Camino Ultra Lea Valley 50k

Finally a race, my first of any significance since this wretched pandemic reared its ugly head and cancelled everything in sight! I originally signed up for the Lea Valley 50k last year as a 'warm-up' for the Arc 50, both events were subsequently cancelled. Rearranged to June 2021, I was cautiously optimistic that provided the governments roadmap of easing Covid-19 restrictions went according to plan that some racing may happen. My training has been continuous throughout as I knew at some point events would go ahead and I'd rather use the time to my advantage and be trained and ready to race.  

In the week leading up to the race, we'd booked a break which could be considered perfect timing for some R&R and tapering. However, we were visiting the Lake District and struggle sitting still! We loaded the week with the more strenuous activities early on, with some more 'restful' days towards the latter. On our first day we went on a run up Skiddaw, hiking the parts which were unrunnable for our southern legs and running the 'alpine flats' where we could. It was just shy of 18km with 989m elevation gain, it's fair to say our legs were a little smashed afterwards. Then followed some mountain biking (Borrowdale Bash and Whinlatter Forest) and more Wainwright bagging. By midweek I was a little concerned for the state of my legs and booked myself an impromptu sports massage to try and remedy sore shins and battered quads. Luckily after a couple days my legs were feeling refreshed and my final 5k run on the Thursday felt pretty good. Probably the most detrimental part was the 6+ hour drive home the day before the race. 

Summit of Skiddaw

Rather predictably, I didn't sleep that well the night before the race, a combination of anticipation and two very needy cats who thought we'd abandoned them. One benefit of the Covid-19 measures is the staggered start window for races. With a start time of between 9-10am we didn't need to leave home at the crack of dawn which helped me emerge from my sleepy state. Once on the road to the start in Welwyn Garden City, I was eager to get going, it felt like I'd been a long time waiting to toe a start line of a race and all of a sudden the feeling of excitement and nerves were bubbling away. 

Covid has changed the way races operate and the start line was no exception. Billed as being 'low key', I walked up to a gazebo, had my name ticked off, posed for a quick photo before crossing the timing mat. It was weird not being in a crowd in a mass start. Whilst navigation seemed pretty straight forward on this race, I downloaded the course GPX file and loaded it onto my Garmin just in case. I am pleased that I did as the race started in the city and weaved through residential areas before picking up the Cole Green Way, with no one else to follow it was down to me to spot the red and white tape indicating the course and directional arrows, I certainly wasn't game for any bonus miles today. When I did eventually encounter other runners on the route, it was a job knowing whether they were part of the race or just out on a Saturday morning jog. Eventually there was some familiarity of periodically seeing the same people and I found myself orbiting with the same 3-4 runners. 

Ready at the start

The first 3km or so was on pavement with a few stops for road crossings before joining the Cole Green Way which is a former railway line. This terrain was to my liking since it very much resembled my home training ground of the Flitch Way, also a disused railway line turned country park. I decided to operate a 25 minute run with a 5 minute walk, the idea being to keep my legs fresh for as long as possible. I did question whether I should use this strategy from the start, especially when a couple of runners I'd passed earlier overtook me during my walk break. The 5 minutes walking provided a good opportunity to start my nutrition early firstly in the form a some Lucho Dillitos guava blocks I'd cubed up and put in a bag. 

At around the 7km mark I spotted runners who'd stopped in the distance, some sitting on the ground and taking off their shoes and socks. As I got closer, I then realised the heavy rain of the past few days had flooded an underpass with no obvious way of rerouting to avoid it. Up to his knees in the middle of the water feature was David Bone (Camino Ultra RD) trying to entice runners into the water, I needed little encouragement being no stranger to OCR. Besides, having trained through the winter I knew that with the blister powder in my socks and how easily my Hoka Speedgoat's drain that my feet would hold up fine for the rest of the race. The water was deeper than anticipated and quickly was up to my knees and lapping around the bottoms of my shorts as I waded my way through. I squelched on feeling smug for having not lost minutes faffing around with shoes and socks! 

Part of the route instantly became recognisable as we entered the grounds of Hertford Castle where several years previously I'd attended a friends wedding. Oh to be sipping prosecco in the castle grounds instead of running silly distances! At approximately 11km we'd reached the first checkpoint at Hertford Canoe club. I was greeted by the welcoming faces of Mum and Paul who had come out to cheer me on and crew for a couple of stops. Not really wanting too much at this stage, I swapped some empty wrappers for some new gels and topped up my bottles. At this early stage in the race all was feeling pretty good, the weather was overcast and threatening to rain but in general comfortable and quite the relief after the heatwave of the previous week. 

The next checkpoint would be in approximately 15km so I trucked on sticking to my 25/5 pattern. At this stage I was getting used to seeing the same runners periodically and struck up conversation with a few, it bought that familiarity of racing during 'normal' times and made things feel a little less lonely especially when navigating sections of the course through Hertford. The Lea Valley section of the course was along canal tow path and reminded me a lot of my last 50k race (way back in 2018) the Stort 30. The path was relatively busy with walkers and cyclists which didn't initially bother me. On a couple of occasions whilst moving out the way to allow other people past I did briefly visualise myself tripping and falling in the canal! As the race went on I was trying my hardest to pick my feet up to avoid tripping especially as my legs fatigued. 

The Hertford end of the canal path was rather picturesque, moored canal boats gave me a little distraction from the obvious task in hand as I got a glimpse into life on the water. Saturday afternoon was in full swing, DIY, cooking, my nostrils detected vegetable boullion, Marmite, bacon, cannabis (a lot of cannabis) as I made my way towards London! A couple of party barges floated past with music, booze, laughter and fun, for a split second I could have questioned my life choices but as it happened I was quite enjoying my day out. The closer we got to London, the busier the path got with cyclists and walkers. I'd caught up with a fellow runner just as the other trail users turned hostile towards us. We'd approached a gaggle of geese hanging out on a narrow strip of grass verge at the side of the path. The other runner was clearly not keen so I offered to go ahead and clear a path, my theory being that they may sense I was vegan and give me a free pass. Luckily aside a bit of hissing, posturing and attempted pecking we both made it through. The other runner thanked me to getting him through safely! 

As I approached the checkpoint at 25km at Broxbourne, I could feel my hip starting to grumble a little bit, I just hoped it didn't get any worse. Met by Mum and Paul once again, I filled my water bottle with some electrolytes courtesy of KOM Fuel (event and checkpoint sponsors), had a cup of coke and grabbed an apple for the walk out. Mum and Paul were now making their way to the finish which is when I'd next see them. It had given me a real boost seeing them at those two check points. I allowed myself a little bit of an extended walk break whilst I ate the apple before finding my running pace once again. 

The leg to the third and final checkpoint was a bit of a blur. I remember thinking it was taking a long time and started to feel my legs feeling fatigued from around 35km, I broke from my consistent pattern of 25/5 to allow myself some longer walks. I also experienced a couple of mental wobbles and found myself quite upset at seeing what appeared to be a dead foal in a field (I couldn't be sure as I am shortsighted). Whilst not a blazing hot day, it was still warm and my arms glistened with sweat which was perfect of insects to stick to each time I ran through clouds of them along the canal. One highlight was running past the Camden Town Brewery (I'm a fan of their beer). With a little encouragement from passers by I eventually made it to the last checkpoint at Ponders Mill Lock at 37km. Here I grabbed a bag of salt and vinegar Hula Hoops as I'd started to notice that my legs were feeling quite crampy when walking. Leaving the checkpoint I walked and ate my Hula Hoops. 

Now on the final home stretch, just 13km stood between me and the finish. Although it didn't sound a lot, they felt like the slowest kilometres of the day so far. My walk out of the checkpoint seemed to have extended and at 39km I had a word with myself. With just 11km left to go I knew I could walk it and finish, however I realised I had an opportunity to get a personal best if I put the effort in. This was only my third time running 50km (in a race), my current personal best had been set at the Stort 30 in 2018 and stood at 6:01:13. During that race I had run to 20 miles and the last 10 had ended up being a death march which wasn't fun. It was an ideal race for a personal best with the course being flat and easy to navigate and the weather was kind. I knew what had to be done so pulled out my headphones, found a playlist and plugged myself into some music to help pass the time and give me a bit of a lift and put my sunglasses on. It wasn't particularly sunny but it helped me focus and kept the bugs out of my eyes.  

It seemed to do the trick as I was managing to take on the last stretch with only occasional spurts of walking. It now seemed that walking was more painful than running which was convenient. I switched my watch to the countdown view so I could see the distance remaining in the hope it would give me a psychological edge. Those last 3km's honestly felt as long as the past 47! I seemed to be catching up more runners by this stage and had caught a guy who I'd not seen for some while walking. As I ran alongside him I did my best to provide some motivation reminding him that we were so very nearly there which spurred him back into a run. I followed him pretty much to the end of the race using him as my way marker. 

As the finish line neared, spectators on the path appeared and offered claps and cheers of support. I cannot tell you how uplifting this was as I pushing my weary body and after 18 months of long training runs without any support it was most welcome. Then with 900m left to go (according to my watch) my legs run out of steam and slowed to a walk, I couldn't yet see the finish and it was as if my legs refused to cooperate without evidence that we were almost there. I gave myself a moment just to have a sip of water and walk it out for a moment before the final push. I began running again and spotted a '300m to go' sign which gave me some hope! Then before long an arch and some Camino Ultra banners came into view and I knew I'd made it. I was overjoyed as ran over the finish line as I knew it had been a fairly solid performance and my most comprehensive over that distance to date. 

Hands up if you got a PB!

I spied Mum and Paul waiting for me as they clapped me in. I crossed the finish line and considerately collapsed on the grass just far enough away from the finish line not to trip anyone up! My legs were feeling pretty rinsed and cramp was setting in. The effort had been worth it though as I'd bagged myself a new PB of 5:33:10, knocking off 28 minutes from my previous best time. I am my worst critic as I admit being tiny bit annoyed not to have made it a nice and round 30 minutes but I'd take what I'd got since it was never about going for a time. The consistent 25/5 method had worked a treat and helped me manage my efforts right the way to the end, I was in much better shape than at the end of the Stort 30. 

The finish was at 'Here East' at the Olympic Park just outside of Hackney Wick. There was a real buzz in the area which had been overtaken by runners enjoying their post race celebrations. Thank you to the Camino Ultra guys and the team of volunteers who put on a great, well organised race and an enjoyable day. It can't be easy an easy thing to do with the covid restrictions which still govern us. I picked up my finishers goodie bag (including organic coffee, hot chocolate and an energy drink), there was no medal but instead a Camino Ultra fabric patch. This was apparently a token I could exchange for a free beer. I reluctantly gave up my patch for a pint of Camden Hells which seemed appropriate after passing the brewery earlier. In fairness I doubt I'd ever get around to sewing the patch onto something, it was just pretty. It was a deliciously refreshing pint and I felt like I was celebrating, not just my achievement but the fact it was the first event in 18 months and we were in London. Don't get me wrong, this are still far from normal but this felt like the closest we'd got yet! 

On a personal note I couldn't have been happier with how the day turned out. I have been consistently training under the guidance of Ronnie Staton now for 8 months and am starting to see progression in my running. The past 3 months have been quite challenging for me on a personal level having dealt with an unexpected family bereavement. This led to a a pause in training for a few weeks as my body was physically and mentally wiped out and the return to form was slow whilst anxiety had a hold of me. At times during the race when things got tough I could have crumbled and used this as a reason to stop punishing myself. However, I was determined to have a positive race and have something to smile about after a pretty shitty few months. With several more rescheduled races lined up over the next couple of months, I am excited to see where my training leads me.    

Lockdown reflections of a runner

As I wake up on what is the anniversary of going into lockdown, I feel compelled to personally reflect on my experiences of the past 12 months. Next week the third lockdown will be coming to an end and restrictions will gradually ease. At some point when life has some semblance of pre 2020, we will no doubt want to look back on this strange period in history. This for me is a reminder that when the outlook may be overwhelmingly negative that you can choose how you view the situation. 

Firstly I want to acknowledge what a struggle it has been for some. I in no way want belittle anyone's experience, no matter what your feelings and experience, they are valid. As said before, this is my personal reflection of the past 12 months. I also want to make it very clear that I have personally been in very fortunate position. I have my health, I live with my husband who is my best friend, we have both been able to work from home throughout lockdown and we have been able to continue doing the hobby we enjoy the most. I am also an introvert so in some respects, lockdown has very much suited me. That being said I have still struggled with the uncertainty, worried about the health and welfare of my family and friends.

Just a couple of weeks before we entered into a national lockdown I was lining up at the start of the Cambridge Half Marathon. There was an unease in the air, hand sanitiser was at a premium and was chained down at sanitising stations around the event village. Toilet rolls at this time were also in shortage but I am pleased to say that they hadn't been rationed in the port-a-loo's! I was unwell at the time, supposedly sinusitis which the antibiotics I'd been prescribed were doing nothing for. I had a head full of snot and I'd never felt more awkward pulling out a tissue and blowing my nose in public before. I'd barely run since the 28 miles of the Arc of Attrition over a month before. I had been 50/50 as to whether I should run however I am in some respects pleased that I did as at the time I didn't know it'd be the last race of 2020 for me. It was a struggle to get around, old injuries reminded me of their presence and there was next to no chance of getting close to a personal best, I was relived to cross the finish line. Post race we paid a visit to Brewdog, sampled their beers and had a Temple of Seitan burger (if you're vegan you know). This was the last normal thing I did! 

The first and last event of 2020 - Cambridge Half Marathon

With all future races either cancelled or on hold I had nothing to train for at the time. This presented me with an opportunity to press reset. I was still carrying the symptoms of a torn plantar fascia which I'd been living with for 12 months. I'd received physiotherapy through the NHS but no amount of massage, dry needling, ultrasound or shockwave therapy was helping it. Physiotherapists had closed their doors, however in the new world of Zoom, some were offering online services. I'd met Tom Goom 'The Running Physio' on a course a couple of months before. Tom is based near Brighton and ordinarily it'd be a little prohibitive to travel that distance to see a physio. However, through an online consultation Tom was able to offer what all other physiotherapist had missed. We looked at my training, stripped it right back and started at a base level before gradually building the distance. I was also given some strengthening exercises for the plantar fascia and in combination I started finding consistency in my training and most importantly no foot pain.  

My work as a soft tissue therapist (sports massage) also stopped with going into lockdown. Before I'd been juggling a full-time job with 2 nights of massage a week. This meant Monday and Tuesday's were more often than not 14 hour days which at times was exhausting. Whilst I do look forward to getting back to helping people, I am also grateful for the additional time it has given me back. I have used this time to study and develop my knowledge of running injuries and biomechanics. It has also been nice to sit down to a meal with Paul at a normal time rather than reheated and eating at 10pm before crawling exhausted into bed.  

Being able to work from home in my day job has been a blessing. I have been a full-time homeworker for for the past 3 years so it wasn't really a change for me. However, it has forced a cultural change amongst my colleagues whom in the past would often bypass me as it wasn't practical to bring me into meetings and include me in discussions that were happening face to face. With everyone home working it has levelled the playing field and we've had no choice other than to hold virtual meetings. I have always enjoyed the flexibility of home working but now so more than ever. During the winter lockdowns I have been able to get out during my lunch breaks and fit in runs during daylight hours. It has also helped hugely with my mental health and on stressful days escape my desk and computer screen for an hour. With Paul working from home too it has been nice to have the company at home and on occasions we've headed out for a lunchtime run together which in the past rarely happened.   

A rare lunchtime run with Paul

I will be the first to admit that I am a bit of a kit monster! I have a whole draw dedicated to just running kit and goodness knows how many pairs of running trainers. With manufacturers struggling with production due to Covid and running being one of the things we are permitted to do, there was an emerging market for used running kit. It gave me the opportunity to have a bit of a clear out and consolidate my kit collection to just the items I really love and use regularly. I sold a lot of kit through Facebook Marketplace and was shocked at how quickly much of it sold. It gave me a huge sense of satisfaction that my kit was going to a new owner and getting a new lease of life whereas in normal circumstances it would have headed to a recycling centre. Not to mention that I made a little extra money (which I did invest in new trainers!).

Lockdown has meant that lots of people have taken to walking and exercising outdoors and my usual routes became very crowded. Wanting a little more space I started exploring public footpaths that I had often seen and wondered where they led to. I discovered a whole new network of footpaths and bridleways thanks to OS maps and have subscribed to their premium service which has enabled me to plan routes and send to my GPS watch and navigate. This has been great as I have discovered all sorts of wonders throughout the changing seasons such a woodland full of bluebells, various patches of wild garlic and where to find the juiciest blackberries that other people have not found! It's been great to have OS maps at my fingertips whenever out and about and look forward to exploring beyond my doorstep as travel restrictions ease.  

Woodland bluebells

Foraging blackberries

Not having the administration of a business and social arrangements I have found myself with a lot more spare time. I do love a running book and had quite a collection which I had acquired from several Christmas' and birthday's but rarely the time to read. I could quite easily make a book last a year and would only read if on holiday. This has changed during lockdown, after rinsing all the online TV streaming services I thought it would be a good opportunity to pick up some of those unread books. I also was put in touch by a friend with the editor of Ultrarunning World Magazine and have had the opportunity to read and write a review for several books which have been published in the magazine. Reading has also provided the perfect escape in a world where we have been unable travel and run races. 

Pre Covid I was an injured runner with the aspirations of one day being in shape to run ultramarathons. I don't think I will ever be injury free (let's face it how many runners do you know without a niggle) but I have been able to train like an ultra runner. My long runs on a weekend will often see me out for 3-4 hours on a Saturday and 1-2 hours on a Sunday. Having zero social engagements in the calendar (apart from when the food shopping is being delivered) has meant that I can head out, do my long run and still have the afternoon to catch up on chores around the house or just simply slob and excel at my recovery strategy. I don't ever want to be as busy as I was pre pandemic! 

Wild garlic picking

Project Lockdown 3.0

This year was supposed to be my redemption, I had unfinished business with the Arc. 2020 I turned up unprepared and still injured. I'd been diagnosed with a tear of my plantar fascia in the September and the 4 months that followed marked my return to running and rehab. I knew lining up at the start of the race, I was woefully undertrained and that winging it would only take me so far, that being 28 miles before getting timed out at St Ives. I have absolutely no regrets, I can hand on heart say that I left EVERYTHING on that coast path, it had my blood, sweat and tears! In some respects I considered it a recce for the 2021 race.

2020 whilst an absolute sh*t show of a year did allow me the chance to get to the bottom of my foot issue. Strength exercises and a gradual return to running gave me the break through I'd long been looking for. By June I was running regularly and found consistency in my training, something which had been lacking for me as a runner who seemed to constantly be chasing start lines and ignoring niggling injuries. 

Steady progression over 12 months

I'd been mulling over the idea of getting myself a coach for some while, I really didn't want to leave anything to chance and felt the step up from 50k to 50 miles was enough for me to need some expert guidance. I had a few names in mind but one stood out in particular. After an initial consultation I signed up with Ronnie Staton Coaching. I'd met Ronnie several years ago as the race director of the Robin Hood 100 whilst on crewing duties for Paul. Although we'd only spoken a couple of times, I knew from our brief encounter that he was the right person to guide me. His positivity is infectious and with an impressive CV of his own personal achievements, I knew I was in capable hands. 

Training started in ernest in October. We'd travelled to Cornwall for our wedding anniversary which gave me the perfect excuse to recce the final 22 miles of the Arc course from St Ives to Porthtowan. I'd been told by locals that the race is won (or lost) in the first 28 miles of the course with the terrain in the final 22 miles from St Ives being far less technical and much more runnable. I wanted it clear in my own mind what I'd be dealing with, so over a few runs completed the final stretch including the infamous 'Dunes of Doom' at Gwithian. After satisfying my curiosity, I knew that getting to St Ives in good time would offer me a half decent chance of success. 

Dunes of Doom

I was soon in what I consider 'proper' ultra training with long weekends of running and hiking on a Saturday and Sunday. In a reversal of roles, Paul was the one at home seeing to the household chores whilst I spent hours away from home training. Essex is particularly flat by comparison to the SW coast path and soon I was looking for trails which offered me some elevation to train my legs for the relentless uphills and downhills of the Arc. I discovered some trails around the Chilterns which are only an hour drive from home although time of year meant that it was very wet and muddy underfoot and daylight was limited.  

On New Year's Eve, the inevitable news broke that the 2021 Arc of Attrition was cancelled. For me the dream had ended several weeks earlier when Essex was put into Tier 4 ruling out travel to Cornwall which at the time was in Tier 1. On a personal level I was completely gutted! For so long, looking ahead to 2021 seemed to bring hope and optimism of things returning to some normality. However a new strain of Coronavirus seemed to have other ideas for us. 

After chatting to Ronnie, he suggested that I put my training to use and take on a personal challenge. With restrictions meaning I couldn't travel into areas in lower tiers I was struggling for some inspiration. I was considering Paul dropping me off at Epping Station and then running the 30 miles home following the Essex Way. I've only stumbled across parts of the Essex Way so it'd be something new to experience. The trails were an absolute state with the amount of rain that we'd had but it'd be a challenge for sure and hopefully a bit of an adventure. My plan b went out the window when it was announced that we were going into our 3rd lockdown. 

With my local routes well used throughout my training, I was really struggling with the idea of trying to do any sort of distance close to home. I heard that Centurion Running were putting on their 'One Love' virtual event over the weekend of 13/14 February. This was a couple of weeks after the Arc weekend but being part of a community event could offer some motivation and provide a bit of purpose behind what I was doing, plus there would also be a medal in recognition of my efforts. With this being the carrot to my challenge I entered the 50k distance and set to planning my route. 

My own personal aid station

Being in lockdown I wanted to observe the rules closely and decided to stay local, very local in fact. I conjured up the crazy idea of seeing how many out and back routes I could think of from my front door, turns out I could just about scrape together 10 different out and back 2.5km routes, this would nicely take me to my target of 50k. Also it'd mean that I didn't need to carry anything and I could have my own personal aid station at home which I would visit every 5km. I had my doubts whether or not this would work, would I mentally cave in given that it was potentially boring and also very tempting to throw the towel given I'd be back home so often. 

Ready to brave the cold

In the week leading up to the race it snowed heavily for a few days, then the temperature dropped meaning that the snow hung around but also bought with it ice. I decided to complete my run in one go on the morning of Saturday 13th February. The forecast was for bright spells of sunshine and a temperate of -1°c but with the windchill it would feel like -7°c! It was at least bright and dry for the day. 

Ice - a common theme throughout

My first three routes were 50/50 road and trail and the most rural. I decided to get these done early as they had the potential to be heavy underfoot with mud and it was preferable to tackle it whilst my legs were still fresh. It actually turned out to be the complete opposite, the ground was rock hard and where it had been churned up with heavy footfall had frozen solid. Whilst this had its advantages, it was also quite unforgiving on the feet and ankles contributing to an early blister on the ball of my foot. They were also the most exposed offering very little respite from the icy cold wind. At one point I was running directly into a headwind following a footpath through an open field and even with my head dipped and wearing a cap the wind was vicious enough to give me a brain freeze! This is where the benefits of having an aid station at home every 5k came into play, I realised that I needed a bit more protection from the wind and put on a windshell jacket. I'd also asked Paul to make up a flask of hot Active Root (ginger energy drink) which went down a treat.

Frozen trails

For legs 3 and 4 I was joined by Paul, he thought I may appreciate the company early on. It was nice to spend some of the run together although I was equally as happy on my own. Lets face it, you can't be an ultra runner if you're not comfortable in your own company! I had intended to structure my run by running for 25 minutes and walking for 5 minutes although I found I was unable to stick to this and walking was mostly dictated by the ice underfoot. The 10km we ran together passed quickly and before I knew it I was back out on leg 5 of the run. To keep me going I had put together a playlist on Spotify of 7 hours of music and had asked my Sister to contribute. It was fun listening to the playlist not knowing what song may play next. There was a fair bit of cheese (thanks Sophie) which took me back to my university days and made me smile. 

Leg 5 was something of a psychological hurdle. Whilst knowing that completing this leg I was halfway into my challenge, I also realised that I had to do the same again! This leg took me to the local country park, I ended up walking the best part of half of the route due to the unavoidable ice which was apparent wherever I looked. It was a real struggle and I was pleased to put this section behind me. Part of this route crossed the Flitch Way (a 15 mile stretch of disused railway line) which since Covid-19 and lockdown has been incredibly popular with families and walkers and today was no exception. I tried to keep my head down whilst dodging stray children and navigating the crowds of people out for their daily exercise. 25km done!

Ice skating or trail running?

Out on leg 6 I was spurred on by the fact that I was counting down the distance and I had an extra spring in my step. This was short lived as I got stuck behind tractor hedge trimming! Much to the annoyance of the tractor driver, more or less as soon as I had passed, I'd turned around and was heading back in his direction (awkward). This section was the last where the route mainly used the Flitch Way so I could look forward to focusing on the running and not navigating my way past other trail users. 

On leg 7 I found myself in that familiar delirious head space that I've often found myself in the latter stage of races. I can sense the finish, I look at my watch and try to comprehend the numbers. I get confused with how much distance is left to run and try to work out potential finish times. For a moment I think I can possibly get a huge PB for 50km (currently stands at 6:01), then realise I read the elapsed distance on my watch wrongly! Then settle on the idea I could get a PB if I keep up on the pace I've been going at.

35km of my run is now done, 15km to go. During my training I'd covered 20 miles on several occasions, I remember thinking to myself how glad I was when those runs came to an end and that I couldn't have run further even if I wanted to. In my head the thought of doing another 10 miles seemed easy enough, it was after all just another 3 and a bit parkrun's. To this point my pace had been fairly consistent but I am noticing some fatigue in my legs and I have a nagging hamstring which hasn't been right all day but is now complaining louder. I treat myself to a bit of a walk telling myself I would run when I get to the next tree, only I get to the next tree and then decide I'll run when I get to that street sign and so on... Leg 8 completed, 40km covered and the finish is in sight. Just another 2 legs to go. 

Impressive ice formations

I'm still on for a narrow 50km PB if I don't waste too much time at the house before heading back out. I grab a couple of Party Rings to munch on my way out. My next route is a very familiar 5km road route of mine. I run it often and thought this would be a doddle only I clock 42km (marathon distance) and the psychological brakes are applied! I walk for what was meant to be a little while only for it to be a lot longer than 5 minutes. My hamstring is feeling very stiff and I am getting some pain behind my knee. I realise that I need to run, the quicker I can move the sooner this will be done with. Although initially slow to get going again, I realise it actually hurts less to run than it does walk!

Back home with only 5k left I change my jacket as it's starting to feel cold now that the sun has gone in and I am moving a bit slower. I have pretty much blown any chance of a PB, I am not disappointed though as I was never planning on trying to beat it today! For my final route I treat myself to a loop of the village instead of an out and back, only I cannot quite remember the exact route to make up 5km! I am running only to find myself beginning to run out of steam and needing to walk again. Remembering that walking hurts more than running, I try and put in as many spurts of running as my tired legs will allow. Why did I plan this loop to bring me home uphill?! After walking the hill I turn the corner onto my road and thought I'd better finish running. As I get close to my house I can see two figures in the distance jumping up and down, I can't imagine that it's my neighbours. It's Paul and my Mum! It felt like a proper race having people there to cheer me in, although I say hi very briefly and explain I have to run past the house as I am 200 metres short of my distance (classic). Feeling victorious I stop my watch at the bottom of the driveway and give my Mum (she's in our bubble) and Paul a sweaty hug. 

5h 38m moving time, 6h 17m elapsed

I can safely say that I do not ever intend to run 30 miles from my front door again! I am hoping that this is the first and last time I need to do something as daft as this and that in future there will be little doubt over planned events going ahead. On reflection there were plenty of positives which could be drawn from this experience. Its was the furthest I have run and the first ultra marathon I have completed since my plantar fascia tear in 2019, for a long while I carried the doubt that my foot would ever be able to withstand long distance running. I was mentally resilient enough to tackle what could have been a boring challenge which had plenty of opportunities to bail, I knew what had to be done, focussed and just got on with it. Although I was 16 minutes off of my PB in the end, I was capable of running a lot more over the 30 miles whereas previously it had been a 10 mile death march to the finish. Also in reality a 50km race would not have a checkpoint every 5km which at time was very tempting to linger indoors out of the cold wind. That leaves me to conclude that I am overall very happy with my progress since returning to running, although I still have some doubt quite how I will one day conquer 50 miles let alone going any further! I will continue to trust in the process and keep training.