The Green Man Ultra - March 2019
Race Report by Daniel Smith
The route mostly follows the Community Forest Path around the outskirts of Bristol. Unlike some races you enter, there are no signs, fences or directions put out on the course on race day to help you around the 46 mile course. Self navigating a course this long is part of the challenge.
Some people will be thinking now, who you? you run for 46 miles? Unless you're a freak of nature, you don’t. Run,walk is the order of the day. Just keep going, don’t give up. All you need to do is average around 15 minute miles and you will finish within the cutoff. When put like that, it sounds easy but can you grind that out for nearly 12 hours? That’s the challenge.
This year was my third Green Man. My first Green Man resulted in a finish but just outside the cutoff. It still hurts going all that way and missing the cutoff by minutes. So this year was all about getting a result in March conditions. My second Green Man in the summer in bone dry conditions was never a realistic point of comparison.
Started the race following the 11 hour time lord, to see how far I could stay with him and take it from there. Reached the first check point okay. Loaded up with food and left quickly for a power walk whilst eating. No need to waste time at the check point. I managed to stay in front of Ali, the 10 hour time lord until about 3 miles from Keynsham. At which point my legs were complaining so much that any faint hopes of staying with Ali were wishful thinking.
Reach Keynsham, refuel and see some friendly faces, Hi Leanne! Briefly chatted to Ira, thanked Ali but told him I’m never going to keep up with him. Time to set expectations to realistic. The stretch from Keynsham to Hambrook isn’t as scenic as the first sections and contains the first section of boredom, Oldland. It is here where the course starts to feel a bit random as it snakes through cycle track and bits of housing estate. But it is also local so is familiar. And here lies the problem. By now, it wasn’t just my legs complaining, my right foot wasn’t happy either. Getting so close to home, do I drop out or carry on and risk an injury that could destroy my running plans for the rest of the year?
Reached top of Shortwood Hill to be greeted with my friendly faces and Ian... Ian had pulled out due to injury but had waited around to give me some motivation to carry on. Seeing someone as tough as Ian pulling out was a knock to my confidence. If this course can bring down someone like Ian, was I being sensible by carrying on?
I had reached the 26 mile mark at 6 hours meaning 6 hours left to do 20 miles. Time for mental maths and the rapid realisation that running any distance is becoming very painful and not an option for any meaningful distance. If my body holds, I can do this.
Going through Frome valley and get overtaken by a sight for sore eyes, Team Burge and Weeeeeeeeeeeks. It wasn’t long before I told them to carry on without me as I didn’t want to hold them back as they were looking strong. I saw them again briefly at the Hambrook checkpoint but not again until the end. I would of held them back.
Hambrook lights brought more friendly faces, Hi Matt! And a pacer. Adrian had the intention of running a bit with the Burge convoy but they said stay with Danny as he needs it more. Having someone to talk to during the bland sections of Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Aztec West certainly helped. Still on track, still in pain.
Reached last checkpoint to yet more friendly faces, Hi Meryl, Hi Mr & Mrs Curry! To be fair, Meryl had popped up loads of times around the course. 2 hours, 6 miles. Doable as long as I don’t get lost. But this section doesn’t have a natural path to follow and it’s now dark so the risk of navigation errors has gone up.
Manage to reach Clifton Observatory with enough time to spare to actually enjoy the view of the bridge lit up in the dark. I didn’t have time to saviour the view on my first GMU. I reached Ashton Court, said thank you to the Green Man and somehow managed to override the pain to run one last time.
The amazing Tina, who had been popping up ALL over the course, directed me to the finish line and after 11 hours and 48 minutes, my GMU for March 2019 was over. Will I do it again? Yes. Is it Ira’s fault? No, I get myself into this mess with my eyes wide open and I got out with a little help from my friends and some complete strangers.
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