Foxton 24

After a couple of bad 24 hour races last year I wanted a break to build my confidence back with shorter ultras.  Foxton 24 was a new event this year and in the absence of any other suitable 12 hour races decided to enter and just run the first 12 hours.

Training had been quite good with several 100 mile weeks and lots of long runs/races. Then 5 days after the London marathon I came down with tonsillitis. My planned long runs didn't happen and hardly ran the following week.  The next weekend (2 weeks out from the race) I wanted to do a final long run but was still so tired (due to a bad night cough keeping me awake - after about a week I started on an inhaler which helped) so only managed 12 sluggish miles.  After that it was taper time so too late.   I wasn't sure if the almost 4 week taper was going to be a good or bad thing - my last long run was London 4 weeks out.

A few days before the race my night cough started to make a come back (not as bad as before though.  Needless to say although my legs felt well rested I was not!

Skechers Gorun4

The race started at noon which is nice as means no early start or rushing around.  Phil was crewing for me which meant he would hand me food and drink when requested.  The race was chip timed with the chip being attached to the shoe which made me reconsider my shoe choice for a few minutes! I had intended to test the Gorun4 (see previous blog for review) which I have used for marathons but nothing this long as they are very light (200g).  Changing shoes loses a few minutes but changing chips onto new shoes adds to that.  I decided to risk it!  - thankfully they were great although the last couple of hours I did think a bit more cushioning would be nice

I had a fairly rough race plan - number of laps per hour (with a built in fade!) and time per lap on a pace band.  As always the plan was a one lap (400m) walk per hour to take on food then later probably walk a bit more. I wanted to start slower than normal in the hope that the fade would be less but always find it hard running slower when well rested - my legs want to go faster than they should and slowing down too much feels awkward.

First lap was 2.05, far too fast but felt easy; I slowed down.  Kept adjusting my pace and checking each lap and ended up settling in at a pace which was a few seconds per lap faster than planned but which felt very easy - it was slower than I would usually start 12/24 hour races so I was a little bit successful at slowing myself down!  I was recording my laps on a stopwatch - for the first few hours my laps were all a few seconds faster than they needed to be.

It was a really warm day with not a cloud in the sky.  The heat started getting to me after a couple of hours and I think this is the reason for my early slow in pace.  Normally I alternate 9bar/powerbar protein bars/bananas for about 8 hours before getting bored and moving on to the junk food but today I was struggling to get them down after only 4 hours - it took a full walking lap to get down a small 9bar which is only about 4 or 5 bites!!

Although I was still on track at 5 hours this was because of the cushion I had built up earlier. My lap paces were getting slower quite quickly as I was struggling with the heat.  I made a few errors with fueling......

I only had 4 small bottle of Pepsi Max so didnt have some when I really wanted it as wanted to save it until later - first mistake as I ended up have one left!  Second error was that I should have bought normal Pepsi! I wasn't really thinking when I bought the Pepsi Max (sugar free) just bought what I normally drink. Finally to do with the Pepsi Max was that shortly after having it one time I realised that I needed some calories but couldn't stomach any food - normally I would have chocolate soya milk in these circumstances.  My stomach was full from the Pepsi so I couldn't  have much soya milk without getting stitch and therefore couldn't get the fuel in - I forgot I had gels!

After 7 hours

Somewhere around 6 hours I started to consider just doing 100km rather than the full 12 hours.  I was going to get a rubbish distance so what was the point? 100km would still have made the journey worthwhile.  6 hours felt like a very long time to go but 100km was less than a marathon  which felt a lot more doable.

There didn't seem to be any rules about pacers - other runners had people walking with them for several laps, some of them more than one person as if they were on a family afternoon stroll; some even in the inside lane which made me cross.   After about 8 hours I decided to get Phil to walk with me on my walk lap - which got extended to 2 laps!  This gave me a chance to have a bit of a moan.  He needs briefing next time on what to say as I was grumbling about it being hot his response was I shouldn't enter races in the summer its always hot and I should know better by now!! Not exactly the comforting/encouraging word I needed!

By about 9.30pm I started to feel a lot better as the sun had gone in and my core temperature was finally falling.  However, I was not able to muster up much speed.  I occasionally ran a few laps with other people who were running a bit faster but it was not a pace I really wanted to hold on to for long so I was glad when they decided to have a break.  One thing I noticed about this race more than others is that everyone seemed to take time off the track for a sit down - I only left twice to go to the toilet and twice to do some squats (it helps stretch out the tight hip flexors).

Once I was no longer struggling with the heat I decided that I could manage to keep going for 12 hours - I had got into a plodding pace which when I was moving wasn't really all that bad.  My cough which had not previously bothered me running was now quite bad, I am sure a few runners gave me a wide berth! 

left over marzipan balls

My struggle with solid food continued! I would walk with Phil trying to get down a packet of crisps and only manage half.  I ended up getting my fuel from poweraid (luckily this was provided); chocolate soya milk and marzipan balls.  It took me a whole running lap to get a marzipan ball down by biting little bits off but at least I was getting them down.  I was surprised to see how many I had got through when packing away at the end!!

Once my watch ticked over to 12 hours I completed the lap then stopped.  My final distance was 110km.  At this point I was 1st lady and 2nd overall.  Another lady stopped at 12 hours but I think everyone else went on until the end although there was heavy rain for a few hours in the night so I think a fair bit of resting/hiding in tents went on!   By the end of the 24 hours I had moved down to 2nd lady.


Leaderboard after 11 hours (not in order)

Overall a bit disappointed as I have done 120km in the first 12 hours of a 24 hour race in the past. However, taking into account my excuses - hot day; missed training at a key time; still had a lingering cough - I suppose it wasn't too bad. 

For future races in warm weather I must remember plenty of full fat coke/Pepsi; sports drink (I don't usually drink this but in a few hot races where it has been provided I have been grateful for it; marzipan balls (supermarket marzipan made into bite sized balls)gels and chocolate soya.

Skechers Gorun4

Gorun is the lightest shoe in the skechers range.  The gorun4 is the most recent model and sees more changes than previous updates.  When I read online how much the shoe had changed I was worried I might no longer like it but I kept an open mind especially as I had seen so many pretty colours and they looked really nice!

 

Taking the shoe out the box it looks totally different to previous models - in a good way and just like (or even better) than in the pictures I had seen. The first change is the hole in the heel to make it easier to pull the shoes on and off.  At first I didn't see much point in this but now I find myself looking for it on other shoes!  This hole is also on the Gorunride4.

top - gorun3 bottom gorun4

 

The upper has changed as has the sole which is 3mm thicker.  This has added a little extra weight - size 7 ladies GOrun3 weighs 187g the Gorun is 210g.  As with the Gorun3 the heel drop is 4mm or you can take out the insole giving a zero drop and a more minimal ride.  I have not run without the insoles as the shoes would then be too big (I already have a slightly bigger size than normal shoes).  

They come with 2 sets of laces - I have not tried the red ones but will probably swap them over when these start to look grubby! 

I was never keen on the tongue on the Gorun3 - it was too thin/floppy.  The new tongue is much better - more padded so more comfortable.

I received the shoes a few days before the London marathon and since I had the limited edition London edition felt it would be rude not to wear them! I wore them for a few short test runs then for the marathon with no blisters or bashed toe nails!  

As with all skechers shoes I found them very comfortable out the box.  They are very light which makes me feel fast even if that is not the case!  The previous editions were softer, a more slipper like feel; these are a bit more firm and feel like they have a little more support (not over pronation type support). The Gorun ride4 has changed in a similar way (see review http://helenrunsultras.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/skechers-gorun-ride-4-review.html )

Gorun has been my Speedwork and race shoe (up to marathon distance and the occasional short ultra) but now there is less difference in weight between the Gorun and Gorun ride (which is my everyday training shoe) I will probably wear the Gorun4 for more of my training runs as I prefer a lighter shoe and the extra weight means it is more suitable for every day use.

London marathon

Having done a 6 hour race the previous week and a 40 mile off road event the week before I was not expecting to run a PB.  I still wanted to run quite hard but was aiming for a controlled race where I didn't die a death at the end and was not hanging on for dear life!! The week before I had received the new Skechers Gorun4 London edition so it would have been rude not to wear them for the marathon (review to follow - they were great).

I was at the championship start again (for ladies that means running a sub 3.15 marathon).  The biggest benefit is that there is a lower runner to toilet ratio so much shorter queues!  We had a list of rules to follow about what could be worn and logos.  Last year I was really good and turned my calf guards inside out as the 'compressport' logo was too big.  However, loads of people were wearing them the right way round so I didn't turn them inside out this time.  Slight change was that we were all being inspected so I was asked to turn them inside out.  

lack of toilet Q

Another benefit of the champs start is that you can keep your warm clothes on until the last minute and hand your bag in as late as possible.  Another change this year was we had to be out of our congregation area and bags on lorry by 9.50 (race starts 10.10) as the gates would be locked.  Due to having to sort out my calf guards and this new rule I didn't have time to go to the toilet again.  I saw lots of people still queuing for the toilet and was tempted to go back in once I had handed my bag over.  Lucky I didn't as the gate was locked so they had to go to the blue start.

I deliberatly lined up at the back ( we were right behind the elite men and ahead of the blue start pen ie the faster men who had not got champs start or GFA).  The blue start were stopped by men linking arms but as soon as those men unlinked arms (which was before the gun went off) those men were moving forward and pushing through - so rude.  The gun went off and there was more pushing and shoving from behind before I had even been able to start moving! 

Another benefit of champs start is not getting held up at the start by slower people starting up front; this time I was the slower person upfront as the faster men from blue come pushing through.  When the 3 hour pacer passed with his followers there was more pushing and shoving; some people need to chill a bit, it's not as if we were that much slower.  

After about half a mile we join the green start so more pushing and shoving as I have effectively had a head start on these runnners as I only took 15s to cross the line so faster runners from green are behind and trying to pass.  After a few miles things have settled down a bit and I am running mostly with people at my pace which makes it easier.  I am running at a pace which feels comfortable - ish; hitting sub 8mm and hoping it will last as that will equate to sub 3.30 - not a PB but about the best I can hope for given what I have been doing recently.

I see Phil at around 7 miles - I knew he was there because he sent me a text which came up on my new Garmin!!! I didn't take the drink he had for me as I had managed to get water OK from the water stations - sometimes they are really crowded or they come up suddenly when you are in the middle of the road and negotiating getting to the side can be tricky.

interesting sign in the background!

One thing I noticed this year more than the last couple of years (when I was around 15 mins faster) is that there were a lot of water bottles in the middle of the road; why can people throw them to the side. This meant after each water station it was a bit of an obstical course for half a mile; you had to be really careful not to trip.  On the topic of water stations, I noticed this year a lot more people cutting me up when coming to a water station or grabbing water and stopping dead infront of me!! I always try to get out the way once I have my water and if I don't want water i run down the middle out the way.  

The miles are ticking by quite nicely; as ever the crowds are amazing and I am enjoying it more than usual due to be less obsessed with the time!  I was looking forward to tower bridge (12 miles) as that is always amazing and crowds 5 deep or more; it always feels effortless as the crowds carry you so it's like a free mile! However rather oddly that mile was the first one over 8mm; i put it down to there being an incline into the bridge or perhaps getting low on energy so I took my first gel - I was going to take it at around 10 miles but had bad stitch then forgot!

The next mile was back to sub 8mm so thoughts of sub 3.30 were still on although it would be tight.  I checked my watch at halfway and thought it said 1.43.30 which meant I didn't have much scope for fading which had already started happening to a small extent.  When I looked at the official splits halfway was actually 1.42.51 so not sure what was going out there.  

Paula Ratcliffe

I was now making a bit more effort as I wanted to see if I could get under 3.30 although I was still not pushing as hard as I could - it was too early for that.  Saw Phil again at 16 miles where I took the drinkn as I wanted the high5 zero.

At around 17 miles my left hip flexor became really tight ( I have recently been having problem with the right hip and glute so maybe that side got neglected when I was strengthening and stretching the other side).  I was in quite a lot of pain which probably slowed me a little.  I had some paracetamol on me but knew with all the runners around me I would have to walk or stop to get it out my belt as otherwise I would be bumping into people.  Whilst 3.30 was still on I didn't want to risk stopping so told myself once 3.30 was lost then I could have the paracetamol.  If I had a bigger cushion I probably would have got it too but it was tight.   

By around 20 miles the pain had eased to more of a background niggle.  Hit 20 in 2.38.xx and thought 52 mins for 10km sounded OK although in reality I didn't actually work out what pace I needed and it was still a long way so anything could happen.  Had my second gel in the hope it might give me a final boost!  I had also been drinking some of the lucosaide sport for some additional calories but as it was the orange flavour only managed a few mouthfuls each time!

By now people around me were slowing a lot or even walking and I was getting annoyed being stopping dead infront or by getting blocked on the narrow bits.  I was having to look ahead quite a lot and pick out my route around people; it must have been far worse for people going faster than me because although I was overtaking a lot of people I was still being overtaken by some (see bottom right of picture) I don't remember it being this bad the last couple of years but maybe because I was 15 mins ahead so it was a bit quieter.  It made me think that planning to run a negative split at london is probably not the best idea as you will be going against the masses; running at the same pace as those around is much easier and conserves energy compared to constantly dodging!

 

At the 23 mile marker I got my maths a bit wrong as I looked at the time and worked out how long to do the last 5km and thought it was in the bag until I realised that 23 miles was 5km + 0.1 miles!! I had pretty much forgotton the hip flexor by now and was focusing on running hard to ensure I got sub 3.30 but I was not going into that top 5th gear unless I really needed to so waited decide to wait until 25 miles to do a final assssement.

3.17.xx which meant I could do 10mm to the end.  This was a didn't seem right then I realised that was the 40km time.  The 25 mile seemed to take quite a while to come but it still looked OK for 3.30. This didn't mean I stopped trying but rather i didn't need to push it up a gear.  It always feels good to finish a marathon strong and to be passing lots of people.  800m to go seemed to take so long to come that I thought I had mised it!  I checked my watch again just to make sure I was OK!! That last 200m is always amazing when you finish strong as the crowds are going wild.  I have done london where i above been dying at the end and have hated it but that was not the case this year.

Was happy to finish in 3.28.29 which whilst far from my best is about the best I could have expected.

It was nice to get a choice of T shirt size this year.  I got my bag from one of the early lorries then it seemed a long walk to get out of the runnners area.  Again being that bit slower had its disadvantages as it seemed a lot busier and people were walking so so slow!!!  Made my way to the Macmillan recovery centre - you can sponsor me here https://www.justgiving.com/helen-james23/ where I met up with Phil had a massage some food and was able to get changed.  The advantage of doing lots of marathons is that the legs hurt less.  On the walk back to the train station quite a few people commented on how I didn't look like I and run as I was walking normally!