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!