N
LIFE
F R EW EE ! &
RUNNING You set the pace
SOUTH WEST
HOW AND WHY YOU RUN
Your running tales
COME &S JO I N U k faceboo
on
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Sun lotion compulsory!
100km in 30 degree heat
CHASED BY BLOODY ZOMBIES!
REASONS TO RUN TODAY No excuses! Do it!
EAT FOR ENERGY Nutrition experiment p16
The new race craze RUN THE CLIFFS Cornish adventures p28
LOCAL RACES FOR YOU Compete or for fun p09
Welcome & Contents
Welcome
to Running Life South West
I’ll never forget the first time I ran out of the front door into the sunshine in an attempt to try and fight back the onslaught of middle age. It began when I had noticed in a lucid moment that my belly would wobble over my belt and there was one morning that it suddenly struck me that change was needed. I was used to drinking heavily and sitting in front of screens, whether those screens were TVs or computers. That first run was a revelation in many ways. The way my head turned beetroot red and strangers stared at the panting mess stumbling by made me realise just how dangerously unfit I was. Despite the pain of that first run I was acutely aware of being outside, breathing in fresh air, challenging my body and I knew instinctively this was the start of a
new way. It only took a determined three or four short runs over a couple of weeks before my body began adjusting and coping. Since then, I have completed marathons and running has become part of the tapestry of daily life. I wanted to start Running Life South West magazine with my good friend and fellow runner, Guy Radcliffe, with the aim of creating a magazine that motivates people to run – whether they run already or not and to focus on the lifestyle around running. In some ways I want to give the magazine over to the running community. As Guy and I are both based in the South West we wanted to focus on this region in particular as there is so much to offer runners in this part of the world. Please send in all your running tales and images and we will do our best to publish them. We hope you enjoy this first issue!
Richard Forsyth Editor Richard_forsyth1@hotmail.com
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10 Special thanks to...
MEET THE TEAM Editor: Richard Forsyth Art Editor: Guy Radcliffe Thanks to Threshold Sports for the use of the images for Race to the Stones, all the PR men who have helped out and the team behind the Bristol Half Marathon, for your assistance.
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Guy and Richard after the Bristol 10k… Phew!
Beth Davies Personal Trainer and Nutrition Expert
Scott Purnell Our First Runner Profile
Jon Ford Race Director of Zombie Evacuation
CONTENTS
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16 Did yo?u knowbs
r Pure ca ries a c lo yield 4 y per g of ener . gram
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THE RUN DOWN A round up of the latest news, research and products out there and stories from everyday runners on how they mix running with the pressures of modern life.
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RACE LISTING Find a race in your region. Races in the next two months if you are thinking about a late booking.
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RACE TO THE STONES The inaugural 100km race on the hottest day of the year along the ancient Ridgeway path. Find out what it felt like.
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REASONS TO RUN If you can’t find a good reason to get out the door and run… Here’s 10!
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EAT & RUN Personal Trainer and Nutrition Expert, Beth Davies, starts her column with an experiment on cutting down carbs and raising proteins.
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ZOMBIE EVACUATION VS BRISTOL NIGHT TERROR Fancy something a bit different? Consider being chased by zombies! Two scary races in Bristol to get your armpits in a state.
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INTERVIEW WITH JON FORD Race Director of Zombie Evacuation gives his views on the incredible alternative obstacle course race he has devised – where you need to run for survival against an undead army (you heard right!).
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BRISTOL HALF MARATHON This popular half marathon provides a fast and flat course. Read about this year’s Silver Anniversary race and what it's like to run the Bristol streets.
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RUNSCAPE This issue we look at a picturesque coastal trail on the beautiful cliff tops of Cornwall. Feel inspired!
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CHILDREN'S HOSPICE SOUTH WEST This deserving charity is looking for runners for their races. Go on - sign up and make a difference!
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ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 03
The Run-down
THE RUN-DOWN
News, research, runners and products
Blue for boys, pink for girls
N
ike go for traditional gender colours in their latest running shoe line which was launched as the official apparel worn by their sponsored athletes at the World Championships Athletics in Moscow, earlier in August. With names like ‘Gamma Blue’ and ‘Pink Foil’ the trainer lines set the trend for the fashion-aware. This, after the ‘Volt Yellow’ that was so prevalent in the London Olympics last year. So what’s behind the marketing strategy? “When we talk to athletes, we hear from them that bold, vibrant colours make them feel invincible in competition,” said Sean McDowell, Vice President, Creative Director Running.
Pretty in Pink
FORGET THE KITCHEN SINK! Grandfather, Tony PhoenixMorrison is running from John’O’Groats to Land’s End while carrying a 42kg Smeg fridge strapped on his back. Tony, from Tyne and Wear, is running 1,053 miles. From 3 August Mr Phoenix-Morrison is running 40 marathons in 40 consecutive days in order to raise cash for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. Tony has made a name for himself running with a fridge on his back but vows this will be his last go at this type of challenge. He commented "It's going to be much harder than anything I've ever experienced before. I'm not the slightest bit afraid but I am wary. Some of the roads and the hills, mountains in some cases, will be brutal." For more information Tony’s website is www.tonythefridge. com
04 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
“
When you need a cold drink - take the fridge with you
It's going to be much harder than anything I've ever experienced before. I'm not the slightest bit afraid but I am wary
”
FOR WOMEN WITH DRIVE If you can’t quite afford the sports car then Porsche, Design Sports have a new range of women’s sports clothing out, ideal for runners. The all new women's Easy Trainer is a breathable sports shoe with a minimalist modern design that is equally at home in the gym or out and about at the weekend. It is extremely lightweight and flexible due to a breathable synthetic/textile upper, supportive cushioning and a dance-inspired sole construction. The shoe comes in three different colour combinations. There is also a new Gym Hoodie and there’s a Gym Teambag, offering a stylish but durable place for sports gear. This is made out of water resistant material, has a separate ventilated compartment for shoes and wet clothes, a separate laptop compartment and also a strap to secure a yoga mat.
Hey, hey we’re the monkeys! A team of scientists studied more than 25,000 steps by volunteers on a pressure-sensitive treadmill to research how evolution has shaped the human foot. The findings were that human feet have evolved little over the last 1,000 years according to experts and that we share strong similarities with our treedwelling cousins - chimpanzees, who have flexible, resilient feet. The mid-foot is fully flexible and makes regular contact with the ground for great apes. It has traditionally been supposed that human feet, more adapted to walking, are very different.
Image © Hans Hillewaert
On your marks...
There is also the industry that warns that sport shoes and inserts are essential to keep the human arch stiffly supported to protect against damage. “The idea before was that if this arch wasn't stiff, it probably required treatment. But based on what we found, I don't think that's true,” said Robin Huw Crompton, a physical anthropologist at the University of Liverpool's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease. This latest discovery might back up the bare-foot running community who believe cushioned trainers are not necessary and we are predisposed to running distances naturally.
RUNNING THE WORLD A fitness instructor, Kevin Carr from Ilsington, Devon is now is attempting to run around the world – a distance of 18,000 miles in a record breaking 19 months. He will run across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America as well as Africa and the Arctic circle. He is pulling a lightweight trailer which includes a tent, stove, food, water and a solar panel charger for his satellite tracker. Having left from Haytor in July this year he is expected to return to the same spot on completion of his challenge in February 2015. He told a local reporter: "It's the ultimate test of endurance. You're going as far as possible under your own steam, with no support crew to help you find your way."
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 05
The Run-down
FROM SPECTATOR TO COMPETITOR Scott Purnell races on most weekends.
R PRO NE
RUN
NE
LE FI
LE FI
RUN
Scott Purnell is the Managing Director of Real Design & Media in Bristol, songwriter and guitarist for the indie band Secret Shine and a father to his two girls. As one of the first sign ups to the Running Life South West Facebook community, Scott explains where his passion for running came from and how he manages to fit it in to a busy lifestyle.
T
racing my footsteps back, like most people, I started running at school. For me, the skinniest kid in the class, it was a free pass out of rugby and certain humiliation. I wasn't a natural born pace setter like my talented brother who was selected for the county cross country team. Still, I could hang on to the lead guys and I could usually finish somewhere near the front. Post school days and the lure of music (I joined a band), college, girls, alcohol
R PRO
“
idea about training routines, running gait, energy gels, fartlekking and minutes-permile. Don't get me wrong though, I was no rookie to fitness. I joined a squash club in 2003 and played until I couldn't stand any more on most days and with this came a new level of fitness. I worked hard in the gym to improve my stamina which would occasionally involve pounding the treadmill. I first saw a road race in 2006 – it was the Bristol Half Marathon. I went along to try and spot a couple of friends
The physical goals I have set myself and achieved have encouraged me to be braver in other aspects of my life.
”
and pretty much anything else non-sport-related was a good enough excuse not to put on a pair of shorts and trainers...That phase lasted for the next 15 years!
The start of the obsession - my first race! Now age 42 I still consider myself a running rookie. My first race wasn’t until 2007 at the age of 36 and I had no 06 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
and never did but it didn't matter as the atmosphere was so intoxicating. I watched those men and women of all shapes and sizes, some in agony, some in sheer joy, stagger past the finishing line with their family and friends cheering them on, bathing in their moment of glory. I imagined it was a feeling like scoring a goal in the cup final. For me the seed was sown - I
LARGE IMAGE: Scott leads the charge on this cross country. SMALL IMAGE: Scott's band - Secret Shine
signed up for the Bristol 10k the next day. Lining up for the race on that crisp, sunny May morning I still had no idea what time I would finish in or whether I would finish at all. I didn't wear a watch and I didn't train any more than usual. We’d also recently had our first child so there was very little time to leave the house and pound the streets. My evenings consisted of baby routines and bottles and by the time the morning came I was just too exhausted! I can't remember if I even ran the full distance before that first race but I just wanted a part of what I witnessed at the Bristol half 8 months earlier. I remember my first race more than any other, like you remember your first kiss or the first time you ride a bike. I was making good progress up to 6k until we hit a sharp slope over a bridge which seemed like an unconquerable mountain to my poor legs. The course wound its way through the streets of Bristol and the end always seemed just out of reach. I thought about giving up but as
the crowds gathered in the last 2k I got a second wind and enjoyed my own little moment of glory. I finished my first ever 10k race in 40:15, in 175th place out of over 6000. It felt good even though I've run that race in under 40 minutes every time since. That was the start of where I am now, a veteran (in the truest sense) of over 70 races.
Running and life I train when I can in between looking after my children, running my own business, rehearsing in my band, visiting my girlfriend who lives in Denmark and in between playing squash and trying to keep some kind of social life. I'm no different to most people, having to juggle life and running, pulling on Scott and his two daughters on holiday
your shoes at 10pm when you've finally got your day’s activities over with or asking a friend if they’ll sit with the kids while I pound the roads for an hour. As my daughters have grown older I can run around the outside of the local park whilst they play in the middle. It's an unusual routine but it works most of the time. This year I realised some of my biggest running achievements having competed and finished first in a 50k ultramarathon. I also managed a 12th place in a cross country half marathon in Exeter and a 3rd and 4th in my age category at least five times so far. I also competed in one of the toughest cross country races in the UK – the Cheddar Gorge half marathon which was the closest I’ve come to absolute physical exhaustion to the point where I could hardly put one foot in front of the other by the end. Still, I am like all running addicts - I'll probably do it again next year!
So why do it? I’m sure we all have our different reasons; maybe weight management or to join a running group and
meet new people. For some it’s an opportunity to travel and compete in marathons in foreign cities, or raise money for charity but for me the answer is simple - my physical well-being influences my mental well-being. Ok, I admit I’m one of the most competitive people I know and a total running adrenalin junky but I sleep really well every night and sometimes in the day! I’m in good physical shape for my age, my patience levels have vastly improved. I think more about what I eat and when I do have a plate of chips or a pizza I know I’ll burn it off the next day, so there’s no guilt. The physical goals I have set myself and achieved have encouraged me to be braver in other aspects of my life. Some hills don’t seem as hard to climb any more, physically and metaphorically speaking. I’m not being smug here, there are some downsides: I’ve developed arthritis in my feet due to repetitive impact and I suffer with significant back pain but these are small costs for doing something that has brought me a kind of mental clarity and a happiness in a pure and simple sense ISSUE1 ISSUE1 RUNNING RUNNING LIFE LIFE00 07
The Run-down
GET RUNNING STAY RUNNING Tim Durant
Helen Forsyth asks everyday runners from the South West a series of questions to find out more about their running lifestyles and here are some of their comments.
South West Runners
LEFT: Tim stretches out before a run. TOP: Running gait analysis helps in trainer choice. BOTTOM: Bristol 10k kit
Tim started running as he wanted to keep fit for sports he enjoys like basketball. He’s completed the Bath Half Marathon in 1 hour 44 minutes and the Bristol 10k in 46 minutes. He now regularly runs 8-13miles in training but also enjoy sprinting sessions. “I like to mix up outdoor running with gym sessions on the tread mill. This way I can also use the weights machines to focus on different muscle groups,” said Tim, but running has the advantage of being easy to arrange. “I love the feeling of being able to 'just run'. You can set off and run wherever you 00 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1 08
wish and not need any equipment as such. Once you’re at a level where you can enjoy running and you don't feel like you’re killing yourself, it becomes a very relaxing past time. It makes me feel focused and relaxed but I like the feeling I'm pushing myself and I'm achieving a higher level of fitness.” Despite being comfortable with half marathon distance Tim explored shorter distances. “My first serious 10k was a real challenge, I thought it would be easier as it was 6.2 miles and I regularly run much more in training. But I set off with a time
I wanted to achieve in my head and this was a real challenge as the time just flew by. The pace you have to run is much faster than a half marathon and this puts real mental and physical stress on your body that I wasn't used to. The burn and the sickness I experienced has certainly given me a higher level of result for the 10k! “I like the mental challenge, and I feel it makes you stronger and more determined in everyday life. Even if you feel you’re going to be sick, you can battle through it and there's a real sense of achievement after.”
Sarah Baker “I did cross country at school, badly, and have picked it up time and time again over the years as an easy, cheap way to stay trim and exercise. Sport is easy for me. I have run as long as I can remember. I did athletics at school. My parents ran too. I am goal driven. I’ve run the Bath Half Marathon and the London Marathon.” As for running style, Sarah considers herself a 'plodder'. “I stop for a bit then always tie it up again at some point. I keep running to achieve goals and stay in shape. So I can eat and drink guilt free! “How does running make me feel? Sweet and sour! It's great thinking time. I'm a single mum so parent time can be precious and that post run glow is always a brilliant feeling. When it's going wrong out on the roads it can be quite deflating. I cope with motivation meltdown moments by starting again! I tell myself I'm only human.”
You next! Want to feature in this magazine section? Answer the questions below and we might put you in a future issue – images are a big help too so if you send them (JPEG or TIFF by email if possible) please make sure you are happy for us to publish them.
1. Name, Age, Location (age and location optional)
2. What kind of runner are you? 3. What got you started with running? 4. Why do you keep running? 5. How does running make you feel? 6. H ow do you cope with motivation meltdown moments? 7. Stories: Any you’d care to share? Send your answers to Helen at getrunning-stayrunning@live.com. We want to know what makes you get up and get going! You never know, you might inspire someone to start running, enter a race or someone might relate to your story.
COLD RUNNING A few races to look out for in the following autumnal months if you fancy a last-minute booking. There’s still time to train! CORNWALL ST MICHAEL’S MOUNT REMEMBRANCE DAY 4.2 Where? Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Marazion, Penzance When? Sunday 10 November 2013 How much? £9 / £11 www.mountsbayharriers.co.uk DEVON PLYMOUTH 10K Where? Princess Street, Plymouth When? Sunday 3 November 8:30am How much? £21 / £23 www.plymouth10k.co.uk SOMERSET DARTMOOR VALE 10K, HALF MARATHON, MARATHON Where? Sibelco, East Golds Works, Newton Road, Newton Abbot. How much? (for unaffiliated) £ 17.94 for 10k, £22.37 for Half Marathon, £26.81 for Marathon. When? Sunday 20 October How much? £15 www.dmvmarathon.org.uk SALTFORD SANTA DASH (5 miles for Santas / 1 mile for elves!) Where? Saltford Community Association Hall, Saltford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford When? Sunday 8 December How much? £12 (£5 Elves – under 12’s) www.saltfordsantadash.webs.com
It really is Christmas!!! There’s another Santa’s on the Run event in many South West regions in December – check here for dates when they are released: www.santasontherun.org.uk ASHTON COURT RUN10K 2013 (Halloween theme) Where? Ashton Court Estate, Bristol When? Saturday 26 October How much? £22 www.runbristol.com (There’s a race on the following day at Ashton Court, a cross country– follow the same link for info) WILTSHIRE WILTSHIRE MONSTER RACE 10K Where? Charlton Park Estate, Maimesbury When? Saturday 2 November 2013 10am How much? £40 www.monsterrace.co.uk OVER THE HILLS Where? Culver Close Pavillion, Pound Lane, Bradford on Avon When? Sunday November 3 2013 10am How much? £8 / £10 www.avonvalleyrunners.org.uk RECOMMENDED WEBSITES TO FIND RUN2REMEMBER A RACE Where? Lydiard Park, Swindon Western Runner When? Saturday November 9 2013 11am www.westernrunner.co.uk How much? £15 The Running Bug www.run2remember.org.uk www.therunningbug.co.uk
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 09
Real stories
ULTRA
HOT 100km
The Race to the Stones is relatively inviting for newbies to this distance or those wanting an ultra medal for the collection. The heat factor of the day, which saw temperatures topping 30 degree C combined with high humidity and UV was never supposed to be part of the plan. Ultimately, the race day required more grit than expected despite a rigorous training regime. Richard Forsyth recalls the gruelling experience 10 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
ULTRA MARATHON
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t’s 5:30 AM and I am nervous, pacing back and forth in a fifth floor room within a monolithic travel lodge in High Wycombe. I’ve spent half a night listening to the drunk party in the next room and at intervals drowning them out with the volume up on the local weather forecast, which explained that today would be the hottest day of the year with +30 C temperatures. It’s finally 13 July after months of training, soul searching runs into forests and on tarmac – crammed into the corners of living a life and being a dad. I am at the window in a towel, after a long cold shower and I am watching the contrails of passing easyjets light up golden with the intense glow of a dawn sun chasing the planes from beyond the horizon. It is hot already – the air is oven air. Today will be an epic day. I am to run 50km in overbearing heat and as an ultra marathon virgin this seems like my Everest, yet – I am only running half of the Run to the Stones challenge of 100km by foot from Chinnor to Avebury.
Into the unknown The Run to the Stones has that ring to it that makes you know you will be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. To stoke the sense of anticipation was the knowledge that this was the inaugural race. There were no reviews you could check to forearm you with perspective on it. This was running pioneering at its
best. Compulsory kit is checked and packed but wet weather gear dispensed with and I make my way to the race start in an inconspicuous field within the quintessentially English village of Chinnor. The atmosphere at registration is buzzing. We eventually congregate under the large inflatable arch at the start line all thinking ‘pace’, ‘not speed’ and we finally are released to run at 8 AM to soon channel into forced single file up the thin Ridgeway path – crossing a railway line, settling into the dirt terrain, glad to be flanked by shade providing hedges and foliage. The sun is rising slowly – and the heat with it. The first 10km and you can sense the confidence, the private affirmation that this is the moment of truth after of a long training period. The pathway was wide enough most of the time for overtaking and with patchy woodland canopies which provide sporadic shade. By the first pit-stop everyone is sweating but most are still running strong despite the warm conditions. A great many don’t bother taking the small detour to replenish water and take a break. Time and pace remains at the forefront for many.
Sun vs run The second 10km and the heat begins to chip away at some runners, who are coated in a sheen of sweat – hydrat-
Image courtesy of Threshold Sports
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 11
Real stories
“
This is no longer about time... This is about survival to cross that line
ing constantly with sips of formula from syphon tubes in their CamelBaks and some are beginning to walk for stretches. The trail takes us across long expanses of fields including a tall yellow field of rapeseed oil where an overpowering fragrance invades your nostrils. Everyone stops before entering the field to gasp ‘wow’ before sprinting into it and then they simply vanish into the manhigh crop. In here runners have to keep single file and at pace. The Ridgeway begins to reveal its beauty and its harsher side too with steep inclines and ancient woods with roots under foot. We pass an old church and cross several roads and even slog across the green of a golf course to the bemusement of golfers in mid-game. The second pit-stop and a man stands at the entrance like the angel of life with a plant sprayer full of cold water. ‘This one looks hot’ he says and sprays me in the face with it. I can almost feel steam coming off the red patches of my face. After a toilet stop and speed eating some fruit it’s off again on the trail. The woods embrace you and the roots are gnarled and tangled underfoot. This section of the run becomes the test of focus when you are tired. You have to study and be conscious of your footfalls. I stumble twice, my centre of gravity a little off with my backpack. Someone in front stumbles and slides down the
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A runner on his 100k journey, non-stop
bank losing some skin off the shoulder and leg. We emerge from the woods and the sun is full and punishing. There are mostand drenched in sweat and pouring ments when you cross a long deserted water after water after water to get their country road flanked by wide green system back to some kind of hydrated fields and there is sense of freedom equilibrium. A medic is here inspecting which is intense and personal. It goes someone who looks a bit off colours. I beyond the run – and that feeling is meet a runner I know here, who looks what running is ultimately about. as knackered as me and we agree to Back to a long single file path which change to a walk-run strategy from here is a hard slog and then eventually we on and vow to stick together for the find ourselves next to the river remainder of the run. and the opulent white boats We stagger off in mutual parked on this idyllic pain and soon reach habitastretch of the Thames. tion in the form of a vilExposure to the sun lage– running past a pub hammers our will in where patrons are endrating y this section. Everyjoying a cool pint in the h r e v O hypod one suffers but fights sunshine. We meander e l l a is c d is n onward. A cyclist, an along the pavements, a a i m natre Australian lady says crossing the Thames on a deadly. encouragingly to a section bridge to see a motor boat of our group ‘shade is compass beneath us with bikini ing’. We hit the trees and all the clad women upon the deck. runners slump their shoulders and walk Onward and upward, ascending into in acknowledgement this is no longer hills and more dirt tracks and it’s almost about time, PBs and performance – this a welcome relief not to be around nonabout survival to cross that line. runners when you are suffering. Eventually the string of joggers break The fight to finish up – the field is spreading thin now with The third pit-stop has a different different approaches to the race – the atmosphere than the previous ones. last pit-stop for the 50k section and we Everyone in the cover of this village take in salt drinks and fill our caps with hall is steaming and boiled. They sit or cold water before slapping them back
Did yo?u know
ULTRA MARATHON AY TIP RACE Dur time
Images of RTTS: ©ThresholdSports
yo Forget itor your n and mo d how it is n a y he bod along t g n i cop n u tra r way. Ul ely worry r ners ra mes - it's i about t nishing! fi about
on our heads. The trek from here is a long gentle incline – stretching up into the hills and showcasing some amazing views of the countryside. The ground goes from hard rock to trail to tarmac. Finally the 50km runners have to go an extra few kilometres in a circle as the 100km 2 day participants break ranks to go to the midway camp a little earlier in the experience. This is the hardest part of the run for me, as the end has no cover, the sun is at full power and height and there’s a desire to see the village of Compton where the camp is and it seems a long time coming. Finally after cramps and signs of severe dehydration the end arch appears from behind a fence and that’s it – ultra done, heat beaten, time to put the feet in cold water. Like a lot of the participants I had to sort out my dehydration after the dreaded ‘brown wee’ but this took minutes and the sense of pride and adventure from the day will in contrast, last for the rest of my life. The heat did affect the numbers to finish, unsurprisingly. Across all the options an average of 71% finished. On the 100km non-stop the figure was 76% and for those taking on the 2 days for the 100km it was 60%. Next year let’s hope it’s just a little cooler!
Threshold’s latest Challenge The Race to the Stones was organised by Threshold Sports, founded by three friends, Charlie Beaucamp, Julian Mack and the Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell. The route for the Race to the Stones follows the oldest footpath in Britain, the Ridgeway, with settlements around it dating back 5000 years. Run to Stones is fully supported and you can choose from doing the 100km all in one go, split the race in two and stay overnight in a camp midway or you can run one stage for a 50km ultra marathon. Prices range from just un-
NEXT CHALLENGE
der £50 for a single stage up to £189 for the two day split. The start line resides in Chinnor and the 100km marker lies near the mysterious Neolithic stone circle of Avebury in Wiltshire. As the pathway has so much historical significance as a raiding route for Vikings and Saxons there are many sightseeing opportunities on the run if you like your history. You’ll stomp through Grim’s Ditch, see the chalk hill art of The White Horse of Uffington and pass Dragon Hill – a mound where St George killed a dragon –allegedly! www.racetothestones.com
If you like the sound of this, then you might like this… The Neolithic Marathon The Neolithic Marathon is run by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and costs £30 (early bird £25). Next one is in May 2014. This marathon is ‘undulating’ let’s say but great fun and shows off some wonderfully scenic Wiltshire terrain that takes you largely cross-country on the Neolithic Sarsen Trail. There’s a half marathon option too. www.wiltshirewildlife.org/sarsen-trail
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 13
Fitness
10 REASONS to run right now From health benefits to budgeting there are some good reasons to get your trainers on and get out of that door‌
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GET FIT
1
Running helps stave off obesity
The Independent newspaper reported that there will be 26 million people in the UK who are obese by 2030. That’s a staggering rise of 73% from the figure now which is 15 million. In the UK 24% of men are obese and 26% of women. The fact is that running burns calories and for endurance racing it’s even advisable to eat more – especially carbs! Research has indicated that 65%-95% of the calories you burn during aerobic exercise such as running are taken from your body's fat stores.
2 3
Running helps against cholesterol
A study in the Journal of Lipid Research reported that subjects that claimed they had high intensity activity had greater cholesterol reductions. Clear the tubes from the sediment with some fast blood flow, ‘in a nutshell’.
Running helps against stress and mild depression
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Running makes you achieve goals
Overcoming pain is a powerful feeling. Most people who get into running start by imagining they can with a bit of practice run a bit further than they are used to. As Einstein said ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge’. You have to imagine you can achieve something before aiming for it. Sign up for a race, do the training, achieve the finish line and realise what you are capable of, a lot more than you may have previously believed!
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Running is free – or at least cheap, and you can do it anywhere!
Gym membership can range from anywhere between around £20 - £100 a month with a contract that locks you in for a year and some popular gyms require you to wait your turn for a machine to become available at the busiest times. Running outside is not only free (bar the trainers and shorts) but also it’s more interesting scenery! Once you get over being seen outside it’s far more interesting and liberating than being cooped up in a sweaty warehouse with frighteningly competitive people.
Running is well known to be a great stress buster and might even be helpful when feeling depressed. The National Institute for Health Clinical Excellence has been recommending exercise as an option for helping to treat mild depression and stress for about a decade now. Many depressed people feel isolated, s can out of control and become sedate. Exercise Running is part of being a Runner e a nc e i for all intents and purposes is life-affirming positive role model r e p x e gh! i h and that can only be positive and provide If you have kids this is relevant. If l a r natu mental balance. If currently you rely on booze you have family at all this is relevant or smoking to take away the day’s stresses then and if you have friends this is relevant. Become a running can provide a much healthier alternative. It good example, let people who look up to you see that might even help you give up your bad habits! The British Jourfitness is part of life and improves life. nal of Sports Medicine reported that participants of a survey involving smokers stated that after 40 minutes of moderate to Running can become social vigorous exercise they had a lower desire for cigarettes. Whilst many people run alone for good reasons– re fer to point 5, running can become a sociable experiRunning gets you outside in the fresh air ence. Many people find like-minded friends after Many people get trapped, not by anything more running for a while who meet with you for race days or there is insidious than routine. They get up, go to work, come always the option of joining a club or weekend park run group. home, stay at home and go to bed. If going outside is Even love can be on the cards – single people check out runrequired then it is to a pub, a restaurant, an indoors room with ner matchmaking dating websites such as www.be2.co.uk. walls. If you feel you have lost the ability to breathe fresh air and simply enjoy an outside environment then start running. Running gives you more energy Cities have parks, countryside is amazing and coastlines are It’s something that all runners know. You do even more so. Just get up and go! Outside and fresh air equals running regularly – you get more energy. By freedom and escape. and large runners are healthier and sleep well and condition their bodies. Your muscles get stronger, Running is ‘me time’ contrary to many perceptions the latest studies suggest your Life is demanding… Juggling work, children, partnerbones get stronger, your mind becomes focused and despite ships, finance, friends excetera, excetera… Running using more energy you seem to acquire more energy. If you is about you. It is simply about you and your own goal feel apathetic then that’s because your body is used to not to run and it is very natural after you get over the ‘first time’ being used. Running also provides a great base fitness for all jogs around the neighbourhood. Your only competition is you. other physically demanding sports. So what are you waiting You’re in control of your body and your time. You are the focus for? Get those trainers on, it's time to run!
4 Image: Guy Radcliffe
and your mind is free to either think without interruption, or drift away from the pressures of the day.
5
Did yo?u know
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ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 15
Eat & Run
WHY CARBS AREN'T
THE ENEMY my week on a low carb diet Beth Davies gives her expert advice on nutrition, running and fitness
Carbs are the traditional fuel of runners. However, carbs are getting a rep as bad food. Diets are trending toward carb reduction and a focus on protein but when mixed with workouts and training is this workable? Beth goes the extra mile to see how this new trend food formula affects performance and energy.
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herever you look there are celebrities, TV programmes and magazines talking about the fastest way to weight loss, with many recommending a high protein, low carbohydrate approach. The message is clear, ‘carbs are bad’ and whilst I agree that refined carbs, processed food and added sugar should be avoided, some carbohydrates are an essential part of a modern healthy diet and understanding which ones to
16 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
eat is key. Whenever I meet a new client we always discuss and agree an approach to eating and many ask me about the low carb/high protein formula. I have always illustrated my concerns with the effect this has on the body and pointed out that most people already eat more protein than is recommended but over the course of one week I decided a little human experiment could be interesting. I stocked up the fridge with eggs and salads, jumped on my body composition scales, noted some body measurements, took the plunge and went ‘low carb’.
The energy gap As with any new approach to eating, the body takes a while to adjust so I endured the headaches, irritability and lack of concentration over the first few days, which gradually settled. I
became surprisingly apathetic towards my morning run, it felt like hard work when usually I bounce around the park with vigour. However, I had upped my consumption of vegetables and was smashing five a day. Analysis of my daily diet showed that I was consuming fewer calories than usual and around 20-30% of these were carbs, 40-50% fat and 25-35% protein (versus the recommended ranges of 45-55% carbs, 2533% fat and 10-15% protein). At the end of the week, I had lost 1% body fat and there had been some changes to my measurements, so I can see why people view this type of approach as effective. However, this approach depletes the energy stores within the muscles (it's no wonder I found it harder to exercise) and continuation can send the body into a state called Ketosis, causing the kidneys to work harder and eliminating water from the body. Whilst increasing protein and reducing carbs may have weight loss potential in the short term, it just isn’t sustainable and can Pure create an unhealthy yield 4 approach to food.
Did yo?u knowbs
Some carbs are more equal than others Carbohydrates are important because they are our bodies preferred fuel (not just for your
car s calorie r gy pe of ener . gram
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TRAINER
PERSONAL
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Whilst increasing protein and reducing carbs may have weight loss potential in the short term, it just isn’t sustainable and can create an unhealthy approach to food
Personal Trainer Tips Beth Davies is a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Advisor. She is the founder of Embody Training.
Just a half please…
I've run over 20 half marathons in my time - some were great and I easily achieved my PB and others less so, so here are my top tips for half marathon success:
BUILD UP - By the time you start training for a half, you should ideally be running 15-20 miles per week and should aim to progress your longest run of the week by about 10% each week.
LIFT WEIGHTS - Squats, deadlifts, single leg exercises, box jumps, ab work can all help support your training and give you a break from pounding the pavements. Increase the reps each week until you can do a minute of each for strength endurance.
DON'T FORGET THE HILLS - This builds lung and leg power (and means you can get away with doing a shorter run!).
DOWN TIME - Increasing your mileage will put muscles, but all cells including your brain) but they aren’t created equal and this is where the confusion is. Added sugars and refined carbohydrates don’t get my vote although some can be useful in endurance events such as marathons. However, wholegrains, fruit, vegetables, legumes and even dairy are good carb sources for energy, vitamins and minerals and can help protect against disease and in the right quantities, weight gain very few studies show a diet rich in good carbs leads to weight gain and/or obesity. At some point recently, despite all of this, they became the enemy. Some carbs can also help keep blood sugar constant which helps control hunger and mood due to the fact they are lower GI (GI is the Glycaemic Index which is a measure of how quickly blood sugar rises in a response to consuming carbohydrates).
more pressure on your body so take time to relax and rest - without rest your body can't recover, and if you can't recover, you will find it harder to run.
FUEL UP - You'll be burning extra calories so make sure you are eating plenty of wholegrains, fruit and vegetables, lean protein and oily fish, and drinking at least 2 litres of water.
REHEARSE RACE DAY - Practise your race pace and your race nutrition before the day itself. Pre-race nerves are totally normal but if you have your travel, race, food and hydration plans in order, you can spend less time thinking about the logistics and more time imagining the euphoria when you finish.
We have always had fad diets with the promise of quick weight loss, often exploiting desperation and emotions. Rather than recommending quick fix solutions we should be trying to find a way of eating that can be used for weight loss at a sensible rate when required but at its heart is sustainable, providing energy for exercise and living, and ultimately good health.
Beth’s website offers advice on nutrition and training. www.embody-training.co.uk
I've trained a number of clients for endurance events, so please do get in touch if you have any questions or advice Beth@embody-training.co.uk
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 17
Race off
ZOMBIE EV v
NIGHT T Course is fast, multi terrain with mild inclines and oh yes‌ legions of undead trying to tear your limbs off! For some runners, plodding the tarmac of city race circuits is just not enough and races with a terrifying monster or two along the way make them a lot more appealing. Two such races can be found in Bristol – namely Zombie Evacuation and Night Terrors. Zombie Evacuation Race: She said,"aggh".
Doing 'the Robot' Zombies hate that!
18 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
RUNS
SCARY
VACUATION s
TERROR Night Terror at Ashton Court: This is what happens when you forget your water bottles!
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 19
Race off
Zombie Evacuation Zombies – they say – are the new aliens when it comes to TV and films. From World War Z, Warm Bodies, The Walking Dead and Romano remakes the list goes on… Zombies are truly invading our culture. Little wonder then that Zombie Evacuation is proving to be the new fad of choice for many would be runners, seasoned racers and apocalyptic survival wannabees. Rolled out across the country it comes to Bristol on 20 October at a suitable venue of land (flat fields and forest) situated at Over Court Farm. Choose to be a zombie volunteer for free (let’s face it – there are more of them than runners) or a runner trying to survive the horde as they chase you. It costs just over £30 for early bird registration as a runner but ascends by month the later you book up to more than £60 in October. The Bloodbath in Bristol, as it is named, is the result of a spreading infection of zombies from the North and as a runner you need to evade being tagged by the zombie participants. You have three Vel-
cro tags on you that can be taken by a zombie in chase and if you lose all three you can still complete the race and get a medal but not the survivors’ medal. Fun whichever way you play it! Lots of surprises on the route guaranteed and heaps of fake blood and pale faces but no seriously challenging obstacles on the way, the likes of Tough Mudder etc. A change of clothes is essential unless you want to get arrested afterwards for wearing a blood stained shirt in town. This race will feel a bit like running through a city centre on payday night.
Zombie Evacuation Location: Mojo Active, Over Court Farm, Over Lane, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4DF Distance: 5km Course: Muddy – suitable for beginners Date: Sunday, 20 October
vs Bristol Night Terror Run at Ashton Court
Night Terror Location: Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS1 9JN Distance: Approx 11km Course: Multi terrain, woods, dark! Date: TBC March
Set in the extensive grounds of Ashton Court Estate in Bristol at night (7pm) during March there are plenty of dark woodland shadows to get the creeps about as you run in terror. Think - ‘ The Blair Witch Project’ with a race number. Run just under 7 miles in multi-terrain conditions with just a compulsory headtorch and your nerve, with promise of haunting sounds from the forest and some ‘curious characters’ that await you! The course is illuminated just enough by LEDS but there will be plenty of scares along the way. You have to be 16 or over to run, by the way. This event is priced at a reasonable £25 and there’s a T-shirt at the end. Fancy dress – ghoulish obviously – is very welcome! http://www.nightterror.co.uk/
Have you had an unusual run? Tell us about it and we might publish your story (pics too)!
20 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
You set the pace
NEXT ISSUE See you soon! Next issue we’ll preview the Neolithic Marathon in Wiltshire set for May 2014 and bring you a similar mix of regional race reviews, personal running stories and some great recipes for running from our amazing nutritionist and trainer, Beth Davies. We should be out at the beginning of February next year, for issue 2 – allowing for a little Christmas break with time to run off the turkey and port!
Please send your running stories and images direct to the editor at Richard_forsyth1@hotmail.com.
Your stories
Don't miss it!
More Expert Advice If you are interested in advertising in issue 2 please send us an email and we’ll be in touch with a reasonable rate and some great options.
Richard_forsyth1@hotmail.com
Online February 2014
ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 00
Interview
THE MAN BEHIND
THE ZOMBIES
Running Life South West talks to Jon Ford, Race Director of Zombie Evacuation Race, in Bristol on 20 October 2013. The race, rolled out across the UK, is said to be a scream! RL: You need several hundred volunteers in zombie makeup per race – were you ever in doubt you’d get the zombie hordes? JF: It was nerve wracking watching the sign-ups for the race. Getting enough volunteers to help us scare our runners was an unknown for us. Fortunately we got a great turnout and some people went above and beyond in their efforts to make a memorable Zombie experience. The Zombie Clown is still talked about to this day! We learnt a lot in our first year on how to run the events and hopefully how to take good care of our volunteers and make sure that they have as much fun as the runners and will come back and do it again year after year. We recognise that what they do they are doing for free and their own enjoyment and we're very grateful. RL: Is this as close as you’re going to get to experiencing a zombie apocalypse for real? JF: We certainly hope so. While we love Zombies here at ZER, we're not quite ready for the Apocalypse to happen just yet! We did want to give the runners a flavour of their favourite Zombie movie, TV show or game and provide something a little different for the runners who may have competed in other types of obstacle course race. We don't try and compete with Spartan Race and others of its ilk in terms of big, scary 'adrenaline surging' obstacles, 22 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
Jon Ford loves Zombie films, TV shows and lore and tries to re-create classic Zombie scenes for runners.
What we can do is give our runners a different type of thrill. The adrenaline surge comes when you have to run for your life, when scary monsters come at you from the bushes, where success is more than just reaching the finish line. We dress up the event in a theatrical nature and immerse our runners into the experience of a country gone mad, where the undead have come to life and you have to survive on your own wits and fitness. RL: Do ‘Zombies’ ever get a bit carried away with their role? JF: There were occasions last year where both the Zombies AND the run-
ners, did get a little carried away but all in good spirits. We've really tried hard with our FAQ's and our plans this year to clamp down on that behaviour but people just got swept up into the spirit of things last year. When you're filled with adrenaline and running for your lives past a horde of brain munching undead you may not be as gentile as you'd hope. The most important aspect of our event is that everyone enjoys themselves, both runners and Zombies, so we'll be paying VERY close attention this year to make sure everyone is on the same page. It's a non-contact sport. The Zombie can't really eat your
INTERVIEW
THE BIG
brains, they are only allowed to grab for the tags of the belts of the runners. As for the runners, they have to play fair, not hide their tags and not touch the Zombies or they'll get infected. Our Marshals will be eagle-eyed this year watching for anyone breaking the rules!
Image: ©Epic Action Imagery
RL: How big a Zombie fan are you and did any particular films inspire the set pieces in the races? JF: I'm a HUGE Zombie fan and many of our obstacles and set pieces are directly inspired by things we've seen in movies, TV or games. We have a huge bible full of ideas here at Zombie HQ with basically everything we’ve ever thought about being a cool and exciting obstacle or experience for our runners. Some we can do, others we don't have the budget for...... Yet! But we're planning for the future to hopefully bring something new every year. As an example of our inspiration we had an obstacle last year that was a direct result of us watching The Walking Dead. There was a scene in Season 1 where Rick and Glenn had to get to a construction yard down a street filled with Zombies, but they figured out that Zombies didn’t attack each other because of their smell. So they smeared themselves with Zombie blood and guts and then pretended to be Zombies and walked down the street to the yard. There’s a similar scene in Sean of the Dead when Sean and his gang are approaching the pub. So, on our course we had an area where the runner has to stop, smear themselves with blood and gore and pretend to be a Zombie to walk across an area we filled with Zombies. We had told our Zombie volunteers that runners in that section were only fair game if they were not bloodied up, or didn’t walk like a Zombie. If they tried to run through it they were fair game. RL: What terrain can you expect, as a runner? JF: Each venue is different but expect roads, pathways, trails, grass, forest, mud, trees and all the usual off road terrain. We don't put any water obstacles on the course because we obviously can't control the weather and the temperatures in October (it was freezing last year!) and we don't want to give our runners and Zombies hypothermia!
'Just popp ing out for a quick bite!'
It's 5 kms of varying terrain, obstacles, challenges, set pieces, scares and oodles of Zombies. And if you get to the end you get a T-Shirt and a medal. There are two medals, one if you survive (i.e. make it to the finish with at least one of your tags intact) and one for if you’re infected! RL: This is a relatively short race at 5k so do more serious runners participate and how fit do you need to be? JF: We deliberately made it a 5km race for a number of reasons. Firstly there are plenty of challenging races out there for the serious runners but we wanted to do something that was more entry level to try and get new people excited and participating in the sport of Obstacle Course Racing. We’re a fun way into the sport. RL: What percentage of finishing runners are survivors? JF: Last year the survival rate on the race was probably in the region of 60% of runners were Infected and 40% were classed as Survivors.
RL: Is this a race the squeamish should think twice about? JF: Absolutely not. While it’s true that last year we did make grown men scream, it’s all in good fun and nothing too horrific or scary. It’s more an adrenaline rush than a terrifying scare. As long as you’re game for some fun and not bothered about getting muddy (or bloody!) then come along and have a go. We had just as many laughs as screams last year, which is what the day is all about. RL: Favourite zombie film? JF: I do love all the old time Romero movies but my favourite is Shaun of the Dead. I was always a huge fan of the Spaced TV Show and when Shaun of the Dead came out it instantly became a classic and went to the top of my most watched list. It’s not a parody or a spoof, it’s a genuine Zombie movie that happens to be brilliantly funny and cleverly scripted. It’s a film you can watch over and over again and still see something new in it that you haven’t seen before. ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 23
Race Review
BRISTOL HALF
MARATHON'S Silver Anniversary
Runners are taken under the Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Bristol Half Marathon is one of the major running events in the South West. It is the biggest of the run bristol series. Held recently on 15 September, it was celebrated as the 25th anniversary year of the race with silvery medals awarded to finishers in the shape of the number 25. 24 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
REVIEW
RACE
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ith a capacity of 20,000 and a flat course this half marathon (13.1 miles) is not only easily accessible but also a great one for attaining that PB! It costs around £37 for non-affiliated runners and the atmosphere around this event is outstanding. This year there were around 11,000 runners on the start line, who set off in two waves at staggered times. Con-
ditions could only be described as Autumnal, cool and overcast but thankfully there was no rain despite some forecasts predicting a cloudburst before noon. The buzzing Event Village is the first sight that greets runners and supporters alike at Millennium Square. It’s an interesting spot if you are visiting Bristol, near the modern @bristol centre, many innovative water features and the huge
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Race Review
mirrored sphere of the Planetarium. The village stretches around to Waterfront Square. It is alive with runners milling around and queuing for the bag drop off or those last minute nervous wees in the hour before the start time. Local personalities and Heart FM radio presenters are ‘gee-ing’ up the crowd with banter and then there’s a warm-up work out for the masses. Marquees are circled around the Square and beyond for everything from buying new trainers to charity meeting points. It feels as it should – a big city event full of palpable anticipation.
ABOVE: The atmosphere at the Event Village will get you in the mood to enjoy the run. LEFT: Batman's retirement was a small setback for Robin...
Range of runs As with any race of this size, the reasons people are running are numerous and the spectrum of running abilities is massive - from charity runners in fancy dress to serious runners chasing the prestigious winning places and £1000 winner’s purse. The fancy dress crowd this year sported a giant 10ft nurse, a man-banana, Shrek and Donkey, all the Marvel super heroes, a man sized watertap and many, many more. The elite runners didn’t disappoint either and really ignited the crowds who roared them on all the way. Despite an early lead and pace set by UK runner Phil Wicks it was eventually Kenyan runner, Bernard Rotich who won with a time of 63:56. There was better luck for GB when Emma Stepto won the women’s race. However, cliché or not everyone felt like a winner who crossed that finish line opposite Bristol Aquarium.
The fast road The course begins by taking you out toward the river Avon and the Portway 26 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
which is closed to traffic for the duration of the event. After an initial stampede through the Hotwells area, it’s time to eat up those miles on the long expanse of reasonably straight road next to the river. On one side is the water and on the other the cliff face of the valley so it’s scenic and a good stretch to find your running Zen. You run beneath the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge – through the cliff tunnel where someone usually uses the echoey acoustics to hail an ‘Oggy-oggy-oggy’ to all runners for an ‘Oi-Oi-Oi’ response – which they always get in force! You eventually take the U-turn around and run the opposite road back to the city after four miles out, so by the time you reach the edge of Bristol city again you have nicely completed a good eight miles and it’s at this point where the support of the crowds really plays a part.
You get so much encouragement from the local well-wishers, who turn up in their hordes, just when you are flagging in energy - that it gives you a needed boost to complete the race. Here you wind around the city, passing Welsh back and the pretty scene of river boats and barges, around Queen Square and then back toward the city centre for the final push and the screams of ‘Come On!’ from onlookers. After you funnel out back to the Event Village and regain your breath, the goodie bag includes a flapjack, crisps and luxury chocolates to regain some energy. You get a proper running T-shirt, a drinks bottle, the silver space blanket and a Bristol Post newspaper as well as some race event flyers. Of course, that’s not the only reason to sign up!
The Bristol 10K If you like the look of this… Sign up for the Bristol 10K The Bristol 10k is a shortened version of the same course route for the Half Marathon and a great introductory race for newbies to the running scene, or once again – a course with real PB potential for seasoned racers! Date: Sunday 11 May 2014 Website: http://runbristol.com/ reminder-service/
It feels as it should – a big city event full of palpable anticipation.
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Please see website for further details: www.runbristol.com
HALF MARATHON ROUTE MAP AND START/FINISH AREAS OFFICIAL RACE MAP
EVENT VILLAGE - PUBLIC AREA
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A AD RORO EY Y LL LLE ©© Crown Copyright. rights reserved. Crown Copyright.AllAll rights reserved. Bristol City Council. No. 100023406 2012 Bristol City Council.Licence Licence No. 100023406 2012
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Redcliffe - where you dig deep for the final push
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ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 27
Runscape
RUNNING Running is as much about escaping outside, having adventure and breathing fresh air as anything else. The South West of England has spectacular environments to run in and Cornwall’s coastal cliff paths provide the perfect trail for pounding those trainers. Richard Forsyth recounts what it feels like to run his favourite cliff paths.
INFO Start Porthtowan Finish Chapel Porth Distance Approx 1.3 miles each way
For a 6 mile run start at Mount Hawke, head to Porthtowan and run back from Chapel Porth.
28 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
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he north coast of Cornwall is one of the most beautiful places on Earth to me, specifically the coast between Porthtowan and Chapel Porth. I grew up there. You can smell the sea on the wind. The cliffs are 100 ft high and the waves curl and roll into them with roars and cracks. It sounds alarming when you get up close to an Atlantic roller slamming its tonnes of water into rock. When I was young, I remember hearing a mature oak tree split and crash to ground from a lightning strike one
night and the noise was terrifying. It had the same violence and power as the sound of coastal waves. Despite their power, you listen to the natural rhythm of the incoming waves and it slows your heartbeat. Running these cliffs is close to the perfect way to appreciate them. The ground hugging gorse crowning the cliff tops shiver in the gales and the barren terrain. The crows and the gulls glide alongside you as you run the cliff top – inches from the sheer edge as you run, where the cliff has eroded danger-
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ously to the side of the trail. Vertigo almost makes you veer into the shrub when you peer to the sea, your survival instinct pushing you away from the deep expanses beside your fast moving feet. You can see goliath chunks of rock that have broken from the cliff and become islands. The surf crests shred white clouds of spray against the force of the wind and they hover high as suspended wisps of water, which turn the colours of the spectrum. The surf spray literally becomes a cloud of rainbow.
On a good day you might see a seal or a basking shark in the waves, this is nature raw – it feels prehistoric
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ISSUE1 RUNNING LIFE 29
RUNNING
TRAIL
the Cornish cliffs
Runscape
CLOCKWISE FORM LEFT: 1. Sunset at Porthtowan 2. Mine remains on cliff top path 3. Gorse hugs the cliff top 4. Run from Mount Hawke down the valley - see the tin mine chimney remains 5. Tide out at Chapel Porth
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The sea gales slam you in the face, you have an horizon as far as the eye can see on three sides.
There’s a feeling of ancient worlds, of King Arthur’s kingdom where warriors held fortified land and then there’s the skeletons of tin mine chimneys, stone gravestones to a lost society. There are legends cast from the rock faces. The best is the legend of a tyrannical giant called Bolster who ate adults and children at random and who fell in love with a girl called Agnes. Agnes tricked him by giving him a task to complete before he could marry her. She asked him to cut his wrist and let the blood fill a small hole in the cliff but the hole ran through the rock to the sea and Bolster bled to death – his blood staining the cliff rock red forever. The Cornish coast line is thick with stories, from shipwrecks and pirates to the paranormal. But if these tales serve to distinguish the location, they do not come close to the power of it in reality. But it’s the air that makes it all unique. The air is cold, laced with salt water, and the scent of cliff flowers. It feels like the ghosts of those lost at sea are in the wind. The wind from the ocean is so fast it makes you drink it in. I run the sand on the beach – through 30 RUNNING LIFE ISSUE1
the spreading delta of water from the river that feeds the ocean. I find the base of the cliff that leads to the higher plateaux. There are paths to choose – the one next to the peril of the cliff edge or the one which has loose scree and small rocks to trip you and gnarl your ankles. I choose the edge and concentrate hard on my foot falls. I reach the top and there is a stone seat, it is the best seat in the world. This is a seat for a king – a seat that may change your feelings, empower you and fill your blood with nature’s awe. The sea gales slam you in the face, you have an horizon as far as the eye can see on three sides. You can see the curvature of the Earth. It takes your breath away. I sit down for a minute or two – it would be a crime not to. Then on again, curling around with the cliff path, seeing the secret caves and coves where men don’t venture below, the waves exploding into their echoey hollows. On a good day you might see a seal or a basking shark in the waves, this is nature raw – it feels prehistoric. Later the mine shafts emerge from the landscape, the filled in capped holes and the remnants and ruins of the old buildings
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a top the mine. The ground turns rocky – grey and red and feels like another planet, a lunar or Martian landing site. Finally St Agnes appears – and there is a large stony outcrop overlooking the narrow beach of Porth Chapel and the adjacent mine chimney. If there is ever a moment you can steal for yourself it’s something like standing here without anyone else around. Some places are unlike any others and become meaningful in a way that they cement into your consciousness. They become hardwired feelings, not a single spot, nor a single view but like art they inspire you - they become your silent melancholy friend, your reassuring hug, your embrace with the elements. It feels religious and sacred.
Have you had an inspirational run somewhere – is there a special place you run? Tell us all about it and send us a picture (300DPI or hi-res) and we might publish your account.
Whether you fancy taking on a half marathon or joining the first ever 5k around the Glastonbury Festival site, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) offers a running event to suit everyone.
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ver 400 runners recently took part in the Bristol Half Marathon in aid of CHSW, who were the event’s official local charity for the second year running, raising a fantastic £70,000. Among the CHSW runners were Caroline and Sean Watts, from Frampton Cotterell, whose daughter, Cerys, died at CHSW’s Charlton Farm hospice in May 2012, aged four months. Cerys was born with Edwards Syndrome, a rare life-restricting genetic disorder. Caroline talks about the support the family have received from CHSW: “Although we knew that Cerys would be born with a heart condition, the Edwards Syndrome had been undetected throughout my pregnancy and so came as a huge shock. When, two days after Cerys was born, the doctors gave us the news our world was turned upside-down. When we were referred to Charlton Farm we were initially hesitant as we didn’t know what to expect from a children’s hospice, however looking back now I’m not sure we could have coped without them. “Cerys required 24/7 care and our regular respite visits to the hospice allowed us to recharge our batteries, enabling us to face the next challenge. We were also able to meet other families with life-limited children, which made us
Michael Eavis shows support for the new Festival Run at the Glastonbury Festival site in Pilton.
feel less isolated. Our visits to Charlton Farm enabled us to make the most of our precious time together. The charity’s support has continued since Cerys died and we know the care team are always there if we need to talk. “We hope that Cerys’s strength and determination might inspire others to also take part in a running event in support of CHSW.” Julie Patterson, CHSW Community Fundraiser explains why running events are so important to the charity: “The money that we receive from the Government is not guaranteed each year so running events are a crucial way for us to raise the funds needed to keep supporting families like the Watts. Our
CHSW running club means that you’ll receive plenty of support and guidance.” If you were inspired by the Bristol Half Marathon CHSW has 40 gold bond places available for the forthcoming Bath Half Marathon. If you would like to take part in the Bath Half on 2 March 2014 sign up soon as places are going fast! We already have a team of runners from Radstock Co-Operative Society as well as personal trainer Al Stewart and his clients and colleagues from Shepton Mallet who have sent in their entry forms. However if you’re not quite ready for a half marathon or fancy trying something different then the first ever ‘Festival Run’ around the Glastonbury Festival site in Pilton on Saturday 2 November might be for you. Runners can choose from a 5km route (which will include the famous Pyramid Stage and the Stone Circle) or a 2km route aimed at those 16 years and under. All profits from the event are kindly being donated to CHSW. Visit www.piltonvillage.co.uk for more info and to register.
Visit www.chsw.org.uk/run or call 01275 866600 to find out more about CHSW’s running club.
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RUNNING
CHARITY
Join the CHSW running team and help make the most of short and precious lives
ISSUE 4 OUT NOV 2013