So as most of you are aware I have created a long distance race next year in May along the Monarchs Way, this is Britain’s longest inland footpath that is signed. This is a non stop race with you choosing when and where you sleep along the epic 615mile Route! Yes that was 615 miles! This will be the longest non stop race in Europe and not a challenge to be taken lightly. For full details have a look at the race at www.challenge-running.co.uk/monarchs-way
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| Monarchs Way Ultra Route |
Obviously I have to do some epic planning for this race and work out all the checkpoint locations and confirm the GPX track I have is good as well as make it more accurate to produce the maps for the race. If I drove around in a car for weeks running sections of it at a time it would take forever and a day, so I have decided to go and run the race route in one go under the same conditions as the race. But without checkpoints or drop bags with spare stuff! Everything I need for the two weeks will be carried on my back in my WAA Ultrabag(20L).
I have a TRA committee meeting to attend tonight then tomorrow afternoon Maxine is going to drop me off at the train station with all my kit. I will get a couple of trains till I get to Worcester and do the short walk (2 miles) to the site of the Stone that marks the start of the route and the battle where King Charles II was defeated and then had to escape to the south coast hiding in friendly houses over the next 6 weeks or so. I should be starting the race route somewhere around 6pm and will likely be on the trails for the next 2 weeks or so, they only get 14 days in the race.
This is a brief list of the kit I am carrying:
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| Before Packing |
Sleeping bag (smallest I have but could be smaller)
GPS
Headtorch
Batteries(for gps and torch)
First aid kit to include blister care kit
2ltr Bladder
baby wipes
wash kit with soap and facecloth and toothpaste and brush
wallet
Charging leads and powerpacks to charge Suunto and trackers and phone
buff and hat
spare shorts. baselayer short and long sleeve, spare nike drymax socks
waterproof trousers and poncho that covers the whole pack in one
Food in side pouches and back mesh pockets
Beard brush(important!)
alchohol gel for hands etc
2x750ml bottles on front of pack
Trailblaze poles
Roll Mat
Waterproof bivvy bag
Tarp to shelter under if really wind/rainy at night.
A few other odds and ends
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| All packed |
I total it all weights around 40lbs! which is a fair bit to carry all that way. If I threw loads of money at it I could probably get some lighter gear and take a maximum of 10lbs off that but I cant justify that sort of spending at the moment.
I am concerned with a few things such as my level of fitness being crap at the moment and having been plagued with injury recently stopping any decent training. Not to mention the fact that I wrecked my ankle at Lakeland 100 only 6 weeks ago and have struggled to do anything long as it hurts!
But this is the only time I really have to do it as I kept these weeks free to be involved in Spartathlon which has not happened due to said injury and fitness issues.
From a personal perspective I think I need a bit of an adventure myself as I have been working hard since leaving the Fire Service 6 months ago to run my company full time http://www.challenge-running.co.uk/ which I love but its all been a bit stressful with the reduced finances and trying to make it work.
How my ankle and fitness and mind hold up will be an interesting test.
The A goal is to do it all within the race time limits or very close to it to prove it can be done.
The B goal is to get it all done in the 16 days I have allowed as a maximum for the run.
The C goal is just to cover as much as I can in two weeks out on the trail even if that is only 300 miles!
I will be wearing a tracker from Open Tracking who supply the trackers for my races and if you wish to follow me you can do so here: http://maps.opentracking.co.uk/monarch15test.cfm
The whole route will be on there and you can see my tracker moving really slowly along it, or standing still at night when I am in the woods sleeping or getting eaten by a badger!
I will have my phone on me at all times and although will have it on a power saving mode to get the most out of my battery I will be able to get text messages and phone calls instantly but will only be able to pick up facebook etc a few times a day when I am connected to a charger in a café or the few times I turn in on to check otherwise I will use too much power and the three power packs I am carrying wont be enough to last. My number is 07809330900 if you want to abuse me by text.
(my number is not a secret as its on the website anyway)
The route passes through some stunning areas on the way such as the Mendips, Cotswolds and South Downs, not to mention historic villages such as Stratford-upon-Avon. If my body holds up it should be an epic adventure and a great way to see to the whole route and plan the race.
Also It will be interesting to see how stinky I can get over the two weeks in the same 2 sets of running gear and just how mad my beard can get with no looking after!
Here is my beard just at the moment:
Lets see if I can get it to this standard in two weeks time!
Also if anyone wants to come and run or crawl a bit of the route with me that would be fantastic and it would be great to have some company along the way. Just give me a call or text or have a look at where I am on the tracker and come say hi and tell me how bad I smell!
I will try to post a short blog on facebook each night when I stop and maybe upload a few pics during the days to record the trip and my thoughts, feel free to read and comment on those.
See you at the end in two weeks all being well.
Lindley