Race report Gatliff 50km

There is only one word in the race calendar that conjurers up thoughts of chaos and maelstrom and that is 'Gatliff'. Billed as a 50km race, it in my every attempt has never been 50km and has always thrown up the most bizarre conditions of either mud or cold and always far too much water. The route changes every year and the instructions (the race is a self navigate route with no map, based on Bletchley code-breaking instructions that are never as good as LDWA events in terms of ambiguity and randomness) never fail to throw up serious question marks on whether the organisers had purchased crystal meth off Methodist Bank Chairmen. Having said, it is a must in the race calendar and any time inside 9 hours is considered respectable, 8 hours good and anything less, well, that is sterling work on the day!

  So I ran this today with my good running buddy Sue, who incidentally ran the first ultra with me in 2008. Fresh off the back of Dublin marathon she was ready for a beasting session. Fresh off the back of Founders and a hangover from the running club quiz night where we came in last place (fix) we set off on a cold but clear Kent morning. There were some very familar faces at the start but also a few notable absences; Ewan D who was nursing an injury, Dave Immune who has traded spikes for bikes and Jezza who was on Winter 100 duties. That being, the first few miles were punctuated only by the need to walk for a while as Sue had some heart palpatations which required looking after. Both of us had partaken in cider and wine related activities on Saturday eve so this was going to be a bimble and a laugh and a chance to catch up and have a good long run. The mud was the talk of the day though. It was thick, gloopy and absolutely everywhere.

CP1 at Holtye was further than the billed 9.6km, without a foot wrong was more than 11.6km which meant that we were outside of Imperial and Metric and on Gatliff measurements. Seemingly exact measurements were way off and seemingly vague were frightfully accurate. We passed a walker at 16 miles where we needed to check the directions as they were not making sense. "I know where I am going as I wrote the damned thing!" He retorted, and I promptly called him a BUGGER! CP1 to 2 was a longer stretch and with a reasonable clip, we manufactured a decent run. That said, it was interspersed by leg-gouging gorse and some very dubious pathways that turned into 'route 1'. There was more stop-starting as we huffed and puffed over the instructions but we were not as misfortunate as some who had gone way way off-piste. Scenery was gorgeous and the new route up over the Ashdown Forest was unforgivingly hilly but with vistas and 'big sky' was awesome.

This was at the top of the Ashdown Forest at 730ft high

Up to CP2 at 'Piglet' car park and a chance to rehydrate and then crack on. The Ashdown Forest is naturally a well drained area so running was quicker but as soon as we got to '100 acre wood' (Pooh fans will be well aware) we were ensconced in thick beastly calf deep mud of the very stick variety. This first 'half' to CP3 was definitely the most challenging. The terrain and mud were really slowing us down, but also giving us the chance to chat to Chris from Croydon and Dave from Brixton who had run 10 marathons in the last 10 weeks. Lively! So the next miles were grinded out and with the mud and hills the CP at Hartfield was very welcome. Sue had the need to take on food and fluid so we made the most of it, but ended staying 23 mins at the hot food CP! It was time to get a move on. We blasted out through mud......more mud......and a bit more....

.....and even more

We were able to get some quality miles in and the second half certainly was quicker than the first. We bumped into Matt Biggin prior to CP4 and ran together for a while. I have a drop in sugar and confidence for miles 27-30 so a little slower to CP5 until I could recuperate with tea, crisps, biscuits and cola bottles. Then it was about blasting the last 9km. We did. During this time we overtook about 20 runners. Speed was of the essence as we wanted to go sub 8. Now sub 8 sounds like a 50 miler and not a 50k, but the conditions and about 200 styles today was not going to be a quick time. Slip-sliding around we blasted out some miles and with the finish in sight, knocked out some awesome miles. 7.50 for the round and well inside the 9.30 that Sue did last year and a really good run. Gatliff is never a race to be underestimated. Marathon #45. Done.

The Scally run

I love going up to Liverpool to see Mrs UB's family and have amazing chinese food. I did need to get out and blow out some cobwebs so went into the countryside outside Liverpool to Knowsley Safari Park and Croxteth Country Park. Arrr-ehhh our Kid.....Perma-tans and shell-suits aside this was a good mix of trail and road in an unexpected way. I hailed a few local runners and found that here were a few people out and were defoo more chatty that our London types. A couple in 'Croccy Park' were keen to know how far, min per mile and hydration strategies for my 10 mile run. No food, no hydration and a Congee breakfast of Rice Porridge and mushrooms and 'thousand year old eggs' for brekkie. What a great run, pan flat, muddy and very wet.

Then we went out for Dim Sum and watched lost of Scallies running up to 'Jimmy Corkhill' off Brookside for autographs while we ate and ate and ate.

I deffo needed trail shoes today as my roadies are soaked!

Yorkshire Dales Peaks run

The plan for the midweek run was to allow Mrs UB to relax and be pampered whilst I hit the trails during the 'big storm' that was raging down south but had not really hit up North.

I scouted out some runs on the OS Explorer map and decided that Monday was the day for this. The winds down South had died down to nothing but the constant gales on top of the Dales were still harsh. Our digs were salubrious to say the least. Awesome duck down duvet on a superkingsize, big bath, Ipod dock accouterments, robes, free beer and the smell of wood smoke wafting though the converted mill almost prevented me from delving into the Dales. Waterproof on and rucksack incase with OS map and then a drop of probably 25 degrees from shelter of the house to the cold reality of the Dales.

This was the plan.....The Cam High Rd which is a Roman Rd  stretching from Hexam down through Bainbridge to some Southern soft town. It literally went over everything. I didn't meet anyone on this road for 10 miles. Not a soul! Why? well the 50 MPH wind over the first 5 miles and with 400ft-2014ft of ascent, nothing crept remotely near to 9 min miles.....mainly in the wind, the odd glance of the watch was a scary 11 min miles.....and I was running this hard!!!!

The tops of the Dales look inviting but actually fail to deliver in terms of vies and experiences. Mainly the tops are flat so offer a view of more of the same and not a vista one would come to expect from the Lakes or Snowdonia. The flat tops are boggy, wet and full of Sink Holes. Grim. Here is the top of Wether Fell and then I ascended the 300ft higher Dodd Fell.

Then I was blown off my 82kg feet. Holy shit! This was not good. The wind was hard but this took me right out. It was back down some scree and a Lee Side return to base. 'Fonze' hairstyle in tow, a lovely 3 hour run to blow out the cobwebs

Hadrian's Wall run

I've been to Hadrian's Wall a number of years ago.....to Housesteads and Chesters.....both markedly large parts of the wall. I was now in between Corbridge and Hexam, near to Newcastle and there was an 18 inch high brickwork structure where it could be assumed that thieves and housebuilders had scoured the lovely wall for their own......Nevermind. It was time to run and I have to choose my words carefully as my good friend Matt is a Major in the Artillery and we were running on MOD land, land that normal runners are not even allowed to go near. After our miles along HW, we circumvented the country lanes and byways, bridleways and farmland before we entered the airfield and camp to discuss Batteries and Nuclear armaments. Awesome to see some BIG ballistics and Artillery plastered around the base and also mindful of the intense security around the place as we stayed in the Commanding Officers' mess.

Now these chaps are kitted up in the most unusual post Newcastle night out running gear but between us we managed enough kit for a run. Matt, Robster and Karl, leaving the leadaing ladies to chit chat and plan our next jaunt!

Race report: Founders XC Marathon 2013

Me and Ewan (2nd and first places at Founders XC marathon 2013), a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

This event is definitely not for the faint hearted. 3600ft of hills, 3 checkpoints of which the first 2 are at 8 miles and 18 miles and with the heavy rain this last 2 weeks, a quagmire ensued.

I invited my good running buddy Ewan as I had not caught up with him since our 2nd place podium at the NC50 earlier in the season. I think this West Country chap is a talisman for me as you will find out. We had a chit-chat at the start and watched the first couple of waves of runners go off at the start. This marathon was a low key affair and essentially what we would call a 'training event' but it was for me a chance to exorcise some demons from last year as nearing the finish, slipped from top 3 to mid-table obscurity. It was also a chance to test the recent injury to the limits and see how things would pan out. I decided to ditch the OS map as Ewan had a GPS. Little did I know that after about 30 seconds from the start, with the steep climb of Pitch Hill up to 780ft in the first 2.5km I realised this was a man with the bit between his teeth. I initially rued leaving the map at base!

I lost sight of Ewan after about 2k and found my own rhythm up the slope, nestling nicely in 2nd place about 300m in front of a group of about 8 chaps. Around the top of the hill I was quickly caught by the guys behind and we started a bit of banter. Jeff, who I had run with for about an hour on the SDW100 and Darren who I have seen but not run with before and a couple of other guys and a girl. These fellas also had the bit firmly between their teeth and there was a bit of bravado and shoulder shuffling in that initial phase. I know races are not won up to CP1 but are definitely lost. We hit the base of St Marthas Hill at 573ft and these fellas wanted to go in a different direction. Darren stayed with me for about 100m and then after being unsure, turned and caught up with his group.

I felt confident in my own directions as I usually do. No self doubt had even penetrated my cerebral hemispheres so i carried on to CP1 on my own, confident that Ewan was way, way ahead by now. CP1 was a stock up on bread pudding and juice and off down to the next 10 miles of 'bedding in' to CP2, which was 10.5 miles further away. Dropping down into the Mole valley and then up to Newlands Corner along the NDW gave some light relief from following the paperwork. I was shocked at 11.5 to hear panting behind me the one and only Ewan, who had veered off course for about half a mile and was behind me. This was the 'race radio' that I needed. Ewan had passed Jeff and the others about 5 mins back and we realised I was in the lead! Now, dear readers, I have been here before and pride comes before a fall. I maintained race focus, deep breathing and removing any possible negativity from my brain. What else could I do anyway with the LEDG Ewan D blasting along Blatchford Down by my side. Anyway, enough about man-love and onto the race. Ewan clearly had some legs today and stated that he didn't want to be beaten. Some of this rich vein of form rubbed off on me and with the exception of 15 mile wobble, toys out of pram....then back in again, we traversed the undulations of the NDW and also had more man-love hugs for Johnny Cripps and Mal (early wave starters) on the way.

Blasting down to CP2 at about 7s, I couldn't keep up with Ewan and this way HIS time and time for me to enjoy my own running. Back with a BOOM from injury. Keeping my race focus and breathing I navigated without error and had an occasional sneaky peak behind for the BIG BOYS who had told me that they were in this for the podium.

I had one of those runners high moments for about 2 miles. No looking at the watch, focus, energy and totally aware of everything.....yet kind of nothing. A small nav error onto the 'old' course by 1/2 a mile snapped me out of this and after CP3 at Friday Street, one more 850ft hill (Holmbury) and it was a 500m brain off-brakes off descent to the finish.

Arms aloft. 2nd place! Awesome! Ewan was at the finish having some refreshments having completed the round 14 mins in front and winning the event. This was the fastest winning time since 2009. My second place would have won the last 3 years!!!!

After a cuppa and then a run the cars to change in the torrential rain we sank a pint of cider. Ewan stated he felt a little guilty that I had invited him to an event and he had beaten me into second place. Not so. Had he not been there for banter and for running so much better and beasting me, I probably would have settled back in the pack. So thank you Mr D for my 2nd place podium. Next time your batteries are low on your GPS, you deffo know who to trust with mapwork. I reckon we should do a LAMM or KIMM for podiums, ciders, shits and giggles. Great to catch up again. Cheers

Urban Thames and Canal run with Sue B.

St Saviour's Wharf and Java Wharf, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

Great to catch up with Irish Sue on the run this morning that nearly didn't happen. With 2 hours sleep Sue had been on call delivering babies in the night at Kings and with the rain lashing down this morning, an extra hour in bed followed by 2 coffees and a bacon butty was enough to get me going. We paced at 8.30s-8.45s the bck way to Greenwich and through the foot tunnel. From Poplar the headwind and horrible rain led us off the river, diverting us from our intended route to Victoria along the Thames Path but instead to Limehouse Basin and along the Regents canal, a lap around Victoria Park in Hackney, through to Islington and Kings Cross. We stopped for some much needed sugar and with a number of stops for falling about laughing and being silly, took a turn for home, intending London Bridge but upping the miles and pace to 8.11s-8.20s with some dipping to 7.45s after the coke kicked in, instead to Canada Water for a warming coffee on the Overground back home.

The long and the short of it is that my hamstring feels a little tight but OK. 21 miles in the driving rain is not funny....but necessary as with rain and being wet, it is nothing that a hot bath can't cure. Looking forward now to the marathon next Sunday, whatever the weather