The hurt locker

The Tweed Valley 65km ultra is done.  It’s over and for a “B race” it provided me with huge rewards. After the success of the GGU this summer I had nothing else to train for except Tahoe 200 but that was 15 months away.  The winter was approaching and I needed something to motivate me to build on my training in preparation for Tahoe.  My coach put together an amazing plan considering the short time before the race which wasn’t helped by 3 weeks off due to a cruise and then catching a cold.  But she delivered me to the start line in the best possible condition although we knew it was going to be tough.
One of the lessons I have learned along the way is that the distance, is the distance.  Where ever that finish line is you pace yourself accordingly and as there were two races going on at the same time (50 km and 65km) you could see everyone going through the same challenges.
I had decided to race this race rather than just complete the race.  I had nothing to lose as I know I can run further than 65km (GGU was 115 km).  My coach set a pace plan which was ambitious but after all, I was racing.  There were 4 climbs totalling 5,000 ft.  The race starts with a reasonable climb and I ran to the top without stopping to walk.  Flew down the other side and knew my quads wouldn’t be thanking me for that later - I wasn’t wrong.  My biggest pre-race decision was whether to wear shorts or running tights.  It was cold and I’m so glad I went for tights or I don’t think I’d have finished the race if I hadn’t.  It was blue sky’s everywhere, except the race course.  All the climbs were surrounded in fog so the promised views didn’t materialise - nothing knew for me there!
At the bottom of my second climb my support team were there screaming like daftys !  Genevieve my coach was shouting encouragement as was Colin and Michael who was there capturing it on camera - he’s an incredible photographer.
My only disappointment was that at CP3 my 1st drop bag should have been there with my custard and flat coke but it wasn’t.  I didn’t let it bother me as I had spare nutrition and the organisers had coke but it was a valuable lesson - come prepared.
As happens on these runs you end up around a group of people who are about the same pace.  I ran over half the race with Laura MacDonald, who ended up second woman, and chatting away passed the time but we were going at a great pace.  The third hill was a big climb and the enevitable walking took over but we were still flying down the hills.  In between the hills there is a lot of flat running and sadly much of this was on tarmac which is never pleasant in trail shoes but the off-road running was spectacular - I’ll be back on those hills over the winter.
Around 45km I was starting to feel the effect of the downhill running and my lack of hill training.  The tarmac was taking it’s toll. When we got to the last CP I told Laura to head on as she was obviously stronger than me and I didn’t want to hold her back.
By this time I was in a lot of pain.  My quads and hammies are screaming at me and I’m just trying not to injure myself and DNF.  There was 15 km to go and 10km of that was on tarmac.  My coach is telling me “no walking” so I was shuffling along at 6.30 pace. Running that slow is difficult when you are out for a training run, almost impossible but not when you have the distance and the hills in your legs.
As I slowed down I started to get cold and was now on my own.  My running tops were damp with sweat and the temperature was dropping.  I was overtaking the walkers most of whom were doing the 50km race and were struggling.  I really felt for them as it meant they’d be facing the Glentress hill through the forrest in the dark.  But I kept telling myself to run until I reached the hill.  Then I had to walk.  My legs were in bits but there was worse to come.  The downhill! I couldn’t run downhill, much as I wanted.  I rationalised that my time didn’t matter.  What mattered was not pulling a muscle so I tenderly walked my way down the hill.  The support team were at the bottom screaming encouragement and I did my best to smile and jog the last 300 m.  The sharp right turn with a steep uphill 50 m finish was a relief to my quads.  Crossed the line in 7hrs 21 mins.  40th overall out of 105 runners and most importantly 4th male over 50.  I’d like to have been closer to 7 hours but I’ve gained so much from the race.
Your mind set is different when your racing as aposed to training no matter how hard you try in training because you really visit the hurt locker.  This occurs when you are pushing yourself over a prolonged period of time.  You’re hurting and having to dig deep to put one foot in front of another.  You question why you are doing this and doubt you’ll ever do it again - even though the next event is booked!  When you’re racing you just get it done - you can recover over the coming weeks.
But let me finish with the point about your distance being your distance.  This race pushed me to my limits based on my current fitness yet in the summer I ran an extra 50km (115km total) so it can be done.  And as for my 2019 “A race”, compared to yesterday it’s an extra 11.25 miles per day for 4 days non stop with 10,000 ft of climbing, not 5,000ft, and sleep deprivation.  That’s a big step up but on 29th Nov my strength training starts and this will be designed around sorting out the weaknesses that keep creeping in when the going gets tough.  This will be my biggest challenge to date but with the right approach and mind set I will get there.  Why do I do it people ask - apart from how great I feel and how healthy I am, I want to make a difference and supporting Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres is important to me.  In the meantime I’m on day 1 of my recovery, eating for Britain, aching all over but I’ll be fine by the end of the week.  I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off from the blog until I’m back training and juggling that with a social life in the run up to Christmas!