Race review: #30 Black Phoenix Marathon

I entered the 'Black Phoenix' right at the last minute, after a couple of places came up at the last minute. This was an evening run, starting at 4pm and was basically the same out-and-back course along the Thames Path that I had previously run at "Top Run" a few weeks before.  These Phoenix events are timed events - you have six hours "on the clock" to complete as many laps as you can. Each lap is around 3 and half miles, so completing 8 laps earns you the coveted marathon distance and counts as a strike towards my goal of running 100 marathons. Sounds simple - in practise!

However I had previously entered the Yeovil Marathon which was the next morning at 9am. Here's me thinking I could get a "cheeky double" in. What could possibly go wrong?!

I had entered this race with my running buddy Chelsea and we had decided to car share. The M3 was closed that weekend which was a pain in the butt, so we had a detour over the Hogs Back and along the A3, to reach race HQ which was once again at the Elmbridge leisure centre in Walton-On-Thames.  After the short drive to Walton we managed to google map our way to the centre and then parked up. We parked just outside as the centre has a barrier which comes down at 9pm - and we both knew we'd be running way beyond that! It was only a really short walk to the start, though.

Registration was dead easy, and the race director Rik recognised both of us and greeted us by our first names after recognising the both of us from previous events - nice touch!  Having the race HQ in the leisure centre was great, we could get a coffee and something to eat, as well as plenty of toilets available. It was a very nice warm evening, but had it been raining then it would have been a perfect place to shelter and avoid getting a soaking. 

We had a quick briefing at the start from Rik who described the route and told us we needed to do those magic 8 laps to count as the full marathon. He explained at the start/finish of each lap was an aid station ("tuck shop") with lots of goodies on offer, as well as cups and bottles of water.  We needed to collect a wrist band (actually, a girls hair bobble!) and then they would count the number of wrist bands at the end to confirm mileage covered. All straight forward stuff.

We then walked the short distance from the leisure centre over to the start line (and "tuck shop"). 

This was located next to the Wier Hotel and Pub, which looked very inviting and a nice cold fizzy drink would have done down extremely well in the heat! Instead, we lined up at the start with the other runners.  There was a small baggage tent but we didn't need to use that.  

A previous Phoenix event had just finished, a Harry Potter themed marathon. I bumped into Rachael who was having a well deserved post-finish drink in the Wier pub, and we chatted for a bit.  I also saw Emine who was running the race with us. 

Catching up with Rachael

We wandered back over to the start line, although could have easily spent a lot longer chatting. I reminded myself I was here to run a marathon, not to yack! Rik counted down to the start, and we were off.

Right from the start it felt really hot - there had been a hot spell, and the air was very humid and it felt sweltering, like running in an oven. I had my camelbak with a litre of sports drink in it, and I am so glad that had it. Running along the Thames path was really nice, the only down side was that it was really busy - lots of other users of the path such as cyclists, runners and gangs of kids milling about. It made for a lot of dodging around, which just makes running harder than it should be.

The route itself took us past two three looking pubs and ... sob... an ice cream van which was doing a roaring trade. It did look extremely tempting to stop and have an ice cream - by the last lap it felt like it was mocking me!

I also spotted a couple of fellow runners from Bungay Runners sheepishly come out of the pub. I found out that they had drunk two pints each! They had however completed the Harry Potter run in the morning, so why not eh. 

The first few laps went really well, despite the heat. It was nice going post the lively pubs and the ice cream van of course, and the river was just lovely. I was doing my usual run/walk - 90 seconds run, 30 seconds walk. At the end of each lap I was able to raid the 'aid station' - downing cups of water, eating some crisps and sweets and trying to get myself together for the next lap. Each lap, they also gave me a wrist band - when you finish, they simply tot the bands up to see how far you've gone.

On my sixth lap, I really "hit the wall" big time - the energy just seemed to leave me completely. I kept pushing on, although by now had slowed down really big time. I completed that sixth lap and I worked out I could get just within the 6 hour time limit if I walked the rest of the race - two more laps - around six miles.

Walking six miles on tired legs and feeling knackered is pretty grim, but I just couldn't run faster than my walking pace, I had nothing left. My running buddy Chelsea felt the same and decided not to carry on, so now I was on my own and had to just man up and put up.

I managed to churn out a seventh lap, speed walking as fast as  I could. By now the sun was getting very low and it was getting dark. At least it was getting a little cooler, however the pub goers were getting "extremely well refreshed". So there was a fair bit of banter coming my way as I went past. That was OK, apart from "you're supposed to run!". 

I was now up to my eighth and final lap. My legs felt really heavy and I was exhausted, but I kept going. The field of runners was really thinning out now as most people had already finished, and it was just a few of us plodders and the elite guys doing extra laps to make it an ultra. This made it feel even tougher as the support from fellow runners was now few and far between.  Getting to the turn around point just past Walton bridge, I looked at my watch. If I pushed it I could just make it under six hours.  

As I now headed back to the finish line, it was so dark I decide to switch on my head torch. Rik had advised us in the pre-race comms that this was mandatory to carry with you. 

As soon as I switched it on though, about 1 billion bugs flew towards me. 

I was literally spitting out midges and they were flying into my eyes. So I turned the damn thing back off again and ran in the dark, hoping for the best and trying my best not to trip over a tree route.





Finally, I came out of the trees and there was the finish area. Thank god for that. I got a cheer and round of applause from a few runners, and from Rik and the fellow marshals. I managed a rather pathetic plod into the finish (I simply refused to walk over any finish line!). I had finished in over six hours, darn it. Luckily Rik had agreed to waive the strict 6 hour limit and allow this as a finish time.  

This is why they call it the Black Phoenix!

My finish medal was given to me, this was the heaviest medal I have even been given! The medal even opens out to reveal a Phoenix - just brilliant.

I met back up with Chelsea and we had a chat with her buddy, before heading back. It just goes to show you, marathons do not get any easier and you have to respect them.

I decided that doing Yeovil in the morning just wasn't going to happen - I was so exhausted and tired. Lesson learnt - don't get greedy!