RUNING FOR FUN & RUNNING FOR FUNDS!: Sunshine & warm weather at last

GU36 (Courtesy of Stephen Cousins)

Hello again and to new readers welcome to my blog update

So 2017 so far......................

This year has been a little different from the norm with every race so far this year being a new one
Glentress forest half marathon was covered in my last blog so onwards to Alloa half marathon in March. This was never going to be a fast race or PB as it has a couple of hills and a long stretch where you are running into the wind. So a time of 1:53 wasn't unexpected but a nice enough well attended run.

As part of my marathon and ultra training I have been "running the blades" and working my way around every turbine at the windfarm, some 200+ turbines and at the moment I am about 3 quarters done. This really helped in training as it has a fair bit of elevation and I can trail shoes on the rough terrain.

So I will be back out to complete that challenge soon. I wonder if they will mint a special "RTB" medal for me?

April 9th - Paris Schneider Electric Marathon

Motivational Inspiration come is many forms

So after some frustrating travel problems we arrived in Paris a day behind schedule and headed for the expo to pick up my race number and the obligatory race t-shirt. I didn't want to burn too much energy wandering around the expo so we left fairly early and headed off for an early dinner. Unfortunately it ended up being the usual city tourist fare and none too appetising or beneficial, but hey ho.


Arc de Triomphe before start

Race day arrived and the nerves were calmed a little once we got to the start and as you can see by the picture it was a glorious day (But would proove to be too hot by the end of the race) 50,000 people amassed on the Avenue Des Champs-Élysées is a magnificent sight and it was a carnival atmosphere throughout the race. I love this picture I took of the long shadows in the sun as people made their way forward to the start line and space started to appear around the runners. It is a great way to start the race with such a magnificent view both ahead of you and behind.

The first half of the race heading out across the city past the famous landmarks was amazing and some of the tall buildings offered some welcome shade. A good vociferous crowd urged us on and the water stations were great with the odd fire hose giving us a much needed drenching. The pace was good and I was with the 3:45 pace setter up until the Eiffel tower but after that there was little shade and my pace started to fade and I struggled as the heat rose.

It was probably the hottest race I have run and the finishing line couldn't come quick enough as I finally wilted over the finishing line and gulped down the post race water. The heat was so strong that my phone couldn't cope and consequently I had no way of contacting my wife so spent a couple hours wandering around until we finally found each other back at the Arc :-)


Proud finisher of another marathon

It was a great race and would certainly do again but so many to choose from so don't know when I will get back again.

After Paris I needed to continue with my trail runs and did a few munros too with a new PB up and down Ben Lomond one of my favourite climbs. I certainly felt it in my thighs but it was definitely beneficial in preparation for all the cliff steps!!! on the ultra. I also managed to fit in a 28 mile training run at the wind farm and around the local area which was quite windy & hilly, again some good prep so on 21st May it was time for the biggest test so far with the GU36 in Guernsey - Channel Islands.

36 miles around the coast of beautiful Guernsey - 16 miles along the South coast cliffs and somewhere close to 5,000 steps, then 20 miles along the mainly flat West and North coasts

It was an early start at the liberation monument in St Peter Port and the beautiful weather and the magic of Guernsey put me in a buoyant mood. Thanks to my mate Steve for joining me early doors for the start and thanks to my wife and friends for their support during the long day ahead too (well apart from checkpoint 3 lol)

St Peter Port the night before GU36

6.30am 21st May 2017

So approximately 70 intrepid runners set out from SPP toward the Eastern & Southern cliff section and 16 miles of undulating steps. The views as expected were just amazing (in fact even better) and the years drifted away as memories of days gone by flooded back and filled me with euphoria.
This was my first ultra and I would be setting new distance, duration and elevation records, with a estimated finishing time of 8hrs although the ultimate cut off time was 10hrs.
Although the cliff section was tough going and had to be walked in many places it was going well and the first checkpoint appeared at Petit Bot and time to take on some more water and jelly babies.

Cliff section GU36

We had arranged to rendevous at the 2nd checkpoint which I duly reached around the 4hr mark, time for a quick change and some nourishment from a well stocked checkpoint support team. After a brief rest it was time to head off for the 2nd half of the race around the stunning West coast bays and checkpoint 3 at La Rousse. The heat was getting stronger and I needed a few unplanned stops at beach kiosks to take on more water both internally & externally. I even found time to stop for a tasty coconut ice cream (now that's a first on a race) the miles slipped by with brilliant beach views and again memories of the 1986/87 Guernsey hash house half marathon's where I started this running lark all those years ago.


I haven't changed a bit ;-)

Although there were a few minor uphill sections it was lovely and flat for the most part and I felt fine to just pace it out for the rest of the race. At checkpoint 3 my followers were nowhere to be seen, seems I took a detour in error at this point. I checked with the volunteer support team to see how I was doing in comparison with the other runners and to my surprise I was nearly halfway up the field, which gave me a great boost to finish the last section without anybody else passing me. So it was onwards Northbound around towards the marina and the final stretch via St Sampsons harbour.

And then all of a sudden the finishing line was in sight and it was only a few miles before Guinness time with the guys. It had been a totally amazing day all round and I never thought I would finish feeling so fresh with energy to spare, but after 8hrs 7 minutes it was back to the Liberation monument and job done. Final placing 35th from 59 finishers with several other not completing the course

And guess what I have already signed up for GU36 2018..........call me crazy if you like :-)
For fantastic views of the island see this race video by following this link GU36
I am runner #33 and feature in front and behind the camera across the cliff section
(Video courtesy of fellow runner Stephen Cousins)