In the way that these things always happen, the weekend before the relays I started coming down with man-flu. So for once, I was sensible. I rested. Went for an easy run with the club on Wednesday night, nothing else until the Sunday. Apart from parent's evening on Thursday night. Finished up at school at 7:30pm, feeling a bit tired but ok. Friday lunchtime, crashed. Complete body shutdown. Made it through to the end of the day, home, then early night.
At this stage, feeling the way I was, it was going to be no relays for me. Especially no 2nd leg (the longest, paired leg) with Pete Hodkinson, an U23 GB orienteer.
Saturday. Slept like a sleepy thing. Woke feeling a bit rough, but semi-human. I was going. First leg, solo, but still going. Spent a lovely day at the fair with the family, kids in bed then hit the road at 7pm. Made it to Llanberis for 10:30 (with some quality nav from Tom), then to the Chamois Mountain hut for 11pm. Got a little lost, had to be directed in by phone and Pete's google earth. Cup of tea, chat, bed for midnight. Sleep quite some time later, after hacking up half a lung.
Up at 7:30am or so, breakfast, coffee, then getting ready. Left a little early, which was lucky as there was a decent queue into the car park. Took some more flu-pills. Coughed some more. Saw Chris Baynham-Hughes briefly, then off up to the event centre. It was busy. Found our tent, got myself sorted, then tried to get myself excited for 5 miles of what should have been awesome running, but instead something more akin to hell. Complete downpour whilst we were herded into the starter pen, which thankfully stopped just after the race briefing. Then, off down to the start.
You know it's going to be a bad run when you're struggling on the way DOWN at a steady jog to the start area. Anyway, thinking happy thoughts. Bang. Off. As with nearly every race start in history, I'm stood too far back. After a bit of dodging, into some free space and I can open up. Hah! Having said that, as soon as it starts getting steep, I do start to claim places back - a testament to the level of fitness I had achieved in preparation to keep up with speedy Pete. The ground levels out slightly, but cant get enough air into my lungs to make my legs run, so power-hiking, run the flats, power-hike the hilly bits. After forever, reach the top.
Downhill. My favourite part. It was a fast descent, quality running but still couldn't quite get enough air in the engine to push down the hill, having to coast instead. After a very steep grassy section, I hit the road, and worked hard to maintain pace and place. Reached the final incline up the road, got a rush of blood and pushed hard. Too hard. Faded miserably up the top and let a few back past, and staggered in to the finish, 58th overall in 43:something.
The next 45 minutes were a blur of coughing, hacking, coughing, hacking some more, the best bacon cob I have ever had, along with the best post-race soup, more coughing, with a bit more hacking to mix it up. Then, the 3 hour drive back home.
Went to the Doc's today, am on penicillin and complete rest. Interestingly, the Doc took my heart-rate. "56? You said it was high. this is normal.", me: "No, 38-40 is normal."
Lucky my next race is only 26 miles, and it's 2 weeks away.
Also, Pete, the guy I was supposed to run with, ended up doing 4th leg. He also got 3rd fastest time. He was also only 45 seconds slower than Simon Bailey. Pretty pleased I wasn't with him!
Some explanations: The Fell Relays are the fell running event of the year. Held mid-October every year, it pits club against club, each show-casing the best of their talent. There are 6 runners per team, and 4 legs to run. The first leg is traditionally the shortest leg, is run solo, and is fully marked. The second is the longest, run in pairs and also marked. Third is the Navigation leg. It is run in pairs, and is unmarked and not as long as leg 2. Unless you get lost. The last is also a solo leg, and of a distance between leg 1 and leg 2. The winning team is the one with the lowest overall time.
Our "A" team was 36th, our best ever, and our "B" was 70th. Also our best ever. Top 20 next year. Might also get the flu-jab.
Sleep now.
