Just been out to buy some ‘milk’ to continue the
rehydrating and, even though every step on my swollen very unsexy feet hurt, I
walked with a smile on my face just thinking back on what a great day yesterday
was.
No photos on this one sorry, I didn't even take my phone out till near the end when I went to check the time and realised I'd lost my wrist watch (don't suppose I left it at the Alfriston CP?)
I hadn’t really had too much time to think about
this race in advance, what with work related stuff and that kind of shite, but in the final few days
beforehand I did get excited and was looking forward to catching up with some good running friends. Apart from a lot of B2B weekends training had been fairly intermittent (aka shit) and I've learned a big valuable lesson for what the next couple of months need to contain.
Met up with Ian in Eastbourne on the Friday evening where we once again
stayed at the Fraggle Hotel. Thankfully Ian
agreed that food and drink in the lounge was a better idea than going out, and
so I was back in my room by half 10 and asleep by midnight, pretty good for a
pre race night.
The alarm went off at 5.15, Jesus how rude, and
then followed many cups of coffee and a minging porridge pot which I looked at
for 20 minutes before finally eating.
Off on the train to Brighton where we changed over
to the train to Worthing. Maybe it seems a bit cackhanded to stay at the finish
line and travel back over to the start, but it makes such a difference at the
end to be able to just get in a cab and be back at the hotel, showered and
refuelling (lying on a couch in the 24hour bar) so quickly.
Registration, kit check etc were all indoors this
time and it was great to have everything all in one place, especially the
toilets. It made me laugh to think how I
was scared of Gary at last year’s kit check and this year I queued especially
to get his desk. I managed to see just about everyone I was hoping to see at
Registration – Nici, Gary, Kevin, Rachel, Laureda and Michael, Sharon, John,
Janette, Graham and several others - and it was lovely to get so many smiles
and hugs before the race started. Tracey
you made me laugh so much on the way to the start, delighted we’ve finally met
in person!
We did miss most of the race briefing due to
queuing to fill our water bottles and I think this nearly bit me on the arse
later on at Saddlescombe *note to self – don’t miss race briefing and read aid
station notes properly!
Unlike last year I did enjoy the
chalky rutted uphills to Chanctonbury Ring, getting up there and into the race ‘proper’
was a nice feeling. The weather was good
and for most of the race I was in t-shirt, armwarmers and windbreaker (and
tights, of course) – very different from last year when all the gear was used
and I could’ve done with an extra layer.
By the time we got to Botox (the
map name is misspelled) I could see that Ian wasn’t happy and, although we knew
his knee could become an issue, it was worrying to see it manifesting so early
on. Hugs from the lovely Galwayman there
and then on to the bastard Beeding(?) Hill. I’d hit a horrendous low at this
point last year, which lasted for a good few miles, so I was very mindful of
eating and drinking early on to avoid this.
Unfortunately our worst fears came to pass and at the top gate Ian’s
knee completely went. Seeing a friend in such pain and then having to see him drop and then leave him to rush on to make up time was truly
shit. We’d talked about this race for so long, but he made the right call, and
Ian if you’re reading this get to the fucking physio ASAP!!! I will nag you
until you do.
There were 2 blokes behind me on
bikes all the way up the rest of the hill. For some reason I thought they were
sweepers and I was properly fucked off to see them already! I decided to listen to some music to gee
myself up a bit, hadn’t brought my running earphones though, so ended up
holding the stupid thing in my ear as I plodded on swearing internally. The 2 blokes eventually passed me and said
hello. They weren’t sweepers at all. I’m
an eejit.
The next CP was just over 5 miles
away, and I kicked myself into gear to catch up with the others. I was so happy
to meet up with Tracey again and even though we didn’t get to chat much as we
were working hard it was lovely to share the trail and views with her and we
got some choice language in. Thanks Tracey J
The CP at Saddlescombe wasn’t
where I expected it to be *see note above about listening to the race briefing
etc, but I did eventually find it and some nice friendly faces. Great to see
Jane there.
Somewhere between Saddlescombe
and Pyecombe Golf Course I heard a choice unrepeatable phrase shouted behind me.
I turned around thinking “what the fuck is Gary doing out here?”, realised that it was not Gary on a bike, and then realised it was my other lunatic partner in
crime John Farr, who’d watched the live tracking and cycled out to see me.
Thank you you mad git, it was fantastic to see you and I’ll be out at VLM to
return the abuse!
Up another hill, I think, and at
some point along the top we passed a field with Herdwicks in it, Tracey must’ve
thought I was mental, but I was so happy to see them. One of my favourite things and it was a
lovely boost.
Last year that hill down into
Housedean Farm had been an utter swearaloud quad killer, this year it happened
quicker than I expected, and it was a great happy run down into the CP. I think it was Stuart March I passed on the
way in? What a fab big smile! Love the
Centurion gang. Very surprised and happy to see
Ian here, he’d decided to stay on and help out at the CP’s. So we filled up the
water, got some food, and marched on.
Some more ups and downs, along
the tops, I stopped along the way to get my smock back on as the wind was quite
biting and lost Tracey and another girl for a bit. Caught up again and had a
good sweary slog to the next CP. I’ve
just had to look at the map again, it’s all a bit blurry, but I’m sure it was
at Southease that the guys really picked me back up after that godawful fucking
horrendous evil shitbag Yellow Brick Road. Hated it last year, it nearly broke me this
year, next time I’m going to break IT J Thanks again to Gary, Ian and the wonderful
crisps providers. Apologies for my language, but I think it was probably there
that my race turned around and I got my head right and back into the game. Thank you for the excellent support.
I’d decided to keep the map
screen on my watch, rather than looking at pace etc, fast hike the ups, fly the downs and march/run the flats, and just kept an eye on
mile splits. Fighting cutoffs is a bitch, I’m not going to put myself in that
position next time. I managed to get quite a few ‘faster’ miles in at a point of
the race where usually I’d be deathmarching it so that was a good morale boost
to have. Along the top a sheep was scratching it’s
head against a post, two hikers stopped to look at it, then as I passed I caught
it’s eye and laughed, and continued to laugh as the sheep turned it’s head and
watched me for about 2 minutes. The
hikers must’ve thought I was bloody mad. I managed to resist going over to rub two gorgeous lambs that came over to the fence as I passed. Race head on, see.
More lovely scenery along the way
to Alfriston whilst singing ‘Galveston’ in my head and some fab downhill
running. I’d totally lost the plot with
eating by now, nothing at all was going in but Kendal mint cake. And when I got to the point where I couldn’t
even chew that I just marched along with bits of it dissolving in my cheek like
a squirrel. Total race saver. Lifelong debt to Rachel Lonergan!
Coming into Star Lane was fab, I
knew at this point I had the back of it broken and was going to make it. It was nice to win the mental battle – that shit
is very tiring! Absolute gold star
service there, Mary Knapp you’re a doll.
Great to see Sharon again, thanks for another hug and smiles. Went to
the loo then set about getting my headtorch, hat etc out rather than doing it
out on top later on. Ian was here as
well, great to see my partner in crime throughout the race J Mike Hawker you’re a little legend you are, I
hope I managed to smile and convey my thanks enough for all the stuff you got
for me there. Nikki it feels like I saw
you a hundred times yesterday, or maybe your smiles and hugs have an extra long
staying power, thank you J
Put on my Prism and headtorch,
filled some bags with nuts and fruit, and off out again. It helped so much here
that I’ve run this bit loads of times and wasn’t worried about having to do
some of it in the dark alone. About
halfway up the lane to Windover Hill I was way overheating so took off the
Prism and marched on. Windover really
took it out of my legs, I remember standing at the top looking through a bag of
nuts for a peanut and laughing aloud at what Nikki and I had said at Alfriston
about this. The people at Centurion races really are what makes the experience
so good.
Got up onto the top and stopped
to put my smock back on as it was getting a bit nippy. I heard voices coming up
behind me and that gave me a kick to get a move on. Apologies to whoever it
was, I wasn’t being rude, I just needed to get the job done so thank you for
spurring me on!
Coming into the woods on the approach
to Jevington I decided to turn my headtorch on to see better in the dusk and
get a shift on. Really enjoyed that bit. Through the churchyard and in to see
the lovely Paul and Roni. Sorry I couldn’t
stomach any cake Roni, I didn’t get my nutrition right yesterday at all, I
should’ve taken some cake with me for afterwards!
There was another guy there who I’m sure I know, but names were escaping
me at that point sorry J went to the loo again, had a chat and then
on to the home stretch.
That bit up Willingdon Hill
seemed to take longer than I remembered, but the moon was huge and amazing and
right in front of me all the way up, it was peaceful and calm out, and I was
just so glad to know I was nearly done and going to make it after all. Drew (I think, headtorches and friendly voices
were all I took in at this point) was at the trig point to guide myself and
another runner onto the descent into Eastbourne. God that is still an evil one no matter how
many times you do it. I met up with
Tracey again along here.
Got myself down
into the residential bit, and got back into a ‘run’. The straight road (Kings
Drive I think) was at least twice as long as I remembered, but as a consolation
the cycle track felt a bit shorter. Down
into the race track finally, gravity and a serious need for the toilet
propelling me forward at this point. I think I managed to break into a
shuffling zombie jog for the final 100 metres and then that was it, job done J
Beer from Ian’s drop bag, hot
food, seeing Tracey finish (you’re a proper battler missus, so glad we got to
run together, well bloody done again). Lovely to see Rachel and Michael again, thank
you for the cheeriness, I will return the favour at NDW50. Hugs from Nici,
Gary, Emiko, it’s all a blur really, so many of you guys popped up all over the
place and it really helped to get through each stretch knowing I was going to
see a friend soon. Thank you all most
sincerely. See you at the next one x
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