I’d seen an event run by SBR events, it was situated not far from me at Thorsby Park, Newark.
It appealed because it was a 10km looped course and had various distances you could choose to run.
Ideal for training for my 100km, not going to cost me a bomb in accommodation as my trusty crew member and husband, Stu could drive me and I could push myself to cover 50km but have the comfort blanket of knowing if I struggled I could pull out sooner.
We arrived about 7.45am at Thorsby park, having had my morning mountain fuel, did the initial potter around the event village, chatted to a few others, the obligatory loo stop and it was not long before we were lining up to start.
At the start I chatted with a couple of ladies from Girls that Jeff facebook page which was nice, they soon disappeared out of sight within about ten minutes. I think they were doing the half or full marathon can’t really remember.
We were off!! I remember everyone else shooting off and I just tootled like I was out on a stroll, there was a long way to go no way I was burning myself out now.
After a few minutes of starting I got chatting with a gent called Nick, with colourful socks, his socks became quiet a talking point throughout the run. He was asking me what ratio I was doing and took quiet an interest. He explained he had a foot injury and had signed up for the 50km but was just going to see how he went each lap, he then asked if I minded if he joined me doing 30:30.
I normally tend to go off in my own little world with the head phones on so Jeffing a longer race with someone was a first for me and although we were complete strangers we found a lot of rubbish to discuss in those hours and I felt it really helped me.
We had not been going long when out of nowhere informs of our eyes came a heard of deer crossing the path, it was like a scene out of a movie, amazing to watch and be apart of.
In the early part of the run it appeared to be just us two then others started to lap us, the canine 10km runners started and before long there was a variety of people on the course. With everyone running different lengths you never really felt back of the pack.
The 10km loop was scenic through woodland with two slight inclines. SBR was fantastic at marshalling the route with a couple of water stops and toilet facilities en route. I remember the Marshalls at the last water stop in the loop about 7km in they had a table full of goodies and flat coke! Yup I never thought I would say it but it was amazing and was our treat on every loop. We saved raiding the Jaffa cakes for the very last loop. I remember doing aeroplane motions on one section for photos, apparently it is a must, don’t ask me why I’m not completely sure.
The loop finished were it started on the main park area in front of the of Thorsby house. On every lap we got cheered by other runners who had finished some often saying how many more laps and asking us what distance we were doing.
It always made me smile when they gasped when we said 50km.
We passed the 40km mark well within our cut off time to complete the last lap. I remember Nick saying he was looking forward to his ice cream at the end upon noticing an ice cream van. It was a shame the van pulled away just as we were within reach of the finish line, he never did get one.
Between us we had made the decision that once we were on our last lap, time did not matter we were going to enjoy it and that’s exactly what we did, we walked more than we Jeffed if I am honest but it didn’t matter I was finishing as an ultra runner! And whatever the time it would be a PB.
Towards the last couple of miles a young gent passed us he was Nordic walking and was doing the 60km so had done an extra lap, apart from that gent me saw no other runners on the last lap we were alone, but it didn’t matter.
We crossed the finish line heads held high, we had done it!! Another medal to add to the collection. The only disappointment was the cake had all gone, so we settled for a couple of mars bars Nick managed to pinch from the box’s they were packing away. At first I didn’t think I would want to eat it but as I got in the car and forced myself to eat it, it was so nice.
During the run I used mountain fuel gels and a cake bar which I actually only ate half of. I know that I should have fuelled more and the little voice inside my head kept saying on the last 10km you really should have something else but I didn’t want it I just felt full of gels and liquid. I learn new things in every race to take forward and I knew if I was to get through a 100km I needed to focus on fuelling better and sooner. One thing I was going to take with me for my 100km was definitely flat coke.
We were the last two to cross the finish line that day, but it didn’t matter I’d completed 50km in 07.39.06.
I remember starting my fist day at my new job the next day and my first thing was to tackle the three flights of stairs to the office, I wasn’t sure how I was going to wake the next morning, I had the usual black toes that I knew with time would drop off and a few sore muscles but I was still moving!
It turns out the stairs were probably beneficial to me, keeping my muscles going as I felt very little stiffness, another sign that Jeffing is definitely the way to go.
Next stop 100km!
