Checkpoint 6 on trailwalker on the South Downs Way near Botolphs

The run started with a detour from the trailwalker Guide Book temporarily leaving  the South Downs Way to get us safely across the A283. As usual we found this a bit confusing but think we got the directions right and then rejoined the South Downs Way for a long gentle climb up Beeding Hill (and passing Bushy Bottom) .  Quite a large part of the climb towards the Radio Tower was on tarmac road with beautiful views out to the sea.

Duke of Edinburgh challengers on the South Downs Way on Beeding Hill

There were lots of groups of teenagers clearly on Duke of Edinburgh Challenges. We met up with one group who were carrying road tyres. They offered no reasonable explanation for this. 

Claire on the long climb up Beeding Hill on the South Downs Way

We ran over Truleigh Hill and towards the viewpoint at Edburton Hill. Our pace was excellent and within the 12 minute miles which was our Trailwalker target. This was despite most of the outbound run being uphill. 

The viewpoint at Edburton Hill on the South Downs Way

We got to the area where Checkpoint 7 is within one minute of our target time and met up with our two mountain bikers (who had set off 25 minutes after us as they had a puncture). We also had a quick chat with an ‘Iggy Pop’ guy with just tight black shorts on and no top running with a massive smile on his face.

Claire running past the Radio mast ion Truleigh Hill on the South Downs Way

The run back was largely downhill and uneventful. We met up again with the mountain bikes towards the end (they got to freewheel most of the way back).  After the 30 miles of the weekend before the days half marathon run was short and enjoyable, which was good…


….because we were in for a beasting the next day.

Sunday – The Box Hill Bum Beasting 

We rarely say no to anything. Somehow we had been very lucky and secured ourselves a training session on the Sunday on Box Hill with Robbie Britton and Rebecca Cox. Claire had sent an email titled ‘HURT ME’. Robbie and Coxy didnt disappoint. 

Robbie is a team GB 100 mile runner (ranked no.17 in the world) who has an excellent website here http://robbiebritton.co.uk/  he runs coaching and training sessions from his website and also does sessions and training regularly on Box Hill with groups of about 15 lucky people at a time.  This was all very impressive but for me it was great to meet a fellow ‘short bloke’ who ran stupid long distances. 

Rebecca Cox has run the marathon Des Sables 156 miles across the sahara and also run 100 miles in 24 hours on a 400m racetrack. Like Robbie she is a well respected coach and has an excellent website here http://lifeafterdeskpt.com/  . This was all very impressive but for me it was great to meet a fellow ‘nutter’ who laughed and enjoyed running for the fun of it as much as the competitions. We also share a deep love of cake and swearing. 

Pete and Claire at a  Box Hill training Session with Robbie Britton and Rebecca Cox

We met up with Pete as well in the Ryker Cafe Car Park surrounded by extras from a ZZ Top video .We started our training session half way up the Burford Spar with a series of squats thrusts and jumps with no recovery time until we had quickly built up a nice load of lactic acid to make things feel like what happens during long runs. 

We then went on to some very short speed bursts up the hill followed by a more steady 30 minutes of running up and down Box Hill at a steady continuous pace with the aim to finish running at the same pace we started. 

Both Robbie and Rebecca took the time to run with each of us and get a feel for what type of distances we were running and offer advice based on our chats.  I suffer from problems beyond 30 miles of running where I get very low in salts, Rebecca gave me advice on tablets I can take and also explained that I could lick a sweat covered arm…..I just couldnt figure out whos arm I should lick. 

Claire running up Box hill on a training session with Robbie Britton

We then set off for a run along the North Downs Way, heading up through the Denbies Estate and turning round at the Chapel at Ranmore Common.

The View of the Denbies Estate Vineyard from the North Downs Way

This was another great opportunity for each of us to quiz Robbie and Rebecca as we ran about anything we wanted advice on…nutrition, running style and ‘making it as easy as possible’

The Chapel at Ranmore Common on the North Downs Way

On the run back down my knee had some pain that had returned from the day before but we used my running first aid kit to do a super fast patch up with some support strapping and we were soon back at Box Hill again for another session with Rebecca. During our descent I got a chance to talk to Robbie about his very relaxed running style. I spend a lot of time watching tall people run so watching how someone my height should run was very helpful. He has an effortless ‘run’ that looks like a speed march. I learnt a lot about ‘making it as easy as possible’ when running. 

Pete me and Claire pose at the Denbies Estate Gates on the North Downs Way

The final session that day involved a series of press ups, squat thrusts and planking without a break. It was very important I took some excellent photos for this blog so Pete made sure he did enough of these for both of us. 

Pete and Claire Planking on a training session with Robbie Britton and Rebecca Cox on Box Hill

Finally we finished with a ‘prison squat’ . This involved holding a static squat for as long as possible. Rebecca believes very much in pain tolerance as part of your distance training ,mentally pushing through pain as part of your endurance training. I was one of the first to give up and Pete was quickly disqualified soon afterwards for fear that a man that tall leaning backwards for that long could start to affect the tides. 

Pete does ‘Prison Squats’ with Rebecca Cox during a training session on Box Hill

Pete can take no more pain

You could see that all of the runners were tired and pleased with what they had gained from the session. We huddled together for the obligatory ‘pic with running celebrities thing’  and we thanked both of them for their time and enthusiasm and headed home. 

The next day I had a lot of muscle stiffness. This is great because it was in new places Im not used to which means the session worked areas I dont usually work. By the end of Monday my bum ached. So did Claires. The tides slowly returned to normal. 

All Smiles after 3 hours – Me Claire and Pete with Robbie Britton and Rebecca Cox

I’m writing this on Wednesday evening whilst eating some cake. 

My bum still hurts….and Im gently swearing. 



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http://www.justgiving.com/ThreeAndAHalfHashers