Time to bash out a quick report and write something rather than nothing, maybe I’ll eventually catch up on the race report over Christmas ?… maybe not 🙂

At the beginning of this year it was my pleasure to help marshall at the first of Paul “Big Bear” Albon’s events at Ryton Pools near Coventry. In truth I’d gone to enter only to be surprised to find it full, since I’d already booked the time off I loaded my pack up and used the trip there and a couple of laps of the course as Dead Sheep training. Why was I surprised to find it full ?… well this seemed like a niche of a niche..  time based multilap trail ultras on a weekday ? Kind of make sense and if this year has been anything to go by its proving a popular niche.

So it was I got my free place on the 6hr event in Salcey forest near Northampton which took place on Monday 3rd December.

I always had it in the back of my mind to ride there, only nearer the time did the weather and logistics dawn on me, that and spotting a “free” weekend beforehand entering an Audax ride the day before… in for a penny.

Starting at 9am meant leaving home at half 5 to give half hour leeway to be ready for the start, of course leaving home late and being slower than i’d like combined with stopping for 2nd breakfast meant I arrived with 8minutes to spare!
I’d also slept badly having planned a “direct” route which involved a couple of miles down the A5 and having visions of being taken out by a truck in the dark, I quickly planned a better / longer route before I set off.

Having changed Paul was still giving the race briefing as I finished my faffing, we were a bit late starting and I was even later as I got my own personal race brief (just follow everyone else and run around for a few hours, check).

First lap was spent trying to find my legs, not go off too fast with the temptation of chasing down well… everyone ! I soon picked up the back of the pack and eased my way through, making a few mental notes on the course & working out the actual distance & lap time.

Mostly good going underfoot with a mix of hard pack, not too sticky mud and a touch of tarmac. First section was out & back before diverting round to the long straight followed by the longer straight. Some gentle climbs followed (only noticed from the 3rd lap or so!) before a winding drop down through woodland, a bit more wiggling and heading for home to join the out & back again. Something like 3.3miles clocked at around 33mins for the first lap.

Out onto 2nd lap, checkpoint supplies were only just going out and a little meagre, ok for everyone else 30minutes in but I was on a very different nutrition schedule.. still I’d soon be back so just two chocolate stars would do for now.
This lap saw the first rain, was always forecast but so far we’d been lucky, by the end of the lap I was soaked through and threw on my cycling waterproof knowing I couldn’t afford to get cold, it was a strange fit but did the job. By the end of the lap that shower had abated and I was keen to take it off and try and dry off over the coming laps.

I had to keep talking any competitiveness down and as the laps progress you become less worried about other people and more concerned about what you can do and managing yourself. The early laps focus wears off and smiling at people you recognise on the trail and little chats with people as you pass / are passed becomes the norm.

Looking at Strava the first 4 laps (up to half marathon distance) are within 17seconds of each other and that includes a walk through the start and feed station. Supplies are improving & malt loaf is going down well now along with pieces of nutella wrap.
I have a welcome chat with a lady called Kirsty on this lap, not a regular silly distance runner and just out for “a few laps” I probably scare her with tales of ultra distance & double ironman. As I quip, whatever group you hang out with there’s always someone that’s doing something stupider than you… in this case, it’s me.

I do my usual walk through the end of lap and set off, noting that she hasn’t rung the bell to indicate that she’s done. I spend the next lap being stalked by her and before I set off on my next she’s rung the bell for her longest run to date.. good work.

The field is thinning now, some faster runners settling for half marathon or whatever their own personal goal was and those still going spread around the course on their respective laps.

Next up chatting to a lady who is enjoying some no pressure running, coming off a few hours PB at west highland way earlier in the year so we talk about ultra, PBs, sleep deprivation & mental management.. and how this kind of thing becomes normal to you. My favourite question of the day arises having talked about me cycling there; Am I training for something big ? Errr well, no not really, just seemed like a fun idea !

All this takes my mind off the fact that I’m starting to struggle. At the outset and after the first few laps I’d decided 30miles was a good target, 35 might be doable but realising 36.3 is the nearest multiple anywhere inbetween would be fine.
I drop to a run walk, something like 100paces run vs 20-30walk or whatever feels right and so long as the lap stay inside 45minutes i’m good for 10 laps.

In the meantime the gazebo has blown away, which my bike was attached to so each lap i’m balancing keeping going with sorting my kit out. I find that my cycling shorts are now totally soaked through, one to worry about later.

I have no idea who else is still out there or what lap they are on, I walk the first km chatting to another couple of ladies before pushing on, whatever that means by that stage. Coming in 5mins before the 6hrs I would normally force myself out for another lap but my mind is on getting home so I ring the bell and feel satisfied with 33miles.

I wrap up in my down jacket and go to get changed, taking my shoes off outside the loo block a park warden points me to the disabled loo for a bit more space. I put my down jacket back on to warm through between donning each of my layers and yeah the soaking wet cycle shorts were particularly unpleasant but thankfully my cyber Monday merino baselayer was proving it’s worth.
Time to pack the bike, eat my cheese sandwich and bravely lose the down jacket before heading off wearing all my remaining kit!

Luckily there’s still enough light and warmth to get warm through, mostly dry my shorts and get to the other side of Northampton before the sun & temperature drops. It’s pretty slow but still moving and the end of race flapjack makes great fuel on the move. I’m home shortly after 7 making around a 13hour day with close to 8miles ridden and the 33 run.

Proper endurance binge, just for “fun”.

As for the race, low key, great support and a really friendly bunch of runners from all over…thoroughly recommended.

Links:
Strava Ride Out
Run – Big Bear Christmas Joggette
Strava ride back until Garmin death
Big Bear Website
Race Results – 7th is okay I think !
Event Photos – Thanks Laura, Photos gratefully used here 🙂