Here he talks about #Run1000Miles, favourite places to run, preferred nutrition and more.
Eddie, what was your reason for getting involved in the #Run1000Miles Challenge?
To be honest, I’m not sure, I think part of the motivation was to get a free ruff. I subscribe to Trail Running magazine and so became aware of the challenge early on. As I reckon that I run about a thousand miles most years, unless I get injured, joining in was a no-brainer.
I didn’t really think about it all that much, but the Facebook group grew and I got more involved in the social media side of things, through that. The group was a real inspiration and it was great to read people’s stories, to meet a couple of folk from the group in real life and to see the photos.
How did you get into running and when?
I guess that it started when I was a teenager in the seventies, growing up in the North East. I did a morning and evening paper-round of about a mile and a half and I used to really enjoy running it. When I got to University and was no longer delivering papers, I started running just to keep fit. This carried on through my twenties; nothing serious, just the odd two or three mile jog to keep the muscles moving. Then my family moved to rural West Africa – no electricity, no running water, but plenty of mosquitos. At that point my running went out of the window. Twenty years later, I found myself living in High Wycombe and somehow I’d become overweight and middle aged. One morning, I decided to set the alarm for half an hour earlier and go for a run. I walked up the hill behind our house and jogged down through the woods. A year later, I was running five miles and the following year I did my first half and a year later, the London Marathon. I’m still overweight (though less than I was) and I’m still middle aged, but I am a lot fitter than I was.
You now live in Yorkshire – where is your favourite local spot to run?
We’ve been in Yorkshire for less than a year, so there is still a lot to explore, I can get onto the moors straight from our house, without ever running on roads; but kicking off with a 500 foot climb without a warm-up is a bit grim. I love running out to Skipton on the Leeds-Liverpool canal and then returning via Farnhill Moor which isn’t too high, but gives great views.
And in the Chilterns (where you were previously)?
There is a very unprepossessing footpath in an industrial estate near the football ground in High Wycombe, which goes between two grotty factories, but ends up in a nature reserve. That opens up a whole network of pathways that go off in all directions, Thirty five miles from the centre of London, I could run for twenty miles, only crossing a couple of roads with red kites, deer and rabbits for company – and hardly a human being in sight. Over the years, I grew to know every mile of those paths and they will always be special.
However, if you want to know my favourite run of all, it is from the Bays Brown campsite in Langdale, down the valley, then climbing up to Blea Tarn and up onto Lingmoor Fell along the ridge and then back town into the valley and through the woods back to the campsite, Six miles before breakfast, followed by a day walking on the hills with my wife – perfect.
Fells, trails or roads?
Anything but roads! My knees are too old (they seem to be older than the rest of me) to take the continual repetitive pounding that road running creates.
What do you most like about trail running?
It depends on the day. Just being outside on the hills, in the woods or by the canal is reward enough. I’m not much into trying to get personal bests and to set fast times; I know my best and fastest days are behind me, but there are times, that I can recapture the feeling of being a kid, running for the sheer joy of feeling my body move rough ground.
Then there are the days when the sleet is in my face, the wind is chilling me to the bone and I feel more alive than anyone sitting by a warm fireside could ever understand (though I like the warm fireside afterwards). A few years ago, I had a t-shirt printed which said, “Running might kill me, but at least I’ll have lived”. That more or less sums it up.
Haha, brilliant! What keeps you motivated?
In 20 years’ time (perhaps ten?), I’ll struggle to walk in wild country, much less run. I know it sounds morbid, but I want to enjoy every moment that I can.
Langdales Temperature Inversion
What is your favourite pre-run and post-run nutrition?
I’m a creature of habit, so pre-run tends to be my normal breakfast of sugar-free muesli. If I’m going for a very long run; say 15 miles plus, I’ll add on a couple of slices of toast and marmalade. For long races, when I tend to be camping the night before, I go for those pots of porridge that you make by adding hot water.
Post-run, I tend to go with whatever my body tells me I need. That’s generally something with a fair bit of protein – it may simply be a coffee with lots of milk. After really long runs in warm weather, I often have a massive craving for ice-cream. Lots of long races serve vegetarian chilli at the end, which is always a good option. I’m not sure that the beer and fish and chips, which I got at the end of the St Begas Ultra last summer was the ideal recovery food, but it certainly hit the spot.
During runs, I tend to prefer real food to gels and energy bars. When descending from Grisedale on the Ultimate Trails 55 a couple of years ago, someone I was running with offered me a mini-cocktail sausage, which seemed a strange thing at the time – but I’ve never enjoyed a sausage so much in my life. Strange though it may seem, I now carry mini-pork pies on ultras. I do have the odd gel or bar in my pack, too, but they often come home with me. I’ve learned that it is important to take on nutrition before you need it and even on a ten mile run, I’ll often eat something at five miles, just for the discipline of the thing. If I know that there is a big hill coming up, I’ll try and have a gel or something about 10-15 minutes beforehand to get more sugar into my system.
What most people don’t realise is that ultra-running is basically a mobile picnic.
Start of UT55
Stickle Tarn on UT55
It is indeed! Do you ever have doubts when running?
I don’t have many doubts when I’m running, as such. However, at the start of races, I tend to be very conscious of being a bald, slightly tubby, old bloke who is surrounded by younger, thinner people who actually look good in lycra. When the said young, thin people vanish up the trail leaving me panting in their wake, I can wonder what on earth I’m doing there. But then I settle into my own tempo, grind out the miles, enjoying the views and chatting to other mid-to-back of the pack runners and I have a whale of a time. I rarely overtake anyone on the trail (did I say, I was slow?), but it’s not unknown for me to be in and out of checkpoints while others are gorging on the flapjack. At my age, you never sit down at checkpoints (unless you are changing your shoes), the danger is that you’ll never stand up again.
I love this quote on ultra running but can’t remember the source:
“If you ever find yourself feeling good during an ultra, don’t worry, it will soon go away.”
Who or what inspires you?
I could watch Nicky Spinks’ film, Run Forever, once a week and not get tired of it. She is a real inspiration and meeting her was a highlight of 2017 for me. However, the thing that really inspires me is any photograph of a random runner out in the Lake District, or somewhere beautiful. I like the hills and I want to enjoy them.
How do you get through those tough runs when you just can’t be bothered?
The hard part is getting out of the door. If I can manage that, I’m generally ok. One thing I find is running out and back routes; that means you’ve got to keep going otherwise you’ll never get home.
What are your plans for 2018?
I’m sixty this year and I have a personal goal that I’ll tell you about when and if I achieve it. It’s probably more than an overweight late-middle aged bloke should be doing, so I’ll keep it under my hat for a while. I’m desperately trying to lose weight and to get generally stronger, but I find that it’s hard to balance everything. It’s great to know that I can do ten back squats lifting 80 kilos, but it gets my legs so tired, I can’t run up hills for days afterwards.
I guess that my real goal is to stay injury free, to enjoy running and to be out along the canal and in the hills as much as I can.
Eddie thanks a million for this interview. Can’t wait to hear more about your personal goal. Also to seeing you again for our #Run1000Miles Challenge 2018. Enjoy another awesome year 
All the best
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And I was loving it!!! This is the ‘Dirty Double’ weekend of Helvellyn and Ullswater Lakeland Trail runs. First time I’d done it for 5 years (2012 results here). Gruelling, scenic, joyous. And this was the 2x 10k version rather than the 2x 14k I’d completed previously.
Another major difference this time was the fact that the kids were able to participate in the 10k (Louis) and 5k (Izzy).
Idyllic Surroundings
We’d decided to make a proper family weekend of it – any excuse to stay in the Lakes. And Ullswater is my favourite area. We were lucky too. I hadn’t been prepared and booked well in advance so was desperately searching 7 days before the start and was incredibly fortunate to find a cancellation at Beckside Farm cabins – a more idyllic and remote location we couldn’t have picked. You can book via Go Lakes too. Their incredibly friendly team we able to accommodate our late arrival and Gill, the lovely owner, was able to transport us from the farm entrance to our cabins using the farm all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Boy was it needed as the incessant rain of previous days had created a real mudfest and we wouldn’t have had a clue how to find the cabins. I say cabins because one was the sleep and shower cabin – the other the living cabin containing kitchen, dining, couch and wood burning stove. Our tv was the cabin french doors which offered the vista of Ullswater and starry skies in the incredible dark. Beckside Farm is located right next to the Ullswater Way so not as difficult to reach as you might think. But that’s our secret right?! Their cafe was voted a top pick in Country Walking Magazine too. For us, highlights included seeing their native Herdwick Sheep, Swaledale Sheep, wild red deer. Just look at these majestic animals below. The video below shows the ‘senior’ stag chasing off a new younger ‘imposter’ during rutting season.
Idyllic running
Helvellyn trail is a superb run. Often technical terrain with many rocks on all sorts of angles to test your agility and balance. Running through them in wet conditions is superb fun and you should never let this put you off – many first-time trail runners did the 5k and 10k and loved it. This year I entered the 10k as our son Louis, was able to enter with being 16. He left me for dead! Izzy was able to do the new 5k and said it was her favourite trail run to date! So two glowing testimonials for the Lakeland Trails team right there with no prompting
In terms of running form – for me I knew I wasn’t going to smash either the Saturday or Sunday. I’d been suffering with fatigue for a few weeks so just decided to enjoy the runs and get round the glorious routes. And enjoy I did, taking the odd pic and chatting to fellow trail runners as we headed out towards the Helvellyn range. Laughing our heads off at each other when inevitably slipping on a steep grassy descent to slide for a fair few metres through rain and sheep sh*t! If you look carefully you can see it on my arm and vest in the photo of our backs below
Lakeland Trails events are known for their friendly atmosphere and here we were able to enjoy more of this. From spectators with cowbells, to locals and ramblers clapping and encouraging us all on, to the finish with all involved clapping, encouraging and the Batala Drum Band booming us across the finish line. Great fun.
Louis finished 12th and me 31st – though I was initially shown as 11th because we wore the wrong chips!
Izzy managed 2nd junior for 6th overall in the 5k!!
Day 2: A Smiling ‘sufferfest’!
The wind had picked up early morning so we anticipated the planned route – with the Ullswater Steamers taking all runners across to Howtown – may not be on. Sure enough the organisers had to use the ‘wet route’ back up plan due to the Steamers captain confirming it was too risky to set sail. While it was disappointing not to be taken on the Steamers, we all know that plans are subject to the weather. We also knew the Lakeland Trails team had excellent alternative routes mapped out. And they did not disappoint! The 10k taking us through Patterdale, turning left at Side Farm to run North on the Ullswater Way, several climbs on an undulating first half. Then the very steep climb up between Silver Crag and Birk Fell – as I was approaching that climb, I was able to look up ahead and see Louis moving past a few runners much further up. This was no surprise to either of us – we’d passed Anne Marie and Izzy who’d walked from Beckside Farm along the Ullswater Way to see us. They noted how fresh Louis looked vs. how tired I did!! The pictures below tell that story clearly
Ullswater is much more gnarly terrain than Helvellyn, particularly parts of the original route when running through forested patches. The views on this route as we neared Silver Point were amazing – Ullswater and Pooley Bridge north of us. A visual highlight for me: That view down as you’re about to tear up the descent off Silver Crag and Birk Fell. Memory highlight: Well that has to be the couple who chose to get married at Ullswater Trail Run and celebrated by running the 10k together! Amazing
What a weekend! Shattered, sweaty, muddy – great stuff!
A fresh looking Louis on way to 8th place!
A not-so-fresh me on way to 34th!
And here’s some bonus pics of the Ullswater Way (between Watermillock and Glenridding)
Overall thoughts? It’s fair to say the kids are getting into trail running. We’re not the only family transitioning to one adult with the kids doing the very short fun trail, to now running the longer events. What a legacy Lakeland Trails help create! It really is a credit to Graham Patten and his superb team. This part of the Lakes is pretty special
Thank you to all volunteers! Also Patterdale Mountain Rescue, sponsors inov-8, all the landowners and tenant farmers, Eden District Council, King George V Playing Field Committee, Dalemain Estates, Event Safety Group, Cumbria Police, Ullswater Steamers. You all help to make an amazing weekend
Yours in sport
Jeff
“Ignore it, it will pass…” “This tendonitis is getting worse!” “Not cramping again?!”
These are all inner thoughts most of us runners will have had. Your instinct is to resist the pain. To fight it. Surely that will make it go yes?
Another technique is to try to ignore it by focusing on something else. That may be your running form, the landscape, the sound of your feet touching the trails. It’s all resistance in another form.
Well earned rest cresting Rooley Moor Road
“What is he getting at?” you might ask
Well I’ve found myself doing all of the above for years and, for me, none of it has ever worked. Instead, it has cost me energy, draining me of valuable stamina and efficiency I need to run. But it’s all I’ve ever known. That was until a June this year…
For a few years I’ve been using the Headspace app for meditating. It’s been a revelation in many ways. More than anything it’s developed my ability to take even a few seconds out and just ‘be’ – emptying my mind of any rushing thoughts by simply relaxing and focusing on my breathing. So what has that got to do with pain? Well here is my attempted and probably quite poor explanation.
Fronting up to pain
Through the Headspace pain pack, I learned the technique of actually focusing on the pain. Literally focusing on the very outer edges, then gradually getting closer to the central point of where it is coming from. Ultimately you put all your focus into the very heart of the pain itself. I learned that when you get there, it is not one tangible thing. It shifts and consists of so many elements. It’s no longer possible to feel it in the same way. In fact it seems to disperse – a total paradox to my way of previous thinking.
You might be wondering how you could use a meditation technique when in the process of running. I can only give you my own experience: I had an ongoing niggle in my right knee and right calf. When running the trails, movement would become ever more restricted and result in me struggling to run. Each time I was wishing it would go away – resisting it. On learning the new technique of focusing ON the pain, I gave it a try when running some local trails. As soon as the knee pain in particular kicked in and my movement started to be affected, rather than try to fight it, I actually started to focus in on it. Taking my mind gradually from the outer edges of the knee pain, right into the very heart of where it had been really hurting. I found that there was nothing there to tangibly hang on to, or to resist. The pain quite literally seemed to disperse like a fading ripple into my lower and upper right leg. My mind was immediately more rested, as was my body. My running form returned to something more (ahem) efficient. My trail run and the resultant benefits became more enjoyable and effective. My head was back in the pleasure of running trails.
None of this means the pain didn’t occasionally return. But I now had a way to manage it – fronting up in a relaxed and very calm manner. This approach has been a major boost to helping me along the #Run1000Miles challenge 2017.
If you’re interested, you can read far more about this approach. Experts like @MeganJonesBell can explain pain management far better than I ever could. What I hope to have achieved with this post is making you aware of an alternative approach to our instinctive response to resist the pain. Instead try fronting it up and see if it benefits you as much as me
Yours in sport
Jeff
You may remember that Trail Running magazine Editor Claire said #Run1000Miles was about all participants having “their fittest year ever”
Well I’m one of literally thousands of people enjoying this very outcome thanks to the challenge and incredible community of people participating. The ethos was very much about this being inclusive and all about encouraging more people to get out and be more active.
The #Run1000Miles Facebook community is the very embodiment of this in action. Just spend anything from 1-10 mins looking through the incredible posts and you’ll see what I mean No photoshopping here – all the beautiful realities of mud, sweat, rain, sun, wind, sweaty kit…
I was incredibly honoured and surprised to be asked to be ambassador for this challenge. Inspired by fellow participants, family, club mates and friends, I found myself hitting over 640 miles by end of June!
Much of this has been through doing ‘little and often’ rather than battering myself on some massive trail running routes to compensate for days without running. By ‘little and often’ I mean anything from 2 – 5 miles on a regular basis with some longer runs thrown in. Several of these little runs have also been very slow and steady. All of which I’m sure has been critical to staying injury free (so far!) for the first time in more years than I care to remember
As we hit mid-August, my personal mileage is at 761. This is 2.5 times further than I ran in the whole of 2016 and comes only 3-4 years after being unable to do any exercise whatsoever due to chronic illness.
Having said all of this, the challenge has shown me that actually the mileage is relatively unimportant. It’s about just getting out there in the fresh air, being in the moment, being active when you can and are able.
The challenge has also inspired my kids to become regular runners – of their own volition rather than any cajoling from me. My eldest has joined our running club and is already winning prizes whilst our youngest is enjoying weekly track sessions as well as loving trail runs
I’d love to hear how you’re getting on so far. How are you finding it? In what way is it helping you? Are you fitter than before? Has it inspired others to run with you?
Here’s some more recent pics from my running
Yours in sport
Jeff
I heard one of the marshals shout something like “over here…stomach!” and was then asked if I was okay and kindly given water by the first aid.
Physically, I knew I’d made the right decision – I still felt exhausted and feverish an hour later. Mentally it was a different story…
…I’ve read so many times that a DNF (Did Not Finish) can happen to anyone at any time. So many running friends have DNF’d. All that doesn’t stop you beating yourself up when it happens to you. When even your arms are feeling fatigued when running relaxed. When you want to push on but can’t. None of this stops those inner voices saying “You’re shit…You’re not fit enough…That old fella’s just passed you easily…”.
At the same time, you’re trying to be kind to yourself. Running is enjoyable. You’re representing your club (Rochdale Harriers in my case) and running with club mates. Your kids are participating too – giving their best racing performances yet
All sound a bit self-absorbed? I suppose reflecting on a DNF is ‘all about me’ to a large extent. Did you do the right thing? Could you have carried on? Did you let down your club mates? What will people think? Worrying about the latter two is pointless. You can’t change any of that anyway. What you can do is use the experience to learn.
What Lessons From a DNF?
- Just let it go -inner voices are just thoughts. They come and go. Never cling on to them.
- Know your body. Instinctively, you’ll know what’s right for you.
- They do happen and probably will do so again.
- There is no shame in not finishing when you’ve been trying.
Does it really matter?
Yes, in that I learned some things from it.
Not at all – from the wider perspective of still enjoying a race night with club and family. I was able to cheer on fellow runners on each of their laps. Seeing some making a comeback was amazing. Louis and his mate Charlie (both 16) were part of the winning men’s team and ran a PB. Izzy (13) ran her 2nd best 5k – after winning her sports day race earlier in the day. Our women were the winning team too. There we a several PB’s, Kay, Matt, Louis & Jill Butterworth – with yet another in 2017!!! The 5k was a cracking little course. We all had an enjoyable time
Rochdale Harriers chain gang – pic by Mia Butterworth
Proud winning teams (missing Jan N)
Under-age drinkers?
And wierdly, the 3k I did run, took me over 600 miles in the 2017 #Run1000Miles challenge – YAY!!
So I’ll be out in the hills this weekend, enjoying some lovely trails. Looking forward to track drills next Monday and #TrackTuesday. And we’ll be back at another 5k race in the Cannonball Events summer series.
Keep moving forward
And what a day it was! All four of us taking part in a Lakeland Trails event for the first time. The kids have really got into running as a previous #parkrun post detailed.
Having just turned 16, Louis was eligible for the 10k event. When we entered last year, he’d only just started running regularly. We both booked on, assuming I’d take him round the course. How wrong we were!
Lakeland Trails quest to encourage more people to try out trail running, by introducing a new 5k Sport Trail for 2017, meant Anne Marie and Izzy (13) entered – the former with some cajoling from Izzy!
Sunny Spring Day
The forecast didn’t disappoint, serving up a day of ideal running conditions – slightly cool, dry, some breeze…
As is so often the case, the atmosphere at the event village was buzzing as entrants and their friends & family went about their business of settling down to enjoy the day ahead. There was a real feelgood vibe to Staveley village – no doubt helped by this being a ‘home’ event for new event sponsors Inov-8 who are based literally across from the recreation ground. The kids both took the chance to ‘test drive’ some Inov-8 for their runs – instead of using their normal trail/fell shoes.
Catching up with running friends old and new was a theme of the morning as we wished each other luck for the events ahead. A ‘good luck’ handshake from Graham Patten was a very nice touch before the off.
Batala Beats
The brilliant “Batala Lancaster” got everyone buzzing with their enthusiasm as they drummed up the energy for the start of the 10k. Louis asked “So are we running this together then?” as we were about to head off. The look in his eye said different so I smiled wryly and said we should each run our own race. He smiled and we both knew we were determined to be first back to the finish! Louis stated his intent with a gentle elbow to move me aside as we set off. That first 10 metres was the only time I spent ahead of him! Running so strongly the entire course he built and maintained a 1-2 minute gap. As a parent I had a real mix of sheer pride and joy at how well he was going (I was mentally willing him on) yet at the same time, running hard to catch him in the event he may tire lol! He didn’t as you can see from the times below!
After a gruelling road climb roughly half way through, Louis still managed to take on the climb up and over Reston Scar while still having the energy to belt down the descent back to Staveley village – that last ascent and descent was where I thought I might catch him but he had other ideas.
I gave it everything at the end, to the point of wretching as I rounded the final bend and literally staggered pitifully across the finish. Pleased with 1:00:34 over 11.8k and even more delighted to see Louis had reached 16th with 58:35!
We were greeted with even more lovely news on collecting our t-shirts…
Do we go up there? (Not noticing clear signs)
pic Ian Stainthorpe
Sport Trail Success
The 5k had started after the 10k (11.8k). Their route turned out to be 5.8k with 2 huge climbs – the second being Reston Scar. Almost all four of us finished together. Izzy said it was the hardest she’d ever run and I think she surprised herself by finishing 11th with 36:01. Only 30 mins later she was asking “When is the next one?” lol. Anne Marie had battled her inner voice to push through both climbs and run the steep descent. Enjoy would be the wrong word but she was glad to have experienced her first Lakeland Trails event. We’d all successfully negotiated the ‘Sting in the Tail’.
Apres Trail was a joy. We were able to cheer on friends who were running the 17k challenge and race. Enjoy some lovely coffee and food from the stall vendors. Oh and Louis bought himself a pair of Inov-8 ROCLITE 290 and has been out in them a few times since 🙂
A massive thank you to all amazing marshals, for your smiles and encouragement to all runners 🙂
Btw, I’m only pointing out actual distances for information. One of the great things about trail running is that distances are not expected to be exact. We’re lucky to be running such beautiful places so why not embrace an extra km or two?!
Staveley 2017 5k profile
Well earned t-shirts from a brilliant day 🙂
Series Intent
So what now? Well myself and Louis are booked on the Autumn Series 10k so we can do battle again. Izzy on the Autumn Series 5k too. We’re looking forward to Keswick, Helvellyn and Ullswater so much I can’t tell you! (AM is happy to watch .) This #Run1000Miles challenge is going well and keeping me fit 
Yours in sport
That was the question posed by a running club mate as we both recovered from a chip-timed track 5k.
What he was getting at, in joking obviously, was the pain. You know you’re going to go through it. You know it will hit you and your brain will tell you “Stop!”. You know if you’re trying, you’ll endure self-inflicted pain.
When you push yourself, in either training or during an event/race, you go through this. Anyone doing any kind of endurance sport knows it. So why bother?
Well for a start, there are the endorphins on finishing. As GB ultra runner, Robbie Britton says: “…your short-term memory plays tricks on you. After your legs stop hurting…you only remember the elation.” That feeling of elation, in body and mind, after you have completed a session…it’s the great thing about any strenuous exercise.
pic by @bobotheeklown
Then there is the runners high. In his ground-breaking book “Born To Run”, Chris McDougall describes how the natural engaging of body and mind, causes our brain to release endorphins to such an extent that a feeling of extreme euphoria can be experienced for anything from a nanosecond to a few minutes. It’s as if you’re floating, effortlessly running in an other-worldly manner. Everything seems easy and you are so intensely in the moment, totally immersed in your activity. You feel nothing of the pain, no pounding of the feet, no gasping of breath. Just. Pure. Joy.
Obviously that doesn’t last and the pain, self-doubt, nagging voice etc etc all kick in again. But that’s all part of it. You also know the feeling of elation at the end. That may be in achieving your furthest ever run, completing your first parkrun, running with mates.
So put your shoes on, smile at the world and head out of your front door. There’s joy to be had on those trails
Have you achieved the runners high? What pain do you put yourself through?
Join me on the #Run1000Miles challenge with the Trail Running magazine Facebook community. You’ll be amazed at what can be achieved.
Yours in sport
Jeff
First, Louis (15) wanted to try and complete a 5k run. So I took him to Heaton Parkrun – running with him was amazing. On completing it his reaction was “God at times I felt I was dying then!…Can we do it again soon?”
Within two weeks – after some runs in and around our area – our daughter, Izzy (13) was attempting her first #parkrun. By incorporating the odd walk, she managed it. This time I’d taken a real ear-bashing on our way round. Well what’s a parent of teens for after all?! Her reaction? “That was horrible – the hardest run I’ve ever done!…Can we come back next week?”
Running with someone doing more than they’ve run before. Pushing through their own barriers. Telling themselves they ‘can’t’ but ultimately showing themselves they can. It fills you with a sense of pride. Makes you feel alive. Whereas us Vets are looking for marginal gains (or falls!), they’re smashing all previous bests! How?
pic by Matt Jones
Well, weekly #parkrun has given them the confidence to enjoy running. The courage to push themselves. The knowledge that your best isn’t always better than previous. That they can never ‘fail’ by trying. In fact they now prefer the far more hilly and difficult Watergrove Parkrun to Heaton Park. A big reason for this is Rochdale Harriers…
Rochdale Harriers have been of immense help to Louis. They were incredibly welcoming of him and their encouragement has been a huge factor in his increasing speed and endurance. Not only that, he’s now finding pleasure in the naturalness of running. The result: He’s fitter and sleeping better, has a release from GCSE study stress – and is smashing me in a 5k run! Meanwhile Izzy often has me taking her on 5, 6, 7k runs or hill reps after I’ve been on club training She’s obviously getting faster and stronger so I’ll only be able to continue doing that for so long!
Both had the confidence to enter for their first paid events – the Lakeland Trails 5k & 10k. And they’re participating in a chip-timed track 5k soon, that mainly consists of adult members from three clubs.
This is all so uplifting. As parents we’re incredibly proud. As a Vet runner it inspires and motivates me to do my best. And they often love to join me on #Run1000Miles trail runs.
Thank you kids. Thank you Harriers. Thank you Parkrun
]]>(DNF = ‘did not finish’)
I’ve had a funny old year for running this year. I’ve been running for 13 years now, starting as a fun runner, taking selfies during my first charity 10k (Great Manchester Run). I progressed quickly to marathon runner – well, embarrassingly, at the time the London marathon was the only other race I’d ever heard of! I’ve now done 12 marathons so far and counting. In 2010 joined a club and became a bit more of a competitive runner. Took up fell running and decided off-road running was definitely for me. And finally when the marathon training/running started to feel decidedly ‘comfortable’, I started ultra running.
Ultra running seemed to combine several of my favourite things – long distance running, off-road running and eating. So three years ago I took the leap and entered my first ultra marathon in 2013, the Ladybower 35. A stunning trail route running round the beautiful reservoir of ‘Dambusters’ fame. Joy of joys I had a wonderful run and finished 2nd lady, 5th overall!
I entered my next ultra within 6 months. Next was the 50k Canalathon which I decided to run all the way without the usual walking/eating breaks. My theory was ‘well it’s only a few miles over a marathon’… now I’m not entirely sure that this theory stands up but I did just about manage to run it all the way in about 5 hours 20-odd minutes. I moved up distance, completing the 100k Canalathon the year after, followed three months later by the 110k Ultimate Trails Lakeland ultra. These last two events had been tough in very different ways – the canalathon mentally challenging (running along a flat canal for 12 hours, suffering with terrible nausea for the whole of the second half) and the UT110k physically challenging (69 miles, 14,000ft of ascent and quite technical running) but completely exhilarating. I started thinking about entering a 100 mile event. I’d just need to run the UT110k again and use this as a qualifying race. I looked forward to getting a 100 mile race under my belt. Just imagine being able to say you’d run 100 miles!
So as 2015 drew to a close I entered the same ultras again for 2016, the 100k Canalathon in late March and the 110 Lakeland ultra in early July. With the experience of having run the events before I felt confident I’d be able to complete both events again and was hoping to improve my time in the Canalathon in particular as I’d found it hard going when the nausea kicked in. Training went well through the winter and into spring. I seemed to be running a bit faster than I had previously. Everything was on track. And then. The week of the Canalathon I became ill. The worst cold I’ve had for many years. I never get ill. Ever. Why now!? Still, I’d done all the training and I had the confidence knowing I had completed the event last time, even though I had felt terribly sick during the race. So it didn’t even cross my mind to pull out or even drop to a shorter distance (oh hindsight..) Anyway, a couple of days before the race we went for a short walk up Holcolmbe Hill. I struggled so much. I got to the top drained and out of breath and turned to my friend and said “I am seriously worried about this race now!!” But still, I had another couple of days to rest and was still relatively hopeful.
Race day came! An early start and especially so as the clocks had gone forward the previous night. We set off from Sowerby Bridge for the 31.5 mile outbound stretch to Manchester. All good up to the first check point at 10 miles. And then things rapidly went downhill! I got to 15 miles – still very early in the race bearing in mind there were 64 miles to do overall – and I felt shocking. No energy, feeling sick… so early in the race but feeling like I had at about 40 miles last year. I was worried!! I managed to get to the halfway point at Manchester, turn around and head back. So many friends and family had turned out to support me, I was so grateful. I could only apologise to them, crying and emotional, knowing I was having a nightmare. I got to about 80km, roughly 50 miles and timed out just before the last checkpoint 13 miles before the finish. Devastated doesn’t come close. I cried all the way home.
At least I still had the Lakeland Ultimate Trails to look forward to. I got back into training again. Got up to doing 40 mile training runs, feeling good. Race day arrived (I say race day, we arrived at the event on Friday ready for a midnight start!). All good. Thank goodness! I did exactly as I did the previous year, even down to eating the same type of pasta salad the evening of the race. With the midnight start a nap in the early evening was essential. Feeling full and a bit uncomfortable I settled down in the tent for a few of hours sleep. Waking at 10pm I knew things weren’t quite right. The full stomach I’d gone to sleep with was still there. But now it felt tender to touch, even having my backpack strap against it felt uncomfortable. Probably just the late race start. Nobody feels that great starting a race at midnight!
Very, very soon into this race once again I knew things were not going to plan. I couldn’t bear anything touching my tummy. Although managing to get to Kentmere faster than the previous year, I felt terrible. Gripping my sides and walking I managed to get over the first three mountain passes, increasingly uncomfortable and struggling with stomach cramps. Made it over Nan Bield (a real highlight last year!) and onto the next leg. Shortly after leaving the checkpoint at Haweswater I had to find a secluded spot. And (apologies if you’re eating) thus ensued horrendous diahorrea. Ah right… so I was ill!!! That explained everything. Food poisoning. Unbelievable. How unlucky can one person be? Walking most of the way to the next checkpoint I deliberated about continuing – could I possibly walk for another 40+ miles to the finish? Finally arriving at Bampton I accepted the inevitable and handed my number in. Another DNF.
Talk about lowpoints. Nothing could have made me feel worse. What was happening? I had never DNF’d before and now I had DNF’d two major races that I’d trained months for. It really made me think about how much I had invested, just for everything to fall apart at the last moment. I had sacrificed other races (missing club championship fell and road races) for months in order to get the long ultra training runs in. The early weekend starts, the hours spent in wind, rain, hail.. alone for long hours on the trails. All for nothing. Time I could have spent with my daughter, my partner, family… what had I been thinking. Everything went through my mind. More tears.
To cut a long story slightly shorter I decided never to do ultras again. How could I invest so much for things to go so wrong at the last minute. Decision made. I started to enjoy running shorter distances again. We went on holiday…
And then I started thinking about ultras again. I’d started to realise that I couldn’t leave things as they were. I had to do something. How could I finish the year achieving nothing, having started the year with such high hopes? Within a couple of weeks of returning from holiday I entered the Ladybower ultramarathon again. I’d had such a positive experience there three years ago it would be the perfect choice. A lovely undulating trail run which I’d thoroughly enjoyed last time. This time having no 35 mile option I entered the 50 mile. I decided not to tell anyone (apart from my partner Nick who would need to drive me to and from the event) for several reasons. Self-doubt being the chief one! But still, feeling terribly guilty about not sharing my decision to enter another ultra. But what if I DNF’d again? Self doubt again! I had to finish.
Race day came, another early start. Doubts on the way to the race -“maybe we should just turn back, nobody knows I’m even entered!” And then the start. Again everything seemed to be going well. Running at a comfortable pace and enjoying the route. The relief! An ultra going well. Even so I kept waiting for thing to start going wrong. Starting to feel things hurting at 30 miles, but only to be expected. Dip in energy at 37 miles. Bit of refuelling and things started to pick up again. Feeling amazing as I passed the 40 mile mark. The overwhelming happiness realising that I was going to finish!! Never mind racing it, I’d have been ecstatic just to complete it. Last few miles and realising that I was overtaking people, I ran in to the finish as 4th lady. Talk about highs and lows of running!
I’m not a fast runner, I’d probably describe myself as a pretty average club runner. There’s plenty of people who have run further and certainly faster! I’m not sure how much this will help others, but just wanted to share some observations from this year’s experiences:
1. Don’t beat yourself up about a DNF
Everyone has a bad run. In all likelihood anyone running for long enough will experience a DNF. Especially in ultras! You’re not the first to do so and definitely won’t be the last. Even the elites DNF now and again. There’s no shame in a DNF.
2. You are more than the sum of your runs
Having two DNFs after 13 years of successful running made me question my self-worth like nothing ever before. How had I come to tie my confidence up so closely with my long-distance running? I hadn’t even realised I had until I DNF’d. A valuable life lesson.
3. Take the positives – and get some perspective!
Okay so you didn’t finish for whatever reason. But you were brave enough to put the hours of training in and step up to the start line. More than most. You managed to run ‘x’ number of miles into the race. Again, more than most could hope for. Looking back I knew I’d done the best I could on the day in both DNF races. Once I’d calmed down and stopped crying I realised this. I’d managed to get over three mountain passes with food poisoning. Ran as far as I could in the Canalathon. Never again will I bemoan ‘only’ being able to run 50 miles before DNF’ing!
4. Don’t be afraid to ‘get back on the horse’
After a disappointment like a DNF it would be quite understandable to decide never to take the plunge again. Only you can decide what’s best for you. You know your own body and mind. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Take some time out. Don’t rush. But don’t be afraid to try again.
5. Keep a lookout for ferns!
Happy running!
Jill x
Sinead Kane is redefining what it means to “Believe in yourself”. Here she talks about running, disability, extreme challenges…
Sinead, can you share with us why and how you got into running?
Four years ago I was asked to do a 10k run for charity. I didn’t even know how far 10k was in distance but automatically said yes because it was for blind kids. That was when I had just turned 30years of age and since then I have completed a few marathons, a 50km run, changed the policy in relation to disability and running in the biggest female only running event in the world. Ran the Wings for Life World run in Brazil and came 23rd female out of 1413 females. Last July (2015) I broke the 12 hour track record. I came 2nd female and ran a distance of 109.97km. In November 2015 I competed in the Volcano Marathon in the Atacama Desert in Chile – the driest desert in the world.
Goodness me! And where do you most love to run and why?
My favourite place is the track because it’s safe and I feel freedom to run by myself. I just follow the white lane line. I would never be able to run a trail by myself as it just would be too dangerous. I would love to be able to run trails by myself but it is just not possible. Hopefully the next time your readers are out running a trail and if they are finding it hard then they stop and think for a moment how good it is to be able to have the gift to be able to run a trail. When running with a guide my favourite trails would be those around Glendalough in Co. Wicklow and sections of the Wicklow Way.
I was first introduced to trail running when I took part in the Donadea 50k in Donadea Forest Park, Co.Kildare. This race was also the Irish National Championships and my introduction to Ultra Running.
Following on from Donadea I felt confident to run trails as I didn’t fear the terrain as much and I take the opportunity whenever I can. This new found confidence made the decision to run the Volcano Marathon in the Atacama Desert a bit easier to make.
You were born with the rare congenital eye disease Aniridia. How has this shaped your attitude to life?
Attitude is everything. Your attitude will determine how your day unfolds. I have ‘mindsight over eyesight’. The main reason living with little or no sight is a challenge, is simply because society is made for sighted people. But that is no excuse for not living your life to the fullest. A lot of people in life have full sight but no vision, no determination to push their mental and physical strength. Whether you’re blind from birth, or have lost your sight later in life, you will have days where your lack of sight is going to make you feel down. Everything appears more difficult than on good days and you just feel like shutting yourself off from the world. I don’t have much sight but I know where I am going. I can control my attitude but I can’t control the attitude of others. Sometimes I find other people’s attitude a problem. They assume I lack intelligence and ambition because I am visually impaired. I have went from people under estimating my ability to people now asking what goal are you doing next?
In your Tedx DCU Talk you say self-acceptance is the greatest gift you can give yourself. How did you get to that point?
I found out at 4yrs of age that I was visually impaired when I was always touching my tiny nose against the TV screen to see it. People who would come into our house would think I was kissing the screen.
I learnt from a young age that this was going to be the way that it was going to be for the rest of my life – that I would always have to use my magnifying glass and that I would always have to see things up close and basically to just get on with it. It was made feel like a normal thing to look at things closely. When I went to primary school I didn’t feel normal anymore because I was the only girl in a school of 450 pupils who was looking at things very close. Kids started teasing me and bullying me. From age 7 or so I no longer wanted to be seeing things closely. For many years I tried to change myself because I thought if I changed everything else about myself I would be accepted by others. I strived to change everything about myself but the only thing I couldn’t change was my eyesight that wasn’t in my control. In my late teens and early twenties I was exhausted from constantly trying to be someone else and so at that point my life turned around and I realised I just need to be me and accept my disability. The greatest life lesson I have learnt is I couldn’t control being born blind but I can control how I live my life. I choose to be positive and visionary not blind. For any of your readers interested in my Tedx talk they can check it out on YouTube.
Do you ever doubt yourself?
All the time. It’s easier to be negative then positive. Whilst you need to focus on what you can do, it is equally important to identify what you can’t do, and find ways to go about those things. I have a few trusted friends who help me. I doubt myself when I cant get in as much training as other runners by not being able to get out and train due to my disability example if the guide runner isn’t available on a certain day or if I am not available the day the guide runner available.
Consistent, careful work – day after day, week after week, year after year – is what creates success in running. Hence, when I don’t get consistent work done I doubt my ability. I doubt myself if I don’t get a PB. There will be moments – in your running career and everyday life – when your dreams seem to collapse. If ever running offered a life lesson, this was it, to expect failures along the way but not to get stuck in them, to move on. Turn setbacks into comebacks. There are plenty of reasons to despair. Fatigue, pain, doubt. When you start hearing those voices in a race, my advice is: Don’t pay attention, and don’t ask why. Just keep moving forward. Same thing with life. When it seems ready to bring you to a standstill, don’t stand still, at least not for long.
All your life you have overcome limitations that society has placed on you. How can we change such attitudes?
I think the key strategies which are needed are:
1. Disability Awareness Training whether it be sport, education, employment.
2. Creating opportunities for those with disabilities to participate.
3. Creating visibility of more people with disabilities to be role models.
The real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information which exist. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness is only a physical nuisance. Understanding social constructions of disability and impairment can help to explain why people with disabilities have been marginalised and discriminated against and can draw attention to what needs to be done to eliminate negative attitudes. One my biggest problems is that I don’t look blind enough and when people realise I am, they sometimes can’t see past the disability. I was born with just 5% vision spread across two eyes which means I can just see five to six feet ahead of me but if there was a small object there, I couldn’t see it.
What has running given you?
Running has improved my life and made me happier. I have greater self-belief in myself and I am more confident now. I also have made some very close lifelong friends in running that I can now call as my friends. My mood is elevated after running as I feel good that I have exercise done. Running allows me to set goals and helps me to improve on goal setting. Reaching the goal, of course, is wonderful, but it is the journey towards the goal that leads to the most happiness. When I am training I feel such independence when my guide is able to take off the tether on a long straight road and I’m able to run by myself. I can’t just throw on my runners and go running like most people but, for those few minutes, I feel free.
What could event directors do to encourage more disability participants?
On entry forms give registration options for persons with disabilities to highlight their disability. If a disability has been highlighted an organising member should contact the person with the disability to discuss their needs. This will allow a review by the participant and organisers, to review the course and assess its suitability. It allows the organisers assess the accessibility of facilities available to the disabled person such as car parking, toilets, changing facilities, access to buildings. It is important for race directors to know their definition of disability. It is not only people with physical disabilities that fall within the definition of people who are disabled. Some disabilities are obvious (e.g. in the case of wheelchair users), others are not readily apparent e.g. epilepsy or mental health). The term ‘disability’ can cover a wide range of circumstances including visual impairment, hearing defects, physical disability, specific learning disabilities and mental health difficulties. Participants with a visual impairment will need to be supported by a guide. Guides must be identified in advance and must wear some visible or warning clothing to identify them to other runners. Event organisers need to know if they will permit guide dogs. Diagrams and/or written pre-race information should be available for participants who are hearing-impaired. Participants who use a wheelchair must take responsibility for ensuring that the wheelchair is fit for purpose to participate in the event and for any maintenance required during the event. Participants using a wheelchair who need to be pushed by another person must provide their own assistant.
What key skills does a running guide need to have?
A guide runner is a volunteer who aids the visually impaired in running or jogging. I would suggest the following skills:
* Communications
* Awareness
* Patience
* Assertiveness
* Open-minded
It’s always a good idea to talk to the vision impaired runner you wish to guide prior to your first run. The conversation could involve:
* Expectations each of you have
* Pace and distance
* The visually impaired runner talking about their eye condition and how it affects him/her.
* Both the guide and vision impaired runner discussing what verbal cues will be used during the run.
As the eyes of a visually impaired runner, guides are expected to keep vision impaired runners safe and informed at all times. There are different methods to guide vision impaired runners and so communication skills is an essential skill. Some vision impaired runners run with a tether some don’t. It all depends on the amount of vision loss. Verbal cues are always going to be present no matter what type of guiding method is used. The 3-2-1 countdown is universally accepted as the best way to alert VI runners of upcoming obstacles, changes in footing and turns. For example, “Curb down in 3-2-1, down” or “Left turn in 3-2-1, turn”. When you need to run single file, call out “Narrow gap ahead. Get behind me in 3-2-1, now”.
Running can become boring for a vision impaired runner when they cant see what is around them and so on training runs it is good if the guide runner can call out key points and areas of interest such as lakes or describe the scenery or state if passing a toilet. However visually impaired runners aren’t expecting the guide runner to describe everything.
As a guide, you need to be aware of what is ahead of both you and the vision impaired runner at all times. Be conscious of distances, ground width, elevation, obstacles and everything else you see. Call out all potential hazards such as slippery sections, gaps, puddles, potholes, obstacles, dogs, kids, other runners and everything else that you might encounter. Be patient when guiding a vision impaired runner through a course, especially when you’re doing it for the first time. A vision impaired runner may not hear you if too much noise around. Also may get confused with directions. A guide runner needs to be assertive, especially in risky and hazardous situations. It’s normal for a vision impaired runner to inform the guide what he or she is doing wrong and will offer suggestions on how to improve it. Don’t take offense. You have to be open to suggestions and accept criticisms as ways to improve your guiding skills. Also the job of the guide runner is to guide not to be a coach and so you shouldn’t order a vision impaired runner around.
Guide running is not for everyone. There is no point doing it if your sole aim is to get people to praise you for doing it. Remember the run is about the vision impaired runner and so it’s their run rather than making it all about yourself.
Guide running can be very rewarding and can build strong friendships. Guiding a visually impaired runner and being their eyes on a big event can give you a different kind of high, one that you’ll take with you long after you hang up your running shoes.
How would you describe the Atacama Desert-based Volcano Marathon?
The marathon begins near the Tropic of Capricorn adjacent to Lascar Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in Northern Chile. At a start altitude of 4,475 metres (14,682 feet), the Volcano Marathon is the highest desert marathon in the world. The impact of thinner air is felt by all competitors. There are panoramic views of up to 10 volcanoes which John O’Regan my guide runner tried to describe to me as best he could so that I could take in the beauty of the scenery. During the marathon we stopped a few times and took pictures and then after the marathon John zoomed in on the pictures for me and it was only then that I got to see the beauty of the scenery. The first half of the race took place on dirt roads at an average of over 4,000 metres altitude, with manned aid stations at the 10km and 21.1km points (half- marathon). On reaching the third checkpoint at 30km, athletes ascended to a 2km off road. At 35km there was rough terrain for 5km alongside a gorge. In this section all runners needed to pick their step carefully. The finish line is located at an altitude of 3,603 metres (11,821 ft) where the temperature could be 25C+.
You won the Outsider Magazine “Most Inspirational Person of the Year Award” 2015. How did that make you feel?
It felt amazing. As a child I was never encouraged to do sport in school. I was always last to be picked for any team. I was always left sitting on the PE bench. No one ever believed in my sporting potential. Hence, to only take up running at age 30yrs of age and to achieve a lot in a short period of time makes me feel proud of myself. For me it is not about getting awards but it is nice to be recognised for my hard work and training.
Who mostly inspires you and why?
Family and friends inspire me to be a better version of myself and to keep setting goals for myself. I don’t look at sporting heroes for inspiration, I look at the ordinary runner who is out there giving it their all day in day out. I look at ordinary people around me who have encountered setbacks and have turned them into comebacks. I am inspired by people at races who have a bad race but have the attitude I will try again and not give up.
Are you planning a book?
It is something that I have thought as it has been suggested to me a few times. Maybe if a publisher was to approach me then I would give it serious consideration.
What’s the best advice anyone has given you?
I have been given a lot of good advice by different people. But one piece of advice which does stand out to me is something which my guide runner John O’Regan said to me – ‘To make the dream work you have to have teamwork.’ I fully believe in this piece of advice because none of us do life by ourselves. We all need help from time to time – disabled or non-disabled.
What does the future hold for you?
To keep saying yes to opportunities that come my way. To keep living life to the full as much as possible. To keep setting goals for myself. I also want to keep doing my motivational speaking. I have spoken for a lot of companies both national and international and I enjoy the interaction and helping them to see that being blind doesn’t mean having no vision. People can learn about my motivational speaking at my website www.sineadkane.ie or follow me on twitter at @KaneSinead.
I couldn’t have achieved half of what I have achieved if it wasn’t for the support of my running guides helping me with training and doing the races with me. Also I am very thankful to Great Outdoors, Ronhill and EVB Sport for their continued belief in my ability.
Sinead, thanks a million for such an honest and enlightening interview. Hopefully we’ll continue to see widening participation in running and all other elements of life.
For more information on being a guide runner please see below:
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