Thames Trot 50 ultra

ITB really tight week before, couldn't sleep one night it was that sore, massage helped but really thought might not be able to do this - after 6 weeks of training for it. Due to flooding, change of route to more road - and more impact on legs - normal road shoes even suggested in race email so had bit of a wobble, not confident of finishing if leg went sore. Emailed organisers asking if possible to defer. No reply.

Hotel booked so we were going for a break anyway, at worst would get a decent long run in for marathon training then maybe drop out. Threw all sorts of things in bag, forgot lots. Not in the best of moods. My Missus was helping at checkpoint 2 so could change into trail shoes, even agreed to text to meet me at cp3 or 4 if I dropped out. Ultra running friend told me not too think this way, just enjoy it. Wise words.

Once I was there and on the start line, mood lifted, very inspiring. Lots of runners all shapes & sizes, great atmosphere. Off we went, someone said hello and asked if I knew the route (sort of, on my garmin & phone), and okay running at this pace? Dan asked if okay to run with me, he had done a sub 3 marathon last year but never an ultra just wanted to finish. Eeek. Ah okay. Faster than me, see how long this would last.

First 1/4mile, path flooded, 2 inches of freezing cold water went right through my road shoes. 44 miles to go with soaking feet? Another 250m and path flooded again...certainly woken up. Into country path, 4 inches of mud and really slippy... They had suggested road shoes? Miles going by though, some good 9 min miles with more road in first 10 miles than normal. single track now, mud both sides, skating around like bambi on ice. Aimed to take a single cliff blok cube every 6-7 miles (1/3 of a gel), drink lots of water and grab fruit cake at each checkpoint, Dan was having a gel. Managed to see friend at their local park run so quick hug. Another mud bath section, really hard work through forest. Check point 1. Dan & I going well as a pair, chatting, miles clicking along still in low 9 min miles.

Before cp2 his heel got a bit tight, offered him some ibuprofen and took some early myself. Feet absolutely soaked through. Could also feel something moving on sole of my shoe, sole hanging off hopefully and not bits of my foot :) Shoes owed me nothing, 800 miles in them, 2 marathons. No aches or pains though, I felt great, really comfortable. Cp2 approaching 16 miles gone , we agreed to take our time, take off jackets, sort ourselves out, take a walk break. Saw my wife, no surprise to her, my first words "I'm going to finish this"... I was in the zone according to her, body language completely changed. Weird. Trail shoes on, heavier sole but very grateful for the grip.

Can remember saying to Dan with a giggle "only a marathon to go.. we are going to do this!". His Dad went past in a car and briefly said hello, Dan's entire family seemed to be were waiting at CP3, wife mum dad, nan. We concentrated on sticking to our intakes of food, occasional painkiller and lots of water, making sure each other was doing same so no big dips in energy.

Making good time, through half way 21-22 miles in 3:30. Cp3 Goring approaching. We took a time out here, 5 minutes, enjoy extra food, pork pies, cornish pasties, something savoury to keep your body going other than gels plus more of the lovely cake. Finally met Dans family, he passed his jacket to them to keep out of his pack. Dan also had 20 fun size mars bars in his back pack & potato he told me but didn't really register.

Cp3 to 4 no major incidents, more walking breaks up the hills, got us upto roughly 30 miles and still making good time. Dan kept taking his gels but pretty sure they were having less effect each time. We rounded a corner to see the path completely blocked, deep water on path for 100 plus ft, 4 of us ran off to the road at right and straight on to see if a way around, couldn't expect us to go through that surely? Ended up for 5 mins by allotments and a college gym, but no way through. Finally saw some runners further on path through hedge, we all squeezed through hole in fence and straight into soggy park land. Just had to follow that Thames path or what wasleft of it.

Just about to hit the worst bit (photo not mine).

A mile or so on we came to the absolute lowest point of the race. Flat park land completely flooded, 2-4 inches of water, no way around it, and approx 1/4m to run across. Just before the end of this, it went deeper and deeper, past your knees, grit teeth and run through. Out the other side, none of us could move our feet they were so cold - we had to walk for couple of minutes. Only another 12-13 miles to go :)

CP5 seemed to take an age to come up, finally after a few more flooded bits, it appeared. Lots of people had complained to them. Take on last food needed, lots of water. Roughly 6-7 miles to go. We kept going. Somewhere in this section, we passed 2 black swans by the river. I'd never seen a pair of real black swans before - Amazing.

Swans on Thames (photo not by me)

However, we all felt colder,  that water had really lowered our body temperature. Dan started to shake, his hands were freezing. He'd handed his jacket to his family.. and didn't look good now. Got my trail jacket from backpack and zipped him up, walked for awhile, made him eat something. Soon back to normal and able to run again. I felt okay but hands cold too so put another pair of gloves on.

3 miles to go, pace slowing. Dan tiring. Wanted some of the salad potatoes in the tupperware box, very dense though, too slow to get working. Shoved a few of the fun size mars bars into him, We missed a turn around here but so did 40-50 others. Henley soon in sight though. Town approaching. Turned corner near station, Yellow finish arrow pointing to finish, we sprinted the last half mile 8 min mile pace, not too shabby after 44 odd miles. Through the line with everyone waiting for us. just over 8 hours.

Great finish and a fantastic experience. Lots of hugs. Sure Dan & I will meet again, do another ultra. We kept each other going from the start right to the finish line.

Lots of things learnt.
Never start a race thinking of quitting or planning to. Not worth the worry.
Much better running longer distance with someone, pace better, look after each other.
Once I'm running, I can keep going and (in some strange way), enjoy it.
Your legs dont explode after 26 miles. They don't after 35. Or 45 miles. Do they ever ? It's just a mental thing.

Off to find some races for later in the year. Next time, who knows maybe 65 miles? Then ...