Rat Race - Race Report (P.P.P.P.P.P)

A nice warm up event for the Royal Parks. Some short running distances with some fun little tasks thrown in and on a Saturday evening so not too warm with a good camaraderie between the competitors for good measure.

The actual truth was slightly different. It was tough. I mean really tough. I just clocked the route on runningahead.com (see it below) and as a team called 'No Hair, Don't Care', myself and eatingtrees, ran 11.53 miles. That doesn't include the balance beams, stairs, climbing over walls, ten pin bowling, karaoke ('Karma Chameleon' sung as Tenors for some bizarre reason) having my chest shaved, diving around in an inflatable ball pool and eating pizza. Add to that the fact you have to avoid getting hit by buses, taxis, bikes and run around without scaring, running into and getting in the way of members of the general public! It's not easy!!

I was expecting quite a good atmosphere with all the competitors but I have to say, it was pretty disappointing! There were a few people who nodded hello and helped with the checkpoints but there was a bit too much everyone out for themselves and taking themselves a little too seriously. I mean come on. Any event that includes some of the task listed above is meant to be fun. That's what we did as a team. Just enjoyed it as much as possible and it was good fun. Even with 20 mins left of our allotted 2h 30mins, we were still pushing each other on and giving each other all the encouragement we could. Saying that though, it was bloody wonderful to finish!

Generally it was well organised with the majority of marshals being helpful, shouting encouragement and giving clear instructions. However, it also had moments of complete farce! Firstly, no Baggage area?!?!? A start at Tower Bridge where you're encouraged not to drive and turn up from 11am for a 5pm Start but with nowhere to keep any luggage?? Pure stupidity. Surely some of the £35 fee could have gone to this. As it was, LG had to come out from home at 7pm on a saturday evening to bring some stuff for me and eatingtrees. For which, we're both very grateful! Maybe some of the sponsorship could have sorted this instead of the beer tent (before 2h:30m race), or the bungee jumping. There wasn't enough to keep people entertained for that amount of time! Mind you, maybe part of our fee went on getting a 'free pint leaflet' at one of the local pubs. Well it would if said pub hadn't been shut on Saturday night for a private function. Did someone not check this???

So Sunday morning and I ache a lot!  11.53 miles is the longest I've run since the Prague HM and wasn't the easy event I'd convinced myself it would be! It was fun and I'd do it again but I do hope a few things are thought about in the future to make it better for everyone. Rant over!

London Wa HooPA 10k - Race Report

First things strangely enough, first. In the wonderfully overcast and slightly damp conditions, I set a new PB yesterday. 51:42. Happy Days! It's the first 10k I've done in a long time and my previous best was 53:4x so I'm delighted with the time that now at least gives me a proper PB to aim for next time.

This isn't the greatest event to take part in though to be honest. There's a few too many people, 9 wave starts so a lot waiting around and the constant repeated commentary while in Green Park but the course is flat and takes in a few tourist sights so definitely PB territory.

The hip was aching a bit (I forgot the painkillers) and the hamstring felt tight but overall I felt pretty good and like I could do OK if I put my mind to it and didn't start feeling sorry for myself. Myself and eatingtrees were setting off in Blue A which was the 4th wave to go but it was clear very early on that we wouldn't be running this one together. We both had our own times in our heads and we both already plugged in to our individual playlists to get us through the run. We stayed together in the crowds for the first 2k or so and a pace faster than I'd predicted. The first 2 were both 5:05 k's. Great, now I just had to keep it up! I didn't but stayed between 5:05 and 5:15 k's for the entire race which was better than where I needed to get my predicted time of less than 53 mins.

We had a bit of rain, a couple of tiny inclines and a few cobbles but the race was pretty painless. I just had to keep reminding myself that I was on for a good time and keep pushing which I did. I ran down the mall and completed it and was delighted with my time although I have to say, with all the marshals telling you to go elsewhere, the commentary team who only seemed interested in the elite athletes and the tidying beginning very early on, it was a bit of a damp squid ending. I think this is why I prefer the smaller events so roll on next month when I will be running with Lovely Girlfriend on her first ever 10k in Thame.

Oh and just to mention, eatingtrees has found us another great event for Sept. Rat Race. We're only doing Mean Streets London but it looks like a great laugh and a little more than just pounding the streets! Where else can you mix running, sudoku, ice climbing and kayaking in a city centre all on the same day!