So here we are at about 74 hours into the Monarchs Way Ultra as I write this.
I am sitting at a very sunny warm campsite on Stratford Upon Avon racecourse.
We have seen the first 4 runners go through here and we currently have 1 sleeping before heading out again.
I thought I would do a little update of the last 3 days action and splits. Plus thrown a few pictures into the mix.
I am sitting at a very sunny warm campsite on Stratford Upon Avon racecourse.
We have seen the first 4 runners go through here and we currently have 1 sleeping before heading out again.
I thought I would do a little update of the last 3 days action and splits. Plus thrown a few pictures into the mix.
The race splits and laps time can be found on our live results page http://www.challenge-running.co.uk/results
As well as our tracking page http://live.opentracking.co.uk/monarchs_way_2018/
It’s been a blistering hot day for most of the daylight hours and cool on the night so pretty decent weather if a little warm at times.
The conditions underfoot are mostly a fairly hard mixture of tarmac, farm tracks and rural footpaths and fields. Lump grassy tracks are wet with dew in the morning and feet are getting wet and damp in the mornings and sweating in the heat during the day, if you keep your waterproof socks on to avoid the first dew issue.
Combined with the hard dry ground this is causing a few feet issues with most of the field having had various treatments and repairs to their feet to try and mitigate and manage the damage.
John Stocker remains out in front after setting a blistering pace from the start. The first 92 miles in around 22 hours a now through 180ish in 56 hours. Still pretty speedy although he is now slowing a little with each leg taking a slower average pace to complete. Bloody impressive pace though.
He is closely followed by Oriol then Chris who are closer to each other. All pushing hard and working to maintain the gap and stop it increasing.
Then we have Stephen Brown smashing in a sterling effort for current 4th place in a sort of no man’s land between the faster front runners and mid packers.
Then they are followed by Alan Cormack not far behind Stephen and a bit of a gap to Rick and Jon Rowles who are close each other but not together.
Combined with the hard dry ground this is causing a few feet issues with most of the field having had various treatments and repairs to their feet to try and mitigate and manage the damage.
John Stocker remains out in front after setting a blistering pace from the start. The first 92 miles in around 22 hours a now through 180ish in 56 hours. Still pretty speedy although he is now slowing a little with each leg taking a slower average pace to complete. Bloody impressive pace though.
He is closely followed by Oriol then Chris who are closer to each other. All pushing hard and working to maintain the gap and stop it increasing.
Then we have Stephen Brown smashing in a sterling effort for current 4th place in a sort of no man’s land between the faster front runners and mid packers.
Then they are followed by Alan Cormack not far behind Stephen and a bit of a gap to Rick and Jon Rowles who are close each other but not together.
Then the rest of the runners (Ellen/Anne/Peter/are regularly swapping places depending on rest periods and pacing/stopping for food/rest etc.
It’s really interesting watching the runners employ very different strategies and inspiring to watch the mental battles and motivational techniques employed to keep them going.
Stratford is a bit of luxury for them as they have access to showers. It may not sound like much but it will feel amazing if they choose to use it.
The first 3 guys did not use the showers and powered through but the next guys have.
Everyone is still in good spirits and apart from the expected stiffness and aches and niggles are all in great condition. The feet are the biggest thing that is needing attention and managing.
The route however is stunning with the prettiest sections to come through the cotswolds on the way to Bristol.
Below is a selection of pictures from the last 3 days in no particular order apart from the first set with all the splits from the first sections so far.
I will try to do more frequent updates from here on in as the spread is such that we have a bit more spare time. Amazing that the leaders are now almost 24 hours ahead of the tail gunners!
Finally alas in the last few hours Rich Cranswick has had to retire. He was feeling unwell and lacking energy and no amount of peanuts will fix that!
Lindley
