The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Are you up for the Longest Footrace in the Europe?

GARY JACKETTS is doing this one, so needs your help as part of his support crew..

Get in touch with him to help him get thorugh this awesome achievment...even if it is only to plump up his pillows (sorry Gary, one slipped out)

Yes that’s 200 miles between Birmingham and London on May 17th – 20th 2007. We are looking for people to run to the Seni Show at ExCeL in London. We are very proud that Ambition Events is carrying the torch for the event from its previous location in Birmingham to its new London home.

The Powersport part of the Seni event is offering the best in extreme athletic performance, what better way of showing your extreme athletic prowess than running 200 miles.

There is media planned around the Seni Extreme and we will be there to support you along the way.

Please complete the application form and tell us why you should be an Ambition Seni Extreme 200 Runner. We will then choose the best runners to join us on the starting line. Due to the extreme nature of this event it is only open to experienced ultra-runners.

Thursday 17th May
1200 Race Starts, Birmingham

Friday 18th May
Race Continues

Saturday 19th May
Race Continues
Arrive at Compulsory Hotel Stop

Sunday 20th May
0600 Final 26 Miles Start
1200 Arrive at Seni Show, ExCel, London

More details here...

http://www.ambitionevents.com/seniextreme/welcome.htm

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

Over the next two weeks i will be using this page as a sort of Blog/ diary as once the race is over i cant be asked or forget to do a race report......... There will be spelling mistakes and grammer errors .. quite honestly I DONT GIVE A DAMN ! So here goes ... Day one
Two weeks to go.. train ticket purchased , pre race hotel in Dudley booked and ive enrolled in the Mike Mason race clinic (first appointment saturday ) no pressure the race organisers have just made a press release announcing the runners and riders , i quote ' twelve amazing athletes will compete in this ultimate test of endurance ' ive been called many things but never that !
Biggest worry at present is having to get to check point one ( 50 miles ) with no crew.. the two guys iam running with seem to think we will be able to purchase food drink etc.. from local shops !!! cant say ive seen any on the grand union canal myself !!! scratch

.. more tomorrow chums

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

Dont worry there is definately a sainsburys right next to the canal at some point, along with numerous pubs and shops. I know cos I parked a canal barge next to it and went shopping ..bizarre but true.

Anyway your straying too far from the ultramarathoners ethos with all your talk of hotels and support crew. There will be plenty of discarded kebabs, kfc and maccie ds to feast on, as for hydration your running next to a canal so waters not a problem! Biggest problem you ll have is getting out of Dudley intact! oh that and trying to follow Karls spreadsheet route map on your lap top whilst carrying all your kit for the overnight health farm and spa!! But hey Gaza good luck x x

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 461 Location: Hockley, GORC.

Gary,
You may know and have water supplies, but from a good camping shop you can buy a straw that will filter the water, so that its pure and drinkable. Have just got one for my son who is trekking through the Sahara in his summer holiday from University. (must have scambled his brains somewhat)

Anyhow, Good luck, it was a pleasure to run wioth you in the Benfleet Ultra. Pity I couldnt keep up though

Mike

Ernie · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Hockley GORC

Runningman, keys can be purchased from British Waterways Offices for about 4£ to access Canal Facilities on the Grand Union Canal (ie water, toilets but no Saunas, Showers, Sunbeds etc).
Meals and refreshments can be obtained from any one of the numerous Inns & Pubs along the Canal (Pub Crawlers Paradise).
Sorry I cant help out as I have too much on at this time but you can definately but you can put me down for next year.

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

BLOG DAY TWO :
Worked until the early hours , Southend is such a delightful place at night !
All the time this seni thing is in my mind ! Will be making my first appointment at Mike Masons run clinic today ! Also took delivery of my fav energy bar, 2 x cases of viper extreme..then off for a slow 10 miler to test out my new i pod headphones ( that will hopefully see me through the long nights ) hopefully Worst ham will loose this afternoon and they will be back where they belong ! Then its off to Southampton for the mighty blues final game of the season !
Still cant make head or tail of the seni map ! More tomorrow chaps ! bounce

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Gary, the checkpoints - do you have place names as well as distances..???

(Remind me - Sarfend are already relegated aren't they?)

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

I thought that would rattle someones cage !!!!!!!!!!!!!ps i will get back to you ! the misses is waiting for me to walk the dog !

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

BLOG DAY 3 AND 4

Had a greay day out yesterday even though the Blues got stuffed !
Today i actually got to speak to the great one they call MM ! WHAT A STAR ! thanks for the advice Mike ( ive now actually had it confirmed by a proffesional that what iam attempting is absured)

Spent the day digging out all the gear i used in MDS that i thought i would never need again !

Still cannot understand the map , and when i ask the organisers where the 120 mile CP is they still laugh !! ( good luck Karl )
Tomorrow is the day to order more goodies a new pair of running shoes,
4 pairs of socks and some nunn tablets ( re hydration )........
More tomorrow.........kids

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Gary, did you ask anyone how West Ham got on...???

(don't give me anything you will rely on, as I can't understand the maps either so we may never see each other !!)

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

blog day 5.... bounce

A busy day to day , interview for the evening echo ( yes jez i will be in it again ) the law ( police mag ) and Essex radio..also ordered the rest of my race goodies , gels etc ............tonite iam dusting down my sleeping bag and cleaning up the trainers i havnt worn since MDS as i have just found out that a large proportion of the course is off road . Once you get over the 75 ish mile mark your feet start to swell and the shoes that i was wearing in MDS are a size bigger than i normally wear so they could come in handy .
Had a long chat with race organiser Rory today and he is off to drive the course today ( lazy bugger ) and he has promised to give us the answer to the where the hell is the 120 mile CP QUESTION ? The answer of somewhere in Oxfordshire wasnt proving to helpful ( karl please note )

Oh and got to speak to the legend they call MM today ! and yes he does exist !!
More tomorrow , with only a week to d day !

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

Thought you must be in again soon.....2 weeks is along time without your face in the press.Can you give me then name of your agent cheers

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

BLOG DAY 6.........

No turning back ......missed the bloody postman today ! box of socks and new trail shoes will have to wait to tomorrow !

Karl at last has an idea of where to meet me ..check point three .. THE KINGS ARMS , CHURCH ROAD, SANFORD ON THAMES ..this is at 119 miles ( this will be a real target for me , as Karl has gone to a lot of effort to help out ) and this will probably be his only chance to see a grown man cry ! This will hopefully be my one and only sleep stop ( aim to get here at midnight friday ( 36 hours into the race )

Race organisers will be reporting on the race via YOU TUBE i will update you with the webb address soon !

I think the misses actually believes me now ! that iam going to do this !
More tomorrow after words of wisdom from the mighty Mike Mason......

Ernie · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Hockley GORC

Runningman, if you can get to "The Kings Arms" by Midnight Friday then you are doing really well.
I only hope you aren't pushing it too much as that last 80 miles will be a lot, LOT harder than that first 120.
If necessary forgo the sleep.

Curious about "words of wisdom" from Mike "the Prophet" Mason.
ps I think you would be qualified to administer your own "words of wisdom" to the Masses after this one.

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Ernie, "The Kings Arms" do they do a nice Pie and Chips, by any chance ?

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 461 Location: Hockley, GORC.

Karl, Ernie,

Looks like they may do according to Yell.com

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Well done Mike. I was going to look it up later. Top man.

Think I will ring ahead and pre-order pie and chips for four and a glass of water for Gary...

geek

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

Yeah Ernie you can see it now,

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 461 Location: Hockley, GORC.

No problem Carl. At least i am helpfull if not fast at running. *sigh*

Should we pre order a sack of potatoes for Gary too? (Carbs) or will he survive on those sticky gel things?
Steak Pie sounds wonderfull. Mouth watering already!!!
There is a hotel nearby too.

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

BLOG DAY 7

Now iam getting really excited, ive got my new rucsack, cant believe how much tecnology has come on in three years !
Tomorrow i pick up my oversized trail shoes from fast feet in Bishop Stortford, guy there is toptastic sourced and found what i wanted in 24 hrs and then got them couried to his store !
Then its of to Basildon to pick up the rest of my drugs !

This evening i had a mega food blow out at the police station curry club and rounded off the evening in real style with my first session with ultra guru Mike Mason and left his house laden with goodies !

Tomorrow will load the rucksack and go for a little plod around sweyne park before the usual friday night playtime with the scroates on sarfend seafront ! MORE TOMORROW !

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Gary, this time next week you will be sleeping rough in the doorway of the tesco's - excited ??

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

Please have some class , Waitrose or John Lewis maybe !!

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 461 Location: Hockley, GORC.

Gary

What day will you be in the Echo?

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

Mike, Its more of a question of when is Gary not in the echo.I m only jealous ,my own moment of fame the other night in the echo was cruelly taken away as I seem to be obscured by the burk in the front.Nice pic of Tony M tho!!

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

BLOG DAY 8 & 9

Must tell u this quick funny/sad story , at work last night got called to a large fight in the street where EDF had cut off a streets electrical supply , the householders were up in arms as they had cut supply while they were watching tv !!! While blackeye

escorting a large Dutch middle aged gentleman to the waiting van i asked him what was the problem ? he replyed ' theyve disturbed my enjoyment of watching the eurovision song contest ! ' bom

Enough of that ! Well done in Halstead today ! i only hope i can do as well ! gutted about West ham though !
Not long now ! going for a walk today in my new INOV8 FLYROC trail shoes ! its pissing down !
Karl the maps are fab !!!
Tomorrow another walk in the full gear !
more tomorrow !!!!!!!!!

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

Karl , I havnnt got a flippin clue mate , i want to up date you by phone as often as i can A/ so you can update my blog ( please )
and B/ Heaven forbid it all goes tits up and i dont get that far , iwould hate you to have a wasted journey ! ( but just remember you will be doing this one day , and i will return the favour )
One thing concerns me ( well actualy lots of things concern me , but one thing at a time ay ! ) iam worried about running out of phone battery, mine has the same life expextancy as sufc in the championship ! so i will prob switch off for spells of the race ! so if any one rings for a chat dont complain if iam brief !!

more later
gaza

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

Okey Dokey,

a) can update the blog no problem (and I promise not to fabricate or enhance the truth at all)

b) keeping me update by text would be good (texts are cheaper and quicker, so wil save your battery)

c) me doing this is never gonna happen. period.

See you at t'club Tuesday. Bring your box.

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 461 Location: Hockley, GORC.

Gary

you can get a wind up charger for phones from a camping shop

Good Luck mate

Mike

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

Gaza,

If you get yourself a wind up charger, tie it inbetween your shoes with your laces, so as you run, its charging!That way you can ring Karl at hideous o clock whilst your bored and lonely and he can get the updates fresh for when we wake up.( I will of course remember to switch mine off at night so as not be rudely awoken by yourgood self)

More top tips later!

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

Ps another coup for your agent in todays echo!

mArKw · Joined: 15 May 2006 Posts: 235 Location: Benfleet

or get one of those solar cell phone charger wotsits and stick it on your hat.
_________________
The hills are alive........

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1473 Location: Rayleigh

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

evening echo 'dont you love it ' i said Death valley not Grand canyon and i didnt even mention the london marathon ! oh well at least they got my name correct !

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Eastwood

And you had the cheek to call the dutchman who was watching eurovision stupid.That piece makes him look positively sane by comparison.Still might make the sarfend underworld think twice about doing a runner on your shift!!