Plague 2016: Closure

Roseland August Trail

The Plague

Infected Until You Have Finished

Scared? Not me!

It was 00.05hrs Saturday 13th August and I am lined up at Porthpean, on the Southern Cornish Coast for my second attempt at the Plague, a 100km of the South West Coast Path. Which is basically a 100km / 64miles of running up & down steps.

Navigation is easy, you run out from Porthpean to St. Anthony's Head (32miles) and then turn round and run back. Made more interesting by the strict cut offs. The whole event is made more bearable as Mud Crew have a superb team and there are also other runners out there (setting out at various times during the day on Saturday), doing other R.A.T distances, which are conveniently colour coded; BLACK R.A.T is 32miles (St Anthony Head- Porthpean); RED R.A.T is 20miles (Portloe - Porthpean) and WHITE R.A.T (Goran Haven-Porthpean).   Last year did not end well , but this year I was better prepared. I had unfinished business. I had a race plan. I had a positive mental attitude. I hadn't had alcohol in two whole weeks. I was ready. I was not going to quit. I WAS GOING TO FINISH.

Steps!

Countdown; 5-4-3-2-1-GO! And we were off. The first 5 miles were incredibly fast for me, and made Pentewan in under an hour, on some of the toughest and roughest terrain of the course. I knew I would pay for this later, but I got carried away (!), however, within the first hour, I already had a 45mns cushion regarding the cut offs. Result. The rest of the night didn't go too badly. It was very humid, and at times I did have trouble eating and drinking, I felt a bit sick. I mean, it's not natural to be running at this time, is it? But following the troubles of last year, I made myself eat & drink. History would not repeat itself. Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.

Mevagissey, Portmello. So quiet & calm at night. No problems, keep going. Goran Haven check point, 11miles in. In & Out. Fill up water bottles, drink of coke, slice of melon. GO!  Focus on the positives. The night was stunning- bright and starry and the steady progress of fellow Plaugers' in the night, head torches weaving up & down & around the coat path, bathed in a blood red moon, resembled a troupe of Wood Elves. But where were they headed. Mordor! Or rather St Anthony's head and back.  Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.

The runners were spreading out now, and I suddenly found myself running alone. No one in front. No one behind. All alone on the coast path. Up down, around. Up, down, around. Oh look, more steps. Repeat. All alone on the coast path. Up, down, around. Up, down, around. Oh look, more steps.

It was around here my race began to unravel last year, and right on que, The Voices started.

"You're all alone again. You're going to fail AGAIN. Just like you did last year. You're rubbish"

I'm not having this again.  I'm finishing this year. " SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I told them. And to be fair to the voices in my head, they did shut up, and I didn't hear from them again for some time. Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.

Somewhere along this stretch of coast I bumped into Paul &  Juliette (?) from Plymouth coastal runners. A lovely couple of runners, who were fantastic company through the last hours of the night. And we shared the most fantastic of day breaks.. As black skies rapidly turned to cobalt blue, with streaks of orange of red, a new day dawned. The night was over. Torches off. Now for the day race. In and out of Portloe. Still time in hand. Bottles filled. Drink of coke. Piece of Melon. Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.

The front runners were passing now on the way back. Words of encouragement all round. Oh, to be that good!

Round the Roseland Peninsula. Still going strong. The day was hotting up, even at 06.00hrs. Must put on some sun cream. In the early morning light, the rugged beauty of the South West Coast path was plain to see, and we had it all to ourselves. I was even enjoying the steps! Portscatho loomed. By this point last year, I was done in. I wanted to quit. In my head, I had quit. I carried on to the St Anthony's Head, but stopped on the way back . Not this year. Oh, no. Stop for food, drink, put on sun cream and head out. Get to St. Anthony's head before the Black RAT starts. This few miles is the easiest running of the whole course, undulating, only a few sets of steps, wide paths and actually, well, run-able. Pity it only lasts about 4miles!! Passing more Plague runners who were on the return. High five those i know. Vicky. Martin. Shaun. I made it at the turn around, grabbed a drink, and back; before the Black RAT started. Oh yes! Race plan going well. The Black RATS shouted words of encouragement as they past and I picked up my pace, chatting to a few along the way.  One guy ran with me for mile, really helped. A mud crew runner (Mike?). I may be shit with names, but I remember you running with me! Spirits were high. Back in to Portscatho. Drink bottles filled. Quick chat with Mud Crews' Justin and Lloyd, who saw me broken person last year, and cheered me on my progress this year. More words of encouragement and out I went. Further than last year. Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.

I HAVE GONE FURTHER THAN LAST YEAR

The way back was hot. I remember that much. There was a brief reprieve from the heat with some light rain and cloud, but that didn't last long. The sun was back out soon enough. My feet hurt, but my determination to finish never wavered. The soft flasks of my Salomon S Lab vest (which is a very comfortable and great piece of kit overall) were now really irritating me. Soft, floppy, flaccid, useless things. Disappearing into the pockets, sliding to the bottom. Hard to get to. Never the less, one must maintain a positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress.

Melon and cups of coke. Freshness and rocket fuel. That's all you need. Oh, and water and electrolytes. Words of encouragement at every check point. Feet sore. Carry on. Chat to random runners. The day got hotter and the steps were beginning to hurt, going down more than up! Somewhere along the way, around Portloe I think, I ran into Vicky, which was a surprise as she was way ahead of me at one point. She'd had a bit of hard time over the past few miles, and we ran and chatted for several miles. Scrambled over the rocks at Portholand and there was a little shop. Ice lolly time. Thank you Vicky. Feeling much better. Almost forgot to run! Run. Don't loose track of cut offs with idle chit chat, however fun it might be. Sorry I couldn't sing any Queen songs Vicky. Up through some woods. Cool reprieve. I don't why I swallowed a fly, but it made me cry. And puke. And almost lose my false tooth. Disaster. Come to a halt. Retch. Recover. Pick up tooth and put in pocket. Drink. Walk. It took me a while to get over that, as I watched once close runners, disappear up the coast line. It was some time before i caught Vicky up again. Remember the mantra:  Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!

Goran Haven. Tourists enjoying themselves in seaside cafes. Sweaty tired ultra runners shuffling past. Taking longer to get in and out of check points. Only 11miles to go. When I leave here, it will be the furthest I've ever run. Ever. My feet hurt. Do I stop and get them sorted, or carry on for the 11 miles? I mean it's only 11 miles. Mr Chair is not your friend, Do not sit down. Do not sit down. So I didn't. Mistake. Big mistake. Not getting my feet seen to by the medics would cause me much pain. Oh well, too late now. Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!

The coast line is stunning. The sea, a crystal clear turquoise green. I'm hot, tired and sweaty. My feet hurt. The sea looks so inviting. The voices pop up again.

" Can we just pop in for a little swim. It's so inviting . You don't really need to carry on. Loooook, clear, refreshing water"

" I suppose i could.....NO! Stop it. Just Stop it. Shut up. I'm not listening"

Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!

It was somewhere around Portmellon I crossed paths with Kensa. I was tired. Kensa's conversation kept me going.  Not far now. Keep going to the end. Let's grind this out. Chat. Shuffle. Run. Mevagissey. Late afternoon now, Still full of tourists. Let's run a little to show off. Ouch. it hurts. Whose idea was this to run? Oh, mine! My feet hurt. Smile! We do this for fun. Smile. I am smiling. Look!

Mevagissey: Kendra & myself.
I am smiling. Look.

 It's only about 6 miles to go. Fuck, I wish I had my blisters seen to. I can feel them growing by the second. Swelling on the bottom of my feet, squishing with every footfall. It is like running on a water bed. But more painful. Not long to go. Nearly there. Talk more rubbish. Encourage each other. Let's do this.

Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!

Pentewan. Beer festival and final check point. 5 miles to go. Miss out the beer for now. A quarter of an Orange and a melted ice pop. Water top up. Took tooth out of pocket. Washed false tooth and slotted it back in. Must keep up appearances. Now contemplate the 5 miles of steps. This is the worst of the course.  I hate the coat path now, but am still over an hour inside the cut off. Keep moving, but plenty of time. Don't mess up now. My feet hurt. Despite my Hokas', I was now feeling every stone and lump and bump on the path, to painful effect. I could manage uphill and up steps OK, but my right knee was now threatening to give way going down steps- and there were some mighty steep steps to negotiate. Ouch. Ooohhh. Ahhh. Knee hurts. Squishy blister feet. Don't fall down the steps. it will hurt. A lot. 

Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!

Almost there. Suck up the pain

Almost there. Suck up the pain

Almost there. Suck up the pain

Almost there.

Almost there.

Almost.

There.

Then I saw Vicky again. Ouch. Struggling for a minute, like I was. Lets finish this together. I was hardly able to walk down the steps any more. There was a real danger I could fall, and they were steep, long stretches of steps at this point. Don't fall. Don't fall. I could, however, easily run up the steps. Vicky was skipping down the steps with slight of foot and a big smile, yet barely making the uphill. We made an odd sight together.

Round the corner, along the coast. Almost there.

Positive mental attitude. Eat  & drink. One foot in front of the other. Relentless forward progress. Let's do the ultra shuffle!

Shall we finish this together?

Yes, let's do it.

Round the corner, up the hill, and there's the finish. Fellow Bere Alston Trekkers shouting encouragement. All of them having run their own various RAT routes. Orla (my wife) runs to meet me. Very emotional. Big hugs. Big sweaty hugs!

Emotional
Orla meeting me at the finish

And then it was over. Crossed the line in tandem with Vicky. Job done. Thank you Vicky, it was a pleasure running with you. A hug from Jane Stephens of Mud Crew who gave me my medal. My hard earned medal.  I had finished the Plague. 100km of Cornish Coast Path, in a little over 19hrs. My feet hurt, I was tired, but my spirit was not broken. In fact I was elated. I'd done it. It wasn't fast, but I'd comfortably finished inside the cut offs. 

BLING
Mine. All Mine.
RAT Plague 2016

Beer. Now for beer.  I want beer. Thank you David Garcia. That beer washed the dust from my throat! Your advice after last years DNF was invaluable as well.

I hobbled. I could barely walk now, but I didn't care. My wife was at the finish to share with me longest Ultra to date (Love you!). Many of my club mates were also at the finish (Thank you!). I had my medal, and I had beer.

One of my many blisters.

And after a year of plotting, and hard training, I conquered The Plague. I am no longer infected. 

Thank you Mud Crew. Thank you Jane. Thank you Justine. Thank you Lloyd. Thank you to all at the Aid Stations.

You all looked after me.