21st September: The Pilgrim

Having done absolutely diddly-squat in the physical activity department since cycling the Glencoe marathon recce, I left this morning for my second running of the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon.

Like last year, my neighbour Pini was running it as well so I gave him a lift down to the start with me on this fine September morning.

The Pilgrim is the closest trail marathon to where I live at around 15 miles as the crow flies, starting from a field next to Farnham Golf Course and heading West on to the North Down’s Way (the ‘Pilgrim’s Way’, hence the name) for an out and back route that turns at the course’s high-point of St. Martha’s Church.

Parking-up close to the start we went down and registered before going about our separate preparations for the run.

Milling around before the off.

I made it to the start line with about 5 minutes to go where I caught-up with Dennis ’The Machine’ Cartwright who has recently been accepted into the next running of the Brathay 10 in 10 marathons in 2015 to wish him the best with preparing for that and to chalking-off another in his quest to join the 100 marathon club. Saying our hello’s the countdown commenced and we were off and trotting.

Hitting the Trail.

Heading out of the playing field start/finish and around the corner we all filed along a country lane before we found the North Downs Way and the off-road section over a few fields and skirting some woods. This path to the half way is largely on a downhill trajectory for the first 10 miles, passing a couple of pubs, a golf course, a vineyard and some llamas, so with the broadly downward path you can make a good time all the way to the foot of the climb up to St. Martha’s church where this first hill of any consequence really bites!

A four legged runner.

On this stretch I caught up with Rich McDonald with whom I ran part of the 54321 and managed to hold on to his tail for a chat for a couple of miles about the recent Scottish referendum and how in a master-stroke of politicking Alex Salmond has, whilst not winning the referendum, achieved pledges from the main political parties in Britain for far greater Scottish autonomy - something he had originally wanted on the ballot as a third option and was denied by ‘Dave’… That and my escapades on Ben Nevis and our plans for future races before I had to ease-off and let him go ahead at his far faster pace.

Some of the spectators.

The good thing about what goes up must come down is that upon having to climb up to St. Martha’s church, straight after the struggle to the summit you get the view from the top and a recovery stretch along the plateau to regain your breath before you have a decent descent for a couple of miles.

Topping the hill.

Come the turn at the church I had been making very good time, in fact I was on for a far better time than last year, but this came at a price as I had really over-done it by just going way too fast considering I had done no work in the build-up to this run, and from 15 miles on it is broadly uphill to the finish, so unsurprisingly come 2/3 of the distance my legs were shot and I just could not get a consistent rhythm going. Passing back over the canal bridge I knew there was only a few miles to go but I could only concentrate on merely reaching the finish rather than finishing with gusto and a faster time than last year slipped through my fingers in front of me… Crossing the line 15 minutes down on last year.

The view from the plateau.

As I crossed the field approaching the line I had a wonderful surprise… There was LSS and spud at the finish to cheer me home, although after grabbing my breath and a couple of slices of cake, Spud was more interested in grabbing what was in my hand than seeing me!
Pini had run 2 minutes slower this year than last but had finished in a higher position of 10th overall and 3rd in his category - although they only gave a prize for the first 2 positions, so he missed-out there, but that does not take away anything from a terrific achievement, something I know he had been training hard for.

Crossing the canal.

This year all of us finishers were given a tech tee (a light grey one with a front and back print of the event logo of a monk) so another one for the collection! but it is quite a funky one.
As I recovered from the exerts, feeling completely rinsed I saw Marathon Man standing just along from me looking as fresh as a daisy so I sauntered over for a chat. It turned-out that he and Pini spent some time on the course chatting and running as they were both towards the front of the pack at the start before Pini pushed on harder leaving him to finish in his very own respectable time.

After a few Spud ‘cuddles’ and a time to recover I wandered back to the van with Pini. As we piled our gear in to the back, a familiar face pulled-up alongside us he drove off for home: Rich McDonald again, who I hardly recognised without a buff on his head, stopping for a farewell chat after another good run before driving back to our respective homesteads and recovery after the day's exertions.

Its safe to say I was a little disappointed in my time - and I know why it was thus: Going too hard too early and not putting any practice in since my tumble off that hill in Scotland, although I managed a finish and in 277/347 so still a little way of DFL, which I recorded in my first official marathon, and an experience I hope never to repeat - although from that point the only way was up as I have shown :)

15th September: Pilgrim

If crossing the line in Reykjavik proved I can easily fit 10 marathons into a year - considering I ran none from mid October last year till mid Feb of this, then this should be something I keep on with until my knees can take it no more, so the Farnham Pilgrim trail marathon marks the first steps in the secondary (sub) challenge; the extension of the 12 in 12 to 13 in 2013! Making this round 11 of 13 with a few months left to go to squeeze the last couple out.

Pini has raced this one the last couple of years, finishing 9th last year and 3rd in his category in the half marathon the year before that. It is a race he has recommended heartily so it definitely was one I was looking forward to shuffling around. He informed me that the terrain is fairly easy going with one rather large hill before the halfway turn, and the rest really being undulations rather than anything else, unlike the South Downs we ran together.

Going in to this race I was looking forward to it being a chance to get that sub 5 hour trail time. Psychologically going in to the run having just finished a fag-end over 4:30 on the road, I felt that it was definitely within me to achieve this. My times approaching had been getting closer and closer to this goal so I felt that it was really a case of mind over matter more than anything else and I was not going to let anything get in the way.

I gave Pini a lift down to the start just by Farnham golf club and we duly changed and registered for the off. Pini was chasing a result in this one again this year, putting in the miles to attempt a higher finish and better time.

A decent bit of early autumn sun.

Pini ready to run for a placing.

Come the off Pini was straight to the front and hared-off with the best of them whilst I plodded along towards the back of the group off into the countryside heading eastwards.

The weather was fairly cool with broken sunshine so it was good not to be overheating from a beating baking sun and able just to concentrate on getting the miles under my belt.

Funky cloud patterns and con-trails above us.

Underfoot the terrain seemed to be for the most part bridleway/ right of way footpaths, with the occasional bit on country roads for variety the going was not too hard or soft and with the first 10k of the route being broadly down-hill a decent chance to get some good times into the bank in case of a later slump.

Along the woodland trail.

Taking in the views of the fields and trees as I ran, I was amazed at the sheer number of marshals and aid stations. It is extremely well organised, with someone at every corner just to help you should you run the risk of losing the track. There were plenty of people out supporting the event as well which is always great to have - random people clapping and cheering you onwards.

After running past another golf course and the Greyfriars Vineyard we hit the river Wey that runs through Guildford, so I knew now that we must be at the valley's bottom. It was a short flattish section here and we were able to watch boaters along the river working the lock-gates as they went on their own journey.

The Wey lock.

If you're at the bottom there's only one way to go and sure enough we started to steadily climb and we entered the Chilworth Manor estate, and were confronted by herd of llama's - which was a welcome change from seeing cows and sheep! At this point I recognised a voice as it jogged past and a familiar conversational topic 'don't do the Fairlands Valley in Stevenage' I looked across and found Andy from the Salisbury 54321 was alongside me, overtaking with a couple of other people. Realising who it was I said hello and chipped-in with my tuppence worth about the event!.. It turns out that since Salisbury Andy has run another couple of races, one of which was in Cheltenham which he said was nearly as badly organised a route and to avoid that one as well! It seems he has managed to regain his fitness having worked through his injury problems and I let them all steam off in front as I stopped to photograph more llama's.

Loadsa Llamas

The slow gradual climb was beginning to take its toll on some people and there was a bit of yo-yoing as people's different tactics for the climb came in to effect. In the distance ahead of me I could make out the figure of Carthorse, a fellow Farnborough FC fan and distance runner, so I attempted to maintain the gap as much as possible to get a chance to have a chat with him after the race.

Proof there really are runners behind me!

As we approached the halfway we encountered the hill Pini warned me about. The terrain here switched to sand, so it made the run harder still but fortunately with the rain we had recently had the sand was damp and held together fairly well. As we wound our way up the hill to the church of St. Martha at its summit (the hill has taken the name of its crowning church), in the distance you could hear a voice shouting and hollering on in encouragement. About 1/2 a mile later I saw who it was, possibly the loudest most cheerful marshall ever. She was bouncing around encouraging everyone to do their best in a manner that had her accompanying labrador attempting to hide itself away in embarrassment!

Enthusiasm that knew no boundaries!

About 1/4 mile after we were at the summit and the great view across Surrey that it afforded. They really chose a very picturesque place to plonk a church.

The picturesque church on the hill.

The descent started here and I found myself running alongside a lady who was running her first marathon for charity and had brought a throng of cheerleaders with her; around 30 people were gathered cheering and clapping her on. When you run past people as enthusiastic as that it can't help but inspire you as well to redouble you're efforts!

The view down to the valley floor.

All too soon we were back down at the valley floor and crossed behind the goals of a Sunday league football match on the park just before re-crossing the Wey at a more northerly point. It was here that I caught up with Carthorse who was feeling a little leaden of leg.

We jogged along for a bit chatting about our shared interest in Farnborough FC and the trials and tribulations that go with it - believe me if there ever were a soap-opera of a football club then the last decade Farnborough would have been top of the viewing figures, unfortunately for off-field rather than on-field reasons. At least you can say following FFC its never dull for a while!

Carthorse writes his own blog on his running exploits: Den's Got the Runs which is worth a read for his ultra-running exploits. The Farnham Pilgrim starts a couple of miles from his house so he tends to run it each year as much for its scenic nature as its proximity to home. This race is merely a warm-up for the Berlin marathon in a couple of weeks so a PB chase is on the cards there.

The course soon led us up another small but very steep hill. Carthorse warned me that it is largely a pointless effort as you can skirt round the bottom of this mound covering an equal distance, if not further rather than going up and down. The mound in question is exactly that, with St. Catherine's Chapel sitting on top of it. So you go up, along and down the other side and soon you're crossing the road leaving it behind.

The ruins on the mound (I'm not talking about the runners).

After a couple of miles of run-walking and chatting about next year's plans for running, in order for me to hit my 5h mark I had to get a wiggle-on so I had to leave the struggling Carthorse behind bemoaning the state of his legs and cursing not having any electrolyte to hand on him.

The view from the sandy heath.

Sauntering over the sand.

The course soon doubled back on itself, before leading us across some sandy heathland where we looped around on the top of a plateau then down in to some woods, where a group of marshals sporting fancy dress of an old crone, a monk (the race's logo) and a peasant were pointing the way forwards. Soon after we were heading back in towards the golf course and the finish line, with the last half mile an agonising incline!

Making it back to the field where the race began I could see Pini already changed and waiting, cheering me on and giving a High 5 as I approached the line and crossed it in a recorded time of 4:57:00 and proof to myself that I can complete a sub 5h trail marathon.

High-5ing Pini across the finish line.

The goody-bag for this race contained a mug as well as a cotton tee with a front and back print as well as a medal. With this mug, like the water bottle in Reykjavik, it is a useful memento of the race that you can get some everyday use out of.

Pini beat his time of last year by 2 minutes, but in doing so also became a victim of the race's success and growing popularity… He may have run the course faster this year, but finished 2 places lower in 11th. Which is a shame for him to say the least although the race this year was a fast one as both the first two finishers broke the course record!

I indulged in some complimentary cake and one of my scotch eggs in the hospitality tent before starting back to the van. During the race I had only consumed 3 gels and nothing else, which is by far the least fuelling I have felt the need to undertake, so I was quite happy to have been ideally fuelled before starting (I saved the delights of the minging recovery shake till I got home).

Walking back to the van I was able to cheer-on Carthorse as he approached the finish line around 20 minutes behind me, and on the ride home we were able to tune in to the thrilling conclusion to the ITU Triathlon final on the London 2012 course, where after all that time spent swimming, cycling and running it came down to a sprint finish between 2 evenly matched athletes over the last few metres; with Javier Gomez beating the 'tactical muppet' Jonathan Brownlee as described by his brother Alistair in the post-race interview!

I thoroughly enjoyed this run, and with it sitting on my doorstep I'm sure to be back in the future and heartily recommend it to anyone who fancies a go.

Doing the moose for the camera as always :)