Running peace

Family run along the beautiful lanes in Devon. Running happy, running peace.

Happy Christmas and a Happy Running New Year!!!!!

Well guys.... Its that time to say Happy Christmas and Good Luck for the New Year.... Whether your plans are running related or not, good luck with all hopes and ambitions for 2019!

Thinking about....

Thinking about, planning, daydreaming, and hoping for next year's running..... Good dreams

Good running feelings

After a decent run in the autumn sunshine, brilliant to meet up with friends. The chat about future events has once again reignited enthusiasm, thank you

Early morning

Stunning early morning run at Lyme Park today. Surely the best time to run? Love it

Inspiration

Inspirational words from Tracey Emin for the 2012 paralympic games - it still keeps me going

Post race lurgy

Post race lurgy, feeling like pants... Yep, training started again!

Last Cappadocia race pics

Last pictures from the race, as downloaded on the website.
So sad it's over, what an amazing adventure.
If nothing else, there's not many races where you cross the finish line with stray dogs as an escort.

Salomon Cappadocia Ultra-Trail 119k 2018, race stats

The Ultra race had 272 starters according to the website, 24 of whom were female. 71 did not complete, leaving 201 finishers with 20 females amongst them.
We finished at 22.43: I seriously could not have gone any faster. That left us with race positions 168/169: I'm very pleased with this. I'll take that happily.

Salomon Cappadocia Ultra-Trail 119k

This is a race that has everything. Running through Cappadocia is like running through an enchanted vista. Incredible rock formations (known as fairy castles), caves, tunnels, mountains and plateaus, with riverbeds thrown in just when you thought things were going too well. It certainly tests you as a runner, right up to the finish line. Superbly organised. Ten checkpoints. The race is a true challenge in a beautiful, awe inspiring, environment.

I can safely say it is in my top three of favourite races. Encourage anyone to attempt one of these races? I would positively urge anyone interested in trail running events to go for this.

Salomon Cappadocia Ultra-Trail 119k, 2018

Well, the 119k race proved to be every bit of the challenge that was anticipated. Approximately 3700 metres accumulative elevation, with a tight 24 hour time limit. A very runnable first half, if your energy levels allowed. Different race lengths participating at this stage added extra impetus. To my mind, the race began at the 60 k checkpoint, both emotionally and physically : tough to keep going, and the mountain stages truly started then.
The weather was extremely good to us, with no thunderstorms as were rumbling in the background : it could have been a truly different race for us, indeed.
Checkpoints were well stocked, frequent, and staffed by willing volunteers.

The race certainly had the feel of an adventure into exploring. Running through this fascinating area was an incredible unforgettable experience. It would have been remiss not to pause and absorb the surroundings frequently. Awesome racing.

What a race

So, finished the race in a very happy 22.42. What an incredible, awesome, beautiful, stunning, interesting, exhilarating place to run.
Pics to come

Ready as we'll ever be

Registered, nearly finished packing running vest, : time to rest and eat

Cappadocia balloon ride

What an amazing start to the trip, a balloon ride with a basket full of runners!

Exciting, beautiful Urgup

Arrived in Kayseri!!

Finally arrived in Kayseri after about 24 hours travelling, plane diversions, storms, and many cups of coffee. On our way to Urgup, where running things await!

Turkey here we come, all being well!

So according to the Facebook Page of the cappadocia race organisers, quite a few runners hoping to travel to Turkey next week. It looks like approximately 325 people going for the Ultra. Oh my.

Running is getting faster......

... Well, for some people anyway. Liked this snippet published in the Guardian newspaper, showing the decrease in completion times of the full marathon. Incomprehensible. These times are equal to the time taken by many people to run a half, and it is still considered fast. We will surely be seeing a sub two hour marathon record soon. Insane.

Cappadocia ultra

Less than three weeks until we go: I'm not sure that I have been this excited about a race before.
Roll on running and exploring Turkey

Ladybower 50- running happy

Ladybower 50 2018

So, yesterday I had the pleasure of running this race.
Picture the scenario : you have a place where you love to train, when you get chance. Then you find that someone has organised a race there. Almost as if it's for you. Perfect. So happy.

The weather was dry and sunny, defying all predictions. The routes were 20/35/50m : 1.5/2.5/3.5 laps of the reservoirs accordingly.
Its advertised as undulating, which I think is fair - some sections you wanted to walk for a rest. Friendly, very very beautiful. The checkpoints only offered water or juice basically, you certainly needed your own food. No need for navigation, follow the reservoirs and you can't go wrong. Opportunity to run fast if you had the energy, the route is mostly track / tarmac, rather than technical paths. To be fair, it would have been difficult to concentrate on stumbly paths with such magnificent views.

Lovely, lovely running.

Ladybower 50

Ran the Ladybower 50 today, a 50 miler around the Derwent Valley in the Peak District. Had an absolute buzz, and an unexpected pb for me of 9.29. I'm sure it was probably because there was no coffee at the checkpoints... Either way, I'm not complaining!

Never Give Up!

The organisers of the Ultra Trail World Tour have posted this in honour of the UTMB races this week. Oh wow. Go, all runners in Chamonix right now!

Plodding

The wind down towards the end of the school holidays has prompted a kick start to long runs, in anticipation of the next few running months. A slow, steady, staggered 17 m today, some of them absolutely glorious. With a refuelling break at a coffee shop too - I couldn't ask for better in life.

Relief

Relief and delight to find that the trails have reopened in a favourite local training area. The whole expanse had been closed during ongoing moorland fires related to the recent heatwave. Some greenery is coming through the charred and devastated land. Pleased to be out running there again, as I'm sure many other trail runners are.

Lucky bits and bobs?

Is it just me that does this? It cannot be, surely.

Waiting in line for kit check at the last race, I realised that two of the front pockets of my running pack are stuffed full with lucky items. Certainly not items that would necessarily get you to the finish of a race.
We're talking a lucky troll, lego brick, lucky gingerbread man, even lucky painkillers. I think there's a particularly well decorated and loved lollipop stick in there somewhere. All given to me by people who genuinely wish me well in an endurance event.

Being ever so slightly superstitious, I cannot bring myself to clear these pockets out or throw these bits away. Seriously, I know that doesn't make any logical sense. But I would be bereft at not completing my next big event and realising it was due to lack of said tokens.

In an emergency, I will not be picking flares and gels out of my bag. No, no: not me. I'll be looking at stuffed toys and things covered in fluff.
It's OK, there is actually space for essential kit as long as its folded over and squashed down. No problem, really.

It certainly makes my running pack more interesting.

So, I will continue to keep the whole lot packed in those pockets. They only weigh less than half a kilo or so anyway.

Plus, I cannot forget to wear my lucky sunglasses, necklace, lucky socks....

Hmmmm.

The before, after, and after again

Just for the record, this is how you can look before a mountain race.... At the finish line of a mountain race (er, not a pretty sight) : and the day after a mountain race (possibly even worse).

A brilliant illustration which you won't find in any type of running magazine, heh heh.