Leading up to
South Downs Way 100 (SDW100) I had my reservations. Five weeks prior I successfully completed the
Malvern Hills Ultra putting in 52 miles in preparation for the 100. It went well, first place tie despite a bit slower time than I'd hoped. The plan then: recover, a couple high mileage weeks, taper. I'll be golden. But as I've found in parenthood things never go as planned. I never really recovered due to lack of sleep. I lost all motivation to run. 50 to 70 mile weeks turned into 20 and the low mileage just got lower as SDW100 came closer. A three week taper ended up being five. Better rested than overtrained I told myself. I knew I could finish, but I'm still looking to relive the race I had at
Superior 100 where I finished high in the ranks despite my first 100. I want to be a "competer" not a "completer."
Oh, almost forgot! The SDW100 follows the South Downs Way National Trail. Here's a
link to the official trail website if you are interested in the the area. Dig around that website for route photos and general info on the area covered. Unfortunately I'm not one to stop and take photos during a "race." The few photos I've got were taken and purchased by race photographer, Stuart March. If you feel like digging here's
his website. In addition the
race website has a few too.
The days leading up to the race I slowly organized kit, food, shoes, drop bags; everything involved in a crew-less race. I reviewed previous post-race notes and had a notebook full of "lists:" Camping list, drop bag list, finish line bag list, race vest list, night before race list, morning of race list, food list. All these and duplicates in different forms, things crossed out, new ideas...... Slowly things came together, of course items/jobs were missed or unobtainable.
I couldn't find a second pair my preferred shoes anywhere, Brooks PureGrit 3, since they are an old model. This stressed me out but in the end I just accepted it and threw in my road shoes for my drop bag at mile 54 for something to change into if I wanted to. I bought a couple 12 liter Osprey dry bags to use as drop bags. We had two options for this, 54 miles at Washington and also around 70 miles. I planned for both but then ditched the 70 mile drop when I realized it was basically empty and unnecessary. Washington was mandatory as I needed my headlamp as a bare minimum. I also had some candy bars, shoes, socks, and extra supplements I've had luck with.
I left Friday afternoon and in the morning I made sure my watch, iPod, and headlamp were all charged. The wife was nice enough to take the kids out for a bit before I left so I could pack it all up and load the car. It's the simple things that become difficult with little kids! Google maps claimed I had two hours of driving to Winchester and then I had to follow maps and directions to get to the Chilcomb Sports Grounds which couldn't be found via sat nav. Whoa! I actually typed "sat nav," not GPS! I've assimilated! As expected it took longer and I got lost in Winchester. I took a nice tour of the town until I finally got some sense and stopped to read the directions. I arrived parked and checked in. Not many people were camping with so many hotel options within a mile.
I wandered over to the check in, got my race number, and the race marshal checked to see if I had the required kit for the race. Then I looked to see where I needed to put my drop bag and finish bag. Of course after I spoke with some exceedingly friendly race workers plans changed. Mainly my finish line bag, which became pretty much everything, when I realized I could have a huge bag transferred. My finish line logistics were still up in the air. Too frugal to get a hotel mainly due to the "who knows when I'll finish" factor I decided to dirt bag it if necessary and sleep where I could.
After much organizing of things in preparation for the night, morning, and race I gathered what I needed for the night and headed to the tent area to set up. It was 730-8pm so I laid down and relaxed having already ate my pre-made burritos at the car. I wasn't overly thirsty and full from the primo burros I'd brought so didn't drink much water. I'd pay for this during the race.
I drifted in and out of sleep as people attempted to set tents up, tripped on my guy lines, apologized, chatted away etc. I always need to remind myself that most people don't go to bed at 830! As usual I slept like shit. The only bonus I had in the humidity was a cotton sleeping bag liner and two sleeping pads. The liner I added to my post-race notes from Snowdonia 50 when I struggled to sleep in humid rainy weather covered in a down sleeping bag. This thing was perfect for a hot sleeper like me.
I woke before my 430 am alarm. We had a 6 o'clock start and 530 race briefing (which didn't happen until we were at the start line). I needed to tear down my tent, eat, suit up, pack my finish line bag, and get it and my drop bag to the appropriate people. No big deal really. I mowed through a burrito and had some fruit for breakfast. I skipped the coffee as I've done at all of these races I've camped at. I don't know why. Probably due to the hassle of firing up my stove. Odd? Yes. I don't think I really need the coffee, just want it out of habit, sure does taste good!
The RD (race director) attempted to get everyone lined up and called out those who "should" be up front. Then began the race briefing. Nothing really to take note of as I'd likely forget it anyway! Then we were off. One guy shot off the front as he supposedly does for all the Centurion races, leading for the first quarter mile. We circled the sports fields before coming to a bottleneck. Soon we were on our way settling in to an easy pace through farmland, footpaths, and narrow country lanes looking out for the acorn signs for the South Downs Way.
It's actually pretty funny. In trying to recollect the race I've been looking at race photos and the map. I recognize very little! I had pretty much no idea of what the aid station names were. It just goes to show how poorly prepared and moderately excited I was for it!
Anyway, from mile 3 I was not feeling well. My hamstrings and glutes were oddly sore. I'd expect to feel normal, like during an easy run for at least the first 20 miles! This wasn't the case. I never felt like I warmed up. Like a rusty bike chain, I was going but inefficiently. I motored on keeping to myself for now contemplating quitting and reconsidering my decision to leave home even! I made an attempt to eat and drink, get my mind focused, and be positive but I struggled. I dredged up all the negatives about training, the low miles and poor recovery the past few weeks.
Soon I settled in and started talking to people. One guy I ran with for a while was focused on his pace. We were running 8:30-9 minute miles which if held we could possibly be in the top ten. I lost him at some point during a bathroom break I think. He was dead set on finding a toilet, I just shit in the woods. I have no idea if or where he finished but his focus on pace gave me future ideas for efficient racing.
Another guy I ran with for quite some time was attempting the Centurion Grand Slam; all four Centurion Running 100 mile events in one season. A huge endeavor in itself he also had just a few weeks earlier ran Grand Union Canal Race (145 miles) and had gotten into UTMB (100 miles in the Alps). So yeah, 5 ultras over 100 miles within 5 or six months! All he would be doing is recovering in between. Must be nice to have the time and money! Nice guy though despite my jealousy. He'd been trying to get in to UTMB for three years but never had gotten picked, this year his fourth try, he automatically got in and felt obligated to do it! In the past he'd also ran Marathon de Sables across Morocco; a 7(?) day stage race across the desert. I've always wanted to do it so it was fun talking to him about it. The distances aren't that far each day and I've always been skeptical of the actual difficulty. I asked straight up "is it really that hard?" He said no, what's tough is the heat and rationing water. I also found out from him that it's easy to get in, you just need about £6000!
On and on I went feeling like crap. Choking down the standard British aid station offerings trying to perk up and have fun. The course was smooth and non technical however it was full of long gradual ascents and descents over huge rolling grassy hills aka "downs." As I've mentioned I remember little. However one aid station I bumped into the couple I finished Lakeland 100 with! We suffered hard to complete that race. Great to see them.
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| I believe just outside Aid Station 2 or 3 |
My suffering was soon to end. We had had great weather all day and I was approaching Washington Aid Station at about mile 54. My drop bag was here. I'd get my drop bag, turn in my number, get a ride to the finish, and be done. Fuck this. I've felt like shit all day. Why would it get better now?
I sat down and got some food, dug through my drop bag, had some more food, sat around. I didn't have the balls to quit. I mulled it over and over in my head until a short haired aid worked asked me if I was ok. She noticed I'd been sitting around for quite some time and asked what she needed to do to get me out of here! I told her my story of excuses. I took my number off and handed it to her. She said "you're not going to regret this tomorrow are you?" I told her no and that I was fully prepared to be done. She then went on to inform me of my options for getting to the finish to my other bag. She talked about buses, taxis, trains, etc.... Or the shuttle will be here at 10 pm.
I looked at her. "Give me that back! It will be easier to just keep going!" A. I had no money B. No way in hell was I sitting around for 5 hours to get a shuttle. She happily gave it back and encouraged me onward!
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| Hmmm not sure of the location! |
Surprisingly I felt better and picked up the pace. I was peeing again, and normally, after pissing coke all day long. This was most likely my problem. I went to bed full of food, not enough water. I woke up and filled my belly with food, not enough water. I ate too much dense food and couldn't get enough water on board. The extended break at Washington got my body back to normal despite wasting at least a half hour!
Aid stations dribbled by. At one I unfortunately saw the Grand Slammer I'd spoke with earlier. He'd dropped out, not having recovered from Grand Union. Bummed about his Slam attempt over but excited to focus on UTMB.
I ran back and forth with another guy for a while. We separated a bit around mile 61 or so. I was running on top of a huge grassy dome-like hill and a woman was running towards me. I seemed to recognize her, she looked oddly familiar, but I knew pretty much no one out here. She looked at me and said "is that an Alpenglow Sports shirt?" I smiled and laughed. I was in England indeed flying my good friend Brendan's flag for his mountain shop in Tahoe City, CA. I knew who this girl was. Last year Brendan put up a guy and girl from the UK who were running Western States 100. This was the girl. I recognize her because I had heard all about these folks and their endeavor called Advent Running from Brendan. Made my day. We chatted for maybe a minute, I was racing, she was crewing, and on I went. I knew I'd bump into these folks at some point!
I caught back up to the guy I'd been with and we stuck together until dark. Soon I'd began running with an older gentleman and another guy (who I didn't realize was his pacer). The pacer actually had married an American woman and had spent a ton of time in Colorado. We had good conversation and running with someone who was fresh made a huge difference. He did a great job pacing, and me leeching along benefited too! He chimed in with reminders to keep the pace up, eat, and drink in a very non-invasive manner. It's very easy when you feel like crap to ease off to a slower pace unknowingly.
I split off from them and headed up into the fog of the last 15 or 20 miles. Visibility was horrendous and it had cooled off. I put on my rain jacket to keep warm regretting not bringing a long sleeve. The fog infiltrated everything, you could see maybe 5 or 10 feet in front of you. Course markers were hidden and cows came out of no where! A few of us grouped up in an attempt to not get lost, using fences for hand rails and working together to stay on track. It was slow going. The absolute last thing anyone wanted was to get lost so close to the end!
Speaking of getting lost there is one high point within maybe three miles of the finish you come to. On it trails fan out in all directions and had been a problem for people in the past. We arrived in dim light and broken fog. This year the RD took people's comments into consideration (which reportedly he always does) and posted a few course marshals to help! Fortunately for us the stress of getting lost was no more! Much of the race goes in and out of suburbs and small villages, in the past the course markers had been vandalized. Also a lot of the race goes through grassy fields that can be difficult to mark.
I could feel a squishy sensation under the forefoot on both my feet. Blisters? No, can't be, I've never had a problem before! Unfortunately it had to be. I was so close to the end and the 24 hour clock was ticking. I decided to push on through and go for it. This late in the race I couldn't afford to lose time fixing them. They weren't painful but soon could be.
Soon the sun was rising, we had dropped off the downs to lower elevation and out of the fog. I was running with another guy who was doing the Centurion Grand Slam and trying to do all the races within 24 hours. Just the person I needed. He was set on the same goal as I, 100 miles in one day! We trudged forward into civilization. He'd done the race before and knew that once in Eastbourne it took some time to get to the finish. He was right. You annoyingly circumvent the stadium on streets and onto a bike path the entire time you can catch glimpses of the bleachers and lights!
The blisters slowed me down. I didn't want them to pop. I was capable of running but I knew if they went I'd be crippled. I shuffled as best I could as runners caught up excited to finish. Within a mile or so the other guy went on without me. I would finish within 24 hours and wasn't worried about my place.
Soon I turned a corner and left the wooded bike path I was on and into the stadium! I was ten feet from the finish, it was lightly raining, but I had to do a lap around the track! No more shuffling I guess! I ran the final 400 meters and through the inflatable archway finishing the SDW100 under 24 hours!
A few people including the RD were gathered clapping. The usual mellow, quiet, and tired finish line of an ultra. A photographer snapped finish line pics of me and my new belt buckle.
That's it. It was done. I wandered inside the building not sure what to expect. I needed to figure out the logistics of getting back to the start and my car. Upon entering the clubhouse (for lack of a better phrase) I saw runners everywhere; lying on sleeping pads, sitting in chairs, milling about congratulating each other. I got my bearings of the building, got my drop bag, and finish line bag. I spoke briefly with the drop bag people from the start who inquired how the race went. I took note of the showers and also a door labelled "Men's Sleeping Area!" Perfect, problem solved! I claimed a corner on the floor and got my things out to have a shower and get changed. I was curious of the state of my feet. The blisters hadn't popped and appeared to be under my calloused pads. Very deep. I left them for now and had a shower. They were odd to walk on. I got dressed and soon made an attempt at sleep. My body allowed three hours and felt much better.
I wandered around talking with people and tried to recognize people in their street clothes. Chatted at length to the couple I finished Lakeland 100 with. They've done all the Centurion races, spoke highly of the organisation, the RD, and how it's always repeat runners. I'll keep that in mind for the future!
For running 100 miles I was actually in pretty good condition. Normally I can hardly walk. I got some food and coffee and just tried to keep moving. I went through a pretty solid stretch session too. I was amazed at how good I felt!
So after killing the morning, feeling ok to drive, and plenty mobile, I figured it was time to try to get back home. It was dumping rain out now as people slowly crossed the finish line. I looked at my map to the train station and figured I could easily walk the 2 miles there, even in the rain. I asked an older man managing the drop bags what the easiest way to the station is, his reply, "I'll give you a ride, just let me tell my wife." Holy shit! How cool was that!
In ten minutes I was hopping out of a car and at the station! The friendliness of the people involved in these races never ceases to amaze me. I got a ticket, waited, and soon was on my way back to the start. 2.5 hours later with an extended train journey due to delays, I was in Winchester, got a taxi to the Chilcomb Sports Ground and my car. As I walked to my car one other runner waved at me as he drove by.
I've accomplished three 100 milers now. It doesn't intimidate me at all like it used to. The 100 mile distance at this time of my life I've decided though is tough to race. I just don't have the time to properly train and recover. This race and Lakeland 100 I finished and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I didn't race them though, I completed them, which I should be very happy with. I feel like I can excel at these races once family life gives me more personal time and I can be more focused as I was for Superior 100 where despite being a rookie I finished extremely well. For now I'll enjoy the ride, new sights, time management challenge, and try to tick off any prerequisites I can in an attempt to get into some bigger races.
The best part about these races is I feel a part of something, I feel like I belong, and among friends despite not knowing anyone closely.
*this was a difficult write up, I really don't recall much at all. I read it and it's honestly all over the place!
