Running

KAW write up, it's pretty long - sorry!

I travelled down to Winchester the day before the race, met up with a friend for dinner and went to my accommodation to get my kit sorted and race vest packed up for the morning. As I was sorting through my kit, I realised I had two soft flask lids, but only one soft flask. Not the end of the world, I have a bladder too so my water carrying capacity has dropped from 2l to 1.5l. I can deal with that.
After a not very good night’s sleep I got up when the alarm went off at 0430, got sorted and started walking to the registration venue to realise I have a wet back. Probably just from the water bladder being wet when it went into my pack, no big deal as it’s a mild night and supposed to be a warm day.
Hmm was that a drip I just felt on my leg? It’s not raining. Maybe just a drop from the soft flask, sometimes they have a bit of water left after you take a sip. Yeah, that’ll be it.
Drip. Now I’m starting to think something is leaking. My back is feeling wetter, and more drips are dropping. Great.
Getting to registration I quickly found my water bladder has a hole at the bottom, meaning I’m going to be continually pouring a litre of water slowly down my back. I tried putting some tape from my first aid kit over the hole, but it wasn’t waterproof. I asked a few other runners if they had spare soft flasks but didn’t find anything.
I was saved on the start line by Dylan who had a spare flask he wasn’t using so I quickly decanted water from my bladder into the new flask and realised I had my filter bottle too so filled that up meaning I was still carrying 1.5l, I’d just need to move water around as I emptied flasks (my filter bottle doesn’t fit in an accessible pocket so is difficult to drink from on the go).
After few photos and a briefing from the race directors we were off through the streets of Winchester. I ran with Oliver who I know from Deadwater and we chatted for around the first 10 miles. It was good to catch up and we were both taking it easy. I was interested to see if anyone would go flying off at the start like at the Spine but this seemed a more reserved start.
After a few miles we were joined by Luke and Oliver soon dropped back leaving us to continue at our own pace. The first section up to CP1 went relatively quickly, and after a quick pit stop to refill and refuel we were past Old Sarum and on our way to Stonehenge.
The day was pretty hot so we were drinking plenty and as we crossed a stream I said I was going to filter some water. As I took the lid off my (borrowed) flask I fumbled it and watched in horror as it swiftly hit the floor and rolled into the stream. I wasn’t fast enough to grab it as it sunk to the bottom and to retrieve it, I was lying on my belly, face in the water, arm at full stretch! Can I please get a break with water vessel issues now?
Water topped up and we continued to Stonehenge by which time the day was getting really hot and an out and back run along a track with no shelter wasn’t really needed but it was good to get a close view of the stones and tick off the first neolithic stone circle of the day.
We were shortly to cross Salisbury Plain where large signs warn to stay on the footbaths and avoid approaching any unexploded ordanance! The route was a mix of tank tracks and footpaths and almost entirely without shade. We’d keep seeing other support crews who were kind enough to offer us water but we declined as had plenty still. We did find an outside tap by a café for a refill which helped as we didn’t need to worry about rationing before the second CP.
We dropped a long way down into CP2 and I pulled away from Luke a bit but we regrouped at the CP and left together after a drink and some snacks.
The climb back up onto Salisbury plain was up a road that just seemed to go on and on straight up the hill. Finally we reached the top to be greeted with great views over the Vale of Pewsey. It wasn’t long before I started to recognise the folds of the hills ahead and could point out a couple of white horses. It felt good as I knew we couldn’t be too far off Avebury and neolithic stone circle two of two.
We dropped down and across the valley floor before a long road climb up over the Pewsey Downs. I had a little wobble climbing this hill and sat down for a minute or two to have a bite to eat and admire the sunset. Refreshed, I continued only to be given a bit of a scare by a bull protecting his heard. It only occurred to me the next day that it would have been extra protective at dusk as cows don’t have great eyesight.
The race director had set up an interim CP at Avebury due to the heat that day so whilst the temperature had dropped we still topped up our water to set off along the Ridgeway with a full compliment.
Here we caught up with Sara whose husband was crewing for her meaning she was able to run with just the basics and no heavy pack. We chatted as we traversed the Ridgeway and finally took our leave at Ogbourne St George where the route crosses a main road and Sara stopped for a sleep. We’d walked a lot of the ridgeway so far which was good to rest the legs, but I was itching to get to the CP at Bishopstone so trotted on to arrive at CP3 around midnight.
Again, Luke and I set off together but it was becoming clear he was struggling. I was trying to encourage a run/walk strategy to keep us moving a good pace but after a while he dropped off and I was feeling quite good so decided to continue at my own pace. The Ridgeway seemed to go on forever, with the terrain barely changing (alternating rutted track and grassy path) until finally I hit the big descent into Goring and Streatley.
Just before Witchurch, I decided to have a micro nap and sat down by the track. Pretty much instantly I heard voices approaching so got up as I knew they’d ask if everything was ok. I explained what we were doing, and they took my sponsorship link. Very nice to have support from random strangers! As we were talking my mum and aunt appeared, they’d planned to come and see me in Reading but had got the train out to Pangbourne and walked up the hill to find me.
We walked and talked for a bit and mum gave me some chocolate and a drink until my aunt had to turn back as she had a blister! I continued to Reading, feeling pretty tired at this point which I think was to be expected after around 110 miles.
Finding the CP at Reading was harder than it should have been, it just seemed to always be two streets away but I got there eventually and had a jacket potato with beans which didn’t taste good at all, but some carbs surely wouldn’t hurt? We had access to our drop bags here, so I changed into fresh clothes and filled a bottle with chocolate oat milk and another with coconut water.
Heading out of Reading I felt awful. Couldn’t get moving at all so I walked along the river out to Green Park, used the facilities at KFC and headed out towards Shinfield. Eventually I warmed up and got moving again, settling into a run walk routine to give different muscle groups a rest.
I’d kept an eve on the tracker as I left Reading in the top 5 and I knew there was someone not too far ahead of me so if I could just keep moving then I might catch them. This was probably far too early to be getting competitive but I started to feel strong and run harder and eventually caught up with the person ahead of me. We walked for a few minutes until he found a supported and stopped and I continued through woods and fields. At some point I tripped and did a pretty good superman impression, somehow remaining on my feet but in doing so I pulled something behind my left knee. I knew I’d done something but I could still move ok so continued on to eventually get to CP5 at Ewshot.
To my dismay this CP was a table and a chair on the pavement. No hot food and definitely nowhere to sleep. I’d been looking forward to this CP for some decent food and a good sleep. No chance.
I’d have to press on to the next CP. It was about 17 miles, the shortest stint between CPs and I had no choice but to keep moving. As the night wore on I got so sleepy I was stumbling along roads and paths in a manner that would have had mothers ushering their children away – thankfully there was no one to see the state I was in! I tried everything to keep awake, micro naps help to “reset” things for a few minutes but I was really struggling. At one point I had a 5 min nap and started heading the wrong way along the path. After that I left myself a sign before I napped. Once I made a little twig arrow, another time I took my pack off and placed that the direction I needed to go.
I really needed a good hour or so to give my head a chance to recover a little but I was desperate to reach the CP so kept the naps short. When I finally arrived I only had a 15 min nap and was keen to eat and get moving. This was clearly a mistake. I had wanted to see what would happen if I went through two nights without proper sleep and this was my plan but I had been really struggling.
I had hoped that dawn would bring some fresh energy for me and I wouldn’t feel so sleepy but as I ascended the Devil’s Punchbowl it was clear I wasn’t going too well. Better than in the night for sure but I kept finding excuses to stop. Jacket on, waterproof socks on, jacket off, jacket on again… In hindsight these were the right calls as it kept me mostly dry and helped my feet stay dry even though they were hot and the socks were a bit tight.
We followed the Shipwright’s way for a while and I started to need naps again, stopping by the side of the path for 5 mins at a time wasn’t really helping much but it was better than nothing. As the day progressed, I got more and more sleepy. The hallucinations were interesting, I kept seeing figures in the trees which would dissipate as I approached or brick structures like arched bridges that would turn out to be just shadows.
I stopped for a longer nap in some woods but just lay down by the path without setting an alarm. I don’t know how long I was asleep but it didn’t feel like a long time before someone was asking if I was ok. I tried to explain what we were doing and why having a nap in the damp leaf mould was a perfectly reasonable thing to be doing but I’m not sure I made a lot of sense and continued on my way.
I was in a really bad state, stumbling along and limping due to the knee I’d tweaked the day before which had tightened up and become very uncomfortable. I was getting very emotional thinking about my friend who died from cancer 9 years ago – I was raising money for Cancer Research UK which made this all the more personal. At one point I was walking along blubbing away having what I have heard described as a “power cry”. Must have been a pretty interesting sight but thankfully there was no one around at this point.
On the SDW closer to the visitor centre people kept asking if I was ok. I wasn’t, but I’d say I was just tired, and they’d offer an oat bar and I’d decline as I had plenty of food. This scenario repeated several times so I must have looked a right state! I knew I was moving really slowly, my watch was buzzing for every mile and I had slowed to over 30 minutes a mile.
Before this point I’d sat by the side of the road and messaged my dad to come and pick me up. I said I’d try to get to the next CP and meet him there. This decision was based on a couple of factors. Firstly I needed some proper sleep and going through a third night was going to be dangerous. I’d already been weaving into the road and across paths and I felt I would become I liability to myself and others. The final CP was an outdoor one so there was no chance of a good sleep here.
Additionally with my pace dropping off a cliff I knew I wouldn’t be generating enough body heat to stay warm through the night. When you are tired hypothermia becomes more likely and even with both of the jackets I was carrying I thought I’d be cold and I didn’t feel this was a risk I could take or a position I should be putting the race organisers in.
I didn’t quite make it to the CP, I was at the bottom of the hill and dad was waiting for me so I asked him to come down and pick me up from the SDW visitor centre. “Has anyone ever told you you’re mad?” was his cheery greeting!
In the car I couldn’t keep my eyes open and slept all the way home, had a shower and got into bed, slept all night and spent the next day napping to eventually get up and realise I needed to get some things in for dinner!
All in all I’m pleased with how the first 150 miles or so went and I’ve learned a valuable lesson for any races that require going through two nights – Offa’s Dyke I’m looking at you! After Reading I was able to push myself (maybe too hard) and ran rally well to gain a place. This is the first time I’ve felt able to race an ultra as opposed to just plod along to cover the miles. If the opportunity comes up again I’d approach the race in a very different way.
All told I covered 190 miles in in a bit under 59 hours. It would have definitely been worth it to stop for longer naps as I’d have recouped the time in moving faster over Saturday night and Sunday.