The night before I had packed ready including my new Spry running vest but was unsure whether to use it as I hadn't given it a good breaking in so packed my usual bum bag or fanny pack as Carl calls it. Setting off at 8.15am heading down the M5 the day was looking overcast and windy then the further I got down the M6 the snow began to fall and the wind picked up! I could tell this was going to be fun.
Arriving at the University was an adventure in itself as there was not one sign directing you for the race. I pulled into the Uni car park and was relieved to see running looking people getting out their cars. With the snow coming down fast I decided to whack my contact lenses in save wiping my glasses throughout the run and also decided to go with the fanny pack, gels at the ready, phone in waterproof case, music loaded I was ready to go.
Carl rocked up around 9.30am and we straight away went to find the race headquarters and the toilets. It was alot warmer inside than it was outside so we opted to stay in there for a while. A runner called Andi Jones was pointed out to us who was apparently super quick and would 100% win it. I was just hoping for a sub 4 hours as this was the time limit given and I was worrying the night before about timing per mile and even thought about pulling out. I was worried about the marshalls going home, the signs being taken down and me not receiving my memento at the finish, I didn't need to worry though as the memento which was a nice mug was being given out at the start when you flashed your race number.
We met up with Sharon and her husband Nigel from Run For Fun and the conversation quickly led onto what we would all be wearing considering the weather, we had options thrown around by loony carl - shorts and vest! Sharon was debating trousers, shorts and a long sleeve top and a vest and maybe a coat. I went with long sleeve top with vest on top, coat and gloves. It was chilly and still snowing!I think all three of us were wondering just what we were about to do... run 20 miles in the snow? Really. We made our way outside to the start and we were off.
Disaster struck straight away when my phone decided to keep playing the same track over and over again for the first 3 miles! I couldn't get it to shuffle. The first 2 miles saw us running up a main road (none of the roads were closed to traffic) so trying to maneuver past other runners whilst keeping to the left so not to get hit by the cars was fun. The first 2 miles were a long slow hill that I thought was never going to end, the wind was bitter stinging my face, snow was getting in my eyes but on I battled. The brow of the hill was in site and then bliss there was a fantastic down hill which everyone barreled down. I had worked out I had to maintain 12 minute mile pace for the 20 miles to finish bang on 4 hours so I was taking this downhill as an advantage and busted out a 9:30 min mile get some spare in the bank for later.
We were then diverted to the left and this took us onto country lanes still not closed to traffic and some people in the cars were complete toss pots getting too close, revving the engines or honking horns. Faced with more hills my pace slowed and I had to walk up some of them as I kept going light headed when I tried to push too hard up them. I finally got my music playing properly at this point which helped massively. I found a pacer in the form of a lady running just ahead so I stayed close when realised she was maintaing 10 min miles really well so stuck on her heels and found we were both walking the hills. I lost her a few times when she stopped at the drink stations but she soon found her way in front of me again and I felt comfortable just following. At mile 5.5 I got lapped by the previously mentioned Andi Jones! WOW he was running uber fast!!!! Lapped at 5.5miles shocking. (He actually finished the 20 mile course in 1 hour 43 minutes and yes he did win)
Mile 6 I had a good burst, felt good and like it was easy that lasted I think around 1 mile then I felt rubbish again. The first loop was just over 8 miles and I was under the impression it was a 3 lap race but even my maths isn't that bad so I couldn't work out how the route was going to pan out. I saw Nigel, Sharons husband just before the end of the first loop and he told me Sharon & carl were way out in front and going well. The second loop tricked me, we started up the same route as before up the long arduous hill for 2 miles and just as iIwas looking forward to the big downhill we got diverted off down a different route. Mile 11 I was sick and have no idea why and then at mile 14 I hit the dreaded wall, I actually decided I didn't want to run anymore, not just this race but run ever again! I really struggled with the demon in my head then but remembered I am Wonder Runner. I always wonder why I do these races then at the end wonder what all the fuss was about!
The second loop was much nicer in terms of not so many hills or so I thought but looking back on Garmin elevation I seem to be wrong! The final two loops were 6 miles each. At mile 17 I felt sick again and was struggling to maintain running as after a few minutes I was trying not to be sick and had to adopt a run/walk strategy. Mile 18 was just around the corner and who do I see walking along the opposite side of the road but Carl! He had finished and come back for me, he ran/walked with me the last two miles to the finish and decided at 19.5 miles to tell me the finish isn't all that spectacular lol... thanks carl.
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