Country to capital 2021, my race

 So, the first long distance event that I've been able to get to, due to the pandemic restrictions, for a long long time. I felt like a complete newby with this : the journey, the organisation, the overall distance, was all completely intimidating me. But it felt time to try and get back in to this, as a mental boost and kick up the bum to try and focus again, in past and present passions.

A flat race: the winner finished in approximately five hours fifteen. I have no idea how. I think many of us felt that it was perhaps harder than normal : no preparation with recent events due to cancellations, it felt very much like the first time of attempting this distance.

Yikes.

My legs got tired too quickly for my liking, with the classic schoolboy error of setting off too fast. Plodding commenced quite quickly, the ultra gear. A huge piece of luck for me : I hooked up with a chap running a similar pace quite early on about fifteen miles. After having a little moan between us, we went in to a run / walk strategy that he timed like a metronome. We were aiming for 13-14 minute miles to complete, so would walk (well, hobble) for 0.6 of a mile, then jog (well, shuffle) for 0.4-0.5 of a mile. Honestly, it worked a treat. The miles just ticked by. In between our attempts at 'running', we put the world to rights and this in itself was interesting. So, how lucky for me to have bumped in to this chap.... My race would not have been anywhere near as enjoyable or achievable without him. 

The end came after 9 hours 32. I certainly didn't feel as if I'd had a 'good' race:  legs way too sore, rubbish injuries rearing their heads. But, but but.. I didn't expect to, either. First event back, my aim was to complete, I was chuffed to get there.

Still buzzing. And still wearing the tee shirt, with pride. 

Country to Capital 2021

 I am so very grateful that this race could happen. This was the third date for the event, after pandemic postponements, and I got the impression that it took a huge amount of work to be allowed to go ahead.

It is just over 42 miles, a point to point route starting at Wendover and leading in to Little Venice, London.   A flat, fast race. The first part mostly tracks through fields and woods: the second part along canal towpaths into London.

Due to the time of year that we could run this race, it was warm and lovely. Normally this race is held in January, I should imagine quite muddy underfoot in parts during the first half, then maybe marginally creepy along a cold dark towpath in the second (depending on the speed of the competitor).

It was probably not my usual choice of scenic trail race.... But so so so good to be out there taking part in long distance again at last. That was a buzz in itself. 

A huge point that sticks in my head about this race..... The race director waited at the finish to congratulate each competitor. I managed a quick chat with him, he touched on the difficulties of holding this event this week, due to part lifting of various restrictions. Last minute and stressful seemed to be the order of his week. But, he came up with the best comment ever - he wanted to hold this race because he knew it would make people happy. Simple as that. After everything that people have gone through recently, and are still enduring.... I love this reason. Anybody that has managed to hold a running company together through the last year, and wants to continue with events for this reason, is an absolute star in my book. You've got to support these companies for the sake of running happiness. Brilliant. 

 Today I managed to plod through my first ultra for a long, long time.... The Country to Capital. Just over 42 miles. I think I finished about nine and a half hours. Legs are killing me..... 

Some social running

 Beautiful morning running around a local forest with some incredible work colleagues. Fun, different. Marvellous stuff

Slowly we go

 After all these hideous restrictions, at last some opportunities to hit some trails.  Such a pleasure to get out to the Lakes. Amazing day, amazing company.

Slow running, slow to start back. Lack of hill training in the past few months is really

showing, plus a lovely touch of plantar fasciitis. Nevermind, hopefully it will ease. 

The quiet, the trails, the scenery... Perfect day.   Followed by a bit of perfect refuelling. Gorgeous. 

'Event things'

 A work colleague is hoping to undertake his first ultra later in the year, if the pandemic starts to get under control and events can restart. I thought I'd put together a list of snippets I felt important to a long distance event, then I thought I would write it on here, more to remind myself of these ideas. So, here goes. Apologies if these have been written on  a long - deleted blog in the past : apologies if you think these points are a load of rubbish : apologies if these have all been written on multiple ultra race publications: apologies again if they sound like car bumper stickers, they are not meant to. They are just my ideas, and personal to me.

So.....

Most obvious, probably, you run your own race, with your own goals, own timings, own method. Getting too involved in someone else's game plan can seriously mess with your head and end in disappointment. 

Never, ever, think of the whole distance. It can be way too overwhelming. Just checkpoint to checkpoint.   

Expect the downparts, as well as the feeling OK parts. 

You're in this for a long, long, day and night(s) out, its an adventure.

Nine times out of ten, its your head that will stop you completing. 

Only choose an event which you feel passionate about, you are more likely to train well for something that captures your mind. 

I have a strict routine at checkpoints: toilet, eat, check phone, refill flasks, address any blisters, toilet, leave. Try not to dither too much, keep it slick. Walk out of the checkpoint to commence the next section. Here we go. There's a reason why some races clap you out of a checkpoint.

Never try new kit in an event. It usually ends in tears. Put things in exactly the same place in your running pack, it becomes instinct where to find them when you are fatigued. 

Is it really the end of the world if you don't complete? Especially after seeing the experiences of some people through this pandemic. (I will really try and remind myself this later in the year, ahem).

OK, that's enough. 

Keep going guys, keep running, let's try and look past this time of restriction and dream of what may be ahead. 

Long time no blog...

 Well. Long time no blog. Mostly because in the lockdown I haven't managed to run anywhere more exciting than the local pavements, and even some of those got flooded. Partly because I didn't think another running selfie was appropriate in this further lockdown.

I am very very very slowly becoming cautiously optimistic that at  last there can be some sort of grip on this hideous virus. The vaccine is out there, numbers are slowly declining, the R rate might finally be falling the right side of 1.  Insane, overwhelming, times.

So, time to start making plans for later in the year. I am back to daydreaming a little bit about new and interesting places to run, lovely people we might be able to run with. With this in mind, I am trying to keep my training up, albeit pavement bound. 

There's a big world out there. I so hope it's going to be safer soon. 

Keep going guys.