Two Tunnels 2025

Two Tunnels 2025

So having vowed I would never do an Ultra, Here I am running an Ultra. With the most piss poor training.

My long run since the Marathon was about 12 miles, so far from ideal. But I felt in good form, hoping that all the training for the Dragon Devil, plus my good recover, left me well place to get round. I was going with no real expectations on a time or how I’d do. Again, this was an event for me to enjoy, no pressures or obligations on fundraising, I could just enjoy the event .

Two Tunnels is as Ultras go, an opportunity to not suffer conditions, it’s 6 x 10km, of an out and back, along a Tow path taking in, two tunnels, it’s a unique setting that’s for sure. The appeal of this event, Bath is fairly local, so with Em and K away for the weekend, I got up and ready, having only to focus on me, out the door, and off to the park and ride.

After a bit of milling about, it was time to start. I felt relaxed on this event, and the first 10km flew by. It was a hot day, but this was mitigated by a lot of the event, being in the cool, refreshing tunnels. I can’t say a lot about this event, as most of it, was tree, tree, tree, tunnel. Tree, tunnel, bridge, water, tree, turn, repeat, field, next lap…. This made it quite a mentally hard event, but as it was a very much flatish event (it was a false flat, so the climb didn’t bother me) it was ok on the legs and I held a decent pace. But mentally, by the third time I was bored of the tunnels! So it was very much a keep going run.

But my time was ok, it doesn’t rival my fastest times, but factoring in everything my pace was good.Obviously, with the poor running training, specifically not enough long runs, I did fatigue and started going slower, but I never felt I wouldn’t finish. I’ve somehow build myself a good base over the years, which gives me hope that following a good training plan, I can approach the London Marathon in good condition and maybe, maybe, sub 4 Hours will happen.That’s late, for now though the time came when I did have to run walk, but once I passed the marathon distance. I was ok about this, I wanted to ensure I had a marathon in me still and I do. On not great training.

My Marathon time was 4 hours 40, my 5^th best out of 9 efforts. I’ll take that, a lot of time to shave off, but I was also holding back so I could hit an Ultra. Then a nice plod over the line, in a time of 5 hours 36 mins, way faster than my previous Ultra, but shorter and flatter.

It was an enjoyable event, well Marshalled, well organised. But I don’t think I’ll repeat it, as I just got bored of the views, I prefer hills as I’m odd. Still I’d recommend it as one to do. So events for the year done.

But the toughest endurance was to come, September and K starts school and my job kicks it up. Can I keep training and start what I need to do, to get my fitness back to where I want it to be….

To be continued…..