Definitely an adventure : already a resilience test as the local trains have been cancelled on the way home.
Exciting exciting. Amazing to track down running kit and start sorting running packs and kit. Oh my.
The race, organised by Albion Running, is approximately 50 miles long, with a 30 m option. It starts at Ham Hill Country Park, weaves along the Leland Trail then the Lands End trail, in to Glastonbury. The route is steeped in history and goes up to Glastonbury Tor during the final leg : awesome.
I shared the pleasure of this day with two chaps, both seasoned long distance runners, Sean and Chris. I enjoyed immensely the company, chat, pacing, and buffers against the inevitable emotional lows. Sightings of Glastonbury Tor were magical, as was a teeny glimpse of the festival site also. We were plodding along right at the back of the race competitors : it was dark and atmospheric when we reached the top of the Tor with magnificent views of the area. Coincidentally, a Van Morrison concert was being held in Glastonbury Town that evening, so we got to run down the tor and through the town with an unbelievable musical accompaniment. I don't think this could have been planned to be a more perfect way to end the day. Fabulous.
The route accumulates around 4,000 foot of overall elevation - pretty much ouch. Five much appreciated checkpoints, also much appreciated course markings. We finished just over thirteen hours, that will certainly do me proud. For some runners, it was their first 50 miler : their finishing times, way faster than ours, are hugely impressive and something that should be shouted from the rooftops. If we can do this, we can do anything.
Green man green man green man
Apparently I am a Woodwose for completing, YIPPEE
Note to self : a Woodwose is anyone who completes the community forest path which circumnavigates Bristol. From what I can gather, they are also said to haunt medieval forests. To be fair, I've always wanted to be one.
I swear there's more hills running the route in this direction. My feet think so, anyway.
The course is, as said before, pretty challenging! Some scarey terrain underfoot, easy to stumble and fall. I'm not quite sure which was worse: stomping up the mountains or trying not to slip on the way down on the other side. Flat seemed to mean gnarly or rocky, all of which demanding concentration. There were a few tarmac areas... Somehow they are not standing out in my memory.
It seems to be slightly longer than the 55k, we came in at 36.1 miles apparently : certainly value for money with this event. An accumulative 7,000 ft ascent, incorporating three beautiful mountain passes.
I finished in 10.35, which put me at a 226 position out of 311 finishers. I'm sure this is nothing to write home about to anyone else, but I was chuffed. I managed to finish the route still trotting and listening to interesting stories from another runner, : the best way to get in. Fab.
I finished 10.35, to be honest I was pleased with this. Depressingly, we saw a couple of elites finish the 100k before we had even hit our start line - they were powering in at nine and something hours : how, how, how can they do these superhuman times, incredible.
Loved this day. Many good memories of previous Lake District events came flooding back, was good to be out there today.
Favourite beautiful moment had to be looking back from the top of the longest climb I had attempted for a while, Helvellyn, amazing. Favourite comedy moment was trying to take a dodgy selfie when a work colleague ran past : huge congrats to him, first ultra and a superb finishing time.
Buzzing. Absolutely buzzing.
Arrived in the slightly moody and hugely beautiful lake district for a stab at the Lakeland 55k tomorrow. Stunning, stunning place. Did I ever say that its good to be able to breathe?
