Trying2beVegan

I had a lot of plans to write more prior to my first ultra that’s why I started the series/ page on the blog but as all best laid plans.. it didn’t happen with a new job which I relocated across the UK for things seemed to get in the way. But here we are a week after the event sat down and not running, but typing up my compiled notes about last weeks adventure so… here we go. Just to warn you I will split this into a few chunks as my notes are rather extensive and even on paper they look too long for my posts….. I want them to be easy to read and pick up and put down at your convenience. Anyways without further a do let me tell you a story about my First Ultra marathon… The Liverpool to Manchester 50miler with GB Ultras.

So let me start a couple weeks before my ultra, I had a set back that nearly cost my my attempt at this ultra. I was setting out round Liverpool for a long 15mile training run 2 weeks out from the event itself I jogged down to the Princes park park run to incorporate that as part of my long run. This was not a good idea I had done a couple tough training sessions with Danum Harriers in the week and I went out slow to start the park run but ego and stupidity combined in the last few hundred meters of the park run I tweaked my left hamstring. I was gutted. I decided not to carry on my long run for that day and cancelled my plan to run another 15miles the following day. Instead I just stayed in bed and rested and ice my hamstring to try get it rehabbed in time for race day. I had been so careful not to injure myself for so long I was very frustrated that I had come this close and tweaked it trying to sprint in a park run. However I guess we live and we learn.

So the 2 weeks leading up to the ultra I was paranoid that I wouldn’t be able to run on my hamstring as for the first few days I was limping on it. Luckily the good old Ice, heat, rolling and stretching worked its wonders and I managed to get healthy enough to get to the start line but I had not run for the 2 weeks prior to the run I had no idea if my hamstring would just go on me again so that was hanging over me in the week leading up to it.

The week leading up to the ultra was an interesting mental challenge. I seemed to have transient pains all over my legs that made me question “omg my calf, have I hurt it really badly” but the pains would disappear as fast as they appeared. I was feeling a mixture of both nerves and excitement for the race the week of it. But quickly the day before came and I was feeling as good as I hoped I would, no pain in my left hamstring so after work I set off down to Manchester with my support crew my Mother and my Brother. We stayed in a hotel across the road from the start at Old Trafford in Manchester. If you are planning on doing an ultra I would recommend staying as close as possible to the start as that takes away a lot of stress which is great as you have enough going on thinking about the race itself. I had eaten plenty pasta and noodles on the days leading up to the race building up them glycogen stores.

I picked up my race number the night before and saw the start line where it would all begin at 6am the next morning. After that it was time for some fluids and a bath before bed and an early 430am alarm the next morning….