So this weekend I have a little race to do!
It will be my first proper race in over a year (short Marathon and below races don’t count!
The stunning and extremely well run but stupidly hard Arc of Attrition by the lovely MudCrew team.
I am saying Arc of Stupidity simply because I have not a hope in hell of finishing the race, I have not run much or trained in any way shape or form. This is not some sort of downplay on my fitness, I doubt I have run more than 100 miles so far this month!
Its going to be an epic disaster with me being lucky if I even make the first cut off, but enough of the formula 1 drivers excuses!
In Summary the race is 100 miles along the south west coastal path (route below) with just over 4000m of climb and only 36 hours to complete. There are only 4 checkpoints along the route at roughly 20 miles apart. I would love to say its easy runnable terrain but its not, its rough trails and steps and rocks.
There is tracking via Open Tracking Link Here I am lucky number 13!
There is a comprehensive kit list as there should be and I have chosen my WAA pack to wear but without the front pouch.
Compulsory kit list is as follows:
GPS tracker compulsory supplied and attached to your pack at registration.
Quality waterproof jacket (taped/sealed seams. Minimum 10k HH waterproofing)
Quality waterproof trousers (taped/sealed seams)
Long tights / leg cover
Warm hat
Water resistant peak cap (only needed if no peak on waterproof jacket)
Buff
Emergency survival bag
2x base layers (minimum)
Whistle
Mobile phone (fully charged and in a waterproof case)
2x head torches plus 2 sets spare batteries for each (minimum 100 lumens each)
Red tail light (to be switched on and worn on back of pack at all times)
2 sets of gloves. Liner and waterproof / Goretex type
Capacity to carry minimum 1.5 litres of water
Food / Nutrition
Rucsac
The only additional kit I have is charging pack for my watch and handheld GPS device (as back up to watch) and a few comforts like a small first aid kit and headphones if I need motivation in the dark hours.
I am going to wear lightweight Mammut Nova walking boots to start as I am interested to see how well I can run in them and likely my Mammut Kento Jacket as well. I really love Mammut kit and have really been impressed with the Kento. 20,000mm HH and very breathable and comfy. Even for a big lad like me!
I am also going to see how well I cope and how far I get on not eating at all on the run, I am carrying food but wont eat unless I really feel I have to. I have been trying to do the runs I have done this year on no food just as an experiment to see what happens. Call it testing on myself!
Although I am pretty sure I am going to die on my arse pretty quickly I am looking forward to the event and chatting and meeting up with some great friends and spending the weekend in our caravan during the event. Maxine will be crewing the race for me and we are bringing the caravan down to near the finish tomorrow. Once the race is over we will head up to the South wales area to see Maxine’s Dad and spend some more time in the caravan.
I will have my phone with me during the race so feel free to hurl abuse at me if you have my number!
I will do a more comprehensive blog after the race regardless of what happens.
Lindley