Greater Manchester Marathon, 19/04/2015

Race day mornings are strange. I'd not had the best night's sleep, confused by the blackout curtains in the Altrincham Travelodge, I kept waking up and looking at my watch. I woke up properly just before my 5:45 alarm and my eyes felt tired but otherwise I was okay. 

I was nervous getting ready, and pleased I'd laid everything out and attached my race number the night before. I met the rest of the Harriers in reception at 7am where a mini-bus had been arranged to collect us after the news the previous evening that there had been an overhead line failure on the tram line. It was back up and running but we decided to stick with plan B anyway.

We arrived at the race village in plenty of time for loos, baggage etc. although it was really quite cold, especially compared to Saturday's weather, and we were all shivering whilst waiting around, we were glad it was overcast at least for the start. The starting area was a bit confusing, and I expect a lot of people lined up well ahead of their expected times, perhaps aware from previous encounters that the first couple of miles are a bit narrow for the volume of runners (especially in the "peak" zone of runners expecting to finish between 4 and 4.5 hours, where I found myself). I'd made a decision to run with my friend Clare Mullin and we'd agreed on 9:30minute mile pace with a plan to push it if we felt up to it later.

There was a little group of us to begin with but within a mile or so Clare and I were settled in just behind the 4hr 15 pacer, feeling pretty comfortable and enjoying the opportunity to look out for teal vests on the switchback sections. It was much more congested than I expected and a few times I wasted energy trying to get past slower runners or finding myself in an early mêlée for the water station, or the loos that seemed to be required far too early by some runners! I was enjoying it though and it felt familiar - almost like the first few miles of the Birmingham Half.

At around about the 8 mile marker I voiced the concern that the blister that hadn't properly recovered from the Ashby 20 was feeling a bit sore. Clare's advice? "You won't be able to feel your feet after 20 miles so don't worry!" She was about right and apart from the awareness of it I barely thought about it until removing my shoe later.

Apart from the first mile (which was just over 10 minutes) we stuck pretty close to 9:30mm. I really enjoyed running with Clare; it was her home territory and I think her fifth marathon so she was a reassuring presence in more ways than one. The route wasn't the most scenic but it was varied with the race village at Old Trafford and passing through Salford Quays and the studios there, before heading out through Stretford, Sale and Timperley towards Altrincham. The out and back sections were enough to give the opportunity to see both the fastest runners at the head of the field on the way out, and the less speedy runners on the way back, but without too much repetition. There were areas where the course felt too narrow for the volume of runners and we saw more than one runner come a cropper on a poorly positioned traffic cone!

The support along the course was excellent, with each area competing for the best entertainment; bands, school children and a gospel choir kept us going. There were also some great motivational signs - my favourite being the guy with a "Touch here for power!" sign giving out high-fives! The water stations came round quickly, with small bottles (easier to drink than cups but not as wasteful as the large bottles) and energy gels too. 

We saw Simon Newman on his way back as we passed through Timperley the first time, he seemed to be doing well and was in a pack with the 3:30 pacer - bang on target. As we reached Altrincham and the half-way point it was nice to be in the familiar area where we'd spent the previous evening, and the support was fantastic too! We still felt okay and I wondered whether to push the pace on, but decided to stick with it as we headed out on the loop that took in some nice villages and even a bit of countryside. 

We'd lost the 4:15 pacer - he'd gone off into the distance at about 16 miles and we thought we'd give ourselves a couple of miles to catch him. Somewhere between here and 18 miles Clare and I were separated - I was so focussed on the flag ahead that I didn't notice until too late. I pressed on with the pace and noticed that I was actually enjoying myself. I felt comfortable (too comfortable?) and began to realise that I was going to finish in a reasonable time.

I had a plan to take my gels at 5, 10 and 15 miles and then see how I felt. I took the other two at 19 and 22.5 miles and I think that worked really well for managing my energy levels, which were pretty consistent. Any slowing in the final few miles was as much to do with the slight incline and head-wind as anything I think. I was tired, of course, but I didn't feel like stopping at any point.

When things felt tough I thought about my family and friends - this was both deliberate - a tribute to the people who mean most to me, to think of them and take heart from their presence with me; but was also triggered by things I saw and heard along the course. My mind was drifting around but I kept coming back to the feeling of something that is best described as gratitude; just to be there, to be part of something big and to finally be achieving something that had at times seemed beyond reach.

Passing the 20 mile mark I smiled at the thought that the rest of the race was all uncharted waters for me. Every step was further than I had run before. So often you hear that the race really begins at this point, but psychologically I just felt stronger, knowing that I was going to finish in another hour or so. Around me people were flagging. Some started to walk, or slump. I focussed on my form, trying to stay "tall and light". I counted Cocker Spaniels number 7 and 8 - a record for me in a race (I like to count dogs while I'm out running - that's normal, right?)

The mile markers weren't accurate and as I wasn't paying attention to anything much, for ages I knew I was over 21 miles but not quite 24, vaguely aware that I had about "a parkrun" left. I saw Fergal from Cannon Hill parkrun and he told me I had two miles to go. The next mile was a blur, people kept stopping suddenly in front of me. Then someone said there was a mile to go. 

The 4:15 pacer reappeared at the side of the road, grinning at me. The wind picked up and I felt like I was going backwards. The sun came out and I wondered if I was hallucinating! I could see Old Trafford one minute and the next it was gone. Then, suddenly we turned a corner and the finish line was there and the noise was incredible. The clock said 4:16-something. Could I get under 4:17 on the clock and therefore under 4:10? I pushed. My legs sprang to life... I reached the chip mat and crossed it smiling (at least my brain was smiling but my facial muscles might not have got the message). 

Space blanket, thank you. Medal? Huge, Thank You! Goody bag, small t-shirt? Yes please! Chocolate protein shake? Yes, don't mind if I do. Chilled beer (non-alcoholic) - that's the best beer I've ever had - THANK YOU!! 

Almost immediately I found my running club buddies, those that had already come through had all had good races, PBs or the times they were after. Our fellow Bournville Harriers had been tracking us online and I had the good news that my chip time was 4:09:36. I called Guy, my eyes full of tears. I called my Mom "yes, I did it. I love you!" The others came in - Clare, my comrade, with a huge hug, having bagged a big PB. We shared our stories and posed for the post-race pictures.

The Travelodge had been kind enough to allow us to use a room beyond the usual checkout time. It was nice to change into fresh clothes for the journey, but the true horror of my blistered foot was quite a shock! It didn't hurt much but it looked hideous. I felt surprisingly good though and enjoyed the post-race glow in the company of really good friends.

Postscript:

Two days later I feel okay, but my legs still feel disconnected from my body. My foot isn't painful but I doubt I will be wearing sandals any time soon!

I've questioned whether I could have put myself on the line more; got closer to 4 hours, and concluded that I could, but I'm glad I didn't. I wouldn't swap that feeling of finishing strong and happy just to be running for anything (but I have started to look for an Autumn marathon...)

The build up to the big one!

I'm not going to lie - I really should have written this before Sunday instead of at 2:30am on Monday morning; the past week is a blur (if it weren't for Strava I doubt I could tell you which days I ran on, let alone how far) and I only really want to write about the marathon. Since I'm lying here in bed, shattered but with such achy legs that I can't sleep, I thought I'd write a bit about the week leading up to it and then tomorrow I'll write about the Greater Manchester Marathon.

It was BvH club run on Monday and as there were a few of us with Manchester looming or with tired legs after a combo of Road Relays and Sunday's 10k, a group of us trotted round the 5k route, which is two laps around Rowheath. I ended up running a bit faster than I'd intended but as it was short and I still had six days to go I wasn't too troubled. 

Work was busy and I was glad of a rest day on Tuesday and some time in the evening to do a bit of ironing and catch up at home. Plus it was an early start to drive up to Notts on Wednesday so an early night was in store.

I consciously increased my carbs with the aim of keeping the overall calories about the same but having less protein and fat. It's really hard though as that's against my usual eating plans and I start getting hungry really quickly after a carb-laden meal. Malt loaf lunch-box snacks were a bit of a saviour this week.

I had a little run on the treadmill on Wednesday - the weather in the West Mids was lovely apparently but it was cold and wet a bit further north and I didn't fancy a run outside. I just did three gentle miles, with a wry look at the clock at 2.62 miles!

I was back too late for club on Thursday so I just chilled out and watched a bit of TV, I didn't think it would hurt to miss one run, although I had intended to run on the days I usually would, just doing shorter distances with nothing intense. I was working from home on Friday, and it was nice to not have to drive anywhere so when I finished work I used the time to catch up on paperwork and bills at home. Whilst I was beginning to get a bit anxious I decided not to do anything drastically different to a normal week so when Guy said he just fancied a takeaway curry on Friday night I went along with it. I substituted my usual pea pilau rice and veg stuffed paratha for the plain versions to reduce the fibre content, and ditched the tarka dhal and onion bhaji which can sometimes trigger an upset tummy. Plus it was non-alcoholic beer for me. 

On Saturday I ran a slow parkrun at Cannon Hill. I got a few raised eyebrows from people who knew I was running Manchester but quite honestly I find it helps to loosen the legs the day before a race (and I know this was going to be my longest race, but so was 10k and half-marathon once upon a time!) I really did take it steady and felt better for it. I think that being confident about your decisions and not letting "helpful advice" take you off course is an important lesson (in life as well as running!) Whilst it is good to take on board the experience of others, we are all different and what works for us mentally is often more important than the physical side. The benefit I derive from a few steady miles in the company of friends outweighs any tiredness I might experience physically (in fact it probably helps to deal with some of the nervous energy!)

I ran a few errands and then it was up to Manchester with the Teal Massive! We got to our hotel in Altrincham which is on the marathon course in good time and popped out for a coffee and cake. It was a lovely day and warm in the sunshine, but the forecast for Sunday was cooler and overcast so the conditions were looking favourable. I was starting to feel really hyper but so glad to be there with friends and we sometimes kept our minds off it or shared our thoughts. We had booked dinner at a local Italian restaurant in the evening which was lovely, very busy but the food was good and they had Becks Blue so I was happy to feel quite normal with my pizza and "beer" on a Saturday night. 

Back to the Travelodge at about 9:40 with just time to catch up with the good luck messages and lay out my kit for the next day and the 5:45 alarm. I struggled to switch my brain off and get some decent sleep but probably ended up switching the light off at about 11pm and just waking 2-3 times in the night. 

As I lay in bed I thought about how pleased I was after my previous disappointments, to finally be there, just waiting to begin. I planned what I would think about when it got tough (a mile in honour of my loved ones, some no longer with us. Time to think about what they mean to me and how I want to do them proud). And then, all of a sudden it was time to get up and take on the adventure...

Taper, taper, taper!

It's strange looking back over my training since the start of the year; apart from the occasional week where through illness I've not been able to train, 30+ miles, often 40+ has been the norm compared to my usual training where I would typically hit 25 miles on a good week. As I'm now tapering I've been reducing the mileage but maintaining the frequency; five runs this week but a total of "just" 22 miles, less than the amount I will run in one day next Sunday in Manchester.

I started the week with a pretty typical Monday night club run; nothing spectacular but a nice Bank Holiday evening following some lovely weather and a bit of retail therapy. On Tuesday I drove up north for work and decided to do a short run on the treadmill - I'm warming to the treadmill and the opportunity to manage my speed, so I did a bit of a progression run, but my stomach was playing it's tricks again so after half an hour I gave up (probably just as well, given the tapering!)

On Thursday night I wasn't intending to do the club reps but I got swept along and actually had quite a lot of fun - we were doing shuttle runs with strength exercises (squats, lunges, planks etc.) between each set. I didn't push it on the runs but I did enjoy doing something a bit different and we had a laugh. Overall it was only about 3 miles of running and that was quite enough. 

I'd foolishly put myself forward for B team duties at the National Road Relays on Saturday, and was regretting the decision but we had a full team so I decided that I would run but definitely NOT RACE! There was a strong field as you would expect but it seemed small and not many clubs had put out B teams. They'd introduced two long legs at the start (around 5 miles each), but with my marathon being close I was down to do one of the shorter ones, which was the same as the recent Midlands relays at just under 5k. We were already in last place when I began my leg, and with no chance of making up any places it was quite easy to stick to a pace that was "easy" (can someone explain why it never feels easy to run easy though?) With last leg runners occasionally passing me (and people on their warm-downs too!) I did marvel at these super-human creatures who are able to get so much more from their mixture of skin, bones, muscle and organs than I can, but there was great camaraderie as always and I do think there's something to be said for representing even if you can't really compete.

A sunny yet windy day at Sutton Park for the National Road Relays.

On Sunday I had a pace to stick to at a local 10k, the Ronnie Bowker race at Cannon Hill park, which I've written about here. Having had a sports massage on Friday I'm pleased to say that the knee issue that seems to have plagued the last few weeks has abated, and apart from the odd twinge (probably psychological) and slightly worrying tummy troubles (probably stress-related) I'm feeling about as good as I have done for a few weeks now... The taper must be working on the physical side.

To the mental aspect; no matter which way I look at it 26.2 miles is a heck of a long way. I've tried chunking it down in my mind but still it looms large and intimidating. And yet, people do this all the time! If you look at my Facebook or Twitter feeds you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a normal activity, but perhaps the very fact that we all want to share in it, compare notes etc. is because it is just bloody huge and scary. 

It reminds me of exams at school - how much revision have you done? Have you tried this or that? If we don't know it now we never will etc. etc. There's a comfort in sharing it all but we can also freak each other out with all the talking. Even writing a blog, I'm conscious I'm contributing to the marathon chatter, but I'm consuming it all too. In an effort to remain calm ahead of next Sunday I'm focussing on the following thoughts:

1) It's just another race. Yes, it's the furthest I've ever run, but once upon a time that was true for 5k too!

2) I've trained well and consistently. Not perfectly, but whoever managed that?

3) There will be other opportunities to do this and do it faster. Nothing silly now. No heroics. Get round, stay sensible.

4) I'm going with my mates, we're in it together, we will support each other through it.

5) It's going to be fun!

This time next week it will be done - stay tuned...

Ronnie Bowker 10k

I missed this race last year as I was struggling with shin splints, and since it is local I decided to have a run at A-goal marathon pace (9mm) on the final Sunday before Manchester Marathon. A few other Harriers were running too, with the promise of a wooden medal and the usual Team Teal spirit to look forward to.

A small field of around 150 runners meant that parking was easy enough, and given the turnout I'm used to seeing at Cannon Hill parkrun it seemed oddly quiet. The registration was also very calm in the mac building, with great facilities and no queues for the loos! I was pleased to pick up a nice round race number whilst chatting to some fellow runners.

It was a dry and clear day but as we all realised on the start line, the wind was strong and that made it feel a bit chilly. We set off from the lodge near the gate and I looked around and was pleased to see Bournville well represented in amongst the runners. We headed off up the slight hill towards the tea room (where Taz was waiting with his trusty camera!) and clockwise past the bandstand. At this point it was feeling very much like parkrun although I was reminding myself that I needed to stick to my pace plan as I saw the others pull away ahead of me. 

We ran out to the triangle and then along past the football pitches and round the bollard, as we do in the Conductive Education 10k. It was great to see that Linda Howell and Sarah Rock were amongst the leading ladies and both looking strong. I loved this section, seeing my fellow team mates and having enough breath to give them a bit more vocal support than I would usually muster. Back into the park and out again onto the road and back in again at the Nature Centre I was really struggling with my instinct to pick up the pace and race it. Simon Newman and Antony Stewart were enjoying a run around the park in the opposite direction and giving plenty of encouragement and I also saw Helen Lawrence out enjoying her final Sunday run before next week's marathon. It was great to see so many people out and about. 

On the second lap the wind, which had already felt quite strong the first time around, seemed to intensify and the long straight out along the Rea Valley route was hard work. It would have been difficult to get a PB today, although the course is nice and flat. Fortunately it wasn't a worry for me as I focussed on sticking to my pace as best I could. I knew I had gone a bit quicker than intended in the second mile and was trying to slow it down without going over the planned pace. I kept forgetting that it wasn't a race, especially as I found myself to-ing and fro-ing with a chap from Kings Heath who I recognised from parkrun.

I decided that I would run the last kilometre a bit harder, for the feeling of finishing strong. I enjoyed the final push for home hearing the Teal Army shouting me from the finish line and I think I may have even managed a smile for the camera instead of my usual grimace! My splits show that apart from the second and last mile I stuck pretty closely to the planned pace, so I was really pleased with that. The wooden medal made a good change from the usual bling!

There were some great performances, in spite of the unfavourable conditions, with Linda as our leading runner, just missing out on the podium but bagging first in her age category. After the obligatory team photo (with an improved backdrop!) a few of us enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat at the mac before heading home. This was a great little race, good organisation, friendly marshals and with PB potential in the right weather it is one that I will definitely do again.

Full Results

Photo courtesy of Taz Memon Yousaf

Notes on nutrition

I thought I'd write a bit about my nutrition "strategies" - what works (for me) and how to balance a love of food with staying healthy and supporting my running goals too. The blog is Running, Reading & Eating - my three favourite things but the eating bit isn't just about dining out (although I love that bit!) I've always been interested in nutrition and took a qualification a few years ago. I love reading about how different foods support the body, and I know from experience that when I'm eating good food I feel good too.

The Good...

Low GI

For about the last five or six years I've broadly tried to eat according to low-GI (glycaemic index) principles. I try to avoid refined white carbs, eat plenty of whole-grains (to the extent that I really dislike the taste of sliced white bread now, even having been brought up on it) and try to include a bit of protein in with most meals. I don't stick rigidly to it these days, but I find that I feel at my best when I'm working to this.

Meat-free

I've not eaten meat for about 9 years. As a dog owner I couldn't get my head around loving a dog so much but eating other animals. I'm not a proper vegetarian though... Initially I avoided animal products altogether but over the years fish, eggs, milk and cheese slipped back into my diet as I struggled with the argument between my conscience and my appetite. Being married to a chef and loving food is the reason I give to myself, but honestly I feel from an ethical perspective I'd rather avoid it. I only buy organic, free-range dairy products and try to look for better welfare products when possible too, but I'm definitely a work-in-progress when it comes to the ethical angle. 

From a health point-of-view I would say my diet is much healthier since I stopped eating meat - I eat more veg and pulses and a wider variety of food; veggie options often make you think more broadly and creatively about what to eat. Protein is arguably the hardest thing to include but even that is pretty straightforward and I try to limit the fish, eggs etc. when I'm at home and eat lots of Quorn, tofu and Linda McCartney sausages! I am also a bit obsessed with nut butters as my growing selection of Meridian products shows...

80-20 rule

I'm a huge advocate of the 80-20 rule and it works for me. I try to eat healthily Monday to Friday and relax the rules a bit at the weekend. Years ago I found I was constantly starting diets only to feel deprived and then fall spectacularly off the wagon. Sometimes I'd eat food I didn't even like or fancy just because I was planning to "start next week". Now I find it easier to eat well during the week because I know I can eat whatever I like at the weekend (within reason). I'm just much more relaxed about food generally. The 80-20 rule also makes me more likely to choose foods that I love but that will also nourish me and leave me feeling satisfied - if someone brings a home-made cake into work I'll enjoy it and not worry about the fat and sugar too much but I tend to avoid the cheap pre-packaged cakes that are full of preservatives and other nasties.

Nutritious snacks

There are loads of lovely tasty snacks out there that are nutrient-dense - this is what I go for now. I'd rather have a higher calorie snack if it contains good natural foods than a low calorie chemical-laden "treat". I avoid low-fat foods (it makes me really sad when I see someone eating a low-fat yoghurt!) in favour of delicious, nutritious real food like Nakd bars (especially the Bakewell Tart flavour). My other go-to snacks are bananas, for convenience combined with nutrition you can't beat them.

Sports nutrition

I think sports nutrition can be a good support, but is no substitute for a generally healthy diet based on real food. I use PhD protein shakes after a workout (particularly if I'm pressed for time because they're quickly digested). Sometimes it's a glass of milk or chocolate milk if I know I'm going to be eating a meal shortly but not immediately. I like to mix the shake in a blender, sometimes with a banana, some chia seeds and maybe even a spoon of nut butter too.

On long runs I'll take some electrolyte drink with me - I've recently been lucky enough to win some fantastic nuun hydration drinks in a competition on the fabulous Rula Runs blog. I'm really enjoying trying the different flavours. I occasionally suffer with migraines and a sort of running hangover if I go for a longish run without electrolytes... I think it is probably because I sweat a lot (I know I've talked about this on the blog before but I really do!)

In half-marathons and some of my recent training runs I've enjoyed Power Bar banana and strawberry gels - they taste good - not too sweet, and the texture is nice. I'm a huge fan of beetroot juice (just beetroot generally really) and have started drinking a beetroot shot two hours before a race. I also like a couple of black coffees on the morning of a race - partly for the caffeine hit but also (apologies for being indelicate) because it helps me to "go" beforehand saving me a toilet break mid-run. My other pre-run ritual is a bowl of porridge with a banana and agave nectar a good 2-3 hours before I run though. I have recently discovered "overnight oats" - equal parts porridge oats, milk and natural yoghurt left, as the name suggests, overnight in the fridge. A great cool alternative to porridge when you're pressed for time, just make it the night before and add toppings in the morning.

Diet of plenty

I eat a lot, there I've said it. I've always had a good appetite, no full switch and I think about food all the time. Running helps me to manage my weight (although I don't know what that is... I don't weigh myself very often, just when I go to the doctors or after Christmas/prior to summer holidays), but it doesn't mean I can eat whatever I like - one Mars bar eaten in less than five minutes could wipe out a lot of the calories I burn on the average run. As I've alluded to though I try to focus on eating healthy food and mostly let the calories sort themselves out. Filling my plate with salad or veg, eating real food and avoiding loads of snacks seems to work for me.

The Bad...

Takeaway Fridays

Guy is a chef, so we eat pretty well when he cooks, but like most people we're pressed for time and since I don't cook at all and we both love a curry, Friday nights are takeaway curry night. I'm pretty sure takeaways aren't on the elite athlete's menu each and every week, but it's back to the question of balance again... There's also lots of goodies in my usual sagwala with a side of tarka dhal and a paratha - turmeric, spinach, lentils, garlic to name a few.

Booze

I love a glass of wine or two with a good meal, a gin and tonic on a night out and a cold beer in the summer... I try to have at least two AFDs (alcohol free days) per week, and it's usually four (Mon-Fri). High days and holidays wouldn't be the same without a drink. No booze the night before a big race (0% beer helps me to feel normal on Saturday nights), but I have been known to PB at parkrun the morning after the night before.

The white stuff

Sugar is my nemesis. I can descend into a sugar fuelled state all too easily, especially when I'm tired. It makes me feel horrible - bloated, yucky skin, headachy and the more I have the more I want. 

Runger strikes

See above for the white stuff, add in the insatiable desire to eat toast - the feeling of never being full after a long run.

Mindless eating

This is when I realise I've inhaled my dinner or snack without really thinking about it or enjoying it. As there are a limited amount of calories I can consume in a day it really would be a shame not to enjoy them all! I can tend not to properly chew my food and it's a weird extreme from my usual constant thinking about food to stuffing my face without a second thought. It also leads to not really realising how much I'm eating and I can quickly get into bad eating habits whilst thinking I have this great, healthy diet. One thing that I have found has helped in the past is keeping a food diary for a couple of weeks, which I think I'm going to do again after all the marathon training (and a week or so of refuelling!) has passed. 

And the Ugly...

Food guilt

The only thing I have categorised as ugly when it comes to my diet is food guilt. I think that most, if not all, of my female friends would recognise the internal dialogue of "I shouldn't have eaten that" that often follows a "bad" meal or a few days where we've been too busy, tired or distracted to eat well but how much emotional energy and brain space do we waste on these thoughts and feelings when there's so much else to do/think/feel. I'm getting better at not allowing these thoughts into my head; at enjoying the simple pleasure of a good meal or a nice bit of cake after a run, without allowing the guilty thoughts to detract from it. I can't say I always manage it but I'm making progress.

A step closer

Another week closer to marathon and technically I've entered the taper. I feel that a longer run last weekend would have been a better end to my training but I have to put that behind me now; it's too late to do anything about it and certainly too late to be doing anything like the long runs that would have been okay just a week ago. 

This was another week that didn't start well. I wasn't alone in wimping out of the planned club run on Monday, tackling the easier Pebble Mill route rather than Harborne Hills. It's less than a week ago but I don't really remember anything about how it felt, other than enjoying a chat but feeling a bit sluggish. The weather was pretty horrendous in the first part of the week and I drove up North on Tuesday feeling quite tense because of the wind and rain. I had a tenderness in my stomach since the previous week and began to feel gradually worse as Tuesday progressed; by the afternoon I felt really lousy so I had an early night instead of running, enjoying the "minor social media celebrity" status afforded by my appearance as Unbound's parkrunner of the week. Unbound is a new website and I was first to be interviewed in this new slot.

parkrun #100 Christmas 2015

On Wednesday I felt a bit better in the morning and by the evening I felt ready to tackle a short run. The weather was still strange and as I was in the accomodation at work I thought I'd manage a few miles on the treadmill. I much prefer running outdoors, and I've never really seen the point of gym membership, but I quite enjoyed the ability to set my pace; perhaps one treadmill run each week would be good for speedwork? I did 5 miles at various paces, listening to the last ever parkrun show podcast. I will write another blog soon on what parkrun means to me but the show has been a big part of the experience and feeling part of the wider community; I'm really going to miss it.

Thursday's club session was continuous hills, and as often happens, I thought I'd just jog round but ended up putting a bit of effort in anyway! I still didn't feel great so I was only a little bit disappointed at falling quite far behind those I'm usually able to stick with. I know it's important to listen to your body but mine is being really loud at the moment in telling me how unhappy it is. At least it is more of a stomach issue and my niggly ITB/knee seems (touch wood) to be easier.

As it was Good Friday and I knew Easter Sunday would be out for training, a few of us went for a longish canal run in the morning. It was drizzly and a bit cold but I covered 12 miles in lovely company and retired my trusty silver Asics Gel Cumulus at the end of the run. 

Easter weekend is certainly a good one to start a bit of carb-loading and I've been tucking into hot cross buns and chocolate as well as having a few drinks and meals out with Guy. Saturday's parkrun was very much a recovery run, having a chat with a club mate who I haven't seen much of recently. We had some good friends to stay over on Saturday and it was nice to have a lie-in on Sunday and an easy morning, although I must confess to a bit of "runvy" as I started hearing about everyone's last long runs (for those training for London marathon which is a week after mine in Manchester). 

Two weeks to go now and they'll be a busy couple of weeks with work. I'm getting the usual nervous jitters already and strange phantom aches and pains, but I'm also getting very excited. It would be great to hear from you if you're reading this and also marathon training or tapering - what are your hopes and fears? What do you enjoy about tapering and what do you hate? You can follow me on Blogger, Bloglovin' or subscribe by email and look me up on Twitter where I'm @stakka79 or Instagram; @stakkalee79.

Nømad, Birmingham - Opening Night, 3rd April 2015

A Friday night treat for Guy and me at the latest pop-up restaurant to grace the Kitchen Garden Café in Kings Heath. The new venture from Alex Claridge, Nømad is inspired by nature and seasonal, often foraged ingredients. We were looking forward to being amongst the first to experience the new endeavour, having previously been wowed by Alex's inventive dishes at Bistro 1847. There had been quite a bit of buzz in some of the local press and food blogs too and we'd had our appetites whetted by some of the previews of the menu. 

Guy had just got back from a short trip to Copenhagen where he'd been to Noma (I'm hoping he'll write a guest blog for me), so we were catching up about his trip and the influence that Noma has had on modern cuisine. We were aware that it was one of Alex's influences too so I was interested to hear Guy's views on the menu. We thought it was unlikely that any of the other customers would see the menu and say "oh yes, I had ants on Tuesday!"

The menu is set with a choice of long or short; of course we went "long"! I was pleased that although I was having a slightly different menu as a non-meat eater, there was a good deal of similarity; no over-reliance on flesh for flavour here. As an aside, I'm technically pescetarian, but having once been faced with an entirely fish-based meal as a result of someone misunderstanding the term, I tend to describe myself as veggie, although it understandably riles proper vegetarians. Interestingly the ants weren't featured on my menu... it's a tricky one ethically for me, I eat fish but would I eat insects? We looked through the menu with a couple of drinks, with me doing the usual hunt for anything I didn't recognise and any favourites. The only ingredient I had to ask our lovely waitress about was the manouri, which turned out to be a cheese; but that's not to say the menu was in any way "safe" or ordinary. I loved the approach of just listing the ingredients, with only an occasional indication of how they had been prepared (pickled rose for example). A friend commented on my Instagram picture that the menu looked like a haiku.

moss, egg, coffee (foreground) and moss, egg, bacon, coffee (background)

Our first course was reindeer moss with egg (and bacon salt for Guy) with an espresso flavoured soured cream. It was certainly eye-catching and a bold introduction. I didn't get a strong hit of coffee from the cream, but the flavour and texture was extraordinary and strangely reminiscent of breakfast - in a good way! The attention that had been given to not only the food, but the presentation (beautiful serveware) and the shared dish added to the visceral experience. 

cauliflower, douglas fir, watercress, wood ants

I love cauliflower, but the cooking of it in this dish truly elevated it for me. The trend for burning food is a hard one to get right I think (speaking entirely as a punter; by no means an expert in this!) but this just tasted amazing - slightly bitter but almost sweet and the perfect texture, enough bite but not crunchy (this blog runs the risk of ending up in Goldilocks territory, but it's hard not to end up there when "balanced" is one of the words that sprang to mind throughout). The flavour of the ants is dependent on what they had been eating and in this case it was sorrel. Guy said they were quite citrusy and (whisper it) they had even more impact than the ants at Noma.

fresh ricotta in ashes, wild garlic

It was becoming apparent that with each course the chef was raising the bar, as we found ourselves saying "I think this is my favourite!" The cucumber and ricotta in this dish were for me the best tasting those ingredients have ever been, but altogether this was a masterpiece; somehow light and yet creamy and warm. The ash wasn't at all bitter, just a smoky flavour which sat well with the richness of the ricotta.

mushroom, bacon, dulse, sunflower seed, pickled rose

I think there is no food as comforting as risotto but they can be cloying - this dish had the comfort factor of a risotto made with soft sunflower seeds, but the slightly tart pickled mushrooms and the sweet pickled rose petals cutting through the creamy richness. I could have eaten a big bowl of this (have I mentioned I'm marathon training?!)

salt cod, broccoli, sea herbs, dark beer

Both Guy and I love salt cod, and this was beautifully cooked and served with broccoli and a tartar salad. The attention to detail again was apparent - the slightly different temperature of the cool salad was refreshing. If I had to pick one dish, this would be my stand-out. Amazing! 

heritage carrot, griddled manouri, buttermilk

As our menus diverged I was looking forward to trying something different and I wasn't disappointed. The manouri had a texture not unlike that of feta, but tasted more like halloumi (the perfect hybrid really - I prefer halloumi's flavour to feta but I'm not such a fan of the "squeakiness"). There was a generous enough portion that even with my greediness I let Guy have a taste too. The sweet heritage carrots and baby vegetables with the slightly sour buttermilk were delicious. Guy had the same vegetables with his duck, which looked fantastic, and was apparently perfectly cooked and served with a duck croquette and jus.

"bowl of duck"

fresh curds, pickled bilberries

Heading towards the end of the night and I was starting to feel a bit merry on my wine and straying into the realms of my slightly bonkers food similies (we've had "posh Schloer" and "posh Iced Gems" on previous outings) so now it was time for a "posh fruit corner" in the form of a spoon each of deliciously fresh, sharp bilberries and creamy curds. Again I loved the presentation of this, so simple yet clever.

apple, caramel, kohlrabi, malt

Our final course was a delight, again somehow managing to be light and fresh and simultaneously comforting and warm. The apple was the star of this, the concentrated taste like that of a sticky apple crumble but notes of kohlrabi and malt too were in keeping with the style.

The menu really worked for me as a whole - distinctive but unpretentious. For anyone who is interested in food this is a must visit - it's great to have such a creative talent as Alex working in Birmingham. There's no doubt that these are British ingredients, sourced locally; but the Nordic influence is apparent too in some of the flavours and also the relaxed experience. A big part of creating that came from the cosy venue and the warm service from the front of house team, who made us feel like friends who had come for dinner, rather than "customers" (again, that's a compliment!) Alex and the team deserve the success and plaudits they'll undoubtedly receive.