GUCR 2017
Ian Brazier
Well I'm sitting
in bed writing this at 4am two days post event as the body still thinks this is
is a normal time to be operating. What's the biggest thing I've learnt from
this process over the last few months? Although the body is important, it's the
head and the heart that rule.
What is GUCR?
Well a couple of years ago that was something I asked. I'd been running
distance for sometime and every now and then people would mention their bucket
list events and these four letters would occasionally come up?
The Gran Union
Canal Race! This year would be its 23rd year and in this time its became ultra
running folklore. Small in scale compared to
the large commercial events that now appear everywhere but huge in stature as
100 people every year attempt to run the 145 miles along the Grand Union Canal
from Birmingham to Little Venice in Paddington London.
I'd hear stories
from people I knew that had taken part and even though the
distance by today's standards isn't that long (a 615 mile event was taking
place at the same time this year), events that go on much longer than GUCR start to
become something else in my mind. Absolutely respect all events but any longer
and the simple race format starts to change after.
You would see
people wear the GUCR finisher hoodies with pride at other events and you'd
naturally have to nod in respect as you knew they belonged to an exclusive
club, So when did my
GUCR story start? Well actually you could say 4 years ago when I did my first
ultra Country to Capital 45 miles that includes in its second half the actual
finish of the it's "big brother", so that least I'd recced the
finish!
The actual story starts end of last year when I was looking for an main event for 2017 and
it was coming up to ballot time for this and I thought "why not"
probably won't get a place as it's over subscribed every year so I put my name
in the hat. The night of the draw came and lovely Gin Lawson who'd actually traveled
up to watch it kindly messaged me to say I'd got a place... Poop was my first
reaction if I'm honest.
I next needed a
plan for training. Like any other running event you need to put the miles in
before hand or race day won't end well most times. I started like usual
plotting key build up races slowly building distance up then planning training
runs in between. The first of these buildup events was in January and it took
five long cold months before I towed the start line.
So how did I
train compared to previous 100's? I did more 50 mile events and tougher long
runs but I also ran faster generally than before determined to give myself the
best shot possible, what I also planned was waking practice as I'd lost time
previously when run/walking/hiking as my pace was slow (never managed walking training).
The other big
difference to the norm was this time I had a crew. The GUCR splits the
entries in two groups "supported and unsupported". I'm not sure if
it's true but I thought as it was difficult to get a crew for these events,
maybe I stood a better chance in the draw? Anyway I put out a
message on social media and amazingly got some offers of help and Team Brazier was born!
At about this
time started to search for as much information on the event as possible. I also spoke to a few friends that had done the event and
Colin Barnes from my Race Kit in Southend even gave me his detailed race plan
spreadsheet from previous years he'd taken part this was going to prove
critical as it formed the plan for my whole team. The plan was based on a
finishing time of 34 hrs but to be honest my only real goal was to finish and
to finish in daylight in the second day as mentally a second night would be
tough.
So who was in
the team? I needed I figured I needed at least 5 people's help ideally. One to
crew support following me between checkpoints on route feeding me as required
Saturday day, one Saturday night and one Sunday day. I'd also like two buddy
runners (not pacers as assistance isn't allowed) to keep me company in the 2nd
half.
The Crew
Dan who is part
of the admin team for a local running event was the first shift, Gerry who as
well as a decent runner is Mr Parkrun Chelmsford was night shift and lastly was
Len, ultra runner and again an experienced event director. For running company
I had Brian who's paced me successfully on every 100 I've done and Darren who I
train with regularly and is probably one of the most solid all round ultra runners
I know.
What was most
important though was I could trust them all literally with my life. I knew this
would be the hardest event I'd done and I knew they'd be times when I couldn't
think straight and these people would be my safety net if all else failed, I
need to trust them totally (cue dramatic music).
Anyway after
weeks of running and meeting after meeting my bags and boxes were packed and it
was the day before the event and I was waiting for Dan to take me to Birmingham
in his camper which as decked out with everything you could need for an event
like this (including the kitchen sink!)
The Kit (not including food)
After a chilled
out ride to Birmingham we somehow managed to stumble on the hotel where
registration was taking place and the bar opposite where most of the runners
were eating.
I booked us into
our hotel 5 mins walk away and I lined up with some of the who's who of ultra
running to sign on the dotted line.
Over the road it
was again an all star meet up with people wearing race shirts from some of the
most exclusive events around the world. I felt a little out of my depth but it
was nice to see some familiar faces such as Fiona, Jo, Baz and Colin. Me
and Dan had a couple of beers and some food then went back to the hotel for an early night as
it was a 4:45 alarm call.
Unlike some
who'd stayed at hotels right in the centre we had a quiet night and I got up
just before the alarm and sorted my kit for the last time before tucking into a
tin of cold baked beans and sausages, just like being in the army again! I
grabbed my kit and met up with Fiona, Joe and Chris and walked to the start
around the corner where it was good to see more people I recognised.
The Premier Crew
We were asked to
walk to the canal side and after a short speech by Dick Kearn the original race
director who in the last years handed the reins to Keith Gooden, it was the
countdown and we were all running.
The first thing
I noticed was I was near the back of the 107 starters with everyone I knew nowhere to be seen. I didn't want to go out quick
especially as it was due to be steaming hot but it was still early and cool so
I guess it's run while you can, so I stepped up the pace to try and find people
I knew. Luckily I caught up Colin and Paul Adams who I knew through a couple of
events and were soon jogging together.
Felt pretty good
jogging along trying to stick to 10 minute miles for as long as possible which
was a minute and a half faster per mile than planned. As a result I was
building up time in the bank that I was going to need later as it turned out
but still not trying to go too fast that I burnt out before even halfway. This
was my biggest concern pre-race and I guess I was going to suck it and see.
I'd asked to
meet Dan before the first official stop even though I didn't think I'd need him
but just in-case I had some kit issues that needed sorting quick but all good
so far so we pushed on and soon we got to the first stop at 10 miles, I filled one of my
bottles and was offered something to eat by Emily of Paul's crew.
The three of us
were running well together and although I was kitted out and prepared to run
alone it was nice having company especially Colin who had already completed
this a number of times. We carried on like this as it got warmer and the early
storm rain that had cooled us had long done and it was mega humid.
The pace was
steady for at least 30 miles but soon Colin needed some admin time so we jogged
on but didn't see him for a while and we were down to a duo. The crew support
was amazing with Paul's team being at one point and mine at the next. Dan had
the bottles I needed and some food in a small pack and I'd let him know for the
next stop if I wanted something different. Crewing isn't easy but it was all going to plan.
By now the day
was really warm and the pace earlier was showing so we started to
run/walk allowing the body time recover I think we were on 25 run 5 mins walk
and this was working well as the overall pace was slower approximately 11
min/miles but we were saving energy.
The next
milestone was 45. At this point we would be less than 100 miles left and was
described as where the event really starts from! We kept this going past 50 and
what I called the first race of three completed. I don't think you can go and
think about the complete distance so I said it's 2 x 50 milers with a 45 mile
at the end. So I was on part two and all good.
Coming up to 55 miles and we are in yet another country section where the Canal just cuts
through the fields and nothing else, it's nice but hours of the same backdrop was
starting to get a bit repetitive. Luckily we were approaching the point where a work friend
lived and said she'd pop down to say hi. We were actually bang on 34 hr
pace still so there might be a chance to see her. I'd already seen a friend Caroline
and it's a real boost and then in the distance I thought I could see Suzanne and her family and
friends coming up and yes it was them, they'd made banners and had loads of snacks etc. They'd
probably been waiting a while for me and it was amazing.
By now we were
preparing to reach the 70 mile point of the race and nearly halfway and more
significant for me is the fact that I'll be switching crews to Gerry for the
night section and also picking up Brian as a buddy runner. Dan's shift was
over. He'd been amazing, he'd
managed to gauge my needs throughout the day and been there when I'd needed
him. Top guy!
Talking of top
guys, as I was running into the aid station on Navigation Bridge where I was
heckled from the pub by the one and only James Adams! I'd like thank him (I
think for the motivation), I'd also re-read his GUCR sections in his book prior
to the race and the advice was invaluable.
I took the
opportunity to change my kit for the night and wondered if the new UD Timmy
Olson race vest I'd used so far would take all the kit I needed as it was
pretty lightweight but it did fantastic carrying a jacket, two mobiles, two
water bottles, space blanket, battery charger and some food and more!
I also
had by now blisters on both little toes and this was just annoying and even though I'd
Vas'd them and wore toe socks this always happens on super long distances, maybe
I'll tape them next time but for now I thought I'd take a chance and change
shoes from Trailrocs to a pair of Altra's as they
have a massive toe box and thought I'd give them a go as the feet swelled. Talking of footwear for
a second. I'd been asked a few times on the event why no running sandals? Well
I didn't want to take the chance if I was honest as I'd never worn them on any 100's but next goal is NDW100 in Luna’s maybe?
Running into the 70 mile CP
Anyway, we set off again but now with Brian my new member of
the team in toe. We met our crews more frequently as the light faded into
darkness and we were still managing to run / walk at a steady pace but it was
obviously getting hard work as the day was starting to catch up with me. It's has been said I do sometimes like a moan when running at nights and although
I always warn people of this and friends know what Im like when Im tired, I do
honestly try and keep as much inside as possible.
Me and Paul had struck up a really decent partnership in
the day, taking it in turns to lead and set the pace where we could and this
worked well but soon I noticed my turns at the front were getting less and less
and I was being pulled along. I know what this is like and I eventually told
Paul I was sorry I couldn’t set the pace now. Paul was cool but I struggle when
I try and run someone else’s pace so I started to think about my next choices?
I said to Brian that I needed to stop at some point and
sit down. I know people say “beware of the chair” but I’ve never had an issue
getting back up and sometimes I need to rest the legs and the mind for a for
minutes and I feel this sometimes helps you continue after resetting yourself. We
approached a check point at 85 miles and I told the guys I’d need to stop soon
and chose 90 miles at Leighton Buzzard. When I eventually got there I said
goodbye to Paul and thanked him for his support including his wife Emily and
the whole crew and Gerry emptied the back of his car and set up a bed for me to
try and sleep. I asked him to wake me in 20 minutes and under no circumstances
move the car or I’d be DQ’d and I shut my eyes thinking I’d drop straight off but not a chance. The body was so twitchy that I couldn’t go off so I lay there
with my eyes closed just determined to relax.
My bedroom for 20 minutes
Suddenly the tailgate opened and Gerry said it was time
to get up. Well now I was spaced out like a rabbit in the headlights and the
body was shaking violently due to the change in temperature. I put my kit back on as
quickly as possible and me and Brian set off into the night. We carried on the
run walk but the run sections were noticeably shorter but I tried to increase
the walking pace to compensate but we were slower now and the large amount of
time I had in the bank from earlier was rapidly disappearing and the 100 mile
point seemed to never come.
At around 4am, the sun began to come up and I had a
little mental boost and kept pushing and eventually we approached the Pub by
the canal at just under 100 miles but my watch had me covering 102 miles
already. Even with the major slow down I managed to get to 100 miles in 22
hours 20 minutes, actually a 100 mile PB by 1 hour and 23 minutes. This was
great but as I said I feared now as the new day set in that I’d start the
dreaded “death march” and what I initially called the last race of 45 miles
could take a very long time.
We left the 100 mile point and walked along the canal
path knowing we were approaching the M25 and places that were familiar. One of
the strangest facts so far in the event was how I had absolutely no idea where
I was at any time. I try not to look at the watch too much or the time on
really long events as I find when you try and tick off miles they never come quick
enough especially 24 hours in.
As the sun came up fully and the heat started to cook me
again, I started to really flag and the race was now a full time march with
running forgotten. I could barely walk in a straight line and Brian needed to
keep on the water side of me just to make sure I didn’t take a dip. All I could think
of now was getting to 115 miles and the crew / buddy runner change.
As anyone who has run a long ultra will know, managing the
head is a huge part of the event. I’m getting better the more I do as I used to
moan loads. Now I tend try and keep the moaning inside and this time they’d
been a lot of it. Some time on any long run you’ll have low points. This is due
to fatigue, lack of calories. I normally try and smash as many
calories as I can as soon as I notice this and also shift my focus onto
something else but there are times when all you can think about is stopping.
This has been covered loads of times before but I was telling myself 100
reasons why quitting would be ok. I’d PB’d 100 miles so that’s a great
achievement, I’m not enjoying this so just stop, I have a niggle in my ankle that’s
getting worst, and so on.
What you need to do is ignore these demons. I thought
about all the time I’d put into training and all the things I’d missed with my family
so I could do this. Running is selfish at the best of times but then doing 5
months of training to bin it when the going gets really tough would result in
me not being able to look my family and friends in the eye. The other thing was
my crew. They invested their time to support me and I’d promised them
that I wouldn’t quit. Little things like I had the race event shirts already
and what the heck was I going to do with them if I didn’t finish? Plus
ultimately I didn’t want to come back (unless I wanted too). I’d listed the “pros”
and “cons” and continuing won.
As we approached the lock at 108 miles I saw Gerry and
the crew plus some extra people? Len and Darren had noticed I was struggling
pace wise and come forward one leg to change over teams early and it was just what I
needed as I was walking dead and slumped on the floor for a minute to compose myself.
Brian and Gerry were amazing and words don’t actually
cover how I feel about all these guys. Actions were required now and I knew I
needed to get this done for everything they put into this. I ate a few things,
switched bottles and this time is was Darren’s job to keep me out the canal. Brian on the handover had told
Darren that we’d not ran for some time and I felt bad as I know how strong a
runner he is and I felt like I was letting him down by being so slow and
keeping him by my side and he couldn’t even push the pace or loosen his legs by
sprinting forwards as this would be assistance.
After a while he suggested we try a little run just for
a short while and only because the legs could probably benefit from some
different movement every now and then. So I started to shuffle. It felt so slow
and I thought that I was moving like I’d messed myself (which I probably had
being honest). But it was faster than walking and morale wise it was good.
The jog didn’t last long but as I started to slowly wake
up I was jogging more and more. I was also getting frustrated how long it was
taking to get further down the course and I needed to get a move or the 2nd
night was a real possibility. We kept meeting Len who was now supporting with Dan who was back in the game.
We even started to overtake some people which felt very
strange and it was nice to see others especially a few I knew but a little
jaded as some were obviously battling their own race and that’s the thing with these events, you never
know what can happen but I hoped we all would make it to the finish.
Chilling
We eventually reached the 120 mile check point and I sat
down again to eat probably the best bacon sarnie I’ve ever had (sorry vegan
friends) with less than a marathon to go. I was trying to eat as much as possible even though the appetite had
long gone and I think I’ll need to look into liquid calories in future events as I
was also feeling sick and wondered if it could be the large amount of Tailwind supplements
I’d consumed? I had no idea but despite the extreme heat on both days, I’d not
actually crashed to a standstill yet some a little sickness is ok by me.
We pushed on and suddenly something just clicked in my
head. On a running section I decided to start pushing the pace again and soon
I realised I could actual run pretty well. I was 125 miles into a race and doing
9 mm’s sections again, the pace was really starting to pick up
and now we were passing even more people. What was amazing talking of people were
the public. Everyone seemed to know what we were doing and clapped and cheered
every time we passed. Young, old, anyone seemed to be in awe of what we were
doing and that really helped. What I also started to do was believe for the
first time I was barring any disaster going to finish, it was now just down to
how long?
The biggest landmark that I knew on the whole course and
the final pat on the back that you’d probably be ok (cut-off depending) for me
was Bull’s Bridge where you turn left onto the Paddington spur of the canal and
13 miles to the finish. This sounds like its in the bag but what I also knew
from Country to Captial was that this could be the slowest, hardest 13 miles
ever. 13 miles would normally take a couple of hours at most but this could
take 2 or even 3 times that. We pushed for one more mile and arrived at the
last aid station where Len and Dan were also there as usual. That was it. No
more aid stations until the finish and 12 miles to go. .
We continued up the canal and I was telling Darren that
we’d soon start seeing the signs of the finish like the railway lines, the posh
apartments then the supermarkets and flats but they never seemed to appear?
Eventually after what seen like an age we did get there and I even managed to sprint finish and I crossed
the finish line 36 hours 44 minutes and by my watch 147 miles later and we were
done. Of course Len and Dan were there!
Paul Adams and me at the
finish
All that’s left to say is thanks to everyone. My crew,
fellow runners and their crews, my friends that supported me on the way, race
organisers and finally my family. You are all amazing!
