Faster further fifty years on

By Dave Fereday



50 years ago whilst doing National Service I was stationed on the Isle of Man and entered the very first Parish Walk which involved visiting all 17 Parish churches on the island, a distance of 85 miles.  At the time I was a member of Hampstead Harriers and was half running fit on about 12 miles a week but hopelessly unprepared for such a vast undertaking.  In the event I managed 45 miles non stop in 12 hours before legs ceased to function.  Of the 35 starters 3 finished and my position on count back as it were was 7th.

This February chatting on the phone to a customer on the island I was surprised to hear that the race had continued and this year was the 50th anniversary. It now attracted 1500 walkers many of whom were top notch performers in addition to good class club athletes and the recreational element.

I was persuaded to have a go and now a serious walker thought why not though 85 miles in the cut off time of 24 hours seemed rather daunting and probably not an attainable target particularly having a knee with no cartilage.

What could be attainable would be to go further faster as a 72 year old than as a 22 year old young man.  A reasonable target might be to walk the 45 miles in less than 12 hours – faster – and then continue to  back to back marathons – further.  A bonus would be to carry on to 62 miles – 100km and I guessed that was the absolute limit.

How to train for such a job?  It was February with the race at end of June and the first task was to get my 30th London Marathon out of the way. I averaged 36 miles a week in the 8 weeks up the London and then began longer slower stuff.  With no experience I tapped into the knowledge of 2 ex international walkers at my walking club, one of whom was 10th in the 20k Tokyo Olympics, and some walkers befriended on the internet who had completed the Parish Walk including a 2 time winner.  I was pleasantly surprised to be told that mega mileage could be unproductive and getting to 60 miles a week would be sufficient.  I built up to 100 miles in 10 days 2 weeks prior and felt that at least back to back marathons was achievable.

Whilst for such a distance one would not be progressing at race walking speed, nevertheless for maximum efficiency, rather than just walking normally, I was told to use fast walking technique but much watered down.

I devised a race plan for the full 85 miles even though I thought it highly unlikely I would last beyond 100km. As there were cut off points at all the checkpoints a plan was essential to ensure I was well within the time limits to avoid being pulled out.  Like all races even paced running or walking is an essential facet to better guarantee success.  However, over such a long distance there would bound to be some slowdown as body systems become over strained.  The key would be to not go off too fast but neither too slow.

There was also the question of any rest periods.  The long training walks only seemed tolerable if I could look forward to a rest say every 2 hours and take nourishment so I programmed these into the scheme of things.

I planned 4.1/4mph – 14.07 miling for the first 20 miles.   Then came a hilly 12 miles rising from sea level to 1200 feet then down again and I planned a slowing to 3.1/2 mph – 17.00 miling.  Then back on the flat quickening to 4mph – 15 minute miling for the 13 miles to Jurby which at 45 miles was the point of my demise 50 years earlier.  Adding on 15 minutes for 5 rests gave a total time of 11 hours 40 minutes – 20 minutes faster than in 1960.  Thereafter the planned pace was to steadily reduce down to a shambling 19 minutes a mile and bring me to the finish 15 minutes before the 24 hour deadline though the plan post 62 miles I thought  completely hypothetical.

A most important part would be nutrition and I stocked up my support car, driven by a lady who had previously finished the walk, with a variety of fuel including the essential salty stuff such as crisps in addition to carbs of all type.

Race day start 8.00AM - hot and sunny.  My usual last minute toilet panic left me at the back of 1498 bodies who had to circumnavigate a lap of the track and then pour on to a narrow lane.  A seeming age to reach the start line and then a personal worst for a quarter and a painful (psychologically) shuffle for 3 miles before arm and leg room was available to enable the required pace of 4.1/4 mph.  With 8 minutes lost in that 3 miles the schedule was already out of the window.  Being hot adequate hydration was key but less sweat is lost walking and over zealous liquid intake resulted in the need to pee after 7 miles – another minute lost – then again at 13 miles – the schedule was taking a battering.  A big decision was made. If I could take in liquid on the hoof it could equally be expelled thus and save  precious minutes.     At the major checkpoint at 19.08 miles my official time was 4.38.08 compared to the schedule’s 4.29.20.  The 9 minute shortfall more or less reflected time lost at the start and peeing - good news as my actual unrestricted walking time was bang on schedule almost to the second.

Further good news.  I felt no compulsion to take the scheduled rests totalling 5 minutes in the first 20 miles  so I was only a net  4 minutes behind.

Now came the dreaded Sloc – a 4 mile steep incline from sea level to 1200 feet and then down the other side. From 20 miles support cars were allowed and I took ample refreshment progressing up what bore resemblance to a Tour de France pass but instead of bikes a motley bunch plodding upwards. The weather was supberb with fantastic views over the island.  No problem up but on the steepest slopes down the disadvantaged knee couldn’t cope and I was forced to walk backwards for periods.  More good news.  For this hilly 11.67 miles section I managed 15.50 miling compared to the scheduled 17.00 miling which gained me 13 minutes so now 10 minutes ahead and this increased to 13 minutes as I declined the 3 minutes rest programmed after the slog of the Sloc.  

Back at sea level 32 miles had now been completed and at 4 in the afternoon it was seriously hot. Over 1000 walkers had now retired leaving the road rather lonely with the field very scattered.  It was now that the real race with oneself was to begin.  Just 13 flattish miles to the ‘faster 50 years on’ target - the Jurby checkpoint at 45.17 miles.  Scheduled at 4mph – 15 minute miling – I managed 14.51 to gain  more minutes and with a further 4 minutes of rest aborted was now 20 minutes quicker than plan.

But serious tiredness was setting in as I battled the 7.45 miles to the back to back marathons distance – the second target of ‘further 50 years on’.  My plan reflected an expected slowing at this juncture with drop in speed to 17.00 miling– it’s all very mathematics this ultra stuff.  In the event though I didn’t slow that much – 15.46 miling gaining 9 more minutes but a mile from the checkpoint serious trouble - a sudden extreme weariness never even experienced in my worst marathon wall jobs. I never  give in but the reality was stark. Still back to back marathons was no shame and achieved  nearly half an hour quicker than the plan.

So after 13 hours 14 minutes of non stop action through Bride church gates and a slump into a real comfy chair and announced retirement. One of my email friends who had finished the walk many times had advised his first stop was always at Bride (52.62 miles) and he then indulged in hot sweet milky coffee before setting off again.  So I had got my support lady to have such a flask ready for issue and  it went down real nice.  But I was still retired.  However, a former winner of the race who had been advising me on training fortunately or unfortunately was on hand.  He had been supporting the race leader who was pulled for ‘lifting’ – it was that serious a race – and bullied me into continuing hauling me from the chair – I couldn’t get up myself – pushing me legs stiffened up the road with the comforting words ‘up that short hill’ and it’s nicely down for miles.

Meanwhile my rest must have taken 10 minutes compared to the prescribed 3 but still around 23 minutes ahead.

My schedule from now on which I had thought would be academic was pretty simple – 19 minute miling – 3.1/6 mph including rests with a quickening to 18 minute miling for the last 6 miles – don’t know why I planned a quickening at the end.

Pushed metaphorically up ‘that short hill’  at the top a transformation occurred.  I seemed to have gone to the ‘other side’ – wasn’t really myself. Tiredness had vanished, the legs became freer and going into the gathering darkness all seemed surreal.  Breezed past the next check at 55.66 miles but sampled the said coffee again with a seated stop at 61.66 for a few minutes taking on warmer clothing for the cool night ahead.  And again at the next – 66.74 miles.

But now came a big bummer the longest stage of 11.73 miles. It was now 1.30AM and I had heard tales of Parish walkers literally falling asleep collapsed with exhaustion on  the road in the small hours.  I was still doubting I could make the last 18 miles.  However, 6 miles into the stage and still upright  came a sudden realisation -  hells teeth I may be able to finish but with the emphasis still very much on ‘may’. It was some fillip and resolve set in.  Spurred on by the occasional target of another  competitor who one suddenly came up upon as a ghost in the dark it seemed never ending to the finish of the stage and the church of Lonan at 78.47 miles.  At this point the road switch backed  up and down valleys between villages.  On the downs my funny knee forced  backward motion and up to  a mile was walked in reverse gear.  But with only 6.1/2 miles to go surely I have cracked it.  First light was coming and it was miserably misty but crack on down to the sea front and a mile sprint to the finish.  The final 32.23 miles had taken 9 hours 49 minutes – 18.16 miling – compared to the plan of 10 hours – 18.37 miling though with approx 20 minute rest stops walking speed was around 17.40 – 3.4 miles per hour.  Total time was 23 hours 3 minute and I was 106th out of the 133 finishers.  The winning time was 15 hours 18 minutes by an O45 vet.

So an unexpected outcome  which well reflected the battle plan with the final time being 42 minutes ahead – 3% quicker

Though tired bodily, I still felt pretty perky even without sleep all night and retired to the hotel for a full English and warm soak. So to next year but to break the over 70 record I must quicken by just over an hour.

The event was most superbly organised and Steve Allen I am sure may welcome the challenge.  It would be nice to have 2 Barnet walkers on the start line in 2011.