I have always enjoyed being part of an inaugural race, its the excitement of the unknown and the challenge of trying to be one of the first finishers.
When Mark Cockbain announced that he was putting on the Viking Way Ultra I just couldn’t resist and instantly pinged him an email saying I was interested. This wasn’t to be a race for the faint hearted, each competitor had to have a proven Ultra race history in order to enter, so you can imagine what an amazing line up there was on the start line.
The Viking Way Ultra is a 147.9 non-stop race which has to be completed in under 40 hours. There were cut-offs at 50 and 100 (although it was 97) miles and just to make us work that little bit harder we had to navigate ourselves round the route. The race started in the shadows of the Humber Bridge and finished outside the Library in Oakham.
I travelled up with Javed Bhatti and Allan Rumbles which was marvellous and great company. Arriving in Hull we got a taxi to the Premier Inn where we were all staying and where the race registration was taking place. We settled into our rooms, Jo Kilkenny and I sorted out our kit – of which I bought a lot as at one point the weather was going to be minus 6, then rain, in fact it just kept changing. After some food, more kit sorting we then went down to register and eat – again! It was great to catch up with other runners and see Mark and meet Alex, now I was getting rather nervous to put it mildly.
The maps that we had been given were laminated but the route wasn’t highlighted which did concern me as being such an old fart now my eyesight isn’t what it used to be in the dark, however when I went back to my room I went through the maps and marked a little arrow at the top or bottom of each page where the route continued and if there was any little turns I might miss while running I also marked them as well (sorry Mark and Alex I know that was a bit naughty)
Race day arrives and we pile into taxis at 5.45 arriving with plenty of time before the start. My down jacket stayed on for as long as possible as I was freezing, then with 10 minutes to go I put on my windproof – my teeth were chattering (not my voice for once!) With a bit of drizzle Mark set 28 of us on our way for the start of the 2012 Viking Way Ultra.
I had a plan as always, plan A was to try and finish in approx 32 hours plan B was to finish. I settled into a nice pace feeling quite relaxed and slowly began to warm up. The field spread out quite quickly which again I like as it makes me feel hemmed in running with loads of people around me. Chatted to Neil and Charlie for a bit then let them go as there was NO way I could or would keep up with them, they flew off along with a few other people. 99% of my training I do on my own, so I do get very nervous when I run with other people as I never think I’m good enough or fast enough to keep up with them; my belief in my abilities is always questioned.
Getting to CP 1 was fairly straight forward, I met up with Jim Rogers and Richard Lendon who were chatting away together arriving at the check point in 2hrs 30, ahead of my plan so I was happy. It was marvellous to see so many familiar faces at the CP, made me smile as I set off for the next CP 15ish miles away in Tealby.
The next section was slightly hiller which was marvellous and by this time Pat Robbins had caught us up, we were now a happy group of 4. It was great running with Pat, again a MUCH faster runner than me but he seemed very happy at the pace we were all going, the map reading was being done by all of us as you never know when you will be on your own, essential to know exactly where you are. Running down the Brigg Road we were met by Jennifer and Drew who were there to make sure the runners turned left on the correct route rather than take a short cut straight down the road.
For me everything was going well, my achilles seemed to be OK, my breathing was good and I was happy with my pace, just had to make sure I was taking on enough water which I do tend to forget about sometimes. The signposts for the VW were pretty good so it really wasn’t an issue navigating our way through the villages. We all arrived at CP2 in a total time of 5hrs 18 minutes. James Adams, Gemma, Drew and Claire were all at this CP so that was just marvellous and once again made me feel great plus I was still ahead of my plan. We were joined by Cliff King who I had met on the TP100, now we were 5 (a bit like the Famous Five!!) I left the CP first only because I didn’t want to get cold and I never hang around at Cps, followed closely by the boys.
The next section to CP3 was 20 miles but a real milestone once there as we would be a third of the way so I knew this would give me a big boost. My target time for this CP was 9 hrs. There seemed to be a lot of roads for the first part which actually was good as it kept the average pace up, the fields weren’t too muddy but on some of them we had to unclog our trainers otherwise they were so heavy! I knew this section as it had been part of my recce so arriving at Fulletby was fantastic in 8hrs 59, so although close still on track. Here we had access to our drop bags. After topping up our drinks, a very quick coffee, swop over of maps we headed off towards Stixwould 14 miles down the road. Sadly at this point Jim Rogers had to pull out due to a problem with his ankle, it was very sad to see him go, but it was the right decision with just under 100 miles still to go.
We were now on countdown to the half way point, bloody marvellous. I still wasn’t drinking enough and had only peed once compared to vast amount of urine production going on in the boys bodies! After leaving Fulletby we quite quickly found ourselves at Horncastle, this is where during the Recce I had run to so knew we had now run 55 miles. Between Horncastle and Woodhall Spa we ran along a disused railway, boring and flat but we were treated to lots of different sculptures along this stretch which alleviated the boredom factor.
Once through Woodhall Spa we turned left onto the golf course (hoping that we wouldn’t get hit on the head by a ball) and headed towards Stixwould. Sadly Richard went through a bad patch and his pace slowed right down, he was OK but not able to keep up with us so unfortunately we had to carry on without him arriving at CP4 (64 miles) in 11hrs 29 minutes.
17 miles to go until Lincoln which would be another major milestone. I had a mini bad patch during this time which thankfully didn’t last for long, but was very happy to let the boys chat. My pace had slowed and did tell the boys to go on as they were both much faster than me and this was a race after all, but they both said that they were still happy.
Going through the Village of Bardney we had to cross a very boggy field with horses in, I remember this from my recce as I couldn’t work out how to get out of the electrified field without causing myself a huge amount of pain! This time no hesitation and managed to get us all in and out with no fuss. I was feeling OK, but had to keep reminding myself to drink for some reason it was a real struggle getting my water bottles out of their holders so sometimes it was easier not to bother (not something I would recommend!). The boys were keeping up a good pace with some walking breaks and I plodded along after them. For me a great incentive because I didn’t want to get lost round Lincoln so I just kept going – still quite happy.
Finally we arrived at Fiskerton, now we headed down to the canal which seemed to go on forever, but finally we turned off and went up to the CP at the top, 81 miles 13hrs 10 mins, the boys had come in about 2 minutes before me.
Usually I don’t sit down during a race, but I did need to have 5 minutes sitting, having a coffee and trying to get some food down me, then before I knew it we were on our way along the disused railway track going towards Lincoln.
Pat was marvellous as he took us through Lincoln as he had recced it the week before, this made life so much easier. Running past the Cathedral was a real joy, it looked stunning lit up by the flood lights, we did stop and admire it for a few seconds before continuing on down the hill past all the party goers and police. Once out the other side I did say that he needed to go off as my pace was slower but he was going to make his decision at the next CP6 97 miles.
My legs by now were feeling a bit sore, but as we all know this is quite normal. The next part of the route I hadn’t recced, which I wasn’t bothered about as the map reading wasn’t too difficult and it was signed but I was looking forward to getting to the 97 mile CP, throw it away and continue my journey to the finish line. If I could get to CP6 feeling not too bad I knew I would make it to the end. Apart from a few small road sections the rest of it was all across more fields.
Running through the fields we did have a bit of a moment. On the ground were loads worms, although with head torches on they look thinner and black and as you got closer they just disappeared into the ground. Pat obviously thought he was hallucinating and stopped us to check that we were also seeing them – a very funny moment! (the worms have turned!)
Arriving at the CP we sorted ourselves out, I had more to eat, sorted my bottles and got the final set of maps out of my drop bag, Mark made me a jam sandwich – just marvellous and a coffee, what more could a girl want.
Cliff decided to call it a day here which was very sad as he was looking strong so Pat & I walked down the road for a bit to digest our food. Finally Pat said he was going to go but wanted to check I was OK, I reassured him I was fine and was thrilled to see him finally go off and race, I knew without a doubt that he could and would catch Neil up; big hug and he was off.
Then there was just me, Mrs. Shrek all alone on a long 5 mile road. I was blissfully happy, one ear plugged into my iPod and the song “is a long long road” started playing so I had a little giggle to myself. After a while I came down a steep hill and could see the flashing lights of a mask ahead of me and at the bottom followed my map and the signs and got to the village of Carlton Scroop, turned right at the phone box then followed what I thought was the route on the map and ended up back half way up the hill where I had just come from – god was I annoyed, so I turned round and got myself back onto the road again and re-checked the map, I was in absolutely the right place. Quick call to Mark (poor man he would have me ringing me a few times in the next hour) who confirmed that I was in the right place and should head towards the phone box – where I had been before; glasses away and off I ran, feel fine just annoyed with myself for being stupid. Arrived back at the phone box and how ever hard I tried I just couldn’t work out which direction I was supposed to be going. (having looked at the google earth maps since it now makes sense, there is a large triangle and had I gone up the second road on the triangle my brian might have worked it out) another call to Mark. At this point I had been faffing around for about an hour just feeling frustrated, Mark eventually said that I really wasn’t going to work this out, so to run down the road (quite a long way) then turn right along another road until it re-joined the VW. This I duly did and was thrilled to find myself back on track. There was no point wasting time being cross and angry as this is far too negative, so I had to throw the last hour and a bit away and carry on with the race.
A few miles before Marston I got slightly stuck again. As before was in the right place but couldn’t work out how to get over the river, phone call to Mark who was trying to explain when I saw Chris Rainbow, what a glorious sight he was! I was in fact standing opposite the path I should be going up, another blonde stupid moment. We chatted for a bit which was lovely and I then went on my way.
It was fantastic arriving in Marston, once again I knew where I was and it wasn’t far until the next CP at 113.5 miles. I finally arrived there in 24hr 15 minutes, not great time but still ok.
The next section was awful, it was in fact horrid – well not all horrid I did have a very pleasant saunter along the Grantham Canal; I rather felt I should have been dressed as a hippo as there was nothing but mud mud glorious mud, great for the face I gather but certainly not good when you are try to run. This however wasn’t just any old mud, it was slimy yukky mud which has been churned up by the motor bikes and quad bikes. At one point I went arse over tit and landed in not just one but two puddles, legs and feet on one side of the track bottom and maps in the other – oh marvellous, now I was wet, covered in mud and couldn’t read the maps. I did now have a real blonde moment, I dunked the maps in the muddy water to get the mud off…..DOH! well, you have to see the funny side. This was an 18 mile section so at this rate was going to take hours, just keep plodding forward making noises rather like Mutley from the Wacky races (I had always thought I was more like Penelope Pit Stop!)
I had managed to go through the night without feel tired and now was having problems with my bladder. It felt as though I had cystitis which as the girls will know is extremely uncomfortable, especially when running, I felt as though my bladder was full the whole time and kept on having to stop to have a pee (nothing came out) but if I power walked it went away. Extremely frustrating. My feet which had been wet/dry/wet dry were by now quite painful on the bottom, it didn’t feel like a blister so I kept on going running/walking (I discovered later I had trench feet from all the water I had to wade through which was causing the pain)
Going past Buckminster Gliding Club should have been a relatively fast section as it was easy running, not for muggins here, I had to continue the run/walk strategy as my bladder was very painful.
Before I got the the next CP I passed Chris Rainbows marvellous family who gave me a real treat of a small Easter Egg, just what the doctor ordered, a special moment.
Finally, clap hands, jump up and down I arrived at CP 8 131.2 miles to lots of enthusiastic cheers from the Rainbow fan club and the crew. I was so relieved to be there I have to admit I had a moment but because the children were there I turned by back and on them then burst into tears. This was out of relief rather than anything else. I had been running for 29hrs 23 mins. Time to pull myself together, gather my thoughts and be on my way, the end was so close now I could smell it!
Cottesmore Airfield looked totally different to how it had looked a month before hand, all the crops had grown up making it very confusing as far as recognition was concerned; There was a couple walking their dogs so I did double check that the path through the crops was the VW, they reassured me I was going in the right direction.
The final few miles to the last mini CP on Rutland Water saw me running through Greetham, Exton and finally I saw Rutland Water, you have no idea how over joyed I was to see it, down the road to the CP9 141 miles, I made sure they had my number and continued to the finish 6.8 miles away. The emotions were building up inside me as I knew my race was nearly finished. Running along the path at Rutland Water I was getting funny looks from the general public out enjoying their Easter Day, then out onto the road towards Oakham. Straight ahead at the roundabout and I had 1k to go to the end; then I saw Gemma, oh that was just wonderful and I managed to break into a shuffle to the finish line outside the Library. I had done it, finishing in 33hrs 52 minutes, 3rd and 1st lady, I smelt, had sore feet was slower than I had wanted to be but what the hell I was now a Viking and proud of it.
The boys Neil Bryant and Pat Robbins had run and outstanding race finishing in 29hrs 22 minutes, Brilliant; a time that will be difficult to beat. Congratulations also go to Chris Rainbows 35hrs Charlie Sharp 36hrs 23 Paul Dickens 37hrs 28 and Andy Horsley 39hrs 45 and to every single marvellous person that was brave enough to stand on the start line.
A big thank you goes to Mark Cockbain and Alex for putting on a great event, it was tough there is no doubting that but we were looked after brilliantly at all the check points by the crew so thank you guys for everything you did for me, a happier, friendly and more positive bunch of people you couldn’t hope to meet, there were even teas and coffees at most of the Cps, a real bonus.
What has this race taught me:
I need to sort my food problems out, although I never lacked in energy I know I don’t eat enough.
Pace was good up until just before Lincoln when it dropped off – I had been having achilles problems so know that I should have fitted in a couple of extra long runs which would have helped my legs. Need to be faster on the long distance stuff.
Shoe choice was spot on, I got one small blister which would have been due to the wet feet rather than anything else so thrilled with my Hoka OneOnes.
Socks I wore my ToeToe
Have had this problem with my bladder before so need to get that sorted.
Not once did I have a real bad patch and certainly it never occurred to me to give up.
If you are looking for a challenging event The Viking Way Ultra certainly is that, go on give it a go and see if you can become a Viking!
