It wasn't so much the races that were stupid, but my less than perfect training and preparation, the on the day nutrition, so many less than perfect pieces, that unsurprisingly led to less than perfect results. But as Luke said, you found a way to get it done.
My running journey began over 16 years ago, on 2nd May 2009 when I got out for a 3 mile run in my Nike Air Zoom Vomero's, it was so long ago that I used an Apple Ipod to track the run. Now 146 races (if you count the 62 parkruns) and over 9,000 miles later, I have a lot of choice in deciding my top 5 stupidest races and challenges.
Before I get into the top five, first some honourable mentions. Edinburgh Marathon May 2012, a hot one with Luke and Pete, where none of us covered ourselves in glory. We all managed to finish, with me being the slowest in 4 hours 39 minutes, the only reason I completed it was because I was the one with the passports and it was an out and back and so I had no choice.
A mistake by me or Travelodge meant that we had three in the bed, rather than the double and single bed family room I thought I had booked. A solero breakfast completed my less than ideal race prep.
There was my first attempt at a 24 hour race at the Thunder Run in 2013, but real life thunder, lightning and rain put pay to that one. I only had the stomach for 12 hours and 70kms before I pulled the plug on this one.
Apologies, I digress, onto the top five, in reverse order.
Number 5 - Washington Marine Corp Marathon - October 2014
This is the massively undercooked marathon. Looking back at my training log I ran just short of a mile on the 10th August 2014, stopping the run limping and in discomfort with pain in my shin and ankle. I was able to cycle but my running was severely curtailed over the next few months.
I make it 5 runs in the following 9 weeks totalling 17 miles, then a 10k on the Monday two weeks out from race day and a 12 mile test run in 1 hour 54 a week out. For a total of 7 runs and 35 miles in the 11 weeks leading up to my 9th Marathon.
It was a destination marathon in America's capital and so I was really reluctant to not run it. I'm sure Lauren and I could have enjoyed a perfectly nice break without it, but I had signed up and was keen to do it. The 12 mile run had been a success, even though I was flagging quite badly towards the end.
I have done a complete blog on the race in October 2014 if you care to read it. The highlights were a 2:03 first half and a 2:37 second half which tells you all you need to know. I ran a strong half marathon, was fading over the next 10k and then promptly exploded and dragged myself round the final 10k in something like 90 minutes.
Number 4 - Two Ocean's Marathon - April 2012
I ran my first ultramarathon, in South Africa at the Two Ocean's Marathon. This is marketed as the world's most beautiful marathon, but when I ran it in 2012 it chucked it down with rain for what must have been at least three of the six plus hours I was out there running it. It is 56km long with some decent hills in there, particularly at the back end.
What is the first rule of running? Don't wear new kit on race day, a rule I broke to my detriment at this race. I opted to use a bun bag, something I have never used before or since, to hold my gels and other assorted bits. The constant rain had me soaked through and that combined with the bun bag left me with some pretty extreme chaffing on my stomach, it lasted for weeks after the event.
I managed to get it done, running a pretty decent marathon, before a tough final 10km full of hills and walking, which saw me slip out of contention for a sub 6 hour bronze medal, and was instead given the thanks for turning up blue medal. But I got it done, and then had to walk backwards downstairs for the remainder of the holiday, so badly destroyed were my legs.
Number 3 - Land's End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) - July 2011
What a 13 days this was. 1,000 miles of cycling with Luke, Joe, Dad and Pete. A support crew of Mum, Amber and Becky. It was such fun and something I will definitely return to at some point when I get over my fear of bike maintenance.
There are at least 13 blogs covering our exploits if you care to read them. The aerobic base I created over this two weeks was a huge reason for my half Marathon PB at the Great North Run in September 2011 and my Marathon PB in October.
Eat, cycle, sleep, repeat and keep your head up and enjoy the views.
I was in great running shape in the build up to LEJOG, but my cycling had predominantly just been an 8 mile cycle to work and an 8 mile cycle back at the end of the day. I had done the occasional 40 mile cycle of a weekend, but nothing that really prepares you for 70 - 100 miles in the saddle for two weeks straight.
Number 2 - HARP 24 - July 2024
After the disappointment of the Thunder Run way back in 2013 I still had unfinished business with the 24 hour race. I tried to remedy that in July last year with the HARP 24 race, a really nice local event raising funds for a homeless charity.
I succeeded in completing 11 laps of the 5 mile loop in what was essentially a walking holiday after the first few run/walk laps. I also enjoyed something like 6 hours of sleep in a tent. I started to tire about 10pm and thought better of trudging around in the dark and so grabbed some shut eye.
The whole race had a lovely vibe, as so many ultras do and I had a very pleasant few laps chatting with a guy called Huw.
I am running this race again in about six weeks and hope to skip the sleep this time and complete something like 15 laps, with perhaps a little more running. The long-term target being 100 miles in 24 hours and then I can retire from this frankly ridiculous race format.
Number 1 - Outlaw Triathlon - Ironman Distance - July 2012
The other entries in this blog really are the warm-up act for this final entry. If you are going to read any of my previous blogs, then read the five blogs on the Outlaw Triathlon.
For those who aren't aware of what an Ironman involves it is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle and finishing with a marathon. There were so many stories to come out of this one, but here are the highlights.
- My longest swim prior to race day was half the race distance in a nice warm pool.
- Raceday was my first time in a wetsuit, watching me get that on with Lauren's assistance is something magical.
- The race was my first ever open water swim.
- During the swim I would check my watch and in doing so my head would go down and give Lauren the impression I was drowning.
-The joys of being a slow swimmer are that it is very easy to find your bike in a near empty bike park.
- Cycled 112 miles, squeaked in inside the time limit, the guy after me, apparently a marine got timed out. Phew.
- The run, well I say run, there was a lot of walking. I only made it because of Luke's support and encouragement.
- Just dipped under 6 hours for the marathon which is slow, but with people broken all over the shop it meant I took over 20 or so people through the course of the run.
- Finished in just over 16 hours and a little under 1 hour within the cut-off.
- I was sufficiently slow that I got my 5 seconds of fame, caught on camera on the run in, and was cheered on wildly by my supporters.
There you have it my five silliest physical challenges. I hope the worst of these are behind me. I would quite enjoy a new serious, business like me, who does the preparation, nails the executions and gets the results. That might not happen immediately but that is the plan over the next few years as I continue my road to LA 2028 adventures.
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