When I’d last entered the Dunstable Downs 20 mile Challenge in 2010 I’d ended up downgrading to the half marathon distance due to injury and had thoroughly enjoyed the run in the sunshine. I wasn’t exactly on perfect form this year either what with plantar fasciitis still nagging my left foot, I decided to go for it anyway and just take it nice and easy. A poor nights sleep and dubious stomach meant I really didn’t want to bother when I got up at 6:30am but experience has shown that how I feel before a race is usually totally unrelated to how I feel during and after.
So, equipped with Garmin, water belt, gels and 3 pages of route sheet I really hoped I wouldn’t have to try and follow I found myself in the sunshine at the Creasley Football Centre start along with a couple of hundred other runners, some for the half and full marathon versions, and 2 football pitches worth of youngsters playing to impress their parents. A jog round the field, a megaphone announcement I couldn’t hear as everyone kept chatting, and we were off.
A gentle first mile then a walk up a short but very steep chalk hill and we were on the downs admiring the view of the countryside and glider station below. Keeping it easy I chatted with a bloke in black who was also doing the 20 miler and who I would run with on and off throughout the day. I mentioned that from the profile the steepest 3 climbs seemed to be immediately after the control points and sure enough I was walking straight after the first water point and those who tried to run it could mostly be seen slowing to a walk up ahead.
Single track through some lovely woodland, stubble paths across now a bit hot for comfort fields, a few very quiet lanes, rolling up and down. The half marathon disappeared through a hole in the hedge around mile 7, we split from the marathon a mile later, not very many of us now and I was sometimes running alone, sometimes pointing the way for those who had stopped to study the route sheet. I was glad I had the course to follow on my Garmin. More water about mile 11 by which time both my bottles needed refilling and I was hot enough to tip a cup over my head. I was thoroughly enjoying the event but also slowing and by mile 14 I was taking a few walking breaks without the excuse of a hill. I could maybe have pushed a little harder but was more intent on finishing uninjured and still smiling.
I caught a young lady in red who was taking a walk break but using the motivation of not losing sight of her navigating companions to spur herself on, I wondered whether I should tell her she really needed to wipe her nose but thought better of it as I’m pretty good at causing unintentional offence. I caught up with my buddy in black who asked how far to the next water, a mile I said, mile and a half at most. He must have been struggling as when I next looked back he’d vanished. I started yoyoing with another run walker then recognised the lane to the water station which I’d run straight past 2 years ago on the half. A good drink, fill-up, one over the head and I was off again. It must have been about 28 degrees, not bad for September!
The last 5 miles climbed gently up to Dunstable Downs again where everyone was out sunbathing, kite-flying, dog walking, picnicking and making the most of what may well have been the last hot weekend of 2012. I jogged most of the tarmac track along the top, at one point finding myself jumping over a kite string while being chased down by a 4 year old. I passed another runner who was having a walk break and then it was back down the steep hill we’d climbed at the start and less than a mile to go.
As I took a last stroll to prepare for my sprint finish (ha ha) a marshal appeared and chatted, checking I knew where I was going and commenting that he could never get the official Garmin course to work. Then right onto a residential street, a couple of turns and back into Creasely park for a 3hr 50m finish 43/65. I drank the water I was handed, selected a mug as my memento, and sat in the shade for a bit. It was another 5 minutes before we cheered the bloke I’d passed on the downs over the line and I never did see the chap in black I was running with earlier finish. An official told me one runner had been in such a state less than a mile before the finish they’d had call medical help. All in all I was pleased with my comfortable, if slow, run.
