tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6076792304994371992024-02-21T12:56:23.802+00:00Desert RacerRaces across the major deserts of the World, and the training events along the way - Richard WeremiukRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-36047540575096856862016-05-25T15:00:00.001+01:002016-05-25T15:00:41.350+01:00End of the TrailIt has been three years since I posted. The last time I competed in an event was 2011. I struggled on for a couple more years trying to find out what was wrong, as the previous posts below show. I had MRI's and appointments with surgeons.<br />
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In the interim, I looked for other opinions, other solutions, even tried cycling. Cycling hurt almost as much, and it just wasn't as compelling as running was.<br />
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I had another MRI recently, and another consultant appointment. Net outcome, it's the same, just worse.<br />
<ul>
<li>I have a small disc bulge, which isn't major but it makes cycling very painful.</li>
<li>The main issue is I have a Pars defect. This is a healed fracture of my spine. No idea when I broke my back; but I did. This resulted it excess wear on the L5/S1 disc. </li>
<li>The L5 / S1 disc has degenerated. It has now degenerated considerably more than the MRI in the previous post shows. You can now see pain signals on the vertebrae themselves, and what little running I could do a few years ago has now ceased. </li>
</ul>
There is no magical cure. The disc have no blood supply to them, so it will never grow back to the size it was. Research into experimental stem cell treatments have to date been unsuccessful as the cells don't stay alive as there is no blood supply to the area. The rest of my discs are wonderfully healthy.<br />
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The only "treatment" is a serious operation; typically entering via the stomach, to take out what is left of the disc and fuse the L5 and S1 vertebrae together with a metal pin. This is something they do for people who can't work, or can't sleep with the pain. That will come in time, but it's not where I am yet.<br />
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Getting out of bed is a bit of a struggle, and initially moving around is painful, but once it warms up I'm ok. Sitting down hurts after a while. I can walk with mild discomfort; feels like I have tight hamstrings all the time. I can't run very far, a mile or two. So, it's manageable for now. <br />
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I can still walk in the hills and get out and about, and I'll have to take that. You never know what medical progress will bring, but I think the kind of breakthrough I need is some decades away.<br />
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I am enjoying organising my own events (Beyond Marathon Ltd) and my GPS Tracking (Race Drone), and that's what I have to satisfy myself will. <br />
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So, there is no fairytale ending to the story. I had half a dozen years in the thick of ultra running, and it took me to some amazing places. Maybe I can go and walk a few more; we'll have to see. It's been semi-official for some years, but today's appointment really closed the door on running. I'll keep my fingers crossed, but I'm not waiting for a miracle anymore. That is some kind of closure. <br />
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Keep running while you still can!<br />
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<br />Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-7473321331598157422013-05-08T13:45:00.000+01:002013-05-08T14:17:12.985+01:00Pain Management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I had an appointment with an anaesthetist on Tuesday,
regarding a pain management program. I
took along the diagnosis from the spinal surgeon, which suggests 3 different
injections; a right-sided pars block, l5-s1 facet joint injection, and a caudal
epidural. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The anaesthetist agreed with the diagnosis that I have disc degeneration
disease (DDD) of the L5-S1 disc, but believes that if I have all 3 of those
injections we will not actually find out what my pain causality is. The DDD in my MRI is very clear, with the
thinner and dark lumbar disc very much evident even to my untrained eye. I also have a disc bulge, which at the moment
is not too large, but could (and will likely) worsen in time. He did however also point out a few other
anomalies in my facet joints, differences in muscle mass, and also put forward
a suggestion that my DDD could potentially have caused impingement syndrome,
which as I understand it, is that the collapsed disc is sitting on, or interfering
with, a nerve around my Sacroiliac joint (SIJ).
This could be the cause of the acute pain and muscle strength fatigue
and failure as I run. He advised that
this was only another theory, and it was also difficult to treat. Possible long
term management include an even higher orthotic in my left shoe to try and
lengthen my left leg and easy any pressure on the my right side SIJ. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He suggested rhizolysis could be a potential treatment. This is an unpleasant sounding treatment
where a probe is inserted into the spine, guided by x-ray until it is in
contact with the nerve causing the problem.
The probe is then heated, to essentially kill the nerve signals,
shutting off the pain. There are of
course other nerves in the area that carry muscle movement signals, so you have
to be very certain you have the right nerve which only kills the pain signals. I have read around and this treatment is partially
or fully successful in 60-70% of patients. I believe that the procedure is
carried out using a couple of doses of local anaesthetic into the area so the probe
can be heated with manageable pain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For now all of those treatment options are potentially
months away. For now, he has suggested I
have a series of steroid injections to try and isolate what is causing my
pain. The first injections will be on 28<sup>th</sup>
may into my right side SIJ.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Regardless of my long term future running, which admittedly
looks somewhat bleak at the moment, I have been researching road bikes. Even if I am somehow able to bring the pain
under control, I will have to change my training structure. I want to be able to run ultramarathon’s but
I would realistically have to train for them by predominantly cross training long
distances on a road bike to retain my endurance, and also doing more strength and
flexibility work. This may allow me to still
run short distances in training, and I hope, still participate in some long
distance events as a runner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m going to try a run a 3.5 mile fell race this evening. The first time I have tried to run that far
for weeks and weeks. It’s very hilly too,
but I figure it can’t really do he a lot of harm. I may be dreadfully unfit at the moment, so
it will do something for that at least.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-33782570187428263472013-04-08T12:34:00.004+01:002013-04-09T11:25:56.525+01:00MRI results, back injuryI've had by MRI results. The spinal surgeon in London has reviewed the results and the diagnosis is that I have a Pars defect of my L5. This is a healed fracture of an old injury, probably in my teens. This can be very clearly seen below. I've circled the break. I'm not an MRI expert but I'm pretty sure that's it! Click to enlarge<br />
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<br />
That is the primary injury, though that occurred years ago. <br />
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But what I have now, likely as a result, is <a href="http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/lumbar-degenerative-disc-disease-ddd" target="_blank">Lumbosacral disc degeneration disease (DDD)</a>. Basically, the disc is not as thick as it should be, it is thinner, more dehydrated (it's darker in colour). Look at the nice thick whiter discs above for a comparison. Consultant explained healthy discs are usually like crab meat and 85% water. If they degenerate they turn dark as they lose water content, and get thinner. You can see it circled on this different type of MRI scan.<br />
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DDD happens to pretty much everyone as they advance in age, but my old injury plus my running has accelerated mine. This combo is what is giving me low grade lower back, buttock and hamstring pain all the time. The pain increases as I run to about 10 miles, at which point I effectively sieze up and struggle to shuffle along.<br />
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Ultimatey the disc collapses in time, and then the pain can go away. That however will take the next 20 years. So I will be a pin free 60 year old at least, and resume my ultra running career then perhaps?<br />
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Well, I'm not quite ready to give up yet, so what are my treatment options. If it was so bad I could not get out of bed then I could have the disc removed and the vertebrae fused together. This might work, but in 5-10 years it would put so much stress on the other disc that the same would happen and I may end up worse. Because I am still able to walk and run short distances without too much pain, then surgeon says I am not a case for surgery, and I agree with him.<br />
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So what's left? Combo of two steroid epidural directly into the spine, periodically. It's just a temporary fix to settle it down and would potentially need repeating every 6-12 months if it works. I can als try some ongoing chiropractic, hamstring stretching and back strengthening to help ease the symptoms. It's my hamstrings that murder me as well as the miles pass by, so I think a solid and regular hamstring stretch routine may be called for in an effort to lengthen them. These strategies are all pain management, beause disc degeneration is not reversable, yet. I think it will be one day, but medical technology is not there yet. We'll need some kind of breakthrough, maybe stem cell repair, who knows? I found <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC165439/" target="_blank">an old study</a> where a 5-10% improvement was found by taking Gluco and Chondr supplements, but that study is hardly statistically significant, being a case study of 1. I've always been very skeptical about the benefits of taking those two, but I guess it can't really do any harm can it.<br />
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Oh, there is one more option. I could take up another sport. Cycling or swimming! I'll bear those options in mind while I book in for an injection pretty soon and see if that settles this down. Maybe I can eek out a few more years. If not, then I could end up one of those MAMIL's you have read about (Google it). Despite this very bad news, I remain optimistic about my chances of returning to long distance running by using a combination of the strategies outlined above.<br />
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However, I also have race directing to keep me occupied. <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn-sunlight/" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn Sunlight</a> takes places in 6 weeks, and <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn-sunlight/" target="_blank">The 12 Labours of Hercules</a> takes place in July. So, it's not all doom and gloom and it looks as though I finally know what's wrong, and can try and do something about it.<br />
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Have a good week!<br />
<br />Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-76409955559041255882013-03-26T07:30:00.000+00:002013-03-26T11:46:00.750+00:00SI Joint stress fracture?<br />
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It’s been a year since I first had ‘pain in the arse’
symptoms, and couple of months later<a href="http://www.desertrace.co.uk/2012/06/runs-hills-waddles-olympic-relay-and.html" target="_blank"> mentioned it on my blog</a>. I remember running in<a href="http://www.desertrace.co.uk/2012/02/anglezarke-amble-ulance.html" target="_blank"> lastyears Anglezarke Amble</a>. I remember
falling on my arse very hard a couple of times, due to the appalling conditions. I have no idea if that caused or contributed
to my current situation but I am more and more suspicious that it did. A couple of months after (April 2012) that I
wan the Coventry Way 40, very badly.
Suffering lower bag and hamstring pain.
Since then I have been more or less limited to 10-15 miles running
before pain coming from my sacrum, coccyx area, slows me to a painful walk or
half jog.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have pain in my right buttock all the time, when seated,
when walking. Sometimes it is low level dull ache, sometimes it’s sharp. It never really goes away. When I run the pain gets considerably worse
until that 10 mile mark where it’s pretty much a show-stopper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve tried physiotherapy, osteopath and chiropractic with no
joy. Finally I saw a UK Athletics physio, a guy I saw for my old groin injury. He referred me to see a spinal surgeon in
London. The surgeon saw me for probably
only 10 minutes yesterday, listened to the story, did a brief exam and said he
suspects I have a stress fracture of my right SI Joint, and possibly a L5 issue. He has ordered 3 MRI scans. The scans will
take place next Wednesday. The scans are, the right hip, L5 spine, and a STIR
(a fat suppressing sequence as I understand it). Reports are due to go to
several radiologists for analysis, then I go back to see the consultant in
London in a couple of weeks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He briefly mentioned increasing Vitamin D, calcium levels
and getting metabolically built up.
Beyond that he didn’t outline any treatment, as at the moment he needs
to see the imaging results to be certain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Having put on my internet doctor hat and read around
yesterday, it seems a surprising diagnosis as it seems most fractures heal within
a couple of months. Maybe because I didn’t
get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment at the onset, and just tried to run
through it, I may have delayed the correct healing process and caused
complications? I don’t know, but I do
know that it’s not getting any better on it’s own, much like the long term Gilmore
groin injury I had in 2010/2011 that required (successful) corrective surgery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The<a href="http://www.chiro.org/radiology/ABSTRACTS/Sacral_Stress_Fractures.html" target="_blank"> literature online suggests ultra runners are the classicpatient to present with a Sacral stress fracture </a>(so those heavy arse falls at Anglezarke may not necessarily be the blame). Anyway, hopefully the surgeon is
onto something and I can get answers finally.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the meantime, I am continuing to organise my own ultra
events in 2013, and that is all going well.
I may not be the one leading the organised recces of the courses this
year but I’ll sweet-talk my ultra-running wife to be into that ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Have a good week!<o:p></o:p></div>
Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-54289758626834337922013-03-12T15:51:00.001+00:002013-03-12T15:51:21.971+00:0012 Labours of Hercules UltramarathonI'm continuing to work through my SI joint injury with an appointment with a Spinal Surgeon happening soon. In the meantime my company Beyond Marathon Ltd have organised several ultramarathon's this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn</a> last October was a huge success and will be again repeated this October, with version taking place in May, called <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/dusk-til-dawn-sunlight" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn: Sunlight</a>.<br />
<br />
As well as that there is a totally new ultramarathon concept we've created called <a href="http://www.beyondmarathon.com/12-labours-of-hercules" target="_blank">The 12 Labours of Hercules</a>, which see's competitors run between 1 and 78 miles in a 24 hour period. It has elements of a mountain marathon and adventure race pure is an ultramarathon at heart!<br />
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We're really excited about this, and so far the reception has been really good with bookings from some great UK ultra distance runners.<br />
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I'll post an update on my SI injury as soon as I know more!<br />
<br />Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-22886786862131925802012-12-20T14:29:00.002+00:002012-12-20T14:29:14.579+00:00I wanna see the sunshine after the rain<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So an update from the last month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you know I’ve been long-term injured with SI joint dysfunction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially I can run about 10 miles before SI joint pain, and immobility puts so much wear on the rest of the muscles in the area, and my hamstrings that I my stride length shortens to a little wobble and eventually I stop and can’t run any further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I probably caused this problem myself by effectively declaring that I would do very little in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the core strength and flexibility I had built up in 2011 gradually faded away and left me all but crippled, in ultra terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, unable to run, I’ve been very miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These two combined meant that my relationship has suffered as I could not do the weeks we like to do together. I always said I would rehab after Dusk til Dawn which I started to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relationship wise, I’m not going into any further details on here, but I’ve had a really bad few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately in that time my rehab has started to bear fruit and I appear to be running well over short distances, and my speed has improved quite a lot even in the last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I would have been better a little sooner, then I may not be in the same lonesome position I am now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So anyway, I have been doing Pilates, Yoga and a circuit training class for about 6 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This combined with a daily routine of SI joint dysfunction exercises and stretches appears to have worked, so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last weekend I went down to see my friends Anne and Vaughan, with whom I met on La Trans Aq in 2007, and have remained friends with ever since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ran a 17.5 mile trail circuit in Warwickshire, from Tanworth in Arden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a route they had done on a night race a few weeks previous, where barely anyone was able to reach the start due to flooding, and only 8 people finishes the course anyway. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the night, half the course has a raging torrent and they were wading up to their thighs in water quite often!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ground had certainly improved, but as you can imagine with all the recent rain, it was still very wet for the whole course, still flooded in places, and very muddy and slow going throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The run, walk, stumble, wade nature of the course meant that it suited my current rehab as 17.5 miles is the longest I have run for over 6 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My SI joint had more or less had enough by the end but I had got through it and it was a big improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a lovely pub meal afterwards, and it was great to catch up with both of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been doing a weekly 10k through the fields and woods by my house for the last 3 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is 1000ft of ascent and countless stiles and “rooty” woodland, and a few floods to get through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I did it in 58:37 3 weeks ago, 57:02 2 weeks ago, and 53:04.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 4 minute improvement in one week over 6 miles in immense, as I am sure you realise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been doing some speedwork intervals, and 3 mile flat out speedwork, which has really made that difference to my fitness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend I face a longer distance test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the Wem Winter Wonderland, a Shropshire based event that I do every year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s getting on for 21.5 miles, somewhat longer than the advertised 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figure that it’s a Christmas bonus!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is relatively flat, but that is more likely to be a curse given all the rain this week, and that it is forecast rain for the rest of the week and on the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it could very well be a 21 mile wade over muddy fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still a few of my friends are doing the race, so it will be good to catch up with them afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking forward to it, despite the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve run in a lot worse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over Christmas I will doubtless get a few long distance runs in, and I’d like to do some hill walking too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In January I plan to do That’s Lyth on the 27<sup>th</sup>, which I have done twice before, though it was years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve put together a rehab plan which I hope will mean I can participate in La Trans Aq in June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There should be no reason why not, as long as I stay diligent with the exercise regime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am having the Beyond Marathon website redeveloped at the moment, and that should launch at the end of January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look forward to showing that off to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Planning on running several ultra events in 2013, those details will be on the website when it launches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now I am concentrating on getting my life, and running (which seem symbiotically linked) back on track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013 will be a better year, I know it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Merry Christmas</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">p.s title is a relatively obscure 90s dance track. Answers on a postcard, or comments.</span></div>
Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-65879847503226535202012-11-23T22:19:00.003+00:002012-11-24T18:08:48.812+00:00Dusk til Dawn 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzfSh3jS6k8EAoSAlkAFn6ktXhgb7PWPq7HE4-afkZCJysSD5HIIQTmD7IdpKP0sdK5g_Yv4rKlBT9x2rLTHV9q7MbMhw6OmXTya3-unsKTYlD-N5fBvXcNU5jF7I0oHqrDioKaLMJuE/s1600/Dusk+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzfSh3jS6k8EAoSAlkAFn6ktXhgb7PWPq7HE4-afkZCJysSD5HIIQTmD7IdpKP0sdK5g_Yv4rKlBT9x2rLTHV9q7MbMhw6OmXTya3-unsKTYlD-N5fBvXcNU5jF7I0oHqrDioKaLMJuE/s320/Dusk+photo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Dusk 'til Dawn</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> took place 3 weeks ago. It was my first event as an organiser. Obviously I have been a competitor in a lot
of races over the years, in many countries, and those experiences have given me
what I hope was a keen insight into what makes a good race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couple that with owning the </span><a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Beyond Marathon website</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, and having a fairly scary knowledge of the hundreds of worldwide
ultras and I can cherry pick elements from one race or another to produce my
own race that I hoped would have a wide appeal.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So, I had an idea for Dusk 'til Dawn but it was given a
purpose when Wendy my girlfriend was diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma, which is the most
dangerous form of skin cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wendy's
diagnosis was all the more shocking because she avoids the sun all the time anyway. It was very likely overexposure to the sun as a child that caused her melanona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her melanoma was sufficiently large (1.8mm
deep) for doctors to effectively give her 50/50 for survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had her sentinel lymph nodes removal, and
wide local excision, which means they remove a large amount of skin from around
the melanoma in an effort to stop the spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They also removed the three closest lymph nodes to the primary cancer,
which is the first place that the cancer spreads too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melanoma spreads rapidly, and once in the
lymph nodes, the cancer is very difficult to treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondary cancer's form in the lungs, brain
or other organs and many patients die within 1-2 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the first operation, she was left with
three missing lymph nodes which has resulted into lymphodaema (swelling) of her
right arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's something she will
always have to put up with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has a
'shark bite'; a chunk of her upper arm missing where the excision took
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her lymph node biopsy came back
negative, which was a huge relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, every 3 months (for 10 years) she has to go back to the
hospital for more checks to see if the cancer has returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then had a subsequent operation to remove more
lymph nodes after the doctors found another lump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also came back negative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is now close to 2 years in remission, but
we both still have the 3 monthly worry when the check up time comes
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this will get easier in
time, but I doubt it for the time being.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, she has had great support from her Macmillan cancer
nurse, so I thought we could use the Dusk 'til Dawn event as a fundraiser for </span><a href="http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Home.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Macmillan Cancer Suport</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, to
raise awareness of skin cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
no sun at night to burn you, what better time to run a 14 hour race?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So, that being the premise for the race, add to it a few
other twists and turns; a chasing 'Grim Sweeper', and the clocks going back
that night to give the participants an hour extra before dawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the ideas came together and the event
website was created by me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like
planning and I like attention to detail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One element of my day job involves business continuity planning and
disaster recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan for the worst
and hope for the best basically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My main
aim was to send out up to 90 participants out at night, on a very challenging
Peak District course, and return them all safely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that in mind I wrote the race
description, and a FAQ page that I hoped would give everyone all the information
they might need to participate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
created electronic maps and GPS files, and then also organised recces of the
course each month from June to September where me or Wendy led participants
around sections.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Next was finding checkpoint (CP) volunteers; people who I
knew would take good care of the participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That wasn't too hard because I know some great people!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">First on board was Mike Perry , a </span><a href="http://1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/stokeontrent/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Stoke on Trent
Physiotherapist</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike has first aid
training and is also trained is search and rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A perfect choice really!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike was a very enthusiastic volunteer and
also a great sports masseur and physio!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next we had our friends from Shropshire Andy and Yvette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andy and Yvette are both excellent fell
runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have started a business
with their two friends Nick and Karen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their business is </span><a href="http://farafoot.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Farafoot - Bushcraft,
Wild therapy and Wild Running</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
fabulous idea which I hope will be very successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all lovely people who have a good
insight into the ultra and fell running world and know how to look after people
in the wild outdoors too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was decided
that they would sponsor and staff CP2 at Earl Sterndale School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://earlsterndaleschool.co.uk/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Earl
Sterndale School</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"> kindly opened their doors to us on a cold Saturday night
and were fantastic hosts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Checkpoint 4 was another obvious choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CP4 was near Cracken Edge which is a high and
cold place to be on an October night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was near the top of a steep hill, and a 4x4 vehicle would be required to pull
up into the space by the stile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wendy's
friends Debbie and Aaron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aaron was in
the RAF and has had a lot of involvement in logistical planning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also had army medical training too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as Aaron and Debbie agreed to take on
CP4 we knew that it would run like clockwork to the last detail, and it did.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">That left CP1 and CP3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm a bit of a fan of spreadsheets and formulas, so I had calculated
that because of the race deadlines, we could use the same staff for CP1 and
CP3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who else did I know with a large
4x4?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, he had never operated a CP before, but
he was very enthusiastic and his friend Tony was a lover of the outdoors, so
the two of them stepped up to the plate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Now, I needed to fill the role of the Grim Sweeper, the
mysterious figure who would chase down the participants during the night, as
well as provide a safety net to scoop up lost, injured or struggling
competitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>50 miles is a long way for
1 person to sweep and to maintain the minimum required speed of 3.5 mph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I decided to split the role between 3
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clive Hevey, a friend of mine,
who I met when back in 2005 when I was his personal training client.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clive knows the Peak District better than I
do, and he is a Bob Graham Round finisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clive would be sweeper number 1, from the start to mile 16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Sweeper number 2 would be Andy from
Farafoot, who I have already mentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Andy, far too keen as he was, didn't stop after his stint as sweeper, he
carried on and joined Sweeper number 3 for his leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweeper number 3 was James Love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have done a fair few events abroad with
James; a couple of deserts and Nepal in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>James is a great guy and very reliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So the sweeper team was assembled.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Finally, Wendy's sister Amy and her husband Steve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy is another person you can rely on
completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would act as road
marshal and event photographer, as well as a million other tasks back at HQ;
boiling water, preparing food etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's
a long list!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve would be an extra
vehicle, in addition to mine, to be able to react to situations on the course
and head out to collect people if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Steve and Amy did a great job on the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Two late additions to the team were Daven and James, two
A&E junior doctors from Bournemouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both are half way through a year out from their medical training to get
experience in wilderness medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
have both recently returned from several months in Nepal, and are soon to head
to Costa Rica for a few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were keen to get involved and offered their support, which I was only too happy
to accept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were valued members of
the team, and looked after a few competitors who returned a little worse for wear, but otherwise ok.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I had decided I needed a venue that offered
accommodation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had read how British
Explorer Ranulph Fiennes had taken part in the overnight </span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7989041/Ranulph-Fiennes-crashed-car-after-falling-asleep-following-race.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">High
Peak marathon and subsequently fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed into
another vehicle</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm safety
conscious and decided I had to offer accommodation too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People would come from a long way away to
take part, and sending them straight home would be dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I initially developed a route and approached
Gradbach Youth Hostel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, their
communication wasn't that great, they already had a group booking for one of
their buildings and parking was a major problem there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, then I approached Castleton who it
transpired were moving their location, from the village centre. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>in the final throes of refurbishing a Victorian Gothic Mansion, Losehill
Hall as the new Castleton Youth Hostel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We saw the venue, it was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
The image fitted in with the slightly spooky theme too!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvb6pjIqLS-bhAQlaM87_RhAseyvasMBeUlAGFguroFlWZvoZeZzd5VMk_HndmM15AR-SKWMn_vGnYCwguig__lb656bW6IdRYYMXsdzYxrkOmMUxrr9I3_-madgGmFIj9kjLf15uXvA/s1600/Losehill-Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvb6pjIqLS-bhAQlaM87_RhAseyvasMBeUlAGFguroFlWZvoZeZzd5VMk_HndmM15AR-SKWMn_vGnYCwguig__lb656bW6IdRYYMXsdzYxrkOmMUxrr9I3_-madgGmFIj9kjLf15uXvA/s320/Losehill-Hall.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I don't think the competitors ever really got time to look around and
appreciate the building, it's Lounge and Library etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a fabulous place and the staff have been
fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's possibly the best Youth
Hostel that I've stayed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to
use £5 of everyone's £25 entry fee for a Youth Hostel supplied cooked breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The venue kindly agreed to supply breakfast 2
hours earlier than normal, from 5:30am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think the breakfast was well received by all accounts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As a result of the change in venue, I redesigned some of the
route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have done a lot of events in
the Peak District, as well as a lot of training, so I already knew some key
locations that I wanted on the Route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wanted the Mam Tor to Losehill Ridge, Cave Dale, Shining Tor, Cracken Edge and
the Pennine Bridleway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joining the dots
between them was challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I changed
my mind dozens of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me and Wendy
went out and recced many routes, deciding if it would be feasible to navigate
them quickly during the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
wanted to use the area around Chrome Hill, South West of what was CP2, but it
was simply too difficult to navigate; it's a maze of criss-crossing footpaths.
I decided that a Dove Head and Cheeks Hill approach to Axe Edge moor was too
remote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the weather was bad, or
anyone got lost then getting people quickly and safely out of the area would be
a major concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, they were out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key to a good route is to make it
interesting, challenging but also to have a good road network between CPs to
enable quick extraction of a participant in the event of a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had to factor in disturbing people in
houses and farms all night, as participants came through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, balancing all of these in the air we
finally settled on a route which changed very little in the subsequent
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wrote to the landowners and
took on board their concerns for closing gates, and other than that encountered
no resistance to the route.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Clearly there is a lot more than went into the organisation
of the event, sourcing maps, food, t-shirts, reflective tape, glow sticks, hot
and cold drink containers, the wristbands, tokens and a hundred more
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had set a moderate price with
the aim of trying to achieve a profit for Macmillan Cancer Support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time you take away the breakfast, OS
maps and T-Shirts etc, you are already looking at around £15 spent for the £25
entry fee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Items such as the wristbands,
tally cards, finish line banner, and the accommodation for the volunteers was
paid for by me, rather than the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People also donated food, and all of the volunteers have given up their
free time, petrol, and all their own contributions of kit, other resources,
food and drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call it our
contribution, but this will mean that the amount we raise for Macmillan is
better than it would be, had we deducted all expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, there is a lot that went on in the
background that will take too long to explain, and you won't find that
interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all got done, that's all
you need to know.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So, I somewhat nervously advertised the race, unsure if I
would even attract 1 person, let alone 90, which I had decided was the
limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had 45 places for
accommodation and we would match that with places for race place only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entries opened and the first one came in,
soon after, followed by the second, third.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The entries kept coming in and 4 days later all race only entries had
sold out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a lot of chatter on
the forums and on Facebook, quite a buzz about the race, it seemed to be
capturing everyone's imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
places with accommodation filled up a couple of weeks after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event was advertised 6 months in advance,
and of course over that period people got injured, booked holidays, weddings
and all manner of things which meant cancellations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We refunded everyone in full up to 1 month
before the event (2 months for accommodation fee, which we had to settle in
advance).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In total, almost 60 people
withdrew, but testament to the popularity of the event, all of them were
replaced from the waitlist!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I decided to organise recces of the route each month from
June to September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two days each month I
would lead up to 8 people around 12-15 mile sections of the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to meet them all, and they all
benefits from learning parts of the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I sent out a monthly newsletter to keep people updates with the latest
course information and news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I produced
electronic maps of the course, and GPS files for Garmin users.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to provide laminated 50k OS maps to
all entrants, which I had a printer produce for the event, and was granted a
free licence from OS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also decided to
get some glow in the dark silicon wristbands for each participant, which had
their race number as well as Dusk 'til Dawn embossed on them. The finish line
banner was ordered and delivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
asked the competitors what food they would like at CPs via an online poll, and
did the final shopping a few days before the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had quite a few people pull out of the
race just a few days before (about 5 or 6), with late injuries, or possibly
fear of the Grim Sweeper!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Me and Wendy took the day off work on the Friday, the day
before the race, and headed out onto the course armed with rolls of highly
reflective tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had stated that we
would only tape the tricky bits, but we taped a great deal more, and as a
result the route was very well marked, though a map would still be
required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the entire day on
Friday taping, and still had to get up at 7am on race day and tape the last few
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We nervously eyed the
weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be unseasonably cold,
7C lower than usual, and would very likely rain in the middle of the night,
though the day and early evening would be sunny and clear.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Race day was a blur, we finished taping by 11am, and headed
back to Losehill Hall to begin preparations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some participants had already arrived, and some I (or the volunteers)
would collect from Hope train station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
spoke to as many people as I could get around, but still didn't manage to speak
to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had emailed all of them
over the months, so it was nice to put faces to names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One competitor had flown in with his family
from Bahrain, we had 5 from the USA, and also had many participants from the
armed forces who had been on recent tours of the middle east, and had trained
within military camps on 300m tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amazing stuff. Local club the Goyt Valley Striders had turned out in force and were in all customer made high vis bone tshirts "Goyt Valley Stranglers". All getting into the spirit, of what I hope would be a fun event!</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The CP staff arrived for their briefing, which Wendy
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them started to prepare
some of the cooked food, and heat up the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At 3:30 registrations opened and I along with the CP staff helped to
register everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had decided to put
them through a full kit check, which was very wise, given the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ticked off all of their items and handed
them a race bag with their map, wristband, a glowstick which was tied to their
pack, 4 x wooden tokens to drop at set points on the course and got everyone
checked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just about got everyone
checked in and registered in time for 4:45pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">At 4:45 I held a participant briefing in the conference
room, which has a projector and a 10ft high screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this was something new for most
participants, but something I always planned to do to give participants a walk
through of the course and hazards.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I introduced out international participants, thanks our
armed forces, and explained that we were all here because of Malignant
Melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Plenty of spontaneous applause which was really nice. </span>Then, I set to work taking
them through a 20 page PowerPoint presentation, punctuated with maps, and
pictures to help them navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
lot of information to take in, but from the feedback it was very well recived
and I hope entertaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also gave
away a £100 1600 lumen headtorch in a prize draw from race Sponsor </span></span><a href="http://www.brightbikelights.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">BrightBikeLights.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">, who had come
on board quite late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Finally at the end of the presentation I introduced them
to.... "The Grim Sweeper", who would be chasing them over the course.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I must say that we swapped the 5ft high vintage hay scythe
(which I had spent about 8 hours restoring!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>for a smaller lightweight version when Clive set off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn't fancied bailing Clive out of jail in
Buxton for wielding a deadly weapon during the night, so I thought that was
wise. The lightweight scythe he carried had a GPS attached, which enabled us
and anyone else to track the Grim Sweeper over the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The presentation finished just a few minutes
over time and we then headed out on the 5 minute walk to the startline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Grim Sweeper lined up alongside them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In the meantime Wendy and James (Grim Sweeper 3) were
heading out to put some of the glowsticks and token collection buckets out.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I had everyone snap their glowsticks to light them, spark up
their head torches, and I started the race at exactly 17:42, sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The night started clear and moonlit and the
view up to the hill was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm
told the participants really thought so too.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I'd sent out a couple of marshals for the first mile to keep
gates open to prevent bottlebecks.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I headed back to the YHA building to
gather things I would need for the nights initial Road Trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then drove to Hope to act as the first Road
Marshal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was there that I could see a
snake of white lights coming down Lose Hill, it looked pretty magical!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I had actually arrived a couple of minutes too late to catch
the leaders, but assisted everyone else over the road and directed them to the
footpath to Castleton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clive, Grim
Sweeper 1, eventually arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I relived
him of the token bucket, and of the reflective tape he had collected during his
sweep, and then got in the car to head towards outdoor CP1, which I have seen
by one participant described as "landing strip".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had sets of arnage lights on the road, and
several vehicles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time I got
there, CP1 was in full swing with my father, Tony and Andy all very busy, with
the first 10 or 20 already through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
check it was all running ok, and then set off to head for some locations I
would place glow sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I placed some
more tape at a junction where two of our female competitors were stopped
wondering which way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put then on
track and added more tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a call
a few minutes later from a competitor who has in a pub in Peak Forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of his head torches had failed and he
had got lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned the car round and
picked him up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did offer to lend him
my torch but he decided not to carry on, though was in high spirits and chatted
to the organisers into the night! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
dropped him at CP1 so they could take him back, and then headed to Millers
Dale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put a few glowsticks to guide
people over the road, and across a footbridge and up a climb called
Priestcliffe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a really stiff
climb with a handrail half way up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About
half way up I had put a notice which said "Well done, almost at the
top!", then a few metres later another one saying "Just
Kidding!".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is my sense of
humour for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove around and added
more glowsticks at various points, acted as a temporary road marshal for one of
our volunteers who was helping out at CP1 and running late too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the time I was relaying messages between
all CP's about people who had retired, so I was a very busy boy.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I went to CP2 which was at Earl Sterndale school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had kindly allowed us to use their
school and opened it up from 8pm to 11:30pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The headmaster and one of the school administrators were both
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly for the few minutes I was
there, I somehow managed not to see them, but I did phone up to say thank you
the week after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CP2 had some hot water,
hot chocolate, tea and coffee, and soup, bread and a whole host of other food,
just like the other CPs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Race leader
Charlie Sharpe got to the CP 15 minutes before I estimated the fastest person
would arrive, but I had the CP setup about half an hour before that as a safety
net luckily! nevertheless he still had to tap on the window as they had the
door shut!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I set off again, added more glowsticks nearby, and
eventually caught up with Charlie Sharpe by Buxton Speedway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He himself was speeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled up alongside and told him I was
having to open all the rest of the CPs early because of him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at his GPS watch and had just
clocked a couple of 6 minute miles, 22 miles into the 50 miler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbelievable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I drove on, finally ahead of the whole field, added more glowsticks and
then headed up to CP3 location at the Cat and Fiddle pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be at least 30 minutes before Charlie
would arrive, and texted that to CP3 staff Eddie (father) and Tony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw my fathers Range Rover outside CP3, so
I was happy that it would be setup well in advance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I parked up nearby, grabbed the bucket and
associated red glowstick which would be used for the 2nd token drop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at the car temperature gauge, -2,
very cold but not rain just yet (23:00).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I ran a mile and half (3 mile round trip) up to the top of
the highest point on the course Shining Tor, and placed the token drop, then
ran back down to the car and drive back to the Cat and Fiddle with about 2
minutes to spare before Charlie arrived. Dad and Tony had been joined by a
local guy called Colin who had phoned me up and offered his help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew several runners, and so he got to see
them as well as help out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Despite the cold weather, Charlie was still wearing shorts
and T-shirt, and would do so all night!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had a head torch and a waist level torch too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn't stop for long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I helped him refill his water bottles, he had
a few bits of food and then ran on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2
mins later Tony noticed he had left his race map behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the best will in the world, there was no
way I was going to be able to run after him and catch him, especially not with
with 2 mins headstart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nest place I
could drive to was Pym Chair car park, but it's a knarly slow road to get
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colin suggested driving down the
Goyt Valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Technically it is a one way
road, but there was virtually no chance of meeting any traffic at that time of
night, so I did just that and following 20 mins trip, left Charlie's map attached to a glow stick on
the moors, on the route near Pym Chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I texted his phone to tell
him so and then headed back to the HQ.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got about an hour indoors, relaying messages back and
forth, and then had to go back out to collect some people who had retired at
CP3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather was now cold and it was
raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to that the wind chill up
there and it was very cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would
have used an out-house up there if we had know that other events use it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 7 people retired at CP3, a couple at
CP1, a couple at CP2, and one at a vehicle marshal point where the doctors were
between CP2 and CP3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We transported them
all back. Due to worsening weather, I had also gave instruction to CP3 and CP4 to
offer the participants the option to use emergency "red routes"
I had marked on the map, which would avoid high ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I got back to the HQ, with about an hour to spare before I
got a call from Charlie to say he was nearing the finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were already prepared having calculated
his speed from previous CPs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came
running up the drive and crossed the finish line in 8 hours and 57
minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very impressive!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large; mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Wendy's sister was the event photographer,
and a gallantly stood in the freezing rain and took finishers photos all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I welcomed everyone, make them some tea and
offered them some food to tide them over until breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In total 51 people made it back within the 14
hours and 6 minutes time limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to
head out a couple more times to collect people who had retired or who the Grim
Sweeper had caught up and retired for their own safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One chap had got very cold, but CP4 had been
setup by Aaron and Debbie, and had an arctic tent, a bed and had arctic
sleeping bags and coats as well as a heater!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">He was put promptly in the bag, and later I collected him along with
another participant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took them both
back and had the doctors check him over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His fingers were very cold, but he was otherwise OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I followed up with a few participants via
email to check how they were getting one later in the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All ok, it appears!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The weather further deteriorated, to the point where I had
to stop people using the hillls in the last 5 miles, and send them along the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tales from early finishers were
grim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freezing cold, heavy rain, sleet,
and zero visibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stand by the
decision to send them along the road, and I don't think anyone would
disagree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we didn't want to
pull anyone off the course in the last 10 miles, ultimately the Sweeper team at
that stage (Wendy, Andy and James) had caught quite a few more up and they were
told they would be retired at the final vehicle marshal point at mile 45.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one complained as the weather was truly
horrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was vile to drive in, let
alone run in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone who was retired
at mile 45 I credited with a technical finish award (Daylight finish).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We checked the finish sheet and cross referenced with the
last vehicle marshal, and there was one person missing in the last 5
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had stopped as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had drove past him on the road route back,
and checked he was ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been fine,
and so I was puzzled about how he had got lost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nevertheless, time ticked by and he didn't appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called him mobile number, no signal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were worried and contacted his wife to ask
her to keep trying to contact him, whilst we went out and looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set a 15 minute timer going to call mountain
rescue (though we last saw him on the road!) and then drove off back along the
route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had barely gone half a mile
when there he was running through Castleton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had missed a turn in the fog and added about 8 miles onto the 50 mile
route!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we drove back, and let him
run on, and got him in his finishers photo at the end.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">So, we had got everyone back safe and sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was my primary goal.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I had arranged for a full English breakfast, plus cereals
and toast etc for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had cost
£5 a head but was very well received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone had their fantastic technical fabric T-Shirts which were made for us by </span><a href="http://www.acworkwear.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">ACWorkwear</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I eventually sat down and had a little breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hungry and dehydrated, and well, really
tired. Here is James, Charlie, Me and a few participants who had not yet gone to bed!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsFWPasqzYttJHL2Vt22vzpkRsGPjRnsrq8oQ9PjAgkYYHCxvA7x64YKlFPR7BueRMW0y959r8NcAOCOPcQjWYo6NZs7pAxe7fCpF4I2Qbvu-dFyK7zaROFB3Am51g_hhy9UDDi0lkPI/s1600/Breakfast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsFWPasqzYttJHL2Vt22vzpkRsGPjRnsrq8oQ9PjAgkYYHCxvA7x64YKlFPR7BueRMW0y959r8NcAOCOPcQjWYo6NZs7pAxe7fCpF4I2Qbvu-dFyK7zaROFB3Am51g_hhy9UDDi0lkPI/s320/Breakfast.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It was both enjoyable and stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Slowly everyone went off to bed or home, and I went and cleaned up the
YHA kitchen and collected up the banners, and everything we had taken. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn't get to sleep after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
took me most of the day, and I didn't leave until about 4pm by which time I was
utterly destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Driving home I was
more tired than I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Window
wide open, freezing cold as it was, radio on etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got
home at 6pm, I had been up for 36 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pretty soon collapsed into bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
went out like a light for 13 hours straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The best sleep I have had in living memory.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I spent the next week recovering, doing admin, returning
lost property, paying bills and eventually calculating we had raised £1100 for
Macmillan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well done everyone!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I was literally flooded with great feedback from the
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just read down the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/dusktildawnultra"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Facebook timeline</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> here
to see for yourself!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To know that I had
organised something, which had been so well received was gratifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all down to the the help of Wendy and the volunteers who had
given their time and money too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good
planning was part of it, but how the participants were treated at the CPs was
what made is special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 17 in
total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need a few more for a silky
smooth operation, which would allow me(or someone) to stay at HQ and manage all
of the comms centrally. A we need a few more vehicles on standby to collect
people who retire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We coped fine, but
better safe than sorry.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I was already being asked about next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn't sure going into the event if it
would be repeated, but it was such a resounding success despite the unseasonal
cold weather that I have decided to run it again and yet again I intend to run
it for charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I can't
continue to subsidise it so heavily with my own money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent £500 - £1000 I think, not quite sure
exactly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, if I am to run Dusk til
Dawn next year in October, then I propose to run other events in the year which
will run for profit, but effectively allow me to subsidise Dusk til Dawn and
still allow it to make a hefty donation to Macmillan Cancer Support charity.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Lot of people said they would love to run the course in the
day, so in 2013 the proposal is:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">May 18th - Dusk til Dawn: Sunlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same course in reverse, but racing until sunset!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">October 26/27th - Dusk til Dawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same as this year, sunset til sunrise!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Both events will feature the Grim Sweeper!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Alongside that in 2013 I have a new race "The 12
Labours of Hercules", which will be almost 80 miles, and have different entry categories:</span></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Solo participants - Hercules / Hera</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Pairs - Titans</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Argonauts - teams</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></li>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It is a 24 hour race with 17,000ft of ascent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Participants will have to visit 12 locations
in the Peak District, and in some cases return items or perform tasks when they
get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one and only location that
I will reveal in advance (because it is so cool!) is that by arrangement with
the owners, is that our Hades underworld checkpoint will be in a well known
Cave.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOskMgTg6lQWqjJ0vFEktwTuPiAGNnu2Mo3Br8cGeCtr7HLxf-obx2_CcuTsvplJnDDJmDsxRy0rMI5qDeM5UosroTqhnNzyjQEkk4qTJUpsKxWT-Yc6epfvcFRUsHssXe0NiSUI94V4/s1600/12+Labours+of+Hercules+ultra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOskMgTg6lQWqjJ0vFEktwTuPiAGNnu2Mo3Br8cGeCtr7HLxf-obx2_CcuTsvplJnDDJmDsxRy0rMI5qDeM5UosroTqhnNzyjQEkk4qTJUpsKxWT-Yc6epfvcFRUsHssXe0NiSUI94V4/s320/12+Labours+of+Hercules+ultra.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The buzz about the new race is already being felt, and I am being asked for advance entry! Between now and Christmas my entire </span><a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Beyond Marathon website</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is being redeveloped, and will get a fresh new look, and be compatible with mobile devices too. The website will continue to feature hundreds (currently over 700) ultras all of the world, as well as my own events of course. I have a lot of great ideas for races. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">For 2014 keep your eyes open for this one.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAc0mHcpPnLfdmDA_KSW_yJtTCSe-qHtWS-HP1e00KTLJUEeQCSjafnH3innDSRqGN6QMXSdgJTrtKEkmTvWR2Q_bva0M2v9LRLX2sp2X9Z6ApImvm99OXnL7ege1Iy6Xlq7RQhrRhAg/s1600/AndE100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAc0mHcpPnLfdmDA_KSW_yJtTCSe-qHtWS-HP1e00KTLJUEeQCSjafnH3innDSRqGN6QMXSdgJTrtKEkmTvWR2Q_bva0M2v9LRLX2sp2X9Z6ApImvm99OXnL7ege1Iy6Xlq7RQhrRhAg/s320/AndE100.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, there's plenty in the pipeline. Alongside all of that I have a winter of strength training and rehabilitation ahead of me to sort out my SI join problems which have effectively stopped me running more than 15 miles very easily in the last 6 months. I've done a month of yoga so far, I start Pilates next week and am back in the gym too. Not planning on doing much running until the new year, just focusing on core and lengthening my hamstrings and trying to release my back. recent x-ray shows it tilted and twisted, so I have work to do. I'm having a biomachanical analysis with Mark Hines on Dec 2nd in London. Mark is a well known runner and author. He's researching for his PHD and he needs lower back pain sufferrers as test subjects (How fortunate!). Assuming all of that works out I can also begin my 2013 assault on </span><a href="http://www.transaq.fr/en/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">La Trans Aq</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> (May/June), and </span><a href="http://www.4deserts.com/beyond/iceland/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Racing<span id="goog_815165411"></span>ThePlanet Iceland<span id="goog_815165412"></span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> in August. I've been performing well in multi-day ultras, so I'm keen to keep up the record. I will check in more often now I have more time, and keep you all posted on my event organising and my own running.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Have a good week!</span></div>
Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-61280848891229283042012-10-06T22:27:00.002+01:002013-07-03T22:33:13.823+01:00Crazy busy and a welded sacroiliac joint<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sorry, I know it's been a couple of months since I posted. It's a combination of things.<br />
<br />
I've started a new job, which for 3 days a week means I have a 2 hour commute each way. So I get up at 6am, and cycle on a rented folding bike, to the local train station. I get a train for 1 hour and 15 mins, then a 2 mile cycle to the office. I get there at 08:40am. I then do the same in reverse and get home about 7pm each night, if the train is on time. I then cook, and eat, and perhaps get an hour to do something else before it's time for bed. I have been doing some short runs during lunch, but nothing when I get back as I'm fairly tired from all the cycling to be honest. A run at 7pm is the last thing on my mind.<br />
<br />
I've still been suffering from the same back pain, and buttock pain. I think the drop-off of activity has actually contributed and my back is weaker. It's a vicious cycle. I can't run long because of my back, and yet I need to increase my activity to feel good again.<br />
<br />
As it stands I've not been in a desperate rush to correct it. After Nepal, almost a year ago, I pretty much wrote of 2012 as a rest year. I think I did just one or two long events this year, and nothing since April. <br />
<br />
I've been pretty busy organising the <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/" target="_blank">Dusk 'til Dawn ultra</a>. To say I've not been running isn't true, because I have been leading several recces each month over parts of the Dusk til Dawn course for the participants. I've only been running 12-16 miles at a time, sometimes back to back on a weekend. So, I have not been totally idle, but I have not been putting in 30-40 mile+ weeks like I usually would. Not having an event to train for is another factor that reduces the drive to train. My cardio fitness is actually pretty good, I can run up hills fairly well still, fitness probably aided by all the cycling, but my back is pretty terrible. My chiropractor says that I'm so misaligned, and my SI joint has so little motion that all my back, groin, and leg muscles are overworking so hard that they are tiring very fast. This is certainly how it feels. I can get to about 12-15 miles by which time I am in some pretty serious pain, and my stride length has got so short I'm barely shuffling. I'm told I need a few weeks worth of treatment, several treatments a week, to put me on the path to recovery just so I can start to re-strengthen. It's pretty unpleasant to have it very clearly demonstrated just how inflexible my hips are. I'm am getting 50% less stride length on my right leg than my left, and that just gets shorter as the miles go by. If you are particularly interested in SI pain, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvxZH7wGDfc" target="_blank">this video</a> will tell you all about it! I seen my uncle who is a <a href="http://www.burnschiropractic.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sheffield chiropractor</a> and he has given me some good advice too.<br />
<br />
Dusk til Dawn is on October 27th, after which I've decided to start a strengthening again in November. I'll train my base fitness all over winter, hit the gym a few times a week, and do some Pilate's or yoga to get the flexibility back. Hopefully by January I will be able to take part in some 20 -25 mile LDWA's and try and build up from that to ultras by the time that La Trans Aq comes around at the end of May. That is the only event that I have entered at all so far. I'll just have to see how things progress over the next few months. Hopefully I'll get back up to fitness again. I've done it before, several times...<br />
<br />
So, I'm not likely to post in the next three weeks as Dusk til Dawn will keep me crazy busy.<br />
<br />
When November roles around, cue the Rocky theme again.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-76753345393657108812012-08-06T11:08:00.002+01:002012-08-06T11:08:40.095+01:00It's one short stride for man<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm in another familiar phase of sem-injury. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been ticking over doing some short training runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped to do a whole load of events that I typically do each year, including the Peakers Stroll and the Harden Hard’un.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I’ve been quite busy organising Dusk til Dawn. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, during and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after doing the Coventry Way 40 in April, I’ve struggled quite a lot with back pain, as I mentioned on my previous post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to build up by core muscles again, like I did before Nepal last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think neglecting to do them, or much in the way of running between January and April meant that the muscles wasted and I’m suffering again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can run about 12 miles and then I get a fairly sudden onset of pain radiating from the Coccyx, going down the back of my legs, and upwards into my lower spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My stride shortens pretty severely over just a mile or two and running becomes pretty much impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the same old story with my lower back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless I keep up a very rigid weekly routine of exercises then I think this will always happen. It’s worse at the moment than I can ever remember it though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not training for anything specific this year, I always planned to give myself a year off doing anything too serious, however I’ll now use the rest of the year to work on core strength and get my pelvic floor muscles, gluts and adductors back up to strength. I’m reasonably confident that will sort it all out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prep for Dusk til Dawn is going well, I have lead a few recces of the course for the competitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recce distances are just about within my distance capability, so I have managed them ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re doing another couple of recces this weekend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In other news I've finished my last contract, which has had me working in London for the last 3 years. I've never specifically spelled it out that I was working there, but my training mostly revolved around running to and from work. I had the added bonud of being able to use the altitude facility when I had an event coming close. Apart from that, it was mostly running along streets and sucking in exhaust fumes. I'm not that sorry to bid it goodbye for now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm back at home in Staffordshire, and not living part time in London as I was during the week. It's good to be back as it means I can spend more time at home and run around fields and woods ad not roads. My new contract is near the NEC in Birminhgam. It's a fairly torturous commute. To save Money I cycle 5 miles to the train station, get a train for 1hr 20 mins and then cycle at the other end a further 2 miles to work. I then reverse then in the evening. So, it's roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes each way! I have to get up at 6am to get to work for 8:35, and then I get back home about 19:15. It's a long day and it is wearing me out. I do that between 3 and 4 times a week, and work at home on Monday or Friday, sometimes both. In this economic climate you can't really be too choosy about a job, so I'll have to put up with it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It's the first time I've cycled since I was a child. I'm renting one of the Brompton fold up bikes from the local train station for £4 a day, which is a lot cheaper than paying £8 to park, plus paying £10 each way for taxi's every day! The cycling is actually aggrivating my back however, so it remains to be seen if it is sustainable. If it wasn't for the discomfort I am quite enjoying the bike. After 3 weeks I have only narrowly missed being knocked off or killed once, which is probably a good record for cyclists. Idiot white van man decided to overtake and try and turn left on a roundabout while I was going straight across. He stopped about 6 inches from me. I lived to cycle another day this time. I'll keep you updated with the strength programme. My friend Mike Perry an excellent <a href="http://www.1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/" target="_blank">stoke physio</a> (local to me) is just about to email me a link to an exercise training programme to sort me out!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hope everyone else is running well! <o:p></o:p></span></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-69257958528111559012012-06-09T21:06:00.005+01:002012-06-10T19:40:25.046+01:00Runs, hills, waddles, Olympic relay and arse acheQuite a bit to get through on this post!<br />
<br />
First, the running: Last weekend was a long bank holiday weekend due to the Queen's diamond jubilee. I had plans to run for most of the weekend, but the weather was very poor on Saturday and Sunday with torrential rain. I wasn't inspired to go out and get soaked.<br />
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However, on Monday afternoon a weather window opened up, so I jumped in my car and drove to Earl Sterndale, a small Peak District Village that also happens to be checkpoint 2 of <a href="http://www.beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn" target="_blank">Dusk til Dawn</a> in October. I parked the car amidst the village celebrations. They were having a kids sports day and activities on the village green and a large steam engine was in attendance. Lots of people were having a great time and doing what they should have been doing on the holiday; relaxing.<br />
<br />I arrived at 1pm, and set off on the route shown below.<br />
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There was an initial steep climb out of the village then a nice steady undulating run over the hills and fields for 5 miles. It was mostly peaceful, other than passing the High Edge speedway, which was holding a bank holiday noisy stock car race. I raced past and back to some serenity before heading into an area marked "Danger of fire and explosions". There is a health a safety lab nearby but sadly no explosions today to add some excitement! I reached the half way point point and then ran back up to the road then crossed onto a wide track and ran down about a mile to a farm. From there I hit the first of my main objectives which was a steep ascent of Hollins Hill followed by a fantastic ridge run, almost to it's end. I then followed a path down and North which faded out and I realised when I got back, wasn't actually access land. So, I ended up hopping some sets of barbed wire and crossing a stream, and then heading very sharply up the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tall-guy/4672653846/" target="_blank">Chrome Hill</a>, which is a very distinctive "dragons back" in the area. <br />
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I ran the vast majority of it, despite the gradient, and stopped at the summit to admire the view. A couple of minutes later I was heading sharply down on the wide grassy path at a good pace, and then headed straight back up nearby Parkhouse Hill, which is a much steeper climb; some of it I was on all fours. So, I didn't run this one, but again enjoyed the great view from the top before a very steep drop straight off the North side to bag an adjoining but must smaller hill at Glutton Grange. Then, down off that before one final climb up Hytter Hill. After that it was just a half mile back to the car. Just over 10 miles and 2100ft of ascent, so a good run out.<br />
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That evening I got a phone call and was invited out to run the following day with Mike Perry a <a href="http://www.1stcontactphysiotherapy.co.uk/" target="_blank">physiotherapist in stoke on trent</a> and Clive Hevey, my former personal trainer (he got me in shape for the MDS 2008 from nothing). Mike said he wanted a 3 or 4 hour run. This is a bit further than I've done for quite a while, but agreed. We met at 8:30am the following morning, at the Roaches which is a popular climbing and walking area of the Peak District, and an area I know fairly well. The route began with an ascent of the Roaches, a run along the ridge to the trig point, then a pleasant descent to Roach End and run along a lower ridge before we cut downhill through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lud's_Church" target="_blank">Lud's Church,</a> a small ravine in the forest there, and then down into Gradbach, past the youth hostel. At this point Clive bid us goodbye as he had other plans and headed back home, while me and Mike continued on with a sharp climb out of the valley then pleasant run over the fields to Wildboarclough, a small village in the shadow of Shutlinsloe (a large hill). We've both been up that hill enough times, so decided to skip that one and save our legs for the long climb up the always tiring Daneblower Hollow, to the Cat and Fiddle pub, a well known landmark on the road to Buxton. I was feeling pretty good at this point, which was about 13 miles into the run. We then headed up towards nearby trig Shining Tor, but cut down the hill into the Goyt valley just before it and began what felt like a long climb on the road to Derbyshire Bridge. Just past the bridge the road turns to a track and heads up a little more steeply to cross the road onto Axe Edge Moor. We took a slightly wrong turn and ended up on a parallel path which was boggy and difficult to run on. <br />
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We eventually got back on track but by the time we got to Axe Edge End, as it turned out about 15 miles in, and I was struggling. I was expecting only to be doing around 15 miles in total, so when I realised this later on I didn't feel quite so bad. I've had a lot of lower back and arse pain (not to put too finer point on it) for 2 months. After all the hills I was struggling to get my legs moving one in front of the other. I just had no stride length. I'd also ran out of water, and had eaten the couple of snacks I had brought along, and was starting to crash. To add to my misery I had really bad pain from what I though was my left Achillies or Soleus. All of this added up to feeling pretty ropey. Mike was better prepared and gave me some water and a little food to get me through, but the last hour to the car was very tough and slow going. I was walking all the hills no matter how small, and struggling for any pace on the flat and downhills, but back had just seized up. Eventually we got back to the car, a little over 4 and a half hours later. I was pretty ruined at this point, and headed home to revive myself with some Lucozade sport and some food. I plotted route, as seen below, and it was exactly 20 miles with almost 4000ft of ascent, so quite a lot more than I've done recently.<br />
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<br />I phoned up my uncle Kevin, a chiropractor in Sheffield, and explained I'd had a lot of problems for the last 2 months. I've actually been pretty worried because of the almost constant 'arse pain'. The hypochondriac in my thinking I had bowel or prostate cancer. I ended getting a health assessment to put my mind at ease. A prostate test came back negative and the bowel one is outstanding but will also be fine I'm sure. I'm too young for those conditions and don't really have any of the other symptoms. The only thing the assessment came back with was that my cholesterol was a little high 5.6; probably as a result of not always eating great food in the last few months of working away from home. I can fix that one pretty easily. Anyway, none of that has made my painful arse feel any better. <br />
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I had a couple of day rest from running, working in London then got home on Thursday night at 9pm. I went home and got changed into my running gear and waterproof jacket and went to Stoke train station where I picked up the baton for <a href="http://www.endurancelife.com/realrelay/" target="_blank">The Real Relay</a>; an attempt to actually <strong>run</strong> all 8000 miles of the Olympic Torch route all over the UK, unlike the actual Olympic Torch which is driven between towns! I had signed up at short notice for the charity fundraising event, to run the 10.5 mile Stoke to Audley leg, running via a few different (and slightly dodgy at night) areas of Stoke that the Olympic torch route visited. I collected the Real Relay 'torch' from Abbie, who had run from nearby town Stone wearing Vibrams (brave girl). <br />
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I then set off at 11pm, and first ran into Hanley Park. The baton, as you can see, is quite long like a baseball bat and fitted with a GPS tracker (you can view the route on that website).<br />
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The weather was absolutely biblical from about 15 minutes into my 1 hour 45 minute run (I had to run a timed 10 minute mile to keep the whole affair on track). I ran through Hanley city centre, where a few drunk girls asked if it was the Olympic Torch. I told them it was but the rain had put it out! I then ran on through Cobridge and Burslem, through some slightly dodgy areas of the city where ladies of the night were picking up rough looking punters on the streets. I felt reasonably safe, as I was tooled up with what resembled a hefty baseball bat after all! I made it out to cross the main A500 road in one piece, and then headed up Porthill bank, through Bradwell, and Chesterton, where my girlfriend joined me to run the last 3 miles. We climbed up Crackely Bank to the Wedgewood monument which I run to very often. We tried to take a photo, about 00:30am. You can just about make me out, and the 20ft stone monument on the hill. We'd added this bit in just to spice up the route.<br />
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From there it was a long 2 mile run, mostly downhill on the road into Audley where I arrived about 2 minutes ahead of time, as I planned, to hand over to a girl called Clare who was then going to run 10 miles to Crewe.<br />
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So, 10.5 miles down I was just left with a long painful uphill run, which ended up being a walk towards the top of the first climb, back home. My back was seizing up again, on that 3 mile run home, rounding off almost exactly a half marathon that night, ending around 1:30 am. The weather was pretty horrible in worsening weather conditions, with even harder rain and wind. By the time I got home we both looked like drowned rats, soaked through to the bone despite waterproofs. Nothing can keep out that much water!<br />
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The following day, I was pretty sore. Sitting down and running have both been hurting for a while. Sleeping or walking is not too bad. My uncle kindly agreed to see me at 8pm last night in Sheffield. We drove over and he assessed me and found that I have inflammation all the way along my Sacroiliac joint on my right side. My Ischium (I think it's called) is really sore, it may be a result of trauma from falling on my arse a few months ago and bone flake coming off perhaps. My hip on the right is also also twisted up and rotated, and "not happy" as my uncle put it. My gluts were rock solid tight, and my lower all my lower back muscles tight as you can imagine. Laying on my stomach Kevin pulled my legs upwards to find, not unsurprisingly, that I had very limited range of motion and stride length on my right leg vs the left. It was in desperate need of attention, and is going to need several treatments to get it back to normal apparently. I had an hours worth of very painful massage and then some chiropractic adjustments, resulting is very loud and satisfying releases (cracks). I uncle then found that my left leg issue (Achilles, Soleus) was down to chronically tight popliteus and surrounding areas, so set to work on those, to the howls of pain coming from me! I felt pretty beat up after the hour, but knew it needed doing. My left leg feels much better today, but my arse pain is still there, and is going to take some time to fix. I'm just off to ice it, and take more Diclofenac. I'm hoping to get 2 more treatments next week to try and get rid of it as it's pretty miserable to be honest. Sitting down is just plain unpleasant. Seems, I've done a good job on myself this time, but hopefully in a few weeks I'll be back to normal.<br />
<br />Have a good week!Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02846554216938772396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-57298100171070715062012-05-22T21:06:00.000+01:002012-05-22T21:22:05.140+01:00Are we ultrarunning to heart failure?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you're an ultra runner, you will have more than likely read "Born to Run", Christopher McDougall's bestselling book. It's an entertaining read, and I enjoyed it very much. I wasn't sold on barefoot running to be honest, but leaving that aside the book was was hastily consumed. Micah True, or Michael Hickman, or Cabalo Blanco (white horse) as he is know in the book became pretty famous after the book was published. Invited to talk all over the world about his experiences in the Copper Caynons running with the local Indian community there. He started a race in the Copper Canyon's to help raise funds too.<br />
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You will also have read that Micah true didn't come home from a run one day in March 2012. The ultra world mobilized in the search effort; Facebook lit up with posts about his disappearance. After a couple of days I thought, it's a shame but he's dead. I wondered what could have killed him. Getting lost and dehydrated? No chance, he knew the area well. Snakebite maybe? A possibility but unlikely, he would have had time to get back and seek help. After I had dismissed those, there really was only one possibility. He'd had suffered a heart attack I thought.<br />
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6 days into the search his body was found. Christopher McDougall had gone out to search for Micah. Though he wasn't the one who found the body, he wrote a good account of the search <a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/running/trail-running/On-The-Trail-Of-The-White-Horse.html?page=6" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>. The end of the article hazards a guess that he had a heart issue, called Chagas disease. I would have liked it, if that had turned out to be what it actually was. However, I just had a nagging suspicion that maybe there was something more to it. I'd been reading more recently about Athletes Heart, a condition I myself have evidenced in more than one ECG over the years. I'm not knowledgeable enough about the heart's pathology to give you a detailed description. You can find plenty of information online, probably a better source that this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_heart_syndrome" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Wiki entry</span></a>, but you'll get the idea. Essentially the heart undergoes changes in response to endurance training, including left ventricle enlargement.<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>A week or two after his death the coroners report was published. I was pointed at <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/apnewsbreak-autopsy-points-to-heart-disease-as-cause-of-death-for-ultra-runner-micah-true/2012/05/08/gIQA3YbABU_story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">the news story</span></a> about it that bothered me. I read the title, and already knew what it was going to say. "Autopsy points to heart disease as the cause of ultra runners death". Heart disease I thought? This guy was a daily runner, and no mean ultra distance athlete and he died from heart 'disease'. I read the article and came on the information I hoped not to find. The article calls it heart disease, but the devil is in the detail.<br />
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"<em>While medical examiners couldn’t point to the cause of the heart disease, they said True’s left ventricle, which pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body, had become thick and was dilated."<o:p></o:p></em><br />
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It's at times like that when I wish I was a cardiologist. I read it as though his endurance training had caused the left ventricle enlargement, which is ultimately what had killed him, aged just 58. Did he have another condition that contributed, was it another congenital defect not related to endurance training? I don't know? does anyone?<br />
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You always get people saying to you as a runner that "you'll ruin your knees", no one says to you "you'll ruin your heart" do they? For balance you have to say to yourself, 'what it I didn't run'? I'd probably die of coronary heart disease sitting on a couch eating chocolate bars right?<br />
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I posted the link to the story on the Beyond Marathon Facebook newsfeed and it prompted replies, mostly along the lines of "when your numbers up, your numbers up". It would be lovely if this was the case, but we do make our own fate. We increase our risk of various demises in our everyday lives. Driving a car, catching a tube, being a deep sea fisherman. Essentially what I am saying is that we alone decide what risk factors we introduce to our lives. Deciding to take up free climbing, hang gliding or high altitude mountaineering are inherently going to increase the likelihood of an early death if we do them often enough. Is it the same with running? If we run to keep fit, knocking out a few 10k's a week is that the ideal? On the Facebook feed, one of the 'flipside' replies included a link to a Endurance Corner where an American Doctor writes about Athletes Heart regularly and collects the results of studies. You can read all the articles <a href="http://www.endurancecorner.com/Larry_Creswell" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>. The last and most recent article is perhaps the most interesting. <a href="http://www.endurancecorner.com/Larry_Creswell/heart_arrhythmia_endurance_sports" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Can too much exercise harm the heart</span></a>.<br />
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Knowing very little about the heart as I do, I still share his conclusion that, like anything, you can probably to do much of a good thing and cause harm.<br />
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What I'd love to know, and so would the rest of the world, is what the perfect balance is? Or, if you have endurance trained, how long does it take to become chronic and irreversable, or can you reverse it if you stop after a few years? One of the studies cited, found that 50% of lifelong endurance runners (picked from a ‘100 marathon club’) had arrhythmia, versus 0% in the control group. 50%! There is no statistical insignificance there right?<br />
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I think there is probably a "Goldilocks Zone" for endurance training. <em>Too little</em> and the heart doesn't get the stimulation and strengthening it needs. <em>Too much</em> and it overdevelops and can lead to heart failure. <em>Just Right</em> ;there's probably a magical amount of endurance training, that is doubtless different for different people, where we keep the heart in the happy place, dead centre 'in the green' and away from the red zones on either side.<o:p> </o:p><br />
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So how does this affect my outlook on running? Well, it does in all truth worry me. I've only been running since about 2006, so maybe if I ease back in a year or so, there is still time to keep my heart "healthy". Also, I don't knock out big distances every week, so maybe I have a little longer. In short, as it stands, no one knows. For the time being all we can do is keep an eye on the research, but with such a relative new sport, and such a small number of people (in comparison to other sports) involved in ultra running, it could be decades before there is enough data to tell us what constitutes "too much of a good thing", and by then it could be too late and half the world's ultra runners are checking out aged 60 or less. <br />
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Most of us will try and push this information out of our minds, thinking it'll never happen to us. Dare I draw a comparison to smokers, thinking the same thing about lung cancer?<br />
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Make no mistake, I love running and I'm not planning on hanging up my trail shoes anytime soon, but this is food for thought isn't it. <br />
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Would love to hear some of your opinions?<br />
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</div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-43836863349807575742012-05-08T21:22:00.001+01:002012-05-08T21:27:47.128+01:00I need a money producing time machine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Been two months since I posted, and I haven't got time to do a decent job this evening either. Between working away from home during the week, then back home to try and balance family life, run in events, and also organise the Dusk 'til Dawn ultra I have no time left to myself these days. The good news is Dusk til Dawn is full, and all the pieces are in place to make it a memorable event.<br />
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Ran with Nick Ham for a while on the Three Shires event last month. I ducked out and only did the 27 miler, knowing what a misery climbing Shuttlinsloe is, just do to the 29 mile option. Was good to have a chat for a while and the food after was great as always.<br />
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I also ran the Coventry Way Challenge. I had all manor of digestive and gastro difficulties which meant I crawled around the course in 8:40, when I should have done it at least an hour faster. Again, the food was spectacular.<br />
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Since then I haven't done any events, but over the recent bank holiday weekend I ran 60 odd miles over 3 days; home to Gradbach (26), then Castleton (26), then to Buxton (10 miles), then got a train home. About 10k of ascent though I feel pretty good today.<br />
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There's some upcoming events that I usually do; Peakers Stroll, and Harden Hard'un that I am going to try and do again and also get back into the swing of blogging something decent again more often. Since completing Nepal, I made a decision to have a lighter year with no big (expensive) multi stage ultra. The money saved (they all cost about £4k all in) going to taking my son on a much deserved holiday later in the year. <br />
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However, next year I am considering RacingThePlanet Iceland, but not yet decided or paid. I have however just signed up to do La Trans Aq is in France next May. It was the first multi stage ultra I did, back in 2007 and so there is a nice sense of completion to come back and do it again after competing all of the World ever since. Unless I can make more hours in the day, and multi stage races become a lot cheaper (La Trans Aq is very reasonably priced), then next years La Trans Aq could well be my last muli-dayer. The money side is not really an issue, though who wouldn't like an endless supply!. It's really that I can just about find time in the week to do a bare minimum training alongside early morning trains, tubes, and the same in the evening. Couple that with entertaining my son at weekends then finding serious training hours is difficult. I can put enough training in to run one day events, but can't really do a lot more.<br />
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I'll post a better update soon!</div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-24174696848363457542012-03-02T17:41:00.001+00:002012-03-02T17:42:05.820+00:00Dusk 'til Dawn Ultramarathon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I've been quiet on the blogging front recently you've noticed I guess.</span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As far as my running is going it's all going ok. My ankle injury has gone, and I'm returning to fitness well. I was due to race 123km in TransGranCanaria this weekend but I had to cancel that as I just could not get up to distance in time, and also my girlfriend wasn't well. She was due to run in the race too, but had to cancel, as she had to have emergency surgery.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I've been ticking over, running 4 times a week with a 10-15 miler at the weekend, and things are all ok on that front. My next big race is the <a href="http://www.acoventryway.org.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">40 mile "A Coventry Way"</span></a> next month. I did it once before I think in 2007, training for the MDS. I suspect I'll do it a couple of hours faster this time!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Anyway, the big news; alongside this I've been quietly organising my own ultramarathon. The event is called Dusk 'til Dawn. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTkSLBRh1FymyscVzfbdRr18SF87rLiIIGAqWnUAspM_cMUvvlN0vNj5sp7bS6iJqMWHeA9snI-TPlGIHhGgioxs__9a2GcRChvbJZqzMtkCprnFfrQKuWsDhlfz23d0w7izcnKODYFM/s1600/D2D+Small.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTkSLBRh1FymyscVzfbdRr18SF87rLiIIGAqWnUAspM_cMUvvlN0vNj5sp7bS6iJqMWHeA9snI-TPlGIHhGgioxs__9a2GcRChvbJZqzMtkCprnFfrQKuWsDhlfz23d0w7izcnKODYFM/s1600/D2D+Small.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The concept was born last year, but has now been fully realised into an event to be held on 27th October 2012. I am quite excited about it, and those few (until today) that knew about it, are excited too. It's a little different from most other races out there with an interesting couple of twists.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Because of recent events, I've decided to run the event not just as a fun an interesting race but to support the Macmillan Cancer charity. Have a read on the FAQ page of the ultra event site, to understand why, and you will probably put 2 and 2 together with this post.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">I'm not going to write a whole load about the race on here, as it would just be duplication. Have a read of the website, where I've hopefully injected some fun and entertainment into the race. I've already spent quite some time organising things in the background (it's a 2 point UTMB qualification event), lining up accommodation, the event centre and medical support, checkpoint volunteers etc. The route is essentially finished, but I'm getting the nod of approval on few small sections from local land owners before I release the full route map / GPS files online.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The race is going to be a lot of fun, and pretty special I'm sure. <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/dusktildawn/" target="_blank">The event website is here.</a></span></div></div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-65995236945918096922012-02-13T15:47:00.006+00:002012-02-13T16:54:17.910+00:00Anglezarke Amble-ulance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“Be careful as some bits may be a bit slippy”. In retrospect, that may be been somewhat of an understatement from the friendly announcer at the Anglezarke Amble last weekend. I think if anyone had been over the course in the few days before the race, as they may have issued a stiffer warning, or at least changed some of the route. As it was, it was a chilly morning start from Rivington, so everyone was well wrapped up, but there was an unfortunate lack of crampons and ice axes in evidence as we all set off blissfully unaware that around 17 of the 24 miles had been carefully crafted by an extreme weather system into the world’s most unwelcome ice rink. The route is below. I’ve shaded the icy bits in blue, to put it into context!</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKBk6IZUV4j_G1ylIkEEnspNsoMVL0kSUXCofVOfFhmbwQUY64KQsovaNKvw2jfp3THRnbyEP5qLJGESPbgvZCgZoL9FTuhgaASKjTbLC4JOr_x0hO_U3BF6IIm5TMrGqQY5rOKvSAR0/s1600/Anglezarke+Ice+Skate+II.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKBk6IZUV4j_G1ylIkEEnspNsoMVL0kSUXCofVOfFhmbwQUY64KQsovaNKvw2jfp3THRnbyEP5qLJGESPbgvZCgZoL9FTuhgaASKjTbLC4JOr_x0hO_U3BF6IIm5TMrGqQY5rOKvSAR0/s400/Anglezarke+Ice+Skate+II.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I had travelled up with my girlfriend. There we’d met James, a friend of ours, at the start. A couple of years ago I’d completed the course in a fairly respectable 4.5 hours, and even though my current fitness is not quite at the same level that I was, I didn’t really expect it to take me more than 5 hours. There is both a short (16 mile) route and a long (24 mile) route, and the event is for walkers as well as runners. Both distances set off at 8am, and we moved fairly quickly to get ahead of the walking group. The first taste of some ice started after probably only half a mile. We had to step off the path as the whole of it was covered in a thick layer of sheet ice. No problem, just a quick clamber up and run on the verge. However, as we ran there were more and more sections of ice. Maybe this was just a bad path we thought?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> There is a fairly stiff climb up Rivington Pike to a small tower. The steps up to it were totally frozen over. Some people chose to walk up them, very carefully, whilst others like me, chose to use the grass to the side. However, the grass was also frozen solid and more or less just as hazardous. My girlfriend fell over at the top by the castle, which was again covered in sheet ice. It was the first time of many that one of us would end up on the floor. I think pretty much everyone doing the event will have lost their footing at some points.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Me and James made a much slower descent of the pike than normal, which was covered in ice, and then turned to see what my girlfriend was a way behind. We stopped and waited, she’d fallen over again. “I’m like Bambi” she said, nursing the latest painful bruises. We then began the climb up to Winter Hill, to the TV masts. The top half of the climb is a gradual ascent on a tarmac road. This road we assume had been gritted, as at least half of it was good to run on, so we picked up the pace and ran on to the masts where the marshals were clipping our tallys. I did feel sorry for those guys up there freezing in the cold. We had just completed a climb at least, and were fairly warm. The marshals definitely deserve a lot of thanks for getting themselves to the CP’s, and then waiting around in the cold for all the competitors to pass through. </span><o:p> </o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">That brief little section of ice free running had got our hopes but, only to be dashed a couple of hundred metres later after we crossed a "glassy" stile that begins a long 2 mile descent. Normally this path is a superb high speed run down the hill. Today it was totally glassed over, impossible to even walk on quickly, let alone run on. Everyone walked carefully at the side of the path trying to gain some purchase. Despite being careful, I fell over suddenly and heavily. I landed on my forearm and I think I was lucky not to break something. If I’d have been quick enough to put out my hand I could well have taken my wrist out. So, a heavily bruised arm, and arse, later I got back up, and moved into the frozen marshland to the side of the path and walked down through that. People were like dominoes all around, everyone falling over left right and centre. I got down to the bottom of the hill first, James a few minutes later, but my girlfriend was nowhere in sight. We almost started back up the hill after her, but then she came slowly down after 5 minutes later. She was looking clearly distressed, and had taken a few more tumbles. She looks like a criminally battered woman she’s got so many bruises, oh dear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We crossed the next stile and again the whole path was 2 inch thick sheet of glass. There was no avoiding it this time, we just had to slide along it grabbing branches as we walked and fell. Then onto marshland just before the refreshment stop at 5.5 miles. We didn’t stop and just crossed into more deeply frozen marshland. From there right through to CP1 at mile 10 was all the same terrain. The bogs had frozen a foot or more deep with ice, and every single blade of grass and reed was coated in thick icicle. I wish I would have taken my camera to show you the phenomenon. What we didn’t know was that the whole course from there to mile 19 was the same. How each piece of grass had gained its own pencil thick icicle covering its whole length I have no idea. The snowfall that there had been earlier in the week had also frozen solid on the ground, so even the grassland had turned to sheet ice in most places. The route split for the short and long route was at 6.5 miles. Had we had any idea that the course was going to get progressively worse we would have all taken the short route option I think.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What would have been a slog, running through some muddy bogs, turned into a slow walk and slide. I fell over a few more times, even being as careful as I could. I saw 2 people with those pull-on spikes that go over shoes and they were doing considerably better. I wonder if they were from the local area and knew what it might be like? They could have walked the course and finished an hour faster than we were going to. A mile before CP1, me and James emerged onto a road. James said he’d go ahead, as we didn’t realise my girlfriend had slipped back (excuse the pun) so far. I waited for almost 10 mins, but ate a little food, and walked up and down to stay warm. She was having a pretty miserable time staying upright. We then skated together along the next section, until there was a 200m section of ice free road across the Turton and Entwhiste Reservoir. We ran for 200m; luxury. There were lots of welcoming marshals at CP1, who encouraged us to get some hot tea and refreshments, all of which were very welcome. They were all doing a great job. James ahd waited there for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">After a few minutes we set off up the tarmac road hill which had completely turned to glass. We really struggled just to get the 100m to the top of the hill. One guy fell over badly ahead of us, got up and said he’d had enough, and it wasn’t worth breaking a bone over. He went back down to the CP and retired. If anything, the conditions got even worse, so he made a good decision for himself probably. My girlfriend fell over heavily again, as we all walked up the gutter holding onto the wall to get to the top of the small hill. At the road alongside all the houses was again totally iced over. There was no avoiding it, we just had to take small steps and slide along slowly. Another group of 4 guys who were nearby then stopped and we think they must have called it a day and returned to CP1 too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We turned onto a heavily iced farmtrack up Edge hill and lowe hill, which we made slow progress up. We’d not strung together any running of more than a hundred yards since before the top of Winter Hill at mile 3! We were now at mile 12, emerging onto an ice-free main road at Cadshaw. There had gathered loosely together a group of about a dozen of us 'runners' as we exited the welcome 200m of road, and got back onto the ice to begin the gentle ascent of Turton Moor. I really wasn’t enjoying it at all, and even considered short-routing the next section, but given the conditions it was probably safer to stay with a group of people. If you fell over and injured youself, while on your own up on the moor in those cold conditions, you’d be in trouble pretty fast. So, we all plodded on carefully up the hill, running the small bits we were able. The path widened just before a sharp right turn onto Darwen Moor. I directed the group off the right, and lead the way, remembering this section from before. The path for perhaps a mile was runnable, and enjoyable.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">However, it didn’t last long as the narrow path into Duckshaw Clough was iced over. Both legs went sideways, to theright underneath me, with a series of unpleasant cracks. I sat on the ground for 10 seconds assessing if all the cracks were as bad as they sounded, or I’d just saved some money on my next Chiropractic treatment. James and another guy helped me up. I think I stayed up for about the next 50m and then did an almost identical fall. It really wasn’t funny. I clambered up onto the deep heather and waded through that, as did everyone else. I reached a small cattle grid and did a few pirouettes on some concrete just before it. It was so slippy that I stood and waited for all of the loosely strung out 10 people behind to reach it. Even with warning a few people almost fell on it. One guys foot went down the cattle grid and he thought he was lucky not to break it. We then all began a short climb up to the CP at Darwen tower, the last 300m of which was runable. A big thank you to the volunteers staffing that CP in the cold weather. We had got to mile 16 now. The group of us started out along the wide path and though it was slower progress in the ice, we managed to run slowly at the edge of the path. We slowly gained height before crossing another stile. Ah yes, I almost forgot, every single stile was coated in ice. Where you put your feet and the post where you put your hands. Crossing each stile was a task in itself, and there are no shortage of them on the course. One of the girls nearby went crashing to the ground after just getting over one, and stayed on the ground for a while. I think running through the mental check “Can I fall that hard and not break anything? Am I ok?...errrm Yes I think so, ok I’ll try and get up”. We all stopped, backtracked and picked her up.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">From there we had a 1 mile run, which should have been down the wide winding track, but we all opted to cross straight over the heath as it headed downhill as the path was not really safe. I crossed the road at headed into the mile 18 CP, which was where the short and long routes re-converged, and was as such very busy. I have no idea what the short route conditions were like for them, but given they were travelling through relative lowlands, I hope they had a better time of it that we did. At the very least they had 8 miles less of it to struggle through!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I said to James and my girlfriend that I didn’t want to waste much time here and just to carry straight on. I just added a few hundred mil of orange juice to my bottle and we headed out and down the next icy path to the road. There was just the three of us now, as we crossed the road and into more heavily iced bogs. James who despite a few near misses had managed to stay on his feet took a couple of hard tumbles in a few minutes just to balance it out. No one was getting off bruise free today. We got to the top of Great Hill, the last climb of the day at mile 19. Then the strangest thing. The other side of the hill descending back down to the lowland was almost frost an ice free. Just a couple of hundred metres earlier, we were skating and all the grass was icicles, and then now we were in an apparently different season’s climate? And really, from mile 19 that was more or less the end of the ice. We met a roaming marshal not from the CP at Mile 21 who said “welcome back to the tropics!” So from the top of Great Hill we all descended with speed and vigour all the way to CP3 at the cricket pavillion. We all suddenly started enjoying it, and could even believe it was the same day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We grabbed a few things to eat and said our thanks to the CP3 staff and then ran the last 3 miles back to the finish. The last 3 miles were frost and ice free. I’d removed my coat and gloves before the CP as it was so much warmer too. We’d normally be flagging a little at this stage of a 24 mile run, but due to all the walking we were full of energy and ticked off the last 3 miles in no time at all. We got to the finish; it had taken us 6.5 hours (almost 4000ft of ascent)! A full 2 hours longer, at least, than it normally would have done. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">You can see below the recording made by my GPS. Everything below the red line (which is 5mph) you can assume is walking. You can see that all of a sudden we became runners for the last 6 miles. The red dots are the CP locations. As you can see, we didn't get to run very much, and you can see that we went down some of the early hills slower than we climbed them!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NBkGtdBEKkiAFl1pttyPLzNY-tBQsS-wF_1Vyc70aTAHYWTJOuj-0Ptin7WFsaDA1GU0hPVH9IMkw_G5TEJStLNzZzxeRgns5XoF63ZdXqNvOV3QmkUsKv2IUmXEE0uKzdD-2B7pfMg/s1600/Speed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NBkGtdBEKkiAFl1pttyPLzNY-tBQsS-wF_1Vyc70aTAHYWTJOuj-0Ptin7WFsaDA1GU0hPVH9IMkw_G5TEJStLNzZzxeRgns5XoF63ZdXqNvOV3QmkUsKv2IUmXEE0uKzdD-2B7pfMg/s400/Speed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We had a welcome meal provided by the organisers, and a couple of cups of tea. We then sat and exchanged ice-skating stories with the people who were already finished from both the long and short routes. A couple opposite told us that two people had broken their wrists. I could believe it, but didn’t independently verify that with the organisers. However, a poor chap called Charlie then came in, who had dislocated his shoulder. He was well looked after by people there until an ambulance turned up, and the paramedics came in to take him away just as we were getting ready to leave. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Thanks to the staff and volunteers who were at the CP’s and the finish today, many of whom I’m sure were shivering in the cold for many hours longer than they expected! Today was one of those days that did your fitness very little good at all, but it did your willpower wonders. As most of you probably know, willpower is equally as valuable in long distance races to fitness, if not more so. What was the phrase I read in Marhsall Ulrich's book? “These races are 90% mental, and the rest of it is all in your head.” Something like that anyway. My willpower certainly feels a lot fitter this morning than it did last week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I hope it’s a bit warmer kinder underfoot next year, as this is normally a really enjoyable event that I really look forward to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Have a good week!</span></div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-74873743571084801122012-02-06T10:53:00.000+00:002012-02-06T10:53:53.102+00:00Rest and recovery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've not made an update in the last month. There wasn't much to tell. After running on Christmas Eve in an event and still feeling the effects of the Achilllies problem, as well as just general fatigue, I took it easy for a few weeks. I said that if I couldn't run 50 miles by the end of January then doing Transgrancanaria was out. I wasn't up to it, so I've ruled that out. This weekend just gone I ran 9 miles from Gradback in the Peak District up towards Shining Tor and the Cat and Fiddle pub, and back. There was already a lot of snow up there, and it was bitterly cold with the wind. This weekend's big dump of snow started whilst I was half way around, so I had a mad a stressful dash back to my car to get it out of the Peak District before the snow settled too much. I just about made it though it took me twice as long to get home as it normally does.<br />
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On Sunday I ran 14 miles in the snow locally. The first 10 miles were ok, but I really felt tired for the last few miles, and suffered for the rest of the day afterwards really. So, I'm a long way from being up to racing fitness again. I'm signed up to do this weekend's Anglezarke Amble, but how I feel at the moment, the thought of 24 moorland miles isn't really inspiring me. If I do it, then it's going to be a slow and difficult slog I think. I have a chiropractor appointment later today. Everything from my neck down my ankle on my left side is playing up, so I'm hoping to be popped like bubble wrap later on, and maybe that'll help a little. I'll do a couple of short steady runs this week, and see how I feel at the weekend.<br />
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Have a good week!</div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-8999090275735042732012-01-05T16:24:00.000+00:002012-01-05T16:24:13.830+00:00Nepal Report finally finished!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sorry it took so long to finish. It took me a fair while to write it all!<br />
Anyway, the main report is below!</div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-8150428882522345752012-01-04T18:00:00.009+00:002012-02-04T15:12:46.835+00:00Racing The Planet Nepal - Race Report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Before I start the report, I first have to congratulate Racing the Planet on running the Nepal Event. This was their "roving race" for 2011. Their 4deserts series run in the same locations each year and so run very smoothly indeed. What was impressive was that the Nepal race ran equally as smoothly. It was extremely well organised from start to finish. Clearly a lot of work had gone into organising all aspects of the race, in an area of the world which is very remote. The Sherpa teams worked tirelessly, and the local people who looked after the camp did a fantastic job and added to the culture and flavour of the event. So thank you to Mary, Sam and everyone at Racing The Planet for doing such an amazing job, and anyone who is thinking of doing one of their events; be it Jordan in 2012, or any of the other desert series or 100km events, I’d say book it!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I slept quite well the night before the race started. The temperature was only dropped to about 7C, so my combination of sleeping bag and liner were fine. Most people started to get up from about 5am. I was fairly confident I could get ready fairly quickly, having had quite a bit of practice, so stayed in my sleeping bag (conserving calories!) until almost 6am. So began the daily routine of packing up my things into my bag, cleaning my hands and spork with some alcohol gel and then cutting one of the 1 litre mineral water bottles in half. Half to use as a bowl for my cereal, and half to use as a cup for my coffee. Before all that, about an hour before the race, I had a Beetroot juice stamina shot. Do a Google search and have a look at some of the research, and see what you think. Seems to be working for me. Of course carrying 250 mil of beetroot juice for each day would not be practical (too heavy), so I used some of the <a href="http://www.jameswhite.co.uk/beetit/" target="_blank">James White "shots".</a> 70cl concentrate shots containing the equivalent of 250ml or 4 beetroots.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6njMZiRKdILNlNxG_bH1lAODo2XcLcPyOkQCujAwk0KAf4N29_Wzte6f-_hkHHFY0dnUMtJ6zNejiQHabEesq0E3idStr0NTeF8Cxw53xakwuTH7IP2bXDpKZU7Cf5yMqaQbFxiuWQoI/s1600/beet+it.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6njMZiRKdILNlNxG_bH1lAODo2XcLcPyOkQCujAwk0KAf4N29_Wzte6f-_hkHHFY0dnUMtJ6zNejiQHabEesq0E3idStr0NTeF8Cxw53xakwuTH7IP2bXDpKZU7Cf5yMqaQbFxiuWQoI/s200/beet+it.png" width="162" /></a></div> So I had one of these and then had my breakfast, which was about 650kcal of cereal. Below is my day 1 food, but my daily food was typically identical each day, apart from a few different snacks, and a different evening meal. You can see I was way over the minimum 2000kcal requiredl; this from experience!<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 527px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 13714; mso-width-source: userset; width: 281pt;" width="375"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 2340; mso-width-source: userset; width: 48pt;" width="64"></col> <col style="mso-width-alt: 3218; mso-width-source: userset; width: 66pt;" width="88"></col> </colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl74" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid none none solid; border-width: 0.5pt 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt; width: 281pt;" width="375"></td> <td class="xl66" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid none none; border-width: 0.5pt 0px 0px; width: 48pt;" width="64"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Calories</span></td> <td class="xl67" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: solid solid none none; border-width: 0.5pt 0.5pt 0px 0px; width: 66pt;" width="88"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Weight</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl73" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Breakfast Mix<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Rasberry mix</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">650</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">198</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Powerbar Ride</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">216</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">59</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Tracker Roasted Nuts</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">126</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">27</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl73" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Trail Mix</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">516</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">84</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Peperami x1</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">126</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">26</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl73" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">SIS - Go Electrolyte x 4 (91kcal per 25g)</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">364</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">100</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">50g SIS Rego recovery powder</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">185</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">50</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl73" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Evening Meal - Spaghetti Bolognese</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">716</span></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">168</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl68" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Vacuum seal bag</span></td> <td class="xl65" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px windowtext;"></td> <td class="xl69" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid none none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0px 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">14</span></td> </tr>
<tr height="17" style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td class="xl70" height="17" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none solid solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0.5pt 0.5pt; height: 12.75pt;"></td> <td class="xl71" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 0.5pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">2899</span></strong></td> <td class="xl72" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-width: 0px 0.5pt 0.5pt 0px;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">726</span></strong></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<strong>Stage 1 - 28.5km. Elevation: +1306M / -1387M</strong><br />
<br />
The course briefing was at 6:30am each morning. I've got quited used to Racing The Planet's Alistair giving the morning briefings, but someone said he'd had a knee op recentley so wasn't there. Anyway, Samantha was the course director and so best placed to give them, and did a great job all week. The course notes said the first day was only 28.5 km (18 miles). Pretty easy I thought, as in the previous few months, the course notes had said they would be 42km each day (apart from the long stage). It became apparent that the reason was that the course should be completed before sundown each day. I looked at it and thought 18 miles will only take me 5 hours at the absolute outside, so figured it was a very generous cut-off. I'd realise as the week went on that the stages were shorter because the terrain was so hard, and many people missed the cut-off every day. The race would begin with 5k flat section to CP1(Sam described all flats as Nepali flats - which essentially meant undulating!). Next would be a 740M climb over 9.4k to CP2, then what looked like (on the roadbook) a small amount more ascent before a huge descent of 650M over 9K to CP3. <br />
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The roadbook was a little deceptive as there was in fact another 400M of ascent before CP3 as well. I didn't pay enough attention to that on the day, I just looked at the elevation profile drawing. I think the CP2 marker was drawn in the wrong place on the elevation line, so showed less of a climb after CP2, when in fact the climb was really several K and another 400M or so. The elevation scale (in metres) was also different on every page, so you couldn't really gauge how big a climb was going to be based on the elevation profile from the previous page. By day 2, I'd learned the best thing to do was to use it as a rough guide; i.e. the next section was - mostly climb, mostly descent, or 'fairly flat'. If I had taken the roadbook elevation and CP locations on it literally and tried to compare then to a GPS then I would have been always surprised. As it was, my GPS had (probably mercifully) broken a few days before, so I had no way of knowing when the next CP was coming. So, it didn't matter to me if it was 1k early or 4k late. I would just get my head down and work to reach each checkpoint, and be happy when it popped into view. That worked well.<br />
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All the tent 23 tentmates bid each other good luck. None of us had got sick in the night, though we'd heard a few people who had. So, things were off to a good start. Here is me on the start line, looking clean and shiny. I was in my usual Railriders Ecomesh shirt, some CWX tights, carrying a 25l OMM rucksack with 2 Salomon Custom 3D bottle holders (sewn onto the shoulders for added stability). I'd really taken a massive gamble on footwear. Instead of wearing aggressively soled trail shoes, I was wearing <a href="http://www.hokaoneone.com/en/d/mafate-unisex_81.html">Hoka Mafates.</a> I've <a href="http://beyondmarathon.com/wordpress/?p=3268">reviewed</a> these shoes before. They have a lot of shortcomings; the toe area doesn't have enough space, the lacing comes too close to your ankle and bruises, the grips are all but useless - they need at least another mm studs if not 2mm, they are dangerous on wet rock, and of course they look hideous. However, they have a trump card, a massive amount of cushioning. These are the antithesis of barefoot running, indeed a barefoot runner would probably not have finished this race, or been so slow on descent they'd have missed the cut-off every day. I knew we had a lot of steps to tackle, both up and down. I plod away going uphill, but I'm very fast at descending rough ground, I'd say equally fast or faster than anyone I know. These shoes are all about descent. If the weather turned wet, the shoes would be useless, I'd probably kill myself slipping over. As it was, the weather was dry. Were the shoes going to work? We'll see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rz6qht0Ai6Y/TtXodwdtmFI/AAAAAAAAFVw/SfDRo3FNEaU/s1600/DSC01818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rz6qht0Ai6Y/TtXodwdtmFI/AAAAAAAAFVw/SfDRo3FNEaU/s320/DSC01818.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The race got underway and I set out my stall early and set off at quick pace; a little too quick probably. Running down the first bit of descent too enthuiastically I almost ran myself into the ground, but somehow recovered it and carried on. The first 5k was on a rough jeep track, the likes of which would feature many times in the race. We were running in the foothills of the amazing Annapurna range, with stunning white capped moutains all around. The only problem during the whole week was that the terrain was so demanding, that often you had to watch every footstep, so you didn't get to admire the views as much as I would have wanted. There were some times where I would be running and literally stop and say "wow" though, and get out my camera. Not that any of these photos are going to do it justice. The first 5k probably took half an hour, so fairly standard, as much as expected.<br />
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A didn't need any more water, so just checked my number and took this photo which shows the very start of the initially easy climb up a winding track.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZOk3rnFDsE/TtXog8F-WwI/AAAAAAAAFV4/hfdZHv_TaMI/s1600/DSC01820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZOk3rnFDsE/TtXog8F-WwI/AAAAAAAAFV4/hfdZHv_TaMI/s320/DSC01820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I ran the first few hundred metres, then rapidly slowed to a walk as it got steeper. I can't imagine many apart from the Ryan Sandes of this world would run many (or any) of the hills we tacked. The track switchbacked up the hill with people and houses frequently all around, all probably wondering what on earth we were doing. Lots of children would come out, put their hands together in prayer and say "Namaste", the customary greeting in India and Nepal. This scene would play out countless times a day on every stage, greeting the local people. Sometimes it would be me to say it first, with a little bowed head, and joined hands, or sometimes the locals. I'd make an effort to do it for pretty much everyone, so I can tell you that kept me very busy as we were in and out of villages every day. The local people were all very friendly and the Children just wanted to greet you, ask where you were from. The odd one would ask for something, but I didn't really have anything to give.<br />
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After a few K, the wide track turned into our first taste of stone steps. Sometimes the steps were well carved but often they were just flattish boulders, so very uneven. I was surprised at just how humid it was, my shirt was stuck to me. The temperature wasn't baking on the first day, but it did reach about 24C, and combined with the humidity, and climbing, it felt very warm indeed. The steps got steeper for a while, winding their way up the hill before plateauing at this Hndu Temple you can just make out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCc4aJjuvmM/TtXoi-izLpI/AAAAAAAAFV8/GZG6zZxq0Rk/s1600/DSC01821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCc4aJjuvmM/TtXoi-izLpI/AAAAAAAAFV8/GZG6zZxq0Rk/s320/DSC01821.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Afterwards the ground was flat but under trees and being in shade the steps and ground were wet and slippy. The track was narrow too. My Hoka shoes were useless on the wet slipy rock and so I had to take it really slowly when I hit these sections, usually a walk. I was beginning to wonder if I had made the right decision after all. Finally I emerged onto a jeep track again and 3k later there was the CP. A had bought a cheap watch with Pokhara to use as a stopwatch. Hilariously the screen had fogged up with condensation after just a couple of hours use, and so I could barely read it for most of the week, so my idea of timing between checkpoints will be pretty vague in this report! I filled up my bottles at CP2, and at this point assumed just a small climb before a long descent, but as mentioned the CP wasn't marked that accurately and there was several more k and a long long climb before the welcome descent. As I neared the top of the climb for the day, at 1800M I glanced up from my feet and met with my first wow moment. Seen below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9ZQ8VVFBuw/TtXokhSKjlI/AAAAAAAAFWA/_W4-9Izkfi0/s1600/DSC01822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9ZQ8VVFBuw/TtXokhSKjlI/AAAAAAAAFWA/_W4-9Izkfi0/s320/DSC01822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The peak is Fishtail Mountain (Machuparre 6993M), the sacred mountain to the God Shiva. Climbing is banned on it. I saw this and I knew why I was there. This was the reason I wanted to come to Nepal; to see the mountains. Not long after I ran around a corner to find myself by some tea houses, local basic accomodation and food for backpackers. They are everywhere along the trails. This one had the best view in the World. Two pictures the same, one without me spoiling the view!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--JctxmvTinc/TtXomMXos9I/AAAAAAAAFWE/z5pQjars3vs/s1600/DSC01823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--JctxmvTinc/TtXomMXos9I/AAAAAAAAFWE/z5pQjars3vs/s320/DSC01823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Np3vxu-U0Ig8_bwu-uX6VXMdGtb0LGAx2x3pZYtIg9bbX0dBMProlbPIphSCdzn7h6NZxvbJl5oHaT6T-V7HHeSaIm16iEIwHpqJHtksRFOermBJpGFXwJht7s6Pd-TEkj1Le1MAfKc/s1600/DSC01824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Np3vxu-U0Ig8_bwu-uX6VXMdGtb0LGAx2x3pZYtIg9bbX0dBMProlbPIphSCdzn7h6NZxvbJl5oHaT6T-V7HHeSaIm16iEIwHpqJHtksRFOermBJpGFXwJht7s6Pd-TEkj1Le1MAfKc/s400/DSC01824.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Everything had gone well so far as I began my first Nepali descent of the steps/boulders. I'd be following the pink flags or paint marking the route. Me and James Love were at that point running together. We were probably in the top 50 or 60 in a very spread out field, but were following half a dozen others a 100M in front as we descended very steeply. So steep we were walking at many points as there were steeo drops off one side of the steps, and one slip would have been fatal at times. From down below the guys ahead told us to stop as people even further ahead could not see course markers. We had descended an extra 100M on the steep steps than we should due to a misleading or missing marker. About a dozen people didn't realise at all, carrying on all the way down, and got lost until the race organisers put them back on course at CP3. I think they got lucky as the terrain they missed out was really very tough. Climbing up again was really very tough, as well as demoralising. It really took it out of me for some reason. James hadn't come down quite as far, and had headed off. I was feeling ropey, and it transpired had a bout of the runs (toilet stop needed!). I had to sort that out for about 10-15 mins and took some immodium, and used up the rest of my water rehydrating. <br />
<br />
There was still a way to go before CP3, but I'd have to manage without any water. The descent was at times very slippy when in the shade so as result I didn't take any more pictures. I lost my footing frequently, but always just caught myself. The descent eventually became, with dry stone steps and boulders again, so I was able to start bouncing down and getting past plenty of people. It was very much like descending off areas of the Peak and Lake District in the UK I realised several days later, and that was probably why I was so comfortable with it.<br />
<br />
So, I ran down the terraced hill at a good pace, passing houses and people along the way, with a quick "Namaste" to the locals of course. The descent took a long time, even at pace, and the whole stage so far had been a lot more physically demanding that I had imagined it would be. I had been eating and drinking well, up to the point of running out of water but I was feeling a little fatigued by all the climbing. I was pleased when the descent ended on a jeep track and shortly after came CP3 where I caught up James and refilled my bottles. Me and James ran on together for the last 5.5k towards camp, overtaking a few more people. I estimate we were around 50th place, from seeing the CP recordings. I was feeling good again, and James encouraged me to increase my pace further and chase down a few people in the distance. I a few more people in the last 2k. I don't think some of them were too happy about it, losing a place in the final stretch but it was a race after all, and I was running at a really good tilt down. I sprinted the last 500M, forcing a guy who was too far ahead to catch to pick up his pace to keep his pace secure. I made him run every step to the line, leaping and bouncing down a terrace and paddy fields to the finish. We had a handshake on the finish and shared a joke. It was a good finish to the day but a lot tougher than any 18 miles I had ever experienced. I had finished 47th, a great result for me for the day.<br />
<br />
12 months ago, I'd just had my groin operation (Gilmore's Groin), and my only goal was to be able to run again. Just to be able to run 6 miles without having to walk due to the really horrible groin pain. By April I had acheived that and was running up to 10 miles again. By July I wanted to be able to confirm my entry into the race with a hope to make the start line, and hopefully just finish. I acheived that and had finished a couple of ultras for the first time in 18 months. By the time I got to Nepal, the pain hadn't stopped (it still hasn't), but it was fixed enough that finishing was no longer good enough. I had to finish in the top 50% to satisfy myself. Today I'd finished in the top 25%, so I was really happy. I was first back from our tent, so stripped off my pack, shirt and shoes and mixed up some Rego recovery drink to hydrate with immediately. I ate what few snacks I hadn't consumed during the race, and took this photo from the camp. James came in about 10 minutes later. He came in 50th and was also very happy. All his recent marathon training had really paid off, and he was a lot fitter than I remember him being in the Atacama Desert.<br />
<br />
Steve came in next, I think maybe an hour later. Steve is a 100 mile specialist, havng completed over 100 of them! He's also completed the 200 mile Tor des Geants too; a very tough race. Next came Martina. She'd felt sick during the stage, but said she got sick in races a lot. She got sick most days, but she always did fine. She's done plenty of races too, so we knew she'd always be ok. Next came Jack, strong as always, then came Roger and Kier. I can't recall who came in first but they'd both had a tough day out there and came in several hours after I'd arrived. At 5:30 it got dark and several people came in well after the cut off. I think they waived the cut-off on the first day, and sometimes for some people on other days, but they did start to enforce it more strictly as the week wore on. Each stage would now get longer and tougher, but the cut-off time would always be 5:30PM. Those who had arrived late on day 1 would face a daily battle to qualify for the next stage, and many wouldn't make it. I forgot if I took this at sunset or sunrise the nexy day (more likely), but it's fishtail mountain again. Just amazing to be there.<br />
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Around 5:30pm I had eaten my main dehydrated meal and we all settled down to sleep by about 7pm. I remember sleeping through to about midnight without waking then waking every couple of hours briefly until 5am. So, a great nights sleep by camping standards.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stage 2 – 32.1KM. Elevation: +1365M / -1579M</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke in the morning, and again stayed in my sleeping bag until about 5:45.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d heard a few people being ill in the night, and this was confirmed during the morning briefing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were starting to see a lot of people in the medical tent with gastro intestinal (GI) problems; vomiting and diarrhea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For most people affected it they would suffer for at least 24 hours, so it was a question of them being able to push through that, suffering one bad day and then hopefully returning to form the day after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James Love in our tent threw up 10 minutes before the start that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James is a very strong competitor having completed a marathon on every continent (ask him about the Grand Slam Club and his rather expensive T-shirt – the combined entry cost for them all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was really pretty sick and looked awful, and later that day said that it had been the closest he’d ever felt to pulling out of any race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he knew he’d just need to push through that one day as there was no possibility to come back and do this event again; it was a one-off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d had the same thought myself, during my preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d be finishing no matter what happened; I may need to remind myself of that when I felt awful of course.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not everyone would be able to do that, and indeed some people suffered sickness all week, or eventually had to withdraw as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told it was essential to stay on top of hygiene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew this from past events, and was already working my way through my bottle of alcohol gel at a rapid rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was using it many times a day not just after using the toilet tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d use it after using the cybertent (lots of people typing on the same keyboard), and indeed after handling anything anyone but me had touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every morning I was using it on my Spork and drinks bottle tops to clean them since they’d be the first things to go into my mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, as it was I think I managed to avoid the same bacterial infection but did suffer diarrhea daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why I didn’t vomit, though I felt ropey at times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just had to suffer a daily bout and then take some Immodium each day, and I’d usually pick up as the day went on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was this morning I wasn’t feeling that great after breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, a slow start was going to be in order it appeared. This picture taken just before the start.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gCr1NoqXiM/TtXoqggQ6yI/AAAAAAAAFWQ/ZUyPKuIw72o/s1600/DSC01826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3gCr1NoqXiM/TtXoqggQ6yI/AAAAAAAAFWQ/ZUyPKuIw72o/s320/DSC01826.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A prettier view facing the other way though</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6bmbtfzXss/TtXorZPgsOI/AAAAAAAAFWU/mTue2VKNrW4/s1600/DSC01827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6bmbtfzXss/TtXorZPgsOI/AAAAAAAAFWU/mTue2VKNrW4/s320/DSC01827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The stage started with a clamber up 10M of terraces for everyone, before emerging onto the same jeep track for 1.2km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it was steady running on the undulating track before crossing a bridge and then heading steeply up steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see that there looked to be just a little bump on the hill profile before CP1, and that there was a much more considerable looking climb afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I couldn’t quite read the scale and it’s only now when I look at a digital copy I see that the little bump was actually a 400M climb and then 400M descent; steps up as usual, a slippy section in the shade, then that steep descent</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MBXnyco2CU/TtXotJrZznI/AAAAAAAAFWY/YwCGAzR9ZSM/s1600/DSC01828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6MBXnyco2CU/TtXotJrZznI/AAAAAAAAFWY/YwCGAzR9ZSM/s320/DSC01828.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTJ-WIFfumILvxy-3s7IlY-YsSv4sbu6Mi6DAwnxH9hbnqrJP7TSQJpOzK1SBc0rGdXnIsxb2ZcCKN1Dh628ILL2kuxkE6CVTtiOZkBKoObjxM3ZxwrQB4f0lSVhJZcIqfn9A4XolX8c/s1600/DSC01830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTJ-WIFfumILvxy-3s7IlY-YsSv4sbu6Mi6DAwnxH9hbnqrJP7TSQJpOzK1SBc0rGdXnIsxb2ZcCKN1Dh628ILL2kuxkE6CVTtiOZkBKoObjxM3ZxwrQB4f0lSVhJZcIqfn9A4XolX8c/s320/DSC01830.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDiyc3YMNLjk2nBMrMuY-vj7psyJkReKLlY7dEKWLFndNPP-ax9y6Dylk6ruvzd3DPYf4q2CWSpiEC0RLXTLBwsPXkcQmr5pCXUHTsCGRlGXGKlD-kEE2B1ZN9MxildvK4FwBqlyTYI/s1600/DSC01814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDiyc3YMNLjk2nBMrMuY-vj7psyJkReKLlY7dEKWLFndNPP-ax9y6Dylk6ruvzd3DPYf4q2CWSpiEC0RLXTLBwsPXkcQmr5pCXUHTsCGRlGXGKlD-kEE2B1ZN9MxildvK4FwBqlyTYI/s320/DSC01814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWjkW_b4RJM/TtXoxLwFB2I/AAAAAAAAFWg/cOmpt6jaiW8/s1600/DSC01831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZWjkW_b4RJM/TtXoxLwFB2I/AAAAAAAAFWg/cOmpt6jaiW8/s320/DSC01831.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder it was such a killer start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly it went on for a lot longer than I expected, and feeling as ropey as I did that morning it took a lot out of me, and I took it pretty slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of people were struggling, and in transpired quite a few withdrew from the race at CP1 on stage 2.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got to CP2, where everyone was greeted by Mary from Racing The Planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was doing a great job of telling everyone they looked great, even if they didn’t necessarily feel it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I refilled my water bottles and sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a 740M climb immediately after the CP and I needed to eat more and feel considerably better before I set off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James came into the CP soon after, looking terrible, but pushed straight through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to sort myself out first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fortune the CP was setup by a tea shop and they allowed me to use their squat toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After doing so, and taking my immodium I sat back down, ate some crisps and a tracker bar (nuts).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jack then came into the CP, so I could tell I was way back in the field through stopping at the CP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d offered me a salt capsule to replace some lost salts (the diarrhea), which I gratefully accepted rather than look around in my main back for more salty food in my pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took the capsule and then got myself up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went and glanced at the time/placing recording for the CP, and 120 people had now come through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a seriously long way back in the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was however, confident that I’d done all I needed to do in terms of fuelling to get me to the top of the big climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set off and immediately we crossed a wide river on some stepping stones, watched carefully by some Sherpas who were marshalling and looking out for our safety throughout the course, as well as moving and setting up the camps each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were amazing guys, 80% of them had sumitted Everest!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course leader of them, Karma Sherpa, had submitted 9 times!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Straight after the river crossing began a fiercely steep ascent on steep steps/boulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all under tree cover, so slippy ground, and very humid too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d look up towards the skyline frequently, and think I could see the summit, but it was always a false one, and the climb would continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The climb went straight up for 2K which took I’d guess perhaps an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it tapered off to an only marginally less draining incline for another 2K.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took the climb steadily, just keeping pace behind the 3 or 4 people in front all of whom were using walking poles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, I’d estimate 60% of more of the field were using them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were times when I envied them; particularly on the climbs, but on the descent they would have just hindered me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also find they tie up my hands, and I’m less inclined to fuel myself properly, so I never once considered taking them even though they were recommended by the organisers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">s the climb levelled out, I emerged from the trees and onto a scree slope, that you can just make out below, and see a competitor in front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was already pretty hot now, heading directly into the sun</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next was a narrow track which I ran along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It descended gently and was the first really good running opportunity of this leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, and very nearly missed a sharp left turn off the main track and up a hill, until another competitor pointed it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked him and headed up to join another track which ran parallel to the lower one, just 50M higher up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of people would miss that turn, and indeed I saw 2 guys running on the lower track just 2 minutes later and managed to shout them, so they could back track and get back on course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The course followed a jeep track through villages for several K, where the local people had come out to greet everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I caught James up (pictured under the banner). He was struggling with the sickness, but plodding on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d he ok I thought</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXY2r31Bguw/TtXo2gTbOiI/AAAAAAAAFWs/5D0sk9v1CZg/s1600/DSC01834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PXY2r31Bguw/TtXo2gTbOiI/AAAAAAAAFWs/5D0sk9v1CZg/s320/DSC01834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Amazing views all around, despiote the climbing!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qstyUXOPjN8/TtXo4mdqPJI/AAAAAAAAFWw/xw_x6tKsqoY/s1600/DSC01835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qstyUXOPjN8/TtXo4mdqPJI/AAAAAAAAFWw/xw_x6tKsqoY/s320/DSC01835.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HC8p79zMJCg/TtXo6BvZWLI/AAAAAAAAFW0/NypC5pj-gR4/s1600/DSC01836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HC8p79zMJCg/TtXo6BvZWLI/AAAAAAAAFW0/NypC5pj-gR4/s320/DSC01836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WwqjLOheVtU/TtXo-CvDHII/AAAAAAAAFW8/qr_ToDmR7ag/s1600/DSC01838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WwqjLOheVtU/TtXo-CvDHII/AAAAAAAAFW8/qr_ToDmR7ag/s320/DSC01838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">I frequently saw local people carrying an amazing amount on their backs, and heads. </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ja34w6ETBt4/TtXpBXwMCeI/AAAAAAAAFXE/8oS33TggpT8/s1600/DSC01840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ja34w6ETBt4/TtXpBXwMCeI/AAAAAAAAFXE/8oS33TggpT8/s320/DSC01840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Another nice shot of the Annapurna range here</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_04rbKy7DYQ/TtXpGpPPv2I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/R_WGLxOeZes/s1600/DSC01843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_04rbKy7DYQ/TtXpGpPPv2I/AAAAAAAAFXQ/R_WGLxOeZes/s320/DSC01843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The jeep track undulated for a few k before starting to descend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after I got to CP2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling right as rain now, so rapidly filled up by bottles and headed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d picked up a few places, but not many so I knew I had my work cut out to rescue the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a 700M descent in the next section, so I fancied my chances and set off at a good pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 250M after the CP was track, and then it was 2.7km straight down steep steps and boulders again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times it was slippy and the useless grip on my shoes caused me to roll my ankle countless times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran on and where it was dry I was running down very fast, taking 2 or 3 steps at once, the huge cushioning on my shoes soaking up all the impact. I was running past an awful lot of people too, everyone taking it steady and walking down, using their poles for support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This pattern of steady climbing and rapid descent would repeat itself every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time I’d got down off that big climb my little toes were sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d taken a bashing from hitting the front of my shoes as I ran downhill, and also when I rolled my ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My ankles are very strong from years of trail running, so although I rolled them frequently the tendon’s were strong enough to arrest the movement so I didn’t roll it too seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My quads were really taking a battering from the descent too mind you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ground was fairly flat to CP3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I passed through another local village, and was greeted by the children. Practically every single one wanted their photo taken. I had to take about 10 pictures before they'd let me through! Here are a few.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWERB2SLpfU/TtXpIlAU7BI/AAAAAAAAFXU/x82OsBS9OK4/s1600/DSC01844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aWERB2SLpfU/TtXpIlAU7BI/AAAAAAAAFXU/x82OsBS9OK4/s320/DSC01844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sGTxgvOZvY4/TtXpKpbWvjI/AAAAAAAAFXY/rJJD1ceKi2I/s1600/DSC01845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sGTxgvOZvY4/TtXpKpbWvjI/AAAAAAAAFXY/rJJD1ceKi2I/s320/DSC01845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UYPRaI7njQvXoZspY-0QcEU5kgkS-MQoZbR5sLUDrSxhLoHqvAWrwJuegnCbJknXtD0Gbq46S2g7oknwHg6lrJS_pGw1s7-nkmz-lgbIF-pcd1NCqHnm-4IalmkQfg75E8kObLvNSA4/s1600/DSC01846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UYPRaI7njQvXoZspY-0QcEU5kgkS-MQoZbR5sLUDrSxhLoHqvAWrwJuegnCbJknXtD0Gbq46S2g7oknwHg6lrJS_pGw1s7-nkmz-lgbIF-pcd1NCqHnm-4IalmkQfg75E8kObLvNSA4/s320/DSC01846.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca7rURX_QeA/TtXpQwzjztI/AAAAAAAAFXk/Zm60NuHORMI/s1600/DSC01848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca7rURX_QeA/TtXpQwzjztI/AAAAAAAAFXk/Zm60NuHORMI/s320/DSC01848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I caught up Steve from our tent, who was having a good day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d said he’d been looking forward to a tent stage win and I’d gone and spoiled it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ran together for a while, the trail was sometimes narrow and sometimes a good jeep track.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RUBe62CZAq0n1OqFB4MIkC0uNHacFBdGPVlSV68YqbcGvEyCIi-im3GZIGD6LNHEwa61_QIZxpASjXlIquQLIPc02eXX8OABzNuLpuWLstMWHavfN8mlSwbTgFj-3ibj6Xe60_VoxEQ/s1600/DSC01851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RUBe62CZAq0n1OqFB4MIkC0uNHacFBdGPVlSV68YqbcGvEyCIi-im3GZIGD6LNHEwa61_QIZxpASjXlIquQLIPc02eXX8OABzNuLpuWLstMWHavfN8mlSwbTgFj-3ibj6Xe60_VoxEQ/s320/DSC01851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Steve demonstrated his skill descending the jeep track slopes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reigned myself in a little on the inclines; living by the motto that “if you feel like you are running too fast downhill, then you probably are, so slow up a notch, probably two”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve was very enthusiastic in his descent, but I caught him back up on the flat stretches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rolled his ankle fairly nastily on one descent and took it a little easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few minutes after we sighted a huge cable bridge, spanning a 250M wide ravine, and knew that this was the bridge that had been mentioned in the course briefing earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Abkxra1V7Uo/TtXpc4p8_EI/AAAAAAAAFX4/T2Dqxn8VL-s/s1600/DSC01853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Abkxra1V7Uo/TtXpc4p8_EI/AAAAAAAAFX4/T2Dqxn8VL-s/s320/DSC01853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Everyone was told they had to walk on the bridges, even the leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bridges had all been checked and certified by engineers for safety, but nevertheless they do move, and no more than 10 at once were allowed on them (including local people and us).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was I was never near enough to 10 other people for this to be a problem, and the field was so strung out, I doubt anyone had a problem with this rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a short steep climb-down to get to the bridge where Zandy the photographer had setup to capture everyone as they began crossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a load of local children there too watching us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took my first footstep trying to keep my focus on the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GJCui_E4c0/TtXpfWSRY4I/AAAAAAAAFX8/QTTUSrI2Ifs/s1600/DSC01854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GJCui_E4c0/TtXpfWSRY4I/AAAAAAAAFX8/QTTUSrI2Ifs/s320/DSC01854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate heights remember and this bridge was a good 100M or more off the valley floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bridge bounced slightly with every footstep as I made my way out into the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half way along, despite the heights issue, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity for a photo, so I held the camera at arm’s length and took this picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnJlbXeLyJ4/TtXphbhIZ1I/AAAAAAAAFYA/kN_ZD3w5gts/s1600/DSC01855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tnJlbXeLyJ4/TtXphbhIZ1I/AAAAAAAAFYA/kN_ZD3w5gts/s320/DSC01855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I then walked along quickly, anxious to get to the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing how hard it was to climb up to the other side, despite the only apparent shallow incline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must be some magic physics explanation as to why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got almost to the other side and looked back and took a photo of Steve as he crossed</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrwRMkGa0HM/TtXpjmUJ8PI/AAAAAAAAFYE/OYjpxY0XD0w/s1600/DSC01856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrwRMkGa0HM/TtXpjmUJ8PI/AAAAAAAAFYE/OYjpxY0XD0w/s320/DSC01856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other side there was a short steep up-climb to gain the main track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the heat of the day that short 30M up-climb was really hard, and later on everyone commented the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Immediately after the climb was the welcome sight of CP3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t pause any longer than to refill my bottles and then I headed straight out, running at a good steady pace that I could maintain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a 5km plateau, with only mild undulations, which meant I could run it all and hopefully pick off some more places and try and rescue the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did just that a overtook quite a few more on this section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprise of the day was that I passed a school and there were a couple of hundred children and teachers all of whom were standing out in the sun and cheering every competitor as they passed. Amazing sight, and fantastic support from the local people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took this photo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7mDT6fZhFBWUX8w9PiM8Jbd2frLtd1UzXCAjJgT0Bqdnz2AiKp9aENqJz9vAYgjDiQm7OU9kESrEttNPh_l1OQ8V9f6xpTxKpL8AL2TDYHuBQSabYtAlNw_XM4PVhjp_uGFQr5XUfJg/s1600/DSC01857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7mDT6fZhFBWUX8w9PiM8Jbd2frLtd1UzXCAjJgT0Bqdnz2AiKp9aENqJz9vAYgjDiQm7OU9kESrEttNPh_l1OQ8V9f6xpTxKpL8AL2TDYHuBQSabYtAlNw_XM4PVhjp_uGFQr5XUfJg/s320/DSC01857.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My toes were feeling sore I noticed. I'd been ignoring them a little, thinking maybe I'll sort them out at the end of the day, but eventually good sense got the better of me, and I sat down and taped up the small and the big toe on each. I had to laugh as I tore off some tape and saw my girlfriend had carefully unwrapped some, written messages and put it back on the roll! see below!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFj7ZrRixG8/TtXpn9yVdTI/AAAAAAAAFYM/3pqKcp5nm8o/s1600/DSC01858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFj7ZrRixG8/TtXpn9yVdTI/AAAAAAAAFYM/3pqKcp5nm8o/s320/DSC01858.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 minutes later I was on my way again. The track then started to descend and I knew there </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">was a steady 300M descent on a jeep track that would wind it’s way down the river and valley floor below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I increased my pace, and ignored my rule about reigning it in a notch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I increased it by two notches instead and used the bouncy shoes to soak up all the force and stones as I came down the switchback track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far below I could see the camp and finish just a couple of k away and set myself a task of overtaking everyone that I could see ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I overtook the last 3 of them about 400M before the finish and managed to hold my pace, tired as I was, until crossing the line ahead of a few people trying to chase back their place not far behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at my placing; 44<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d pulled back 80 places since CP1!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A great rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’d have felt well in the morning who knows where I’d have finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was 44<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> was a great result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I collected my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>water ration and went to my tent, expecting to be first back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roger and Keir were there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very shocked and said “wow you two have had a good day”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We haven’t they said, we both pulled out at CP1”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">They weren't sick (though Roger got the bug later in the week), I think they'd just struggled with the hills and terrain. The start of the stage was tough, but it got a lot tougher after CP1, so maybe they made a sensible decision. Kier wasn't interested in even staying in Nepal, he got a lift back to Pokhara, changed his flights and went straight back home, which I found a little strange. Why not just enjoy a week in the mountains anyway? Roger may well have done the same, but he was really on a tight budget, every dollar counted, so he opted to stay in the camp all week. He got to see the course and country at least, so not a wasted trip.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The biggest shock of the day was that Marshall Ulrich had also pulled out at CP1. One of his tentmates told me he had fallen sick with the camp bug, but an aggravating factor was that he wasn't that well coming into the race. He had apparently just climbed Aconcagua (South America's highest mountain) and had a respiratory problem and had been couhing a lot. He hadn't been able to recover in time, and the sickness had just made it impossible for him to carry on. His two team mates did continue with the race and finished. Marshall was not satisfied to just be a spectator so asked to be put to work as a volunteer, manning checkpoint but beyond that he would be out roaming on sections of the course, helping to direct at difficult sections, and provide encouragement for people. I even saw him finish a stage with one of the last people in on day 4, effectively walking a struggling guy in. The competitor was really grateful. It was just one example of where he went above and beyond and what earned him the 'Spirit Award' trophy at the awards banquet at the end of the race.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The camp was right next to a wide river and quite a few people were taking advantage of it by bathing, or at least paddling. I weighed up the risk versus benfit to my aching quads and decided on risking it. I wandered down and waded into the freezing cold water, emersing my quads in the cooling water for 10 minutes; like an ice-bath I reasoned. I'd made a poor decision to leave my shoes, as we lost the sun early and they were soaking wet. I managed to mostly dry them by the campfire a little later luckily though. My quads did benefit from the impromptu icebath though I think.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Steve camp into camp about 20 minutes or so later, and then James about an hour after me, followed by Martina and Jack. James had really had a tough day, but he had got through it and was now on the mend. At leats he'd had his bad day early in the week and not on one of the later even tougher stages. All the stages were tough, but they got progressively longer as the week wore on.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We were camped most days on out of season rice fields, so the ground was soft but vegation poked through the ground sheet sometimes. My small thermarest smoothed out the bumps for the most part, and again I got a reasonable nights sleep.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">Stage 3 - 38KM. Elevation +1478 / -464</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JSFxAYbuvTk/TtXpsVa92KI/AAAAAAAAFYY/zp3Q2BQH4i4/s1600/DSC01861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JSFxAYbuvTk/TtXpsVa92KI/AAAAAAAAFYY/zp3Q2BQH4i4/s320/DSC01861.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Es1TgQ53fQc/TtXptyCyp6I/AAAAAAAAFYc/-blLsiMTJrQ/s1600/DSC01862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Es1TgQ53fQc/TtXptyCyp6I/AAAAAAAAFYc/-blLsiMTJrQ/s320/DSC01862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">I followed my usual morning routine; last out of my sleeping bag, packing fairly quickly and settling down in front of the fire to eat whilst Sam gave the morning briefing. Today looked like an easier day. Essentially we were on a wide jeep track for virtually the entire stage; it would be undulating, but gaining 800M over the first 33.5k and then one big killer 650M hill for the last leg. A big hill just when you least wanted it, at the end. The elevation profile for the first 3 legs showed the overall gain, but looked almost flat when compared to the steep gain at the end. I think this lured people into a false sense that they could really run 2/3 of the stage quite hard. I think quite a lot of people did just that and tired out as the stage wore on due to the constant small ups and downs, that accounted for 800M of ascent in that 33.5k. I took Sam's warning on Nepali flats seriously and figured I'd run it steady sensible and walk the uphill sections where appropriate.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">Here's a photo at the start; James and his friend Wendy pictured.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YhCxhrYasvG1GNDg9tAN14ToE-QKk9-HDYcpxQqnhFLAK-3puV6RR9OdPqOdVgcaIGowVNI89X1FbokECfcarj7AVRJa7zZGQ3-DlFFj3Rt7oKwzPtQaQnWx15Lv4DikTVGEN-n7XXw/s1600/DSC01859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YhCxhrYasvG1GNDg9tAN14ToE-QKk9-HDYcpxQqnhFLAK-3puV6RR9OdPqOdVgcaIGowVNI89X1FbokECfcarj7AVRJa7zZGQ3-DlFFj3Rt7oKwzPtQaQnWx15Lv4DikTVGEN-n7XXw/s320/DSC01859.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">Here's a photo of the start</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrPmxj6jaVFjDjyF8ABfrcggc96S-hIK3CfuVolkivqCRWLT1jHNHgJ8r3h4ib1WNzRvKLt3D6N_IcaL_BRoPI5RnDtXnSlGwgW6RgRdJxd413z_-YVgTHloEcEFvMgJbvzm_FNwLvv8/s1600/DSC01863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrPmxj6jaVFjDjyF8ABfrcggc96S-hIK3CfuVolkivqCRWLT1jHNHgJ8r3h4ib1WNzRvKLt3D6N_IcaL_BRoPI5RnDtXnSlGwgW6RgRdJxd413z_-YVgTHloEcEFvMgJbvzm_FNwLvv8/s320/DSC01863.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">The stage started, all the top 50 headed out fairly quickly. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShNfInSYO-_ZPuDHnEWIizZlfsQrCcK6sDiL6dF5SfhWzkiJBf244vsqKHOxCtTI5_07-J5gA5VCw3ZbzWGPo3cEi6c8r6cZIZTf6GHQsX8c3ZHminPOwV00URssoFT8dOGnp-9dVBrc/s1600/DSC01865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShNfInSYO-_ZPuDHnEWIizZlfsQrCcK6sDiL6dF5SfhWzkiJBf244vsqKHOxCtTI5_07-J5gA5VCw3ZbzWGPo3cEi6c8r6cZIZTf6GHQsX8c3ZHminPOwV00URssoFT8dOGnp-9dVBrc/s320/DSC01865.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">I lingered back a little steadier, happy to be in the top 80 or so. Photo of local farmers here</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HC8p79zMJCg/TtXo6BvZWLI/AAAAAAAAFW0/NypC5pj-gR4/s1600/DSC01836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HC8p79zMJCg/TtXo6BvZWLI/AAAAAAAAFW0/NypC5pj-gR4/s320/DSC01836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CvYlzYzj-Xo/TtXpwxGv2tI/AAAAAAAAFYk/1VjGhdzqTqE/s1600/DSC01864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CvYlzYzj-Xo/TtXpwxGv2tI/AAAAAAAAFYk/1VjGhdzqTqE/s320/DSC01864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The scenary all along this stage was amazing. We were following the Kaligandaki river all day, so in a canyon sometimes, and a shallower valley at others<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxiuZe-dSjw/TtXpzt3uXsI/AAAAAAAAFYs/g1-5AQxPmGY/s1600/DSC01866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxiuZe-dSjw/TtXpzt3uXsI/AAAAAAAAFYs/g1-5AQxPmGY/s320/DSC01866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">I had my morning loo stop and Imodium before CP1, to get it out of the way! I was running with James for almost the whole stage that day. We ran into a small town, Beni, pictured below. You can just make out a cable bridge we crossed.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4xw5bsv5gTCLcfsgEPADeTiksPKKNvM4GMUFuXJivF3yNK5rGvdJwyw7QrR1G4SblRXnTwTdrVWHKOTIG3upKgrSzpT97Kq842KpiTO8B-hn8_nO92vbDhtg3yVgTNoPq_O3f1Iz5zM/s1600/DSC01867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4xw5bsv5gTCLcfsgEPADeTiksPKKNvM4GMUFuXJivF3yNK5rGvdJwyw7QrR1G4SblRXnTwTdrVWHKOTIG3upKgrSzpT97Kq842KpiTO8B-hn8_nO92vbDhtg3yVgTNoPq_O3f1Iz5zM/s320/DSC01867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">We emerged into the middle of a dirt football pitch with the local kids playing football and cheering us on as we ran through. We ran through the middle of the town, small shops all around and lots of locals clapping as as we went. It was a nice atmosphere. Soon after we got to CP1. I was a little ahead of James and went straight through, but he caught up about 30 mins later. I was a little surpised actually, since I hadn't been hanging about! He was clearly feeling a lot better and wasn't hanging around either!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">The stunning scenary just can't be captured as I've said already</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w2V3VtX100/TtXp3_tINXI/AAAAAAAAFY4/bYj-2oe-2OM/s1600/DSC01870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w2V3VtX100/TtXp3_tINXI/AAAAAAAAFY4/bYj-2oe-2OM/s320/DSC01870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5WHVZFjwYI/TtXp50Zbu-I/AAAAAAAAFY8/uH-Dq6OxwS8/s1600/DSC01872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j5WHVZFjwYI/TtXp50Zbu-I/AAAAAAAAFY8/uH-Dq6OxwS8/s320/DSC01872.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv729dAA5_ZeRtgKSb3rx6rBYv9bFeFgi3uCFqaB3Y8ktloLhDq0oVGwRtdmcHk_KnliGejE_L0fp9zzzCLn8l2gbF3DF4mS85-Y9DOSVKY_v3XgymkbNELG0UhSwA2DECwIW-ICysYJ4/s1600/DSC01873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv729dAA5_ZeRtgKSb3rx6rBYv9bFeFgi3uCFqaB3Y8ktloLhDq0oVGwRtdmcHk_KnliGejE_L0fp9zzzCLn8l2gbF3DF4mS85-Y9DOSVKY_v3XgymkbNELG0UhSwA2DECwIW-ICysYJ4/s320/DSC01873.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">Here's James</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2fRBczlMyA-ycD_s-XRK1D9KWJn5tnGQgW1Om9Uxd43YledktibwN9GWUkw5iSu63k-gmjUKg2XTQR0r7zJ_1FfoO5mF7puRaormj-E5FhQo4H8E_tIdX2rGXEJeoBoE_w2ZAd_2TD0/s1600/DSC01875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2fRBczlMyA-ycD_s-XRK1D9KWJn5tnGQgW1Om9Uxd43YledktibwN9GWUkw5iSu63k-gmjUKg2XTQR0r7zJ_1FfoO5mF7puRaormj-E5FhQo4H8E_tIdX2rGXEJeoBoE_w2ZAd_2TD0/s320/DSC01875.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">I got into CP2 just ahead of James and this time made a little more of a concerted effort to go faster! I kept up my steady pace now overtaking quite a lot of people as they slowed down. James still managed to catch back up, damn him! I was only just ahead at CP3, but went straight through whilst fuelling myself madly with all remaining snacks, knowing that there was one hell of a climb ahead in the hottest part of the day. It started easy enough with 1km of rough jeep track. A tractor heading up to camp overtook me as I stood aside. I gave it a bit of a headstart which was lucky as half the load then fell off the back! I overtook it again as the Sherpa's gathered up the fallen load and didn't see it again. I have another hilarious story about a tractor driver that my tentmate Martina saw en-route. I won't write this story down though, you'll have to ask me about it if you see me at an event!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P839-QFrCYw/TtXqC3SyuwI/AAAAAAAAFZU/QM_ozLU-RFQ/s1600/DSC01879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P839-QFrCYw/TtXqC3SyuwI/AAAAAAAAFZU/QM_ozLU-RFQ/s320/DSC01879.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">After that it became a narrow boulder strewn climb, sometimes with steps. The climb was really quite tough and the pictures just don't show how steep it was at times.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-prc58opmNC8/TtXqE3lB59I/AAAAAAAAFZY/Vdn050ovkGA/s1600/DSC01880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-prc58opmNC8/TtXqE3lB59I/AAAAAAAAFZY/Vdn050ovkGA/s320/DSC01880.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HThAwzzNTsU/TtXqG8mMP6I/AAAAAAAAFZc/_W9pZmGeHQU/s1600/DSC01881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HThAwzzNTsU/TtXqG8mMP6I/AAAAAAAAFZc/_W9pZmGeHQU/s320/DSC01881.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">Often there were no steps and jusy rubble to clamber over on the steep terraced hillside.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hR73nTT3tVI/TtXqIz7x8AI/AAAAAAAAFZg/Nr1b01E6J0A/s1600/DSC01882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hR73nTT3tVI/TtXqIz7x8AI/AAAAAAAAFZg/Nr1b01E6J0A/s320/DSC01882.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">James was with me for the earlier section, then I got my head down and quickened my pace. It was probably against my better judgement to climb so quickly up to the 1800M campsite, but I was feeling good and wanted to snatch back some more places. So, I climbed steadily but quickly and was shocked by the sudden appearance of the finish line. I clambered over the last few boulders and ran down to an amazing welcome from people from a local village and school who were lined up. They put a garland of flowers around my neck as I crossed the finish and there was music and dancing; amazing! I'd finished in 44th place. My placing was pretty consistent it seems. Again, I was very happy.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8K_ltMkMeo/TtXqKvsSEyI/AAAAAAAAFZk/2xueMUtmz4U/s1600/DSC01883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8K_ltMkMeo/TtXqKvsSEyI/AAAAAAAAFZk/2xueMUtmz4U/s320/DSC01883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">James finished about 15 minutes later and came over to join me sitting on the floor. We've beaten the tent I said. It's a benchmark achievemnt to get to camp before your tent has been setup. The Sherpa's hadn't yet set up our tent. You could tell we were performing well! We were both very impressed with that acheivement! Soon after the tent was setup and I had my rego drink as usual. I didn't realise that I must have burned through a lot of water on that last climb. I didn't realise how dehydrated I was that day. In fact I didn't realise how dehydrated I was until half way through the next stage, when things went a little pear-shaped. More of that later though.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">A landscape of the camp.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZSHoZpCmrI/TtXqLdlzllI/AAAAAAAAFZo/kUlQJwp8wKs/s1600/DSC01884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hZSHoZpCmrI/TtXqLdlzllI/AAAAAAAAFZo/kUlQJwp8wKs/s400/DSC01884.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">The local people all sat on a huge boulder and observed the comings and goings of everyone. I guess it was the biggest thing to happen in a long time, if ever, in the locality.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HTBM_v3MOY/TtXqMYpXBnI/AAAAAAAAFZs/JZF4eKvlzLM/s1600/DSC01885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HTBM_v3MOY/TtXqMYpXBnI/AAAAAAAAFZs/JZF4eKvlzLM/s320/DSC01885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4b5sWIgSH24/TtXqPVFHsZI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/RIbs2e6-np0/s1600/DSC01888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4b5sWIgSH24/TtXqPVFHsZI/AAAAAAAAFZ0/RIbs2e6-np0/s320/DSC01888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">We were camped on farming terraces again as you can see, both in camp and a view to the opposite mountain.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8A7gE7QN-s/TtXqW7PBjDI/AAAAAAAAFaE/TtsJuCCkZmM/s1600/DSC01892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8A7gE7QN-s/TtXqW7PBjDI/AAAAAAAAFaE/TtsJuCCkZmM/s320/DSC01892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8raxSKLBcI/TtXqRq4fUeI/AAAAAAAAFZ4/ucsJ42OlghU/s1600/DSC01889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8raxSKLBcI/TtXqRq4fUeI/AAAAAAAAFZ4/ucsJ42OlghU/s320/DSC01889.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">The local people tended the camp fire all week, supplying hot water for our meals; this was very much appreciated by everyone.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUgzy7cheds/TtXqTzcKuOI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/aKZvY0J7kFs/s1600/DSC01890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OUgzy7cheds/TtXqTzcKuOI/AAAAAAAAFZ8/aKZvY0J7kFs/s320/DSC01890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">A helicopter landed by the finish line during the afternoon, and it was explained the next day that this was because we were heading up to the highest point on the course where there was no car access. Sherpa extraction would take 10 hours, so as a safety measure a helicopter would take a doctor up and be on stand by to medivac anyone who struggled with the altitude or any other problems. This was very reassuring for everyone I'm sure.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;">The other guys from the tent came in as the afternoon went on. Martina had been struggling with some sickness but was doing ok still. As it got dark we all ate and soon got into the tent as it was very cold. We were camped up above 1800M, and for the only night in the week there was no rain inside the tent. It was very cold and I slept very poorly. Arriving first into camp as I did, I setup my sleeping bag at the back of the tent furthest from the door. I really needed to go to the toilet in the night, but a combination of not wanting to get out into the freezing cold (1-2C) and also not wanting to wake everyone up by clambering over them all to get to the door, I stayed put. As a result of not going to the toilet, I unconciously, also didn't rehydrate. This proved to be an absolutely terrible decision.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stage 4 – 27.2km +1524M –2275M</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get much sleep at all that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no dripping from the ceiling that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been very cold, close to 0C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with my lightweight sleeping bag and liner I wasn’t that warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d slept in some clothes which I’m not sure really helped, as I don’t think the sleeping bags works as well if you are clothed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also of course I’d been desperate to go to the toilet but hadn’t, and as a result hadn’t hydrated properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stayed in my sleeping bag until 6am, and then got up had my beet shot and went and sat by the fire to have breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s stage was a shorter one, but that meant it was probably going to be touge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hill profile showed it was one huge climb for 10k to CP1, gaining over 1200M to an altitude just short of 3000M. Then one huge descent of over 3500 steps and boulders to CP2 over the next 10k, before a gradual descent with some undulation to the finish 8k later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t look too bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course this first 10k was going to be pretty horrible but I was just going to have to get my head down and tough that out, then I figured I could coast the rest all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it was going to be an easy stage for me?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVgYiIEcAUQ/TtXqYUtGYxI/AAAAAAAAFaI/SiUr7MUkFvc/s1600/DSC01893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVgYiIEcAUQ/TtXqYUtGYxI/AAAAAAAAFaI/SiUr7MUkFvc/s320/DSC01893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It didn’t work out that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stage started and we ran out of the camp and actually lost a little height before we started the climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The climb was the usual mix of fairly decent cut steps and rough boulders varying in steepness but of course when you are gaining 1200M it was all continuous climbing. I’d started off reasonably ok, running the start and then settling into a steady march uphill like everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d had a headache all morning and had a couple of paracetamol on the start line but an hour later and they had no effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling rough as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it the altitude? Can’t be I thought, as I’d done some altitude training back in the UK to at least this altitude and been fine, and be fine at well over this altitude before now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevertheless I was short of breath and even paused a few times to take a few breaths and get my heart rate back down. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlXEB_eqbqQ/TtXqZsMsk_I/AAAAAAAAFaM/wI0YtfSb6-0/s1600/DSC01894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlXEB_eqbqQ/TtXqZsMsk_I/AAAAAAAAFaM/wI0YtfSb6-0/s320/DSC01894.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over an hour and a half solid climbing and several cruel false summits later, and the ascent went on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d estimated 2 to 2.5 hours and it wasn’t going to be any less. My head was really pounding now and I couldn’t understand why I was feeling so rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My usual checklist is eat more food, up my hydration and electrolytes, and one of those things will fix the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had doubtless burned through plenty of calories but didn’t feel desperately hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did however up my hydration, and in fact was somewhat surprised to find that I had sunk 2l of water and electrolytes and now had none left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just figured that meant I was well hydrated and struggled on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close to the top as I was I had to take 2 x 1 minute breaks, just sitting on the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt a little confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hot and humid too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on one of these breaks that I took off my Sahara sun cap and must have put in down, then in somewhat of a daze got up and carried on climbing; I left it behind never to be seen again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It wasn’t until I got to the top of the climb to the village of Ghorepani at the peak and was directed to the CP that I realised my suncap was lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly wasn’t going to go back and find it, and I was really feeling pretty terrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to take a break at the CP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The CP was busy, and wasn’t quite as well organised as all the other CPs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually there were people on hand to help refill your water bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just sat down and took off my pack when I got there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get any water initially; a little too dazed to realise what I was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured the altitude must be having this effect on me for some unknown reason, and I knew the best cure for that was descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent about 15 minutes trying to bring myself round, forced down some food and then got up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only took 1 litre of water, still a little confused and perhaps I thought since I’d already drank 2 litres I was ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure why, but that’s all I took, then headed out of the CP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It was such an amazing viewpoint, and much as I didn't feel like it, I took these photos. Glad I made the effort now though. The mountain is Anapurna South.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bn1vckWFLrE/TtXqbaWyjBI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/zabUeVVHnoU/s1600/DSC01895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bn1vckWFLrE/TtXqbaWyjBI/AAAAAAAAFaQ/zabUeVVHnoU/s320/DSC01895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1lifBPDBnw/TtXqca-nD_I/AAAAAAAAFaU/kdhzkeZyOsc/s1600/DSC01896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1lifBPDBnw/TtXqca-nD_I/AAAAAAAAFaU/kdhzkeZyOsc/s320/DSC01896.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The route immediately started to head down hill, and would do so for a long time now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally I’d be bouncing down the steps, but I was sometimes doing a half hearted jog, sometimes just walking it steadily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was feeling thirsty and 30 minutes after leaving the CP I realised I’d drank all my 1 litre of water, and hadn’t taken any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at that point that a suspicion of dehydration occurred to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, there was an easy way to see if that was the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forced myself to go to the toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tiny bit that I managed was a very bad dark colour, the worst I’d ever seen, even in a desert race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It then all made sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d not rehydrated properly last night, and being dehydrated can make any altitude gains more acutely felt, so it was highly likely I was suffering from some altitude effects (the headache) and was also why I was feeling dazed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stupid me I thought, though the realisation didn’t make me feel any better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed more water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many tea houses on the route, and we were all carrying some money for emergencies, so I was going to have to stop and buy some water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t picked up my full ration at the CP, so I was due some anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped and bought some, and sat down in the doorway of the teahouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drank a little and then just lay flat on my back in the shade, feeling really ropey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to get myself out of this mess anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would be no bailing out of the race because the race was a one-off, so no chance to repeat it, and any extraction even if it had been serious would take hours as I was so remote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I just had to get all the water down me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sipped it every few minutes and laafty in the shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of people were coming past; I was very much getting to the back of the pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A big group of French hikers were nearby clapping everyone as they went by, but casting concerned glances and whispers in my direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 40 minutes later and still not feeling particularly good, I forced myself to get up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had taken on plenty of water, I just needed to get going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d likely feel a lot better as I descended I reasoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The route down was initially heavily shaded, and parts of the route were very slippy and muddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a fabled 3500 steps down, but I wasn’t counting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They were boulder-steps of all shapes and sizes and the route down frequently went back ‘up’ sometimes too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even feeling rough as I did I began to start to pass a few people again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqFZOJpT8KabnWaztk1HSCIihB6HLrQ5f4-584jTtMN1Y0sgc6y8ryarlxBgxO8-wawIVBKWRNXG6ar62NqdBDwkqXqgEbdgdKOo01Sl-5H0i4W7OQNVrKHHmOI_6Xue4c1FP7rFM_Fw/s1600/DSC01897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqFZOJpT8KabnWaztk1HSCIihB6HLrQ5f4-584jTtMN1Y0sgc6y8ryarlxBgxO8-wawIVBKWRNXG6ar62NqdBDwkqXqgEbdgdKOo01Sl-5H0i4W7OQNVrKHHmOI_6Xue4c1FP7rFM_Fw/s320/DSC01897.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>After about an hour of descent I almost magically began to feel much better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably around 2000M altitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rapidly increased my decent, even though I had now emerged onto sun-baked terraces with no cover from the sun, and no sun hat either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was nothing I could do about that, so I just ran on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Route finding became a little more difficult as there as many small villages and paths on the way down and not always were the route markers quite as often as we would have liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked local people from time to time if they had seen other runners and I was on the right path.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNzDN8wHz70/TtXqgAyqvUI/AAAAAAAAFac/Hh3AreXU2oE/s1600/DSC01898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNzDN8wHz70/TtXqgAyqvUI/AAAAAAAAFac/Hh3AreXU2oE/s320/DSC01898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The vierws as always were amazing though.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKZht-zdRfw/TtXqiFh52WI/AAAAAAAAFag/szr9povL9Zc/s1600/DSC01899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKZht-zdRfw/TtXqiFh52WI/AAAAAAAAFag/szr9povL9Zc/s320/DSC01899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They indicated that I was, so I’d run on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going quickly again now, bouncing down the steps, eager to catch up as many lost places as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no way I was going to finish as high as I did the previous 3 days, so this was just damage limitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel myself catching the sun on my unprotected head, but I could also feel myself sweating again, so that was a good sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also needed the loo again, and it was back to all clear!I’d finished off all of my water again, but I was well enough hydrated to get to the next CP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going down all those steps took a lot longer than I thought, but eventually the path started to level out and I crossed a cable bridge into a small village to the CP.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I took a seat in the shade for a couple of minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff at the CP were really helpful, especially Marshall Ulrich who took my bottles off me, and refilled them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mentioned I’d had a rough stage so far, running out of water, and dehydrated, and losing my cap too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marshall turned around and opened up his pack, and took out his cap and gave it to me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was obviously very grateful, and said “I’ll give it back to you later in camp”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said “you can keep it”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woo hoo best race souvenir ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Here it is pictured later on in the teahouse.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDUtEL69wqs/TtXqpiURlgI/AAAAAAAAFa0/sjH_4tQlu50/s1600/DSC01904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDUtEL69wqs/TtXqpiURlgI/AAAAAAAAFa0/sjH_4tQlu50/s320/DSC01904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDi4NxUYqkbzAT3AAOgIUA4vfR7pq4kpiHHN_WyNESLSQX-ydoaax110OTMeAi_E7QJn0BS5VKimBY9yFtIJBpj63qu-ETTiPcS_e2-HK09zOnO3Kh0b8qSh5vcUB8707e1GsvrTrNPNU/s1600/DSC01903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDi4NxUYqkbzAT3AAOgIUA4vfR7pq4kpiHHN_WyNESLSQX-ydoaax110OTMeAi_E7QJn0BS5VKimBY9yFtIJBpj63qu-ETTiPcS_e2-HK09zOnO3Kh0b8qSh5vcUB8707e1GsvrTrNPNU/s320/DSC01903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tightened the lids on my bottles thanked everyone at the CP, and set off for the last leg of the stage to camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was around 10k mostly downhill, but undulating in places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news was that it was good quality trail, or jeep track for the whole way, following a river again. There were a fair few steps still to negotiate of course.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tBun4LP4TljE3OnVSm2jsFwCANRUL3Yq509EUZFCnEUOoGS1yQTDHSnKNWYzJ38r4gFEC4ETL5cu18C5RkcQHze95gn3FOGfNd7ub-LEoGKh3M9oFbAnZOmpDor2OBFohlCwyoW8Vw0/s1600/DSC01900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tBun4LP4TljE3OnVSm2jsFwCANRUL3Yq509EUZFCnEUOoGS1yQTDHSnKNWYzJ38r4gFEC4ETL5cu18C5RkcQHze95gn3FOGfNd7ub-LEoGKh3M9oFbAnZOmpDor2OBFohlCwyoW8Vw0/s320/DSC01900.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwx48wO-xCVwO2tadPvd9UnAzfs1O6OBexLKem2csLmroCu_m-lYhX1jvGf3CuNXWbh58jrQfb1TRB4y5o7qjuSbh_b8dnsjDgRPPqS5WBnsOk4DcGWIdImpZSKGAeccbcufbBI4bOrI/s1600/DSC01901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwx48wO-xCVwO2tadPvd9UnAzfs1O6OBexLKem2csLmroCu_m-lYhX1jvGf3CuNXWbh58jrQfb1TRB4y5o7qjuSbh_b8dnsjDgRPPqS5WBnsOk4DcGWIdImpZSKGAeccbcufbBI4bOrI/s320/DSC01901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d done a fair amount of overtaking on the decent into CP2, but picked up a few more places in that last leg. I pushed really hard, too hard to be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my new lucky hat on, and maybe some of that talent was going to transfer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure it works like that, but you never know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t really recall how long it took me to do that last leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cheap watch that I had brought was fogged up with condensation and unreadable again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran the whole leg though, before running into the finishing village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were competitors who had all finished earlier strewn throughout the village in the tea houses and shops as I zigzagged along the twisting paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I crossed the line in 6 hours and 59<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> place and pretty shattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d pulled back an awful lot of places, but nothing was going to make up the hour I’d lost to the dehydrated episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t even finished first out of the tent that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James had a storming day and had finished 45 mins ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made up for the awful day he had with sickness the day before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We later both agreed that pretty much everyone had one bad day. I was given a meal ticket and told that I could only use it in the tea house that I was assigned to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yes, I forgot, tonight we had a special treat, we would be staying in a tea house in the village of Birethanti for this one night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tea houses and very basic accommodation, like wooden Inn’s really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a small room and bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bedding had been taken away, so we still had to use our sleeping bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were squat toilets shared between all the rooms, which was a luxury compared to the toilet tents we had been sharing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went to my room and took off my shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My little toe had been getting more bashed about as the days went by and after today’s huge descent, the underside of my small right toe was just one big blood blister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> You can just about make it out on this photo, and see the other little toe looking a little battle scarred too.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjnER90UhLgKZa9AKE6naTAR8YC2ypWbdvSWTRxBaAaff4RENrXGtHVmWbBylktqJquGt9gRdR3d3LkrnH4QNbq0a1UpT5Cb_gQqBp3jZZnnKljiZNMY-QnNz6_7YcobK91Z9wvVdwDc/s1600/DSC01907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjnER90UhLgKZa9AKE6naTAR8YC2ypWbdvSWTRxBaAaff4RENrXGtHVmWbBylktqJquGt9gRdR3d3LkrnH4QNbq0a1UpT5Cb_gQqBp3jZZnnKljiZNMY-QnNz6_7YcobK91Z9wvVdwDc/s320/DSC01907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2 years previous I had burst an blood blister, and it got infected and took me out of a race, and landed me in hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hobbled along to the race doctors and asked for their opinion. I was going to have a hard time running on it without bursting it, but bursting it meant a strong chance of infection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said “you’re between a rock and a hard place”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ideally you don’t burst it though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cleaned up my feet there and happened to go to the toilet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost jumped out of my skin when my urine was red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then remembered I had a beet shot at breakfast time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I had been to the loo several times earlier and it had been clear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little concerned that maybe it wasn’t beet (which does turn your output pink!) and could be blood in my urine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I peed in a bottle and showed it to the docs “holy shit is that your urine!” was the response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said yes, but it’s probably beet, and not blood what do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said “if we had a lab we’d tell you in 5 minutes, but we don’t so we can’t really say with 100% certainty. It’s probably not blood as it may be a slightly muddier colour, but keep an eye on it to be on the safe side”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave me a bottle of water and I sat and rehydrated until I peed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was more pink this time, but they said that drinking more water would also dilute the colour of blood too. Oh dear, my sometimes hypochondriac tendencies were not settled by this news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to do a scientific test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went back to my room and rehydrated and filled up some more bottles, and then dipped my finger in a beet shot and added it to a fresh bottle of water. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned the same colour as my urine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small panic over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I felt fairly ropey for the rest of the evening, a mixture of over-exertion and too much sun I think. I wasn’t told my free meal ticket was for only one specific dish, so I ordered off the menu; a vegetable cutlet and then had to pay for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still I wasn’t that hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a couple of hours rest, and then got up to have dinner with the rest of my tent mates who had since come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used my meal ticket this time and had a dhal bhat, which was really good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I polished it off pretty rapidly, putting back some much needed calories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoughts turned to the next stage, the long day 75km with 2900M of ascent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered how I would cope with my smashed up toes. Both little toes were in a state, but the right one had the big blood blister and was sore to put pressure on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after dinner I went to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept well and rehydrated like a demon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No hydration mistakes this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still filled the water bottles to check when my colour returned to normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe it or not, it took 4 litres of peeing to go clear again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept really well in the bed that night, just what I needed. This pic was taken in the tea house, and I've put this photo up for your amusement! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfiW4uguZn0/TtXqnvvZcSI/AAAAAAAAFpg/gVrSMlq0m5A/s1600/DSC01902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BfiW4uguZn0/TtXqnvvZcSI/AAAAAAAAFpg/gVrSMlq0m5A/s320/DSC01902.JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 5 – 75km +2919M –3249M</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke feeling refreshed, and went downstairs to eat my breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tea house owners had been told to supply us with hot water for our own supplied breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, because we had been given a free meal the night before, I had a spare meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I had a 1400 calorie Mountain House big pack Spaghetti Bolognese spare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I ate as much of it as I could manage, which was only about half of it, but 700kcal is good fuelling to start a 75km stage.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had been studying the road book for this stage, for several days now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day was essentially 3 very big climbs (roughly 600M, 700M and 400M changes in altitude) and descents over 45km, and then a predominantly flattish last 30km.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I had make a clear decision that I was going to go steady and “tough out” the first 45Km, making sure I had enough in my legs to clear those big ascents and descents, and then if I had anything left in the tank I’d “open up” in the last 30km, which was very likely to be all tackled in darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The route would be going through some jungle like terrain and we were told to check ourselves for leeches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parts of the route would also be very slippery and very slow going, so trying to estimate how long the route might take would just be hazarding a guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made an approximation of 15 hours.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbFW_FqfDLk/TtXqu0O4t9I/AAAAAAAAFbI/z24AzIveC_c/s1600/DSC01910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mbFW_FqfDLk/TtXqu0O4t9I/AAAAAAAAFbI/z24AzIveC_c/s320/DSC01910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLtE-D0heoQptWO9NV8Wx6QSlVRdHRpkQ17U3p2KjPTT2Gu5QpJp4WyxKYfTe9_a2EH2FZXmCKBPVErNETii4Nrolr_hCSZrTxDkTr2hp6Z_tJxJFFJkyg0vCNlYePnVkJlgkbtbrebM/s1600/DSC01908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLtE-D0heoQptWO9NV8Wx6QSlVRdHRpkQ17U3p2KjPTT2Gu5QpJp4WyxKYfTe9_a2EH2FZXmCKBPVErNETii4Nrolr_hCSZrTxDkTr2hp6Z_tJxJFFJkyg0vCNlYePnVkJlgkbtbrebM/s320/DSC01908.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have a look at what the local men carry things around with, here pictured on the start line.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4Qs-xbVNg8/TtXqwaeqU3I/AAAAAAAAFbM/tiKAgAhNBxo/s1600/DSC01911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4Qs-xbVNg8/TtXqwaeqU3I/AAAAAAAAFbM/tiKAgAhNBxo/s320/DSC01911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We started at 7:15am, crossing a large bridge with a nice flat run for 2k before we hit big climb number 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 600M+ straight up on switch back rough steps, mostly in heavy shade, but humid as hell, even this early in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9nquijFntk/TtXqxgWHzmI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/Pe-5aw8h1Bs/s1600/DSC01915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9nquijFntk/TtXqxgWHzmI/AAAAAAAAFbQ/Pe-5aw8h1Bs/s320/DSC01915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I settled into what I estimated was around 70<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> place but happily let other eager climbers with their poles past me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people were climbing too fast I thought; I’d be seeing them later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a three man Irish team who marched together with their poles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were leading the team race by about an hour from their nearest rivals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were setting their stall out early and marched past me up the first climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d gone past me a few times going up the hills over the week, but at the top of the climbs I’d usually pass them later in the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFCCCtZlTkg/TtXqzCq14VI/AAAAAAAAFbU/aXbZUj1EThQ/s1600/DSC01916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hFCCCtZlTkg/TtXqzCq14VI/AAAAAAAAFbU/aXbZUj1EThQ/s320/DSC01916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were a lot of false summits</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0w94-Y-cRg/TtXq2hGH3BI/AAAAAAAAFbg/WypEddzbTe0/s1600/DSC01920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0w94-Y-cRg/TtXq2hGH3BI/AAAAAAAAFbg/WypEddzbTe0/s320/DSC01920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0fHxgqmrCnY/TtXq1iW4euI/AAAAAAAAFbc/ougjkYH7kiQ/s1600/DSC01919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0fHxgqmrCnY/TtXq1iW4euI/AAAAAAAAFbc/ougjkYH7kiQ/s320/DSC01919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and some avoidance of cows carrying huge buckets on the way up! They almsot swept us off the path as they came down, as they have no idea the 2ft wide buckets are part of their required width! Near the top was a scree section, you can just about make out the guy ahead of me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQRk42PPR7A/TtXq4O1jnEI/AAAAAAAAFbk/OTcIgofeWzQ/s1600/DSC01921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQRk42PPR7A/TtXq4O1jnEI/AAAAAAAAFbk/OTcIgofeWzQ/s320/DSC01921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was fairly glad I was behind them this time though as at the top of the climb was a plateau for a while before CP1 in a village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the local people had turned out and had put on an amazing welcome for all the competitors as we passed through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The local kids said “Namaste” and asked for sweets etc as usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little child, probably only 5 or 6 years old seemed to take offence at one of the Irish guys not having any spare sweets and so threw a good size rock at him before running off and hiding in his house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It struck him on the top of the head, producing a nasty-looking head wound that bled quite a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor guy had just got through CP1, and had to go back as he was bleeding a fair bit and fortunately there were doctors at CP1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His teammates then had to carry on alone, as the doctors checked he was ok and stitched his head up.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course the local people were furious at the child, effectively bringing shame on them I guess, and I’m told a “posse” had formed and marched up to the child’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mother brought him out and apparently gave him a sound spanking in front of everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kid was so young he probably didn’t really understand what he was doing, and I don’t think the Irish guy would have necessarily wanted the kid spanking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, it didn’t end there as a village “elder” then took a hold of the child and proceeded to give him a spanking as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kid’s mother didn’t like this one bit, and the injured Irish guy told me a bit of a scuffle then broke out and the police got involved! Oh dear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I was about 10 minutes behind all of this drama, so I passed through CP1 just to observe the guy with blood all over him being stitched up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t hang around any longer than to refill my bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was another clear and hot day, but at least that was the first killer climb out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told that extra markers had been placed on the next section as parts of the descent were very slippy and precipitous in places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just past the CP, I took this great shot of a cow with the impressive skyline.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qc90F4G-s3s/TtXq5okU0TI/AAAAAAAAFbo/YdHJJpsrNvs/s1600/DSC01923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qc90F4G-s3s/TtXq5okU0TI/AAAAAAAAFbo/YdHJJpsrNvs/s320/DSC01923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Also, one with me, and one without me!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-CiJKmzfB4/TtXq8LMXFMI/AAAAAAAAFbw/2Q1i2-_SNeA/s1600/DSC01926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-CiJKmzfB4/TtXq8LMXFMI/AAAAAAAAFbw/2Q1i2-_SNeA/s320/DSC01926.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H5rXSJvE7M4/TtXq6__qInI/AAAAAAAAFbs/p4N4KndiII4/s1600/DSC01925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H5rXSJvE7M4/TtXq6__qInI/AAAAAAAAFbs/p4N4KndiII4/s400/DSC01925.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I soon caught up with the other 2 Irish guys who hoped their team-mate would catch them up later (and he did).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after, I caught up James who was feeling strong again today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed fairly close together, chatting at times, but drifting apart sometimes over the next section of the course as I ran ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James would put in some effort and catch back up though. The decent was indeed very slippy but we</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ll marked as such.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPlKY95YbDg/TtXq_ghPCvI/AAAAAAAAFb4/HyAsU5Hc7Z4/s1600/DSC01928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPlKY95YbDg/TtXq_ghPCvI/AAAAAAAAFb4/HyAsU5Hc7Z4/s320/DSC01928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Progress was really slow going down these sections, which was really pulling down the average speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You wanted to be able to run down fast to pull back the average but it was just too hard to do so; to risk injury for speed. The track gradually improved and allowed for some proper running again, but it was during this section that I must have smashed open the blood blister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kind of realised I had done it, but resolved not to take my shoes off until the finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The damage was now done, I just hoped I could avoid infection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The descent came down through farming terraces and a wide track before levelling out in the valley below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came into CP2 just before James and was going to wait for him to refill his bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ushered me on ahead and said he’d catch up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I ran steadily over the next 2k in the flat valley before the start of killer climb number 2, and in fact didn’t see James again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0MAvpqkswH9dJ_0MWNyzzTtU5pOFO5VU_5AxMfnv2_tDhSRs2xdZDno6DXyLuQhj3ouGRfjTjanO7ZOcIL0l-JIEylA_shOo0OOoSW-rCw1Kc9d17tAQIcSbCTfin0H_7AGIwvO1TZ0/s1600/DSC01929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0MAvpqkswH9dJ_0MWNyzzTtU5pOFO5VU_5AxMfnv2_tDhSRs2xdZDno6DXyLuQhj3ouGRfjTjanO7ZOcIL0l-JIEylA_shOo0OOoSW-rCw1Kc9d17tAQIcSbCTfin0H_7AGIwvO1TZ0/s320/DSC01929.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ix2z514Lz0/TtXrCzDlWXI/AAAAAAAAFcA/My1fIkccRCA/s1600/DSC01930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ix2z514Lz0/TtXrCzDlWXI/AAAAAAAAFcA/My1fIkccRCA/s320/DSC01930.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We crossed a rickety old bridge before the climb started.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wjqh7zRjXdU/TtXrEjJPB8I/AAAAAAAAFcE/J44kheG-NAk/s1600/DSC01931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wjqh7zRjXdU/TtXrEjJPB8I/AAAAAAAAFcE/J44kheG-NAk/s320/DSC01931.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This climb even longer and tougher than the first, especially since it was done in the midday heat and there was no shade cover whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just a march up farming terraces in the heat.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again I kept a steady pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The field was already really well strung out but there were a few people around me as I climbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zs2UJUae2e8/TtXrHJeGHBI/AAAAAAAAFcI/SOoTqI65WR8/s1600/DSC01932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zs2UJUae2e8/TtXrHJeGHBI/AAAAAAAAFcI/SOoTqI65WR8/s320/DSC01932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About half way up there was a water pump where a competitor ahead was rinsing himself off and wetting his camp, which I eagerly emulated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said “just don’t drink it”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t intend to, but was pleased to have the opportunity to cool off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I took a picture or two looking back, great photos I think.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuBCAfO-_Qw/TtXrLX0d7oI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/CYE34p9fKpE/s1600/DSC01935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JuBCAfO-_Qw/TtXrLX0d7oI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/CYE34p9fKpE/s320/DSC01935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjgxnYABQN8/TtXrMfk5cnI/AAAAAAAAFcU/cXBhJznU0tw/s1600/DSC01936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KjgxnYABQN8/TtXrMfk5cnI/AAAAAAAAFcU/cXBhJznU0tw/s320/DSC01936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The path up continued, but above the terraces the trail deteriorated into rubble at times and then all of a sudden hit a tree line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great I thought, shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this was the jungle/leeches section it transpired and was really slow going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ground was like glass, especially in my Hoka shoes which are utterly hopeless in wet terrain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grip is beyond awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slipped and tripped frequently as I climbed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The humidity must have been almost 100% and it looked like rainforest all around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The loud sound of insects made it sound just like a jungle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incredible how the terrain could change so quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYGKxnHVBEw/TtXrOt29_EI/AAAAAAAAFcY/KZCIaiWixIY/s1600/DSC01938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JYGKxnHVBEw/TtXrOt29_EI/AAAAAAAAFcY/KZCIaiWixIY/s320/DSC01938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one section the Sherpas had put in ropes to help negotiate the rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so slippy that it would have been really hard to get by safely without them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The slow climb had taken me a couple of hours and I had ran out of water, despite taking a full ration at CP2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jungle section lasted about half an hour and ended as suddenly as it had began with a final steep climb to a plateau and village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hoped the CP was there but it wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However a couple of Sherpas were giving everyone a few hundred mil of water to keep them going for the next 15 minutes until the actual CP3 appeared.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ran into CP3 steadily, and still feeling good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I didn’t waste any time and was in and out within a minute or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Straight away came a long descent, but this time it was mostly on a wide jeep trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy running, too easy I thought as I ran down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered the rule “if you feel like you are running too fast, then you probably are, so reign it in a notch, probably two”, and promptly easy off to a steadier jog. My cheap watch suddenly went haywire, the condensation had got into the electronics and it beeped crazily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t stop and I knew there was only one thing for it, or be driven insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took it off and repeatedly smashed the face on a nearby rock, until the beeping groaned and changed pitch, then eventually stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A competitor nearby looked like me, like I was crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said “it was annoying me”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They probably thought I had broke a £200 GPS watch and not a £3 cheap nasty watch from Pokhara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, from that point on, I had no idea of time at all. However, I had a Silva-40 watch-strap compass attached to it's strap, so I had to put the smashed up thing back on my wrist and wear it for the rest of the race anyway!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group of 10 or so 5/6 year old kids decided to run with me and hit me with a barrage of questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I answered many of them, but eventually it actually became a hassle and I hoped they’d leave me alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even tried to run off ahead, but the kids actually overtook me running downhill, and they were wearing flip-flops!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave up trying to outrun them, and had to stop talking to them and eventually after about 2k they gave up and left me alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wide track went down and down, losing a lot more elevation than gained on the ascent. The track ended in a short section on a tarmac road before a really nasty narrow and rubble filled trail that went steeply down for a couple of k.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was probably the worst section on the course for terrain, and could possibly have been chosen better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Extra warning had been put up after some of the leaders had taken nasty falls on slippy sections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even marked up and walking slowly over these parts, I still fell on my arse a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last section was down a steep terrace which was tricky to route find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see the CP below, but couldn’t see the way down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made my own path until I saw some later markers, and later advised they had some more markers up there, which they promptly dispatched a Sherpa to do, to help the later competitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran into CP4 in the valley bottom, and because I had taken so much water on at CP3, and drank only half of it, I didn’t actually need any more water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was feeling really good. A few people were in the CP4 tent taking some recovery time, maybe having pushed a little too hard so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I simply paused to give my number, said I felt good and didn’t need any more water and headed straight out to cross a marsh section for the next 1k.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It included a long jump to cross a river too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>All of which I found lots of fun! I ate a couple of energy bars in this section to fuel for the last climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The terrain for this leg didn’t really match the roadbook at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a climb, then a plateau, then a small descent, a flat 2k and then the big climb, none of which was shown on the hill profile at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I’d long since learned that the roadbook elevation charts were very approximate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After crossing the valley the proper last big climb began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On paper it looked like the least difficult, and was all on a wide jeep track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it was probably the worst climb, as the switchbacks and incline went on for an age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t a great deal to say about this climb, other than it was long, and I was glad to have my ipod on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only usually use my ipod on the long stage and it was nice to hear some message from back home that had been recorded by my girlfriend, and young son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I retained my sense of humour even though it felt like considerably more elevation gain than 400m and it must have been another 2 hours since leaving CP4 that I eventually got to the summit plateau.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still there was a steady incline through a couple of small villages, and past some road building activities where a huge digger was making a dirt road for the locals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kindly stopped and let me run past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran past Sam from RacingThePlanet and knew that CP5 must be close, which it was as over the next hill was indeed the “overnight camp”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was here that they had hot water where you could eat a meal, and could even sleep if you wished, and continue early the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was only around 4:30pm (I judged by the sun height in the sky; no watch remember!), so I had no intention of sleeping, and neither did I intend to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it was another 2 minute pit-stop to fill my bottles before I could put phase II of today’s race plan into effect.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d reached the summit of the last big climb, and with that the rest of the course was a big descent and what looked like a long plateau along a jeep track to CP6, then more flat jeep track to CP7, then a short stiff climb and decent into the finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t quite like that in reality, but the overall decision I came to was that I was feeling good, and I would now “open up” and chew up the last 30k as fast as I could manage it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tightened up my rucksack straps, and increased my pace on the initial flat section, before it gave out to another wide descent on a switchback jeep track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The light was now fading , and I didn’t really want to be running this quickly downhill in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could I outrun the sunset and make it down to the valley road before dark?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to have a damn good go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I t</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ook one last photo that day, just capturing the setting sun hitting the Anapurna range.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RoUgrvKCYNE/TtXrPlfbR3I/AAAAAAAAFcc/Y57Z4Uqy2kI/s1600/DSC01939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RoUgrvKCYNE/TtXrPlfbR3I/AAAAAAAAFcc/Y57Z4Uqy2kI/s320/DSC01939.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I saw very few competitors now, so I knew I had at least got up to the top 50 and likely better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran fast past some others, who had probably run hard early, and were now easing up, the opposite to what I had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were few and far between and the sun had now set and the light was almost gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A marshal was out striking up the glow sticks which would be welcome markers in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to the bottom of the hill and onto the jeep track with about 10 minutes of fading light left; result!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a small climb as I passed another competitor before the road levelled out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A huge bus came past with loads of people on board and about 30 on the roof!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were making a huge amount of noise as they went passed, a proper party bus! I ran along the road, which was still a gravel trail but very wide and well used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite few motorbikes and cars came past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The light was pretty much gone now, but I resisted the urge to put on my headtorch just yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could just about see my way on the road with use of peripheral vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I passed a couple more people just turning into CP6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still feeling good, I refilled just one bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t need much water now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told to turn our lights on; headtorch and rear red flashing light on the backpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I did then, I headed straight back out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was 8.5k to the next CP, and looked fairly flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the speed I was running at, even in the darkness it shouldn’t take me more than an hour I guessed, possibly less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a lot of people around and lots of houses alongside the jeep track. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I passed one more competitor, and that was the last one I saw that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw no one for over 2 hours after that point. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got very dark very quickly, and there were of course no street lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned off my headtorch briefly just to confirm that it was indeed very dark and without the torch I’d have almost no chance of staying upright on the potholed track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The glow sticks that had been left out were being systematically taken down and played with by the local kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t really blame them to be honest, I’m sure they were fascinated by them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just meant that there were no glow sticks to navigate with and I had to scan the roadside furiously for the pink paint spots, and hoped I didn’t miss them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ran on relentlessly, heading down into a short steep valley and then back up a stiff climb the other side, the only time where I walked in that section for about 5 minutes as I climbed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must be getting near the CP now surely, I had been going for about an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to a fork in the road and with no glowsticks took a wrong turn, but when it started to head uphill I figured it must be wrong and backtracked, then finding the a pink marker some way down the other track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bus came past and the kids on the roof had handfuls of glowsticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bus it had appeared was stopping at the glowsticks and allowing them to untie them from the height at which they had been secured (out of reach of someone on foot!). I continued to run on but there were few markers and I was concerned I had somehow missed CP7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran into the next small village and there was 1 solitary glow stick, the first one not stolen for several miles, and shortly after was CP7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a welcome site, but well beyond the 9k mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea how far at the time, but a competitor told me the next day it was 13k between CP6 and CP7, not 8.5k! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was starting to tire out a little now, and hoped the route description was accurate from there at there was really only 10.5k left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still that 10.5k sounded a long way and there looked to be some climbing involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in and out of CP7 quickly, keen to get it over with, though fully realising I could have a couple of hours to go depending on the terrain I met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a sharp 100M climb into a fairly large town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I emerged on wide and very busy tarmac road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of lorries were coming past, and I stayed off to the side as much as possible to avoid them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran up the road in what I hoped was the right direction, but again with few route markers to see it was worrying that I was on the right route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about 1k there was a group of armed police or army signalling that I should then head off the main road and along a side road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I assumed these guys were organised by RTP so followed the instruction and soon by head torch began to pick up reflective tape on trees and poles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reflective tape was not as attractive to the kids it seemed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was slowing up now on a very gradual incline when the tarmc road ran out at a T-junction of dirt track to take me 5k from the last CP, and after a brief search I spotted some tape on the left fork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This section was away from all housing and again for amusement I tuned off my torch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was utterly pitch black, I could not see a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was running alongside a drainage ditch along a trail, but without the torch would have really struggled route find, especially since the reflective tape needed a headtorch to work of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hoped I was near the top of the hill on the hill profile, and it would then start to go down, but the elevation profile was again misleading and CP7 was marked in the wrong place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out when a group of Sherpas directed me off the main trail and onto a narrow path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pleased they were there to help, but soon realised I wasn’t expecting the next section when I hit a rough trail and fierce climb into another jungle type section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This unexpected climb really took the last out of my and I struggled, even sitting and catching my breath for 2 minutes at one point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea how long the climb would go on for, I just had to get up and keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went on for longer than I expected, or wanted it to, but probably no more than 20 minutes all told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I emerged shattered onto a tarmac road to find a Headtorch shining down at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Marshall Ulrich, in the middle of nowhere, just headed out to help tiring competitors route-find on this last tricky section, made tougher as he said all the glow sticks he kept putting out were stolen minutes later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me good directions, basically staying on the tarmac road for a couple k, and then taking a left turn onto a trail and heading down towards the camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thanked him for being out there helping and ran on, albeit a lot more slowly now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That last climb had sapped a lot of me and I my feet had started hurting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain of the burst blood blister and also something new, left Achilles heel pain, which was quite acute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I ran-hobbled along the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It undulated, so I ran the downhill and walked the uphill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the turn off and I think expected the camp a lot sooner than it came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went through another village, where they said 1k to camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it was about 2k later when I crashed through onto a trail which lead down the final few hundred metres and into camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hobbled down the last few steps, and into the floodlit stage finish line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was happy to finish, but shattered and desperately in need of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d eaten up all my snacks and carb drinks, and had been running on empty for the last 20k.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had however finished in 13 hours 17 mins and in 35<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The race plan for the today had worked well for me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went into the medical tent to ask for advice about my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took off my shoes and as suspected the blood blister had burst open, and similar on the other toe, leaving a mess of skin hanging on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Look away now unless you want to see my little toe skin hat!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxGVcjZpO6aVKj6aJpUTKzi3y8EZnkOkofX4L44DKXwIf8dlZPJSztbZ7avPBUXm1eT5j6-8r4FoX_BJoNZfGHarNW03RbB1McOfxbr9YRP9nGXd159S7PptiUhQLB57enczs5md0dUg/s1600/DSC01944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxGVcjZpO6aVKj6aJpUTKzi3y8EZnkOkofX4L44DKXwIf8dlZPJSztbZ7avPBUXm1eT5j6-8r4FoX_BJoNZfGHarNW03RbB1McOfxbr9YRP9nGXd159S7PptiUhQLB57enczs5md0dUg/s320/DSC01944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The doctor advised me just to put alcohol gel on it every few hours until the end of the race, and hope it didn’t get infected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained I had cellulitis before, and she said she’d dispense some antibiotics if it started to look nasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I soaked my feet in some iodine and water for 10 minutes in the medical tent, whilst stuffing myself with a pop-tart and explaining to the bemused doctor that I always carry one pop-tart in a race, for the one time of need, and that my time of need was now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blood sugar was definitely on the low side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I finished up, then sat round the camp fire and ate a chicken curry dehydrated meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that I went to my tent, crawled into my sleeping bag and went to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of hours later, James came in and asked how long I’d been in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said I got back at half eight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“bloody hell!” he said, “you have had a good day”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the night everyone of the other remaining tent mates; Steve, Martina, and Jack came in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Jack came in around 3 or 4am, but was always a going to finish, as I’ve previously said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not sure what time I woke, but it was earlier than the others, so I got up and warmed myself around the campfire and ate my breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People were still finishing and would do until around midday when the last person came into camp to great cheers from everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The race was effectively over, just a 13k fun run to glory the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we all spent a lazy day in the lakeside camp, and ate some food in one of the two local cafe’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fj-aUbZ3tYM/TtXrRJnriKI/AAAAAAAAFcg/m_p3G8KpKwQ/s1600/DSC01940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fj-aUbZ3tYM/TtXrRJnriKI/AAAAAAAAFcg/m_p3G8KpKwQ/s320/DSC01940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XF_cDrpVCE/TtXrVUMFzfI/AAAAAAAAFcs/kLVem1W2Jp8/s1600/DSC01943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XF_cDrpVCE/TtXrVUMFzfI/AAAAAAAAFcs/kLVem1W2Jp8/s320/DSC01943.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some people came and set up a little market stall to sell their things. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9F5pnNJW9_Y/TtXrUbX_-RI/AAAAAAAAFco/CNpWZ0N-tvo/s1600/DSC01942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9F5pnNJW9_Y/TtXrUbX_-RI/AAAAAAAAFco/CNpWZ0N-tvo/s320/DSC01942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I ate a meal with Marilena, a friend from previous races, and some of her friends from Spain, and Japan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we had eight different nationalities around the table in fact, so quite an international dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slept quite well that night again. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stage 6: 13k +130M</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke and ate my last breakfast, and tightened all the straps on what was now a very small pack, weighing only a few kilos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dressed my feet as well as I could, and had been diligently putting on alcohol gel (much gritting of teeth and pain!). Today would start a little differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We took a team surivor photo before we struck camp for the last time.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFvj8YzCfJs/TtXrX7LejtI/AAAAAAAAFc0/GMtfG5lqttA/s1600/DSC01945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFvj8YzCfJs/TtXrX7LejtI/AAAAAAAAFc0/GMtfG5lqttA/s320/DSC01945.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We all queued up on the lakeside and put on life jackets before climbing into 5-man (including the boatsman) canoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TSxqkhIKlY2vse4tpElBM41iXWAVb6Z68Ar0Fbc8mlTUIvuCtqZVePxcug39pF3M6npzgDdI2F3NhvlJOETzTqd27-6PPPwyqVZSEGLXT1lmZ2DuKEfXnLbXvSYe7sa5NPQjOmrxSMc/s1600/DSC01946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TSxqkhIKlY2vse4tpElBM41iXWAVb6Z68Ar0Fbc8mlTUIvuCtqZVePxcug39pF3M6npzgDdI2F3NhvlJOETzTqd27-6PPPwyqVZSEGLXT1lmZ2DuKEfXnLbXvSYe7sa5NPQjOmrxSMc/s320/DSC01946.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James, and Martina were in a different canoe and had found an extra oar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came paddling past me, overtaking, very pleased with themselves and I shouted “I’m not worried, It’s the only time you’ll be ahead today”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James said, “We’ll see about that”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we had a race on between us it seemed!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then had a 40 minute journey being paddled across an eerie mist covered lake across to the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no sign of the sun just yet, so a heavy mist hung on the air as we all gathered on the start line for the last stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a few photos before the start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Jack and James, and the three of us; me wearing my lucky cap of course!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv-f5Aaq8ts/TtXraJq0MjI/AAAAAAAAFc8/tAH_-aqA2BY/s1600/DSC01947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uv-f5Aaq8ts/TtXraJq0MjI/AAAAAAAAFc8/tAH_-aqA2BY/s320/DSC01947.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhg2Ogk8qbw/TtXrbdxbPbI/AAAAAAAAFdA/yUT9ZAUHHmA/s1600/DSC01948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yhg2Ogk8qbw/TtXrbdxbPbI/AAAAAAAAFdA/yUT9ZAUHHmA/s320/DSC01948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, James and about 30 or so others set off like we really meant it, running at the kind of pace we’d probably run a steady 10k back home when on fresh legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first 2k was across very muddy rice fields and water, very draining actually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then turned off onto a dirt road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 13k course was gradually uphill all the way, but only gaining 130M in total.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after we got onto the road, James who had been a few paces behind me, made a break and overtook me, heading off through the field of competitors ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured I would probably have to be for about the next hour, and held the pace I knew I could confidently hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at James running off ahead, and thought, “if he’s got the legs for that pace, then well done to him, but I'm not sure he has”! Needless to say, with my race face on, I didn't take any photos on this last stage, sorry.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We ran through the streets of Pokhara and the sun soon broke through the mist and it got quite warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a lot of people on the street, great support again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pushed on, thinking how crazy it was to be trying to run quite this quickly after so many miles and climbing in the last week, as well as still carrying pack, and with bandaged feet to boot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The route headed down steeply into a ravine, before a sharp climb out the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It then levelled out but went across marshlands, and through streams which were effectively used as sewers. I was ankle deep in smelly nastiness you can only imagine, and I feared the worst for infection of my toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ground over the marsh was very rough lots of leaping jumping, and all very draining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was however, like a lot of ground I am used to running on in LDWA events, over moorland in the UK, so I picked up a few more places and wasn’t too surprised to see James a couple of hundred metres ahead, he had slowed down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The route then came off the marsh and back into the dirt road streets of Pokhara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were less than 3k from the finish at this stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I caught up James a minute or so later, who was running next to second lady overall Sam Gash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shouted out to him “I got your number”!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His race number was 118, those in the UK will understand that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James had been tempted to run in a red and white striped shirt and wig but made a late decision not too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I could see James was very tired and probably not up to racing out the last 3k against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said “you go on, and get a good time”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said “No, it doesn’t matter, my placing overall is safe, the person behind has no chance of catching me, so let’s finish this race together”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I eased up a little and ran with James for the last 2K, still at still a good steady pace until we ran into the grounds of the Fulbari Hotel, when we both increased our pace to cross the finish, where James did a big celebration jump, looked on a little alarmingly by me! </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks to Racing The Planet, and photographer Zandy Mangold for kind use of this next photograph.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkpoMgHL8ERCKx9atd0Y_WEv8mbNdFqFzGLjnlL6VVgSefl50hrGiGOxwJj3HA084BaKOfFLvQkr4TGbd7d7tfQYvhwZyijVWPp7cSVxDRgmu9jguWetnQ7U2cwTNUCWtFMs6wKihip0/s1600/Nepal+Finish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkpoMgHL8ERCKx9atd0Y_WEv8mbNdFqFzGLjnlL6VVgSefl50hrGiGOxwJj3HA084BaKOfFLvQkr4TGbd7d7tfQYvhwZyijVWPp7cSVxDRgmu9jguWetnQ7U2cwTNUCWtFMs6wKihip0/s320/Nepal+Finish.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finished in 1 hour 16 minutes, and 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> place for the stage!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d managed 9.5 minute mile average for the 13k stage, not a bad effort all things considered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished 35<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> place overall, which is just about the top 15% of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, this way surpassed my expectations of my race performance, which a few months previously I questioned that I could even take part in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was great to finish the race with James, who had been around or about me at various times all week, and who I get on with very well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sam, the race director from RacingThePanet put my medal on and we took a few photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YC79YPkA12U/TtXrfCsWtKI/AAAAAAAAFdI/O1HVam9dATc/s1600/DSC01950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YC79YPkA12U/TtXrfCsWtKI/AAAAAAAAFdI/O1HVam9dATc/s320/DSC01950.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Cvp0h3ED-KXnEeq6qaPLfHltGCIV2mJbQiJN66P0dDcaewuLPMLkt91PpSyeAdru3w5S-xYOOKYO0Hbh_9pVfF4a2Pfor5RlhXtWkgglwoV9PMIYyc2qdAnIiSuNa7t6Hjd7VY_bbIM/s1600/DSC01949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Cvp0h3ED-KXnEeq6qaPLfHltGCIV2mJbQiJN66P0dDcaewuLPMLkt91PpSyeAdru3w5S-xYOOKYO0Hbh_9pVfF4a2Pfor5RlhXtWkgglwoV9PMIYyc2qdAnIiSuNa7t6Hjd7VY_bbIM/s320/DSC01949.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was music being played by local people and lots of happy finishers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jeumHuhe1og/TtXrnuYt61I/AAAAAAAAFdc/ebWvmDYj3sg/s1600/DSC01955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jeumHuhe1og/TtXrnuYt61I/AAAAAAAAFdc/ebWvmDYj3sg/s320/DSC01955.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I passed on the food and drink to go and sit apart and sort out my feet. After running through all that nastiness, I was keen to clean them and cover them in alcohol gel to kill off any potential infections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you’ll all thank me for this photo, of my little skin-hat hanging off my toe!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEPMTuBb-tY/TtXrgADKgWI/AAAAAAAAFdM/xt3BvPLIWkM/s1600/DSC01951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mEPMTuBb-tY/TtXrgADKgWI/AAAAAAAAFdM/xt3BvPLIWkM/s320/DSC01951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The whole thing, skin and nail came off in one little parcel, on both little toes a few days after. I did put it in my bag as a souvenir for my girflfriend (lol) but sadly it somehow escaped on the way home. There is probably a horrified cleaner on an airplane wondering what animal had shed it's skin in the hold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I waited for our entire tent to come in, and congratulated them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jack’s wife was there to meet him as he did his famous rugby charge sprint finish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va0H9UgwBog/TtXrsFv9u3I/AAAAAAAAFdk/2veJiMHhUNk/s1600/DSC01957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-va0H9UgwBog/TtXrsFv9u3I/AAAAAAAAFdk/2veJiMHhUNk/s320/DSC01957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHfHOwC9k2c/TtXru1-vtkI/AAAAAAAAFds/Da855XRbICM/s1600/DSC01960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHfHOwC9k2c/TtXru1-vtkI/AAAAAAAAFds/Da855XRbICM/s320/DSC01960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Martina and Steve finished well too, along with my friend Marilena, and we’re all in contact since the race ended and there are plans to meet up and various races around the globe for some of them already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">James and Martina in this photo.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marilena and Steve</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaMOhiKBe62EYGWP0FA2t5IiWlJV6gcalVNSvrLkfokmsiy67PKIFB9grjSZLfMSTzYwFwxVVSTOaMD899U2n4b2ruyfJeqEE90UO_RzCpVv0CM-EVbfPVebNBx_2WVwdUnj8Ed2NFvw/s1600/DSC01956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaMOhiKBe62EYGWP0FA2t5IiWlJV6gcalVNSvrLkfokmsiy67PKIFB9grjSZLfMSTzYwFwxVVSTOaMD899U2n4b2ruyfJeqEE90UO_RzCpVv0CM-EVbfPVebNBx_2WVwdUnj8Ed2NFvw/s320/DSC01956.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After they were all in, we had a group survivors photo.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGr9mkZzxTm6YgtP0qxEKXQycXQoMJcpN_5iOwY4tMb16aIWhvPoIcLVZRcfgrevsb3wzAzrKC0CtouvfT1lrVVEGUDmXP_NqM-JPcCxefY5f4p3tFDfmAGwm90yCkozkb_-qDCxXaOk/s1600/DSC01961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGr9mkZzxTm6YgtP0qxEKXQycXQoMJcpN_5iOwY4tMb16aIWhvPoIcLVZRcfgrevsb3wzAzrKC0CtouvfT1lrVVEGUDmXP_NqM-JPcCxefY5f4p3tFDfmAGwm90yCkozkb_-qDCxXaOk/s400/DSC01961.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A photo of the finish area </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bvMFE5Ub5Us/TtXrzpMrN9I/AAAAAAAAFd0/qYxpcaRCgTU/s1600/DSC01962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bvMFE5Ub5Us/TtXrzpMrN9I/AAAAAAAAFd0/qYxpcaRCgTU/s320/DSC01962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went and checked back in, and had a shower to wash off the last week of racing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I took one self portrait before I attempted to remove my nasty smelly clothes!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q1El2EnRLyg/TtXr117lZ-I/AAAAAAAAFd8/YTc8jpCvBeE/s1600/DSC01965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q1El2EnRLyg/TtXr117lZ-I/AAAAAAAAFd8/YTc8jpCvBeE/s320/DSC01965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A photo out of the window of the whole range too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfokJ4eU9Ec/TtXr3deGXHI/AAAAAAAAFeA/EEd5q4i8ud4/s1600/DSC01966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfokJ4eU9Ec/TtXr3deGXHI/AAAAAAAAFeA/EEd5q4i8ud4/s320/DSC01966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I th<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ought I was going to have to be surgically removed from my compression tights, before they were removed and burned by men in hazmat suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I had shaved I vaguely resembled something human again, albeit a very thin one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I had a good go at correcting my thinness at the awards banquet that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all had a good time, cheering the winners and listening to the speeches, as well as watching the slideshow of photos too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Nepal Government member gave a speech, which was translated later, encouraging tourism in Nepal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they made plenty of money in the 2011 year of tourism in Nepal and can use the money to start to put a decent infrastructure in place for the population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nepal is an amazing country, and I’d encourage people to visit to see the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The towns and cities need a lot of money spending on them though.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got up early the next morning and caught a taxi to the coach stand</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZRpYl1zrHI/TtXr6pM0bXI/AAAAAAAAFeM/6l_Kjnu0NR4/s1600/DSC01977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RZRpYl1zrHI/TtXr6pM0bXI/AAAAAAAAFeM/6l_Kjnu0NR4/s320/DSC01977.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had gambled on turning up after being told all seats were sold, on all the buses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow I lucked out and got the last seat on a coach for the same torturous 7 hour bus ride back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The internal flights were going again, but I was happy to be cautious and take the bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in Kathmandu. Here are a few Kathmandu scenes for you to get the flavour.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGEQvjmdv1c/TtXr-Qj-AfI/AAAAAAAAFeY/fBSspFR5qV4/s1600/DSC01980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGEQvjmdv1c/TtXr-Qj-AfI/AAAAAAAAFeY/fBSspFR5qV4/s320/DSC01980.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l2ykn-MaTk/TtXr__VockI/AAAAAAAAFec/ie-tBGF11hM/s1600/DSC01981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2l2ykn-MaTk/TtXr__VockI/AAAAAAAAFec/ie-tBGF11hM/s320/DSC01981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WSVA-R9oUILg-HbwV3jum_Biw63xoz7w6DRDSz-2GO-otjs2J1WZIVRkivFMVpILzmqHlHPRtlx4gGelL5o_JFxS_hiYr4x7biXDERzXO3yCfqH7RIbKwAVzVt49j8UxOWfhUCn43rk/s1600/DSC01982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WSVA-R9oUILg-HbwV3jum_Biw63xoz7w6DRDSz-2GO-otjs2J1WZIVRkivFMVpILzmqHlHPRtlx4gGelL5o_JFxS_hiYr4x7biXDERzXO3yCfqH7RIbKwAVzVt49j8UxOWfhUCn43rk/s320/DSC01982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FgZdqTYcrw/TtXsHSVSnJI/AAAAAAAAFes/W-b558Ay648/s1600/DSC01985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FgZdqTYcrw/TtXsHSVSnJI/AAAAAAAAFes/W-b558Ay648/s320/DSC01985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BsAbZRHOuo/TtXsMaEGqgI/AAAAAAAAFe4/S4iH8kGRs2o/s1600/DSC01988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7BsAbZRHOuo/TtXsMaEGqgI/AAAAAAAAFe4/S4iH8kGRs2o/s320/DSC01988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_Lu1tYEGUk/TtXsN6eIk9I/AAAAAAAAFe8/G3wZ3c5txoI/s1600/DSC01989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X_Lu1tYEGUk/TtXsN6eIk9I/AAAAAAAAFe8/G3wZ3c5txoI/s320/DSC01989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oSkb4yugcGM/TtXsO-jqwzI/AAAAAAAAFfA/PKGhIKfS__o/s1600/DSC01990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oSkb4yugcGM/TtXsO-jqwzI/AAAAAAAAFfA/PKGhIKfS__o/s320/DSC01990.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I checked into a fairly expensive hotel for Nepal (£90), not wanting to make the mistake of staying in a similar terrible hostel that I stayed in on the way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hotel was really nice, and I ended up getting a suite for no extra cost, not that I really needed the space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent the evening and the following morning topping up on a few gifts to bring back, and buying some tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I mention I run a small tea company too, that I’ve recently started? The Fine Tea Company <a href="http://www.fineteacompany.com/" target="_blank">Tea Shop</a>, selling green tea, white tea and holding tea tasting days etc.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I’m always intrigued to try new teas, and it turns out Nepali tea is rather good, so I bought some to stock on the website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drinking green tea is proven to be great for endurance for all you runners out there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got my flight out from Kathmandu the following afternoon, and was kindly upgraded by Kingfisher Airlines to business Class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I got a few great photos out of the plane window as we went up.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwbMfCBspKRKS7oUEo5Ik62kpt48z2Ya5COJWqvg6KVBxZrUgv54UMuGu314hTRBzpNZnqulbdB85txRVs-yrpH8GEI0uj7T18jR07S8o8T_pK71xO7yiIaoRn92eQfXZ5Ie7FwzGEqk/s1600/DSC01991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwbMfCBspKRKS7oUEo5Ik62kpt48z2Ya5COJWqvg6KVBxZrUgv54UMuGu314hTRBzpNZnqulbdB85txRVs-yrpH8GEI0uj7T18jR07S8o8T_pK71xO7yiIaoRn92eQfXZ5Ie7FwzGEqk/s320/DSC01991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMqE-Zyh9_s/TtXsQgGWT9I/AAAAAAAAFfM/XTwkzs5AYS4/s1600/DSC01993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMqE-Zyh9_s/TtXsQgGWT9I/AAAAAAAAFfM/XTwkzs5AYS4/s320/DSC01993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4eSG6iTbII/TtXsRfi0pyI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/GnsslP9FMSU/s1600/DSC01994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y4eSG6iTbII/TtXsRfi0pyI/AAAAAAAAFfQ/GnsslP9FMSU/s320/DSC01994.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On landing in Delhi, I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>suffered the same agony in the international transition lounge; waiting for 2 hours from someone from BA to shown up and give me a boarding pass top I could pass into the departure lounge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then got about 4 hour sleep in the lounge before flying back to Heathrow, where my girlfriend met me and drove me back home to find my house decorated in congratulation messages and banners; my girlfriend and mother to blame!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it was an amazing race, and I’m so pleased I was able to go after the groin injury looked to have stopped me running for good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked up an Achilles heel problem on that long day in Nepal; I think from all the climbing, and running down those steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems to be taking a while to clear, but I’ve not had any running I had to do really other than a race in Shropshire on Christmas Eve which I ended up walking the last 6 miles of (20 miles race).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The injury may prevent me from taking part in TransGranCanaria at the beginning of March, as I realistically need a 50 miler in the bank by the end of January and that’s looking very unlikely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TG is a 123km race with about 5500M of ascent (same amount of descent).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very tough, and would not be Achilles-Heel-injury friendly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’ll get a few treatments on it and see how it is in a week or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s no good, I’ll just cancel it and plan some races later in the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An entry form for the Wenlock 100 miler(July) has just been thrust under my nose, already filled in and awaiting my signature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for all the support through my training to everyone, and for all the messages during the week I was there. It was all very much appreciated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: right 451.3pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have a good week!</span></div></div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com1Kaski, Nepal28.350316846179645 83.82980309179686228.086507846179646 83.548621591796859 28.614125846179643 84.110984591796864tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-73353991374071124352011-12-07T22:30:00.001+00:002011-12-09T09:29:21.271+00:00Racing The Planet - Nepal - Pre-race<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">I’ll post the full race review soon, but the pre-amble is a fair read in itself, so I’ll post now to get the ball rolling!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I flew out from Heathrow on the Tuesday morning before the race, which started Sunday. It’s unusual for me to go out to a race that many days in advance but given the reliability of transport in Nepal, I’d read it was wise. Travel guides recommend allowing 3 days to journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara, which is a mere 200km, because of delays in air or road travel. Turns out they were quite right. My first challenge however was leaving the UK. I had booked separate tickets; a BA flight to Delhi and a Kingfisher (Indian airline) flight to Kathmandu. I got to Heathrow and the BA check-in assistant wanted to see my Indian VISA. I explained I wasn’t staying in India, as I’d be in transit to Nepal. I showed them my e-ticket for Kingfisher, and so began a 40 minute wait with various conference calls and managers all turning up to decide if they were even going to let me fly, and subsequently how they could “con” the check-in system to bypass something on screen which was blocking it. Eventually someone came along, and just said “do it, and put me down as responsible”. They said they couldn’t issue me with a boarding pass for the second leg, but could check my bags through to Kathmandu. I’d have to contact the ground staff in Delhi when I got there. I thanked the guy for sorting it out. I don’t think he was entirely convinced I’d be alright when I got to Delhi, but at least I was a problem solved at his end. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I took off about 4pm, and arrived in Delhi about 6am local time. I had a 7 hour stopover before the next flight. If I would have needed a fast connection I’d have been in trouble as the situation in Delhi was an utter shambles. I got off the plane and went with a member of the ground staff to the international connections “lounge”. This is an old area of the airport, straight out of the 1970s with brown and orange carpets and nasty seats all of which were occupied with tired and annoyed looking international visitors. The girl told me that I needed to wait for the Kingfisher representative, who would come along “shortly” to issue my boarding pass. In the 2 hours that crawled by afterwards I observed a series of angry outbursts by pretty much everyone as they were fobbed off with excuses as to why they had been there for anything from 1-7 hours. There were kids crying, kids asleep on the floor, people asleep on the floor. An utter mess. The Kingfisher rep eventually decided to make the 5 minute walk from the main check-in desk to the international connections and issued my ticket. It was a relief in the end. I’d decided already that getting angry about it wasn’t going to make me feel any better and I was lucky I had time to spare. I fared better than a fellow competitor Angus, who was refused passage at Heathrow for the same reason; 2 separate tickets He had an onward flight with Air India, and the BA rep who dealt with it clearly wasn’t prepared to make an executive decision that day. He got delayed 3 days and had to book an alternative flight, with Kingfisher as it transpired. I found this out when we were both stuck in the same transit purgatory in Delhi on the return flight. Angus had a wife and 2 kids with him as well, poor guy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">By booking 2 separate tickets I’d saved over £100 on the airfare, but suffered a stack of hassle as a result. Delhi is not a place you want to be getting a connection, take it from me. I understand that BA are only partnered with Jet airlines in India (Kingfisher may be in the club next year). So, if you want a hassle free flight then that may (and I use the word cautiously) be the way to go.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So, issued with my boarding pass I came into the international terminal 3. Unlike the 1970s hell, this was a shiny new-build terminal with modern seating, shops and restaurants; actually very impressive, a glimpse at how far India has come in the last 10 years and, it transpired, how far ahead when compared to its poverty stricken neighbour, Nepal. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d done a lot of research into the airlines (looking up accidents etc), and Kingfisher has an excellent record. The flight was excellent. It was a new Airbus jet with courteous, attentive staff, and all announcements given in English as well. No sooner had I sat down on my seat and they were offering around cans of beer; I smiled to myself at the cultural differences. The safety video starts with a speech by the airline chairman where he says he’s handpicked every member of staff and told them to treat you like a guest in his own home. Maybe a few more airlines should take this approach. I’d certainly fly with Kingfisher again, especially since they bumped me up to business class free of charge, without request, on the way back!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I landed in Kathmandu about 4:30 in the afternoon. I’d glimpsed the Himalayas above the clouds, but Kathmandu and the entire valley for 100’s of miles in every direction was shrouded in fog, and would remain so for several days. This prevented virtually all internal flights from departing, meaning that all competitors would have to suffer the same 6-12 hour bus trip that I had already decided to take. I’d looked up the Nepal aviation safety records; they are appalling. Lots of tourist flights just crashing into the sides of mountains in bad weather, poorly maintained aircraft whose undercarriage didn’t open when landing (a story I read in the paper while I was on the bus!). In short a lot of unnecessary deaths; I wouldn’t be flying anywhere in Nepal. I’d rather suffer a 7 hour bus journey in some discomfort, than risk a 40 minute flight into the side of a mountain. The roads are statistically a lot worse of course, narrow winding roads on cliff edges with daily fatalities, but, if you pick one of the large tourist coaches (not the riskier mini vans or cabs) then I figure in a crash you’re likely to come off better. I witnessed a number of road accidents while I was there, one involving a large tourist bus like mine just 2 vehicles ahead. A lorry brakes failed and it slammed into the back of the tourist bus. No one was seriously hurt, but both vehicles were badly damaged, and everyone (including me) was delayed for an hour while the local population milled around deciding how they’d deal with the road block. If that lorry had hit a small car or mini-van there would have been several dead tourists. I’d picked the right mode of transport I decided.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. I landed in Kathmandu and then had to queue for 1.5 hours to get a 15 days VISA, which had to be paid in pretty much any currency apart from Nepalese rupees! They have a nice sting running at the airport. They don’t take their own currency, but helpfully have a cash machine which dispenses Rupees (which charges commission), and then a currency exchange desk right next to it which charges to exchange those rupees back into Dollars or Euros etc, also for a healthy commission as well. Nice way of picking up some extra cash from the incoming tourists eh. No you’re right, it’s not, and it’s a nasty scam. Not taking your own currency, whose every heard of that? I had read that US Dollars were still the king of currency over there, and had enough to pay my way through without falling victim to scam number 1.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I fell victim to scam number 2 though. Outside the airport was a barrage of locals asking if you wanted a taxi? I had arranged to be picked up by a rep from a hostel I would be staying at, so found a guy who was holding my name on a card. I indicated I was the person and he welcomed me and said the taxi was nearby. A guy who I assumed was the taxi driver immediately took my suitcase and we started walking over to the car, but another guy was walking over too, and he was the driver. So, we walked about 100M to the car, and the guy with my case put it in the boot and held out his hand you “for tips”. I was pretty pissed off, but effectively back into a corner. Essentially there are a bunch of parasites who mill around the exit pretending to be taxi drivers, but all they do is snatch away your bags and want tips. Of course you probably have no low value notes as you’ve just arrived. I had nothing smaller than a $5 note, the parasite was cheeky enough to ask for a $20. I gave him the $5 begrudgingly. So, watch out for that scam. Nepal is full of this kind of thing, and awash with fake goods. The observed the airport police happily accepting bribes to bump people up the queue in departures etc. The country has some way to go, but all this is a result of the abject poverty which is evident everywhere. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Arriving in Kathmandu from a western country is a culture shock. It’s how you know (or have seen on Tv) many cities of India to be, overcrowded with motorbikes, mopeds, tuc-tucs, cars, buses, lorries and non-stop honking horns. Horns are widely used everywhere in the East of course, about 10 times a minute per car (literally), and are necessary to avoid an even higher road death rate than the current horror figures. Most of the city is essentially a slum. There is waste and rubbish lying in the streets and rivers, open defecation by residents, everywhere is dirty, disgusting and of course horrible pollution hangs in the air all the time. A lot of people wear pollution masks, including the police directing traffic all day. I have no idea how effective they are, but I can tell you, your throat and lungs hurt after a few hours walking around the city. I’d like to tell you that there was something nice about Kathmandu, but there isn’t. If you’re thinking of going, my advice is Kathmandon’t. Fly in and get straight out. I spent 3 days in total there, either side of the race and I saw nothing worthy of a visit. All the big “cities” are essentially the same too. You need to stay out of them and go to what Nepal is famous for, the mountains, to finally draw a (clean) breath, stare in awe and understand why you’re there.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sadly, I wasn’t there yet. It took about 30 minutes frightening driving through the streets of Kathmandu, to travel just a few miles to the hostel. There are no road rules and every car is banged up and repaired. I had been recommended to stay in a hostel by a past visitor who had it was off the main streets and a bit quieter. Unusual for me to stay in a hostel and not a hotel, and it was a decision I regretted upon seeing the accommodation. I’d been told to book a place called the Elbrus Home, and not to be put in it’s “sister hostel” if it was full. I’d been insistent on this in my email, but yet was told it was full and got dumped in this 3<sup>rd</sup> floor dump which would have been shut down by environmental health in every civilized country in the world. The room was just too bad to describe. The toilet had rusty taps and the toilet was leaking from the bottom all over the floor. I’m not sure when the bed sheets on the nasty bed were last cleaned, but it wasn’t recently. Sadly, I had no time to arrange an alternative and I was leaving at 7am the next morning, so I figured I’d just put up with it. I slept in my sleeping bag liner that night, badly, due to the car horns and singing from nearby bars until about 1am. I’d had a quick wander around the streets first, sufficient to see why the place was called North Fake central. Every other shop sells fake clothes, mostly North Face. Some of it isn’t bad quality, but some of it’s pretty bad. I’ve heard stories of clothes found filled with newspaper rather than down, though I find that a little hard to believe! Nevertheless the whole city is awash with trinket stalls, selling singing bowls, Gurkhar weapons, gemstones and fake outdoor clothes. There are literally 2 or 3 shops selling the real clothes, and they are fixed price, unlike the small shops where you can barter then down to under 50% of their asking price. I bought a few real and a few fake items on the way home, so honed my haggling skills.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I ate in an Italian restaurant (I ate Nepalese at every other opportunity in the subsequent time there though). The restaurant was actually really nice, a complete surprise and totally out of place in the city. It’s a calm oasis, a shelter from the chaos outside the walls. It’s called Fire and Ice, if you ever visit. Shortly after I went to bed, and as mentioned slept badly, in my sleeping bag liner, in a room that looked like it belonged to the Mother Superior out of Train Spotting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I got up at about 6am and went down to “breakfast”. Breakfast was, it appeared, a piece of toast cooked on a small portable stove. The bread tasted of meths, which was probably what fuelled the stove. I ate it out of politeness and declined the kind offer of a second piece. I paid the bill, which was a princely $12, which was about $11 more than it was worth. They asked me if I needed a room on the way back home? I said I didn’t. Actually I did, but there wasn’t a cat in hell’s chance I’d be staying there again. I made a mental note to find a better place to stay. I took some advice from other competitors when the time came and I stayed in the Malla hotel on the way back. It cost me about £80 but I got a two room suite, breakfast and it was a decent 4 star standard I’d say. Really nice place, highly recommended if you have to spend a night in Kathmandu anytime. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I finished off the meths flavoured toast, paid the bill and one of the guys who worked at the place (he was a nice guy actually) took me over to the bus station a few hundred metres away. The bus station was just a rough ground courtyard with a bunch of coaches that had seen better days. I had paid $20 the most expensive “Greenline” coach with air conditioning, and a lunch stop included. The air conditioning turned out to be a bunch of 6 inch fans in various states of disrepair, bolted to the chassis above the seats. Turns out there isn’t actually any air conditioning on any of the coaches, just fans. The temperature wasn’t that warm, as the fog and cool weather was very much in control. It took an hour for the bus to reach the outskirts of Kathmandu, crawling through the chaotic traffic. Then there was a holdup as part of the road had collapsed into the valley 400M below, so all traffic was taking it in turns to drive on one side of the road around the “pothole”. I leaned over in a vain effort to keep the bus on the road and out of the pothole. I winced a few times as lorries came hurtling towards us, overtaking other traffic. After a few of those, I stopped looking at the road ahead, was thankful to be seated at the back, and just trusted my life to an alarmingly young looking bus driver.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The bus made a few stops along the way for toilet breaks and one for lunch at quite a nice Riverside hotel, where I got my first sample of Nepalese food. Dhal Bhat seems to be the local favourite. A platter of rice, dhal, spinach, curried vegetables and a few other items too. I quite got the taste for it during the course of my stay there. After the lunch stop it was another 3 hours to Pokhara, the last 2 hours were really very bumpy, a nasty piece of road than shook you to the bone. Everywhere was till shrouded in a light fog, with visibility restricted to about ½ a mile. Then we came upon a sign which said “Welcome to beautiful Pokhara”, as we entered the city. The site that greeted me wasn’t one a beauty. It looked just like Kathmandu, houses with rubbish all around them, essentially slums everywhere. It wasn’t until several days later that I discovered why Pokhara was beautiful. When the fog eventually lifted there is a stunning view of the whole Annapurna mountain range in the distance ‘behind’ Pokhara. Pokhara isn’t beautiful at all, but it’s backdrop is stunning.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Once again a guy had my name on a card at the bus station. I carried my own luggage this time, to his tiny cab. Every taxi is a 800cc Suzuki Martino; a tiny car. Not one of them could get my suitcase in the boot. It always ended up on the back seat. The cab took me to an area called Lakeside, the reason for which I’ll let you figure out for yourself! He dropped me at the Sacred Valley Inn, another hostel. However, unlike the recommendation I’d been given for the dump I stayed in whilst in Kathmandu, I’d done my own homework on Pokhara on TripAdvisor and picked the no 1 place to stay. It was very cheap, about $15 a night, lovely and clean rooms, really nice helpful owners and very secure. I had a few nice Nepalese meals and some great Cheesecake there; loading up on calories before the race.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I had one night in the hostel which was situated right on the main tourist shopping street. The shops were the same as Kathmandu; selling fake outdoor clothes and trinkets mostly. I discovered while unpacking some things that both my GPS watch and my camera had both mysteriously stopped working during the travel. The hostel owner sent me with a taxi driver into the main town but both items were checked and not worth fixing, or unable to repair. Back in the UK I had the same confirmed. Very odd. So, I then ended up spending £80 on another compact camera, after all may only ever visit Nepal just once, so a camera was essential. You can see why there have been no photos up until now can’t you? Don’t worry there are plenty to come in the main race report. Next I ended up buying a cheap digital watch for about £3. It had a stopwatch and that was it. I would not be using my GPS on the event it seemed. Ah well, that would save me 50g carrying spare batteries at least; every cloud eh? I bought a few other bits of pieces of shopping; souvenirs mostly, wasting a few hours wandering around the town before going back to the hostel to sleep. It got dark soon after 5:30pm in the evenings, so I was in bed not long after that to try into the right sleep pattern for the race. I woke about 7am (it gets light about 6am), had some breakfast and then got a taxi to the main race hotel, the Fulbari Resort and Spa. The grounds are immaculate, as you can see below with the first picture from the new camera. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vQH2MPG2xPg_eo7ma3xRdTju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DEzxul98Pfw/TtXoPZZclvI/AAAAAAAAFVI/iatR2kVP82o/s288/DSC01808.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">From a distance the place has the look of a 5 star hotel, but up close you realise something went wrong along the way. I think maybe they ran out of money? Rooms are unfinished; plug sockets didn’t work, wires were hanging off the plugs/wall (in all the rooms I saw!). Both rooms they put me in were not made up from the previous guest (unmade beds, no towels, and bathroom in a bit of a state!). The front desk and staff customer service left a lot to be desired too. All the competitors made the same observations, but no one was particularly bothered as we were not spending much time there. The hotel had its charm and with some more money spent on the place, it might reach a 4 star standard. However, as an aside, we had absolutely no grounds for complaint; compared to the conditions that 99% of the population live in, the hotel was a palace.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">No sooner had I checked in then I got a lift back into town with Eric La Haie and some of the other Racing The Planet staff. James Love a friend from the MDS 2008 and Atacama Crossing 2010 had texted me from Lakeside to say he was eating and shopping. So, I luckily dropped on a lift into town, which was about 15 minutes drive away due to the state of the roads. It was good to meet up with James, and we had something to eat, and did a little bit of haggling for some shopping for him before returning to the hotel for the pre-race welcome. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Around 215 competitors from all over the World crowded into the main dining room and were addressed by Mary Gadams (RTP CEO), Samantha (Race Director), and also the medical staff too. The race briefing was excellent; very thorough, and we were warned that anyone who was pulled out of the race would not be allowed to start any subsequent stages in a non-competitive capacity because of the low standard of Nepal hospital medical care, and medivac extraction difficulties. They quoted up to 10 hours to extract someone with Sherpa’s from some parts of the course, and even longer to fly out of the country to somewhere that had a decent standard of medical care. That was fairly sobering! The weather had been very poor, quite cold and it had been raining, but was due to pick up. In fact the next day it did, and it was stunning blue skies and perfect visibility, not to mention quite hot for the rest of the week. There was a very high quality field of competitors; lots of previous Racing The Planet veterans, many 4-desert completists, and previous champions too. The event had attracted Ryan Sandes, South Africa’s superstar trail runner; he had to be hot favourite I thought. I’d been in the Atacama 2010 race with him when he’d torn the race to pieces and finished all 6 stages in a record breaking time under 24 hours. Also there was Marshall Ulrich, the veteran American ultra running legend. I was looking forward to meeting him, having recently read his Running on Empty book. Marshall is now 60 years old, and was there in a 3 man team with two friends called the Stray Dogs. It would transpire that in my hour of need Marshall would offer me some “beyond the call of duty” help, and I’d end up with the best ultra running souvenir ever. More about that in the main post!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Race briefing over, we all had a buffet dinner in the hotel. After that I spent the evening catching up with old friends and familiar faces from all four corners of the globe. It’s amazing how many people you get to know from all over the World, when you do these events. Me and James met up with Jack from South Africa again; Jack had also been in the same tent as me and James in the Atacama Crossing 2010. Jack is an absolutely rock solid competitor, you always know he’s going to finish a race. The three of us had requested to be in the same tent, but we didn’t know who the other four people allocated to Tent 23 were. We’d meet them the following day. We had a fairly early night to rest up. I ended up with a room to myself after a competitor pulled out of the race the day before departing for Nepal. The next morning, after breakfast, I packed my rucksack. It would be slightly heavier than usual, on account of advice to take a sleeping bag liner, a waterproof jacket, and I had increased my calories to more than 18,000; way beyond the requirement to carry 14,000. I wasn’t going to run out of food like I did in the Atacama Crossing 2010! I was also carrying a few “Beet It” beetroot endurance shots, which I have been drinking for a few weeks. Some research over the last two years shows some interesting performance gains, and the shots are being used by members of the UK Olympics squad, some premiership football teams and rugby teams too. So my pack would weigh in officially at 7.5kilos, though it was a little lighter than that (about 7.3kg) but they were only roughly measuring them in half kilo splits.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The admin day was very efficient. We queued up, got our race passports stamped at the various tables when our medical history was checked, our packs weighed, kit and calories confirmed etc. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fuiKMxQ7fUWv_Bspt534yDju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OyJIXwoaEkM/TtXoRb1S5oI/AAAAAAAAFVQ/zP-vrKgcKeA/s288/DSC01810.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The kit check was easy, and I had my spreadsheet showing all my calories as my food was vacuum sealed, as usual, into daily bricks of food. Instead of a race T-shirt we were given a really good quality Marmot light waterproof jacket. In the end I opted to use my own as it was lighter, but I’m sure the race jacket will see some action back in the UK winter. An American guy getting kit-checked at the same time as me had forgotten his 20 safety pins. I popped back to my room and supplied a girl he was friends with my spares. I’d brought a lot of spare kit spread between my hand and hold luggage in case one of them had gotten lost in the travel to Nepal. I didn’t realise it until later that day but I’d just met two of my tent-mates, Steve and Martina. After the admin check we all loaded onto one of about 8 coaches for the hour long drive to camp 1.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We drove through Pokhara and towards the Annapurna mountain range, the skyline dominated by Machuparre, Fishtail mountain. It’s 6993M and has a peak shaped like a fish’s tail. It’s sacred to the God Shiva and has never been summitted. A British team got within 50M of the summit in the 1950’s I think, but had agreed not to stand on the summit out of respect to local custom. After that no permits have ever been issued to climb it anyway. The bus then drove onto a very bumpy and vertiginous mountain track with a sheer 300M drop to death just a couple of feet away from the right hand side wheels. I was actually quite scared as the bus slowly bounced and rocked its way at walking pace along the track. I actually wanted to get off and walk, I hate heights. I eyed the door nervously, wondering how in how much of a split second I could leap over the seats and dive through the door in the event that the bus toppled over the edge. A few people took photos, I’ll have to get one from someone I know and post it. I was far too worried about dying than taking photos at that point in time! After a torturous couple of miles, the buses descended to the valley floor, much to my relief and we exited onto some agricultural land where camp 1 was waiting for us.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MkFwpmdGgoc6Db1-Py8Cqjju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5pqt0gT10bk/TtXoTLdEQYI/AAAAAAAAFVU/6lJjmEuqvpI/s288/DSC01811.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lots of local people greeted us with garlands of flowers and marked our heads with the Hindu spot (The Tilaka I think it’s called). See the photo of me below.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_0U1KYLNGGR-_QXztWk71jju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sMFaLvcsox4/TtXocKidF9I/AAAAAAAAFVs/GQziby9dj_A/s288/DSC01817.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There were lots of local school children, and some musicians. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pPqBi_S4apENpI9c3FeyCTju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KVZ6ajtv9sk/TtXoUkS0a4I/AAAAAAAAFVY/8zDZAL11lm8/s288/DSC01812.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1jKapFPTt9rRIjx6MRnJFjju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfDiyc3YMNLjk2nBMrMuY-vj7psyJkReKLlY7dEKWLFndNPP-ax9y6Dylk6ruvzd3DPYf4q2CWSpiEC0RLXTLBwsPXkcQmr5pCXUHTsCGRlGXGKlD-kEE2B1ZN9MxildvK4FwBqlyTYI/s288/DSC01814.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> It was a really nice greeting and made that first night a little bit more special. Of course then standing and looking up and 6 and 7000M peaks for the first time in my life was breathtaking. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bUsGnqXUV31np400HzIruTju_DXrwdQhYlowf2n0ros?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="216px" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lKmTzlKyu3E/TtXoZxfRNII/AAAAAAAAFVk/4kf2z55kFOE/s288/DSC01815.JPG?gl=GB" width="288px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Eventually, I made my way over to Tent 23 and met the other tent mates. There was me, James and Jack of course, then Martina from San Francisco, but originally from Germany, Steve – a friend of Martina’s boyfriend, also from San Francisco, Roger from New Zealand and xxx from Australia. We all commented that the tent looked a little small for 7 people, let alone the 8 people they were designed for. They were not the usual high quality canvass tents that RTP use, that can comfortably sleep 10. They were narrow, single-skin waterproof tents with one opening and only enough room to lie right next to each other with just about enough room to store your rucksack by your head or feet. The space wasn’t the worst surprise the tents had in store for us, we’d get that in the middle of the night onwards! It rained! It didn’t rain outside the tent, it rained inside. 7 people all exhaling in a single skin waterproof tent means, roughly 7 litres of water condensing on the tent ceiling, and then dripping and then raining on us all, all night. Ewwwwwww! Sadly we had to put up with that all week too. The body sweat/breath rain on everyone else in the tent could well have helped spread the plague that swept through the camp during the week; a bacterial infection that had more than 25% of the competitors in the medical tent, after vomiting and with diarrhea. We would have to be really on top of our hygiene and alcohol gel use, and even then it was in the lap of the God’s as to if we got sick. We spent the evening getting to know each other before settling down to sleep. Despite the rain, I got a reasonable night’s sleep. Just before I dropped off I wondered how the race would play out. I was nervous of course, but looking forward to the sights and terrain. We’d seen the roadbook and knew we’d be covering over 9000M of ascent on the course. We also knew that there was a final 5:30pm cut off (as well as earlier cutoff’s at earlier CPs) each day. That coincided with sunset, so clearly RTP didn’t want people on the course after dark. Could the terrain really be that challenging? The short answer was yes, though I was blissfully unaware of that as I drifted off to sleep.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have a good week, I’ll get the main race report up soon!</div><br />
</div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-79350160446657257712011-11-27T14:03:00.000+00:002011-11-27T14:05:45.434+00:00Stage 6 and the finishStage six began with an unexpected and quite mystical trip across the lake by the camp in 4 man canoes. The mist was heavy on the water so it looked very cool. The stage was just 13k with little over 100m elevation but crossed rice fields and bogs so not a pushover ! I decided I was going to do it as fast as my sore legs would allow. I set off quickly in the morning mist though it was very humid and the sun broke through. I was cursing as we went through bogs and town side gutter streams (sewers) as I had an open wound on my toes(infection risk). I ran well at a pace I felt I could maintain and finished in 25th for the stage, and 35th overall. 215 starters roughly so top 15%. I'm very pleased to get a huge hard won medal. I ignored the finish line food and cleaned my open wounds straight away with alcohol. I'm changing dressing and dousing in iodine every few hours until I get home where I can get it looked at. Thanks for the support. Full report when I get home!<p>Sent from my iPhoneRichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-24931911827405261002011-11-25T04:57:00.000+00:002011-11-25T15:53:26.278+00:00stage 5 - when a plan comes together<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>We slept in a tea house after stage 4. I ate well, slept well and ate a large, if not unusual, breakfast of Spaghetti Bolognese. I’d been looking at the course info for stage 5 all week. 45 miles, 2900M of ascent. Most of the ascent in 3 vicious climbs (1-2 hours each)in the first half of the race. After that the terrain looked better. I told myself to take it easy until I got to the top of the 3<sup>rd</sup> climb, save it all, and then see how I felt. So we set off on what was the most unbelievably difficult 45 miles I have ever encountered. We went up and down steep and slippy uneven stone steps and boulders, through primary jungle areas complete with leeches, and up burning hot farming terraces. The slippy stones and climbing meant a painfully slow pace for everyone; as you will see from the wide range of result times. I was better hydrated that anyone, I sank 4 litres in the night, and drank all day, no repeat of day 4 misery. I ate often, a small amount every 30 mins, so was well fuelled. So, I struggled through the first 3 climbs and 25 miles and felt good. At CP5 the top of the 3<sup>rd</sup> climb, I got more water and passed straight through the CP in a minutes, just like I had all day and would do for the rest. I fuelled up on a handful of food, tightened my race pack and opened up. I ran at a great pace straight through CP6 (8.5k later), it was then dark, so headlight on, I ran on the next 9.1K to CP7, all without stopping or pausing, passing a lot of people who had given it all a little too early in the race. I saw no one shortly before CP7 until the end of the race, everyone was strung out so far. The last 10k included a horribly difficult final sting of slippy stairs and route finding was difficult as the local kids stole all the glow sticks. Eventually I emerged onto a road and Ultra Running legend Marshall Ulrich (pulled on day 2 with sickness) was on his own directing people. Great guy incidentally, I owe him for helping me on day 4. I lost my hat in my confusion, and well, I have the best souvenir, I have Marshall Ulrich’s cap! Maybe some of his talent rubbed off a little as I had a good day. In the last 2k, my body let go, with left knee pain, left Achilles pain (id ruptured the blood blister hours before incidentally, on a descent). Still I ran through to the end and finished in 13 hours 17 mins. I’d been Running on Empty for 10 miles and had low blood sugar. I ate quickly while the docs advised me on the toe, and gave me some voltarol for my knee and heel. All the skin on my little toe has gone. I’m dousing it in alcohol every few hours(ouch) and trying to stop it being infected. I feel good today. Tomorrow just 13k to the finish. I may be limping, but I’ll make it. Thanks for the support, it’s been great. Thanks to Mike for the last min treatment, Ive had no big issues. Feels good to get this race done. It’s been so tough. Looking forward to finish line pizza tomorrow. See you at home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>**********IMPORTANT NOTICE**********<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please do NOT reply to this email. Please visit the event website at www.4deserts.com to send a message to any competitor, volunteer or staff.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>*********************************************<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-69339637792756349712011-11-23T13:16:00.000+00:002011-11-23T16:15:06.696+00:00Stage 4 - had better days<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ill spare you the detail until I get home to save worrying you anymore than reading this will. I finished in 6 hours in 59th place but that doesnt tell the story of how close I came to not finishing. Ive ended the stage and Im in one piece but had an awful time with severe dehydration and ive smashed up one toe and got a large blood blister that I cant burst and will struggle to run on. If it bursts I could get cellultits again, so I have to pad it and be careful. With 1000s of up and down steps its impossible. Dont know why my other blog updates didnt work, shame but it all went ok until today.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tonight we sleep in tea houses (local indioor accommodation). Tomorrow its 45 miles and 2900M of elevation. All day and into the night and maybe beyond. By the time you read this Ill be already started so dont worry about emailing now. I know youre all wishing me well and I hope I can get through tomorrow. Its a huge challenge when youre in the condition I am in now. Ill do my best. Thanks for all the messages, both email and on the ipod from Wendy and Alex.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR>**********IMPORTANT NOTICE**********<BR>Please do NOT reply to this email. Please visit the event website at <A href="http://www.4deserts.com">www.4deserts.com</A> to send a message to any competitor, volunteer or staff.<BR>*********************************************<BR></FONT></DIV>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-26938052881612580032011-11-22T09:51:00.000+00:002011-11-22T15:33:42.335+00:00stage 3 - steady day<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I decided to back off the gas today and take it easier today. The stage was all uphill. gradual for the first 3 checkpoints, and then a brutal 650M climb up terrace steps in the hottest past of the day. I got my gastro problems out of the way before CP1, had more immodium, its like a routine. Still managed not to throw up yet, keeping my fingers crossed for that not happening now; stomach a bit dicey now so I hope its not on its way. Today I did much of the stage with tent buddy James Love, until the last 5k. I had saved plenty of energy for the hill, so arrived at the foot feeling good. As a result I got up the hill in 1 hour 20 minutes. It was steep, and hot, but managed to keep a good pace and then the finish came earlier than I was expecting all of a sudden, it was a nice surprise, everyone from the local village had turned up to cheer us. The camp is at 1800M surrounded by terraced hills and white capped mountains; amazing. They put a flower garland on everyone as they finished, it was very nice. Despite easing off I finished in about 6:20 in 47th place, so I cant really complain about that. Tomorrow starts with a 1200M climb to CP1 (very hard!), and then an immediate descent of 3500 uneven steps which will be just as hard. Trying to avoid a fall is hard. A guy broke 2 fingers yesterday, when he fell, then re-set them, taped them up and carried on. The photos are grim; he took some. So I need to avoid a fall, and arrive at camp 5 safe and in good condition for the big day on day 5. Groin did start to play up today, but on the flatter sections more than the hills. Lucky there isnt much fllat here. Ive stretched and exericised to keep it at bay. Thanks for the support from everyone!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR>**********IMPORTANT NOTICE**********<BR>Please do NOT reply to this email. Please visit the event website at <A href="http://www.4deserts.com">www.4deserts.com</A> to send a message to any competitor, volunteer or staff.<BR>*********************************************<BR></FONT></DIV>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-77578979933830593112011-11-20T09:12:00.000+00:002011-11-21T04:39:27.360+00:00Stage 1<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Today was very tough first stage. The weather has been hot and its very humid. It started well with an undulating 5k, followed by 9 miles of elevation up switch-backs and steep uneven stone steps and narrow paths. We got lost half way through due to some bad course marking. A lot of people got lost. We realised our mistake and backtracked addinhg a lot more elevation on. We would have been better staying wrong I think, as those that did had an easier route. Then about half way into the stage I had some pretty horrible gastro issues (ill spare you the details) , and had to sit down for 10 minutes after to try and eat and rehydrate. Quite a lot of people are suffering from it, some have already pulled out. By the time I got 3 miles from the finish I felt a lot better, and managed to come down a very steep and slippery stone steps section fairly quickly. The last few k were on the road, so I chase down a few people and finished strong. Not sure how many people started; maybe 230 -240. I placed 47th in 5 hours 11, or thereabouts. Tomorrow is longer and a lot tougher, and day 3 is ALL uphill from start to finish, no let-up. All the ascent each day is going to be very punishing. I hope I can stay healthy and not get more gastro issues. All this aside, the scenary is breathtaking. Google for Fishtail mountain, and thats what weve been running in the company of all day. Spectacular mountain covered peaks from the Annapurna range are all around. Its worth coming for thisd scenary along. Thanks for the messages everyone. Back to tent to eat and rest now.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rich</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><BR>**********IMPORTANT NOTICE**********<BR>Please do NOT reply to this email. Please visit the event website at <A href="http://www.4deserts.com">www.4deserts.com</A> to send a message to any competitor, volunteer or staff.<BR>*********************************************<BR></FONT></DIV>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-83335388222450217192011-11-16T11:16:00.001+00:002011-11-16T11:16:59.133+00:00Landed in Nepal<div></div><div>Haven't had time to post again. Been crazy busy getting ready. Got to Kathmandu an hour ago. Big culture shock, crazy busy streets much like India. 6 hour bus trip to Pokhara tomorrow. Race starts on Sunday. Hopefully links below work to send me a message. If not just go to <a href="http://www.racingtheplanet.com">www.racingtheplanet.com</a></div><div>And follow he Nepal links to email a competitor</div><div><br></div><div>We've been told to expect weather from -5 and below up to 30c, chance of rain and even snow as well as hot temperatures. Just depends what the mountain weather has in store that day. The highest camp is 3200M. Race stages are 4 x marathons then a 47 miler day, then a short last day 10 or 15k fun run basically. </div><div><br></div><div>My pack without water is about 7.3 kilos. 3000kcal per day. I should have plenty of food this time! I had physio and even accupuncture on my groin injury this week. Hope it holds up. Might post again before race starts. </div><div><br></div><div><table border="0" cellpadding="5" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 730px; width: 868px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); font-size: medium; "><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: dotted; border-top-color: initial; font-weight: bold; "><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">Receive live email updates from the field by signing up for <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/d8a989404b" target="_blank">Breaking News</a>.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">Read the daily <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/88aeda7347" target="_blank">stage updates</a>.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">Read <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/8bec2c3533" target="_blank">features </a>about competitors, the locals and the race.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">See the list of <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/21d51c68b6" target="_blank">official competitors</a>, with their bios.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">See <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/04b5d4f16c" target="_blank">photos</a> and <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/74ee960bb2" target="_blank">videos</a> from each stage, updated every day.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">Read <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/d63880fb6b" target="_blank">competitors' blogs</a> sent from each night's camp and leave comments.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">Send <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/c35a5a518e" target="_blank">email to a competitor</a>.</span></li><li><b><font style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375);">Daily <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?RacingThePlanet/032940f508/TEST/0f5a5cadfa" target="_blank">results</a> will be posted to the website during each stage</font></b></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><br>Sent from my iPhone</div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-607679230499437199.post-15813699330036163552011-11-04T12:15:00.002+00:002011-11-04T12:17:09.797+00:00Snowdonia and the accidental 1/3 marathon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I travelled to Snowdonia last Friday night. My girlfriend and a friend from her running club were doing the Snowdonia Mararthon, which is a particularly tough route as marathons go, with 975M of elevation as well as some trail sections. One of their friends had pulled out of the event so I was offered his spot in the Snowdon Ranger youth Hostel. I thought I'd just use Snowdonia as a base for some hill training over the weekend and let everyone else get on with the marathon.<br />
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I arrived late on Friday and had a room to myself. The manager of the place, was a fairly surly chap, not the happiest guy I've ever been greeted by to be honest. Maybe it was the full house and the stress was getting to him! The next morning I got up at 7:30 and was out by 8am. My girlfriend had given me 2kg worth of clothes and food to hang onto during the day, to give to her on the finish line when she completed it. I added a couple more kilo of clothes and water, so had about 5-6kg to carry. It was her first 'road' marathon, so it was a big day for her. She knew the course was tough and has hoping to get in under 4 hours 20. So, I was instructed I had to be waiting on the finish line with the drop bag, on pain of death. So, no tripping around on the hills for 10 hours and forgetting the time then. I did however say that as an extra bonus I'd also run over the pass and meet them in Llanberis for the start. As soon as they were off, I'd hot tail it and run up the Llanberis path to climb up to Snowdon summit (1050m), then run back down the Snowdon Ranger path back to the youth hostel, as the marathon route passed it at 18 miles, then after I saw her I'd run back over the pass to Llanberis again before she got to the finish. This was a fairly tall order;17 miles and about 1600M of ascent, with the added pressure of being 'on the clock'. <br />
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Turns out the weather wasn't going to allow all of that anyway, however I managed to make up for it. So, I headed out of the Youth Hostel just about 8:15am. Pictures from the train line just above the hostel.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEa0JEs57mY/Tq6USPc4eSI/AAAAAAAAFR4/8GGdBKX15to/s1600/DSCF1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEa0JEs57mY/Tq6USPc4eSI/AAAAAAAAFR4/8GGdBKX15to/s320/DSCF1641.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQeTCsFPdts/Tq6UTqp1SXI/AAAAAAAAFR8/68Mc0zDy4Gk/s1600/DSCF1642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQeTCsFPdts/Tq6UTqp1SXI/AAAAAAAAFR8/68Mc0zDy4Gk/s320/DSCF1642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It was already raining lightlywith a strong wind down at the youth hostel (150M) and the cloud was down about 3-400M. There is a stiff climb on the Snowdon Ranger Path initially before a fork in the path heads up still to the pass which sits at about 500M. I was wearing waterproofs, jacket and trousers, and some non-waterproof gloves By the time I got up to the highest point I was lost in cloud, with visibility less than 15M and heavy rain. The winds were gale force and the rain was driving horizontal and stinging. The only saving grace was that going North to Llanberis, the wind was blowing from behind me, pushing me up and along. I hopped over a couple of stiles at the top of the pass and started to run down the path to Llanberis about 3 miles away. It was an easy run downhill, just very windy and very wet! It was also very cold with the rain/wind combo.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VdrP0rPQOY/Tq6UU1fZEqI/AAAAAAAAFSA/xYdRoYra-3M/s1600/DSCF1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8VdrP0rPQOY/Tq6UU1fZEqI/AAAAAAAAFSA/xYdRoYra-3M/s320/DSCF1643.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I got to Llanberis about 9:30, so it had only taken me 1 hour and 15 mins to get there. I was however like a drowned rat. I went into the cafe opposite the electric station and paid a hideously expensive price of £7.90 for a fairly poor (both in quality and quantity) breakfast and mug of tea. I should have gone to Pete's Eats like everyone else apparently does on marathon day. I stripped off my 'waterproof's' to find that my clothes underneath were wet. My OMM Kamlieka waterproof jacket had needed re-proofing so I didn't have much sympathy for myself. My gloves were ringing wet, and the OMM waterproof trousers were also suitably sodden but probably would take another another hour before they gave in. I realised I wasn't going to get up to the summit of Snowdon. I didn't have any more waterproofs and well, the winds were gale force. It wouldn't be an enjoyable trip. So, I would have to settle for running back over the pass to the Youth Hostel, but even that prospect I wasn't looking forward to.<br />
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My girlfriend had only a pertex jacket. I broke out an emergency poncho from my backpack and gave it to her, for all the good it would do. The rain was set in for the day, so all the marathon runners were going to get very wet! Here's the start of the race. Nice weather for ducks eh?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEKELTmFvek/Tq6cbo1VU9I/AAAAAAAAFSs/Ne2vyyuJYXM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEKELTmFvek/Tq6cbo1VU9I/AAAAAAAAFSs/Ne2vyyuJYXM/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I saw one loon running the marathon totally barefoot. 26 miles all on tarmac, with slate and rocks in a few places. Bravado I assume; nothing to be gained but sore feet. Barefoot running on soft ground I can just about 'get' (though I'm still not tempted), but a road marathon, why?<br />
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I saw her off at the start and then went back into the town and bought a "Mac in a pack" waterproof jacket, which I was assured was quite good and had taped seams. I also bought myself a pair of waterproof mitts, as they were in the sale and I figured I'd get some use out of them over winter, even if they were a bit overkill for today. So, freshly kitted out I headed back up the path and over the hill. This time I was running (before giving up) straight into the gale force wind. I slowed to a walk and leant in to the wind and heavy rain which drove straight into me. I was fairly quickly back into low visibility and wasn't enjoying it one little bit. I had a big run in with bad weather in a storm in Tenerife a few years ago, and I've never quite got over it. I hate being in poor visibility, driving rain and wind when in an unfamiliar location. <br />
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I had been using a map and compass but pulled out my PDA/GPS which was in a new Aquapac waterproof bag to check my navigation. The Aquapac had saved my life in Tenerife. All my other electronics were destroyed in the storm, but my GPS in the aquapac survived and enabled me to navigate to safety. My girlfriend had recently bought me a new type of Stormproof aquapac, which has a roll top (like a dry bag you put in a rucksack). I didn't realise but you had to roll over the top 3 times, but my PDA was a little too large and I could only roll it over twice. Anyway, water got in and killed my PDA, right at the point where I came to a fork in the path with no visibility. I emailed Aquapac when I got home and they were quickly replied, and I sent back mine for investigation although it's pretty much certain that it must have been not making the seal with 3 rolls that was the cause. They also very kindly sent me the original aquapac model as a replacement, free of charge. This one has twist clips and is fully submersible in water to 5M. It's basically fool (me) proof. Awesome customer care from Aquapac, thank you very much!<br />
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Anyway, back to the fork in the path. I was a little worries and also getting cold. The mac in a pack had proved itself to be not very waterproof, as my quilted Nike windproof top underneath was wet through. The mac in a pack hadn't even stood up to an hour of the weather. If I would have been out there for another hour or two, I'd probably have gotten very cold and gotten myself into trouble. My waterproof gloves had performed admirably, but were now starting to succumb to the weather too. My hands were toasty and I wasn't likely to get frostbite after all was I! I got out the map, leant into the gale and decided which path I needed to take. I passed a coupe of guys who had not long set off from the Youth Hostel. I tried to ask them if I was on the right path, but we just couldn't hear each other. We went our separate ways but I saw them not long after, as they wisely decided to return to sea level due to the weather. I started to run downhill now, and the path started to look familiar. I breathed a sigh of relief as I exited the cloud and as I run further the wind dropped. I got back <span style="background-color: yellow;">to</span> the youth hostel level, where the weather at sea-level was just a very wet and fairly blustery day. I saw the lead runners come past as I headed into the warm and dry of the youth hostel. There was no way I was going back up over that pass to the finish line again, which as pack mule carrying my girlfriends finish line supplies, was a problem.<br />
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Still on the clock, I stripped off everything I had one. It was all soaked to the core. The waterproof trousers had also given up as well as the mac in a pack. I put on a new pair of running tights, new socks, fleece jumper and left my Kamlieka jacket to dry in the drying room. I had one more dry jacket, but I was saving it in case my girlfriend needed it when she came past. I put on another pair of waterproof trousers, and then cast aside my sodden fell shoes and put on my road running trainers. I realised the only was I was going to be able to be there at the finish was to join the marathon route, stay low in the relatively mild foul weather, and stick to the road. <br />
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I waited outside the YHA for about 30 mins until she came past. She was soaked to the bone, but didn't want the waterproof jacket I held out as she was warm enough from the running. So, I hastily stuffed it into the backpack, which was still about 5kg and gave chase, caught up with her, and settled into her 9 minute mile marathon target pace, just before mile 18. I think I got a few surprised looks as we passed people and some lunatic in full waterproofs and a large backpack was running past them. I felt a bit guilty and hope they didn't think I had run the whole race, and demoralise anyone. Still, I had already done about 12 miles and climbed about 700M. I probably wasn't too far off in energy spent! <br />
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The rain persisted but still there were lots of people out supporting the runners. There is a cruel hill from about mile 22 to mile 24, a long gradient which some walk and some run depending on how much they have left. The course really is a tough one. I had some quite severe adductor pain, which has not healed after the 80km race a did last weekend. I was pretty hot wearing all the gear that I did, as well as the pack but just about managed to keep up as she ran up the hill. We slowed up to a walk about half a mile from the top, which gave me chance for a breather before she carried on running all the way down the slippy and treacherous trail section into Llanberis. I've snuck into the official race photography, oops. See the picture below. You can see even in waterproofs, which are by then shiny and useless, I was wet through again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HNqNnCP4fH0/Tq6UiyA02PI/AAAAAAAAFSo/nbs65DtjlVs/s1600/Marathon+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HNqNnCP4fH0/Tq6UiyA02PI/AAAAAAAAFSo/nbs65DtjlVs/s320/Marathon+pic.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>A few people fell over, and I just about managed to stay on my feet; road shoes giving me no grip at all. We ran down the hill and into Llanberis where I ducked off the road and onto the pavement and let her carry on through the finish line. She finished in just a few minutes over 4 hours,so she was very happy indeed. Well done! I was on hand to perform my main duty as pack mule, and got out her bag of clean clothes and sorted out some tea and refreshments (in the Electric Station cafe this time). So, apart from a very sore adductor all was well. It may not have been quite the day I was expecting but I had done about 20 miles and over 1000M of ascent, with some excitement and several changed of clothes to boot!<br />
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The following morning, the weather was much improved at sea-level and the cloud was up to about 600M.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMv8eHaAQ6GEL3UVcOCIV_N6wEh2Odt9pRDtwxCn6ShyibBrkepVzoyPM0ykfKEGLRItEUBXZupC6TPksmCLd1nT7MlyOzKSNdTcsC6KNPMaMUc2B-ibl0YRGHb2JwAYeCYBQsMxH6KU/s1600/DSCF1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMv8eHaAQ6GEL3UVcOCIV_N6wEh2Odt9pRDtwxCn6ShyibBrkepVzoyPM0ykfKEGLRItEUBXZupC6TPksmCLd1nT7MlyOzKSNdTcsC6KNPMaMUc2B-ibl0YRGHb2JwAYeCYBQsMxH6KU/s320/DSCF1650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Looking towards Snowdon<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVep2XIkY2U/Tq6UXw0FggI/AAAAAAAAFSI/sb0MCXBYGc0/s1600/DSCF1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uVep2XIkY2U/Tq6UXw0FggI/AAAAAAAAFSI/sb0MCXBYGc0/s320/DSCF1651.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I set off alone on the Snowdon Range Path with the aim to climb Snowdon again. I did do some running but my adductor was sore, and really concerning me. The path gets much steeper on loose rocks and slate.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fngf-tSV4bw/Tq6Ua032IyI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/aiHuGCFbzeY/s1600/DSCF1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fngf-tSV4bw/Tq6Ua032IyI/AAAAAAAAFSQ/aiHuGCFbzeY/s320/DSCF1653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol3K_Pv5u38/Tq6UcsB-U_I/AAAAAAAAFSU/gKfVXNrEcs0/s1600/DSCF1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol3K_Pv5u38/Tq6UcsB-U_I/AAAAAAAAFSU/gKfVXNrEcs0/s320/DSCF1654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I got up into the cloud where the winds were touching gale force again, low vis and fairly miserable. I climbed up to 850 metres, about 1.5k from the summit, but at that point considered my options. I'd done most of the climbing and was worried that I could be doing more damage to the adductor if I did a big day out again. It was also miserably cold and windy where I was, and no visibility, so no reward for reaching the summit anyway. So, decision made a run and walked back down to the YHA. I took a few pictures once I got back under the cloud.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaIMekev-OY94cxwNZ-3E7f9-oGIcFI7WrxIiOXvdjsDDdR03nQJ-KjXx1rQ7RQW5pR9OoUn6nJVrng2kN8XlwduGo4SRXdZ5VXUxPdDoTr6Joa1q_g1ZgHezzbIlEAhYy-BwR_u3kUA/s1600/DSCF1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaIMekev-OY94cxwNZ-3E7f9-oGIcFI7WrxIiOXvdjsDDdR03nQJ-KjXx1rQ7RQW5pR9OoUn6nJVrng2kN8XlwduGo4SRXdZ5VXUxPdDoTr6Joa1q_g1ZgHezzbIlEAhYy-BwR_u3kUA/s320/DSCF1655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyE0ofIPqRs/Tq6UgiXJZKI/AAAAAAAAFSg/LIuiGaj-X_g/s1600/DSCF1657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyE0ofIPqRs/Tq6UgiXJZKI/AAAAAAAAFSg/LIuiGaj-X_g/s320/DSCF1657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A ray of light...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw5_TvS47Wc/Tq6Uh3L60oI/AAAAAAAAFSk/U-OZ7p44GRE/s1600/DSCF1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw5_TvS47Wc/Tq6Uh3L60oI/AAAAAAAAFSk/U-OZ7p44GRE/s320/DSCF1659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This week I've had several massage treatments to try and settle the adductor. I've not done any running. I've walked into work with my pack a couple of times and done some passive sessions on the altitude machine. This means I sit still but breath in air at 6500M. It makes you very sleepy as the oxygen sats plummet towards 70%. I've been advised not to run this weekend either. It's very frustrating as I should be peaking my training, but I'm wise enough to know when to back off. Next weekend's 26 miles Six Dales Circuit is very much in jeopardy too, as that's just 3 days before I fly to Nepal. The adductor issue is worryingly the opposite side to my other groin problem, which is also problematic at the moment too.<br />
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I've just got to hope that 10 days rest is going to sort things out. This weekend I'll have to do my packing for Nepal, so I'll update about that next week. Have a good week! </div>Richhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08270238890823415087noreply@blogger.com4