Run Britannia , day five, Bideford to Greenlands Farm,Exmoor (51km)
We left our accommodation which we had been in for three nights and boarded the bus to take us back to the finish from day four, which was a carpark outside a pub in Bideford. Straight away I saw the answer to my prayers, a motorised scooter, just what I needed for another day mainly on concrete paths or b-roads. This was frowned upon by my fellow competitors , and probably the owner of the vehicle, so off on foot I scampered.
The first ten kilometres from the start was on concrete paths that run through stunning scenery. Not quite the coastal beauty we had experienced previously but flat and fast. It was good to get some kilometres under the belt early and we hit the first pit stop very quickly. I ordered my obligatory tea with three sugars and wolfed down a few Rat Race bars. I had ran with my good mate Dave ‘Dangerous’ Douglas and we shared some great stories and bad jokes, time disappeared quickly, funnily enough like Dave at the pit stop. Dangerous didn’t like to hang about and treated each stage as a mini race, I was more than happy to chew the fat , and drink the tea, at aid stations, after all it was Run Britannia not Race Britannia.
As well as myself there was one other Australian who had made the long trip from down under, here the two of us ham it up for the camera.
Highlight of day two was definitely spending time with Dangerous Dave. We were room buddies and two peas in a pod, time with Dave passed very quickly despite his very bad jokes. Meeting someone for the first time but instantly knowing you’d be good friends is rare and with Dangerous I had that connection. I have many regrets with leaving Run Britannia early but missing out on spending the extra four weeks running with Dave is my main one. He killed it of course and was one of the dozen or so runners who finished every stage, despite a dodgy ankle for a few stages where he had to hobble the whole stage and his Father passing away in the first week. Dave is a genuine nice guy, plain and simple. I look forward to spending some time in his company, someday.
Dave was also useful to act as a human shield so I was always keen to let him lead as we ran along the b-road ‘killing fields’ , as I call them. As I said in a previous post cars aren’t expecting runners on these roads and you really need to approach every corner under the assumption there is a Volkswagen van being driven by a homicidal maniac just around the corner, whose sole purpose in life is to add you to his hood ornament.
Saw this outside a local church and couldn’t resist, you’d be mad not to surely.
Dave and I made our way through the countryside stopping only for the odd photo opportunity too good to turn up. He has a flare for photographer Dave, as well as running. How good is the scenery ? Clean streams flowing under beautiful hand built bridges from a by-gone era, so quintessential English.
A Dangerous Dave original; photo.
The day was spent mainly on back lanes with the odd section of b-roads , running through picture postcard English countryside in perfect summer conditions. The organisers couldn’t have hoped for these conditions in their wildest dreams, we were truly blessed.
Leaving the last aid station for the day I started on the last climb and was met with the Union Jack flying in the wind. An in credible view on a day of incredible views, this day really couldn’t have got any better.
The last trail in the Dunkery and Horner wood, how bloody English is that ? The image below shows the last rise to the finish aid station on Exmoor. Conditions really were stunning and a sharp contrast to the start the next day. I was just behind Martin and we both finished within a few minutes of each other. There were three or four other runners waiting to greet us, as well as the Rat Race crew, at the finish, hugs all around and then onto the food.
We finished day five on Exmoor in glorious conditions. The Rat Race crew were there and I gorged on protein shakes, donuts and fruit. After running all day it was an oasis of food, just what us runners needed. My Altra Vanish Tempo’s had been through a rough couple of days and looked the worse for wear but had been a good shoe choice for the day. Probably back to the Altra Olympus trainers for day six as there would be some time on Exmoor, which was mainly single track trail. Unbeknown to me at the time today would be my last full day on Run Britannia and it was certainly a day I will never forget, similar to day six but for completely opposite reasons.
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ ) The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products) can be difficult to digest later in the event. From the website :-
As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority.
In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance.
In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born.
BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work!
BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!
What can I say about HumanTecar, ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !
Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.
Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )
T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in. It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong, storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)
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About The Author
bigkevmatthews@gmail.com
A running tragic.