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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
