What possessed me to pay someone to scare me stupid whilst trying to run 5 kilometers?
Saturday 27th October 2012 was bitterly cold. The place was Bassingbourn, Royston. The Zombies had taken over Bassingbourn barracks and I was one the many who thought we could run an easy cross country 5k through zombie infested woodland with ease.
All you had to do was dodge them right?
Sounds so simple!
I was covered head to foot - cross country through woodland, I was not going to avoid getting stung by nettles when there's zombies around! I had my trail shoes on for extra grip in case I needed to get a sprint on in muddy conditions. I had two pairs of gloves on - running through woodland, you don't want to be fussing over a splinter with zombies after your brains, do you?
I was nervous. I was ready to dodge zombies (so I thought!). The army personnel gathered us runners for a quick briefing about what to expect and what would happen if we took on a zombie, if we lost our lives to the zombies and to keep away from the zombies at all costs or we would be eaten alive or shot! Best pre race briefing ever!
The gates open and they tell us to run. Then I hear screaming up ahead. The first ambush zombie has already caught a few lives. It's like watching a nature program with the graceful antelope dancing away from the jaws and claws of death. Only this time it was a zombie and runners. I was laughing then squealing and jumping out of the way just like the runners before me.
It wasn't over. A brief jog along the edge of a field brought us to the first wooded section. As we're all approaching you can hear the screams of the runners ahead. This time we're all in single file and have little option but to run headlong at the zombie and dodge at the last minute. My heart is racing before it even gets to my turn. I'm looking around for a different route and just before the zombie reaches for me I run headlong into the brush and come out onto another path and straight into the path of another zombie!!!! Scream, duck, dodge, sprint...... did I lose a life? Phew, no I didn't. Wow! I know they're fake but the adrenaline has taken over all sense of self control and it's hilariously scary now.
That was the first zombie ambush. The rest of the zombie infested parts of the race will have to be experienced yourself. I could write a book on the 5k a ran but it would be far more fun if you tried it yourself next year.
So how fast did I cover 5k of zombie infested countryside? 50 minutes!!
Did I survive? Yes, with one life left and it was well earnt.
The scariest part of the race was the zombie clown! Yes, there was a zombie clown and it scared the hell out of me. I squealed when I got to this guy. I squealed like a girl!!!
I would recommend this race to anyone who's willing to have a go at an interesting 5k as long as they don't have a heart condition and they're not scared of clowns!
Roll on next weekend for a peaceful 13.1 miles without being scared silly whilst running it.
Enjoy
Helen
Sunday 28 October 2012
Tuesday 16 October 2012
Oxford Half Marathon
Wow what a morning.
My day started at 5am. Still very dark and outside was cold freezing fog. Brrr. The drive to Oxford was traffic free thankfully - no surprise at that time in the morning. I managed to find the Mini Plant in Oxford with ease. I then sat and chilled out for an hour munching away on a Millies cookie watching the marshals set up their post and get buses ready for when the crowds get in.
By the time I had my kit ready and checked the mist had cleared and there was a cloudless blue sky. The temperature, however, was still near zero and being in my running shorts and t-shirt it was not going to be a pleasant wait for the start at 9:30am.
I hopped onto one of the buses to take me to the start. Watching all the other runners in similar kit and looking just as cold. You could tell instantly who was running and who was supporting. The supporters looked warm and cosy in their jumpers, hats and gloves. Did I mention it was cold?
Kassam stadium was looking busy by the time I turned up at 8:30am. I was glad I'd given myself so much time to be here and have everything ready. I dropped my bag of at the bag storage. At 8:30am there was no cue and a few people milling around. By 9am it was a completely different scene. A very long cue that snaked around the car park and lots of anxious cold people trying to get their bag stored before the race started at 9:30am.
9:30am is getting close. All 4,000 plus runners are ready and waiting for the starting horn. Rubbing arms, dancing on the spot and basically looking like we're going to freeze in the next 5 minutes. Relief surges through the crowd as the horn sounds. We're all looking towards the start. Waiting our turn to step over the chip plate and get into the running groove.
What felt like an incredibly cold start to the morning was really rather nice once you got running. I saw my targets in the distance and set my pace to a nice easy rate. Easy to breath, easy to run, easy movement with my water pack and enough thought left to search the crowds for my target.
Did I mention there were pacers in this race? Each wearing a red t-shirt with expected finish times on them. What a incentive! I spotted my first target within the first mile. 2:30 finish time. Passed with ease. I then started looking for people wearing red t-shirts, no longer targeting the next person in front of me. I wanted to pass the 2:25 pacer, this was looking like it was going to be fun. I spotted them in the distance, I didn't want to increase my pace to much and end up exhausted by the end of the race so I kept my eye on where they were. Each step bringing me closer..... Passed. Not so easy this time. This went on until I passed the 2:15 pacer, I was staggered I'd managed to catch up with this one. Their pace was very even and even more difficult to pass. This was my pace for this distance and if I wanted to get past this pacer I was going to have to push a little past my comfort zone. Could I do it? Could I still finish if I pushed this hard? Oh what the hell, it's only a race and it's not like I'm coming first is it? Weeeee, past the 2:15 pacer.
Passing the 2:15 pacer took it's toll. I was running at a pace I was not comfortable with for at least 4 miles. By the time I got close to the finish nausea swept over me and robbed me of at least a minute. Thankfully it passed and I was able to carry on running through to the finish line. The clock read 2:14 for the gun finish time. What did that mean for my actual running time? I checked my trusty running watch and saw the time was 2:10 - No, it cant be. I stopped because of the nausea. I must of lost loads of time for that. But yes, that was my time. 2 hours 10 minutes. A whole 3 minutes faster than my previous best time for a half marathon. I was amazed. I was running with a hip and ankle injury that was affecting the whole dynamics of my running and yet I managed a personal best.
So for all those peeps out there that think they cant or shouldn't try. Get out there and have a game of chase. Apart from the last mile I found the Oxford Half Marathon very entertaining. The course was flat. The marshals were excellent and the live bands along the route were a welcome break to the running. Thank you Oxford for a lovely day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
My day started at 5am. Still very dark and outside was cold freezing fog. Brrr. The drive to Oxford was traffic free thankfully - no surprise at that time in the morning. I managed to find the Mini Plant in Oxford with ease. I then sat and chilled out for an hour munching away on a Millies cookie watching the marshals set up their post and get buses ready for when the crowds get in.
By the time I had my kit ready and checked the mist had cleared and there was a cloudless blue sky. The temperature, however, was still near zero and being in my running shorts and t-shirt it was not going to be a pleasant wait for the start at 9:30am.
I hopped onto one of the buses to take me to the start. Watching all the other runners in similar kit and looking just as cold. You could tell instantly who was running and who was supporting. The supporters looked warm and cosy in their jumpers, hats and gloves. Did I mention it was cold?
Kassam stadium was looking busy by the time I turned up at 8:30am. I was glad I'd given myself so much time to be here and have everything ready. I dropped my bag of at the bag storage. At 8:30am there was no cue and a few people milling around. By 9am it was a completely different scene. A very long cue that snaked around the car park and lots of anxious cold people trying to get their bag stored before the race started at 9:30am.
9:30am is getting close. All 4,000 plus runners are ready and waiting for the starting horn. Rubbing arms, dancing on the spot and basically looking like we're going to freeze in the next 5 minutes. Relief surges through the crowd as the horn sounds. We're all looking towards the start. Waiting our turn to step over the chip plate and get into the running groove.
What felt like an incredibly cold start to the morning was really rather nice once you got running. I saw my targets in the distance and set my pace to a nice easy rate. Easy to breath, easy to run, easy movement with my water pack and enough thought left to search the crowds for my target.
Did I mention there were pacers in this race? Each wearing a red t-shirt with expected finish times on them. What a incentive! I spotted my first target within the first mile. 2:30 finish time. Passed with ease. I then started looking for people wearing red t-shirts, no longer targeting the next person in front of me. I wanted to pass the 2:25 pacer, this was looking like it was going to be fun. I spotted them in the distance, I didn't want to increase my pace to much and end up exhausted by the end of the race so I kept my eye on where they were. Each step bringing me closer..... Passed. Not so easy this time. This went on until I passed the 2:15 pacer, I was staggered I'd managed to catch up with this one. Their pace was very even and even more difficult to pass. This was my pace for this distance and if I wanted to get past this pacer I was going to have to push a little past my comfort zone. Could I do it? Could I still finish if I pushed this hard? Oh what the hell, it's only a race and it's not like I'm coming first is it? Weeeee, past the 2:15 pacer.
Passing the 2:15 pacer took it's toll. I was running at a pace I was not comfortable with for at least 4 miles. By the time I got close to the finish nausea swept over me and robbed me of at least a minute. Thankfully it passed and I was able to carry on running through to the finish line. The clock read 2:14 for the gun finish time. What did that mean for my actual running time? I checked my trusty running watch and saw the time was 2:10 - No, it cant be. I stopped because of the nausea. I must of lost loads of time for that. But yes, that was my time. 2 hours 10 minutes. A whole 3 minutes faster than my previous best time for a half marathon. I was amazed. I was running with a hip and ankle injury that was affecting the whole dynamics of my running and yet I managed a personal best.
So for all those peeps out there that think they cant or shouldn't try. Get out there and have a game of chase. Apart from the last mile I found the Oxford Half Marathon very entertaining. The course was flat. The marshals were excellent and the live bands along the route were a welcome break to the running. Thank you Oxford for a lovely day. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Thursday 4 October 2012
Recovering Slowly - so far so good
It's been nearly 7 weeks since I fell and gave myself a badly sprained ankle and without knowing it until later, pelvic dysfunction syndrome.
I thought I'd only given myself a bad sprain at the time. I did stop and check when it happened, I kept my pace slow and even afterwards but what I didn't notice was the hidden shock I'd given my hip. Not the femur head joint in my hip. The big thing. Plus, it was weeks later that the injury was finally found. I had been having pain in my knee, pain in my back, pain in the but! and lastly the clue to it all - pain at the very front of the hip called the pubis symphasis.
The worst bit, is that I've had so many different exercises suggested to help the pain without any of them working. I now have a few exercises that have me tied up in knots on the floor but WOW what a difference.
I still have pain on one side of my hip and it feels like I'm walking at a funny angle but as soon as I start to jog or run everything works perfectly and there's no pain at all. I've been for a short quick run and no pain. I've been for a good long 10 mile run and I felt tired but still no pain whilst running.
One unfortunate casualty to all of this is cycling. It's more than a pain in the ass to sit on the saddle of my bicycles and I'm searching for a solution to that one. Until then, running is back on the cards for me and after having a forced 7 week rest from running I'm more than eager to get back into it.
Notes to remember when you take a tumble whilst running -
STOP - Always stop and check to see what damage has been done. You wont always feel immediate pain from a severe injury. Sometimes it takes up to 20 minutes for the pain to kick in. If you see something out of place or feel something out of place. Stop and call for help. Running with an injury will only delay any healing time. Says the very person who did exactly that!!
REST - If you've taken a tumble, checked yourself over for injuries and you find yourself feeling really hyped or jittery or nervous. Rest. Sit down, take a look at the scenery and chill out for a little while. Have a snack, take a sip on that water you've been carrying. Give yourself the time to analyse your tumble and come to terms with it. In the meantime you'll give your body time to recover from the shock and you'll feel so much better when you get back on your feet and carry on running.
STRETCH - After your rest, give yourself a few stretches to test for any injuries you didn't notice when you stopped. This is when you'll find that hidden injury. Be careful with these stretches, they're only supposed to remind your body of how tight your ligaments are after resting. You're not trying to stretch those ligaments so you can do ballet or the splits in the next few seconds. Remember that your body is already warm and ready to run, reminding you body that you have tight muscles that need relaxing is a great idea.
IF INJURED - STOP AND CALL FOR HELP - This is when that mobile phone will come in handy. Give your husband/wife/friend a call and give them a good story to listen to on the journey home. Plus if you tell a good tale and they're laughing at your misfortune then they're more likely to turn up at your next rescue call for more entertainment.
So here I am. Thanking the universe for my husband who came to my rescue and laughed at my misfortune but I know if I call on him at any time of day to come rescue me, he will always be there for me.
I thought I'd only given myself a bad sprain at the time. I did stop and check when it happened, I kept my pace slow and even afterwards but what I didn't notice was the hidden shock I'd given my hip. Not the femur head joint in my hip. The big thing. Plus, it was weeks later that the injury was finally found. I had been having pain in my knee, pain in my back, pain in the but! and lastly the clue to it all - pain at the very front of the hip called the pubis symphasis.
The worst bit, is that I've had so many different exercises suggested to help the pain without any of them working. I now have a few exercises that have me tied up in knots on the floor but WOW what a difference.
I still have pain on one side of my hip and it feels like I'm walking at a funny angle but as soon as I start to jog or run everything works perfectly and there's no pain at all. I've been for a short quick run and no pain. I've been for a good long 10 mile run and I felt tired but still no pain whilst running.
One unfortunate casualty to all of this is cycling. It's more than a pain in the ass to sit on the saddle of my bicycles and I'm searching for a solution to that one. Until then, running is back on the cards for me and after having a forced 7 week rest from running I'm more than eager to get back into it.
Notes to remember when you take a tumble whilst running -
STOP - Always stop and check to see what damage has been done. You wont always feel immediate pain from a severe injury. Sometimes it takes up to 20 minutes for the pain to kick in. If you see something out of place or feel something out of place. Stop and call for help. Running with an injury will only delay any healing time. Says the very person who did exactly that!!
REST - If you've taken a tumble, checked yourself over for injuries and you find yourself feeling really hyped or jittery or nervous. Rest. Sit down, take a look at the scenery and chill out for a little while. Have a snack, take a sip on that water you've been carrying. Give yourself the time to analyse your tumble and come to terms with it. In the meantime you'll give your body time to recover from the shock and you'll feel so much better when you get back on your feet and carry on running.
STRETCH - After your rest, give yourself a few stretches to test for any injuries you didn't notice when you stopped. This is when you'll find that hidden injury. Be careful with these stretches, they're only supposed to remind your body of how tight your ligaments are after resting. You're not trying to stretch those ligaments so you can do ballet or the splits in the next few seconds. Remember that your body is already warm and ready to run, reminding you body that you have tight muscles that need relaxing is a great idea.
IF INJURED - STOP AND CALL FOR HELP - This is when that mobile phone will come in handy. Give your husband/wife/friend a call and give them a good story to listen to on the journey home. Plus if you tell a good tale and they're laughing at your misfortune then they're more likely to turn up at your next rescue call for more entertainment.
So here I am. Thanking the universe for my husband who came to my rescue and laughed at my misfortune but I know if I call on him at any time of day to come rescue me, he will always be there for me.
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