Trying2beVegan

I woke from what was a fit full mostly conscious sleep feeling half rested half like I hadn’t slept a wink. They perfect way to start and ultra marathon race day morning. I got up with my alarm at 430am and got myself dressed in my gear I had laid out around the hotel room the night before. I had woken up with a tight feeling hamstring so I spent some time rolling around on my foam roller and massage ball to try and loosen up. I ate a breakfast of PB and J on bagels and a banana and drank down some electrolytes and water and a multivitamin effervescent tablet. I couldn’t believe the day was finally here. All the prep, all the hours running, All for this one day. It had been a long journey just to get here, never mind the 50miles I had to run to finish that journey off.

After getting packed up filling my race vest and speed flasks with water and snacks I headed down the hall way to meet my friend also running the race Andy who was staying in the same hotel. He had upgraded his room so had a posh coffee machine that he kindly let me have a fresh cup from in the morning. Nothing like a hot espresso to wake you up at 5am. We both got our stuff ready and we headed down to the start to collect our trackers before the race started. My mother also came down to take my extra layers back with her as it was a little chilly at that time in the morning so before we started it was nice to keep the extra layers on.

We started a little behind schedule at 615am and like that we were off. Before I knew it I was on my way traveling 50miles from Manchester to Liverpool. I purposely took it super slow out of the start to make sure 1, that I didn’t pull anything, not knowing how my hamstring was going to react after tweaking it a couple weeks before. and 2, not wanting to burn out early and not be able to complete the whole race.

The first few miles I took at a super easy pace. I had been running in my practice long runs a 15min run 2 min walk cycle that I tried to enforce in this ultra at the start but with other people around I found it really hard to stick to. I also found that with having fresh legs I didn’t feel the need to take those 2 min walking breaks. This sort of strategy is something I definitely need to look into in future Ultra races. I ran straight through the 1st aid station which was at 6 miles as I felt fine in the legs and was just cruising and not hungry at this point. I ended up chatting to a couple of runners Jodie and James about veganism as they were both vegans which was cool. We talked about other ultra events as this wasn’t their first time doing one. My mother and brother were in between the checkpoints 1 and 2 where I ditched my Under armor Baselayer as the temperature was warming up. I also took the opportunity to apply extra vaseline a very smart move. I would also recommend carrying some while you run as I found it useful and needed for some reason on my arms? maybe my bingo wings rubbing but it stopped them going red raw which was great for me.

I stopped at the second checkpoint at Dunham Massey at 15miles and had some tasty snacks with some pretzels, peanuts and mini soreen loafs. I also guzzled some cola and the electrolytes they were handing out this gave me a nice sugar boost and I set off out of the checkpoint walking with a chap called Richard. We stuck together walking and running for a good few miles and had some good convos as we went along. This was a new experience to me chatting to runners in part of a race I can’t say it happens very often in a half marathon or a full marathon. Taking the time to chat as we clocked in the miles. It definitely makes the miles easier and more fun. Something that people talk about that have done ultras but you don’t know how positive it really is until you experience it yourself.

The next 7 miles to the 3rd checkpoint at Latchford locks seemed like a real long way even along the flat section of the trans pennine trail. A diversion on the course did send us up an unexpected hill but luckily the aid station was well stocked with snacks and drinks so I refueled and had a little sit down.