Grand Union Canal Race (GUCR) Race Report

Grand Union Canal Race Report 2013 (apologies for the length)

This is a classic British Ultra that I have had my eye on for years.  It is a non-stop 145 mile race from Gas Street in Birmingham to Little Venice in London following the Grand Union Canal.  It must be completed in 45 hours and stops for longer than 40 minutes are not permitted.  

This year was the 19^th race and these have all been organised by Dick Kearne whose commitment and skill in organising this event is exemplary.

Calm Before the Storm

I flew into Birmingham airport on the Friday arriving in plenty of time to check into my hotel, get last-minute supplies and familiarise myself with the location of the start and the Travel Lodge for registration (and also O’Neill’s pub, of course!) - just as well as I found my shower gel had leaked in my bag so I had to rinse out some kit and leave it to dry!

I had been following Mimi Anderson’s progress on Twitter as she ran the first leg of an epic double (London to Birmingham on the canal, a night’s sleep then start the race to run back) so I went to the start to see her in and met up with Paul Ali, Paul Stout and Dave Baker who were there for the same reason.  

Mimi arrived in an outstanding sub-32 hour time – I just cannot imagine turning round and doing it all again after a few hours’ sleep!

After that I headed over to the Central Travel lodge to register where I met Dick and James Adams, then headed next door to the pub to have my one allowed pint.  As expected there was already a crowd of runners and crew here.  I must admit to feeling like a stalker as I have been following the all the blogs and tweets relating to this race so a lot of faces were familiar to me but they had no idea who I was.

I headed off to an Italian restaurant to get some food as pasta works for me (pub food does not) then back to the hotel for final packing and bed – luckily my kit had dried.

The Night Before

I slept quite well, mostly without the usual pre-race-night awakenings worrying that my alarm had not gone off. Showered, lubed and dressed before heading off to the start, glad to find that the weather was fine as predicted if still a little chilly.  In anticipation of the early morning cool I wore; base layer top, long sleeve top and Gore-tex jacket, with tights as I prefer to be to warm than too cold and I find it easier/better to remove layers when warm than have to add them if cold.

It was a strangely familiar scene at Gas Street – I had watched so many YouTube videos and seen many pictures.  These don’t convey the incredible atmosphere though – so calm and yet with a feeling of anticipation for what lay ahead.

Before long, with bags labelled and handed over and numbers carefully pinned and showing in full to the front (or course!), I joined the other sheep all trying to get as near to the back as they could!  I had the impression that Dick’s pre-race briefing was shorter than normal as if 6AM had crept up on him and, without fuss or pomp, ceremony or commercial pariphinalia , the 88 starters set out on an epic journey.

So it Begins

My silver plan for the race was to reach the finish in 38 hours or thereabouts.  Having only previously raced 60 miles and never on the flat, I found it incredibly difficult to guess how much pace would fall off over the course of this length of time.  I had decided on a run/walk strategy of 25:5 and had set the run/walk timer in my Garmin 910xt to help me keep to this.  In the first 10 miles or so to the first checkpoint, Catherine de Barnes, I stuck to both this and my target pace or near to it, not worrying too much if I was slightly slower.

CP1 Catherine de Barnes

At CP1 I re-filled my bladder pack and my bottle of Coke with Elete electrolyte added, stocked up on gels and headed out without a lot of delay.  It was now starting to get warm so I removed my jacket and tights.

In this next section to Hatton Locks I met up with Jerry Smallwood (Jerry Rumbles!) and had a good chat with him about choice of shoes (we had both chosen both trail) and various other topics before pushing on slightly. Jerry looked a bit hot and I think later pulled out largely because of this.

CP2 Hatton Locks

I only took a short stop at Hatton Locks to re-fill as I was still feeling good.  I think I first saw Allan Rumbles here.  I had the feeling that I was maybe half an hour behind my target pace but was not stressed about this as I felt I was keeping a more consistent pace and not slowing as much as I had expected to.  On that basis, any loss of time early on would be made up later.

CP 3 Birdingbury Bridge

At the Birdingbury Bridge CP (36 miles) I removed tights and long sleeved top.  I had been feeling less and less inclined to take gels or sweet food so got a slice of buttered bread and made a crisp sandwich.  There was supposed to be hot food here but I didn’t see any and none was offered but as I learned as I went along you really need to ask as the volunteers are not mind readers and are incredibly helpful if you let them know what you need.

I was still strictly maintaining by run/walk ratio and was moving at about 12 or so minute miles on average.  I was still feeling good and the hamstring niggle that had been preventing me in training from doing a lot of speed work was keeping quiet.  Generally I was feeling good, as fresh as could reasonably be expected and no problems.  I was really enjoying the race as was pleased about the sunny weather as this suited me better than rain or wind (or both).

CP4 Heart of England

I reached the Heart of England checkpoint  (54 miles) at around 5:30 roughly a hour after my planned time but again, as I was not slowing down as much as I had expected, I was not concerned.  I picked up my head torch here as I knew it may get dark before the next checkpoint and made sure I had layers in my backpack in case I needed them.  Although the day was warm I was anticipating a cold night if the skies were clear.

During the next stage my problems with intake grew worse.  I had been finding it increasingly difficult to force myself to take gels to the point now that I couldn’t face them at all. I had only been planning to take one per hour but had already fallen way behind this target.  I was therefore starting to run on empty and knew I had to change that.  I found a flapjack bar and managed to eat this which helped but had nothing else during this stage.  Despite this, I was maintaining a reasonable pace – I guess the many miles of training taking only water were paying off and told myself this.

I had noticed that the reported mileage on the Garmin was more than the expected course mileage.  I had read that this is because the canal miles are measured in the middle and do not account for bridge crossings and any differences due to being on the towpath.  Therefore Navigation Bridge (CP6) seemed to never arrive.  I eventually saw some vans and high-vis jackets ahead but these were ON the bridge which seemed to be a busy road.  I had just convinced myself that this was an RTA and not the checkpoint when I saw a runner and realised I had finally reached the 70 (canal) miles!  I was not feeling pedantic enough to argue against the idea that this was half way.

CP5 Navigation Bridge ("half way")

I was looking forward to hot “proper” food at this checkpoint to re-fuel.  Unfortunately the savoury menu comprised of lasagne (I am allergic to cheese) or baked beans (which make me want to hurl at the best of times).  I therefore had to content myself with a hot apple pie and custard, more custard and coffee with lots of sugar.  I also put on some more layers here  and made sure I had spare batteries for my Petzl head torch (didn’t need them) and my Moon bike light as a backup as it’s bright enough to frighten the chavs or at least temporarily blind them!

Unfortunately as I was about to leave the checkpoint I discovered I had lost one on my gloves from my backpack.  I couldn’t be bothered to go through my bag again to find the spare pair so left a la Michael Jackson (except the glove was black of course).  

Despite the extra layers it was cold.  I walked for a while with Daryl Farmer and another runner whose name I did not catch.  I think their plan was to walk through the night but mine was to press on so I resumed my run/walk ratio.  It was clear that I had underestimated the cold of the night but was warm enough when running  - so what an incentive not to walk too much!  I was also pleased that I did not seem to be feeling sleepy, was feeling positive and strong.

CP6 Bridge 99 and the Crisis of Dawn

I maintained my walk/run at a fairly good pace and reached the Bridge99 CP (84 miles) having seen only one suspicious character but nothing too threatening.  Again I tried to take on board as many calories as I could stomach and left for the next section.

Again I started well, keeping to my run/walk but, as dawn started to lighten the sky, I started to run out of energy.  I knew I had to take calories on or else I was going nowhere fast but by now even a mouthful of water was making me urge and I had to try and at least maintain hydration by taking tiny sips of water often.  

Soon after this I started to feel sleepy and was struggling to keep awake.  I tried running but just did not have the energy.  Negative thoughts came to the forefront of my mind and I felt my race was over.  How could I carry on?  Past the next checkpoint (still some way away) was a 20 mile section.  How could I even walk that if I could not keep food down and with no energy to draw on apart from my (not insubstantial, admittedly) fat reserves?

At this point I sent a text to my wife saying I was done in and was out of the race.  I decided not to call for Henk’s Hearse but to walk onto the next checkpoint - this should be a little more comfortable and with a lot less insults!  

As I was walking I began to think.

• ·         I had been planning this race for years
• ·         I had run hundreds of miles in training for this
• ·         I had been extremely lucky with the weather – last year’s event was extremely wet and cold by all accounts.    Next year may not be so good.
• ·         I was nearly 100 miles in – most of the race was behind me.
• ·         I may not have another chance to complete this race.

I began to think that if I could get 20 minutes sleep at the next checkpoint, and if there was some proper food, and if after a sleep I could keep it down, I could stay in the race.  Even if I had to walk the rest of it!  This sounded like a plan and I tried to keep up a half decent walk pace towards the next checkpoint.

At this point my wife called and basically told me I’d better bloody well finish as she wasn’t letting me enter next year! (along with some other equally encouraging sentiments).  

Actually, given that I had already decided on a plan, this was just what I needed.  Lots of sympathy and advice to rest and “never mind” may just have given me the excuse my tired subconscious was looking for to give up.

Also at this point, I caught up with Lyndley Chambers who must have passed me whilst I had visited the bushes. He had pulled something (I'm meaning a muscle here) that meant he could not run but had determined to keep up a 3mph walk pace as he, “Didn’t want another bloody DNF in this race!”

“If he can do it then so can I”, I thought to myself, and so we both death-marched on to The Grand Junction Arms, checkpoint 7, and the 99 mile point.

CP 7 The Grand Junction Arms - Grand!

One of the first things I was offered after finally reaching the checkpoint was scrambled eggs and bacon!  I explained that I was feeling sick and wanted to sleep for 20 minutes before trying to eat something.  Set up with my bag as a pillow, a blanket and having set the alarm in my phone for 20 minutes, I closed my eyes for the first time in over 24 hours.

I hadn’t really expected to sleep but I did.  I awoke with the alarm and did the mental equivalent of moving my tongue around my mouth to check for a sore tooth. Feeling quite good! Much better actually!  At that point the checkpoint crew came in not expecting me to be awake and the “Oh he is awake” was quickly followed by, “Do you want some eggs and bacon now?”

The first tentative mouthful stayed down and then the next and the next until I was tucking in as if it was the best food I had ever tasted!  This set me up no end but I only had a short time to get bottles etc. filled up before I was DQed so I had to rush out, hopefully getting through to the checkpoint crew how grateful I was for their help in the turnaround.  The timekeeper said I had made the right decision as I had looked awful when I came in and now was looking good.

So I started the long walk.  I made no attempt to work out how long it would take but I was pretty sure that if I kept the right side of 3mph I would make it before cut-off.  

Then a strange thing happened.

After only maybe 5 minutes walking I felt I was maybe able to run and, before I knew it, I was back up to running 12ish minute miles and re-establishing my run/walk routine.

So new plan! I would keep this up until Springwell Lock checkpoint at 120 miles and that would give me a good buffer for a walk to the finish if need be.

I was now able to take sips of coke/elite coupled with the occasional Ritz cracker and keep on reducing the distance; I had filled both my bladder pack and an extra OMM bottle with water so hopefully would be able to keep hydrated enough in the increasing heat.  The temperature wasn’t bothering me particularly but I removed my jacket and long sleeved top but kept the base layer and tights as I daren’t remove my shoes in case I could not get them back on!  My feet were completely mashed by this point but I figured there was no point in trying any first aid at this late stage.

I passed Lyndley still resolutely keeping up his spirits and his death march and pressed on to Springwell Lock.  I realised it was unlikely that there would be any food I really wanted there and, nearly to the checkpoint I spied a stand selling bacon sandwiches so stopped to buy one.  It was quickly made and was a proper doorstep bacon sandwich and went down a treat. 

CP 8 Springwell Lock

When I reached Springwell I told Allan Rumbles I had just bought a bacon sandwich and it was just what I needed.  “Well I’m afraid we don’t have anything like that here,” he said.  “I know, that's why I bought one there!” I said.  Allan was great helping me sort myself out and get back on the road. 

My thoughts were now to run as much as I could to checkpoint 9 (Hamborough Tavern – mile 133).  This would probably allow me to walk the last 12 miles and still get in at about 41 hours.  This plan was not helped at all by the towpath.  The powers that be had obviously decided that loose flint pebbles would be the ideal surface for this – every stone could be felt even through trail shoes and constant vigilance was needed to avoid the bigger loose ones.  Also thanks to the local Ramblers who seem to think it’s OK to walk three abreast with walking poles – taking up the entire width of the tow path, not to mention the bikers (some - not all).

Just after Cowley Peachy I had to check the map for the first time.  Something didn’t look right and I worried I had missed the turn somehow even though the instructions (stored on my phone for convenience) looked straightforward enough.  The map confirmed I was on the right track but it was still a bloody long way (fun run) to go.  I think it must be a new law of physics that miles at the end of an ultra are at least 200% longer than they are normally!

I was getting to the point where I was expecting Bulls Bridge turn and was worried I’d miss it when I came across two other runners who seemed set on walking to the finish (can’t remember names, I’m afraid).  They confirmed that BB was coming up and the CP just about a mile past there.

CP9 Hamborough Tavern

 As the CP was near a pub I was looking out for people spilling out to the canal’s edge enjoying the weather.  

Was that it ahead?  No just people feeding the swans. 

But then, suddenly, the CP lady was running towards me and asking if I wanted to avoid the swans!

Quick stop to fill up but noticed my Garmin was low on charge.  I connected it and my phone to my portable charger that I still had in my backpack from when I charged up overnight.  James Adams was also manning this checkpoint and (not a fan of running gadgetry, I know) looked like he was withholding comment on this display of geekery!

Pushing On

By now I was forced to abandon my run/walk routine and turned off the timer as it was annoying me with its cajoling to “run for 25 mins” and resigned myself to walk the last 12 miles to the finish.

After a while, though, I got to thinking;

1.) I have a chance to finish in under 40 hours if I kept up at least 12 minute miles

 and 

2.) Did I really want to be out on this damned towpath for another 4-5 hours? 

I put on a spurt for the next mile; amazingly running at 10:30 minute mile pace, then walked for a while and then did another fast mile.  After this I settled on running at 12 minute miles with frequent walk breaks.  

Pedestrian signs started to appear and gave the distance to Paddington – a lot further than my watch was telling me.  I adjusted my thinking to expect the finish at 148 (something) rather than 145 and pressed on.  

4 ¾ miles said the sign.  

Run for ages and ages. 

4 ½ says the sign!  (depressingly).

I started to get into more built-up areas that looked to me more like the type of landscape Little Venice woulod be in (never been - no idea).

 

There are barges moored ahead. is this it! 

No.  

More barges – this it? 7

No.

I was checking the time and distance on my watch so knew I could only be a mile or two to the finish and would need to get a move on if I were to get in under 40 so I started running again. 

11 minute mile pace (WOW!)

Every corner or bridge refused to reveal Little Venice beyond so, KEEP GOING!

The End

Eventually, I saw something white.

With FINISH written on it!  Last effort for a “sprint” finish and there was Dick waiting with a huge medal! 

When he put it round my neck I nearly fell over.

Completed in 38:36 and 38^th place with 53 finishers. Cannot begin to say how much I appreciate all the volunteers and organisers, how much I appreciated the camaraderie of the race, and how much I appreciated the bath in my hotel!

Principal Kit

Shoes - Asics Gel Trail Lahar.  Compromise between a full-on trail shoe and cushioned trainers.  These seemed to work well for me in combination with Hilly trail socks.  My feet got mashed but I think that's an occupational hazard for this length of race.  I don't normally get blisters but am prone to losing toenails, probably due to the shape of my feet!


Running Pack - Salomon S-Lab 12.  Plenty of zip compartments and pockets.  So many that I tend to lose things!  Some have said they find the clips on the elasticated straps fiddly.  I did at first but soon got used to them.  Has two bottle holders at exactly the right position to be easily reachable but out of the way.  Has a 1.5L bladder - I could have used more but this is offset by the two bottle holders. Not waterproof but I don't think many that claim to be would hold up for this length of race had it been raining.

Hydration.  Coke with Elete electrolyte add-in in a bottle and plain water in bladder pack.  Worked well. No cramps.  

Water Bottles.  UltrAspire bottle with a leak proof cap (it isn't) and OMM .5L bottle.  I like the OMM bottle but the top leaks badly with Coke in it.  Slim shape means it is easy to put back in the bottle holder, pinched waist means it stays there.  Bought the UltrAspire because the OMM bottle leaks but this one leaks after a while as well.  The little magnet on the bottom which is supposed to do some new-age magic to the contents has now fallen off (how will I cope without it).  Don't think I'll bother much with UltrAspire products in future.  To many unsubstantiated claims and woolly-headed nonsense.

Chafe-prevention.  I used to get runner's nipple badly until I hit on a solution that works for me.  Use Body Glide first then ordinary 1" micropore tape that you can get from a chemist.  The Body Glide means the tape comes off afterwards without taking a layer of skin with it.  The tape stops the chafing completely.  I also use the tape without the Body Glide on my ankles because I tend to catch these with the opposite foot.  For other areas I use a combination of Body Glide, Vaseline and Sudocreme. 

Watch - Garmin 910xt.  Has 20 Hour battery life.  A useful function for this race is the run/walk timer.  Had to charge it up as 20 hours is not enough! Invaluable to me for pacing as I generally have no idea.

Portable Charger - New Trent IMP120D.  Weighs nearly 300g so kept this in my kit bag until needed.   Is powerful enough to charge the Garmin quickly and has 2 USB ports so can simultaneously charge my phone.  I just plug in the leads and put it in a side compartment in my S-Lab - the weight means it stays there - and attach the vampire clip on the watch (it's better to take it off, put the clip on then strap the watch back on your wrist).