You'll all be pleased to know that having satisfactorily kicked the backside out of it in April, I've decided to take things easy in May. To that end, all I've done this weekend is a 33 mile Ultra Marathon and a 100Km Audax!
Well, you didn't really think I was being serious did you, take it easy, Phaa, they'll be time for sitting around when I'm dead. But until then, as long as my legs keep going (which I'm seriously starting to doubt) there's running to be done! To which end, Saturday, saw me lining up for a relaxed 09:00 start, for Marlborough running clubs, Marlborough Downs Challenge. Which, as I've already alluded to, is a 33 mile off road trail run, taking in some of the delights of the Wiltshire Countryside. Starting, as the name suggests in Marlborough, before heading off to take in the delights of Knap and Tan Hills (two of the highest points in Wiltshire), Gopher woods, with it's carpets of Bluebells, the Kennet and Avon Canal at Devises, The Lansdowne Monument and White Horse, and Avebury (again). Surely there's got to be something for everyone in amongst that little lot.
After some light overnight rain, the morning was muggy, but with the promise of better things to come as we assembled for the pre race briefing in the grounds of Marlborough collage, and with formalities over, stood waiting patiently for the stoke of 09:00 when without fanfare we were off. And off fast too.
Considering the distance to be covered the front runners set off at a blistering pace, and not only was the pace fast, but it was straight up hill too! There was no way that I could hold that pace all day and to be honest, I wasn't even going to try. Letting the fast and furious go, I quickly settled into a pace that I felt happy with and it wasn't long before I'd passed a couple of people who had made that familiar mistake of trying to keep up and burned themselves out, which is never a wise move. Within the first couple of miles we were into woodland and I don't think that I've ever seen such a carpet of Bluebells and flowering wild Garlic. Mile after mile of solid blue and white flowers in full bloom was a real treat to behold. With the dappled sunlight shining through the tree cover, dry firm track beneath my feet and carpets of blue to either side, it was a magical few miles of running. In fact running doesn't get much better than that, and it was worth the effort of coming out just for those few miles! By the time we came back out of the woods and into more open ground the sun had worked it's magic and burned off the cloud cover that had been with us at the start, and the day was rapidly warming up. Good job I'd changed my mind on what top to wear and ditched the long sleeves in favour of short ones. It's not very often I make the right decision, but today seemed to pay off.
Through the first major checkpoint, where the 20 mile runners divert to take a shortcut and then were climbing for what seems like an eternity, following the downland ridge toward Devises, where eventually we drop down to pick up the flat Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath for a few miles. Canal life goes on around us as we pass, Ducks and Swans tend to their young, dog walkers take in the fresh morning air, whilst live aboard boaters take their time over leisurely late breakfasts, what a way to live your life!
Devises marks the half way point (nearly) and whilst I'm still moving well and holding a steady pace, my legs aren't feeling the love today. Maybe those 7 miles and the bike commute to work yesterday weren't the best idea? Or maybe that's all part of the fun, see what I can actually do. After the flatter canal section it's not long before we're climbing again, heaving reluctant legs back up hill, to regain the height we lost earlier. Head up and hold a steady pace and as soon as it flattens out a bit get some much needed fluids on board. The suns really shining down now and I can feel the first signs of cramp in my calf's, a sure sign that I'm not drinking enough!
Pushing on to the next checkpoint, I refill my water bladder and get a couple of extra cups of water down me, before grabbing some salty biscuits to munch on as I leave the checkpoint. That seems to do the trick and I settle back into a steady pace, ticking off the miles until the next big climb up to the Lansdowne Monument and White Horse, before we drop back down again to re-join the 20 mile runners just before Avebury.
Avebury is busy with tourists, making the most of the weather to visit this site of Neolithic historic importance, but save a quick glance at the standing stones as I pass, that's as far as my interest goes today. I tell my self that I really need to come and have a better look one day and not just run straight through, but for today, I push on. Having re-joined the 20 mile route it's not long until I start picking up the back markers of that race, which provides a welcome morale boost and simplifies my navigation (never a strong point). All I need to do is keep chasing down backmarkers and follow the one in front with the odd check of the GPS to make sure they're not leading me astray. Simples! Through the final checkpoint, where I grab some more water and more salty biscuits and then one final climb to take us up to the Ridgeway. I know from cycling adventures that it's uphill all the way from Marlborough to theRidgeway, and I'm hoping that the same will hold true for today's route, except that it should be all downhill.
Either way, I'm hoping it will be as I'm not feeling the love for this right now, in fact whilst I'm still holding my pace and continue to pass the slower 20 mile runners, I'm happy to admit that I'm struggling. One step at a time and keep going, focus on the person in front, close the gap and pass them, before doing the same again.
Slowly the miles are counting down, 28,29,30 and my earlier prophecy of a downhill run to the finish seems to be holding true, as we are gradually losing height. 31 miles done and there's a couple of short uphill sections. That's just mean! But push on, I'm nearly there. As I come up to 32 miles, a couple of nice ladies walking the other way offer a few words of encouragement and tell me the finish line is just round the next corner. A quick glance at my watch tells me that if I push I might just scrape in in under 5 hours. “Come on then legs, lets do this”. And they're right, the finish line is in sight, one final push and I'm over the line in 4:57 for 12th place from the 72 finishers. And you know what, I'm chuffed with that time. It's not particularly fast, even by my standards, but I found today a struggle and I don't know why.
From the start I just wasn't really enjoying myself, more going through the motions. I can't tell you why, it should have been a brilliant day out. The sun was shining, it's a brilliant route with loads of variety, stunning scenery and brilliantly organised. Maybe I am just tired and need a proper rest, or maybe it's just been one of those days when your not feeling your best?
I guess that the best thing to do, is put this one down to experience, and come and do it again next year, just to be sure that it really was the great day out that I think it probably will prove to be in hindsight, once my feet stop hurting! Edit – Now my feet have stopped hurting! Saturdays run was in fact great, I just wasn't feeling particularly brilliant and that's all there is to it. I didn't feel brilliant from the off and that makes a massive difference to your mind set and how you see any endeavour. As in this case, sometimes you just wake up feeling lethargic and shabby and Saturday was one of those days. That doesn't mean though that I didn't have a great time, because I did, and in fact I can't wait to get back next year for another go!
Right, I suppose we had better get on to Sundays fun too. After I'd supped my fair share of brews and scoffed as much cake as I thought I could get away with, I'd moved the van from Marlborough up to Uffington ready for Sundays fun and whilst doing so, spent a very pleasant few hours mooching around White Horse Hill and generally admiring the view whilst sitting in the sunshine.
That meant though that I was ready and raring to go (and actually was raring to go for a change) at Audax O'Clock Sunday morning for the Blowingstone -White Horse Audax. Although if I'm honest Audax O'Clock was significantly later than it normally is, due to todays efforts only being 100Km. If I'm honest there's not a great deal to say about this one. Except, it was brilliant! The sun shone, the birds sang, there was a great mix of hard climbs, interspersed with flatter sections to get your breath back, the roads were mainly traffic free and of an acceptable standard and my legs decided that they were happy playing despite yesterdays efforts. When I dragged myself out of bed, feeling stiff and tired, and looked at the overcast sky though the van skylight, I thought to myself “Can I be bothered with this today”? After a bit of breakfast and a good stretch I felt a bit better, and as the sun was breaking through the clouds as I got ready to go, it seemed rude not to. And I'm so glad that I did.
Yes, my legs were a bit stiff and “crampy” for the first few miles, especially after the first big climb, but the long downhill on the other side soon had a smile back on my face and reminded me why I do these stupid things in the first place. Once the sun had burned off the early morning cloud it was a beautiful day, with wall to wall sunshine, and it wasn't long before I'd removed all the layers that I could, whilst remaining decent.
At only 100km, I was back at the start having had a brilliant morning in well under 5 hours, so hardly and epic adventure or big day out, as things go, but all the better for it. If it wasn't for the fact that I was down that way for Saturdays Run, I wouldn't have bothered entering this ride, In fact until Thursday evening I had planned on having a day at home and going to a car show with “The Emma”. But, I'm really glad that I did, and in fact I suspect that with little bit of adjustment it could make an ideal and brilliant 200Km from home, that I'd be happy to ride over and over again. Fantastic. If every weekend was as good as this one, I'd be a happy man. And I'm pretty happy as it is! Oh, and to top it all off I finally saw my first Swallows and Swifts of 2022 and that's a sure sign that summers on it's way.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|