Chiltern 50k Ultra

The Chiltern 50k Ultra (31 miles in old money) was organised by the very good people at Extreme Energy as an introductory ultra for newbies.  As always the organisation was first rate, the check point crews were the friendliest and most helpful people you could care to meet and the run itself was challenging, varied and 98% (my guess) off road.

50k should not have presented me with too much of a challenge,  but I felt as if it was one of the hardest runs of my life.  It was a very hot and humid day, and I was running with all the gear I need to carry for the 119km TDS ultra in August. I also had race number 99, and from the start I kept thinking to myself 'I've got 99 problems and this bitchin' backpack is one', or 'I've got 99 problems and this bitchin' hill is one'. Once I'd got the Jay-Z reference in my head I couldn't shift it. I'm sure by the end of the run I had invented 99 problems for myself from the wrong trainers, to the wrong type of mud, the heat, the humidity, sweat in my eyes, etc. I'm always telling people to banish all negative thoughts on a run and just focus I getting to the next landmark, whether it be a hill top, the next checkpoint or a tree 200 yards away. Simply having the number 99 just created a whole host of negative thoughts that I couldn't shift. Damn it, if I'd had number 13 I would have probably breezed it.

It was a relief to get to the last checkpoint of the day. But when I got their one of the cheerful marshals, who thought he was a bit of a comedian, said, "Here's number 99. He looks like he's about to FLAKE", and then started laughing to himself. Once I got the joke I replied with, "Really! I've just run 40km and that's the best you can come up with?". I wasn't feeling my best at the time, but I did see the funny side later on.

It was a relief to get to the finish and be in 18th place out of 150. I was beaten by a few people who would normally be behind me at an ultra. I had to console myself with the knowledge that I had just run with about 4 to 5 kilos of kit and they hadn't.

I spoke to a few newbies at the finish who all really enjoyed the day.  One person was Grant who is about mid-50s and he said it had been the best run of his life. He suddenly questioned why he had stuck to road 10k runs, half marathons and marathons all his life. Of course road events have their place and can be highly enjoyable, but if you haven't tried a trail ultra you are missing out on a world of fun. Even if they do hurt!

Next up for me is this weekend's 24 hour Adidas Thunder Run. My target is 100 miles!

Relief at being at the finish of the Chiltern 50k ultra in a time of 5 hours 40 minutes.

A nice pink T-shirt to wear on the train journey home.
Another medal for the collection, and that pesky number 99
that filled my head with problems.

First time ultra runner, Grant, who despite face planting into
some mud said it was the best run of his life.