A while ago, in summer, I signed up for the Moors the Merrier race by Craggrunner. I wanted something to bridge me from the Half Peaks Skyline in summer, to something longer next year. At the time, it seemed like a fantastic idea: all autumn to train, LDWA style event apparently, 21 miles so not beyond my imagination, and surely I would convince someone to run with me.
Of course, what I had completely forgotten was the realities of winter long running; cold beyond believe, lonely long runs, and bogs to your waist. Also, I had quite a few Lakeland trails events, and forgot that they plus work would take out a considerable number of weekends (not accounting for the fact I then had to move some work hours from January in to November....). All these realities soon came to bare and for the last few weeks I have struggled with my long runs, missed training due to Manchester traffic and then also just felt miserable in the rain and dark. This seemed a good idea in August but the actuality is, this is probably the most challenging race I have ever done, and possibly the most dangerous.
My coach Michelle does an amazing job of trying to fit my training sessions around my work, and also in generally getting me to up mileage sensibly and focus on the workouts that make a difference. I have done 18 miles in training and really struggled, even without much elevation. I did one long run on the canals and loopline paths from the door and just struggled; this used to be standard marathon training! My body just won't get fitter and appears to be getting alarmingly heavier.
Work has also been a stress, and I have made the decision to leave my fellowship post early. I like the research bit but I am not very good at it, and don't really have enough of the skill set to do it with the support they are offering me. clinically, I hardly give an anesthetic due to on calls at the little high care unit, which themselves are just very dull. I end up eating far too much chocolate and generally just sitting there, abusing food and hating myself. I still have a very disordered relationship with food basically self harming with food then hating myself more. I do sometimes wonder if I should get some help with that..... Or just go back to training and continue to run away from the problem by burying myself in work again. 😶 Basically, I am not in the right head space to be doing a challenging event.
Anyway, next Saturday is the race. Storm Arwen fortunately has been and gone, and there is no extreme weather expected between now and then, but there is some rain and ice about. I am definitely at the 'daily or more' weather check stage. I guess I can handle rain, and have run in it plenty. I am hoping the wind isn't too strong; it irritates my chest and makes movement generally more difficult. Snow is going to be a real challenge and if its actively coming down in any meaningful, I won't start as I am running solo, self navigating and not really kitted out for that extreme level of weather. I don't for example, have microspikes.
Talking of kit, I have focused on this over the last few weeks to make sure I am at least sorted on this front. The event has a very standard kit list, with two additions: a present for the bran tub and a Santa hat. You don't have to run with the present, but I have invested in a nicer woolen Santa hat I can potentially run in, as well as to keep warm without it wrecking my skin. I have also upgraded to some new waterproof mittens from innov8 to keep my hands warmer and drier. I am going to wear waterproof socks to keep the bogs at bay as long as I can, and I have used these for two of my long training runs. The most alarming thing was my trainers are falling apart, and I am a bit worried they aren't going to make it! But its too late to break in anything new, and I am skint from a pay problem associated with the job that isn't working out. I should take better care of my trail shoes in terms of washing them occasionally. Final investment; a battery pack for my mobile.
I have also tried to do some navigation preparation. The event is self navigating. Its not run by the LDWA but its in the same style. For those who haven't done LDWA events, the Long Distance Walkers Association run extremely good value long distance challenge events (though some of them have shorter options too). You get a route description and most now do a GPX file to go with a route penciled (electronically) on an OS map. Until the pandemic, most could be entered by cheque via the post. I will be relying on printed maps, alongside the OS map app on my phone. I have studied the route a bit, putting the description next to the map and trying to visualise it. The OS maps online also allows a fly through in 3D and the hills are going to be a challenge. The other part of the LDWA events is the checkpoints are usually extremely well stocked and I am hoping that this is true on Saturday as I am hoping to be able to warm up with some tea and soup part way round.
So taper tantrums are kicking in, alongside some serious nerves. A lot of what I decide to do next year hangs on whether this event goes okay, as I might do the Anglezarke Amble next year, another LDWA, alongside the potential Abraham's Tea Round attempt. I will probably repack my kit a few times, check the weather continuously and cry at least once. But some emotion is better than none right now. I'd hope I can be done in 4 hours, and prefer to be done in 5 hours, but I really don't know. There will be a race report assuming it all goes ahead.
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