Rain, pains and automobiles

What an experience that was! I’ve never attempted a multi-race challenge before, with four races over one weekend: 5k, 10k, and both a half & a full marathon. It was part of my 3 Ultra Challenge, aiming to raise £10k for Cash for Kids and The Resolution Foundation. If I reach my £10k goal, my company Appin Sports will also donate £10k. Sponsor me here.

My prep was less than ideal. I injured my calf just after the Highland Fling Ultra in April, and it hadn’t recovered. I managed just 6 miles per week in the 4 weeks before The Edinburgh Marathon Festival (EMF) weekend – not a classic ultra-marathon training plan!

My attempts to jog just left me limping in the evenings, so I just concentrated on the exercises the physio gave me to do and skipped all running in the final few days. Resigned to the fact that I may not be able to complete my challenge, I decided I would at least give it a go. If it all went pear shaped, I would just find another ultra to complete my 3 Ultra challenge.

Roll on EMF weekend, and first up was the 10k. I was very nervous about my calf, so I just jogged the first few kilometres and walked up much of the hill around Arthur’s Seat. It was a very different experience for me as I’m usually racing it flat out, but starting near the back and just taking it all in was really pleasant. I had a nice few chats along the way – and thankfully finished with no ill effects.

Just 1 hour later I was doing a second lap of Arthur’s Seat for the EMF 5k. I pushed just a little for the final 2k downhill, and while there was some pain, everything was better than I feared just a couple of days ago.

After a hot bath and a couple of ibuprofens that evening, my thoughts turned to Sunday. This was going to be a totally different level of challenge. The time constraints of just two hours between the starts of both races – and a 30-minute journey from the finish of the half back to the start of the full marathon – meant I would have to run the half in less than 1 hour and 40 minutes. That was going to need a much faster pace than either of Saturday’s 5 or 10k.

I fuelled up for the day with a hearty breakfast as it was going to be a long day. Wanting no repeat of those Highland Fling cramps from Challenge #1, I took my salt tablets! My amazing wife, Bing, dropped me to the start line.

I was so lucky I had packed my poncho because it was pouring down! For the first few kilometres, the roads were like rivers and any hope of keeping my feet dry for the day had vanished.

The first 8k (mostly downhill) went really well so I decided to push on after I reached the midway point. I finished just under 1:36 and even though I had to push a little for the last 5 or so kilometres, I felt pretty good.

No time to stop, so I ran straight through the finish line and skipped the goodybag and t-shirt. I grabbed my medal from a bemused marshall and phoned Bing as I ran 1km to our pre-agreed rendezvous point. As I approached the roundabout she appeared into view, her timing was spot on! I jumped into the car (just like James Bond!) and we sped off to the marathon startline.

I was glad for the change of a dry t-shirt and a new running number. The ‘easy’ part was done so just the small matter of a 26.2 mile marathon to complete my challenge! I’d packed a lunch the previous night, so on the drive back I fuelled up: two sandwiches, an energy drink, two more ibuprofen and, thanks to my daughter Eva, a delicious cookie!

Back at the start line, déjà vu hit – same place, same pish weather! Running through rivers of water again for the first 5k.. Feeling good about the whole challenge (maybe a bit too good…), I decided to push the pace a little – that was a mistake.

The pain that had just affected my calf started creeping up to my hamstrings, then all the way to my glutes. By 10k my whole left leg was tightening up. I backed off the pace and settled into a 5:30 p/km rhythm, trying to relax as much as possible. Thankfully, by halfway, the pain had eased back down to just my calf, and I was moving much more freely again. I didn’t have a set goal when starting the race (apart from finishing) and this 5:30 pace felt good – it helped to keep me focused to have a pace to target. Plus, the sun had finally come out, making things look much brighter! Now, all I had to do was hold this pace for another 21kms, and I’d finish in under 4 hours.

It’s a LONG road out to the turning point at 18 miles! At 20 miles it started to get really tough. Not only was my calf aching, but my whole body was tired. I took another gel and started pumping the arms. By 23 miles I was flagging and made multiple stops for jelly babies (thank you, lovely spectators ♥). Only when I got to 25 miles did I believe I could actually make it – without completely falling apart. The last few hundred metres were quite emotional, and I was just so relieved I had managed to do it.

I felt a little dizzy, but happily there was an energy bar in the goody bag which made me feel much better. After grabbing my bag and fresh clothes, I queued up for a burger. It was the best goddamn burger I’d had in ages! Feeling human again, I could finally tackle the 1-mile walk to the return buses.

On my journey back home, I began to reflect. I’m not ashamed to say that I’m proud of my achievement: I did everything I possibly do to get to the start and finish line of each race; physio exercises, stretches, foam rollers, hot baths, marathon nutrition, fuelling strategies, sensible pacing, – and a good dose of drugs (all legal!). I finished my 4-race Ultra challenge in 6 hrs 54 mins and 7 secs, for a total of 78.3km / 48.6 miles – even managing to negative-split all the races.

I hope you enjoyed my tale. If you’d like to support my challenge, please consider sponsoring me at www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk

Big thanks to everyone who has supported my cause already.

• 5k stats: Finished in 24:59 (14:45 for first 2.5k and 10:14 for final 2.5k, 4:31 negative split). 5:00 p/km average pace.
• 10k stats: Finished in 57:21 (31:39 for first 5k and 25:42 for final 5k, 6 min negative split). 5:43 p/km average pace.
• Half Marathon stats: Finish 1:35:54 ( 48:05 and 47.49 with 16 second negative split). 4:31 p/km average pace.
• Full Marathon stats: Finish 3:55:53 ( 1:57:58 and 1:57:55 with 3 second negative split). 5:33 p/km average pace.