The Childs Eye View

You always hope to inspire your kids so that they are interested in the things you do - basically because you'd quite like to turn out several mini-me versions of yourself.

My eldest boy has started running at the local Parkrun is making me proud with his efforts.

Middle child thinks he has more sense and is happy enough to watch the idiot runners run round whilst he plays on his bike or sits and watches.

Smallest child is still a little young to be running too far - but he still has the boundless energy of childhood - if he ran as much as he talked he'd be running JOGLE non-stop.

What makes it interesting is their view of you.  As the SDW100 coincided with Father's Day the boys made me a well done banner.  Each drew a picture of me "on route":


At the start:

Looking spritely.









At half way:




Obviously middle child though I'd be a little tired at this point.  Interestingly he has my kit choice bang on too - all that is missing is the backpack.








At the end:







Although sleeping before the finish line is a little cheeky,  I did crash out just after the finished line - so not all wrong

The down after the Downs

Well I have not run at all since last weeks SDW100 - barely walked in fact.  Spent the week RICE'ing the feet and they are on the mend but I think it'll be another week before I start back with a gentle jog.

The swelling around the ankles has gone down but there is still pain if the angle between foot and leg goes less than 80 degrees, otherwise it is fine.  I can go up stairs and on the flat - but I am still coming down stairs sideways.

So after the highs of last week and finishing my first 100 miler it has been a little low.  The updates from the race have dried up, the release of the official results, the photos (a few of me and lots of other people I don't remember seeing), a few notes on other peoples belongs (even an entry in The Independent - http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/06/23/the-road-to-the-north-face-ultra-trail-du-mont-blanc-petzl-sdw-100-mile-run/

But that is it, the elation has gone, you can only talk "non-runners" once before they get bored and you start sounding sounding like a crazy person.

It is strange that something that was so important to you at the time was experienced with 190 strangers. Those strangers will never met again in that situation.  Even the few that will do similar events, most will not know that were at the same event, perhaps we should all run with a list of previous events on the back of our T-shirts.

So that is that the SDW100 2013 is over - what I need is another event to look forward to, the event is dead long live the event.

SDW 100 Race Report

Despite some mid weeks nerves, I made it to the start in confident mood and to be honest I just wanted to get on with it.

The car was already packed with kit the night before so when the alarm went at 4:00 I was up, had a quick bit of breakfast and set off down the road. Fortunately I only had a 25 minute drive to the start line, so a fairly easy start (only wish the motorways were this clear all the time - make getting around the country a lot easier).

The start line was already buzzing by 5am - new arrivals parking up, others, who had camped over night, emerging from tents. After the kit check, a very sensible idea - it can come across as officious but it is for our benefit, I finished getting changed and waited for the race to start. During the wait "photographer man" asked to take a picture (he was a star all the way round smiling and dishing high-fives - happiest photographer I've ever met) and I even got interviewed by a couple a friends of another runner who were making a video of the run - brilliant idea. I saw a few faces I recognised from other races and blogs - I was especially looking out for Richard Pomperoy (been a long time stalker but our paths had not crossed!) but failed to see him - he's a speed merchant anyway so would have been way in front by the time I had run 50 yards.

6am and the race started, a couple of laps of the sports ground and we were off onto the SDW, a few nervous laughs as we claimed to have conquered the first big hill of the day (a slight 1m raise at the side of the pitch). But weather was looking excellent and everyone soon settled down into a rhythm. First quarter seemed to pass really quickly, soon hit the first aid station - full of tasty treats (the maxim - "a eating competition with a bit of running" held very true all day.

Having run over Butser hill before, today it didn't seem so bad, nice decent on the other side, where it seemed that they were preparing for another race. At the aid station in Queen Elizabeth Country Park I stopped to loosen my shoe laces, after a previous race with black toes I though if I did them up tight my toes wouldn't bash into the front of the shoe so much - not sure if this contributed to my later problems but will not tie them so tight in future.

The next few sections is a bit of blur, chatted to a few runners as we ran along side, then they would move ahead or occasionally I would. Very soon I had reached the psychologically important, over half way, point of Washington (54) - further than I had ever run before. I had a some of the best pasta sauce every and the best cup of tea (with milk and sugar) ever there. I changed my shirt and looked and my socks but thought they look fine I don't need to change them ( I was wearing injini toe shoes and they were doing a great job of keeping the feet blister free)

It was also here that I attempted by first repair of my left trainer. Just after 50 miles the sole of my left trainer had decided to depart company from the top half - running was okay - if a little noise but occasionally the sole would get caught and bend underneath the shoe. Oh bum. I was running without drop bags so had no replacement shoes. I taped them up as best I could with some micropore tape I had brought with me in case my feet needed taping up. I though it looked quite effective and should hold so after a good feed I set off back out of the aid station and up a hill (aid stations are always at the bottom of a hill).

Leaving Washington I didn't see another runner for the next 13 miles - except at one point when looked over my shoulder and saw a runner behind, next think I know he's zipped pasted me and is bounding up the hill in front - took a little while to work out that he was not involved in the race - and probably didn't have 60+ miles in his legs.

I didn't want to leave the aid station at Botolphs (61.2) so many tasty treats - sushi, cakes, dips, etc. could have eaten the lot, but there were more hills to climb and more tasty treats on route.

Left trainer was playing up again on the way so at Housedene Farm (76.6), I asked if anyone had some tape. Once of the support was a sparky and had some electrical tape - what a star so they were patched up properly and good to go. Thanks a lot - you saved my race - I did think I might have to take up barefoot running a little earlier than planned.

As night came down, the wind picked up and it was time to put on the jacket and head torch - putting on a jacket in strong wind in the dark is not easy but I wrestled it to submission and felt warmer for it.
My right foot started to play up (obviously jealous of all the attention the left foot was getting) - which meant that walking was becoming increasingly painful although running wasn't - not that it was fast running but I still had the energy to jog on forward.

Night section was good going - was apprehensive about this but actually it was fine - I had saved my GPS battery for this section and I was pleased I did, trying to follow a grassy path, surrounded by grass was tricky in places. The other bonus was that some of the supporters in the car parks along the way had flashy lights so you could get a better sense of direction - thanks to the flashers.

By this time I was convinced I would finish - the time was irrelevant - sub24 hours was in the bag so not that I was pushing myself I relaxed a little and just plodded on. I had been following a split sheet and was regularly 30 to 45 minutes ahead of schedule which I was pleased with - it was only when I looked again that I noted I had printed out one for 23 hours - so I was 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead (get in)

Became so relaxed and chatty I got told to "sod off" at Southease - quite right too.

Almost done - going into Alfriston (91.6) the GPS battery ran out but I had got through the tricky bits of navigation so shouldn't have any problems. At Alfriston - more tea served by a red squirrel - no really - who was also keen to get rid of us. Out of Alfriston and up another hill.

Less than 10 miles to go and it was just a matter of hanging in there - painful down hill on both feet now, up hill and on the flat was fine though.

First navigation mistake of the evening - ran past the final checkpoint (doh) and wasn't until I was running out of Jevington (up a hill) that I realised I had gone wrong - couple of guys behind us confirmed it, back we went for a quick check in and a few bits of food before heading out again.

The rise out of Jevington goes on and on and on and on (I remember being really really knackered on the SDW50, but this time I just plodded on and on and on.

The turning at the trig point to bring us off the SDW (which I sailed past on the SDW50) was lit up with glow sticks and was unmissable. It must have been an interesting sight to any non participants out on the course. Getting down from the SDW was hard though - all downhill and it was getting increasingly more painful and slower. Everyone else seemed to be taking the decent slowly too.

Finally I hit Eastbourne and some easy running on level(ish) tarmac - just 1.7 miles left said a helpful supporter - this bit took ages too. Still the sight of the race track and the final jog round the running track was a welcome sight - excellent place to finish.

And so I jogged across the line and was handed my buckle - I have never worked so hard for a lump of metal - I'm sure it'll go in the box under the bed with the rest of my medals never to see the light of day again - but I know it's there and I know I earned it.

So after 22:18 of relentless forward motion you stop, you sit down, have some food, more tea and then start to assess the damage. After a shuffle into the shower, top half a few rubs - I'd forgot to "body glide those bits" - idiot.

Feet looked really good - no blisters or hot spots, toe nails all present and correct. Both ankles however, where almost hidden by a large swelling. Except for the indentation of the sock line (where the socks too tight?), oh that is going to hurt later.

I changed and found some room on the floor to lie down - it would be another 7 hours or so before the bus was to arrive to take us back to the start - I didn't really settle, I thought I would be knackered but my feet keep me awake.

Around 9:00 the floor was cleared and the "bus people" gathered to have a chat in the corner of the foyer - swapping stories and watching the remaining finishers cross the line.

Getting on the bus was interesting - those steps were like Mount Everest, getting off was even worse - as for changing gear on the car on the short drive home - ouch. Very pleased to get home and get my feet up literal.

Big thanks to James and the crew for organising the event - it was superb - if someone said you can run 100 miles but you would suffer pain after it - would I still do it - of course I would.

Would I do it again though ? Not sure (I doubt the wife would let me!)

Footnote: Over the course I had a pedometer which counted out over 160000 steps, on Monday I think I managed 20, Tuesday I am rocking, I crawled up the stairs, had a bath and have over 50 steps in the bag - and it's not even lunch time.

Notes
Ground Conditions: Mainly trail – solid conditions under foot - dry as a bone
Weather: Cool dry, some wind - occasionally pushing me along.
Position 62/142 (finishers)
Time: 22:18:53
Food tried: Everything.

What I learnt:
Pain is not temporary, but the achieve will last forever.
Body glide everything
If your trainers are near the end of their life - don't add another 100 miles to them and not expect them to complain
Use drop bags for emergency just in case stuff - like new trainers, legs

Nervous? You bet

So less than a week to go to the SDW100, feeling a little nervous, mainly about running through the night. Running at night is fine - happy with that, but running through it after a full day running, not done that before. I am very much a morning person and like to be tucked up in bed and fast asleep before the clock strikes 11:00, so to run through that and out the otherside will be interesting. Still, to paraphrase Scott Jurek (who may have quoted someone else), "it isn't a challenge if there is no fear of failure." Still a little pre-race nerves must be a good thing - a healthy respect for the distance (and respect it I do). The furthest I've gone before is 53 miles (should have been 50 but I got lost a little and hand to double back), so there is a lot to respect. I let you know how it went.

Directions - Learning a Route

Last weeks training runs got me thinking again on how those ancient people managed to navigate from one end of the country to the other without a map.

I was on holiday - so in very unfamiliar surroundings, the place we were staying had a local walking guide with a nice circular route of 13 miles that I could do and be be back in time for breakfast. First time I did the route following the detailed directions I got lost a few times (well not lost, just in a place that was not the same as the book described. There was no OS map with the book, so I was relying on its directions and description to keep me right. It always amazes me home some details are so spot on and specific, "after 10 feet turn immediately left, through the metal gate, over the sleeper bridge and turn turn right along the hedge to the end of the field to the gate next to the large oak tree" and some are not "follow the path until it dips down and the continue on the path" - which would be fine but there were three paths to choose from ( I got the right one after three attempts).

The interesting bit came 2 days later when I ran the route again. The places I went wrong I remembered very well and didn't make the same mistake twice. Some places I remembered very well. The track I stuck my foot in a hidden puddle, the gate with latch was stuck and the field of sheep that refused to move. Other places I didn't remember at all. Several fields I didn't remember and there were a couple of places I had to stop and think did I go straight on here or head off to the right. But once I had entered the field that didn't remember as soon I a saw the fence line and recognised the gate or gap I knew where I was. I even started to plan in advance - this field leads to the bridge at the bottom and you up the road on the right.

By the third run (each run had a rest day in between) the route was second nature, I knew where I was on the route (wasn't always 100% where I was in relation to the start point) and what was coming up round the corner.

Now I go back in a few years would I still remember the route - come back in a few years and find out?

Also if I had only done it once, waited a few months and then done it would I have remembered it?

So how did the ancients travel? They must have had a huge long list of directions

Best landscape to run in

Jogging along the other week on my usual Sunday morning long run, I started thinking about what would be my favorite type of countryside to run through (sorry industrial cityscapes didn't even make the shortlist: Coastal, mountains, rolling hills, riverside, woodland?

I have always loved the coast but often I find myself concentrating so hard on the footpath (so as not to tumble down the cliff) that I forget to look to the right (or left depending on which way I am going) to take in the scenery. Often the path will lead away from the sea and hide it from view, meaning you could be running anywhere. So after the initial view (assuming the weather is kind) it quickly loses its appeal - so not coastal.

Now mountains I like, I don't mind the uphill slog (assuming that this leads to lots of easy down hill) and the views can be spectacular (assuming the weather is kind). But again the landscape , generally does not change a huge amount, so after the initial wow it quickly loses its appeal.

Rolling hills, say over the Downs, have the advantage that the view is always changing but the disadvantage that the running rhythm is broken up. The other disadvantage tends to be you can see all the other hills you have to climb in the distance. Once you have conquered a few seeing a few more in the distance can get a little disheartening.

Riverside, I like, generally flat, the path will generally twist and turn as you jog along level paths so you can never quite see what is round the corner, keeping the view interesting - the River Weir is a good example. The only disadvantage is during winter time (or in current climate conditions - all year round) when the river banks are broken and everywhere is turned into a swimming pool or at the very least knee deep in mud.

So what about a nice big area of woodland? I think this is were it is to run. The trees change from season to season. In a large woodland area (and I don't mean a Forestry Commission planted pine forest with lines of impenetrable pine trees) the types of trees change from area to area. Trails tend to branch off on a regular basis, giving variety to the running route.

The other reason I like woodland is that it is very easy to quickly lose bearings so that defined navigation points disappear, human activity disappears and you can quickly feel that you have escaped the world. As you go further into the woodland the level of man made noise drops to zero and is replaced with a natural cacophony. The rustle of deer on the right, the flap of birds wings. Sundays run had the added spectacle of a carpet bluebells to draw the eyes, and for the nose the heady smell of wild garlic (at least I would be safe from vampires).

I was even treated to the very bizarre sight of a newly planted Christmas tree plantation:

I also decided that no matter what the weather the woods help: shade in the sun, cover in the rain, protection from the wind. Yes the trails can get muddy but that only adds to the fun, trying to leap from side to side to avoid the deep stuff.

So if I was to chose the ideal landscape to run through it would be woodland (but I might need a river in the middle, an a few rolling hills inside, and maybe a mountain to run up first and view the wood before running through it and emerging by the coast).