Jue James at Round 4 of Endurancelife’s 7x7x7 challenge, Beesands, South Devon (27/2/10)

Getting to the start line was a close run thing, but it was all worthwhile...

Amazingly I made it to the start of the 4th round of the Endurancelife’s 7x7x7 challenge. I ran round 3 with a strapped up ankle due to a plantarflexion injury from falling over a friend’s dog two days after round 2. Running a marathon on such an injury is not text book but at the time I had minimal problems. However, over the following weeks I began to get more and more problems with the back of my ankle and calf. Was it Achilles tendonitis? Or was it Achilles bursitis? The Friday morning the day before the Beesands marathon it became apparent that it was more likely posterior impingement syndrome secondary to the injury. All along I’d felt that the ankle was not properly aligned. I needed to get some advice/treatment quick or else the reality was the marathon whttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifas off.

Thankfully I managed to get hold of Chris Gazeley (Osteomyologist) at the Gazeley Clinic, Iron Acton, Bristol and he very kindly saw me that morning. As suspected I’d manipulated my ankle (i.e. put it out of place) at the time of injury, and bio mechanically this had led to my tibula and fibula seizing up, strained muscles etc. As Chris put it – you can’t run if your tibia, and especially fibula, aren’t moving. Well you can, but it leads to problems!! I then spent the treatment breathing through the pain of having my tib/fib and my fibula head manipulated, plus trigger pointing on my soleus (calf) and plantar facia (foot). I then asked Chris if he thought I’d be mad to run an off road marathon the next day? His reply – anyone who runs marathons is mad, but you’ll be fine now! I left his clinic feeling sore but happy, armed with further advice on what to do pre-race.

Hubby Pete was also able to make it to this round so I was able to have a warmer, more sociable, night in the van. Overnight there was lots of rain but as with previous events the rain had subsided by the morning and the day looked promising. I’d taken my trusty Inov8 roclite shoes to run in, Pete had a selection! Thankfully he listened and went for the roclite shoes too. The size of the puddles on the ground near the van suggested that it might be a bit muddy on route. I was right! Later at the race briefing Gary the race director also mentioned mud as one of the risks en route, as well as numerous others including rocks, roots, branches, cliffs, steps, sheep, mad cows, mad farmers, tractors, fellow competitors. He also mentioned ‘a surprise’ in the village of Beesands.

At 9am the race officially started, though this time around all competitors had to ‘dib’ which allowed a staggered start. Consequently it wasn’t such a mad dash. Soon the Beesands surprise was revealed to us: a little deviation onto the beach instead of staying on the road through the village. Just beyond the steps up from the beach was the start of the coastal path. I’d done the half marathon a few years previously but forgotten just how beautiful this section is. The first 11.4 miles was totally on the coastal path running up and down past Start point and Prawle point to the coastline opposite Salcombe. It was made all the more beautiful by the glorious day (yes I was over dressed!). The views were far reaching and it was an impressive sight of the competitors strung out along the path way into the distance (and behind). Extra interest was provided by the helicopter filming the event and the aforementioned mud. Yes lots and lots of deep thick slippery mud. At times it was more of a skate than a run, but still lots of fun.

Despite feeling overly tired before the start (not a good way to be before heading off on a 27.6 mile multi terrain run!), the section along the coast path invigorated me.

Jue enjoying the coastal path beyond Start Point

However, once off the coastal path onto the tracks and minor roads inland it became much more of an effort. On the steeper hills I was reduced to a walk by my lack of energy and my calf complaining (or was the latter just a good excuse to walk?!). Thankfully I kept eating and drinking or who knows what would have happened. On the more off road sections I felt a little better. However, the road sections were more of a drag! The only consolation was that I wasn’t alone in the suffering!

My interest was kept up by some fun, fast sections down a steep grassy hill and through the woods beyond. The northern part of the course was also interesting including a section on a raised boardwalk through a marshy area and then by the side of the river and waters of Slapton Ley to Slapton Sands. From there the last 2.6 miles was back on the coastal path. Mostly it was flat with a sting in the tail to get up and over Limpet Rocks, with the reward of the sight of the finish flags from the top. It was a slow walk up but a fast run back down, with the momentum somehow keeping me going the last few hundred meters to the finish. I reckon I’d lost about 16 minutes on my usual competitors, but I’d made it! The time was irrelevant. I was very pleased just to have finished as I’d not expected to be able to start and had run the last 16 miles or so on empty!

I felt very tired afterwards. I managed to drive the first part of the journey home but then handed over to Pete. I fell asleep for the rest of the journey, went to bed early, and slept again (after breakfast in bed!) until lunchtime. Then I went to bed early that night. I’m still overly tired and just don’t feel well. I guess it was more that just the physical exertion of the race. But despite all this I still hope to be at Little Haven at the end of March for round 5. These events are too great to miss.

Thanks again to the Endurancelife team for another great event and to Chris Gazeley for making it possible for me to run.