Hi Everyone

Haigri, our Rival 38, is now safely tucked up in the boatyard in Grenada for hurricane season and so I am now generally land-based until November.  This being the case, I thought this would be a great opportunity to really focus on developing strength and fitness.  I am always up for a challenge and, walking being a great way to keep fit without too much wear and tear on ageing joints, I decided to sign up for the 100k South Coast Challenge on 31 August 2019.  I have to confess I am also dragging my sister along for this much to her initial horror!

100k (approx. 62 miles) is longer distance than I have walked before and you really need to prepare for this kind of ultra distance.  That said here is a glimpse of what I have been doing so far.

100k South Coast Challenge – 11 weeks to go

Training is now fully underway (I’m following a 15 week training plan).  Although I am only 4 weeks into my formal ultra training plan I have actually been strength and cardio training for about 10 weeks so feeling fairly fit and have a couple of 15 and 20 mile walks under my belt.  So, following a bit of deliberation, when I saw an advert for the Saffrey Rotary Round Guernsey Walk (approx. 38.8 miles long) I decided to give it a go.  Although a bit of a big ask so early on in the training plan I thought it would be great practice and prep for an ultra.  I have previously done a couple of 46 milers in the past so had a fair idea of what to expect.  This time, however, I decided to walk by myself.

The walk follows the coastal path of Guernsey (approx 39 miles)

Registration for the walk opened at 4.30am which required a pretty early start.  I was up bright and early at 3.15am, had a quick cup of tea, a bath (to warm up as cold in the morning) and breakfast but  most importantly I taped my toes to avoid cuts and blisters.  Duly fortified, bound and eager to get moving I grabbed my prepared kit and headed down to the start.

Runners and walkers queuing for registration and the start

There was quite a long queue of people in front of me but registration was fairly quick and I was through and walking by 4.45am.   Passing St Peter Port, the main town in Guernsey, we all headed out to the South of the island and the cliff paths.  The island is very pretty and fortunately the weather although not great wasn’t awful.  The South of the island is quite hilly and Learning Curve No. 1 soon presented itself – STEPS and an awful lot of them!  A great failing in my training was the fact that I hadn’t checked out the cliff paths and to my dismay there seemed to be steps as far as the eye could see – it felt like almost 13 miles of steps!!  Learning Curve No. 2 was also quick to make itself felt – my Salomon trail shoes weren’t great on the downhill sections and my toenails were feeling the pressure!  In contrast, my new walking pole was great and knees and hips felt great.  No blisters either.

Leaving St Peter Port behind and heading for the cliff paths

Plodding on through the first two checkpoints with only brief stops to register and for a quick drink, I said goodbye to the cliff paths and arrived 18 miles later at Checkpoint 3 – Portelet Slip Pleinmont.  Following a fast change of socks and into trainers for the road sections I headed onward to Cobo Bay and Checkpoint 4.  Toenails by this stage were throbbing so after a quick body scan to confirm that there were no potential serious injuries looming I took two painkillers.  I don’t normally advocate painkillers in such circumstances as they can mask impending problems and are not great for kidneys but I was certain bruising was the only issue.  The discomfort quickly subsided and passing through Checkpoint 4 Healthspan were handing out packets of Kick-Start chewing gum which really gave me a caffeine boost.

Guernsey Cliff Paths (the orange specs are walkers ahead)

Walking on through some pretty scenery the weather started to deteriorate and by Checkpoint 5 at Chouet it was pouring with rain.  With only 9 miles to go it seemed a shame to quit so onward it was.  By Bordeaux and Checkpoint 6 the sun was out again and only 3 ½ miles to go which was great.  The body was holding up pretty well but shortly afterwards my feet started to ache – a lot!  At this point I was beginning to feel tired but just before the finish Peter joined me for moral support and I finally finished a long 12 hours 25 minutes later.

The finish in St Peter Port

Following the finish of such a long walk most sensible athletes would have headed off for an ice bath and stretches but that seemed way to sadistic for me.  I know it’s not recommended but a cold pint of cider was really welcome followed by food, a hot bath and bed.

What worked:

1. My training plan seems to be a good one as my general fitness was certainly better than on my previous ultras.

2.  My carbon fibre Brasher walking pole was brilliant. I don’t normally walk with poles unless hiking in difficult terrain.  However, this pole certainly took a lot of pressure off my knees and hips as these were my main concern.  I suffered no pain whatsoever either on the walk or after.

3. Taping toes. Although I stubbed my toes twice on rocks and these really hurt I had no blisters and my feet were generally in good condition on finishing

4. Clothing and Osprey Talon 4 belt worked well for me. I wore a running vest, sports bra, event t-shirt and running jacket with Columbia hiking trousers.  I wouldn’t win any prizes for sartorial elegance but the clothing was comfortable and the belt held everything I needed including blister plasters and tape, money, mobile phone, snack and water bottles.

5. Not stopping. Twelve hours on your feet is a long time but keeping moving, for me, is essential as stopping and sitting down results in muscles seizing up which means its really hard to get going again.  I did however grab drinks and snacks from the checkpoints.

6. Hydration and Nutrition. Eating well the week before the walk and increasing carbohydrate intake worked well.  Breakfast before starting was essential as once walking I find it really hard to eat anything other than small snacks of bananas and chocolate.  I drank water throughout but on reflection should have drunk a lot more.

What wasn’t so good:

 My trail shoes had been broken in before the walk and I was a bit dubious about them.  My worries materialised as the shoes didn’t hold my feet as stable as I needed.  Hence I am going to be looking at other shoes for the South Coast Challenge.