One medal (and a scraggy one at that) so far, after Race 1, New Year’s Marathon Zurich was completed
Sometimes it feels like we live in and around walled cities with only motorways and train tunnels providing the officially endorsed routes in and out.
There’s something magnificent yet miniscule about breaking into a city as overwhelming as London on foot dragging memories and mud in from the countryside. All that effort to add a paltry 300 or so visitors to the City’s unfathomable girth.
This is a 12th anniversary of this recognised Ultra calendar opener, a 45 miles mini classic that attracts a full range of runners of all abilities. There will be some sharp times set – under 5 hours for the winner, with many battling to make the 11-hour cut…
We will all gather at The Shoulder of Mutton, a bacon sarnie or somesuch in one hand, that soft air of anticipation drifting between quiet welcomes
If the weather holds – which it looks like it will do – then the countryside descending towards London from The Ridgeway looks to offer 20 odd miles of very pleasing rolling English countryside, before turning onto the grimmer surrounds of the Grand Union Canal. That’s where the race will take hold, a challenge to hang in there through a seemingly endless corridor of same, same, same until Little Venice hoves into view.
Strangely, I can’t wait.
There’s still time to play my guessing game too, these are the guesses to date on this one. To register your guess, it is probably best to notify me on the thread on my Facebook page, or email me, frank@frankpublishing.com
RACE 2, Country to the Capital,
a 45 mile ultramarathon from Wendover to Paddington on 11th January.
- Whilst I have not done a 45-mile run before, I have a 50-mile time of 8hrs 57 mins from 2019 passing 45 miles in about 8 hours 5 minutes. That run was also on tired legs – a week after I ran a 30 mile trail ultra.
- That 50 mile run had a slightly flatter profile. Country to the Capital has an uphill start for the first 3 miles, then heads downhill mostly to the halfway point. The second half is very flat.
- There are 5 aid stations. I will be carrying my own drinks and some food in my ultra running vest, topping up at each aid station.
- A classic on the calendar, C2C attracts a very high calibre field. The record for this event is yikes – 4hrs56 minutes. The cut off time is 11 hours – phew. To be in the top half last year I would have needed 7hrs 43mins 25 seconds.
- It has been wetter this year than last underfoot, but the forecast for the day is a mild 9 degrees and cloudy – a little breezy, but otherwise that’s optimum.
- I have a 50-mile run this weekend, 4-5th, 25 miles each day at a slow pace. It’s a work commitment so I can’t get out of it.
- I will be full of breakfast. The run starts with this as a tradition, at the Lamb and Slaughter pub, Wendover.
- Whilst I may take some pictures, the run doesn’t look very promising for gobsmacking views. Minimal delay for this.
- I have no long races after this one until 7thFebruary (Manavgat Ultra), – just a hilly trail 10K.
- The race goes through commuterland – the natural habitat of the MAMIL. I am not planning on any Lycra so I may not fit in.
Neil Towers 7.07.07
Neil Perry 7.24.50
Dena Bray 7.25.25
Chris Oakley 7.28.12
Mark Barnett 7.35.15
Rachel Beek 7.35.25
Emma Hines 7.31.34
Phil Hale 7.32.00
James Lewis Scott 7.36.45
Lynda Bennett 7.37.20
Ed Tristram 7.38.00
Cordula Hurcum 7.39.00
Giles Archer 7.41.06
Belinda Stephenson 7.42.14
Beren Walker 7.43.03
Janine Shewry 7.43.21
Matt Scarsbrook 7.43.25
Dawn Jordan 7.43.43
Charlotte Bourgeois 7.44.03
Ben Miller 7.44.44
Lorraine Killington 7.45.09
Zara Pond 7.45.23
Lindsay Veevers 7.45.50
Sam Neale 7.46.21
Rohaise DV 7.47.00
Richard Smith 7.48.00
Rohan Archer 7.48.07
John Keat 7.49.13
Charlie O’Brien 7.49.30
Richard Bagshaw 7.49.36
Jude Bright 7.49.49
Liz Barnett 7.50.00
Richard Flesher 7.50.30
Kerry Linde 7.51.10
Julia Maddocks 7.51.23
Vicki Lloyd 7.52.34
Dougal Campbell 7.53.00
Nicky Finch 7.53.27
Leigh Martin 7.55.42
Gillian Elliott 7.56.03
Charis Murray 7.56.25
Valerie MacDonald 7.57.23
David Steele 7.58.45
Genevieve Murray 7.58.45
William Murray 7.59.00
Nicola James 7.59.59
Sarah Morris 7.59.59
Lucy Jiwa 8.00.00
Adam Thomas 8.00.00
Gerard Howells 8.00.00
Andrew Duncan 8.00.01
Ian Cox 8.02.00
Andrew Craven 8.03.00
Sukie Headley 8.05.07
Ann Tripp 8.08.08
Nick Hancock 8.08.08
Lesley Gleeson 8.12.35
Marion Wilding 8.13.23
Lily Wainwright 8.13.32
Matthew Douglas 8.15.00
Gary Ambrose 8.27.20
