Arundel 10k - Race Report

It's been a while hasn't it. Sorry about that. With work, The Boy's first birthday and a few other bits and pieces, I just haven't got round to writing anything. Or in fact running much either.

I did do the Suffolk Coast ride but my last run was actually on the 23rd July. Oops. Not exactly a good training regime but as I've cycled the best part of 400km in Aug alone, I felt I should be able to do this run and complete it, if not in a very quick time. Mind you the hills worried me. I booked this as August's race as it was down near in in-laws so we could make a weekend of it but I also knew about the hills. Or hill. It's one long climb from 1 to 5km and then again from 7 to 8km and the the finish is uphill on the High St too. Bring it on.

They say, never do anything new on the day of the race. However, with all these hills, I decided I could use some help so I started my morning with the Orbana Healthy Energy sample I'd been sent. The idea that it's gives you a natural boost instead of the caffeine and sugar dosed ones I occasionally use. Firstly, what does it taste like. Well on the plus side, it isn't horrible and sickly sweet but does it taste nice, fresh and well.. healthy and natural?? Not to my taste buds but everyone's different. It was certainly drinkable and maybe did give me a boost but I have to say I didn't notice an instant kick from it. Maybe it's more of a slow release thing. I certainly still felt pretty good when I'd finished the race so it's a possibility  and at least my body wasn't full of all the usual crap. Anyway, you can check out all the proper info on them here. Hopefully they do them in bottles soon though as measuring out 250ml of water, then pouring that in a bottle in order to shake it and mix the powder in is a little more hassle than I need at 7am when trying to get ready.

FRESH FACED AND BUSHY TAILED. OBVIOUSLY NEAR THE START

As for the race, what can I say. Beautiful. Absolutely stunning scenery. You wouldn't do this race for the PB but I had bright (a little too bright if you ask me) sunshine and the views went on for miles (although they tend to when you're that bloody high.) It starts in the High St before going through the castle grounds and through the park up to the high point at the 5km mark. Then it's an alternate route back down (that somehow still manages to get a sod of an uphill that lasts a whole km in there) before coming back through the castle grounds again and then a steep finish up the High St.  The marshalling was fantastic and everyone seemed so friendly.

COMING INTO THE HOME STRAIGHT. SLIGHTLY LESS FRESH FACED

There was only one disappointment and that was that due to the tight fisted-ness of the Management at Arundel Castle, no one was allowed into the grounds to see the runners and to get to the park beyond it was an almighty trek which is not good for a mum, a Boy in a pushchair and 2 grandparents. They did get a good spot at the bottom but it seems such a shame when all those views are on offer. The castle grounds literally only had the odd marshall and some bored looking employees in golf carts who were probably keeping an eye out for anybody actually looking around the grounds for free while running. Maybe I'll get an invoice in a couple of days as I did look up a couple of times.

UP THE HILL TO THE FINISH LINE. I'M THE BLUE DOT IN THE MIDDLE (you can click to see it bigger)

However, this has nothing to do with the race itself which as I said... brilliantly organised and brilliantly marshalled. I came in on 52:14 which although not quick against a finish time I'd set myself of 53mins, I'm pretty happy damn with.Now I need to make sure I get some training in as I have a couple of people coming to my home town race next and I can't let the locals down can I!

BUPA 10k 2011 - RACE REPORT

Although I'm in danger of peaking too soon on this post, let me just put it out there that after god knows how long, I ran this race in 49:35. That's 2 mins and 2 seconds quicker than my previous PB and finally broke that sub 50 minute hoodoo!

Well how did it all come about....

I did this race a couple of years ago and remembered all those bits today. The things I love, i.e. flat course, lots to see, loads of support and Mo Farah and Jo Pavey running at full pelt to the things I hate, i.e. the 'safety officials' with their high level of self importance, the fact they try and start cramming you into the pens up to 45mins before the race and those commentators that quite frankly ruin what could be a nice quiet morning in Green Park.

I met up with an excited child called eatingtrees who was bouncing off the walls with positivity for this race and sat on the grass looking at the clouds and wondering when I'd have the courage to take off my jeans and go with the shorts. Then the sun came out and BOY did it come out. Another reminder of the race a couple of years ago when the heat was a killer. A quick chat with Dianne, and separately with Adele, Edward and Hector and it was off to dump our bags we went.

I was in 2 minds about this race. I hadn't run for 2 weeks due to a painful left knee and couldn't decide whether this was genius or stupidity. Would I crash and burn? Quite possibly but I also felt confident that if I didn't and the knee held, there was a PB chance. I didn't honestly believe it would be sub 50 though. Because of the lack or recent training (although I had been running prior to that plus plenty of miles on the bike) I had decided on a strategy for this race. One I had never tried before. This is what I emailed eatingtrees prior to the race.

"Incidentally, my current plan for BUPA (which I have never tried before) is push from the start and see what happens. No taking it easy and seeing what happens. No resting in case the knee hurts. Just say fuck it and see how long I can run at 5min/km pace and hope I don't crash and burn."

Some would say bold. Some would say stupid and I was well aware those 'some' could be right but I felt that for this race, it was my only option.

One thing I have learnt doing these London races is that you can't let yourself get held up for the first km. That can easily add 2 minutes to your time so when our Blue A group started, I just went. I had no idea that eatingtrees was hot on my heels with the same 'don't get held up' theory as me but with a first km of 4.45, it obviously worked although I panicked a little as there was no way that pace would stick.

Eatingtrees had eked in-front at this point but I knew that I just had to stick to the pace and any time I started feeling myself slow, I just pushed on again. Kilometres 2 and 3 were both 4.45's too and by the time 5km came up, I was shocked to see I was well inside the 50min pace at 24:49.

Just after that I had caught eatingtrees again and we ran the next bit together side by side (he had headphones in) and then I I just kept doing what I was doing. At 8km, I remember looking at my watch, seeing 39:40 and thinking right, 2 kilometres at 5:10's and you have your 50 minute 10k. I ran through 9km and looked don to see 44:50. Blimey I'm consistent.

This was it. I could actually do this. I turned into Horse Guards Avenue and then right onto Whitehall. I knew Mrs HMC and the Boy would be at the top of Whitehall so I kept an eye out, shouted a hello and then turned for The Mall. This bit is longer than it looks and seems to take an age but by just keeping focussed on pushing on and checking the watch, I ran over the line, looking like I'd been shot in that new magic PB. Hardly any time at all later, eatingtrees came across with a massive grin, with his arms out like an aeroplane looking 30 times better than me. Oh yes, the knee... it was absolutely fine apart from one little twinge. I don't know what all the fuss was about.

The safety police who had nothing better to do than piss me off, insisted on keeping me away from Mrs HMC and the Boy for a good 30 mins by closing all the relevant points where we could get together but after walking half the length of London, we were joined again and along with eatingtrees, Adele, Edward and Hector, headed into SoHo for some well deserved Mexican food!

What a race, what a day. Now I just need to figure out if I'll ever be able to go faster!

Hertford 10k Race Report - A tale of 3 distances

It was time for eatingtrees' home town race so after a Saturday of gardening, walking, and lots of fresh air, we got up early and headed to Hertford early Sunday morning for a 10k. I had a few doubts about this race before I made my way there, like no ability to enter via this new invention called the World Wide Web and having to rely on stamped addressed envelopes. No chip timing was also a minor point but as I tend to go by my watch time, it doesn't bother me. Stories of gates being locked last year and the race being shortened and also being listed as 'approximate 10k distance' didn't fill me with much confidence either to be honest but it would be a nice day out.

However, I really enjoyed it. It was extremely warm so was delighted that I was doing something silly like the Brighton Marathon (Well Done to Adele and Hesbels) but I felt good as the runners gathered at the school to make their way to the start.

The first km was very slow as there are many runners on a narrow path and by the time the first km post arrived, my watch read 5:45. Hmmm. Nevermind. I plodded on with eatingtrees and saw Mrs HMC and The Boy just before the 2km mark which is always lovely and luckily my watch read 11:05 at the next post. A 5:20 K, that's a bit better. I was holding on to eatingtrees' vest at this point though. He was upping the pace and although I was staying with him, I was finding it tougher than expected.

I had been sent some sunglasses to try out from those lovely people at Polaroid and as yet, the only testing I'd managed was by the pool in Egypt. (They're very good for that by the way). However for this race and my last long training run of 15km, I've been trying these out. I have to say, they're awesome. They don't fog up which has happened when I've worn glasses before (hence running in contact lenses), they didn't rub, and they just sat where they were meant to and did their job. The best thing I can say about them though, is when I inevitably sit on these and break them, I'd actually be tempted to part with some hard cash to replace them! They have a massive range so check them out here.

By the time I'd hit 5km, I felt extremely comfortable. In fact, the next 4 KM's were all between 4:59 and 5:07. I was really enjoying it and I knew that if I actually had 1km to go AND I could keep the pace up, I could be close to a PB but with the Hertford 10k map lists it as 10.2km, My more detailed map using runningahead.com listed it as 10.3km and eatingtrees' Garmin told us it was a touch over 10.1km. Basically. Take your pick! That last km took just over 6 minutes so certainly was longing even if you exclude the last bit which is quite a tremendous hill.

The event was fantastically marshaled and at the finish there were loads of bananas, water, Lucozade and cheering. A thoroughly good day and a time of 52:38 to boot. I was going to be happy with under 55 mins so delighted with that! See you next year!

After that, it was round to eatingtrees' house for shower, lunch, sun time and shisha. A perfect end to a bloody good weekend!

It has it's ups and downs

I really do have to lose some weight at the moment and as LG is putting me to shame with her running group, I yesterday, vowed to do a 10k this morning to blow some cobwebs away and get back into it.

I knew the course I had to run. Well when I say I knew the course, I knew the roads I had to run on but couldn't decide on the order in which to run them. Do I do this one with a fast downhill start and a punishing second half...

or do I do this one which is more undulating throughout?

I went for option 2 in the end. I decided there was no point in having a fast start if i was just going to be in a world of pain later on.

It was however, a thoroughly enjoyable run. 10.04km around the streets of Ashtead and Leatherhead in 52:44. I could feel my stress levels drop the more i ran. I just need to do it more often now.

Going forward, Ashtead has a running group that meet every Tuesday night which is meant to be very social and also my favourite price... free, so it looks like my Tuesday nights will now be spent running around in the dark with some other local people which suits me just fine and may be just the thing i need to increase my mileage. This is something i certainly need to do pre Grim as the less time i have to spend running around in the puddles and mud, the better!

Distance done and the Sony W Series Walkman

Saturday morning and after sharing a bottle of Merlot last night because 'we managed to get through the week' I set out for a 10k. I finished in a credible 52:16 which I was pretty happy with being my first proper run since returning. It was good to get out and pounding the pavement to be honest.

I'm aching a bit now but that's because I've done sod all for so long but if I'm feeling a little more flexible later then I'm going to try this Yoga thing. It all depends on how I'm feeling!!

And so onto the Sony W Series. I have to be honest with you.... I'm not a fan. Brilliant concept but I just can't see myself changing from my shuffle if this is the competiton.

Benefits:
-No wires running down your back
-Good sound quality

Not so much:
-It's LIME GREEN people!!! (I know there are other colours but would love to know who thought this one was a good idea!!) I guess I should be grateful I didn't get the pink one!!!
-If you have a shaved head, you are going to get a ridicolous tan line. eatingtrees, you'll have the same problem as me!
-Yes it's lightweight. But it's double the weight of my shuffle and I don't have that sitting on my head!
-I found it a bit fiddly to control when on the move. Maybe it'll get easier with more use.

I should also mention the special technology they have to scan through the songs. It's like Ronseal, 'it does exactly what it says on the tin' but to be honest, I still find it pretty easy to press the skip button on my current player if I want to find a particular track. Overkill maybe?? Solving a problem that doesn't need to be solved me thinks.

So overall a very sound and quality product, just as Sony generally produce but this particular one, I don't feel it's any better than what I currently use.

The challenge I was set however was to produce a playlist and this is mine. All from my own iTunes and for various reasons including beats, motivation and just generally loving the track! Here it is:

Living in Jungles - Bedouin Soundclash
Helicopter - Block Party
Trains to Brazil - Guillemots
Oh My God - Ida Maria
City Lights - The Bishops
Keep the Car Running - Arcade Fire
Upon this Tidal Wave of Young Blood - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Over and Over - Hot Chip
What Your Boyfriend Said - Little Man Tate
Soul Limbo - Booker T and the M.G's
Angel Interceptor - Ash
What a Wonderful World - Joey Ramone

Not to everyone's taste but it'll get me round a few training runs!! Enjoy your Bank Holiday weekend if you're in the UK or just your weekend if not! I feel a BBQ coming!

Stepping up the training…. kind of

Well with only 3 and a half weeks until the Fleet HM, I need to pick up the training a bit so his week I'm planning to run 18 miles. Obviously not all at once, that would just be wrong but in 2 stints starting with an 8 miler tonight. This is my least favourite run I do. I run from my work to Twickenham. For all those outside of SW London, that's 8 miles pretty much all along the South Circular (A205). The traffic's horrible, there are too many curbs for me to fall down and worst of all, I'm actually running AWAY from my home!! That's an awful thing to know while running. I then have to get the train back (and no, there's no way I'm running back again and doubling the distance). I do this for 2 reasons only. Firstly, to push my mileage up and secondly, because someone I work with (we'll call her 'the amazingly organised spreadsheet woman'), lives there and is training for the big London run for disturbed people (aka The London Marathon) so it's nice to run with someone occasionally.

Because of the above, last night should have been a night of card loaded food, relatively early night and no alcohol. It backfired slightly. I say slightly... I mean completely. When you're still trying to get served more disgusting cooking lager as the bar staff are cleaning around you and the bell has already gone, you realise that it may not be the best training possible. Even more so when you consider that this part of the evening had been preceded by many various and tasty forms of Indian Tapas at Imli and yet more cooking lager with a couple of friends. Together with SHL (aka eatingtrees) we appear to have bullied (there really is no other word for it) the 3rd one of us into running a 10k in May. He doesn't run. Well I guess he does now and he was certainly keen once plied with alcohol. I will let you know if this is still the case once I send him the link through later today. Fun as it was, it was certainly not the best training and I think I'm going to suffer later for it.

Because of all of the above, I'm having to try and give myself encouragement and motivation to run tonight. This is all I've come up with so far so any help would be appreciated.

1)Once I get home, I have Haggis, Neeps and Tatties which I've been looking forward to for a few days now 2)For energy purposes only obviously, it gives me an excuse to feed my unhealthy addition to Wine Gums 3)It'll feel fantastic once I finish 4)It'll only hurt for the first few miles 5)It'll give me confidence to run 10 miles on Saturday Morning

OK I'm stuck there and as you can see by points 3, 4 and 5, I'm already clutching at straws!!