Pedders Way Ultra Marathon
31st January
2015

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Official Result

  26.5 miles 48 miles
Sarah Wanden 5.19.00 11.10.00



Peddars Way Ultra, Sat 31st January 2014

Peddars Way is a roman road that stretches from Thetford all the way to the beach at Hunstanton, the race itself is a total of 48 miles and its unmanned and navigational but mainly straight so not that difficult, even for me. I ran the inaugural event last year, just 50 of us and it was a challenge then. This year it was open to 100 runners, with a t-shirt and a fab new medal on offer and they had tweaked it a bit to make it better. Intrigued I entered at the last minute (naturally forgetting how hard it was last year and that it was days before I could walk properly again yet alone run...why do we do that?)

I stayed in a great little b&b in Kings Lynn the night before and woke early. We were to meet  at 6am at Hunstanton, park our cars and board the bus provided back to the start at Thetford. It was nice to see a few familiar faces and we chatted quietly while some snoozed.

Soon we were at the start which was in a pretty forest setting at Knettishall Heath, a light snowfall had begun. I went off fairly fast and after about 10k settled into a slower pace.

At 12 miles we reached the first checkpoint, my mind wasn't happy, lots of negative thoughts, in fact I was trying to work out why I was even there running such a great distance, I tried to push these thoughts away but it was difficult.  As we pushed on towards the next checkpoint at Castle Acre the sky began to look heavy with snow. The wind has also picked up and I was contemplating quitting, my time was slow, I couldn't imagine I was going to get through this within the 12 hour cutoff and a few other million reasons. I'd run through all the pros and cons in my mind  and I just wanted to be done. Telling myself that if I reached Castle Acre it was 27 miles and therefore an ultra, sod the medal, I'd even written the DNF blog in my head.

As i arrived at the checkpoint it had begun to snow heavily and I approached a marshal and told her I was quitting. She took my number and I entered the room where the aid station was (in a pub) hot soup in hand I was shocked to see so many runners, it wasn't just me making a slow time, there were frozen individuals everywhere, young chaps who you really wouldn't expect to see at this distance so late in the game. 

After a quick chat with the race organiser Kevin, he assured me that even if I walked fast I'd almost certainly make the cut off. I had some warmer kit in my backpack so changed into that, ate some more food and had a coffee and retracted my race cancellation. A young girl called Mel offered to accompany me for the rest of the run, so we set off. Mel was wearing shorts and it was snowing, she was fine despite the bright pink legs. We set off with a gentle jog, as we progressed further the weather deteriorated at an alarming rate, it was snowing heavily, high winds and very difficult wet and uneven terrain. We tried hard to keep each other motivated but it was difficult. Mel's legs were by now bright pink, I was wondering what on earth I was even doing there, it was desolate and we were glad we had each other. My phone battery had long since died and the backup device I had bought had also failed. As we approached the last checkpoint at mile 35 I gratefully accepted a cup of tea. My fingers wouldn't work, gloves were soaked and despite 4 layers I was cold. Mel's partner was there with dry kit for her so I waited while she changed. The longer I waited the colder I got. Finally she appeared but it wasn't good, she was shaking violently and her face was ghostly pale. The marshals stopped her and sat her in a car with a hot drink, refusing to let her go on. She was visibly upset, we had come so far, with only 12 miles (!?!) left this made me even more determined. I set off alone but soon saw a couple of fast walkers in the distance, I ran as fast as I could to catch them desperately not wanting to spend time alone. Turns out this was the best decision I had made all day. 

Tina and Roger had buddied up earlier and I asked to join them, Tina explained they had a 'fast walk' strategy and I was welcome if I could keep up. At this point anything was fine so I fell into pace to grind out the last few miles.  The snow turned to hail, the wind picked up speed across the barren fenland, I fought more negative feelings and tried to have warm thoughts. I caught myself shivering and my breathing was erratic, I think at this point I was heading into a dangerous place, recognising this I flapped my arms and increased my pace. I couldn't afford to get my core cold. We marched on into the slowly darkening distance. Soon we needed head torches which meant stopping to find them, this was a huge effort which carried a risk of us getting even colder. My head torch was nowhere to be seen, thank heavens Rogers was super powerful. On we went chatting sometimes and long but comfortable silences at others. Tina's garmin died, we were guessing how far we had left to go, Roger produced jelly babies and we were eternally grateful. Those last 12 miles felt like a lifetime. Finally we got to the end of a very muddy descent arriving at Beach Road, there were cheers as we knew it was just a mile or so to go. 

Arriving on Hunstanton beach we were instructed to take a page from a book hanging there (by way of proving you had reached the very end of Peddars Way) and then proceed to the village hall. Once at the hall we were greeted by an army of marshals busy heating up chilli, making tea and handing out medals. 

Wow, we did it. 

I can honestly say that this was the toughest event yet in my short running career and not one I would want to repeat. Looking back I wasn't well enough equipped or organised for such brutal conditions. (My head torch was in my bag all along but we were so tired and confused we didn't spot it) 

I have since heard that the potential winner pulled out of the race around a mile before the end as he was suffering so badly and that the drop out rate was 20/89. 

Much respect to everyone that gave it a go, to the marshals who looked after us extremely well in arctic conditions, and mostly to my fellow runners Mel, Tina and Roger for getting me round the course. 

There's so much more I could say about this race but I've already gone on a fair bit.

Peddars Way is an amazing route and in better conditions I would heartily recommend it, maybe for the more seasoned ultra runner though. 

 

Lessons learnt

1) if you aren't feeling it, don't start, it's the hardest thing in the work to run 49 miles when you don't want to at mile one

2) read the kit list carefully, pack everything on it, and then some. I used everything in my bag- be prepared. 

3) even if it's a hassle to take the gel, have the drink, find your head torch when you are tired and it's dark, etc DO IT, ultimately it will make you more comfortable and therefore more able to cope.

4) perhaps not a good idea to wear new trail shoes on an ultra distance (no blisters tho! Toe socks are where it's at)

5) find people to run with, you will all need each other at some point.

6) never ever underestimate Mother Nature or distance running, you will pay otherwise.

Might take it easy for the next few days. Sorry that this isn't my usual sunny funny blog.

Sarah