St Peter's Way Ultra

St Peter's Way Ultra is my favourite race hence why I returned for a fourth time on Sunday, it is a 45 (41) mile race from Chippng Ongar to Bradwell-on-Sea. I am going to start with the ending because I am still too excited not to. I got a new PB by 27 minutes and finally a sub 10 hour finish! 9:39 was my official finish time and it was still daylight!

Starting at the finish!!!

Right now I have that out of the way let's go back to the beginning. Training for the race hadn't quite been what I would have liked having only done two runs over 15 miles since last September, I had run every day since January as I am run streaking this year but just hadn't been able to get the long runs in. I think this may of helped on the day as I had none of my usual pre-race stresses or worries. The only plan I had was to have a day for me and fun out on the trails.

I knew quite a few people running and Richard and I had agreed to start together and see what happened. I didn't want to hold anyone up and was happy to run alone if necessary. It was good to catch up with some ultra friends at the start who I hadn't see for a long time, and there was an impressive posse from Great Notley parkrun either running or volunteering.

Raring to go!

 After kit check and the race brief we were off as I have mentioned in previous blogs I have been training using the Maffetone Method and eating LCHF, this would be my first race low carb and I wondered how I would get on not eating jelly beans washed down with coke! My breakfast had been Greek yoghurt with almonds and a tiny amount of honey and a coffee with double cream.
The weather was good and we set off in good spirits with John deciding to join us as well, it was his first ultra. The route was no where near as muddy as I have seen it in the past and the running was good. My heart rate was a bit higher than I had planned but I felt good so went with it, after all it was a race! We soon arrived at CP1 and I ate some  melon, pineapple, grapes and cherry tomatoes (loved the fruit on offer at the CPs this year!)
We met Jody early on in the race and she more or less stayed with us for the whole race, we were all a similar pace most of the day so staying together made sense.

Check point 1

I was surprised how quickly the miles ticked by and unlike my first two years there were always people around. Last year I had run in a group with friends. The only major issue I was having was my new trail shoes were hurting my toes but I had my old knackered pair at CP3 so knew I would be able to change. My heart rate settled during leg 2 and I was feeling good.We didn't waste time at CPs this year getting in and out as quickly as possible. I knew early on by how I felt that sub 10 was possible but tried not to think about it too much, It was great having friends manning some of the CPs and a hug from Andreea, bacon, change of shoes and a cup of tea at CP3 was a real boost! The change of shoes was a race saver and as it wasn't muddy this year my old trail shoes were more than good enough for me to finish the race in.
Leaving CP3 my legs were aching, which was to be expected due to lack of long runs so I instructed Rich that we needed some in race entertainment. We played our usual town game, this time towns and places beginning with W (there are lots!), snog, marry avoid which we will leave out on the trail and never speak of again and the alphabet band/singer game with the twist that you had to sing a line or two of chosen band song! I apologise to anyone that had to endure me singing, still smiling at Jody's comment that she had always thought ultra runners were crazy people and we had proved it! Anyway before I knew it we were heading into Steeple for the long mile through the village to CP4 where Len was waiting with more bacon! Bacon is the way forward in ultra running.

Posing along the trail!

We got into CP4 at 3:45 so I knew I had more than enough time to make sub 10, I was on a mission, head down and off we went for that final leg. I was moving well, energy levels were good and even the bits I was walking I was managing 13 minute miles and was running under 12 minute miles. It was the strongest I have ever remembered feeling in the latter stages of a race. I love the bit of this leg when you reach the sea wall and can see St Peter's Chapel (the finish line) in the distance. Even better this year the wind was behind us! Those last two miles were brilliant and a little emotional (though I'm pretty sure it was the wind making my eyes water!). I ran strongly to the finish and loved that Andreea had run out to meet us!

Richard finished slightly ahead and John and Jody were close behind, awesome effort by all. Lindley handed me my medal and out of the four it's a pretty special one!

During the day I ate fruit, cheese, a few nuts and bacon and had squash to drink, for me it worked and I had no major dips in energy and mentally felt strong and positive throughout the race.

All in all in was a perfect day on the trails, there were some very impressive performances by lots of friends, well done all. For me it was one of my happiest race experiences and I thank each and everyone of you who played a part in making it that way. For me the Maffetone Method, LCHF eating and being so much more relaxed before the race than usual all played a part in what was a very special day for me.

Thanks to all at Challenge Running for another brilliantly organised race, the volunteers were amazing and couldn't have been more helpful and I will be back for number five next year.

Special thanks to Richard, John, Jody, Andreea, Holly, Len and Karen for awesome support throughout the day xx

Happy running xx

Fasted, low carb, high fat... mumbo jumbo... or is it?

I have been training using the Maffetone Method for several months now, and I eat low carb high fat most of the time, I actually don't particularly enjoy sweet stuff now if I do have some, never thought I would say that.

So does it work? One of my best friends thinks it's all 'mumbo jumbo'! I have to disagree as I am feeling great, life has been extremely stressful over the past few months and I like the whole holistic approach of MAF. Running slowly and keeping my heart rate down (135 is my MAF maximum, 180-age) helps prevent placing my body under extra stress. My speed has improved since I first began, then I couldn't run much under 14 minute miles without my heart rate going high and having to walk to bring it down. Now I can plod along at about 12 minute miles and heart rate stays roughly in zone. I am not obsessive about it as I have found that if I keep it at below 145 I don't feel stressed or tired. If I have had a longer run, a stressful day or poor sleep I then will keep it at 135 and let my body recover.

I have also been running fasted and not fuelling on the run, I ran 18 miles like this on Wednesday and felt great, yes it was slow but not much slower than when I was training hard, but I definitely didn't get the ups and downs in energy levels I get when shovelling sugar in every couple of miles. Recovery was good and my run streak has now reached 48 days! The real test will be St Peters Way on the 26th February, 45 miles of trails and mud, now I don't plan to run it fasted and I will eat...  Nuts, cheese and bacon being the preferred snacks! I will take emergency sugar just in case it all goes horribly wrong! It will be my fourth time at this race so will be interesting to see the difference, I guess it will be a good test of how this method will work for me on an ultra.

18 miles...  Maldon to Braintree

An interesting point was that I suffered with painful shins for a long time after my Robin Hood 100 attempt last year. Since using MAf and eating LCHF I have had no pain at all apart from one week where I was particularly stressed and had a binge on all the sugar/carbs I could find! Within a couple of days the shin pain returned but as soon as I got my diet back on track the pain went away, whether it was connected I don't know but my diet was the only change.

So that's it for now, I am enjoying my new slower running, I like that I am happy to stop, look at things, take photos and just enjoy being outside. I will update after St Peters to let you know if I managed to survive without jelly babies!

Happy running xxx

Time for adventures...

My blog has been pretty neglected recently, but time to start writing again...

Since Robin Hood 100 last year I have been somewhat confused about where to go with my running, I struggled with sore shins for several months afterwards and in that time revisited the Maffetone Method which I had had a brief dalliance with early last year. I decided to give it a proper go and along with low carb high fat eating(most of the time) my shins have settled and I am enjoying my running, it is very slow running, although some days I will ditch the heart rate monitor and run faster but mainly I keep it slow.

What I have discovered, or maybe accepted, over the past months is that I don't particularly like running fast, I don't feel the need, at the moment, to keep striving for that sub 25 parkrun, I don't see the point. It doesn't mean I no longer have goals and aspirations for my running, it's just that they are different. I still more than anything want to finish a 100 miler! I don't on the other hand feel I need to fill as many weekends as possible with races. What I do want to do is go on adventures, I want to explore locally and further afield, there are long distance footpaths I want to explore, but in my own time, on my own terms. One event I am looking forward to is Escape from Meriden, a 24 hour race from the centre of England. All you have to do is run as far away from it as you can in 24 hours, no set route, no cut offs, just me, a map and the trails!!

This just about sums up how I feel!

I am also using my running as an escape from everyday stresses of which there are lots at the moment, it's time for me even if  I can only get out for a mile that's my twelve or fifteen minutes. That is my time to switch off, forget, think or whatever else I need to do! One thing I am doing this year is a run streak,I don't know how long that streak will be... a month, six months, a year who knows, but while I am enjoying it I will keep going.

Maybe contradictory to all I have said so far, but I am massively looking forward to Ronnie Staton's Train like a Champion workshop in April, hopefully I will be inspired to decide which 100 miler I am going to enter and find what it is I need to get it finished!!

I am also running St Peters Way Ultra at the end of February, it will be my fourth time and is up there as one of my favourites, and it's a date on the calendar that I am excited about, a day for me, sometimes you need to have that day to look forward to...

So that's it for now, it will be a different year of running but I know it will be enjoyable and as usual I expect I will have some friends along on some of the adventures to join the fun, so if you want a slow bimble out on the trails that is where I hope you will find me!

Happy running xx

World Mental Health Day...

Been thinking about this blog for a few days... Do I post it here or start a new blog, after much deliberation I decided to post here, as running does play a part, no surprise there I can hear you saying!

Mental Health, it's a big one and I have to admit it's not something I knew a lot about until it slowly crept in and got itself settled into our lives. Not my own mental health so much but it can be difficult coping with all the chaos at times but both my teenage sons. Ben has anxiety due to his deteriorating vision and probably because of past bullying he endured in mainstream school and James currently in hospital for the second time this year.

 Today was important to me. I feel a bit useless as James is in a psychiatric unit 250 miles away as that was the only bed available. He is doing ok and on new meds but will be there for a while longer. Whether he finally gets a bipolar or other diagnosis we will wait and see, but he is being looked after and hopefully this time can get continued support to manage his condition so he can function in the world.

So back to World Mental Health Day, I did what I always do and planned to run, some friends joined me and we ran a few miles, they donated some money to Mind and we talked. It's not going to change the world but if I can just get people to talk, to be aware, to not be ashamed or scared to speak out about how they are feeling then maybe that will be something.

Mental Health Day runners!

Running has definitely helped me cope over the past weeks, months, years! It is that one constant, although not every run is the same it is very rare not to come home and feel in some way a little better. Whether I run alone, with Dugs, with friends, long, slow, short or fast, no matter what chaos, fear, upset and worry is racing through my head, I know running will help me cope. It can be time to think, time not to think, time to chat, time to be quiet. It really can be all those things and running friends get that and maybe they feel the same or maybe running helps them in a different way I don't know. What I do know is that running has brought some amazing people into my life, strangers who have become friends, friends that I wouldn't ever want to be without, even when I don't feel like saying much they will still be there to share some miles and understand.

It's not just running friends who have been amazing this past week, so many others have been there, have supported, given a hug, listened, let me get on with things quietly when I have needed. let me go home and be by myself when that was needed. I thank everyone of you from running friends to my work friends and family who have been there, who have helped me keep my mental health strong so I can support my boys in the best way I can.

So as you relax this evening, let your loved ones know you love them. If you feel sad, alone, depressed or unhappy in any way, talk to someone. It's ok to not be strong everyday, it's ok to cry, it's ok to not always be at your best, but it's not ok to feel worried, ashamed or guilty about how you feel. Just talk and keep talking.

Love you all, happy running (and talking) xx

Robin Hood 100

This was it the big one, I had been excited about this race since early in the year when I saw the details on Facebook. It was like it was meant to be, it fitted in with other commitments, had a decent cut off and was described as having all runnable trails and was marked so only minimal navigation, ie look for the signs and tape.

My life has revolved around getting ready for this race since I signed up in March. I asked Lindley from Challenge Running to write me a training plan and I have followed it since May to ensure physically I was in the best shape I could possibly be. Thanks Lindley.

I asked Dan if he would crew for me and Richard to be my pacer from 50 miles. Thank you both.

The bit no one could help me with was mental strength, I needed to work on that myself. I read blogs, articles all sorts and practised what I had learnt on my training runs. Slowly over the months I learnt to not let my life stresses mess with my head whilst running. It took work but listening to music for short periods helped, focusing on the running, mantras... you name it I tried it! There was no way a negative mental attitude was going to spoil race day!!

Having a very busy week leading up to the race meant there wasn't much time for stressing and being nervous so when Dan picked me up at 3;30am on Saturday morning I was excited and keen to get going.

I had a race plan and had some notes for  Dan...

Dan's crew notes!

I made it clear to Dan that the only reasons I could DNF was death or a leg injury that meant there was no way I could move, he agreed to this. I had my own sheet of checkpoint mileages, things to do if I was low, a message I had on Facebook from Mark, a note from Richard and a quote from a Frank Turner song "every step you take forward is another step you never have to take again"!!

I was as prepared for this race as I possibly could be so when we set off at 8am all I had to do was run 100 miles, eat lots, drink and keep moving, I was confident I could do this...

Ronnie Staton the race director is one of those people you like instantly on meeting them and my excitement grew (along with some nerves but it was all under control) Race brief done, final toilet dash and we were off.

Everybody seemed to go off really fast and looking at my watch I was being drawn along going far quicker than I wanted, so I took a deep breath, slowed down and let the main pack go on ahead, sticking to my race plan was vital and I knew going out at that speed for me would be disastrous!
The first ten miles still passed by quickly and I reached CP1 in two hours. I felt good, Dan was waiting with my bag of food, I had some custard, topped up bottles and got moving.

The race consisted of a canal stretch, then two 30 mile laps then a return along the canal to the finish. So you visited each CP more than once. I was happy, enjoying the running and feeling strong.

I always, no matter what distance I am running, have a low point at about 18 - 23 miles, but I know it will pass, so when it hit, I put on my ipod, listened to some music, told myself it would pass and kept going. By mile 22 I was feeling great but slightly worried at how sore my legs were, especially my shins (not something I normally suffer from) but was still moving happily within my target pace. Walking breaks were a little longer but having practised fast walking all summer (15 min miles or quicker) I was still well within my race plan times. This race was fun, I was having a great time.

Enjoying my custard, the king of ultra foods!

A friend from parkrun was volunteering at CP4 and she had a big hug ready for me, and lots of encouragement, thanks Andreea. Dan was ready with my custard, sorted my bottles and checked I was fit and well.

I was sensible and sorted some hotspots on my feet as soon as they appeared. I also had a large blister on my big toe, but some diy surgery with a safety pin from my running number and some tape and it was all good and not causing discomfort! My feet didn't really give me any more trouble other than that.

My shins were giving me some pain but it was manageable and I was moving and I finished the first of the 30 mile loops in 12 hours and 9 minutes (48 miles in total) just 9 minutes outside my race plan. From this point I was allowed my pacer, so Rich and I set off to run the 30 mile loop for my second time. At this point I must mention the Major Oak, the website had said you pass it twice. Somehow I missed it both times which amused me somewhat, guess I was in the zone!

Richard kept me entertained with games and we discussed all sorts of topics including 'chicken reproduction'! I was convinced I saw a puma and although my shin pain had reduced my pace more than I would have liked we were still moving at a speed where we weren't chasing cut off times. I was having some periods of nausea and not eating as much as I should. Mentally I was in a good place and not once did quitting cross my mind. I could get this race finished...

Then at 73 miles or so it all went wrong and very quickly too. I began to feel very weak and the temperature seem to drop suddenly. I had put on my base layer and then added my waterproof jacket. Still not very warm I put on a hat and gloves, though my left hand was swollen and I couldn't get the glove on. According to Richard I was staggering all over the road and refused to eat anything, think I agreed to one midget gem! I went and sat on a log on the side of the road but Rich made me get up! Then things are a bit distorted but I ended up in a heap on the floor, I have no recollection of telling Rich I had the RD phone number in my phone and my foil blanket. I vaguely remember talking a lot of rubbish about cows, and telling Rich and Dan, who had arrived in his car, that if they just got me some hot chocolate I could carry on. I don't remember crying which I did a lot apparently, or making them promise not to move the car. The race medic arrived and I was taken back to race headquarters it wasn't till I was back at the village hall it really hit me that it was race over and I had a bit of a cry!
Ronnie said if you are going to DNF that's the way to do it, I didn't make the choice to DNF but do feel that some small errors of judgement escalated quickly to a race ending climax.

I told Richard I was retiring and taking up knitting and baking but have decided to keep ultra running instead (I can't knit or bake!).

Thank you Ronnie for a brilliant race, the route was stunning and very well marked, the CP volunteers were so encouraging and helpful, the medic who checked me over was lovely. Apart from the end bit I loved every minute, I will recover, get even stronger and come back next year and get it finished, and maybe even see the Major Oak!

Thank you Rich and Dan you were the best team I could have had, sorry if I scared you but so grateful you were there. Dan you need to get your business up and running but you have to be my crew at races I am doing! Rich keep finding new games for our runs and let's get 100 miles done!

Thanks also to everyone who has supported me and sponsored me this year. I have read all the messages from the weekend, you are all brilliant.

 It didn't end as I had hoped, but yet another learning experience and a reminder of how small things can add up and end a race. Keeping warm and eating even more will be added to next times notes!

So no new medal to add to the collection but mostly very happy memories and 75 miles is my longest ever run! Is 100 miles within my capabilities... I am 100% sure it is, I won't give up trying, I will just get more positive, train even harder and keep believing.

Happy running xx

Refocusing...

My blog a little like my running has been a little neglected in the early part of this year. Stress at home has been a major factor and sometimes other stuff comes first, I was running but it was unfocused, plodding with the dog to keep me sane and help me get through a tough few months. Happy to say things are improving all the time and although this blog has never been about my personal life on this occasion will just briefly mention that both my sons have suffered to some degree with mental health problems. My elder son in a big way ending with a suicide attempt and a week on the psychiatric ward, scary times, but medication is now working and he is improving day by day and learning to live with his condition. I am fundraising for Mind, trying to raise awareness and talking about it lots as still too much stigma around mental health. 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Bonkers1

So back to the running...

I needed a focus for the year, something to get excited about, and I found the Robin Hood 100 in September. A new 100 mile race, marked trail, undulating but not too hilly, ideal for first time 100 or a fast race so it said. It was perfect, right time of year so I signed up. 
http://hobopace.com/robin-hood-100/   Link is here if you're interested!
Excited yes but it didn't kick start me into training harder, I was struggling to do a sub 30 parkrun and generally feeling unfit! 
As stresses began to reduce and I had more time and energy to think about me I made a plan...
I overhauled my diet and have been eating low carb, high fat for two months and feeling much better for it and a month ago I contacted Lindley at http://www.challenge-running.co.uk/ and asked him to write me a four month plan to get me ready for the race. I was back and ready to start training properly! The plan came and though August looks scary I am enjoying the structure and focus again!

I had signed up late to Halstead Marathon, was not in road marathon running shape but it was sister's first marathon and a marathon I love so thought it would be some miles under the belt. It turned out to be the hottest day of the year and though I was feeling good finished in 5:13 which I think is my slowest out of 6 Halstead marathons. It was definitely the hottest race I can remember doing but as always the support was fantastic and I had a thoroughly enjoyable day, practiced fueling without sugar and felt mentally strong, so was a real confidence boost at the beginning of my new training plan.

Proud of my big sister finishing her first, very hot, marathon!

The next weekend I had booked Bury to Clare Challenge an 18 mile off road race, the training plan said aim for 3.5 to 4 hours, I was feeling great and wanted to be closer to 3.5. I was running with my partner in crime Richard, and though he isn't into structured training plans, is still happy to come and run with me! It was a great race, again a little warm but great checkpoints and runnable trails, it was slightly over 18 miles and we finished in 3:31 which I was more than happy with. Definitely a race I will do again and another tick in the confidence, maybe I haven't lost as much fitness as I thought box! 

Rich and I at finish of Bury to Clare

So after an iffy start to the year, I am feeling great, the new healthy eating lifestyle is working for me, training is on track (apart from a missed run Sunday after being wiped out by a 24hr bug!) and I am feeling good about my running and am happy I will remain focused to train hard to finally get a 100 mile finish in September. I will be running Stour Valley Marathon on Sunday, my third time but first time it won't be part of a back to back weekend, so hoping to push a bit harder and get a decent time.

I have been inspired and excited this weekend following GUCR and the new Monarchs Way Ultra, just 615 miles! So many epic races out there, so much more to do...

If I have learnt anything in the first few months of this year it's although I can support, help, and do practical things for my children (though at 21, 19 and 18 not really children) I can't stop bad things happening and I can't always fix things, as much as I wish I could. What I can do is look after myself, stay strong and remember that by carrying on with my own dreams and ambitions I am not making things worse or letting them down. Running is my space, my release and time for me, without it and my dreams to be at the start line of those epic races I am not the person I want to be...

Happy running all xx

Great Notley parkrun core team does St Peters Way Ultra...

A year ago I ran my second St Peters Way Ultra, friends Len and Richard were waiting at the finish line and mentioned they were going to run it next year, Now I'm sure they won't mind me saying I was sceptical, Rich wasn't a fan of mud and trails and Len had yet to run his first marathon! But I was wrong, something about me coming out of the gloom and up to the finish line at the chapel had stayed with them! So on Sunday, along with John who had said he fancied it too, the four of us were on the start line ready to run 45 miles from Chipping Ongar to the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell.

We had run the route in sections over the previous months and having run the race twice before I wasn't going to repeat last years navigational errors and I was prepared, and had prepared the guys, for the mud!! My tales of the last two years being ankle deep mud for most of the route had been told but a drier winter meant that there was very little mud and the route was much more runnable than previous years. (Think it was only me that was disappointed by the lack of mud!)

We started well and the first leg flew past and we arrived at CP1 ahead of schedule which did mean John and Len missed seeing their wives, but Dan was there and I was able to have my custard pot (custard is now my ultra food of choice!!). Dan, Paula, Vanessa, Holly, James and Becky spent their Sunday driving across Essex supporting us at CPs and generally being awesome. Thank you to all of you.

Leg two we maintained our pace and everyone was in good spirits, we had some photo stops, coaxed John through the tunnel of doom, Richard managed to not bang his head, or electrocute himself as he had when we last ran that leg, and I was having a great run, I felt good physically and mentally which I was pleased about and we arrived in Haningfield and CP2 still ahead of schedule, our support crews were waiting, we refuelled and were quickly on our way and heading for Purleigh.

Serious ultra runners at work!

Leg 3 we slowed a bit but we were maintaining a good pace and everyone still seemed happy, actually nobody really complained all day, there were quiet spells but we dug in and kept moving and we worked well as a team. I really like this leg of the race, the scenery is beautiful and you know when you get to Purleigh you are over half way. We were lucky with the weather and although a little chilly it was a lovely day for running. We had our friends Ruth and Gareth manning CP3 and with Gareth being an Ireland rugby supporter, it would have been rude not to serenade him with some 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariots' after Saturdays result in the Six Nations! We also grabbed a hot drink at Purleigh (thanks Holly).

Check Point 3

Legs 4 and 5 can be quite bleak as you head towards the coast, we were run/walking now but always moving forward. Being with the guys and really wanting them to make it to the finish line of their first ultra meant I didn't ever slip into the negativity that can happen to me when I start to tire. I have finally got my nutrition and hydration sorted for these events, and although I seemed to eat much more than the others, I know that's what I need to do and I really did stick to it and felt good all through the day. The run through Steeple village always seems to go on forever but on reaching CP4 you know there is only 8 miles left and you are going to make the finish. Although Len didn't say as much I could see he was having to dig deep and was in some discomfort and we spent a few minutes at the CP getting prepared for the final push to the end.

The temperature dropped quite substantially and we all donned our waterproof jackets and I added a hat when we hit the see wall and the final two miles. I love and hate those final two miles along the coast in equal amounts, you know you have it in the bag but that Chapel never seems to get any closer!! 

During the final leg there was some talk of me pushing on ahead and trying for a new PB and I did consider it briefly, but it wasn't about the PB. This journey with Len, Rich and John had started a year ago and being with them to cross the finish line meant so much more than any PB. I can honestly say it was one of my happiest and proudest running moments.

Reaching the finish line

We finished in 10 hours and 22 minutes which was a great time. Len, John and Rich you were the best running buddies to share the day with. I thoroughly enjoyed every step and hope you did too. I will keep saying this but I am immensely proud of you all and honoured to have shared your journey into ultra running.

Proud and happy medal picture

Thank you to Lindley and Maxine at Challenge Running for another brilliant event (though you need to get the mud back next year!!) and thanks to all the checkpoint staff who gave up their day to keep us runners fed, watered and motivated. You were all amazing and we can't do it without your support.

Again thanks to Dan, Paula, Vanessa, Holly, James and Becky for supporting us throughout the day.

I did say this would probably be my last St Peters Way Ultra but I know there is a sub 10 in me so I will be back again next year!!

Happy running xx