At the same time I was telling myself "Under no circumstances should you take part in this race with an ankle and foot in this condition. It could damage it further and put you out for weeks or months". Obviously I was incapable of training, so I just concentrated on resting it. I had to work in Swansea from Thursday to Saturday night, so I had no choice but to walk around. By Thursday I was walking on the flat of my foot again, but every step was painful. Closer inspection showed it was slightly discoloured, a faint yellowish tinge that you get from bruising. I bought an ankle support and wore it for the next 2 days. I still kept saying to myself, 'rest up for another week, you foot will thank you for it'. I got home on Saturday night, and found myself packing my rucksack for the following day. Foolish I told myself. Still, it felt a little better.
I got up at 5am, ate a breakfast and drove to Kendal in the Lake District to take part in 'That's Lyth", billed as a 23 mile 3200ft Long Distance Walkers Association event, open to runners. My actual route is below, posted with the hill profile, and speed profile. On the Speed profile, anything above 5mph is me running, below I'm walking.
I got to Kendal by 7:15, and registered. There were 350 entrants, and they had refused everyone else! Immediately it was obvious that there were a lot of runners, I'd guess at perhaps 100. Also obvious were that some of these were serious hardcore fell runners. I was wearing walking trousers, some new gaiters, my New Balance 1100 trainers, and a windproof and waterproof jacket (and ankle support). In other words I looked like a walker. Some of these fell runners were in T-Shirt and shorts, and I mean short shorts! It was a dark and cold January morning in the Lake District. We were about to set off on a 23 mile route up onto 3 high scars and there were nutters in shorts and T-shirts! They must be super fit. Unless you can run all the way around, your body temperature would drop too much and you would get into serious trouble, hats off to them (assuming they survived!).
We set off at 8am, immediately splitting into two groups, the runners trotting off ahead. I think I must have had the fattest backpack of the day (as usual, it appears this MDS training). I carried 1.5l of electrolyte, plus all the required equipment (first aid kit, waterproof trousers, extra clothes, map and compass).
We headed out of the town centre and then all (except those elite guys) slowed to a walk to climb stone steps up and out of Kendal. Abut 3 miles of serious climbs as you can see from the hill profile, jogging where it was flatter. Then up on top everyone resumed running all the time. This became the pattern for the whole day. Walk up the steeper ascents and jog the flat and downhill’s (where possible). After 2 miles, and for the next mile, I got that numb-foot in both legs I always get. Being different shoes to the ones I used 2 weeks ago I set about loosening them. I had to stop and adjust a few times, annoyingly, which lost me some time. I ended up taking off my ankle support to give my feet more space. I've developed a theory around the reason for this numbness. It only happens on steep climbs. I wonder if blood is filling the muscles in my feet and ankles and causing them to swell, resulting in having to loosen off my shoes? Back on the flat ground it never bothers me. Anyway, after messing around several times that problem went away and I made good time to CP1. I'd averaged 5.5mph over the first 7 miles. My ankle had already started to play up though, so I put the support back on.
Unlike the Ludlow challenge walk I did last year, where no one stopped for more than a minute or two at checkpoints, this time everyone say down and took advantage of the excellent hospitality on offer! Tea, cakes, biscuits, toilets etc. Everyone typically spent about 10 minutes at each CP, refuelling and then setting back off. I was navigating using my Sat Nav PDA and Memory map as usual, I can't praise it enough. Really takes the effort out of navigation.
At 8 miles everyone slowed to walk, for the next 2 miles up a punishing section climbing Whitbarrow scar. I pulled up my hood and put on my gloves as it was very windy and cold. My ankle continued to give me trouble, and already I was regretting even starting. I cursed myself for not following my own advice. I descended the scar down a very steep path, too steep to run down. I slipped and fell a couple of times on the treacherous slippy rock-riddled paths, but got away with only scuffed hands and fingers. I helped out a fellow competitor, who was suffering. He was not really dressed for the occasion, in tracksuit bottoms and a top, also just road running shoes. He said he had done no training at all, and was really struggling. I told him it was 2.5miles to the next CP. He was thirsty, so I gave him some of my electrolyte, then I trotted off and left him walking.
I was pleased to arrive at CP2. I could feel a hot spot on the sole of my left foot, so I inspected and found that some of the Leukotape I use to tape up my feet had curled as was rubbing. I'd packed my tape, so I repaired the damage. I was wearing those gel toe caps again, which worked a treat in these drier conditions.
I refilled my camelback with water and some fruit juice. I ate some biscuits, half a SIS Go energy bar too. I've decided that these Go bars are like eating cardboard. Unless you have pints of water it is very difficult to chew and digest them. I'll cross them off my list for the MDS. I also ate half a banana and set off again.
My ankle really began to hurt now, and after the next hill section, we descended into the plains of the Lyth valley. The next 3 miles are more or less tarmac. I felt fine in myself, not really tired, but every right footstep after 16 miles was agony. The hard surface just crippled me. I knew the next CP was 3 miles away, and I thought maybe I should retire there. I had nothing to prove, I knew I could do the distance, I was just scared that I could do serious damage to my foot. The last mile was soft ground, so I could run again with less discomfort. I hobbled up to CP3, and drank some tea and they dished out some jam doughnuts. CP3 was one of the organisers house (well, his car garage to be precise). They could all see I was in difficulty. They said if I needed to retire, they could give me a lift back put it would be a while. I asked if I could have paracetamol. He went into the house and came back with two 500mg paracetamol which I downed quickly. A look at my foot showed no obvious signs of trauma, so I picked myself up and carried on. I knew the next 3 miles were all uphill, but at least the ground was soft.
The paracetamol kicked in about 40 minutes later, and the pain dulled to more or less nothing. I got my second wind, and caught up and passed several people who had come back me in the last few miles.
I took a couple of photos and a video at this point. Again, it was a little windy, so if you can't hear me I say something along the lines of "this is the 20 mile mark, my ankle is murdering me, at least it's all down bank from here in!".
I hit the peak of the final scar, and found myself running again.
In fact you can see from the speed profile, I pretty much ran the whole way back. Just proved how debilitating the foot problem was, and what I was capable of when feeling fine. I finished in about 6:05 or 6:10. I averaged 4.1mph over the distance. That doesn't sound that fast, but when you factor in that includes 30 minutes worth of stops and socialising at the checkpoints, as well as the 3200ft of climbing, I was happy. Oh, and it was 24 miles, not 23! OK, the foot was an issue, and it remains to be seen how heavy a price I pay for it.
Overall I'm pleased I did it, I overcame some problems and desire to quit, and finished in style (running!).
I don't think I'll be training a great deal this week, just got to see how my foot is. If I have to take 2 weeks off to get it right, I will. Let’s hope not though.
Fingers crossed for a quick recovery.
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