Over the last week it’d been getting colder and colder here with Saturday morning probably being the hardest and iciest the ground has been. But by Sunday it’d really warmed up (I ended up just wearing a vest) and started to rain, so our race was a boggy mudfest. I did an almost identical time to last year, but looking results of those around me most were over a minute slower, so I take that as decent progress. Or maybe it was all down to my Dragonfly XC spikes which got their debut
I’m still rubbish at anything technical, especially downhills.
Are there any good exercise to increase ankle strength?
Nice one mate. The old calf raise on the stairs can be good, also sit on the floor, legs straight out and use a stretch band to provide some resistance back and forth. I’ve found both good.
That sounds like a great result, good job. The fast descenders around here are those that are fearless and just go for it - that’s what they tell me anyway. I just don’t want to risk injury so I just take it steady!
On a local fell race, one of the final decents is 300m @ -20% - there is a lot of twisting/turning - with mud, rocks and ruts. I lost 40s to the chap I was with!
@FatPom that mudclaws are great for muddy terrain, I used to use xtalons but on steep muddy descents I had no confidence.
Given the conditions I’ve packed a foil survival bag over a foil blanket, proper hat instead of a buff & insulated gilet over a skimpier thermal.
It’ll be my longest run but I’m not intimidated by the distance. My biggest limiter could be my right ankle which has been a bit loosey-goosey for a few weeks. Hopefully the thaw will give me better conditions & the ground will be sloppy instead of frozen ruts across the fields.
I was always going to be a one & done with ultras & today cemented that prediction .
Plenty of mud, plenty of eating wind & plenty vert today for me.
The course was an A B following Offa’s Dyke from Prestatyn to just above Llandegla Forest so navigation wasn’t too much of a problem. The RO had given us maps as well as providing .gpx files of the routes…there were also HM & Mara options. We had 4 aid stations with gels, bars, water, coke & energy drink if you wanted to mix up your own from sachets…there may also have been .
Slower runners had the option of a 7am start, I opted for the 8am but saw the earlier wave set off with their headtorches bobbing away. The local leisure centre didn’t open until about 7:45am so this could cause some anxiety to some.
I set off easy with my mucker Tattooed Nicola who I crewed at the Brutal 100 but we split up a couple of miles later at the first . Thereafter alliances were made/broken & chat or comfortable silences were traded with runners until we all found ourselves in our own wee worlds.
I ran ok until the last 15km when I started to feel cramp seething around my hammies at any stiles - & there were a whole shit load of stiles - & my shins complained at any climb - & there was a whole shit load of hills .
I know, I know…I hadn’t trained enough & possibly underfuelled .
Bare bones of the day were 10 gels , 53km ran/walked, 2300mtrs climbed in 6hrs54mins & 3 places given away in the last 15km - which rankles - to finish 8th (provisionally)
I’ll also add that from the finish we had to walk a good 20mins off the hill & it was perishingly cold.
That’s a fantastic effort mate, with that much vert in winter mud, you should be very proud of that!
Those friendships you make in virtual silence are invaluable. You know you both need each other in those periods but you just don’t want/need to speak.
That’s definitely an ultra thing.
Cheers all, it’s amazing how memories change after 12hrs of reflection, warming up & a good night’s sleep. I’m feeling a bit more satisfied with my run this morning.
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B following Offa’s Dyke from Prestatyn to just above Llandegla Forest so navigation wasn’t too much of a problem. The RO had given us maps as well as providing .gpx files of the routes…there were also HM & Mara options. We had 4 aid stations with gels, bars, water, coke & energy drink if you wanted to mix up your own from sachets…there may also have been 
. Thereafter alliances were made/broken & chat or comfortable silences were traded with runners until we all found ourselves in our own wee worlds.
- & my shins complained at any climb - & there was a whole shit load of hills 
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, 53km ran/walked, 2300mtrs climbed in 6hrs54mins & 3 places given away in the last 15km - which rankles - to finish 8th (provisionally)
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