Hadrian's Wall 2013

I've got a place in the Hadrian's Wall run in June. Doing it over the two days rather than one. I've walked the wall twice, although going from East to West both times, and really looking forward to stepping up from marathon distance to my first ultra, with the aim of applying for Comrades in 2014

Anyone else got a place?

Yup, I'm in - two days as well. I was thinking about the single day as I'm a bit worried about getting up after 35 miles and running the same again, but was convinced otherwise. 

Regardless, I think it'll be a blast, properly excited about it.

This your first ultra bees? I figured it would be harder doing it in one go. At least over the two days, you've got a few hours to refuel and try to recuperate. After my last marathon, I got up the next day and felt kind of daunted by the idea of doing it all over again, plus the extra miles to take it up to 35. Plus running with a pack.

But... I'm hoping the training will help take care of that.

You seen the You Tube video someone posted from this year's event? The weather looked grim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LTY4g9KkEw&feature=player_embedded

Yup, will be my first - not quite been running for a year so far - stated November last year, first 10k in April, first half marathon in June, first marathon a fortnight ago at Kielder, now first ultra next June. Lots of training to get in....

Some exciting weather on that video - who'd have thought hail in June, eh?

Wow - that's impressive going. How did Kielder go? I got a place but decided to pull out as it was too close to Amsterdam tomorrow and I didn't want to risk an injury tackling those hills.

Kielder was fabulous - perfect weather, lovely scenery, great folk and a beautiful run - last few miles were difficult (for me), but my training went awry and the furthest I'd run before was a half marathon distance, so I was just happy to get round. As it's the only one I've done, I've nothing to compare it to, but I'm willing to believe it's "Britain's Most Beautiful`' as the strap line says...

Good luck for Amsterdam, hope you get some good weather and have a great time.

Kielder's a tough one to pick for your first.

Had a blast in Amsterdam, and bagged a PB.

You got a training plan worked out yet for Hadrian's Wall?

I’ve signed-up for the two day challenger with a couple of friends from our local running club, this will be my first Ultra (in fact only ever ran HM distance). I’m looking forward to the event, and have already purchased some kit to hopefully get me to the finish, which I’m already using in training.

I’m currently training up to HM distance, and will shortly switch to start building ready for a Spring Marathon. Would be interested to know what training you will be doing? And whether you are going to wear trail/road shoes?

Hi Marcus

You picked which marathon you going to do yet? I've got a place in Paris and humming and haaing about doing Edinburgh as well.

No idea what to do about shoes. I might be wrong, but from what I gather there's only about 20 miles off road, so I don't know whether it's best to wear trail shoes all the way, or road shoes all the way and just take it easier on the off-road sections. All my running's done on road and bridleway, so I'm not sure what running on roads in trail shoes feels like. If there's no difference, I'll go with trail shoes. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated. Whichever I go for, I'm planning to pack a spare pair so if the conditions are bad on the Saturday at least I'll have a dry pair to start the Sunday off in.

Training wise, I'm still checking out what other people think I need to do, but at the minute I'm looking to build up to doing 20-milers on consecutive days, possibly even 25-milers. Again, any advice from anyone would be appreciated.

Yey,  I'm so excited for you all - it's a brilliant event!
I wanted to get a hybrid for the race (like the Salomon Xmax) but didn't get on with them at all so ended up going for trail shoes with just a little more padding (Mizune Wave Ascends), and I'm so glad I did. The weather was atrocious and the off road sections were mudslides - I think roadies would have been rather hazardous, but hopefully you'll have better weather next year!

I wore minimal trail shoes until halfway, then changed into some dry minimal road shoes. The trail shoes were perfect, for the draining as much as anything else. The weather was awful, and we were basically running trhough streams some of the way, as with any ultra it's all going to depend on conditions on the day, but overall I would recommend a non-agressive trail shoe.

myself and my hubby are in for the full day. Hubby has only ever run up to half marathon distance, i did an Ultra in Connemara last year and it was fantastic.We have decided to recci the route in bits over the coming months until next June, last weekend we ran 16 and walked 11.5 miles we set off from Carlise castle and was meant to run to Lanercost and then walk back to the castle, but we got a little lost , but had a great day, so guess what we are about to do this again in the morning we are driving out in the morning which will take us around 2 hours then hopefully run from the castle to Lanercost then walk back . 

Thanks for the advice Okapi and Tiago. Hadn't thought about having one type of shoe one day and another for the second. I'll have a look at hybrids as well.

Amster - Hats off to the pair of you for tackling the one-dayer. Was Connemara a one-dayer or two? Hope you have a good run tomorrow. There's a few flakes of snow over the other end of Hadrian's Wall today, so I hope you're not faced with snowdrifts

Connemara was a one day event 40 miles and was such a lovely run, very well organised,they have a half marathon and marathon and then the ultra, all on the same day.  Will do this one again some time as i enjoyed it so much.

We ran yesterday from Carlisle Castle to Lanercost the first 15 miles of The Hadrians Wall route, it was lovley weather much better than it is today, i think we will recci the next 17 mile section after Christmas.

Amster - I'm over the Newcastle end, so if you're doing a recce run some time, give me a shout and we could meet up for a training run. Maybe get a few of us together if anyone else is interested. Know the route from when I walked it, although I don't know the exact course they're planning. If you look on a map, once you cross under the A1, it's straight forward following the river until you cross the Millennium Bridge at the finish.

EKGO - You doing the one-dayer again next year? My Garmin only lasts about 8 hours then collapses. Not sure how I'll cope on the second day without it. Does anyone know of any power pack or something that can be used to recharge it? I love my Garmin, but its limited battery life is a huge drawback.

I had one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Mobile-Phone-Portable-Charger/dp/B005EKK2SG/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1351502476&sr=8-8

After about 8 1/2 hours I just plugged my Garmin into that & had it in my jacket pocket (still switched on) for a couple of hours - fully recharged after that and back on my wrist. Worked brilliantly.

As for a route recce, I agree it was very well signposted for most part and the only time I was worried about getting lost was on the last 10 or so miles. I think some jokers had pointed the signs in the wrong direction and nobody had told me that red/white tape was part of Rat Race signage too (d'oh!). Luckily I had managed to buddy up with a couple of other runners by then who knew where to go. Also, I would strongly recommend finding somebody for the last stretch on the one-dayer as I found it occassionally intimidating running on my own along mostly deserted paths, except some youngsters lingering & drinking beer (I'm sure they were harmless but in my tired state I was a little scared!). 

Hi everyone thanks for all the info, very much appreciated. would love another recci but it is going to be after Christmas, i have recci the first 15 miles and now would like to recci the next 17 miles if anyone would like to do this let me know and we could meet up.  For my own mind i would like to be able to recci all the route in parts before race day.