John Lucas Memorial Race - Round Stra’ven 50 miler 23/08/09
Graham convinced me to join him and John Pickard for this regular event on their autumn calendar. Bad news for John – last time it was Graham getting him there late, this year it was me! In fact finding John in Livingston was the trickiest navigational challenge of the day – a tribute to how well organised this ultra is. Lucy C also joined us for the first part of the race as she prepares for the Commonwealth Ultra Races in mid September.
The race is all on quiet country lanes, so tarmac all the way. But it is definitely “undulating”, with a couple of very significant hills. Although we started in the dry, the first 7 miles were gently uphill into gentle drizzle, the next three into the face of a gale and heavy rain. As with most ultras, the start was very gentle – four runners went off the front immediately, but the other 11 stayed grouped together, bantering largely with Graham. He slowly pushed the pace up, dropping all but John, I and one other over the first few miles. The four of us ran to the first checkpoint together. By then I’d got my Garmin working – no time to get a signal at the start – and saw we’d got down to 7:30 mile pace, so I let Graham push on. I ran with John for another few miles until he decided to slow down to keep energy for later, and I was then on my own. I recaught and passed the other member of our gang of four around the 11 mile point – and then I didn’t see anyone for the next two hours! Except the odd lonely marshal at every turn, leaping out of their cars when they saw a runner coming… Fortunately by then we’d turned and had the wind behind us for most of that time, and the rain also faded away. This was good since the first hour had been unpleasant, and thoughts of a whole day of such weather….
I made the marathon point in around 3:40, having done a deal with myself that I would run without walking at least that far. But having done that, I moved onto walking up any gradient. From the 25 mile marker, the first of the cyclists racing the same course came past – we runners had had a two-hour head start. I’d been warned that the cyclists hoovered up the goodies at the aid stations, so this gave me an incentive to push on to the lunch stop at the 31 mile marker. The cyclists were all remarkably encouraging as they passed. I also caught sight of the runner in front, and slowly closed up over a couple of miles so that we were running together as we approached lunch. But then he didn’t stop! Two cups of tea, a salmon sandwich, some cake and a loo stop later I was off after him again – though perhaps not particularly quickly. In fact, as I walked up the first hill after lunch, another runner overtook me.
Over the next ten miles the three of us were never together, but usually in sight of each other, and this was a big motivator. Just when I thought I’d been cut adrift, I’d turn a corner to find one of them walking just ahead. By now I was trying to run for at least two minutes, walk for two minutes – and walk up any hills. This was enough to get me a few minutes lead by the forty mile point. Here I had to stop to deal with a growing problem of chaffing, inadvertently scaring a group of passing cyclists, and to eat a chocolate bar. This wasn’t a great move – I needed to walk for 3 or 4 minutes to let the chocolate settle, and this allowed one of my rivals to disappear in front, not to be seen again.
By the last checkpoint, I felt I was slowing further and was in danger of my other rival also going past – so I asked my support team to wait and see how far behind they were. Fortunately they had not appeared within the next five minutes, so I could relax on the long run-in – as this retraced the first five miles of the course, it was also gently downhill with a following wind: a very good way to finish!
I was very pleased to beat the eight hour target I’d set myself, finishing in 7 hrs 50 in fourth place – Graham had pushed on for 2nd place in 7:31. John, who does these races on sheer will power rather than bothering with training, was 7th in bang on 9 hrs. All of us – indeed all the finishers who stayed for the prize giving – got spot prizes! Not surprisingly, my ten mile splits show a steady falling off – 79 mins, 85 mins, 96 minutes, 98 minutes and 104 minutes. But compared to the off-road 50 milers I’ve done, this was much easier as well as 2 hours quicker. And I got off quite likely – badly bruised bottoms of my feet meant I hobbled around for a few days the following week, but otherwise the body held together remarkably well.
My only criticism of the race was the lack of clarity about drop stations. I’d expected one every five miles. In the event, I only found two of my drop bags out on the course – after 10 and 23 miles. Before the 23 mile one, I started thinking about resorting to Scott’s sheep trough! Luckily I had a friend out acting as a support team for the second half of the course – from after lunch they would drive the car two or three miles and wait for me, so I could run up and raid the boot, which I think I did every time, if for no other reason than to break up the distance. And many of the marshals had their own water or goodies to offer. But since I’d decided to run carrying nothing, I would have struggled without their support. I don’t have any big races planned for the rest of this year – though within days Graham was e-mailing suggestions about the Luton Marathon….
Report Richard Dennis
Photos Rosemary MitchellHere is a few words from Graham who is talking hypothetically about the coming Moray Marathon and Alan Aitche's potential...
STRATHAVEN 50 MILER AND ALAN AITCHISON NICKS A PB AT ELGIN
Instead of looking back first I will look to the future. Alan Aitchison finally learns how to run a marathon correctly. It is all about relaxation, having a smile on your face and enjoying the first 18 miles. Alan arrives on scheduled time at 18 miles. Now what normally happens is he loses his tempo. Not at Elgin this year he speeds up, yes a burst of pace at 18. He thinks he is the Jamican Bolt. Keep it going for 2 miles that is all then you do the sensible thing, you speed up again at 20 mile for 2 mile and when you hit 22 mile you keep it steady and rock solid. Not easy but it can and will done this time. What should happen towards the end of mile 19 and mile 21 you slow up so that is why physically and mentally one has to speed-up. Remember to enjoy the finish this time.
I believe Richard “Tablet Man” Dennis has put up a report on the test of human endurance and spirit that Strathaven Striders set. For the second year in a row the mental PRC Ultra’s had a team out and provided a quarter of the finishers. So we are the champions and hopefully next year some of you will want to come and have a go but remember only if you are hard enough. John Pickard and Tablet Man performed well in difficult conditions. Tablet Man takes the biscuit for the best performance because it was his first time on the road over the distance and it is a different challenge from a trail race so to do a 7.50 was a great run. John did well considering his ever expanding family (4 now) and the impact on his training but John always does well in Ultra’s. He knows what it takes and has a never say die attitude.
£18 to enter and yes some local tablet. Also a bottle of Strathaven Old Mortality 80/ - Ale form the Craigmill Brewery. A quality running top and the usual snacks etc. There is a buffet at 31 mile and plenty of rolls, cakes, tea etc at the end so on a value for money it gets top marks. The marshalling is the best in Scotland with lots out on the course for such a small field and long race. I got every bottle posted on to the regular drinks stations and split times are recorded. Many thanks to Irene and Tom Wilson and the rest of the team. If you want to give it a try then there is no hassle in dropping out as the furthest you are away from the finish is 10 miles and you would get a lift back nae bother. Now I await Alan Aitchison and his time from Elgin and a PB> I also expect the same from Mr Buchanan at the Blue Ribbon race that takes place on the highest mountain in the UK which is in the greatest country in the world. This country is all about a challenge.
Tablet Man gave me a rum doughnut at the end which was much appreciated.
Vive Strathaven, PRC, Ecosse Ya Bass.
Mr. Buchanan replies....
Sadly other considerations had to be made and I was unable to attend Ben Nevis. The heavy rain soaking the course for a few days and household/work schedules colluded to sway me that it was going to take up too much of the only available training time left before Loch Ness. Mary and I have done one recent long run and in a couple of weeks should begin tapering! So early October will be the test to see how a marathon goes on less than minimum training. Having in the past tried overtraining this should be a refreshing change though I suspect the last 5 miles will be "testing". (Tomorrow I run till I drop.) Meanwhile John Pickard has sent in his Strathaven report...
this running business can bring surprises and strange experiences the surprise being that i was quicker than last year and the strange experience was Richard trying to find out where i lived. yes Livingston can be like that take a turn off too early and you end up in Pumpherston miss another and you end up in Craigshill.
on the way to Strathaven i mentioned that Graham had phoned on friday and said have you seen the forecast for sunday and my first thought was scorchio no it was to be wet and windy in fact heavy rain and gales and at that point the heavens opened and i thought "50 miles in this" we are either dedicated or mad. Richard had also asked was he right in thinking that i hadnt done much training for this and yes he was right
getting there with 15 minutes to spare still enough time to have a chat nope i'd no sooner got my number and shoes on then a voice shouts 1 minute never had time to finish a banana in fact i was in that much of a hurry i forgot my watch
so off we all go for me thinking is it going to be another unpredictable ultra.
the first 5 miles dont cause to many problems its the next 5 thats a bit of a slog reaching 10 miles and finally being out of the wind was a relief but that joy was short lived as we crossed the road at about 12 miles the wind was that strong i stopped and started to walk not a good sign although it was a chance to take on some food.
after the first of many wailk breaks that one unplanned i got going again and managed to keep running until going out of Sandford another hill another walk break. it was between 15/20 miles that Lucy went past and never saw her the halfway point. i had ask what time it was and was surprised to find that i was 5 minutes up on last year so that gave me a boost but between 25/30 is the hardest part of the event but i kept saying to myself get to glassford before the cyclists eat all the food.
when i went in a woman asked tea or coffee took a tea and went over to the food and said right what have we got and i heard a voice going if you dont like salmon, tough she meant it in a nice way i hope. a few of the cyclists asked are you doing the whole 50, what time were you hoping to do and the favourite "are you mad " yes,yes and yes so with a thanks for the tea and sandwiches i was on my way and it was that part of the race where i have to resort to the walk/jog effort.
40 miles and another chance to have a drink and a chat with the marshal who told me i was 7th and another boost was timewise i was 15 minutes up on last year and i knew i was going to be close to the time i ran 2 years ago. well only 10 miles to go to which the marshall said yes but 2 out of the next 4 are uphill and also into the wind and rain. just ater 45 miles you go down a hill, a bit of welcome relief then you turn to head back to Strathaven. shortly after the turn i looked round and one of the marshals was running after me, i thoughjt i took a wrong turn but no it was the number he wanted to tick off another sigh of relief.
so with over a mile to go and the car cming out to lead you in asi the last 2 years i was able to run the last mile this time the mind was willing but the legs they had enough but with the last few hundred metres downhill and a turn into the carpark the finish at last.
on one hand i could say that if i hadnt stopped for something to eat at 31miles and again at 40 i could have ran quicker than 8.53 then again if i had carried on regardless it probably would have been another 9.30 effort no i'm delighted with 9hrs.
so a goody bag that consisted of a mars bar, tablet,t-shirt and a bottle of ale which i was going to have thatt night but decided leave it for a few days well worth it and back at on monday which the thought of going made me feel ill but it was tuesday that i was walking about like john wayne
well done to Graham and Richard see you again next year.
John Pckard