Ultra number 5! Does this mean I am an addict? This was my first 40 mile event and was advertised as mostly trail and hard track, some road and we were supposed to follow pink arrows that showed the route.......I was a little dubious!
Debbie and I planned to run together although Debs had struggled a little on our last one so I did pack my Ipod just in case I was abandoned and felt lonely.
I find it really difficult to look back at an event and remember ANY of it. I remember very few details of the route and could not go back and run it if I wanted to. I remember that I was going to wear my Arm warmers for the first time and was very excited about this! Also I remember turning up at the start and thinking that there were a lot of female runners and I would be happy to finish in the top 10.
At the start of any race I feel nervous and this was no excpetion not helped by the fact that we arrived with little time to spare.
We set off and Debbie said after a mile or so that we were near the back - I think that she was wrong. What I remember of the route is minimal! There was a nice off road section near a reservoir then I recall lots of short steep sections on the road. I opened my trusty Babybell cheese and ate it which created a couple of comments from fellow runners. It works for me so I will stick with it.
I remember very little of the route at all now! My memory returns at 13 miles when Debbie is struggling - I know when she is finding it tough as she stops talking. At 15 miles she decided to call it a day and allow me to continue alone and she would continue to 20 then pull out.
So off I went, I have only ever done one long race on my own and that was the Three Peaks in April so 25 miles alone did feel a little daunting. It is curious to consider the thoughts in my head when running alone. I remember words and phrases people have said, I recall thinking about having Blizzard running with me and wishing at points she was there with me, this thought soon diminished upon passing a dead sheep. Sandra's words were a constant thought in my head also, when I felt a niggle I was remembering I only had 40 miles to do and not 85 and this spurred me on. I was also thinking abou the fact that I am lucky enough to be sponsored by 9Bar and wanted to do well for them.
There were very few parts when I was alone and I hooked up with various people and enjoyed many a conversation. What surprised me though was that no one was catching me up, I was the one doing all the overtaking and this felt good.
In my mind I had broken the remaining distance into 5 mile sections and this seemed to work well. My Garmin battery lasted till 30 miles then I was alone. I was now in second place and wanted to hold on to this although I remained aware of the fact that some other ladies may not be far behind me. I persevered, I got some lovely words of encouragement on the way and the marshalls who were ever cheerful were wonderful and I looked forward to reaching the next checkpoint.
The heavens opened at some point in the race - I have no idea when that was as I seem to lose all sense when I run - I think I had my waterproof on for the last 7 miles of the race. I even had my hood up as the rain was so heavy.
I was gutted when I worked like mad climbing up a steep hill thinking that the finish was in sight only to learn that there was still another three miles left to go. The last three miles felt an awful long way - not helped by the fact that there were numerous stiles to negotiate.
I thought that Iwas hallucinating as Ientered Buxton and heard my name being shouted - it was Debbie who was calling me back as I had missed a "Pink Arrow" and she ran with me the last half mile to the finish.
I was pleased to reach the finish and even more pleased to see that Helen Skelton who was first lady was sat there to greet me in too. My first Second place at an Ultra and I finished feeling tired but not dead.
I am writing this about a week and a half after the event and whilst my legs feel ok I am having a little bother with my foot - just pressure on the top but I am hoping that it will fix soon and the next 4 weeks are MENTAL!
