tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88905095733075626482024-02-20T02:20:11.401-08:00Heading for the HillsA personal record of days spent running on the hillsSarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-14612500605501923302013-08-19T05:18:00.000-07:002013-08-21T11:55:02.124-07:00A New Home.....I've moved my blog! From 19th August 2013 all new content will be published here:<br />
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<a href="http://sarahwwilde.wordpress.com/">http://sarahwwilde.wordpress.com/</a><br />
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Please come across and visit.<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-16938195330105427802013-08-10T15:12:00.001-07:002013-08-10T15:14:16.408-07:00UTLD Lakeland 100. It is done.It is two weeks since I set out on my second attempt at the Montane Lakeland 100 and I wish I'd written this blog straight away because at this time I can't really think of what to say to sum up what a huge sense of achievement I feel. <br />
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My ever supportive family remind me <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">occasionally </span>by jokingly asking if anyone in the room has completed a 100 mile ultra marathon...I beam and play along...and I haven't stopped bringing my experience into every conversation quite yet (sorry supportive family). It feels like a big deal.<br />
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So 36 hours and 54 minutes after the start gun honked I crossed the finish line triumphant, ecstatic, holding back the emotion. I'd done it. At last, I could release myself...go back to running the way I wanted to, without distance or time or speed restrictions. Relief.<br />
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When I crossed the line after my first 50 miler, the Lakeland 50, I was overcome with emotion. I declared that it was the hardest thing I'd ever done and that I would never put myself through that again. A month later I signed up for the Lakeland 100 and I wondered if I would feel the same crossing the finish line at the 100, but I didn't.<br />
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Eighteen months before the Lakeland 50 I underwent treatment for head and neck cancer, so the relief of proving to myself and my family that I was not dying, and that I was back to normal...better than normal... through completing something that no one else I knew at that time had achieved, overwhelmed me and I broke down in a heap of emotion. When I received my medal I understood that I had strength and resilience I'd never known I had.<br />
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Now I know what I'm capable of, so the finish line never conjures up quite the same effect. But completing the Lakeland 100 is special, and a wobbly lip was present. This time the wave of emotion came down to pride. I stood along side my Dad. We had crossed the line together. His second Lakeland 50 success and my first 100. We had vowed hours earlier, as we waded through swollen streams in the lashing rain and icy wind, that this was it. No Lakeland 100 or 50 next year. We had nothing more to prove. Mission accomplished. It goes without saying that we are now both trying to plan carefully where we will be to allow us to sign up for the UTLD again on the 1st of September.<br />
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But why wouldn't I want to do it all again? I couldn't have asked for a better experience this year. The race went to plan and all component parts came together to form a favourable whole. There was nice dry, warm weather for the first 24 hours that suited the weather I had been training in and this made for good firm and dry conditions underfoot. Last year, the ground was wet and the boggy sections were thriving. I'd managed to injure myself pulling my leg out of a bog at Grassguards. This year, I reached Dalemain with dry feet. I didn't even bother changing my socks. I'd not had any training on the route since March either and had been missing the Lakes, desperate to run the trails again, so come race day I savoured every moment just glad to be there.<br />
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Nothing was going to prevent me from completing, but I knew this months before. I've read so many times that successfully completing an ultra is '90% mental and the rest is in your head', but I don't think I had really understood that before. Ahead of my first attempt at the L100 I'd read so many accounts of people's successful and unsuccessful 100 attempts. They were full of stories of sleeping on the fell side, hallucinations, mangled feet and suffering. The event had taken on mythical proportions in my head and I was not at all convinced that I was up to the task.<br />
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The DNF at the L100 last year due to injury left me with the resolve that I would not walk away from the event without a medal again and I had two encounters in the last 8 months that really consolidated my belief that finishing was within my capabilities. The first was reading <a href="http://traildragon.co.uk/2012/11/lakeland-reflections-2012/#more-326" target="_blank">Traildragon's blog</a> that articulated exactly how I felt and reassured me that I wasn't kidding myself, and then I participated and completed the LDWA 100 where I met many wonderful people who were embarking on their 2nd; 4th; 11th; 20th; 22nd (etc) 100 miler. I sat next to a chap on the bus for whom this was his 21st 100. He told me in a quiet voice that it was 'all in the head. You just have to believe you can finish and you will'. I believed him. I believed I could, and I finished.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Of course, I did a fair amount of training along the way too, but</span> the secret was unlocked and I couldn't fail!<br />
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One final, significant piece of good luck came my way and ensured my success. I had said beforehand that the perfect scenario would be for me to meet with my Dad at Dalemain and to run the last 45 miles in his company. I didn't quite manage that but as I sat in Dalemain glugging back slim fast, my Dad strolled through, just starting out on his journey. I shouted encouragement and told him I'd catch him up soon. From Dalemain I chased him and eventually caught him at Kentmere just as the rain started to punish us. I was with him as we entered the second night, and at my lowest point when I thought I would not finish because of severe cold, he marched me at an unforgiving pace home to Coniston. We crossed the line and agreed we'd be back next year for sure! Thanks Dad. x<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-31235796977054512692013-06-23T12:45:00.001-07:002013-06-23T13:19:26.858-07:00Endurance Life: Ultra Trail South West (UTSW 60) 2013After a disappointing experience at this event last year (<a href="http://sarahwwilde.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/endurancelife-ultra-trail-south-west-60.html" target="_blank">see my post from last year</a>), I decided to part with my hard earned cash to give the Endurancelife UTSW 60 one more go. After all, it offered me the right distance at the right time and on the beautiful north Cornwall coastal path. How could they fail?<br />
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<i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">...not forgetting the £20 extra to get to the start line</span></i></div>
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I was hoping that the Organisers would have listened to the feedback they'd received and acted on some of the criticisms that came out of last year's event. Perhaps, a year on, they had gained a better understanding of their customers, understood the sort of experience participants were seeking, what their requirements were, and appreciated that participating in such an epic challenge was a big deal that had likely been the focus that individuals had been building up to for many months before.<br />
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I had low expectations, but sadly, they failed to even meet these. This is of course my own experience, and I am coming from a world of doubt and scepticism, so no doubt some people would have had a great time and achieved their goals, but I saw no improvement in attitude or delivery.<br />
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At the briefing, the organiser glibly joked that they should probably have set out more signs along the course, but hey! Then he established that the mandatory £20 cash participants were required to carry in order to pay for their own taxi back to HQ should they need to retire 'was quite reasonable' in his view. This style of delivery continued on the start line where, moments before the start gun fired, we were told that some checkpoints 'might have been moved'. It was already reeking of disorganisation and generous dose of winging it, but I held onto some final shreds of faith because, after all, my cash must have gone to some good use. I looked at the check point plan I had made and wondered whether to just screw it up and lose it in my pack.<br />
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We started just 15 minutes late, but the evening before the bus arrived 90 minutes late for the 100 participants. The start time of 6pm was duly adjusted to 7.30pm...more screwing up of checkpoint plans no doubt.<br />
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But we did eventually set off on our way, from a windy cliff top heading south. Wagons roll! I was keen to sample the delights of the checkpoints. I joke! I had no expectation that there would be any nutrition of use to me available, and so I was not disappointed. Endurancelife have quite a reputation now for under providing at the checkpoints - everybody knows they will be crap, and everyone tells each other how crap they are. It's common knowledge and standard race chat.<br />
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So I was plodding along quite nicely averaging 4 mph enjoying the beautiful scenery and views, chatting with fellow runners and the wonderfully supportive locals and tourists along the coastal path. I was on track hitting my targets and in good shape. I didn't want to push it because I'm nursing a minor hip niggle at the moment so the plan was just to cover some distance in training for the Lakeland 100 next month.<br />
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The checkpoints were evenly spaced but a bit too far apart for me. 7 or 8 miles is nice, 10 to 12 miles can feel like a long time. So I built in my own mini checkpoints at 5 to 6 mile intervals to allow myself a smaller marker to aim for. It helps me to stay positive and break down the distance into more manageable chunks.<br />
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After the 3rd checkpoint at Rock, the plan was to make up some time. The next 3 sections into Wadebridge, then Padstow and beyond had very little elevation and were routed along country roads and cycle tracks so very runnable. I had noticed when studying the maps of this area that the section coming into Wadebridge was not on footpaths that were represented on the OS map and this had logged with me, but I assumed that the organisers had local knowledge and all would be clear when we got there.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This section raised concerns for me before<br />the event</span></i></div>
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<i><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">The blue line is the planned route. You can see<br />that it does not follow any visible footpath and is <br />on a block of otherwise private land</span></i></div>
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This is where I lost the will to continue. After a good road and track section we made contact again with the estuary coming into Wadebridge. The Ennduarncelife signs were present but pointed towards the water! I had spent the last mile in the company of a couple of runners, one of whom was doing the 100 course, so we puzzled over what this meant. We reasoned that this must be a mistake, there was no way the route would take us into the water filled estuary?! So we had a scout around and found a path through a crop field which edged the estuary and decided to take this with the aim of rejoining the 'path' once we'd got beyond the waters. We left the fields and did another recce along the estuary but didn't get far before the water stopped us in our tracks.<br />
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By now I was in a group of six and we all tried hard not to voice our frustrations to avoid creating a negative atmosphere. But we were walking around in circles on private land in rape crops that towered above us. It was a ridiculous situation. I had the gps out and am well used to navigating my way out of these situations, but what was so frustrating was that there was no where to go. There were no paths to pick up, just a road to the North from which we could hear the cars speeding along, and which presented a real danger as far as I was concerned.<br />
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We persevered through the crops and eventually spotted the track from the high ground at Burnier and rejoined the trail. We'd lost over an hour walking around in circles.<br />
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I'd had contact with my husband who was at the Wadebridge checkpoint and he had been relying advice from the checkpoint staff (just the 1 lady). They had not anticipated the high tide that had been predicted that day, and the path they had planned for us to use had been submerged by this exceptionally high tide. From what I understand they were advising runners to go back on themselves to find and join the busy A road, but at least 1 runner came in and complained about the danger they had been put in.<br />
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In itself, this was not a major catastrophe, but it really brought home the arrogance of the organisers, the complete disregard they had for runner's safety, and ultimately, that the organisation of the evnt, in my opinion, was complacent and flaky. I was thankful that I had been in a group. Had I been on my own I would have become panicked, I think. I would have felt very lost. If I had been running for 22 hours and not had my wits about me, it could have been very dangerous. Some of the 100 runners were in this situation and I think the organisers acted shamefully. How could they not have known about the high tide? How could they not have had a contingency? How could they have risked putting runners onto a busy A road without any signs warning motorists?<br />
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I didn't want to be part of this anymore. I was disappointed and angry, so I reached the checkpoint and dibbed out. Lesson learnt.<br />
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This incident captures the flavour of the event for me. I was at the finish line looking for my drop bag when a runner came in and and was greeted with "Well done! You're 2nd...or 3rd". This says it all!<br />
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Of course, I have heard from folk who had a great day so I'd love to know how others fared and coped with the 'diversion'. Would you do it again? I wonder whether the results will show whether the diversion had any impact on drop out rates? Perhaps it was just me.<br />
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<i>Before i sign off, I wanted to just pay my respects to the family of AO who I was lucky enough to meet and run with at the UTSW last year. AO completed the 100 then was tragically killed in a <a href="http://www.newquayvoice.co.uk/news/5/article/4165/" target="_blank">car accident</a> whilst driving back to the airport on his way home. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-581106195569227162013-05-29T05:54:00.002-07:002013-06-02T00:19:30.371-07:00LDWA Camel Teign 100 How would you describe your ideal event? Mine would look something like this...<br />
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Weather</span>: dry with some sun</div>
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Temperature</span>: warm </div>
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Ground conditions</span>: dry, not boggy</div>
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Route</span>: linear, with hills, grassy, some tarmac here and there to make up time</div>
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Scenery</span>: varied. Sea, mountains, open moorland, rolling farmland, quaint villages</div>
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Night time conditions<b>:</b></span> full moon, cool not cold</div>
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- <span style="color: #073763;">Support<b>:</b></span> good food, smiling faces, encouraging words, banter, belief</div>
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I don't want to boast, but this weekend was special! The planets aligned, conditions were perfect. The LDWA 100 had it all.</div>
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The route took us from Wadebridge in Cornwall, past vineyards, through farmland, over rocky Tors, through pretty settlements, back into lush green valleys and towards the sea. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would complete this event. It was made for me.</div>
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From the start line, where the Brass Band sent us on our way to the 'Floral Dance', I was running back towards where my family waited for me at the finish - I love linear routes. My strategy was just to tick down the miles by running checkpoint to checkpoint, setting myself time goals for completing the leg I was on, and not really thinking too far ahead. I knew that I would be slow walking the uphills, but had confidence that I could make up time on the descent and the flat runnable sections. I ate small amounts of food at each checkpoint, but didn't really need any of the emergency rations I carried with me. Mentally I was strong and physically I was strong so I just had to get on and do it.</div>
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Of course, there are always minor criticisms that can be levied. I've done shorter LDWA events in the past and I'm a huge fan, but the 100 is the big annual event in the calendar and seemed to attract a small, unrepresentative, hardcore of LDWA pedants. I was quizzed in the loo queue before the start by a lady who refused to accept that the mandatory kit had fitted into my pack. She had never seen soft shell waterproofs before and refused to accept that they met the criteria. Along the route, concern over obeying the rules was clearly occupying the minds of a minority...not that I saw anyone flouting them (apart from a group who conveniently went off course to avoid a boggy field). I reached CP 2 early and the marshalls refused to open it until the official opening time, so our small group of 5 grew steadily in numbers until, 45 minutes later, when almost the entire field had turned up, the race was practically restarted when the official checkpoint opening time had been reached. These are the negatives that provide amusing stories more than anything else, but are certainly not significant enough to mar the event.</div>
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Apart from this hardcore, and an unpleasant chap named Jeremy, I met some smashing people who offered great company a big laughs along the way. I ran the night section with a chap named Keith who was excellent fun and great company in the dark hours, but after the breakfast stop at 1:30am, our paces altered and our requirements changed, so I didn't see him again, but I hope he finished well.</div>
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As is always the case with any event now, I met up with a fellow Lakeland 100 runner, a man I'd run with coming out of Blencathra last year. Duncan was timed out at Ambleside after running 90 miles at last years UTLD, but he got round the LDWA course this weekend in 28 hours and I'll see him back in Coniston in July.</div>
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The ground conditions were exceptionally dry. I managed to keep my feet dry for the first 57 miles! I've never done that before, ever. My feet are usually wet within 5 miles and then stay that way until the end. This freakish dry foot scenario ultimately caused me problems and I rubbed a massive blister on the ball of my right foot which slowed me down in the last 20 miles. I ran the full 100 in my Hokas Rapa Nui and they did the job nicely. I don't think they were the cause of the blister but I think they probably contributed. I managed to control the pain ok and kept a pretty positive outlook throughout. Tiredness on day 2 made it difficult to make decisions, and on a couple of occasions I sat with my head in my hands, tears rolling down cheeks, paralysed by indecision over route choices. On the hills above the River Dart I was revived when Jez Bragg and Paul Chapman ran past me and offered words of encouragement. I was stopped in my tracks and asked those around me if I had imagined it or was that Jez Bragg - blank faces...'who?'..!</div>
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On the final descent into Teignmouth, running down a steep tarmac road, meters from the finish line, I planted my foot, and pain brought me to another dead stop. My little toe had exploded and drenched my sock in bloody puss and I limped over the line in 31 hours and 20 or so minutes. There were points during the event where I was confident of a sub 30 hour finish, and at 57 miles I thought that 28 hours may even be within my grasp. But this is how ultra's go - up and down.</div>
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A couple of days on and I'm still on a high - I ran 101 miles mun! Legs are great - no DOMS, blisters healing nicely and I'm almost walking like a normal person again.</div>
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Next year the LDWA 100 is on my patch in South Wales. If you are looking for a well supported, challenging 100, I don't think you can go wrong and I can't recommend it highly enough. I think I might have said that next year would be quiet - no big events. We'll have to wait and see.</div>
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Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-16943085513924245702013-05-21T13:07:00.000-07:002013-05-21T13:55:35.710-07:00Walk! Don't Run...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've never really bothered with the idea of the taper, although in the week or two prior to a big event I do allow myself to run as I fancy, without routine or regime. Just for the love of it.<br />
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This weekend, Martin and I took our annual weekend trip to the Lakes to coincide a) with our wedding anniversary and b) the Keswick Mountain Festival. When we did the trip last year<a href="http://sarahwwilde.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/weekend-in-keswick.html" target="_blank"> I spent a day running the 50 miles between Ambleside and Keswick</a>, but this year with just a week to go until the LDWA 100 I enjoyed a few shorter runs on the L100 course and longer walks over some high tops. We still managed to cover around 40 miles over the weekend.<br />
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We had glorious weather and I was reminded how much I love the summits. When the L100 is over with this year I resolve to focus on the high ground for a while. Without time pressures and having given myself permission to amble along gently I had an opportunity to properly try out my poles which were a great success and will be with me on all major events over the summer.<br />
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So, I am now very excited to get going on the 100 this weekend. I know not one inch of the course which runs from Wadebridge on the Cornish coast to Teignmouth on the Devon coast:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/images/2013Hundred/Event_Route_Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://www.ldwa.org.uk/lgt/images/2013Hundred/Event_Route_Web.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ldwa.org.uk/2013Hundred" target="_blank"><i>Image from the LDWA 100 website</i></a></div>
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Navigation is therefore going to be the biggest challenge for me. I'm not great with a compass and rely far too heavily on my gps, but I am prepared. I have the route description ready, my map is marked and my gps unit(s) charged. The cut off is very generous at 48 hours to finish as this is primarily a walking event, so i just need the mental strength to keep pushing forward. My plan is to take it easy, to run the sections that allow, and to walk those that don't. My goal is to finish.<br />
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I've been absorbed in all the organisation and prep this week. I've rigged up a light on my poles to use in conjunction with my headtorch for the night sections and I'm pretty darn chuffed with it - I've used my bike light and attached it using the helmet mount...<br />
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I've started organising stuff into 'day 1' and 'drop bag piles', got some emergency rations ready, compulsory kit ticked off, playlists prepared, radio shows recorded, but I just can't decide on what to wear! I don't want to go in full ultra girl kit because I understand that runners are not held in terribly high regard by some militant LDWA members - I'm sure this is a minority of folk. I've never met any, but I've read the forums where some berate the runners who chase their PBs and cover the course as quickly as possible instead of enjoying the navigational aspects and just the joy of participating in the annual highlight of the associations calendar. So I wondered whether to avoid the full compression gear!<br />
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I've been watching the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Y5AaQSM9Q" target="_blank">YouTube vids</a> of previous LDWA 100 events and these have raised my hopes that I really can finish!<br />
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Some photo's of our weekend in the beautiful Lakes this weekend:</div>
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...and one thrown in from Saturday night in the sunshine at the Talybont-on-Usk campsite<br />
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Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-37887931427233743032013-05-12T13:32:00.000-07:002013-05-13T03:04:18.292-07:00Might Contain Nuts Summer 40Okay. Before I start, summer running in the Beacons probably conjures up images like this...<br />
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Photograph by<a href="http://images.muen.co.uk/-/galleries/ultra40/-/medias/d5a505e6-9de0-11e1-8373-239feca8491a" target="_blank"> Muen Photography</a></div>
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WRONG!</div>
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Now think horizontal ball bearing sized hail stones, gale force winds, lightening strikes. </div>
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Something more like this..</div>
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Picture from training run to give a flavour. Now multiply by ten.</div>
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Good. This is the reality of summer running on the Beacons.</div>
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I was thinking just a few days ago, when the forecast was warning of bad weather, that nearly all the events I have ever taken part in have been done in horrible conditions. Recent exceptions being the Black Mountains Roundabout (2010) and the Lakeland 50 (2011). Yesterday's conditions come top the 'bad' list. </div>
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Given the history, it is clear that I never learn. When it comes to the weather I am a blind optimist. Early yesterday morning, at the Might Contain Nuts event HQ I chatted with friends, old and new, about how unexpectedly mild it was as the sun shone down, and believing that spring had truly bedded in I shed a few layers and stashed them back in the van. </div>
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Fast forward 40 minutes and atop Tor y Foel, having tackled the first climb, my error was realised when the weather turned nasty. Forward another 3 hours and I was considering pulling out as I donned my waterproofs for warmth and huddled round a cup of tea at Storey Arms wondering if my swollen hands were a sign of mild hypothermia.</div>
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The course is particularly tough. It's the sort of course I would never plan for a training run because there are detours off ridges for no reason other than to punish you with climb back to the top, the worst of which comes at mile 30. The North face of Cribyn. This is a climb I have never considered doing before because it has never seemed a reasonable or attractive thing to do. But it had to be done yesterday. It had to be done whilst clinging on to tufts of grass to avoid being blown off the ridge, with hat, buff & hood exposing only enough eyeball to allow me to see where I was placing my foot.<br />
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But after 8 hours of crazy weather you become conditioned to it. The sting of the hail becomes invigorating, the contrast of rainbows and dark skies enhance the beauty, and the flash of lightening provides a much needed shot of adrenalin to enable you to fly down the sharp descents. It occurred to me that I had grinned like a maniac through all of this for the final 6 miles. It was just great fun.</div>
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As with the other ultra marathons in their portfolio, this MCN event requires the participant to take care of their own nutrition whilst they provide water and gels at selected checkpoints. Support at the checkpoints from the team is abundant and this being the third MCN event I've done, I have nothing but praise for the organisation and support they provide. </div>
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I clocked just short of 41 miles and 7850 foot of ascent covered in, I think, 11 Hrs 5ish minutes. Not bad for me and given the conditions I am very happy. My aim was to do the round comfortably; not to wear myself out; to finish feeling like I could do more, and to be able to run my 15 mile road run on Sunday. I achieved all of these.</div>
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Some photos from the day....</div>
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Race HQ: The Start</div>
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Tor Y Foel</div>
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Slowly, slowly catchy monkey<br />
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Fellow L100 folk<br />
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Enjoying the downhills</div>
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Rainbows and dark skies</div>
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Cribyn</div>
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Sunshine on the Black Mountains</div>
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Thank gawd for that!</div>
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Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-9645483875273754952013-04-29T14:25:00.000-07:002013-04-29T14:25:03.690-07:00Blah blah blah!It's been ages since I last updated the blog. I think I put myself under pressure a couple of posts ago when I publicly promised to stop writing boring drivel about running, and to come up with something a bit more interesting, thoughtful and engaging....!<br />
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Two months have passed since then and having not been able to achieve the higher standards I set myself, so I've decided to return to writing boring drivel about running again. After all (I've reminded myself...actually!), this blog is for me. A reminder to myself. A memory jogger for when I'm older with dodgy knees and want to look back and say...'I used to run 30 miles across the hills on a Friday just for fun'.<br />
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So, just because I haven't been writing doesn't mean I haven't been running. I've been training fairly consistently. It's not been great, but giving time to the other stuff in my life is important too, so what I have achieved in training is good enough. When someone decides to pay me to run, I'll do better :-)<br />
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It has to be said that the weather has been rubbish this early Spring. I've cancelled 2 or 3 trips to the Lakes because I'm not really equipped for the snow and icy conditions. I've missed 2 events due to snow. Crampons and ice axes have been the order of the day in the higher hills until very recently, so I've been keeping myself busy on lower ground here at home, trying to rebuild stamina and strength ready for the late Spring and Summer events.<br />
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Just last Friday, I left the house lathered in sun cream only to find myself, 90 minutes later, standing on Fan Llia, in the middle of a black thunder cloud being lashed by spiky hail stones, million mile an hour winds (!) and making a bee line for lower ground. The weather still takes me by surprise, but an hour later I was back down to shirt sleeves and wishing I'd brought the sun cream with me for a top up.<br />
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I've had some lovely runs around the Beacons, finding new routes and trails and have consistently been covering 25+ miles in my weekly long run since early February. I did the Black Mountains Roundabout for the 4th year running and got lost a lot due to the poor visibility, with a group of others tagging along behind the lady with the GPS, as I led them around in circles for a bit, following the arrow!<br />
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I had a great weekend running from Keswick to Ambleside with Annie and Sarah in early March. We stayed at the half way mark in the Pooley Bridge Inn with its welcoming fires and plentiful cider, and I came back on the high road, over High Street in the driving snow. We covered 50 miles at a leisurely pace that weekend over the 2 days, but due to my detour over High Street I've still only done the Lakeland 100 section around Haweswater once whilst doing the Lakeland 50 back in 2011. I'm heading back up in May to shake that monkey off my back!<br />
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I've recently started building up my road miles too. I think of myself as a runner, so when all my training is off road, slow, and uphills are walked, I begin to lose confidence in how much running I am really capable of. So it's been necessary to remind myself that I can cover distance by running.....without walking the tough bits. The routine at the time of writing is that I aim for 30+ off road miles on a Friday followed by 15+ on the road miles on Saturday with Martin. It's going well. I try to throw in some shorter hill or speed sessions and a mid distance faster paced run in the week, and I've been cycling the 10 mile round journey to work. I think I have built a good base, and the real tests are about to start.<br />
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In 2 weeks, I have the MCN Summer 40 over the Beacons, then 2 weeks after that I'll be starting the LDWA 100 which runs from Wadebridge in Cornwall across in Devon and finishing in Teignmouth. There is a 48 hour cut off for this, so the plan is to take it easy and complete regardless of time just to get the distance under my belt and build confidence for the UTLD in July.<br />
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So back to the drivel I'm afraid.<br />
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Here are some photo's to distract you...<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-68349446821056913322013-02-24T13:08:00.002-08:002013-02-24T13:08:28.571-08:00Tour of Pen y FanAfter last week's let down....<i>Flashback: sitting in the van at Storey Arms realising that I didn't have my running shoes with me</i>.....I was organised this week. I was in the car park, with shoes, and on my way by 8:30am.<br />
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I had intended to run up and down Pen y Fan from different directions, but it was bitterly cold so I opted to stay low and ended up doing a bit of a tour around the mountain.<br />
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My route:<br />
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Lots of opportunity for running here and I had the trails to myself until the half way point at Storey Arms.<br />
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The section across the hill from the Pontsticill side across to Garwnant is usually all bog, but it was frozen on this occasion and the running was fantastic.<br />
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A cautionary note. On this section, just on the climb up from the plantation, the map shows a path onto the moorland, but I either missed the path or it wasn't there, so I had to skirt up the side of the plantation then climb over a barbed wire fence at the top. This is where the buff comes into it's own.<br />
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I had a great run, I felt good, ran comfortably over a variety of terrain. My hair froze and the sweet tea at the half way burger van saved my life. That about sums it up.<br />
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Distance: 27 miles<br />
Elevation 3100 ft<br />
Time: 6 Hrs<br />
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I think the training is back on track. I'm enjoying the running and looking forward to getting back on the UTLD 100 course. The weekend after next I'm up to the Lakes with Annie and Sarah to run Keswick to Ambleside. The Spring is here (nearly) so it's all systems go!<br />
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Other photos from on route:<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-24305441259270197452013-02-13T06:13:00.000-08:002013-02-13T07:20:19.646-08:00Rebuilding ProjectJanuary was a wash out. Following a slow, low mileage December the plan had been to pick up the pace and the mileage a bit over the Christmas holiday, running the coastal path in Cornwall and other challenging routes to build fitness in time for the Donnington Way 66 miler at the beginning of February.<br />
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But over Christmas we all came down with proper flu. It wiped us all out for 2 to 3 weeks and so for me, running was not an option for 3 weeks. Once I was over the worst of it, picking back up was difficult. I started in a new job, lost my Friday training day and settling into the new routine was disruptive.<br />
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My mileage for January barely scraped past 70, and this hole in my training, the lack of consistency, long runs and cross training left its mark on my fitness. Over the last 4 weeks I've been trying to regain a good base. I had no choice but to drop out of the Donnington Way and I've rejigged my events diary to allow myself a period of rebuilding before the LDWA 100 in May.<br />
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My main focus for 2013 will be as follows:<br />
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May LDWA 100<br />
June UTSW 60<br />
July UTLD 100<br />
August UTMB CCC<br />
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Going forward, Ive planned my training in blocks of 4 to 6 weeks. The first block was aimed at getting back a good base fitness again .... Tick.<br />
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In this second block I'll aim to get my running mileage back up to 40 - 50 per week and improve endurance through a weekly long run of 25+ miles, get in some regular bike work, focus on strengthening hamstrings and core, and drop some weight. This will take me up to the Might Contain Nuts Round 1 (33 miler) at the end of March where I can test myself.<br />
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In March and April I have a couple of training weekends booked in with Annie Garcia in the Lakes and in Snowdonia where big mileage back to back runs will be the order of the day.<br />
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Having a plan has helped me refocus and feel more positive about what Im doing. I think I was getting a bit stale and the winter blues have played their part in this too I'm sure, but I love getting out and running new trails, being outside, getting wet, enjoying the sunshine, whatever it brings, and I'm raring to go again!<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-39329115391407296992012-12-14T02:14:00.000-08:002012-12-15T02:20:12.618-08:00Fan Dance RecceThis is going to be brief...I have company and she is restricting my typing.<br />
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After days of blue skies, cold, crisp, frosty conditions, today it emptied down...a lot. Regardless of the weather, my aim was to run the <a href="http://www.thefandancerace.com/">Fan Dance</a> course against the clock as a training session. I know the course like the back of my hand, so I know exactly where the challenges lie, but I understand that people who undertake this course as part of the special forces selection procedure have to complete the course (weight bearing) in 4 hours. For the event in January I have opted to run the 'clean fatigue' option - so no huge pack - and I was keen to see how a faired against the 4 hour target.<br />
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I don't mind rain and wind and cold but from 700m it was very icy and with the rain pouring down, the large patches of sheet ice became treacherous and my worn out old Inov8 319s were just not up to the job. So at the summit of Pen Y Fan I turned around and came back down. Tackling Jacob's Ladder would not have been wise, so I'll head up in better weather and with adequate footwear to do the full course.<br />
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Today I was up and down in around and hour and 20 minutes (time spent creeping very carefully along the top!).<br />
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Coming off Corn Du heading across to Pen y Fan</div>
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Pen y Fan Summit</div>
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Conditions on top</div>
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-10795649298886359482012-12-08T11:06:00.000-08:002012-12-08T11:06:38.815-08:00Tweet Your RunIt was a perfect winter's day today. Crisp, cold, blue skies and a low sun. A perfect day for getting up high and enjoying the views, so I decided to run an 8 mile loop which focssed on my local hill, the Garth. The day invigorated me and I decided to tweet my progress as I went along to share the day and the views I was lucky enough to enjoy. This record is below:<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-23888861008223108722012-12-05T05:19:00.000-08:002012-12-05T07:37:10.884-08:00Might Contain Nuts Winter 40 (actually 42)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've not written for a while. I've hit a bit of a winter slump, struggling to cope with dark nights and the drop in temperature. I've had 3 different bugs this Autumn and write this as my nose drips onto the keyboard with lurgy no. 3. Work has been busy (I'm leaving one job to start a new one in the New Year), we've acquired a new puppy and all in all, life has been busy. So I've not had the time or the space to think about writing anything insightful or interesting. My brain has been jammed full with other matters. But rather than let my blog die, I wanted to record the race I did last Saturday, just as a memory jogger and in the new year I resolve to write more intelligently and lose the bland stuff ...I'm feeling the pressure already!!</div>
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I had an early start last Saturday. Up at 4:15am, in the car by 4:45am and heading for Talybont on Usk for the <a href="http://www.mightcontainnuts.com/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=16">MCN Winter 40</a>.<br />
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I nearly didn't make it, but an opportunity came up at the last minute and on Friday with only a few hours before the start of the race, I contacted the organiser and confirmed that I would be taking part.<br />
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I'm so glad I did. It was a fantastic event. The organisation was excellent and support from the check point staff was spot on. The course was challenging with lots of ups and downs, mud, bog, ice, sleet, and due to my speed I did the last section in the dark.<br />
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It was nice to see friends before and after the event, and to make some new ones along the way. I remember the last time I did a MCN event I didn't know anyone on the start line, but this time round it was quite a social event.<br />
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I got around the 42 miles in a reasonable time (11:20), in good shape (physically and mentally) and was fine the next day - no aches or pains and no recovery time needed, so I've had a quick rejig of my <a href="http://sarahwwilde.blogspot.co.uk/p/events-calendar.html">calendar of events</a> to focus on 100km events and 100 mile events in 2013.<br />
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I can't wait to get stuck into the new year and some new challenges....<br />
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...there's still one date to negotiate in the next month and I haven't made up my mind on what to do yet...19th December UTMB registration opens.<br />
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Me, Sarah & speed merchant Leigh (1st ultra for Leigh completed in 9hrs!)</div>
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Al, Me & Sarah pre-race delirium</div>
Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-25552260582916356542012-10-21T02:18:00.000-07:002012-10-21T03:14:11.697-07:00Running hills with friendsI've been looking forward to this trip for weeks...my first visit to the Lakes since my failed Lakeland 100 attempt in July, and although I've run the course many times now, this would be the first training session where I would be running alongside friends.<br />
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The outing was to be focussed on covering the 50 miles from Ambleside to Keswick over 2 days with an overnight stop off at the <a href="http://www.wasdale.com/">Wasdale Head Inn</a> on route. This turned out to be a fantastic arrangement. Running all day towards a cosy pub provided plenty of motivation, and focussing on the cider, pub grub and comfy bed that was waiting for me at the end of the day kept me moving forward with a very positive outlook.</div>
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Annie, Sarah and I ran at our own pace over the two days, so after the first few miles of the day I was running on my own chasing Annie who was much faster than me. This suits me well. It was nice to know I had good company at the end of the day, but I liked having someone to chase without the pressure of having to keep a pace I was not comfortable with.</div>
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Conditions were wet underfoot. Lots of slipping down hillsides and a couple of spectacular falls coming down from Black Sail pass ensured that I came home good and muddy!</div>
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We covered around 50 miles in 14 and a bit hours at a very comfortable pace for me. I'd not over planned my hydration/nutrition because there were limitations imposed by having to carry all our gear for the two days, and although my pack was by far the heaviest (!), packing light was the key. So I carried 1.5 litres of water and minimal food to carry me through day one. </div>
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As it worked out, I had no issues with nutrition, foot care and dips in energy and I was significantly quicker in comparison to the last time I covered the same ground back in <a href="http://sarahwwilde.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/weekend-in-keswick.html">May</a> (although I did do the whole 50 miles in 1 outing). I thoroughly enjoyed this recce and ran comfortably, well within my capabilities allowing me to enjoy the experience rather than focus on times and how my performance reflected my ability (or lack of!) to complete the 100.</div>
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Thanks to Sarah and Annie for their great company...I'm off now to plan stage 2 of our adventure - Keswick to Ambleside some time in the new year.</div>
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p.s. thanks to Annie for acting as official photographer on the trip!</div>
Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-77974214075690102332012-09-16T02:49:00.003-07:002012-09-16T13:54:31.124-07:00Here we go againWith the UTLD 100 firmly behind me, the only thing left to do at the beginning of August was to pack up the camper van and head off with the family for our long awaited tour of France and Italy.<br />
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Quite by chance (!) our route took us through some of the best mountainous areas in Europe and we felt it would be rude not to run some of the trails we passed by. We travelled south to the Verdon Gorge, on to Antibes, then Tuscany, Rome, and back up to Courmeyer, Chamonix, Annecy and home. The knee held up and I took the opportunity to run in the hills, without a plan, without a target, just running, walking and enjoying.<br />
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At 9am on Saturday 1st September, I was back in Cardiff and poised ready to sign up for the UTLD 100, Round 2.<br />
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So I'm in again. Time for a second attempt and the training year starts here.<br />
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I've been busy planning out my year, booking in events and training sessions that will take me through the year and build me up in time for July 2013. I've updated my events page with the new schedule.<br />
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My first organised event was this Saturday - <a href="http://www.mountain-trail-challenge.com/">The Brecon Mountain Trail Challenge</a>.<br />
32 miles over the Brecon Beacons with 6000 foot of ascent. A good test to get a feel for where I'm at.<br />
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I love my local events. They are relaxed and full of enthusiastic, interesting people. The Brecon Mountian Trail is mainly a walkers event, but there are always a handful of runners slogging it out at the front. It was great to spend time running and chatting with new friends. Al Davies and Tracey Edwards - it was fantastic running with you both. Thanks for your company and support.<br />
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I also ran the first few miles with a fellow UTLD 50 finisher, Nigel, who I think was Nigel 'Jonah' Jones - I've read his posts on the L100 facebook site...some photo's below.<br />
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The outcome of this first test?....thank god I've got another 10 months to train!<br />
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I managed to maintain an average of 4 mph, so completed in 8 hours which was what I was aiming for, but I found the course quite tough. Why does climbing hills not get easier for me? Old ladies with shopping trolleys passed me on the steep climb up Fan y Big, but I guess this gives me a focus.<br />
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Some photos of the day:<br />
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This is when I first spotted Al (white speck heading up the hill).....<br />
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Nigel & the gent (whose name I didn't get) who helped me through the bog...<br />
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Nigel disappears over the horizon...<br />
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Me & Al...<br />
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Al, Tracy and my cake...</div>
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Next up...I've got a training weekend planned in October that I am really looking forward to. I'll be joined by the wonderful Annie Garcia who I ran with for much of the first 60 miles of the UTLD, and my friend Sarah Warner who also completed the UTLD 50 this year too. We'll be running Ambleside to Wasdale Head on day 1, then on from Wasdale to Keswick on day 2. Can't wait!Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-39256031776363606212012-08-02T03:36:00.000-07:002012-08-02T07:03:29.886-07:00Soundtrack to the Lakeland 100Over the last year I've been posting photos of my training runs and the events that I've taken part in, and I thought I'd tie these all together as a review of the year with the song that was my soundtrack during the Lakeland 100....Great Lake Swimmers, Rocky Spine....<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/foIzzAIwiQU" width="420"></iframe>Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-4818162792151561912012-08-01T13:01:00.002-07:002012-08-01T13:01:38.465-07:00A new year, a new plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Normally, my new year starts in September when we all go back to School & work, but following the weekend's disappointing outcome I've brought the new year forward. It's taken a few days to lift myself off the floor and regroup but a visit to the physiotherapist helped me gain perspective and come to terms with the DNF. Stopping was the right thing to do. Continuing would have been the wrong decision.<br />
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The diagnosis is a medial ligament strain and a minor tear of the hamstring. Had I continued, it is likely that a full hamstring tear would have stopped me in my tracks before I reached Coniston. As it is, I can run easy as part of my recovery and I don't need to take any serious time out.<br />
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I remembered that in the forest above Grassguards I performed my first spectacular leap into a knee high bog. A misjudged hurdle where my landing leg was swallowed up by the gloopy, deep mud and on pulling it out, I experienced a cramping spasm in my hamstring. All quite normal. But I managed to repeat the same spectacular misjudged leap into another bog with the same leading leg, just minutes later on the first part of the decent into Boot. This time, pulling my leg out of the bog triggered a severe cramp and I writhed around on the floor using my hands to flex my foot as it voluntarily contorted towards my shin. I didn't realise it then, but at just 15 miles into the Lakeland 100, the race was over.<br />
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Now it's over an done with, and it's not like anyone died, but I need a plan to take me forward, and some reflection to take on all the lessons learnt.<br /><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">
So what would I do differently next year?<b> </b></span></h3>
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<li><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Training</b>: </span><br /><br /><ul>
<li><i><b>Strength: </b></i>My training to date has been very much focused on building endurance through long days on the hills, running long and training on rough terrain, and whilst this is all valuable and necessary and has made me a good descender, I need to focus on strength work a bit more. I need to improve my uphill speed and stamina because this is what really slows me down.<br /><br />Throughout the L100, I ran with the same small group of people for the entire 60 miles. They would pass me on the uphill sections, and I would skip (in my mind!) past them on the downhills and the flats. And this would repeat, so any ground made was lost going uphill.<br /><br />In training for the Lakeland 50 this year, my Dad spent hours and hours in his garage with a 40 pound pack on his back doing step ups, and he was in great condition by race day. So it's this sort of thing that I think could benefit me, so I will be incorporating plenty strength work into my training going forward.<br /><br /></li>
<li><i><b>Long Runs</b></i>: I've also decided to work around a more structured schedule, building in weekly speed sessions, hills, and longish runs (up to 20 miles), but then building in a monthly ultra event or big training session. <br /><br />Last year, every Friday I tried to get out on the Beacons, Black Mountains, Lakes and do a 25+ mile run. I am confident that I can cover 60 miles in one outing, so building distance endurance below this level is less of an issue and I don't think I need to do that any more. So I am thinking that a monthly 50+ miler or back to back session followed by an easy week would be more benefical to me, conditioning my body to the longer distances whilst allowing for good recovery.<br /></li>
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Carry less weight: </span></h4>
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<li><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><i><b>Pack</b></i>: I can easily cut the weight I carry in my pack during the L100. In the end my pack weighed nearly 9 pounds, 2 pound of this being food and water. I carried 750ml of water, which is about right for me over 7 to 10 miles, but I had a lot of food. Having trained using specific foods, I cautiously took the same stuff along intending to avoid untested checkpoint foods so as not to risk an upset stomach.<br /><br /> As it happened, because the food available suited me and replicated what I had been training with, I ended up hardly touching the food I had carried in my pack and ate very well at the checkpoints. Of the 9 Nakd bars I carried with me during the leg up to Dalemain, I ate only 2 and a half bars. The pork pies and savory foods were untouched.<br /><br /></li>
<li><i><b> Body Weight:</b></i> I am significantly bigger that most ladies (and men!) who enter ultra events. I do carry a bit of spare weight, but I'm not overweight, it's because of my body type. Apparently, I am a mesomorph which means that I have naturally large muscles, hence my comparative bulkiness to other ultra runners. It also means I gain fat easily.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having lived with myself for 40 years, I also know that I can hang onto weight and gain weight for Wales! I run around 50 miles per weeks and do another 30ish miles on the bike but I still have to keep a strict diet or I will gain weight. I'm not fortunate enough to be able to recover from a 50 miler with a big plate of pie and chips, I still have to chose the salad option. </div>
<br />But all that said, I would do myself a massive favour if I could lose a stone or so, so a major aim is to drop some weight fairly quickly to aid both training and performance.<br /></li>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: small;">...and will I try again? </span></h3>
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Absolutely! My year will follow a similar pattern to last year using 50+ mile events as training events from January through to June, and on 1st September 2012, my name will go back on the Lakeland 100 entry list for July 2013.</div>
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Here we go again....!</div>Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-17242505882202454102012-07-31T03:19:00.000-07:002012-07-31T03:19:23.188-07:00UTLD: DNFIt's difficult to put into words how disappointed I am following my DNF at the Lakeland 100 this weekend. For 10 months, every training session, every run I have completed has been undertaken with this event in mind.<br />
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I meticulously planned for every eventuality, planning and rehearsing nutrition, hydration, foot care, killer ascents and descents, night running, long days on the hills, tiredness, how to bring myself through bad patches...the list goes on. But, in the 3 years of training for ultras since my illness, I have been fortunate enough to be injury free, so the one scenario I had not rehearsed and planned for was how I would deal with an injury on the day, and my luck would have it that this was how this event panned out.<br />
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<i><span style="color: #444444;">This is the only photo I have of me on the day, <br />taken just before the start - not the most flattering!</span></i></div>
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I passed through the first three checkpoints without incident, everything was going well. Then at around 19 miles into the race, as I started the unforgiving climb up Black Sail pass, my knee twinged. It made me wince and stopped me in my tracks. SHIT! What was that!! I gave the painful area a quick massage and continued on swearing under my breath. I couldn't believe this could be anything more than a twinge.<br />
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Ahead of me a fellow competitor was vomiting at the side of the path and as I approached his head torch was shining towards me as he headed back toward the Wasdale CP. We exchanged some words, tough luck I told him, and I reassured myself that I was lucky in comparison - I was in a good state of mind, I was feeling strong, everything had gone well so far and I was achieving the time targets I had set myself. The twinge in my knee was a temporary discomfort that would be gone before I knew it.<br />
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The rest of the climb was uncomfortable, but I made it to the top and descended comfortably, ran the path passed Black Sail hut and started the next ascent. The niggle was there, but it wasn't slowing me down until the next sharp, steep and rocky descent into Buttermere. I took it easy and avoided running hard down the very steep sections so as not to aggravate the niggle, and I ran comfortably into Buttermere checkpoint.<br />
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The next section through to Braithewait was slow going. In training, in the day light, I'd covered this section in under 2 hours, but in the dark, in the rain and wind with the ground churned up from the hundreds of runners ahead of me it was a walk out of Buttermere and I didn't run again for 2 hours until I started the decent into Braithewaite. Return of the niggle, multiplied by 10.<br />
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I decided to take a long break at the Braithewaite CP to take care of any other minor issues, allowing myself to keep the knee issue in perspective and avoiding getting it confused with other things. I texted Martin and told him I was afraid this would spell the end for me, but he wisely told me to keep going and take it one checkpoint at a time. I took his advice on board and took time to retape my feet, put on some dry socks - hat - top, had a couple of bowls of pasta, drank some coffee, and made myself feel generally more comfortable.<br />
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I spent 45 minutes at the CP but I felt it was worthwhile and I left in daylight feeling reinvigorated and ran comfortably into Blencathra. The niggle was there, but it was not bothering me so much. A quick in and out of the CP and off I went in good spirits. The next section to the Dockray CP starts with a section along a disused railway track. I ran and walked this comfortably making good progress against my target time, and then I hit the moderate climb up to the old coach road.<br />
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A soon as I started the uphill section severe pain shot around my knee and brought tears to my eyes. I hobbled on for a bit but the pain was nasty, so I sat half way up the hill and cried. I was stuck in limbo. I upgraded the 'issue' to a 'problem' and I was unable to decide whether I should go up or down the hill. I was distraught as it hit me that this was probably the beginning of the end. I rang Martin and cried as I tried to convey the discomfort I was experiencing and how I feared that this would mean I wouldn't finish, but he encouraged me on again and I decided to get to the CP and reassess - it didn't matter how slow I had to go, I would still be moving forward and I was on track time wise - just about.<br />
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At Dockray CP I was greeted by a chap who I had run with during the UTSW. This lifted my spirits again and I left feeling confident and resolving that continuing through to Ambleside was manageable and achievable. But during the gentle uphill alongside Ullswater I had to sit down twice to allow the pain to subside, and running along the tarmac sections into Dalemain the niggle came into it's own and I was reduced to a walk.<br />
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I considered the hills that were ahead of me; Fusedale, the climb out of Mardale Head, Kentmere and all the other smaller hills in between, and it was clear that the task ahead was doomed. If the last 40 miles had been along gentle, undulating tracks I could power walk the remainder of the course and make it just ahead of the cut offs, but knowing the challenging hills and the conditions underfoot that were still to come, I accepted that Dalemain would mark the end of my outing.<br />
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I walked into Dalemain feeling pretty broken and distraught, and my family and friends tried to encourage me to continue, but it was pointless and so I dibbed out. It was over.<br />
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<span style="color: #444444;"><i>It became apparent to my family whilst I was running</i></span></div>
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been given an unassigned dibber. Hence, I show only</div>
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as Runner 1000.</div>
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I'd managed to travel an additional 40 miles from the point where the problem first appeared. I'd lost track of the number of ibuprofen caps I'd taken, and I felt I'd done everything I could to manage the issue, but sometimes you have to accept that failure is an option.Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-50278557089018926852012-06-25T03:16:00.002-07:002012-07-31T11:19:22.007-07:00Endurancelife: Ultra Trail South West (60)This weekend, 23 June, I successfully completed the UTSW (60). I don't usually write race reports, but there are aspects of the UTSW organisation that I think merits some comment.<br />
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But before I go there, I have to note that I thoroughly enjoyed the personal achievement I experienced from the event. I ran further than I ever have before, kept my pace consistent throughout, recovered very well from an early down period, managed my own nutrition throughout and was self sufficient, apart from water, for the full 61.61 miles I travelled.<br />
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I think I've nailed my nutrition, my foot care, and my emotional coping strategies. I know my limits and work within them in order to reach the finish line and I am ready to take on what is, in my opinion, the REAL toughest footrace in the UK...the Lakeland 100.<br />
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The Endurancelife brand feels like a bit of a monster to me. It self proclaims the UTSW to be "The UK's toughest footrace" and the company Director @GaryJolliffe stated in the race briefing that it is their aim to become the UKs UTMB equivalent.<br />
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Endurancelife has a slick web site and their logo is distinct. People are drawn into the brand through the coastal trail series which is very popular, and this year they ran the first UTSW event, offering 100 or 60 mile courses. Having taken part in the 60 mile event this weekend, I am left questioning whether the organisers have focussed too heavily on setting out their stall as a brand leader as stated in their mission statement, and forgotten to ask the most basic question...<br />
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<i>from a competitor's perspective, what makes a good event a great event?</i><br />
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By nailing this they will achieve repeat custom and a loyal following but it is my experience as a professional and in life that "talk does not cook rice", you need actions to back up your claims.<br />
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Without question, the UTSW benefits from the stunning setting travelling along the North Cornish coastline, over headlands, across dunes and beaches, through picturesque seaside villages and race HQ is located at the stunning Watergate Bay.But having a great national trail at your disposal is not enough. Value needs to be added.<br />
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I paid a £90 entry fee for this event, and then a further £20 for transport to the start line. For this I was promised via the event handbook:<br />
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<i>- 60 miles and 4279m (14,039ft) of vertical ascent</i><br />
<i>- 6 checkpoints offering: Flapjacks, Malt loaf, Bananas, Apples,Nuts, Crisps, Dried Fruit</i><br />
<i>- A signed and marked course requiring no navigation (so no map on the mandatory kit list)</i><br />
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So, using the basic information above as measure of success, the event does not fair well.<br />
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The distance was pretty much spot on. I got lost so added an extra mile or so to the balance, but this highlights the issue of poor and inconsistent signage along the way. At crucial points on the course - when in sand dunes and in an urban area - the signage ran out and competitors got lost. I have no problems with this and for most events it is par for the course, but you need to be prepared for this and carry a map. I never leave the house without my GPS (it's on my iphone) so once I realised I was lost I could quickly navigate my way back onto the route, but I know that for many others who were reliant on the word of the organisers, this became a bigger issue and for some it contributed to early retirements. Putting a map on the mandatory kit list would resolve this and help manage competitors' expectations.<br />
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One of the main criticisms I had of this event was that the published approximate elevations (14,000ft for the 60 mile course and 21,385ft for the 100 mile course) seemed to be way off the mark according to the data I collected. I recorded my entire journey on my Garmin 305 and the total elevation for the 60 mile course (with diversions due to getting lost) amounted to 6909 ft. But I've rewritten this paragraph since first publishing the post a few hours ago, because I've since been advised that the Garmin 305 can be unreliable when recording elevation gain and loss. <a href="http://ajc-runninglate.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/so-why-does-my-garmin-tell-lies.html">Andy Cole sums up the issue is his blog post</a> - thanks to Tom H, aka @TrailDragon, for drawing my attention to this. <a href="http://traildragon.co.uk/2012/06/bad-altitude/">His blog is also of interest as he investigates and tests the Garmin on it's accuracy</a>. I had no idea this was an issue.<br />
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But I do hope that the Garmin is at fault for 2 reasons: 1) the main attraction of this event for me was the tough course and challenging elevation. I thought it would be an ideal final step along the road to the L100 as the distance and elevation, mile for mile, were comparable; 2) The Garmin goes in the bin and Suunto Ambit rises firmly to the top of the Christmas list! However, if the Garmin is not far wrong then the claim of the UTSW being 'the UKs toughest footrace' needs to be rethought / withdrawn.<br />
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In my opinion, and using comparisons with other events such as the L50/100 which has the same price tag (but 20 quid cheaper because transport is included - and camping etc etc) and the Might Contain Nuts (MCN) events which are cheaper, the organistaion of the checkpoints has really highlighted the lack of thought that went into the organisation of this event. For me this aspect of the organisation set out the Brand as being a money making enterprise that had lost sight of the endurance athletes it is seeking to inspire (as set out in their <a href="http://www.endurancelife.com/">mission statement</a>).<br />
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My experience was that the published array of food and drink was not available, but the supplies runners usually carry themselves - gels & Clif bars - were available in abundance! This misses the point doesn't it? In terms of service, assistance and support at the checkpoints, at 4 of the 6 CPs my arrival and departure was hardly acknowledged apart from the mandatory dib in. Support and encouragement were completely lacking, I was not offered food or drink and after dibbing in, CP staff would turn away from me to continue their personal conversations, so I got on with topping up my water bottle and just getting back on the road. I don't really want a big fuss, but I do appreciate it when CP staff celebrate your arrival, acknowledge your achievement so far and make an attempt to look after your nutrition requirements.<br />
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At the MCN events, it is clear from the outset that CPs provide only water, but the support and encouragement received from the crews is invaluable. They celebrate your arrival and load you up with lots of positive words of praise and encouragement, buoying you up for the next section. The same goes in spades for the L50/100 team along with good hot and cold nutrition options at every stop. As organiser Mark Laithwaite has said about the Recce weekend they run, "<a href="http://lakeland100.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/lakeland-50-100-checkpoint-food-list/">If Carlsberg ran checkpoints...</a>"<br />
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On balance. I have to mention that the lady at the St Ives CP, and the chap manning the Porthtowan CP who referred to me by my name were excellent and their support and encouragement were very much appreciated. Thanks also to the young boy at Porthtowan who was attentive and offered me food, drink and rushed off to retrieve my drop bag.<br />
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On a very personal note, when I comepleted the L50 the organisers were there to clap me across the line at 6am in the morning. I was escorted into the hall, someone took my shoes off, I was clapped again, weighed and generally looked after and congratulated. When I crossed the line this weekend, I stood around for a bit, asked where the dibber was and was acknowledged with a comment 'oh, are you a finisher?' then a delayed clap. It didn't have the same emotional impact!<br />
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Along the way, I spoke to many 100 athletes and without exception they had all found the poor signage and poor CP supplies an additional challenge they had not prepared for. It is my view that this related to the position I took in the field - the middle/back of the pack. I would bet that the elite athletes at the front of the pack had a better experience. But the success of events like the L50/100 which is oversubscribed and growing year by year, is that they balance the need to attract top level athletes with the requirements of the middle and back of the pack runners. Everyone is made to feel that their achievement is equally valued/valuable on the day.<br />
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All that said, it was a great opportunity to run all day with limited CP support in a beautiful area, meet some great people and be part of the excitement and anticipation that bigger events always create. But there is lots of room for improvement. I may try an Endurancelife event again, but for the moment, give me an LDWA event any day of the week!<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-9898974009890867052012-06-15T06:39:00.001-07:002012-06-15T06:39:32.418-07:00A weakness for hillsThere's just 6 weeks to go until the Lakeland 100 and I feel that I've successfully built a solid base of fitness and endurance, so I've been trying to focus on my areas of weakness over the last few weeks - uphills and speed!<br />
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It's been 3 weeks since I last ran over 25 miles, and I feel like I've been slacking, but I'm hoping that the faster running sessions and hill work I've been doing will stand me in good stead. Next Saturday will be a good test when I do the UTSW 60 mile coastal trail run.<br />
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Today, I chose to brave the weather warnings of giant hail and gale force winds and went up to Storey Arms for some hill repeats. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The weather was wild, but I managed 2 repeats of the trail below very comfortably - up one hill, down the other side, then back up and down to return to my start point.<br />
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Only 14 miles, but 5100 feet of ascent.<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-90692314585156451172012-05-20T09:06:00.003-07:002012-05-20T09:06:44.724-07:00Weekend in KeswickI was going to make the title of this post "Romantic Weekend in Keswick" because Martin and I spent this weekend in the Lakes to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary. But I chose the destination and very obviously had an ulterior motive, so "Recce Weekend in Keswick" would probably be more appropriate.<br />
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We drove up after work on Wednesday night, parked the van in Ambleside had a quick meal then an early night....I had to be up at 4am. I'd planned to run the Ambleside to Keswick section of the L100 course on Thursday.<br />
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I am now properly obsessed with the L100. I dream about the event, and in my sleep I rehearse the struggle and the discomfort that I experience on training runs and will have to deal with in spades on the day. When I am awake, I am thinking and planning training routes, distances and working through schedules - how far, how fast, where, when and how. Not the best company - sorry Martin.<br />
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When I woke up on Thursday morning at 4.15am with the rain pattering on the roof of the van, I didn't spring out of bed, I braced myself and prepared myself for battle, and left the old man fast asleep - Happy Anniversary!!<br />
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It took me 16 and a bit hours to get around the 50 miles, which ended up being a bit more after taking the wrong path out of Boot and being too tired to notice until I was on the open fell side!<br />
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It rained steadily for the first 9 hours, and the ground between Seathwaite and Wasdale was boggy and energy sapping. As I climbed Black Sail Pass, the sun came out and I enjoyed a short stop in the company of the walkers occupying Black Sail Hut who generously looked after me, watered me and sent me on my way - the only people I encountered all day, so the brief conversation saved my sanity!<br />
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At Buttermere I wanted to call I taxi, but I pushed through the last 9 miles at the pace I had achieved during the first section between Ambleside and Coniston on fresh legs. I dropped into Braithwaite just before 9pm and was in the shower by 9.30pm.<br />
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I felt broken, and as I walked through Keswick I was resolute that I was going to pull out of the 100. Having meticulously recorded my times along the way at each checkpoint, it was patently obvious that I am up against it time wise. I will be relentlessly working to avoid being timed out and it is likely that I will have to face a full 40 hours of struggle and mental battling...((groan)).<br />
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Back in Keswick, my legs were fine, my taped feet were great having been wet since 8am, I had no cramping or stomach problems, I had even managed to pick the pace up again in the Buttermere to Braithwaite section, so there was still something left in the tank, but as always, the climbs sapped my energy and although I can recover quickly and make up some time on the descents and the flats, I can't push my uphill speed, so my average time suffers.<br />
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This is the record of my progress - it's beyond tight!<br />
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Come Friday, I was in good shape and able to reflect and identify some of the positives gained from the training run. Martin and I went for a run up and around Latrigg, so another 10 miles logged and my legs felt great. <br />
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We had a fab couple of days at the Keswick Mountain Festival, saw Paul Tierney complete his sub 18 hour Bob Graham Round, and topped the weekend off with many pints of cider in the beer tent with the best view in the world.<br />
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The outcome... I have found a new approach, a new tactic. Rather than worrying about not making it 'round I'm just going to see how far I can get before the organisers pull me off the course.<br />
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I will be on the start line, and I may not finish, but I've trained hard and learned a lot. I need to enjoy the remainder of the training and allow myself to enjoy the event. I might get timed out on the day, but the challenge will be to see how far I can get before that happens.<br />
<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-87663782033529989922012-05-06T03:42:00.004-07:002012-05-06T03:42:55.074-07:00L100 Training Rolls OnMy training has picked up over the last month or so. I feel like I've entered a new phase. Having put in the miles over the winter I've learned a lot and have a much better awareness of what my capabilities and requirements are, so I've started the process of refining my plan.<br />
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I've had 2 more trips up to the Lakes and have now covered the full 100 route, and I've started doubling up long runs on the weekend, doing a 30+ miler and a 15+ miler back to back on consecutive days. My body is now well conditioned to keeping going, and I am confident that I have good levels of stamina, but I am not getting any faster. My main concern continues to be that I will get timed out, rather than my inability to go the distance, so this will have to be my focus over the last couple of months.<br />
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With this in mind, and in the hope that shedding some extra weight will have the desired effect on my speed, I've recently changed my eating plan. I attended the March L100/50 recce talk on nutrition given by Marc Laithewaite, and this gave me the impetus and motivation to make the change.<br />
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Years ago, for completely different reasons, I tried, enjoyed and had success on a low carb diet, so following Marc's talk, I've reverted back to this plan and have seen some very positive effects. My weight has dropped (more needs to go!), my mood is consistent and I am feeling generally more positive about all aspects of my life, including training. Best of all I don't seem to need to eat as much when I'm out on long runs, I don't experience any energy dips and I never get that empty feeling that usually results in me stuffing my face with any bread, potato, pastry products within arms reach.<br />
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I've stopped using gels and fizzy electrolyte products, and found two excellent products that work really well for me and have got rid of the dodgy stomach that used to arrive to distract me at the 25 mile mark. I'm using <a href="http://eletewater.co.uk/">Elete Electrolyte</a> in my water. This is an excellent product and has no taste or fizz and so far has done a great job for me. My race nutrition has also changed. I've ditched the cheese and onion pasties (!) and now carry a handful of <a href="http://www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk/store/nakd-nudie-bars/default.aspx">Nakd</a> bars, with a couple of sausages or a scotch egg just in case I fancy something savoury.<br />
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The other revelation I've had relates to foot care. The Wye One Way was a good early test event that brought lots of issues to the surface. Aside from the realisation that the electrolyte supplement I was using was the cause of my stomach upsets, the condition of my feet was also letting me down towards the end of the 50 miles. My legs were fine, my head was in good shape, but my feet were blistering following an early river crossing and I realised that if this repeated in the L100 I would fail. So I borrowed my Dad's book '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fixing-Your-Feet-John-Vonhof/dp/0899976387/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336300638&sr=8-1">Fixing your Feet</a>', and learned how to tape my feet properly and so far, so good - not a hot spot or blister in sight.<br />
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There's now just 12 weeks left before the L100! I've got 2 more trips planned to the Lakes to train on the course, and I aim to continue building endurance and stamina through doubling up on weekend long runs. I also want to drop a bit more weight in the hope that this helps me gain a bit more speed, so it's just about putting in the time now in the hope that I can achieve my goal....to finish the L100.<br />
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<b>Training Highlights:</b><br />
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Braithewaite to Wasdale (and back) - April 1st<br />
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Coniston to Seathwaite (and back via the Old Man) - April 2nd<br />
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Training on the MCN Brecon 40 Mile Ultra Course: 13 April <br />(Event on May 12th, but I don't think I'm going to do this afterall. I'm in the Lakes on the weekends either side of the event training on the L100 course)<br />
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Black Mountains Roundabout: April 14th <br />(pulled out / wimped out early because of blizzard conditions, and it just wasn't fun)<br />
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Pooley Bridge, Fusedale & Whether Hill, Roman Road Loop: May 4th<br />
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Braithewaite to Pooley Bridge: May 5th<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-53177705594982836052012-03-23T10:16:00.004-07:002012-03-23T10:16:58.836-07:00Fail to plan....I had to cut my planned 30 miler short today. I was unprepared for the warm weather and took no where near enough water for the sunny, mild conditions.<br />
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It was a stunning day, and in my eagerness to get going I'd been complacent in my preparations. I had decided to do at least 30 miles but was mentally prepared to be out for up to 10 hours if I felt good. But i hadn't really thought about my route before I jumped in the van, and ended up setting off on a route that would avoid the crowds but didn't allow opportunity to pick up more water. By mile 9 I was already thinking about rationing my sips but I had another 3 climbs ahead of me, and whilst calculating the impact of a detour to buy more, I remembered that I had no cash on me! I didn't want to rely on water from the streams alone, so the only clean water I had access to was back in the van. Added to this, my foot was giving me gyp (ongoing niggles me from a twisted ankle during the Wye One Way).<br />
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I weighed it up, and made an early decision to take an exit route across the Beacons and just enjoy the great weather, the views and get back early.<br />
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First time in ages I've had a sit down on top to enjoy the views!<br />
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<u>Summary</u><br />
18 miles done<br />
3600 ft ascent<br />
4.5 hours (without the sit down to enjoy the views)<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-46388306777095787502012-03-11T11:09:00.006-07:002012-03-11T12:24:16.080-07:00Wye One Way 50 MilesThe Wye One Way 50 mile ultra marathon marks the halfway mark in my training towards the Lakeland 100. How I faired in this event would indicate whether I should even contemplate standing on the start line for the L100. In the weeks leading up to yesterday, I worked hard to down play the importance of the run, trying to convince myself and others that it wasn't important, it was just a training run, it didn't matter if I DNFd or if I completed outside of the 15.5 hour cut off.<br />
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I spent last week preparing my kit, packing and repacking my bag, assigning rough times to reach each check point, getting in the required nutrition and hydration for on route . I even took care over my diet and hydration in the days leading up to the event - something I never bother with (I have a reasonably healthy diet anyway), but this signaled that this really was a bigger deal that I was letting on.<br />
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So, race day arrived and I stood on the start line with a load of blokes who looked the part and not needing a third hand to count the number of female competitors. There must have been about 50 of us in total (if that many) and I spent some time eyeballing the field, looking for someone with a beer belly, or someone who looked a bit out of shape. Someone who would keep me company at the back of the field. But everyone looked lean and mean and it dawned on me that I probably fitted the bill best and was offering reassurance to others who might have been concerned that they could come in last.<br />
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The start gun sounded (it was actually the race organiser shouting) and we ran off towards the claggy gloom hanging over the hills of mid wales. When I left the house the evening before to camp at race HQ, my daughter said as I was going through the door, "Mummy, just run as fast as you can so you can come home as soon as possible". And this sums up my race strategy nicely. My aim is always to get to the end and get it over with as soon as I can within a bearable pain threshold. I don't ease into this frame of mind gently, enjoying the first half then kicking into business mode to finish off. No. I set off with a clear focus - get it done, get it over with!<br />
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We ran off and the front runners disappeared up and over the first hill and were probably home by the time I reached the 4th hill. I spent a very short amount of time giving myself the usual pep talk - I'm only competing against myself, this is about pushing myself to achieve what I thought I might not be capable of, a personal test and that easing off at any time would be fine. But the voices from the group following me up the first hill reminded me that this was a big pile of steamy BS. There was no way they were going to pass me, and that bloke just ahead...I was going to pass him before we got to the top if it killed me.<br />
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The checkpoints rolled by and at each one I was up on the time I had predicted. There was plenty of opportunity for running so I could make up time for my slow ascents on the downhills and the flats. At about half way I wanted to end it, but I made a deal with myself to run as far as Builth Wells (35 miles) and make a decision about whether to pack it in, knowing that there would be no way I'd quit with just 15 miles to go. Further encouragement came from the fact that at this stage no one passed me, but I passed people - very pleasing.<br />
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I ran all but the last three miles of the race on my own when I shared the light of my Petzle with a guy whose head torch had failed, but this suits me. I train on my own, so I build up appropriate mental strategies to deal with the rough patches in my own head. I tend to vocalise all the negative stuff when I'm with people and that makes the negatives seem more real, so it can be detrimental to me and, I'm sure, to the poor bugger who is stuck with me. My mother claims that my loner tendencies are a result of the antisocial genes from my father's side of the family kicking in - maybe. I'm comfortable with it after 40 years.<br />
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I don't have much to say about the countryside we passed through. It is beautiful, there are a huge number of birds of prey overhead, but there was misty, low cloud for much of the time and by the time it had cleared there was a fog inside my head and my focus was set on the bottle of chocolate milk that sat waiting for me in the fridge back in my van. I knew it's exact location.<br />
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The outcome was very pleasing for me. My legs were strong throughout and I was very comfortable running right through to the end. I was slow on the ascents as usual, so need to keep working on this, and crossing a calf high, proper, real river at 9 miles wrecked my feet, so the pain was becoming hard to manage by the end and this would have scuppered any attempt at a longer distance, so I need to work on foot care.<br />
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The only other things to note were that the Clif bars were very good - will use again. I also carried 2 slimfast milk shakes which were fab when my stomach was a bit iffy. Slimfast would be my race food of choice, but i'd probably need to sort out a small trailer to transport all the bottles across the distance. I also stopped using the SiS Go electrolyte tablets after about 20 miles because they were upsetting my stomach, so plain water from now on.<br />
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Overall, I had a good day out. I didn't find the distance anywhere near as tough as the L50, mentally or physically. The L50 was without doubt tougher under foot and had an extra 1500 - 2000 foot of elevation, but this was an excellent event and it offered a significant challenge. There was enough elevation to make it testing (7500 ft ish), there was an early river crossing to mess with your feet, and competitors were required to be completely self sufficient (other than for water).<br />
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I finished in 12 hours 45 minutes - maintaining a solid 4 miles an hour across the whole course.<br />
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As for whether I feel qualified to stand on the start line of the Lakeland 100...the jury's out.<br />
<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-42355651610455346062012-02-25T07:52:00.001-08:002012-02-25T09:29:09.731-08:00Glasbury to Builth Wells 35 Mile LoopThe <a href="http://www.mightcontainnuts.com/events/welsh_one_day_ultra_series/round_3.html">Wye One Way 50 mile ultra marathon</a> is ominously close, so yesterday I jumped in the van at 6:30am and headed north to Glasbury on Wye to check out the last section of the course. It's highly likely that it will be dark when I get to this stage on the day of the event, so I wanted to be familiar with it.<br />
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The countryside is beautiful in this part of mid Wales. Driving north, you leave behind the higher hills and enter into the stunning river valley. The Wye One Way route follows the Wye Valley Walk path for the most part, and includes flat sections alongside the river, and plenty of ups and downs along broad grassy bridleways on the hillsides, clocking up a significant 7648ft of ascent. My run yesterday included the last 16ish miles of this route.<br />
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The bridge I was supposed to cross at Llanstephan was closed to cars and pedestrians due to roadworks, so I diverted up onto the hillside and rejoined the intended route just above Erwood Bridge.<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/AP8feLlThMo">http://youtu.be/AP8feLlThMo</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AP8feLlThMo" width="420"></iframe>
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I dropped into Builth Wells and realised how hungry I was! I've been packing just liquid and Soreen for my recent runs of up to 30ish miles, but having clocked 18 miles, eaten 2 slices of malt loaf, with just 2 slices left, it was apparent that I've become complacent about my food requirements. Builth delivered, and 2 cheese and onion pasties were bought, one was consumed and the other saved for later - just in case.<br />
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A quick rejig of gear, and I was back on the trail, retracing my steps back to the van.<br />
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The last section of the route, together with the diversion caused by the closed bridge, involved a lot of running of tarmac roads, and my knees and ankles were screaming by the end of the run, so much so, I conceded, and walked the whole of the last 2 miles (the mental demons were also at work by this point).<br />
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Lessons....<br />
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1. Food - need more than 4 slices of malt loaf if going over 30 miles!<br />
2. Road running - haven't run on roads for months, so I need to fit some into my training to toughen up my joints<br />
3. Carry ibuprofen<br />
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Distance covered: 34.6 miles<br />
Elevation: 3422ft<br />
Time: 8.5 hours<br />
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<br />Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890509573307562648.post-55147138903162901592012-02-20T13:16:00.000-08:002012-02-21T14:13:12.146-08:00UTLD Lakeland 100 Fly through<span style="color: #38761d;">UPDATED: Full L100 route now posted</span><br />
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Bought my Dad a Memory Map GPS unit for his birthday and in setting it up I got to play with the mapping software for the PC.<br />
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Have a look at the first 50 miles of the UTLD Lakeland 100 route in glorious OS 3D - cover 50 miles in just 13ish minutes!<br />
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Lakeland 50 route to follow when I have another spare 2 days to waste playing on my laptop :0)<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3141BB03DC9AA64F">http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3141BB03DC9AA64F</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PL3141BB03DC9AA64F&hl=en_US" width="560"></iframe>Sarah Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04849896055398087091noreply@blogger.com3