3rd in the 2008 Vasque Ultra-running Champs

HOW DID YOU GET INTO RUNNING?

The first success I had at running was at boarding school in Kent. I had always been the unsporty one who was picked last for rugby or cricket games (with good reason). With this almost total ineptitude for ball sports, cross country was the obvious sport for me. The high point of my sporting career was coming second in the prestigious inter-house cross country competition at school. I had worked my way from the back of the field, overtaking the rugby and cricket team and getting into the lead with a mile to go. I let my lead slip before the finish line and this had always preyed on mind.

Letting that lead slip was at the forefront of my mind as Stephen Watts and myself edged into the lead in the 2006 Old County Tops race. I never thought that 25 years on I would be once more in a position to win a race and lay the ghost of the inter-house cross country race to rest. I had a serious pep talk with Stephen and we powered on to finish ahead of a crack South Wales team by 10 minutes. Winning that race was such an amazing feeling and I knew then that ultra-distance running was the sport that I wanted to do.

 

It would be untrue to say that those 25 years between my school days and the Old County Tops were full of sloth. I had got seriously into climbing at the end of university. As seems to happen to many climbers, I gravitated towards the KIMM. On our 3rd KIMM, we stepped up to the elite course and I built my running up from there. Eight KIMM elites eventually make you feel like you can run and you can take the punishment.

WHATS YOUR JOB AND LIFE LIKE?

There are so many things that I'm interested in that leading a normal life seems to be on the back burner. Maybe I can try to live a life like everyone else when I'm old and broken. I have a great job as a telecoms engineer in Chippenham. One of the great things about work is that we have our own trail running team: IPWireless Harriers. We compete in the Cotswold Way Relay every year and do pretty well for a company of 100 people: getting 10 good runners out every year. I've even been team captain twice! At lunchtimes, we run round the footpaths at the back or work. I seem to be team navigator on these lunchtime runs.

There are too many things outside work to take up my time: climbing, caving and now sailing. Sailing has now become a big part in my life. I got the bug in the Three Peaks Yacht Race 2007 and now own my own yacht: a Contessa 26 called Cervisia. I now love being out at sea on boats. There seems to be that sense of adventure and there is so much to learn and explore. I guess I love the prospect of those new horizons. Don't worry though: I will keep my focus on running. The Three Peaks Yacht Race will ensure that.

WHAT TYPE OF RUNNER ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO RUN ON (TERRAIN ETC)?

Although I have wavered from time to time, I'm basically committed 100% to off road running. I find it so much more interesting than the tarmac. It is fantastic to be out in the countryside with all the great beauty that we have around us. When you are a long distance runner, you are in a fairly unique position to be able to cross and feel at one with large tracts of pretty inhospitable terrain. On a race like the Plumlumon Challenge or Rhayader Mountain Trail race you get to see some fantastically wild places that it isn't possible to see any other way: horses and bikes can't reach some of these places. It is a special feeling.

 

I think that variety is important to me in running. As well as the inhospitable beauty of places like mid Wales, I also enjoy running races like Wuthering Hike which combine the moors with historic northern mill towns. I'm also a big believer in doing races that don't suit me. I know I'll never do well in a race like the Downland Ultra, but I think it is good for my running to force myself into a style of running that doesn't particularly suit me.

WHAT ARE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR?

My greatest achievement was being runner-up in the 2007 runfurther series. I had a real battle with the eventual winner, Allen Smalls, over the last few races. I gave it my best shot, had a lot of exhilarating moments and come oh so close to pulling it off.

I am also really proud of winning the King of the Mountains trophy in the Three Peaks Yacht Race 2007 and 2008. In 2007, we were on one of the smallest boats in the fleet. We would get into a port quite low down in the field (due to the sheer brutality of the conditions: headwinds really slow down smaller boats) and then pull back a lot of time to emerge from port in the top quarter of the field. In 2008, we broke the Scafell Pike record. I am very proud of this achievement: it was something that I had wanted, but had thought was barely possible.

I have some success in team and individual races, including winning the Old County Tops in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the Four Inns in 2008, the High Peak Marathon in 2007 and the Rhayader Mountain Trail race in 2007.

I've been doing quite well in mountain marathons of late. I have been improving in the KIMM (now OMM) elite over the years and am waiting for that breakthrough run. I feel it could happen one day. I just need everything to fall into place.

I have also been active on long distance challenges. I did an 18h52m Bob Graham in 2006. This year I had a very good run along the length of the Cotswold Way, finishing in 22h44m (the second fastest time: now there's unfinished business!) and am the record holder for the Green Man Challenge (an off road run around my home city of Bristol).

THE VASQUE SERIES THIS YEAR - WHAT HAVE YOU DONE AND WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO?

 

 

I did the Wuthering Hike and Calderdale Hike in spring. My points for these races were scuppered by the amazing form of Matt Giles. I was oh so close to beating Mark Hartell at Calderdale and now feel I have unfinished business there - Mark: watch out!

July saw me competing in the Downland Ultra. This was my first race since the Three Peaks Yacht Race (which really took it out of me). The heat was stifling and this really affected me i the last quarter of the race. I got myself one more point than I did at Wuthering Hike, but I enjoyed the race and the atmosphere. It was good to know that I could pull through in those sorts of conditions.

I am doing Pumlumon Challenge (which is a fantastic race through some amazing countryside) and Long Mynd Hike (the UTMB of the UK: you feel like you're part of a really big event and what amazing scenery!). I want to have a really good crack at Long Mynd as this is going to be my long score counter for the series. Pumlumon will be a bonus that I hope will see me move up the series results table.

I would have liked to have done more of the series races this year, but other races have got in the way. I missed Osmotherley because I could hardly walk for the week after the exhaustion of the Three Peaks Yacht Race.

WHAT OTHER RACES / EVENTS DO YOU INTEND TO ENTER?

The big event for me after the last two Vasque series races will be the 2008 OMM. I really enjoy team events and the OMM is an event where team work really counts.

 

A big ambition I have is to race the Three Peaks Yacht Race 2009 in my Contessa 26. This would be a real grassroots attempt. I would love to run and sail this race with a pure trail running / fell running team. I think that the team spirit that sees me through races like the OMM or High Peak Marathon would stand the team in good stead. Not everything in life needs to be easy and I think that an attempt on the King of the Mountains trophy in Cervisia would be a life changing experience to me. Looks like I need to get training on the running and practicing on how to control those flappy things attached to my boat.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE KIT YOU WEAR FOR YOUR SPONSORS?

I'm a huge fan of my Vasque Velocity VSTs. I was the only runner in the Old County Tops race this year to wear trail shoes and I won this race (with my partner Tom). It made a real difference to have a comfortable and springy pair of shoes with a good grip. On a race with a combination of rock and grass, I think they really make a difference. My feet had no complaints after 37 miles of punishment (or is that 37 miles of TLC in a pair of Velocity VSTs?).

I've always worn Thorlo socks in any case, so it has been a privilege to be sponsored by them. The most important thing for me is the extra cushioning that they give me. The fact that they keep my toes nice and warm is a bonus (anyone who did the Calderdale Hike in the slush this year will know where I'm coming from!).

I love my Capestorm long sleeved top. It gets many envious glances. It seems to have the right combination of warmth and wicking abilities. The thumb holes in the sleeves are great. I think I sometimes just end up fiddling with those holes, but when it gets cold, they really help to make a kind of mitten out of the end of the sleeves for my poor cold fingers. I think Capestorm will end up being official clothiers for my 2009 Three Peaks Yacht Race attempt. We might even win the trophy for the best dressed boat!