Attempting the Vanguard Way

So I tried to do a thing.

I really should smile

I'd been wanting to do this for a while, but needed to workout how to fit it into my calendar. Last Thursday the 16th July was the chosen slot, the weather wasn't ideal with the current heatwave, but it wasn't completely unreasonable with a slight dip in the daily temperature trend for a couple of days.

A supported run of the Vanguard Way, 66 miles from Croydon to Newhaven, attempting to beat the current "Fastest Known Time".

The overview in Oxted Station

 

Since the Vanguard Way is a local trail I've used it many times for commuting runs, and love its varied route, terrain and scenery. Well "love" is perhaps too strong a term - it's a sort of "love/hate" relationship, The Vanguard Way is, and can be horrific through Winter (calf deep mud, thigh deep water), during which times I've previously attempted multiple races that include it.

The backstory for the trail also pleases me... initially I'd always assumed this was some sort of historic medieval or Roman based name -  you know "The vanguard" this or that - but nope.... the origin was a bunch of often inebriated hikers who'd plan days out walking and crashed out in the "guards van" of one of the trains they used. https://vanguardway.org.uk/who.htm
When they established one of their own long distance walking routes, they christened it "The Vanguard Way"
It's notable just how train friendly this stretch is all the way down most of its route, something I was able to take advantage of for many of my test runs.

Route on the tracker with planned crew stops.

I'd already run a full recce of the route over the past month to refresh my memory of the route and see if there were any oddities or surprises to come. A few fields at that time were either overgrown or had been freshly cut (but not cleared) so were challenging, but it I was expecting and assuming those would be dealt with in a matter of weeks so should leave ideal conditions.

Best laid plans...

Planning was all done, kit checked and tested and a schedule mapped out. This would be run as a "supported" attempt, although rather than using leg-by-leg pacers I'd just have regular crew stops and, hopefully, at the end, would be able to run the final 10 miles or so in with Hugo.

After a terrible nights sleep, up and out on a 6am train towards London and out at Croydon. Tracker on and mapping ready, although I never need to actually check the map since I'm familiar with the train, it's reassuring to have on me. This also means I actually have 4 devices logging my run, it doesn't seem to be worth skimping on having proof of the attempt. If anyone wants the boring details of what and why....

  1. GPSMAP66 - 25k OS mapping
  2. Forerunner 55 (distance/time)
  3. Forerunner 310XT (has a nifty 'virtual pace' display)
  4. IvrTrack (live tracking)

I snap a quick selfie at East Croydon station (I really should make sure to smile in future) in between all the mornings commuters bustling around, then it's over the tramlines and off up the road. I'm running on autopilot knowing this section *really* well. I'm running briskly, but not at "trying to win a race" pace... as a result (autopilot and 'brisk running') 3 miles in, running through Littleheath Woods I see the route I should be taking and make a rapid turn, over tree roots.... my ankle folds underneath me and I both feel and hear a pop. Pain shoots up my leg and I hobble. The thought 'is this game over already?!' flashes through my mind and I drop to a very slow jog and hobble-hop run for a few hundred meters to assess the situation. OK as time progresses I can steadily switch back to a natural run gait and start running on again in half a mile or so. My pace is a bit slower now, and I soon find I can't press on downhill which is usually one of my strengths. Bugger. OK. No worries, I can still do this. 

Warlingham 

Warlingham at 7 miles is my first crew stop, I gloss over the ankle incident, pick up some running poles, fresh water and run on. I take the poles for the climb and descent of Chalkpit Hill (25% ish) in three miles where the next crew point is.

I text forward a message calling for a change of shoes, hopefully these will feel more secure and stable.

Chalkpit

I tentatively run down Chalkpit nowhere near the pace I *should* be doing this, but even so I still manage to go over on my bad ankle again. I mention the ankle to Cara this time and swap over shoes, thankfully these help and feel much more secure and planted as I run on.

Chalkpit, swapping shoes

Limpsfield

Another 5 miles on it's Limpsfield, I can motor on over this section and Cara mentions/asks 'was that a good stretch? don't overcook it'. :) 

Limpsfield

I'm keeping my goal pace under control, I've slightly misjudged the pace I can hold uphill, but I can offset that on the flats so overall I'm up or down a couple of minutes each stop.

Edenbridge

Edenbridge @20 miles is next, here Hugo joins me for the next 5 mile stretch, probably to keep an eye on me. It's nice to have a running buddy for a little while albeit there is some background grumbling.

Hugo ready to split

A264 

We part ways at the A264, 25 miles in and I'm then on my own down to Forest Row, the heat is starting to get to me and normally my strategy would be to walk in the shade, but having a goal time and target pace I need to keep moving at a brisk pace.

Forest Row 

At Forest Row I down a litre of orange juice and pick up poles for the Ashdown Forest, this is going to be a tough stretch, the ground is really rutted and lumpy up through the forest, I'm concentrating on every step, also again, I'm losing more time than I'd like on the climbs. 

Ashdown Forest 

Gills Lap car park, snacks and drinks, handing back the poles.
I hope that the drop to High Hurstwood will let me claw back some time, but I'm still having to watch the ground.

Getting toasty

High Hurstwood

Into High Hurstwood and I'm behind, but it sounds manageable, I get a talking to for not eating enough but I'm having trouble eating, or wanting to eat in the heat, the chalky sections through the Ashdown Forest reflect the sun back up at you and it's baking with little breeze or much cover.
I make a tiny navigation mistake at 38 miles and add 2 minutes on, but then just afterwards, a mile later, I misjudge my foot placement and my ankle goes over again (third time now). The pain is next level and I black out for a second. Um, I wonder if I need to check the map and call a rescue in, I don't think I can move, but it's only 3 miles to the next crew point.
Thankfully, I manage to tentatively tippy-toe on, even though I'm moving I really think I've got to call this now. I decide I can make the decision at the car, as the pain settles I can keep going, but now I'm nowhere near the required pace (on the easy descent from mile 40 I can only mange a 9:50 minute mile).

Blackboys

On arriving at Blackboys I haven't (obviously) managed to close back the gap on my target time and I strap on an ice pack.

There is a very brief discussion and we all agree it's time to abandon this attempt, there's no way I'm going to be able to pick up the pace even though the worst sections are now behind me, if I wasn't injured I'd be tempted to keep going simply to finish the route, but the injury is a show stopper I can't keep rolling my ankle and I'm having to spend all my effort concentrating to make sure I don't. Also it's quite a lot of pain running with this, and that does detract from the enjoyment of the endeavour slightly.

43miles and this attempt is over.  🙁

The end


I lie down for a while and can see my ankle is a bit big, I'll check it out properly when we're back home.
Taking off the sock later, and the swelling and discolouration is rather bad. I reckon it's probably just a "grade II" but a quick tape measure "figure 8" check confirms a 3cm swelling, so that's definitely into grade III territory.

Cankle 

Lovely hue

(It kept on swelling over the top, hiding the bones completely) 

Shitsticks.

Time to recover.

As long as no-one else sets a faster time I'll have to try again, just need to figure out when I can fit it into the calendar.






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