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My Latest Blog - Tuesday 17th August 2010

Here’s my latest running update. Another 3 ultra-marathons to report on in the past month which have seen me cover 100 miles of about the most varied terrain imaginable…

Starting with the Downlands Ultra - my third and final instalment of the South Downs Way trilogy. Another chalky hillfest which impacted any sort of creditable time (or at least that’s my excuse) but for the record I completed the 30 mile course in 5 hours 29 minutes finishing 51st.

It was then on to the serious business and The Chara Challenge – a 30 mile ‘run’ across Dartmoor that replicates the final element of the series of tests that all wannabe commandos must pass. To meet the commando entry criteria the course must be completed in 8 hours. Given I’d run a 30 mile race 2 weeks before across a ‘hilly’ route significantly more quickly, this was going to be a doddle….

Before the run itself though we assembled in the early hours for a prayer service to remember the 141 UK servicemen killed in Afghanistan during the past 12 months. That’s an average of more than 3 servicemen every week who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts were with their families and friends, their wives and girlfriends and their comrades - some of whom would shortly be running by our side. The names were called one by one. Every one a tragedy. They shall grow not old, we will remember them.

Poignant. Sombre. Solemn. Heart-wrenching.

Yes I did get dressed in the dark...

Onto the Challenge itself. To make it more ‘interesting’, these commando folk insisted on everyone carrying a rucksack containing 32lbs of ‘kit’. My kit was bulked out by a 20 litre bag of garden peat – it’s now in need of a good home if anyone has a use for it!? On top of that throw in some food and a few bottles of water (presumably in case we fancied a picnic)! My backpack ended up (I was told to weigh it) closer to 40lbs. To put that in perspective it’s like carrying a full holiday suitcase around on your back for several hours. So now to the ‘walk in the park’ - after all Dartmoor is a National Park. I’d not visited Dartmoor before – I expected it to be a little undulating and a touch wet and boggy. Something of an underestimate once more. Anyway we got underway at 05:00. My map was safely stored away, and I reverted to my tried and tested navigational strategy – instinct and following the guy in front! That worked really rather well for the first half of the race and I was in good shape towards the front of the field! Then I had something of a gravitational mishap. A small trip and stumble became a heavy fall with my added lumber. Once I’d picked myself up and dusted myself down, as well as acquiring a nice shiny black eye and swollen ankle, I’d lost contact with the nearest person in front. Panic not though, I had a map after all….

…..It was several hours later (well about 90 minutes anyway, but it felt much longer) before I found my way back to the correct route. I wasn’t the only one feeling the pain either as an increasing number of challengers called it a day at the various checkpoints. The final 10 miles was something of an ordeal and took the best part of 4 hours as I negotiated bogs and streams one minute, then huge craggy inclines the next. I eventually hobbled over the finish line not much shy of the 10 hours permitted – although it was reassuring to see plenty of the military runners struggle home behind me! Some of the marines who completed the course told me the route we took was tougher than their actually test. Whether or not that was the case, I had completed it, and but for getting lost I may well have made the 8 hour cut too.

'Corps champagne' - a mandatory tipple for all finishers...

I gave myself a whole 4 days off (my legs were asking for about a month) before my second unique event of the year – The Stadia Marathon. A race I’d designed to take me from Wembley to the National Athletics Stadium at Crystal Palace via Lords, Twickenham and Wimbledon. So visiting 5 of London’s (& the World’s) most iconic sporting venues in a single day.

The morning began with me being treated to a mini-tour of Wembley - which was fantastic! Walking out the tunnel onto the pitch was a great feeling, and kicking a ball around the hallowed turf meant Wembley was witnessing some of the silkiest skills seen at the home of football since Carlton Palmer graced that stage! A few photos later and it was time to start my 33 mile run….

Wembley was just 89,996 people short of capacity...

I knew I needed to prepare properly this time – I didn’t want to get lost again! So I duly visited Multimap the night before, printing off some directions and I dug out an ageing London A-Z (1989 edition). Without wanting to sound like a bad workman blaming his tools, I was lost before I’d even left the Wembley area! Apparently since 1989 new roads have been built, others have been renamed. Who would have thought it?!

Once back on the correct route I had lost time to make up, and I quickly covered the miles to St. Johns Wood and Lords. There wasn’t a streaky tie in sight, but before you could say ‘Howzat’ I’d run a quick lap of the outfield, and was on my way once more.

Time to head south of the river and to Twickenham. I’d resorted to a portable Sat Nav device for directional instruction by now! The 10 or so miles to Twickenham were soon covered and I was quickly at the gates of the English RFU HQ. I say the gates as I wasn’t given permission to go pitch-side.

The imaginary ball was dispatched to every corner of the ground...

After a spot of lunch (a hot cross bun filled with marmalade – I had run past Paddington after all!) it was off to Wimbledon. Perhaps the most pleasant part of the journey taking me as it did through Richmond Park. Unfortunately the Sat Nav became somewhat perplexed and confused so a further 30 minutes was wasted back and forth as I exited the park. Eventually though the All England Lawn Tennis Club was in my sights and my 4th Stadium was reached. Again the authorities wouldn’t permit my entry to the stadium complex, so the photos were restricted to the exterior!

Rugby - a game for giants...?

I was getting tired by now, but a Mars bar later and I was on my merry way to Crystal Palace, and the pinnacle of my run. I’d come up with the idea of the Stadia Marathon after Aviva had offered to sponsor me and present me with a cheque before completing a ‘lap of honour’ ahead of the Aviva London Grand Prix. I had made it to the athletics stadium having completed a total journey of 38 miles – 5 miles more than scheduled, in a time of about 6hrs 57mins.

My busking career was short-lived...

I was presented to the crowd together with British high jumper (and European bronze medallist) Martyn Bernard. Our lap of honour together was scheduled to take up to 3 minutes. By now though it was teeming down with rain. The running track was swamped. Not wanting to get too wet, Martyn came up with the brain-wave of completing the lap with a bright yellow Aviva umbrella in hand. We set-off to great applause from the 15,000 strong crowd looking like Mary Poppins and Steve McClaren – and still got soaked!

The Union flag didn't offer much protection from the rain...

It was then time to relax and watch some genuine athletes for the rest of the evening. The highlight of which was undoubtedly Tyson Gay’s 9.79 seconds 100 Metres sprint. The fastest time in the World this year, even more remarkable considering the wet and cold conditions. It will be just a matter of time before he takes Bolt’s World Record….

Tyson wasn't convinced that my red wine diet would help him to the World Record...

Another busy few weeks concludes, and whilst I reflect on some huge personal milestones, the thought that I keep coming back to is of the 141 lost heroes, and the many more who have returned with life-changing injuries.