general rumblings about Kent 50 Mile Challenge

admin · general rumblings about Kent 50 Mile Challenge

Well, it has finally arrived...gulp....

List of Benfleet Runners taking part:

Graham Booty
Jez Mancer
Lucy Mancer
Paddy Mancer
Gary Jacketts
Karl Cadman

Karl C

latest email update from the organisers included:

Mike Mason

never smirk at the advice on carrying TP in plastic bag......look after your bowels and they will look after you.....................

mikey

Good luck over the weekend

If last nights navigation skills around GORC ( Hockley Woods ) are anything to go by

YOU’RE NEED IT

Remember to take a compass

( and a friend who knows how to use it !!!!! )

Mikey

Karl C

I don't actually count taking an extra 1 mile thro' the woods with three females "getting lost" OK ?

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it......

mikemoreton

Karl, What can I say.............Jammy so and so?
shins still giving me slight probs from not being used except on flat work. I blame Jez for not putting in a few hills for my marathon training. He may reply that i wasnt 'up to it'. Oh well, Anadin and ibuprofen mousse work well for me

Karl C

MM2, yep plenty of jam, but no f*cking biscuits.

It has been said I do go the extra mile....

mikemoreton

Unlike MM1, who goes the extra 6 miles

Was *I* supposed to bring the biscuits? I seem to recall that I was being treated to some biscuits for my 1st PB.

Did I mention I got a PB yet?

Fed up already huh?

lol

Pammie

Good luck y'all

Be thinking of you
cheers

mikey

So you only ran an extra mile …..

Yet my group finished over 10 minutes before you arrived

Either :

You were running slower than us ( very possible )
You detoured for far more than 1 mile ( quite possible )
Or there’s some un-allocated time here, which you don’t want to disclose ( interesting )

Could this controversy rival that of the infamous Benfleet Biscuit Crum Trail

Theories Please

mikemoreton

Mikey: First and foremost you have too much time on your hands to be making comments when you could be doing the merit table. Enough said on that now.

My theory: They stopped for biscuits, ate them all, which slowed them down considerably thus losing time and the way. However, un-allocated time does sound interesting. Who were the (un)lucky ladies in tow? *smirk*

mikey

Wouldn't say lucky

And stop answering my posts when I log on to do MT work !!!!!

Frustrated Of GORC

Pat M

You're lucky he's anwsered it at all, more than you've done for mine. I'm going to have a punching competiton with you. I've asked Stevie to deliver my punch for me, and you can return yours by whacking Steve. (Tight git won't go halves with me on me book.)

debbie g

I feel it is time to quash the rumours and tittle tattle and give the true account of the Hockley run.

Jo Sarah and myself confidently left the leadership to our coach and ace navigator Karl.

He felt that a mere 6 miles was a trifle and not adequate preparation for a 50 miler at the weekend. He felt we should undertake a few more circuits to make it worth setting foot outside the door. Besides which we needed to run the route in reverse after completing it the correct way as there were rumours flying about that Mikey's group had taken a short cut as they were the only group running in the opposite direction to every other group.

Suspicions were borne out as we could not find them anywhere despite carrying out a very thorough search of the entire woods - several times.

And I might add that Karl was just far too modest to reveal the true extent of the length of our run. Jo Sarah and I all agreed that it was in fact 9 miles and with my fine distance measuring equipment (my guess-o-meter) I can say the actual distance covered was approximately 9.235 miles. All at just under 7 minute mile pace - not bad eh??

(and we stopped to eat the trifle after 6 miles - it was jammy with a few biscuits crumbled over it).

Simon C

Mike Mason

Good luck to Karl and all......if you read about anyone being airlifted over the weekend lost on Scafell Pike/Hellvellyn etc I will do you all proud by wearing my Benfleet Vest and the shorts with ' the caring club - my arse' tailored on them.

rgds
Mike

mikey

Was watching “Life On Mars” – 1st series repeat - BBC 4 ( Monday Night )

Apparently the in the ‘70’s the first witness to talk did it “Bang Too Rights”

Looks like Jo & Sarah are in the clear then

As for Young Debbie …….. 7:00 minute mileing …. You have to smell a Rat

Thinking about it

Jo seemed incredibly relieved to be back
Sarah had a content smile on her face

As for Debbie, can’t quite remember, seemed to slip off into the background

Strange that

Theories Please

Karl C

one thing I am sure of is that MJ does manage to hijack every thread and send it off at a tangent.....

mikey

Hi Karl

How did it go ? ......... Legs sore ?

Did you spot the brown carpi in the car park on Tuesday ?

Life On Mars .............. Spooky

Sharon G

Good luck everyone for sunday Smile

mikemoreton

Good luck to you all!

Jez, Dont let Graham beat you.
Lucy, carefull not to trip ove Paddy.
Paddy, Keep out of Lucy's way.
Graham, Dont let Jez beat you.
Karl, Good luck on your run. Is it your first?
Gary, No need to wish you luck mate, its only a training run for you.

Finally, Don't let the B**tards grind you down!!

Mike M
MM2

Karl C

Thanks Mike,

you forget

Karl - don't let Paddy beat you !

This will be my first ultra geek

Pammie

Nothing like jumping in at the deep end then

Karl C

yep - "jumping" and "deep end" do come to mind.

as do

"arse" and "elbow" as i don't really know what I am doing..but hey, it's only two marathons, just back-to-back.

My original plan was to get to 40 miles to celebrate my 40th birthday
(not sure if you heard about that last month, ask Mikey)

but as the weeks have gone on I am now mentally ready to do the 50 miles

time will tell...

I will be texting updates on all our runners back to base camp and getting them to update the forum as and when they can, on the pfficial thread here...

http://benfleetrunningclub.myfastforum.org/about503.html

Pammie

Awww i did hear some rumours about that.

What is it about us runners who do strange things to celebrate their birthdays

Look forward to the updates and the very best of luck

mikemoreton

Well, talking of birthdays. Not sure if my wife is a runner or not yet. She did her first 10k on 8th July and regularly runs 1 lap of Hockley woods (some 2 to 3 miles?). My point is.....she wanted all of her close friends to join us on a 50th birthday party. Simple enough? No. ............Its on a caribbean cruise in October. Guess what..........18 of them are coming with us. Now thats going to be some booze cruise.
Yes Jez, Mike (MM2) will be actively back on the consumption of the dreaded booze. Doesnt do Graham any harm does it? lol
Oh well, it will only be for 2 weeks in total.............

Anyhow, good luck again

Mike

PS Karl, you can do it, just keep your legs moving. Think of the grief MM1 will give you if you fail

Look forward to the updates.

debbie g

Good luck to all of you taking part in this. You are all crazy but you have my utmost admiration for taking on such an awesome challenge. I know you will all do Benfleet proud bounce

jacklarge

Best of luck Karl (and the others, obviously),

50 miles eh, mentally ready or just mental? Is there some sort of 'Cult of Ultra' that is insidiously spreading throughout our CCMA (Caring Club My Arse)?

I've noticed that a common side effect of Ultra Running appears to be a loss of direction (and biscuits). Personally I'm happy being able to find/eat biscuits and hence will stick to anything up to (wimpish) marathon distance.

Very impressed with all you Ultra people (and dogs) do the CCMA proud cheers

.

Cheers,

John.

PS Karl - if you want to give my techy side some training I'll happily be someone you can text to update the forum.

Graham

Thanks for the encouragement Mike. And glad to hear about your impending cruise. Ensure you do plenty of training beforehand, you want to be last man standing. If you need a training partner?

Not feeling at all confident about Sunday. The full distance will be too much with Sherbone 5 weeks later....but kinda feel I ought to have a good go at it. Legs really ache too, already been moaning to Karl. Why is it when I run a short race really hard my legs are worse than when I run a marathon? Coach? You got an answer? Yes I did warm down and stretch. Dont suppose it could have been a skinful of Becks immediately after do you? In my defence it was all free...and I didn't smoke. God bless smoke free pubs!!!

And I haven't even mentioned my coccyx. Hell's teeth but it bloody hurts following a minor bike accident a couple of weeks ago. And it seems to be getting worse not better, although thankfully it does go numb after a few miles of running or cycling so as long as I dont try and sit down at any point on Sunday I should be OK.

Right. That's all my excuse laid out. Jez, you're up next.

Karl C

I plead metal instability..

John, thanks.
I will include you in my "text-circle" with updates for posting on the official forum (which I will unlock once Mikey has logged off...lol)

Lucycat

My understanding is its 30miles for a certificate and a medal. I have a plan that says 30 is quite enough for a day and a significant injury history.

Paddy says "if its ot im sittin in de pub wiv dem ladies wot feed me biscuits and sez im cute coz eat stroke is not gud for us dogs"

Paddys longest run to date is 18miles and the last time I ran over 11 was in March.

so Karl we are not competition!!!

My aim is 30 depending on the left leg I may sneak in another lap or two to encourage others and to be home for lunch!

Anyone camping overnight?????

Lucycat

PS Dont want to worry you Graham but coccyx are quite easily to break. I used to work with a guy whos wife broke hers by falling on her bum snowboarding.

Lucycat

PPS Graham

Short races use different energy systems ie more anaerobic = greater lactate; more pressure on ligaments and muscles and joints as you are going quicker; more fast twitch than slow twitch muscles. Long races are the opposite.

My betting is you are used to doing a bloody hell of a lot for a long time on a fairly steady impact but not used to running fast over a short distance ie lots of track work.

Try 6-8 x 200 absolutely flat out on a track one day with long recoveries (3min) youll ache nearly as much as after a marathon the next day. If you did that regularly youd find short races easier but then if your aim is a long race its not really that much use compared to other sessions. Make sure you warm up and down and dont pull anything as thats the risk and the reason why you ache!

Jez

Im only bothered that our dog has turned into jamaican speaking dog!

Paddy says "if its ot im sittin in de pub wiv dem ladies wot feed me biscuits and sez im cute coz eat stroke is not gud for us dogs"

Graham

Thanks Lucy. Feeling better. And yes I'm camping. I'm staying in the pub car park in my campervan, it's a beige piece of s**t, you can't miss it.

Karl C

GRAHAM,

don't forget coffee at 5.15am please, one sugar.

I will bring the Jaffa Cakes....

mikemoreton

Karl,
You sure you will find your way?

runningman

He will be fine iam driving ! as long as i get out of bed !! 2 BLOODY AM !!!

Stevie

All the best guys, you're all nutters thumbleft

runningman

Jez,Paddy sounds more German than Jamican !!!

Jackie + the girls · 50 mile kent challenge

Update from Karl C.
13 miles done just after 8.30 am.
Hail stones!

Having just experienced the forum for the first time, I'm slightly concerned karl's first text to me had no mention of food, biscuits, jam or otherwise!

Will keep posting.

Jackie + the girls · 50 mile Kent challenge

Update.
Karl and Gary at 19 miles at approx. 10.15am.
Jez, Graham through 26 miles, Lucy at 24 miles.
Sun has come out.
I hope I've deciphered karl's text ok! geek

Jackie + the girls · 50 mile Kent challenge

Karl at 26 miles at 11.35. I'm assuming he is still with Gary. geek

Not sure on others at mo.

Pammie

Looking good
Keep it up
Woke early to the sound of thunder this morning, was worried about you guys
Looking forward to more reports

Thanks Jackie + the girls for the updates

Jackie + the girls · 50 Mile Kent Challange

Hi John, I know you offered to update on this run.
I am away from my computer now for a while so if you are able to post Karl's txts that would be great.
Thank you geek

Jackie + the girls · 50 Mile Kent Challenge

Quick update before I'm away for a while.
Karl just coming up to 30 miles at 1pm!
Great news as that's his first ultra.
Gary is about 4 miles behind.
Lucy has finished at 30 miles as planned. Well done!
Jez and Graham still going and are about lap and half in front.
(6 mile lap)
It's going to get hot but at least they've dried out and warmed up from early on!
geek

jacklarge

Hi Jackie,

been posting on the 'official' 50 thread here! However I to have got to go out this afternoon so if anyone is available to take over as offical text-pert PM me your mobile number now and I'll forward them on!

Cheers,

John

mikemoreton

All I know is: Jez and Graham finished joint 2nd in 7 hours 31 minutes

Well done!

Jackie + the girls · 50 mile kent challenge - the end!

Just heard from karl. He finished the 52.4 miles in 11hrs 52 mins.
Gary finished at 40 miles - well done and is now driving them both home!
Jez and Graham completed it in approx. 7 1/2 hours!
Congrats to everyone! geek

Sharon G

Well done guys, girlies and paddy.Amazing efforts from all of you. flower

Lucycat

Just to confirm Jackies post they are done! Probably literally.

Was a great event. We camped overnight, after enjoying monster sized portions of assorted vege fodder in the Gate Inn (fab proper pub in Marshside near herne bay if your ever that way), in an isolated field thus avoiding insomnia due to the all day all night cock a doodling cockerel. That said trying to sleep with a smelly spaniel and snoring husband in tent was impossible and woke up feeling like Id slept ditch for a night after a night on the bevvies.

Set off at 6am being towed by a hyperactive spaniel and the first lap was warm but cloudy. On lap two the heavens opened and between the 5 and 6 mile point (6and a half mile laps) the lightening was forking in the fields all around. Paddy got scared; so did I so we waited near a ditch for a few minutes until the centre of the storm passed.

By lap 3 it was still raining but steadily and the cooling effect of the rain put pad on course for his first marathon and me on course for my 13th.

By lap 5 24-32 ish miles the sun came out and all was lovely apart from the legs which were trashed. Really should remember to train for these things (longest training run - 10 miles!)

Then we finished got medals got changed had a wash in a ditch (paddy) and had a vege burger (me) and a gateburger (Paddy -well he ran a long way) chatted to Ernie chief supporter and cheered those slightly madder on.

Great day!

Steffan

Totaly fantastic running from all of ya.
Very well done.
cheers

Ernie

Congratulations to Lucy,Jez,Graham,Karl and Paddy for all doing such a good job in their first true Ultra.
And Congratulations to Gazza for putting in such a good effort so soon after the SENI Extreme.

Andy F

Well done to all of you!!!

I genuinely think you are all insane (perhaps with the exception of Paddy), but you still have my utmost respect and admiration.

I think!!!!

Best of luck for the morning.
Andy

Pammie

Well i am totally gobsmacked i think you all did very well today

Its awesome

I take it you've all booked the day off work tomorrow bounce

Karl C

The morning after....legs not too bad.

Graham

Ultra running hurts. A lot. Massive thanks to Jez for putting up with me for 7.5 hours. Admittedly the banter dried up for the last 3 laps when we started to suffer. Anyway I’m sure he pulled me through more bad spells that I did for him. Certainly would have walked a bit on the last couple of laps without him. OK, I would have walked all 13.1 miles of them. Sorry I hogged him Lucy.

It was a superbly organised day. The marshalls were legends, sitting out in the rain and lighting and then sweltering heat for 15+ hours. Ernie was a star, for his support, recovery drinks and dry socks. Paddy, next BRC AMG I move that we make him official club mascot and get his image incorporated in the club logo – 3 runners plus 1 spaniel. Gazza, you need to take a break mate. Try and go a few weeks without an ultra. And as for Mr Kadman. That’s Weald Park and this I now owe you for. Two stupid events you’ve got me signed up for. I’m clearly a salesman’s dream. “Mr Booty would you be interested in this lovely mediaval effect stone cladding?” “Derrr, OK, that sounds like a great idea”. Just stay away from me in future.

Karl C

Graham, I need to speak to you about our next race...... bounce

Thanks to Gary for getting me round the first 30 miles, and Ernie for getting me round the last 13.1 miles !

Weather went from rain, hailstones, sleet, gailforce winds to hot, humid and 23 degrees.

Wow, what an experience !

Thanks all the BRC team, great day out.

Just to compliment Lucy's tale:

Gary picked me up at 3.00am Sunday mornig and we drove to the start. Arrived at 4.45am (never been so early) and Gary spent the first 10 mins wondering round the make-shift camp site shouting "paddeeee, paddeeee" to no answer. We found Graham eating porridge at his camper, and finally bumped into Jez and Lucy further down the road. They hadn't even camped in the "official" site, but further round the corner. The others camping must have thought Gary was mad !

Anyway, great day.
Glad I got under the 12 hours, although that last lap was a real test.
It is amazing what the human body (and brain) can do.

Thanks for all the "back-seat" club support I know was happening.
Thanks to John for updating the forum in-between Jackie and the girls.

The best bit - I can't race now for 52 days!
Bring on 2008.

debbie g

You guys are all amazing. Congratulations to Jez and Graham on finishing joint 2nd (I'll get that on the radio!). Well done Karl on your first ultra I knew you'd finish the whole distance - incredible and rest those legs well now (don't follow Gary's example!) - well done Gary for going so far so soon after the Seni (you are completely nuts though!). Good run Lucy and Pad especially if you'd not done the training - don't know how you do it.

You all did Benfleet proud as I knew you would. cheers

runningman

OUCH ! I have found a cure for aching limbs after an ultra !! Severe Sun Burn bounce

What a great day ! i look back now and can sit back and chuckle! iam not sure what was the funniest ! getting up at 2 am ! wandering around the campsite at 4 am looking for a dog that wasnt there !
Graham running for 52 miles with a look of absolute

and anger on his face with Jez at his side singing and laughing ..
The weather !!! one minute i was wearing wellies and a rain mack the next it was sunglasses and a bikkini !!!
But best of all Karl , Jez, Lucy and graham WELCOME to the world of ULRA MARATHONS may your stay be a long and fruitful one !
I and this caring club my arse should be very proud of you all !
oh and Paddy well done on your first marathon ! and Ernie thanks for your support ,karl says can you stop trying to make him do the GUC !!

I personnaly relise that my body hasnt recovered from the Seni yet ! from 30 mile onwards my head was fine but i had nothing in my legs ! I think i need a rest ! got to the finish line rung the misses like you do she said ' well done , oh and by the way were having a new bedroom fitted tomorrow ! you need to empty the room and take the carpet up by tomorrow morning ' bom

bloomin great ! and to cap it all Iam at work today !!!

Lucycat

Graham

Ha!

I had a flashback earlier. I never knew IronMan Jez was a bit timid around rodents. He jumped so high when a rat scuttled across our path I thought he'd been hit by lightning.

mikemoreton

Graham,

Dont think your picture is befitting mate. I liked the old bottle one

Jez

Dangerous creatures rats!They have no hesitation in jumping up at throats is how I think of them!!Anyway Graham thanks for your kind words and sorry for the fahrlek session at 40 miles(I blame Guns and roses) if id known you wouldhave mentioned the rat I would have carried on..Lol

Thanks to everyone for their support and words of encouragment, it was a great day and a tough race to finish.Now for the benfleet 50!!!!

And for the record I dont snore but put a Hayfever sufferer in a tent in the middle of a field of freshly cut rape and he might just might have trouble breathing whilst asleep!!

Jez

Talking of flashbacks, Graham couldnt run past a portaloo yesterday without inspecting their finer qualities, so heres one for you today!

If your legs are feeling as good as mine, you ll need it!

mikemoreton

Jez, and i had you up there on my clever person list. Fancy sleeping in a field like that.

Wait till Thursday night!!

Well done again, what can you and Graham do next?

Jez

To be honest it was the lesser of 2 evils. As Graham will testify the other alternative was the pub beer garden with a Hyperractive cockerel with timing issues and the prospect of 2 other members of BRC turning up in the morning/early hours wishing to raise Paddy from his slumber.

Whats a little snoring and itchy eyes compared to that!

Stu · Well done

Well done everyone. Top class.
Enjoy your recovery.

Graham

Mike Inster the organiser, an ex army PTI and bit of an old endurance warhorse kindly mailed me lots of tips and advice for the MdS, being a two time vet. He's by his own admission a bit past his best but his media story of his experiences in 2003 made quite an enteraining read. He also told me if I wanted to save a bundle of cash but go through the whole MdS experience I should stay at home for a week, stick pins in my eyeballs, blowtorch my feet, eat pot noodles washed down with warm stagnant water and crap in a cat litter tray. Isn't that Ernie's standard training techniques?

It gets easier after the oak tree

Monday 14th April 2003. Gatwick Airport.

Monarch flight 4097 disembarks its 220 passengers and a casual onlooker would be forgiven for thinking that this was a charter returning from a pilgrimage to Lourdes: almost everyone hobbling painfully, some with crutches and at least one in a wheelchair. Despite appearances however these are 200 of the fittest people in the UK and they’ve just taken part in the Marathon des Sables – ‘the toughest footrace on earth’.

Now in its 18th year the MdS attracts some 700 competitors from six different continents and over 30 countries. They come to test their strength and willpower against seven days in the Sahara Desert where they will be expected to cover 160 miles, on foot, through some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain. That’s the equivalent of six back to back London marathons. They have to do this whilst carrying everything they need for the seven days. The only thing the organisers supply is a daily ration of 9 litres of water and an open sided Berber tent when each stage is completed.

Why then would anyone, especially a 55year old, 5’6”, 13 and a half stone tub want to do it? I still don’t know the answer to that one but I do know that the desire to overcome the challenge became all consuming and dominated most of my thoughts for the months leading up to the event.

The training was simple – miles of walking and running, usually with a rucksack full of weight training weights, for distances which varied from the short 6 miler to the double marathon of 57 miles. The most miles I covered in one week of training was 110 but that was exceptional. On average, the weekly distance covered was between 40 & 60 miles depending on the time I had available. Our house seemed to be permanently filled with piles of sweaty training gear much to the

of Paula, my long suffering partner. She would inform those who ‘phoned whilst I was out training that I was ‘out on manoeuvres’ as she believes that you can get the man out of the army but you can’t get the army out of the man – maybe she’s right.

The day arrived and I found myself in the Sahara desert of Southern Morocco along with 670 assorted bodies of all shapes, sizes and nationalities ready to do battle with the elements. Once disgorged from the cattle trucks that took us the last few kilometres into the desert we formed ourselves into groups of 9 and selected one of the open-sided Berber tents that were already erected and waiting for us.

Most of us had made some ‘tentative’ arrangements and liaisons on the way regarding with whom we would share a tent but they were pretty loose and in most cases, who you ended up came down to pot luck. Each tent was numbered and this would be your tent for the rest of the event. I was in tent 78 – home for the next 9 days.

My tent mates ranged in ages from 23 – 34 with one (Godfrey) at 41 and then me the granddad at 55. They turned out to be a fine bunch and we all got along extremely well and helped each other where ever possible.

The first two days were taken up with a good deal of hanging about and official administrative checks of medical histories, equipment and food allowances. We each had to show that we were carrying a minimum of 2000 calories per day. I had mainly instant noodles for the evenings and an oatmeal cereal mixed with nuts & raisins which could be made up with cold water for breakfasts. I also had a bag of boiled sweets, Oxo cubes and a good supply of instant tea with whitener & sugar already added.

The total weight of my rucksack for the week including food, sleeping bag, ground mat, and all the essential kit such as knife, torch, signal mirror, anti-venom pump, medical kit, brew stove, thermal top, hat, goggles and sun cream was a relatively light 8.3Kg (that’s nearly ten 2lb bags of sugar). To that I had to add the weight of water each day ( at least another two bags of sugar at any one time). Some guys were carrying over 15Kgs (without water) which must have been very hard going.

The start day finally arrived and after what seemed an age and a good deal of talking from Patrick Bauer, the French Race Director, we were off on the first stage of 18 miles. We were told that this was meant to be a nice easy day designed to get us into it gently!! Walking/jogging in the sand up to my ankles I was soon wondering what the hell I was doing here. The temperature was a cool 110f. It would get much hotter!! Despite popular conception, the Sahara isn’t all nice sand dunes. Most of it is rough, rocky ground on which you break your ankles if you don’t watch every step you take and after a while you long for a bit of soft sand to give your feet a rest. After a few miles of sand you’re longing for the rocks again to give your calf muscles a break: and so it goes for mile after mile. Finally, after nearly five hours I arrive at the first bivouac with enough daylight left to sort my feet out (pretty good, no blisters) and have something hot to eat before getting into my sleeping bag for as much sleep as I can get.

The morning routine is simple. At about 5.50am the local Arab labour arrives to take the camp to bits so they can get it moved and re-erected at the next bivouac site. If you’re still in the tent when they get to it they just take it down round you whilst trampling all over your gear. Once the tent has gone there is no shade. The normal start time is between 8.30 and 9.00. Plenty of time to bake slowly in the rising sun!

Day two is Dune Day. In the distance we can see huge sand dunes and know that we have to cross them to get to the next bivouac. This is a daunting prospect. The reality is that these are no ordinary sand dunes; these are the Marazouga Dunes and they are the highest and widest in Africa. They are in fact sand mountains. Once in the dunes, the temperature reaches almost 50C and there is no wind. I wonder how long I can keep going as the sand stretches into infinity and, it seems, ever upwards. However, after nine hours I reach the next bivouac and I’m not last. After eating, I’m violently sick and have a severe headache. I appear to have a touch of sun stroke. I drink as much water as I’m able and take a couple of pills for my head then try to get some sleep. I’m sick again in the night but still manage about six hours sleep.

Day three and I’m not feeling well. Breakfast reappeared as soon as I’d eaten it and I’m now throwing up my water as well. Not a good sign. Checkpoint 1 is at 8 miles and I’m almost out on my feet when I get there. I get to the medical tent and they give me a pill to settle my stomach and some sachets of re-hydration powder to put in my water. I rest for twenty minutes and get some fluid into me before setting off again. The re-hydration powder seems to have done the trick and I make the next checkpoint easily but again find myself in real trouble between checkpoints two & three when all my energy seems to go and I’m wandering along in a daze. I’m now last and have been joined by the camels and their handlers who follow the last person on each day as a security net. I get near to checkpoint 3 but it’s on the other side of a massive, rocky sand dune. At the sight of it and knowing I have to get over it I feel despair. After struggling up this sand cliff for what seems like forever I don’t think I can make it and finally collapse to my knees about thirty feet from the top. I just kneel there staring at it and the camels and their minders sit at a discrete distance and watch me. By now, we have been joined by a doctor and a nurse on one of the quad-bikes that patrol the route. They also sit and watch me. I make a couple more attempts to get up but make no real progress. After what seems an eternity but was probably only five minutes the diminutive French nurse came over to me, took me by the sleeve and said “ I ‘elp you to ze top” This was enough to get my male pride stirred and get me struggling up the dune again. We were now joined by the doctor who picked me up round the waist and pretty nearly carried me the last fifteen feet to the summit where he pushed me over the top and pointing, said “Checkpoint”. I almost fell down the other side and straight into the medical tent where once again, they pumped me full of water and re-hydration powder and set me on my way to the next bivouac some 5 miles away. I got there in the dark and to my surprise had overtaken four others at the checkpoint and was no longer last. Some of the guys from my tent were waiting for me and took my rucksack, made me hot tea and put me to bed. Ready to fight another day. Thanks lads!!

Day four – the big one – 50 miles. I’m now keeping water down and have been drinking regularly through the night but still can’t eat. I’m not too worried by that. I know that as long as I can stay hydrated I’ve got a chance. If I eat and am sick I will only get weaker and loose more fluid. Answer, don’t worry about eating until I feel better. We have 36 hours to cover the 50 miles. Four weeks before the desert I did a 55 mile training run in 15 hours with full kit. 36 hours should be more than enough even in my present weakened condition. Although feeling a bit feeble I feel very positive and have no doubts that I’m going to make the distance as long as I pace myself and keep drinking. I also have my bag of boiled sweets which are my secret weapon. I am joined for a while by a guy called Stuart who is suffering badly with blistered feet but despite this, he lends one of his trekking poles and this helps me greatly. We keep company for a while and give each other encouragement but at checkpoint three he goes on ahead with a faster group.

I make the 30 mile mark and checkpoint four. The goings been tough with lots of deep sand and rocks and it’s now dark and much cooler although not cold and there is a good moon to see by. I meet up with tent mate Godfrey who has a ‘brew’ under way and I get into my sleeping bag to rest for an hour. The tea is hot, sweet and wonderful. Godfrey says he’s leaving as he’s had an hour. I say I’ll stay a little longer and then follow after him. I wake up eight hours later!! Bloody hell – I thought there was something wrong with my watch – but no, I’d slept soundly for eight hours. This wasn’t really a problem other than that I would now have to complete the next twenty miles in the coming daylight and sun rather than in the cool of the night. The sleep has done me good as do a few of my boiled sweets and I reach the next checkpoint quite easily.

The last ‘tab’ is ten miles through a wadi (dried up river bed) and it’s hellish. The sun is now full overhead and very powerful and the going under foot is treacherous. I have to watch where I put my feet all the time. It is endless and my speed has dropped dramatically. At one point I feel a black shadow over me and think I’ve passed under a Tamarisk tree but realise that there are no trees. I look up and hovering above me is a bloody great big vulture like bird. This spurs me on to greater efforts as I have no wish to be lunch for him and his mates. This last ten miles to the bivouac takes me nearly six hours and I arrive completely shattered but still seven hours inside the time limit and still not last. Once again, some of my tent mates are there to help me in and get me to bed in preparation for the marathon next day.

Day six dawns and we have to cover 27 miles in twelve hours or we’re out. An additional burden is that we have to reach checkpoint three in nine hours. Under normal circumstances this would be no problem but these are not normal circumstances – I’m physically on my last reserves and the balls of my feet are now quite badly blistered. Getting my shoes on takes about fifteen minutes of gentle coaxing and shoving – and my shoes are already two sizes bigger than normal for just such an eventuality. I’ve now taken the liners out to give me even more room. Why are we all doing this to ourselves?

Day six passes in a haze and I get near to the vital checkpoint three with time fast running out. I can see it about four hundred metres away and by my watch I only have about two minutes to make the cut off point. The officials manning the point and some of the runners who are already there are shouting at me to run. One kindly soul screams at me in army fashion to ‘get going’ in rather more colourful language. I force myself to break into a shamble as the thought of being binned at this stage is almost too much to bear! By my watch I’m a minute over the time as I get to the ‘gate’. They tell me I’ve made it with ten seconds to spare and everyone is cheering. I’m sure they stopped the clock to let me get there. There are four people behind me somewhere on the route and for them the race is now over. What a terrible disappointment for them to have got so close to the finish. I allow myself quarter of an hour rest and then trudge of into the dark to complete the last stage with twenty minutes to spare. Once again, I overtake three others and am still not last. Where these bursts of energy come from I really have no idea.

The last day and just a half marathon to go with no time limit. I must surely make it now. The journey passes in a blur and I find my self having daydreams about cold, fizzy drinks and sausage, eggs, chips and beans. This last phrase runs through my head as a marching mantra: sausage, eggs, chips and beans, sausage, eggs, chips and beans, sausage, eggs, chips and beans. I find myself repeating this for at least two hours and nearly drive myself bonkers. Finally I’m into Tazzerine and the finish is there in front of me. I really don’t remember much about it and it’s all a bit of an anti-climax. All I want is a cold, fizzy drink and to sit down. All my tent mates have finished and are already on a bus back to the hotel which is four hours away. Some kind person goes to a local bar and gets me two bottle of cold Coca-Cola. Nectar and many thanks to that unknown Good Samaritan! Then, into a Land Rover and back to civilisation and a bath. Well four actually before the sand would come off.

Why anyone in their right mind would want to put themselves through this I honestly don’t know. Perhaps it’s that none of us are in our right minds anyway. I think it has more to do with ego, testosterone and an unwillingness to accept the mundane-ness of everyday life – whatever that might mean. I doubt I will be undertaking anything like this again but one never knows what the future might bring and if I could attract the right sponsorship I would still like to be the oldest person to row the Atlantic Ocean!!

There are many people who’ve supported (or put up with) my bouts of lunacy. Paula, my partner has been stoic in her acceptance of my weirdness and the piles of smelly training gear and has been a huge support as well as my main critic. John Ribchester, my doctor and I like to think my friend, who has defied all medical good sense and allowed me to do this to myself despite his knowing that I’m daft. All my customers and people at work who have taken a real interest in the project whilst not being able to full understand the reasons for anyone wanting to do it.

Lastly, to Eddie Lyons who got up early on many mornings to help me with my training and unwittingly gave me the key to success. Each of our training sessions would end with a run (or on some days a stagger) up a very long hill with a scrubby, little oak tree about half way up. Every day when I was getting near to quitting Eddie would say to me “keep going. It gets easier after the oak tree”. I must have repeated that phrase to myself at least a hundred times in the desert. Thanks Eddie.

Jez

will you get your money back for the entry fee?

Lucycat

The thing is. Anyone in their right and normal mind would read that and think what a bloody stupid thing to do.

But I bet Im not the only one who read that and thought fancy some of that!

Except you cant get in until 2000 and forever!

Mike Mason

Graham, they are not Ernie's training techniques they are his philosophy of life - this is how he gets through a normal day..

rgds
Mike

runningman

Graham i will dig u out a pic of my feet after mds 2002 ! not pleasant worse than seni........gaza

Ernie · re : foot pics

I know this game !

"You show me yours and i'll show you mine"

Mike Mason

Ernie, sounds like the old 'but I ordered a twin bed honest' ruse....

rgds

Mike

Karl C

results are here

(they are in race number order only, as it "wasn't a race")

http://www.benfleetrunningclub.co...0.mile.07/50.mile.results2007.pdf

Karl C

This ultra was a 40th birthday "mid-life-crisis" run and I wanted to get past the 40 mile mark.

In the end I did the full 52.4 miles, but the spooky thing is I can 40th !!

Excel results here (in order)

http://www.benfleetrunningclub.co....50.mile.07/50.mile.results07.xls

mikemoreton

Congrats to you all!!

You are in todays Evening Echo. Special mention to Paddy too. How long before someone writes in about cruelty to animals blah blah etc? Not that I would as I know that the owners are decent people and all that.

Regards

Mike M
MM2

Karl C

blimey - I sent that report the Monday after the race.

Glad the Echo is a "hot off the press" news department !

Karl C

My full article is below (as you can see they felt the need to edit it)

Most members of Benfleet Running Club will run a marathon once a year, and there are a few who run more than three or four a year. There are not that many that will run two in one day. Five club members, and a dog named Paddy travelled to the annual Kent 50 Mile Challenge at the weekend to become Ultra Runners. Some say "Any idiot can run a marathon, but it takes a special kind of idiot to run an ultra marathon", but these guys and girls would not agree.

The course, over marshland near Herne Bay, allows compeitiors to circumnavigate a 6.54 mile route up to 8 times in the 15 hour time-scale. Jez Mancer and Graham Booty, no strangers to the marathon distance, both completed the full course in an amazing 7 hours and 30 mins, gaining them joint second place whilst Karl Cadman completed the 52.24 mile course in 11 hours and 52 mins. All three had never ran futher than 26 miles before, and probably will never again !

Graham said after this mammoth event "Ultra running hurts. A lot. It was a superbly organised day. The marshalls were legends, sitting out in the rain and lighting and then sweltering heat for 15+ hours."

Gary Jacketts continued his Ultra Marathon year only 5 weeks after competing in the Seni Extreme Race when he ran 150 miles non-stop, completed 6 laps of the course to finish with 40 miles to his name. But the most amazing feat, and feet of the day must go to Paddy, who ran with owner Lucy Mancer over 5 laps of the course to complete their first 30 mile race together.

Mike Mason

I thought Paddy's version in the Echo was fine......

rgds

Mike

Karl C

Mike, I know it's a long shot but you don't happen to still have that Benfleet 15 race number for 2007 do you..?

I am looking to purchase said item and I have heard you may be able to help me.

general rumblings about Kent 50 Mile Challenge

50 mile kent challenge

50 mile Kent challenge

50 mile Kent challenge

50 Mile Kent Challange

50 Mile Kent Challenge

50 mile kent challenge - the end!

Well done

re : foot pics