Stubbington Green Runners

South Downs Way Race starts at the bandstand in Eastbourne, takes the coastal path of the SDW over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, then follows the SDW to Winchester. It is approximately 103 miles long with 13,600 feet of ascent mostly over chalk paths, fields, woods and roads. The full distance must be completed on foot with a maximum time limit of 32hrs.

It all started last year at my first ever RR10 with Stubbington Green at Netley. In the post race pub debrief, I got chatting to Graham James. Graham has the same passion for long distance running in the hills as myself. He told me about a 103 mile running race along the South Downs Way from Eastbourne to Winchester. He had heard that it was going to have a limited entry of 50 places. He also told me he wanted to do something ‘special for his 50th…. So in true McGrath fashion and knowing there was a limited entry I went home that night and entered. I had made the presumption that Graham’s enthusiasm meant he was entering too. I emailed him the next day to tell him the good news and found out that he was only considering it!!! Anyway with a little bit of friendly pressure Graham entered as well.

In May 2009 we had both entered and the training began. For myself, all was going pretty well until I had a small skiing accident which put both my arms in plaster at the end of December 2009. This meant no training of any kind until mid February. As the plasters came off my consultant told me to ‘be sensible’ and not fall again and only swim until the end of February 2010. I knew I had to pull my socks up and make up for lost time so I entered the only marathon that was still taking entries that I could take part in, in April 2010. With another skiing holiday in the way this gave me 7 weeks of training pre marathon. I believed this would be loads of time as I only had 6 weeks of training before my Clarendon Marathon in 2009, and I felt I ran that pretty well.

The two months off had taken its toll and my April Marathon was not great. Now the alarm bells were ringing. I had 4 months to train for 103 miles across the South Downs. I knew that if I pushed the mileage too quick it would be a disaster with niggling injuries, so I decided that triathlons, and triathlon training would be the way forward. I entered the Fareham Tri which I enjoyed, and straight away entered the Worthing Olympic distance Tri, as the next spring board to my fitness goal. I was now swimming three times a week, running four times a week (including 35 miles on the SDW) and cycling two or three times a week. This basically worked out to be about 15 to 16 hours per week of cross training, all with the goal of good solid endurance rather than speed. Only the summer RR10’s kept a little speed in my legs.

All was going well until 4 weeks before the SDWR. I was out running 20 miles with Nick Kimber, Susie and Marcus when I felt a hamstring go. Let’s just say that with the help of Lucy May and my Physio, my legs started to get back to a stage where I knew I would at least be able to start the race! So with three days to the start my nerves settled slightly.

On race day, Sally and I picked Graham up on route and headed for Eastbourne. We arrived in plenty of time, and saw the weather deteriorate before our eyes. I could not believe it. All week it had been lovely and then, Saturday morning rain, wind and miserable September weather. My much better half ‘Sally’, had volunteered to follow my journey as support crew for which I am true gratefully.

At 1000hrs on Saturday the 13th September 2010 we had the most unenthusiastic start I have ever been involved with. Everyone was huddled, sheltering from the weather and then we got 3,2,1, GO!!! With that we slowly set off at about a 9min/m pace into the rain and 30 mph SW wind. Graham and I led the way for the first 400m until we were caught by a few other people. Oh well this was a long race and ultimately I just wanted to finish.

Up we climbed from Eastbourne seafront to Beachy Head over Seven Sisters, Exceat towards Bo Peep and Southease. Southease was the first check point at 19 miles. I was already starting to feel a blister on my right foot. Graham and I had been running together until this point when I need to sort out my blister and he carried on. I knew I had put a few miles on these shoes but I thought I could get away with one last race…Obviously not…. So I ran to my van and started drying my feet, putting on a compeed, fresh dry socks and a brand new, never used, set of trainers!!! Luckily I had been to Alexander Sports the week before. Not a great idea, but it was the only way I could see myself finishing.

With fresh dry socks and new shiny shoes I set off with a new spring in my step. In my head I just kept thinking of each of the SDW relay legs. I had already completed legs 1,2 and 3 and this was starting leg 4. Only 14 to go...easy peasy…. Sally was waiting at the crossing of the A27 (end of leg 4) with food and water. After refuelling it was up onto Ditchling Beacon, and down into Pyecombe where I caught up with Graham. Pyecombe was the 35 mile mark, one third of the way there. I was still feeling good so grabbed a coffee and some sausages from the check point and carried on with Graham. It was at this point Graham started to struggle with getting food down and this remained the same for the next 68 miles.

Graham and I ran together to Washington where we managed to get some more food down us. It was then on with the head torches and off to Amberley where we had some hot food and a pint of lemonade, lovely… I think my super bright Ay Up lights where a bit much for Graham as I had to lead due to the shadow I cast when I was behind him.

Just in case you are wondering, we did not run all the way. We ran the flat and downhill’s and walked the up hills.

We then set off into the night to the next check point which was Cocking. By this time our legs were burning and starting to seize up. Running down hill to the check point was painful. I have to say the Marshals here were the best and brought a cheer to me at 0100hrs in the morning. Sally was getting bits of sleep in the van and still ensuring I was fed and watered and had my energy solutions etc…. I was, however, concerned about Graham who was still struggling to eat and had now just been sick. We had done 68 miles and our body’s wanted us to know!!!

Graham set off before me and I waited for a bit to let him have some space and then set off. As I caught Graham, I checked he was ok and then with a spring in my step I had a really good run over Beacon Hill, Harting Down and into QE Park where the 80 mile check point was. I decided to get plenty of food and liquid down me and wait to make sure Graham was ok. Graham had done really well considering how he was at the last check point and was only 13 min behind me. Sally got some chicken and rice for Graham and we ‘made’ him eat it.

Graham was starting to feel a bit better and we set off together towards Butser Hill. The mist had come down and we were struggling to see 1.5 metres in front of us. We made it to the top but our legs refused to do any more than walk. ‘Mountain goat’ Graham walks so fast that I have to jog to keep up, but he stayed with me as my legs refused to do any more than a gentle plod. I still can not believe it but in an area we both know really well we went wrong in the mist. We realised after a few minutes but it cost us probably 10 minutes overall. A basic error, but we knew we were suffering mentally and physically. For both of us it was just about getting to the end and finishing the race without mistakes.

It had literally taking us over a 1 hour and 30min to get from QE visitors centre to the Sustainability Centre where Sally was waiting. This would become the slowest section of the whole race.

It was now down Salt Hill and towards Old Winchester Hill. As day broke we were caught by Anna Finn (who won first female). I was still struggling but Graham got some life back and set off running with Anna. At this point my ankles were the issue, and the pain was bad. I think I must have had my laces ties too tight in my new but now not shiny shoes. The tops of my foot and ankle were swollen and bruised. I had been taking pain killers since the start of the race due to pre race injuries. I knew if I wanted to keep up I just needed to dig deep and suffer in silence.

I managed to keep with Anna and Graham until Exton which was the second to last check point. Sally was there with much needed food, water, electrolyte & protein solution. I had to sort out my feet and get Ibuprofen and Paracetamol down me too. Anything to stop the pain and let me run again. Anna and Graham barely stopped and wanted to push on. At this point I am not sure what happened but I was not going to let them leave me or worse beat me. So having sorted myself out, I was probably just under 5 minutes behind them. I was fired up and I passed them about a mile before the Milbury Pub. It had taken nearly 5 miles to catch them and there was now only 6 to 7 miles left. I stopped and walked with them for about 1 minute, then decided that I could finish the rest running. So I ran past Holden Farm and up to Cheesefoot Head where my good friend Paddy met me on his mountain bike. Tracy and Graham Bell and Sally gave me encouragement as we crossed the A272. It was now downhill all the way to the end.

Paddy cycled with me taking my mind off the last few miles into Winchester.
I crossed the finish in 24hrs 10 minutes and 57 seconds, coming 7th overall. Anna Finn the 1st lady 24hrs 24min 10 seconds and Graham James came in 9th place in a time of 24hrs 49 minutes 03 seconds.

To be honest apart from the feet, ankles and legs, I felt pretty good. However it is over a week since I finished and my legs are still suffering, my left ankle is still swollen and I'm still needing some pain relief….

But did I enjoy it… Yes! I have done it, ticked it off and now ready for my next challenge, Ironman France 2011…. There are also plenty of ultras out there that I want to do. They are not something I want to do every weekend however. Once you realised that 50% is physical and 50% is mental; you do start looking at all these mad events that need to be done around the world.

To put this race into some kind of perspective it was given a 4 point rating for entry into the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, the mother of all ultra events. This is one of only 6 other events that are run in the UK that get a point rating. A 4 point rating by the UTMB is the highest rating of any race in the world has achieved. The famous Marathon des Sable only gets a three point rating!!!! So if you fancy a hard race where only about 50% of the starters actually finish, then South Downs Way Race is for you. Euan McGrath.

Check it out and get training: www.southdownswayrace.org

Photos here - Sally McGrath | Tracy Bell