Those three dreaded words you never want to see – The Final One – yep the last ever Caesars Camp Endurance Run.
This event has been instrumental in my liking of long running;
2009 – Midnight 30 – 06:50:24 – Race Report – HERE - 1st ever Marathon & Ultra
2011 –
Midnight 30 – 07:19:30 – Race Report – HERE
2012 –
50 Mile race – 13:55:46 – Race Report – HERE
So come
this year I had to enter – I`m not going to lie I was tempted to
enter the `100` seeing as it was the last one but the bigger itch won in
the end. Even thou last year`s race was a huge step up for me, I was
disappointed with the time – I knew deep down I could so much better…..
So come
race day & like most Saturday mornings I was down Frimley Lodge
parkrun…..not to run but help out marshalling (those fast boys & girls are
just nuts !!!) . Afterwards I nipped back home for a late (& 2nd)
breakfast, then chucked a few more bits & bobs in the car & off I went
to Caesars Camp….it`s a short trip (3.7M door to gate…not that I`ve ever run
that before :-/ ). I got there & was glad the expected parking / HQ
problems with the Film crew has been smoothed out (Henk later said that they
were most accommodating). I parked up & wandered over to the race HQ to
sign in. I saw a few familiar faces & said hello.
My race
plan – my preparation for this, had if honest been a bit on the low side,
missed a couple of longer runs & only done 3 long runs since June
(Salisbury Marathon, JW Ultra & Bournemouth Marathon). I knew from last
year that the race conditions would play a large part & the lucky the
conditions were so much better. I did have this `A` goal of finishing before
the Midnight 30 race started (about 2 hrs 24 mins a lap). As you fluffed
around before the `kick-off` I got chatting to a couple of very experienced
runners – it was quite odd to me how these guys were referring to 50 Miles as `doing
just 50 miles` Even thou I felt really confident in myself this was
still going to be my 4th longest run ever on not the easiest of
courses.
We
assembled for the race briefly – which is one of highlights of the event. I
looked around and the field of runners & volunteers was just to me
staggering with a huge range of long distance / endurance experience on show –
but no-one was `up-themselves` - I do love events like that. Anyway after the
briefing we had about 2 or 3 minutes – I went back to the car & after a bit
more fluffing around I nearly missed the start – opps. It just started to rain
- I didn`t bother with a jacket, just a t-shirt, shorts & my trusted
arms-warmers & buff hanging off my race belt & my very old Mizuno Wave
Harriers WT on – over 700 miles in them. I wore these in my 2009 race - see
photo above. I didn`t gained too many places as I was adjusting various bits
& bobs and the first few miles we were faily bunched up - which was
actually great as the race banter was just brilliant. I caught up with Jerry
& Allan – not because I was any faster but only because they, let`s just
say `wanted to have a look at an alternative route` - Sorry guys. To be fair they were not the only ones who
missed a turn – I guess I saw it happen 4 or 5 times in the first laps & I
too was guilty of it in my 2009 race.
The
route is I think well thought out & there are much better descriptions of
the course in the many blogs out there but there were so runnable sections,
some scrambling places, some places where it easier to slide down on your ar$e
than run down & real hard slog it out places. What I did notice that
I was walking at the same time / places as these experienced runners. As we ran I did notice I was moving quite
nicely & soon I was heading to the Race HQ – I guess that local course
knowledge made it easier – I ran down the final hill & received a bit of
abuse from Henk as I entered the checking-in area.
1st
lap – 1:58pm
(1hrs 58mins) approx.
Mile Splits -11:20, 12:23, 10:59, 11:04,
9:40, 11:54, 13:08, 12:08, 12:32, 10:39
Like
previous years I went to the car to have something to eat (malt load) &
drink – water, flat coke & lucozade & change of top. I didn`t want to
hang around in these `pit-stops` & was soon off again.
The
first few miles of the 2nd lap was funny as I was overtaking runners
who overtook me at my lap stop. Again I was moving quite nicely & one thing
that had changed during this 2nd lap was my thoughts – instead of
the first lap thoughts of the past….. what was going on this time last year
& the rough months that followed that to happier, stronger, more positive
thoughts of what I`ve done since & my achievements this year. I did have
more of spring in my step than the lap before. I felt more relaxed..
I think
it was in this lap someone said as we were running together “Why am I doing this??” – I said “Shouldn`t
be - Glad I am doing this” and I was. I think we all glad we were there, where
else would you want to be on a Saturday than running in the last Caesars Camp
race. It reminded me of something I saw recently - `Do what makes you happy`
2nd
lap – 4:11pm (2hrs 13mins) approx.
Mile Splits – 20:07, 13:13, 12:34, 11:40, 10:04, 12:45, 14:56, 11:40, 14:48, 11:18.
Again I stopped at the car (after getting zapped) – again a bit to eat (Muller Rice) & something to drink & just a change of top – I wasn`t getting cold so I didn`t bother changing from the shorts but did remember to apply more Body Glide. My feet were ok. I knew it was going to get a bit dark during the end of next lap – I didn`t take my head torch as I wanted to push myself getting around this 3rd lap - it would give me a big boost doing 3 `daylight` laps. I struggled in the first few miles of lap 3 mainly as I ate too much rice !!! We did had the `pleasure` of Henk running towards shouting “Come on run you d*ckheads” Once that indigestion had gone it was a lot easier & I was glad I had food down me. I didn`t quite make it round before it was dark – let’s just say the last 3/4th of a mile was interesting….
Mile Splits – 20:07, 13:13, 12:34, 11:40, 10:04, 12:45, 14:56, 11:40, 14:48, 11:18.
Again I stopped at the car (after getting zapped) – again a bit to eat (Muller Rice) & something to drink & just a change of top – I wasn`t getting cold so I didn`t bother changing from the shorts but did remember to apply more Body Glide. My feet were ok. I knew it was going to get a bit dark during the end of next lap – I didn`t take my head torch as I wanted to push myself getting around this 3rd lap - it would give me a big boost doing 3 `daylight` laps. I struggled in the first few miles of lap 3 mainly as I ate too much rice !!! We did had the `pleasure` of Henk running towards shouting “Come on run you d*ckheads” Once that indigestion had gone it was a lot easier & I was glad I had food down me. I didn`t quite make it round before it was dark – let’s just say the last 3/4th of a mile was interesting….
3rd
lap – 6:38pm (2hrs 27mins) approx.
Mile Splits – 21:41, 13:50, 14:19, 13:40,
10:22, 13:44, 14:33, 15:13, 12:39, 12:20
(Jon not being able to count - thanks to Pete for the photo)
I
grabbed the trusted Lenser H7 head torch & rear light, again just a change
of top & out into my first dark lap. I had a few stumbles & found some
tree stumps on this lap but I was pushing the pace – I knew that I had support
turning up back at Race HQ – which was just fantastic – you couldn`t hang
around – you may all night but they won`t. To me the second to last lap
is so nice knowing you have to do it only once more. I did fly down that last
hill……
4th
lap – 9:27pm (2hrs 49mins) approx.
Mile Splits – 23:14, 15:18, 13:14, 15:30,
12:04, 13:00, 17:48, 14:11, 13:25, 14:21,
I was
greeted to a mass of folks - Jon, Deena, Rebecca, Peter & the Frimley Lodge
parkrun Crew – Karen, Louise, Richard, James, Duncan, Andy & Dave (I hope I
got them all there) – I couldn`t believe it so many turned up – I was glad I
was having a good race. I felt good but also bad that I couldn`t hang around
& chat. I nipped to the car, changed my top, had something to eat &
drink & grabbed my spare torch (rather than fluff around with new
batteries) & said hello & good byes & off I went – gutted I wanted
to chat but I couldn`t as I had to this lap in less than 2 hrs 30mins …. Ok
back to the 15 minute milling to get back in time. I had just missed out
on a PB at the JW Ultra – missed it by 6 mins & dropped 10 mins in the last
3 miles – I did not want for that to happen again & finish the race at
12:06am.
One
really good thing was that my Garmin was exactly 1 mile ahead when I left for
the last lap – I guess I hadn`t parked my car that close again. From the
previous laps I knew the 1st two miles I was going to be slightly
behind on time – but knew I could make the time up in the `runnable
sections` - I was Garmin watching a lot.
I was still feeling great. I saw Karen, Andy & Dave at the `half-way hut` –
again which was a huge boost. After what seemed only a few seconds I said my
farewells to them & thanked Dick & his crew for being there & for
each year I had run & reminded him that he was the first person who
congratulated me when I ran my first ever marathon back during the 2009 race –
I did say his race was a little too much for me (Grand Union Canal Race – 145
miles) but hoped to see him soon.
The
last time around the lake & thank goodness the last time up the `incline`
at around 6.5 / 7.5 (never enjoyed that section too much), over the cattle grid
then up & running again, over that last style & down the narrow track.
The cows had moved on ! As the miles ticked off - I seemed to get faster &
faster.. I hadn`t really seen too many runners, I past a couple who looked to
be doing ok..I was into the last mile now..I ran up that small final slope
& down to race HQ, over the grass corner & ran towards the finish. I
raised my hands in salute – I couldn`t believe it…I had done it & felt
really strong.
My time was 11hrs 51 mins 55 secs J and I had enough time to catch Henk`s race briefing for the Midnight 30 boys & girls before they were off. I wished Nikki well on her race.
My time was 11hrs 51 mins 55 secs J and I had enough time to catch Henk`s race briefing for the Midnight 30 boys & girls before they were off. I wished Nikki well on her race.
5th
lap – 11:51pm (2hrs 24mins) approx.
Mile Splits - 21:11, 16:08, 16:22, 14:24, 13:34, 11:40, 17:16,
15:46, 13:07, 14:49, 11:32, 2:25 (0.22@ 11:02)
(These are rough lap times as I managed to clock up 1.22M
over the race)
I stood around chatting to Karen, Andy, Dave &
Richard for a bit but then got quite cold & headed off to the car to throw
warm clothes on. They came over which was great. After they had gone & I
went back to the race HQ & thanked everyone who was around & off I
went.
What a brilliant event these Caesars Camp Endurance Runs
have been & cannot thank Henk enough for his hard work over the years.
Pleased that this performance was good as it finishes off my long runs now for the year – 5 Marathons & 5 Ultras. Scores on the Doors = 29 (15 + 14).
Next up
– some fun…ok, some much shorter fun. Some
Cross Country fun to be precise - earlier in the year I joined (as a 2nd
claim) – Windle Valley - another local club but they run the Thames Valley Cross Country League & the 1st race starts on the 8th
November so hopefully I`ll be fully recovered & raring to go for that J but to get back into practice it`s the Halloween
5 & Loseley 10Km next week.
My longest run now till
the end of the year will be Gut Buster 10 on the 29th Dec – yes I
have ditched my Gosport half place.
