The Stort 30

October has been a busy month for me running wise. After the Saltmarsh 75 - the subject of my previous two entries -  I had two weeks until the Chelmsford Marathon followed by the Stort 30 a week later. It's the latter event that forms the subject of this blog - although if you've read the title you will suspect that to be the case already.

The Stort 30 is another event in the calendar of Challenge Running (www.challenge-running.co.uk). As some of you will know I tackled their St. Peter's Way event in the run up to the MDS and more recently the extremely tough Saffron Trail event. As a result of this I knew that the Stort 30 was likely to be impeccably organised and very friendly - the perfect event for a first time ultra runner in fact. It was also a couple of days after my wedding anniversary so what better present to buy Sharon than entry to the Stort 30? I should add I did also arrange for us to stay at a very nice hotel not far from Bishop's Stortford for the weekend and as our actual anniversary was on the Friday we were able to celebrate before being good on Saturday in preparation for the actual event.

We had run the course from Bishop's Stortford to Rye House a few months earlier and on the Saturday we'd been out to find the start, check out where we could park and have a little look at a short section of the route. Sharon is obviously a good influence on me as usually I have no idea where I'm running from or to until I actually start - which may explain why I so often end up making up my own route...

There were several familiar faces at the start, Ian was there although in trainers not sandals - which was surprising as at least two people did run in sandals. Perhaps that was it, sandals are now too mainstream for Ian, who knows. Anyway it was nice to seem him back after a long term injury had curtailed his running for a while. Local running legends Bob and Darren were also at the start.  I'd last seen Bob at the Saltmarsh and I suspect Darren was, like me, looking forward to not getting lost. Last but certainly not least was Baz. I met Baz on the Saffron Trail where he went from being almost timed out on the first half to finishing over 30 minutes ahead of me.

I was going to run the race with Sharon, partly to help her through her first ultra but mainly because I thought it would be nice to have a shared running experience for once. We'd trained together quite a bit for this event and I'd made her practise eating and drinking every 5 miles as that was the approximate spacing of the checkpoints. I often describe ultras as a jog between picnics but getting used to eating and drinking during a run can be quite difficult and something that is worth practising. Getting cold,wet and lost is not worth practising  - for me it comes naturally...

Fortunately the weather forecast was good (14 degrees and cloudy) and getting lost difficult since as Lindley pointed out in the pre-race briefing 'If you are more than 20 metres from the river you've gone the wrong way'. After said briefing it was outside to the start and two laps of the sports field before heading off down to the river.

Despite rain earlier in the week the path by the river wasn't too muddy and we settled down into a nice steady pace. We were going a little faster than I had planned but no faster than in training so after checking with Sharon what her heart rate was (slightly below that of a hamster) and making sure I could keep up we carried on.

As I said navigation was fairly straightforward but shortly before the first checkpoint the route went across the road but also crossed the river on the road bridge. A couple of runners crossed the road and the river but didn't see the entrance to the next section of the path and started heading into Sawbridgeworth until we called them back. Apart from that we reached the first checkpoint without any drama having overtaken a few people but not trying to push ourselves too hard. Stopping at intermediate checkpoints wasn't compulsory, only at the turn round point (CP3) and we saw a few runners carry on past. We had planned on stopping at all the checkpoints as that was how we had trained so we had a quick drink and a snack and ran on but not before Sharon had demanded to know where the wine was - she was promised it would be there on the way back...

We quickly caught up with small group that had run past the checkpoint and passed them. On an ultra everyone has their own strategy so it's not unusual pass and obviously be passed by the same people more than once, especially near the start. After CP1 the path progressively improved until it became a very solid packed sand/gravel path on the outskirts of Harlow. We were enthusiastically greeted at CP2 by Dean, someone I had at that point only 'met' through Facebook. He couldn't run due to sciatica and so had volunteered to help out at CP2/4. I'd given him our race numbers earlier in the day and asked him to encourage Sharon which he did brilliantly - even if she was a little confused as to how someone she had never met knew her name! Also a big thank you to Elaine for getting a great picture of us coming into the checkpoint.

Shortly after CP2 is some of the artwork along the Stort. The sculpture from which the medals are copied and the steel and glass bridge provide a welcome distraction, even more so on the way back. Shortly after these we started to see runners coming back towards us. The leaders were about five miles ahead of us but still had breath to exchange 'well dones' with us. One of the things I really like about ultra running is the fact that everyone supports everyone else. We continued on towards Rye House power station and crossed over to the River Lea for the last stretch to the turn round point, CP3, opposite the Rye House pub. I'm almost certain that the runners we saw going into the pub only wanted to use the loo... It had taken us 2 hours and 35 minutes to get this far, we were making really good time and way ahead of schedule for a five and a half hour time. We had a slightly longer pause here to make sure we were ready for the return leg and then we were off.

Now of course we were the returning runners taking the congratulations of those that still had to reach half way. I think Sharon's fears of coming last were starting to recede and we continued to run strongly. As we approached Roydon we met Ian coming the other way. He was in high spirits, possibly due to the fact he was running with a couple of women and much whooping and high-fiving ensued. A few miles further on we caught up with Baz, he wasn't having such a good time. He had been struggling with an ankle injury picked upon the Saffron Trail and had left his painkillers at the start. Fortunately I have a small 'emergency kit' of painkillers, toilet paper and an anti-chafing wipe which goes on all ultras with me so I was able to help him out. Some of you may recall my 'chafing incident' on Druids' last year which Sarah helped with by supplying Vaseline so I am a firm believer in 'Ultra Karma' and know that he would have done the same for me if the situation was reversed. We carried on past the artworks and into CP4 - which had been CP2 on the way out and hence we met up with Dean again.

Another quick nibble and a drink later we were into the final third. I told Sharon that if we kept up our steady pace she might be surprised to see how many people we could catch and pass. Sure enough we passed a couple of people on our way to CP5.

At CP5 - which had been CP1 - Sharon enquired where her wine was. She was heartbroken to be told she was too late and it had all been drunk - nothing for it, we would just have to get to the finish and go back to the hotel for wine. We passed the marathon point after 4 hours 34 minutes but I knew the final few miles were going to be very tough for Sharon. Still we kept going and I persuaded Sharon she didn't need to walk. I think she was re-energised a little by catching some more people that were walking. I kept telling her how well she was doing and tried to make the final miles seem insignificant 'Only a parkrun left', '20 minutes to the finish', 'you've done 95 percent, only 5 percent left', all that sort of stuff. However the last mile was going to be tough as we left the river, ran up the railway bridge, a short shallow up slope  and finally turned onto the hill that is Beldams Lane. Sharon was struggling quite badly and feeling sick - I was now torn, we were so close to the end but  obviously I didn't want to push her to collapse. Fortunately we had done so well we could have a very short (about 20 yard) walk up the hill until we saw the Challenge Running flag at the entrance to the finish, without being overtaken.

The short walk and the sight of the finish revived Sharon enough to get us  up and running and we entered the field to the applause and cheers of other runners, their friends, family and of course the marshals. I ran ahead a bit to get a picture of Sharon on her final lap and we crossed the finish line hand-in-hand, 5 hours and 18 minutes after we started. We collected our medals and t-shirts and collapsed in the club house for a while.

As I said at the beginning, this was my third Challenge Running event and they've all been special for different reasons. St. Peter's Way was my longest single stage at the time and my practise for the MDS long day. The Saffron Trail was just incredible - see blog entry for details. However The Stort 30 was the first event I've run with Sharon and I was (and still am) so proud of her performance. I wouldn't have been too disappointed with 5:18 if I'd been running on my own. The fact we ran just about all of it and overtook people that had been up to 3 miles ahead of us at the turn round point shows that if you can keep a steady running place you can do surprisingly well in an ultra, it also showed Sharon that she is capable of far more than she realised - and to be honest, slightly more than I realised.

While on the subject of Challenge Running, once again the organisation, friendliness and checkpoint food was awesome. If anyone is looking for a first ultra the Stort 30 should be very high on your list - the medal is pretty cool too! 

Now she can walk again I think Sharon enjoyed it - she's (rightly) very proud of her medal. Now I've just got to persuade her to do St. Peter's Way next year...

The Saltmarsh 75 2014 - Day Two

It'a really nice when I get positive feedback about my blog so I'd like to thank  mia79gbr for her comment. However possibly the only part of my multi-day ultra routine I've got right is really good ear plugs so I (fortunately) wasn't woken at 5 am by the flipping cockerel. I did wake up at about 6:20, the same time as if I was going to work. However if I was to get breakfast there was no time for a lie in!

I'd slept quite well, mainly due to my MDS proven sleeping bag and a proper sleeping mat - as opposed to the piece of cardboard I optimistically tried to sleep on the previous year whilst trying out potential MDS kit (needless to say the 'comedy sleeping mat' didn't make the cut). What wasn't so good was that due to the low temperatures and me breathing in the tent nothing had dried out. I had a change of clothes but a wet hat and wet shoes would just have to be endured. It's not so bad once they're on...

Anyway I was dressed, breakfasted and had sneaked up on the pop-up tent and wrestled it back into its bag before it had time to fight back. We had the Day Two briefing and were unleashed back into the Essex countryside. Last year the first stage of Day Two was simply about keeping running and making my legs work.  This year seemed to be mainly about persuading my left ankle to loosen up so I could run properly and less like someone doing a very bad impersonation of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Anyway after a mile or so everything seemed to be working and I soon reached the first checkpoint (soon is relative - soon compared to the pace of a tortoise that had decided to do some home improvements and fitted a conservatory).

Checkpoint 8 was on Maldon Promenade and for the second year running I was greeted by my loyal supporters, Marie and Steve. Last year I was in no fit state to say much to anyone by this point but undeterred they turned out again and hopefully this year I was a bit more communicative. It's great when someone goes out of their way to support you and I always really appreciate it, even if it may not show at the time.

The run down to Checkpoint 9 involved navigating through Maldon, which was achieved with hardly a single error (I was ever so slightly the wrong side of a set of railings at one point...). It's a short stage into Heybridge and its from here that I think Day Two really gets going.

I like Checkpoint 10 at the Goldhanger Sailing Club. I don't know why, possibly because it doesn't seem to be very near anything or possibly because it marks the halfway point of Day Two. Anyway whatever the reason the sun was out and I was feeling good. Or it may have nothing to do with the checkpoint and simply be that the dose of painkillers I took on the way had kicked in... Just one more checkpoint then a run to the finish and Saltmarsh 75 2014 would be completed!

The run from Goldhanger to Tollesbury is however quite tough - it's the longest stage on Day Two. So far I had run all of the Saltmarsh 75 - admittedly I had slowed down a bit to take pictures and have a drink...climb stiles...open gates.... but I hadn't had to resort to the shuffle/walk strategy of the previous year and was keen to keep running. I was overtaken a couple of miles in by someone I assume was in the relay. As he disappeared off I just got my head down and kept going with my slow steady pace.

As I turned onto the last part of the sea wall that turned into Tollesbury I saw the 'relay runner', as I had tagged him, walking ahead of me and I passed him as I left the sea wall. I know we were in different races but it does illustrate the point that you should always run your own race. Just because someone passes you don't be tempted to run too fast to keep up  - it's where you are at the end that counts.

I can't believe I asked for directions from Checkpoint 11 to the sea wall... Anyway it was the last stage, the sun was still out and I still felt good so I put my head down and charged. It was my fastest stage of the day and my third fastest overall. I think I was spurred on by catching a couple of guys that left the checkpoint as I arrived at it. Once I passed them I tried to keep up a good pace to discourage them from coming back at me. Inevitably I slowed a little as the stage progressed but as I exited the Old Hall Marshes I knew it wasn't far. Down the dodgy steps, over the field and through the gate into Salcott.

Last year a family sat out in their garden and cheered the runners (and walkers I guess) as they came into Salcott. this year they were there again - I don't know who you are but if you are reading this, thank you. With that little boost the final few hundred yards to the finish were a doddle - ish...

I received my temporary medal (we have been promised much nicer ones) and sat down in the village hall with my recovery shake, a cup of tea and beans on toast to wait for my fellow runners and a lift home.

Whilst drinking my tenth cup of tea I saw Roy put something up next to the canteen hatch. When I went for cup of tea number eleven I saw it was the top 10. I read through it and saw that the first lady home had finished ninth when something made me read it again. There it was, in seventh place 'Colin Harper', that's me, I suddenly realised (running can add something of a satellite delay to my thought processes). I was in seventh place overall and had taken just over three hours off last years time - to say I was a bit chuffed would be something of an understatement!

Shawn came in with his mate Jamie in eighteenth place, a great effort and, judging by the number of selfies they posted from the race on Facebook they had a great time. Simon finished a little while later, another great performance on his first ever ultra. Thanks to Simon and Claire for taking me home where I celebrated with Prosecco and a soak in the bath - I know how to live.

Last year I said I don't know why the organisers did it. I still don't fully understand but I'm still very glad they do. The organisation was again superb, all the marshals and helpers were friendly and encouraging and generally it was another triumph for Maldon District Council. I said I don't fully understand why they do it but I do understand that part of the reason is to promote their part of Essex, so as they did so much for me I'm going to give them a little plug. If you've never been around their part of Essex then go. If you think Essex is like TOWIE then definitely go and be amazed. I hope they won't mind if I just lift this from the Saltmarsh 75 website but I ran past:

"...10 SSSIs, Georgian architecture, the UK’s oldest chapel, 5 nature reserves, ancient battlegrounds, huge flocks of wading birds, Maldon’s famous Hythe Quay and Promenade Park and miles upon miles of distinctive saltmarsh that defines the Maldon district."

And they didn't mention the WW2 minefield control tower and pill boxes!

Whatever happens I have every intention of visiting every mile of the coastline again next year!

The Saltmarsh 75 2014 - Day One

Last time I blogged about the Saltmarsh 75 it was as a nervous newbie who had just completed his first ever ultra. This is only a year on from then but I do seem to have done quite a bit of running since then - if all went according to plan I would cover my 2000th running mile in 2014 just before the end of Day Two.

Despite having now having a bit of experience of ultras I was still a little unsure about whether I was particularly qualified to actually give advice on them - those of you that have followed my adventures will know that being lost figures quite highly as one of my running activities. I'm also not entirely sure that I've really fully sorted my kit or strategy out for ultras yet so should I be telling anyone else what to do? However I'm part of an excellent running group called Run1000 on Facebook and received a message from another member, Shawn, who was doing it as his first ever ultra and was asking for advice. Probably the most important advice you can give anyone running the Saltmarsh is 'don't turn right' (you'll end up in the sea) but I suspected he wanted something a little less obvious. Anyway over the course of several FB messages I bombarded him with various thoughts, suggestions and ideas which probably left him more confused than before he asked. I also passed various hints and tips on to Simon, one of the Chelmsford Parkrun core team members who was also embarking on his first ultra. I won't tell you how they got on, you'll have to read on to find out...

In 2013 I went to Marsh Farm, not sure about what lay ahead, not sure what I was doing there and not knowing any one there. This year I knew exactly what lay ahead, more or less why I was there and when one of the organisers said 'Oh, its you again' I felt very much like I belonged! I chatted to people I met the year before as well as Simon my MDS colleague and Simon from Parkrun. Both Simons were sporting luxuriant facial hair - I'm not sure if that is a particular characteristic of people called Simon or just a coincidence - I suspect the latter. I checked in and got my number. As with previous events it was to be pinned to my shorts and as with previous events it took more than one attempt to get it right, although at least I didn't get it upside down this time.

We all gathered round for the safety briefing. I'm not sure whether Roy (the man in charge) forgot he was holding a megaphone or he just didn't want to wake up the adders (one of the reasons Saltmarsh is later in the year is to avoid disturbing the adders too much) but it was one of the quieter briefings I've attended - alternatively I'm getting a bit hard of hearing in my old age, which may be the real answer. Anyway once Roy had briefed us on the hazards of the course ('assume every stile is broken, assume every time you put your foot down you are going to twist your ankle') and told us about the truly incredible amount of support on the course (take a bow RAYNET and Essex Rover Rescue, plus the medics and checkpoint crews of course) we had a few minutes to get nervous before the Mayor said a few words, blew the horn and we were off!

This year we were straight into the running from the farm rather than being bussed to the sea wall as in 2013 and I was trying very hard not to get swept up in the general excitement and end up running too fast as I did the previous year. This didn't really work but I kept an eye on my heart rate and tried to keep it under 150 bpm as I thought I could run quite far at that rate, a marathon at least - which would only leave just over 12 miles that I would have to stagger to the finish. Sometimes I think I really should come up with better race strategies...

Anyway thanks to some very kind landowners the first stage still involved crossing a railway line twice but not the road - it also made it a mile shorter so getting to Fambridge was achieved fairly easily and I was still feeling good - however I had run slightly less distance than I do most lunchtimes so lets not get too cocky about that. 

Apart from the huge climb to the top of Creeksea Cliff - a massive 15 metres above sea level - Stage 2 was reasonably uneventful too. However Stage 3 was next (obviously) and this was unlikely to be straightforward. This was the stage I started to have problems on last year. It's over 13 miles long on the most exposed part of the whole course. Last year I was worried (with good reason) that his was the stage on which I would pass the marathon distance mark and step out into the unknown. This year it was the fact that at some point it was likely to absolutely chuck it down. Anyway I was making good time so I hoped to get a significant part of the distance done before the rain started. The Dengie 100 Runners Club had once again added a water stop at around 6 miles in and I stopped briefly to drink some water - had I known how much I would be soon soaking up I might not have bothered...

A couple of miles later I spotted a familiar figure on the sea wall. Sharon is training for the Stort 30 and had run from Steeple to the sea wall along St Peter's Way, got bored waiting and run down the sea wall to find out what was keeping me. We ran together back to St Peter's Way where she turned off to go back to Steeple (supposedly on St Peter's Way, however she navigates as well as I do...). It was just before we parted that the rain started...

I saw a few people drop down off the sea wall and run at its base and also stop to put waterproofs on. I ran at the base of the seawall for a short section but as the wind was coming from the west it didn't really help. I also didn't yet feel the need for a waterproof so I carried on as I was to Checkpoint 3 where I had my obligatory navigational error and broke the one rule of Saltmarsh navigation and turned right. Fortunately I ended up at a child's swing rather than in the sea. I resisted the huge temptation to have a go (if it hadn't been raining I may not have been able to resist) and retraced my steps and found the checkpoint.

Stage 4 was fairly uneventful apart from the mud around Bradwell power station. I collected so much of it on the soles of my trainers that for about half a mile I found out what the world would look like if I was average height. Stage 5 was quite uneventful except I was starting to get cold so I decided to deploy the bin liner at the next checkpoint. For those that didn't follow or don't remember my MDS blogs I should say that not even I take a bin liner as a running waterproof, what I have is a very lightweight black smock which Sharon took one look at and said 'looks like a bin liner' and the name stuck.

I ran out of Checkpoint 5 wearing exactly the same as I went in with. I do have a memory like a...one of those things with holes in...my socks?...no, you use it in the kitchen..no, its gone. Anyway as the stage was only 3.1 miles I was fairly sure I would stop shivering once I was running and so I carried on regardless.

I arrived in Steeple after a little under 7 hours running, nearly an hour quicker than the year before! I was also frozen. Much tea, some beans on toast and some warm clothes later I had thawed out and set off to the pub for food, refreshment and a night in a tent. Simon and I sat and chatted over a salmon pasta bake and we retired to our tents. Day One had been quite successful and much better than last year, how would I fare on Day Two?