Dartmoor Discovery 32mile Road Ultramarathon: Report

Rob Wishart sends this report from his weekend jaunt to Devon

My first run in TBH colours.

I trained for this in one crazy day where I did 48 miles. That was a Tuesday, the race was that Saturday! Late, but at least I knew my legs’d talk business over a lot of miles. And you need that confidence!
I’ll just point out – I take a lot of breaks over that distance. Like working 12 hour shifts, hometime is too far away and a lot is going to happen meantime. Just focus on your next break
Long train journey then two buses to the village of Princetown. The race would start and finish here the next day. Good to meet some of the other runners at the pasta party that night, which was in a pub with a bunkhouse and campsite. Tent for me!

Met a few local legends – Adam Holland, at 23 the youngest ever to run 100 marathons. A veteran lady who’s run… 200! A veteran guy that …smokes as he crosses finish lines…etc.

At the start they set off a rocket! When it bangs, you go. I was at the back, but soon moved up. Usually in races I go too fast too soon, and have hit a few walls as a result! But *this time* I’d listened to the veteran’s horror stories about certain hills and decided to walk them. I drank at every station and took short walks if (i.e, before) I needed to. Everyone that ran past when I was walking….saw them all again later, when they’d slowed right down.
Y’know the one about the Tortoise and the Hare?

But it is a toughie! The constant ups and downs take it out of you. The country lanes were surprisingly busy with cars and on the day we were under a hot sun. Great to be out there though, seeing the tors and wild ponies.
It’s “only” 32 miles but so undulating that it’s worth at least 40 miles on flat roads.

The Teignbridge Trotters (no relation to Tyne Bridge!) did a tremendous job of organising. Friendly, efficient and never far away. I met a lot of good people that weekend.

Finally, you see the grey Dartmoor prison and white houses of Princetown. I got away from a few others, wanting that finish. Still very hilly, I needed a walk break in the last mile!

Seeing the TBH vest, a microphone guy sang “the Blaydon races” – I was too busy digging deep to point out that am Scottish, by the way. Nevermind.

4hours 50mins 20secs and 23rd place. A good sub5, buzzing. As soon as you cross the line, the Trotters sit you down and get you a drink, food, massage, whatever! About 180ish started, only 146 finished…

Laters- the Dartmoor Discovery Disco! DDers and Trotters limping around the dancefloor!

Good times.