisted I stop, so I had to explain that a sugar crash was quite normal for ultra-runners and I’d no doubt bounce back shortly. I then ran on rather amused by the exchange. I can appreciate the guys concern and if only he knew some of the awful lows endurance athletes suffer through, of course always with the promise of a potential high just around the corner.

And then quite before I really expected it I was coming into the last lap to meet my friend and pacer, Stan. A quick time check and I had come through in 4:41 (4:54 in 2014). I was told Gareth was a good 20-30 minutes clear now so I’d resigned myself to 2nd place bar a miracle, which gave me a clear mind to focus on getting sub 7 hours. Stan and I were joined for a short distance by a 'Strava' running friend, Craig who’d randomly turned up to wish me well. It’s this sort of community spirit that is why I love this sport. It was the first time I’d met Craig in person and it was another lift in a day that had started with me in such a negative place. When Craig peeled off we got to business and found that we were passing a number of 50 mile runners now on their second lap. I have to admit it was a great feeling especially as it reminded me there was a race going on behind after spending so much time by myself.

Me and my pacer Stan on the final lap (Russell Tanner Photography)

Stan continued to do his best to keep my spirits up commenting how well we were moving. Which is funny because all I could think was that my tight hips were impeding my stride and speed. We picked up Emma at the 40 mile mark as another pacer but she only lasted a couple of miles before she dropped off due to the pace (but in fairness she’s been injured for the last few months). I guess, which she later confirmed, we were moving better than I thought. Something that had become apparent during the race was the gradient of the ascents. What were once climbs in my mind were now no more than gentle inclines after competing in gruelling races like the Lakeland, making these hills runnable throughout. It’s this sort of perspective that demonstrates the progression I’ve made. I was pleased to see Carmen Franks near the finish line from Fotografia2007, who was kind enough to take some of the pictures that I have used for this blog. She's been really supportive of my running for which I'm immensely grateful.  

                          (Fotografia2007)

The Finish

I think it was about 3 miles out from the finish I felt the first rumblings of adrenaline for the end. This in turn translated into a new found spring in my step, my stride lengthening accordingly. As the speed increased it felt great and made me wonder if I could’ve stepped it up a bit earlier. In my heart of hearts though I knew I was running the best I could with how my body was functioning but something kicked in. The last ascent to the finish line came all of sudden and I couldn’t help but wish it wasn’t the end now as I’d reached a state of total enjoyment and satisfaction. I crossed the line in 6:50:08, a PB of some 25 minutes securing a solid 2nd place. Bearing in mind how weak I’d been feeling all day I could only be pleased with that result. Gareth had done amazing again, beating his own course record in the process, and I had the satisfaction of knowing I’d finished about 20 minutes closer to him than in 2014.

(Fotografia2007)

I take some confidence away from this race that when things are challenging I can face it head on and get the job done. I do these sort of events because they are incredibly tough and to be despondent on a day when it all feels too hard just isn’t in keeping with the motivation to be challenged. My passion for running and constantly pushing my own perceived boundaries only means these hard days serve to bolster my strengths further.

(Fotografia2007)

REST........for now

I’m currently enjoying my 4th day of rest after the Ladybower 50 to fully recover and reset before I commence training for the White Rose Ultra 100 miler in November. Hopefully I’ve got one last solid race in me to see the year out…

Thanks to Jeff Cole (http://www.injuryscene.co.uk) and Annie Needle (http://www.roomtorelaxholistictherapies.co.uk) for the sports injury treatment you have both given me, it assisted in my recovery for both the Lakeland 100 and the Ladybower 50. More importantly Salomon and Suunto for the fantastic support you have provided me, I am proud to run and be an Ambassador for such great sports companies.