Race Reports

Medoc - September 2004 - A Marathon with a difference

8000 runners "racing" through the worlds top vineyards - Lafite Rothschild, Lynch Bages, Mouton Rothschild , Latour ....

If you want a PB don’t do it - but if you want a two day festival of wine with a 26 mile run thrown in - then this is the one to go for .

Starting & finishing at the sea front town of Paulliac, the course winds its way through the vineyards of the Medoc past - :

You may just have to wear fancy dress; it is almost compulsory with over 90% of the non elite runners in an array of fantastic costumes

This is an event that several members of the club have done over the past few years and is highly recommended as an excellent weekend away in France

2004 saw Ted, Colin (Medoc virgins) Alan and myself set off in high spirits to do honour to the club (it should be noted that in this context honour is not doing a PB but coming in just inside the cut off time, having tasted and danced our way around) - we should have been joined by Tim G - a long time aficionado of this event but unfortunately he was laid low with food poisoning (acquired before setting of) and had to return home early - sorely missed by all

This year was hot and humid and our hats and shirts kept in too much heat - lesson for next year NO hats and a thinner costume - Not sure that the French fully understood Morris Dancers but that didn’t matter we looked the part! (Past years have seen Marlborough as Convicts, Tarzan & Jane, Knights of St John - any good ideas welcome for future years!)

The start is an amazing carnival of costumes, colour, music with over 40 different nationalities and languages plus a large dose of entente cordiale. Each year the organisers put on something different to entertain us - this year drummers who having marched through the crowd were lifted high above the start line by a massive crane - too hard to describe but just go look at the photos! - What an atmosphere - And we're off ... slowly.

Our usual pact is no tasting until we had reached the 20km mark - however such good intentions were quickly put to one side when at only 4km we ran through one of The Top Chateaux - Pichon Longville who this year offered an excellent white wine - really good. Now with 8000 runners you would expect plastic cups but most wine tasting stations serve their wine proudly in glasses! I can report that Alan, Ted and Colin stopped at 18 out of the 21 wine tasting stations and rumours were that Colin had 3 oysters (at about 38km). All around the course there are more water and food stations, (with fruit & cake), than any other race I know and without exception the marshals and helpers were wonderful - they really want to give you the best day possible- with your name boldly printed on your number encouraging shouts are never far away

The pace was slow - no, very slow as I was just simply not fit enough to run 26 miles - by 30km I was walking - albeit faster than some around me could run and we finished in a glorious 5hrs 58mins - to put this in context more than 2500 runners were behind us ( we were 5546th out of 7908 finishers) - The guys were great and never abandoned me despite my snail like progress - heat, wine and running in fancy dress took its toil on all of us in different ways but - we had a great time.

But the finish is only the beginning :- a runners tent offering free food, beer and wine Plus dancing - if you have any energy left - and most people seem to find that last reserve - plus lots of different eateries and entertainment all along the sea front and - to top it all off at 11.30pm there is a splendid firework display

The entry fee isn't cheap - 80 Euros but for that you get not only a fantastic marathon - the runners tent at the end , fireworks but a fantastic goodie bag - a bottle of wine and this year is was a rucksack, fleece & t shirt! , you can park nearby, spectators have a good time.

Sunday provides another opportunity to show how fit we are when for a small additional payment (30 Euros for walk and lunch ) there is a " recuperation walk" for runners and supporters of approx 10km though yet more vineyards with some wine tasting en route - followed by an optional lunch - with virtually limitless wine in a large marquee with yet more dancing!

This really is a weekend festival of wine with a run and walk thrown in for good measure -

Flights to Bordeaux can be fairly cheap - depends on when you book, if you want to get accommodation relatively close to Paulliac you need to book early although hotels near Bordeaux Airport can be found much later on.

Date for next year September 10th 2005

This was my third Medoc and totally recommended

Yately Yomp Adventure Race - Clare Padfield

Earlier this year my so called friend Rachael suggested I join her a team for an adventure race - the amusingly entitled "Yately Yomp" on 2nd October 2004. Advertised as an event for adventure race novices, it turned out to be some what different in reality. After totally failing to undertake the necessary training over the Summer for the event, I was woefully unprepared for the fun (!) that is adventure racing. The venue was Gibralter Barracks in Surrey and to get in we had to go through security checks. Had I known what the day would bring, I would have told the nearest squaddie that I was Osama Bin Ladin's long lost sister and spent the day blissfully curled up in a centrally heated cell. But there was to be no escape. There were 110 teams, each comprising of three idiots, at the start, and the day enfolded as follows.

It started with a 3km run to collect life jackets. A short stretch of a ski challenge followed and we then dumped our life jackets in the "transition " zone i.e. the car park, and jumped on our mountain bikes - I first considered consider quitting at this point when I realised that no one else had stabilisers on their bike! We then had to cycle 24km - 2 laps - up steep hills, down hills, up even steeper hills, down more hills,through mud, through very deep puddles, past bleeding semi conscious fellow competitors, over logs, between trees, in my case, in the trees, round bushes, in bushes etc. After almost 2 hours of this my leg muscles were burning, my bum went beyond numb, my knuckles were lily white and I must admit I was, for most of this time, absolutely terrified. But to look on the bright side, I suspect that after two hours of relentless pounding I may possibly have shifted some cellulite. (N.B. Chaps- if you don't know what this is, ask the nearest girlie!)

Once the cycle ride mercifully ended we returned to the transition zone, where I once again seriously considered quitting, while stuffing a banana in my mouth. We then started a 10km run wearing the life jacket. The run took us through woods, past signs saying do not stray off paths - explosives!, over hills, through long grass, over a small man made beach used by the army for amphibious landing, where I was worried I might be mistaken for a small, very slow moving tank. We followed the red markers until they ran out at the waters edge. Where now, we asked the marshall. He pointed at the lake. We had to wade across. This would have been ok if the race was held in July instead of October and if I was 6ft 1 instead of 5ft 1. I got out the otherside a colder, wetter & even more miserable woman.

We then had to run to a small bay where we expected to find some kayaks ready to go for a 1 mile row . Instead, incredibly, we found that we were expected to swim 25m across the lake, and then make numerous pathetic attempts to climb into our inflatable kayaks while standing in the water. I suppose that we should be grateful that they had already blown them up for us. We then attempted to row the kayaks for 1 mile across the lake. However it was rather a windy day and so I think that we rowed closer to 2 miles but mostly round in circles. I gave up after a while but luckily one person from our team managed to complete the row. We could then get back in the water and try to swim 25m back across lake. But by this stage I had to resort to swimming on my back, doing drowning doggy paddle, as my leg muscles refused to work in any recognisable forward swimming stroke.

On reaching the shore I was pulled out of the water by sympathetic observers. We then had to run the 5km back to the finish. Approaching the end, physically and mentally, we had to go under a cargo net and over a steep slippery wall to complete the course. We managed to complete the course in 4hrs 15 minutes - the winners did it in 2hrs 20 min. I confess - we were last - but in our defence, at least we finished and survived mostly intact- not all the other competitors did . The only damage I sustained was a couple of truly spectacular bruises from climbing over the wall, mud in my bra & severe long term damage to my ego. I can honestly say that I will never ever ever ever enter an adventure race again - two legs good, two wheels down steep hills baaaddd - but if you feel that adventure racing is for you , then you can get more info at www.trailplus.com. Just don't say I didn't warn you..........

Dartmoor Long 'O' - 10 October 2004 - Jane Grout

Whilst there is no doubt Dartmoor is not on our doorstep, this is an excellent and well organised event across beautiful wild open moorland. There are three classes 23k, 15k and 6k which you can enter as a team or solo. Nicola, Alan and I formed an unofficial team of three as a late injury forcing withdrawal by Tim A had left Alan without partner. Tim G would also be making an appearance - but more of that later

As mere mortals we opted for the medium distance - 15.6 k and a total of 18 controls - you can choose your start time (9-12) but the course is divided into 2 parts, (medium course 10.9k and then 4.5k), and to get the controls for the second half you need to make the 14.00 cut of time - so a sensible start time is needed.

The controls were well hidden in pits / behind boulders - all the usual Orienteering tricks, but given the terrain on Dartmoor, a mix of rough tussocky ground combined with bog and streams, good route choice makes a big difference to speed. We made one or two errors of choice in the early stages so having battled with trees, gorse and missing the obvious route on 1 or 2 occasions we resolved to do better. (We actually ran 15.6k to cover the 10.9k section but only 5.5k for the 4.5k section)

We made the cut off control with just 2 minutes to spare (better than some 15 other teams in our class) - no choice then but to continue with the second half. The rain made an unwelcome reappearance and set in for the rest of the day. The joys of moorland running can be summed up in one delightful moment as leaping across a particularly boggy spot I land vanishing up to mid thigh in a mix of grassy bog and water - discover that I can't pull my foot out of this. Alan gallantly tries to come to the rescue and finds he too is now immersed in water - Nicola is just standing on more solid ground smug and laughing - her own revenge for our mirth when she had entertained us with a splendid but elegant fall combined with rolling somersault earlier in the day.

Adventures over we finished nearly last but, as Nicola reminds us, the last finisher beats the first retiree ( and there were 15 on our course). Back at the car changing, when a marshal appears - " Do you know Tim Gravina?" now how should one answer this question - tentatively we say " Yes..-????" "Well he hasn't been seen since the mid point" comes the reply. Ten minutes later a wet, white haired figure appears the other side of a five foot stone wall - Tim in excellent spirits having done the long 23k course.

This is a brilliant day out with excellent navigational practice, a one day version of Saunders without the steep hills. It is a long day but it is already in the dairy for next year.

Offa's Orror - 3 October 2004 - Ted Townsend

A well named race, but we were warned:-

Overall, an excellent event:

Finally, reminders for next year:-

Salisbury 54321, 8 August 2004 - Tim Gravina

Event: Salisbury 54321, so called because it covers 5 rivers, 4 major hills, 3 Country Estates, 2 Castles & 1 cathedral. It is a circular route round Salisbury (except for short courses!). Most of the route is on country paths, including a bit of the Clarendon Way, with many excellent views.

Choice of 10K, 20K, 30K, 40K, 42K. These routes are not measured, and general opinion from other runners and measuring on the map afterwards is that the 42K route is in fact 46K; a fact I am glad I did not know beforehand.

Although intended as a walk, they welcome runners (no prizes) and I met runners from many clubs such as Bearbrook, Reading, Bournemouth, Hastings, Minehead, Finch Coasters etc.

There were about 15 checkpoints with cold drinks, but no sweets, biscuits, cake etc. Also some checkpoints were crowded/undermarshalled so that often you had to wait up to 5 minutes to check in!

The route marking and written description were OK. However I did set off from the start on the wrong side of the river for a mile or so; but managed to get back on the correct route by wading across!

My time for 42K (actually 46K) was 6hr 14m for what it's worth; (not worth a lot). But it was a hot humid day, and the last mile past the cathedral and through the town was congested with tourists! That is my excuse anyway.

Beachy Head Marathon, 25th October 2003 - Simon Hewitt

This is a tough cross country marathon starting and ending in Eastbourne, East Sussex. It used to be known as the Seven Sisters marathon, it nearly died in 2002 but was taken over by Eastbourne Tourist board and renamed - No idea why, Seven Sisters is a much better name, but the event continues to be very popular (always oversubscribed) and very well organised. It has the unusual entry restriction of 500 runners, those who believe they can complete the course in under 5 hours, 500 joggers in under 7 hours and 500 walkers, aiming for under 9 hours. I last ran it in 2001 and ran 4:20, so I was certainly aiming to beat that.

The race starts at 9:00, and parking is OK if you arrive fairly early, with plenty of parking along the sea front and side streets, but the later you are the longer you will have to walk to the start. The start is at the east end of the town and seafront, right at the foot of the downs. And when the gun goes, yes you guessed it, the race goes straight up the hill. Too steep for all but the mountain goats to run, but not that high, certainly not that scary for you Saunders veterans. At the top of the steep bit it turns inland and climbs steadily for about 2 ½ miles along the edge of Eastbourne Downs golf club. (If ever you run it say hello to my dad Jim, his ashes are scattered near the 3rd green). The course reaches a peak (just over the hill from the Long Man of Wilmington, a huge chalk figure, worth a walk next day to loosen up), then plunges down again to the valley floor. This pretty much sets the pattern for the next 5 miles, up, down and up again. The first water stop is 8 ½ miles out, and there are only 5 water stations in all, so I like to carry a water bottle and fill up at each stop. There are snacks, mars-bars, biscuits, hot cross buns available, so there's no need to carry food. I carried energy drink powder to make up fresh energy drink at some stops.

Just after the first water stop we run through the pretty village of Alfriston, where Ros & the kids were waiting to shout me on. From there it climbs again to the half way point at the summit of that down, and then there is some relief of several miles of gently undulating track or path along the ridge, where you can put some speed on. The it drops again, over a river, then up & down to the Cuckmere river approaching the sea. The Cuckmere has a most perfect example of an oxbow lake, but you don't see it for long as the race immediately climbs up and away from the river. Then, blow me, you cross the top and back down to the river! Then UP again, on the cliffs proper, the cliffs that give it both it's old and new names, as the seven sisters are the seven chalk cliffs, leading to the highest of all, Beachy Head.

You passed the actual halfway point about 4 miles back, but the start of this ascent is the spiritual half-way point, because tough as it was so far, it gets tougher from here by far. As you crest the first hill, about 500 feet, in the distance on the horizon and looking incredibly far away, you can see a lighthouse, and between you and that lighthouse is an endless series of drops and climbs along the cliff edge. I have bad news for you on two fronts, yes you run every climb, but that lighthouse is still 5 miles from the end, and the biggest cliffs are after that. For the first 4 or so miles, the uphills are nowhere near runnable and the downhills aren't either, this is a tough run. After that the organisers take some pity and take the route inland along a slanting track - Or perhaps not, this is on the edge of runnable, so you feel compelled to try but have to stop and walk every now and again.

You pass the lighthouse inland, and all you can see is more downs. There is a water stop at the top here, but be warned, this is not the official checkpoint number 4, this is the coastguard being nice. Nice it is too, to have fresh water, but you still have about 5 ½ to go, not the 4 miles from the last checkpoint. The official last checkpoint is at Berling Gap, the lowest point on these cliffs and another good spectator point. Now you have 4 ½ miles to go, but possibly the highest climb, from about 50' to 650' at Beachy Head. It is not so steep, but just up forever, again midway between runnable and not. By now I am VERY tired, but eventually we reach the huge, ugly Beach head pub. From here the true summit is an easier ½ mile up a more gentle slope, then less than a mile steeply down to the finish. The last 400 Yds are very steep, but I have a little energy left and bound down, then sprint the 200M of downhill roadway and pip an unfortunate South African runner by 2 or 3 seconds at the line.

There is water, free food and even a swimming pool (but no mud or skinny dipping, what's the point?), and a rather poxy medal. I finished 43rd (662 people finished in under 6 hours, including several walkers), at 3:45, and am pretty pleased. The winner was 3:07.

SO this run is slightly over 26.2 miles, 3500' of ascent (and the same of descent of course), all on rough chalk and flint tracks or woodland paths. It is well marshalled, with few but well equipped drink and food stops. It is tough underfoot, it is physically tough and I think it is mentally tough as well. The last third seems an unending undulation with no sweet running at all, just all grind. You can see the downs stretching out forever, but cannot see your destination until the last mile. Different to the Grizzly, it's all pure running, no obstacles except hills, but as tough or worse. It's not as beautiful as the Beast, but on a good day not far off it. If the weather is bad I think finishing at all would be very hard, but on a sunny day like this year the sea and the cliffs are magnificent. It's a great course for spectators, as there are four or five easily accessible points with good parking to see the runners pass, and a great stretch up towards Beachy Head where you can drive alongside and shout encouragement.

Will I do it aging? Absolutely! Will you? It is a long way to go (2 ½ - 3 hours drive), but in my view one of the classics that should be in our calendar. If you do want to run it, enter early, it fills up fast.

Simon H

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