Ultra Runner and Manumit Ambassador Dave Vickerstaff is a man who loves to run wild, long and adventurous races! The following is a recap of the events he has entered so far this year including the brutal 100 mile Arc of Attrition! Check out our youtube channel for an interview with Dave and hear him explain what he loves about running distances most of us couldn’t imagine covering on foot!
Dartmoor Discovery 08/06/2024
This is a must do bucket list event that always sells out and is a really tough test over 32.6 miles around the hilly roads of Dartmoor that will chew you up and spit you out.
Going into the event off the back of a solid race 2 weeks before and having prepped well I was as ready as could be until..... disaster 😱 the night before I suddenly found myself up all night 🤮 repeatedly and got barely any sleep as I spent all night emptying my stomach.
With an hour before registration closed I rolled out of bed, threw my gear on and drove to Princetown just in the nick of time. I faced the start line exhausted, dehydrated and having had nothing to eat. This did not bode well.
It was a damp and chilly start but soon warmed up and the sun shone through. With water stations every 3 miles I had ditched the hydration vest but I was gasping for fluid so topped up with water at every point and was grateful for a bottle from one marshall that kept me going.
My Manumit Apparel 100% Merino wool t-shirt did a great job of keeping me warm at the start and later cool during the race and it felt good to run an ultra without the usual pack full if fear for a change.
The hills were both beautiful and brutal with the lack of fuel and fluids really taking its toll making me realise what an incredibly stupid idea this was. I managed to grab a gel, a banana and a satsuma to nibble as I went round thanks to the amazing marshalls. This is one of the best run events I have ever been to and they really looked after everyone so well.
Given everything I was amazed I even started let alone finish, somehow coming 109 out of 200. Something tells me I may be back as this felt like unfinished business.
Going into the event off the back of a solid race 2 weeks before and having prepped well I was as ready as could be until..... disaster 😱 the night before I suddenly found myself up all night 🤮 repeatedly and got barely any sleep as I spent all night emptying my stomach.
With an hour before registration closed I rolled out of bed, threw my gear on and drove to Princetown just in the nick of time. I faced the start line exhausted, dehydrated and having had nothing to eat. This did not bode well.
It was a damp and chilly start but soon warmed up and the sun shone through. With water stations every 3 miles I had ditched the hydration vest but I was gasping for fluid so topped up with water at every point and was grateful for a bottle from one marshall that kept me going.
My Manumit Apparel 100% Merino wool t-shirt did a great job of keeping me warm at the start and later cool during the race and it felt good to run an ultra without the usual pack full if fear for a change.
The hills were both beautiful and brutal with the lack of fuel and fluids really taking its toll making me realise what an incredibly stupid idea this was. I managed to grab a gel, a banana and a satsuma to nibble as I went round thanks to the amazing marshalls. This is one of the best run events I have ever been to and they really looked after everyone so well.
Given everything I was amazed I even started let alone finish, somehow coming 109 out of 200. Something tells me I may be back as this felt like unfinished business.
Race The Tide 25/05/2024
Managed a 5th place finish and 2nd in age category at the OuterEdge Events, Race The Tide "long marathon" 28.5 miles around Mothecombe and Burgh Island.
The race started and I quickly cemented myself in 2nd place knowing that the early few miles were very runnable so got in some quick 7-8 minute miles. The lead runner was on one and after 2 miles was out of sight but I also couldn't see anyone behind me. I spent the next 12 miles without seeing anyone having got into a steady rhythm through the woods and open farmland as the course meandered around the South Hams countryside until joining the Estuary by Burgh Island. I even lost a minute taking a wrong turn but still no sign of anyone else.
It was low tide so it was a long run on the beach up the Estuary before crossing over for a lap of the island where I got my first glimpse of the chasing pack. Knowing I was now being hunted I pushed on, hoping to maintain some distance but the big climbs were coming up!
The route followed the coast path to the River Erme where I annoyingly lost a little more time retying a lace, then proceeded to run across the river which was only knee deep. The water felt great on my legs which were starting to feel cramp from the steep climbs and I stopped at an aid station to grab more water and a quick banana.
As I set off I could see the pack crossing and it spurned ne on but the climbs were brutal. I tried to run every little runable section where I could as we went up and down the cliffs, all the while listening out to gates clanging behind me from the chasing runners.
I got to 22 miles and with 7 to go started to believe I could hang on. Coming off the cliffs it was more runnable but my legs were feeling the effects of having run 50 miles just 2 weeks ago. By mile 25 the first runner caught me and over the next 4 miles I lost 2 further places. I emptied the tank and left nothing out there coming away with 5th place and 2nd in my age category. I'm less than 2 years into my ultra journey and constantly learning but still pretty chuffed with my best result so far.
The race started and I quickly cemented myself in 2nd place knowing that the early few miles were very runnable so got in some quick 7-8 minute miles. The lead runner was on one and after 2 miles was out of sight but I also couldn't see anyone behind me. I spent the next 12 miles without seeing anyone having got into a steady rhythm through the woods and open farmland as the course meandered around the South Hams countryside until joining the Estuary by Burgh Island. I even lost a minute taking a wrong turn but still no sign of anyone else.
It was low tide so it was a long run on the beach up the Estuary before crossing over for a lap of the island where I got my first glimpse of the chasing pack. Knowing I was now being hunted I pushed on, hoping to maintain some distance but the big climbs were coming up!
The route followed the coast path to the River Erme where I annoyingly lost a little more time retying a lace, then proceeded to run across the river which was only knee deep. The water felt great on my legs which were starting to feel cramp from the steep climbs and I stopped at an aid station to grab more water and a quick banana.
As I set off I could see the pack crossing and it spurned ne on but the climbs were brutal. I tried to run every little runable section where I could as we went up and down the cliffs, all the while listening out to gates clanging behind me from the chasing runners.
I got to 22 miles and with 7 to go started to believe I could hang on. Coming off the cliffs it was more runnable but my legs were feeling the effects of having run 50 miles just 2 weeks ago. By mile 25 the first runner caught me and over the next 4 miles I lost 2 further places. I emptied the tank and left nothing out there coming away with 5th place and 2nd in my age category. I'm less than 2 years into my ultra journey and constantly learning but still pretty chuffed with my best result so far.
The Apocalypse Ultra 11/05/2024
The Apocalypse Ultra by Beyond Marathon is a challenging self navigation race. Starting in Church Stretton and surrounded by the Shropshire Hills, the course offers 4 loops of varying lengths that you can choose to do in any order and any direction, (the 4 horsemen of the apocolypse). The loops total 50 miles if all can be completed with a 16-hour course limit.
We all gathered together before everyone scattered in 4 different directions. Most like myself chose Famine first as it was the longest loop at 15 miles and it was going to be a hot day. Disaster struck early as I clipped a rock and took a full tumble just 1 mile in. My right hand ballooned and I feared it broken for some time whilst also somehow bruising my left ribs.... but my legs were fine so on I ran.
Famine had the most runable sections which I took full advantage of enjoying the company of a small group for much of the route as we watched the early morning mists through the valley dissipating under the rising sunshine.
Teaming up with Sara from that early group, Conquest was next and the shortest but with steep climbs & incredible views. Spring wildflowers were everywhere and a wooded section I could run all day and certainly enjoyed some welcome shade.
Back at HQ we were halfway in 6 hours and I was moving well. By now it was the middle of the day and the sun began to take its toll. Sara and I tackled War with Jacobs Ladder, which was a long steep scramble rewarded with some beautiful wild orchids near the top. We ran out of fluids but were saved by a local resident leaving jugs of water at the end of their drive. Water never tasted so good and put us in a great place to tackle Ragleth Hill before descending back down to Chrurch Stretton and HQ.
Coming into HQ I downed a chocolate milk, stocked up on food and washed it down with fizzy coke before setting off on Death. The steep climbs, unrelenting sun and poorly chosen fuel mixture tuned my stomach, I was nauseous and suffered bouts of sickness the whole route. Sara dragged me round and we finished in 13:12 with fewer than 1/3 of starters completing the course.
We all gathered together before everyone scattered in 4 different directions. Most like myself chose Famine first as it was the longest loop at 15 miles and it was going to be a hot day. Disaster struck early as I clipped a rock and took a full tumble just 1 mile in. My right hand ballooned and I feared it broken for some time whilst also somehow bruising my left ribs.... but my legs were fine so on I ran.
Famine had the most runable sections which I took full advantage of enjoying the company of a small group for much of the route as we watched the early morning mists through the valley dissipating under the rising sunshine.
Teaming up with Sara from that early group, Conquest was next and the shortest but with steep climbs & incredible views. Spring wildflowers were everywhere and a wooded section I could run all day and certainly enjoyed some welcome shade.
Back at HQ we were halfway in 6 hours and I was moving well. By now it was the middle of the day and the sun began to take its toll. Sara and I tackled War with Jacobs Ladder, which was a long steep scramble rewarded with some beautiful wild orchids near the top. We ran out of fluids but were saved by a local resident leaving jugs of water at the end of their drive. Water never tasted so good and put us in a great place to tackle Ragleth Hill before descending back down to Chrurch Stretton and HQ.
Coming into HQ I downed a chocolate milk, stocked up on food and washed it down with fizzy coke before setting off on Death. The steep climbs, unrelenting sun and poorly chosen fuel mixture tuned my stomach, I was nauseous and suffered bouts of sickness the whole route. Sara dragged me round and we finished in 13:12 with fewer than 1/3 of starters completing the course.
The Arc of Attrition 26/10/2024
My first attempt at 100 miles, no recce of the route and training hampered by covid and a car accident. With just 125 miles under my belt in 2 months but plenty of strength training at Plymouth Performance Gym and a last minute patch up from Your Life Physio I was ready to take it on. Some would call it crazy.... I called it an adventure!
The Arc is brutal and takes no prisoners with only 50% finishing. I have never DNF'd any race and, having started brightly, found my quads cramping after just 16 miles. Nausea took its toll 25 miles in and night fell. My crew pushed me to Lands End and the halfway point where I had talked myself into quitting.
Somehow a chink of light shone in the darkness and joining up with Jen found new purpose and energy. Striding off for the last 50 miles, I was not letting this beast beat me. It had stripped me bare, and I emerged with a newfound inner strength. Everything hurt and it tested my physical and mental limits beyond anything I had ever expected and still I made it to the end to be one of the 50% and take my prize of a coveted Arc buckle and becoming a Centurion. I may have started walking alone into the night but I was never truly alone finding new friends and old along the way.
The Arc is brutal and takes no prisoners with only 50% finishing. I have never DNF'd any race and, having started brightly, found my quads cramping after just 16 miles. Nausea took its toll 25 miles in and night fell. My crew pushed me to Lands End and the halfway point where I had talked myself into quitting.
Somehow a chink of light shone in the darkness and joining up with Jen found new purpose and energy. Striding off for the last 50 miles, I was not letting this beast beat me. It had stripped me bare, and I emerged with a newfound inner strength. Everything hurt and it tested my physical and mental limits beyond anything I had ever expected and still I made it to the end to be one of the 50% and take my prize of a coveted Arc buckle and becoming a Centurion. I may have started walking alone into the night but I was never truly alone finding new friends and old along the way.
