The Stort 30 had been pencilled into my 2018 running goals, however I was waiting to get the RAT out the way before committing myself to entering the race. Having accomplished a finish at the RAT (which arguably was more challenging and 2 miles further) I was confident that the Stort was within my capabilities so converted some volunteer points into a race entry.
I was hoping I could continue where my training for the RAT left off giving me a good shot at finishing the race comfortably. This was wishful thinking! I struggled with fatigue when I did get back to running (possibly latent muscle damage) where a 10k run may as well have been 100k, then I missed a couple of weekends of long back to back runs and added to that I had a cortisone injection in my foot to treat plantar fasciitis which forced me to rest for over a week. The final 2 weeks of my training program left me full of self doubt and wondering whether I was up to the task, my last long run was 15 miles, half the distance of the Stort and seemed to be really difficult for some reason. On a positive note I was still far more prepared than I have previously been when attempting long distance races and my plantar fasciitis had totally cleared up!
In a complete switch of roles, I was on the start line of an ultra whilst Paul would be my crew! The clocks going back afforded us an extra hour in bed which was welcome and avoided what could have felt like an early start. I have to admit I'd not slept well the night before, possibly due to an overactive brain but also due to a painful shoulder as a result of going wild in the garden with my new leaf blower (note to self, taking it easy before a race really means just that). The temperature on the morning had dropped to single figures, it had been a while since I last had to contend with the thought of being cold during a run. I decided to still brave shorts and wear a long sleeve layer with the option to remove layers if need be. One thing was for certain, my lucky mascot Maurice Mammut bought back with me from Chamonix would be accompanying me again for the race.
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| Maurice the ultra Mammut |
We arrived at Bishops Stortford Running Club, the race HQ with plenty of time to kill. Being a local race we bumped into various friendly faces who we've met over the years of running. On my many trips to the toilet I marvelled at the fact there was either no or little queue for the ladies, a real rarity in life but perhaps one of the perks of being a female in the world of ultra marathons! On that note, the Stort had a pretty decent female representation, of the 188 runners starting, 67 of those were women.
Shortly before 9am, we gathered outside for the race briefing and it started raining. Fortunately it was short lived and stopped just in time for the start of the race. I placed myself close to the back of the 188 runners gathered on the start line. The race started in a field which we had to complete 2 laps of before picking up the short section of road to the river path. I was conscious not to go off too fast as tempting as it was, although I was conscious that I didn't want the be separated from the main pack until we were by the river.
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| All smiles at the start of the race! (Photo: Stuart March) |
Once on the river path I could relax knowing that I just had to keep running alongside the water until I reached the turn around point at the Rye House, Hoddeson. I had planned to implement 25/5 (25 minutes of running followed by 5 minutes walking) from the start of the race. I'd got into a nice rhythm and the lady in front of me was setting a good 6 min/km pace which felt good. Wanting to instill some discipline early on in the race I tried to slow and walk after the first 25 minutes were done. The pack was still quite bunched so I pulled off to the side of the narrow path cut into the grass that we were following. The grass was long and wet from the rain and dewy temperatures, the first few runners that passed asked if I was OK, walking 25 minutes into a 30 mile race must have made me look pretty unprepared! It was too awkward and I realised that I wasn't going to be able to do 5 minutes walking without frequently stopping to allow runners to pass me so I decided to continue running until I reached the first check point just over 5 miles in which would be when I'd start my 25/5 plan.
The check point came just after 5 miles into the race in Sawbridgeworth and I was surprised at what a relief it was. I decided to stop and take the opportunity to grab some food and drink. The event is cup-less (kudos to Challenge Running, the world of trail and ultra running seem to be doing their bit to reduce the environmental impact of organising races) so I pulled out my soft cup and filled it with some coke. I took a couple of orange segments and a Freddo Frog and walked out the aid station to continue with my 5 minutes of walking as to not throw coke all over myself! Having practiced 25/5 in training getting back into a good rhythm when I started running again was no bother and it didn't take long to feel like the miles were passing with relative ease.
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| Captured with a Freddo Frog in hand! (Photo: Stuart March) |
Driving me along to the next check point was knowing that's where Paul would be waiting to see me for the first time in the race. The next 5 miles seemed pleasant enough and my body felt generally good. The 25/5's were working well enabling me to preserve my energy and on the walk breaks take on some hydration and nutrition. Eating during runs is something I have found quite easy. Earlier in the summer I'd adopted the nickname 'trail piglet' for my wild berry trail foraging skills! Having crewed for Paul 4 times at the Stort 30 I had become familiar with the landmarks which helped give me an idea when I was getting close to a check point. Just when I expected I approached check point 2 in Harlow and there was Paul waving at me. Another brief stop, cup of coke and onward I went.
My motivation to get to check point 3 was knowing that was half way and at the turn around point. Psychologically it helped me thinking of each section individually and gave me a focus for getting to that next check point. Thinking about the race in its entirety would have mentally crushed me! With each step between mile 10-15 I noticed that my legs were beginning to fatigue a little. I had a moment of self doubt realising that in training, as to manage my training load and avoid injuries we'd focused on back to back long runs and the furthest I'd run in a single training run was 15 miles, albeit on already tired legs from a run the day before. I was becoming concerned that I'd make it to the turn around and the 15 mile stretch back would essentially be a death march.
I managed to navigate the weir (apparently the only potential banana skin in the navigation) and knew that the turn around would be soon. There were a few supporters out on the course so I knew I must be real close. Paul's smiley face came into view and I felt a sense of relief to have made it to half way in 2:45 hrs, slightly ahead of my predicted pace. I took a bit of time at this check point having a couple of cups of coke and half the peanut butter sandwich from the crew bag (Paul moaned that he carried the crew bag throughout the whole race and all I had from it was a peanut butter sandwich, now he understands how it feels to be crew)! It was nice to see fellow runner and friend Naomi who was waiting at the check point for the cut off before assuming the duties of tail runner and sweeper for the return leg. With some friendly words of encouragement, another Freddo Frog and a fig biscuit I was off and homeward bound.
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| Scenery distraction along the way |
I began to notice a bit of a slow down in my pace on that return leg and realised that I soon needed to think about adjusting my strategy to a 20/10 to keep myself going for as long as I could. My legs were starting to feel a little fatigued and my knees had developed an ache, different to what I have had before. Even though the sun had come out, there was a biting wind which made it quite cold and I was feeling it in my exposed knees. I'd periodically stop to try and stretch and give them a bit of a rub but the relief was only temporary. I had taped my right knee as a precaution as this is the one I really suffered with during the RAT. However, it was a shock for both knees to have hurt so badly. I eventually reached the check point at 20 miles in. I munched on the other half of my peanut butter sandwich knowing I needed some filling calories as I was starting to feel hungry, took another cup of coke said I'd see Paul at the finish and rejoined the tow path. We estimated the final 10 miles would take me at least 2 hours so Paul had enough time to go home and collect my Mum and return to the finish to wait for me.
I walked for a little while to eat some more food although I think I may have eaten a bit too much in a short space of time as my appetite seemed to disappear only to not return. I really was feeling like I was at the business end of the race now. I was two thirds of the race down yet those final 10 miles seemed like a huge task. Along this stretch I ran briefly with a lovely lady called Nicola who was running her first ultra. It was really nice to have someone to talk to and share some of the run with. I explained that I was running 25/5's so would be shortly stopping to walk. Unfortunately I didn't get to catch up with Nicola again as that was more or less it for my running. My knees had become incredibly painful and my stints of running were becoming shorter. I guessed it may be tightness in my IT bands as the pain was only noticeable when running and eased during walking.
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| "1769 - the River Stort open to navigation, flowing into the Lea and onwards to the Thames, then out to sea and so to all ports of the World" |
It was my mission to get to that last check point as soon as I could. I could just about comprehend having 5 miles left, especially if it was going to be spent mostly walking. I chose this time not to stop, I had plenty of food and water and didn't want to delay myself any longer than I had to. I was now really struggling to run, a little jog and then I'd have to slow to a walk again. I tried setting myself targets like run to the next tree or run as far as the bridge then walk to cross it just to keep pushing me forwards. Every time I found a bridge or a railing I'd stop to try and stretch out my quads which I believe to be part of the reason my knees were sore. However, with the lack of varying terrain e.g. it was pretty much flat for the entire 30 miles I found that when I was trying to stretch my quads, my hamstrings would go into cramp. Breaking the final stint into smaller chunks, my next milestone was making it to marathon distance which I covered in 5:02, slower than my best marathon time but not my slowest.
I was trying to work out how many kilometres were left to go but was too exhausted to figure it out. I knew that I had roughly 4 miles left to cover. The initial 5 miles and final 5 miles of the course had to have been the worst. The terrain was awkward and the scenery was just a bit dull (apart from the fluffy cows). I tried to listen to some music, I have a heavy metal playlist which I had hoped would distract me from the pain and power me through but it didn't help and I couldn't always hear when runners came up behind me so I gave up and put my headphones away. I put my sunglasses on as to avoid having to make eye contact with anyone and kept my gaze staring firmly at the floor. It's fair to say at this point I was really struggling and wanted it to all be over with, I reminded myself that it was my choice to be there and no one had made me enter the race so I just had to suck it up and get it done. I kept seeing trains whizz past the river and I know that the course runs close to the train station so I had hoped we'd not got far left to go. All running had pretty much stopped by this point and I just walked as fast as I could telling myself with each step I was a step closer to crossing the finish line. It was pretty frustrating as I felt I still have energy left in the tank but was just incapable of turning it into anything other than a fast walk.
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| Fluffy cow |
I had finally reached the end of the tow path and popped out onto pavement in Bishops Stortford. It was one of the greatest feelings as I knew that I was now real close however, everything seems a lot further away than you remember in the late stages of a race. I looked at my watch and I had approximately 7 minutes to cover just over 1 km to get in under 6 hours. I'd not really set myself a time to aim for but had said I'd be around 6 hours to finish. I knew that 7 minutes to get back and do a final lap of the field was going to be a big ask. I tried to run again only not to make it very far so went back to walking with purpose. At this point I was passing runners who had finished and were walking back to their cars with medals around their necks. Everyone was so encouraging and supportive which helped push me along.
I'd made it back to the race HQ and at the gate back into the field I spotted Paul and my Mum. Wanting to make them proud (and also because everyone was cheering) I did my best to run, breaking to painfully step up the kerb into the field. I was given a temporary boost which enabled me to run as far as the corner of the field. Bugger, the field felt a lot bigger than it had done in the morning when I'd run 2 laps of it. Paul joined me jogging by my side willing me on but I had to tell him to stop and go to the finish to see me as I had to walk again. I was grateful for his encouragement but just wanted to get my head down and get it done. I had about one third of the field left when Paul came running back towards me telling me to run as there was a lady behind me who was catching. Apparently I was currently 3rd in my age category and that the lady behind me was 4th. Out of nowhere I was able to run again and for some reason running faster was not making my knees hurt (the joy of adrenaline)!
After one last effort and what felt like a sprint finish I crossed the finish line in 6:01 hrs and was greeted by Lindley the Race Director who placed a finishers medal around my neck. I didn't hang about before telling Lindley never again, I wasn't going to do another ultra, let alone do the Stort again. I think he mentioned something about St Peters Way (45 miles) and I possibly told him where to go! Then another volunteer came and handed me a bronze Trail Running Association Championship medal for placing 3rd in the V35 category. I could not believe it, surely there must have been a mistake! I was just happy to have finished but this was the icing on the cake and made those final miles of suffering seem worthwhile.
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| Double bling (Photo: Stuart March) |
Back in the club house we caught up with the other runners and enjoyed a celebratory drink before heading home so I could have a soak in the bath and to consume my body weight in pizza!
The days that followed the Stort 30 I had quite mixed feelings. I was pleased to have finished my 2nd ultra marathon but a little disappointed with my own performance. It was never about going for a time but I was annoyed that I ended up having to walk as much at the end, I had hoped I would have been a lot more capable. I would estimate that the walking at the end cost me around an extra 30 minutes. I often pride myself on my ability to finish races strongly and having I struggled more than I anticipated, I felt like a bit of a fraud collecting an extra medal for my efforts. I did a lot of analysing on where I thought I could improve and I'm still unsure whether it was missing a chunk of runs from my plan or the lack of long distance and opting for shorter back to back runs that cost me.
Anyone looking to push beyond 26.2 miles, I would highly recommend the Stort 30 as a first ultra marathon. It's fantastically organised, check points are every 5 miles and are well stocked, flat and requires no navigation.
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| The most prized medal in my collection |
As a soft tissue therapist and a graduate sports scientist, I know that I need to look at some sort of strengthening and mobility program to injury proof myself and try and delay the break down of my body. I seem pretty well equipped for distances of up to half marathon but going beyond still causes me issues. Training to get time on my feet is one thing, I however need to give myself the resilience that when fatigue sets in that my form doesn't go to total sh*t and lead to the issues I have suffered with my IT band and knees. I suspect it all starts with the glutes, a vital asset for runners (when they work)!
I realised that I had been training with little rest since the start of the year so thought it'd be wise to take the rest of the year off before targeting some races next year. Within a week, Paul had signed us up for the 2019 Stort 30 and I had entered the Flitch Way New Year's Day Marathon (Challenge Running). Never believe anything a runner says in the days following a race!
