A run to the seaside-50k

Last weekend was Ham to Lyme 50k edition two for me. In 2016 I did it as my first toe dip in to Ultra running, (in case you missed the write on this here it is) , I really enjoyed it so it was a no brainer to return this year.

There were 18 of us taking part from the club and another member drove us there in a mini bus and he then saw us at every check point, which was handy to grab drinks or supplies.

The obligatory club photo was captured and then we were off. Within a mile a wrong turn was taken, fortunately for me, this detour was not very long but for others I understand it was quite a diversion. The first time I saw the bus driver I was greeted with the news that I was the first club member he had seen. I was in the lead! Oh the glory. I should have stopped then and there, declared myself a winner and gone and sat on the bus. It wasn’t long though before the speedies passed me having retraced their steps and I was back in the normal position, at the rear!

It was very hot, the air was airless, the humidity energy sapping but I plodded on eating up the miles. Then the cloud burnt off, the sky was blue and the temperature rose even more, but on the upside the view at Lamberts Castle, that we couldn’t see last year due to mist,  was unreal.

My feet were starting to hurt, blisters forming on the bottom of my left foot and under the bunion on the right foot. The legs, calves, Achilles, hips all fine but my those blisters were making themselves known.

I got to the last check point and they had run out of water, I downed two cups of coke and went on, three miles to go and no water in my hydration pack, thank goodness much of this was in the woods, I was desperate for a drink so the shade most welcome.

The finish line could not come too soon and I was very grateful to get to the end and receive this beautiful medal

oh and eat some honeydew melon!

Gutted that it took me 27 minutes longer than last year, but assume that is due in part to not specifically training for this event, having run 100K 7 weeks ago and the heat. Not sure I enjoyed it as much this year and I need to remember that actually it is has more than the one hill that I remember before I enter again! Will I go back next year, possibly.