Causeway Ultra, Marathon, half, 10k and Challenge walk

[whoRya]

What was the rough route?  I'm curious how it came to be 1350m of ascent, that is a fair day's walking in the Mournes.

Well done guys.

[mregan]

So many people think a coastal route is flat.  I heard loads of people talking about doing this as it was flat.  They werent saying it at the end.

The ultra started on portstewart strand following the coast around to portrush and along the whiterocks beach.  First big climb is from sea level up to the road the road continues to climb up past dunluce then drops back down to almost sea level at portballintray.  It climbs around runkerry then drops to sea level at the causeway stones.  Climbing the steps from the stones to the top of the cliffs.  From the causeway all the way across to Ballintoy is climbing and descending.  I think I can remember 5- 6 sets of steps.  There was also a detour from portbradden up to the main road and back down to dunseverick harbour. 

 

[twentyclicks]

Yes, overall climbing is less than the Mourne Way race, but it tends to be longer climbs whereas the Causeway is constantly up and down...compared to a road race, definitely not flat!

http://app.strava.com/runs/23493288

[mregan]

How long do you recover after an ultra Craig? When do you run again?

[twentyclicks]

Depends. Normally I can't even think about running for at least 5+ days. Using stairs normally tends to take 2 days, and another day or two for the muscle pain to go... but saying that, despite muscle pain, no stair trouble this time and I ran 4 miles to work this evening at a very slow pace. The 600g ribeye I had last night may have really helped!   

I tend to be able to pedal the bike ok even the same day....not big efforts, but normal getting-about not affected.

I think more or steeper climbing seems to do the damage. Seven Sevens was even worse than the Mourne Way ultra. How about yourself... do you find the same, or are you in this 'recovery run the day after' club I hear rumours of? 

[mregan]

The day after I normally feel grand. It's two days later I get the real pain. I have ran the day after a marathon in the past but not always. Standing for 5-10mins in the sea helped me the most I reckon. I am back running to and from work today but then I only done the half this time.