Arc 100 Links

Open Tracker Website: https://live.opentracking.co.uk/arcattrition22/

Open Tracker App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/live-event-tracking/id1464496251

Mud Crew Facebook Page: MudCrew - Home | Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com › ... › Sports & recreation

General Race Info: http://mudcrew.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ARC-100-2022-Event-Guide.pdf

Route Description/Crew Info: http://mudcrew.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Arc-2021-Route-Description-V1.1.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3_r-Yw47T3PihfzXfiUSD9bwSF_TFPLrfBZvugxh7mXYuB98MIv56EJ1w

Ahhhhhh! Been a crazy day. Trying to get packed, deal with normal daily functions, kids, etc. Here’s the best links I’ve found so far. Mud Crew’s Facebook page is likely ground zero for info. Sounds like there will be a live feed for the start and at other areas around the course, and I’d assume you’ll find them on the Facebook page. 

It’s funny packing for these things as you really don’t need much, however you still throw it all in! Driving to Mullion Cornwall tomorrow. Spending the night, check in at the finish in Porthtowan, bus to the start, then it’s race time at noon UK time in Coverack on Friday. Probably won’t blog now until after the race so I guess here we go! 

Awww shit.

Today’s my birthday, I’m 45. Just when I think I’m possibly done with ultras this arrives. Shit. 

Taper time.

A week out from the Arc of Attrition 100. I’m in full taper mode resting up, absorbing all the training, and trying to not get sick. I’m anxious. I’ve trained more than I ever have in my life for an event like this. The knives should be as sharp as they can get. I’ve got a two man crew who live in Cornwall, have either run or walked the entire route, and are as excited as me. The weather is looking totally opposite of what is normally expected. Dry. Sunny. Perfect conditions for fast times. 

I’ll be driving down on Thursday to Mullion Cove where an old friend from Flagstaff lives with his family. His kids have agreed to give me their bedroom in exchange for a non-dairy dark chocolate bar. I met James through mutual friends and also NAU Cycling. He’s more of a swimmer than a runner, having swam the English Channel, yikes! However he’s ready to go with an itinerary in place. Greg, from Falmouth, also known as “number 58,” I ran the Cotswold Way Century with in September. He’s ran all over the Southwest Coast Path and will be meeting James sometime in the early evening as he’s got to work Friday until 330pm. 

Mullion the dot, Falmouth to the Northeast, the race start in Coverack directly east of Mullion

I just need to do a grocery shop to stock up on crew supplies, make some lists, and load up. Likely do all that Monday. I’ll be posting any race info and links to tracking here, still compiling them. It looks like there will be live filming at certain points including the start. The Mud Crew Facebook page is likely the first resource for all info. They are the race promoter, there’s already a ton of stuff up there if you’re interested in seeing some of the course. They’ve been adding short videos of the race course daily, pretty rad looking area. Here’s how to get to it:

Mud Crew Facebook Page: MudCrew - Home | Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com › ... › Sports & recreation

Let’s roll some more dice

I can get down on myself pretty hard when I don’t stick to the plan and train appropriately for these races. I see how it affects me and think “this will be the last one,” then I’ll just run for fun, which I tremendously enjoy. I’d then focus more time on martial arts. 

Well, I never know when the “last one” will happen, especially when I qualify for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc! The “Western States of Europe,” I still have at least got to try my luck in the lottery.

I think we’re back on track. I’ve been running over a week now post having Covid. I’ve still got a very minor cough but managed a 20 miler the other day. I felt ok all things considered. I just need a little more consistency to get my legs back in the game after having nearly two weeks off running. 

A wreath on top of the trig point on Stagborough Hill

Nearing the end of the holidays is nice. It will be good to be back into a routine. I rarely drink and eat extremely well when I’ve got a routine and schedule. Holidays that all goes to shit. I drink beer, eat out, etc and the wheels seem to start to fall off, but I usually get by. 

I’ve got a few more long runs until I taper and honestly I’m ready for it! I’ve confirmed a crew for the Arc of Attrition as well. The guy I ran and finished with in the Cotswold Century lives in Cornwall and offered to help. He knows the area and the course which will be a huge help. That’s the crazy thing about this sport, helping out these random acquaintances is a big deal that people are usually really excited to do! My wife is considering taking the kids out of school to come down as well, but honestly that’s a big undertaking so I understand if she doesn’t. 

It’s been abnormally warm here and I’ve been keeping a close eye on the long term weather in Cornwall. It would be great if it was warm as my one fear is getting cold hands and not being able to easily open food when I’m racing! 

A few more days and back to routine. 

Excellent conditions for training! Super muddy!

Really? Can’t I just get a break?

And here I am, pouring over maps of the Cornish coastline, listening and re-listening to podcasts describing the Arc of Attrition 100, repeatedly watching YouTube videos of the course and where not to get lost. For the second year I’ve been training and hitting the program over 90% of the time (last year the race was canceled due to Covid). I’ve nearly finalized my kit ready for any weather the Atlantic Ocean and a January in Cornwall produces. I’m psyched to see how well I can do in a 100 miler if I train appropriately for it, something I’ve never done. 

And I fucking get Covid. 

The kids brought it home from school, I thought I’d dodged the bullet, and three days ago I tested positive. It came on hard and fast with symptoms of a really bad cold. Sinuses and headaches. No coughing, aches, or tiredness. A very mild fever. Today it feels like a normal cold. 

I’m unsure how I feel about it. I read articles on how to return to training post Covid and everything says 10-14 days off after the symptoms stop, these articles pre date vaccinations though. But I feel like I have a cold! I guess only time will tell. I’ve poured so much energy and time into training and it’s gone well. I just want one opportunity to execute an ultra properly. I have a crew lined up that know the area. After how the Cotswold Way went I feel really amped that I can do well with the appropriate training. 

I’m handling it well mentally. I’ve got friends watching out for me. Focusing on martial arts to pass the down time. It’s not over yet, I’ve felt better each day so far and I think I’m going to treat this shit like a cold and see how I feel. I have four or five weeks until I taper so it’s my absolute peak of training soon. It really couldn’t have happened at a worse time. I’m double vaccinated and I think this is the weaker variant so I’ve got that going for me. Plus my diet has my immune system ramped up like crazy. Another positive note is I have martial arts to fall back on! 

Here we go…

And a few recent photos:

Short stop in the Lake District

Last weekend I drove my wife’s step dad and mum back to Scotland after they were here visiting.  We left Sunday about lunch time, got to Prestwick early evening, had dinner and some beers. I crashed out early in anticipation of a stop in the Lake District National Park to get in a long run. It’s about half way and surprisingly only 5 miles off the motorway! I never realized that I was so close when running Lakeland 100. I had a 20 mile loop planned if weather permitted and was really psyched.

Old Jeep at the services.

Scottish border

 I woke about 345am and hit the road, easy driving early, and arrived in Pooley Bridge and parked the car. It was about 7am and still dark. I quickly got ready to go and headed out following the route on my watch and following along on a map. I was on a portion of the Lakeland 100 race course and all I recognized were the pubs on the water over looking Ullswater, the rest wasn’t familiar as I had such a poor race, this was about mile 50.

Up I went into fells following an old Roman road labeled High Street. It was easy climbing in classic fells, grassy, soft, wet, with occasional rocky sections of trail and path. It looked to be a decent day, partly cloudy, but that was too good to be true. The wind was strong and cold and after a while I was in the clouds. I had initially planned to stay high in the fells but at the furthest point I decided to descend to Ullswater because the views were crap and I wasn’t really having fun. Running in shit conditions is fun with other people, alone, no thanks!

Old Roman Road

My last bit of sun

It was the right decision. The views were better and following the Ullswater Way, a circle around the lake, was fantastic. Excellent trail running right up from the shoreline. I ended up running 24 plus miles and getting around 4500 feet of vertical so very pleased. These places are so cool, wish I had more time to explore.

Coming down

And further down

Ullswater

I love these gates over stone fences

Ullswater Way, great running

 

Back at Pooley Bridge

A fantastic morning out even if the weather wasn’t perfect. I was very happy for the opportunity. I’m so glad I’m a morning person!