Get Out Moor!: Salted Potatoes, Rice Pudding and Dirty Socks: 34hrs in the life of an Ultra runner

Arc of Attrition

Views from a support crew

It's all about the bling.

Lands End on a February night time is an unforgiving place and it was blimmin' freezing. I was part of the team crewing for Rachel Wood and from the relative warmth of the vehicle, I was drifting off to sleep watching the 'bob, bob, bobbing' of a slow stream of torch lights coming into CP3 at Lands End. I wanted to be outside cheering them on. But it was cold. And i was tired. Rachel was not due in until about 03.30hrs and it was only just past midnight. It was a stunningly clear sky, with a large full moon. It was cold, but it could be worse. It could be raining!

I had just drifted off to sleep, buried beneath layers of clothing , sleeping bag an duvet, along with fellow crew & driver, Jo, when:

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Wake Up!"

WTF......

"Wake up, your runner has dropped out and he is being brought back to the check point."

"But she was doing so well, what happened"

"Don't know, but he will be back soon and will need you"

It was about 02.00hrs, Saturday 11th February, 14hrs into the Mud Crew Arc of Attrition, a 100mile point to point coastal run around the Cornish Coast Path and we were being woken up by the terrible news our friend and ultra runner Rachel had dropped out.

Bang!Bang! Bang!

"Wake up please"

I was awake now and untangling myself from the layers of warmth it had taken so long to accumulate. As Jo opened the car door to speak to Mud Crew, an icy blast blew through the door, ensuring I was now fully awake.

"So what happened- is she OK?"

"Yes, we think so, he just can't carry on"

"He? We're supporting a 'she'. Rachel"

"Is this a blue Mitshibushi Shogun?"

"No. Our runner is Rachel, 115. What number has dropped out? "

" Not 115, it is 70something. Oh, shit. Sorry. It's dark and cold and we are tired as well !."

"Don't worry. Sorry to hear about the other runner, but we're glad Rachel is still in it"

(NB: To be fair to the MudCrew Marshalls, we were in a dark coloured Mitshibishu 4x4 truck-style vehicle. Just not a Shogun or the one they were looking for! It was dark, and they had probably been up since dawn on Friday themselves. Hope the other runner was OK; and no hard feelings. It wasn't a very comfortable sleep anyway!!! )

So we settled back down and watched the runners lights snake their way along the coast path, making sure our alarms were set for 03.30hrs.

Thankfully, that was the most drama we had that night. So let's retrace our steps a little, and go back to the very beginning. Because that's a very good place to start.

Team Weirdchicken

Actually, I lie. I wasn't at the start. Along with Jo, I didn't get to the race until about 19.00hrs Friday, a whole 7hrs in. But here is the story of Team Weirdchicken at the Arc of Attrition, as far as I remember! Gilly was team leader. She drove Rachel Wood (the star of the show and the one actually running!) down on the Thursday night, ensured that pre-race faffing was kept to a minimum and that Rachel got to the start on time.

The start was at Coverack at mid day on Friday 10th February, and along with Gilly at the start were Martin and Hillary - who had a luxury motor home. This meant that along with moral support and their kindness, there would be hot drinks as well along the way . Gilly, Martin and Hillary would take care of Rachel for the first 7 or so hours, until Jo and myself got down after work.

As with many long distance races now, runners had tracking devices; which meant that 'dot watching' on a screen was becoming a pastime in itself. So during breaks in work on Friday, I was able to monitor Rachel's progress, and along with Facebook updates from the support crew on the ground, could see Rachel was doing well. Time at work always drags on a Friday, but 16.30hrs couldn't come soon enough as I finished what needed to be done at work and waited excitedly for Jo to pick me up and the week end adventures could begin.

Food Anyone?

Now, we at Team Weirdchicken take our crew responsibilities very seriously. While there were checkpoints along the way, for this race, it was very beneficial to have a crew as well. Unlike many 100 milers where checkpoints / aid stations were about ever 10 miles- at the Arc, they were about every 20miles. It was possible without a crew, but a lot easier with one. Rachel had a 5 person & 3 vehicle crew. And a lot of food! There was also fancy dress and kazoos, but that is a story for later on. Perranuthnoe was the first place

Jo and I actually saw Rachel at about

20.30hrs. The whole crew of Martin & Hillary and Gilly were also there. They had been doing a sterling job of looking after her for the first 8 or so hours, but I was excited about seeing her for the first time.

Weidchicken Crew & Vehicles at CP2, Penzance.

As we waited, we caught up on how Rachel had been doing so far today (very well), chatted to other crews and cheered on other runners. This is one of the pleasurable social sides of ultra running - meeting other people and runners. As Rachel trotted into the car park she still looked quite fresh and we all cheered. We also made sure she ate and drank, whether she wanted to or not. It didn't matter whether is was sweet or savoury. You need to eat and drink. In the early stage of a race, you can give your runner a choice; after about 40 miles or so, your runner begins to lose the ability to think properly and then they get what they are given; which in Rachel's case was nearly always salted potatoes or pizza.

Rachel had been running with another runner, Lisa. They looked to be a good team and ended up running through the night together. So throughout the first night, Team Weirdchicken Support Crew leap frogged each other (figuratively speaking; not literaly!) through the various car parks that had access to the coast path. As we stood around in said car parks, we got to know Lisa and her support crew quite well, and they became part of our team. As the night got on, it got colder. The wind was bitter. At around 0c it was cold; with the wind chill factor, it was approaching -5c.

The Darkness, takes its toll!

Or maybe it was a constant

ear worm of Moonlight Shadow

(L-R) Jo, Me, Gilly

The sky was clear and bright. the full moon was imposing and the moonlight shadow meant my ear-worm for the night was the Mike Oldfield tune. ALL FRIGGIN' NIGHT. Round-and -round-and -round my brain......

But enough about me. This is about Rachel and the other AoA runners. We are but bit players. But hours waiting, in the cold and dark, can change a person.

And so we moved around the coast, the southern bit of the 'Arc' until we reached Lands End, before the runners headed north and east, to complete the 'Arc'. I've never been to Lands before. It was starkly beautiful, exposed and cold. And the buildings looked very , very tacky. Cheep theme park tacky. But Mud Crew were in town and the cafe was rockin'. Albeit rockin' with Angels, broken runners and those who don't know one Mitsibushi from another (!). There was an air of organised chaos. The warmth of the welcome from the CP Angels (as MudCrew call them) , the sweet aroma of hot food, all mixed with the pong of sweat and wet muddy feet. Runners were waited on and kindly cajoled so as not to get too comfy and waste valuable time. Rachel & Lisa rocked up just before 04.00hrs and Team, Weirdchicken swung into action. Food, change of clothes and change of socks, all taken care of. Hot, sweet tea and hot rice pudding. Water bottles filled up. Hugs all round and then Rachel and Lisa disappeared once more in to the night. The cold, windy, moonlight night. On time, and well within the cut offs.

The next 20ish mile stretch to St Ives is tough, and remote. There would not be be the frequent contact we had had during the day.

Sunrise at Pendeen

Cape Cornwall is apparently quite stunning. I'm sure it is on a balmy summers day. As the night began to turn a lighter grey on a February morning, with a bitter south westerly wind, it is a bleak old place. Thank goodness for Martin & Hillary's kindness of heart, hospitality, camper van and hot tea. At 07.30hrs, a little behind schedule now as they got lost, Rachel & Lisa came in to view. It had been a cold night. Quick warm drink and off. There was time to make up now.

Morning Tea!

(L-R) Gilly, Rachel & Jo

At Pendeen, the sunrise was spectacular. There's nothing like a good sunrise to lift the soul after a long cold night. It's what I look forward to when running all night anyway. Fresh as a daisy, all be it a little behind time, Rachel and Lisa ran past about 09.00 ish. No time for stopping now. The second half of this section was brutal and they really didn't have a lot of time. About 5 hrs seems a lot, when you're fresh, to cover about 13miles. But after 21hrs of running it's a big ask. And anyone who knows the coast path, knows it is anything but flat. It is very, very, unforgiving. They would have to dig deep now. Very deep. If they do not reach St Ives by 14.00hrs, they will miss the cut off. And that's the end of their race. Mud Crew are a nice bunch, but their races are anything but nice- and the time keeping is strict. Miss a cut off at the check point and it's over.

The wig blew off- but I'm still in a tutu!

(L-R)

Lisa, Me, Rachel

Rachel In Red

To surprise them and offer some additional moral support, Jo and I decided now was the time for the fancy dress and kazoos, and a little further up the coast from Pendeen we dressed up and walked to the coast. I mean, after over 100km of brutal coast path running, who wouldn't be cheered up by the sight of me & Jo in a wig and a tutu, blowing a kazoo?

So as Rachel and Lisa came into view, they got a right sight and a rendition of "Damn Busters" on a kazoo. What a great start to Saturday. Except all was not well. Rachel knew the cut off was tight and for the first time doubt was creeping in. Self doubt is a terrible, terrible thing in an ultra. If your mind is strong, you can push your body through almost anything, but the slightest doubt and your mind begins to unravel. Maybe the kazoo was ill- conceived. Worried now, that for the first time Rachel & Lisa were struggling, me and Jo decided on another coastal jaunt. Parking up at Zennor we trekked from the road onto the path. Before long we saw Rachel. But not Lisa. Disaster. Lisa had dropped out. Gutted. Over the course of the past 23hrs, it felt like she had become part of our team as well. Hope you are OK Lisa if you are reading this. But we told Rachel she wasn't dropping. Or we would get the kazoo out again. Now pull your finger out jog on to St Ives, quickly, we told her. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

There were no more easy access points again until St Ives, so Jo and I drove to St Ives, with Gilly following. Martin and Hillary were there already. We got our shit together, got Rachel's kit together, and we waited. And waited. And waited. Where was she? Tracker said she was close. The clock counted down. We spread out over St Ives looking for her. Martin & Hillary on the cliff tops, Jo & Gilly in the town, I was at the CP. Tick-tock. Tick- tock. I was getting worried. At 13.56, with four minutes to spare, Rachel came into the Guildhall (CP4), cold , tired and wet - for it had been sleeting - and she had 20mns to get back out again or she would be timed out. Gilly was close behind and got to work. It was emotional.

" I can't go on " Rachel said.

Shut up and sit down, we said. ( although I think we may have been a bit more tactful)

Socks, dry shoes, change of clothes. CP Angels fed her rice pudding and sweet tea. Whilst Gilly actually did practical stuff like take off Rachel's dirty shoes and socks, dry her feet and put clean kit on, I faffed , gave words of encouragement (whilst being inwardly concerned) and kept a close eye on the time. And in essence, that was how the race crewing went!

Banner. Don't forget the banner. Luther, Rachel's son, had made her a banner. We unfurled it,

"Don't Give Up" it read in big, colourful lettering.

And she didn't. And it was all down to Luther's banner. You saved the day Luther.

The last cut off at St Ives is tight, but she now had 8hrs to do the last 20ish miles. No worries. Even after 80miles and 26hrs of running.

Feeling very emotional (and that was just us, her support crew!), Rachel headed back out. Mud Crew crew and Angels cheered the loudest, because that's how they are,

Breath And Relax. The hardest part was over. For the crew, at least. Rachel just had to dig deep and grind out the last few miles.

There were a few more points along the way where we bumped into Rachel. Team Weirdchicken caught up and chatted. Loitering in remote, cold dark car parks along the Cornish coast had become second nature to us. Salted potato, officer!!

Rachel had new people to run with. New people to thrust salted potatoes and pizza upon (I have to get rid of them all!!) but no real drama's. Rachel was cruising now, finishing was never in any doubt. She was fully focused and as strong as at any point in the race, so we retired to the finish to have a well earned pint at the Blue Bar, Porthtowan. It is, after all, stressful and thirsty work crewing.

At 22.21hrs, we were waiting for her as she crossed the line. Over an hour and half to spare. By the end of the race, over 50 % of the field had either retired or been retired. But not our Rachel. She had finished, and deserved all the praise & applause. Job done!

Well Done Rachel!

Full Results and race splits here