May 2008
I started this newsletter almost immediately after the last, (I tend to do it as I go along) and Bang straight into the Coniston 14, a race this year probably too close to London for the marathon runners. I have not done this race for various reasons for 4 years when I managed a 1hr 31.06. In 2004, I remember being disappointed at not breaking 1 hr 30 mins but as usual I got bad cramp at 12 miles. Gary Dover on the other hand was flying and went on to do an incredible time of 1 hr 26.46.
Enough History, Well done to everyone completing the Coniston 14 this year and to Chris Howie for finishing 12th, this will be good training for his first attempt at the Keswick to Barrow.
The local races will also be kicking off soon with the Dalton 10K in May and then Dallam almost immediately after. By the time this Newsletter comes out, London will have been and gone and all successes and misfortunes will have been analysed and discussed at great depth on the Monday night club runs, it is still worth reflecting on what a great day the London Marathon is and Penny has written this account of her race day.
Following this Article, Ken is now back into some reasonable running and has reported on the Coniston 14.
The Final article this month was written by Erik and is a brilliant account of his trek to Sweden to compete in a 90 Km ski race, I am sure you will all be able to picture Erik as you are reading it.
Feelings after a mixed day at the Flora London Marathon.
Every December I go wild waiting for my entry form to the London Marathon to arrive after pre registration in September, to land on my doormat. It arrives to confirm I have a ballot place after a dismal year in 2007 when an illness preventing any form of real competition – whoopee! I’ve been imagining myself since the 2006 race speeding along the Embankment, seeing myself lean and strong, the last 25 miles a mere memory and the finish time sub 4 hours to guarantee an automatic entry to next year’s race.
So there it was – in again – for my sixth time, to subject myself to another concentrated four and half months training, building up the miles from 35 to 55 miles per week whatever the weather, adding daunting speed sessions and racing 20 and 22 milers just to see how I was faring. These races confirmed that I was faring ok personal best times in both, starting to feel optimistic now.
A change of job mid training proved an interesting transition in the middle of February, attempts to stick to the training plan regardless and with the Coniston 14 miler under my belt off to London I go hoping for sub 4 hours and at least a qualifying time for the world renown Boston marathon in 2009; needing a time of 4.05.59 to secure a place in the vet 50 category
I awoke to find perfect conditions, as I walked to Blackheath Common along with 37,000 other eager souls. 7’C and a bit of a cold breeze, far better than the 25’C of last year’s race, which I had watched from the 24-mile point. My race –no doubt in months to come I shall feel philosophical about, actually didn’t turn out as I hoped. I was cruising sub 9-minute miles to 20 miles and still had 58 minutes to break the 4 hour mark with only 6 miles to go. Then the second heavy rain and hailstorm came with a vengeance. On a tired body it took its toll and between 21 and 23 miles I slowed considerably with miles ‘run’ more like staggered over 10.15 pace. When a marathon goes pear shaped you lose all sense of proportion of yourself; what you stand for, you aren’t running for a medal(even though you get one) you are running for survival, chased by all manner of demons, feelings of failure, ridicule and humiliation.
However running a marathon is emotional food and drink – you learn so much about yourself. The actual race, if raced to the line from the very beginning (as this one was) is a special feast of joy, gladness, sorrow, despair, rage and self worth. I dug deeper than I ever have and finished outside both my goals feeling totally shattered mentally and physically a wreck.4 hours 6 minutes 56 seconds and the completion of a personal journey that sees me raise with everyone’s generous support virtually £700 for the Stroke Intensive Care Unit at Northampton General Hospital, where my mother was brought back from the dead. That was worth all the steps along that 26 mile 385 yard course – thank you everyone who has contributed to help someone else’s mother, father or relative in the future.
Congratulations though to everyone else who ran that day too, all getting personal bests, fantastic results for Jeff, Ken, Steph and Ian – well done all of you!
Penny Moreton
Kens Coniston 14
Another year and another Coniston14 is over. I am already looking forward to next year. It isn’t one of the easiest runs of the year, but it is a great occasion. The event is so well organised (a bit like our own races), and the setting fantastic. The weather once again was very kind to us.
There was a good turn out from Hoad hill, both runners and supporters. Ann, Beth, and Steph must have covered a few miles as we saw them twice on their bikes. Along with all the other supporters along the route this makes it an even greater race. THANKS SUPPORT TEAM.
Once again there were good performances, most notably from Chris who finished 12th, and is looking in good form as he continues his good preparations for the Keswick to Barrow. Erik who was a last minute entry looks like he is back on form with a solid performance. I myself (Ken) was using this as my final preparation before heading of to London. I set off at marathon pace with Mark and Jeff, but we soon found ourselves running a bit quicker than intended, but because we were all running quite easy, we continued at that pace. It was nice to be running whilst having a good chat. This we did up to about 9miles, where Jeff decided to stretch his legs, and galloped off into the distance. This was the best I have ever felt covering the last 4miles, I hardly noticed Brantwood.
An even pace and good company made for a great day. I look forward to next year. Don't forget to get your entries in early to avoid disappointment.
Ken Lamb
Skiing Oppet Spar 2008
Vasaloppet is a 90km ski race in Sweden from Salen, North West Dalarna, to Mora, South West Dalarna. It is the biggest, oldest and longest cross country ski race in the world with 16,000 people taking part. To
To enter Vasaloppet you have to qualify through participation in other long distance events and be a member of a cross country ski club.
I am not a member of any ski club and I have not seen any snow for 4 years. My preparation was to go up and down along the Ulverston canal 200 times on my roller skies, trying to avoid dog walkers, bicycles, prams, workers and of course Glaxo Hoad Hill runners. Oppet Spar (open track) which I took part in on 25th February is open to anyone over the age of 17. It is exactly the same course, as the Vasaloppet but with only 3,500 people taking part. The maximum time limit to complete the course is 13 hours. The skiers can start anytime between 7-8am. Your time is recorded on a chip attached to your right ankle. The classic ski technique is used, which means you ski in prepared tracks except when skiing up steep slopes, and round sharp bends at the bottom of steep descents. The race is based on the same route that King Gustav Vasa skied to escape his enemies in 1521.
Last time I skied Oppet Spar 7 years ago, it took me 11 hours and 52 minutes to complete. This year I set myself an ambitious time of 10 hours, as I am fitter now and my skiing technique is slightly better. This would allow me 9 hours of skiing and one hour for drink and toilet stops? I had forgotten to allow for crashes.
The weather at the start of the race was 0 centigrade and would rise to +2 by the afternoon. During the previous evening it had rained 3 to 4 hours and then the ground froze. This would make the course very icy. The downhill sections would be fast but the uphill sections would be difficult to climb.
At 6.55am I joined the queue and lined up behind the other competitors ready to start the Oppet Spar. There were 3,500 competitors taking part, and the majority of them were in front of me. Being so far back in the field it was impossible to start too fast. At 7 .17am I crossed the start line and for the first km I skied slower than walking pace, stop start, stop, start etc. The course has eight control stations varying from 9-14km apart.
After the first km you cross over a main road and ski up a steep hill for l km which eases in gradient for a further 2km. For the first 25 meters of climb I was fine, and then disaster struck. My skies were not gripping the snow and I kept slipping on the hard ice. It is difficult to get back on your feet when skiing uphill and on a few occasions all I succeeded in doing was sliding back down the hill. Instead of taking 10 minutes to ski the second km. it took between 20-25 minutes. To ski uphill you are supposed to use the scissors technique which involves the skies in a scissors shape and the poles behind the skies to help push yourself up the hill, not my forte. ..Once the gradient started to subside l managed the rest of the climb without falling over. Having reached the top of the climb the next 6.5km was mainly on the flat with the occasional small climb and small decent. I reached the first control station after 1 hour and 21 minutes. Already 20 minutes behind schedule. If I was to continue at the same pace it would take me about 12 hours to complete the course.
The distance to the next control at Mangsbodarna was 14km, and I completed it in just over 1 hour 25 mins. This was mainly flat with several easier uphill and downhill sections, so my average speed over this section was almost up to 9.5km per hour. At this control we had warm blueberry soup to drink, which the race is famous for, and buns. This would apply to all the control stations to the end of the race.
Within I minute of starting the third section of the course, I had my first crash. This would be the first of many. The downhill section was steeper than I was expecting. I gathered too much speed and completely lost control of my skies, and over I went, landing on my left hand side. I had tried snowploughing to slow myself down but it did not help. Landing on hard compact snow and ice was very painful, but it was just a question of getting up and continuing the race. This was just the start of a 3km mainly downhill section where there were to be 3 to 4 more crashes and a couple of them being quite spectacular. The icy tracks made the downhill sections very fast, and this made it difficult for me to keep my balance. I was ok if the tracks were straight ahead but having to turn right or left round a sharp bend, I ended up loosing my balance and crashing. The next 5Km were flat and then a steady 3Km climb. After 3Km of more flat skiing I reached the next check point at Risberg.
The next section started with several fast downhill sections which led to more crashes. Then there was a hard slog of a gradual climb over several km. After a few easier downhill sections the course was flat until I reached the next control, Evertsberg. I was just over half way and it had taken me just under 5 hours 20 mins to complete 47km.
At about 50km a man in front of me had fallen and I crashed into the back of him. I tried to ski round him but to no avail. The impact of the crash bent one of my ski poles into the shape of a banana. I could still use the ski pole but if I put too much pressure on it, it could snap in half. Having confirmed that we were both a bit battered but o.k., we continued the race.
After the next control at Ox berg there was only 30 Km to go. This is supposed to be the easiest part of the course, but when you have skied 60 Km nothing is easy. With 26 Km left to the finish is the first of 2, I in 10 descents. Somehow I managed to negotiate both of them without falling, but my technique and style was horrendous. At reaching the 6th control station I had been skiing for almost 8 hours. It was announced on the loudspeakers that 1800 competitors which relates to half the field, had finished. I still had 19.1km left to ski. I knew now that my target time of 10 hours was possible or if not I would finish not long after. I started to get pumped up inside as I knew I would smash my personal best. During the last 19.1 km I fell a few times but this was more down to tiredness and losing concentration. I reached the last control at Eldris with a total time of skiing just under 9 hours. To ski under 10 hours, I had 61minutes and 7 seconds to ski the last 9 Km. with 500 meters to go I fell over for the last time trying to negotiate the last tricky short climb. With 200 meters to go my name was called out and I was nearly overcome with emotion. I made one last effort to the finishing line, and looked up at the clock. I could not believe the time; I had not only beaten 10 hours, but was well inside it at 9 hours and 55 minutes and 15 seconds. The time could even have been a few seconds quicker, as I had to slow down a few meters before the finish to have my photograph taken.
My poor body was black and blue after all the falls, but I felt elated, exhausted, relieved to have achieved my target time and thinking that if I can avoid the falls I could probably cut my time to under 9 hours, but that would be another chapter!
Erik Hampton