The Fractured Marathon 2021
The Fractured Marathon, Calke Abbey, 30th November 2021.
The Fractured Marathon, organised by Peak-Running, consists of 10 timed laps around Calke Abbey, Ticknell, Derbyshire. For this event, each lap is 2.6 miles (4.2km) in length with each lap starting on the half-hour between 5pm and 10pm and competitors can only start the next lap if they are back within 30-minutes. Therefore, runners have to complete all ten laps to achieve the full marathon distance. There is the option to either run the course as part of a team with each member running between 2 and 5 laps, or else to do the whole lot solo. I opted for the solo run.
I was drawn to this event due to the opportunity to do some night racing, with sunset towards the end of the second lap. There also seemed to be a degree of strategy to the whole event i.e. do you race round in 24-25 minutes and allow yourself 5-6 minutes of rest each lap, or do you take your time and have a relaxed 28-29 minute lap with only a gentle stroll back to the start line? On paper it didn't seem unreasonable to do consistent 24-minute laps which would equate to a chip-timed 4-hour marathon. Besides, 2.6 miles in 30 minutes under any circumstances seemed easy enough with plenty of headroom so I didn't give this one much thought beforehand, or even do much in the way of specific training - how bad could it be?
The Course
The course starts close to the Calke Abbey overflow car park, following a very short section of road before turning off onto trail for a steady climb for around 800 metres. There is then a steady descent on footpath for another 800 metres or so before joining the car-park and road system around the Calke-Explore section of the park. The road loops round until rejoining the car-park and back onto the footpath for a short decent before another steady climb. Before the top of the hill however you are directed right onto the footpath for a short section across the fields before joining the trails section of the course. This includes a steady rocky descent, followed by a relatively flat section of the course with a short, steep section of steps leading to the car park and finish. I'm lead to believe from other runners that the 2021 course was very similar to the 2019 event which deviated only slightly though the Calke-Explore section of the woods.
Weather conditions on the morning of the race were not great but the predictions were for a dry afternoon and evening. This did not look to be the case as I drove over the short distance over from Derby but by the time I'd registered and found the toilets, the rain had stopped. Registration was straightforward with all the solo runners presented with a chunky ankle timing chip whilst the teams would instead use a baton which could be passed between individual members. However, the solo runners also had use of a gazebo used as a bag-drop area with food available throughout the event.
The organisers were keen to ensure that the start occurred bang on 5pm with large digital clocks clearly visible at the start and finish line - this would make it very clear as to whether you'd made the 30-minute cut-off.
The Race
Lap 1, and despite my efforts to take it steady and just learn the course, I naturally set off far too fast. I'd previously worried about getting wet but at this time of the day with the sun low in the sky, I should have considered bringing sunglasses. However, before we knew it we all arrived back at the solo gazebo to find a good selection of food including, but not limited to, crisps, chocolates, fruit, sweets, cake, water and coke. Despite getting round in just over 22 minutes, it only felt like a few moments until the tannoy was announcing that runners should make their way back to the start to do it all over again. That didn't seem like much of a break at all....
Lap 2, and the views throughout the park were stunning with the sun finally setting and the fog settling over the fields. Wondered just how cold things were going to get although I was well packed back at base with extra gear if required. Slightly slower this lap but plenty of time so no worries at this stage.
From Lap 3 onward, headtorches were mandatory. However, for the majority of time there were sufficient people around that my torch could be used on the lowest setting. What I hoped for and what we got were the atmospheric shining of lights through the wooded section of the course, particularly during the switchback around Calke-Explore where you got a good indication of those ahead and those behind you. Given that we all effectively reset after each lap, it was great seeing runners of a similar standard at similar sections of the course each time. It was notable by the end of Lap 5 though that my times were steadily getting slower (now around 25 minutes per lap) but we'd done a half-marathon and so far, none of all my usual aches or pains seemed to be having an effect so all seemed well and a finish seemed very achievable.
By around Lap 6, the deja-vu of the course really had kicked in but everything still seemed to be okay. In my head, I had only to finish this lap and then it was two-loops twice - effectively 2 hours to do around 10 miles. The temperature was not too cold so long as you kept moving. Every time you cross the line though, there was the Tannoy once again instructing runners back to the start line. There is no time now for toilet stops or time to chat.
Around Lap 8 was when I realised that maybe I was cutting things a bit fine. Weirdly, head and hands felt fine but my upper back was really feeling the cold. Although ankles, knees and hips felt okay, the thighs were struggling to find the energy, particularly on the long uphill sections of the course. Although I was making the cut-offs with a couple of minutes to spare, there was only time to grab a gel or handful of jelly babies before moving straight back out onto the course. Going through the woods it was clear that there were far more lights in front of me than behind. Finished lap 8 in 28 minutes so just had to do the same in lap 9 and at least I would get the full distance, even if I overran things slightly.
Lap 9 felt steady but not particularly slow but the runners around me were quiet and spread out with none of the earlier banter. One of the stronger runners pulled up early with cramp - at least he didn't have far to go. The marshals who had been giving it their all on Lap 1 were still there shouting their encouragement and there was less than one Parkrun to left to go. In the end though, I didn't get that opportunity, crossing the line with a final lap time of 30 minutes and 32 seconds. It wasn't much of a surprise - I could hear the final '3, 2, 1, Go!' in the distance just I came round the final corner but it was still hard to process knowing there was still energy in the tank.
Made my way back to the solo gazebo where I met several others who looked pretty much how I felt - some who had missed the cut by a couple of minutes, some by mere seconds. Bit of a sombre affair really. A bit of food and drink for the road but without moving, it soon become too cold to hang around so headed back to the car for a sit down and a warm-up.
WWW (What Went Well)?
Finished the run tired but injury free managing 24 miles (according to Garmin) in a chip-time (ignoring the time between the finish line and the start time) of 3 hours 49 minutes, or 4 hours 30 minutes overall. I'm happy with that considering the trail conditions and elevation over the course of the event. As above, it was disappointing to get my first DNF when things had started out so well but then again, there were lots of things that could have gone better.
Felt well dressed for the event with base layer and leggings and feet felt okay in the conditions in the Altra Lone Peaks. Road shoes would have been a bit too slippery for the fields and the trail sections of the course.
It is noted that only 20 of the 41 solo runners completed all ten laps.
RFI (Room For Improvement)?
In short, I didn't respect the course or the distance as summed up in the graph below.
Basically, I should have gone considerably slower in the first half of the race. Going quicker did not equate to any noticeably longer 'breaks' in between - certainly nothing that would offset the extra expended anyway.
In addition, although I thought I'd prepared my kit quite well, I left my bottles of Tailwind at home and hadn't considered what I would have done if the race had been cold and wet - fortunately there was a good selection of snacks provided and the evening stayed dry. I was slightly envious of several runners who had crew ready with dry robes and water bottles after every lap but I don't think it would be fair to ask the missus to do that on a Saturday night!
Anything else?
Really enjoyed the whole event, if a little gutted at not getting the opportunity to complete the whole distance. Two days after the event and I'm still not sure if I will enter again next year - it already feels like I've done it 9 times already but lets see how I feel once next year's event reopens. Certainly can't complain at what was a very different but very fun and affordable event which was very professionally undertaken by Peak Running. The Marshalls were fantastic with their encouragement remaining particularly patient in the cold, and were great entertainment throughout the night. I'd have loved to have stuck around and soak up more of the atmosphere at the end to see the last of the finishers come home but I was feeling pretty cold and beaten up by the end so decided to have an early bath back home. I'd certainly recommend this though to anyone, even if they don't intend to do the full distance - do every other lap and it's a fun way to do a Half in the beautiful surroundings of Calke Abbey.
The Links
Official Site:
https://www.peakrunning.co.uk/fracturedmarathon
Official Results:
Strava Activity:
https://www.strava.com/activities/6189224767
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