Hi all,
Well its been over a month since I lasted posted so I thought I would update you on the my last two races and let you know how I (we) got on.
On the 10th of march I stood nervously at the start line of the Wye valley 50 mile ultra, I say nervously because for about a week leading up to the race I had been suffering with a bad flare up of ulcerative colitis and to be honest was still not right. Myself and my brother James were doing this race together and when the gun went off we set off at fairly good pace settling in in about 4th and 5th place. The race itself starts at Llangurig meanders over the Elan Valley through the Rhayader Dams on towards Builth Wells up a very hilly section and then finally down towards Glasbury. About 5 miles in I was starting to have some pretty painful stomach cramps and a toilet stop was inevitable, I encouraged my brother to keep going and not to stop for me as I may not make it to the end. I was annoyed to see 3 or 4 people pass me but what could I do. I continued onwards until checkpoint 2 (10 mile) where I managed to catch up with those who had passed me. However it was only a matter of time until I needed to stop again and all the work was undone, I ran on for another two more miles until my stomach decided that it wasn't going to let up and i was subjected to some very bad pains indeed. So there it is, at checkpoint 3 I was forced to quit. My first ever DNF in any race EVER! and that's at least 200 races.
Still it wasn't time to feel sorry for myself just yet I knew my brother was going well and if i could get round to as many checkpoints as possible (by car of course) then the support I could give him might spur him on a bit.
We were lucky to have friends and family following us round too so I jumped in the car and off we went. When we arrived at Builth Wells (mile 30) we were really pleased to see that James was going well and was comfortably in 4th place and looking good. We gave him a couple of pieces of cake and off he went hot on the heels for 3rd. We stopped again at mile 40 and watched him ascending a pretty mean hill and he looked pretty strong and was waving and smiling and seemed to be loving it, He filled his camelbak up and was off again, just ten more miles to go.
We drove to the finish to await his arrival and waited to see if he had managed to hang on for fourth or even better. Robin Houghton came in 1st place with and amazing time of 7 hours 40 minutes a really good time over that terrain. Then 2nd place arrived in about 8 hours 35 minutes closely followed by 3rd 5 minutes later. Then came running in James all smiles and looking pretty fresh in 8 hours 47 minutes a fantastic effort with which he should feel extremely proud. Well done mate.
BUFF LIGHTNING 12 HOUR RACE
So its two weeks later 25th march and after being on prednisolone for two weeks my stomach was feeling better although not perfect. But after my last result I just had to give it a go and was determined not to let this crappy disease get me down.
The Buff lightning 12 hour race is a multi lap (10k) over a hilly course in Herefordshire around Eastnor castle deer park and I can tell you that the first 2k is straight up. The idea is to run as many laps as possible in 12 hours.
After unloading the car and setting up my table with drinks etc next to the track I left my brother James there to crew for me and made my way to the start line at 6am. The hooter sounded and off we all went under the lights of our headtorches. The first couple of miles were OK but then the dreaded stomach attacked nothing I could do but stop for a pitstop (or words similar to those). I wasn't too put out because I new at least with a multi lap course I could stop if I needed to. I carried on but needed to stop again and this is all in the first lap, it wasn't looking good. I still managed to do the first lap in under and hour so I didn't mind to much although when I stopped again twice in the next two laps I did wonder if it was all worth it. I changed strategy's and decided not to drink anything for 1 hour because maybe the electrolyte drink wasn't helping. Success! On the fourth lap I managed a clear lap with out any stops, thing were looking up. I had probably lost 20 Min's at least with toilet stops but after five laps I was still running under an hour a lap and it had taken me 4hour 40 Min's so far. Not bad for 31 miles with a dodgy arse!
The weather was beginning to heat up now as it was approaching 11am, but i continued to put the hammer down wanting to try and carry on and break an hour a lap. I filled my face with jaffa cakes, electrolytes, jelly babies and pretzels after every lap and my legs and energy levels were good.
At mile 40 I broke my PB ( hilly cross country) in 6 hours 15 minutes and then 50 miles in 7 hours 50 minutes. I was in the zone now and went on to run 100km in 10 hours, not super fast but over the terrain and in the conditions well chuffed and I knew I could take 20 Min's off that with the stomach problems i had had. with just two hours to go I asked my brother and and my family who had turned up to watch me what position I was in. I was amazed to learn that I was in 2nd place but 3rd was only a few minutes behind.
On the 11th lap that's when it all went a bit pete tong my right calf suddenly just went ping whilst running up the 1st 2k hill and I knew it was all I could do but to walk and limp what would be my final lap. About 5kms in on the 11th lap I was caught by a guy called Charlie. He said he was sorry about my leg and I shook his hand and told him that 2nd place was his. To be honest I really didn't give two hoots! I immensely proud with what I had achieved and I knew if it wasn't for my stomach and calf it would of been mine. Fourth place was to far behind to catch me so I knew I was still on the podium in what must be the hardest 12 hour race in the country. I limped over the line in 11 hours and 35 Min's with 11 laps completed and completed almost 70 miles. Happy Days!
Thanks to all my family and friends for supporting and looking after me. xxx
Catch you all soon. Mark.
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