Our featured runner for April 08 is Wendy Dodds - this one needs to be read - question is - what hasn't she won or competed in?
We asked her the same questions as Lizzie - see what she says!
How long have you been running Ultras?
Since 1972
How did you get into the sport?
I began life as a swimmer, knowing that I was always more suited to endurance events in that I could do the first 100m of an 800m swim as fast as I could do a ‘straight’ 100m, but could never improve upon my basic speed (this was the longest competitive distance for woman at that time-I was the No 3 in GB for 800m in the mid sixties)
At University, although continuing to swim (and obtaining a ‘blue’) I started orienteering, with Val Pacey (now Finch) the then British women’s orienteering champion being one of the stalwarts of the club. It was Val who suggested we do the ‘KIMM’ in 1972 as a women’s team had never completed this (a women’s team entered in 1971 but DNF). My training for this was to walk the Pennine Way in 9 days, carrying camping gear, a month before. This KIMM was my first ‘Ultra’ and MMs became one of my favourite events and have now done 34 British KIMMs (always A or E, with various long suffering partners!), a couple of overseas ones, numerous LAMMs (and its predecessors), a few SLMMs and a few MMMs. In the early days of KIMMs I started doing LDWA events as training, particularly the ‘Chiltern marathon’ the month before.
First fell race in 1977 and had my first attempt at the BG that year (this was-at a few days notice (!)- joining the late Chris Brasher on one of his numerous attempts), but being tempted into a car at Newlands church by Ken Ledward as I was over the 24 hours (getting lost on Dalehead, not knowing the route!). ‘Never again’ said I but a long run on the Scottish hills a few days later and plans were set in motion for a serious (and successful) attempt the following year. I did the Fellsman a couple of times in the seventies when it was a midday start and boots were compulsory. A favourite race was the Manx Mt marathon and Janet Sutcliffe (first woman in the Fellsman in the early seventies) and I would unofficially do the men’s race as the women did a shorter race from St Johns. I was particularly pleased to do 5.30 in 1991 as a V40, but as the course has changed, that no longer stands as the woman’s record. The earlier achievement that year was to set a new record (previously held by Olympic marathon runners Veronique Marot and Angie Page) with Sarah (Rowell) (another Olympic marathon runner and a future MM partner) in the Howarth Hobble (now the Wuthering Hike).
During the 80s I did about 15 road marathons (PB @ 40, 3.00) and did quite a few Triathlons (4th in British long course, 3rd in Grand prix series), but missed the hills.
Did quite a lot of XC skiing in the 80s, doing a number of the European ultra events. Also competed for GB in ski-orienteering at this time.
In 1982 after a few abandoned attempts because of weather, did the first completion of the Paddy Buckley round, though in 25 hours, which included getting lost in the dark coming off Moel Eilio when I had to leave a co-contender and again in the quarries out of Llanberis.
Did the 3 peaks yacht race in 1983 and a couple of times since, including 2004. Done the Scottish Peaks yacht race in 1984 and several times since including in 2005. This year did the Hong Kong 4peaks yacht race, this being the third fundraiser for the charity 5girls in a boat. This raises money for cancer charities, with Susan Rutter being the instigator, Julie Fawcett the skipper, with fellow runners Nicky Lavery and Ali Bramall making up the team.
Did the West Highland Way race (95miles) in 1990 and 1991, first woman in both and 3rd overall in 1991.
My longest event was the Dragon’s Back, only held once, in 1992. A superb 5 day race, in pairs, over the Welsh hills and Sue Walsh ( a long standing MM partner) and I were pleased to be about 9th in this.
Planned 50 @ 50 for 2001 but prevented by FMD, so attempted a Ramsey Round which had been an ambition for many years, ever since doing a Tranter’s round with Charlie (Ramsey) in 1977, a few months after his original RR. Had been over the route many times over the years waiting for an opportunity. A late call left me with few pacers, but was going well (c/w) until the Mamores, when the weather changed and I ended up with another ‘25’ hour round.
What I was delighted to achieve in 2001 was to complete the Cuillin ridge on Skye in a single outing, particularly as I am not a rock climber.. I had been attempting this over 25 years so knew the area well but it was only in perfect conditions that with the help of Ronnie Jackson (brave enough to stay beneath me on the way up and down the In Pin)
2002 did an extended BG, 51 @ 51 (with a few extras making it 54!), faster and easier than my original BG! It was one of those days when everything went well, helped by superb hill and road support. An attempt to ‘crack’ 24hours for a PBR a few months later was abandoned after bad overnight weather exhausted me.
Had details of the TMB when it was a stage race but it was only in 2005 when Sarah (Rowell) mentioned it to me that I planned it for 2006, having been too late to get an entry in 2005. I was disappointed with my time, hoping to be closer to 30hours (35 hours) but delighted to finish and unexpectedly to be 3rd W 50. Had always planned the Fellsman as preparation for the TMB but had never thought of doing the Run Further series. It was Wayne Percival asking me straight after the 3 Peaks if I was doing Rhayader, the following week who sowed the seed and it proved to be perfect preparation for the TMB.
What goals/targets do you have that you are prepared to share?
Just want to be able to keep running over the hills. Hopefully Tasmanian 3 peaks yacht race in 2008, to complete our fundraising for 5 girls in a boat.
Are you interested in challenging for any of the UK 24 hour records - Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley or Charlie Ramsay?
I would love to do a sub 24 hour PBR and RR, but don’t know if it is still achievable for me.
Tell us a bit about your training - are you organised and structured or just someone who loves to run and makes time to do so....or do you pretend not to train at all?
I have generally favoured LSD, using races as my ‘speed’ work. A serious foot injury in 2003 made me drastically reduce my mileage and I have relied on a lot of ‘cross-training’ since then, most of my running being in races. Because of being some distance away from my club, CLEM, a lot of training has been on my own but since being (back) in the NW, I enjoy the company of the TNRG (Thursday night running group, a mixed and very supportive group of running friends). In the 90s, when ‘Munro bagging’ I used this as training often having 15hour outings in the hills
What inspires/motivates you?
I love being in a ‘mountain environment’ and get a ‘buzz’ from racing
What pays the mortgage (ie: job)
Old enough not to have a mortgage! Am a consultant rheumatologist, but a main interest is sports and exercise medicine. This only became a recognised speciality in GB last year, but I have been practicing this since 1979 when I was working with Dr Ian Adams in the Sports Injuries clinic at St James Hospital in Leeds. Have been as doc with many teams, particularly orienteering and athletics (mainly juniors) at World Championships and at World University Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games. More recently acting as doc on charitable treks raising money for Retrak (helping street children in Uganda and now extending into other African countries, www.retrak.org ), Kilimanjaro in 2004, Mount Sinai in 2006, ? Simean mountains in Ethiopia in 2008
When not running I love to.....?
Walk/ski in the mountains!
Favourite book
Love a good novel but cannot single one out.
Favourite race food
Chocolate but if its warm, marzipan, or a long race-condensed milk goes down easily. Rice pudding before ultras.
Funniest thing that has happened to you out running
Getting ‘caught’ during a quick ‘pit stop’!
Soapbox? (anything you want to rant about that is wrong in this world - toilets at races, walking poles, uncontrolled dogs ...whatever)
Would like people in the ‘Western’ world to have a greater appreciation of their ‘half full’ opportunities/provision etc. rather than looking at the ‘half empty’ scenario. Also wish people would do more to promote their own health by making life style change.
Excellent career so far - keep it up Wendy and see you at the many 2008 Vasque Ultra-running Champ races.
