Pewsey Downsaround 2019
Race information
What? Pewsey Downsaround
When? April 28th, 2019
How far? 36 miles
Where? Pewsey, UK
Website: https://www.ldwa.org.uk/Wiltshire/W/5380/pewsey-downsaround-2019-information.html
Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/2326159506
When? April 28th, 2019
How far? 36 miles
Where? Pewsey, UK
Website: https://www.ldwa.org.uk/Wiltshire/W/5380/pewsey-downsaround-2019-information.html
Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/2326159506
Goals
Goal Description
A Win - FAIL!
B Complete sub 6.30 - FAIL!
C Complete sub 7.11 - SUCCESS!
A Win - FAIL!
B Complete sub 6.30 - FAIL!
C Complete sub 7.11 - SUCCESS!
Pictures
Saved story at here
Training
AWESOME. After the disappointment that was the Green Man (knee injury) I decide to REALLY dial in the training in this phase. Maxed out at just under a 70 mile week two weeks prior and tapered nicely meant that going in I was feeling incredible. I discussed with my clients that if all goes well I am going to win. Whilst that started out as a joke, the closer I got to race day, the more I believed this...
Pre-race
I felt a little tired, after having a poor night sleep to be honest. Thankfully these days I run on caffeine and hatred, so it wasn't long until my mindset was where it needed to be.
I caught a lift with a buddy who was walking the event, so gossip ensued. Then about an hour after she set off, I smashed a jam and peanut butter sandwich and left myself.
Race
Well, this is where it all becomes interesting and, depending on who I tell the story to there are two sides to how well it went...my side and the real side!
A quick overview before I rant, we went out the gates and I tried to play it easy but everyone was running SOOOOOOO slow, so about 2 minutes afterwards I threw the burners on and jumped out the the front-ish. I had navigation problems last year, so I followed the lead pair through the unfamiliar first section (because why prep, recce, take the instructions etc when you have a .gpx on your watch?!) Then came the first big climb. I had joked I was going to run it and I did...apparently the 9th fastest ever ascent according to Strava (which is what really counts). When I got to the top, I looked behind and saw no-one and felt great, so powered on. This is what happened for the entire first half of the run. I was first through cp1 and cp2. I was 10 minutes ahead of my ridiculously 'fast' schedule I had given myself, so took my time and chilled trying to get food down me.
So, let's take this moment to talk about nutrition. I ran a 35 mile race and took on board 4 gels and that is it. 360 kcals in and over 3500 kcal burnt...do the math and tell me how this apparent winning run turns out...
I struggled to get anything in and when the next runners came in (5 plus minutes or so..?) I flew off. The food I did take on board came out, through spitting and wretching. There would've been puke, but I had not taken anything on board at cp1 either!
It was around mile 18 I started to feel like I had lost a gear. It wasn't a struggle but I could tell I was going to have to go on grit and determination alone to just finish. I smashed up hill after hill and back down, over roads and away. It was then it happened...I could here the chatter behind me.
The next mile or two I went from barely hearing, to being a part of to barely hearing the conversation again as I was overtaken by a group of three runners. :( BBOOOOO! Another CP and more nutrition problems as I couldn't keep any calories in me, so I said goodbye to the stones (I will be back here again in July for a 100k race!) and dragged out the rest of the race.
In closing, to what was supposed to be a short overview...I ended up overall 5th, finishing officially at 6.38 and change.
A quick overview before I rant, we went out the gates and I tried to play it easy but everyone was running SOOOOOOO slow, so about 2 minutes afterwards I threw the burners on and jumped out the the front-ish. I had navigation problems last year, so I followed the lead pair through the unfamiliar first section (because why prep, recce, take the instructions etc when you have a .gpx on your watch?!) Then came the first big climb. I had joked I was going to run it and I did...apparently the 9th fastest ever ascent according to Strava (which is what really counts). When I got to the top, I looked behind and saw no-one and felt great, so powered on. This is what happened for the entire first half of the run. I was first through cp1 and cp2. I was 10 minutes ahead of my ridiculously 'fast' schedule I had given myself, so took my time and chilled trying to get food down me.
So, let's take this moment to talk about nutrition. I ran a 35 mile race and took on board 4 gels and that is it. 360 kcals in and over 3500 kcal burnt...do the math and tell me how this apparent winning run turns out...
I struggled to get anything in and when the next runners came in (5 plus minutes or so..?) I flew off. The food I did take on board came out, through spitting and wretching. There would've been puke, but I had not taken anything on board at cp1 either!
It was around mile 18 I started to feel like I had lost a gear. It wasn't a struggle but I could tell I was going to have to go on grit and determination alone to just finish. I smashed up hill after hill and back down, over roads and away. It was then it happened...I could here the chatter behind me.
The next mile or two I went from barely hearing, to being a part of to barely hearing the conversation again as I was overtaken by a group of three runners. :( BBOOOOO! Another CP and more nutrition problems as I couldn't keep any calories in me, so I said goodbye to the stones (I will be back here again in July for a 100k race!) and dragged out the rest of the race.
In closing, to what was supposed to be a short overview...I ended up overall 5th, finishing officially at 6.38 and change.
Post-race
When I got back to the hut and buzzed out, I immediately took a seat on the floor as y'know...I'd been running for 6 plus hours! The old dears at the hut thought I had fainted so fussed all over me, getting me drinks and food to fill my belly...an empty belly at that. I also met up with my good friend @walkruncycle who took me home (she too Pb'd over last years time).
My takeaways from the race are I NEED TO SORT MY NUTRITION OUT. I genuinely believe that this is the one thing that really ruined my race day. I slowed down from 15 ish, then again at 25...adding almost 2 mins per mile on. The winner on the day did 6:01, something easily in my window for next year. I have ordered some reuseable baby pouches to try out mash potato for my next ultra in May...so fingers crossed!
Days later, legs are fine, just a little fatigued is all. No time to take rest as I had a little under 4 weeks till the 50 miler!
My takeaways from the race are I NEED TO SORT MY NUTRITION OUT. I genuinely believe that this is the one thing that really ruined my race day. I slowed down from 15 ish, then again at 25...adding almost 2 mins per mile on. The winner on the day did 6:01, something easily in my window for next year. I have ordered some reuseable baby pouches to try out mash potato for my next ultra in May...so fingers crossed!
Days later, legs are fine, just a little fatigued is all. No time to take rest as I had a little under 4 weeks till the 50 miler!
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