first class to Brum....

I'm sat in First class on my way to Birmingham with James (you can hear a pin drop it's so quiet).....but with free food and drink for £3 more than normal class and as much free time to Facebook - well why wouldn't you.....

Looking at the time....14:50 (and just having a little stream pointed out to me by james saying "if you're by the little stream that means you are lost"...thanks.  Anyway, hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll be 40 miles in and around Jacksons Bridge No.105 (the numbers get quite confusing the further along the canal you go).

I'm in the excited/nervous stage....you know the feeling, the butterflies are there but you're not quite sure what lies ahead (apart from miles and miles of canal - and some human eating geese)! The plans have been done (wrongly by me but sorted out this morning...kind of), food and clothing prepared and dropped with Gemma and Alex last night (leaving the water in my car though so need to get some later) and remembering that the crew are as nervous as me (that helps a great deal).

The nice thing about this weekend though is that I can't quit or fail....there are far too many people out there that either fancy the longest run they've ever done (Fi - so making sure I give her at least 20+ miles), Gemma and Alex that have prepared absolutely everything possible including where the nearest starbucks is and nearest pizza place should one be required, Rob and Jan for driving up to help and Edgar staying awake for the first time (well sober anyway) to help out and Dave Morgan, who will be running in the early hours of the morning - and planning to go fast (he has to realise this will be at 110 miles and won't be fast). I have an absolutely awesome crew that are all routing for me to finish - so my game plan is this - make sure Gemma gets a good 7 hours worth of sleep & reach the finish line in no particular time but in a time where I can get at least 2 beers as well as see in the Monday with a finishers t.shirt on, medal round the neck and with friends.

Roll on 6am......

Final GUCR crew meeting

This evening after the club run we all got together for a final GUCR prep.  at the Wargrave Arms - myself and springypanther loaded with maps, notes, handouts for each of our crew.

springypanther had her plan sorted and was just finalising buddies where as I couldn't think who would go where, what happened if I was early or late, how do cars get from one place to another (this usually involves petrol and a driver....I now know that), and who would I have covering me in the night section with Jan and after it got light.

Anyway by the time 11pm came I had it all sorted, thanks to some awesome friends. I now have a full crew of both runners and vehicle, each having a rough idea as to where they will go and when they would meet.

I have a few details to finish for everyone such as maps, mobile numbers, who will be where - just the general write-ups.

I've got a great crew, all i can trust to make sure I get to the finish line in one piece and by Sunday night. 

I cycled home tonight feeling happier than I have in a number of days.

All that's left now are my love letters to the crew. 

little doubtful devil....

Little Doubtful Devil

You know the one - he sits on your shoulder, usually a couple of weeks before a race....whether that would be a 10k, half marathon, marathon or an ultra, he sits there all the time.  Somedays you've no idea he is there and other days, my god, he doesn't shut up.

And today he was out in force....and making me very nervous.  I don't need reminding that it's a long way but the nagging starts from the moment you wake up, to the time you sit in front of your computer and stare at emails, knowing you are responding but feeling a tapping on the shoulder every few minutes and a little voice in the ear asking me "do you know how far this race is"......making me look again and again and again at the maps, websites,blogs, forums.....thinking "have I done enough" and "what food do i take, how much fluid will i need and how far apart should the crew be".

I then received an email from Robert Treadwell who will be running the whole night section with me and just his words and advice was enough to calm me back down and realise that anything that could have been done, has been done and the last thing to do is meet the crew tomorrow and go through the 30+ hours that I'll be out running along the Grand Union.  I know that I won't be throwing any hissy fits as that's just not me, I now know that I am not allowed to be negative as Rob said he will not allow that to happen, but what I do now know is that my crew and friends are 100% behind me every step of the way and one thing I know for sure is that they won't let me quit.

So for now the little doubtful devil has gone quiet - but he'll be back again I'm sure and quite a few times over the next 12 or so days or until I cross that finish and shaking Dick's hand whilst taking the weight of a massive medal around my neck.....then the little doubtful devil can hide again....well until Welsh Castles at least.

so close.......

my first ultra...country to capital 2010

I remember the day clearly.....I was out with a group of serpies running an unofficial route of the winter tanners 30 miler.  It had been snowing really heavily so the organisers had called it off but I really needed this run as a week later I'd be running my first proper ultra, 45 miles from Wendover to Little Venice in a fab race called Country to Capital...bearing in mind that 23 is off road and 22 along a canal (note the canal is said quietly).  Anyway I'd struggled with just 30 miles, but it was in deep snow and it had taken about 7:15 to finish.....my friend turned round at the end and said "how on earth are you going to manage another 15 on top - you struggled with just 30"....a week later I passed the finish line in around 8:15ish and felt very proud.  I agreed with Alex at the time and doubts went through my mind but it actually felt o.k. but the one thing i didn't like about the race was the canal.....it was boring and dull - all I kept thinking was "how on earth can James Adams love them so much."

Anyway, I have no idea how this has happened but several ultras later including a few more canals and in less then 2 weeks time I'll be standing on the start line of this race:  GUCR

which way do I go?

145 miles from Birmingham to Little Venice along a canal.....  The worrying thing is that the more races and training runs I've actually ran over the past few months along the Grand Union the more I've learned to love it.  There are parts that are just beautiful, and especially when the sun is shining, and there are parts that are not so great.  I haven't had a chance to run in the night along the canal just yet but it's something that I am looking forward to.

I'm amazed also at the amount of support and encouragement that friends are giving to myself and Jany, my other friend who has also been successful in the ballot for, in what is known as the hardest and longest UK race. They have been jumping at the chance of helping us both get to the finish which is pretty special. 

I have no idea as to what time I'll finish and to be honest I really don't care but what I am looking forward to is having a great experience along the way and keeping in touch with Jany, the both of us with the same thinking, just to get to that finish line in one piece and wear our t.shirt and medal with pride whilst drinking a pint of guinness with friends and family.