I hadn`t really planned this one until Richard Boese brought
it to my attention. I had run the 20 mile version in 2011 so to go back & finish the job was a major plus. I had
planned to run a muddy Cross Country that day anyway so I guess all I changed
was the pace & distance of the run…
We planned to set off as early as possible to make use of
the daylight, so I collected Richard at 7.00am & set off towards the start
at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, by the time we got kitted up and sorted &
wander off to the starting hut & collected our numbers it was just after
8.10am. I caught up quickly with Rob Jones just before we set off – I knew I`d
be seeing him fly past us later anyway.
The thing is with these LDWA runs is the instructions, well
to be more precise the understanding of the instructions…
163559 From the
pavilion entrance – facing the football pitch, TR twice to pass the pavilion on
your R & tennis/netball courts on your L.
At fence corner, TL to keep courts on your L. In 20Y, TR on tarmac path thru gap in
treeline then TL along tarmac FP. When
tarmac ends, TR on X-TK (FiPo:HAWK'S HILL).
In 275Y, over railway, over water works drive & ahd across grassy
area (short cutting BW). 0.4 Miles
160555 Join
TK from your L & swing R uphill with young plantation on your L. Keep to the TK nearest the trees on your R to
pass redundant gate on your L & immed FL.
In 15Y join TK from your R (FiPo:YOUNG STREET). In 650Y, cross BUSY A246 WITH GREAT CARE
& along drive opp which immed turns R past gate. 1.0 mile
See what I mean and not bad for just the first mile !!!
We agreed that we would do our own thing for the first few
miles rather than following the runners around us so we could get used to these
instructions. This seemed to work rather well and to be fair Richard did most of
the map reading and I enjoyed the views..
This is the view we saw at around the 2 mile point – pretty
awesome & made getting up early worthwhile.
Time & mile splits were really irrelevant as the terrain
& conditions were never the same – we walked when we had to & ran when
we could. Time just seemed to tick over. We covered the 1st 4 miles
in just about a hour. Soon afterwards we
had to go up `119` steps (I will take their word for this but there were quite
a few). The 2nd hour came around just as quick as the 1st
hour (8M) plus we were awarded with the first checkpoint – jaffa cakes &
orange squash never tasted so good.
Just after this (& I could blame `Jaffa Cake Rush` - a
little unknown medical condition that effects your eyesight) at the point…..“Keep
ahd on BY for 540Y then (70Y after BY starts to descend steeply in sunken
section) take the r
of 2BWs either side of the BY. “ ………well I missed the “r “
(I guess like you did too) so we carried on down the North Downs Way for
a few hundred yards – I do have to say it was one of the best trails to run
down in the day but not only did we have to walk back up but I also took
Richard & another group of runners with me – not a popular chap !!
Shortly afterwards we said farewells to the `20 mile`
runners….
I think it was just before the 12 mile point Rob came
skipping past, well maybe not skipping but making it look very easy and his 5
hr 50 min time backs that up...great running. (Rob`s Blog)
At around the 14 mile point (3.5 hrs in) we ran down this
`driveway` and the Lady of end house were was working outside asked if we ran
on the driveway (rather than the grass) – we replied we did as we love road.
She also asked, after first asking how far we were running, if we were running
for a cause – I replied “No, just fun” – well I don`t think could comprehend
that response but wished us well anyway.
Soon afterwards – well I guess about 2 miles later – we came
across the 2nd checkpoint (nice photo of me eating malt cake whilst
Richard studies the map) – 4 hrs in. The next section from 16 – 21 we were
climbing uphill – and even more stiles or as I become to dread (I mean
loved) seeing “ST”on the
instructions. Just after the 23 mile I found Richard asking a local for
directions….or maybe asking him if his jokes were funnier than mine !! * (7
miles to go & 6 hrs in)
Shortly afterwards at around the 25 mile point the weather
closed in as we almost started on this uphill section. Don’t just take my words
for it….
138500 Cont steeply
uphill on FP with wooden handrail & wire fence on your L. When handrail ends, up 2 steps &
over ST. TR to shortly go up 51
more steps then cont ahd steeply uphill for further 20Y. TR along crossing TK (ie DO NOT go thru KG
into wood ahd). Contour on open hillside with fence & wood on your L for
200Y then BL with FP thru gate. Up
4 steps then cross STEER'S FIELD keeping ahd on grassy TK going steeply uphill
at first to leave via KG. 25.8 miles
“Steeply” is mentioned 3 times & “up / uphill” is mentioned 6 times !!! But we were awarded with `Checkpoint Charlie` - the last checkpoint but more importantly the checkpoint with the tea & coffee J (4 miles to go – 7 hrs)
We got going but we soon came up to the Tanners Youth
Hostel (27 miles) where Richard became
an Ultra runner – I shook his hand as we jogged along but we duly stopped for a
second or two for a photo
The section from 28 to 28.5 was a bit tough as it was uphill
& the very sticky mud (& I haven`t really mentioned the mud but it was
everywhere in this mud – a complete mudfest). I lighten the mood by saying to
Richard “28.5 miles in and we have finally broken the back of this run now” *
At the 29 mile point we basically run the first mile backwards, we got back to
the hut with I guess minutes to spare before it got dark.
Richard looking very pleased (& tired) with himself
& rightly so.
Well done Richard,
it was a pleasure to run with you in your 1st Ultra ………….you now
have a 30 mile PB to beat.
We got back to the car & had a well-deserved coffee
& `proper` food.
Official Report - LINK
Results / Pictures / Archive - LINK
Next up is the `Déjà
vu` weekend – Pilgrims Challenge
Weekend – and a chance to log even more hours along the North Downs Way…gosh
this almost sounds like a plan.
Have fun.
