The Mendip Marauder - 2021 Remix
Running Off The Madness
by
2y ago
Looking over my blog from the Mendip Marauder in 2018, I had written: "hardest race so far".    Yet Caroline and I had signed up for it in 2019, only for the race to be cancelled at the last moment due to a bridge closure over the M5.  The race was added to a list of races to raise funds for Alex in 2020, but as everyone knows most of the races had were cancelled.  So, in 2021, eventually, we got to run the race. In the month prior to the Mendip Marauder, we took pace in the Serpent Trail, where I had to pull up at 40 miles with injury, but Caroline pushed on to finis ..read more
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Giving Back To Friends
Running Off The Madness
by
3y ago
  2020, and a good chunk of 2021, was pants.  It was more pants for Alex Francis.    Alex, has motor neurone disease (MND), an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time, there is no cure. Alex and his wife Laura, who were owners of Deka in Frome, have two young children and have had to adapt both their home and lifestyle to enable Alex to remain at home and in some comfort.  But, like I said, they need more help.  They have their own fundraising pages, but we have spoken to Alex and have set up ..read more
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Discovering the Back Yard During Lock Down and beyond...
Running Off The Madness
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4y ago
One of the first pieces of advice during the lockdown was don't travel to exercise.  For road runners, this advice was not too harsh as every road leads to another and you can quickly be back where you started, I say that knowing there are plenty that can't achieve this.  For trail runners this advice meant one of 3 things: 1.  Ignore the advice and drive to the trail.  Not clever, likely to gain some attention from the local rozzers and possibly a fine, unless you say you are testing your eyesight and then it's fine. 2.  Do nothing/go to the Winchester, have a nic ..read more
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2020 Challenge - A Year Fighting For Alex
Running Off The Madness
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4y ago
The 2020 Challenge 2020 was always going to be a year of challenges, on and off the trails.  So rather than just finishing the races booked, Caroline and I decided we would support a friend's family.  I raised some money for this wonderful family last year, but they are still in need and things won't get easier.  Alex Francis has motor neurone disease (MND), an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time, there is no cure. Alex and his wife Laura who were owners of Deka in Frome, have two young children and have had to adapt both thei ..read more
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A Run with no Witty Name - paying back the man
Running Off The Madness
by
4y ago
12th October 2019 Crooked Tracks Wiltshire Tisbury, Wiltshire Yet again - wet, cold, windy, wet, overcast, did I mention wet? Since completing the Thames Path 100 in May I've had a fairly sedate summer, well apart from a 24-hour endurance fundraiser in July.  Over the past few years I've been running either a trail marathon or ultra just about every month and with changes in my non-running life, I decided to take the summer off.  With the Mendip Marauder 50 miles cancelled in August, the Run with no Witty Name was my first race in a good few months. A bad cold in the week before had p ..read more
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Going a bit further - a beginners guide
Running Off The Madness
by
4y ago
These extended notes accompany the talk that was given on Thursday 17th October, a beginners guide to ultra running. What is an ultra marathon? The official answer is: An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 mi). The ultra runners answer is anything over 30 miles, a 50k race being the accepted minimum distance. You'll need to concentrate Why? You need to ask yourself a few questions before venturing out on an ultra marathon, the majority of 50k races are achievable by m ..read more
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Online Resources - revisited
Running Off The Madness
by
4y ago
An updated collection of useful UK ultra running resources.  Feel free to comment with links to other resources. Community I Run Far Ultra Running Community RUN eat REPEAT Know the Lingo  - if someone say's they "bonked" on an ultra.... Run Ultra UK Trail and Ultra Running Runner's Radar Runner's Forum Ultra Running Resource Training Ultramarathon Training - everything you should need Run Walk Calculator I Run Far - resources Fellrnr Running Tips UK Race Calendars Apex Sports Ultra Calendar  Best value Ultramarathons in the UK UK Ultramarathon Calendar Ultramarathon Running Resource Ti ..read more
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Testway 40 Ultra - DANGER Quicksand
Running Off The Madness
by
5y ago
6th April 2019 Andover Trail Events Location Andover Weather/Conditions Overcast This was a bonus race.  I had looked the race a few times but in 2019 it was not affordable, even if it did fit in well to the training program for my 100-mile race.  On a 26 mile training run from Bristol to Bradford-on-Avon, we were joined by Lucy Payne, who had worked with Andover Trail Events and was running the Testway 40 for the first time.  We chatted about the race and the fact it looks great and would fit in well with my training, but left it at that.  A few days later someone posted on Facebook that h ..read more
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Imber Ultra - perfect weather conditions again
Running Off The Madness
by
5y ago
3rd March 2019 Avon Valley Runners Location: Westbury, Wiltshire Weather/Conditions: Yack, again March 2017 - we started the Imber Ultra in a storm, the wind and rain lashing us the complete distance.  The last 8 miles along the highly exposed range road took its toll on many of the runners and I was happy with a finishing time of 6:32:10. March 2019 - the wind and rain blasted its way across the Plain.... A fast, if damp start Like many other race competitors, I stood in the registration area, chatting to friends and delaying leaving the building to face the elements until the last possib ..read more
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Thames Path 100 - Making it right
Running Off The Madness
by
5y ago
My friend, we have fought monsters together and we have won. On my own, I fear I may not do as well.  Vincent and the Doctor Race date: 4/5 May 2019 Centurion Running  Location: Richmond to Oxford Weather/Conditions:  Rain, wind, frost, and overcast. I was returning to the Thames Path 100 as 2018's disastrous crash out at 77 miles had left me battered but not beaten.  I could have walked away but, it seems, that is just not me, I've got used to taking on monsters recently.  The two-hour journey to the start flew by, nerves really starting to kick in as we arrived at Richmond-upon-Thames just ..read more
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