Having received various emails and seen many posts on social media it is addictive for this race. After some thoughts I submit an application for the full race in 2017. Cant hurt, don't have to decide yet as you have to be accepted before you pay. Acceptance arrives and this become real, become serious. Is this a possible achievement? Lets thinks - 268 miles over 7 days. Sounds bonkers so lets rethink. Day one 47-ish miles to Checkpoint one sleep for the night until around 4pm just as this year. That's possible. Day 2 travel to Malham Tarn and sleep a few hours. As last year very possible and was quite enjoyable. Day 3 get to Hawes. Well I arrived here after 55 hours this year. Now my plans are curious, 2pm is too early to sleep and would probably only want about 10 more miles today perhaps Tan Hill? Then just need to keep moving forward at 20-25 min miles covering 36 miles a day to finish with about 10 hours to spare on the last day Ok New training thought - I need to be able to comfortably cover 45 miles, and 30 miles on a couple of multi days in all terrain in all weather with a 10kg pack. Sounds a bit easier that 268 miles in one hit. Races Booked for 2017 COMPLETE: March Edale Skyline - 20 Miles around Edale, Kinder and Mam Tor in possible Snow conditions COMPLETE: June Nottingham Bike Ride - 125 miles 10 bike ride COMPLETE: July Nottingham Outlaw Ironman Triathlon - 2.4m Swim, 112 Miles Cycle, 26.2M run COMPLETE: August Peak Skyrace - 30 Miles around South Peak District 2000m climbing COMPLETE: Escape from Meridan - Ran from Meridan to Home, approx 65 miles (only 55 as Crow flies) Various Park runs and lots of Dog runs Ok not many races planned but a good mix of muscle use and the Ironman will keep the training focused in Summer. The rest of my time will be as follows: Min 3 training sessions per week - Focus on Swim and Bike during May to July Outlaw and Skyrace will occupy late July and Early August From September will increase time on feet to cover 30 miles weekly From November this will increase to 35-40 miles weekly. One two to three day trek in Sept, Oct and November. Tapering will be from New Years Day this day (was Boxing day in 2015), with a full stop to all training except slow dog runs. 2017 was not my year - I had niggles and doubts of the epic journey and set out on the dark morning with the other competitors. The weather was a combination of melting snow and rainfall. River Kinder was knee to thigh deep. Many river crossing and jumping over to avoid the gush, pull a ligament on the top of my left foot. Paths covered in water, Pennine slabs all inches underneath hidden by the murky depths. One is so well hidden, its missing. My left leg plunges down taking skin off along the left shin leaving a bruised mess. The constant water rots your feet and trench foot is a painful as one can imagine But I push on By day three, I am moving slowly, using poles like crutches and taking drug cocktails of Paracemol, Ibroprofen and caffeine to maintain a shuffle. My left leg is not swelling in the calf - infected from the shin scrape my doctors told me. I decide to retire after Fountain Fell but still push to climb Pen Y Ghent and make my way to the café for my escort home. This is my leg after two days rest and antibiotics:
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AuthorNick K Maidment |