Well I think I'm ready now. Better had be though given the time. Best get off now for a few hours kip. Going through several panic attacks tonight
Well I think I'm ready now. Better had be though given the time. Best get off now for a few hours kip. Going through several panic attacks tonight
ahh you'll be fine!Originally Posted by socks
Well I think I'm ready now. Better had be though given the time. Best get off now for a few hours kip. Going through several panic attacks tonight
Have a good un MWell I think I'm ready now. Better had be though given the time. Best get off now for a few hours kip. Going through several panic attacks tonight
Down on my old patch north of Derby and it's proper RRR50 weather here, 5or6degrees, low cloud and pissistent rain
Poacher turned game-keeper
I'm glad I'm not out there today the weather is awful..
Apart from almost stopping and luring me into a false sense of security for the 7am start, it's rained all day. At least the overnight wind subsided.
I don't think the weather got as bad as last year, but at least then I was warm and dry to almost halfway. I was soaked well before then (note to self, must reproof my Kamleikas!). At Harthill checkpoint I said to myself I'd carry on to the kit drop at the next checkpoint at Woodhall, change into some dry clothing and throw in the towel.
By the time I got there I'd warmed up a bit, probably thanks to changing my gloves to Buffalo mitts. A change of clothing, a good feed and rest at Woodhall and I decided I'd press on, though nearly changed my mind again before I'd even got onto the road outside!
Underfoot conditions were in a completely different league to last year, and those of you did that have probably only just got over nightmares of the mud. Very hard work indeed, I certainly paid for my early pace on the good running in a lot of the first half. Even the non-muddy paths that were between fence/hedges were flooded, above ankle deep in water with no way of going round.
I found it very tough out there today for what is essentially a pretty flat run. Finished in the same position, but half an hour slower - partly due to not being as fit and spending longer at the indoor checkpoints, but I didn't mess up the route like last time so I lot of that is down to the muddy fields, and several others seemed to be down a similar amount.
Winning time was a very impressive 7:23, but brain like a sieve I've forgotten the name, a runner from Dewsbury anyway.
I stayed at the the finish centre quite late last year and it was always busy. There were a few times this year when there was only a handful of people around, I think there must have a lot of people who called it a day at Woodhall, there were certainly plenty in that position when I finished.
I must thank all the organisers and volunteers. A well run event, unpleasant day to the marshals, and the kit drop at 30 miles saved me and probably a lot of others. To the lone man with the umbrella looking after us at the level crossing, I don't envy your job one bit. At least they had food at the checkpoints!
Steve
Well done Steve
I didn't enjoy it at all, actually not true I was fine up until about 3-30 / 4 hours in when the stiffness from my fall really started to kick in and I slowed to such an extent I was freezing as I was moving quick enough to generate any heat. So called it a day at halfway.
Winner was Paul Ward of Dewsbury RR
My travelling companion Mark Collinson had a very good run to finish 7th in 8-29 not bad in his first year of ultra running.
Well that was really tough! Like Steve, soaked through very early on. Had worn better trousers this year. But my gloves were totally inadequate. Got a shock when I got changed at Woodhall to find my hands had swollen up. And that I'd forgotten to pack my spare gloves in change over bag. Bad move! Anyway, changed (took forever to do it mind) and tootled on. Went the wrong way twice - very frustrating. My memory is obviously rubbish! Gave up trying to run and just walked (reasonably fast) after Firbeck. Ended up taking hours and hours longer than last year. Mud & ploughed fields an absolute nightmare! Going to re-think how bad I thought my time from last year was. Perhaps it was OK after all!
Well done Socks for keeping going. You did better than me, ashamed to say i retired at the half way point. Frustating really beause had the energy and the will to carry on but was too cold from the head wind (did'nt have water proof gloves or hat and a jacket up to the job), and knowing what was coming - the ploughed fields of mud and i knew i would'nt generate enough body heat. I am still sure i made the right decision - it wont beat me next year!
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