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Draycote Water 35

Listed by Gobi
Entrants (3)
Club		 PB SB Pred Time WAVA
disorganized approximate time - need to check results. 1st over-60 for 2nd year running (well actually walking a bit).
Cherwell Runners & Joggers, Trail Running Association 		5:12:40 5:15:00 5:15:00 68.52
Gobi The BIG ONE early season, Comrades qualifier. Started training six weeks earlier for this one. I need this time for a B seeding. I can just go for it as I get to enter off last years race anyway. Early season training suggests I am strong from off road races and fast from the 3 5ks I have run but, 35 miles is a long way. UPDATE********************************* VERY VERY ER VERY HAPPY and huge thank you to CL went very well from the start, got cramp at 34 miles but who cares 13miles 1:32:06 20miles 2:20:56 Marathon 3:05:40 (NEW PB) 50K 3:42:06 (NEW PB) 35miles 4:15:07(NEW PB)
Cannock & Stafford AC 		4:06:33 4:15:04 4:29:59 4:15:04 68.64
plodding hippo Draycote 2006-Race Report Reclaiming my mental fortitude Third year for me at this great race. It was my first ultra in 2004, during which I did a marathon pb, and three great friends showed up to support me at the end, so that the last 6 miles was a jolly gin fuelled stroll-and I finished in 8.28.It didnt matter then, as it was my first ever ultra, on the back of 5 marathons. I had high hopes of 2005 Having set another marathon pb, got 6 marathons and 3 ultras under my belt-including a 30 miler the months before the race-I was ready for a massive pb.Severe stomach trouble and freak weather meant that I decided to finish at 30.25 miles-something I thought wouldn’t bother me, but Rob was right-it has haunted me for the last 12 months. The run up and training to 2006 was appalling.My last marathon was a disaster, on the back of a cold(Luton), which was swiftly followed by 4 weeks’ bronchitis, and my resignation from work following intolerable bullying. Unfortunately-I have to work out my notice, and so the week before Draycote was characterised by 12 hours days, a particularly grim set of clinical challenges, and having to tell the unit of my departure. I felt utterly demoralised-my longest run since Luton had been 14 miles, and my last ultra had taken me nigh on 9 hours---6 months previously. I wasn’t sure if I had the mental fortitude to complete-and seriously considered pulling out of the race. After all-there wasn’t going to be anyone finishing over 6 hours apart from myself Sunday dawned, grey and drizzling. I arrived at 9, having been delayed by roadworks, so there was very little time to panic. Was delighted to spot Big Dave and Brent(100 club members) amongst the competitors-at least they run at my sort of speed. My hitherto untested strategy was to stick to 12 min miles, and walk to 12 minutes if I started off 10 minute miling. That way I hoped not to fall apart at 12 miles. Without any delay, we were off. Predictably, I started too fast, and did the first mile in 10.16.It felt odd stopping to walk so soon, but I was determined to stick to the plan.The second miles was 10.32, but by then the walking was kicking in, and I settled at 11 minute miling.As a result of the walking, Big Dave, Brent and an Aussie guy soon overtook me. First loop (6.74 miles)-and I walked though the feed station taking on Hi 5 I continued 11-11.5 minute miling(Id reset my plan, as 3 minutes walking seemed too much)-and overtook Brent, Big Dave and Aussie guy, fully expecting them to catch me later on as I ran out of steam.The leaders flew by, which was great to see, and I spied Gobi running a half marathon time I can only dream of.He seemed in fine form At loop 2(11.45 miles) I hit a real bad patch. This is usual for me, but it wouldn’t go away. Felt lightheaded, nauseated and unable to go on. Grabbed a can of Red Bull at 11.45 miles, in the hope it would help-no good. Threw the plan out of the window, and ran walked to feel-as in the past. The world shrank to the next bush, lamppost, mark on the tarmac. Pace dropped to 12-13 minute miling and I no longer even attempted to run up the undulations, as I had on the first loop. I remembered last year that Id got a “second wind” at 18 miles. Eighteen miles was over half way. If I could just get there, I would be ok. Aussie guy then caught me up, and overtook me.Hit 15 miles in 2.55.17-still 12 min miling overall-but I was flagging badly. At loop 3(16.16), Supergirl Pam joined me for a walk. She had seen my struggle on the second loop, and said she would walk with me for a while. I walked with her through the water station, and then there was a downhill-which I had to run-so off alone again. And at last, I came out of the fog-and I started to feel better. The pace was still13 minute miling, but now it seemed sustainable and the nausea had gone. I espied Aussie guy ahead of me-he was running without walking, but with my run walk I overtook him and that was the last I saw of him. Wondered why I hadn’t seen Brent and Dave. Ultra runners kept passing me, and calling out encouragement, even patting me on the back.Some I knew, some not-but its moments like these that make me dabble in the ultra scene.The sense of camaraderie is amazing-and no-one is too slow. Mile 20—4.02.05 Bit disappointed not to make it in under 4 hours. But it didn’t matter-not now I KNEW I could finish-just 15 miles to grind out. Gobi sailed past-shouting about a marathon pb, and a course pb.Fantastic! Now it was simply about grinding out the miles. Lap 5 was when I saw the alpacas-brown AND white ones. Now I began to hate the sheltered bit of the course with its undulations, even running downhill hurt.I tired to distract myself by looking at the wildlife. But the geese just scared me with their evil hissing and honking, and the ducks quacked at me as though they were laughing.I longed to dee the sewage works-on an open bit of concrete which was at least flat-and 1.5 miles from the end of the loop Loop 6 contained marathon point too-very soon after the feed station. The last few runners, moving more slowly that the gazelle like leaders now overtook me. Despite the strain showing in their bodies and eyes on the last 30-35 mile loop-they still found time to call out encouragement. There had been a steady drizzle all day. I was saturated, but I couldn’t feel anything. My mind was fixated on the finish-and yet it was so far away 25 miles came just before the water station—5.10.19 10 miles to go-YES!!!!!! But that was 2 loops-don’t think about that-keep going Marathon came in 5.26.09-I barely had the energy to run past the marker-in fact I didn’t-I walked. It didn’t matter-I had more work to do Just before the end of loop 6-my hubby appeared-he had arrive early.We walked for a little while together, and then it was time to get back to the task in hand Hit 30.25 miles in about 6 hours 25 Crunch time Except it wasn’t When Rob asked me if I was going to complete the last loop-there was no hesitation Id have bloody well crawled it!!!!! After a brief stop for a cup of coffee(and that’s why mile 31 took 17.35)-I was back on the road again. The undulations now had to be scaled like the Beachy head mountains, with much huffing and puffing. Luckily, it was almost dusk, and most people had gone home.My running was no more than 10 seconds at a time in places, but I kept a goal of 14 minute miling I knew I was on for a massive pb-but could I do sub 7.30? Maybe not-but dare I hope for sub 7.45? THAT was possible if I could keep to 14 minute miles I have never been so glad to see the sewage works, signalling 34 miles. Now I felt nothing, no elation, no pride, no need to mentally scream at myself to keep going. Because there was a large stretch of tarmac, and a finish line And that was all And I simply had to reach it And I did And the official timekeepers were still there 7.36.37 Thankyou Rob,and everyone else for believing in me. Now I might be able to believe in myself again !
100 Marathon Club 		6:16:43 7:36:57 7:36:57 42.73

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