Looking for long races to enter in 2010 the London Ultra 50K was one of the first I came across and a very local one...
"Trail Running" as used in french and american translate more in english as Fell Running, so I learned after some time goggling about the UK Trail/Fell/Ultra scene. And from ultra+running "Rory Coleman" came up. And there I was, in the thick of it.
To make a long story short Rory is "Mr Marathon des Sables in the UK", a personal running coach, race organiser and an inspirational runner for many of us.
Since coming back from an 8 months french break where unwanted free time took my running to the next level I had been trying to compensate lack of elevation by more distance...
That is the way I got prepared for this kind of race. Running wild in Epping Forest and getting soon to do as much on my feet that I was the years before on my MTB.
I was indeed relatively well trained for that race but didn't consider until I learned about it the hard way (with an IT band injury) how long distance training can stiffen your body...
And that is from Km 35 that I started to walk. After a wile walking with an other victim we motivated each other to run again down harrow on the Hill, I think... From there I didn't stop till the end and picked up a bit of speed but not without a big frown.
I finished 87th in 5h19.
