GB Ultra Thames Trot 50 - Page 18 - Ultra / Adventure racing

Andrew u.k.

04/02/2012 at 06:46

I bet you're pissed off!

GKD

04/02/2012 at 06:54

Andrew that's something of an understatement

GKD

04/02/2012 at 07:40

Feck it, I'm going back to bed and pretending today was cancelled

veggieboy

04/02/2012 at 08:48

That is a real bummer

Why not replicate the effect by hiding in your freezer all day with a pack of jelly babies and some cake?

Dougie Doonhamer

04/02/2012 at 20:29

Sorry to hear that Lirish, but the freezer might have been warmer.

It was a tad cool to start, but bright and sunny. The sun soon warmed things up, but thte ground was frozen most of the day. I had to stop just before Reading to do some running repairs Started to snow at around 4pm, but it was just a light sprinkiling. I finished with just enough daylight to not need my headtorch in about 8:37 (didn't stop my watch so don't know the exact time).

Those out later would have had more snow to deal with as it was still falling when I left.

GKD

04/02/2012 at 20:37

Well done Dougie you must be pleased with that time especially considering the conditions

Superglue Boots

04/02/2012 at 20:57

That's gutting for ya LIrish. That is so not fair! But yes it was bloody freezing at start and again at end.
Cheers to all the people I chatted to and who motivated me, esp Matt who dragged me round the entire second half, great finish dude. Got round in 7:38 which came as a nice surprise. Made it 48m rather than 50 but hey ho...

*Dill*

04/02/2012 at 21:29

Oh dear Lirish not good. The race actually started 10 min late due to rail delays and people arriving late from the station it was bloody freezing hanging about in my shorts.

Great setup and nice route but I had a bit of a shit race. Went off way too fast (school boy error) so had a torrid last 20. In addition the first 10 was frozen mud and my ankles were bloody killing me where they kept rolling over. Finally I stopped for a stretch at about 40 mile and my IT band let me have it. Bloody agony.

Managed 8hr 1min but not without a struggle.

It's all a learning curve it don't matter how many races you run you can still have bad days.

Nice shirt though

Lorenzo

04/02/2012 at 21:46

That's a bummer LIrish - nothing else to say really.

Well done to all finishers - great time from SGB

As others have said, it was a tad chilly at the start so opted for 2 layers under my jacket and a couple of pairs of gloves. Like Dill I probably went off a bit too fast (as I did last year and really suffered in the second half), but the run / walk strategy in the last 20 miles worked well so it wasn't too bad this time around although twinges of cramp in various parts of my legs didn't help.

Still, finished just as the snow was starting in 7:43ish, which is a marked improvement on last year's 8:10, so rather chuffed.

Had the usual fun and games getting back to Oxford afterwards, but having missed the hourly train by about 5 mins, it seemed rude not to go for a quick Guinness and catch the start of the rugby.

Feel as though I'm back in the land of the living now, but expect to ache quite a bit in the morning.

Hats off to Guy and the gang for another well organised race, and special thanks to the marshallls and the folks manning the checkpoints in the bitter cold. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible!

Ben Davies 15

04/02/2012 at 21:51

They should call this race "the quad killer".

It gave my quads more of a hammering than the Comrades up run.

A massive well done to everybody who completed their first 50 miler today! This race was my first 50, and it turned out to be a launch pad for bigger things.

While this race appears to be one of the easier 50s on paper, it always manages to throw you a curve ball. The time of year means that you can be presented with anything form an energy sapping morass, to frozen hard and cambered ground, or even snow underfoot.

I see this race becoming a classic of British ultra running.

Superglue Boots

04/02/2012 at 22:02

Cheers Lorenzo, great time u too. You must have been right close to me!
Wud like to reflect ur comments too. The matshalls n organisers standing out all day in the freezing cold... Much respect!
Also that Icey rutted mud n grass was a killer the ankles yeah, esp that last field, ouch!
Don't wanna see another jelly baby for a while now...

Andrew u.k.

05/02/2012 at 07:59

Wow! my first Ulta and marathon rolled into one.

How you all do it in sub-8hrs is beyond me.

I was contemplating binning it at the half way point but I remembered Ben's post. I paired up with another crawler who came in to the Goring check point and off we set.

The snow started falling after Purley which nice.

Finished in 11:30. Good feeling and a great experience. Met some lovely people so it was a good day out.

Cheers

Edited: 05/02/2012 at 08:21

Capricorn

05/02/2012 at 08:13

A great day out again

Finished in 8:16ish - in daylight, which was the goal. The cold wasnt quite as bad as I expected - the lack of wind chill helped, and i was warm and toasty most of the time.
The frozen ground was good and bad - easier than wadiing through mud, but hard on the ankles. My legs are really sore and achey today, and im hobbling pathetically down the stairs !!
Big big thanks to the lovely friendly marshalls and well-stocked check points - although also cant face another jelly baby or glucose tablet or gel for a long time. The salty, greasy fish and chips on the way home went down like the proverbial homesick mole

Rymer

05/02/2012 at 08:43

Really enjoyed yesterday managed to get a 7:01, so very happy with that , especially as it was my first attempt at the distance

The thing that really struck home for me yesterday was the completely different atmosphere at an Ultra compared to standard road runs. Everybody was really friendly. Thanks to all the poor soles at the checkpoints ,as it must have been a hell of a long day for them in those conditions.

Hats off to you guys that survived the snow and dark as that has got to be a challenge in itself!!

westie

05/02/2012 at 10:10

Hi anyone know when the results ? Pics will be available ? thanks

Lorenzo

05/02/2012 at 10:19

Guy said that they should be on the website later today

Tiago Hefner 2

05/02/2012 at 10:42

Well done, everyone. That was my first ultra and I loved it, especially finishing in the encroaching darkness with the snow falling. Finished in around 9.15 (forgot to stop garmin as usual) which was a bit slower than I hoped for, but did take a wee 'detour' and I was just happy to complete it in the end. Great race, great camaraderie, great cake.

The original waccyracer

05/02/2012 at 10:44

I don't wear a watch so I'm not sure of my time but i got in before 4:30
so with a 10 minute late start that should mean about 7:50 time.
what a wonderful experience that was.

Monkeybrain

05/02/2012 at 13:14

Very pleased to have finished my first 50 mile race. It was a great experience in a well organised race. The fruit cake was awesome and the marshalls and people helping out at the check points did a great job, especially the Sweety man handing out the haribo at more points in the race than seemed possible. Came in around 8hrs 33mins. Managed not to walk any of the race but had a quality refuelling stop with porridge in a thermos, (well done the missus). Well done everyone who finished. Hope to meet you again soon.

mooks

05/02/2012 at 13:54

I struggled mentally yesterday and had more talks with myself than usual. Then it got so dark and snowy and I was on my own, unsure of the route and suddenly very aware that I was in the middle of nowhere. I am however far too stubborn to wait for someone behind me! I pushed on as hard as I could following trainer trails in the snow and all of a sudden I was there! Having given up on a sub 10, I just trucked as hard as I could and was amazed to be told I'd done 9.54 at the finish! Not a time that sets the works alight but a 40minute PB for me. Thank you to everyone who I chatted to, it's funny how you lose your memory during these events but the guy in shorts who stopped to put his trousers on at a red Toyota (sorry name forgotten) you helped me so much when I was really down. Hope you finished strong.
Still in the "never again" phase but I expect that will wear off by the end of the week!
Great organisation and I'd recommend it to anyone but would warn them not to underestimate the terrain (like i did) just because it's mostly flat. This is a tough race!