Hmm.

The sharp eyed among you will realise that I ran a race last weekend and did not blog about it.  Shock horror!  Had I lost the ability to type?  Was my internet connection down?  No, I just had a bit of a duff race and didn't feel that I could write about it.  Reading Half Marathon had been marketed as having a 'new route' which was 'fast and flat.'  It didn't seem that different to previous years in terms of hilliness, but I had started the race feeling a bit nauseous and as I ran I felt worse.  I threw up 4 times in 13.1 miles - classy!  By the time I finished I was dehydrated, and I swayed across the finish lines with my vision blurring.  Luckily a friend spotted me and grabbed hold of me so that I didn't add passing out at the finish to puking my guts up around Reading!  My stomach muscles ached and I was disappointed with my time.

The fact that I was disappointed is silly.  This time last year I would have been thrilled with a half marathon time of 1hr 50mins 58secs.  And a bit selfish!  I have friends who can't run because they are ill and injured - I can run, and the weather was beautiful.  I even got a fabulous race photo!

However since Reading whenever I have run, or even thought about running, I have felt sick.  Even running parkrun (about which I want to say a lot so will probably do another blog post) with Freddy yesterday made me feel a bit icky.  There is nothing wrong with me, it is all in my mind - but that doesn't make it any less annoying.  So that's why there was no post Reading blog.

Fast forward to today.  In a fit of enthusiasm earlier in the year I entered the Combe Gibbet to Overton 16 mile cross country race.  "It'll be fun!" people told me.  So I signed up.  My record with cross country this year hasn't been great, I've only done two other races, G1 and G2 - and both of them have resulted in my hurting myself and swearing a lot.  Today, with the clocks going forward during the night, I was glad of an afternoon start.  I thought it might allow the weather to improve.  16 miles in the rain didn't really seem like fun.  We were bussed from Overton to Combe Gibbet, through chocolate box villages along winding roads and arrived at our starting point in a howling wind.  It was a struggle to walk up the hill from the car to the gibbet.  It was, to say the least a somewhat exposed location!  So exposed that a few of the boys, who didn't think to check the wind direction, ended up spraying themselves, and possibly their neighbours, when having a quick pre race pee.  It was funny to watch.

Thankfully we set off down the hill we had struggled up.  The wind was behind us and propelled us forward.  It was hilly but not too steep, the ground underfoot was varied.  We had been informed that the first 5 miles were wet, the second 5 were sticky and the last 5 were bone dry.  And it had, at last, stopped raining - or at least I think it had, the wind was so extreme that it was hard to notice anything else.  I wore a running jacket for the first few miles, then got too warm and tied it around my waist where it acted as an effective sail - sadly not always steering me in the direction I wished to travel.  I threw up twice before 7 miles.  Hmm.

Some of the paths were very uneven and slippery.  At 7.5miles I put my left foot down at a daft angle and it twisted under me.  This is the foot I damaged at the end of January.  It hurt.  It hurt a lot.  So much so that I thought I would have to quit.  I thought I would hobble on to the next marshal point and see how I felt.  I don't like quitting, so I was doing the maths in my head to see if I could make the cut off (get to 12 miles by 2hrs 30mins or be taken of the course).  I could, I thought, just.

I got to the next marshal point and found out that it was a mile and a half to the next one (on the other side of the A34 after going through an underpass).  My foot had eased off by some point by the time I got there and the ground here was smoother, so I though I'd carry on.  I was mostly walking at this point, but that was OK, this section was a long gradual hill and with the wind still blowing for NATO I was concentrating on staying upright.  I chatted with a few people as we walked/ran.  The weather was improving but the wind was here to stay!  I got to 12 miles well within the cut off time, and my foot was feeling a bit better.  Still painful, still sore but not agony.  I thought it was just about possible, if I could pick up the pace, to finish in 2hrs 40mins.  The last 4 miles were more downhill than uphill, but the downhill hurt my foot more.

I pushed on.  I was overtaking a lot of the people who had passed me back at 7.5miles - which was nice - and the last section was on road, which meant I didn't have to think about where I was putting my feet.  I ran as fast as I could to make sure I could get that sub 2.40.  As I ran into the finish field there were 2 men ahead of me running together, I picked up the pace and manage to finish between the two of them.  The man I chicked was Steven King - I don't think he was the author!

I crossed the line, collected my medal and swore my way across the field to a group of friends.  "If I ever talk about signing up for another f*cking cross country race you have my permission to f*cking shoot me!"  Apparently in the course of 30 minutes I uttered one sentence that did not contain any swearing.  I hope I was polite to the ladies serving tea and cakes!  But I had done it!  2hrs 39mins and (I think) 48 secs - nothing like cutting it fine!

Would I do this race again.  Hell no!  Would I recommend it to a friend - yes I would!  From the luxury coaches conveying us to the start to the tea and cakes at the end this was a brilliant little race.   I couldn't help but think what a lovely route this would be to walk along on a summer day.

Garmin link here - for anyone who wants a giggle at my comedy splits!

Walking with a John Wayne swagger....

Last year's Reading Half Marathon was a PB run for me in really grim weather, this year's run was rather different.  The weather forecast a few days ago said it would be sunny, yesterday we were promised rain, this morning I looked at the window and had no idea what the day would bring.  I got dressed, put, I thought, a pair of shorts in my bag so that I could change into them if I wanted to and set off to pick up a couple of people on the way.

Once again I had signed up for the VIP lounge, one of the major benefits of this is having proper loos, there are also freebies to be had!  Not just snacks, drinks and post race photos and massages but running clothes!  I am currently wearing my free Mizuno hoodie - lovely!  I decided I would be too hot in my long tights, and started to look for my running shorts, they were nowhere to be found.  One of the guys I drove over with had 2 spare pairs with him and said I could borrow a pair.  I don't wear 'flappy shorts' normally, but thought, what the heck - let's give them a whirl!

As we walked to the start I heard someone call my name - it was the lovely Ironmum who I'd met at the Bramley 20/10 a couple of weeks ago.  She was sensibly attired in the latest bin bag chic, whereas I was dressed for summer in shades! We ran together for the first 4 miles.  At about 500metres in I realised the shorts were a BIG MISTAKE.  Ironmum pointed out, helpfully, that I had over 12 miles to go!  I was running about 10 paces and then having to yank down the legs of the shorts where they were riding up.  Sadly I don't have a thigh gap - even at my skinniest I have never had one, so the combination of fabric rubbing agains my inner thighs and thighs rubbing against each other was deeply unpleasant.

I told Ironmum that she should run on, which made me a little sad as it was very pleasant to run and chat.  We'd both forgotten about the 'cheeky' hill at 2.5miles, but we'd made good time.  I had discovered however that if I ran at a certain, slightly slower pace, then the shorts didn't ride up quite so much and it wasn't fair to slow my new friend down!

I ran on, slowly, and kept my eyes peeled for people giving out Vaseline.  The blessed sight of a Red Cross man came at about 5 miles (on the University campus).  He offered to help my apply the Vaseline, but I declined.    I found that, so long as I reapplied Vaseline every time I saw someone with it by the side of the road it was just about bearable.  I settled into a comfortable pace, nothing that would set the World on fire but one that I could maintain comfortably.

The hill at 7 miles was less arduous than I remembered, probably because I wasn't going all out for a fast time.  The support was amazing.  The only stretch to the lack in support was the A33 back towards the Madjeski Stadium at about 11 miles.  This was a desolate road to run along, made even more miserable by a strong headwind.  It seems to take forever to get back to the Stadium where the race ends, including an out and back which at least had the advantage of being able to spot runners I knew and shout out to them.

At long last I passed the '1000m to go' sign.  It seemed an awful lot further than 1km, but eventually we were in the stadium and the finish was in sight.  This race was so crowded that even approaching the finish I was dodging around runners to try to get a clear line to the finish.   I crossed the line in 2hrs 02 mins and 21 seconds (10 minutes slower than last year).  Not a great time, but nice even splits and a pace that I could maintain for longer if necessary.

I saw Ironmum after the race - she'd had a much better run than me, and we shuffled through the throngs of runners to get our space blankets, medals and goodie bags before going our separate ways.  I went back to the VIP suite and met up with my friends before making our way back to the car before driving home.  I think it took us longer to get out of Reading and drive home than it had to run the race!

I am walking with a bit of a swagger now.  But the advantage of running slower is that I don't have any of the normal post race stiffness or aches and pains.  Thanks to all my friends for their support and encouragement - I'm sure we'll do it all again sometime soon!

Well, I didn't expect that to happen!

What a day!  Miserable, grey weather as I left home, but not actually raining.  I had packed a cap, and a spare set of clothing to change into afterwards, and was trying to ignore the pain in my right foot.  I was hopeful that the rain might hold off until lunchtime.  After all, this was my first race since the end of October, was it too much to ask for nice, dry weather?

Obviously it was!  As I pulled into a friend's driveway the heavens opened and I decided that there was no way I was going to get out of the car to tell him I was waiting, so resorted to 'phoning him instead!  The drive to Reading was as uneventful and peaceful as it could be given the weather conditions (one nasty accident seen) and the fact that we are both quite capable of talking for NATO, and we were soon parking in a very puddle ridden car park and skipping our way delicately to the Madejski stadium.  

Way back when I signed up for this race I clicked on a button that mentioned running as a 'Mizuno VIP.'  I'd assumed that this was for people who were planning to run super fast times, but soon learnt that all I had to do was send them my details, plan to run in Mizuno trainers, and I too could be a VIP!  I was very glad I did this - it meant that I, along with guest, could wait in a room inside the stadium.  Given that it was tipping down outside, a nice dry refuge, with proper loos available too, was hugely welcome.  Snacks and sweets were on offer, as were free water bottles, t-shirts (purple), caps and running belts/bum bag things.  I do like a freebie!  

As the room filled up we saw several other people we knew and chatted away to pass the time.  Soon it was time to head for the start line.  A sea of runners clad in ever so fetching bin liners made their way, in the rain to the start.  A pre race warm up had been organised, but whoever was running it didn't seem to be aware that we were packed into the starting area like sardines.  Bashing someone in the solar plexus with your elbow isn't the best way to meet strangers!  Most of the people near me warmed up by grumbling about the weather.

Just after 10am the elite and fast paced club runners started their race.  The rest of us started to shuffle slowly towards the start line.  It had stopped raining!  Hurrah!  Maybe it would stay dry.  My dream for the day was to run 9 minute miles, maybe slightly over, but less than 10 minute miles.  And I ran the first three miles in just under a 9 minute mile pace.  This included the only significant hill on the course - a short sharp one from about two to two and a half miles.  The next mile I ran a bit faster, and then the next a wee bit faster still until I settled down for the remaining miles in at around 8.20 minutes per mile.  It was a fun race.  Crowded the whole way around and with loads of supporters.  There was one very narrow part where we all had to slow down to walking pace to get through a narrow arch, and I was constantly changing directions to get around people.  The crowds were so enthusiastic that they spilled on to the roads at several points making the congestion worse!  Between 6 and 7 miles I passed the 1hr 55min pace runner.  He'd been about 100' ahead of me at the start, and I'd lost sight of him as the runners spread out.  I chatted to him for a few metres, asking where the next hill was and then we parted company, with me going on ahead.  As I turned the next corner to go up the hill I passed a pub handing out beer!  I decided not to partake!  

At the top of the shallow, but longish, hill I met another fellow Basingstoke parkrunner.  He accused me of 'breaking' him at parkrun yesterday!  He'd assumed that I'd be taking it easy with the race coming up today, and that had been my intention.  Somehow, despite the mud and the rain and a plan of jogging round, I'd finished in 25.11 with him finishing just 5 seconds behind me.  We chatted for a few minutes and then I drifted ahead.  I had thought it would be nice to run with him for the rest of the race, but I was enjoying running too much!  

At some point it had started raining again.  It was coming down in stair rods and we even had hail and a bit of sleet.  It really wasn't the sort of weather for taking your time and looking at the scenery!  I had been told that the worst bit of the race was the last few miles, where you can see the stadium in the distance but it never seems to get any closer.  That wasn't a problem today as it couldn't be seen through the mist, clouds and rain!  At 11 miles in I looked at my watch, did some maths (not easy for me while running) and realised that I was in with a chance of a PB.  But only just.  I cursed myself for not looking at my watch earlier as I knew I could have put in more effort earlier on had I known it was a possibility.  The last couple of miles seemed very long, mainly because I was repeatedly looking at my watch and working out the maths!  

The noise as we entered the stadium was amazing, there is no athletics track so we ran on a metal/plastic surface around the edge of the football pitch.  I was worried about slipping as it was very wet!  So, it seemed, were a lot of people and they seemed to be slowing down as they approached the finish line.  I crossed the line and looked at my time.  I couldn't believe it!  1:52:16!  About 40 seconds faster than my previous PB, set on a flatter course in ideal running conditions.  Of course, there was no one there at that very moment to share my joy - but I was smiling from ear to ear as we walked out of the stadium like a column of colourful worker ants.  You could see the steam rising from us as we walked!

Back in the VIP lounge I met up with friends and went to pose for my free photo and claim my free massage.  The massage was great.  A good 25 minutes spent stretching and pummelling my legs.  She had a good look at my poorly foot, treated it firmly but gently (it had been screaming at me all the way around) and recommended some exercises that I can do dot strengthen it.  

On the way back to the car we devoured bacon rolls (the first bread I have eaten since the beginning of December) and hot coffee.  I was very glad that the car has heated seats as I was shivering by the time we reached it!   All in all it was a great day and I will be signing up again to run it next year - but I would like some better weather!  I am thrilled with my time, but more than the time, it was great to really enjoy a run.  Especially when the weather should mean that it was an utter nightmare!  I am looking forward to getting my foot sorted out and maybe, just maybe, running my next half marathon in under 1hr 50 minutes. 

Running free?

You may or may not have noticed that I quite like running.  I've been through periods where I've not been running well (I'm going through one of those at the moment) but even when this happens I hate not running more than I hate running.  In the 4 years since I started running I seem to have taken the blame for a fair few other people getting the running bug.  I quite often wax lyrical about the fact that running is a cheap activity.  Most of us own a pair of trainers and some sports wear.  All you need to do is lace up the trainers and step out of your front door.  No gym subscription vanishing via direct debit every month (whether you manage to make it to the gym or not) - what could be simpler than that?

But it isn't quite that simple is it?

Once you start getting more involved, dare I say obsessive, about running, you suddenly decide that you can't possibly manage without at least a couple of running outfits.  If you're lucky, you've hit this phase in the summer, and you can pick up a pair of shorts and a tech t-shirt for about £20 each, which makes 'running socks' at £10-£12 look really quite expensive, but you throw them into your shopping cart anyway.  If it is winter, you are probably going to end up with long running tights, long sleeved tops, maybe a running jacket, possibly a hat and definitely some gloves (I have been know to cry tears of pure misery if I've left my gloves at home in the winter).  The cost mounts up and up.

Then there's running shoes.  I've just bought a new pair and it only feels like a couple of weeks since my current pair were shiny and new.  Running shoes last for about 500 miles, and if you run 30 - 40 miles a week, well, you can do the maths as well as I can, the shoes don't last very long at all.  Like most people who run a lot, I don't ever want to find myself in the situation where I have to go on a long run, possibly a race, in new shoes, so I tend to buy a new pair about three quarters of the way through the life of the old pair.  And running shoes tend to be pricey.  Especially if you need shoes that stop you pronating as I do.  I had a voucher for 20% off running shoes today - and still ended up spending £80.  (They are lovely - I can't wait to wear them, but eighty quid for glorified plimsoles....)  Oh, and then someone mentions trail running and trail shoes, so you end up buying another pair of trainers that are destined to be covered in mud in perpetuity, never, ever fully drying out between puddle ridden (but great fun) runs.

Oh, and I almost forgot gadgets.  I do love a gadget!  This could range from a few pence for an add free version of an app on your smart phone to a couple of hundred pounds for a GPS watch and/or heart rate monitor.  If you are running you may as well know where you have been and how fast you were!  It all adds up....

.... and that's before you decide to enter races!  I try to forget how much these races cost to enter as soon as I have submitted my application.  I do know that the Reading Half for next year is £31.50 (for UKAA members) and the Great South Run is £41 (for just 10 miles).  The more high profile the race the greater the cost!  I don't even want to think how much I have spent on entering races in the last few years.

I'd like to apologise to the children and partners of anyone I have encouraged to run for any economies they have been forced to make just so the runner in their family can acquire a must have item (this week's must have item for me was a head torch), you know that running makes them happy don't you? You wouldn't really want them being cranky at home without a nice new {insert currently lusted after running item here} so that you can get the latest X-Box game would you?  Of course not!!

Thankfully parkrun is free!  A weekly running fix that cost nothing (although volunteering at events ins encouraged).  It is also a great way to get some experience of running with other people (in some cases a lot of other people - Bushy Park parkrun has over 800 runners every week), and challenging yourself against the clock and other people!