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Severn Challenge
Over last weekend I completed 3 out of
5 days of the Severn Challenge (to
run from the source to the mouth of the River Severn).
It all started at 3am on Thurday morning for the drive to
Holt Castle from where we would get a bus to a car park in the woods
somewhere in Wales. The car park was some 4 miles from the source so we
had to run up to it and then run back to the first checkpoint back in the
car park. I enjoyed the run up, being careful to conserve the calf
muscles, and then the scamper back down again making sure the quads didn't
take too much of a beating. 8 miles down and only 18 more to go - heck we
were nearly done for the day! A number of miles down the valley on tarmac
to the first small town and then we had to take to the hills above the
Severn as we made our way to the first campsite. We enjoyed fish and chips
in the sun and eventually drifted off to the tents as the sun set. I
didn't sleep well. I was cold, I shouldn't have had that last coffee, the
peacocks didn't sleep until daybreak when they handed over noise making
duty to the sheep and the night was punctuated by zips being zipped. It
was a relief when the clock said 5:30am and I could start getting ready
for the 6:30am start.
For day 2 (45 miles) I switched trainers as we had some 20
miles of canal to run along and after all the tarmac of the previous day I
thought the extra cushioning would be better. We set off at 6:30am across
dew laden fields of grass and within minutes our feet were sodden. I don't
really like canals - they're just dull to run along but I reasoned that if
I ground out the 20 miles then it was half of the job done. It was a hot
day so in Welshpool I nipped across the lock into Morrisons for another
bottle of water as I was emptying my 850ml running bottle between
checkpoints which were about 10 miles apart. I also bought a pack of mini
pork pies and a strawberry milk shake to supplement my diet. Coming off
the canal section I finally changed my socks only to run through a bog -
so typical! There was a pleasant section along the river which reminded me
of the annual lifeboat walk along the Trent where I grew up but we ended
the day with a section off the river on tarmac so it was a relief to
finally reach the campsite. The shoe change proved not to be such a good
as I developed a hot spot on both feet bordering towards a blister.
We set off at 5:30 for day 3, the first of the 58 miles
days. I was back in the first pair of trainers with SealSkinz waterproof
socks but even they struggled with the bog less than a mile from the
campsite. My feet certainly felt wet, but it could have just been cold. We
wound our way through Shrewsbury for 14 miles and I was somewhat horrified
to find it had taken the best part of 4 hours. We had some hills at the
start but through the town it was flat. Thinking back, I'm not surprised
as I remember walking along the river feeling a bit low. We then took to
the country lanes in the hills and I continued to struggle, not helped by
needing to find a toilet (whose idea was it to feed us chilli the night
before). Eventually I found a very accommodating 4 star hotel. Things got
a bit better as we got to Ironbridge where I had a Cornish pasty and cold
drink. Soon at CP 2 we were nearly half way which was a good feeling but
it was already gone 1pm. There were 4 of us pretty much running the same
pace; Yin, Susan, Andy and myself. We never quite teamed up but spent a
fair bit of time together on the next stage. I was enjoying the bits on
the softer ground by the river (though cursing the boggy bits as I was
running out of dry socks) but not enjoying the bits on the cycle track. At
Bridgenorth I had a large ice cream that lifted my spirits again (rum and
raisin/raspberry ripple). At CP 3 I put on my last pair of dry socks as
the other 3 left. Andy said he'd walk and I said I'd catch up. After 2
miles I still hadn't seen them - they'd left the CP another way (the wrong
way) and no one had noticed. I realised that I was feeling pretty good so
I kept running and it was 6 miles before I took my first break. This
section was 12 miles and once that was done there would only be 6 miles
left and I could be in by 9pm. I was in the zone at last. The last 6 miles
were a bit more intermittent but I would pick a point on the map and run
to it (only a 10k left from there) pick another point (5k left, a parkrun,
that's 24 minutes, or perhaps not) and so on. It was 9:30 when I got in
with the light beginning to fade.
I really enjoyed that last stage but have to admit that it
was powered by Ibuprofen and Gu caffeinated gels. The hotspots on my feet
from the previous day were painful as was my left side piriformis. It had
taken 16 hours to do 58 miles which isn't that bad but really it should
have been closer to 12 assuming fresh legs. It would doubtless be longer
the next day so I decided to finish the event on a high. I think I'd
already decided during that last 18 mile dash or I would have taken it
easier. Andy said I should sleep on it but I wasn't going to get much
sleep in the tent - by the time I'd eaten and showered, blown up the
mattress etc it would have been 4 hours at most. We were back at Holt
Castle and the car was just outside. I have to admit that 10 miles down
the road I considered turning around. But I don't regret it.
So I didn't complete the challenge, but I did complete 2
back to back ultras with a marathon thrown in. Next year I may go back but
only to do the last 2 days so that I can complete the journey.
Noel |