Crawley A.I.M. 6 hour Track Challange

Sat March 29 2008
Listed by RFJ
Entrants (2) Club PB SB Pred Time WAVA
Hollywoof! My perfect preparation included last weekend's 40 miler and a week of long work hours which ended with me skipping lunch yesterday and then eating greasy cod and chips at 9:30 last night... First 30-40 minutes chatted with RFJ - got into steady stride... 1 hour 30 did first loo break... half mara (according to Garmin) at 1:52 ish... sped up a bit in 3rd hour I think... noticed my lap counter miss me once or twice... also they put up some positions which showed RFJ ahead of me (?!).... decided to do something about it so started telling jokes and setting trivia quizzes to the lap counters (I really suspect I may have left the impression of being more than a bit mad... asking questions like Unaffiliated 6:00:00 6:00:00 6:00:00 6:00:00 46.18
RFJ Aim 35 miles.... Race Report - Crawley 6 hour track challange (My firt Ultra to be) Got a lift up with a mate who was going to do my lap counting for me, arrived in plenty of time to set up fluids and food etc. It was cool and windy but not too bad, so shorts, long sleeved top and vest with a buff. Just before the start saw a familur face in Hollywood who entered late. The 12 hour race was well unedr way and we toed the line at 10, ready to go and off.... straight into a slowish pace and stayed and chatted with Hollywood for the first 30-40 mins then it was a loo break for me and duely got separated on the track. (there were 12 doing the 12hr and 20 of us doing the 6hr) Time started passing and at this point seemed just like a LSR, wrong thinking, should have taken more food on at every hour, was drinking fine though, but didnt take my first walk till my first walk stop at 3 hours. Did have the honour of running the 33rd lap with an original 1948 London Olympic toorch, which was on display and all competitors were able to run a lap with it..... The first 3 hours were consistant, but I really found the next 2 hard, was walking more and more and waiting t hear when I passed the mara and into my first Ultra...... I had to wait and wait, it seemed, then the hail and wind came down 4 hours in, it was cold and miserable and hard and I thought why dont i just jack in after getting to 27 miles, still an ultra..... the wet weather top went on and carried on, a few laps later my legs were getting so cold, so I put on my leggings...... oh best move of the day, big goal, felt so much better, then at last hit the mara in 4 hours 30 something, but was still down and struggling. Hit 5 hours one more to go, and a food break, which co-insided with the leader from the 12 hour race, so walked and taked for a lap and shared food, he now loves snickers and was able to give hime my last one as this was to be my last food stop, so that caused a bit of agiggle between us, but he was son off and running. I knew at this point that it was unlikely that I would make my target of 35 miles, so was now a case of how close I could get..... bizarrly enough the last 20 - 30 mins i felt really strong and started running really smoothly, much to Hollywoods annoyance as he was try to put yet another lap on me (he was a few ahead of me by now). Into the closing bit and was trying my hardest to get as close as i could to 50K, then I knew I had past it and kept going for the last bit..... Finish - 6 hours, 135 laps and a bit, 33 miles and 1025 yards. I am now an Ultra Runner. (finished about 11th or 12th) the winner was from Gloucester and did 46 miles XX, amazing. Everyone was so friendly, such an experience, I wont say never again (YET)...... 1st Hour - 25 laps 2nd Hour - 25 laps 3rd Hour - 25 laps 4th Hour - 19 laps 5th Hour - 18 laps 6th Hour - 23 laps Swindon Striders 6:00:00 6:00:00 6:00:00 47.05







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