Back down to Phoenix for a mini break running round and round a 400m athletics track for 24 hours!
Travel report: when I did this event in May, I tried to be clever and save annual leave (it's precious!) by getting the evening flight down from Inverness after work on the Thursday. This backfired, as the plane was very delayed, so I didn't get to the hotel till after midnight, and got 4 hours sleep, which isn't ideal prep the night before staying up running all night. This time, I thought I would learn from the experience, and be sensible and take a few hours annual leave, and get the afternoon flight. This actually also backfired, as the flight was even more delayed than last time, but all in all, it all worked out better than last time, plus I finally got to finish my book during all the waiting, and was still in bed by 10.30!
Race report: We started off at 08:00 on Friday morning, in the anti-clockwise direction around the athletics track at the Xcel Sports Hub in Walton-on-Thames. The direction changed every 3 hours, when Rik (the Day Cone) / Gavin (the Night Cone) would appear at the timing mat, and we would all run around him and change to running round the other way. This saves getting too dizzy, and also prevents issues from running the same way around the curves of the track for too long.
Chat report: Sarah and I ran the whole way together, which provided 24 hours of opportunity for chat-athon-ing (it has been a full 2 weeks since the last one)! Gavin joined in for an evening marathon, plus there were lots of other catch ups with my Phoenix pals. A very lovely 24 hours!
Weather report: Weather wasn't quite so lovely! Well, it was to start with, nice and sunny. Then came pouring rain, followed by sun again, more pouring rain, repeat, repeat, thunder (exciting!), loads of rainbows (never seen so many!), spiteful wind. The night was cold and sometimes wet, and Sarah and I spent a lot of the night shouting bad words at the weather, which of course had no effect whatsoever, but made us feel better.
Nutrition report: finally did a 100 miler where I didnt feel sick!! At all! Beyond excited! Did better with eating small bits regularly, like salted oranges (thanks Sarah!)....
..... juicy fruit, mint chocolate, humbugs, Babybells and grapes, ginger, sandwich, 8pm pizza etc. Did well with hydration too, and was super proud of how much Sarah and I wee'd and of it being a pale straw colour! The things that you find exciting when you do endurance running and are a dietitian!
Body report: everything felt good and I didn't need to take a single headache tablet. Felt a bit tired overnight, which is to be expected. Feet hurt! Annoying, as I've spent years working out how to manage foot problems on long runs and thought I'd got a strategy sorted. Still, running the whole time on the same surface is hard on the trotters I suppose.
Wildlife report: lack of wildlife (probably all stayed away/ went somewhere better due to weather) until Saturday morning when all of the birds arrived!
Summary report: 412 laps, which is 102.4 miles. Today marked my 7th time doing a 24 hour track event, which I guess means I've spent a whole week of my life running round a track. Woops! Thank you Rik and Team Phoenix for a brilliant event! And to Gavin for manning the aid station overnight (after working, and then running a marathon) and for the lift to the airport - you are an actual legend! Thanks Sarah for an, as always, very fun 24 hours! And very well done to all on an epic weekend!
