Hadrian's Wall 2013

EKGO - Don't feel ready mentally or physically? Or both? Guess it's hard to keep the momentum up when you've done so many in so short a space of time. Maybe just aim to get round on this one, taking it easy and enjoying the sights along the way, then end with a bang on the next one? Even try running without a watch so you're not focusing on a pace or a time as the goal but just on enjoying the running in its own right?
It's weird the way you get involved in stuff. I was sat in a pub with two friends one time and we'd had a beer or two and just decided to do the Great North Run. None of us were runners. A few years later and here I am entering marathons and ultras and all sorts.

Benjamin - the Northumberland one I'm doing in March is a CTS one. What are they like for organisation?

Maybe I'm over preparing. My longest weekend was going to be 26 on the Saturday and 15 on the Sunday.

One day
Amster and Mr Amster
Benjamin Kissel
Blakester
EKGO

Two days
Marcus Nichols +2
Oscarr
Pursued by Angry Bees
Sleepy Bear
Weedy

2014?
Invisible Man
Pammie

Hey Weedy,

CTS are absolutely amazing. The courses and breathtaking. I did the Portland marathon as my first ever race and entered before realising it was a trail one with massive hills! It's the race I would most like to do again to improve as I feel I have unfinished business with it. The organisation is exceptional as well both races were run very professionally (hence being slightly pricier). I can't recommend them enough.

Sounds like you'll be aiming for a similar training level as well if that's what your planning. At least I'll know I'm on the right track with that as well!

Cheers Benjamin, good to know. I checked the 2011 results and there were only 14 entrants in the marathon. Last place here I come...

I just had a look and it doesn't look too bad. They have a habit of cheekily adding a mile or two and choosing particularly difficult routes though but that one looks fun. Maybe I'll join in

Good to hear that about the CTS events - I've entered one of the 10ks (Whitby early May) just as a taster before I try some of their longer offerings.  Gotta admit they all sound heavenly as long as you don't care so much about your times!

The longest weekend on the plan I've got is a 4hr on Saturday + 5hr on the Sunday which I do twice.  As I'm not putting any pressure on myself about pace - I'll let the terrain decide what distance I end up covering.  Think I might head over to the Lakes/Peaks or somewhere to make those weekends more interesting...

That's exactly what I was thinking! I found this race in the Lakes that looks amazing and perfect timing for training....

http://www.highterrainevents.co.uk/15.html

You'll love the CTS as well. Very picturesque.

Hi everyone, just been told about this thread by Sleepy Bear who is my partner in The Wall next June.  Just read through all the posts and great to see so many tips and advice already, keep it going.  Also watched the utube video taken by a competitor from last year - great help - the link is on the third post on page 1 of this thread.

I've done 12 marathons now and this will be my first venture into the world of Ultra's - up until a few months ago the idea of an Ultra scared me to death but now i am so excited about the challenge it's unbelievable !!  Great to be doing it as a pair - Sleepy and i ran the Belper 30K race in the Peaks this year as a training run and we really enjoyed the gentle pace with walk breaks - and the beer and butties at the finish!!

I live in Reading but my home town is only 15 miles south of the finish (Seaham) so The Wall  is "local" for me in a sense.

I will follow this thread with great interest.  Good running all.

Hi Oscarr - am half an hour south from Seaham. Beer and butties sounds like a good way to finish a run. I was on holiday in New England last year and by complete coincidence the Rhode Island half marathon was on the day I was there, so I entered. At the end there was a huge free buffet laid on, including beer, pizza and bagels. I spent more time at the buffet than on the run

I live in Whitely Bay, so considering whether to just keep going at the finish down the river to home.

Thanks Weedy, i like the sound of Rhode Island beer and pizza  

Grizedale Ultra 26, wasn't ready, didn't feel right but did it, and looking at the race director I should have know what to expect. If you want to test yourself try one of the events put on by these people. The hardest race I've done in my life, including the Wall from earlier in the year. just under 28 miles of every hill in between Coniston and Windermere, the downs were harder than the ups, a real challenge.

Hi John. What was the ultra you did?

EKGO - sounds tough. I do a bit of walking over in the lakes and the thought of running the hills over there brings me out in a cold sweat. It's all good experience, though, and you'll be a better runner for it in the long run I guess.

Bees - Newcastle to Whitley Bay's nowt

One day
Amster and Mr Amster
Benjamin Kissel
Blakester
EKGO
John MacKenzie

Two days
Marcus Nichols +2
Oscarr
Pursued by Angry Bees
Sleepy Bear
Weedy

2014?
Invisible Man
Pammie

Hi RaRa, London must have been amazing.

One day
Amster and Mr Amster
Benjamin Kissel
Blakester
EKGO
John MacKenzie

Two days
Marcus Nichols +2
Oscarr
Pursued by Angry Bees
RunningRaRa
Sleepy Bear
Weedy

2014?
Invisible Man
Pammie

EKGO- That sounds like a tough one!!! Looks fun though and like a worthwhile challenge.

RunningRaRa- be careful with trail shoes. If you read the reviews on here from last years race there were a few gripes that people didn't know that out and out trail shoes were not going to be the best idea (http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/events/ratingsall.asp?sp=&v=2&ugn=11587&en=64698)

I started to run marathons this year. I was lucky at the ballot, so first was London and have done 12 in the last 7 months. Last saturday night before the A20 I just could not think with a clear head and entered the 1 day Wall run. It is good to see that I am not the only crazy person here.

I have to say it was a tough one for me personally, I don't like hills, I wasn't ready, I can't navigate past my local supermarket, and after a recent holiday in Italy was probably best part of a stone overweight, but I needed it for the navigation. Others made it look much easier and I would certainly not rule it out again in the future, one of the most scenic runs I've ever seen, and the hard ones do you most good