RepulsioN
02-15-2004, 09:53 PM
Just in case any of you lot are interested heres an account of my Race saturday just gone, sorry if its a bit long or it bores you :
"The thames Meander", sounds very much like a gently ambling Stroll along picturesque trails with not a care in the world, why they called this thing a "meander" I will never know.They should rename the race to the "Thames Bastard" it is seriously fucking difficult.
55 miles non stop point to point race, carrying a weighted rucksack (I got it down to 13lbs) and navigating yourself through 5 checkpoints. It was very easy to take a wrong turn or end up on the wrong side of the river and a couple of the checkpoints were not immediatly obvious.
Anyway the field was about 60 strong and the start was at 9. I was feeling fresh and well but completely unsure of My ability to keep going for that far, luckily it was a nice day which meant that I could wear shorts (I hate running in tracksters).
I set of at about 8 and a half minute mile pace and linked up with the first four runners, Dick, a late 40's year old veteran and well known UK Ultra runner - winner of umpteen Ultras including the 140 mile non stop Grand union canal race, Kevin who was a rather focused military doctor with a hideously tough training regime (and unfortuntaely for him it turned out that he also had the navigational skills of a blind drunk which basically scuppered his chances of winning) , and carl a fireman.
We reached the ten mile checkpoint together, I stopped To mix some sports drink powder into my water bottle and take my rucksack off for a minute, the other three clocked them selves in and went on without stopping. I set back out and upped the pace slightly to get back in touch with the leaders I caught up with third placed carl at about 15 mile he was slowing already and had about zero chance of holding his pace for any decent amount of distance, I wished him luck and set about catching Dick and Kevin in 1st/2nd.
I caught up with Dick by about 17 miles, Kevin had made a break for the lead and promptly taken a wrong turn and was heading off course into the country side somewhere. Myself and Dick came into the twenty mile checkpoint together, I stopped for a break for 3 mins and Dick disspeared into the distance like he had some sort of allergy to stopping for a split second.
Still feeling fresh I thought id put in a fast ten miles - so I upped the pace again and put in a few 7.30 miles to get back up with Dick This time I went straight past him and thought Id have a go at getting out of sight - hell If I was lucky maybe he'd lose his focus and take a wrong turn.
I crossed the 28 mile checkpoint at around 3:45 in first, thinking I must have gained a ten minute lead on Dick in 2nd, I had bearrly took my rucksack off when dick appeared grabed his water and passed the checkpoint without stopping for more than 10 seconds...Hmmmmm at that point I kinda realised that I was fighting a losing battle trying to shake him. I still felt Ok at this point Just a little tired, I took on an energy gel and left the checkpoint quicker than Id have wanted - I did not want to lose sight of 1st at this point.
At 35 miles I had a bad patch - I was starting to feel seriously tired, and losing My concentration, a couple of near wrong turns and I was crying out to stop and walk for a bit. I managed to keep going and forced myself onto the 39 mile checkpoint without dropping to a walk promising myself I would take a 5 min break at the checkpoint, I got into the checkpoint just as dick was leaving it, like a fool I just clocked in and ran on stopping for all of about 20 secs. Dumbass.
I kept 1st in site until about 42 miles, when every muscle in my body was screaming, my legs my buttocks, my hips, my forearms, my abdominals, my shoulders, my knees, the temptation to throw my fucking rucksack in the river was huge. I had to stop and walk, Mentally I was at an all time low, I lost my focus and suddenly found myself off course on the wrong side of the river cursing hell and all humanity, Depressessed I walked my way back on course cursing the fact that I had just added an extra mile to the race and lost about 15 mins.
Between 42 and 47 mile I really struggled, walking quarter of a mile then trying to run three quarters. It was truly hideous. At 47 mile Kevin caught back up with me cursing his own shit navigation and took off into the distance, I watched him dissapear down the wrong track, but I felt to guilty to let him go so I shouted after him and directed him back on course.
losing 2nd gave me a motivational kick up the backside and I managed to start running again to get to the next checkpoint.
reached the 49 mile checkpoint in third, Dick now had a 30 minute lead on me and kevein had three minutes, I summoned up all my reserves and managed to 8 and a half / 9 minute mile all the way to the finish, feeling very sick and about half a stone lighter. I was expecting Kevin to wrong turn and give me back my 2nd but he didnt he managed to up his pace and get further in front. I finished 3rd in just under 9 hours Dick won in 8:21 and Kevin finished in about 8:50
We all broke the previous course record, Although I only managed it by the skin of my teeth.
I then sat down and felt sick for a couple of hours happy as hell to have seen off the rest of the field (4th appeared 45 minutes after I had come in). Aching to hell, stairs are still a struggle today.
Im waiting for the official results and some photos to appear on the race site - Ill post em up as soon as they appear (about 4 days time apparantly)
"The thames Meander", sounds very much like a gently ambling Stroll along picturesque trails with not a care in the world, why they called this thing a "meander" I will never know.They should rename the race to the "Thames Bastard" it is seriously fucking difficult.
55 miles non stop point to point race, carrying a weighted rucksack (I got it down to 13lbs) and navigating yourself through 5 checkpoints. It was very easy to take a wrong turn or end up on the wrong side of the river and a couple of the checkpoints were not immediatly obvious.
Anyway the field was about 60 strong and the start was at 9. I was feeling fresh and well but completely unsure of My ability to keep going for that far, luckily it was a nice day which meant that I could wear shorts (I hate running in tracksters).
I set of at about 8 and a half minute mile pace and linked up with the first four runners, Dick, a late 40's year old veteran and well known UK Ultra runner - winner of umpteen Ultras including the 140 mile non stop Grand union canal race, Kevin who was a rather focused military doctor with a hideously tough training regime (and unfortuntaely for him it turned out that he also had the navigational skills of a blind drunk which basically scuppered his chances of winning) , and carl a fireman.
We reached the ten mile checkpoint together, I stopped To mix some sports drink powder into my water bottle and take my rucksack off for a minute, the other three clocked them selves in and went on without stopping. I set back out and upped the pace slightly to get back in touch with the leaders I caught up with third placed carl at about 15 mile he was slowing already and had about zero chance of holding his pace for any decent amount of distance, I wished him luck and set about catching Dick and Kevin in 1st/2nd.
I caught up with Dick by about 17 miles, Kevin had made a break for the lead and promptly taken a wrong turn and was heading off course into the country side somewhere. Myself and Dick came into the twenty mile checkpoint together, I stopped for a break for 3 mins and Dick disspeared into the distance like he had some sort of allergy to stopping for a split second.
Still feeling fresh I thought id put in a fast ten miles - so I upped the pace again and put in a few 7.30 miles to get back up with Dick This time I went straight past him and thought Id have a go at getting out of sight - hell If I was lucky maybe he'd lose his focus and take a wrong turn.
I crossed the 28 mile checkpoint at around 3:45 in first, thinking I must have gained a ten minute lead on Dick in 2nd, I had bearrly took my rucksack off when dick appeared grabed his water and passed the checkpoint without stopping for more than 10 seconds...Hmmmmm at that point I kinda realised that I was fighting a losing battle trying to shake him. I still felt Ok at this point Just a little tired, I took on an energy gel and left the checkpoint quicker than Id have wanted - I did not want to lose sight of 1st at this point.
At 35 miles I had a bad patch - I was starting to feel seriously tired, and losing My concentration, a couple of near wrong turns and I was crying out to stop and walk for a bit. I managed to keep going and forced myself onto the 39 mile checkpoint without dropping to a walk promising myself I would take a 5 min break at the checkpoint, I got into the checkpoint just as dick was leaving it, like a fool I just clocked in and ran on stopping for all of about 20 secs. Dumbass.
I kept 1st in site until about 42 miles, when every muscle in my body was screaming, my legs my buttocks, my hips, my forearms, my abdominals, my shoulders, my knees, the temptation to throw my fucking rucksack in the river was huge. I had to stop and walk, Mentally I was at an all time low, I lost my focus and suddenly found myself off course on the wrong side of the river cursing hell and all humanity, Depressessed I walked my way back on course cursing the fact that I had just added an extra mile to the race and lost about 15 mins.
Between 42 and 47 mile I really struggled, walking quarter of a mile then trying to run three quarters. It was truly hideous. At 47 mile Kevin caught back up with me cursing his own shit navigation and took off into the distance, I watched him dissapear down the wrong track, but I felt to guilty to let him go so I shouted after him and directed him back on course.
losing 2nd gave me a motivational kick up the backside and I managed to start running again to get to the next checkpoint.
reached the 49 mile checkpoint in third, Dick now had a 30 minute lead on me and kevein had three minutes, I summoned up all my reserves and managed to 8 and a half / 9 minute mile all the way to the finish, feeling very sick and about half a stone lighter. I was expecting Kevin to wrong turn and give me back my 2nd but he didnt he managed to up his pace and get further in front. I finished 3rd in just under 9 hours Dick won in 8:21 and Kevin finished in about 8:50
We all broke the previous course record, Although I only managed it by the skin of my teeth.
I then sat down and felt sick for a couple of hours happy as hell to have seen off the rest of the field (4th appeared 45 minutes after I had come in). Aching to hell, stairs are still a struggle today.
Im waiting for the official results and some photos to appear on the race site - Ill post em up as soon as they appear (about 4 days time apparantly)