We survived!

I've been too busy analysing the stats of the race to post, but now I've got round to it, I have pics too... My conclusion from literally minutes of analysis is that if I hadn't given up on the second checkpoint of the race we would have been 30 places higher up, out of 250! Arghhh. Thats the kind of disaster that makes me want to go back next year and do better! The pics show my running partner dibbing, the sunday morning start, me and the lovely weather, lots of tiny people walking up a big hill that I'm glad I didn't and the queues for the loos on sunday morning.

Food Stuffs

The question was asked - what do you eat to keep going during a run. Well, consider my opinion an inexpert one as I've been running for about 3 or 4 months now, but during that time I have done two 16 mile runs over seriously hilly terrain. One was the Pentland - see my other post. I have also done 2 hill races of 6 and 8 miles, but no road running...

Anyway, I have been told and agree that runs of less than 1 hour 20 min to 1h 30m don't need food or water on the way. Anything more and the body will be 'running on empty', so to speak. In general, when you are going fast or before a run I can't eat anything as it will repeat on me. I went slowly on my first 16 miler and ate malt loaf, mars bars and haribo. I thought I'd be going faster on my second 16 miler, so I only took 2 small mars bars and I was quite hungry, even after eating some of my partners chocolate! There are even reviews for malt loaf - it's that good! ASDA own brand works for me at 22p-a-loaf!

Perhaps hill running is better than road running for eating, because a lot of people walk uphill anyway, it is possible to eat or drink on the move. By the way, I was quite thirsty on my first 16 miler as I drank 2 litres in about 13 miles in mild weather. On my second 16 miler it was very windy and rained for an hour. I had two cups of water, 1.5 litres from my sac and wasn't thirsty...

On the KIMM I am thinking of taking a wayfarer meal, two boil-in-the-bag rices and some readybrek. Not decided on lunch yet. If anyone has any better ideas - comment on this post please!

The KIMM

Hmmm. It occurred to me that this is a blog that might appeal to beginners. Perhaps beginners won't know what the KIMM is... Well, in case you can't be bothered to check the KIMM website out, here is a short explanation from someone who hasn't actually competed yet. It is an adventure race. Usually in England, in one of the hilly bits. At the end of October, for a bit of cold and rain. All the competitors camp wild on the Saturday night after running their own course during the day. Some will run a set course and others, like me, will go for a score - i.e. the more checkpoints found, the better. On the Sunday there is a similar set-up, but the start times are a little different and I guess quite a few competitors drop out. From the starting list, there must be a couple of hundred entrants in 3 race categories and 3 score categories. This year we start at Pooley Bridge, Ulswater, Cumbria, but the course isn't revealed until you start...
I think it might be fun, but I shall see. My partner talked me into it, and it was a challenge that to decline would be to admit defeat. I have noticed that some people seem to do it year after year, so maybe something is adictive. It is why I started hill running and I have to say getting fit in the outdoors is fun...

KIMM Sac

I bought a new rucksack last week - a KIMMlite AR25. Straight away, I got the heebeejeebies as folks at the running club said I might need 35 litres. Anyway, I packed it to see what would happen. As you can see from the picture, pretty much everything has fit in. I still need lunch, map, compass, torch, hat and breakfast, oh and probably a mug and spoon, but if my partner gets the first aid kit and pegs then I'm there...

Tips are appreciated!! Especially as it looks like I may have lost the original carbon fibre pegs for my terra nova laser :-(

Anyway, for folks who are interested, heres what is in that picture, from the left: waterproof (Berghaus paclite), windproof microfleece (M.E.), micro fleece waistcoat (berghaus), stove, gas and pan (msr, 150g and msr), poles, thermarest (old one, 3/4), sleeping bag (M.E. dewline), tent (T.N. laser), wayfarer meal, bag and waterproof trousers (lowe alpine). Will have to weight it next week - will post back then.

Pentland Skyline 2005

Last weekend I ran in the Pentland Skyline Race . I would say this is a pretty tough run given that it is always in October and the weather is not exactly on the runners side. The terrain is varied, mostly on well made paths with some heather jumping and bracken thrashing. It is hard to say unfortunately before the event because the distance is appealing - that's why I did the race, but when it's 2 miles down and 14 to go, those 16 miles seem quite long and maybe even unfortunate. The main problem is that the hills are relentlessly up and down. And everyone else is too fast! Despite the whingeing I actually enjoyed myself and managed to do quite well for me: 4h 28m. And I have a target to beat for next year. The picture is of my KIMM partner at about the 3 or 4 mile stage. The caption on the Carnethy website says "The further down the field - the bigger the smiles". I believe credit for the photo goes to Anne Nimmo - thanks Anne.

Why read this?

As a recent convert to hill running, I thought I would share my thoughts, encourage others and maybe even get a few ideas from readers too. 6 months ago I had never run more than 1 mile and now I am 2 weeks away from the KIMM, hoping to run something like 25 miles in 2 days... This particular hill runner is also into walking, rock climbing, winter climbing and other such stuff, so it might get mentioned here when the running is quiet.