Saturday and Sunday 30th/31st of August saw the first ever running of the Chiltern Way Ultras.
These are a 214k epic circuit of the Chilterns and a slightly(only) more manageable 100k point to point race starting on the Sunday and joining the main race in its second day.
About a year ago I was looking for a route that was both pretty and tough with a long enough distance to make a truly epic race. I wanted a route that was reasonably well waymarked but would still involve navigation and a tough physical challenge. North downs and South downs both have great races run by Centurion Running but although there were a few shorter races such as the Ridgeway in the Chilterns there was no really long event. The more I looked at the route the more I liked it, there was a waymarked trail that covered a huge circular route. I was sold and decided to try to make it happen.
Almost a year later and the race was a reality, it was going to be a very small field due to it being new and the fact that there were a lot of other races during this time of year. With long daylight hours and good weather this was the best time of year to run this type of event.
With just a few weeks to go before the event I had considered cancelling the event especially as drop outs occurred and numbers dropped from the 25 or so in both events to less than 20. However I really wanted this event to happen and decided to continue to run it as I believed it to have the potential to be a great race and those left in the race had committed to training for it.
The logistics and planning had all gone well apart from wanting a few more volunteers than I had, a few quick additional posts on Facebook and I had a few more awesome volunteers and we were good to go. The start/Finish venue at the Boys Brigade Regional HQ is superb and near to Hemel Hempstead train station so is ideal.
So come Saturday morning after registration and kit check these six brave souls lined up to start the race.
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| David, Steve, Peter, Mark, Nicki, Glyn |
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| David’s crew at Ewelme |
CP4 was at Stokenchurch Village and it was whilst I was here I was informed of our first Drop, Steve who had recently attempted the C2C race decided it was not his day and he got a lift to CP4 and I got him back to the start a bit later after I had made him travel with me to the next CP to set up.
A really interesting quote from Steve was that he thought it was harder than the Viking Way Ultra from the start! I knew it would be a tough race but was surprised to hear that. Steve finished the Viking Way earlier this year. Its a race I have tried twice and not finished!
This CP was run but Alzbeta and Peter thanks guys.
CP 5 was at Little Hampden and also the start point for the 100k event. at this point a few more dropped from the race, Peter and Nicki dropped with Nicki feeling unwell and losing a fair bit of time. Glyn had stayed with Nicki and had come in late after cut off but was allowed to carry on as he had slowed to help another runner. He would be given time to catch up if he could.
Mark did leave the CP insde cut off but after 45 mins he returned to the CP and decided the race had beaten him but I actually think it was Sleepy who gave up!(sleepy is his mascot)
8 Runners lined up for the 7am start of the 100k race at CP.
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| Fiona, Kate, Mark, Mike, Jan, Claudia, Mellissa, Megan |
The 100k start time is 30mins behind the cut off for the 200k race at that CP so in theory the 100k runners should be chasing down the 200k runners and adding much needed company and support.
Its worth mentioning here that all the runners in the race had been fitted with trackers from Open tracking. This meant I could watch all the runners safely round the course and direct ppl back on track if needed. Reliance was still on maps and signs for the runners and phone as an emergency contact method. The trackers took 3 minutes to update and depended on mobile signal for uploading to the race page so could sometimes take a while to update but they were a fantastic tool. Only one tracker had an issue with not locating properly but there was still the phone as a back up and runners were logged through checkpoints. Runners were also allowed to use GPS devices if they wished.
At CP 6 Keith Godden from www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com saw the runners through with Helen just outside Studham Village. All the remaining runners went through here fine with Glyn from the 200k making up plenty of time and catching up the 100k runners, although he decided to drop shortly after with trashed feet. It was a great effort but now there was only one runner left in the 200k race.
CP 7 was at Sharpenhoe Clappers north of Streatly. this was just over 100 miles in the 200k race and 31 miles for the 100k runners. This was crewed by Brian, Emiko and Dan who saw through all the runners bar two. Two of our runners had got lost off the route and despite phone calls and directions to get back on track they were unable to get back on track in enough time to make it to the checkpoint in time. I went and picked up both of them. David came through here feeling it a bit and had told his wife he was quitting and when he came into the CP he was adamant he was stopping. We knew he really didn’t mean it so I gave him some encouragement (read abuse) and he ate drunk and got himself sorted and left the CP. He was struggling with a warmer day on the Sunday and was only carrying the minimum 1lt of water as required so reminded his crew they could give him water on the route or he could buy a drink going through the villages but he was not going to be allowed to stop for being a bit “thirsty”! He was actually in very good shape but this was as far as he had ever run so it was only expected he would feel it.
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| David at CP7 |
Next through were the first two Ladies in Joint first place running very well and looking like they were enjoying themselves.
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| Kate and Melissa |
CP8 was the last checkpoint and was looked after by Brain, Maxine and Dan who also took some great pictures at checkpoint 7 and 8 so a big thank you to him for posing those and making them available here for us https://plus.google.com/photos/106558096031933389432/albums/6053820392890127905?authkey=COOQxJnspOSlaw
David was feeling better now and on the home straight although I do not think he realised how long the last 15 miles would take!
All the remaining runners went through in time with the last 3 runners making it by seconds but all were now on the last leg. Off I went back to the finish to get ready for the finishers.
David was the first to arrive and in true style missed the finish by taking the wrong path past the finish and had to run back to the finish line through the wrong way! He was a bit tired though after 36hrs 51mins. An epic effort,
A special mention must go to his support on the course who really looked after him all the way round. Tracey and Madeline and Oliver and Chris and Nicki who were really helpful not just to David but to the race too. (sorry if spelling not right and cant remember your wife’s name Chris)
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| David and Support at the finish |
Next to come in were the two ladies in 14:52 still smiling and enjoying it. Great effort.
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| 1st overall and first ladies Melissa and Kate |
Then came Jan in 15:56 just 4 minutes inside the original cut off. Well done Jan.
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| Jan 1st Male and king of the Maps |
Although the cut off came and went we had 3 runners still out there and I wanted them to finish. The race was proving tougher than I had anticipated and I decided to allow these runners to finish and stretch the cut off times. I got my head down for a hours sleep while we waited for them.
After 19hrs and 7minutes they came across the line and managed a smile. Well done guys.
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| Mark, Claudia and Mike |
So they were all home and we fed them with hot dogs and soup and bacon rolls and put all of them to bed for a bit of kip then went to bed ourselves. In the morning we packed up and went home.
It proved a tougher race than even I had thought and those that finished worked really hard to earn it. I wanted a real challenge for people and I think this is one worthy of the word. Whilst map reading is not to everyone’s taste its not too complicated on this route and is mostly well signed but you do have to use the map when there are various paths and through villages.
So do I think it was a success?
Yes on the whole I am pleased with how the event ran. the checkpoints worked out great although I may move CP6 as space is restricted.
The marshals I had were fantastic and really did me and the runners proud during the event. I had great support from Maxine with the organisation and planning.
The start and finish venue was fantastic and having a place to sleep after the event is really useful.
The trackers were fantastic and a great help for safety and logistics.
What will I change? I will extend the cutoffs for the 200k race to 42 hours to make it a bit more achievable for more runners whilst still being very tough. I will extend the 100k cut off to 19 hours to allow more to finish although it will still be a tough 100k race.
I will leave the navigation alone I like the challenge of having to navigate and it makes you look at where you are and where you are going and in an area as pretty as this that’s a good thing.
Next year there will be a road book rather than maps and a link on the website so all can follow the trackers and watch the race unfold.
Here is a link to a blog by one of the ladies who won the 100k
http://www.run247.com/articles/article-5434-the-inaugural-chiltern-way-ultra.html
And one here from David Pryce the finisher of the 214k race.
http://ultrastokerow.wordpress.com/
If you fancy a real challenge then please come and have a go next year, entries will open again in the next few weeks once I confirm the dates. www.challenge-running.co.uk
Again a big thank you to our sponsor www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com for supplying Hoka Shoes to David and dirty girl gaiters as prizes to the winners of the 100k race.
Please feel free to give constructive comments about your experience of the race.
Lindley Chambers
Race Director