The UTPD had been on my calendar since early January, but only really as a race I was using for my monthly long run. As it wasn't a priority race, I hadn't really thought about it much. Well, at all really. So with about 4 days to go, I replaced my dead Hokas (upper came apart during the Highland Fling) with some Nike Terra Kigers (tried on the Wildhorse, the model down, thought it was ok. The Kiger is another animal. It's Awesome!). 2 days before, treated myself to some replacement race shorts (broke my last pair on the Old County Tops.). The night before, packed.
As this race wasn't an "A" race for me, I went into it with a slightly different tactic from normal - I was going to try and run "within" myself, not push too early and try and finish strong. Run my own race, not get pulled along at the start.
Drove to Whirlow Farm, race start, early Saturday morning, got registered, saw James Adams knocking about but was too tired to go and harass him, and I needed to sort my kit and dropbags out. While I was doing this, I bumped into Lee Knight. He is an absolute animal, right up there with the ridiculously famous Charlie Sharpe in terms of toughness - he was doing this as an easy race after the previous few weeks of winning the Hardmoors 160 and coming 2nd in the 3 Rings of Shap. In between then and the start I spent most of the time chatting to him. He was going steady, aiming for 11.5 hours. Caught up with Matt and Ellie from Summit Fever Media, and Sally Fawcett, the eventual ladies winner. I also caught up with Ian Loombe, the race director, as I was one of the lucky ones selected to wear a tracker. Looked around, saw no-one I recognised, and thought I might have a chance at taking this race out. Didn't change my plan though.
All too soon, we were off. 4 people charged off into the distance, but I headed out steady but soon Lee and I caught and passed everyone but one guy in a bright yellow t-shirt. We kept out pace steady all the way up onto Houndskirk Moor, pulling slowly away from the people behind, and slowly losing ground to the guy in front. We were running nice and easy, and it remained like that for most of the race. We got to the first proper checkpoint at Moscar, where the first drop-bag station was. Lee was working hard (understandable really, a few miles in the legs recently) but was keeping up. The guy in front looked like he was coming back to us, no-one was visible behind, life was good. A nice steady climb up onto the edge, then the bloke in front took off, he absolutely smashed the run along the edge and down to Ladybower Reservoir.
It was getting pretty warm, and I was pretty thankful I had opted for the 2-bottle approach, especially considering the scarcity of potable water around the peak district! We hit the checkpoint down by the reservoir, and they had chunks of melon, grabbed a couple, they were amazing, nice and cool. from there, it was a steady climb back up to the top of the edge then back to the Moscar checkpoint. The climb back up was hard work as it was sheltered from the wind, and we cooked. Once we started retracing our route back, we passed loads of people coming up which gave us a bit of a boost - we had been going 27 miles or so in some pretty warm weather! Bloke in yellow shirt was nowhere in sight - one of the guys on the way down said 6 minutes in front. Looking at the splits, pretty sure he lied.
In and out of Moscar checkpoint with a water bottle top up, then the long climb up to Stanage Edge again. We ran most of it, then it was some great running along the top. I had to restrain myself along here, as I know this part of the course really well - it's near the start of the Nine Edges Endurance race, and I'm usually hammering it here. My brain wanted me to do the same, and I started feeling like I could. I made a compromise with myself, and picked it up a little. Felt great! Next checkpoint reached, then off the edge and heading for the next main checkpoint, where drop bag 2 was waiting for me. To get there though, was a lot of road, and a lot of downhill pounding.
Refilled my TORQ gel and Energy supplies, topped my drink up and then it was a good slog up Win Hill. it was actually not too bad as it gave my quads a chance to recover from the bashing they just received. As a bonus, it was shaded too! A nice run down from there to Hope Cross, and oo look, its that yellow t-shirt...nearly up at the Kinder Plateau! Our hopes of him fading, crashing and burning were fast fading. We took it steady up, and were informed he was about 20 minutes ahead. Not too bad with well over 20 miles to go. A brilliant run along the edge of the Plateau (love it up there), then a quad-busting descent down The Nab, and into Edale. There was an optional drink station here, although the route was a few hundred metres longer, we took it. Refilled our drink bottles and were told we were still 20 behind 1st, but also 20 up on 4th.
In hindsight, that was where we lost focus, where we started slipping backwards. With about 20 miles to go, stuck in no man's land, we thought we maintained our effort, but in reality we slowed. Not much, but enough to make a big difference. There was a long hard slog up from Edale to Hollins Cross (to make matters worse, I usually run it!) and then one of the best descents anywhere down to Castleton. Steep, technical, fun. A trot through Castleton, then up Cave Dale. Lee felt it a bitup here, and dropped back a bit. It was like a furnace in there. I felt alright though, and trotted on up. Left at the top, along a bit then another long, road descent (there was a pattern forming here) into Bradwell. Looking over, there was a bright yellow t-shirt just reaching the top of Bradwell Edge. So no closer then!
Bradwell checkpoint, the 3rd drop bag checkpoint had an absolute stack of food waiting for us. More importantly, the rest of my gels. They also had satsumas. I ate one. I ate a few more. They were like Ambrosia. Then came something I'm not so proud of. Lee and I had been craving coke for a bit. Well, about 20 miles or so. On the way out, there was Eric's coke, sitting against the side of the building. I know it was Eric's, it had his name on it. We looked left. We looked right. We grabbed it, and ambled off at top speed (relative) whilst chugging Eric down. It was fantastic.
The track up to Bradwell Edge was dry for once, and not actually a bad climb, powered by a stolen coke. Checked in, then back down to the river. Down another road. Blergh. I love running by rivers, and I love running through trees. There were both. The pace suddenly picked up to below 8 minute miles, not bad for near 50 miles of slog. Then came the climb back up to Carls Wark (only got slightly sidetracked twice, lost about 2 minutes) then as we were heading to the checkpoint,another runner comes trotting up.
Runners were differentiated between the 30 and 60 mile races by the colour of the bands above and below the number. He had his folded over and pinned. So we asked, "you in the 30?" "nope, the 60 mate." Oh. That's not good.
It's amazing how the mind can trick the body into feeling certain things. Say, hunger when you are bored. Or fatigue when you've been running for a bit. The other amazing thing, happened right there. All the fatigue washed away from my legs. I felt as fresh as I had started. The descent from the checkpoint down to Burbage was fantastic, I floated down it. We started up the climb to Burbage Moor, Me, Lee and Mr 4th Place (Ian, it turns out). I took stock of my Gels - 2 left. One caffiene, one not. Right, bang the caffeine down, then force the pace. Lee provides some sage advise - he's got to be hurting worse, he's been pushing to catch us - so I slow a little on the climb. On top of the moor, we run. I'm feeling great, no fatigue, but i know if I push too hard it will all come crashing down.
Onto Houndkirk Road, not far now, look behind, we are about 50m clear. steep section so walk, last gel goes down. All downhill from here. Run faster. Checkpoint 20, just over a mile, down the Limb Valley. Look behind, too many trees to tell. He kept up on the descent to Burbage Brook, he could be anyway. I'm feeling good, lets go! Garmin says 7...6:45...6:30...6:15 a mile...feeling great, in the zone nearly there, 200m to go, last climb, start running up, look behind and I can see Lee not too far back, then behind him just empty track. I ease off, jog. Lee comes up, tells me to get a move on (actual words edited for younger viewers) so I head towards the finish. I wait for him there to dib together, but he yells at me some more so I give and and hit the finish button, in 10:35. Lee finishes just after. Backstory time: about 10 miles in, Lee says to me :"I don't know the route, I'm using you for nav and for pacing, so if we get to the end together, you're dibbing first". A man true to his word. A few minutes later Ian comes in 4th, followed closely by Sally Fawcett, 1st lady and Ladies CR time.
The usual after match chat, discussion and things ensues, and I find out 1st place (9:45ish) was none other than a fit Ken Sutor. No wonder he didn't come back! Downed my TORQ recovery drink (strawberries and cream, Yum!) handed my tracker back in then made my way back home.
Things I learnt from the race:
Nike Terra Kigers are amazing.
My nutrition and hydration is spot on.
In order to race to the best of my ability, I need to start faster. I'll attempt to explain... Whatever pace I set out at, my body seems to use as a reference point for effort throughout the race. If for example I set out at 8 minute miles, later in the race that effort level is the point where I start to feel like I'm maxing out. However, if I set off at 7's, that is the effort level my body uses. Obviously too much faster than that is somewhat self defeating as I end up burning out - see the Highland Fling, where most of the first 13 miles were spent well under 7 minute miles, and the big dip I had later on. Do I think I would have challenged Ken if I had set out faster, to push myself? Maybe, maybe not. But to be honest I'm not too concerned about that as I had a fantastic time trotting around with Lee, and I'm back and focussed on the Lakeland 50 with everything ironed out and all of my plans sorted.
Plan is: Go out with the leaders (unless it's a Marcus Scotney-ish sub-20 minute first 4 mile loop!), stay with the leaders, and pop a gel every 30 minutes. Simples!
Some stats from the race:
TORQ Gels consumed: 22 (mixed flavours, approx 1 caffeine every 2 hours)
TORQ Energy consumed: 6 bottles (mixed flavours)
Water consumed: 6 bottles
Stolen Coke consumed: 1/3 of a bottle (it works so much better when purloined!) - Cheers Eric!
I'd like to thank TORQ for fuelling me for the race.
Pictures by Summit Fever Media are here.
