Lakeland 100 The Blacksail Pass incident

Well where do i start? I was, i feel well prepared for the race and arrived in Coniston on Friday morning feeling strong and up for the challenge. The race starts at 1930 so it felt VERY odd to be just waiting around for the off. They did put on some good lectures and so that passed some of the time. Once off we settled into our rhythm for the run into the dark and most people i feel wanted to get past the really boggy section before the light faded I did manage to do that but felt the two Squaddies i was running with were pushing it a bit. This came to light at CP2 where they just seemed to drop away and left me to try a push a little harder to join up with other runner for the night section. This i managed to do but it may have not been the best move, I think the people i was pacing and working with were a bit better prepped than me but you never know till take yourself to the limit just what you can achieve. I got through Wasdale i was in a good position and began the climb up Black Sail Pass, i had by now slowed OR the lads behind had caught up, a bit of both i think. I was determined not to lose any more places as the lads i was with i have always been close to them a other races so i dug in. The thing i felt happening was that i was not NOT taking food on board and my liquid intake was WAY to low so the die was set for a blow out (but i carried on) We got to a very steep part of the climb and i had been left behind by the lads and in the dark. rain, rocky terrain i did what anyone would do. i pushed harder as i it had to start going downhill soon at about this time i suffered some sort of 2 second black out not to bad on the flat but i made me step to one side and, Down the hill i went, about 100 meters i feel i got up climbed back to the path and for some reason past it further up the hill once i realised this i got back onto the path eat all i could emptied my water re-assed my position and just chugged on. I was getting a lot of pain in my back and this intensified as i chugged on. people caught me ran with me passed me and i took my painkillers over the next few hours ALL OF THEM. I had a 20 minute stop at Blencathra which allowed a good food intake and i felt much better in myself but the pain was not going away. I fought this until the Dalemain half way point, ran straight in registered my number and then eat, drank, took more painkillers loaded up my pack and set my self to go Knothing. my body was screaming and was was not able to control it any more, so i stopped the body then said " so you are finished, let me show you real pain" it did not feel good. I needed a balancing head so i called Alison and explained and received the Paddington stare down the phone not to carry on, i was happy with that

So i just caught a lift back to the Finish and spent the rest of the day and some of the night helping the race team

To say i was devastated was a gross understatement and i have had to come to terms with a number of issues
1 I was not prepared as well as i thought i was
2 I started too fast
3 On a long ultra, gels, Shokblocs, protein bar and too little water cannot be tolerated
4 Strength of mind and body needs to match.

So i have set my self a winter training programme that will correct this and i have also selected addition actions to better prepare myself to complete this epic race. This race was Much harder than P100 and very much more like Mont Blonc with a lot less checkpoints and some VERY challenging terrain, i am sure you would enjoy such a challenge. BUT if you wished to do it reccing the course is invaluable, let me know if the madness takes you.



Look after yourself and happy running
Carl

The Final Countdown

Well!!

I think I am ready. I have all I feel I need to feed, water and protect me. My body feels good and my energy levels are topped up and ready.

I've been checking out who else is running (doesn't everyone?) and hope that everyone doesn't just run away into the distance! I've managed a few 8 hour runs and been pleased with my kit and nutrition. The GPS I bought seems to be functioning properly now (had send it back once) which will be a good fall back if I manage to lose myself. While sorting my kit out I have noticed that my Inov8 trainers (Roclight 318 GTX) are probably only going to be good for this race then will need replacing. These are my second pair for the big races and they have performed VERY WELL but with the length of training runs they are only lasting one season.

The numbers for the race are well in excess of 200 - well up on last year's entrants and even allowing for a full no-shows there should be a great showing at the start and finish. The run through the night will be a challenge to my map reading and I am really looking forward to it (sad I know).

It will feel very strange to arrive early on Friday then have to wait until late afternoon to get stuck into the race. I know I will be like many of the runners - twitchy all day. I intend to rest and be well fed before the race so a snooze in my tent will be the order of the day.

The race for the winner is going to be very close with a number of world class runners. I wouldn't like to call who will be first to the finish line as there are people with big races in their legs, some with experience of the race course, one who has won it and one who at his best regularly won some of the Vasque series races. There may also be people who I don't know who could give them a run for their money. All very exciting!!

I, like all the runners I suspect, will be hoping for weather that's not too hot, not too cold, not too wet and not too dry. We don't ask for much, do we?

My personal goal is to come in in around 24 hours and I have worked out my pacing for that sort of time. In any event I want to get in before its dark again!!

Well, off to sort out my kit and things I will need for the weekend (mainly food). I just need a few nights of good sleep and a bit of luck and I am sure it will be a great weekend.

Not long now!!

It has been a while since I posted so here's the latest. Running is going well and I have been trying to put in some long runs on the weekends, 7 hours+. I also had a very good day at the Cheltenham Challenge, this is a Marathon length course but almost all off road and a nice killer hill just after half way. I started around 7am as you were allowed to start anytime between 7 and 9 am SO it was a challenge as you had no judge of how you are doing with regard to anyone else. I finished in 13 position in a time of 4hours 56 minutes and the winner set a new course record with 3hr:44min.
With detours I covered almost 28 miles so some room for improvement next year.

Also I now posses a GPS ready for the L100 and so there is lots of loading checking and learning of how to use the machine so that when i am very tired i will still be able to work it. I will also have a trusty map and route book in case it is needed (more than Likely).

On my long runs I am trying to do as much offroad as possible and have been able to cover around 37 miles in the time so i am happy with that pace, if only I could hold that for 100 miles!!

I have now two weeks holiday comming up so I will be not be running as much but the rest will do me good

So I said to Rosie Swale-Pope

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting and having a chat to Rosie as she was on her way from Wales to London on a fundraising journey in support of Prostate Cancer. her site is: http://www.rosiearoundtheworld.co.uk/index.htm.
I was on my way back home from work in Oxford along the A40 and I saw her Icebird trailer, so I popped home and sorted myself out and set off back towards Oxford to find her. She was at one of the main roundabouts and about to have a short break so I was able to stop and have a great chat with her and ask if she was in need of anything. I also told her where the McDonald's was and the toilets, she was glad of both bits of info. I left her having a drink and some food having been given a photo and signing her travel book. A lady with great strength and determination


On a lighter note I thought I would pop along to a local race witch is part of a race series and have a sprint around the 4 mile course and catch up with a few friends who i haven't seen for a while as I have been injured. Only to find it has become SOOO popular that the race was FULL and I could not run. I had cycled over there as a warm up 13 miles so felt fed up that I could not run, so I just changed back into by cycle gear and took a different route home and peddled like mad all the way home. Also first time on my racer this year so i have a very sore bum. AH well I have the Cheltenham Challenge http://www.cheltenhamcircularchallenge.org.uk/ in a couple of weeks so i am looking forward to that.
Miles means Smiles
Taz

I'M BACK

Well I've began my training again anyway. had a good appointment with the woman who makes grown men weep. otherwise known as Gaynor. It involved lots of thumb and elbow pressure and lots of me taking large intakes of breath and trying to sound cheerful as the pain shot through the muscles of my legs. Thing is though she is VERY good so I cannot moan

I have 12 weeks to my 100 mile race and I feel I can be fit enough to do in the time I have got. My leg feel very heavy at the moment(as well as my body i have gained almost a Stone in two weeks)
but I am sure that will pass soon. Its nice to have something to put in my training log, its been a bit bare for three weeks. I will write more once training back to full swing as per the programme at the bottom of the page.

I'm Waiting!!!!

Right, I've had enough now. I am fed up with waiting to start training again. Its now, what seems like an eternity since the Wuthering Hike and the Achilles has now only just stopped hurting. I have had Two Physios sessions one Doctors and TOOO much rest (i feel). I have another appointment on Weds and hope then to begin swimming and cycling to regain fitness and also ask when the best time to start running again. Reading all the race reports is great but it makes you want to be there. I will now be focusing on the Lakeland 100 at the end of July and intend to make that my target "A " race for the year. i will report after my latest battering on her table of pain

Achilles Heal!!!!

Yes I have the spelling I wanted. For the last few weeks since the Wuthering i have had a strain to my Achilles Tendon and so have had to pull out of doing the Calderdale Hike, which, from the Vasque report sounded VERY nice. I have been doing all the right things I feel Ice,Rest,and sports Physio. As yet there has been little improvement. I have another appoinment next week and will make a final decsion on doing the Fellsman then. I like all runners do not handle inactivity well and so I have been trying to do all those small jobs that never get done, done. I will be very careful with this injury because my drive is to do my best for the Lakeland 100. So I now have the tidiest training kit drawer, the cleanest and tweaked equipment, and the most organised magazine,book,folder collection in the history of mankind. SOOOOO, Please Heel Heal.