Running

I ran the Thames Trot 50 miler on Saturday, my first ultra, here are some things that happened during the day...

Woke up before my alarm and thought I might as well get up and get sorted. Couldn't find my socks anywhere. Unpacked my kit, repacked my kit, unpacked again. Still no socks. Fine I'll wear a different pair, creep up so find another pair and what should my hand fall upon? The socks I've been stressing about finding!
Got the train to Reading where I couldn't find the spoon I know I had packed so eating meusli was going to be interesting, fortunately a Pret was setting up and the nice lady let me have a spoon. Got on the train to Oxford and instantly found my lost spoon. Not the best start to the day!

Arrived in Oxford to find a group of runners waiting for the minibus which appeared about two minutes later, hopped on and got up the the start to register, drop bag and generally faff about for a bit.

0830 rolled around and we were off, a stream of runners, joggers and walkers all winding their down way to the Thames to float downstream for the next few hours. If only. We quickly hit the mud which I kept assuring everyone was much better once we got past the first checkpoint. Sorry guys, I lied. It was so much more muddy than when I'd recce'd the course, for the entire course.

Actually the first section to Abingdon was more runnable than it had been previously. However by about 8 miles in my quads were feeling tired which I thought shouldn't be happening seeing how they'd never been tired like this after 8 miles in training. I should have had more walking breaks during this section but it was easy to get pulled along at an easy pace thinking you'll be fine. Lesson number 1.

A couple more miles and the first checkpoint rolled into view, then I saw my mum and dad waiting for me which gave me a mental boost I hadn't realised I needed. Grabbed some water and kept moving thorugh. I was determined to not waste too much time at the checkpoints so walked with my mum for a little bit but then there was a photographer so I was told I had to run (thanks mum)!

The section to CP2 was a bit of a monotonous trudge, passing and being re-passed by the same few people as our paces fluctuated, looping slowly around a big featureless flood plain, feeling like you're going nowhere, until finally you cross the river and it's only a few miles to CP2 at Benson. Mum and dad were waiting agian, this time with my cousin in tow. I grabbed a gel from the checkpoint and walked with my family for a bit, eating a wrap and drinking a bit. From here I was looking forward to getting to Streatley and the next checkpoint because that would be over half way.

somewhere between CP2 and CP3 I caught up with a guy whose shoe had been pulled apart by the constant sticky mud. He was really pissed off. The entire sole had come away from the rest of the shoe so he had no tread to grip in the mud and no protection from any not-mud. He was planning to get the CP3 and pull out, I don't blame him. I stayed with him for a little bit.

I'm more familar with the latter part of the course, but started to flag as I felt I was getting onto "home turf" about 25 miles in. I was running with three other people, including one american chap in road shoes who "just needed to hang with some other runners", but lost the group as we left the river and climbed a very gentle slope toward the road in Moulsford. I didn't have the legs for running uphill!

Arriving into CP3 a few miles downstream I was running again but had run out of water (lesson number 2) so stopped to top up, grab cake and a gel and walked off down the road. Then I suddenly felt like I was about to cry which was so ridiculous I burst out laughing. Right in front of a lady walking her dog. Sorry lady.

After CP3 is the only hill on the course. I was in a loose group with two others at this point, one chap I'd spoken to a bit before CP3 and another older chap who was slower but able to run more of the uphills. I left these two on the main climb and was subsequently passed on the flat after the climb. My right knee was starting to hurt every time I took weight off the leg, but only when running. Tarmac made this worse, and downhills worse again. Wo I didn't really enjoy the road down into Pangbourne, but there my son, girlfriend, and her parents were waiting with food, spare clothes, shoes...

"Don't worrry about all that, I just want the crisps" I said as my gf was unpacking shoes and tops. I was so focussed on crisps I forgot to take my headtorch (lesson no. 3). I stopped for a couple of minutes and remember saying "my knee isn't very happy" to my gf just before running off. Then as I was eating the crisps a lady caught up with me and we stayed together to the next checkpoint. Thank you lady, you dragged me through Pangbourne medows and kept me running into CP4!

Again, I didn't want to hang arount in the CP. Just clocked in, grabbed a gel and started walking up the hill. A group of four of us formed just as we rejoined the river in Tilehurst, including the same lady, but I had needed the loo for some time so when the opportunity came I had to make like a bear... And lost the group. I knew the lady I'd been running with earlier was stopping shortly to meet her daughter so hoped I'd be able to catch up but I only got within a few hundred metres and couldn't up the pace to drag her back. The hard packed path here was taking its toll on my knee so I had lots of walking breaks as I approached, and passed through Reading which is all tarmac path.

I passed another runner who had stopped to find his headtorch as we were passing through Reading, and by the time I was out the far side of Reading he hadn't come back past which gave me a bit of a boost but I was properly flagging now. This was my low point. I sent my mum a text that just said "40 miles in ... So tired".

Finally I reached Thames Valley Park on the East side of Reading and was pleased to get back onto a muddy path! I could run without much pain again and passed a few people in the next couple of fields, then continued up through the trees to Sonning and CP5. None of the people I passed on this section had re-passed me which was a big mental boost.

We had to pair up at CP5 so I left with another chap who didn't look like he wanted to hang about, crossed the bridge, over the road and I was feeling good again so asked if he was good to run for a bit, "Mate, I'm done. I Just needed to get out of that chekpoint! You go on."

Remember that head torch I didn't pick up? Well now I needed it! Running using my phone to light the way was actually ok and I put some music on and I was feeling good with some strength returning. Got into a good rhythm and started to catch up and pass other pairs and threes of runners and was pleased to see their torches receeding behind me every time I looked back. I seemed to be gaining strength when everyone else was flagging.

I hit the road at Shiplake and knew I was close now but the low battery warning light was showing on my phone. Ok, time to turn the music off... Shit. 1% battery remaining. Time to run in the dark for a bit then! I'd forgotten how enjoyable proper night running can be but the marshall at the level crossing seemed concerned "Where's your headtorch!?" Uh oh.
"I turned it off to save the battery" Don't stop running, don't wait for an answer, just cross the railway, and get off down through the gap in the hedge!
I had enough battery to text my gf (fortunately she was at the finish) and ask her walk towards me with the headtorch. I did NOT want to cross the finish line only to be DQ'd for running without a light.

I entered the final field and passed a group only to find it was American Road Shoe Guy who I'd caught up with. We wished each other well for the rest and I continued on.

Finally out of the field and there is my gf with my headtorch! What a star. She ran with me for the last mile, and I even managed to pick the pace up a little as we approached the finish line!

I actually felt pretty good at the finish and was buzzing all evening (couldn't sleep until about 1am). Everything I was wearing went into a bin bag, clean dry clothes never felt so good. Chatted to the lady who I ran with approaching CP4 who I'd passed in the dark without realising and also Americal Road Shoe Guy who was really friendly. Really great experience despite the mud.

Total time was 10:21:29, 148th overall, so way down the field but I was never going to challenge the podium - 06:12:04 for the winner this year!!

Edit: Sorry really long post. TLDR - Ran a long way.