UltramarathonMike

I have been waiting for this weekend to come for a long time, from the moment the concept was mooted to me by my good friend Neil Cavill I knew this was something I wanted to help with in whatever way I could. As a result I am now winging my way up to Glasgow on an uncomfortable train to run 23 miles along the West Highland Way with. This will be my small part in a 24 hour relay along the full length of the West Highland Way in aid of several Meningitis charities.

The run is in aid of a little girl called Holly who suffered at the cruel hands of meningitis, unlike a lot of children Holly fought through. She has a long road ahead of her, from what I have read about Holly and through the people around her I have met and spoken too she has some amazing support and love around her. My daughter, Megan, is almost exactly the same ago as Holly and I can only begin to imagine what it would be like to see a lively toddler go through such an ordeal.

More details on this massive effort see how the runners are doing and more importantly how to donate to the charities please go to http://raceagainsttime2009.wetpaint.com/

Nick Ham is returning for the 4th time to do the legendary and epic Western States 100 from Squaw Valley in California. With 18000 ft of ascent, 23000 ft of descent, altitude, snow, heat and water to contend with this route is not for the faint hearted. His recent posts from the unseasonably cool and seemingly snowy squaw valley point towards an interesting year.
Good luck Nick!

Also from the UK the almost unstoppable Jez Bragg is also taking part this year and I suspect a good time will be achieved.

This was my second visit to the Swaledale Marathon and it’s no secret that I was gunning for it and wanting a respectable time.

As per last year the Beverley AC contingency were staying up at the local YHA in Grinton. Disaster initially struck when I realised I had left my chafe saving UA shorts on my bed at home. Ridiculous boardies on and putting all thoughts of blood and red raw skin aside we set of for registration, kit check and the start. Once done we stood around in the hot sun for a while and realised that any chance of a cooling shower was gone and it was just going to be warm.

As we gathered in the field I was tapped on the shoulder by Sharon Gayter who I had met last week at Wharfedale, there was certainly going to be some good times put in today!
After we set up the start climb which grinds away relentlessly, all the way to the top in fact, I felt good, very good in fact and it was holding even with all this steep gravity defying nonsense. Towards the top Sharon ran past me, albeit at only a slightly faster pace than me it was faster none the less and I couldn’t keep up.

The top was a relief, and it was now along a flat and down, the flat was boggy last year and this year was no exception, for added fun I lost a shoe. The steep descent proved it’s usual fun and was nice and fast to boot.
The next sections are gravely and roady and it soon starts to climb again. It’s the kind of climb that definitely is going up much more than is comfortable but chops and changes so much and twists so much you never are quite so sure! It was definitely hot…

Still feeling good after the climb up to the waterless checkpoint and across the moor it wouldn’t be long before were were snaking around the quarried area. After some self clips and just when a little much on something would be nice disaster struck, the checkpoint was loaded with Jam and Tuna sandwiches! Two filings I won’t touch normally were made even more unappetising after being presented during a long run. With the bitter sting of disappointment and broken sandwich based dreams I carried on knowing things were going well, almost on track I would have said!

After the quarry I chatted with Gary Armitage who last year came in around 10th in the highly respectable time on 3:30. We discussed ultra running, the MdS & other runners who we knew and had heard of almost all the way down to Gunnerside. Although nowhere near the 3:30 of the previous year I was certainly doing well for beating last years run and achieving a good finish. As we headed down to Gunnerside and neared the bottom things suddenly started feeling bad, there was a rumbling in my gut and something wasn’t quite right – far from ideal at the climb out from Gunnerside is the final nail in the coffin if your ambitions and hopes are coming off the rails…

Out of Gunnerside and climbing up the climb I was slowing, in fact slowing down was the only thing I was doing at any speed. During the brief respite I chatted with another runner (who’s name I have forgotten) who picked me up to just over 8 minute miles and things started to look OK again. After about 8 minutes of this and heading towards surrender bridge my gut was causing me real grief and I was slowing fast, even downhill!
Things just got slower and even though the climbing was done the times I wanted slipped away and I thought any hope of a top 100 or better position was gone. The end was drawn out long. It was best described by a runner who was about to pass me, who, upon me looking round exclaimed “jeez you really look in pain!”. I was certainly plodding and feeling off the mark but I think the biggest part that hurt was the pride.

The evil, bad, evil evil rocky gully into Reeth seemed twice as long as last year when I bounced down it taking a few places and gunning for the finish, still almost there! Just need to let a couple more runners past.

My Dad was waiting with the camera as I came in the finish, as they had all the way round the crowds were cheering and clapping every runner.

Coming in at 4:40minutes, 8 minutes slower than last year was disappointing but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was this year in 89th compared to last years 110th(ish) position. Gary Armitage put in a rather decent 4:21 (51st) and some members of the Beverley AC team put in great performances (Jane & Andy putting a notable 15 minutes on last year) and the ladies team scooping second ladies team position.

Definitely a great year but one which must be bettered next year!

This is my 4th visit to Wharfedale for the Marathopn Events and this year, as prep’ for next weeks Swaledale Marathon I revisited the excellent half marathon.

It’s only 13 miles, but it’s a tough 13 miles, and with over 2500ft of climbing and the legendry Mastilles Lane to contend with you could well be forgiven for cursing the day you decided off-road running in the Dales was ‘just the sport for you’.

Unlike every other year this was sadly going to be a flying visit so I was up at 6am, ready and out the door to pick up Graham. On the way the windscreen wipers got thoroughly tested in fast mode and the leaden skies just didn’t go. The cold wind and weather confirmed summer had been swapped with winter…

Once in for registration I hijacked Nick Ham whose blog I read and also has taken part in the work with Paul Murgatroyd. Nick describes himself as a plodder, however if you look at his ultra running CV, you will see that modesty is also a trait carried by Nick! He certainly runs the sock off me, it was great to meet him after reading his accounts of all of the races that I have also done.

After the marathon set off we had half an hour to warm up. Yesterdays PNF stretching and today’s suppleness had me thinking today was going to be a good day… We set off at 11:30, and other than there being a touch too much rain it could have been a whole world worse. The start is marked by a short downhill road section then a steep climb up through Grassington itself before a long drag over fields, limestone and some rocks to the first checkpoint. After a while the good times were over, my calf muscles were locked in a battle of wills and would not shift, my ankles movement was limited and my gait was starting to resemble that of Bod. Both myself and Graham knew something was up, and he knew it was bad when he caught me up! Not only that, he caught me up, passed me and arrived at the top a good while before me …

I dibbed my dibber in the dibbing machine to check me in and set of on the sharp decline toward the base of the valley to pass Kilnsey Crag, and on to the epic Mastilles Lane. I tried to pick my pace up knowing I was some 2/3 minutes behind Graham. Despite the pain my downhill technique kicked in and I managed to resume some of the places I has lost after the start. Along the base of the valley I realised I was catching him and I was certainly feeling better. Once on Mastilles I felt much better and continued to gain on him, not even the heavy cold rain could stop me now. On the way up I passed a lady who I had talked to during the marathon last year, we shared a few words which were mostly about the notable weather difference!

Graham was in my sites and it wasn’t long before I was right behind him and shortly after that slightly ahead of him. After such a bad start I was determined to salvage something from the race. The top of Mastilles is always a welcome site and marks a checkpoint and that the worst of the climbing is definitely done. I was in the swing of things after Mastilles and my pace was good as we dropped to Broadley farm and the next checkpoint. Graham wasn’t far behind.

The very sharp but short climb shortly after the farm slowed everyone down but I kept plodding on and managed to pass a few folk. Once such chap, Richard, told me he enjoyed the blog! Knowing that people do read and enjoy some of my work on here was and always is a real boost and probably helped my pace a little!
The next stage over rough moorland symbolises some of my favourite terrain, it has me bouncing along sporting a stupid grin whilst dipping my feet in every bog.

As I bounced down with the finish under a mile away the course joins the road from Wood Nook campsite I was (already) reflecting on the run, although I was far from sure I had even bettered my 2007 time of 2:32 I was happy that I had managed to turn round what could have been a disaster. After I had finished I turned around to catch Graham coming in, after all he was only a few minutes behind me … after a long wait he eventually came in and I ran the final few hundred meters with him. After the last farm he had encountered a number of issues which really slowed him down.

We handed over our dibbers and they printed out our times. I was genuinely shocked to see a time of 2:10, a new p.b. on this course and a whacking 20 minutes on my previous best (2:58 - 2006, 2:32 - 2007). It would have been nice to have reached my sub 2 hour target but I wasn’t complaining!

Graham was 4 minutes of target at 2:34.

After wards I hijacked Sharon Gayter who I spied in the queue, Sharon is a top flight international ultra runner . She is also friends with Ivor who I know through Beverley AC and of course knows Chris Carver too.
We chatted about various runs, events and runners and a little about the legendary Badwater Ultra Sharon is competing in shortly.

All in all another great year in Grassington done and dusted.

Some

• http://www.wharfedalemarathonevents.com/
• http://ultraploddernick.blogspot.com/2009/06/wharfedale-off-road-marathon.html
• http://www.sharongayter.com/

With at least four great runs coming up in June & July my legs have been so tight this week I fear for their future, alas I have been too busy to get it sorted professionally but a good PNF stretching session this evening seems to have loosened things up a bit.

Good job as tomorrow morning is my annual pilgrimage to Whafedale for what looks to be an unusually wet and possibly wintry run around the half marathon course.

After 3 years with almost unbroken sunshine I guess it wouldn’t last forever, but I would rather a wet day in the hills that a dry one stuck inside!

After this weekend it’s on to Swaledale for the SOC Marathon and then later to Scotland. The next ultra? Osmotherley Phoenix, 33 miles.