Race Report: The ONER
David ArdleyBy Andrew Moore
Having done the 3 day Jurassic Coast Challenge 4 times now including this year just 3 weeks ago I found myself back in beautiful Dorset for the one day version known as the ONER. I’d always shied away from entering the ONER previously as the thought of running 80 miles along the Dorset Coastal Path through the night, sometimes close to the cliff edge was scary. In previous years the ONER has been run at the same time as the JCC, and looking at the ONER runners filled me with awe!
This year, a friend persuaded me to enter together but then got injured on the JCC and had to withdraw. I was still unsure about the merits of doing this event up until race day. At least the weather forecast was good! I’d been on night shift in the past few days so with the race not starting until 1800 I had a lie in before heading to race HQ at Portland Bill.
Race organizer, Ben Mason on Votwo, advised the 50 or so starters that only half would finish! With this sobering thought we boarded the minibuses and headed to the start at Studland. Weymouth traffic delayed us a little and at 1825 we set off from Studland beach. Most of us were aware of the merits of running along the water edge rather than through the soft sand and we were soon strung out in a line trying to avoid getting wet feet from the waves. Most made a wise, sedate start but one guy went storming off! It was good to see a friend, Claire, from London running again after recent injury. She started strongly and soon left me behind.
I recognised a few runners who had also done JCC recently and soon settled into running with Steve from Weymouth. CP1 at Swanage was reached in a slightly slower time than on JCC using a strategy of walking the hills as there are lots of them! It was going to get dark before the next control at St Adlems head so we stopped to put on our head torches and activate the chemical stick lights provided. However, didn’t help me too much as I hit a rock and cut my finger. Noticed there was some grit and splinters in the wound so gave it a wash and put on a plaster at the control.
It was now pretty dark but not as bad as I’d feared as a full moon was a very welcome companion. My plan was to try and find someone for the night section to run with to help with navigating and indeed Steve and I were able to help each other.
By now the field had become split up and it was a surreal sight to look back on the dots of light from the headtorches as we approached the end of the first marathon at Lulworth Cove. The section around Lulworth is particularly hilly but beautiful. I was expecting not to see too much but the moonlight showed Durdle Door in all its beauty.
With the hills over for now we caught up with Claire and also with Phil from Salisbury in Ringstead. Had a chat with Claire before pressing on to Weymouth. Along the sea front in Weymouth we began a run walk strategy with Phil joining us. It was now approaching 3:30am as we jogged past the clubs and pubs with many security staff and clubbers about. A somewhat different scene to the serenity of Durdle Door-I know where I would rather be!
At this point I started to struggle, hoping it was temporary as still a long way to go. Recently, a pain in my left glut has been troubling me and now that pain seemed to have moved inwards. I took some ibuprofen and refueled at the next control at Ferry Bridge. We were rather surprised to discover that there were only 8 people in front of us at this stage. This news, together with the painkillers and food gave me a new lease of life as we made our way for a circumnavigation of Portland.
We caught sight of 3 runners ( 1 I noticed was in my age group) as we approached the next control at Portland Bill and felt confident of catching them after a pasta breakfast. But before we did a fast running lady caught up with us. With only 4 runners already through the control was now quite busy with 7 hungry runners! This control was also the bag drop so I had a protein drink and changed my top. The others left the control a few minutes before we did but with about 32 miles remaining we were not in a hurry.
We caught up with the two younger guys on the descent off Portland and decided to push on to put some distance between us and them. The next control was again at Ferrybridge and marked 2/3 distance-just one marathon to go-it felt like we were on the home stretch and only injury could stop us from finishing now!
The next section of the coastal path follows the Fleets adjacent to Chesil Beach and seems to go for ever! During this section we managed to catch up with the other runners we’d seen in Portland and now there were just four in front of us! We checked the arrival times of the runners in front of us at the next control and saw that 4th place was about 45 mins in front so we just focused on maintaining our position with lots of over the shoulder glances! Also noted that 2nd & 3rd were running together and closing fast on the long time leader.
The weather was now getting quite warm and we saw may people enjoying the sunshine as we made our way alongside the beach. By now, we could see the series of hills in the distance that come just before the finish including Golden Cap.
An electronic dibbing system was in use at the controls , and we debated how to finish together as you can only put one dibber in at a time.
The miles ticked by gradually and finally we came to the last control before the finish at Eype. Just over 9 km to the finish, not far but I knew it was hilly. Steve was talking about trying to finish under 20 hours but Phil thought that was optimistic. All the time we had run together Phil had tagged on to the back of either Steve or I because he’d done two marathons the week before and had only entered two days ago! Phil has done the 145 mile Grand Union Canal race which he said was easier than the ONER, so we were in good company.
Phil and I struggled up the last big hill of Golden Cap while Steve was going well, and by the time we reached the top Steve was nowhere to be seen. By now a blister had developed on my left foot and my right knee was painful when going downhill. Just one small hill left and as we approached a lady out walking said the path was closed due to a landslip and we should take a diversion. We hadn’t seen any signs so decided to take a risk and keep to the path. This almost backfired when the sight of the Coast Guard abseiling down the cliff met us at the top. Luckily we were able to get through and made our way down to the finish.
We finished in 20:12, effectively equal 6th and Phil kindly let me ‘dib’ first. Steve had finished a few mins ahead but we could not find him.
Having previously feared this race, I was most pleased to conquer it and get some confidence for the challenge that follows…..
Reader Comments (5)
Julian
Well done! I agree with Julian. You make it sound so easy.
What's next? Running from Southampton to Aberdeen?
Andrea