Thunder Run 2012 (TR24).

Why Would You?

Grantham AC

Imagine a stranger suggesting that you suspend your usual Saturday training and instead  do a 10k race at noon at "balls out" speed (I think the balls are eye balls and the speed means fast). After that at around 6pm you will be required to do another "balls out" 10k race across the same undulating, off road tracks. For good measure the stranger then suggests another 10k, later in the evening at perhaps 11pm, this time at as close to "balls out" speed as you can muster. You can then go to sleep, but at approximately 3am you will be woken from your slumber and asked to do.... you've guessed it, another balls out 10k. The following morning at about 9.30am a final lap of the technically tough course will seal the strangers proposal. Finally you must give the stranger £30 after he informs you that any sleep you do manage to get between races will be in a field.

Two thousand five hundred people thought that was a great proposal and duly parted with 30 hard earned pounds in order to enter the Thunder Run  event at Catton Park.      

The Thunder Run is a 24 hour event where runners enter either as teams of between two and eight runners or if you are daring and daft enough you can go solo. The idea is to run around a tough, technical, off road course which winds, undulates and switches back several times, before returning to the start/finish area where you pass a wrist band on to your next team member. In the case of a solo entrant you pass through the start/finish area and begin your next lap.... 



Grantham Running Club entered two teams of eight runners, a fast team and a faster team. I approached this race cautiously. I've run many long distance races but I've never entered a team event and never an event that would require bursts of race speed with a few hours rest in between over a long period of time. I thought that  10k's with 4 hours rest in between wouldn't present too much of a problem. In the event I found TR24 to be just as hard as other ultras which I have finished but perhaps for different reasons. An unusual event, as I found out, throws up unusual issues all of its own. 

The Night Before The Day After.

TR24

I arrived at Catton park on Friday evening after a merry dance around the adjacent dog agility festival. As I drove around the tents I did question why so many runners had decided to bring their dogs to the event. It was the dog agility apparatus in the main arena which finally gave it away. I was on the wrong campsite. A phone call later and I was repatriated with familiar folk from the club at the campsite across the road. Adidas sponsored the event and had located a huge outdoor screen in the field adjacent to the start which would take place the following morning at midday. We spent the evening sitting on camp chairs with thousands of like minded runners watching the Olympics opening ceremony in the outdoor cinema. The atmosphere was fantastic. Surrounded by sporting folk we watched the opening of the biggest sporting event likely to take place on these shores for a long time. In addition, there was a collective undercurrent of our own anticipation spinning round the field as we too were about to start our own sporting endeavour the very next morning. I retired to the tent a little after 1am after the Olympic torch had been lit. It was very cold when I went bed and I was grateful to be sandwiched between two duvets.  

Race Day 1



Team Talk

The next morning able team Captain Sinclair rallied his team. I was to run with "Grantham Grate" we had outside hopes of a podium finish but team members who had done the event previously were aware that the event had got bigger since its inception in 2009 and so too had the quality of entrants. The raw talent of Arthur Short was supposed to be our first and strongest runner but he too had decided to have an unscheduled peek at the dog show. At a late minute I was drafted in to run the first leg alongside Helen Brown who was the first runner for Grantham's second team. 

The atmosphere from the previous night had continued. I once heard it said "if you are losing faith in human nature, go and watch a marathon" That maxim would extend to the Thunder Run. People milled about before the start visiting the trade stands, having their bodies tattooed, buying energy drinks and other merchandise and generally taking in the good nature of the event. The camaraderie of these events is to be experienced, every runner privately respecting that they, and the person alongside them is about to take part in a feat of endurance that is going to hurt but which will be lots of fun in an odd kind of way. 

The Race

At noon the klaxon sounded and I shot off at a fast pace through the grassy field. I was keen to start fast and keep up a good pace. I wanted to get clear of the masses and arrive back to give Captain Sinclair and the rest of the team the best chance of a clear run. The course was hard with endless twists, turns, switch backs, woods, grassy fields, inclines and descents. The course roughly followed the perimeter of the campsite. It had been well thought out because occasionally the route bought you through the fringes of the fields of tents where crowd support was in abundance. My first lap was completed in 44:05. I was glad to pass the band on to Stuart and have the first leg out of the way. 

Returning to the camp Scott Jones had arrived to put in a day shift which turned out to be a coupe of decent and consistent sub 49 minute laps. Arthur and Phil had also arrived and instead of pitching the tent decided to visit the trade stands and take in the atmosphere. Arthur took over from Stuart who had whizzed round his first lap in 43:17. Arthur went out in inspirational form, coming home in what turned out to be Grantham's fastest lap of the event in 41:54. Meanwhile in the second team, Helen Brown, 50:29 passed on to Robert McArdle, 48:43 who passed to Phil Hall who came home in 52:56. Things were looking good, everyone clocking good times and then enjoying the friendly atmosphere. 

Between laps runners could walk around the course cheering other team members or perhaps sit around the campsite talking and refreshing themselves for their next legs. I went out again at about 6:20pm. I went faster than leg one recording 43:35 but I began to realise that five of these laps was going to be a real challenge. The challenge was intensified when darkness fell at about 9:30 pm. Gordon Geach was having difficulty in the dark deciding whether to go to the right or left of trees and ultimately learning via a sore head that you can't go straight through them! Head torches was the order of the night. 

Into the Night



Captain Sinclair

My first night leg began at about 11:20pm. I was grateful that the darkness meant I had no choice but to run a slower pace. I had spent lots of energy on the first two laps and I couldn't have kept up the same degree of effort. I enjoyed the night section. Running through the dark woods with only distant head torches of other competitors for company was exciting. Occasionally you would pass a slower runner in front. The spirit of the event was illustrated as slower runners stood aside to let you passed and each exchanged words of encouragement.   I was a bit tired and perhaps a bit delusional during the night. I remember various fighting birds flapping aggressively in the trees. I heard them on two separate laps and was quite sure it would be a talking point back at campsite. Strangely nobody else witnessed the bird scraps and after reciting the story it prompted someone to ask me in a concerned way, if I was alright! Ben Mason arrived on Saturday evening and provided good fresh legs for the team effort clocking a solid 48:56 on his first lap. Is wasn't until Ben's third lap that he got to see the course in daylight.

I hit the sack after returning from leg three at approximately 12:30am. Other team members had also begun to get some sleep. We agreed that when returning from night legs you would be responsible for waking the person that was to take over from the runner that you had handed on to. It meant that you were woken with about 50 mins to prepare. It was at this point that things began to get really hard. I tried to sleep at 12:30am but really only manged to rest my eyes. At about 2:30am Ben Mason called me from outside the tent, "Paul, your on next" was my call, "and there's a message from Mark Hillson, he says don't wake him till at least 6am". I was confused and tired but I staggered out of my sleeping bag donned my head torch and cobbled together some running shorts and a vest. It was cold now and there was a balance to be struck between wearing enough to keep warm before the start but not to much that it took ages to remove it. I stumbled out of the tent and wondered across to the white board which had our leg times written upon it. It was lonely at camp central, everyone else was either in bed or on the course. I checked to see who I had to wake when I got back. I was surprised that Mark Hillson was due to go out at 5:45am but was certain that my instruction had been not to wake him before 6am. I had already woken him prematurely before the previous leg so I decided to ponder the issue during my fourth lap which began at 4:20am. It wasn't natural to get out of a tent at 3am and be on race start line at 4:20am. It's not natural for me to get out of bed at 3am ever. My body didn't like it one bit, my stomach was in knots, not assisted by the generous handful of chocolate covered coffee beans I had eaten as I staggered down to the start. I think it was Ben Hatherley that handed over to me and out I ran chasing dawn.



I struggled with stomach cramps and a raw throat, symptoms which I notice other runners have described on other blogs. Despite the discomfort I was lucky to run the leg into dawn. It was dark when I set off and light when I arrived back 49:05 minutes later. A favourite part of the route was a long ridge at about 8k. To the left was a view across Derbyshire and the sky was particularly spectacular as the sun began to rise in the distance. I got strobbed vision during this leg, everything began to flash with a strobe affect, I suspect it was my eyes adjusting from dark to dawn. 



Thankfully on arrival back at camp Mark was awake. Other people had begun to emerge but I was having none of it. I went straight back to my sleeping bag with kit on and again questioned the madness of trying to sleep while my heart was beating ten to the dozen and my breath was matching the pace. Other team members continued heroically through the night. There were some minor scares in the morning when stray compatriots had to be shepherded to the relay pen but nothing which slowed our progress. It had become apparent during the night that we weren't going to make the podium. We were in 11th place and had all given everything we had to the cause. Despite that, the night running had been lots of fun, for me in a surreal kind of way. 

The Morning After



Change Pen

I managed perhaps another couple of hours kip before joining the others for breakfast. I decided to get up a bit earlier for my last leg and eat earlier to try and give the porridge time to settle. I found some peppermint tea (like you do?) in my tent. I was conscious that I needed to eat for energy but my lower stomach was still hurting in a pressured kind of way and I didn't feel like eating much at all. It was reassuring to learn that I wasn't the only team member struggling, Stuart had similar symptoms and had decided not do a final leg. He passed the honour on to the heroic Ben Hatherley who had run consistently fast throughout. Although he wasn't slowing down much it was a big ask to ask to do a fifth lap so soon after completing his fourth but step up to the plate he did and ran his final lap in good spirit in an amazing time of 47:53. 

Last Lap

My last lap was a bit of a crisis which required team effort to get me round. My stomach issue had subsided by the time I got to the start of lap five at about 9:30am on Sunday morning. I was feeling quite confident but not really looking forward to the last 6 miles. I set of at a leisurely pace with the aim of just getting round in a half decent time. I learnt that there is a lot of responsibility to team events, I didn't want to let the others down. At about 3k I became very tired my stomach was hurting again and even a slow death march wasn't easy. By 5k I was experiencing food obsession. I've had this before. I think the body gets so defueled it demands food. I was ravenous, absolutely crying out for food. I staggered down to the water station and drank three cups. I had heard Sarah High say that she had previously struggled at that point and three cups of water had helped. I drank three cups but water wasn't food. I felt nauseous and I was grateful to look up the track and see team members that had come out in support. "I needed food and I wasn't joking" I told them. Although they only had cameras Mark Hillson duly obliged and managed, despite a stomach full of ale (he had completed his final lap) a sprint back to the campsite. I carried on and half a K later I saw Mark arrive over the hill like the second coming and clutching a box of jaffa cakes. God was I grateful. I took a handful and marched off increasing my speed per jaffa cake eaten. They really did go down a treat, thanks Mark. My speed increased and I felt normal again, on I ran to finish the last lap relived in 55:06. Arthur Short ran a strong penultimate lap before Ben Hatherley went out for the final time. No crisis for Ben he whipped round in 47:53 talking to most spectators and runners as he passed. The effort was worth while. I was surprised that when looking at the results that we finished 7th out of 188 teams and our second team finished 34th, both creditable performances in my view given the size of the club. 

PICS TO FOLLOW

           

     

          

   

           

Woody's Toony Trot 10K

WOODY'S TOONIE TROT 10K - 2012

Grantham Athletic & Running Club

This was a Wednesday evening trail race hosted by the unusually named Toonies Express running club,  a multi disciplined running club based at Sleaford. The race was run across a 10k course, mainly off road from Woodland Waters Camping and Leisure Park. The race reminded me of the many mid week fell races that I used to race in the Peak District, simple races for a small entry fee and designed to make the most of long summer evenings. Despite good intentions the weather on the night was not good. "The jet stream is moving" so we are told, it was obviously not moving fast enough. I returned from work intending to cycle the 6 or so miles to Woody's. No sooner had I changed when the skies opened in spectacular style. I decided to cycle anyway. It was warm in that sticky kind of way and although I was going to get wet, I knew I wouldn't get cold. I set off for Woody's before 6pm and arrived some 30 minutes later.     

Many Grantham runners had turned out and we assembled for a team photo ahead of the race start. After the start, a part circumference of a Lake took runners into a wood which came out on a typical rural track. The tractor track was to represent the majority of the route thereafter. The tracks required runners to decide whether to run in either of the dug out tyre trenches or to run across the raised centre part which was perhaps flatter but often covered in grass. The tracks were not the only obstacle on this course. Race Director Smith had warned runners during the pre race brief of the many rabbit holes hidden under knee length grass on the tracks in the upper fields. I'm usually concerned about turned ankles so I took note. 

Within a few 'K' the tractor track gave way to a tarmac road. I was able to increase the pace, thankful for a bit of even ground. The route ran over the next obstacle, the railway track. Although the race brief included an assurance that the race had been planned mindful of the rail timetable, I was later to learn that Ben Hatherley's impressive performance included a wait at the barrier for a passing train! 

After the railway came more tractor tracks up a steady incline that carried on for about the next 3 or 4 K. It was often difficult to run on the uneven ground. I was passed on the climb by Paul Davidson of Grantham AC. Running cheerily passed he pointed in the direction of a distant telecommunications mast. "That's about the turn point" I was told "there's a steep descent at about that point". The mast seemed a long way away and for the first time I was able to get the race distance into perspective. I'd gone off fairly fast and was struggling with the incline and the uneven underfoot conditions. I had pressure from a runner behind. He was close enough for me to be able to hear his breath and yet the narrow uneven path meant he would have struggled to get passed. I either had to give way or increase the pace. I increased the pace at a time when I least felt like it. 

The telecommunications mast came and a few twist and turns later bought us to the top of the promised descent. I decide I would try and rekindle my fell running pedigree. I detached mind from body and catapulted myself down the steep tarmac path with arms held high a loft for balance. The technique worked as I managed to put distance between me and the chasing racer. The track evened out on to a road. It was a fairly straight road that was to continue all the way back towards the wood near the finish. I knew there were three Grantham runners in front. I looked ahead but couldn't see them. The nearest runner was too far ahead to catch and so it was a case of maintaining a pace so as not to be overtaken. Soon I was back in the wood just as the rain began to fall again. I exited the wood before the last half lap of the lake to the finish. I was glad to finish, it was a tougher course than I had expected and I think I had mentally shortened the distance in my mind. Stuart Sinclair had the best of the Grantham runners races to finish fourth in 43:31 after a dual between himself and the runner who placed third. Ben Hatherley continues to improve finishing 5th just over a minute later. Paul Davidson ran strong in 46:11 in ninth place ahead of me in 10th with a time of 46:56. Grantham running club dominated the ladies race with Catherine Payne winning in 49:53 and Helen Brown third in 51:26. A big club turnout prompted many other good performances. Full results here. 

After the race we milled about admiring our souvenirs. Finishers received either a coaster or a wallet emblazoned with the Toonies trade mark. The rain continued to fall as I walked to retrieve my bike from the back of Ben's van (thanks Ben). The van was also used as an impromptu changing shelter from the rain, allowing athletes to put on dry clothes ahead of a well deserved pint in the leisure park's bar. I cycled home at speed chasing the light and had to resort to pavements just before Grantham.   

       

         

Peakers Stroll 2012

Callum, Tristan, nephew Seanie and me.

Torch bearer

The night before the Peaker's Stroll I went to a club barbeque and exercised self discipline so as not to drink too much alcohol. The next day I was to run 25 miles across the hills of the dark peak, taking in Mam Tor, the Great Ridge to Loosehill, a steep ascent of Win Hill before a rugged descent to Ladybower Reservoir, a climb to the Roman road and on to Jaggers Clough, Edale youth hostel, Edale, Hollins Cross, Castleton and up the familiar but never less easy Cave Dale before a trott across the moor back to Peak Forest. I have run this event on perhaps five or six previous occasions. At the same club barbeque, Jez Page of Grantham AC was also abstaining from the festivities but in his case, he had a far more onerous event to contend with,  the outlaw iron man  early the next morning!

Sunday morning bought bright sunshine, unusual for this time of year? The sky really was clear and that, coupled with the warm tempertaures lulled me into a false sense of security. I decide to pack light. I looked forward to running in shorts and t-shirt. I questioned the worth of my rain jacket but packed it just in case. I left the leggins behind and was thankful that the lack of need to gather warm kit on such a fine day mean that we left the house early for the 1 hour 45 minute drive to the heart of the Peak District. Just after passing Kelham Hall at about 8.30am I was even more grateful that we had got away quickly. I would need the extra time because our progress between Newark and Mansfield was hammpered by a bevy of cyclists taking part in none other than the Outlaw Iron Man! I guessed this must have been the race that my club compatriot was doing and we tried to spot his name on the race numbers which were stuck to the back of the competitors vests. The cyclists turned South some miles short of Mansfield. I was later to learn that the cyclists were racing over 112 miles after already having completed a 2.4 mile swim and after dismounting their saddles they would go on to run a meer marathon of 26.2 miles. That event certainly put my 25 mile jaunt round the Peak District into perspective. 

The Peaker's Stroll

Final Instuctions

We arrived at Peak Forest withtime to spare. It was good to see my nephew at registration, he had decided to turn out and run the event too, acoompanied his friends, Tristan and Callum (all fifteen years of age). In adddition, I learnt that another nephew, a niece, my brother in law and some of their friends were already out on the course having decided to set of on the walkers start two hours earlier at 9.30am.  My nephew's lack of preparation reminded me of my own naivety at his age. He had turned out in a holister t-shirt and shorts with no waterproof clothing whatsoever. I meantime was also regretting not having bought more clothes. On the journey across to Peak Forest the cloud had closed in and it was now raining and noticeably more cold than when we had left Grantham two hours earlier. 

Just before 11.30am, accompanied by familar faces from the Peak District fell running community we were ushered out of Peak Forest village hall to the green opposite. Runners were given final instructions on their respective routes before a school playground type bell was rung to signal our release on to the great and beautiful peak national park. The Peakers Stroll has 25, 17 and 9 mile route options. You can walk either route leaving at 9.30am or run from the start at 11.30am. The event is organised by the cheerful and merry members of Tideswell Male voice choir, a choir held in high regard and whose choirists seem to share a similar enthusiasm for song as stroller's do for endurance running.

Leaving Peak Forest

I led the pack of runners out of Peak Forest safe in route knowledge from previous years before being overtaken on the first ascent out of the village. At least five runners past and extended a lead to the first checkpoint. I noticed that I laboured a bit more than usual up the ascent of Mam Tor. I was concerned that I had neglected hill work in favour of the flat Lincolnshire landscape and I resolved to try and get back to the peak's for a bit more hill training ahead of the Bullock Smithy in September. I ran strong across the Great Ridge to Loose hill. I made an effort to appreciate the views. The wide and wild expanse of Kinder Scout stretched out to my left and the the picture postcard view off the hope valley provided a panoramic spectacle to my right. Steve Temple caught up with me on the Great Ridge and we ran more or less together to the summit of Loosehill. 

Familiarity Breads Contempt

As was aptly demonstrated on our descent towards Hope. We have both run this event on several occasions and I happily ran off the hill following the two runners in front that I had managed to catch in the two preceeding miles. Steve caught up halfway down the hill, "I think we are on the wrong track" he said. It looked familar to me but as we approached the next fence the runners in front stopped, turned around, looked at us and questioned "is this right?" It wasn't. Steve was right, we had taken the wrong path off Loosehill and we had to take a minor contour around the hill to pick up the correct route. 

At the checkpoint near Hope I filled my water bottle with water and an electrolyte tablet. I knew the climb up to Win Hill was hard and I wanted as much energy support as I could muster. Steve ran on as I sacrificed time for replenishment of reserves. Tracy was at the checkpoint and I was pleased to learn that I had almost caught up with my niece and nephew who had started on the walkers start at 9.30am. They were further up the ascent of Win Hill and I heard that they were trying to beat me to the summit. The rain continued to fall although I wasn't cold. The conditions were really ideal for a running, warmish with a mist of rain in the air that occasionally got stronger. 

Trig point at the top of Win Hill

I ran out of the checkpoint in pursuit of Steve and my extended family. I managed to catch Steve on the tarmac track which later gives way to a steep grass field before a rocky path leads to the castle of rocks at the summit. I pushed on to 'high five' my niece, Erin just before the rocky path and offer words of encouragement to my ten year old nephew, Conor who I met shortly afterwards. I felt strong and had a good stage to the summit. No time to waste enjoying the expansive views across Ladybower and through the Edale valley for I had to contend with a bounce through a moor of heather gorse before descending through the wood towards Ladybower reservoir.

That Wood

The wood usually poses a navigational difficulty. The wood contains many paths all of which seem to lead in different but somehow the correct direction. When I am sufficently confident that I have lost the offical route (which always happens) I simply head downwards safe in the knowledge that I will hit the track at the bottom. It is to be hoped that when you get to the track you are sufficiently close enough to the check point to see it. If not, you have to guess whether it is better to go right or left to pick it up. This year, as usual, I came out on to the track at a different place but thankfully I could see the checkpoint. I declined the offer of a chesse sandwich and ran on, still feeling strong round the flank of Ladybower reservoir to the next checkpoint, perhaps some three miles further on. I like this stretch. The reservoirs permiter track conatins loose gravel but is easy to run along. i knew I could make my recent road training count on this section. I hoped to catch up with some runners in front but they too must have been running well as the only person I encountered was Steve and he was running the other way! Despite his course experience he too made a uncharateristic navigational error or perhaps his error was following me through the heather gorse. Steve had been unable to locate the stile into the wood and instead decided to plummet himself into the wood and adopt the well tested checkpoint finding technique of "descend through the extensive wood and reassess when you get to the track". Sadly Steve's descent had discharged him some yards short and he was retracking back along to check in. 

Choir singer meets endurance runner in crime hit car park

After the next check point I took a straight line through the trees. I was over half way by now and the steep ascent took it out of me. I was glad to get to the top and run on through the stream at Jagger's Clough and along the lower side of Kinder towards Edale Youth Hostel. On the way to the youth hostel the rain got much stronger, I was running in shorts and t-shirt and I got flash backs to the LDWA 100 which had taken place in similar conditons a few weeks earlier. I stopped at the YH and put on my perspex pertex rain jacket. 

I was glad to get to the car park at Edale train station, a quick drink and I was off on the penultimate leg which involves an ascent of Hollins Cross, directly over the Great Ridge which we had run across earlier and down to the village of Castleton. After leaving Edale I could see to the top of Hollins Cross but I couldn't identify any runners to catch. I knew I was fourth runner and I felt like I had strength to pass any runners in front that might be tiring. I ran, power walked, walked and ran up Hollins Cross and then descended steadily before a strong run into the village, still no sign of those in front. I checked in and again sacrificed a bit of time for fuel before heading off on the monotomous slog up Cave Dale towards the finish. The jacket had come off now although the rain still hung in the air. I passed some of the 17 mile entrants on the way up Cave Dale and exchanged pleasentaries with Anne and Vaughan Wade who had successfully completed the same 100 which had resulted in my DNF. I picked up the pace at the top of Cave Dale and headed out on to the open moor at the summit. I still couldn't see any compatriots in front and I dare not look behind. I knew Steve was running well and although I hadn't seen him since Ladybower, I knew he wouldn't be far behind. I negotiated a heard of cows that were protecting a gate, hopped the stile and ran down the final track to the field which leads through to the village edge and on to the village hall. I finished in 3 hours and 57 minutes. I felt my energy reserves deplete during the final couple of miles and was grateful to find a seat next to the cake tables. The mini scones with jam and cream went down a treat. I ate two before ordering asparagus soup, more cake and two cups of tea. Steve arrived just minutes behind ruing his woodland jaunt. 

Erin, Conor, me and their Dad - a fine achievement!

After basking in tea, cakes and personal satisfaction we went back out on the course to encourage the children through the final stages. Callum was first back followed by Sean and Tristan in 6 hours 15 minutes. Conor, Erin and their Dad followed some hours later but all made if safely round a tough route to acccomlish a great achievement given their respective ages.

We travelled back to Grantham in the evening and during the journey we learnt that Jez Page had successfully completed his ironman in a sub 13 hour time. Nice one Jez!  

          

                 
A few more pics here.

       

       

  

Summer Solstice 10k - Long Bennington

For a 10k race that took place the day after the summer solstice the weather in the preceding week was poor. Race day bought showers and overcast conditions. By the evening, the rain had stopped and the cool temperatures made for ideal running conditions apart from a brisk wind on the exposed parts of the course.

Robert & Helen ahead of the start

I didn't run this race. It was a club race and so I offered to assist. Being closer to the organising team helped me to appreciate the level of work that goes on behind the scenes. Committee meetings had taken place at regular intervals for the preceding six months. An army of volunteers had been drafted in to help with, marshaling, catering, results, the start, the finish and everything in between. I was particularly surprised to be sent the official, accredited race distance measuring certificate and associated documentary measurement evidence. A  certifyer apparently measures a course on a bicycle and the pursuit of accuracy includes blowing the tyres up to a precise amount of millibars before setting off!

On Friday afternoon I helped set up the course placing "K" signs at regular "K" intervals. In between the K's were directional arrows and signs to warn motorists of the runners who would be gracing the tarmac a few hours later. In addition to race organisation there are a multitude of other bodies which need to be either recruited or kept on side, the highways department, the police, the parish council, St John Ambulance and not forgetting, the burger man and the beer man. The race signs were affixed to the side of the road, steaks stuck in the ground as far as they would go to give them the best chance of surviving the gusty wind which seemed to be increasing. After the race was set up I escaped to pick up Tracy, another willing volunteer.

Lead car & Ropsley Road Runner 

An hour before race start we were back. The atmosphere was building. Race participants were gathering outside. Inside Long Bennington village hall participants gazed sometimes anxiously pondering the 6,5 mile run which lay ahead. I assisted with the inflatable finish gantry. Despite sand bags used to weigh it down, we also tied the huge inflatable to the fence posts to make sure it didn't blow away in the gusty wind that was still blowing. The finish funnel was built and then unbuilt to allow access for an important man, the beer man. The funnel was re built and again dismantled to allow access to another privileged guest, the burger man. The beer man was able to command instant access just by miming the act of knocking a pint back from inside his car. "it's the beer man" I heard someone say, "let him in". Race directors McArdle and Roberts looked relaxed, they milled about directing the final preparations ahead of moving the assembled athletes up the road to the start

I was grateful to be allocated the easy job of assisting in the lead car. I watched in the wing mirror as the race was started at 7:15pm. An ensemble of colourful runners bobbed towards us in a small swarm of energy. The driver used skill to keep enough distance from the leader to avoid choking him with exhaust fumes whilst not compromising his safety. I was supposed to get out at and assist a marshall that was by himself. I never found him, he had positioned himself  far off the course and later wondered why runners didn't pass the lane corner where he stood. Matt Whitfield of Notts AC forged a lead which got bigger as the first 3k progressed. The lead was ultimately to be extended and maintained all the way to the finish. Matt was first back in a time of 33:32. It was exciting watching from the lead car as he extended his lead from the chasing pack. An effortless running style disguised the work that must have been devoted to the race. At the finish the next closest competitor was almost two minutes behind. Rebbecca Taylor was first in the ladies race in a time of 39:18. First Grantham Athlete was Ben Hatherley with Catherine Payne taking the female V45 class prize. 

Deflatable

Post race as competitors washed down burgers with specially commissioned solstice ale, I assisted data entry of the results. Within the first page we hit a snag that required us locating the second female to cross the line. In a disguised fashion we approached fast looking female racers to ask "how they got on?" Thankfully race director McArdle located the required runner and the race number issue was resolved enabling the presentation to take place shortly afterwards. The runners came, the runners ran and then the runners left. The host of helpers mobilised again for respective race clear up duties. I helped dismantle the inflatable gantry along with other helpers who reignited latent child desires by jumping around on the deflating gantry in some cases narrowly avoiding injury! The village hall was cleared and cleaned. The plug was pulled on the burger van (who's owner was apparently in the pub) and off we went for a post race celebration which went onto the night and then into the morning.

The post race reviews confirm that the event passed swimmingly with good racing a few Pb's and satisfied runners who seemed to enjoy the event. One for the diary in 2013.

   

    

    

Summer Solstice Race - Friday 22nd June 2012

A quick plug for this excellent race, organised by the illustrious Grantham Athletics Club.

Friday night Race

Bottle of ale for each finisher

Fast course

Beginner friendly

Race start - Long Bennington (just off A1 between Newark and Grantham).

This Friday - 7:15pm

LDWA 100 - DNF

Lonely registration

There are a few excuses  but the bottom line is that I wasn't mentally tough enough to run 100 miles. I have learnt a lot from my first attempt at the distance, experience which I will use on my next attempt.

I had imagined a busy scene of like minded runners at the start of the 100 at Gainsborough Primary School in Hackney, East London. Instead I met the only other 2pm starter, Iain Connell who was intending to walk. Iain had decided to start at 2pm in order to be able to access Windsor Park gates before they were locked. He could then walk the final part of the 100 mile route up 'the long walk' a straight road leading to Windsor Castle. The start of the big event was an anti climax, Iain, myself and a gaggle of supporters all drinking tea on the third floor of an empty east London primary school whilst waiting for the clock to move closer to 2pm on Saturday afternoon.

Iain Connell and I at the start olympic stadium in b/g

Shortly before 2pm we were escorted through the streets of East London to the official start at White Post Bridge. The organiser was particularly keen that we appreciate the view of the Olympic stadium before turning our backs on it to focus on the road ahead, the road that would be the start of the first mile of the Long Distance Walkers Association 100 mile event. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the LDWA. I felt slightly embarrassed to turn and shake Iain's hand. I knew I was about to leave him and felt on an odd sense of loyalty given that we were the only two people present who were about to undertake the task ahead. I wished him well before the organiser released us and I ran away from both men and accompanying supporters into the streets of London on a sunny but overcast day. It felt surreal. I had just begun the biggest event of my running career yet it was a lower key start than I ever could have imagined. I had run away from my only compatriot leaving him to walk alone.

Good fuel

I ran through Victoria Park, getting used to reading the 36 page route description which was to detail every turn and twist of the forthcoming route. I ran against a tide of Londoners and tourists that were arriving in the park to participate in what looked like a live music event. Soon I was on the Grand Union Canal. I reminisced about my time running along a different strech of the same canal in West London during a spell living in the capital some years earlier. The Grand Union Canal gave way to Lime House Basin and on to Canary Wharf Tower. I passed right underneath the apartments where we had stayed the night before the London Marathon. I had no idea in April that I would tread the same route two months later as part of the 100 mile event. On to Obika restaurant. The route description had intrigued me by suggesting that we would pass through the restaurant. We did. Through the glass revolving doors over the restaurant plaza, me in my running shorts and back pack passing  through latte drinkers and out the other side. This was weird running. The Greenwich pedestrian tunnel under the Thames added to the strangeness of the opening stage. I ran zig zagging tourists then walked quickly up the stairs at the other side and out to Cutty Sark. I felt like I didn't belong to an event I was simply by myself running through crowds of tourists , enjoying myself but having to remind myself that this was serious business, I was doing the 100. 

Landmark

As each page of the route description ended I therapeutically took it out of the A4 folder in which it was carried. I ripped up each page and deposited it in the nearest bin. A great comfort was finding hundreds of other identical pages of the route description in the same bins, evidence that other participants had passed earlier in the day. It felt like I was following a Hansel and Gretal trail but the bins were a comforting reminder that I was on the right track. Occasionally I thought about Iain walking behind me and wondered if he would yet have passed through Victoria Park. I knew there was approximately 500 people in front, perhaps 4 hours in front. I questioned when I would catch up with the back markers.

The route then followed along the Southern bank of the Thames, past the Old Royal Naval College and eventually on to the Thames Barrier. I was running strong at this point. I was benefiting from the lack of pressure, running solo but still feeling isolated by my remoteness from the rest of the event. I remember being glad to reach one of the first check points at Millwall Rugby Club and for the first time in ages I was reminded that I was actually taking part in an organised event. The checkpoint was billed as "splash and dash". I splashed my water bottle and dashed off towards the second checkpoint at Meridian Sports Club near Greenwich.   I was getting used to the abbreviations on the route description and was encouraged that I could read a few lines ahead and keep running. At CP 2 still no sign of any back markers in fact I was told that the last person had left over an hour earlier. I got lost between CP 2 and CP 3. I crossed Eltham Common and came out at the wrong end. I ran around the perimeter before fighting through bushes in an attempt to get back on to the common but the thicket was too dense. I was a bit disheartened, perhaps 16 miles in and I had already got lost. Eventually I asked a passing pedestrian the way to Shooters Hill, he obliged, I ran on and reorientated myself with the route description shortly afterwards phew!

The main pack

CP3 at Mottingham Scout HQ arrived and I was glad to see Tracy who had benefited from a shopping trip to the vast Westfield Centre adjacent to the start in Stratford East London. Here I was to realise the vast amounts of food layed on for entrants which was to continue through the event. Biscuits, cakes, sweets, fruit, custard and all manner of cold and hot drinks. I was now 18.2 miles in and feeling great. I was excited about the anticipation of gaining on the field of participants in front. The route then headed South towards Surrey. The urban sprawl of Greater London gave way to cricket fields and railway tracks, woods and country parks.

I don't remember the route in detail after this. I do remember getting lost in a wood again and it taking me a while to re orientate myself, again, with the help of a passing pedestrian. I began to pick up the back marker walkers after perhaps 25 miles and I was glad to at last feel part of the event. I recall passing over lots of railway lines and I questioned where so many lines could lead. It was great to be following a route description through areas that I had never travelled. Navigating the woods was challenging and there were endless dogs to negotiate but no harm caused.

I ran into CP 5 at Biggin Hill and was surprised. It was very busy, I had managed to catch up with the 10am walkers. It was going dusk outside and it had begun to rain. My spirits were high. I had run 30 miles and felt strong upbeat and excited. I was now part of the event at last. I felt sorry for Iain miles behind. I didn't dwell at Biggin Hill. I was keen to get as far as possible before the night set in. I wanted to get to another checkpoint before donning my head torch and night clothes. I left the checkpoint and was surprised that the rain had turned heavier. I retrieved my Ronhill perspex jacket and pulled it over my buff which I had fastened over my head. I ran on to Woldingham Scout hut and was surprised that in that six mile leg I had got wet through. The dark had fallen and in hindsight during that six miles I experienced the first hint of demoralisation. Each checkpoint was getting busier and I noticed some other walking participants looking increasingly tired. Between checkpoints I was passing lots of walkers and I hoped they didn't find me big headed running past them at times when perhaps they too were beginning to feel the strain of the event.

Someone escaped for a kip behind that red curtain

It was now very dark I was wearing my head torch. the rain continued to fall and the route began crossing through endless woodland tracks. The route description had mentioned the chalk stone characteristics of the area. The chalk stone trails were awash. It was difficult to read the route description because I kept having to wipe the rain from the map case and direct my breathing away from my head lamp to direct the breath mist elsewhere. Progress inevitably slowed and I found it occasionally easier to sit behind walking packs until I could summon the energy to pass. Running was becoming increasingly difficult due to the dark, the difficulty reading the route descriptions, the muddy wet slushy underfoot conditions and the various walking packs that I encountered on the trail. I wasn't absolutely down beat at this point but I remember things were getting harder and I was getting slower. At the checkpoint at Merstham Village Hall I woolfed two plates of macaroni cheese on toast, it tasted amazing. I sat next to a runner who was demoralised. He was considering sleeping to see if the rain might stop. He disappeared shortly afterwards and I think he went behind a curtain on the stage to get his head down. I left back into the rain. At one point I crossed a valley and looked behind. I could see a progressive line of head torches milling their way down towards the remote country valley perhaps a mile behind me in the pitch black and along the route which I had just run.

A typical woodland trail but dry.

The leg to Boxhill at 52 miles was were it began to fall apart. I was soaked and cold. I had struggled up a washy muddy incline to the checkpoint and taken a minor wrong turn at the top. It was soon rectified but I questioned what would have happened if I had got lost in the wood. I staggered into the checkpoint and moaned to Tracy. I think she was surprised that I had become down beat so soon. I was now well into the night, in fact not far off dawn. I ate. It tasted even better than the macaroni cheese. The treat this time was cheese on toast followed by a few plates of carrot cake and anything else I could find washed down by tea. I had been taking electrolyte drinks through the day and felt well hydrated, tea and coffee was now a welcome alternative. The checkpoint was busy but I was surrounded by tired looking walkers. After food warmth and tea I felt much better and was ready to face the outdoors but I didn't much fancy going back into the woods I was getting sick of them. All the tracks looked the same and the swelly underfoot conditions had slowed me down. I left the checkpoint and walked briskly down the road. Immediately after leaving the check point my warmth was lost and I began to shiver. I was still wearing my perspex wind jacket over a running bear fleece jumper with a t-shirt underneath. It wasn't enough. I tried to jog down the road but my teeth chattered and in and admittedly wimpish way I began to worry that I might go back into the wood get cold and have to retreat to the checkpoint by which time my support would have left. I turned round and ran back to the car still and professed for the first time that I was going to quit. I'd run 52 miles I was tired, cold, wet and miserable (nothing in hindsight that everyone else who finished the event would also likely have been feeling) but Tracy wasn't having any of it. I took her support in the offer of her proper North face jacket. i was reminded that I wanted to at least run into dawn, My my sight was directed towards the sky. Tracy was right, there was a hint of blue. If I could carry on I would likely run a leg into the morning. Dawn might pick up my spirits. I tried again running along the road and back into that bloody horrible wood.

Misery

Only a mile later I was too warm, unzipping the zip of the North Face and again feeling more upbeat. My legs were tired but that wasn't a surprise. Dawn was gradually becoming and sure enough my spirits lifted ever so slightly. The rain continued to hammer down and the new jacket quickly became engulfed. Sadly at some point in the next wood I took a further wrong turn. I was trying not to stop and read the route description so much in an effort to keep warm but the plan backfired. I became suspicious after I stopped gaining and passing walkers in front. The trail became remote and once again It felt like I had become detached from the event. I was high on a cliff and I recognised that I should have been running parallel but miles below somewhere near Boxhill Country park. Eventually I reorientated myself and took a very steep descent to the 'A' road below. I had missed a self clip and had to retreat to find it. It was a bad time to get lost and felt worse to have to be running against a tide of walkers explaining that I had missed the self clip. Some miles later I passing them again in the right direction but I was again getting cold, demotivated and miserable.

The end

More relentless woodland paths continued until I reached the next CP at the idyllic setting of Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel, 57  miles into the route and deep in the wood. It was surreal approaching the checkpoint at perhaps 6am. The CP was adjacent to a white cottage building. Wooden benches stood inside gazebos which graced the grass lawn providing a kind of shelter from the incessant rain. I was offered a hot dog. I accepted. It came and out and was given to someone else by accident, just the luck I needed. I ordered another and wolfed it down. I was too tired to talk to the man next to me. he looked rough, pale and sleepy, his head was in his hands. I watched inquisitively, slightly concerned when all of a sudden he raised his head and declared "That's it, I want to quit". The CP staff reminded him that this was not a roadside check point and he couldn't really quit as there was no way of getting him out. I had seen enough. I retrieved my ruck sac and walked back out into the rain. I was cold again the path was a wash with streams of water and I staggered on at a slow pace up the adjacent hill. I don't remember running much through the next leg. It was now well light and had been for some hours. My initial raised spirits were long forgotten. I wasn't able to run fast enough to keep warm. the North face jacket was now in the same state as the Ronhill perspex which had been abandoned earlier. I had become obsessed with the route description "ahead 90 yards" was acceptable, "ahead 400 yards" wasn't.   I'd had enough. I was not prepared to keep going in these conditions for another 12 hours plus. I was approaching 63.4 miles and had been out for 18 hours. It was approaching 8am. I began running at 2pm the day before. "Where the hell was Iain?", I wondered, surely he will have quit too? I rolled into the checkpoint at Belmont School and before Tracy had chance to acknowledge me I professed with great certainty and confidence, "That's it, don't try to convince me I've had enough". She didn't, apparantly I was convincing. 

Wet foot

I took my shoes off and assessed the damage. My feet were wrinkled with the rain and I had a few blisters around the ankles. The wool socks had burnt the top of my feet and it felt mighty good to have them exposed. During breakfast I spotted a familiar face, Jerzy George Matuszewski, a familiar face from events in the Peak District, an every time finisher of my favourite event the Bullock Smithy and a definite strong man. I knew George would not approve of my retirement. I tried to hide as he approached but my body was too stiff to bend below the table. His eyes fixed upon me recognising me with a tilt of his head "what are you doing here?" I explained that I had started at 2pm and thus caught up the main pack of the 10am starters. "Great how you feeling?" I explained that I had just retired. To his credit George tried to get me to continue and walk with him. George is a 'lively'character. He can talk. He is perhaps not the most couth person you could happen across. In common with many long distance walkers George's mental mechanism is perhaps slightly challenged. I say that in the best possible sense, for it is such mental skeewiffness which I think enables participants to carry on when sensible, rational thought tells you to stop. I obviously think too sensibly at the first sign of difficulty. Either way I declined George's offer of companionship several times before it was accepted. After that came the heckling, "wimp" he exclaimed "wimp" "wimp" all the way back to his chair on the opposite side of the room. I didn't care, I was too tired to be bothered but it did trigger a few others to offer support and encouragement which signalled the good nature of the event. Just before I left I noticed the participant from the previous check point who had wanted to quit in the forest. A vehicle had obvioulsy got into him as he was sat looking much better at Belmont.

The Retirement

When I retired I was quite sure the majority of the field would be doing the same. I was wrong. Out out of 488 started 383 finished. I think I got overtaken by an unrealistic view of how bad conditions were. It was wet which made me cold but that's all. In hindsight I wished I had taken a fully waterproof running jacket, that would have helped. I also would in hindsight have preferred to start at 10am and feel  part of the event and run with people of similar ability. It might have helped to group with those of similar ability during the night. I never caught the runners that started at 10am. Make no mistake about it even if the matters above were addressed I might not have finished. I have to improve mental strength and refuse to accept demorolization. The biggest disappointment is knowing that I will probably not get the chance to do such an easy urban course again. Next year's event is across Dartmoor and the year after the Welsh Valley's I don't much feel like being demoralised in either location!

Thank you to all the people that organised the event. The organisation must be colossal. Different regional groups of the LDWA run the different checkpoints, the support and encouragement of the volunteers is second to none.

As for my sole 2pm starting compatriot Iain the results show that he made it to CP 14 at 81.9 miles. I have no idea how he managed to get that far after starting at 2pm and walking I am surprised he wasn't timed out, perhaps he was.....I hope he wasn't.

Next year's event details are found here

                                             

LDWA 100 preview

I feel woefully under prepared to run 100 miles but I doubt that I would ever approach a 100 mile event feeling anything better. I haven't run 100 miles before but I know plenty of people that have. It is certainly achievable. The Long Distance Walker's Association is a well organised association of occasionally eccentric people with the common interest of walking long distances in rural, mountainous or moorland areas. Each year the LDWA puts on a 100 mile event which is organised by different regional branches of the Association. This year's event is a bit out of the ordinary because parts of the route take place in urban settings, none more so than the start in the east of central London, just adjacent to the Olympic stadium. Most LDWA events welcome runners. Its important for me to remember that the Association promotes the interests of walkers but its great that runners are accepted and both walkers and runners in my experience exist easily side by side. in my view,both runners and walkers have ultimate respect for each other. Perhaps the walkers respect comes from a marvel of runners ability to do events quickly whilst runners respect the walkers who are often still on their feet marching for hours longer and when the runners are safely tucked up in bed.  

This year's 100 celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Association, the Jubilee and the Olympics. The route is summarised here. In short, it begins outside the Olympic stadium, passes through the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames, through South London and out into Surrey where I expect the terrain to become tougher but more picturesque. Eventually, at the risk of mentally shortening an epic route the trail ends at Windsor Castle. I hope to run the event in less than 30 hours. In honesty I just hope to finish.

I have no idea if I can run 100 miles. I have run 56 miles a few times, in addition I have a few other ultra events under my belt, the Manx Mountain Marathon, the Osmotherly Phoenix, the Marlborough Downs Challenge and the sadly defunct Cloud Seven Circuit to name a few. That endurance experience and training through the years should help but I'm under no illusions 100 miles is a different kettle of fish. I know its achievable, many ultra runners will run 100 mile courses with the same regularity of running a marathon. In the States the 100 mile scene seems more developed.

If you want to read an interesting blog about proper UK ultra running see Nick Ham's blog here to get a perspective of how serious ultra runners really put in the miles. Nick has just completed race 4 of 12 in the UK Ultra run series and just as an aside from all of that he will line up in London to run the 100 next Saturday. I asked Nick for some advice "don't stop unless you are mortally injured" was the part I can remember, I've taken that on board, thanks Nick and I hope that those shorts make a Jubilee appearance!

The best part of approaching an LDWA event is that there is little pressure. I was completely psyched ahead of the London Marathon and obsessed to get a good time. I see the 100 as a shot to nothing, an adventure, a 30 hour journey. I hope to be able to keep going as least as long as sunrise. I've night run before but I can't remember running into dawn and I hope if I get that far that I am somewhere where I can appreciate it. On an LDWA event time is secondary to finishing, competition goes behind camaraderie with your running peers. All of that adds to a great atmosphere of collective self challenge in the pursuit of a daft goal.     

The organisation of an event like this must be colossal. I have already had the benefit of the a specially constructed website. I have printed off a 36 page route description. I have bought three of the specially commissioned Harveys maps which delineates the route, one for my navigation, one momento for the wall and one for Tracy to be able to find and support me during the event. In addition I have had regular e-mail updates from the organisers all of which gives me confidence that I can look forward to what I hope is a running ambition realised between the 2nd-4th June. If I make it I'll post here with a report to follow. Good luck everybody!      

PS - If you get chance, have a gander at the YOUTUBE clip of last years finishers for a flavour of the great atmosphere of these events and see the interviews with some of the characters that make the LDWA such a great association of hardy, stoic people. (especially the disorientated chap at 26:32!).   

 

   

Fast Girls The Movie

Running has taken me to many strange places but perhaps none more so than Lee Valley Leisure centre on a cold wet, dark, December morning at 6am and the warmth of the Curzon Cinema at Mayfair in London some five months later.

Last year, I was contacted by a casting assistant to see If I would be interested in taking parts as an athlete in the background of a soon to be shot film. I had a bit of experience of film extra work when I was a student and so decided to apply. it was a shot to nothing, it was years since I'd done anything creative. I knew from experience that unless you ticked all the boxes for the requirements that the Director was looking for and made yourself freely available at short notice I probably wouldn't have been selected to take part. I thus ticked boxes indicating that I could do most sports and was available more or less when ever the Director wanted me. Off went my application form accompanied by the picture which illustrates the start of this blog.  I was half surprised to receive an e-mail some weeks later confirming that not only had I been picked to take part in the film but i had also been selected to take the part of an athlete in the GB team.

Fast Girls is a film about a white girl from a settled, perhaps privileged background that has an intense rivalry and dislike of a black athlete from a troubled background from an inner city estate. Both athletes are placed on the same relay team, there are fireworks before they make friends and learn to compete together. The film follows a simple plot, its family friendly has a brilliant sound track and should do well at the box office as a 'feel good' film ahead of the Olympics. 

I arrived at Lee Valley at 6am after waking at the YHA at Chesnut about an hour earlier. Film sets are strange places. The quiet of the Lee Valley sports complex car park was broken by the sound of generators brimming away at the back of the large film equipment lorries and the adjacent actors caravans. After meeting one of the crew I was directed to the breakfast van. I knew from experience that film extra work involves lots of waiting around but the quality of the mobile catering makes up for it. I helped myself to a full English breakfast and wandered still in the dark back through the lorries flanking each side of the roadway to the double decker van which I had been asked to wait in, it was very very cold. Soon after breakfast I was taken to wardrobe and fitted out with a flash pair of Adidas spikes. I had been asked to wear Adidas clothes and the wardrobe director seemed satisfied with my black leggings and running top. The inside of the wardrobe van was laden with all manor of sports gear. A whole lorry full of quailty sports gear ready to kit out the cast. 

I was then taken into the sport complex to wait to be called on to set. The sun was now starting to rise. Lee Valley is one of the training facilities for the GB athletics team. The quality of the facilities were second to none. During the day I saw various elite athletes including long jumper Chris Tomlinson arrive 'for work', and train. The athletes can take a coaching session or do their own drills on the 400m indoor track or upstairs along a 100m straight. Physios work adjacent to the track and masseurs are available as when an athlete decides they need to be pummelled. Also adjacent to the track are stretch and toning sessions, again freely available to athletes that want to take part. "What a great life", I thought. The athletes arrived at 9am with the same familiarity of any other 9-5er and it was strange to see first hand, how, for these select few, this really was their day job.

Action!  (Marlon in foreground)

Sadly adjacent to all that was going on, things for me were taking a down turn, my decision to tick all of the boxes on the application form in an effort to get the part came back to haunt me big time. I was asked to wait with two other male athletes. Both were big, black, strapping, ripped, tall athletes. I dwarfed in comparison to them. I felt inadequate merely sitting next to them, then the Assistant Director paid a visit and things got much worse. "Hello, you must be Leon the long jumper" she said pointing to the first colossus,  "and you must be Marlon, the triple jumper", her finger then swirled around the air a couple of times before landing squarely pointing at me "and you must be Paul the high jumper!". I kind of smiled or maybe grimaced. The last time I high jumped was at high school. I didn't even know how to set the bar. I couldn't remember the fosbury flop technique and I wasn't sure my body would stand up to it in any event. I had imagined that they would have wanted to me to run around the track a few times in the background not compete in the high jump, I simply wasn't up to it. I couldn't back out, I had ticked all the boxes promising that I was a top class athlete at most sports including high jump. I had to face the consequences. The Assistant Director left after explaining that we would be called soon to go outside on to the track to be filmed doing our respective sporting disciplines. It turned out that Leon and Marlon were younger than me although their bodies looked far more developed. They were both excelling at their respective sports representing their counties and competing to be selected for the national  team. Both were right at the top of their games. I remember them asking me at one point what my diet was like. "was it high carbs or high protein" I wasn't brave enough to confess that I was a steady recreational runner and so went with it, "yeah, high carbs and lots of fruit and fibre". Every time I stood up I had to suck my beer belly in. I rounded my shoulders and sucked in my cheeks in a vain attempt to compete with their chiseled tuned bodies. I made frequent trips to the toilet where I phoned Tracy who was at work, pleading with her to look up youtube videos of forsby floppers to remind me of the technique. Marlon and Leon had asked me if i would accompany them in a drill of "high knees" to warm up when we got outside. I went back to the toilet to phone and find out what they were and what it involved. Make no mistake I was petrified. I was about to face humiliation on a major film set. Filming takes time and time is money, I knew the Director wouldn't tolerate a joker in the background trying to forsby over a bar a few inches high with no technique. I honestly questioned whether it would be better to run back to the car and drive off. "I won't see these people again" I thought. in the end I rode it out deciding to keep to my commitment, thank fully the weather saved me during the morning period, it was raining and freezing cold outside and as the film was set in summer filming was postponed for lunch. Lunch was similarly good quality stir fry followed by sponge pudding and custard, I was too nervous to enjoy it.

After lunch I was pleased to learn that filming had been rescheduled because of the weather and instead of external track scenes we would be shooting inside. I was involved in a  scene where I had to sit in a rest area talking to Marlon as the lead actors did their thing adjacent to us, the camera was behind me as I mimed. The scene was shot and re shoot a few times and then I was back to the waiting area where I sat for the rest of the day. I left Lee Valley at about 5pm the feeling of relief that my lack of high jump skills hadn't been noticed was immense. I drove north out of London chuckling to myself at the closeness of my shave with embarrassment. 

Two weeks ago i was surprised to receive an e-mail from the Assistant Director inviting me to the cast and crew screening of the film. I spent yesterday morning at the elegant and traditional Curzon Cinema at Mayfair watching one of the first showings of the movie that is due to be released on the 15th June. The film's well worth a watch, the best part for me was the music and the simple script. The director spoke before the film to thank the cast and crew. At the end of the show there was a rapturous applause which i hope is reflected in similar satisfaction when the film comes to the big screen in a few weeks time. The final surprise came as the titles rolled and my name appeared in the credits I hadn't expected that, thankfully I was wasn't credited as 'lead high jumper' The whole thing was a great experience the crew and cast were very friendly and I hope the film does well.