Tales of Trails, Mountains and Rocky Roads

Last weekend, I did my first race of the year – the Coldwater Rumble 20 mile trail race, organised once again by Aravaipa Running. The race came just 3 weeks after doing the Across the Years and I wasn’t sure whether racing 20 miles so soon after a 24 hour race would be too much for me – would I be recovered enough to do myself justice? I’d had an easy couple of weeks following my race at New Year but training had started to increase once again ready for my forthcoming marathon, and with a 30k run planned for this weekend anyway, the Coldwater Rumble fitted in perfectly with my training schedule,. The event was held at the Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear just south of Phoenix. With living in the north of the City, it's an area I had yet to explore so I was excited about running on unknown trails and going somewhere new. I was also finding that doing the longer trail races gives me the perfect opportunity to get off the beaten track away from the more popular trails...

I don't usually comment too much on the kit I use when running - sure, I use a "posh watch" to measure distance, time and pace (a Suunto Ambit Peak since you ask) but in reality, running is meant to be a simple sport, where a pair of decent running shoes, a shirt and shorts are enough to get you going. I'm also a creature of habit to some degree, particularly where my running kit is concerned, and I tend to wear the same trusty, reliable stuff year after year where I know it won't cause chaffing or blisters if considering what shoes or socks to wear. When I buy new kit, I won't buy just to keep up with the latest running fashions or crazes, but rather I try to buy the same style and size with the only variance being the colour (I'm in to really bright, vivid colours at the moment). Back in 2006, I won the Snowdonia Marathon and along with the amazing trophy and personalised painting I received as a prize, I also won a £100 voucher for a pair of Salomo...

2nd lady and 2nd overall. 116.53 miles covered in around 23 hours 45 mins, but even more unbelievable - from a personal perspective at least - was my 100 mile split of around 16 hours 53 minutes. Even now, 3 days after the Across the Years 24 hour race, with feet still throbbing from the blisters that forced me to a walk over the remaining 6 hours and which are still resisting attempts to drain and ease the pain and discomfort I'm still feeling - I'm still bewildered,  still shaking my head in disbelief,  still can't comprehend that it was me that ran 100 miles in that time, me that somehow managed to keep a relatively consistent pace going for the entire 161km, me that actually ran sub 17 hours. My initial goal had been 210km or 130 miles ish, but I had no idea whether that was beyond my capabilities having never ran more than 100 miles and having never done a 24 hour race. Looking back I honestly believe that I could have done it, were it not for the bloody blisters ...