runwildrunfree

Transvulcania is here!

I have been waiting for this trip to come around… when I was asked to go to the Canaries and report on this race, little did I know at the early stages that this race would be so ‘stacked’. It is easier to say who won’t be at the race!

The course is a brute. It has some 8500m of climbing and ascent over 83km’s on trail and tracks within a volcanic setting. Based on La Palma the race will pretty much take over the whole island.

So who will be toeing the line?

The ultra king and I guess pre race favourite Kilian Jornet heads up the elite field but don’t get me wrong. Nothing will be guaranteed in this race. Previous UTMB winners Iker Karrera and Seb Chaigneau will be next to the Spaniard. From America we have a who’s who of ultra running with Mike Wolfe, Geoff Roes, Anton Krupicka, Dakota Jones and Ricky Gates. From the UK we have Andy Symonds. All these guys excel in the mountains and in addition to this premier list we have the female contingent that includes Anna Frost, Darcy Africa, Kasia Zajac, Nikki Kimball and Maud Gobert.

It really is a stellar field and it is set up to be ‘the race of the year’!

Last years winner, Miguel Heras, set a stunning course record in a shade over 7.5 hours, his time was 7:32:13. With this line up pushing each other, will the CR go?

In addition to the elite field some 500 other runners will line up against the best of the best to do battle over a course that will test each runners legs to the limit. Starting at sea level the high point of the race is 2423m at the Islands Volcano. Covering a total ascent and decent of 8500m the race will finish at sea level in the town of Los Llanos.

This will be a race to watch and follow.

Follow on http://www.skyrunning.com and check out the race website at http://www.transvulcania.com. The Twitter feed may also be a great source of information, go here

Iznik Ultra

From the sound of the morning call to pray to the evening call for prayer, Turkey has a charm and a charisma that I have not experienced in another place. The people epitomize friendliness and an openness to help and a willingness to go out of the way to make your experience as a tourist a pleasant one.

Istanbul is chaos! The roads are blocked, the streets are frantic and amongst this is a calm and a charm that one cannot help but warm to. The Grand Bazaar I guess has lost some of the original charm of a typical ‘souk’. It shows signs of commercialism but how can one resist the urge to indulge. In close proximity one has the Blue Mosque, the Fire Tower and San Sophia. Working your way down to the Bosphorus one is greeted with ferry boats, fish restaurants and a bustle that increasingly comes to life with the approach of the night. Lights glow, the sky goes to a deep dark blue and the skyline is illuminated with Mosques. It’s quite magical.

Leaving the chaos of Istanbul and heading north for the 2+ hour journey to Iznik that included a relaxing ferry crossing was a stark contrast to the attack on my senses for the last 24 hours. Suddenly we had some calm and a time to reflect.

Our approach to Iznik was greeted by entering the north west corner of the lake ‘Iznik Golu’. Making the road journey to Iznik Village gave us wonderful panoramic views of what lay in store with the Iznik Ultra. A large beautiful lake, surrounded by mountains and fields of Olive Trees.

Iznik formerly known as Nikaia is in the province of Bursa and is some 90km south west of Istanbul as the crow flies. Iznik was surrounded by walls to protect it but now the walls are pierced in many places for roads. With a population of around 17,000 it has been a district center for Bursa since the early 1930’s. It has a deep history, Orhan 1 captured Iznik in 1331 from the Byzantium Forces and for a short period the town became the capital of the expanding Ottoman Empire. Famous for pottery and tiles, many of the Mosques in Istanbul have Iznik tiles designed by Mimar Sinan. This history was reflected in the wonderful finishers medals and plaques for the Iznik Ultra.

Our arrival at our hotel on the lake was a pleasurable one and soon followed with arrival at the race headquarters. The MCR Racesetter event team had taken over a club premises on the lake and turned into a control hub for the race. You would never have guessed that this was the first ultra that the they had organized. It was very slick and the attention to detail was immaculate. Caner (pronounced Janer) Odabasoglu , race director, the previous year had taken part at the TDS in Chamonix and he had obviously learnt a great deal from the experience. He had taken all the good aspects of the UTMB series of races and applied them to his own race. I had been helped expertly by Burcu Karakelle and Rabia Karaağaç in my pre trip preparations and they also manned the registration point. Needless to say, once registration was over they re applied themselves to the course and the smooth running of the event. Caner had not only pulled in his working team from Macera Akademisi but he had also pulled in the help of personal friends and he had mobilized the Iznik community and supporting villages and made this event important to them. They had a real pride in servicing all the competitors.

With a pre race kit check done that included a ‘typical’ requirement of : base layer, jacket with hood, first aid, elastic bandage, head torch, hat, gloves, food and the capacity to carry 1.5ltr of liquid I was able to relax and mix with other racers. I was initially surprised by some of the entrants, we had a couple of South Africans, French, Russian and even a Brazilian on the start sheet. The Brazilian unfortunately didn’t make the race due to some travel issues. On chatting, it turned out that the French guy was Jean-Loup Feneaux, the creator of AHOTU (www.ahotu.com) what I would consider to be the best reference point for all races in the world. In addition I was introduced to Ilgaz. Ilgaz is a co presenter of an ultra running podcast for Turkey. Quite amazing as he introduced himself to me as he recognized me (and my voice) from Talk Ultra. The ultra world really is a small one!

So the race!

We congregated in the Iznik centre for a pre race briefing at 0700 and then the race started, on the dot at 0730.

The previous days blue skies and warm weather had been replaced with rain but temperatures were mild. In many respects, perfect conditions for me! On the end of the count down we left on mass being told that the first few km’s although part of the race would be neutralized. They wanted to create a run procession as we left the town. It was perfect!

The race route was marked to perfection with either floor paint or red and white ribbons every 30-100 meters. Literally, if you had run for more than a minute without seeing a marker you knew you had gone wrong! It’s very reassuring. Although the 126k route was a loop of the lake and of course, the 60k was pretty much half of the lake, it was by no means flat as one would expect. Quite the opposite! All the vertical gain was undertaken in the first 60k making the shorter race a tough one as obviously you would be pushing harder, for the 126k runners this also meant that ‘pacing’ was crucial.

The short road section lasted 4km and soon became trail and then climbing to 580 meters. The trail path was wide, rutted and in parts slippery due to the falling rain. It was possible to run/ walk much of this early section, however, I am sure those running the longer race will have walked much of this first climb. Harder steeper sections had sections of flat and then more climbing. This scenario repeated itself constantly over the first 13kms and the first checkpoint at Derbent. From Derbent village we once again re joined trail heading west and this section incorporated a whole mixture of trail. Rutted ground, soft ground, rocks and of course plenty of climbing and descending. Under foot conditions in general where very good. To our left as we ran this section of trail we had the stunning views of snow capped mountains and to our right, the Iznik Golu lake and the Yenisehir Plains. It was stunning.

The Suleymanie checkpoint at 28.5km was an opportunity to re fill bottles/ bladder and soak up the appreciation from local villagers. Caner and his team had done a superb job informing, mobilizing and involving the local villages and communities. You must remember, running is not something the Turkish people have much experience of. Ultra running is pretty muck unknown…. The Iznik Ultra is very much at the forefront of Turkish ultra running.

The climb out of Suleymaniye was steep and tough and lasted almost 2km and then a long decent to the next checkpoint at 36km at Muskule. This was a simple checkpoint and really more of timing check than anything else. A small climb and then a long steep decent to a section of road than ran parallel to the Lake. Police escorted the runners and provided safety. This section lasted almost 10k going from the 37km mark to the next check point at Narlica at 42km. This was a key check point and a larger village. The whole town had turned out to cheer everybody on.

Now the hardest climb of the course. Heading out of the village you immediately headed up on a muddy, rutted trail that lasted for 7km climbing to 750 meters. It was made even more difficult as this track was used by the farmer, therefore the route up was basically in deeply rutted tractor tracks. The rain was falling harder and harder and the course was now becoming increasingly slippery under foot. It was tough on the mind, the body and more importantly the legs. Finally at the top a flattish section of trail was followed with a long quad busting decent to the 60km finish in Soloz. The trail to the finish was technical in places and quite steep. I know that many post race expressed how difficult they found this run in to Soloz. Again, the local community was out in force. As it happened, I was the winner of the 60km race in 6hrs 01min. It would have been nice to have been under 6hrs and certainly if in future editions the course is dry and without rain, that time will drop. To run the final uphill road section to the line with the applause of the locals, the cheers of the children and the appreciation of the Iznik Ultra team will be a memory I hold forever. I sincerely feel that what has been created in this race is the start of an ever increasing and ever popular ultra scene within Turkey.

At the finish I was able to relax, applaud and watch my fellow runners come in. For many though, this was only a 60km checkpoint. Motivated by a finish line in the centre of Iznik some 67km away, they refueled and step by step rejoined the course. It was now early afternoon and the occasional glimpses of sun and warm started to disappear. The rain increased and with it, the wind.

With the climbing done in the first 60km, the remaining running should have been relatively easy and flat. The course now pretty much hugged the lake until the 76km and the checkpoint at Ornekkoy. Here, you are taken inland to the 81km checkpoint and you then remain inland with the lake to your right until Ilica at 95km’s.

Running through Olive fields, the increasing heavy rain now made the course difficult under foot. With the added difficulty of night, it was now a test of will power for the remaining runners. A welcome section of road from 100km’s to 107km’ s provided some rest with the inclusion of a checkpoint at the village of Boyalica.

The dark, the rain, the mud, the wind tested everyone, the runners and the dedicated team of helpers and check point officials. At 111km’s another section of road and then the final push with a check point at Kurukpru at km 119. With just 8km’s to go, the finish was in sight. The arrival in Iznik awaited. But of course it was now the middle of the night. The winning time was 15hrs 45m.

The next day a 10km race had been arranged that created a perfect opportunity to introduce running to a greater audience. The town came out in force and was superb to see all ages and abilities taking part. Potential ultra runners of the future…. With marching bands, local dignitaries and a superbly organized prize presentation at 1pm the Iznik Ultra came to a close.

The medals and award plaques were something quite special. Iznik, famous for its hand made tiles had produced via a local tile maker all the finishing medals and plaques. A truly great memento.

I have raced all over the world and I have raced for many years. I have rarely scene a race so expertly organized or put together. It was the attention to detail, the course marking, the staff, the local community, the friendliness, the awards ceremony and the prizes that all came together to make this one of my fondest racing experiences. For this to be the MCR teams first event was quite incredible. I cannot praise Caner and his team enough.

Moving forward, this race will increase in popularity, it will bring in runners from around the world and will become a race to add to a runners ‘bucket list’. All I can say is that it deserves all the praise it can get. I for one will be back in 2013, no doubt

Notes:

Traveling from the UK to Istanbul is possible via Easyjet from London Luton.

Depending on available time, I would recommend a Thursday flight with an overnight stop in Istanbul. Stay in the Old City near all the sights.

Transfer from Istanbul to Iznik takes approximately 2 to 3 hours and includes a ferry crossing. Traffic in Istanbul is chaotic so be prepared.

Iznik is well serviced with hotels and many are on the Lake just a few minutes from race registration and the race start.

The first 60km are hilly and many may find poles useful.

Trail shoes are essential.

In training, practice going uphill and in particular train on hills putting as much emphasis on going down as going up. Many found the running downhill is what tired them the most.

Temperatures are usually quite warm but for this years race conditions became difficult, Particularly those running in the 126k.

Check and make sure you have mandatory kit. You will be checked pre race and during the race,

PLEASE VIEW ALL THE IMAGES of Turkey and the race here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iancorless/sets/72157629440938000/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iancorless/sets/72157629851013253/

Details for 2013

www.iznikultra.com

Race Director – Caner Odabasoglu

Address :
Macera Akademisi – MCR Race Setter Geyikli Sokak No:4/2
Beşiktaş – İstanbul / TÜRKİYE

Hoka One One Stinson Evo Tarmac ‘limited edition’

Stinson Evo Tarmac

STINSON EVO TARMAC – limited edition

ONLY 50 pairs available in the UK via runwildrunfree

Hoka One One’s maximally cushioned midsoles offer superior protection, comfort and propulsion. The distinctive ‘rocker’ geometry creates a platform for optimally efficient natural running mechanics.

The oversized outsole allows for greater stability, traction and connection to the ground. Hoka’s motto is ‘time to fly’ and the run shoes within the Hoka One One range really do provide a sense of weightlessness.

The brand and the shoes have come a long way in such a short period of time. The original comments of ‘what have you got on your feet?’ are slowly disappearing and with it the brand has developed and is gaining increased popularity.

The 2012 Stinson Evo introduced a new level of trail running shoe to the market – not only did it have great grip, comfort, breathable upper, speed lacing and precise control, but it also offered ‘drop dead’ good looks. On the limited edition ‘flag’ model, Hoka One One was displayed in big letters on the side.

This was ‘the’ shoe to have!

The Evo popularity has lead to a new shoe! The STINSON EVO TARMAC.

This new shoe has all the benefits of the ‘Evo’ but now has a sole designed for running on the roads. This is without doubt a road-racing shoe….

Runwildrunfree has been chosen to sell the limited edition colour-way, as shown at the top of this page.

Costs will be £135 per pair plus delivery and the shoe will be available on or around October 1^st.

As a previous customer, you are being given the opportunity to pre order a pair of these shoes. As I said, the UK will only have 50 pairs available!!!

New sole designed for road racing

If you have purchased the Evo Trail and used it, you will understand the benefits of this addition to the Hoka One One range. It is a shoe that makes you want to run fast…. !!!

Add that level of comfort and feel and transfer it to the road and you will almost certainly have a shoe that WILL help you fly to a new PB over half, full or ultra marathon distance.

The shoe comes with two insoles, speed lacing and/or conventional laces and is available in this colour way only for limited customers.

When the shoe goes on ‘general sale’ it will be available in black/grey/white or grey/pink/white.

The limited edition shoe is only available in sizes UK7 to UK12.

If you would like to Pre order, please drop me an email at:

hokaoneone@me.com

Or phone me on +44 772 581 3457

I am offering all pre orders the option to either secure a pair of the limited edition shoe and pay a deposit of £50 for October delivery or if required you can pay for the Evo Tarmac over 5 months at £28 per month. The shoes will be delivered as soon as they arrive in the UK.

Here are the benefits of the shoe

Highly breathable, debris proof closed mesh

Speed lacing for on the go and adaptive fit

Lightweight tongue

Reinforced toecap

Flexible molded TPU

2×2 EVA volume

30% softer EVA

Control bucket seating

Sticky rubber outsole

40% wider footprint

Hoka One One 2012 s/s update

Wow – all my stock arrived last week while I was in Lanzarote. Over 40 pairs of bright Hoka One One supreme running shoes. With pre-orders and orders that arrived in early March, I now only have 5 pairs left! Yes, 5 pairs left. I am awaiting another delivery this week, but as I mentioned previously, Hoka One One stock is now very low throughout the shoe range. I will update the ‘Shop’ on my site with new colour ways and available sizes.

In brief the following are available in ‘selected’ sizes:

Bondi B – citrus/silver/grey UK7 through to UK12 – only 2 pairs of 12’s left

Bondi B – white/black/citrus UK7.5 to UK11.5 – and 2 pairs of UK12.5 – no 12’s left

Bondi B – anthracite/orange/white UK 7.5 to UK13 (no 12’s) Bondi B – ladies shoe UK5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.5 but only 1 or 2 pairs in each size

Stinson B – blue/silver/orange UK7.5 to UK13 Stinson B – white/silver/citrus UK7.5 to UK12

Stinson B Evo – citrus/black/cyan UK5.5 to UK11.5

Stinson B Evo – anthracite/citrus/black UK8 to UK12.5 – no 11.5’s

Stinson B Evo – ladies UK5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5

Mafate 2 – citrus/anthracite/white UK8 to UK11.5

Mafate 2 – anthracite/white/orange UK7.5, no 8, 8.5 to UK11.5, no 12 and 1 pair of UK12.5

Hoka One One 2012 stock

Hoka One One stock is due to arrive between March 5th and 12th.

Despite stock not even being in the UK, I am already low on some models and sizes. To be honest, some shoes are sold out…. so, if you are looking for any of the 2012 shoes I strongly suggest you pre order before arrival in the UK.

The Stinson EVO in the ‘flag’ colour option was a limited edition anyway, but I now only have left one pair in each of the following sizes UK6.5, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10 and 11.

I will be able to order the Stinson EVO in citrus/black/cyan from UK4.5 to UK11.5 (limited availability)

or I will be able to get anthracite/citrus/black in UK8 to UK13.5 (very limited stock).

Bondi B in the ‘flag’ is available, again very limited options and sizes. Other colour options are available in citrus/silver/black

and white/black/citrus.

Stinson B has good stock from UK7.5 but from UK4.5 to UK7 are sold out.

Please contact me directly at hokaoneone@me.com for stock updates and availability.

Talk Ultra

Episode 2 of Talk Ultra is now available via http://www.talkultra.com or from iTunes.

iTunes

Libsyn

This is an action packed show and at 2hours 19mins will be perfect for your long runs. The show includes an interview with ultra legend Gordy Ainsleigh. Gordy is the creator of the iconic Western States 100 mile race and in out interview he tells us about what it was like to run the race in the early 70’s and how the race has progressed.

We also have a chat with Hal Koerner – Hal won the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile race and we get his feedback on the race and his performance.

We have a Meltzer Moment with ‘Speedgoat’ Karl Meltzer. Karl also discusses his run at Rocky Raccoon and gives us his ‘Good, Bad & Ugly’ from the ultra world.

Phil Essam discusses the Tipton 100 in Ultralegends and in our 15 minutes of Fame we have Billy Isherwood. Billy took part in the Atacama Desert Race by racing the planet after a life of drug and alcohol abuse. It is an inspiring story and one that you can read about in his book Dead Man Running.

In addition to the above we bring you news and reviews from around the ultra world.

Episode 3 will be available on February 24th.

Hoka One One 2012 due to arrive March

HOKA ONE ONE

Introduction:

Hoka One One was the brainchild of Jean Luc Diard and Nicolas Mermoud. Both very experienced adventure racers and runners. Nicolas Mermoud has placed very highly at UTMB.

They set themselves an objective. To create a shoe that reduced fatigue, impact and muscle strain. Hoka One One was born.

Sponsored Athletes include: Dave Mackey (ultra runner of the year), Christophe Le Saux, Ludovic Pommeret, Maud Combarieu and Karl Meltzer (31 100 mile wins)

The Technology behind the shoe:

The sole is oversized up to 2.5x a conventional run shoe and therefore offers outstanding impact resistance. It ensures a natural stride and IMPORTANTLY they only have 4mm drop from heel to toe. They are therefore very much inline with the barefoot philosophies of natural foot strike and mid to forefoot running. In addition, the shoe eradicates any harshness from the terrain, allowing you to ‘run over’ obstacles. A good analogy would be the difference between a no suspension mountain bike and one with full suspension.

Within the shoe, your foot sits within a ‘bucket’ that is recessed into the sole. Not only does this offer a precision foot strike but it also offers great stability.

Despite looks, the shoes are incredibly light. They defy gravity. The combination of lightweight and great cushioning reduce stress and fatigue. The shoe adapts and moulds to the terrain allowing you to ‘run through’ the most difficult terrain.

A unique addition to the shoe is a ‘rolling’ sole. This helps deliver superior underfoot performance allowing your foot to ‘rock’ forward. Try them downhill…. You will fly! The rocker sole propels you forward.

The increased footprint of some 35% bigger than a conventional road shoe offers increased stability. The wider base compensates for the height of the sole making every foot strike a confident one.

Throughout the range of Hoka One One shoes, grip changes with each model. The Bondi B road shoe has less grip and traction to allow for speed, the Stinson B (was Combo XT) mixes between the Mafate trail shoe and Bondi B and provides a shoe that works well on either road or trail. The Mafate is designed for severe off road running and the newly modified Mafate 2 has a new upper and increased grip. The new shoe in the Hoka range is the Stinson Evo. This shoe has all the benefits of increased foot platform and cushioning but has been re-worked into a shoe that offers a race fit. It has a breathable upper, speed lacing, increased grip and reduced weight; it is an out and out race shoe!

Statistics:

Less Impact – Increase contact with the ground by some 45% and less impact by 20-33%

On the flat a reduction of energy consumption by -3 to 5% (oxygen+lactate blood measurement+running mechanical properties)

Uphill -8 to 18% decreased energy consumption

Downhill -15 to 20% reduced shock impact

Conclusion – Better performance for less effort and increased protection

The Shoes:

Bondi B – Road shoe

Bondi B by Hoka One One 2012

Bondi B is a high performance road shoe suited to marathon runners, triathletes and ultra runners. Bondi B absorbs impact, shocks and reduces fatigue. It has 2x EVA volume and a 50% rocker profile. It has a 20mm recessed bucket situated within the midsole and provides support and control as and when required.

Stinson Evo – Trail

Stinson Evo/ Stinson B Evo by Hoka One One 2012

Stinson Evo is designed for absolute racing performance. It is the flagship of the Hoka One One 2012 range. It has a new outsole with EVA lugs to improve on weight. The surface profile has been altered to provide enhanced grip on mud and wet rocks. In addition, this grip provides superior uphill traction. The upper has been optimized to provide a precise racing fit with improved forefoot hold that balances weight and support. It has a quick lace system for rapid adjustment and the new upper has improved breathability. Revisions to the mid sole include a contoured sidewall which help reduce weight and it has a 25mm recessed midsole. The shoe has a 50% rocker profile, 2x2x EVA and recessed foot bucket.

Mafate 2 – Trail

Mafate 2 by Hoka One One

Mafate 2 is designed for tough terrain. It is designed around grip and support. The outsole has been overhauled over previous Mafate models and has a 4.5mm lug profile to offer superior grip. The upper has also been reworked to offer a precision fit and with a 30mm bucket within the midsole this provides a level of hold second to none. Lacing over previous models has also been adapted by adding an additional lacing loop allowing the runner to obtain a tighter fit if required. The shoe has 2.5xEVA and a 50% rocker profile. In addition, the Mafate 2 has a 35% wider foot platform over conventional trail shoes allowing you to ‘run through’ tough terrain.

Stinson B – Road & Trail

Stinson B by Hoka One One

The Stinson B, previously Combo XT (I am awaiting new imagery of the Stinson B, this is a 2011 model) is designed as a go anywhere shoe. It combines aspects of the Bondi B and Mafate. It has a 2.5x EVA and 50% rocker profile and has a tread pattern that is suitable for road and light trail. However, if the trail is hard, dry and rocky, this shoe realty does excel. It has a soft cushioned upper, a wider fit and it reinforces comfort without compromising support or stability. It has a 30mm recessed bucket and offers supreme protection.

In action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH91KFK7ABE

Stock & Ordering:

2012 stock is due to arrive March 5^th to 12^th and is available from www.hokaoneoneuk.co.uk

Analysis and Use:

Mafate by Hoka One One

First time impressions of the Hoka One One sometimes mean that potential users can’t get beyond the look of the shoe! Yes they are different and Hoka One One does not try to hide the fact. In fact, the contrary, they use strong bold colours that attract your eyes and your initial reaction on seeing them for the first time is ‘what the hell are they?’

Mafate Waterproof by Hoka One One

I had the same reaction. I saw them in a French Trail Race in 2010. A real tough mountainous event and in first place came through this lightweight athlete bouncing along and a pair of brightly coloured shoes. I took a second look…. and then a third and then a fourth look. I laughed to myself. But then I thought about it… hold on, this guy is in first place!

I stored the memory and then I saw them at another race, then I saw four or five pairs. I decided it was time to investigate and purchased a pair! Within 1 week I was sold… I was never going back!

Hoka One One at UTMB 2011

I started with the Bondi B. I purchased them on a Friday. Walked in them all day Saturday and then ran a road marathon on the Sunday. It was liberating! I bounced along with an effortless glide and energy return from a shoe that I hadn’t felt before. As the miles ticked by I noticed considerably less fatigue, a notable reduction in impact and the key factor was that I found that they made me want to mid/ forefoot strike. I would say the only noticeable change I made to my gait and stride was that I took shorter steps and increased my cadence.

Not long after I purchased the Mafate for trail running. Believe me, if you are running on rutted, hard and rocky terrain the Hoka One One are the full suspension mountain bike of the run world. What was obstacles became just glitches that I could run through the terrain without worry… downhill the shoes excelled taking away the harshness of the terrain and allowing a comfort level never experienced when running downhill before. At the end of a race or training, fatigue and ‘doms’ were reduced significantly allowing for faster recuperation and an ability to train at a higher level on repeated days.

Time to Fly - Hoka One One

Observers would look at the shoes and in this barefoot/minimalist market would laugh! However, they missed the point…. Hoka One One only has a 4mm drop from heel to toe making this a real mid to forefoot shoe. A low differential is key for enabling runners to land in a ‘natural’ way. The difference with Hoka One One is the cushioning. All other manufacturers obtain a low differential by reducing cushioning; not Hoka One One. They offer all the benefits of a minimalist approach but with superior cushioning and comfort. It has now been confirmed in many aspects of the natural run movement that Hoka One One are inline with the philosophies of a more natural run style.

So, back in the UK I wanted to purchase the shoes! Mmmm stumbling block. Due to the uniqueness of the shoe, obtaining and shoes in the UK was extremely limited. So, as the saying goes of ‘putting your money where your mouth is’ I did just that and I started to sell the shoe.

In the final 6 months of 2011 and certainly in early 2012 I have noticed an increased awareness and acceptance of what Hoka One One can offer.

All I can say is, if you don’t like the looks, get over it! Once you put them on and run in them, you won’t mind. They are an experience to behold…

Stinson B by Hoka One One

Endurancelife Ambassador

I love endurance sport. I wouldn’t say I have always loved it. In Fact, I think back to when I was at school, those long cross country runs, I hated them! How funny it is to now look back and think that those runs wouldn’t even make a decent warm up now.

I guess the change came when I looked at my wedding photos. Looking back at me from those pictures I was an overweight lard arse. Don’t get me wrong. I was doing some sport, not much admittedly, but I was doing something. The problem was the combination of not enough exercise, rubbish diet and working 12-18 hours a day.

At 5′ 8″ (maybe 9″, I like to think of me being a 9″) and 15.5 stone I was well and truly a ‘blubber’. I purchased a bike. A nice one! a Giant Cadex – carbon with bonded tubes. I remember saying to myself that if I invested all the money I could spare, make a commitment then the chance of me continuing was always going to be greater…. I would feel guilty otherwise. I was no stranger to cycling, I had dabbled in my early to late teens but college and work had taken over. I was an avid Tour de France fan and all this meant I was already in a good place to progress. I remember I started cycling in June. Easy at first. As I got fitter I cycled farther. My diet was still rubbish. I knew nothing about good nutrition and my long work hours made time for food limited, hence, fast food was an easy option. Despite all this, 6 months later I went to my folks for Christmas. Mum as per usual had got me some clothes. Jeans in 36″ waist! I tried them on and they fell off….. without actually acknowledging the transformation in my body, I had gone from a 36″ waist to a 32″ and my weight had gone from 15.5 to 12 stone. I was addicted.

That is all in the past and some 20 years ago. Like so many ‘transformations’ my own personal one was significant. It has forged my life, driven me and made me the person I am now. Without going into too much detail I raced bikes until 2002 finally gaining Elite status. I raced in France, Spain and throughout the UK. I was never a big hitter but I had my moments.

After a year of ‘recovery’ in 2002 (I was burnt out with work and racing) I started to build myself up as a budding triathlete. I wanted to do an Ironman when I was 40!! Of course it was going to be ‘fun’. I didn’t have the time anymore….. I entered London Triathlon and low and behold I was 10th at my first attempt. 70.3 came then Ironman, I even represented GB in Australia for the World Duathlon Age Group Championships in 2005. I do nothing by half. I am committed and no matter how much I try to take a back seat I can’t. I am driven to be the best I can be.

In 2007 I was looking for a new challenge. Lying on a beach in Nice I started to read ‘Confessions of an all night runner’ by Dean Karnazes. Absolutely riveted, I read this book front to back as quickly as I could and then I read it again. This guy is NUTS I thought. Little did I know….. I decided to set myself the target to run 8 marathons in 8 days. This was to happen in 2008 and it all sounded pretty good, ‘8in8in08’. Mizuno sponsored me and running Fitness wrote about my progress on a monthly basis in the magazine. It was quite funny, at the time, 8 marathons seemed such an epic adventure, now it isn’t even worth writing about. Ranulph Fiennes and Mike Stroud had done 7 marathons on 7 continents and it was actually Mike Strouds book that had gven me the idea for the ‘8’.

I needed a route and a very good friend, Jon Glyde suggested that I run the ‘Thames Path’. It started not far from my home in Gloucestershire and went all the way to the Thames Barrier – 187 miles! Perfect. It was set. On the 8th day I would run London Marathon.

I started in earnest. Remember, I was no runner. Yes I had progressed and somehow taught myself how to run a marathon at the end of an Ironman, but 8 marathons was a monumental task for me. It was in this phase of training that I was introduced to Endurancelife. They had some tough marathons on a regular basis and they provided the corner stone of my training.

All was going fantastic. I had got sponsorship from South West Motorhomes with a free vehicle for the duration of my event. My Dad (my no1 fan) was all geared up to drive, crew and support me. As is often the case, just when all is going so well, disaster struck.

“I have cancer” my Dad said. Oh my God, I cannot explain the devastation those words have.

I couldn’t go on but Dad insisted that I had to and that I had to make him proud. I was left with a dilema. This was just ‘running’. How could I put running ahead of my Dad. after much thinking I decided to continue. No Motorhome, I would stay in B&B’s and a couple of great friends decided to help me out. As the ‘event’ came closer, Dad informed me that his operation was smack bang in the middle of the 8 marathons on the Wednesday. Whoa, this was too much….

I ran the 8 and on the Wednesday when I arrived at Henley on Thames, I jumped in a car, drove to Liverpool, took my Dad to hospital, admitted him, he had the Op, I waited for the all clear and then drove back to Henley for the next marathon. I finished the ‘8’ in London on the Sunday exhausted. Not physically but mentally. That evening I made the journey back to Liverpool to be with Dad. Job done! Boy was he proud. I was an ultra runner.

Dad passed away in January 2009.

Every run I do, every step I take in training and racing is in his name.

I am not he fastest runner. I am not the best by any stretch of the imagination. But I work hard, I love what I do and I promote all types of endurance sport. I coach, I plan training holidays and I race on a regular basis. This passion for my sport resulted in Andrew Barker from Endurancelife contacting me and asking if I would be a ‘Run Ambassador’.

Wow, a run Ambassador. Dad would be so proud. Without hesitation I accepted.

I am in some pretty exceptional company. The current team line up is:

Neil Bryant
Nicky Taylor
Oliver Sinclair
Tobias Mews
Andrew Barker
James Heraty

To be honest, I am a little intimidated. All of the above are great athletes. In particular I have immense admiration (because I already know them) for Oliver Sinclair and Neil Bryant. I have raced many times with Oli over the past few years. We sometimes are pretty close on the finish line but I know when it counts, I would just eat dust behind him if he put the hammer down. Neil is a formidable ultra runner and excels at the long stuff. He has had some great 100 mile results and in the not too distant future will be heading to Greece for ‘Spartathlon’. He also has some ‘epic’ journey planned for 2012 buy I will wait a while before I divulge the info on that.

I am looking forward to meeting the other guys and girls on the team as and when. I am also looking forward to maybe some possible team events. They don’t have to be races but challenges. One in particular is an attempt at the 180km of the GR20 in Corsica.

So, Endurancelife Ambassador I am. Nothing changes from my perspective. I will still be doing all I can to promote and help the endurance community. I now just have one extra string to the running bow.

Many thanks to Endurancelife for the opportunity and the faith in me.

Endurancelife website: http://www.endurancelife.com/index.asp

Ambassador Team on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.236630569715857.57681.103168123062103

Dovedale Dipper August 7th 2011

The Dovedale Dipper is a ‘challenge’ event organized by Matlock Rotary Club offering a 15 mile walk or a 26.5 mile run over a circular route in the Derbyshire Peak District starting and not surprisingly ending in the village of Hartington.

This years edition I believe was the 9th running of the event and I have to say that Matlock Rotary Club did a great job. Superb planning, a great ‘route book’, great check points with a really good selection of food and liquid and at the end some hot food and drink. What more could you ask for? I certainly feel the ‘on the day’ entry fee of £15 (cheaper if entered in advance) was money well spent.

To be honest, on the Friday before the event I knew nothing about the event never mind the fact that I would be taking part. One of my coaching clients had sent me a text, told me it was local and that it was a tough and beautiful course. It all sounded too good to be true. I had a free weekend as Niandi was in Paris returning Stanislas after her week long brthday…. my training plan had me scheduled for a long run close to marathon distance, so it was logical that I turn up and run a new course with company.

Hartington Village Hall was full of people on my arrival. As I had walked to registration I had already seen plenty of walkers heading out on the route looking to get some early miles in the bag. The official challenge walk of 15 miles started at 09:30 and then the full challenge of 26.5 miles started at 10:00. Difficult to say how many took part but at least 150 in the main event.

At 10am we set off and the early pace was very sedate. The route book was very detailed and with having no knowledge of the route I held back and looked for the ‘locals’ to set the pace. Within a mile it was clear that one or two front runners knew the route. I quickly found myself in 2nd place following the eventual race winner, Gary.

My plan was to run this event sensibly and not ‘race’ it. Within 2 to 3 miles I settled into my pace and let Gary slowly pull away. I had him in sight for the next few miles so I had a carrot to follow, however, I soon had company with Del Salt (http://delsalt.blogspot.com) and Sean Ketteridge.

I was in good company… very god company. Both Del and Sean are very experienced ultra runners and Del has represented GB.

The first checkpoint came at Sparlow after 5.5 miles. Sean and myself arrived and we were quickly followed by Del. This actually turned out to be pretty much the format for the whole race. Sean and myself happy to run and chat, Del would sometimes surge away, come back and then when the road went up would fall back slightly. Del however new the route and this was invaluable. Sean and myself every now and then found ourselves stood looking at the route book only to have Del come past and lead the way. It soon became apparent that the most logical thing was to run together. Certainly it was a decision I made. The pace for me was spot on, about 1 min slower than race pace and I also feel that Del and Sean had similar thoughts to me.

This is the Peak District and the race is called the Dovedale Dipper, so, it was inevitable that some hills would soon appear. Funny wahen you look at the GPS data as the first 7-8 miles look all uphill but it didn’t feel like that; maybe fresh ‘ish’ legs?

Checkpoint 2, Longnor was not far away but we had a nice climb to get over first. Walk/ jogging to the summit we then ran down to Warslow. In-front was the infamous Ecton Hill. I now say infamous as I have experienced it and of course heard everyone else moan about it.

Our group of 3 remained together and we pushed onwards. Great views at the top but we didn’t have time to hang around. Back on pace we pushed taking turns at the front. Over Wetton Hill and then the 4th checkpoint came. A couple of cups of juice and some calories and we were off.

Traversing over Castern Wood we had some great views. I was feeling really comfortable and the decision to run as a group was really paying dividends. We all pushed a little keeping each other honest but not so hard that we were hanging. When we split up we always reformed. It wasn’t a concious decision but our paces were so similar that this just seemed to be the natural pattern of events.

The terrain for the whole route was generally good with a great mix. Grassy fields one minute, worn trail the next, rutted rocky paths and of course hills; plenty of hills. I was using a new shoe from Hoka One One called the ‘Combo XT’. This new addition to the Hoka range combines the trail Mafate and the road Bondi B and ‘combos’ them into this shoe. I have to say I was 100% impressed. Great grip and a plush comfortable ride over the multitude of different terrain that the peaks had to offer.

Combo XT by Hoka One One

We had a tough rocky and slippery decent to Milldale and the next checkpoint. In the valley we lifted the pace. Flat stony trail suddenly provided a platform of consistent running. Sean and Del lifted ran strong and I hung back a little trying to decide if I wanted to run this quick in the latter stages of a long run. I guess ego took over and I decided yes. Having spent the best part of 21 miles with these guys I wasn’t prepared to let them go. I knew when it came to the finish we would all be together with the same time and that seemed appropriate after a full days running.

Along the valley floor Del told us we had a kick in the tail. The short sharp shock of Beresford dale. It is a short steep climb that we power walked and then once over the top we re lifted the pace and ran down the longest road stretch of the event back to the Village hall at Hartington.

Gary had arrived some 15 minutes before and we arrived in 4hrs 02m all in joint 3rd place.

Great day out. Great course and a real pleasure to run with Gary and Del.

Big thanks to Matlock Rotary Club for a superb and friendly event with excellent organization, checkpoints and support throughout.

Lakeland Trek

THE LAKELAND TREK

I actually posted this Blog in 2010 but with Lakeland 50 and 100 races taking place last weekend, one or two people have asked me to re-post as they are thinking of doing the race in 2012. This blog covers much of the route but not all. I have another blog which I will also re-post that covers a recce day I did of the first 32 miles of the ’50’ route. Here: http://runwildrunfreeuk.blogspot.com/2010/06/lakeland-50100-recce.html

Photos here:http://picasaweb.google.com/runwild.runfree.uk/LakelandTrekAugust2010#

Day 1 Monday 23^rd August – Coniston to Wasdale

We left my mum’s at 0700 and arrived at Ambleside for breakfast just before 0900. It was a nice leisurely start to the day – coffee and teacakes to help provide energy for the trek ahead. I also wanted to go the ‘Climbers Shop’ to purchase some trek poles. My Raidlight lightweight poles had broken and from the previous recce I had already decided ‘poles’ were an essential item to help on the climbs and decent. It turned out that they didn’t have the poles i wanted; thank god! I ended up with a much better pair and poles that are much more specific for future events. The Leki ‘Traveller’ poles come with a run glove so that you can clip the pole in and out of the hand in a flash. They work brilliantly and I can’t recommend them enough. So, with my poles purchased we moved to Coniston, parked the car and started at about 1100am. This was our first mistake…. you need to start 0700 or 0800 at the latest. Why? Well, quite simply the terrain is so tough that moving quickly just is not possible, particularly when you have ‘full kit’ and 2 ltrs of water on you. Also the rain… oh the rain!

We jogged and speed walked to start with and then hit the first climb which lasted for a few K’s to a car park at Roadhead. Here we headed right to Walna Scar. The rain was coming down but temperatures were pretty mild. We crossed a bridge and then climbed a very stoney strenuous path to the summit of Walna Scar Pass (summit 2106m). We were above the cloud. Pretty darn impressive. We headed downhill, the terrain similar to the other side. Tough, gnarly, rocky and wet. We finally reached a road, turned left and arrived at Seathwaite Village Hall. This would be checkpoint 1 in the L100 with 6.4 miles covered. We looked at each other and both thought wow! This is one seriously tough race.

From the checkpoint we retraced to a small church, opposite was a pathway. We squeezed through the stile and then navigated through woodland, over a bridge and headed for Wallowbarrow. The rain was coming harder and the ground was just boggy. Our feet were permanently wet. Passing through a farmyard we turned right and headed through woods to go around Wallowbarrow Crag on a good path. We took a permissive path and then entered what turned out to be the real ‘low’ of the 4 day trek. A boggy, wet, miserable fell and plantation area signposted to Eskdale. This area was miserable. We had no clear path to follow, the rain was torrential and we were slowly going higher and higher into the cloud and colder temperatures. We finally moved out of the plantation to a rutted, rocky and extremely wet underfoot section. It was hard. So hard, it made Niandi cry (no joke). We were cold, wet and tired and only about 11 miles in to the day. We both look back now and laugh but it was a low point. We pushed on after a little pep talk and at the top we crossed a gulley and found some shelter from a tree. We donned waterproofs, hats and gloves. This worked. It refreshed us and gave us a reason to carry on. One main problem with this sort of trek is that we are carrying minimal kit. I mean minimal. We both had 2 tops, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of socks, over trousers, waterproof jacket and a pair of ‘skins’ compression tights to sleep in; that was it! One set of kit was now wet and I was thinking how on earth are we going to get this stuff dry…..

We now took a rocky trail and made our way down the other side of the hill. We started to warm up as the rain eased. The terrain was still ridiculously difficult to navigate. The trekking poles proved an invaluable purchase as they provided that extra help and support to help keep us both upright. We arrived at Penny Hill Farm, took a permissive path and rejoined the main path. We now headed to Boot and had the wonderful site of a Pub. I needed to refill my bottles so it seemed the perfect excuse to grab a coffee, get warm, refuel and then push on. We didn’t hang around, maybe 20 min. Just around the corner was checkpoint 2 for the L100, a small Corn Mill.

From the Corn Mill we pushed uphill and headed over Eskdale Moor to Burnmoor Tarn. Again the ground was sodden and boggy with all the rain. Our feet were going to look like prunes. Heading NNE we followed a path to a wood. Wasdale was now in sight. We headed down the rutted, stoney path. Passed a climbers hut and arrived at Wasdale Campsite. It was now 1830. Our plan had been to reach Buttermere but this was another 6-7 miles away and with failing light, poor conditions we decided to call day 1 to an end. We were relieved. We were also relieved to find out that this campsite had a laundry room. Oh joy! We could get our clothes dry meaning that our following days were going to be far more comfortable.

The joys of trekking come when you have to pitch a tent in the rain, cook dehydrated food and hit the sleeping bag at 2100hrs.

Day 2 Tuesday 24^th August – Wasdale to Blencathra Centre (checkpoint 6)

We were so tired we slept like logs despite the wind and rain hitting the tent all night. We awoke at 0600 to make coffee and porridge. We packed up and was on the trail by 0700. Within 1 mile we had to cross a river. Our feet were soaked. We headed to Wasdale Head Inn (checkpoint 3) and proceeded for 200m, through a gate and then started to climb to Gatherstone Beck. We then joined Black Sail Pass and pushed on going constantly up.

The rain came and battered us. Needless to say the terrain was really tough and this was topped off at the top with hale stone. We tried to shelter but it was hopeless. It is so open. We headed down a rocky wet trail. You had to be real careful. Very technical and very wet. You could slip any minute. We finally reached the bottom and crossed the River Liza. We passed Black Sail YHA hut and then climbed again to Scarth Gap.

It wasn’t 0900am and we had already climbed 2437 feet. The sun came out and our trek down from the summit to Buttermere and the Lakeside path was a real treat. We arrived in Buttermere just in time for tea and toast and a refuel of our bottles.

Buttermere Village Hall was checkpoint 4 in the L100, from here we turned right past the Bridge Hotel and then right up Ghyll Wood. We now started to gain height again, the path here was much better under foot and it was far easier to keep a consistent pace. We continued to climb to the summit at Sail Pass. The sun was out and this section was really enjoyable. I made a slight navigational error which meant that we had to do a little rock climbing up a pretty much vertical wall to rejoin the appropriate path.

Niandi was not impressed. At the Col at Barrow Door we took a good path descending all the way down aiming for the right hand side of a small wood. We went through a gate, joined a tarmac road and followed until we arrived in the centre of Braithwaite. St Huthbert’s Church Hall was checkpoint no 5.

From Buttermere we had climbed another 2440ft so now a section of flat road was a welcome relief. I called in a camp site to fill my bottles on the edge of Braithwaite and then we ran along the A66 towards Keswick. It was funny to have cars and people around us. We followed the cycle path and then ran along an old railway track. Passing a Church we then negotiated a few road junctions to take a left up Spoony Green Lane and head towards Skiddaw. Now on the Cumbria Way we started to climb up once again and good paths. After 2km or so we reached a car park. We navigated left and then climbed up and around Whit Beck. The light started to fail even though it was late afternoon and the cloud started to come in. Rain?

We struggled along Lonsdale Crags, crossed a wooden bridge and then took the upper track heading to our end point for the day, Blencathra Centre (checkpoint 6). We had covered another 1548ft making the day total around 5500ft.

Our day didn’t end here though! The L100 route continues east towards Dalemain. I had already done this section and due to time constraints our plan was to head south and pick up the L100 route at Ambleside. I therefore navigated 2 or 3 miles to Burns farm Campsite, east of Keswick and directly south from the Blencathra Centre.

We arrived at the site, pitched the tent, showered and then settled to instant noodles, dried fruit and coffee. Bliss. Today had been quite a tough day. At some point in the morning I had either twisted or banged my left knee. Unfortunately the pain had just got worse during the day. I was a little worried of the implications. I put my ‘skins’ on, took some ibuprofen and hoped for the best.

Day 3 Wednesday 25^th August – Burns Farm (Keswick) to Ambleside

Wow, last night was chilly. Niandi slept with the following clothing on inside the sleeping bag: thermal long sleeve North Face top, Gore long sleeve run top, Gore Tex jacket, fleece hat, socks and skins tights. She still said it was cold….. Me, I just got cold….. Of course it rained in the night too.

We were up at 0600 again to porridge and coffee and then left at 0700. Today I was navigating to Ambleside. I had decided that if we got a good start and pushed on we could be in Grasmere for early afternoon and have a treat. A cream tea!

Leaving Burns arm we had a small section of road before following the path signs leading to Low Rigg. It was a lovely morning. Chilly but sunny. We got into climbing straight away and reached the summit pretty quickly. We descended and then took the path climbing up to High Rigg. Terrain underfoot was pretty good. Of course it was wet, boggy, rocky and muddy but we were now used to this. We expected no less.

The sun came over Staybarrow Dodd to the east and the light was fantastic. It illuminated the mountain ranges and showed us the beauty that is the English Lakes. Sheep kept popping up everywhere. They just wanted to be photographed.

From the summit we followed good paths to the south east corner. When we arrived at the road we had a small section to navigate before joining the pathway that goes around Thirlmere. This was a great section.

Good paths, great views and the sun on our backs. It felt like we were in Canada or the Alps.

Pine trees and Lakeland views. Halfway on the path we moved east, crossed the road and then picked up the forest path that runs parallel to the lake. A great section. We had thick forest to navigate through. Apparently this is a Red Squirrel reserve but we didn’t see any.

We now followed the trail that run parallel to the A591 crossing the main road to take the path on the west side of the road. Somehow I missed the official path and navigated south through boggy fields. It wasn’t a problem as we had the clear objective of Grasmere in-front of us. The main issue was the terrain. It was very very boggy. I decided with the help of my gps to move up the fells and rejoin the path.

It was at this point that Niandi stepped forward with her left leg and sunk straight to her waist. My initial laugh was soon stopped as I ran over to stop Niandi singing any further. Her shoe was starting to come off and I could see the panic. Walking poles stuck in the ground, Niandi took my hands and I pulled her out…. I was waiting for the outburst but it didn’t come.

It was actually about 10 mins later when I made her climb over another stone wall to reach the ‘official’ footpath. Back on track we arrived in Grasmere within 20 mins and as promised Niandi and myself had a fantastic cram tea. I can’t tell you how good a cream tea is when you have really earned it.

The break was welcome and we took the western path around Grasmere taking the lake path leading to the climb of Red Bank. This is a really steep climb but over good path and when reaching Loughrigg we had superb views over the whole of the Lakeland range.

We descended down and spent the night at a small campsite near Loughrigg Tarn. It was a simple site and unfortunately had no shower facilities. Thank goodness for ‘wet wipes’. No shower was compensated for with a pub less than 0.5 mile away. Oh the joys of some great pub food and a glass of wine.

Day 4 26^th August – Ambleside to Coniston

The coldest night of the week made for very broken sleep. Never good when you have to put clothes on to go to bed. We had no rain but we almost had a frost.

Our tent was covered in so much condensation and dew that it actually appeared as though it had rained. The sun was up and the day was obviously going to be the hottest so far. Porridge for brekkie again.

We started our day with a jacket on, over-trousers, hat and gloves. We walked on roads to the Skelwith Bridge Hotel and then joined the Cumbria Way footpath to Elterwater Village. This pathway was good underfoot and flat. It was easy to make a good pace and in comparison to the previous 3 days it was a walk in the park.

At the village we turned left and took the quarry road eventually joining a footpath on the right. We followed the path and arrived at Chapel Stile and checkpoint 13. It was now pretty warm. Finally we were able to strip down to shorts and top. Summer was here!

We re joined the Cumbria Way and headed through the Langdale Valley. This valley for many IS the Lake District. It is stunning landscape and on a day when god shines his light it looks fantastic. The path is good all the way to the Dungeon Ghyll campsite.

Turning left we took the steep zig zag path leading to the summit at Side Pike Pass. We crossed the road and then took the good trails around Blea Tarn to the south west corner. We were making good time and as I have said previously today was turning out to be easy.

From the tarn we had to navigate across a rough fell with no clear path. As per usual it was bogy. More wet feet ! On arriving at the top corner of the fell we joined the road and ran downhill to Fell Foot Farm. After a small section of road we navigated towards a small white cottage. This was an idyllic scene. The property is owned by the National Trust and is picture postcard material.

Taking the path we climbed up and I took the wrong path….. doh! I took the first right path instead of following the main path to the right. Gps once again proved a real help as this provided me with an exact location and confirmed my error. Having said that, it turned out to be a bonus. It added 2 miles to the day and we got to see a disused mine.

Back on track we moved along good paths to Tiberthwaite car park and checkpoint 14.

We now had approximately 4 miles left and today’s ‘easy’ day showed the kick in the tail. At this point in the L100 you will have now covered ironically 100 miles… yes I know. It’s a 100 mile race BUT it is actually 104. The climb up Tiberthwaite is tough, steep and technical. At this point in the race it must be so demoralising.

Onwards and upwards you cross a stream at the top and then have to navigate across open boggy fell with no clear path. If you were doing this at night it would be very confusing. By taking a SSW direction and just keeping going I finally picked up the main path to then take the tough rocky and technical descent back down Milners Bridge before taking easy roads back to Coniston.

Job done.

Conclusion

Firstly, the 100 mile Lakeland loop is a classic in the making. It is without doubt the toughest course I have ever encountered. Trekking it was a real challenge and very rewarding. To try and run/walk it within 40 hours is a completely different challenge. You have so much to take in to consideration. The course, navigation, weather and basically just having the strength and determination to just keep soldiering on is a challenge in itself. If you plan on doing the 50 or the 100 mile race without doubt take time to recce the route. It will prove invaluable. The road book provided for the race is superb but it is still easy to go wrong. I made a few mistakes, nothing drastic but better to do it in training and then on race day you can just keep moving forward on the correct path. It is also important to remember that you will be on the course at night. If you get the cold and wet weather we had with mist and darkness it could very well be terrifying without a sense of direction.

If you don’t fancy racing, split the course as we did and do it over 4/5 days or why not make the course 4 or 5 separate day trips. It’s a challenge that will prove extremely rewarding.

Kit Recommendations

I am going to recommend kit here that applies to a multi-day trek as I feel that you can edit the list so that you can exclude items that will not be needed for a race.

Rucksac – I chose a waterproof salomon XA running sac with a salomon chest pack. This was absolutely perfect. The waterproof main compartment kept all my kit dry. I didn’t use a camel back but chose to carry 3 x 500ml bottles in the chest pack. This helped balance the weight front and back and made me more comfortable. Also the front pack gave instant access to maps, gps and any other essential items.

Tent – Vaude Ultralite. This was brilliant. I looked at all options and tested many before making a purchase. This tent goes up in 2 mins and is free standing. It pitches with the ‘inner’ already attached and therefore in bad weather you stand a good chance to keep the living area dry. It packs small, is light (but not the lightest) and has plenty of room for two.

GPS – I used a Garmin Oregon with Lake District in 1:25,000 detail. The gps is perfect for finding out your exact location. Also, the race directors provide the full route as waypoints, so, if need be you can navigate the whole race via a handheld device/

Poles – I used Leki ‘Traveller’ poles. I consider these essential.

Sleeping Bag – It needs to pack small, be light and warm. Not an easy combination. I chose a model that did 2 of the 3. Unfortunately warm it wasn’t…. a change required.

Sleep Matt – I didn’t take a sleep matt due to weight but I would recommend one. I found the cold struck through the tent and this added to my cold nights. Thermalite do a range. They are not cheap (ppx £80) but I will get one for next time.

Cooker – Jetboil. The ultimate boiling facility. It packs small, all folds up to a neat package and gives you piping hot water in 2-3 mins.

Food – Light and dehydrated food is the best choice. It’s not cheap but works well for treks of this nature. I took fresh coffee in sealed bags and I had a nifty little device to provide filter coffee. We had instant oats in individual bags for breakfast. Just add hot water and away you go. For snacks I had energy bars, nuts, mixed fruit, cereal bars and other little treats to take while on the route and in the evening. I also had a tube of ‘electrolyte tablets’ to make sure I was hydrated all the time.

Clothing – Make sure you have a waterproof jacket and over trousers with taped seams. If you can afford Gore Tex – get them! I used lightweight long sleeve tops by North face (flight series) as they are a warm, light and extremely functional. I had normal run shorts and long tights made by ‘skins’ for the evening to help my legs recover. I had 2 pairs of socks. Would I take more clothes? Possibly yes. If you get soaking wet or cold you have little option with minimal kit. It is a balancing act.

Shoes – I used Brooks Cascadia Trail shoes. I have tried all the shoes on the market and for me these offered the best compromise. Good on the road, good on the trails and importantly comfortable all day.

Extras – I used a Garmin 310 gps to measure my runs and provide data. I had a Blackberry phone with me as this was ideal for emergency calls or any important emails. I had 2 luxury items – a wind up radio and a ‘power monkey’ solar charger. The solar charger gave my Garmin 310 autonomy over the 4 days and it also allowed me to re-charge my phone.

I could go on with all the other little bits such as folding bowls, cups, ‘sporks’ and all the other little nicks and nacks one can find in camping shops but I feel that finding these items yourself is all part of the fun.