Grand Union Canal Race 145 miles

Karl C · Grand Union Canal Race 145 miles

26th May 2007

I know Ernie is still looking for members of the elite-support-crew for this monumental race (emphasis on mental)

PLEASE THINK about supporting Ernie, as this is an awesome race to tackle (again) and he needs all the support he can get.

To summarise:

It is Britain's longest, toughest, non-stop running race. The Grand Union Canal Race (GUCR) is run from the centre of Birmingham to the centre of London along the Grand Union Canal. Competitors are required to complete the 145 mile distance within the time limit of 45 hours.

It has minimum support, but with feed points at 11, 22, 36, 54, 70, 85, 100, 120 and 133 miles for unsupported runners.
It has no first aid or medical backup, but provides transport for retiring unsupported entrants. Welcomes support crews throughout, and buddies (on foot only) after 70 miles.
has a 70 mile cut off of 19 hours and an overall time-limit of 45 hours (i.e. to finish by 0300 hours on Monday 28th).
is strictly limited to 80 starters in total, on a first-come-first-served basis.

The full distance must be completed on foot.
Competitors must reach the Navigation Bridge (No 64) checkpoint at 70.5 miles within 19 hours, i.e. by 0100 hours on Sunday.

More details here

http://www.gucr.co.uk

last years pics here
http://www.benfleetrunningclub.com/guc.06/index.html

Karl C

mArKw

Is that Gaza I can see in the background? The guy sponsored by Champneys.....

Mike Mason

Mark, I am all in favour of wit and repartee but I have to draw the line at smut and innuendo. Your reference to Ernie's 'awesome tackle' has put me off my sandwich. Please desist...

Karl, I think we need to table at next AGM a set of Forum posting guidelines and general member etiquette. If this club is to retain its position as the most 'caring one ....(my arse) ...' we need to have some discipline.

I suggest Godfrey is requested to develop a 25,000 word proposal that we can debate and ignore at next full AGM....it will then go down with my proposal for a Benfleet 50km race and my biscuits ie, ignored, forgotten...eaten.

Rgds

Mike

Karl C

Mike, I agree but I have a cunning plan to run the Benfleet 30 during the summer months over the Benfleet 15 course (run twice - clever eh?) as a friendly club rivarly run....

secondly - please stop hijacking perfectly good threads about Ernies epic run by idle title-tattle, speculation and talk of b*ll*cks (Ernies' to be precise)

If you want to talk b*ll*cks please do so in the general thread, as I know this your area of expertise, and not in specific threads.....I thank you.

Mike Mason

See I was right - we need a set of posting guidelines.......h/o next AGM

Karl, that does not mean...wooden or metal things driven into the ground....

rgds

Mike

runningman

Ernie i sit hear with my feet up sipping champagne and smoking cigars !!! with the distant feeling of pain in my body !!! youve got it all to come ! GO FOR IT SON , BE SAFE AND ENJOY !
GOOD LUCK.
GAZA.

Ernie

Thanks Gazza, alls well, saw my Acupuncturist Lady tonight for one last treatment on my foot. Its not 100% but I've got a good right one so all is not lost. Smoking Cigars !!! I dont think I could handle that.
Anyway driving up to Birmingham Tomorrow Morning.
Love the Pain.

debbie g

Best of luck Ernie - and to those in the support crew running part as well -all the best too. Be thinking of you and I am glad my longest run this weekend will be 5 miles!!

jacklarge

Ernie,

Have a great run. Don't forget "don't stray from the path", unless you fancy an Ultra-Triathlon

I'm coming to the conclusion you lot are a different breed (there must be something to be said for Ultra distance runners enjoying running more than us meer sub-marathon mortals - after all they spend a lot longer doing it).

Cheers,

John.

Steffan

All the best Ernie,
Hope you have a good 145!

A months running in one go.....

Mike Mason

Ok it's 06.23. Ernie started at 06.00. just sent text to his wife Francoise to see if he has finshed yet (he wanted a good pace). No reply yet....come on the Ern......................

rgds
Mike

Graham

Flew though the first 40. Go Ernie!!!

Mike Mason

Francoise advised that her little soldier has a blood blister on his toe....but still going

rgds

Mike

Steffan

It's night time now, whats happening?
Is Iron Ernies blood blister giving him grief?
He's covered a good distance already, update please Mike!

Mike Mason

21.56 Andy and Ernie set off again into the dark yonder (70 miles) ..........Andy advised that he was cold and wet. So I cheered him up by telling him that my wife has the flaming central heating blazing here..it's hell you know.

Karl, Sharon and Godfrey pick up at 95 miles in the morning and Mark and I will take over about 13,00hrs to the end.

Keep you posted.......I will have Deftones on my MP3. Unfortunately Ernie will have to put up with Godfrey with no artificial aids of comfort....

rgds
Mike

Steffan

Haha! Thanks Mike, sounds like he's doing well.
Wish him all the best.
Good luck to all the support crew too!

Karl C

Steffan, his official blog tells you where he is...

http://benfleetrunningclub.myfast....org/about437.html&highlight=

and also his sub-web

http://www.benfleetrunningclub.com/ej.htm

Seeing him at 8.30am ish (all being well).
Will text MM in the morning to update the blog...

Ernie · The Aftermath

Well some 40 hours since I finished that race and I feel quite good without the "high" one would expect but more a feeling of relief that I am in a lot better condition than I had expected.
Every year some competitors from this race end up in hospital (I know of 2 this year so far) owing to the nature of the event.
My feet are in a shocking state and I would be quite worried if I didn't remember what they were like last year. After I have finished here I have some serious lancing to do so I am in no hurry.
My Supporting Crews this year were fantastic .
The amount of planning gone into making this race a success is enormous.
My wife Francoise (who always says she will never help me in these races again) and Son supported me well for the first 50 or so miles keeping me on track and feeling good with plenty of hot drinks, food and catering for my every whim. They have had a lot to put up with before,during and after the race.

My cousin Peter, partner Donna and son Robert looked after me from the afternoon untill night when the weather was not to kind and kept up the support doing a fantastic job with no previous experience of anything to do with running . They also had to drive to Leighton Buzzard to pick up Andy Kennedy and bring him to me as he was to be my Supporting Runner through the night. And what a night it was with Andy doing great work ensuring that I was hydrated and fed enough checking my pace telling when to run when to take it easy monitoring my condition throughout checking my condition making sure I wasn't too cold . Truly great work. Poor Andy did a lot more than he intended and he had to drive home with no sleep the next morning. He also completed he's first Ultra running some 33miles +++ with me. Many stories could be told of that night I'm sure but not by me as I wasn't really there (only in body)

The Gang of 3 "Karl, Godfrey and Sharon then took over from mid morning keeping me amused and my mind off the shocking state I was in . They managed to keep if not get my pace up and did their job really well. One of the highlights was the cuddle I got from Godfrey which I will treasure always.

Then it was Mike and Mark to the rescue with Mike prying me with many of his magic potions,gels and wonder foods. Mark turning up many times during the finishing miles supplying me with hot cups of Tea, food, dry clothes super fast so as to get me back into the race as soon as possible. "Really great work Mark". Mike trying everything in his power to keep me going strong, ensuring I was breathing properly ,staying focused and encouraging me throughout. But a big highlight was Mike Serenading me and dancing around with Kylie Minogue songs such as "Locomotion" and also the old Rolf Harris hit "Tie me Kangaroo down Sport" comes to mind. (Anyone would think I came from OZ ). One could clearly see why I had to finish this race as my sanity was starting to waver.
Mark came out 1/2 mile before the finish and we all ran through the finish line to the applause of about a dozen people. Totally saturated I sat down awhile and cant remember that much more untill being taken to Mark's car and being driven home to hot bath and dry bed and the tender loving care of my wife Francoise.

For me it was a great race because I feel I had exorcised the demons from last years GUCR and came in with a PB of over 5 hours off last years time.
But it has to be said that I look at this race as a team event as it would not be possible for me to achieve those goals or anywhere near them without such high quality support.

Would I do this again ?... No .. twice is enough, as I am truly satisfied but would certainly consider something equally as hard.

I think it woulkd be a shame to let all this GUCR race knowledge go to waste and only hope some other Benfleet Runner would be interested in taking the challenge next year or in the near future (put your hand up Steffan).

runningman

Its on the list, and now think ( after last week ) its got to be and can be done !

Karl C

if running 145 miles in the rain wasn't enough

Karl C

don't tell Gary,
but I sent an article to the Echo yesterday..should be in print tonight...

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/search...ernie_tows_path_for_145_miles.php

mikemoreton

It is. Back page in glorious colour!!

Ernie · "Would I do this again"

I said 2 months ago that I would never do this race again!

Well I have changed my mind as Ultra Runners tend to do.
I am thinking about doing it again.
Why ????? I'm not even sure but I feel I am drawn to this race and cant seem to put it to rest.

Not next year but maybe the year after !

Pammie

I don't know what to say

Grand Union Canal Race 145 miles

The Aftermath

"Would I do this again"