Well done to Nur who took on the Chiltern Wonderland 50 mile trail ultra.
Superb effort Nur. 👍
A write up from Nur:
After timing out at Chiltern Wonderland 50 (CW50), a 50-mile trail race on the stunning Chiltern hills (5600ft elevation gain) last year, about a mile from the finish, I was determined to do my best this year to complete the course within the cutoffs.
Last year I lost time when I got lost twice (possibly losing at least 10 mins, if not more), ran out of gels which I could have done with in the last 10 miles of the race, and acted perhaps too cautiously as I found out just a few days before the race that I have low bone density.
This year I felt more ready, knowing what to expect in terms of the elevation profile and the terrain. I had better hydration and nutrition strategy. I was confident with the navigation. I thought I was fitter and I had certainly trained better this year. Unfortunately my perceived effort all the way to the second aid station was acutely different to the splits my watch was displaying. How could I be that slow?
Each aid station has a cutoff time and I became aware that I wouldn’t be making the cutoff for the third one. My run/walk efforts changed into a slow walk, taking in as well as taking photos of the stunning views. I felt disappointed in myself that I couldn’t finish.
I now have another unfinished business with CW50!
