Inspire. And be inspired.

Kids; over time the meaning and even the gravity of some words changes. To previous generations, the word awesome depicted something at the limits of human understanding. Something so incomprehensible, normally, that it not only filled the observer with awe but shook them to the core of their belief. eg. As he cast his eyes upon the ship named named Titanic his eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open. Although first stuck silent he said "it is awesome". Captain Smith 1912 *

Nowadays (2012 I'm writing this) it's a common word used to describe anything that is good eg.

As he cast his eyes upon the meatball and grilled cheese sub his smile grew and he nodded his head. "It is awesome."  Me - (2007-current day.)

*(not an actual quote)

My point is that we often exaggerate words or give them little credibility for their true meaning. A more recent example of how this has changed for me personally is the word Ultramarathon. Shortly after completing my first Ultra about 6 weeks ago I started getting itchy feet. It was not some kind of fungal infection, but the need to run again. 

My first ultra had been particularly trying. 26 degree heat, my first go at navigating/orienteering since I was a boy and also the pressure of competing in my first race of this type. And although I was left with a sense of numbness about my achievement which took time to develop into pride, once it did I knew I would be going back to the dark place that comes after running 26.2 miles. The word ultramarathon had gone from being an unachievable pinnacle to something I was capable of doing. No less difficult, but I now understood its meaning.

Since I had first heard of Ultramarathons, one event in particular caught my attention. The Grimsthorpe ultramarathon run by FatFeet was up until last year a 26 hour event with the option to run 70 or 100 miles. These distances seemed way too far for me so when they released details of a 40 mile run for 2012 on the same course I knew I was doing it.

All prepared and ready to run.

When the race pack arrived and I saw my number was 33, coincidentally may age, I felt like fortune may be favouring me this time. A good omen or just coincidence, I felt like I needed something on my side. The race had been renamed the GrimReaper Ultramarathon and was starting on Friday the 13th of July. Some good luck had come my way in that my Dad had very kindly volunteered to crew for me. The race was 4 laps of a ten mile circuit on a 50:50 split of road and trail.

When I arrived at Grimsthorpe castle it was wet, had been raining for some time and showed no signs of stopping. The usual crowd of ultrarunners were there. Everyone form racing snakes to soldiers; from young to old and even some of the more bizarre looking were shuffling around, getting settled and  looking forward to race time. It was looking at these groups that I started to question my right to be there. Never one for huge levels of self confidence I asked why I had the right to be running in an Ultramarathon. The gravity of the word suddenly feeling very present. Not just a run. Not even a marathon. But an ULTRA marathon. ULTRA, a prefix which is commonly added to anything to make it stand out  but means so much more. It suggests elite, the best, the hardest. To complete anything ULTRA can't just be great; it must be awesome (original meaning).

I will interject at this point as when it comes to race reports I follow in the words of the great Franklin D. Roosevelt. Be sincere, be brief, be seated. And seeing as I'm sat down and I'm always sincere, here comes the brief part.

Lap 1) Brooks Ravenna 3 shoes. Felt great set off with a great guy called Tom (more later) and ran together for a few miles. Being impatient I upped my pace to 9:30 min/miles and went off alone for the remainder of the lap. At the end of the lap, refuelled on gels and water and set off again. Kept to my target pace of sub 10 min/miles.

Lap 2) Brooks Ravenna 3 shoes. The rain had now settled in and was staying put the trails had become sodden and in places flooded so feet were wet and starting to blister. Mood was still up but by mile 19, I knew I had a bad blister developing on my right foot near the little toe. At the lap marker, changed shoes, cleaned feet, new socks and refuelled. Again. Kept to my target pace of sub 10 min/miles.

Lap 3) Inov-8 Roclite shoes. Clearly a better choice but having changed to a wider shoe, my already blistered feet now had room to move and rub more! My skin was now saturated and while I saw may pace drop into the sub 11 area I was still struggling. At mile 29 something gave way in my right foot. Like a tearing pain, but not muscular and I had to stop for a minute to regain my composure. I used the mantra "pain is temporary, failure is forever" and kept on going.


Lap 4) Inov-8 Roclite shoes. Strangely all pain had gone. I felt light on my feet, I started overtaking people and feeling good. I started recording sub 10 min/miles again and even overtook three people in the last 2 miles, including one on the final straight(sorry). I know it's about personal challenges etc. but I felt strong and competitive and everyone likes a race right?

So I finished and I finished strong. I ran 40 wet, muddy miles in 6:54 and with an average pace of 10:18 min/miles. I ran 5 miles further than my last ultra in only 5 minutes more! The pain in my foot turned out to be a blister which encompassed the whole toe shearing off and degloving the toe of any skin. It hurt, it still hurts and I will be at the doctors tomorrow to get it treated.





But as usual, the running of a race and the time you get is only half a story, probably less than half.




Along the way I ran with some great characters, each with their own story to tell and reason to run. Some novice, some experienced, all totally individual.


I ran with:




A 20 year old lad who'd never run further than a half marathon before. He overtook me on a hill and seemed to be flying but was shattered at the top of the hill. I caught him and he was on lap 2 of 7 and looked like he was struggling. We spoke about walking up the hills to save energy, I hope he listened.




Two 49 year olds, one who was training to run 50 miles before he turned 50 and another who was on his second 100-mile race. 17 years older than me and matching my pace we ran together for a while. The 100 mile guy finished his first 40 just minutes after me, I hope he did well.




A twitter friend who I've wanted to meet for ages and was as kind and supportive in real life as he is online. A guy who has run ultra races before, but had a bad day and DNF'd. Doesn't even matter to me. He turned up, rocked it and made me push myself harder. 




I saw a girl on the start line who looked totally ill-equipped for an ultra and she chicked me from the start line. Never saw her 'til I finished and she was already walking back to the car!




Others of all shapes and sizes getting round in their own time at their own pace, some walking some running, all completing an ultramarathon.




And I realised that what makes these events ULTRA is the willingness of those to participate or compete, and therefore I could do something ultra because I was willing to try.


Since finishing I got some great feedback and another one of those words used a lot but which I felt had lost meaning was mentioned several times.


INSPIRATIONAL.

Tired, soaked and very happy!

It's used a lot now, so much that I thought the word has been reduced in its depth.


I never seek to inspire others, only to try my hardest so that you kids can see that you can achieve anything if you try. But I guess it isn't our intention to inspire that counts, but the effect you have on others.


Each of the people I ran with inspired me. Some with kind words and useful tips. Others with their pace and form; giving me something to strive for. They probably never meant to but they did. I hope I inspired them and I hope I have inspired you. Sometimes, by no more than our own presence and participation we can inspire others.


So although some words have lost their true meaning, it is in the mind of the person using them how they are meant. For me this was an ULTRA marathon, it was AWESOME and I was INSPIRED.




NB. The GrimReaper Ultramarathon is a lapped course in the grounds of the beautiful Grimpsthorpe Castle. It is a mix of road and trails in a private estate and managed by a great team. On each lap you need to stamp a card twice and have those stamps verified at the start/finish/lap marker tent. It is one of the best organised events I have attended and I would and will recommend it to anyone. I will be going back next year with a better foot and looking to claim the scalp of a 70 or 100 mile ultra. A brilliant support crew and marshalls made for an astounding day.

Shine

Kids, while my blog posts are usually full of optimism and messages of believing in yourself, I wouldn't be preparing you for real life if I told you that things were always going to go your way. 

The truth is that, much like running, sometimes you are ahead and sometimes you are behind. It isn't always easy to get your head around this concept especially when you feel like you are the one behind.

But as usual I am going to tell you that lessons learned while running can be applied to real life too.

If there is one thing I would ask you to do when you feel like you are behind it would be this...

shine.

When the chips are down, when you feel like you are losing and you realise that someone else is going to do better than you, no matter how hard you try, simply...

Shine.

When I started running, I never thought that I would start winning races, that doesn't mean that the thought never crossed my mind. In the quiet moments, I would ponder that I had the ideal race, got lucky and fluked into a top 3 position. But the truth is that at 33 and having been running for 3 years, I am unlikely to see many podiums. 

In the 2011 Ashridge 5 mile trail run I came in 17th with a top 10% place. I ran a good race despite starting near the back on a single track run. I got lucky by following a Cani-X runner to the middle of the pack and went on to work my way further forward after that. I finished by running to your mother at the finish line and asking where everyone else was before realising I was near the front. In 2012 I finished well in the top half of my first ultramarathon, an achievement which four weeks on, continues to dawn on me as being great.

I watched faster and fitter people beat me and could easily have become despondent but I didn't. I realised that while I was in the shadow of others, in my own way I shone. I shone for doing my best and achieving as much as I could.

I shone because while it wasn't the cheer of the crowd that met me at the end, it was the pride of my family and those that I care about.

I never trained to win or to beat any other person, so when I didn't it didn't make my day any less special. 

I trained despite knowing that I wouldn't win, and I ran knowing that I wasn't destined for a podium.

I did this because when I'm running it is my chance to shine.

The truth is that we all live in the shadows of others, none of us are born into infinite greatness. We must seek out opportunities to shine and be bright because when we do, it allows others around us to do the same.

Kids, when you find yourselves in the shadows of others, see this as an opportunity to shine.

Invictus

As I read back through the last few posts kids, it occurs to me that I have moved even further away from the story I was supposed to be telling you. The story of how I became a runner is all in the past, but it impacts on me every day now.

I believe that running has made me into a better person in every aspect of my life. It has helped me realise there are genuinely good people out there who help and support me just because they can. It's made me realise I am capable of so much more than I ever thought and given me confidence I never thought i would have. 

It's shown me how shallow reward can be without effort.

I'm not really sure when I stopped being someone who runs and became a runner, or if there was a particular moment when it changed. 

All I can say is that I remember a time before I was a runner; and I think I'm a better person after that time passed.

I'll give you an example....

I've been working for the same organisation for 13 years. My sole focus for all that time has been getting promoted, never getting better or working harder. I've judged myself only on my payscale and others' impression of me. I never knew I was doing it, and I'm sure as hell not the only one, but I got drawn into letting others impressions and expectations of me mould my choices at work.

All this was taken away when promotion no longer became a possibility due to economic crises   on an international level. The pathway that had been laid before me was suddenly removed, my route no longer clear.

Suddenly I was adrift; without focus or aim, direction or purpose.

I buried myself further in running and started to learn an important lesson in life. Only you can make yourself into the person you want to be. You are able to shape your own destiny as much as you can train for an event. No matter how big the challenge, it takes effort and dedication. 

It won't be easy and you may not get there first time.

But it will get easier and you will get there.

When I look back at my running career, I have to ask myself why it has been  more successful than my work one. Well, I'm passionate about it, I'm honest with my limitations and train hard to  overcome them; identify my strengths and exploit them. I don't worry about others impressions of me because I do it for me and not to impress them.

So I started applying this to my career instead and realised that I need to find something that I'm passionate about. I need to work to improve areas where I'm weak and exploit my strengths.

So I'm making some changes and I'll go into them later kids, but I guess what I'm saying is that we are each able and responsible for forming our own destinies. Don't let others expectations or impressions of you limit what you do.

Surround yourself with people who love and support you and reach for the stars. 

If you do, you may just get there.

In the words of a much clever person than I, below is a beautiful poem which inspires me regularly. Enjoy...

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Work hard at being happy.

Kids, It has been three weeks since I ran my first ultramarathon. Reflecting on that time, it took a while to recover and a few days of eating constantly to get all of my energy back. The initial feeling on finishing the event was an anti-climax, but I can only describe the feeling of finishing my first one as a slow release high. It seemed to take a while to build but hung around for a long time after. It still gives me a buzz now!

Usually, the day after an event I crash pretty hard and start looking for a new event to book, to chase away the post-race blues. This time, I was happy to go with the flow for a while; take a step back and think about future plans.

Running ultramarathons is a big decision for me and a lot of other people. For some natural athletes with time to dedicate, this may sound a bit pretentious. But the truth is with a busy full time job and kids that I love spending time with, dedicating time to training is a big commitment.

But I also need to balance this against the benefits of running.

When I run, I become a better person.

For a whole load of reasons I won’t go into, sometimes I need a bit of help to get happy. Lots of people do and they each have their own way of getting that lift. For some it’s going to the gym or dancing, others smoke or drink. For some it’s buying new shoes or handbags. Well, running makes me happy. I don’t need to do it every day, but I do it when I can and never regret going for a run.

Today I described it as an addiction and it was pointed out to me by a friend that it’s a good addiction to have compared to some unhealthy ones. For me, it boosts confidence, my mood and my health. While it takes me away from home for a while, it’s the fact that I’m running home a better person that keeps me going.

So this week, plans for the future started to form. I’m looking to do three very different and special events in the rest of the year.

1) I’m looking to complete another ultra, a 40 miler this time, in Grimsthorpe. The event which first inspired me to try an ultramarathon when I first read about it.

2) I’ve got my Dad to agree to bike alongside me for a 34 mile run from central London, heading back home along the A5. The idea of running an event with my Dad is really exciting, like something that neither of us will ever forget. He is my original hero and role model and training with him will be great.

3) Run a 50+ miler along the Grand Union Canal towpath from London back home in December. This will be my first “50”. Hopefully with some guys off Twitter who have inspired me for ages, and I’d be proud to run alongside them.

When I look at how hard I had to train, at all the early morning and late night runs I have to ask myself if it was all worth it. I can hand on heart say that it was. I’ve got long term benefits from training and running the event, and I’m excited about planning and competing in the others.

So kids, sometimes you need to work hard to be happy. I assure you it is worth it.

Because being happy lets me be the best person I can be.

*************************

An ode to running.....

No child likes to believe that their parents are at all creative. The sheer thought that their Mum or Dad would express themselves through anything other than written notes or direct (nagging) instructions is too much for most kids to understand.

But here is one of my  little secrets kids, I like to write poetry. It's not something I'm proud of or something I believe I am particularly good at, but its something I enjoy doing. So when I think about running it inspires me and this is the result.

The first step out the door into pre sunrise morn,

Fresh air on my face as I wait for the dawn.

The fog on my breath from the chill in the air.

Turn my head to the stars and I stare a long stare.

Barely a stretch before feeling the beat,

Feeling the rhythm that starts in my feet,

A cursory check that I've got what I need, 

Then best foot forward as I build up the speed.

Feeling legs loosen as the miles start to pass,

The occasional thought that I'm going to fast.

But knowing that as long as I still feel the groove,

And let feet pass each other, I'll continue to move.

Whether I'm running on grass, pavement or snow,

Trails or woodland, wherever I go.

Whether the weather is rain, wind or sun.

I'll always be happy when I go for a run.

The achievement of running a little bit more,

Further or faster than you have done before.

The thrill's in the journey not just in the end.

But that's not the message I'm trying to send

Because the best part of running for me any way,

And the one thing I know at the end of the day.

Is no matter how far I run, walk and roam.

I'm running to you, I'm running to home.

Dad x

Flashback episode

Kids, before I was a runner I was someone totally different. Now that may not make much sense but I guess I was a drifter.


Rather than setting stretching goals and chasing them down, I set attainable goals and waited for them to drift in my general direction so I could reach them without to much effort.


When I started running, the most common question was "Why do you run?"


The second most common was "When will you start to lose weight?"


Well after a while I wrote a piece for an American website about why I run. It tells a very different story to the one I tell now.......

Why run?

I've lost count of the number of people who have asked me this or the number of times I've asked it of myself. The truth is I have no idea.

It all started one day when my brother asked me to go for a run, as he was training for a charity event and wanted some company.

My first thoughts were, in no particular order;

Why the hell is my brother running if he's not being chased?

Why the sudden fascination with running when his car seems to be working?

If he's doing it, could I?

After a few tentative runs of slowly increasing distance I discovered lots of benefits to running. I was losing weight, I was looking better and feeling well. I discovered whole parts of the local area I never knew existed and a whole community of runners across the world, more than willing to share tips and secrets. More over I found a sport which was open to all, wasn't expensive and didn't have  pre-conceived ideas of what a typical runner should be.

All of these benefits were apparent but none of them ever answered the question "Why Running?"

Why not another sport, why not join a gym or take up football?

The question rings loud in my ears with every footfall of a long run and it's met with nothing but the echo of my footsteps in response.

I've struggled with weight and personal image for as long as I can remember. And it's strange because looking at photographs of my past I was never as big as I thought. I guess (or I hope) that everyone has those voices in the back of their mind telling them what they can not achieve, or how useless/stupid/fat/ugly they are. The problem is I'd listened to them so long I could only identify myself by their descriptions and despite the good stuff going on in my life, I still felt like the loser they described.

In running I found a sport which allowed me to test my own self perceptions and my own limitations. I wasn't being compared to team mates or peers, it was just me and the road. And I could push myself as hard as I wanted. Over time a strange thing happened.

I got better.

I began pushing myself to the limit in order to find what I was capable of and the response wasn't a voice telling me that I don't look like a runner, or another telling me I'm too fat to run and chasing me down.

The response was my footfall on the pavement, the rhythmic beat that showed I wasn't slowing. I was moving forward. Literally taking a step and doing something positive.

It was me doing something more than most.

While others sat in and vegetated I was on the road or in the gym and I was running and accomplishing something.

So where am I now?

I'm 20+lbs lighter than I was six months ago and feel ten years younger I'm faster than I've ever been and have taken part in some amazing events and met some great people through running. I have a more positive self image. The voices are still there but now when I run, it's not to get away from them, it's to shut them up and show them what I can do.

And on the long runs, either by street light or in the sun, the beat still goes on. I keep moving one foot in front of the other and I keep running.

Why run?

I've no idea, but the answer is just over the horizon and if I keep running faster I might just catch it.

www.therunningman-ayearinrunning.blogspot.com

 When I started reading it I cringed and then I realised that I don't pity this guy who sounds uncertain about his path, I just wish I could go back, run next to him for a while and tell him, it will all be worth it.

Be greedy with your goals

Kids, being greedy is almost never good. But when it comes to setting goals, you really can’t set enough of them.
I learned this the hard way when I started running and like most things, a lesson you learn in one aspect of your life has equally large implications on other areas.
After I started running I ran my first half marathon in Milton Keynes with your Uncle Joe. Like most things I do with my big brother, I got competitive and trained hard. I ran my heart out that day and finished my first HM in 1:45. I was well proud and certain that I was on for a career as a (veteran) athletic star. But three months later I entered another HM, set myself the single goal of beating that time and despite my best efforts, came in 3 minutes slower.
At no point did I stop to consider the variations in the courses or the weather or my training.
I hadn’t met my goal so in my eyes I had failed.

My second HM was not a success

Be certain of one thing kids, anyone willing to show up on the day and try their hardest is no failure. You only fail when you stop trying.
At that point I felt like I could have jacked the whole thing in, but luckily I got caught up in trail running and my mind-set changed and I let the disappointment fade, to a certain degree.
It wasn’t until 2012 when I was due to do my first Marathon in Milton Keynes that I started to set a number of goals for an event instead of just one. The goals were in no particular order:
1) Finish the marathon
2) Finish strong
3) Set off at 9min/miles and remain at that pace until mile 16, then reassess.
4) Smile across the finish line
5) Finish in under 4 hours
6) Follow a fuelling plan to practise for an upcoming ultra-marathon.


"You only fail when 
you stop trying."


Now setting a number of goals isn’t just to make you feel good for getting more ticks in boxes. It actually makes each event into a more developmental and positive experience.
For the record I met all of the above goals, but if I hadn’t it wouldn’t have mattered. 


If I’d gone off too slow, but still met the other five, it would have been just as beneficial. 


If I’d finished in 4:01:00 I would still have been a marathon runner which is no small feat.


Since I finished the race I've started applying this to other areas of my life. For years my sole focus of work has been promotion. I got distraught when it didn't happen, even when it was beyond my control. But recently I've added other goals around satisfaction and performance, and what do you know, work suddenly isn't about failure.


I guess the lesson in this one is not to limit yourself with goals that won’t help you develop. When you want to do something be greedy with your goals. Set loads of them and record them and aim to achieve as many as you can.
.
But know this. If you turn up on the day and give it your best, you’re already successful.

MK Marathon 2012 medal.

My first ultra-marathon

Kids. I started this blog off saying how running has taught me a lot and how I'm going to tell you how and why I became a runner. And I'll get there I promise, but first I need to tell you about one really special day I had, and what I learned along the way. It may help you, it may help someone else but the day was awesome and I have to share it with someone. It occurs to me that one or more of you may get into running and below is proof that I know what I'm talking about. So if you're considering running an ultra-marathon you need to read this...


So, a month after my first marathon, I haven't told you that story yet; I will, it's a good one; I entered the Northants 35 mile Ultra-marathon. As it was my first, I learned a lot, 
very quickly .....

Be prepared: Not just the boy scouts motto but a good lesson in life. If you know what you're going to be doing, then prepare as best you can. For me, I followed a 20 week training programme from Relentless Forward Progress by Bryon POWELL. I bought tried and tested kit and I tried and I tested it too. The weather was scorching so I opted for a hydration pack as well as the supplied fluids and I'm very glad I did. Standing at the start line knowing you're prepared is a boost for confidence. But 20 miles in, when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and can see no-one around, knowing you still have back-up plans for nutrition and water is much more important.

Yes, map is upside down. It's in the correct orientation for the direction I'm running in.

Never be afraid to choose your own path. My ultra got off to a rocky start when I followed two guys out of checkpoint 1 down a steep hill. At this point I was feeling fresh and alert and downhills seemed like a good opportunity to pick up some gravity assisted speed. At the bottom of the hill the two guys stopped, got maps out and started pointing in all directions. It only then occurred to me that I had been stuck in a pack for 40 minutes and hadn't looked at my map at all. I vowed at this point to always have my map out and work out my own route. The navigation part of the run turned out to be some of my most enjoyable and I ran for about 10 miles with two guys relying solely on me for navigation.

Listen to what your body wants. I had a very planned out fuel strategy for the day, which wasn't too reliant on the Checkpoints/aid stations, but the heat, the relentless hills and the fact that I kept talking to people and losing track of time meant that I was way out. I never bonked once, but a few times I felt myself starting to go. At the first two aid stations it was GoBeyond cake, Jelly babies and drinks but after CP3 savoury food was added to the mix too. Until you have run an ultra, you have no idea how great a sun-warmed sausage roll and some luke warm water can taste. Only once did I lose control of my hydration. 3 miles from a CP I ran out of water. I didn't think this would be a problem, my 3 mile time isn't bad even on a hot day. But after 27 miles in 26 degree heat, it becomes a problem. They say that if you find yourself thirsty then you are already dehydrated. My advice would be carry more than enough water for any plan. Unless you're planning to win the event and need to travel light, it just isn't worth the risk.

Listen to others, but also listen to yourself. I've always said that ultra-running seems to be the loneliest sport with the friendliest community and my first real experience of it certainly proved that. I set off and ran the first 5 miles alone, following a group that was slightly too fast for my target pace. They were supportive and chatty but also well out of my league. So as encouraging as they were I had to listen to the two mantras that have served me well since I started running.

1. Run the mile you are in; &

2. Respect the miles.

This was to be my furthest ever run, by 9 miles, so going away from a plan I had worked hard on and thought out was stupid and reckless. The physical and mental resolve required to push the human body through this level of torture is immense and as that dawned on me I got the confidence to ease off, slow my pace and pick up with some others.

Throughout the day I floated back and forth through various groups and talked at length with some great people, picking up advice and stories. 
Honestly, find a pace and run it, enjoy  it and when you have to walk, walk. When you can run, run. 

Keep smiling. If you love running and being outdoors then ultra-marathons give you a chance to do both of these things for a very long time. Although the picture above is only loosely related to a smile, trust me I'm happy. I'm at the final checkpoint with about 6 miles to go. My legs felt good, I had no aches other than blisters and although I was shattered I knew I was going to finish, no matter how long it took. I already knew I wasn't going to make my target of under 6 hours. That pipe dream died when I saw the weather for the day and the hills on the day! I knew there were people ahead of me and people behind me, I realised I didn't care where I was in that pack, because I knew I was going to finish and when I did I would be an ultra-marathon runner.

The rewards. Trust me, unless you are sponsored to do these things, ultra-running isn't about the shiny stuff at the finish. The medal is the usual affair for a low-key running event, with a nice ribbon attached, but like every race medal it represents so much more and like every tough run, the rewards are perhaps more than you realise at first.
I spent the day in the sun among like minded people in the beautiful countryside of Northampton. I met people who helped me and who I believe I helped to achieve something awesome, run 35 miles. I saw more country houses and Manor houses than I care to recall and scenery (and hills) that took your breath away. I was fed and watered for 7 hours and given the directions to an amazing course that challenged me mentally and physically more than ever before.
I was advised by lots of people to enjoy it and I can safely say that even when my head was low and the smile was fading as the sun shone down and the road ahead seemed endless I enjoyed every minute more than the last and celebrated a hundred small victories along the way.

Northants 35 Shires&Spires is run by www.gobeyondultra.co.uk

A last few points:

1) I needed a lot of support to get through this event. My Twitter feed went crazy on the day using #ultradan. Everyone who wished me well and congratulated me after helped me to accomplish and feel proud of what I did.I was blessed to have my Dad volunteer to come along on the day. He drove to every single checkpoint and even walked/ran with me for some parts of the course near the checkpoints. He offered me water and support and was a friendly face to look forward to seeing every time. I have no hesitation in saying I couldn't have done it without him. An amazingly generous man who gave up his day off to stand by checkpoints and keep me motivated and hydrated. He did a great job and is a model father. Dad, if you read this, I love you and thanks for everything, we did this together.

2) Do not put effervescent tablets in a sealed bottle. Seems obvious right, not so much. It turns out that your judgement fogs up badly when running long distance. You put 1 tablet  in a bottle of water wait two minutes and feel the fizzy refreshment. Or like I did you forget its there and put the bottle in your waste pack, hear a loud bang and get covered in sticky, fruity water. I watched the lid of my new OMM drinking bottle fly into the distance at a surprisingly fast rate. If anyone finds it, I would like it back.

3) I've always thought of running as being lonely and for a lot of training runs it is. But in events like this, human contact is everything. It gives a sense of solidarity and companionship as well as the knowledge that others are struggling just as much as you. So although I don't know their names, Northants running club guy, lady with nose piercing and guy that completed an Ironman last year, thanks for the company and the advice.

4) I got lost, twice actually and added nearly a mile onto my course distance. I have never been so uncomfortable or hot, sweaty and tired. I have spent the last 24 hours in a daze wondering if what I did was amazing or stupid and  think it was a bit of both. no one in their right mind would choose to spend 7 hours running in that heat over 2000ft of incline for 35 miles. But for those that do, you are rewarded richly for your effort.

NORTHANTS Shires & Spires Ultramarathon

Strongman Run 2012 - Race report

The purpose of all my blogs is to record and pass on life lessons to my kids, to let them know how I became a runner and hopefully inspire them to be healthy and enjoy the outdoors too. 
As a parent I think that's my job. 
If anyone else cares to read it and it gives them a smile then thats just great.


So kids, here's a lesson for you; you have to do your homework. After a race we runners love to write race reports. It's usually boring and goes on about splits, pace, nutrition and distance but sometimes you get to run an extraordinary race, and writing that up can be fun.


So in other posts I talked about the lessons I learned from this event, but here is my race report. And some great pictures.

Back: Me, Chris M, Luke, Andy, Logan and Rob
Front: Lee, Chris B, Steve and Stuart

The Strongman Run is the worlds largest obstacle course, covering 14 miles and based on the world famous Nurburgring Race circuit in Nurburg, Germany. Two laps of the gruelling course see participants go through 30 obstacles, where they are pitted against mud, water, fire and quicksand. It is quickly becoming seen as THE assault course event to take part in. On arrival at the race I think I was most impressed by the sheer size of this event. The chief sponsor was Fisherman's Friend, a huge brand who clearly support and promote their product proudly. Everything was badged up in their colours and logo's and it made the whole event feel very professional and supported. Brooks also  supplied some  great kit for participants and finishers.

Pre race stood at obstacle 15

Before the race Team GB (pictured above) moved onto the start line together. I have no idea how far back we were from the front but after a half hour delay due to extreme weather, it took a further ten minutes to move forward after the clock started. I quickly realised that his wouldn't be a race where I would be looking at times or pace. This was to be an experience and an adventure. The Strongman Run is most definitely both of these things.


Once moving, the run went along the main track of the 'ring and allowed faster people to move forward in the group. The lap is best looked on at the website or on youtube, but climbing 9 foot fences, running through live electricity, swimming, crawling through quicksand and climbing up, over and across cargo nets soon became the norm. I ran with Logan and Chris B, for most of this lap. Chris B was fitted with a GoCam and I shudder to think how I look on this. It was not a pretty sight. Of particular note was Niagara Falls, a 40 ft waterslide which was actually closed down on lap 2. I nearly took someone out on this obstacle, she jumped out of the way a split second before I took her ankles out. When she heard me screaming at her and turned I realised she was old enough to be my mother! Another great obstacle was the Final destination. A Cargo net strung between 2 metal shipping containers with 100ft of dumped tyres preceding and following the main obstacle.

Despite some delays at a obstacles we moved forward together and completed a first lap.

Mud + incline + ropes= FUN

While I had felt some frustration at the delays on the first lap, these evaporated when the track started to open up and the crowds thin out as we entered lap 2. Still with Logan, who really helped me through this lap, we completed an identical circuit in less than half the time of the first. The obstacles this time were tackled as intended. At speed and with great effort. The whole crowd seemed to be digging in to their reserves, pushing hard and best of all encouraging each other.
This is no ordinary race with elitist race snakes at the front and fun runners at the back. No training will prepare you for this run. It works you hard and doesn't quit until you finish. Of all my medals, this is my most proud.


In recent events I've found that I've enjoyed the social element of the runs as much as the physical. Having trained and always run alone, this really surprised me. But this event isn't something that most people could do alone.


I saw men and women, young and old from all over the world taking part. Some in running kit, some in suits, dressed as knights, Romans, He-man and in mankinis. There was no limit or boundaries to the participants. You couldn't find a more diverse group of people, even within TeamGB. But one thing bound them and that was the passion to complete the course. Working together over 9'000 people finished the event.


This event lives up to its name totally. No matter how you arrive at the course, who you went with or how you were dressed. No matter what your level of fitness or strength, some people arrive at  this curse as a Strongman but every finisher leaves as a Strongman. And I am proud to put myself in that group.

My first and probably only decent finish photo

I have to thank Nikki and Nicole for their organisation and participation on the day and Steph for the great photographs. It was brilliant and a logistical nightmare and you both rocked it.


I wore Inov8 Roclites for this event and they kept me upright and moving in thick boggy mud, water and quicksand, while others in different shoes were slipping and sliding. They were brilliant and I would recommend decent trail shoes to anyone running this event.


Fishermans Friend is a huge brand and seeing and competing in this event made me realise just how huge. Their products were everywhere to be seen and tried and I must have eaten a ton of them. The menthol ones clear your breathing before a run and the mint ones clear your mouth after a few beers.


But mostly I would like to thank the rest of TeamGB for their help and support. I was inspired by their level of commitment and passion for sport. 


I wouldn't have gone if it weren't for one of them, 
wouldn't have made it round if it weren't for another and 
I wouldn't have come away inspired to train harder if it weren't for a third.


I won't name names but if/when we meet again I'll get the beers in for you.


Only one word can sum up The Fisherman's Friend Strongman run...

EPIC

Get outside your comfort zone

Now I know that I'm supposed to be telling you how I became a runner and trust me I'm getting to it, but along the way I had to keep pushing myself harder and harder to improve.

Getting outside your comfort zone is all about seizing an opportunity to do something exceptional, when it sits well outside your normal skill or confidence level. I know that sounds scary and to be honest it is, but seriously if you want to achieve something exceptional you have to become exceptional.

"To the victor the spoils, but I won more than I realised."

In an earlier post I told you how important it is to say yes when an opportunity comes along. Well this is how that story ends. Kind of.

Its not really the end.

Just read on it will all make sense.

I hope.

So having said yes to taking part in the Strongman Run in Germany, I met up with the rest of TeamGB. The whole event was sponsored by Fishermans Friend and hosted at the Nurburgring. It consisted of 2 laps of a 7 mile course with 15 obstacles on each lap. These obstacles were insane, check out the website to see what I'm talking about.

I'll go into detail on the race later but what I want you to understand at this point is that I have never done anything like this before. Saying yes to opportunities and taking part in giant assault courses is not my norm. The rest of TeamGB seemed to be accomplished athletes compared to me and a few looked like they could have been body doubled in 300! I was seriously starting to feel out of my depth.

But I took the opportunity to do something exceptional. To do something new and diffficult and give it everything. I did something which I, like most people, rarely do and I believed that I could do the seemingly impossible.....

....and I finished! And like all experiences you have there is an opportunity to learn something.
With all the races I had done and the training I had done for running long distance, I had never thought I could stretch myself to a new challenge. I had become happy with the pace of my progress and got stuck inside my comfort zone.

But completing this event with TeamGB made me realise that I can do more than just run. We are all capable of achieving great things. You just need a little passion and a goal. So don't set small targets. Aim for the stars when you dare to dream and work hard to get there. 

If you believe that nothing is impossible, then pretty soon impossible will be nothing.

A few things made this experience exceptional to me. Firstly it was my first race of this sort, which always makes it special. Secondly it was the sheer size of the thing. Standing on a racetrack singing before the start with 13000 other people will stick with me forever. Also the sponsor sure know how to put on an event. Great organisation, good challenge and superb goody bag.

But thirdly and most importantly was the effect of working with inspirational people. People who inspire you are perhaps the most powerful catalyst to improving yourself. I've met lots of inspirational people, but that's a story for another time.