Sunday 25 November 2012

RNLI Reindeer Run @ Woburn Abbey

What a fabulous day for a run across a muddy park. 

The weather forecast the night before had towns and villages drowned in the downpour with more rain forecast.  There was a chance that the whole event would be washed out as well.  But the only weather left by the morning were strong gusts of wind and clear blue sunny skies.  So, of to Woburn Abbey to run two laps around a course that was bound to be sodden from all this rain. 

I collected my flashing red nose, antlers and T-shirt.  Obviously I wore all three items as long as I could in high winds.  So did loads of other runners.  It was a glorious sight, especially during the warm up.  Red clad dancing runners with antlers and flashing red noses.  Pity I didn't take a picture. 

The fun run started on time at 10:00am.  We headed out and downhill towards the lake at the front of the abbey.  My feet were soaked by the time we reached edge of the lake and that was the dry part!  We carried on towards the edge of the park before eventually turning left and back up the hill we'd just run down.  Half of this was across very sodden and slippy ground that was covered with leaves which hid even more water below.  Running through a shallow stream is close to what this felt like.  At last we reached one of the roads but that didn't bring any relief at all, it was a long up hill stretch that on the previous two attempts at this hill during events held at the abbey I'd ended up walking part of it.  Here's where my stubborn streak kicked in.  I was downright determined to get up this hill once and for all.  It was not going to defeat me this time.  So I shortened my stride, kept my pace even and kept my sight firmly locked onto the ground in front of me instead of the top of the hill.  It was tough to begin with and then all of a sudden I fell into a running grove.  Breath, step/step, breath, step/step, breath, step/step..... In no time at all I'm at the top of the hill wondering why I'd made such a fuss of hill climbing.  We followed the road that looped back to the start line but just before we could get to run down a lovely hill to finish the first lap we were directed out into the parkland again.  Down a very slippy, sodden hill.  A few slippy scary moments later and the track looped back uphill towards the the path I'd just left.  Then a quick run downhill toward the start/finish line to do the whole thing again. 

On the second lap I felt strong.  The confidence boost given by getting up the hill at Woburn not once but twice was energising.  Instead of slipping into a slow easy pace I kept pushing myself to just under uncomfortable.  It was awesome.  The feeling of getting the better of a course that's defeated me in the past.  Woohoo!! 

A respectable 1 hour time for 10k 50% mud and water 50% road in my Innovates.  Loved every minute of it and was very proud to wear my nose and antlers at the end of the run. 

Thank you Woburn Abbey and Thank you RNLI.  I've finally conquered that hill and next time I'm going to get below an hour.  Oh yes I am! 

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Dirt Half Marathon - Leighton Buzzard

After last week I was determined to do better in this half marathon.  I had made sure I had worked out Monday, Tuesday, Wendesday and Thursday leaving Friday as a rest day before the race.  I knew there was a big hill in this race but once you're up a hill it's easy running downhill too.  Bring it on!

The morning was gloriously sunny but very chilly.  Knowing how the town centre can get on Saturdays I’d decided to walk from Vandyke Road to Tiddenfoot, 2 miles, no problem.  I got there nice and early and spotted a couple LBAC members.  Leighton Fun Runners were out in force again too.  A quick change into my running shoes and tucking away my lovely warm hoody I headed out to the start.  

The path was damp and I knew at some point I was going to get utterly muddy.  I just didn’t know when!  The start took us around Tiddenfoot Lake, a nice quick gentle uphill to get you warmed up and spread out before we all got to the tow path along the Grand Union Canal.  We stayed on this lovely flat non muddy path past the The Globe and past the Three Locks until we got to the bridge at the end of Bragenham Side road.  I knew the “HILL” was coming up and I was not looking forward to it.  The hill starts gently at first but it get more difficult the closer you get to Great Brickhill and Stoke Lane.  At this point my legs were starting to turn to jelly after the long easy bit along the canal.  Oh the relief at the top when it was time to head down Cuff Lane.  A nice long jog downhill before heading into Oakwood and the woodland trail.  Tricky downhill bits with tree roots ready to catch my foot, big muddy patches to slow me down and make sure my trainers looked like I’d worked on this run.  I’d lost all track of time in the woods – concentrating on staying upright!  I reached Linslade Road feeling good that I’d survived the root obstacle to then follow the trail in the woods on the other side of the road.  Hidden roots under leaf litter.  Much more fun!  The trail then headed out over a farm field, I saw the two wooden bridges in the distance and realised that this was the muddy part of the course.  My feet were hot, the water and mud were cool.  After 200 runners the field was slippy and the mud looked like the type of mud you get at a spa.  There was no avoiding it so I went for it.  Straight through the middle of it all and up to my knees.  No loss of trainer thankfully and at the final wooden bridge I decided to jump in like a big kid into the last of the mud.  Then it was back along the canal, past Tesco’s  and up to Tiddenfoot Lake to the finish.  Last weekend I felt like a wreck near the end of the race.  This week I had been on my cross trainer every day making sure my lungs and legs were going to work when I needed them.  It worked.  I got to the lake and gently started to increase my pace.  Overtaking quite a few people I’d been following for the majority of the race.  Finishing with a time of 2 hours 25 minutes.  Not my best time but an improvement on last weekend.  

Just to make the ending more gruelling.  I had a 2 mile walk home.  Dang.  Thankfully I’d packed a change of socks and shoes, I got my lovely warm cosy hoodie back on and decided to walk/jog home.  Yes, after 13.1 miles I willingly jogged some more.  I must be getting used to the half marathon distance.  Time to increase the mileage me thinks. 

How did everyone else from Leighton Buzzard get on?  Well done guys n gals

Leighton Buzzard Athletics Club
Gary Stratford 1:35
Helen Crossland 2:25

Leighton Fun Runners
Neil Warby 1:34
Jim Buttleman 1:38
Gordon Hill 2:03
Angela Kerr 2:06
Paul Thomas 2:09
Deena Bland 2:12
Phil Harpin 2:15
Pete Bolton 2:16

Sunday 11 November 2012

Grand Union Canal Half Marathon 2012 - Purple Patch

Today was going to be tough. 

I had chickened out of a half marathon last week due to the weather and hadn't been out running since the zombie invasion run.  To make things even more difficult I had not been taking my asthma meds for the last two weeks either.  Basically I've been a complete lazy dog for two weeks. 

So how did it go? 

Weather was very cold but very sunny. The car was parked as Cassiobury Park in Watford and I had paid for coach transport to the start in Uxbridge. At least I was warm for a little while whilst the coach took me to the start with lots of other runners. What to wear on that type of run? Arm warmers, calf compression, T-shirt and camalback - that's what I chose. Yup, I was shivering like crazy until the race started. 

It was TOUGH!  I've not felt like that running for a while. My lungs felt tight, my legs were stiff from the cold (or not running) and my feet were killing me by mile 5.  Argh! 

The runners started in two waves after we held a minute silence for Remembrance Day.  I knew we were travelling down the canal path but I naively thought that the canal path was going to be wider from Uxbridge to Watford for some reason.  Nope, it wasn't.  It was a standard canal path that had sections of completely slippy slidey mud to make things interesting, plus lots of holes, lots of branches trying to catch you unawares, lots of tree roots, lots of parked canal boats with tether lines to jump and finally - a few bridges to swap sides of the canal and a few locks to remind those legs what a hill is all about.  This all made passing other runners very, very interesting and risky.  So most of the time I didn't which probably didn't help my time.  We did get a reminder that the canal was only 4 foot deep so no one would need to swim if they fell in. 

In summary, I made it to the finish in one piece.  I didn't trip or fall or slip, very pleased with that score.  However, my lungs were useless, my legs were blocks of lead that just would respond to being pushed for extra effort and I'd had to stop several times to recover.  Back to my usual old running self that made running frustrating. 

Never underestimate the need for consistent training.  Over this year I had been very good at going out regularly on short runs to keep my legs fresh, keep my lungs free and to remind myself to look after myself.  Being a lazy dog and resting when I should have been getting out into this cold dark wintry time had made today far more difficult than it should have been.  I consider myself told and will endeavour to get of my comfy comfy sofa to go out into the cold dark nights to run!

On a good note.  I now know how far I can push myself through sheer determination.  At mile 5 my legs/lungs were just not responding to anything I was asking of them.  It was thoroughly frustrating but I didn't give in.  I kept on pushing.  I kept my legs moving even though I wanted to just sit down and stop.  I pushed myself through 8 miles of pain and still managed to keep myself going and run up the hill at Cassiobury Park!!!!! Utter, utter, down right determination can work wonders.  Even when I hadn't trained at all for this event. 

Now all I have to do is put that sheer determination into getting me through 26 miles in December!  Eek