The Thunder Run is a 24 hour relay race based on a 10km circuit, for soloist (I.e. nutters) or teams of 2 to 8, with categories for pairs, teams of up to 5 and teams of up to 8. This year there were 188 teams of 8.
Having first read about the Thunder Run a couple of years ago, I had been very interested to take part. We started kicking the idea around in the office and actually settled on Race24, a similar event earlier in the year. Unfortunately we never got round to getting organised. In the meantime, Alistair had pulled together a Harpenden Arrows team, and entered the Thunder Run.
Chatting to Alistair a few weeks ago, it became apparent that there were some gaps appearing in the team - a combination of injury, pregnancy, overseas visitors and Olympics tickets eventually knocked out the whole team. Having talked about it at work, I still had some interested parties there, so Lisa and I juggled the domestic diary to make it work, and are delighted that we did.
So, we ended up with a team of seven although team Arrows was outnumbered by team Zurich, whichever camp I put myself in. We even had a support crew of my two sons (aged 7 and 5) and Nati, Andreas's girlfriend.
The Harpenden Contingent drove up Saturday morning, to find a remarkably full campsite - clearly you must turn up Friday to get a decent pitch. Fortunately we found a corner they had just opened up, and were getting sorted as the taxi dropped the others off having come by train. Race plans - have fun, get round - and targets - 24 laps makes sense - sorted, Alistair was volunteered for the first lap. The five guys took it in turns, with Lisa and Natasha forming a 6th team - Natasha running against medical advice, so only doing one lap, and Lisa not thinking she was that daft (yet!)
Alistair handing over to Andreas was our first experience of the transition zone, something we would get more familiar with as time went on. Effectively the outgoing runners stood in a set area, and as the guys finishing their laps crossed the line, so you pushed forwards, took the wrist band/baton and off you went.
I went third, taking over from Andreas and inevitably setting off far too fast. The first 750m or so was flat, out of the campsite and alongside some woodland. You then turned an abrupt right and headed up the steep hill into the woods, with the odd steep descent before coming out the top, and starting the long descent back into the campsite. Passing through the campsite at this stage was great, as we went close to our tent, so tended to get a good cheer. Out the other side and you found the first of many sections that wound their way through the trees, before another steep climb at 4km, followed by a rutted MTB path through the trees. Open fields and a water stop at 5km led to the next climb and nice springy woodland paths. From 7 to 8k was muddy, but 8k on was a nice sweeping downhill, apart from a quick kick up hill just before the fast finish and handover.
As the day went on we settled into a routine. Remembering to stop and relax between runs became important as well as time wore on. Lisa ran her first lap about 4pm, and so we started the cycle again, with Alistair first to complete his second. After my second, so we got the boys into their beds. I grabbed a quick bowl of pasta and then got my head down - temperatures were dropping and I knew I would be running again about 1am. Sleep was a little hard to come by with noise around the tent, a band playing in the site next door and the odd generator running. However, I was at least horizontal, although realised I did not have enough layers as I was getting cold.
I was just getting up when Alistair came to give me a nudge, so was ready quite early for my run. Head torch on, I wandered up to the changeover area. There were still plenty of people milling around- the more serious teams had supporters staking out the 9k mark and then finish to ensure things were going smoothly, and there were plenty still in the catering tent. It was interesting to see the results at this stage - 13 hours in, the top 2 soloists had each completed 12 laps, and were only about a minute apart.
The run in the dark was fun - using your own and other torches to pick out landmarks, and the course was becoming familiar. The guys had lit fires at each of the Marshall points, so the wood smoke was quite atmospheric. I turned my ankle over at the 4k mark - running a bit too hard on a narrow path rutted by mountain bikes, but other than that I really enjoyed racing on the dark twisty course. I handed over to Phil C, grabbed some (not enough) food, put on lots of clothes and went back to bed.
We had juggled the order so Lisa could do her second lap in daylight, after Natasha had gone out at dusk. A tough lap for Phil P meant that it was then quite light by the time Lisa followed Alistair out onto the course. Having an early breakfast with Alistair, we were discussing the running order (literally!) and realised we could hit 24 laps if we had enough runners - by this time, Andreas was injured (ITB) and Phil P/Ali running on empty. Andreas managed his 4th lap and then I took on mine, about 8am by this point. This was the toughest lap for me, warming and loosening after the night and the nagging feeling I had a 5th to come.
The nagging feeling came true. Phil C followed me onto course, and then Lisa talked herself into a 3rd lap - keen to ensure we finished the time and lap target. Give. The furthest Lisa had run before the weekend was 10k, this was a great achievement. As I only had a couple of hours between laps 4 and 5 I opted to keep moving rather than risk stopping. A quick breakfast - I was starving! - then started to strike camp and pack the car before heading over to the changeover.
I took the baton from Lisa about 11:15 - therefore pretty much removing expectation about trying to get done before midday and start a 25th lap. I started cruising therefore, but tried to keep moving. I walked parts of the first hill and also at 4k. Andreas was busy calling me crazy as I ran through the campsite, and I realised that was about marathon distance...
I took 2 gels on that lap - after none on the first 2 and 1 on the next 2. It was enough to keep me going. Pride, as it does, kicked in about 6k when I realised I couldn't take more than an hour. From 8k I enjoyed the long sweep downhill and fellow runners were commenting I was running well - it made a difference from me saying 'well done solo' to the nutters on course.
On the previous lap I had discovered that the kick up hill at 9k was just over 50 steps long. After the cheers from the whole team at the bottom I therefore went up counting 50 on my left foot. A few paces walking and I was over the top. Less than 500m to go and downhill all the way. Heading steadily down the hill I then had another problem as I heard someone on my shoulder. At this point (with all due apologies) there was NO WAY I was going to be chicked. I flew round the final corner and from there the only problem was stopping before I hit the crowd, particularly with James and Matthew flying towards me.
We were done, 24 laps in 24:08, a respectable 93rd out of 188. It was a great weekend, and I lasted a good minute over the finish line before mentioning next year...
So, lessons:
- get at least one or two there the night before and get a pitch saved
- take lots of warm clothes - it is COLD overnight (sleeping/sitting not running)
- have fun - the best running event ever! It's a team sport
- keep fuelling - if there is another lap you need to be ready for it
- have fun -did I mention how good it was?
- best medal yet
- first time I have had cramp on my hands - trying to eat a burger!
- it is amazing what you can do when you want. Whilst I was pleased with my 5 laps, I was extremely proud of Lisa's 3. I tried to tell her this when she finished and got told to get running!
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Location:Catton Park, Staffs
