Bolton Hill Marathon
Bolton Hill Marathon by Time2Run Events
Don't ask me what I was thinking when I entered this event. I don't even know!
I posted on facebook about it and before I knew it I was swept away and had entered.
Reasoning? The event was a long way off so plenty of time to train. I will have done two ultras by then and I run 'round there all the time'.
Yes it was a long way off but I don't train like an athlete, I just do a bit of running when I'm not tired from my long shifts. My second ultra was only just quicker than the first time I had done it, I hadn't improved my time over distance like I had hoped, and as for 'running round there' I generally ran the flatter bits!
I didn't bother too much about it until it got nearer the time. I did The Canalathon, The Rivington 10mile Challenge and the Howgills Half as training, along with more local trail running than I would normally do.
I began to panic of my rash act as it got nearer and I messaged my friend [Maria] who told me not to underestimate myself and that I could walk it in 8 hours ... I decided that that's what I would do if I had to!
The morning arrived. I was up fairly early to get ready, eat, use the loo, find my way and panic, not necessarily in that order. It was bucketing it down and I hoped my friend was going to text she wasn't going, then I could withdraw. She didn't and so I went.
When I got there I realised that I hadn't put my insoles back into my trainers after I had washed them! How would I spend 7 plus hours running without them? I text my husband who brought them for me.
I put on my trainers in my car, ate some of my porridge, drank some of my coffee then went to register and meet my friend in the cafe. We chatted then all the runners made their way and huddled under a tent for the start, it was still poring with raining.
Then we were off. I ran / walked with Maria for a little, then her pace put her in front. I walked up another hill with a girl called Christine who was training for a 55km, then she left me. I didn't mind. My plan was to 'walk up the hill and run when i can, head down and just keep going to the end'.
I remember following two runners, keeping them in my sight for comfort then we were on the moors. The rain was sideways and the clouds came in, I was mindful of my footing and then I looked up and there was no-one! I was all alone ...
I carried on following what i hoped would be the way and came to another marker for the run. Relieved I followed on and soon came to the road and first feed station.
The feed stations were excellent! They were spaced first one at 4 mile, 7.5 mile, 10 mile and 12 mile, then you passed each of them again on the way back! They had cups of water / juice, jelly babies and gels along with other bits. They asked how you were feeling as you stopped at their station. The marshalls were brilliant, blowing whistles and clanging cow bells, encouraging you on and one even had jaffa cakes!
In my mile 8 the front runner came toward me, all smiles and waving! "No Way" I laughed! But I was feeling good at this point.
On the return [it looped round at mile 12 ish] it took a slightly different route. On strava it doesn't look much but going into mile 15 it was up, up, up ... runners were walking holding the base of their backs, as I was too, as we trudged slowly up. I passed two guys along here.
I stopped at the base of the next climb, it wasn't far now and the guy in front of me said the last four miles were downhill. After going up the first hill the guy in front [Ste] turned to ask how I was doing. It was mile 18 and I said I was tired. He joined me for the rest of the race!
He chatted which took my mind off my aches and the miles passed. In mile 22 I thought I was going to throw up. The uphills had been demanding, but I didn't and made it to the feed station. I took some jelly babies for the last few mile then trotted back across the fells and towards the downhill.
The downhill miles went well and we picked up pace but in the last 1.2 mile I flagged a little. Ste egged me on 'Cmon ' her roared!, and I managed to stay in front of the girls who seemed to appear from nowhere in the last sprint!
I crossed the line in under 6 and a half hours. A massive feeling of achievement as I had to walk a lot and was expecting 7 and a half hour finish time.
Am I doing this again? YES!
It was tough, but I did it on very little training and I'd like to knock off a little time or just do it more comfortably.
Don't ask me what I was thinking when I entered this event. I don't even know!
I posted on facebook about it and before I knew it I was swept away and had entered.
Reasoning? The event was a long way off so plenty of time to train. I will have done two ultras by then and I run 'round there all the time'.
Yes it was a long way off but I don't train like an athlete, I just do a bit of running when I'm not tired from my long shifts. My second ultra was only just quicker than the first time I had done it, I hadn't improved my time over distance like I had hoped, and as for 'running round there' I generally ran the flatter bits!
I didn't bother too much about it until it got nearer the time. I did The Canalathon, The Rivington 10mile Challenge and the Howgills Half as training, along with more local trail running than I would normally do.
I began to panic of my rash act as it got nearer and I messaged my friend [Maria] who told me not to underestimate myself and that I could walk it in 8 hours ... I decided that that's what I would do if I had to!
The morning arrived. I was up fairly early to get ready, eat, use the loo, find my way and panic, not necessarily in that order. It was bucketing it down and I hoped my friend was going to text she wasn't going, then I could withdraw. She didn't and so I went.
When I got there I realised that I hadn't put my insoles back into my trainers after I had washed them! How would I spend 7 plus hours running without them? I text my husband who brought them for me.
I put on my trainers in my car, ate some of my porridge, drank some of my coffee then went to register and meet my friend in the cafe. We chatted then all the runners made their way and huddled under a tent for the start, it was still poring with raining.
Then we were off. I ran / walked with Maria for a little, then her pace put her in front. I walked up another hill with a girl called Christine who was training for a 55km, then she left me. I didn't mind. My plan was to 'walk up the hill and run when i can, head down and just keep going to the end'.
I remember following two runners, keeping them in my sight for comfort then we were on the moors. The rain was sideways and the clouds came in, I was mindful of my footing and then I looked up and there was no-one! I was all alone ...
I carried on following what i hoped would be the way and came to another marker for the run. Relieved I followed on and soon came to the road and first feed station.
The feed stations were excellent! They were spaced first one at 4 mile, 7.5 mile, 10 mile and 12 mile, then you passed each of them again on the way back! They had cups of water / juice, jelly babies and gels along with other bits. They asked how you were feeling as you stopped at their station. The marshalls were brilliant, blowing whistles and clanging cow bells, encouraging you on and one even had jaffa cakes!
In my mile 8 the front runner came toward me, all smiles and waving! "No Way" I laughed! But I was feeling good at this point.
On the return [it looped round at mile 12 ish] it took a slightly different route. On strava it doesn't look much but going into mile 15 it was up, up, up ... runners were walking holding the base of their backs, as I was too, as we trudged slowly up. I passed two guys along here.
I stopped at the base of the next climb, it wasn't far now and the guy in front of me said the last four miles were downhill. After going up the first hill the guy in front [Ste] turned to ask how I was doing. It was mile 18 and I said I was tired. He joined me for the rest of the race!
He chatted which took my mind off my aches and the miles passed. In mile 22 I thought I was going to throw up. The uphills had been demanding, but I didn't and made it to the feed station. I took some jelly babies for the last few mile then trotted back across the fells and towards the downhill.
The downhill miles went well and we picked up pace but in the last 1.2 mile I flagged a little. Ste egged me on 'Cmon ' her roared!, and I managed to stay in front of the girls who seemed to appear from nowhere in the last sprint!
I crossed the line in under 6 and a half hours. A massive feeling of achievement as I had to walk a lot and was expecting 7 and a half hour finish time.
Am I doing this again? YES!
It was tough, but I did it on very little training and I'd like to knock off a little time or just do it more comfortably.
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