Race date: 6th July 2024

Race distance: 54km / 1250m elevation

Surprise, surprise, it’s a Laura Rangeley race report with a lengthy preamble. But then it was a very long race, so I feel it’s warranted!

My running journey is just over 5 years old – it’s half a decade since I completed the Striders 5k to 10k course and realised that running was something that could become part of my life. At the time, I remember looking on Strava at people doing the Sheffield Half Marathon and thinking “wow, I could never run that far!”. And now I’m an Ultra Runner. Long distance hadn’t really been on my agenda – whilst my husband Jim is an accomplished ultra runner, and loves spending whole days out on the trails, I only worked out how to enjoy a half marathon last year, and thought that building a bit of speed and pushing myself at parkrun and 10k was where my legs felt best. And then in October 2023, just as I was hitting good form and seeing improvements in my pace, I found out my grandad had been diagnosed with a genetic heart condition called ACM (previously known as ARVC). As such, my mum needed to undergo tests, and should she test positive too, it’d be my turn. A potential diagnosis meant, quite simply, that I would be advised not to put my heart under any unnecessary strain and my running days could be over, forever.

Thus followed a couple of months of limbo and significant mental distress waiting for test results to come back. I didn’t want to stop running – it’s such a huge part of who I am now and I couldn’t imagine life without it. Part of me felt like I should make the most of it in case I was about to be advised not to. Part of me felt like I should stop immediately and limit any further potential risk. I spoke to affected family members and did a bit of my own research, and ultimately decided to carry on but take it a little easier until I knew. I started to adjust my goals, just in case – my New Year’s Resolutions turned from thoughts of PBs to things like “reach 50 parkrun venues”, something I could still achieve without putting strain on my body. I didn’t really tell anyone what was going on, and when Vicky Hawkins asked if I’d join her on an ultra adventure in the Lakes (you can and really should read all about her own remarkable journey here), I was desperate to say yes but knew I wasn’t able to commit. It was on that day that I said to Jim “if I don’t have this thing, I’m running an Ultra”.

Fast forward to early January and I received the news that my mum had tested negative for the affected gene. This meant that I didn’t need to have the tests – and I could run freely again! This news was such a huge relief, but also bittersweet as not all of my family members received the same news. Their support through this process has been unfailing, and has meant the world. What it also meant, as Jim immediately reminded me, was that I needed to sign up to an ultra. I’d been recommended Ultra Trails by both Jim plus fellow Strider and my ultra running inspiration Hannah Murton, who completed their Yorkshire Wolds Ultra event last year, and was assured they were a great company for newbies to the distance – inclusive, accessible, with generous cut offs and a real community feel. I dithered for a sufficiently long amount of time that Jim “treated” me to an entry, promising to run with me on the day too. I was in!

Training began in early February after a PB at Dewsbury 10k, which I’d hated working towards. The focus on a set time really got to me, and I was ready to start enjoying running again. The training process for the Yorkshire Wolds Ultra was an absolute joy. I didn’t have a specific training plan, it was all about time on feet, exploring new places, forgetting about pace and learning to eat on the go (definitely one of my favourite bits). After a few months of upping my weekly average mileage (my longest single run was 20 miles), prioritising a strength session every week, and making a conscious effort to take things slow, I was feeling strong and confident – and even picked up a very unexpected 5k PB at the Rother Valley Relays! I genuinely couldn’t wait for the race, but I’d already gained so much from the experience that whatever happened on the day itself I knew I could be proud.

The week leading up to race day was one of the most challenging I can remember. A close family member became very ill, and Jim spent two days with food poisoning. To top it off, the forecast for the race was torrential rain and thunderstorms all day. We were exhausted, sad, and anxiety began to creep in much more than I’d hoped it might. And still our commitment to getting to the start line didn’t waver. I like to think we’d already shown a lot of mental strength and determination by this point, things which I’ve learned are absolutely critical to long distance running.

On to race day. It was an early start to make it to Pocklington in time for the 7am registration, and to my surprise the rain clouds cleared on the journey there to leave behind practically perfect running conditions – cool and a little overcast with a refreshing breeze. It felt like the first thing that had gone our way all week, and a good omen for the day to come. Registration was swift and straightforward – a quick kit check, proper toilets with no queue, and incredibly friendly volunteers including Race Director Grant who made us feel very welcome. A show of hands at the briefing demonstrated that for so many of us it was our very first ultra – including fellow Strider Mel, who has completed a number of road marathons before and was tempted to take on a new challenge in the area she grew up! The mass walk to the start line was pretty lengthy, and up a big hill, and Mel gave us a guided tour of Pocklington on the way including her old primary school. We swapped stories of how we were both a bit shit at sports at school and wondered what the young Laura and Mel would have thought if you’d told them they’d be running an ultra one day!

Eventually we reached the start line, a glade in some pretty woodland, and off we went! The first 500m was the only muddy bit of the whole course as we wound through the trees, and as we emerged into fields of wheat I noted we’d already done 1% of the total distance. Easy! The race as a whole was characterised by rolling hills, beautiful quaint villages, steep valley sides (we went both down and up a lot of these), lovely views of the countryside and an abundance of carrion, mostly bits of little birds presumably dropped by the plentiful buzzards and red kites we saw swooping overhead.

There were four checkpoints en route, which were plentifully stocked with a good array of fully vegan snacks, and three of them were indoors which felt like a little bit of luxury. My favourite bit of the course came shortly before the first one, with a steep, technical descent towards the village of Bishop Wilton. My fell running legs came into their own here and I hurtled down past lots of people taking it more tentatively. At the checkpoint I topped up my water, helped myself to a bag of Jelly Tots and some crisps, had a picture with the very funny “Not Far To Go!” sign (just a little 28 miles) and was back off nice and efficiently, which Jim had encouraged in the run up to the event.

At 12km I started to feel heavy. My breathing hadn’t really settled and it was worrying that I still had further to go than I’d ever run before (an entire marathon remained) but was already feeling tired – I think the emotion of the week was getting to me. Jim gave me a pep talk and let me know we had a nice lengthy downhill section coming up. During the race he got incredibly skilled at passing me a bit of sugar every time I started to get mardy, which had the dual advantage of shutting me up as well as giving me a boost. Whilst things didn’t hugely improve from then on in terms of how I was feeling, for a long time they certainly didn’t get worse, and as we passed through villages including Kirby Underdale, Thixendale and the aptly named Painsthorpe, the miles were ticking by nicely. I had a mental checklist of arbitrary goals – when 20km came it was “only” the distance of my longest run ever left. Then we’d done a half marathon. The halfway point soon passed by, and the time was flying – we’d been going for around 4 hours but it didn’t seem that long at all. I was enjoying myself, and I knew I was going to do it. Our fellow runners were without exception chatty and friendly which added to the enjoyment of the day too.

Two significant hills followed (including one which I referred to as “a stinker”), but we were informed by a very cheery photographer that the worst of them were done by that point. At 35km I was officially on my longest run ever, and we celebrated with a visit to an ice cream van, which had parked up in the gorgeous village of Fridaythorpe (also home of my favourite ever bus stop) to be an extra refreshment point for us all. Another beautiful valley followed and I got a good few miles of easy running in, before a gentle but very long gradual climb. I’d been walking the ups from the start, but as we approached my first ever marathon distance I managed to pick up a bit of speed towards an entirely imaginary finish line, and hit 42.2km at 6 hours and 14 minutes, setting down a benchmark for no real reason at all.

Shortly after this we reached the final checkpoint! 11km to go. Gradual climbing continued and here things started to hurt. Twinges of cramp in my calves, an old Achilles niggle saying hello, and a burning sensation in my quads. But I wasn’t about to give up now – quitting never, ever felt like something I wanted to do. I gritted my teeth and ground it out. When we signed up to the race it was advertised as 50km, but a couple of months ago one of the landowners changed their mind about permission to pass through, which added on 4km and another big hill. The last 4km felt SO hard. Not only did I feel like I should have finished already, here the cramp came into play for real, and I wasted a couple of minutes in sudden agony trying to work out if stretching was a good or a terrible idea. Again, words of encouragement from Jim got me going again – I’m not going to say I couldn’t have done it without him, because I don’t think that’s fair to myself, but I would definitely have taken a lot longer and I would have got a lot less from the experience. He was by my side every step of the way, and I can’t thank him enough for that. The last portion of the race was mostly downhill, which came as a real relief and meant I could actually get running again. The last proper grump came on a packed gravel path, I could feel every tiny rock in my burning soles and I’d completely ran out of chatter, most unlike me as you can probably tell from reading this.

As my Garmin edged towards 54km, we were back on the main road to the rugby club and I knew we must be so close! Every muscle in my legs wanted me to walk, but I was determined to keep running to the finish, and eventually Jim pointed out the clubhouse through the trees. The last 200m was on the grass, and instead of a finish line there was a kindly man who said “you can stop now” – and that was it, I was officially an Ultra Runner! We received a medal (a wooden one for me, whilst Jim chose the plantable wildflower seed option), a cup of tea and a plate of Hobnobs for our efforts. And then we went to the pub, which we got to just in time for the England game! Top skills.

I did this race for lots of reasons, and in spite of a few others – but most of all, and most importantly I think, I did it for me. Not to prove I could, but because I knew I could, and because I am privileged to be able to put that self belief into action. There’s something very empowering about that, and I really am very proud of myself. A few people asked me if I was doing it for charity, which I wasn’t, but if anyone feels inspired to donate then the British Heart Foundation would be an apt and very worthy cause.

As an aside, quite a lot of people asked me what my fuel of choice would be. In the cooler months I’d been very partial to a cocktail sausage, but eating one on the Hathersage Hurtle after a couple of hours of blazing sunshine, when it had clearly been stored right next to my sweaty little back, was enough to put me off them for life. I joked my race report would read like a homage to the Very Hungry Caterpillar, and those who know me will be aware how much I love to commit to a theme, so here goes!

One Saturday morning, the sun came up and pop! Out came a small and very hungry runner. During the race she ate through…

• 1 Hi5 Energy Gel (Orange flavour)
• 1 chocolate crepe
• 1 OTE Lemon Drizzle flapjack*
• 1 blackcurrant ice lolly
• 2 packets of crisps (one ready salted, one salt and vinegar)
• 2 clementines
• 3 slices of buttered malt loaf
• 4 miniature PB&J sandwiches
• 11 fizzy worms
• 24 Skittles

And by the end she was still not a beautiful butterfly, but she was an Ultra Runner, and that’s just as transformative.

There were 125 finishers, and only 4 DNFs, which is testament to the inclusive environment Ultra Trails have created for their runners. The race was won by Stephen Kirk in 4.39.45, and Chrissie Dover in 5.25.32. Full results are available here: https://results.opentracking.co.uk/event/ywu2024 (clubs are not listed).

Striders results: