"Each step forward has a sacred meaning of its own" Sri Chinmoy
Clarendon Marathon - 6 October 2024 - Salisbury to Winchester
For this race, my glass was both half-full and half-empty. Half-full because I made it to the start fit, healthy and uninjured, half-empty because I was still a bit post-viral and had done barely any running for almost six weeks. Unprepared but undaunted, I walked from the Premier inn down to the sports club where the race starts, on the edge of Salisbury in the shadow of some rolling downland, to pick up my number and be on the line for the 9.30 start. That was one of 2 mass-starts for runners, the other (faster) wave going off at 10.30. While I was walking down the last few hundred metres to race HQ I could see runners going off early in small groups - you can start this event any time from 7am, but I wanted to have that race feel rather than be on a solo mission so I had opted for the bunch start.
It was drizzling a little and quite mild, so I went off well wrapped up in funky arm-warmers and windstopper gilet - enough to keep out a fair bit of rain if it came, and it was certainly forecast to do so later on. Conditions were easy enough at first though, the race leading us up some residential streets before we found ourselves on footpaths around and across fields, with the spire of Salisbury Cathedral on the horizon behind and misty downland trails ahead that would lead, eventually, to Winchester.
I planned to just do this one for the experience and not worry about time - I reckoned I would finish in around 5 hours given the going underfoot and the 800m of climbing. Back in the day I would often surprise myself by running much quicker than I expected. Lately I've been having the opposite experience, but I'm loving the fact I've avoided injury enough to be out there clocking up road races, ultras, fell races and audaxes. I'd been looking forward to the epic views on this one, but the misty, drizzly weather meant you could only see so far.
The first half of the race went well, I ran in various bunches and managed to sustain something around 9 or 10 minute miling, which isn't bad for me on the trails. In places it was muddy but mostly these were easy trails, with lane sections here and there and a long, hard stint on the gravel/hard core of what used to be a roman road. It was a case of so far, so good as I made it through to 10 miles without incident, offering gratitude at the completion of every mile and generally having an easy time in the early part of the race. A long descent in a squall of heavier drizzle took us down into the valley section that marks the middle of the race - making a quick pit stop round about half way and taking on board water, bars and gels are regular intervals to keep the fuel levels up. I didn't carry any drink - the aid stations (of which there were 15) seemed to offer enough drinking opportunities - but I did carry plenty of fuel and I was glad of having done so later on. The only alternative was jelly beans from the aid stations which I find a bit chewy. Around half way I remember a beautiful valley section, crossing the various channels of the River Test on a number of bridges and passing through the thatched cottage village of Kings Somborne.
The second half had most of the climbing, with a net height gain and some steeper ascents than the Salisbury end of the trail. It also offered more rewards in terms of views and scenery. I remember long descents on chalky paths, exposed downland ridges with views across rolling fields of every shade of green and brown and beige, a soft and welcoming landscape of uninterrupted farmland broken only by the odd cute village, farm or manor. I'd been hoping for a deep dive into quintessential England, and that was what I was getting. Fatigue from lack of preparation and being still a little post-viral, kicked in around 16 miles. I slowed to a shuffle that was no faster than the walking pace of some of those around me, but I was happier running/jogging/shuffling and able to sustain it so I only walked at the drink stations. The muted shades of green and beige and brown under a pale, overcast sky were the essence of english countryside, filling my field of vision on all sides, making it that quintessentially uplifting/exhausting/painful/inspiring cocktail of experience that marathon so often is.
The second half of the second half (if that makes sense) was an undulating exploration of some gorgeous woodland on the downs above Winchester - one section that was mostly birch and hazel was particularly lovely and felt like some primal forest from post-ice-age. Apart from the wide, straight and even trail running through the middle of it. I was seeing familiar runners around me who I had passed and repassed over the miles at this stage, though mostly they were pulling ahead and I was falling back. Mile times were fading to 12s, 13s or even 14s on the hills. I still felt positive and cheerful though and never had to walk, even on the climbs. Finally the descent into Winchester came, though even that wasn't easy as there were plenty of ups during that long, gradual down.
With time dilating at an alarming rate and each minute taking longer than the last, I finally shuffled in at a time of 5:10. That was around 180th out of 280 ish so not bad going considering the lack of race fitness. Amazingly that was my first proper trail marathon, and it was a great experience.
I may not look particularly happy in that final photo but inside, I definitely was. In fact the whole race was a cheerful and positive 5 hours. Recovery seemed pretty easy too - maybe I'm adapting to these longer distances? What I clearly need is more speed though, so my next goal is to get stuck into a training plan with some tempo sessions and the famous Yasso 800s. Wonder if that will do the trick? Before that starts though I have some rehab to work on - somehow either this marathon or the accumulated challenges of Feb-Oct 2024 conspired to make my patella tendonitis flare up again - the injury that limited my running massively years ago and which recurs every so often when my hunger for the running experience goes a little too far for my body to co-operate. Last time this happened was 3 years ago, but around 4-5 months of disciplined excercising and help from the UWE Physio team fixed it completely. I'm back under their care now and hoping that the combination of spiritual and physical forces gets me back out there soon. If nothing else, it's an opportunity to practice patience and positivity when things don't go as planned.....
|