Beachy Head Marathon Quick Update - And Some Other Bits

Hi,

Yesterday I did my first race since my disappointing DNF at UTMB.  It was the Beachy Head Marathon, which I was racing for the 13th consecutive year.  Over the last few years my finish times have got slower, and my finish places have got lower, as illustrated with the following data: 2010 3:02:25 (1st), 2011 3:02:55 (2nd), 2012 3:10:39 (2nd), 2013 3:12:23 (5th).
 Well I am pleased that yesterday I stopped the 'downhill' trend with my finish time being 3:09:37, nearly three minutes quicker than 2013, however, my finish place dropped one further place to 6th.  Although 3:09 is still quite some way from my personal best time of 2:57:20 when I finished in 2nd place back in 2007, overall I felt I ran quite well yesterday, with the pre-race goal of "running relaxed and not fighting" pretty well being achieved until the last climb up Beachy Head at around 24 miles.

Climbing Out of Jevington At Around 4 Miles (Photo courtesy of SussexSportPhotography.com)

 

Descending Down to Alfriston At Around 8 Miles  (Photo courtesy of SussexSportPhotography.com)

 

Approaching Birling Gap At Around 22 Miles

Running Relaxed After 23 Miles

Passing Belle Tout Lighthouse Approaching 24 Miles

Commencing "The Fight" - The Start of the Last Climb - Beachy Head

 

Nearing the Top of Beachy Head  (Photo courtesy of SussexSportPhotography.com)

Maintaining the Intensity During the Final Half Mile to the Finish at Eastbourne (Photo courtesy Ian Davis)

The plan is for a brief Beachy Head Marathon race report to be included within a seven year review of my trail marathon and ultra-trail racing blog post, maybe next week. However, it could be the following week, as at the moment I am busy with two other projects:

(1) Weald Challenge Trail Races.  Yes, I have just opened entries for the 2015 Weald Challenge Trail Races, consisting of a Trail Half Marathon, Trail Marathon, and a 50km Ultra Trail.  The event takes place on Sunday 24th May 2015 within East Sussex.  The inaugural race this year was very well received, so if you are looking for a scenic but challenging race around the end of May next year, check out the race website for details and entries.  http://www.trailrunningsussex.co.uk/trailraces.html

(2) Like The Wind Pop-Up Gallery.  Many of you are probably aware of the Pop-Up Gallery due to take place in London this coming week.  The event is being put on by the Like The Wind Magazine, and involves some really interesting talks, movie screenings, workshops, etc. spread throughout the week.  The list of presenters is really impressive and to name just a few include Steve Way, Charlie Spedding, Veronique Marot, Sebastien Chaigneau, Robbie Britton, Jez Bragg, Ian Corless, Holly Rush, and yes, tagged onto the end of this impressive list, yours truly Stuart Mills!

Next Sunday, 2nd November the plan is to do a 10 - 11 mile run commencing around 10:15 am, to be then followed by my talk where I reflect on my last seven years of trail racing, highlighting what I have learnt and what training principles enabled me to achieve the level of performance I reached.  Amended details, including the run before, are currently being updated on the Pop-Up website.

Go to the following website  http://www.likethewindmagazine.com/popup/ to view the full Like The Wind Pop-Up Gallery schedule and to book tickets.  Some events have already sold out, so best you check out the website pretty soon.

I'm looking forward to the events I am planning to attend, with I guess listening to Steve Way topping my list.  Hopefully I will catch up with a few of you during the week.

This was meant to be a quick update.  So to keep it quick, no sign-off quote.

Speak soon,

Stuart

'Like the Wind' Magazine Launch Party - An Inspiring Magazine and Evening

Hi

A number of you may have heard about the new running magazine that has recently been launched, and indeed a number of you attended the launch party on Wednesday night in London.  However, to those of you that aren't aware of this new magazine, the aim of tonight's blog post is basically to bring you 'up to speed' on this exciting new magazine.

So 'Like the Wind'.  Yes, the magazine title is a bit vague.  I never did get a chance to ask Simon or Julie Freemen, the people behind the magazine, the story behind or the meaning of the title.  Maybe "Run like the wind"? The image below is of the front cover, and straight away you will notice that this magazine is nothing like any of the other running magazines.  It simply stands out on its own.  When you pick it up, sense the smell of the quality paper, the ink, or whatever produces the smell.  You just feel quality within your hands.  I guess it feels more like a book, rather than a magazine.

Like The Wind Front Cover

I have been amazingly busy the last few days, so I haven't actually read all of the article yet, as I don't want to feel rushed when I read them.  In fact I have only read a random few but I really like James Adams' and Leon Lutz's articles, although I really need to read both of these articles again, at an even more leisurely pace, to really get the best from their excellent pieces.  Yes, the magazine is quite a different magazine to the usual running magazines where I tend to just skim read the articles.

As you can see from the contents list below there are some top quality writers / photographers / runners that have contributed to the magazine.  And if you look closely towards the bottom, you will see that I have also written a piece simply titled "First Marathon".

Fortunately, Julie and Simon from Like the Wind have given me permission to link to my article from my UltraStu blog. So click this link HERE if you want to read "First Marathon".  One main attraction of the magazine is the variety of contributors.  So even if my piece, 'doesn't light your fire', I'm sure you are bound to find many interesting and inspiring messages within the magazine.

To purchase the magazine, yes at the slightly more expensive price of £9 (Quality doesn't come cheap!), go to the magazine shop at: http://www.likethewindmagazine.com/shop/ but you better be quick as it is a limited edition print.  As I publish this post, it states there are only 88 copies remaining!

Back to the launch party, it was a really enjoyable evening.  I got home really late after my train journey back to East Sussex was replaced by a bus half way home!  However, I was ‘buzzing’ after chatting to so many amazing people, including a number of fellow magazine contributors, that the long journey home didn't dissipate any of the positive energy I had absorbed.  I woke up the following morning and although it was wet and cold outside I felt so inspired that I went out for a solid two hour run.  It just got me thinking that if I was able to chat to such interesting people every night, I would achieve some really awesome training!

Time to finish this brief post, so I can relax and enjoy a few more of the articles from 'Like The Wind'.

I will sign off with a quote from James Adams' piece titled 'Your Brain, Your Best Friend, Your Worst Enemy.'  

When I am running and something does not quite go going according to plan - ...... - I just ask myself:  "What would a zebra do?"  James Adams, 2014 Like The Wind Magazine

You will have to read James' article to understand what zebras have to do with running!

Happy reading!

Stuart