The blog begins...and the Torq "assessment" day

Probably not the most auspicious start, because as I write this, a bomb has gone off at the end of the Boston Marathon, and am watching events unfold through twitter.  Thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

So, what's kicked off this sudden desire to write about me?  Well, admittedly, it's partly to do with the Torq Trail Team, but mostly to do with the fact that I actually have time to do this now.  I have finally finished my Maths degree.  Stupidly, I did this whilst working, having 2 children and trying to train for ultra marathons.  I also wanted the degree out of the way quickly, so I did it at the maximum rate - the equivalent of a full time degree.  Fun times.

A while back, can't exactly remember how long, I saw on Facebook that Torq were looking to set up a trail running team, but more importantly, one that is not necessarily made up of elite athletes.  So, I filled in the application form, lamented about my lack of  blog, and mentally debated for ages on what to put as my best achievements in an effort to make it sound vaguely impressive.  I also shared the link with Chris Baynham-Hughes (blog here) who does have some actual impressive achievements.

The assessment day was held at either London, or near Church Stretton, and the Long Mynd.  I opted for the Long Mynd, as I love the area.  There's a couple of quality fell races, one of which (Long Mynd Valleys) is the most brutal 12ish mile race I have ever done.

The day was going to kick off at 10, but there was an informal run going out at about 8:30, so I was in the car at 6:45.  My plan was to take the usual route to Church Stretton, but keep on the A5 a little longer, then join on to the A4 down to Ratlinghope, where the event was.  Only problem with this, was the the A5 and A4 aren't actually connected...  So I ended up having an interesting drive over the Stiperstones, on what is essentially little more than a farm track, with my fingers crossed that it wasn't blocked by snow.  It wasn't :).

Finally arrived at 8:40-ish, met Simon from Torq, followed by Julie, then Simon Freeman.  Had a brief chat with them, then was told that Stuart Mills was looking for me, for a run.  Simon went to let him know I was there, and what followed was some sort of comedy.  For the next 10 minutes, we followed each other around the hostel, but not actually meeting each other (and the hostel wasn't that big!) with Simon chasing us both and attempting to direct us to the same point but somehow failing.  Met, then for the second time in the space of 4 days, went for a run with Millsy, with Simon from Torq acting both as guide, and recceing the route  he would be leading later that day.  Some awesome views towards the Stiperstones from the top, with nothing but cloud towards Caer Caradoc, which was disappointing.

Met up with 2 runners travelling in the other direction, one was Ben the boxer, the other - easily identified by his enormous sideys - Sam Robson.  Fresh from the Viking Way, and still able to run.

Quick shoe and sock change when we got back, then in to mingle and chat with all the other Torq Team hopefuls.  Put names and faces to all of the people I had randomly followed on twitter, and met a guy from Chesterfield who had spent a year working on a dairy farm very close to where I used to live in New Zealand.  Small world.  Caught up with Chris Baynham-Hughes (funny story - met Chris whilst doing the Welsh 1000m Peaks fell race last year. Absolutely pants weather, so the wet weather route was used, which meant the first 12 or so miles were on road.  Pleased I was wearing Mudclaws.  Anyways, finished the race  - 20th place - and it was so bloody cold at the top of Snowdon I nipped into the cafe, put all of my kit on then started off down the mountain towards LLanberis.  Because it was cold, the map stayed in my pack, and I ended up going down the Rangers Path...which is not really towards LLanberis at all. Chris caught me up near the bottom and we ran out together, having added an extra few miles onto an already 20 mile or so race.) and Kristof Nowicki (who is currently 2nd in the Dark and White Mini Mountain Marathon series).

First up on the podium was Ben, from Torq, doing a talk (Torq?) on nutrition.  Didn't envy him on this, as it's one of those areas that trail ultra runners have their own particular views on, especially with the whole fat burning thing going on.  He did amazingly well, and I learnt a few things - biggest thing I took away from that was the detrimental effect that eating fat had during the run, that it blocks carb absorption.  Although it does mean no choccy.  Even more amazing, it was his first talk, and up in front of some extremely clued-up people.  My personal jury is still out on the whole hydration thing though.  Still reckon sports drinks/electrolyte drink are a gigantic pile of marketing bollocks, but I still use them in racing.  Just in case.

Next up was Millsy, fellow Kiwi, and a bit of a legend.  For those of you who haven't followed his blog (here) he's been up at the pointy end of whichever sport he has turned his hand to over the past 30 or so years.  I had a fair idea of what to expect, having read most of his blog (it's ultra in every sense) and having gone on a 4 hour run with him the previous Wednesday, I had no doubts on his ability to talk.  He didn't disappoint.  Dunno whether it's us doth being Kiwis, but turns out we have fairly similar views on race strategy (fast as you can for as long as you can, you're going to slow down anyway so make the most of it), self belief and target setting, and views on core work.  I reckon the best way to get a good strong trail running core is...to do more trail running.

After that epic, it was time to tighten up the shoe laces and head out for a run.  I had my Torq bar (Pineapple and Ginger, tasty), put my windproof on and headed outside.  Turns out the weather had changed, and was bloody cold.  Went for another steady trot, same route as the morning but in reverse, and with less view and more mud.  Took it very easy and had a great time chatting to loads of people, until a small downhill section with knee-deep snow.  Couldn't help myself, had to charge down that like a small child.  A small wait just after a very boggy section for the middle section of the group, who were temporarily misplaced.  Then back down off the hill and to the hostel, where the race for the showers began, and for some of us, the hunt for the owner of the silver Ford Focus.

30 minutes later, managed to get out of the car park (should have parked in the pub overflow really), and off back home buzzing from the awesome day with like-minded "trailie" insaniacs inspired to do more, run longer and actually do this blog on the off chance that someone, somewhere may get motivated to do what I did - stop drinking to excess, stop smoking and get off the couch.

Thanks once again to Simon and Julie from Freestak and Simon and Ben Torq  for setting this up, and giving some of us not quite at the pointy end of races the chance to run like we are the elite.

tl;dr Went to Torq Assessment day, was awesome and inspiring.