19th Wilmot Wander - 32 mile Challenge

A 32 mile circular around Derby - This was in the diary early on, a great early test for the legs and head. Organised by Bob Rogerson and listed on the LDWA website.

Mentally strong as well as having the legs is as much the end result of getting to the point of no return,

I had arranged to run this with Stephen Shaw a local Dark Peak member who i get to most races with.

We arranged for a few pre race recce's and as i am really sticking to the BGR training week in week out, felt that this would be fine for my legs.

We arranged to do a 15 miler, 20 miler and then 25 miler in the build up, fitting this in has been hard, but with three weeks to go, i had managed this with relative ease, and also had a few days free so decided to trot the route 3 weeks before in its full form. (Steve managed the 20 miler to get to the 20 miler and seemed fine, even though we ran the flattest bit of the route)

I set of on the full recce at 8.30am, really sticky and not much light, misty and also a chance of rain, with rucksack on as i would be out for the full round, i had packed a few nibbles (just testing peanut butter and brown bread as a running snack)

I set off from Radbourne Lane (Trig Point - Skitteridge Wood - SK 31239 36851) water tower and for anybody that knows the route this is after the hard 16 mile start.

I ran the route in the correct direction and soon found myself trotting down the Canal towards the final tarmac section into Derby and towards Pride Park.

The next section from what is essentially is the start - out of Derby from Chaddeston Scout Hut and towards Locco Park - and then the hill start, with muddy fields, i was really heavey going and i soon became tired, nt even wanting to look a the Garmin, i rolled in back at the water tower in 5 hrs 41 min, hold on that's 40 odd mins faster than 2010, and i didn't have the rest of the runners to pull me along! Very Pleased with that.

So the 30th of Jan arrived our start time was 8.10, some banter with friends before the off, and we went of with three other runners, soon we pulled away - Steve seemed to be going well and we reached the first checkpoint 4 mins up, the next check point we had gained another 12 mins, and i felt good really good, steady and still feeling as though i was not burning out.

After about 16 miles Steve hit was can be described as the WALL he started to talk rubbish, and then started to wander rather than run, i soon noticed him falling back, as we reached the next checkpoint he was white, and i just had to get some food into him, a cup of tea followed the food and i spent 10 min trying to get him to lift his spirits, to be honest i would have been gone, only needing to give my number and a small amount of water.

The toughest is done, i said t0 Steve "come on" or word to that effect that i can't put on a blog! he slowly started the next section, within 5 mins i new this was not a good idea and soon found myself waiting for him, at one spot i waited 10 mins, so we agreed that at the next stop i would crack on, Making sure he was ok and not in any danger, i was off, and at it trying to claw back some time, always with 5.41 in my head.

Long distance running is about caring for your joints, soft foot falls and not busting a gutt to make 20 seconds to find that effort has knackered you up!

I had 12 miles left and managed to cover these in 1hr 48 mins, and arrived back with a time of 5hr 51, looking at my splits at the finish i was 42 mins up before we had that nightmare section, but making sure Steve was fine was more important.

Steve finished, after a long slog to the end, but well done for sticking with it mate!

A great event! Thanks to Bob and his team and a great day out with some like minded folk, looking forward to next year............

18th Wilmot Wander - 32 mile Challenge

Well, i trained for the miles and arrived at Chaddeston Scout Hut at 7.30am on Sunday 24th January,

Start time for the Wilmot Wander was 8.06am,

The Weather was fine, clear but a little cold, no worries the next 32 miles would keep me warm,

The first 22 miles of the challenge was tough with approx 3500ft of climbing, sticky mud with flooded fields,


Lily not getting to close as "your a sweaty daddy" Checkpoint at The Bridge at Duffield

The route took you out of Chaddeston, towards Morley, then across towards Duffield, Radbourne, Mickelover, Findern, Stenson, Swalkston, and then on the old railway line into Pride Park, over the A38 to finish.

My personal experience was as follows;

Started well and soon found myself passing runners and walkers, as each group set off at 2 minute intervals, arrived at first check point feeling comfortable

The climb's felt easy, and the conditions suited my pace and running style,
The miles passed and then i was caught by a team of two, who flew past me and followed what i thought was the wrong path leaving Morley, i had a feeling that this was wrong and switched my route to the the correct exit across the road,

I didn't see them again until the Water Towers at Radbourne lane,

Claire and Lily were meeting me on route in four places,



Coming down the road into Checkpoint at The Bridge at Duffield

First place was second checkpoint at the bridge pub, Duffield, the 6 miles i covered before that are a regular training route, so i felt really comfortable, and didnt realise that i was running so quickly, i was running this at race pace and come down the hill into the checkpoint steaming!

Quick drink, check in, number 49, kiss from Lily and Claire then off!


The next leg was again training route for me, so just kept plugging away at the runners and walkers in front of me, was also getting passed by a few as well, but would never have kept up with them.

Pushed across the fields at the back of Vickerwood Farm and across the road nr the Mackworth Hotel, up the two fields to meet Claire, Steve, Anya and Lily cheering me on,

Stretched a stiffening calf, water and gel then cracked on 18 miles in, and going well apart from the calf,

As i reached the A38 i had ran with and by some great runners, but kept ticking of the miles,

From a mental point of view i always, split long events into groups of miles, for this i had thought a lot about this, and my mental split were,

6 miles
10 miles
6 miles
6 miles
4 miles

Splitting like this makes the distance easy to manage mentally, and from experience never think about the distance covered...

So arrived after a very long and drawn out 4th section at the Stenson Bubble, all toe path and tarmac left, must be at least 9 miles of this, swapped shoes and lost about 5 mins on two teams that i had been pulling away from, but needed a few mins to take on fuel and water, including the last gel,


Change of shoes at the Stenson Bubble

Only the toe path to go and i could see the two teams in front of me, so set off at 8.30 min mile pace to claw then back, to my amazement i did, by the Swalkstone checkpoint,

5 Miles to go, and as i set off, for the final push a team of three guys came behind me, one of them was really struggling, but with a team of three you can double time the distance, run and walk run and walk, i kept with them with only 2 miles to go and then held back a bit,

Looking at my Garmin i pulled myself over the A52 bridge at 6hrs 20 mins and made a final dash for the scout hut,

Finished,

Final time, was 6hrs, 23mins, 58 seconds, 32miles/4325ft of ascent,

Personal thanks to Claire, Lily, Steve and Anya for your support! and Special thanks to Claire for the great Sunday lunch i received when i got home.