A tough 19 miler a couple of weeks ago on the Jog shop course. A good, resolute, hard run at Lewes last Sunday
- the Downland 10.
Now a stern test awaited me in my lead up to the Beachy Head Marathon. The Jog shop Jog, 20 miles of mostly offroad,
unrelenting downland slopes.
What is it when it comes to racing that the body fatigues and yet you can have a blinding training run on the same
course. Perhaps it was all the races this year, I need to look at Sweder's adage that less is more.
Brighton half, Steyning Stinger Marathon, Two Oceans Marathon, 3 forts marathon, Seaford half, Dorney 10k, Bewl 14,
Henfield half, Firle 20k & Lewes 10. A lot packed in this year already - calf and achilles trouble aplenty. Methinks I need
a rest after the Seven Sisters shenanigans. Ah but the Brighton 10k, Duck Pond Waddle and Mince Pie 10 also loom.
Who could not be tempted with names like those.
A swift start from Brighton Marina, a couple of miles in the bloody left calf is grumbling - f*^k, still 18 to go.
I calmed myself, eased off a bit, waiting for the offending muscle to calm down and hopefully warm up. This injury
has been off and on and flares up, I run through it and suffer at the end. Today was no different.
Espied me old mucker Soft Al at the first drinks station, has been loyally doing this for the past 6/7 years taking
Sam's laissez-faire attitude to race organisation in his stride. Turning up at the shop the day before the race to
organise the 2 most important water stations on the race. Carting all the prizes, finish paraphenalia and
water barrels. Enduring a farmers wrath for being 'On moy land' having to backtrack down a private road, to a
safe haven. Luckily there was plenty of marshals this year to cover for any miscreant's endeavours to remove race
markings, which they had done again.
Anyway I digress with a rant. Once water and gel had been supped I eased through Saltdean, past the football
pitches onto familiar offroad terrain. The first killer hill - a half mile of torture then followed by a tranquil
half mile of deep tracks, cows and their respective pats. LouLou & Clare marshalling 2 gates, it's great getting
local support, people you know and respect cajoling you on.
The steep descent into the North face, today foggy and less resplendent then usual, the vista obscured. I was
chasing fellow B&H runner Amanda, my strong descent and calf behaving pulled me ahead to slingshot up the hill.
A strong steady climb ensured I past several runners, content in my knowledge of knowing the course intimately
enough to approach the obstacles with hard work and certain respect. A second gel at the top and a slug of fluid,
Amanda caught me - I gave chase onwards and upwards over the course of the Yellow Brick road. The approach a slim
hedged corridor between 2 houses suddenly opens up onto the downs and 2 little tough ascents before the road itself.
The Road long since faded is a mere carriageway for farmland vehicles, but is etched indelibly on the minds
of anyone that has endured long winter months of training on this course. It is exposed and catches the best and
worst of weather, but to me it is simply glorious. I edged up to Amanda vowing to look for her on the snake when I tired.
I continued ahead picking up the pace, bounding down the first section of the 'W' - better known as the first 'V'.
Many runners taking the safety of the gate in the descent - I cleared the cattle grid in one bound, scooting around
the corner for the first hideous ascent. Right, "I'll walk up the steepest sections and rehydrate and 'drop the
hammer gel on the second V" I thought aloud to myself. I trotted up the last bit, a short cross downland path to the
second descent and took this steady, it was treacherous underfoot in places. A water station loomed, I eschewed it,
had plenty on board - at least another half litre. Glug, gel, glug up the ascent. Great thats the toughest section
out of the way.
A fairly effortless trek for a mile and descent down the steep Castle Hill, into the nature reserve. Felt good,
didn't want to put the mockers on it yet - calf was behaving at the mo. Caught several runners and sped into the
Snake approach this is particularly arduous after all the climbs covered and isn't even the start of the hill proper.
Remy was marshalling the bottom, no one there last year and some people went wrong. Took another glug at a gate,
right let's go - then the calf problem flared up - "Bugger". I strolled up one section taking my final gel, some more
fluid and resigned myself to a slow down and slowish time. Had hoped for under 3 hours. Poodled up the many windings
of the hill and approached the last bend. Gary who I hadn't seen since Saltdean, then Amanda caught me. She was
hurting she said but obviously not as much as me, as she sailed by - "come on, moyles" but I couldn't respond.
Met my sister at the top gate - encouraged and elated to have pushed hard this far. I decided to enjoy the last
5 miles of reasonably flat trail, road into the finish. Ticked it over down to the reservoir and the aforementioned
'Farmers land cum private road'. The last water station - Al there to greet me. I had picked up a bottle of Sports
drink at the top of the Snake and this helped me survive the last few miles, easing some of the tiredness out of
my limbs. A pose for the camera at this point with my customary reversed two fingered salute and trying to show
a look of confidence and effortlessness.
I sped down the road, knowing the end was only a couple of miles away - easy miles normally after a short run,
but hard after this endurance fest. I clambered up Windmill hill to be greeted by 'Paul the Goat' and a welcoming,
glorious vista of the Marina. Going through the back gate of St. Dunstan's (home for blind servicemen) - I know
an altogether weird route in it's entirety. A short hop under the road at Ovingdean and the last Mile and a bit.
I had a fellow B&H runner in my sights Dave 'the hat' Whittle, a fellow struggler. Just didn't have enough to reel
him in though. I plodded along and allowed myself to cool down into the finishing stretch, a couple of minutes
behind Dave - No idea of time, I never wear a watch these days. Dave was 3:05, myself a couple of minutes behind.
Same as last year - bo**^%ks, oh well next year will be better, I hope. Train harder, avoid injury, less is more,
build up my core strength!, quality over quantity. My third JSJ in a row, and no nearer sub 3.
Lets hope the Marathon looming will see me have one satisfying run, aside from Lewes this year.
At least I have god botherer Rog-air for company. I think I need some divine intervention.
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