Serpent Trail 50km

31 miles is a long way –5 miles longer than I’ve run before but usually at 26 miles I’m quite done and dusted so why I thought it would be a good idea to run a race with extra miles was a good idea I don’t know? I expect I’d had a couple of beers and thought it was a super plan.

The race was in July so I half expected it to be fairly hot but this was, as you all know a special summer full of heat and sunshine. It made for many a hot training run trying to build up the miles. I’d have to set off for long runs very early at the weekends, I got into my head that I couldn’t run in the heat which played on my mind a lot during training – eventually reminding myself that I’d run in the jungle in Singapore and in the tropics of the Caribbean and just got on with it – goes to show a lot of running is in your bonce and not just your legs.

A few long runs I had to give myself a good telling off just to get going again. One run being about 10 miles in either direction from being back in a village or town so really giving up wasn’t an option. Mentally and physically I think the heat was just tiring me out and I wasn’t putting in as many miles as I wanted or needed to. I think I got up to about 19 miles in my training which was 11 short of the total but I was feeling reasonably comfortable with the distance.

With the race approaching we were in the midst of the world cup and a heck of a heat way. The day of the race was looking like it was going to be 30’c plus. Having run my last marathon in sub 0 temperatures this was certainly going from one extreme to another. Steph kindly got me an ultra marathon survival pack which included sun cream, mars bars, new socks and a few other bits and bobs – she had grave concerns this run was going to be the end of me.

We decided to camp the night before the race at the venue before the bus took us off bright and early to the start of the run. I’d slept pretty well and scoffed down some dreadful porridge and toast. Massively over packed my bag with food, water and warm clothes for just incase ( part of the race check list )

The run started at 10 and it was already feeling pretty hot when out of the shade but there was an excited buzz from the race starters and all those running and walking , The race would take in the Serpent trail starting in Byworth near Petworth and following the trail route through to Petersfield and where we’d plonked our tent.

The route began fairly shaded, running through lots of undulating wooded areas – I was enjoying myself, running with others and chatting away to people for a couple of miles but soon the course stretched out and so did the amount of people you’d see along the way.

Coming out of the wooden area we found out we’d taken a wrong turn so we probably added about an extra mile on to our route. Not idea but fortunately it was early on in the race rather than at the end.

For a while we scooted along a path a long a hot and sunny main road before heading back into some lovely dusty trails full of cut back hedge rows and narrow paths and this is when I came across our first check point. At each one you had to scan your wrist band before feasting on some delicious foods and drinks. Feeling pretty good – warm but not sweltering I wolfed down some watermelon and got back to it.

At this point the race was becoming pretty exposed – long farm roads and pathways with no shade – urgh! My legs still felt pretty good about 10 miles in but I was beginning to get thirsty – trying hard not to drink all my water before the next check point became quite a challenge. I was well aware that you can over drink so didn’t want to flood my stomach so to speak. I don’t think it was ever really an issue but It was a concern that I had in the back of my mind and one that would really make me suffer later on in the race.

I passed through the 2nd station ( 14 miles ) still feeling pretty good still and with the knowledge that the next one wasn’t too far away I carried on. But by now it was getting really hot and exposed and I was starting to tire and feel thirsty. So spent the odd moments just walking through the hot bits and scampering about trying to find some shade as we ran through sandy trails that reflected any heat right back at you.

To try and distract myself from the heat and my almost un-quenchable thirst I put on a documentary about a good ultramarathon runner – I soon turned it off when he talked about turning up for his first without training and won it.

Getting through the check point at mile 19 I was trying to get the radio working to listen to the England V Sweden game but to no avail. At this point I got a small spring in my step which kept me going for a few miles – there were some lovely trails running through tall trees and some shaded woods, I seemed to be playing a game of swap the leader with a couple of other runners as we all trudged along.

Now approaching the 24 mile point and just passed the 2nd to last check point I gave Steph a quick call to check in and give her an update and find out the football score. England were winning and Steph was pleased I had yet to perish in a hot field somewhere. A very nice farmer had left a hose out so doused myself in cold water and plodded on up the hill. This is where I met the lovely wonderful and super strong Elizabeth. What a champ she was and great running company. We nattered away passed the marathon point and passed the longest distance I’d run. She’d let me walk to drink but encouraged me keep going as we stumbled over styles and through airless hot fields.

I have no doubts at all that she pushed me to the finish line quicker than I’d have made it had I been on my own.

With a couple of miles to go the first 100km runner passed us looking strong and quick. What an effort.

As we passed the 50k point we knew the end was near but it felt like forever before the finish line finally came into sight. My want for a beer has long gone, all I wanted was a cold drink given all I’d drunk for the last few hours had been sun warmed water or squash or flat coke.

Elizabeth – brilliant up until this point said… right sprint finish and off she went… it took everything for me to get my tired legs moving again but I did it and crossed the line only to almost be sick – I think that is perhaps the closest I’ve been to throwing up at running so had a good sit down while Steph poured water over my hot and sweaty head and back.

What a challenge. It was really hard work and I think a race I’d have really enjoyed had it been about half the temperature. The route was lovely, the pitt stops fantastic and the other racers all friendly and bonkers in equal measure. At the time I said I’d never do another but the more I think of it the more I’d like to give it another go. We’ll see.

On the next challenge. Time to get good at swimming.

#trialrace #ultramarathon #50kmrun #serpenttrailrace #freedomracing #rettuk #rettsydnrome #running #sussexrun #petworth