I entered an ultra marathon where you literally race the sea (and it was brutal)
Afternoon $4 Patreons!
Last month I decided to take part in a brilliant but brutal long distance event called "Race the tide" in which runners must reach (and cross) two estuaries before the tide comes in. I was keen to prove to myself that I could not only beat the tide but go much quicker than I did the previous year in the mud-fest that was the Amberaid 50. With the sun shining down on a supposedly less hilly, less muddy route, this was surely the time to do it I thought, but it wasn't as simple as that. Not only did this race have mud, it had waist deep slurry thanks to one local arsehole farmer. Throw in some confusing signage, a few monster hills, 25 degree heat and no electrolyte tablets, and I was in for another torrid time. Can I achieve my aim of 5hrs 30 and make it home in time for a curry with my mates? or will it all prove too much...
***sorry about the swearing in this one, and the occasional dodgy camera work
I entered an ultra marathon where you literally race the sea (and it was brutal) (YouTube)
Comments (46)
So impressed with your pace?! Even though you perhaps weren't too happy and it was not within your goals, hats off from me! But man running in heat is awful. As soon as the temperature is above 25 degrees in checking out. I'm getting back into ultrarunning after some years of not feeling great, and I'm running (hiking?) a 55K with 1700m of elevation in less than a month. Nervous! Hopefully it won't be too warm, but after watching this I'll make sure to remember to bring electrolytes nonetheless... :)
Wow. Grew up down here and was even a postman myself in Kingston and Ringmore. Walked and run those cliff paths for the first half of my life before swapping it all for Norway. Well done Tom. Cracking effort mate. Never easy when the cramp hits you.
Completely missed this one, need to go through all your collections haha
Made me chuckle that even on an organised race you ended up getting lost, ploughing through undergrowth & jumping over fences. Great video.
Just got back into running after 5 years, amazing what it does for mental health! But you were barely moving and in agony and your 10k split was like 1hour 30.. I do my 10k's in 1hour 15 !! Unbelievably well done!
Can someone direct me to the video spreadsheet list? It was the first thing I found when joining up and now I can't find the list for love nor money even with the search/filters. Where the heck is it?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HD8TRZjoU8fCrEOcD_8ks9ao0RuYmy4ExyTx8eQtyLU/edit?gid=0#gid=0
my god... you've made it my lifes mission to have 4 or 5 pints at the pub on that island. stunning
I was thinking this was perfect weather for a tenner in my pocket stroll 😁
this part of england looks so pretty, I wanna visit in the summer sometime :)
Loved this... and great music!
Me and my girlfriend love your videos! Got your new album on vinyl and we've saved it for the first night we spend in our new place. Excited to hear it!
Next time you do one of these, you can send me nutrition strategy and I'll review it for you. Always feel you make these runs harder for yourself by underfueling. I've luckily never had cramp during an ultra, but I eat a lot of salt tabs :) I think this is the number one thing that knocks people out in the late stages.
Cheers Rhys. I ate pretty well on this one for once. Definitely getting better at the fueling. However leaving my hydration tablets in the car completely screwed me. Not something I'll be doing again!
Amazing effort Tom, I’ve done one of the OuterEdge events, the Tsunami Ultra, definitely worth a look if you want to do some costal running in that part of the world. Can also recommend MudCrew events down in Cornwall, they do a race over some of the trails you covered in the ‘Tenner in my Pocket’ video. Half the battle with these ultras is overcoming the mental low points and pushing on when you feel like quitting - I’d say you’re far from a novice in this respect with all your missioning experience! Really hope you continue doing these races now and then alongside your other projects, maybe see you on the start line of one someday, before you blast off into the distance!
Cheers Stephen! I'll look out for these events, such a beautiful part of the world. Those coastal path hills don't get any easier though!
You are such a trooper. Love seeing you do all your adventures.
Cheers Pete thanks for watching!
started running a bit because of all these videos. long way to go especially since I really shouldn't run all that much at my weight, but slow and steady progress being made.
100%. It's all about little steps. Don't compete with anyone but yourself. If you put the work in you'll find yourself on an upward spiral and before you know it you're running 10Ks with ease!
I really first thought it was Paddy The Baddy himself. :D
He was far too well spoken haha
Fancy racing a horse through somerset https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/entries-wanted-epic-somerset-man-10342360
This sounds sick! I might enter this. Not sure I'll beat any horses though haha
Great stuff Tom. I fondly remember what I felt was a well-earned pint at The Pilchard after dragging my corpulent carcass there from Challaburgh Bay - I'd say you went the extra mile, but clearly it was rather more :-)
Looks like such a good pub!
Great stuff, Tom. You've definitely inspired me to get out and run more. Keep it up 👍
That's so great to hear Piers. Good luck!
Utter madness to not have electrolyte tablets at an aid station in that blistering heat
I know! even weirder that no-one else had one either. Maybe they just didn't want to share..
Brill - keep up the good content! Hope you’re good!
Thanks Sam appreciate it!
Great video as always!
Thanks Madison glad you enjoyed! :)
always a bit funny how good you are prepared for straight line missions and how bad for you running races :D glad you finished it
I'd argue I'm not that prepared for either! haha
3 minutes in “first kilometre 5:03” oh dear 😂
I just can't not get carried away..
Looking forward to watching this!
Cheers Ade, hope you enjoyed
Perfect Timing! Can‘t wait to watch this later.
Cheers Malte, hope you enjoyed
Just finished cooking. Perfect timing Tom.
Chow down and watch me suffer. Cheers JP!
Excellent Tom I'll get this watched later! Loving the content
Thanks mate that means a lot!