Ross dropped me on the descent down to Alfriston which was quite steep - by now my knee was giving me grief which slowed me down considerably and my quads started shouting at me. From Southease to Alfriston I had also started to get really sleepy and decided to take 5 at the aid station which is in the old Methodist Chapel.
It was now properly light again and took off the headtorch which was a relief - I do feel that they give me a kind of tunnel vision and always uncomfortable after a hours wearing it. One advantage of races at this times of year is that you only get about 5 hours of real darkness.
Arrived at the aid station to find Derek having a sleep on a pew - the heat from earlier in the day had taken a toll on him and he had found himself nodding off while walking. Gathered ourselves together and headed out. 2 big climbs to go but only 8 miles left. A real psychological boost when it’s only single digits left.
Derek and I skipped the last aid station - 4 miles to go and one climb left. Up to the trig point for the first view of Eastbourne and then down the “gully of doom” - very narrow single track that isn’t as bad as its nickname suggests, before hitting the mean streets of Eastbourne.
Mrs T had walked about 500m up the course to meet us but wasn’t allowed in the sports ground with the dogs.
Round the track for the finish. Managed a half hearted jog for the last 50m.
No hanging around at the finish as Mrs T couldn’t come in. Dropped the kids at the pool (24 hours of energy gels creates a certain “impetus “), gave Derek a lift to the station and back to the hotel for a shower.
Went downstairs for breakfast, smashed a full English and nearly fell asleep on the table. Had a few hours sleep and then went for Sunday lunch in Lewes with Ben and his family - had a cracking Sunday Roast, 3 pints of IPA and had a right good time. Unsurprisingly after 3 pints back at the hotel had another couple of hours sleep. Ordered a Dominos - gotta make up for the 11,161 calories burned somehow
All in all a cracking weekend:
beautiful course
met up with some friends (some for the first time in the flesh @funkin - thanks again for coming along - a great boost (ps nice Ironman Cascais shirt)
Mid table respectability once again
Thanks for all the really nice messages - it means a lot
Kick off is 7am Saturday - 55km with 3900m vert over the Welsh 3000’s including Tryfan and Crib Goch, route is very similar to the 1st day of the Dragonsback, so is a good test to see how I go.
Thanks, hopefully not too warm, it looks like the forecast is max 22C in the valleys and 16C on the tops. Unlike tomorrow where it is 28 and 21C. I’ve packed an extra soft flask as it is 25k to the first water point.
Agreed and when you get in the valleys of the hills, that will heat up. The worst I experienced that on though was a bit further south for The Plague. That was a like an oven, even for a race that starts at midnight!
Justin must be having kittens but I’m sure he’s got it under control!
Arrived at Skyrun Eyri, registered, set up my tent and eating tuna pasta salad.
Bus leaves at 6 am so am early start.
Traffic was bad around Birmingham, satnav took me round a number of b roads from Shrewsbury. Took nearly 5 hrs rather than the 3.45 it should take on a good day. New car is a really relaxed ride on the motorway and the adaptive cruise works a treat in the jams. Fun to chuck around the lanes too. 160miles done and it says I have 200 miles left in the battery.
Didn’t feel 100%, nothing awful, just a bit woolly headed and not firing on all cylinders. Plan for the day changed from finishing in a good time to finishing and having a good time. However that changed after going over on my ankle twice. Seriously contemplated dropping out.
After an hour or so the ankle felt a bit better, so plodded on just to finish just 30mins before the cut.
15.29, not what I hoped, for, but not too bad given my day.
My ankle is nicely swollen, but at least not sore to walk on. I feel it if I flex more or twist it. No running for a day or two, then into some ankle strengthening.
Weather yesterday was all over the place, mostly warm and sunny without getting too hot, a couple of heavy showers and even a couple of nearby bolts of lightening - just what I needed before ascending to Crib Goch, being on an exposed ridge would not be the best place in a thunderstorm. Crib Goch and Yr Wyddfa were in the cloud which limited visibility and made things slippery, not helped by it being a tad windy up there. At least there wasn’t a queue to get to the summit trig…
The route is about 5k longer than Dragonsback and throws in a couple of extra peaks, the route up Tryfan was slower with a lot more scrambling than the West Gully used by Dragonsback. I think I would have more than hour quicker on the DBR course.
Take away is even if I don’t have a good day I should be able to make the day one cut on DBR. Other take away is I need to work on my ankle strength.
