From Geoff Howard…
It may not seem so to everyone, but to the residents of Ponta do Pargo (isolated at the westernmost tip of Madeira and famous for its lighthouse) combining the WMMRC with a regional apple festival was quite natural. However, whatever the reasoning, the blend of the two, alcohol and sunny but not too hot weather produced a merry melee happy to cheer anything that moved (and thankfully plenty of portaloos) . However on the hill it was a different matter. The 9.2k Up Hill race (think straight up to the top of Skiddaw from Fitz Park, Keswick, plus another mile) was forbidding and for me a simple strategy of keeping running, not walking and hoping for the best. The 32k Long Race (think 80%+ distance and 75+% ascent of Three Peaks race), if it wasn’t steeply ascending was winding down in and out of innumerable valleys cleft into the hillside with, in several places, a very trippy surface. In both races it was mainly a tunnel vision experience with thick forest on either side. The strategy this time was not to chicken out before the start, definitely walk the steep uphills, don’t get lost, don’t fall and only run if likely to live to tell the tale. Apart from a careless tumble with 2k to go, it somehow worked and I was able eventually to rejoin the joyous throng in the town square at the end of almost four hours of mainly solitary motion.
This was my WMMRC number six and, like the others, it was a classic example of experiencing, with total strangers, a common very demanding competitive challenge and then finding afterwards that you’ve all been big buddies all along. If you’re over 35, can get the time off work and have the means to get wherever it’s held (Pyrenees next year) you might fancy it.
From Hilda Coulsey…
This type of race, 33k with 1254m elevation up and back down a mountain, is quite a bit outside my comfort zone as a late comer to running and mostly on roads with a few local trail race experiences. Plenty of Harriers have done so much more but I was seriously wondering a) could I do it at a competitive run pace and b) would I enjoy it. At 70, in a new age group, I grasped the opportunity, it’s a challenge, let’s see!
Geoff Howard was very keen to go, he had done some of these world masters mountain championships previously in different countries and this would be his last time, there is an age cut off of under 80 and whilst there is a move to up this there seems little governing body support at present. I was honoured to be there with him. He went early and recced the course plus he ran the uphill version, 9k and 800m on Friday gaining a bronze medal – an inspiration, very supportive and helpful to me.
I wasn’t expecting the amazing atmosphere amongst the international runners and their travelling companions – it’s a competition but you want everyone to do their best, acknowledgement and friendly words, cheering and encouragement.
The town, Ponta do Pargo, in the west corner of Madeira was exceptionally welcoming. They had a local festival on at the same time which was joyous, rural, local food dancing and music.
Representing GB is of course an honour however these annual events (last year Ireland, next the Pyrenees, then China) are similar in registration to our county and national cross countries in that anyone can enter and whilst this would be true for the locals if you travel internationally the competition is pretty strong.
We have plenty of hills to train on, the gradient was similar to our incline to Keighley gate, and I slowly gained strength for the ups. Running the downs were my biggest concern for injury ie either my leg muscles would fail or I’d trip, slip and fall on the descent.
As it turned out I was fine, the terrain was a mixture of runnable grassy or stony trails with the gradients being this only muddier and very uneven. Runners did slip and fall but I survived going slower than I’m capable. The weather was fairly kind being cool at the early start, it rained near the mountain top not helping re slip hazards and it warmed up to mid 20s at the finish. Annoyingly I showed my inexperience making the rookie mistake of following the runner in front and missing a turn, twice!, to add an extra over 1k and waste of energy.
The Friday race is the classic short uphill, much fewer runners were tackling this long distance on Sunday, with only 4 in Geoff’s over 75 category and only 2 over 70 women. I knew that this was considered difficult and the apprehension of failure was considerable- what was an over 70 woman doing here, was it stupidity or naivety but frankly that only spurred me on. My German competitor was very experienced at this type of race and is very fast on track too. She was lovely, encouraging, and she sped off in the first kilometre not to be seen again until after the finish. She was great too in the presentation ceremony. It was such an honour and experience to attend the podium medal ceremony with athletes from across the world. I was on the podium with the German anthem, Geoff of course for God save the King. Very proud. The Portugal team was strong and Ireland also had a strong team plus around 30 other nations represented. I enjoyed it very much and coming away with a silver medal was wonderful. I appreciate the international travel dilemma but combining this with a holiday exploring the lovely island was a privilege.
The race was won by Shaban Mustafa, Bulgaria in 2:11:52 and Simone Raatz, Germany in 2:45:08. Geoff ran in 3:52:08 to come first v75 and I ran in 4:25:06 coming second v70.