The views looked fantastic, your time was superb, congratulations on your winning 1st lady and 6th overall Winning and enjoying must be a great combination . Well done you ! . Enjoy your R&R 🙂
Thanks 😊 it was such a fun day. I had extra support in the background and it made such a difference. R&R can’t come soon enough! Still haven’t decided what shape that will look like yet, but I know it’ll be worth it and just what I need 🙂
😁 thank you. In theory I was 2nd. There was a lady on the 100 route who got to Buxton 1 hour in front of me, but as she was in the longer route, she wasn’t eligible 🤣 I couldn’t believe when she flew past me just after checkpoint 2 😱
Well done and congratulations! Thank you for a lovely video. Listening to you narrate your feelings and thoughts is a very nice alternative to the banging rock music that one finds in other race/run videos. Thank you. I love my Parkclaw G 280's. A fantastic road to trail shoe.
Hi. Thanks for your positive comments 😁 I’ve watched hours and hours of running youtube videos and just tried to pick the best formats for editing and what I enjoyed watching, and put them into my own videos. The hardest part is to cram everything in without making it too long. I first took a pair of parkclaws out of the box for Gower. I just knew instantly that they were going to be the perfect trainer. The pair for the race are my 4th pair. 2 are retired and there’s some miles left on the 3rd but treated myself to the brand new ones for race day. I hope they continue to make them because I wouldn’t know what to wear instead 😁
Hi Ben, thanks so much. Glad it’s got you even more keen for the get go tomorrow. Hope everything is all packed and ready to go. Hardest part I guess tonight is getting some sleep… ready for the all-nighter tomorrow night. Have you heard of caffeine 🤣 apparently it’s very good 👍 Best of luck tomorrow! Have a great race and enjoy every moment of it! Even the bad bit’s because these will be the memories you’ll have forever 😊🏃🏻
Congratulations Rachel, what a fantastic adventure and congratulations on the placed position too! Just goes to show what amazing opportunities are out there and it’s great to see you doing it with a smile on your face too!
Hi Matthew. Thank you 😁 I was very fortunate on every front for that race, luck for winning the entry, the weather, no travel problems, good fitness and a prize to top it off at the end. It was definitely a run to remember!
Wow Wow Wow..... You absolutely smashed that Rachel. I felt very humble for you watching this vlog. It really was incredibly inspiring. You should 100% take on more gambles in life. Well done on 1st Lady. Congratulations!!
Hi Stephen. Thanks so much. I’ve had a few lucky gambles recently both in running and other things behind the scenes. It’s been a welcome change. The R&R could probably do with being more restful as I’ve been more busy now that I was before the race 🤣… all in good time 😁
Great job, both on the running and the filming/editing! 👍I'm not in ultra shape at all after a quite pitiful year of training so far, but watching something like this really makes me want to get out there and regret my choice for the last third of a race again! 😂
Thanks 😁 I just use a tiny little action camera and do all the editing on my phone. Absolutely no good with computers. This was the easiest way round getting to make a video for youtube. The last 3rd is where the wheels often fall off 😁 and that’s for any distance. Even on a half marathon, at 10 miles I’ve had enough! Hope you find the motivation to get out and train. There are so many fantastic races out there… you know they’re calling you.
Hi Ric, thank you. I have the final race of the summer league next week (just 8k) then, at the moment, the race diary is free for the first time this year 😱
Hi Reto, Thanks. Yes, I’m glad I got to film some bits but run solo on the other parts. The scenery was amazing so I didn’t want to miss all of it by worrying about the camera 😁
What a beautiful journey! The Prak District seems like my dream place to live! Incredible performance Rachel! The strength you gain from that vertical gain and massive distance will translate to speed in the autumn! Keep pushing!
Hi Paul. Thanks so much! I would 100% love to live close to where these trails are. I get some pretty good run routes where I live, but nothing compares to this. Question is, what do I do for the rest of the year. I have some ideas, but they are complete opposite ends of the running spectrum 😁 Time to start putting some ideas down and thinking how to finish off this surreal year 😊
As someone who runs races almost entirely on my own as I don't have a lot of runner friends, it's nice to see someone else enjoying the solitary aspect of it. Congrats on your win! Well done.
Hi Josh. I had the best time running on my own for most of that route. It’s like being part of something (the race) but being allowed to do it by myself 🙂
Thanks so much 😁 I thought I could maybe do well if it was 50k at short notice but those extra miles to make it 50 was a tall ask. If only I’d known that at when I’d won, I would have spent less time worrying it was a bit extreme to expect myself to switch training so fast.
huge congratulations, this was really amazing. It made me so happy to see your joy and your love for running. You showed us what runinng is all about. I got pretty emotional, when you were sitting there after the race, all alone, happy and in peace with yourself and the world
Thank you 😁 I think you could have plonked me anywhere at the end, as long as I could sit down I was happy. There’s always that lovely feeling of sitting down after such an big distance. It’s so nice to relax my muscles and just take in everything that the day had bought 😊
Thanks Darren. Would that be lying down sunbathing 🤣 Yeah, unfortunately if I said it was hard, I’d have been telling a lie 🤦🏻♀️ Guess I’ll just have to run further next time if I’m to show any real discomfort 😁 Hope the holiday and holiday running is going well?
Huge congrats on the win Rachel! It was really lovely to see you enjoying the experience so much and embracing the challenge - including those stone walls! Thank you for taking us along and I hope your recovery has been going well!
Hi Chloe, thanks! I think if trails like these were closer to home I’d be on them most of the time and probably enter more trail events. I can probably say it was one of my favourite races of the year too. I’ve picked up a bit of a bug from having my immune system knocked, but better this week than last…. So, does it make you think it’s something you’d like to try? 😁
Fair play to you Rachel,you put in tge hard work and it paid off ,looked like a great day,I'm glad it went to plan for you,you deserved it.hope you had loads of Chocolate afterwards.. ha. Mind yourself and well done.
Hi James, thank you! I’ve definitely made up for any lost calories that day. I polished all the pick & mix sweets I’d taken with me and there’s been plenty of chocolate consumed too 😁
Brilliant Rachel. I am so pleased that it all went well for you. It looked like you were enjoying that so much. That is what being relaxed about the time and just out to enjoy yourself did. Congratulations on being the first lady. You demonstrate so well what can be achieved by training yourself, if you have the ability. . Glad you are off for a bit of R&R now. Totally deserved.
Thanks Peter. Yes, I can honestly say that this is in the top row of my favourite races of all time. Just some races seem to have everything slot into the right place, and this one just did 🙂 Today was the first day out running for me (which is very unusual as I always head out much sooner). My immune system has taken a bit of a knock so it will definitely be a slow come back with hopefully plenty more easy days & of course the essential R&R 😊
Hi Christina, thanks 😊 For 50 miles over a hilly course, I thought it would do more damage than it did but these legs just kept going. I was not at all envious of those that had to go out again for another 50. I enjoyed my distance because it stopped before the real pain set in 😁
Hi Simon, I’ve never had problems with my hips like that before. I think that was probably the only tell tale sign that I wasn’t quite fully trained for it. Nothing permanent though luckily 😁
What an amazing effort - all the hard work making it look much easier than it was! Training for my first ultra (35 miles) in a touch over 4 weeks and was on top of Shining Tor two weeks ago as part of a 17 mile loop of the Cheshire Three Peaks. I count myself lucky to have the Peak District in my back garden!
Thanks Iain 🙂 To have those kind of routes so close must be perfect for getting ready! The nearest decent hills are about 50 mins from me so although not a big distance, it’s not something I could do without a bit of a trek in the car. Which ultra are you running? Good luck with the last few weeks of training 👍
Rachel, what a brilliant race, and what a brilliant result. I am so impressed at 1st woman and especially 7th overall. Just fantastic running. Well done!!
Thanks Alec. I thought quite early on that I was 1st lady. I knew one had overtaken me, but she was on the 100 route. I never thought I’d end up coming away with a prize, let alone first female. Think it’s my 1st first lady position this year 😁
Thanks Riz. It was beautiful. The sky was blue and the sun was shining, a bit windy 🤣 but the views were spectacular and even better than what the camera shows!
I enjoyed that SO much. It really makes me want to do an ultra. I’m also proper pleased at how happy you seem Rachel. I had a smile on my face throughout. Please keep baking these videos - they’re fantastic!
Hi Conrad, thank you! I was scared to do my first marathon but eventually got round to running one, and the same for my first ultra. It seems unthinkable when it’s your first. Ultras are nothing like road marathons though. Ask me to run an extra mile at Newport after 26 miles, forget it 😁 but take the pressure off speed and time, add walks, views, picnic stops and it’s a whole new experience. I just see it as a day out. It starts, it finishes and in between you just go a long way. Even a trail marathon is a good starting point. I did a few of these before my first ultra. It just gets your mind in a different place to the roads and teaches you how to approach it differently. Baking Videos, did you mean making 🤣 My cooking is terrible.
Hi Chris, thank you 😁 Yeah, I’m glad too. Was just a bit of a dilemma as I knew I wanted to get the most out of it for myself but luckily I got the best of both 🙂
Hi Alison, thank you. I would have really liked to run this without the camera but I knew I’d get to the end and wished I had. I can’t win 🤣 I love having the memories of the races I do and it’s there forever now 😊
Thank you. I must admit, I don’t think there was any point I felt anything other than enjoyment. The only bit I didn’t like was getting there. I always worry there’ll be road delays or a diversion that will cause me to be late. It was still a rush even getting up at 3 but I didn’t miss the start so all was good 😁
Wow, first lady! I'm so glad I can say i knew you before you were famous 😁 You seemed really relaxed, stone wall climbs notwithstanding! I took my driving test in Buxton. Was nice to see the old place again, and the amazing surrounding countryside. Well done 👍🏻💪🏃♂️
Thanks Mark 😁 Not sure they’ll be much fame heading my way 🤣 The stone walls were definitely the biggest obstacle of the day but there’s something about the Derbyshire springs on the kissing gates that were something else! I could hardly push them open then they’d fling back with such power almost trapping me inside 🤦🏻♀️ must have Rambo sheep up there! 🐑 🐑
Wow, nice work Rachel! Winning twice and your time is certainly very respectable given the short lead time to the race. Looks like your training is really coming together nicely for you. I figured you were going to have a good race given your 50 mile training day. It looks like you paced it well and went into the race with the right attitude. So happy for you and congrats and thanks for taking us along.
Hi Eddie. Thank you. I couldn’t have wished for or expected a better outcome. Both with the training side and the race day experience. It’s always in hindsight that you find what the verdict is, but in the build up I wasn’t always sure. I was almost certain I could get round, it was more, how comfortable could I make it 😁
Hi Donato. Thank you!! R&R is 100% guaranteed 😁 especially as I’ve picked up a little big with my immune system so low. Hope things are ok with you and that the achilles treatment is working? I’ve not been on UA-cam now for a couple of weeks, I’ve just been so busy that I’ve lost track of everyone’s videos (I did see the one where you looked like you were being tortured with a hot poker on your ankle 😱)
@@racheld1844 always good to rest and the bug, as you know, is a sign to slow down. The electric torture is going well and back walking briskly now, up to 5km!
Incredible! I did drop in on the dot through the day but didn't realise you'd finished 1st lady. Well done 👏 It looks like you enjoyed it, and that's the most important thing.
Hi Paul, thank you. When I put the post up to say about following the tracker, it was all such a rush to get ready for the start that I’d initially forgot to put the tracking link in 🤦🏻♀️ Luckily I remembered just in time 😁
Yay well done Rachel - the smile on your face as you came into the finish says it all 😊 Made me laugh you worrying about your hair at the 47 mile mark 😅 Very brave running with new shoes… Great weather and a great effort 👣💪🏼👏 Was thinking of doing this next year but I’ve ended up booking for the Pennine Barrier 50m and RTTS instead 😊
Thank you 😁 I should have put my cap on, save all my hair flying away 🤦🏻♀️ I’ve run in inov8 parkclaws straight out of the box before, which was on the Gower 50. They feel like slippers and even though last weeks were a newer model, I knew instantly that they felt the same, luckily. This event isn’t happening next year as the organisers have other commitments, but will be back in 2025. Nice to hear you’ve got your 2024 ultra plans already made. I should really take that approach but I’ve got into the habit of last minute races recently 😁
Wicked effort! I managed to get a bit of dot watching done on the day as both you and a friend of mine were doing the 50 miler. I think she's breifly in one of your clips from near the start. The long term consistent training really pays off. You've got so much endurance in your legs you probably can feasibly take on stuff like this more often with 'sub-optimal' preparation time. As you said, it's all about the adventure and the experience. Couple of weeks rest for you hopefully now!
Thanks Jess. I have visions of bumping into you somewhere along the route. This is your playground and what a beautiful and amazing place it is. Lots of your videos show it in cooler/wet conditions so it was a complete contrast to have the sun and views. Although I could either look up at the scenery or look at my feet to make sure I didn’t trip 😁 It was difficult to do both! 50 seems to be a good distance for me as I still feel relatively ok after it. The 100 takes too much out of me for too long after. I think I said in another comment to you that I took your advice to miss out on the last strength session. Apart from the stone walls near the end, I’m pretty happy with how my legs held out. Hope your training is going well over the summer?
Yes I do manage to end up in some squelchy conditions 😂I do an awful lot of stopping to look at views, definitely not the fastest person to run with haha. Training has been good, just building back up really slowly after my intense depressive episode in the spring. I've been doing a lot of local races and really learning to enjoy myself with it again. I'll be structuring my training a lot more sensibly for my 3rd time lucky attmept at Saddleworth 10 res next year.
Hi Rachael, thank you for sharing your run, there was some fantastic scenery in the background, what an achievement 😇 Amazing as always 😊 I’m sure I’ve lost some weight after watching this 😂 such a great video, I’m sure my heartbeat was trying to synchronise as you were running 😅
Hi Edward. Thanks so much. I was so lucky with the weather that I was able to get some fantastic views. If the race had been today it would have been a completely different story. I think my heart rate stayed pretty low apart from an slight error at the start where it read something like 150. It sometimes doesn’t connect straight away as it can take a bit of time to a proper contact 😁
Pure delight to watch, Rachel. I am so proud of you. Loved seeing the fells and trails, I am glad you filmed it. I am glad you wanted to enjoy it too. Congratulations on your win, Rachel. (By the way, no wonder you were struggling to get over the wall, you had a flipping camera in one hand too.)
Hi Olga 🤣 yes, a camera, poles, endless flapjack bits were not helpful in getting over those walls. I thought ‘I have to just film one’ just so I could show I was struggling. It was a brilliant day thank you 😊
Well done Rachel , Big congratulations. Thanks for the basic breakdown of what looks quite an interesting challenge but I THINK i'll pass. I'm sure our paths will cross again, keep smiling, Ian
Thanks Ian, so I’ve not tempted you then 😁 I’m sure I’ll see you at a race at some point, even if it’s not at the start of any ultra I may choose to do 🤣
Hi, thanks. Yes, I’m lucky with a low heart rate but even when I race fast it doesn’t go much above 160. It’s like my scale is set a lot lower than most but those 170+ readings are unheard of for me 🙂
wow that is a stunning route Rachel! (apart from the stone walls) Can't quite believe I missed this video! A bit of a shame that there was literally no one at the finish line! It didnt seem to bother you though. Congrats on a great day on the trails. When are you signing up for UTMB then? ;)
Hi Phil. Seems an age ago since this race. I still think it was one of my favourite of the year. I didn’t mind the empty finish 😁 it was a very small event with runners spaced out sometimes hours apart so not really one for crowds at the end. UTMB 🤔 … probably a step too far for me, those hills are on a different level 😬
Thanks Miriam. Even on the morning I wasn’t decided. I wanted to just go out and enjoy the day. The first parts of filming are always the hardest but once I’m on a roll, it’s not a problem. Either way, I’m glad I took it 😁
Well done Rachel I can’t believe how many flapjacks you eat in a day, if they knew about your love of flap jacks they would have not let you enter. Well done on winning the race
Thanks Stuart 😁 The flapjacks seemed the easiest option with the heat. I did try some cornflake chocolate things but they’d melted and as I’d had chocolate (melted) bars in my pack I decided not to take the bars from the checkpoints. There were crisps but I wasn’t really in the mood for a bag of ready salted 😁
Hi Alan, it wasn’t too bad 😁 far easier than those stone walls and 10 times easier than coming down the stairs the morning after 🤣 I learnt a long time ago that heading down backwards for a couple of days was the least painful way to do it 😁
Oh wow. Congratulations Rachel, on an incredible run. You completely nailed it. Walk the hills and run the flat/downhills- classic ultra strategy. 🙂 Looked a stunning but varied course - absolutely perfect. The downhill finish must’ve been very welcome. Wrong turnings, we've all been there. It's one of my fears when ultra running. Navigation issues can be so dispiriting. I've not ever used maps on my watch before and have also never used poles. Were the poles a big help? Guess they were. Huge well once again. Really enjoyed this video. Ps. The 1st lady trophy was a lovely bonus.
Hi Colin, thanks. The route and the weather were 100% perfect. It was so nice not knowing the route or what I’d see. Everything that day was a brand new view and step that I’d never been on before. One of the screens on my watch also told me the elevation profile, so I could see where I was in relation to the climbs and descents. It also showed me there was a downhill ending to the race. Pretty pleased I felt more than able to run strong to the finish. Having the maps on my watch is my favourite feature. There was a fault when the watch came out last year that made mapping difficult to see (too zoomed out) but it’s fixed now and kept me (mostly) on perfect track. I first used poles in Gower. They were a massive help on the sand dunes. I’ve used them since on all my ultras and you’d probably think they were only good on the up hills but I use them on the flats and downs too. It can set you up for a nice rhythm of feet and pole patterns as to how exactly use them. Secret it to put your hands in the loops the correct way. That way it’s your arm muscles that are used rather from the grip of your hands. I wouldn’t do a race like this without them. Hope your chest infection is improving?
@@racheld1844 Yeah, quite an adventure - almost like a magical mystery tour. 🙂 Having that information on your watch is such a huge help. Chest issue sadly remains. Missing races is bad but just not running is heartbreaking. I have been walking marathon distance 2 or 3 times each week but it's not the same.
@@MrCol104 - do you know how long you will be out for? When I injured my calf I did a lot of walking. It’s something, but I completely get it, it’s just not the same.
Hi Nick, thank you 😁 I couldn’t hide how much fun I’d had! I’m not sure I looked particularly fresh at the end. Maybe another 10 miles would have seen a change that made it look like I’d had enough 🤣
Absolutely fantastic performance. Well done on 1st female. You looked very fresh at the finish and really sounded as if you enjoyed the whole experience. The views were amazing, and the ones we get to enjoy often as all that is on our doorstep or a short drive. We're still not convinced of an ultra over it, though. 😂 We recognised sections of Buxton when you went through as we recently did the carnival race there and the parkrun. We've also done Buxton Pavilion Gardens 5k a few times when it was on. You certainly seem to suit the long stuff! 🎉 What's next?
Thanks Both 😁 Yes, I remember your Buxton video and I remember thinking if I’d recognise any of it when I ran through it (I didn’t, I was too busy looking for the finish) You’re so lucky to have this so close. A couple of the others who’ve left comments say how close this is to them too. I’m always better at long distances. Short speed is not my forte and need to work much harder to see those gains. My endurance however just seems to go on and on. Biggest reason for not doing so many is the recovery and the injuries. If I could crack these 2 I’d definitely run more. But everything is intact after this race so I’m more than happy. What’s next? I’ve no idea 😁 I’m leaning to opposite ends of the spectrum. Have a try a some 5k/10k goals or just enjoy a couple more ultras before the year is out…. or knowing me I’ll try and do both 🤣
Hi Rachel, no doubt about it, you look so at home when trail running. The freedom moments you filmed are clearly very special and the achievement over a wilderness course compared to a road run looks to float your boat even more. Well done on a 50 mile epic that you literally took in your stride. And new shoes on race day, the risks did a pay off for sure. On the podium with no crowd is special too, no bells n whistles, just quiet achievement. One question, first female yes but how did you win it twice, I am missing something? Well done, very well done. Graham 🏃♂️🏃♂️
Hi again Rachel, just realised you won the race entry of course and then won as first female. Indeed, winning one race twice, it doesn't get better than that! Hope your recovering well. Did it feel easier or harder than your 5 x 10 mile training effort the other week? Regards. Graham.
Thanks Graham yes, the 2 wins were the race entry and first female home. Everything in your first message was completely true. An extraordinary day with the lowest of fuss. Best of both the worlds I like! New shoes 😁 As the brand and trainer are one I’d used before, straight from the box, I new I was in good hands, well… feet 😁 I have a good sense for good fitting trainers. I know almost instantly when I try a new pair on where any potential problems might be. These have never given me anything to worry about. I read your question about what was harder, before I left for parkrun this morning and thought quite hard about it. Seems simple to answer but there’s quite a few factors and actually a very good question. So the 5x10 was… monotonous, uninspiring, repetitive, necessary, but effort wise ok. The biggest incentive to get out was the filming. I was making a video, so I got up and went out. That doesn’t mean if I wasn’t filming, I wouldn’t have got it done but it really helped. It was a long day that day and by the end of it I still felt pretty good. The race was completely different in that the element of adventure, being somewhere new, the scenery, the fact I’d made it there (I’m not overly good at travelling away from home) all made any effort seem easy. It didn’t feel like an ultra. It just felt like a run. The end I was more tired/fatigued but that was probably a combination of relief and exhaustion from hiding the fact I’d run so far. If I had to answer in one sentence though I say neither were easier or harder physically but the overriding factor was the environment. I just loved being on those trails 😁
Really enjoyed reading your response to my first message and thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on my question too Rachel. I think everyone has been mightily inspired by your approach to give yourself such opportunities and you summed up what the day had meant to you so well, a perfect outcome! All the best for all the rest (both r&r and more events) and regards. Graham 🏃♂️👍😀
Fantastic racing and well done. When you say you only use caffeine on race day does that mean you don't drink coffee? Fantastic shots with the little camera. Great video.
Hi Neil. Thanks 😁 I don’t drink coffee, just decaff tea so any caffeine hit I get from taking it on race day is a great boost. The gels I use on road races are really low dose as well. I wouldn’t stand a chance on the 200mg servings 🤣
Although I have already offered my congratulations and admiration for your effort, let me just add that your doing things against conventional and accepted wisdom is paying off. The usual rules of " do not run the race distance in training; and "never race in shoes that you have not broken in" have been tossed aside with no ill effects to your races. You are very adept at knowing how you run and what you can tolerate. Your sixth place finish, while factual, is a little misleading. Your 17:10 finish was 5 minutes behind the 4th and 5th place finishers at 17:05. I know that really did not matter to you; you are quite obviously enjoying yourself in the video but you were smoking it. An outstanding and enjoyable effort on your part.
Hi Donald. Thank you. Glad to hear you mention the stats because I hadn’t really looked into them. Funny how road races that’s the first thing I look at. Maybe because those results are instant and easy to find, whereas these kind of events it sometimes takes a few days before anything official comes out. By that point I’m not as desperate to find out. I enjoy going against the main stream of running. I think it’s very easy to get caught up in especially the marketing side of running. I’m more than happy to do it my own way, and make up my own rules 🙂 Trainers new out of a box - that came from Gower. I’d always run in a bog standard £37 Adidas trail shoe, nothing technical at all. Then I wanted to give inov8 a try. I opted for the Parkclaw as it wasn’t an aggressive off-roader but was able to give me grip on the trails and also comfort on the road sections. I tried them on at home before the race, they felt amazing so I took a gamble. However I had a get out clause at 17 miles. There was a drop bag checkpoint at 17 miles. I put my adidas in there and that allowed me to change if they weren’t right. But they were more than perfect. The ones I wore last week were the same but a newer model. I did the ‘living room’ test and I just knew. Also my socks were just my regular road running socks, nothing ‘traily’ about them. No hot spots, blisters or bad toenails, nothing. Most of my kit is a good few years old now and I kept pulling out the same stuff every time because I know it works. I’m a firm believer that being good at running doesn’t have to come at a cost. There maybe 1 or 2 pieces that are important, but if you look after them, they’ll kept going for years. The push for new and better is wrong. It’s basically all the same kit being reinvented and re-sold to us. As for the race distance before race day, I think I’d equate 40 miles of last weeks run to the full 50 of the 5x10 session. The hills are something else! So flat 50 is more like hilly 40. So in that way, I’d not quite reached full race capacity in training. Glad you enjoyed the dot watching last week Donald 🙂
The views looked fantastic, your time was superb, congratulations on your winning 1st lady and 6th overall
Winning and enjoying must be a great combination . Well done you !
. Enjoy your R&R 🙂
Thanks 😊 it was such a fun day. I had extra support in the background and it made such a difference. R&R can’t come soon enough! Still haven’t decided what shape that will look like yet, but I know it’ll be worth it and just what I need 🙂
Whenever I start winning races by accident, I'll know I'm in a good place. Well done - joy to watch.
😁 thank you. In theory I was 2nd. There was a lady on the 100 route who got to Buxton 1 hour in front of me, but as she was in the longer route, she wasn’t eligible 🤣 I couldn’t believe when she flew past me just after checkpoint 2 😱
Well done and congratulations! Thank you for a lovely video. Listening to you narrate your feelings and thoughts is a very nice alternative to the banging rock music that one finds in other race/run videos. Thank you. I love my Parkclaw G 280's. A fantastic road to trail shoe.
Hi. Thanks for your positive comments 😁 I’ve watched hours and hours of running youtube videos and just tried to pick the best formats for editing and what I enjoyed watching, and put them into my own videos. The hardest part is to cram everything in without making it too long.
I first took a pair of parkclaws out of the box for Gower. I just knew instantly that they were going to be the perfect trainer. The pair for the race are my 4th pair. 2 are retired and there’s some miles left on the 3rd but treated myself to the brand new ones for race day. I hope they continue to make them because I wouldn’t know what to wear instead 😁
Yes Rachel!!! Absolutely epic! Incredible race and what a superb performance! Huge congrats on the win too! Great inspiration for me for tomorrow! 😎🤘
Hi Ben, thanks so much. Glad it’s got you even more keen for the get go tomorrow. Hope everything is all packed and ready to go. Hardest part I guess tonight is getting some sleep… ready for the all-nighter tomorrow night. Have you heard of caffeine 🤣 apparently it’s very good 👍
Best of luck tomorrow! Have a great race and enjoy every moment of it! Even the bad bit’s because these will be the memories you’ll have forever 😊🏃🏻
Massive congratulations Rachel! Great video too of your race.
Hi Richard. Thanks so much 😁
Outstanding. 👏👏
Thanks Paul. This was one of my favourite runs last year 🙂
Congratulations Rachel, what a fantastic adventure and congratulations on the placed position too!
Just goes to show what amazing opportunities are out there and it’s great to see you doing it with a smile on your face too!
Hi Matthew. Thank you 😁 I was very fortunate on every front for that race, luck for winning the entry, the weather, no travel problems, good fitness and a prize to top it off at the end. It was definitely a run to remember!
Wow Wow Wow..... You absolutely smashed that Rachel. I felt very humble for you watching this vlog. It really was incredibly inspiring. You should 100% take on more gambles in life. Well done on 1st Lady. Congratulations!!
Hi Stephen. Thanks so much. I’ve had a few lucky gambles recently both in running and other things behind the scenes. It’s been a welcome change. The R&R could probably do with being more restful as I’ve been more busy now that I was before the race 🤣… all in good time 😁
Marvelous result. I enjoyed the ultra marathon experience!
Hi Gilbert. Thanks. It was a great experience to run somewhere which such amazing views 😁
Great job, both on the running and the filming/editing! 👍I'm not in ultra shape at all after a quite pitiful year of training so far, but watching something like this really makes me want to get out there and regret my choice for the last third of a race again! 😂
Thanks 😁 I just use a tiny little action camera and do all the editing on my phone. Absolutely no good with computers. This was the easiest way round getting to make a video for youtube.
The last 3rd is where the wheels often fall off 😁 and that’s for any distance. Even on a half marathon, at 10 miles I’ve had enough! Hope you find the motivation to get out and train. There are so many fantastic races out there… you know they’re calling you.
Well done and thanks for sharing. Great to see you looking so content.
Hi, thanks so much. Definitely one of the most enjoyable runs this year!
Ha - I told you you'd be fine!!! Never in doubt 🤣Well done Rach
Thanks Gary, I just never knew how it would pan out! But I guess now it’s done, I can agree with you 😁
Well done amazing with all that elevation, look forward to seeing what you will target next
Hi Ric, thank you. I have the final race of the summer league next week (just 8k) then, at the moment, the race diary is free for the first time this year 😱
Rachel, congratulations and what an epic race! Thank you for taking us along (and not feeling like you have to film all 50 miles). Beautiful story!
Hi Reto, Thanks. Yes, I’m glad I got to film some bits but run solo on the other parts. The scenery was amazing so I didn’t want to miss all of it by worrying about the camera 😁
What a beautiful journey! The Prak District seems like my dream place to live! Incredible performance Rachel! The strength you gain from that vertical gain and massive distance will translate to speed in the autumn! Keep pushing!
Hi Paul. Thanks so much! I would 100% love to live close to where these trails are. I get some pretty good run routes where I live, but nothing compares to this. Question is, what do I do for the rest of the year. I have some ideas, but they are complete opposite ends of the running spectrum 😁 Time to start putting some ideas down and thinking how to finish off this surreal year 😊
As someone who runs races almost entirely on my own as I don't have a lot of runner friends, it's nice to see someone else enjoying the solitary aspect of it. Congrats on your win! Well done.
Hi Josh. I had the best time running on my own for most of that route. It’s like being part of something (the race) but being allowed to do it by myself 🙂
Huge congratulations on the win Rachel! 👏
To do on such short notice too is mighty impressive!
Thanks so much 😁 I thought I could maybe do well if it was 50k at short notice but those extra miles to make it 50 was a tall ask. If only I’d known that at when I’d won, I would have spent less time worrying it was a bit extreme to expect myself to switch training so fast.
Rachel, I was clapping for you as you crossed! 🎉❤ love from Maine
Hi Mary, thanks so much… I could almost hear your clapping from all the way over the Atlantic 😁 (well not really, but the gesture was nice) 😊
Well done absolutely amazing running 😊🏃♀️👍🏿
Hi Carl, thank you 😁
Well done 1st Lady 👏 looks tough, I’m always amazed how you can run and talk to camera at the same time 😀
Thank you. This one was definitely much easier to talk and run (or walk and talk 🤣). Not as hard as running and filming flat out on a road race 😁
I've been looking forward to this video, Rachel. What a performance!
Thanks Mack. As usual, the video takes longer than the run 🤣 Even this one! Least it’s all done now and I can get back to recovering 😁
huge congratulations, this was really amazing. It made me so happy to see your joy and your love for running. You showed us what runinng is all about. I got pretty emotional, when you were sitting there after the race, all alone, happy and in peace with yourself and the world
Thank you 😁 I think you could have plonked me anywhere at the end, as long as I could sit down I was happy. There’s always that lovely feeling of sitting down after such an big distance. It’s so nice to relax my muscles and just take in everything that the day had bought 😊
Well done Rachel, you are so humble. Incredible race and great video, congrats!
Hi Ben, thanks. You can probably tell, I had a great time on that run 😁
Well done, you smashed it x
Hi Carolyn. Thanks so much 😁
Well that looked easy 🥵 Which is easy for me to say as I'm lay down watching your video 🤣
Fantastic running as always 👏
Thanks Darren. Would that be lying down sunbathing 🤣
Yeah, unfortunately if I said it was hard, I’d have been telling a lie 🤦🏻♀️ Guess I’ll just have to run further next time if I’m to show any real discomfort 😁
Hope the holiday and holiday running is going well?
Huge congrats on the win Rachel! It was really lovely to see you enjoying the experience so much and embracing the challenge - including those stone walls! Thank you for taking us along and I hope your recovery has been going well!
Hi Chloe, thanks! I think if trails like these were closer to home I’d be on them most of the time and probably enter more trail events. I can probably say it was one of my favourite races of the year too. I’ve picked up a bit of a bug from having my immune system knocked, but better this week than last….
So, does it make you think it’s something you’d like to try? 😁
Fair play to you Rachel,you put in tge hard work and it paid off ,looked like a great day,I'm glad it went to plan for you,you deserved it.hope you had loads of Chocolate afterwards.. ha. Mind yourself and well done.
Hi James, thank you! I’ve definitely made up for any lost calories that day. I polished all the pick & mix sweets I’d taken with me and there’s been plenty of chocolate consumed too 😁
Brilliant Rachel. I am so pleased that it all went well for you. It looked like you were enjoying that so much. That is what being relaxed about the time and just out to enjoy yourself did. Congratulations on being the first lady. You demonstrate so well what can be achieved by training yourself, if you have the ability. . Glad you are off for a bit of R&R now. Totally deserved.
Thanks Peter. Yes, I can honestly say that this is in the top row of my favourite races of all time. Just some races seem to have everything slot into the right place, and this one just did 🙂
Today was the first day out running for me (which is very unusual as I always head out much sooner). My immune system has taken a bit of a knock so it will definitely be a slow come back with hopefully plenty more easy days & of course the essential R&R 😊
Well done Rachel, fantastic result. I’m sorry, you can protest all you like but you definitely did make it look too easy 😂😂
Hi Christina, thanks 😊 For 50 miles over a hilly course, I thought it would do more damage than it did but these legs just kept going. I was not at all envious of those that had to go out again for another 50. I enjoyed my distance because it stopped before the real pain set in 😁
Wow I felt your pain getting over the wall, one man and no dog at the end😂 well done with the run👍
Hi Simon, I’ve never had problems with my hips like that before. I think that was probably the only tell tale sign that I wasn’t quite fully trained for it. Nothing permanent though luckily 😁
Well done Rachel!
Hi, thanks so much 😁
What an amazing effort - all the hard work making it look much easier than it was!
Training for my first ultra (35 miles) in a touch over 4 weeks and was on top of Shining Tor two weeks ago as part of a 17 mile loop of the Cheshire Three Peaks. I count myself lucky to have the Peak District in my back garden!
Thanks Iain 🙂 To have those kind of routes so close must be perfect for getting ready! The nearest decent hills are about 50 mins from me so although not a big distance, it’s not something I could do without a bit of a trek in the car. Which ultra are you running? Good luck with the last few weeks of training 👍
Wow well done Rachel 🎉 looks like a good event & you made that look easy 😊
Hi Linda, it was just my kind of event, very low key but so well organised and all the helpers did such a great job of looking after everyone 😁
Rachel, what a brilliant race, and what a brilliant result. I am so impressed at 1st woman and especially 7th overall. Just fantastic running. Well done!!
Thanks Alec. I thought quite early on that I was 1st lady. I knew one had overtaken me, but she was on the 100 route. I never thought I’d end up coming away with a prize, let alone first female. Think it’s my 1st first lady position this year 😁
What a superstar! thanks for sharing your race! Well deserved win too! Loved the landscapes too!
Thanks Riz. It was beautiful. The sky was blue and the sun was shining, a bit windy 🤣 but the views were spectacular and even better than what the camera shows!
You were born to run. Another great vid to bring us along with you. Super stuff! 👌 amazing! ❤
Thanks so much. I do often wonder how long I’ll be running for. I think as long as I’m able to then I’ll just keep on running 😊
I always thought Lynda Carter was wonder women how wrong could I be, well done Rachel 😊
🤣 thanks John. I’ll gladly take the compliment 😁
I enjoyed that SO much. It really makes me want to do an ultra. I’m also proper pleased at how happy you seem Rachel. I had a smile on my face throughout. Please keep baking these videos - they’re fantastic!
Hi Conrad, thank you! I was scared to do my first marathon but eventually got round to running one, and the same for my first ultra. It seems unthinkable when it’s your first. Ultras are nothing like road marathons though. Ask me to run an extra mile at Newport after 26 miles, forget it 😁 but take the pressure off speed and time, add walks, views, picnic stops and it’s a whole new experience. I just see it as a day out. It starts, it finishes and in between you just go a long way. Even a trail marathon is a good starting point. I did a few of these before my first ultra. It just gets your mind in a different place to the roads and teaches you how to approach it differently.
Baking Videos, did you mean making 🤣 My cooking is terrible.
@@racheld1844 ha ha yes - making, not baking 😂😂😂.
You are selling ultras to me!
Well done Rachel, I’m glad you did take your camera looked really good 👍
Hi Chris, thank you 😁 Yeah, I’m glad too. Was just a bit of a dilemma as I knew I wanted to get the most out of it for myself but luckily I got the best of both 🙂
A massive well done Rachel, I’m so glad you decided to film it ❤ Enjoy your well deserved rest
Hi Alison, thank you. I would have really liked to run this without the camera but I knew I’d get to the end and wished I had. I can’t win 🤣 I love having the memories of the races I do and it’s there forever now 😊
You are such an inspiration you should be so proud of yourself , a very well done so calm through out xx
Thank you. I must admit, I don’t think there was any point I felt anything other than enjoyment. The only bit I didn’t like was getting there. I always worry there’ll be road delays or a diversion that will cause me to be late. It was still a rush even getting up at 3 but I didn’t miss the start so all was good 😁
You smashed it well done. 👏
Hi Michael, thank you 😁
Wow, first lady! I'm so glad I can say i knew you before you were famous 😁 You seemed really relaxed, stone wall climbs notwithstanding!
I took my driving test in Buxton. Was nice to see the old place again, and the amazing surrounding countryside.
Well done 👍🏻💪🏃♂️
Thanks Mark 😁 Not sure they’ll be much fame heading my way 🤣 The stone walls were definitely the biggest obstacle of the day but there’s something about the Derbyshire springs on the kissing gates that were something else! I could hardly push them open then they’d fling back with such power almost trapping me inside 🤦🏻♀️ must have Rambo sheep up there! 🐑 🐑
Wow, nice work Rachel! Winning twice and your time is certainly very respectable given the short lead time to the race. Looks like your training is really coming together nicely for you. I figured you were going to have a good race given your 50 mile training day. It looks like you paced it well and went into the race with the right attitude. So happy for you and congrats and thanks for taking us along.
Hi Eddie. Thank you. I couldn’t have wished for or expected a better outcome. Both with the training side and the race day experience. It’s always in hindsight that you find what the verdict is, but in the build up I wasn’t always sure. I was almost certain I could get round, it was more, how comfortable could I make it 😁
Yay!
Thanks 😁
Absolutely brilliant! Well done!
Hi Andrew, thanks so much 😁
Bloody brilliant Rachel 🏆 very well done and enjoy the R&R 🥳🥳🥳
Hi Donato. Thank you!! R&R is 100% guaranteed 😁 especially as I’ve picked up a little big with my immune system so low. Hope things are ok with you and that the achilles treatment is working? I’ve not been on UA-cam now for a couple of weeks, I’ve just been so busy that I’ve lost track of everyone’s videos (I did see the one where you looked like you were being tortured with a hot poker on your ankle 😱)
@@racheld1844 always good to rest and the bug, as you know, is a sign to slow down. The electric torture is going well and back walking briskly now, up to 5km!
Incredible! I did drop in on the dot through the day but didn't realise you'd finished 1st lady. Well done 👏 It looks like you enjoyed it, and that's the most important thing.
Hi Paul, thank you. When I put the post up to say about following the tracker, it was all such a rush to get ready for the start that I’d initially forgot to put the tracking link in 🤦🏻♀️ Luckily I remembered just in time 😁
@@racheld1844 glad you did, I do enjoy dot watching. I had another friend running the Lakeland 50 at the same time so I was spoiled 🤣
Yay well done Rachel - the smile on your face as you came into the finish says it all 😊
Made me laugh you worrying about your hair at the 47 mile mark 😅
Very brave running with new shoes…
Great weather and a great effort 👣💪🏼👏
Was thinking of doing this next year but I’ve ended up booking for the Pennine Barrier 50m and RTTS instead 😊
Thank you 😁 I should have put my cap on, save all my hair flying away 🤦🏻♀️
I’ve run in inov8 parkclaws straight out of the box before, which was on the Gower 50. They feel like slippers and even though last weeks were a newer model, I knew instantly that they felt the same, luckily.
This event isn’t happening next year as the organisers have other commitments, but will be back in 2025.
Nice to hear you’ve got your 2024 ultra plans already made. I should really take that approach but I’ve got into the habit of last minute races recently 😁
fantastic, congrats!
Thank you 🙏
Wicked effort! I managed to get a bit of dot watching done on the day as both you and a friend of mine were doing the 50 miler. I think she's breifly in one of your clips from near the start. The long term consistent training really pays off. You've got so much endurance in your legs you probably can feasibly take on stuff like this more often with 'sub-optimal' preparation time. As you said, it's all about the adventure and the experience. Couple of weeks rest for you hopefully now!
Thanks Jess. I have visions of bumping into you somewhere along the route. This is your playground and what a beautiful and amazing place it is. Lots of your videos show it in cooler/wet conditions so it was a complete contrast to have the sun and views. Although I could either look up at the scenery or look at my feet to make sure I didn’t trip 😁 It was difficult to do both! 50 seems to be a good distance for me as I still feel relatively ok after it. The 100 takes too much out of me for too long after. I think I said in another comment to you that I took your advice to miss out on the last strength session. Apart from the stone walls near the end, I’m pretty happy with how my legs held out.
Hope your training is going well over the summer?
Yes I do manage to end up in some squelchy conditions 😂I do an awful lot of stopping to look at views, definitely not the fastest person to run with haha.
Training has been good, just building back up really slowly after my intense depressive episode in the spring. I've been doing a lot of local races and really learning to enjoy myself with it again. I'll be structuring my training a lot more sensibly for my 3rd time lucky attmept at Saddleworth 10 res next year.
@@AMostlyFunctionalJess great to hear things are going well Jess. Plus that you’re enjoying the races. Hope we get to cross paths at some point 😊
I'm aiming to work my way back to Ultras over the next five years so it's always a possibility!
Hi Rachael, thank you for sharing your run, there was some fantastic scenery in the background, what an achievement 😇 Amazing as always 😊
I’m sure I’ve lost some weight after watching this 😂 such a great video, I’m sure my heartbeat was trying to synchronise as you were running 😅
Hi Edward. Thanks so much. I was so lucky with the weather that I was able to get some fantastic views. If the race had been today it would have been a completely different story. I think my heart rate stayed pretty low apart from an slight error at the start where it read something like 150. It sometimes doesn’t connect straight away as it can take a bit of time to a proper contact 😁
Pure delight to watch, Rachel. I am so proud of you. Loved seeing the fells and trails, I am glad you filmed it. I am glad you wanted to enjoy it too. Congratulations on your win, Rachel. (By the way, no wonder you were struggling to get over the wall, you had a flipping camera in one hand too.)
Hi Olga 🤣 yes, a camera, poles, endless flapjack bits were not helpful in getting over those walls. I thought ‘I have to just film one’ just so I could show I was struggling.
It was a brilliant day thank you 😊
@@racheld1844 you did great, Rachel
Well done Rachel , Big congratulations. Thanks for the basic breakdown of what looks quite an interesting challenge but I THINK i'll pass. I'm sure our paths will cross again, keep smiling, Ian
Thanks Ian, so I’ve not tempted you then 😁 I’m sure I’ll see you at a race at some point, even if it’s not at the start of any ultra I may choose to do 🤣
Wow! Easy peasy! I can guarantee that my heart rate would have been way higher just by walking the course😂. Congrats!
Hi, thanks. Yes, I’m lucky with a low heart rate but even when I race fast it doesn’t go much above 160. It’s like my scale is set a lot lower than most but those 170+ readings are unheard of for me 🙂
wow that is a stunning route Rachel! (apart from the stone walls) Can't quite believe I missed this video! A bit of a shame that there was literally no one at the finish line! It didnt seem to bother you though. Congrats on a great day on the trails. When are you signing up for UTMB then? ;)
Hi Phil. Seems an age ago since this race. I still think it was one of my favourite of the year. I didn’t mind the empty finish 😁 it was a very small event with runners spaced out sometimes hours apart so not really one for crowds at the end.
UTMB 🤔 … probably a step too far for me, those hills are on a different level 😬
well done Rachel 👌😊😊😊😊
Hi Roy. Thanks so much 😊
Brilliant! Definitely glad you didn't leave the camera home. 👏
Thanks Miriam. Even on the morning I wasn’t decided. I wanted to just go out and enjoy the day. The first parts of filming are always the hardest but once I’m on a roll, it’s not a problem. Either way, I’m glad I took it 😁
Well done Rachel I can’t believe how many flapjacks you eat in a day, if they knew about your love of flap jacks they would have not let you enter. Well done on winning the race
Thanks Stuart 😁 The flapjacks seemed the easiest option with the heat. I did try some cornflake chocolate things but they’d melted and as I’d had chocolate (melted) bars in my pack I decided not to take the bars from the checkpoints. There were crisps but I wasn’t really in the mood for a bag of ready salted 😁
Well done Rachel! 🥳
...although clambering down off the podium at the end seemed to be a nasty sting in the tail of the race! 🥵
Hi Alan, it wasn’t too bad 😁 far easier than those stone walls and 10 times easier than coming down the stairs the morning after 🤣 I learnt a long time ago that heading down backwards for a couple of days was the least painful way to do it 😁
Oh wow. Congratulations Rachel, on an incredible run.
You completely nailed it. Walk the hills and run the flat/downhills- classic ultra strategy. 🙂
Looked a stunning but varied course - absolutely perfect. The downhill finish must’ve been very welcome.
Wrong turnings, we've all been there. It's one of my fears when ultra running. Navigation issues can be so dispiriting.
I've not ever used maps on my watch before and have also never used poles. Were the poles a big help? Guess they were.
Huge well once again. Really enjoyed this video.
Ps. The 1st lady trophy was a lovely bonus.
Hi Colin, thanks. The route and the weather were 100% perfect. It was so nice not knowing the route or what I’d see. Everything that day was a brand new view and step that I’d never been on before. One of the screens on my watch also told me the elevation profile, so I could see where I was in relation to the climbs and descents. It also showed me there was a downhill ending to the race. Pretty pleased I felt more than able to run strong to the finish.
Having the maps on my watch is my favourite feature. There was a fault when the watch came out last year that made mapping difficult to see (too zoomed out) but it’s fixed now and kept me (mostly) on perfect track.
I first used poles in Gower. They were a massive help on the sand dunes. I’ve used them since on all my ultras and you’d probably think they were only good on the up hills but I use them on the flats and downs too. It can set you up for a nice rhythm of feet and pole patterns as to how exactly use them. Secret it to put your hands in the loops the correct way. That way it’s your arm muscles that are used rather from the grip of your hands. I wouldn’t do a race like this without them.
Hope your chest infection is improving?
@@racheld1844 Yeah, quite an adventure - almost like a magical mystery tour. 🙂
Having that information on your watch is such a huge help.
Chest issue sadly remains. Missing races is bad but just not running is heartbreaking.
I have been walking marathon distance 2 or 3 times each week but it's not the same.
@@MrCol104 - do you know how long you will be out for? When I injured my calf I did a lot of walking. It’s something, but I completely get it, it’s just not the same.
Amazing achievement! The grin on your face at the end said it all… also how do you manage to look so fresh after running that distance?
Hi Nick, thank you 😁 I couldn’t hide how much fun I’d had! I’m not sure I looked particularly fresh at the end. Maybe another 10 miles would have seen a change that made it look like I’d had enough 🤣
What brilliant video! Congratulations so inspiring.
Hi Paul, thanks so much 😁
Absolutely fantastic performance. Well done on 1st female. You looked very fresh at the finish and really sounded as if you enjoyed the whole experience.
The views were amazing, and the ones we get to enjoy often as all that is on our doorstep or a short drive. We're still not convinced of an ultra over it, though. 😂
We recognised sections of Buxton when you went through as we recently did the carnival race there and the parkrun. We've also done Buxton Pavilion Gardens 5k a few times when it was on. You certainly seem to suit the long stuff! 🎉
What's next?
Thanks Both 😁
Yes, I remember your Buxton video and I remember thinking if I’d recognise any of it when I ran through it (I didn’t, I was too busy looking for the finish) You’re so lucky to have this so close. A couple of the others who’ve left comments say how close this is to them too. I’m always better at long distances. Short speed is not my forte and need to work much harder to see those gains. My endurance however just seems to go on and on. Biggest reason for not doing so many is the recovery and the injuries. If I could crack these 2 I’d definitely run more. But everything is intact after this race so I’m more than happy.
What’s next? I’ve no idea 😁 I’m leaning to opposite ends of the spectrum. Have a try a some 5k/10k goals or just enjoy a couple more ultras before the year is out…. or knowing me I’ll try and do both 🤣
Hi Rachel, no doubt about it, you look so at home when trail running. The freedom moments you filmed are clearly very special and the achievement over a wilderness course compared to a road run looks to float your boat even more. Well done on a 50 mile epic that you literally took in your stride. And new shoes on race day, the risks did a pay off for sure. On the podium with no crowd is special too, no bells n whistles, just quiet achievement. One question, first female yes but how did you win it twice, I am missing something? Well done, very well done. Graham 🏃♂️🏃♂️
Hi again Rachel, just realised you won the race entry of course and then won as first female. Indeed, winning one race twice, it doesn't get better than that! Hope your recovering well. Did it feel easier or harder than your 5 x 10 mile training effort the other week? Regards. Graham.
Thanks Graham yes, the 2 wins were the race entry and first female home. Everything in your first message was completely true. An extraordinary day with the lowest of fuss. Best of both the worlds I like! New shoes 😁 As the brand and trainer are one I’d used before, straight from the box, I new I was in good hands, well… feet 😁 I have a good sense for good fitting trainers. I know almost instantly when I try a new pair on where any potential problems might be. These have never given me anything to worry about.
I read your question about what was harder, before I left for parkrun this morning and thought quite hard about it. Seems simple to answer but there’s quite a few factors and actually a very good question. So the 5x10 was… monotonous, uninspiring, repetitive, necessary, but effort wise ok. The biggest incentive to get out was the filming. I was making a video, so I got up and went out. That doesn’t mean if I wasn’t filming, I wouldn’t have got it done but it really helped. It was a long day that day and by the end of it I still felt pretty good.
The race was completely different in that the element of adventure, being somewhere new, the scenery, the fact I’d made it there (I’m not overly good at travelling away from home) all made any effort seem easy. It didn’t feel like an ultra. It just felt like a run. The end I was more tired/fatigued but that was probably a combination of relief and exhaustion from hiding the fact I’d run so far. If I had to answer in one sentence though I say neither were easier or harder physically but the overriding factor was the environment. I just loved being on those trails 😁
Really enjoyed reading your response to my first message and thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on my question too Rachel. I think everyone has been mightily inspired by your approach to give yourself such opportunities and you summed up what the day had meant to you so well, a perfect outcome! All the best for all the rest (both r&r and more events) and regards. Graham 🏃♂️👍😀
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
T.H.A.N.K.S 😁
Fantastic racing and well done. When you say you only use caffeine on race day does that mean you don't drink coffee? Fantastic shots with the little camera. Great video.
Hi Neil. Thanks 😁 I don’t drink coffee, just decaff tea so any caffeine hit I get from taking it on race day is a great boost. The gels I use on road races are really low dose as well. I wouldn’t stand a chance on the 200mg servings 🤣
@@racheld1844 wow; you have to be the only runner I know that isn't addicted to coffee.. 🤣
Ive never liked it. I can’t fathom the caffeine fix people need first thing. I just get up and go. The only caffeine I get really is from chocolate 😁
Клевый ролик
Thanks so much 😁
Although I have already offered my congratulations and admiration for your effort, let me just add that your doing things against conventional and accepted wisdom is paying off. The usual rules of " do not run the race distance in training; and "never race in shoes that you have not broken in" have been tossed aside with no ill effects to your races. You are very adept at knowing how you run and what you can tolerate. Your sixth place finish, while factual, is a little misleading. Your 17:10 finish was 5 minutes behind the 4th and 5th place finishers at 17:05. I know that really did not matter to you; you are quite obviously enjoying yourself in the video but you were smoking it. An outstanding and enjoyable effort on your part.
Hi Donald. Thank you. Glad to hear you mention the stats because I hadn’t really looked into them. Funny how road races that’s the first thing I look at. Maybe because those results are instant and easy to find, whereas these kind of events it sometimes takes a few days before anything official comes out. By that point I’m not as desperate to find out.
I enjoy going against the main stream of running. I think it’s very easy to get caught up in especially the marketing side of running. I’m more than happy to do it my own way, and make up my own rules 🙂
Trainers new out of a box - that came from Gower. I’d always run in a bog standard £37 Adidas trail shoe, nothing technical at all. Then I wanted to give inov8 a try. I opted for the Parkclaw as it wasn’t an aggressive off-roader but was able to give me grip on the trails and also comfort on the road sections. I tried them on at home before the race, they felt amazing so I took a gamble. However I had a get out clause at 17 miles. There was a drop bag checkpoint at 17 miles. I put my adidas in there and that allowed me to change if they weren’t right. But they were more than perfect. The ones I wore last week were the same but a newer model. I did the ‘living room’ test and I just knew. Also my socks were just my regular road running socks, nothing ‘traily’ about them. No hot spots, blisters or bad toenails, nothing. Most of my kit is a good few years old now and I kept pulling out the same stuff every time because I know it works. I’m a firm believer that being good at running doesn’t have to come at a cost. There maybe 1 or 2 pieces that are important, but if you look after them, they’ll kept going for years. The push for new and better is wrong. It’s basically all the same kit being reinvented and re-sold to us.
As for the race distance before race day, I think I’d equate 40 miles of last weeks run to the full 50 of the 5x10 session. The hills are something else! So flat 50 is more like hilly 40. So in that way, I’d not quite reached full race capacity in training.
Glad you enjoyed the dot watching last week Donald 🙂