TSQ final preparation
By Julien on Tuesday, June 28 2011, 16:45 - ThamesSourceQuest - Permalink
The mental aspect of the TSQ is fundamental, as it will be run solo and unsupported.
I've now fully realised that whilst the flatness of the Thames Path appears to be an advantage at first, it might not be such a good thing overall. Indeed, long trail races such as the UTMB are typically cadenced by a succession of climbs and descents, and every low and high point creates a tangible milestone. These natural milestones are of great relief for the mind, and on races without checkpoints such as the PTL, every high point is mentally ticked off with joy. There will be no such milestones on the Thames. Aside from the psychological aspect, it might well be that the regular changes between downhill and uphill stages help to rest some muscle groups while others are working.
The flatness of the course is even more of an issue because I will attempt it solo and unsupported, so there will be no psychological support from a team mate, and no milestones other than the ones I will create in my mind. These milestones will not be as prominent as the Col d'Enclave, so I will have to find a way to materialise them. For this reason, I have not considered purely virtual milestones such as arbitrary points in distance and time. Instead I will use towns on the way, but not all of them, as this would defeat the point by overloading my mind. Roughly one every half-marathon, so 14 in total seems a fair compromise: Westminster (first half-marathon), Richmond (1 marathon), Weybridge/Shepperton (1.5 marathon), Windsor (2 marathons), Bourne End (100km/3.5 marathons), Henley (4 marathons), Purley-on-Thames (half-way), Wallingford (4 marathons), Culham (4.5 marathons), Oxford (5 marathons), Newbridge (5.5 marathons), Lechlade (6 marathons), Cricklade (6.5 marathons), The Source (finish).
This leaves a few key places such as Hampton Court, Reading, or Abingdon aside, but I have to trade-off between the distance covered and the importance of the place. Furthermore, since passing by a town will make no difference to my body, I need to increase the significance of these milestones in a way or another, probably by the means of food rewards.
Ultra ready... hopefully
I've now fully realised that whilst the flatness of the Thames Path appears to be an advantage at first, it might not be such a good thing overall. Indeed, long trail races such as the UTMB are typically cadenced by a succession of climbs and descents, and every low and high point creates a tangible milestone. These natural milestones are of great relief for the mind, and on races without checkpoints such as the PTL, every high point is mentally ticked off with joy. There will be no such milestones on the Thames. Aside from the psychological aspect, it might well be that the regular changes between downhill and uphill stages help to rest some muscle groups while others are working.
The flatness of the course is even more of an issue because I will attempt it solo and unsupported, so there will be no psychological support from a team mate, and no milestones other than the ones I will create in my mind. These milestones will not be as prominent as the Col d'Enclave, so I will have to find a way to materialise them. For this reason, I have not considered purely virtual milestones such as arbitrary points in distance and time. Instead I will use towns on the way, but not all of them, as this would defeat the point by overloading my mind. Roughly one every half-marathon, so 14 in total seems a fair compromise: Westminster (first half-marathon), Richmond (1 marathon), Weybridge/Shepperton (1.5 marathon), Windsor (2 marathons), Bourne End (100km/3.5 marathons), Henley (4 marathons), Purley-on-Thames (half-way), Wallingford (4 marathons), Culham (4.5 marathons), Oxford (5 marathons), Newbridge (5.5 marathons), Lechlade (6 marathons), Cricklade (6.5 marathons), The Source (finish).
This leaves a few key places such as Hampton Court, Reading, or Abingdon aside, but I have to trade-off between the distance covered and the importance of the place. Furthermore, since passing by a town will make no difference to my body, I need to increase the significance of these milestones in a way or another, probably by the means of food rewards.
Ultra ready... hopefully