To My Never Ending Surprise...
I spent the entire drive down to Ambleside muttering phrases like "this is such a bad idea" and "why didn't you stop me when I first mentioned it?!" to my exasperated, long-suffering partner. The drive alone seemed doomed as the car kept overheating - by the third stop to let it cool I was convinced the entire thing was cursed. As we approached Ambleside we joined a road I knew would be on the first leg of the race. We were driving it backwards so the 13% downward gradient which went on and on only meant I would be running it all uphill the next morning. Oh joy. I registered when we finally got to the village, and had my kit checked. For some reason I was amazed they let me through to get my number - I wanted to say "really, are you sure?! Are you sure I've actually got everything?!" I did apparently.
The next morning came around and I can't actually say I was massively nervous - it was too late to do anything but resign myself to the fact there was a significant chance I was going to be driven back in a mountain rescue vehicle by 2 o'clock. I mean, three runs a week? Hill runs only 3 miles long? What was I thinking?! This was for UTMB points! Whatever the hell they were.
The fact the race didn't start till 11am meant I had far too much time to churn over how badly it could all go...and it also meant the heat for the day could start to build. Sitting in the park as the competitors gathered I did nothing but look up at the sky and curse it's cloudless blueness and the sun beating down on us all. Anything but heat. Anything!
We started off through the village of Ambleside - which itself is on a hill - and passed through to the quiet country roads beyond. The scenery was immediately idyllic and I was even able to appreciate it a little between worrying about the heat and worrying about how bad the hills would get. The first leg was called "The struggle to Kirkstone Pass" and had been the section we had mainly driven the day before. It was tough because it was steep and hot but otherwise the terrain was fine and it was over quicker than I had expected.
The second leg was more technical underfoot and a lot more downhill - both of which I really enjoyed and reminded me why I prefer trail running to road running. Keeping upright was challenging both physically and mentally which ate up the time and we were soon at the second check point. By this time I was starting to think "Oh, hang on, I might actually manage this...maybe". I knew, from the course profile (check me out, reading the course profile before the race and everything!!) the biggest and apparently toughest climb was after check point two so I attempted to psyche myself up at the feed station which thankfully had a queue I could stand in and rest. I was very impressed with the facilities at this check point; the spread was fantastic (not that my stomach would have withstood anything strange I put on it, but I could appreciate the effort). They also had real toilets!! REAL toilets! Anyway, that's beside the point, we started climbing as soon as leaving the check point and the footing began to get a little rockier. The views were incredible as we reached the top of one of the first, smaller hills, looking out over a stunningly blue lake with the sun still beating down. It started to get cooler from this point as we continued to climb. The hills, however, were not as bad as what we all knew was coming. We reached a point in a valley where there were steep sides all around and it was a guessing game which one was going to end up being the route. None looked appealing to be honest.
I dealt with the eventual steep, rocky climb by talking to a few folk. One man had done this race two years ago and another was doing it for the third time (mad people). By the time we got to the top, the weather had changed to light drizzle which was fine by me. We skirted a lake you could only get to by foot, and up another, shorter climb before the treacherous descent to checkpoint three. I think I know what "technical underfoot" means now. It means "suicidal".
There was set to be another climb after checkpoint three but "just a little one" according to the course profile and anyone I had asked. They all lied. It was hideous. Let's not even go there with that one. This was probably the start of the mentally tough part. Once I had finally got over that hill and to checkpoint four, then came the MUCH longer leg than expected to checkpoint five. "Just round the corner" I kept thinking. It wasn't. It really wasn't. The views were still pretty, the terrain was still challenging but it was turning into a real mental slog. My feet, legs and back were hurting. My toenails were...well, don't even go there... and all I wanted was my bed. I'd been running and climbing for over seven hours by this point. Even when the marshal finally came into view and said "the checkpoint isn't far; just behind the school", he lied. I couldn't even see a building, let alone a school! There was a teary moment at this point, and a "pull yourself together, Shauney" moment, but eventually checkpoint five appeared.
There was just one last climb before the finish...which I could tell you was a slog, and far longer and steeper than I was expecting...but I won't because I really should learn to stop complaining and just be thankful I actually finished!!
And not just finished, but somehow managed to bounce across the finish line with a big smile on my face and in a time of 9 hours 42 minutes and 38 seconds. Like, seriously, how?! I'm gobsmacked.
Overall, this was a fantastic race. Tough, don't get wrong. But worth it for the views, the brilliant support at several points on the route, the well-manned feed stations, proper toilets (!), good quality t-shirt and medal, and amazing post race meal by the Green Canteen.
And... turns out I had trained enough. Who'd have thought.
Of course, this is all setting me up for the Everest Marathon to raise funds for the military charity HorseBack UK. You wonderful people have been sponsoring me and the total is up to £606! So we're another ultra down and one step closer to Everest... This thing might just happen!
Over and out, the pleasantly gob-smacked runner.
The next morning came around and I can't actually say I was massively nervous - it was too late to do anything but resign myself to the fact there was a significant chance I was going to be driven back in a mountain rescue vehicle by 2 o'clock. I mean, three runs a week? Hill runs only 3 miles long? What was I thinking?! This was for UTMB points! Whatever the hell they were.
The fact the race didn't start till 11am meant I had far too much time to churn over how badly it could all go...and it also meant the heat for the day could start to build. Sitting in the park as the competitors gathered I did nothing but look up at the sky and curse it's cloudless blueness and the sun beating down on us all. Anything but heat. Anything!
We started off through the village of Ambleside - which itself is on a hill - and passed through to the quiet country roads beyond. The scenery was immediately idyllic and I was even able to appreciate it a little between worrying about the heat and worrying about how bad the hills would get. The first leg was called "The struggle to Kirkstone Pass" and had been the section we had mainly driven the day before. It was tough because it was steep and hot but otherwise the terrain was fine and it was over quicker than I had expected.
The second leg was more technical underfoot and a lot more downhill - both of which I really enjoyed and reminded me why I prefer trail running to road running. Keeping upright was challenging both physically and mentally which ate up the time and we were soon at the second check point. By this time I was starting to think "Oh, hang on, I might actually manage this...maybe". I knew, from the course profile (check me out, reading the course profile before the race and everything!!) the biggest and apparently toughest climb was after check point two so I attempted to psyche myself up at the feed station which thankfully had a queue I could stand in and rest. I was very impressed with the facilities at this check point; the spread was fantastic (not that my stomach would have withstood anything strange I put on it, but I could appreciate the effort). They also had real toilets!! REAL toilets! Anyway, that's beside the point, we started climbing as soon as leaving the check point and the footing began to get a little rockier. The views were incredible as we reached the top of one of the first, smaller hills, looking out over a stunningly blue lake with the sun still beating down. It started to get cooler from this point as we continued to climb. The hills, however, were not as bad as what we all knew was coming. We reached a point in a valley where there were steep sides all around and it was a guessing game which one was going to end up being the route. None looked appealing to be honest.
I dealt with the eventual steep, rocky climb by talking to a few folk. One man had done this race two years ago and another was doing it for the third time (mad people). By the time we got to the top, the weather had changed to light drizzle which was fine by me. We skirted a lake you could only get to by foot, and up another, shorter climb before the treacherous descent to checkpoint three. I think I know what "technical underfoot" means now. It means "suicidal".
There was set to be another climb after checkpoint three but "just a little one" according to the course profile and anyone I had asked. They all lied. It was hideous. Let's not even go there with that one. This was probably the start of the mentally tough part. Once I had finally got over that hill and to checkpoint four, then came the MUCH longer leg than expected to checkpoint five. "Just round the corner" I kept thinking. It wasn't. It really wasn't. The views were still pretty, the terrain was still challenging but it was turning into a real mental slog. My feet, legs and back were hurting. My toenails were...well, don't even go there... and all I wanted was my bed. I'd been running and climbing for over seven hours by this point. Even when the marshal finally came into view and said "the checkpoint isn't far; just behind the school", he lied. I couldn't even see a building, let alone a school! There was a teary moment at this point, and a "pull yourself together, Shauney" moment, but eventually checkpoint five appeared.
There was just one last climb before the finish...which I could tell you was a slog, and far longer and steeper than I was expecting...but I won't because I really should learn to stop complaining and just be thankful I actually finished!!
And not just finished, but somehow managed to bounce across the finish line with a big smile on my face and in a time of 9 hours 42 minutes and 38 seconds. Like, seriously, how?! I'm gobsmacked.
Overall, this was a fantastic race. Tough, don't get wrong. But worth it for the views, the brilliant support at several points on the route, the well-manned feed stations, proper toilets (!), good quality t-shirt and medal, and amazing post race meal by the Green Canteen.
And... turns out I had trained enough. Who'd have thought.
Of course, this is all setting me up for the Everest Marathon to raise funds for the military charity HorseBack UK. You wonderful people have been sponsoring me and the total is up to £606! So we're another ultra down and one step closer to Everest... This thing might just happen!
Over and out, the pleasantly gob-smacked runner.
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