08:15: Mum has driving duties today as she offered her
assistance as my crew for the day. We pull up the top of the hill near to where
the start is and as I have 15min to get to the registrations tent just drops me
off, grab my Camelbak and head down the hill while mum parks up somewhere else.
She shouts from behind ‘water don’t you want this?’ I run back up for a swig
and tell her anymore water I’m going to be peeing all day!
I manage to see the
starting line and a marquee tent on the green opposite the school so head over
to find it pretty rammed full of runners pinning their numbers and waiting to
collect. Number 47 is me and a dinner voucher and chip is in the pack too. I
head out and pin my number with difficulty as the biting cold wind is making my
hands numb, even though I have been wearing gloves from Brighton in the car all
the way here!
As I locate the line for the toilets outside I see Andy
straight away, fellow BOSH-Runner from our group. We chat about the conditions
briefly and I see he has no over coat or jacket but joggers over his shorts so
he must be cold! Andy is usually a running shorts man! I attempt to call mum
see if she has parked up but she finds us and I introduce Andy, she jokes he’d
be easy to spot with the long hair. We say our goodbyes and wish each other
good luck.
I’m in my usual trusty running tights, compression long
sleeve, an over weather layer, gloves, my Vivo Trails with socks, buff and cap.
Yet I’m still cold to the bone! Mum has lent me her big weather coat to throw
over but I’m still shaking like a leaf...
After a few last minute pics, tweets
and FB update (with great difficulty) I head into the start pen area and wait
around the front by the less than 5hr finish, not many runner’s have got into
the area yet and I figure why as the strong bitter wind is sweeping down from
the steep hill in front of us.
Just a few minutes left for gun fire, everyone huddles into
the starting area and lots of jumping, shaking about and movements as we all
try to keep warm somehow!
09:00: After countdown from ten we start with the loud horn
sound and I start my Runkeeper and Garmin watch, head straight towards the
first hill just 30 metres or so from us.
We climb up the few steps and grass at a steep, sharp ascent
and fairly quick, it’s very cold still and I’m excited but want to just warm
up. I can feel my heartrate elevate quickly so slow to a climbing pace,
concentrate on my breathing to a steady rate but with the biting wind against
me it takes a while.
As the hill levels out to a slow gradient I realise if I
have just struggled there it is going to be a real tough race! I’m really not
sure if the just six hours sleep and finishing my night shift only yesterday
will help me in feeling good to race. I keep my pace to around 8:00min/mile
until I feel my heartrate has steadied some.
Is it the excitement and cold? I normally feel lots stronger than
this...
After a few minutes I can hear bag pipe music drifting with
the wind into our earshot, I look up to see a player in all his kilt and colours
playing for us! His head is turned so he can see the runners coming over the
hill. Nice touch I thought :-) We head over the road where a marshal has
stopped traffic to allow us to cross, we head over the other side of the field
which is part of Beachy Head and leads onto the South Downs Way trail.
09:25: Mile 3 after the first water stop is another rather
steep climb into the Trail. The path
leads under shady trees and I am grateful for the wind block so lower my buff
from my mouth and nose a little. There are hard slab stones that are rather
uneven beneath our feet, which become hard to run down as the slope gets
steeper as we descend.
I see a lady approach from the side of me in a baby blue
top and shorts (cross between mini skirt and running shorts) big shades and
dark curly hair, she looks Spanish perhaps? She smoothly glides past me like a
ballerina, wonderful watching how light and at ease she runs. Another sharp
hill and rock gravel underneath so I take it carefully and slowly pass the lady
in blue: “""u hang with us we descend downWill hang with you again,
see u soon!” I say. She laughs with a big smile.
09:55: At 6.79 miles my Garmin stopped and I did not realise
at the time. We go up yet another steep
gradient, I slow to a 10:00min/mile pace. Eventually down again we head through
a small village which gets quite muddy and slippery, so glad my trail shoes
have the grip! After what I think is about two miles we reach another water
stop and I then notice the watch stopped so restart again cursing how I didn’t
notice and then how did I manage to stop it?
High up into the South Downs and I
take in the breathtaking views for miles around us. The sunshine really does make this area look
stunning and I think this is so much better than hard rain so learn to deal
with the bitter strong winds. A very enjoyable flat moment is ahead on the SDW
trail high up and it gives me time to absorb this great
view! I quicken my pace into a comfortable 7:20min/mile pace and swiftly
fly along...
10:20: Nine miles in or so the trail has led downhill a fair
amount towards the south and I can see the sea in the distance ahead .I can't
hold any longer and stop for a comfort break. We are deep into a wooded area
under many trees and climb over a stile and then steps lead us high up again. I
can hear bagpipes again from above and can see another chap playing in all his
get up! Nobody around me talks a word and I climb the large big steps slowly.
I’m walking these along with everyone else and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the
bag pipe player as we pass him.
I look back to see how steep it is. I wish I
counted how many steps as there was more than a fair few... The top of the
forest opens up to a big field and cheers from spectators at both sides say: “Well
done, keep going not long to go!” I thumbs up and thank them but know deep down
we have awhile left to go and plenty more hills to come! My quads are starting
to burn and ache from the steep ascents but it is a nice familiar discomfort
I’ve come to expect from this year of many marathons. It makes me feel like I have worked at
something, without this pain I know I’m going too easy and slow...
10:55: 12.70 miles we reach a water stop, I see half mars
bars, hot cross buns, biscuits and squash on offer, tempting but no not yet for
me, just some water. The fields lead down to yet another steep descent past a
river and over a bridge. The route leads
out onto a small private road then out left into a village. I try to look around for key places or signs
to see if I recognise anywhere, I eventually spot Friston and the local pub has
a huge crowd cheering and clapping us as we pass down the road. We slow to some
marshal’s blocking the A259 from passing traffic to let us cross and enter the
Seven Sister’s park.
The view from here is stunning and I remember walks here
years back. I think to myself I’m so glad I get to experience some of this
today during a marathon, I now see why this is such a popular race to run and
grasp some of the most scenic sights East Sussex has to offer. Many more
walkers, spectators and marshals on the way cheer and clap as we pass by. I
take in the views and plod on checking my pacing which is around 7:00-7:15min/mile. I start to feel fatigued and rather hungry
all of a sudden so tuck into a pack of berry Cliff shots leaving only one cube
left - the pack contained six! It doesn’t last long as by mile 14 I’m ready for
another SIS gel and use the caffeine berry as I am still feeling rather sluggish
and tired. Killer hills and no tapering this week are probably catching up on
me now...
11:28: 16 miles or so on the cliff side and I am now facing
Seven Sisters which means seven cliff top hills to go... I take a look back at
the famous cottage on the cliff edge you see on postcards so take the moment to
snap a photo for myself. I see up above the hill I’m not the only one snapping
away. I climb the hill rather slow and figure I can speed up going down to make
some time up here. I only just manage crawling
up at a 14:00-16:00min/mile pace!
The ground is a combination of soft grass and
chalk gravel so the climbing up becomes tricky, not knowing where to place your
feet as it is so uneven. The wind is so strong here and each climb at the top
I’m greeted with a huge cold blast that feels like ice thrown on my face! These
hills are repeated for another six and the view of the lighthouse at Beachy
Head looks very small from back here. My aching quads and tired cold head just
want this to be over now and I start to hit a low...
11:55: Reaching the climb just after mile 20 I can see a
drinks station ahead and it’s actually a relief to just stop a minute and catch
my breath. I can see the lighthouse closer up front on the cliff edge and
figure still so close but so far left to the finish. I drink two cups water and
decide to take half a mars bar for the chocolate, just a moment of bliss to try
to distract the last few hills to go. I
thank the volunteers and speed down the hill with my mouthful. The speed
doesn’t last very long, as quick as I get to the bottom I only slow to a
marching effort back up the next steep slope.
A few small slopes that feel a breeze for the time being so I have a moment
to feel some recovering, only to see another two big sister hills left. I
decide to keep my head down on the climbs and enjoy the speedy drops which seem
to lift my spirits more - or is that the sugar rush from the mars bar that I
would never have in my diet usually?!
12:30: Approaching about 24 miles the last of the sisters
are behind me, all seven of them. I have
a proud moment knowing I’ve managed to conquer those and got the worst over
with, well almost…I can see a huge steady incline of a hill which leads up to
the lighthouse that is Beachy Head up next. I take it slowly but try to keep a
10:00-12:00min/mile max going on here when possible.
The climb feels like
forever and the cheers from passing hikers and walkers helps but I can’t help
thinking have they ever tried running on Beachy? It is brutal and horrific in
places. Not one for a beginner this. As the hill gradually becomes steeper
still, as if it couldn’t already it still climbs up reaching 300ft to the top.
Finally as if I would never see what is over the hill I eventually get a sneak
peek as I creep up nearer to the summit.
Then there it is…the light house and a nice bit of flat,
just a short part but it is flat! This is where I can see everyone who is
upfront in the lead. I try to count some of the runners ahead but I soon give
up and know with my time that I will be around the first 100. I cruise along
here feeling so much better already.
Then a small climb, which is over quickly enough, then through past the
pub restaurant car park at the top of Beachy Head and around to the main road
following it up across the grass verge. I notice it looks familiar and realise
we passed this but on the other side of the road earlier on. I suddenly have a
clear idea that means the finish is only about one mile or so away! I up to my
race pace (or the closest I can) with my burning exhausted sore legs and hope
please for no cramping!
12:43: Less than one mile to go and no cramping yet. I
remember back to Liverpool how this is when it started, I’m quite grateful that
today has been mainly off road and the road we did run on was very brief. We
make our way around the cliff top passing walkers and spectators strolling to
see the runners come in. Over the small mound and past some trees, I can see a
glimpse of Eastbourne and then, as I approach nearer the finish, I can see the
Pier.
Then I notice a half rainbow peeping from the thick clouds over the
seafront, it’s the most amazing moment to see and such a nice welcome for the
end of a race that has been stunning with scenery on the way. I think of my partner Sunday and how he would
really like it up here - to see what all us runner’s have seen. As the route
seems to slope downwards I sense this must be it - finally the sharp hill that
we climbed all those hours ago. I literally fly down but have to steady myself
as the steps approach and land two at a time.
I whizz past the cheers and crowds and there it is the end....I sprint
the best I can and thumbs up the spectators with a sign of relief and a big
smile as I pass through the finish line.
I clock my time to be 3:50:39
which is 70th place,
not bad for my
first Beachy Head Marathon!
That’s 47 minutes slower than Liverpool two weeks
ago and 25 minutes quicker than my Three Forts Marathon ‘The Tough One’ in May
which has a similar 3,400ft elevation gain too. The Eastbourne website claims
you need to add 30-40 minutes onto your road time so I am very happy with my
result today.
I gain my 17th medal from racing and my 10th Marathon to
date since 2010.
Thanks for reading and Run Free!
UltraLuke
