D33 Deeside Way Race 3/4/2010
Another month, a bit more ultra madness… The D33 race is basically 16+ miles from Aberdeen to Banchory on an old railway footpath and then back – with a two mile road section in the middle to throw in some undulations. As this was “short” for an ultra, and with the London Marathon on the horizon, I wanted to see what would happen if I moved up from my usual “just get to the finish” approach. The answer is that when the wheels come off, they do so in style!
A terrible weather forecast didn’t come true – we got some drizzle and a moderate headwind on the way back, but that was lucky compared to the morning of driving rain promised. And the week’s snow had largely gone – though it was at the side of the path in places, and one of the roads out of Banchory was closed that morning because of overnight snow. Path was about 50/50 tarmac and trail, with some muddy puddles but nothing severe – very like the Water of Leith path out Douglas’ way.
I ran for the first hour with ex-Porty Neil Rutherford, who sends regards, and for the second half of the race regularly swopped places with Gail Murdoch, but otherwise this was largely processional – I think I made up a grand total of three places after the half-marathon point. I was sure someone passed me, but not according to the splits.
The plan was to run 8 minute miles breaking on the hour to eat/drink, and I largely stuck to that – half marathon in 1:43, marathon in 3:29:54. I saw the average pace fall in mile 27, but got it back to 8:00 in mile 28 without too much effort. But in mile 29 the wheels came off. I stopped to refuel one last time in case I was running out of energy, but I was just run out. Last miles were fairly painful with my left knee seizing up – I think because of the cold. I was ready to switch to walk/run, but there were plenty of neds on the path as we got back into Aberdeen – some with quad bikes - so I didn’t want to show weakness (they were actually all perfectly well behaved), and then it was too close to the finish to stop. Finished in 4:27 for 14th place.
Next race in the Scottish Ultra Series is the Highland Fling – which I’ll be missing, handing the baton over to Graham, Peter, Mary, John P and Robert K (and maybe Ben K). Perhaps Porty is becoming an ultra club?
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