In December I ran the sunrise to sunset challenge, a lapped event whereby runners completed as many laps as they can in the hours of daylight. This event is the sister event
to that, thankfully not a daylight endurance event as being in mid-June it would be
substantially tougher! The Holly Challenge runs the same 0.84 mile laps on country lanes around a nature reserve. It's organised by a friendly chap and enthusiastic marathon runner called Denzil and the race HQ is the kitchen and garden of his cottage where the race starts and finishes.
There isn't much to say about the race itself. It has a couple of good climbs in it which you get to see 31.4 times. It was very wet and muddy despite it being in the middle of June. Support was small but enthusiastic. The runners were the usual mix of mates, keen first timers, hard-core marathon runners and die-hard 100 marathon clubbers. Every finisher was presented with a lovely medal and an engraved pint glass - most of which were very quickly tested after the race finished. With it being a "summer" race Denzil had also organised a huge BBQ and a selection of fine musicians to play in his garden afterwards. Regrettably I had to disappear off so didn't get chance to hear anyone play. Next year I'll organise my travel better so I can stay and enjoy the post-race party.
The one thing I can't let go in this report is the winner, Charlie, who also won the Sunrise to Sunset. He won this race in 3:34. After having cycled 66 miles from Warrington to get to the start line. He also cycled home again afterwards.
So, onto the self-indulgent bit now...
Rather than cut this race report short I'm going to try now and answer a question I often get asked about races like this - "Does it not get boring just running loads of laps?". Lapped races have their own extra challenge especially if they involve 105.5 laps of a running track! There are almost always other runners to chase down or who are chasing you down and you can engage in conversation mid-run. But, for me, music plays a very important role in keeping me motivated and on the move in any marathon regardless of the course.
I always take an MP3 player with me on long runs now, although I usually try and run the first half of the race without turning it on just to give me something to aim for in what is usually the easier half of the race.
But what music works best?
I'm going to finish with links to a selection of songs that work for me and I'll try and give the reasons why they work well. Almost certainly the songs which work for you will be totally different, but I bet the reasons why you like them will be very similar. Feel free to add links to your own favourite running tracks in the comments section below and tell us bit about why they ring your bell.
Firstly, a short song by Eels "Theme for a pretty girl that makes you believe God exists". I love pretty much everything Eels have ever recorded, but particularly this song. Although it's probably not a conventional running song per se, it's a beautiful instrumental which quickly lifts my mood - useful for when the miles are starting to take their toll.
Somewhat conversely this song once had the effect of nearly stopping me in my tracks mid-race. I was running through a patch of woodland when all of a sudden the sun appeared and hit the perfect angle to illuminate the floor through the canopy. The unexpected light appearing through the leaves hit me like the proverbial 'wall'. It happened just as the singer and main creative force behind Icelandic band Sigur Rós, Jónsi, began the crescendo to the wall of noise at around 4½ minutes in. The BBC use music by Sigur Rós whenever they want to convey the majesty of nature, this song for me perfectly sums up why.
I'm a sucker for a bit of dirty rock and Australian band Wolfmother more or less sum up everything I love about music. Fast, furious, simple songs about women and beer. I defy anyone to listen to this song and not speed up whatever it was they were doing. A great track which will up your speed whether you're on a tempo run or approaching the last few miles of a marathon.
The rapid changes to both tempo and key won't make this song to everyone's tastes. If you like jazz and metal or prog rock it might be to your tastes. One thing for sure is that there no way on earth I can walk when the Mars Volta are playing. No matter how tired or jaded I'm feeling, this song keeps me moving. In the Brussels marathon last year I was finding it tough when the half-marathoners joined us for the last few miles. Being over taken by literally dozens of runners is no fun, but this track was like hitting the turbo boost button. For three minutes I was like Mo Farah - unbeatable.
Some songs just take you to a happy place. No matter where you are or what you are doing the opening bars will whisk you away to a happier, less painful state of mind. Superstition by Stevie Wonder is one of those songs. I'm a firm believer that a horn section will improve any song, not that this song needs improving, but the horn section is like the icing on the cake. I love this version of the song particularly because of where Stevie is performing it (the clue is in the last few bars if Youtube hasn't already given that away.) His version of the theme song from the same episode is a consummate lesson in how a guy with this much talent can make any piece of music sound incredible.
I love The White Stripes. If I could be any rockstar I'd want to be Jack White. Essentially when I listen to a White Stripes song I don't think about running I think about being Jack White.
Rage Against The Machine, along with Eels, probably account for about half of all the music on my mp3 player. The mix of fast guitar and highly-charged political lyrics gets me fired up in an instant. A useful injection of adrenaline which (in theory) should translate to a steup up in pace.
A nice slow song to finish on. You can't keep running all out during a marathon (well I can't anyway), so this song provides a gentle interlude for a few minutes, enough time to get ones breathe back or to down a quick carb gel. It's another beautiful song, about looking forward and moving on. Never look back. Just keep running.
Remember if you have any suggestions for good running songs, post a link in the comments below.
For more information on the Holly Challenge, check out the Church of Denzil website
 |
| On the down hill stretch past the start. Still smiling so probably lap 1 |
substantially tougher! The Holly Challenge runs the same 0.84 mile laps on country lanes around a nature reserve. It's organised by a friendly chap and enthusiastic marathon runner called Denzil and the race HQ is the kitchen and garden of his cottage where the race starts and finishes.
 |
| Part of the start line and raring to go! |
There isn't much to say about the race itself. It has a couple of good climbs in it which you get to see 31.4 times. It was very wet and muddy despite it being in the middle of June. Support was small but enthusiastic. The runners were the usual mix of mates, keen first timers, hard-core marathon runners and die-hard 100 marathon clubbers. Every finisher was presented with a lovely medal and an engraved pint glass - most of which were very quickly tested after the race finished. With it being a "summer" race Denzil had also organised a huge BBQ and a selection of fine musicians to play in his garden afterwards. Regrettably I had to disappear off so didn't get chance to hear anyone play. Next year I'll organise my travel better so I can stay and enjoy the post-race party.
The one thing I can't let go in this report is the winner, Charlie, who also won the Sunrise to Sunset. He won this race in 3:34. After having cycled 66 miles from Warrington to get to the start line. He also cycled home again afterwards.
So, onto the self-indulgent bit now...
Rather than cut this race report short I'm going to try now and answer a question I often get asked about races like this - "Does it not get boring just running loads of laps?". Lapped races have their own extra challenge especially if they involve 105.5 laps of a running track! There are almost always other runners to chase down or who are chasing you down and you can engage in conversation mid-run. But, for me, music plays a very important role in keeping me motivated and on the move in any marathon regardless of the course.
I always take an MP3 player with me on long runs now, although I usually try and run the first half of the race without turning it on just to give me something to aim for in what is usually the easier half of the race.
But what music works best?
I'm going to finish with links to a selection of songs that work for me and I'll try and give the reasons why they work well. Almost certainly the songs which work for you will be totally different, but I bet the reasons why you like them will be very similar. Feel free to add links to your own favourite running tracks in the comments section below and tell us bit about why they ring your bell.
Firstly, a short song by Eels "Theme for a pretty girl that makes you believe God exists". I love pretty much everything Eels have ever recorded, but particularly this song. Although it's probably not a conventional running song per se, it's a beautiful instrumental which quickly lifts my mood - useful for when the miles are starting to take their toll.
Somewhat conversely this song once had the effect of nearly stopping me in my tracks mid-race. I was running through a patch of woodland when all of a sudden the sun appeared and hit the perfect angle to illuminate the floor through the canopy. The unexpected light appearing through the leaves hit me like the proverbial 'wall'. It happened just as the singer and main creative force behind Icelandic band Sigur Rós, Jónsi, began the crescendo to the wall of noise at around 4½ minutes in. The BBC use music by Sigur Rós whenever they want to convey the majesty of nature, this song for me perfectly sums up why.
I'm a sucker for a bit of dirty rock and Australian band Wolfmother more or less sum up everything I love about music. Fast, furious, simple songs about women and beer. I defy anyone to listen to this song and not speed up whatever it was they were doing. A great track which will up your speed whether you're on a tempo run or approaching the last few miles of a marathon.
The rapid changes to both tempo and key won't make this song to everyone's tastes. If you like jazz and metal or prog rock it might be to your tastes. One thing for sure is that there no way on earth I can walk when the Mars Volta are playing. No matter how tired or jaded I'm feeling, this song keeps me moving. In the Brussels marathon last year I was finding it tough when the half-marathoners joined us for the last few miles. Being over taken by literally dozens of runners is no fun, but this track was like hitting the turbo boost button. For three minutes I was like Mo Farah - unbeatable.
One of the things i like most about "Is and is and is" by White Denim is how much it sounds like it was written in the 60's yet was written only a few years ago. I love the sudden explosion of noise that comes at around 90 seconds in, once the song is already well established and delivers an aural punch in the face which is just the kind of tonic a runner needs sometimes.
I love The White Stripes. If I could be any rockstar I'd want to be Jack White. Essentially when I listen to a White Stripes song I don't think about running I think about being Jack White.
Rage Against The Machine, along with Eels, probably account for about half of all the music on my mp3 player. The mix of fast guitar and highly-charged political lyrics gets me fired up in an instant. A useful injection of adrenaline which (in theory) should translate to a steup up in pace.
A nice slow song to finish on. You can't keep running all out during a marathon (well I can't anyway), so this song provides a gentle interlude for a few minutes, enough time to get ones breathe back or to down a quick carb gel. It's another beautiful song, about looking forward and moving on. Never look back. Just keep running.
Remember if you have any suggestions for good running songs, post a link in the comments below.
For more information on the Holly Challenge, check out the Church of Denzil website
Michael
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