So. I signed myself up for the 9 edges endurance race on september the 15th. I am new to the idea of running up hills/ off trails/ for a long time. This puts me at a bit of a disadvantage...
The race is 20 miles with 900m of "up"
I have made myself a training program which I am about 3 weeks into. It basically consists of my milage going up by 10% each week, until just before the race when it tapers off. I'm running one short run (around 3 or 4 miles) one medium run (strating at 5 miles increasing by 10% each week till 10 miles) and one long run which also increases at 10% each week (up to 20miles). So this week I ran 3 miles, 6.1 miles and saturday i'm going 7.3.
I bought myself some new shoes (salomon speedcross 3's?) because my old shoes were about 10 years old and my shins were hurting. New shoes are great so far.
Basically I am trying to work out what time I will be able to do the race in. I ran 7 miles last week and it took me 1hour 13mins aprox. It had lots of hills but only about half the amount of height gain that the actual race will have.
Has anyone run it, and how horrendous will it be? Will I actually be able to finish?
Any suggestions on the training plan?
My general aim was to finish comfortably under 4 and a half hours. But looking at the times of previous competitors I think this is a bit optimistic- especially as it is my first race!
Does anyone also have any suggestions on not getting lost?!? Or wether it is worth taking food for a pit stop half way round? (or will that just not digest very well?)
Sorry for the long post! I'm just very nervous about what I have signed up to now! Am I crazy?