Last August was my first Ridgeway Challenge and I was hoping to be able to keep up the pace a bit better this time around. The start was at the top of Ivanhoe Beacon and a good ten minutes walk from the registration area. I had settled for the early (10am) start again this year as this meant I had an extra two hours to get to the end! This seemed important as last year Elaine and I squeaked in only 25 minutes before the cut off and this year I was running alone so not sure how I’d manage through the night.
I arrived in Tring in good time and a bit like last year it started to rain shortly after I collected my number. We all huddled under the trees and tried to organise our drop bags, I had a change of clothes, socks and shoes that was going to be taken to Goring about 40 miles along the track. It’s hard to make decisions about what to wear or carry when you know that you are stuck with that decision for the next 40 miles. The forecast had been for showers on and off throughout the day so eventually I went for a thin but long sleeved top, shorts a waterproof and buff (my JW Ultra one!).
It was also the first time I had worn my new Ultimate Direction back pack and I was a bit anxious about it if would be comfy, I tried not to put too much in it but did pack my spare head torch just in case. We wandered up to the start knowing that five minutes later we would be making our way back down the path five minutes later after the Race Director blew his whistle!
The chalk was damp and everso slightly slippery and so I started slowly and took my time down the hills and across the road onto the main pathway. Having started quite near the back I was careful to follow the signs and it was at this point things got just a little weird! The ridgeway is marked pretty well with finger posts and it’s key to check each time which way they are pointing. At about a mile the path splits in three and I noticed that the lead runners had all taken the middle path whereas I thought the finger post was pointing to the right more!
The runners were just too far ahead for me to be able to call them and it seemed a bit extreme to get out my whistle! So I took the path I thought was right and carried on, just round the corner was another sign I looked to see if I could see the others but they were out of sight so I kept going and expected the others to catch up with me soon. About a mile further on Bob caught up with me and we chatted for a mile or so and caught up with three others who told us we were now at the front!
Much to our surprise that was it for the next couple of checkpoints with Bob in first then me in a while after him, by check point three there was still no sign of the others and Bob had slowed a little and I was suddenly first! Surprisingly this didn’t last too long and suddenly the lead man from the 12.00 start and eventual winner flew past me looking like it was just a jog in the park. After this we settled in to a pattern of checkpoint, quick snack and check in before checking out again!
The checkpoints were all really lovely, huddled under shelter trying to keep dry and some volunteers would be there in shifts for hours! The rain came and went and apart from once wasn’t particularly heavy, by checkpoint four the weather had cheered up and after a climb up a longish hill I was greeted by an audience who took my order for a hot drink and rushed over to make sure I had enough to eat.
Eventually after rather a rather dull and flat section along the Thames and across three fields we were in Goring and there was hot foot, hot drinks and dry clothes and shoes! Baked Potatoes, baked beans and cheese followed by rice pudding and coffee, coffee and more coffee! Shoes off, feet inspected and someone from another crew was kind enough to help me put a plaster on my foot! Although I took the big job of draining the blister and sorting out the causes of the blister! The worst injury at this point was the chafing on my back but the St John’s people kindly sorted that out for me.
As soon as I had sorted out my drop bag I set out with a handful of food, my super amazing headtorch and started out. From Goring the trail heads up and joins the ridge proper the first few miles are a bit of a slog but the rain had stopped and the chalk was trying out really quickly. The miles began to slip by and darkness fell, it seems like it would be lonely in the dark but it never really is. The check points are not too far away and there is a string of headlights ahead of you and behind you at all times.
Last year I seemed to walk most of this second stage but this year I managed to keep up a better walk run strategy and before too long I was at my favourite check point complete with massive bonfire! Each checkpoint was a similar story, in grab a coffee and something to eat then carry on.
I had told John that I would call him from the last check point and let him know what time I would be at the end. Only problem was that it was 5am at Barbary Castle! I decided to carry on without calling him and started the final 5 miles. It doesn’t really sound very far does it? But it’s quite a pull up to the last section of the ridgeway and the path becomes deeply rutted and quite difficult to run.
Eventually I reached the final descent and after a short hill I reached the village hall and finish line! It was 7.08 giving me a final time of 21.08 compared to last year’s 25.25. I sorted out my feet changed into dry clothes then decided it was time to call John only NO signal! More coffee and some food I checked my phone and miracles I had a signal and sent off a quick text.
I found my XNRG fleece and found a bench and a blanket from the St John’s then snuggled up and slept until John arrived. Fortunately he’d woken early and checked the website for where I was and realised he’d better leave then!
One small blister, one very chaffed back and a very sore upper foot where I’d accidentally taped my foot too tightly and it bruised as a result. Parkrun today and all seems good!
Great run and I’ll definitely do it again next year but this time it’ll have to be the 12 midday start.
annettelovestorun 