Reflecting on 2016, regenerate and refocus for 2017

You will be able to tell from my last post that I have been in a reflective mood for a while.  I suppose when you are at the back of the training run you have plenty of time to contemplate your navel!  

It has been a funny year and it is easy to think about all the things I didn't do...no half marathon, 5k or 10k PB, not running below 25 minutes for parkrun or even losing that sneaky and stubborn 10lbs that has made friends with my thighs, bum and belly :(

Reflecting on the year I would say this year is has been all about tri-ing new things....

Re-teaching myself how to swim, which includes putting my head in the water and actually breathing while swimming.  In the past my swimming has been about getting from my sun lounger to the pool bar, but no this year I have clocked up 16,131 yds in the pool!!

Reviving my bike skills, I've got back on my bike which has been great. I always use to cycle when I was growing up, nothing spectacular but it was our mode of transport; going round to a friends house, going to shop, to school, doing my paper round and even playing foxes and hounds.  But then you learn how to drive and your bike gathers dust. So this year I finally got out on the bike again, clocked over 319 miles on the bike which is not much but not bad for 6 months.  I also took part in my first cycle sportive in October with Jen and Kerry (thanks for telling me about my hair!!)

Rewarding all of my swimming and biking training by taking part in my very 1st triathlon in August. In which I didn't drown, didn't fall off my bike and didn't fall over! I have loved watching triathlon for a couple of years now, with Chrissie Wellington, Jodie Stimpson and of course the Brownlees being my heroes.  I had always thought it too far out my grasp with my swimming being one step away from organised drowning. However, a chance conversation with a running club team mate convinced me to give it a go and the rest as the say is history.  

Renewed: I have been lucky enough to go on a plane 4 times this year: 

Prague in January was very cold, but very cool to celebrate the wedding of a good friend.  

Dublin in August as part of Trenthan on Tour this time to Dublin for the weekend to race in the Rock n Roll 5k and half marathon, 

Ibizia  in September for some R&R not Rock n Roll but this time  Rest n Relaxation

Las Vegas in November another Trentham on Tour for the Rock n Roll Las Vegas half and this trip also concluded in a wedding (not mine don't panic!!) 

Running stats: 42 races or parkruns = 1 marathon, 1 10 miler, 1 5k, 2 xc, 3 10k, 7 half marathon, 27 parkruns


So when the curtain finally is called on 2016, I can say it has been fun with some ups and some downs, some challenges and victories...here is to 2017 

My whistle-stop tour of June and July!

Gosh it's really had been a long time since my last blog!  There are no good excuses to give you!  However let me catch you up; this is what has happened since 1^st June (grab your hat for a whistle-stop tour!)

I have finally finished my HNC course in Sport, Health, Fitness and Exercise however I am still awaiting my final mark!! I am free again from study, all this free time what should I do??

I have become a run director at my local parkrun which is Hanley and I have to say it is the most friendly parkrun there is around Stoke on Trent (ok ok it is the only one around Stoke on Trent) so far I have been RD 4 times and I am notorious for a) not needing to use the mega phone and b) counting up rather than down on the starting line…. Well it adds to the excitement.  

Don't we scrub up well    

Being part of the parkrun family I,  with my fellow directors and a few lucky parkrunners, attended the Stoke on Trent Personality of Year awards evening, we were nominated for the Sport in the community award. Unfortunately we didn't win, but we had great fun during the evening ( I believe there may have been some wine drinking going on!) and it was strange seeing everyone in there proper clothes for once! 

I have been away on holiday to America, we drove down Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) from San Francisco down to Venice in Los Angeles.  We had a great time visiting the sights of SF Alcatraz, Napa Valley, Lombard Street, China Town, traveling on a tram to down town and of course Sports Basement to name a few of the sights we saw. Whilst we were there we also ran the See Jane Run Half marathon which gave us great views of the bay area.  

Then we started to travel down the PCH to Santa Cruz for couple of nights, Malibu and finally stopping the last few nights on the Boardwalk In Venice Beach.  Where we also finished off the holiday with the Red White and Blue Half Marathon run along the Santa Monica Boardwalk.  

All in all we had a great holiday not what you could call relaxing but it was still fun all the same.

Trentham encampment 

I managed to get a late entry to the Thunder Run 24 race at Catton Park and pulled together a team of 5 fellow Trentham running mates.  I was a little daunted as we got a team place 2 weeks before the race and also our team only had 5 people in it!! Although we had all said it was for fun…..the pressure was on a little.  I was team captain and organised the team and the timings of the laps, at my initial calculations we would all be running 4 laps of the 10k course with the men in our team running 5.  However it soon transpired on Saturday that my timings were way out and we would all have to run 5!! So this last weekend I ran 50k which makes me a ultra runner!! I know it wasn't all in one go, but I am still taking it!   

All in all we had a brilliant weekend, alongside our team of 5, there was another Trentham Team of 8, a couple of Trentham Solo runners and finally two club mates running with other teams.  It was and is a truly amazing event, like glasto for runners, the camaraderie is brilliant not only cheering on your team, any other local teams and also cheering on the runners who ran past our camp at all times of the day and night over the weekend! 

Thunder Ru 2014 DONE!

We had some brilliant results, our fellow runner Janson Heath won 1^st solo male, and Jill Phillips came 3^rd in ladies solo.  Our team of 8 finished 6^th and our little team of 5 finished 17^th in our category, not bad off no training and only 1 hour sleep in 36 hours!! 

The only downside was the lack of internet (although hardly surprising as we were in a field!) but a lot of my twitter friends were running and it would have been great to catch with them, oh well may be next year. 

And with that I think we are all caught up, I will try not to leave it so long next time I promise, however I do have a couple of busy months with, training for Great North, Robin Hood Half, Amsterdam Marathon and also Rewind 80 festival in August all to look forward to. 

Kirsten photo bomb

Trentham on Tour

Trentham on Tour

This was our motley crew the morning of our trip to Madrid Rock and Roll marathon, it has been a long time in the planning and it was finally here! There were 38 running the race and we had a number of supporters coming  along for the occasion.

  

Our flight passed without a hitch and we were in Madrid 2.5 hours after leaving the sunny shores of Liverpool Airport. Following a detour to the Metro station to collect our travel cards, which is no mean feat when there are forty people to keep track of, but our trusty Trentham on Tour T-shirts helped us keep together, we made our way to the hostel. 

With regards to the days before the race itself, there was an agreement that "what happened in Madrid stayed in Madrid" although having said that here is are the highlights

Hydration is important

Thursday: TOTs descended and caused chaos at our lovely hostel of the weekend, then we found a great Irish bar Blood Brothers which we drank dry of both wine, larger and very nearly rum, needless to say it was a 2:30am return to the hostel!!

Photo bomb

Friday: Morning Run, with a few die hard runners, even with a hangover they were ready for a run at 8am, the obliquity photo bomb!( photo). Expo, bib and t-shirt pick up via a unnecessary detour via the Zoo! Visit and re-hydration stop at the square and then finally the evening activities with far far too much red wine.

Bib pick up

Friday night

Saturday: Very much a quieter day  mainly due to my massive hangover, Sean and I had wander round Madrid and finally got served at the HARD ROCK Café and finally I started to feel like me again around 4:30pm in the afternoon. 

Some of the group had also managed to get tickets for a little game that was taking place locally ;o). For Sean and I it was back to the hostel to meet up with the rest of Trentham crew and more party games, but very much dryer and more civilized  than the night before!

Madrid the run itself

For some strange reason this year is have really become very lax in my research and pre-race prep, I had not looked at the course elevation, or even where the start and finish was. So when asked "where are we starting and finishing" I would waved my hand in the general direction of over there! But safe in the knowledge that as with any large scale race you know how to get to the start by following the masses and this was no different.

Green Army ready for duty

One of our group was going to be running in the 10k and was focused on getting a good time, so much so he left well before we made it down for breakfast to get in to his pen and also in the zone! As we wondered past the start we saw him and yelled like lunatics until he acknowledge us,  thus undoing all of his mental preparation (oh well), he still looked focus and was in a good position as the gun went off.  He also finished 35th overall and 1st Brit home.

Lets rock and roll

After we saw him off we wondered down to our own pens, this's is where we all got a little more split up but the majority of the army girls & boys were together. Once we we in our pen there was an attempt made to look for our missing friends, much to the joy of our fellow runners. 

someone embarrassed?

Once Jodie's cheeks had calmed down, we waited for the gun and then we were off....well we were eventually, you never really get over the line that quickly and with having both marathoners and half marathoners starting together there we over 22,000 people crossings the starting line.  We were all in high jinx, which was my downfall as 0.25miles into the race I fell over! I would like to say that I commando rolled and jumped back up unscathed but it would be a lie.  I did fall straight on to my knees and elbow which was an attempt to save both my face and my camera, oh my poor poor knees :o(

My race strategy had always been to enjoy the race, I was not going to time, with this in mind and my previous struggles with my performance since Manchester I had made a mental note to run with Emily and accompany her around the route (regardless to whether she wanted company or not!).  Both Emily and I could not understand why we were finding the 1st 3 miles so tough, were we that unfit? had the drinking taken that much of a told on our bodies? should we give it all up and find a bar?

Fortunately we there was a water station looming on the horizon so after hydrating it felt a little easier and we agreed that we would carry on to the finish as we were now already quarter of the way through the race and with mile 4 coming up shortly we would soon be third of the way through the race, which always helps.

Emily on the run

The rest of the race went with out a incident, especially as Emily kept highlighting all of the pot holes in my path to make sure I avoided these and remained vertical for the rest of the run.

We soon approached the end of the race and there is a cruel trick, they had something that looked like a  finish gantry which made you think it is within touching distance and the you have to turn right, now that is MEAN. 

After that disappointment the finish seems to take ages but it was approaching and both Emily and I enjoyed the crowd support and seeing our friends in the crowds lining the finish runway.   With a finish time of 2:18 it was a personal worse in terms of times but personal best in terms of enjoyment and have a fab run, thanks Emily.

So soon met up with the others for a team photos and hearing about how everyone's run had gone, not forgetting we still had some fellow runners out there both finishing the half and the full marathon.

Say Cheese Green Army on Tour

I went back to the finish straight to wait for Sean to finish and the others went off to find hydration and a much needed sit down, but they were soon back to see the others finish too.

Once everyone had finished we wondered back to the hostel for a quick shower and change before heading off for more hydration at our new found gem 'euro bar' . Later that night we had a celebratory meal at Italian buffet were Emily and I found out that the 1st 3 miles were all up hill, ah all makes perfect sense now! 

And after

It wasn't long until we were preparing for the journey back to blightly, interestingly the journey back was a lot more subdued that the journey out! Not surprisingly as there was a lot of very tired and possibly up hungover people, in addition to the realisation that the fun was over and we need to head off back to our lives and jobs :o(

 

Where next! LISBON

However one of the main topic of discussion was what next.....Lisbon 2015 watch out we could be very well on our way to see you

Manchester 0 Kirsten PB 1 Part 2 - Race Day

RACE DAY

Getting up wasn't a problem, with waking a little before my alarm, I  slipped out of bed and got dressed and a coffee, with a whisper of good bye to the other half, I snook out of the house.  My friend Lisa and her daughter had agreed to give me a lift as they were coming to support the runners from the club, which really took the worry out for me. 

Before you knew it we were at old Trafford (notwithstanding the problems with parking) and meeting up with the rest of the members of the club and those that would be supporting on route, we exchanged hugs of good look to each other and wished each other well out there. With two loo trips and a baggage drop off later meant I had to jog my way to the start which helped to warm me up.

The race start was a little chaotic and the pens were not so stringently marshaled like London or Great North Run, but I managed to find my way in to the middle of blue zone and just in front of me was the guy who was trying to beat the world record of the fastest marathon dressed as a beer bottle (note to self must get in front of him before the cameras). I chatted to those around me while they were making announcements about the front runners and the conditions on route and then we were off…. well nearly it always takes a while to get over the line (around 2mins which isn't too bad)  

The route heads off around the roads of old Trafford now, it wasn't the most inspiring of routes to begin with but it was nice because there were two switchbacks which meant that you got to look for fellow club runners, which help to concentrate your mind on something other than the 26 miles ahead of you. I managed to clock nearly all of my Trentham, the best club in Trentham, and give them a shout out, the crowd support was really great as well because they didn't have far to go to catch you going past in a couple of places.

Next you head out of Old Trafford and this is when it really starts, the street still had people on them, but it was a lot quieter and helped you get your head down and focus on the run. Catie, a fellow cub mate had made loads of signs for the ladies from the club and did a brilliant job about getting out along the course which was a nice touch!

The run itself was OK, my plan was to start at 8:30 pace, then in the second half drop down to 8:20 which a target of a  sub 3:45.  However it never happened, I started to lose focus it around 8-9 miles into the course, I saw the front runners coming back towards us.  I keep thinking that it was going to be a another short switchback however it seem to go on for ever, perhaps I should have studied the course before the race ?!?!? (note to self study course)

The switchback was ALL around Sale! which signals half way and my pace was still good, but I could feel things beginning to slip. Looking at my stats my pace really fell away at 18 miles and I couldn't seem to get below 9 minute miles, I seem to be putting in the same effort but it was not showing in my pace. 

Having said that I did managed to pull off an 8:25 between mile 20 and 21! although it wasn't sustainable, I soon fell back to over 9 minute miles. But at this point I just wanted

it to be over, my hips decided they had had enough and started a petition, which was soon signed by my knees and ankles….. everything below the waist working but mainly to rule and complaining about it every step of the way.

So I did what most would do, 24 miles in I had a little walk, but they didn't like that either!! They was simply no pleasing them, so I  zipped up the man suit and reasoned that running would get me to the finish quicker and then I could sit down, everyone seem to be in agreement with that proposal and we are off again!

The crowds in those too last miles where great and when I happened across a group of friends spectating it was deafening but real fuel for the legs and heart and spurred me closer to the line and the finish. 

Crossing the finish line, I knew I’d not quite made it sub 3:45, but then again I did get a Personal Best knocking around 55 sec’s off! Which is great and hopefully I can build on these solid foundations a for my next marathon in Edinburgh and sub 3:45 will be mine

Manchester 0 Kirsten PB 1 Part 1 - the Journey

Well Manchester Marathon seems to have finally left my legs and it is time to reflect on how I got to the start. My journey to Manchester marathon has been a rather good one really from commencing of my training on January 1^st until April 6^th.  

Journey to the start Line

Coach Dale, from the best running club in Trentham, had devised number of training plans for club members and had agreed to pull on together for me/ My plan concentrated on 2 quality sessions a week; 5 minute intervals and a tempo run either parkrun or longer with the club tempo group; the other part of the plan was 3 runs focused around time rather than miles which would either by long, steady or recovery.  

Running for time rather than miles needed a little more focus and took a little getting used to, I am in a fully committed relationship with my garmin, and I tend to focus on miles rather than time.  To help me working it all out I asked Dale to give me an indication of the pace each run should be so I could develop a route.  There is nothing wrong with going out on a route and then realising that you were 20-30 minutes short and you need to make the minutes!!!

Fortunately they were a number of us from Trentham training for spring marathons, so there was plenty of company for the  quality sessions and we all felt the pain.  It also helped when someone was down someone would be on a high and we pulled each other through.

The weeks seem to fly by and there were some ups and downs, and before you know it I am going to bed at 9:30pm on Saturday 5^th April!!!  

I had all good intentions of going to bed nice and early, but with double checking my phone alarm, my kit, my trainers, my phone alarm and my directions to my friend who was giving me a lift it was 10:30!! 

So off went the light and I was asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

To find out about my race day find it here. 

Birthday girl

Had a fab birthday and have been very spoilt. Got some lovely presents,  I had the day off so went for a long run which included a lot of challenging hills and then went for a well earned  lunch with my man.

Then it was on to my reverse surprise birthday party, it was actually the Trentham Running Club awards nights and I got most improved runner at Trentham awards night, a lovely bunch of flowers for my birthday and a popcake birthday cake. Fantastic way to finish the day:)

Review of 2013

Stats from this year

• 239 race miles (43 more than last year)
• 289 days running (40 more than last year)
• 1780year which is 30 less than last year
• 47 miles was my highest weekly mileage which is 1 less than last year
• 199 was my highest monthly mileage in March which was
•  9 more than last year
• 23 Races (2 more than last year)
• Half Marathons x 7 with a PB of 1:42
• Full marathons x 2 with a PB of 3:48
• 10k x 7 with a PB of 47:35
• Parkruns x 27 with 5 PB’s and current PB 23:25

Did I achieve my goal of running 2013? 

Well unfortunately not however I did run 1780 miles, which is strangely down on last year despite more running days and a longer distance covered in a month, if I ran this consistently then I would have reached Morocco. 

Despite being down on my mileage and not achieving my 2013 miles for the year I did achieve 2 marathons and 1 sub 4 hour marathon which I am very proud of, but also very grateful to my friends and family for helping me raise over £2,222 for MacMillian Cancer Support.

Here are some of my great photos memories:

VLM 2014

Thunder Run 2013

Trentham Running Club

Thunder Run 2013

The Thunder Run, was one of the major runs on my calendar this year; my first Marathon at London, my marathon PB at Edinburgh and finally I was getting to run the Thunder Run, my running year is nearly complete.

I joined the Trentham Thunder Run Team last year when I went along to see them running it in 2011, the atmosphere was brilliant coined a festival for runners, with 24 hour food and showers what more could one want.

The team and running order was sorted Team Captain Ken had sorted everything out from registering us at the event, calculated everyone’s predicted times and looked after the priceless Trentham tent.

The weather gods were looking down on us and Friday was glorious sunny with a slight breeze; I had begged a lift with Dan Jordan and Jill to reduce the burden of cars on the campsite.  We made it their easily although we did take a lovely detour through Burton upon Trent, we found the Trentham encampment easily and Pickles suggested where we could put our tents, in the nicest possible way.  

Before you knew it the camp had taken shape and it was a sight to behold, we were literally on the course, the runners had to pass our bases so it was ideal for keeping an eye on what was going on.

The sun was still shining so I thought it was an ideal time to have a nice cold Dark Fruits Strongbow cider…….ohh it was lovely and very short lived, it was decided that it would be a good idea to take recky of the course and see what the next day had in for us.  The guys agreed to take it slow and the emphasis was on steady and easy, which in fairness it was, plenty of stopping to take photos and looking out for the really bad bits and for how after 5k it was all downhill…..yeah right.

Heading back in to camp I was looking forward to finishing to cold (now slightly warm) can of cider and a few more for good measure.  Looking at the running order I was not due to run until 5:30 in the afternoon, which was great news and something I held dear as I opened my next few cans……

The morning arrived and the muted tones of early morning camp life could be heard; Lee, Scott and Matt were all heading off to the Merebrook; Sarah and Emily with their little ones were awake and moving around and before long everyone was up and getting more excited as the minutes ticked by. Debbie arrived at the camp and the team was complete, happy days. 

The race starts at 12:00 noon on the Saturday and Dave was up first, we all wished him well and he was off like shot, I took this opportunity to have a look around the expo and made some essential running purchases before heading back to the camp. Back at the camp we settled down to watch the runners pass and send out cheers and shouts of encouragement. It seemed like no time and the 1^st runners were coming passed and when we saw Dave coming striding past looking great! (well a little sweaty and hot, but great all the same).

There was a steady stream of activity at the camp people coming and going, preparing to go out on their runs, getting back and cooling off, refuelling and getting ready for their next loop.

Before I knew it was my turn, the weather was good warm, dry and a slight breeze my idea running conditions. Ken and I headed down to the start, made it in to the runners enclosure and waited for Paul Clinton to pass over the baton to me, then I saw him, which a mixture of anticipation and excitement I snapped the baton around my wrist and headed off.  I was now glad that I had at least seen the course so I knew what was coming and what to look out for.  The trees and woods where the nicest bits of my first lap as they gave you a chance to cool down ad seeing Ken at the 5k mark was brilliant he held out a cup a cold water which I drank a little but dumped the rest on my head.  Made it up the conti climb and then it was all downhill from here, well ish.  Running passed the Trentham camp gave me a real boost and helped me reach for the finish to pass the baton over to Lee Jones and see him flying off.  Please my 1^st lap out of the way and 2 minutes faster than predicted.

Unfortunately from here my times took a nose dive, I can’t take all the blame I would have to say that mother nature had something to do with it, as around 8:3pm we had an awesome thunder and lightning show (it ain’t called the thunder run for nothing), however as the show started to finish the rain started and not one to be upstaged it threw it down in biblical portions for the next 4-5 hours. 

My run was scheduled for 10:45pm (ish) and it was still lashing down, I was very apprehensive, after seeing Andy Vickerman come in covered in head to toe in mud and saying he had fallen twice and broken his head torch! I took over from Paul again and I gingerly headed out on the course, with Paul’s warning ringing in my head “it is bloody mental out there take care”.  The course was indeed more playful than it had been before, fortunately my trail shoes were helping me stay on course and mainly upright. Again running past the camp gave me a great boost and the end was in sight, I enjoyed the run however my time did take a beating officially 1:09….I was down by at least 10 minutes, but on the positive side I was still in one piece and able to run my last lap at 5am in the morning.

I showered, had something warm to eat and headed back into my tent to get some sleep before I was due to head out again. 

Before I knew it Andy V walked past the tent and gave me a knock to make sure I was ready to run, it was 4am, I had gone to sleep in my kit, so they only thing I really needed to do was calm my hair down, wash my face and brush my teeth I was ready to go again.  The great news was that it had stopped raining and the drawn was breaking, I would be running in the light and hopefully less muddy than the night before.  

5:00am saw me at the runner enclosure for the last time, feeling remarkably  refreshed despite only having 3 hours sleep, seeing Paul come running in the finish/start now felt very familiar and he wish me well on my last run.

The only thought that was going through my head during this run was Walter would love this, there was mud, nettles, hills and giant puddles to navigate your way through. Again it seem to be all over in a blur and I was running passed the Trentham camp there were a few more people up than when I left.  The only problem was that Lee was still there, I think I must had taken him by surprise the look of shock on his face made me giggle, I was powering up the hill for the last time and heading down to the finish, lee was in the enclosure and ready to tear it up for his last lap.  Again my time had taken a beating due to the sticky mud making it much harder to get any type of traction, so my last la was 1:05(ish). 

The rest of the morning was a flash of people coming and going; Dave, Scot, Debs, Jon and Andy were all going on their 4^th lap and there was a small piece of me that was glad that I wasn’t going to have to go around again. The camp slowly start to get packed away and then it was time for us all to head off to the finish so we could run in to the finish as a team with Andy.

 We managed to run 26 laps between us and came 11 out of 253 mixed teams, same as last year, there was talk that perhaps we could have made it to 10^th but the night rain and times had really taken the wind out of our sails. 

However there is always next year……….

Green Army 

Special mention of our fantatstic supporters Sammy, Chloe, Lara, Heidi Pickstock and Adam, Scott, Sarah and Dorothy, Emily and Elizabeth, Matt Plant, Lisa, Janson, daughter and friend all made sure we where well looked after with food, refreshments and plenty of words of encouragement.  

Finished and I am now a marathoner!!

The green umpa lumpa

London well and truly delivered it was everything that people had told me about; the crowds were fantastic loud, encouraging and kept you going at some points it was a little too loud.  What is surreal was that people you didn't know calling out your name as if they were a long lost friend and in that moment they were, so a BIG THANK you to the crowd support!!!

 I was in the charity red start zone so after walking to the blue start I bid farewell my fellow Trentham runner Andy Vickerman and made my way to the park. It was on the entrance to the holding area my I made one of my two school girl errors and tired the lady urinals the least said about this the better but let’s say must practice more. On to my second school girl error I hurried over the bag drop off I gave my bag and as I walked away I realised that my gels were still in there with my lip balm oh well too late now. So now off to the actual loos, to waste a good 20 minutes before heading off to my starting pen.

In the pen I soon started to make friends with a lovely chap who was running for the Royal life boats, he was a veteran with 4 marathon under his belt it was nice to get chatting with someone to help settle the nerves. The start was fast approaching and I needed another pit stop I couldn't believe it, fortunately just before you cross the starting mat there was soon loos so I darted off for my last pit stop and rejoined the crowds surging over the starting line and that was it we were of, filled with excitement and anticipation.

The race itself was simply a run; the BIG one problem was about the crowds of runners which did slow me down in the beginning however I was not too concerned as it helped to make sure I didn’t go off two quick. However during the middle beaten 9-17 it was quite tiring trying to navigate around making sure you didn't trip them or yourself up.

What was nice was that I saw a couple of friends during the race, a couple of familiar local running club singlets which was nice and finally couple of friends spectating; unfortunately I didn't get to see Sean and Emily Vickerman I was looking really hard but it was really hard to make people out (I think Trentham RC need a couple of flags to help spot our supporters). I got really tired between 22-24milles but kept plugging away and was determined not to walk, I knew by now that I wasn’t going to make sub 4 hours and Good For Age time was a very distance pipe dream and tt was during these dark moments I was not looking forward to running Edinburgh Marathon in 5 weeks, I was even considering pulling out.  From mile 24 I got my head down and decided I was going to finish and finish as strong as I could and there is nothing better than crossing that finish line.

I was completely shattered at the end of the run but carried on walking through the finishing enclosure to pick up my goody bag and my clothes bag; dug out my phone and rang Sean. Due to the power of chip timing and the advent of the smart phone he already knew that I had finished and were waiting for me to make my way to the meeting area. So I quicken my hobble to get there faster but navigating around the hordes of finishers and their families was quite difficult as changing direction was not that simple! But I got there and it was great to catch up with how the rest of Team Trentham had done, although after a quick photo there was no rest for the wicked next thing on everyone’s mine was a celebratory drink and for same strange reason my legs got a sudden burst of life and they were able to move a little quicker.

Janson, Greg, Dan, Andrew, Ryan and me in the centre

In summary a great run and mixed emotions about whether I will run another marathon again….ok I’m not fooling anyone……Edinburgh here I come...sorry knees

Stafford 20 - take 2

Gosh what a difference a year makes, last year I ran Stafford 20 and to tell you the truth it was my worse race of the year, but I learnt from my experience and prepared better this year. Last year I didn’t respect the distance, I got a little cocky  having nearly covered the distance in training I was thinking how hard could it be…..well it truly spanked me!!

So this year was personal, I needed to draw a line under last year and it was a good way to test how my Marathon preparation was going. Despite having a cold in the week before the race I made sure that I didn’t panic run and got plenty of rest and sleep, so come race day I was fully fit.  Also I made sure that this year I properly hydrated for at least 3 days before the race and ate sensibly, which was a big difference to last year.  

Sunday morning came around fast and it was as if we had travelled back to January in terms of the weather; an artic wind blew in and there was light snow fall…. but nothing was going to throw me off my positive state of mind....my belt was packed with 1 gel, 2 bags of Jelly Babies (a bag full of black jellies for lap 2 and red for lap 3) and 3 sugar barley sweets….Jill Phillips (fellow club runner) has a lot to answer for!!!! I dressed and then re-dressed for the conditions and headed off to Stafford.

Race HQ was a sea of people all huddling to keep warm inside the Uni buildings and there was a colour array of those brave souls in the racing singlet’s and shorts, those in full ski gear and those in between.  This year I made sure I made use of the facilities (twice), it is long and lonely run if you find you want to go half way around as I found to my cost last year. Quite understandably the small local races just can’t provide these types of facilitates on the course route, so you have to make sure you take responsibility for you own needs.

Before we knew it we were off; I had decided to try and beat 3 hours so I was looking to run around Marathon pace of 9 minute miles and I felt good (cold but good) out there.  This year I knew what was coming so I was prepared, I knew I had done everything right and miles in the bank so everything should be ok; other than frost bite, polar bears and having to help push a stranded drive that broke down at the top of the largest hill!! A poor lady had broken down right in the route of the runners and she wasn’t sure what to do, so a kind runner jumped the driver’s seat and we all pushed the car on to the side of the road and then carried on running as if nothing had happened……something only runners would do.  

My strategy was to not sit down(!!) and feel good all the way round and I achieved 99% of my goal; the last quarter of a mile really took it out of me and then Walter from my running Club  Trentham appeared to help run me home and boy I was so grateful !  But I will have to apologies I am sure the last bit I was making some rather disturbing noises as I was panting and puffing to finish strong, but I am sure he is a gentleman and not mention it! 

Lap 1

All in all I had a much better run than last year; I finished in 2:54:40, a good 30 odd minutes better than last year and nearly 4 minutes of my PB for 20miles.  It really gave me confidence for the Virgin London Marathon which is getting ever closer!