This was the first big test event in preparation for the Arch to Arc Challenge and I was a little nerves. I had arranged to do the event with Tom Beaver, who is doing the Arch to Arc two weeks before me, so at least we had some company for the event and he’s a top guy.
The ultra event actually seemed to start when I decide to ignore the SatNav and try and negotiate the shortest distance between North London and start of the event at Llanrhystud on Welsh coast. So instead of a 4hrs drive we ended up taking 6.5hrs to get there. Surprisingly my support team did not entirely see the funny side of this. It was the scenic route though and the high spirits that we had started the journey in had almost died away.
The good thing was we had night of camping ahead of us, along with all the other competitors, but not before my strategic stop at the local pub to help rejuvenate the support crew’s spirits. After some good pub grub and a few pints spirits were high again and there was even some nervous excitement amongst the support crew.
5am Saturday morning we were woken by the alarm and in contradiction to the MET offices weather prediction of rain we were greeted with a warm and sunny yet windy morning…result maybe a chance of a tan.
With a 6am swim start planned we headed over along with the other 11 athletes to the local beach only to find that the organisers, top lads with a real passion for the sport, had decided to shorten the 4 mile for safety reasons and having tested the water temperature I wasn’t that gutted.
Anyway enough of that 6:15 the hooter went and we tip toed into the cold yet not yet frozen water for what was more like a mile and a half swim.
Out the water and the support team was there to greet me, with the line “you must be crazy” which would turn out to be a regular phrase over the next 23.5hrs. Olivia had the coffee and towel to hand while Shaun took on the official cameraman role and had sorted out my bike.
Changed the wetsuit for a nice dry and warm set of cycle kit there was even time for a bite to eat and a chat with the supports before we set off on the 175”ish” mile ride which included 16,715ft of climbing. We set off a steady pace and event though we missed the 1st turn the support crew quickly corrected our mistake and had us back on track. For the next 14hours we wound our way through some the UK’s most amazing country side and things that really have stuck in my mind is that Wales is not flat by any stretch of the imagination and the route is not the most direct but these made the event a really mental and physical challenge.
With the support crew stopping ever 15 – 20 miles to treat us to some culinary delights the highlight was proverbially at about 50 miles in when pulled up into a small lay-by to find Tom’s wife making bacon sandwiches and coffee. That’s what I call a race … when you have time for a bacon sandwich.
We pushed on through the afternoon and the support crew were great just like the weather and the views. Olivia and Shaun along with Toms support crew always had a smile on their face and a word of encouragement usually followed by “you must be crazy”. With the sun fading we approached Snowdonia and the finish at LLanberis. With one final climb left to Tom and I found time to reflect on the ride and we both agreed that the course was amazing and the Accelerace boys or as we called them the “ish” boys (based that in the true ultra distance manner precise mileage was overrated and “ish” mileage was just fine) had found a awesome event and I encourage you all to think about one day doing it.
Passing over the final climb, PEN-Y-PASS, it was all down hill to Llanberis. This meant a change of kit again and a 31”ish” mile run. At this point we had some difficulties with the support car as one of them, with Toms running kit in, had a double puncture which left us waiting in Llanberis for Tom kit for almost an hour. With no sign of his kit he borrowed some kit for the organisers and we set off with Olivia alone in the support car behind us. With the strategy of run the flats and down hills and walk the climbs we moved through the first 10km without a problem at which point we met up with Toms support team again and he managed to change his shoes from the borrowed size 12s to his own size 10’s.
With the support team back together and with the met office prediction of rain no where to be seen Tom and I set off on a loop that took us through some small country lanes not really suitable for cars. Tom’s dog, Hamish, joined us for the next 6km’s while the support crews waited on the main road with the food and drink and by now we had shifted from normal solid foods to sweets and chocolates after all it was midnight by now and the craving for comfort food had set in.
With the support team just in front of us we pushed through another few miles before we decided it was time for the support team to get some sleep back at the finish while we pushed through the final 10 miles.
Once they left us there was no way back to Llanberis other than following the route and over the Welsh Wall so that’s what we did, with the sun rising we started the final climb up the wall. I ran this part of the course at the end of the Snowdonia Marathon last October and found it tough then and it didn’t let me down … it was tough and I think the 2 miles up the wall tha chat between Tom and I became the off word or grunt as we focused on reaching the top. Over the top an on our way down to Llanberis just after 6am and who did we see first but Shaun cycling up the road towards us the support team was back with us and even if it was only with a mile to go. It’s always good for motivation to have some support again and not long after that Tom and I crossed the line in a time of 24hrs 02mins.
It’s fair to say we were called crazy again before hitting the sack for a 3hr nap before heading across the road for a good old fashion fry-up and then starting the long journey back to London.
All-in-all it was great training session and we were back out light training on Monday.
To complete events like this as an athlete you need endless support and I’m grateful to everyone that is involved in my team.
The Support Team
Olivia and Shaun were awesome from start to finish their enthusiasm was brilliant over the entire 24hrs
Prologue Cycles
175 miles without a single bike issue, thanks for the guys at Prologue who insisted on servicing my bike fore that race. Cheers guys it’s great to finish a ride with no grease on my hands J
Stinger Bars and Infinit Nutrition
Under the advice of my nutritionist, Carrie, and thanks to Stinger for my Energy Bars and Infinit for my customised sports drinks I finished the race with no problems at all. A lot of endurance racing is about getting your nutrition right!
And all my other sponsors may I say thank you!
Cheers
Nino
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