Giant's Head Marathon

I have had this race on my radar for a few years, but never got in on time. This time I had signed up to White Star's facebook page and knew when race was going live and I was damned well going go be online the second that happened. Never mind that this also clashed with meeting up with an old school friend I hadn't seen in about 20 years. So, just after having met John on a street in Soho and found a pub I was keenly ignoring him in favour of my phone hoping I had enough 4G to get on the White Star website at 7pm on 29 Spetember. 10 minutes later I was in and I could return my attention to my friend who thankfully was very understanding having been in a similar state trying to enter a favourite sportive. 

After I had booked I had a chat with the family about who wanted to come camping to the event and the "fun run" Sydling Bell Race. The kids were keen, so I booked them and me in to that and also booked camping.

This race weekend came two weeks after Endure 24 - my 'A' race for the frist half of the year and having done 75 miles, I was still definitely in a recovery and rebuilding phase. So, GHM was going to be treated as a marathon fun run. The weather ahead of the weekend looked ideal for spectators, marshals and kids playing in the streams through Sydling village, but on the hot side for runners. Alfred, Elinor and I had packed on Thursday and I got off early from work on Friday to load the car and await their return from school. We set off about 4pm and had a somewhat tortuous journey to Sydling arriving just after 7pm. We left pitching tents until after dinner and headed straight for the village pub, The Greyhound, for a nice meal and pint. With tents up and camp sorted, pitched next to club-mate Lance and his partner Cass, I was in bed by 10:30 with several alarms set for 6am.

With sunrise before 5am it was easy to get up for breakfast in the sunshine of what was going to be a gloriously hot day. Race start was at 8:30am and I had got Alf and Elinor volunteer marshal jobs handing out water to the finishers of the 10k and marathon and helping sort out medals and t-shirts, so I got the kids up to come and collect my race number and find out when and where they needed to be.

I got the rest of my race kit sorted, covered up or covered in sun cream and headed back to the villlage green for a race briefing. The village of Sydling St Nicholas is a beautiful little hamlet of stone and thatched cottages nestled in among chalk hills northwest of Dorchester. Our camp site was a farmer's field just a few minute's walk from the village green and village hall, where the local W.I. and families had put on dinner and breakfast and were hosting a BBQ after the races. The hall was also to be used for a barn dance on Saturday night and there was a well stocked beer tent also by the village hall. It's an absolutely perfect set up for a race weekend.

After the race briefing by the village hall most of the runners spread out on the main road but I was far too close to the pointy end of the race, so when the gun went I waited for most of the runners to pass, before inviting Alf and Elinor to run with me to the edge of the village. They left me by the last house and went back to help out at the finish and looking back I was almost last along with Danny 'The Legend' Kay, a veteran 100 Marathon Club member in his mid 70s who has run over 700 marathons. We chatted for a while while we made our way to the first hill.

Through Huish Farm and not yet 1 mile in and we were climbing the concrete track of Sheerplace Hill, then over and down a long, long gravel track eventually sweeping round a smooth grassy hill, down still along a long lumpy ankle snappy rough path through long grass to Bushes Barn to ring the bell in the steeple and up the second big hill past Jackman's Cross and the first big views of lush fields of wheat and barley. Just around here I met up with Sandhurst Jogger Andrea and we trotted along chatting about her recent runs (Hampshire Hoppit the previous week!) 

Now north and running on the high ridge parallel to our former valley run down from Sheerplace Hill staedily climbing over Crete Hill to mile 5 and on to a chalk path to drop in to the aid station just by Large Bar Hill. A blindingly bright chalk track then past Higher City Farm and here was a problem! The farmer had opened the wrong gate and we were heading along a field edge instead of a parallel track on the other side of the fence, so we missed the right turn. We were lucky that somebody spotted this when we were only 100m past the turn and we went back, but many people ahead of us went wrong and added 1 or 2 bonus miles to their run.

Back on track through a wheat field for our Gladiator moment, although nowadays wheat grows so short you have to stoop for the same effect.

Around mile 8 we descended steeply off Wean Common Hill and rounded a bend to see the Cerne Abbas Giant relaxing in all his splendour on the hillside opposite before tackling Giant Hill itself around 10 miles and the steep descent to Mintern Parva and the lovely sight of another aid station. This one was ably guarded by a small girl with a huge water gun. Very refreshing!

Out of Mintern Parva there was another climb (surely just to add some more fun) and soon dropping again to Mintern Magna at 12 miles, to East Hill to the west and then we were half way (or maybe not - it's hard to say with White Star events, they are often generous with the mileage, so let's say half way-ish). 15 miles and more climbing up the long trail to Weather Hill and turning to briefly join the Wessex Ridgeway.

Between 17 and 18 miles passing by Sydling Woods and I came up to a woman who had taken a tumble on the hard stony ground a mile or so before and bashed her knees quite badly. She was OK struggling on and was helped along by all the runners coming up to her to check how she was. In fact, at 20 miles, at the Love Station, she came trotting by looking much better, while I was having some tasty snacks washed down with a couole of cups of beer. 

Now, 6 miles-ish to go. How many more hills could there be?

Gently down we went skirting around a hill into Up Sydling, another pretty village, and followed Sydling Water, known for it's watercress farms a bit firther downstream. Here we go then. 22 miles and we turned to face the next big beast of Ellston Hill on another blinding white and viciously steep chalk track which felt like being beaten on the sun's anvil. A mile of climbing back to the Wessex Ridgeway and steady flat trail on the ridge with more glorious views of the valleys and hills around, the hum and buzz of insects. This is fun, but right now it could be more fun sitting back with a cool beer and just watching the cut hay dry in the sun. 

Past 25 miles and I was bracing myself for at least 27 miles to finish and then comes Higher City Farm again and there is the little girl with the big water gun for another cooling blast that I could have done with more of and soon after another aid station. The last one before the end, they said with just one more little nipper of a hill at 26 miles - steep down then steep up - I thought of running it, but could already hear my heart hammering in my ears, so thought better of it. Made it to the top, jogged to the edge of the field and saw a village below me, the now familiar church on the far side and knew I was almost home. Just a flowing and rapid drop off Cowdown Hill, a final chalk track, turn right and then, surprise, there is the village green full of coloured flags and cheering clapping people and a clock that says it's not quite 6 hours. 

I finished with welcome hugs, lots of water and an ice cream with the kids in a shady spot, to cheer in more runners.

Recovery Ice Cream

Having started plumb last and just tried to manage the heat by running along at a steady pace. I wasn't expecting anything other than a grand day out, especially having recently done Endure 24. 465 people are listed in the results with all of them finishers. 5:58 brought me home in 135th place. First to last took from 3:13 to 8:23 and I think the person who came in last was doing their first marathon. 

The distance? 26.5 miles. Spot on ....ish. 

Endure 24 Solo - June 2018

I did this event as a solo a couple of years ago, so what possessed me to do it again? 24 hours, loads of fanfare and noise, camping, 5 mile laps, busy course with lots of fast people passing by and it's an absolute blast as a team. I'd have to say my first solo attempt left me with a feeling of unfinished business as, not only had I deferred the race due to injury in 2015, I had very poor training going into the event with many bouts of illness and in the race managed just 60 miles. The only positive thing from last time was I managed that 60 miles including stopping to watch the footy on the big screen and falling asleep for 4 hours when I had meant to have an hour's nap.

Race Village

So, having 5.5 hours to play with, a PB should be on the cards. The only thing was, I couldn't bring myself to actually train for this event as one might for, say, a 100 miler. I just kept up my usual hit rate of marathons/ultras of one or two a month from January through to June, but making sure I was getting in some hilly and possibly hot weather runs in as well. Thanks to my decision to run a few White Star Running events this year, hills and bonus miles were guaranteed and at The Ox 50 I also learned some new stuff about feeding and staying hydrated an longer runs. Still, even with these kind of big events, it's not what you'd call training and I'd have to say I feel a lot slower than last year. That may just be down to carrying a hamstring and glute niggle into this event and to feeling generally more tired physically. However, I think I am actually stronger and better prepared mentally to just keep going for the longer ultras. Let's hope so.

So, the plan as usual for this event, was to knock off work early on Friday, get to the venue in lovely countryside just north of the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment at around 2pm and set up camp. I managed to get a prime spot just next to the road to "Hill of No Return" in the solo/pairs camp. This meant I was no more than 2 steps off the course to my tent and food. I brought my huge family tent, as it's tall enough to stand up in with loads of room for a bed and space to set out all my gear and food.

With MrK just before the start

MrK also arrived and, having camped together at The Ox races, we set up together to share a gazebo. MrK had brought along his mate Dennis Devey (85yo I think) who was also here to do some solo laps and sink plenty of Prosecco! Having got camp set up for me, I went off to find the Frimley Flyers team to set up a tent for my son Alfred who was running with them and drop off another tent with my club mates, Sandhurst Joggers. With them and the JLPT teams there would be upwards of 50 people that I know running that weekend.

I spent the rest of Friday at home sorting out kit, having dinner and a decent sleep before arriving at about 9:30 Saturday morning to unload the gear and food, get Alf set up with his camp and check in with the Sandhurst teams. I had all my food set up by a chair in the tent and four sets of running kit in the bedroom/changing room. I had compression type shorts, toe socks and calf guards and had decided to run the first and last lap in my club vest, but go for compression tops the rest of the time to minimise chaffage. Shoes were Hoka Mafate Speed 2 trail shoes and Hoka Bondi 4 road shoes. I started in the Mafates. I brought walking poles too.

At 11:45 I wandered over with the other runners to the start, waved a quick hello to WhiteStar Andy and made my way to the back of the field with MrK and a whole load of other solo runners. The 12 o'clock horn went and we were off, jogging past vast cheering crowds of other team's runners and supporters and out on to the tarmac road to Hill of No Return. The start was a great experience and the noisy crowds make you feel like a hero about to start some great adventure! However, after just 200m it's just you and the other runners.

Hill of No Return

The route rises on tarmac road through woodland uphill, which I walked from the first lap, then across a boarded cattle grid on to a wide gravel track past open fields, then a narrower wooded track with another short hill to check point 1 at just past 2k. The route then undulates on a hard packed cambered track before a flat km of stony gravel then grey road chippings to get to 4k and the VDUB bar where Cliff and his mate were banging out some great ska and rock steady tunes.

VDUB Bar with Cliff keeping the Beat Going

They also had some tasty apple flavoured energy drink which I had every lap. From this point there was a long mostly downhill km to the aid station where they had water, shot blocks, bits of Cliff energy bar and some kind of supposedly fruity energy drink. I had one mouthful of this chemical disaster and no more. Just past the aid station there were loos - the long drop eco-smelly kind - before a short jog to Heartbreak Hill. Last time I did this it always felt massive and a big struggle to get up this hill, but now it just felt like a pretty short hill that I was always up in just 5 minutes walking. After this big-ish hill there is less than 2 miles to get back to the end of the lap, but it is mostly on pretty woodland trail with a couple of nice technical twisty rooty sections before the race village field and the finish line.

Start/Finish handover area for the teams

I completed a lap in about an hour and ducked in to my tent to change to my Captain America top and arm sleeves to head out for more laps.

This I kept up until I had met my first target of getting past marathon distance and finishing 30 miles. I then decided to have a break, see how Alf was getting on with the Frimley Flyers and visit my Sandhurst Joggers club mates. I got the kettle on for a cuppa and found myself drawn to the SJ club cocktail bar for a double rhubarb vodka on ice, before wending my way back after about an hour for more laps.

My laps by now were pretty consistent at around 90 minutes. Feeding again was my big problem. Here's the food and drink that I brought:
Milk, pineapple juice, tomato juice, water, coconut water, bananas, tomatoes, pita bread with hummus, peanut butter and nutella, mini scotch eggs, porridge pots, ambrosia rice, flapjack, jaffa cakes, chocolate and fruit jelly sweets. 

What I managed to eat each lap was milk, juice, 1 or 2 mini scotch eggs or 1 or 2 flapjack bites and a bite of a banana. Anything more and I felt really uncomfortable. I also had half a cup of appletizer, a cup of water and 2 shot blocks out on the course and I think I had three salt tablets over the first day when it was warm to help hydration.

Over the 24 race I probably had 5 pints of milk, a litre of coconut water, a litre of pineapple juice and nearly a litre of tomato juice, and I felt that was a good way to get some protein and minerals, as well as energy. By 2am and 50 miles, though I felt really low on energy and rather than get really miserable I decided on a bit of rest and went to bed for a 2 hour nap.

Up at 4am for more laps. I had breakfast of milk, bananas and flapjack and got out on the course. I was wearing a long sleeve top thinking I might be cold and after 200m regretted it as it was a really muggy morning. I was half way up Hill of No Return by the time I realised and so I had to just sweat through that lap. I had also changed my shoes to Hoka Bondi and, even though I have done over 400 comfortable miles in them I quickly started to feel a hot spot on my left little toe. Both the shirt and shoes were changed back at camp.

The laps ticked by and I thought this could be pretty monotonous, but on every lap there were a few shouts from Sandhurst Joggers or Frimley Flyers runners as they went past or stopped for a few seconds to chat and check up on me and that, along with the general runners calls of "Well done Solo!" really kept me going. I still stuck to my usual plan of having a chat with everyone I caught up with and had a fun little natter with Fetchies Serrendippily and StuH and of course CStar (SJ Charlie). Come 10:30 I and there was definitely time for another lap. I had got to my second target of beating my previous highest distance of 60 miles and reached 70. 

One more would get me to 75 miles, so I set off with that in mind as my last lap and made it in to the race village field with time to spare and being in real danger of crossing the line with enough time to start another lap. There was a lot of high fiving to do and stopping to have a few hugs with friends and the supporters who were camped by the course and called out well done for all of my laps. Just before the finish straight I found my wife and daughter for a quick hug and photo, before Elinor grabbed my hand and dragged me running towards the finish line at 23:56:42. But, not wanting to spoil the moment I decided to round it up and call it a day.

After the finish I felt pretty tired and shuffled around in a daze for a few minutes with Elinor and Julia, before heading off to pack up my tent and find out how my other running friends had done. There were a lot of great achievements, particularly Cove Jogger's MrK who reached 100 miles and our own SJ Lina Johnson who reached 90 miles and was placed third female solo. I got to 75 miles with not a whole load of pain, no blisters and no feeling like a zombie on a death march. I was very surprised to see out of 130 male solos I was 40th, I thought there loads of solos passing me all the time who probably hadn't been for cocktails at 7 or had a couple of hours kip. There's still room for improvement and maybe 100 miles will be my target next time.