I came very close to not taking part in this event, the rib I broke on the morning of the Lakeland Trails Marathon had caused me to miss a lot of training. As the Long Tour would be my first 50k, and it has a reputation of being tough, my confidence was not what it could be. I knew a long run would improve my confidence, I also knew that a long run a week before the event would use up reserves I probably didn't have. I decided a very slow, hilly, run-walk was a good compromise. I completed the 20 mile route much more quickly than planned, but arrived back at my car in Newstones feeling full of energy and more positive than I had felt for a month.
I had support for this event, Sandi and Lin, my sister Sandi offered to drive me to Bradwell, very generous as this would mean a 05:15 start for me and an even earlier one for her. As it happened the journey was easy, apart from mist on the A53, and we arrived for registration at about 07:30.
Registration was straightforward enough. The maps that were available were excellent and there had been little point in printing my own. Still, it stops my printer jets from drying up. There was time to kill so I had a coffee, taped my floating toenails on and chatted with a few people. I met Nick Ham and expressed my admiration for his excellent and descriptive blog (looking forward to his Long Tour).
We massed for the start on a lane opposite the Sports Club then we were off. I was amazed at how fast the start was. I thought that I was going to have real trouble keeping up, but after about 2 miles the pace settled to what I had expected. Once onto the Limestone Way I started to enjoy the running immensely. Despite my very poor descent technique Cave Dale was wonderful and as we approached Castleton and checkpoint 3, I remember thinking how great it was just to be out on the hills.
As I was still fresh, the climb up to Hollins Cross was delightful and I just enjoyed the view. Then it was down to Edale, another checkpoint and up to the Druid's Stone. The drop off the flank of Kinder was steep and terrifying. I was sliding, quite out of control at one point but it ended with me still on my feet so no harm done. There was a little gentle running before the next ascent. By now the last two ascents and the control needed for the last descent were beginning to take a toll and the climb up to Lose Hill was an effort.
The running to Ladybower was straightforward, a large black bull in one field proved more interested in his trough than us, though he did have a good bellow at a walker with a dog. She asked us for advice and we suggested a detour via some tree cover, this seemed to go well enough. A path hidden by bracken was well taped and once found became clear. The eastern Gritstone crags could be seen in the distance as we headed for the woods and checkpoint 8, the northern tip of the route.
We headed towards, then along the reservoir to the dam, then south along an old railway track to the midway checkpoint. I arrived nearly an hour before the cut off time so felt optimistic about finishing. I had a bite to eat and a sugary drink while Lin sprayed my shoulders with sun block. I set off to catch up with a runner who knew the route but lost sight of him. After a short while I realised I had missed a turning, I met another runner, who had done the same, coming back up the path. We retraced our steps and found the path, it was as clear as day. I had missed it because I was looking ahead for the chap I had lost sight of! Lesson learned.
There was some pleasant running on the way to Stanage edge, though I dawdled too much on the gentler road climbs. The off route checkpoint on the Causeway ascent of the Edge was well marked and was easier to find than anticipated. I was expecting easier running along the top of the edge, but was wrong, concentration was needed on most of the stony path. It was a relief to get to the next (manned) checkpoint, it was now very warm, and I welcomed the cool water. I had another sandwich and a well known caffeinated soft drink then set off along the easy path beneath Burbage Rocks to checkpoint 13.
Navigation was a little harder after CP13, I was following a group of runners, but soon realised they were moving too far from the woods on the way to CP14. I voiced my concern and corrected my course, the others joined me.
I was alone for most of the way to CP15 so started thumbing the map properly and all went well. CP15 at Leadmill Bridge was a milestone for me, this was as far as I had ever run and already way more ascent than anything I had done before. I was very thirsty and gulped down three quarters of a litre of cool water. As I headed up the hill from the bridge I heard a runner behind me call out to turn right. I was pretty sure he was wrong so ran back to him. After conferring, he agreed that it was the next turning and we ran off side by side. We stayed pretty much together all the way to the next checkpoint at 45.5km and beyond to the final descent through woods.
I fell back, no more than 10m, as we descended, my companion disappeared round a corner in the path and I found myself at a "T" junction alone. I couldn't work out whether to go left or right as the general direction should have been ahead. I decided on left, but just as I began to commit to the decision a piece of tape in a tree caught my right eye. I headed off right and within a short distance realised I had been correct first time, the piece of tape must have been rubbish caught on a branch. I corrected my course and was soon in Bradwell, then on the road to the finish. I ran into the Sports Club at 08:36:55, my last mistake had cost me 6 minutes.
The whole experience was very enjoyable. The event was well organised and friendly, one felt part of a family. I am looking forward to meeting some of that family again. Was it a wise choice for a first 50k? I think so, I don't see what difference the toughness of the event makes as long as one has trained appropriately. A similar logic applies to the degree of self reliance required (i.e. quite a bit). In training I am entirely self reliant as regards my safety and don't have drink stations en route.
One of the best things was realising that I could do much better. I might improve my trail marathon time by just a few minutes with hard training. I could improve my performance on a course like the Long Tour by a very large amount with better pacing decisions and by improving my descent technique.
Sandi has posted the many photos she took of runners at the event, see: Runfurther.com 50k
