Irrationally, I ended up booking a place on the Two Breweries hill race on the same evening. That race was scheduled for 23rd September, only a couple of weeks before the Kielder marathon, and at 18miles it looked like it would fit nicely into a training schedule.
In July after our summer holiday to Lochcarron and Glendaruel, I put a spreadsheet together of a planned training schedule leading up to the 8th of October and race day. I did a little bit of online research to find a schedule that would fit my current fitness level and aspirational finish time and then applied my own tweaks to that. Sadly life and work got in the way in a few places with childcare commitments and a marathon series of working weekends in September to make things awkward.
In July and September, I made two recce runs of the Two Breweries route for three reasons:
Firstly to keep the fitness levels in my training and some interest on the ground. Secondly to check the route of the race in preparation for 23rd September, but thirdly to see if I could actually achieve it within the cut-off times. The first outing from Traquair to Glenrath was dispatched in good time, no routing issues apart from on the first climb to Birkscairn Hill in thick bracken. However, the second outing from Glenrath to Broughton was more troublesome, especially when I got lost on the first hill, took the wrong line up Trahenna and badly sprained my left ankle coming off the latter.
I had a decision to make. Abandon the Two Breweries due to the risk of injury and keep training alone, or stick to the plan. On the week of the Two Breweries race, it was infact work that made my decision for me. I was not going to compete, so emailed the race organiser John Hamer on the Thursday and gave up my place.
My training included one big run each week, increasing by 5km each week to finish with my longest run at 33.7km. I enjoyed the planning and running of these training runs. I used the excellent Map My Run website to define bigger and bigger loops in my lunch hour. The two bigger ones were when I caught the bus to West Linton and ran home over the Pentlands from there. Then a long loop from the office into West Lothian and back after rush hour. I was pretty nackered after that one and was glad the office was empty as I staggered back from the showers.
Finally race week arrived and I limited myself to a single 11km loop on the Tuesday. On the Sunday and Wednesday I went to the swimming pool for some lengths as I was concerned about the lack of exertion. I guess this was my version of Maranoia, worrying about not being ready.
On Saturday 7th October, I drove south via Jedburgh to Saughtree and had a relaxed evening at the excellent Guest House on the old station platform. I made sure to carbo load with a big plate of spaghetti carbonara and apple strudel. In the morning, my pre-ordered steaming bowl of porridge was duly presented and set me up perfectly.
The air was cool - about 6C when I set off to the Border, but dry. There were a few pillows of hill fog rolling over Peel Fell and around the wonderfully named 'Deadwater'. I arrived at Kielder Village and followed the marshall's directions to the car park. Squeezed next to a Mini, the driver emerged and complained that he was having to park so far from the race start.
I grabbed my pre-packed bag, double checked everything and then headed down to the bus. Off we went south down the reservoir road to be dumped at Leaplish. Then our merry band strode through the cool morning air past holiday chalets to the lake shore and the race 'village'. I found a seat in the tea tent and settled down to read my book whilst sipping water and nibbling on a flap jack. I watched the other competitors. I wasn't really sure what I was supposed to be doing at this point pre-race so just relaxed as much as I could.
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| A kind spectator took this pic, a few minutes before the start. I was ready! |
Eventually the geordie voice over the PA system bellowed that it was time to convene at the start. It was 10:45am. Along a single track road of tarmac we trotted, a lot of nervous laughter and comments. Checking of gear, drinking. I stood in the "Over 3 1/2 hours" area. Midges started to bite.
A quick countdown, and then we were off. A short trot, then walking and then after 60 seconds or so we were over the start line and running!!! This was it!!
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| 1km down, looping around Leaplish |
After we left the holiday chalets, I decided I wanted to increase my pace and managed to skip past some of the slower pairs when we jogged through the car park. Sadly the opportunities to overtake were quickly reduced when we joined the actual Lakeside Way and the narrower gravel path. Looking ahead I could see we were definitely in a bit of a blockage with one runner holding back the crowd as a 50m gap built up in front of them. Losing patience, I joined a couple of runners in the grass and got into the open ground ahead.
As we continued north the field began to open up further and it became easier to pick off runners ahead. Although I wasn't running especially fast, I was definitely making progress through other competitors. At around the 6km mark, I saw a sign for toilets and decided I needed to go. I think I had taken on too much water before the start and could feel it sloshing around in my bladder. Typically, the one portaloo was engaged. There was no way I was going to wait so carried on to the next one at 10km, and the turn south at Kielder Village. This loo was also occupied, so I hid at the side and just got on with it.
The run down the east side of the lake was a real joy. I enjoyed it all, even the steep zig zags near half-way which required some walking. The sculptures dotted along the route held the interest and broke up each section. There goes the massive head of Silvas Capitalis, there go the Janus Chairs, there goes the Belvedere. I had managed to get on the heels of a pair of chatting men who sounded like they knew what they were doing by the snippets of conversation I could hear. I noticed we were consistently overtaking other runners; infact I don't recall being overtaken once on the east shore. At every hydration station I made sure to grab a water bottle or an isotonic carton. One of the stations had kindly pre-inserted the straw in them which was a God send. It made it so much easier to drink than from a bottle.
At the dam I was starting to struggle. This was at around 18miles. Everything I had read about the route suggested the dam would be a respite from the roller coaster lakeside path. Obviously it was flat and straight, but there was something mentally challenging that just made it harder than I expected. Perhaps it was the long sightline with runners far in the distance, and sadly the two men I had been tailing were now a long way ahead. I was slowing.
From studying the route map, I knew the next section would be the hardest not only from a physical point of view with more climbing, but I was worried about the frustrating direction change away from the finish when the lake shore heads east. The expectation of this had already sowed the seed in my mind, and I battled with this challenge. At Bull Crag it all came to a head and the series of 'steep' zig-zags up into the trees were a climb too far. I chose to walk and refuel, ignoring the other runners who passed me by. At the top of the climb, there was a race photographer trying to encourage everyone on. I noticed he didn't raise his camera to anyone who was walking. No surprises there!
The next couple of miles were punctuated by walking up the slightest incline and trying to get time back on the descents. I played cat and mouse with three or four other runners who were struggling like me, but in their own little worlds. When we passed the 23mile marker, it suddenly dawned on me that sub 4hours might be achievable. I did some calculations and realised that if I kept running at this (slow) pace, I would be well within that number.
A female in black passed me at a pace I was not used to, but then round the next corner she was bent double wretching into the grass. A couple of male runners slowed to check she was OK but she waved them on. I gave her a wide berth and plodded past. She then zipped past me again a few minutes later, not quite sure this was the best technique.
One of the cat-and-mice ahead of me stopped to walk on a flat section and as I approached to overtake I shouted at him to keep running "Come on! We can do this!!". He was part of my race, I didn't want to lose that cat.
Supporters on the Lakeside Path started to appear and I could hear faint loudspeaker announcements in the distance. "Not far now!" said an elderly couple on a bend. I must have looked tired. Finally I could see the start line through the trees on my left and I tried to up the pace for the big finish. Through more trees, right turn onto the tarmac and then a downhill dash towards the crowds. They were cheering loudly, jammed tight against the barriers, it was a wonderful sound and spurred me on. I dug deep and tried to focus on the line.
Over the line I stopped my watch. 3:54:12. Wow! Absolutely chuffed with that.
Immediately I was overwhelmed by a wave of emotion at what I had achieved and that I had actually finished this race. I started to well up but held it together as I was passed a medal, t-shirt and yet another water bottle. I walked slowly through the baggage tent to collect my bag, then exited and found a picnic table in the sun to collapse.
Stuffing some more processed energy bar into my mouth I started to cry. I can't really explain it, but I think it was just the realisation of the achievement. I held my head in my hands and had a wee sob, snotters and tears combining with the salt on my face. Fortunately no-one saw me, or rather no-one cared so I didn't have to explain myself.
I pulled myself together, then headed slowly up the hill, crossing the race line and Alison Curbishley directed me onto one of the waiting buses. I lay my head against the glass and closed my eyes. I had done it.
From studying the route map, I knew the next section would be the hardest not only from a physical point of view with more climbing, but I was worried about the frustrating direction change away from the finish when the lake shore heads east. The expectation of this had already sowed the seed in my mind, and I battled with this challenge. At Bull Crag it all came to a head and the series of 'steep' zig-zags up into the trees were a climb too far. I chose to walk and refuel, ignoring the other runners who passed me by. At the top of the climb, there was a race photographer trying to encourage everyone on. I noticed he didn't raise his camera to anyone who was walking. No surprises there!
The next couple of miles were punctuated by walking up the slightest incline and trying to get time back on the descents. I played cat and mouse with three or four other runners who were struggling like me, but in their own little worlds. When we passed the 23mile marker, it suddenly dawned on me that sub 4hours might be achievable. I did some calculations and realised that if I kept running at this (slow) pace, I would be well within that number.
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| Not far from here I realised that sub 4hours might be achievable |
One of the cat-and-mice ahead of me stopped to walk on a flat section and as I approached to overtake I shouted at him to keep running "Come on! We can do this!!". He was part of my race, I didn't want to lose that cat.
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| I was starting to go a little mad in the last mile or two, with the knowledge that this torture would soon be over |
Supporters on the Lakeside Path started to appear and I could hear faint loudspeaker announcements in the distance. "Not far now!" said an elderly couple on a bend. I must have looked tired. Finally I could see the start line through the trees on my left and I tried to up the pace for the big finish. Through more trees, right turn onto the tarmac and then a downhill dash towards the crowds. They were cheering loudly, jammed tight against the barriers, it was a wonderful sound and spurred me on. I dug deep and tried to focus on the line.
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| Crossing the finish line, I was wrecked. |
Immediately I was overwhelmed by a wave of emotion at what I had achieved and that I had actually finished this race. I started to well up but held it together as I was passed a medal, t-shirt and yet another water bottle. I walked slowly through the baggage tent to collect my bag, then exited and found a picnic table in the sun to collapse.
Stuffing some more processed energy bar into my mouth I started to cry. I can't really explain it, but I think it was just the realisation of the achievement. I held my head in my hands and had a wee sob, snotters and tears combining with the salt on my face. Fortunately no-one saw me, or rather no-one cared so I didn't have to explain myself.
I pulled myself together, then headed slowly up the hill, crossing the race line and Alison Curbishley directed me onto one of the waiting buses. I lay my head against the glass and closed my eyes. I had done it.
