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50 miles, 3 hills, 2 run buddies and a snowstorm later...

MICHELLE DOBSON-BROOKS 5 MAY 2015
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So this is how it went...

Hmmm, I need a challenge for 2015...maybe time to venture into the World of the Ultra. "Paul, will you run the LL50 with me in July?" Booked it, packed it and we will...

That was the start of the ultra-journey – as you can see, it's not even close to being over yet – so in the run up I thought it best to challenge myself to the Three Peaks as training. I enlisted the help of Nicola White as she is running well and needed a challenge too.

Fabulous, she agreed to the idea and training began. All was going well for both of us, no injuries, no de-motivation, just good prep.....

So this is how it went....

"Hmmm, anyone want a place at Manchester Marathon the week before the Three Peaks?" Why not...and I wonder if Dale would like to do it too as he is also doing the Peaks?

At this point any sanity you may have thought I had definitely dissolved like a pile of fell runners socks!

Manchester Marathon: So this is how it went...

Having threatened Dale about drinking the night before (we planned to stick together round the course and I did not want a hungover wingman) I was pleased to collect him from a house not a wine bar doorway. We arrived in Manchester at the wrong side for car parks so decided we'd live on the edge and find a residential area to park in. Once de-layered and gelled up we started the 15 minute jog to the start line, followed by the 10 minute jog back to check I'd locked the car (another car malfunction in the world of this mini runner) and about-turn jog back to the start.

We had agreed to run around a 4-hour marathon what with the Peaks looming and as we are both very good at sticking to plans (!) we were happy and content at the start.

And we were off – the first four miles stays close to the start area so we had chance to wave at other TAC runners and get into a rhythm. By mile 10 we were gliding along really well...ETA 3:30! Plan being executed to perfection as per usual! We debated slowing but were happy. Dale pulled away a little at this point as I had a chat with Lorna. By half way we were back together and still at 3:30 pace. Decision time...I had already realised that this tarmac running was hurting and was conscious of the Peaks (and not letting Nicola down by blowing up) so I slowed a little and carried on.

Mile 20 came...ouch...cramp...ouch...stop. Dale hung round but I sent him on his way and picked up Derrick. We chatted and jogged off cramp and injury and I felt better, so off I went. I then drifted till mile 22 with a decent pace, then as I went for a water stop I came across a girl practically in tears with pain.

Florence Nightingale moment...jog, walk, chat, motivate, jog, walk. She seemed happier and then the words that saved my life – "Will you stay with me till the finish line?" OF COURSE I WILL – a sure way to resist the pace I was threatening.

Four more miles of jog, run, sweat, swear (her not me) and we jogged over the line in 3:39 – nowhere close to the sensible four hours and quicker than last year but it was done! I grabbed Dale and we limped to the car and home.

Right, how do I recover and get to the Peaks? One run on Wednesday and nothing else...good idea...I had a massage on Tuesday then set off to run Wednesday. Why hello calf, aren't you in my face today! Ouch, ouch, limp, limp – Nicola is going to kill me.

Now, for those who don't know I work at Burnley College in Sport, so I had the pleasure of massage and ultrasound for two days. Phew...strapped up and off we go!

Three Peaks: So this is how it went...

Arrived in plenty of time to register, meet Nicola (and other TAC runners), toilet and pin. Then the moment of truth – am I wearing enough layers?

Mr Mac did his usual 'when are you going to learn that you wear far too many layers'! Decision made, add a base layer anyway – Mac's advice well used (and in your face Mac...the conditions worsened!).

Then the buzzer went off...the start is practically straight up and I have to say it was like hell. As it was up, up, up all the pressure went straight into the calves. I shouted up to Nicola to carry on and I'd catch her later! I then went into 'darkville'. Bear in mind this was three miles in and I was already pulling out in my head. I passed Mr and Mrs White, then my hound with friends and thought 'don't let Nicola down'.

The top of Pen-y-Ghent finally arrived and Nicola had got up there well, I was then coming down and the calves eased. Back past the two support crews and on the long run over to Whernside. This was steady and at a good pace, the 3/4 mile tarmac was hell but we passed the timed checkpoint and carried on. Then we faced Whernside – and a river crossing (plus photo op courtesy of Jamie) – and up we went.

I'd like to point out at this stage that I run through winter and in all conditions, but the bleak sleet, snow, rain, wind, hail and crap on Whernside was something else. Head down and get up (picked up a sufferer of cramp, Florence Nightingale revisited, made the decision to help and make up the time on the down and flat).

Nicola once again got up well and it took me a while to find her on the down. I think the best comment of the day came next: "Nicola, are you okay?", "Not if we keep this pace up!" Nicola had decided to run without a watch and let me pace, but the conditions on Whernside had meant we slowed considerably and the last timed checkpoint was going to be tight – but we made it with three minutes to spare!

The last seven miles and final peak came and went – we were so relaxed and jubilant that we had done it, the fact we hadn't crossed the line was irrelevant – there was nowhere to go other than down to the finish.

So on we went to the finish where our support waited, looking a tad cold and wet but happy and relieved to see us. We obviously went for a sprint finish, something Nicola loves me doing and over the line we went. Hurray, hurray!

I think one thing that became apparent during and in the aftermath is that I may have underestimated the race a little. Manchester was flat tarmac and I had done it before, the Peaks was something else and the ever-changing weather makes it an event not to be messed with!

Will I do it again? Maybe, I will certainly enter but the conditions in the run up may play a part. Will I do it the week after a marathon? Obviously not, that would just be insane ;-) Will I rest for a while? Obviously!

Now then (in the words of President Bartlett – West Wing reference) "What's next...?"

(NB: Special thanks to the White family, Annie, Gel, Lucie Dog and Sam Sam (hound), Liz and Matt Allison, Autumn, Martin, Jason, Karen, Steph, Ruth and any other support over these two events I may have missed....and my running buddies, Dale and my PIC Nicola White)

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