D33 Ultra
So, it was up early to force down some calories and get my kit finalised for the trip up to Aberdeen.
I had settled on shoes the day before, in the knowledge that most people would probably wear road shoes for what is in the main a flat, hard surface route. I opted for trail shoes but they are trail shoes in name only as I have been wearing them for longer distance tarmac for some time. They are the first edition of The North Face Vectiv Enduris and although they have served me well on the roads, they have never had any business being on anything resembling a trail.
Anyway, the drive up was uneventful, the roads quiet for a very early Saturday morning and it is probably the first time I haven’t sat in a lengthy traffic queue to get into Aberdeen city. I arrived early as was my plan, to ensure good parking and I managed to secure a spot virtually right outside the hotel where registration would take place.
I picked up my race number then duly followed the instructions written on it. Not sure it qualified as epic but it did take three flushes. Anyway, I certainly didn’t want to hit the start line with that on board!
I sauntered down to the start area in Duthie Park. It being Aberdeen, it was mirthless and all business at the briefing and in the absence of any hand-waving, happy-clappy bullshit, we were off!
Now, I must repeat that this was not a goal race nor was it one that I really expected to enjoy very much. That said, I was fairly upbeat about the whole thing and spent the first few miles trying to settle into what I hoped would be a sustainable pace. I settled at about 9.15min/mile and once everyone else had settled down as well, the crowd thinned and the sun came out.
My usual race goal applied of course, to be in the top 50%, but I also had a target time of around 5:30 which my rudimentary mathematics indicated was roughly in keeping with my pacing strategy and the likelihood that I would be slower on the return leg.
The first water station came at 8 miles and I topped up my soft flasks but moved on straight away. There were a couple of little hills and even a little trail to break things up. The route was actually quite nice and the weather helped considerably and before I knew it I was approaching the halfway aid station and turnaround at Banchory. I hit the turnaround bang on 2:30 which turned out to be right on my race plan. So far, so good.
I swapped out my crap for fresh supplies in my only drop bag of the race and started heading back.
As always in these races, due recognition needs to go to all of the volunteers who were excellent.
I really thought that sustained running would last longer than it did, which in some respects was a bit disappointing as I am not lacking in either training or fitness. The annoying fact is that I am just not that good at long distance, flat running but at least I know that. I do better in other environments, but I was here for the training and to get it done so I just plodded on, consoling myself that those around me were pretty much in the same boat.
The section from Banchory back to the last water station was warm. The sun had some power, and the long sleeves were not ideal but I knew there was plenty of shade in the last section and in fact the sun disappeared for the last seven miles or so.
The last ten miles were taken care of with a determined run/walk rhythm which saw me pass several people and hold my overall position, so things were ok I suppose. I was definitely counting off the last few miles though and the end of the path back at Duthie Park was a most welcome sight.
What was not welcome was the surprise that a full loop of the park was required to reach the finish which was in a different position to the start.
Thus, I shuffled around the park then powered across the grass (it’s all relative!) to the finish arch.
In the end, 5 hours 34 minutes for 33.3 miles. I placed 64th overall and 7th out of 27 in my age category. I was comfortably in the top 50%, almost bang on my target time and no real dramas. My pacing was as good as it could have been and my nutrition, hydration etc were spot on.
So, I must be happy then? Well, not really as it turns out. I can identify all of the positives I have listed above, but I just can’t derive any real satisfaction from the whole thing. That’s ok though as I never really expected to. I turned up to do a job and I did that, but that’s what it felt like really.
In conclusion then, I must reflect that the only epic shit I delivered today was the bad boy still choking the plumbing at the Inn on the Park.
