Close but no cigar!

A quick write up then for the last week or so of training. Monday's run was the Cannon Hill route from club. It's nice getting back to the summer routes but I'm having to remember to spray the insect repellent before the run... I'm really not designed for warmer weather, I burn easily, get hayfever and react badly to insect bites; in spite of this I like the summer months, the lighter evenings and the opportunity to run in parks and along the canals of Birmingham with club.

I made it to my Iyengar yoga class on Tuesday for the first time in months. I'm enjoying my new job but I am struggling to fit my ideal workout schedule in around the job and the amount of travelling. I really enjoyed the yoga class but felt quite sad that I'd let my yoga slip so much - it always feels like a long struggle to get back the strength and flexibility. My arms, that I'd been pleased with a few weeks ago, have started to look less toned; from baby-guns to bingo-wings in no time!

I entered the Notts Summer Series Race 1 on Wednesday and blogged about the race here. This was the first of two occasions this week (and the second of three if you count last week's parkrun) where I've felt close to my best but not quite getting there!

I made it back in time for club on Thursday and one of my favourite sessions; Kenyan Hills in Cotteridge Park. It's a great session with a sufficiently long and steep hill to feel like a good workout but without being so hard as to seem ridiculous. I really like the park (although I've heard that it can be a bit dodgy - I've never seen that side of it). Most of us were holding a bit in reserve for the Masters Road Relays but I ran with some faster runners and felt like I'd had a reasonably good session after Wednesday's race.

I took a complete rest day on Friday although my original intention had been to do some weights or Yoga. I just ran out of time with quite a bit of work to do. The foam roller is also staring at me accusingly and the odd bit of tightness in my legs is a reminder that I'm once again making the mistake of fitting in the running but not a lot else.

Saturday was British Masters Road Relays day and a relatively early start as they'd put the ladies and the "very mature" men on at 10:30am to spread the numbers out. I was glad of this as I was going to the Foodies Festival in the afternoon so was happy to go first leg and get away on time. For one reason or another I'd been bumped up from the W35 C team to the B team; this puts a bit of pressure on - knowing I'd be the slowest of my team but wanting to justify my promotion with a result at least as good as my colleagues in the C team. I knew the course would be short of 5k but there or thereabouts so relatively easy to pace. Going off first added extra pressure but also gave me an advantage in being with Jude and Rachel in our W45 and W35 C teams respectively. I've never caught Jude in a race but she's been within sight of me in the past and I thought it would be good to keep her there again if I could. Rachel is a similar pace runner to me and we've pushed each other to achieve good results before. I found myself in a Jude and Rachel sandwich which spurred me on to a time of 24:05. I was quite pleased with it at first and I'd worked hard, but again I didn't quite catch Jude and would have dearly liked the result to begin with a 23... Unfortunately in spite of two pretty good performances this week my runbritain handicap continues to travel in the wrong direction and I'm back at 16 having been at 15 at the start of the year. I'm clearly going to have to find a new gear to improve it.

Me feeling pleased with my t-shirt; a bargain at 2 for £6.

Sunday's run was a lovely 8.5 miles from the Peacock with three friends from club while a lot of others were enjoying a day off or racing. We took a fairly hilly route (no other option from the Peacock), but it was steady, in beautiful sunshine for most of the run and with plenty of stops for photos and just to enjoy the scenery! A great way to finish a reasonably good week of running and a reminder that it's not all about the times.

Nottingham Summer 5k Series, Race 1, 13th May 2015

For the last couple of months I've been working away from home in Nottinghamshire a few days each week so when I saw this race advertised I thought it would be a good way to pass one of the evenings and test myself over 5k ahead of some more focussed speed-work. I seem to have done reasonably well at evening races in the past and after getting within 15 seconds of a PB at Saturday's parkrun I thought there might be a chance of sneaking one here, especially as the profile seemed to be fairly flat being around the main lake at Colwick Park.

It was only £8 to enter online and there was the promise of a medal too. I arrived in plenty of time for a warm-up around the park before the 7pm start time. Having entered relatively late but being given number 24 I figured it would be a small field, even with a few people signing up on the night. The weather was really lovely; sunny and warm but not too warm and just a bit of a breeze. It was just as well because the organisers were set up outdoors; this was a pretty basic race with no changing facilities, cloakroom etc. but I quite like that, it's a bit like the early parkrun days - just turn up and run!

Looking around there was a nice mix of club runners and families and friends and I got chatting to a few other people, some of whom had raced in the series before. We headed to the start and the race organiser announced that the start of the series was also the official start of summer; it certainly felt like a summer's evening. I was glad I'd thought to take the insect repellent as otherwise I'd have been dinner for the midges. 

We set off clockwise around the lake, following the interior road to begin with before turning onto the path around the lake, through the trees. Predominately tarmac paths, with the odd bit of trail but no mud; and, as promised, the profile was pretty flat, with just one short incline. 

I set off at a decent pace, which I hoped to maintain, but with a small field the runners soon spread out. After the first half a mile or so there was a lady a few feet ahead and I tried to keep the distance consistent as we ran the first of two laps. The park was a great setting, similar to Arrow Valley in Redditch for a more local comparison, but also running alongside the River Trent.

My first lap was good and I was on target for a PB. Two men passed me towards the end of the lap but my target lady hadn't increased the gap and I pressed on. When I reached the end of mile two though I was 20 seconds down on the first mile and I couldn't understand what had happened. I tried to pick the pace back up but I was tiring and target lady started to stretch the gap out. The last kilometre seemed to take an age and I was hanging on, willing the finish line to come into view. I glanced at my watch and was relieved to see I'd be clearly under 25 minutes, but my legs and my maths told me the possible PB was gone.

I crossed the line and took happy hold of my medal; another one for the collection! I caught my breath and got talking to a couple from a local running club over the fig rolls and Jaffa cakes (yes, really!) and we watched as the other runners came in. The results were soon processed and presentations made to the first three ladies and gents and in the age categories, including a junior prize ("running socks for you and a bottle of wine for your Mum!") The lady I had been chatting to won her category and commented that the odds of winning something were certainly better than in most races.

The results revealed that "target lady" had a much better second half than I did and finished 30 seconds ahead of my 24:41 time (10 seconds off my PB). She was also awarded the F V35 prize (the first F V35 was in the top three). Must try harder if I want a bottle of wine next time (no finer incentive surely?)

Overall I enjoyed the race and will definitely try to get to at least one of the others in the series and seek that elusive PB. The organisers also run the Leicester series so I may even venture there if it works in with a drive home.

Cannon Hill parkrun in memory of John Enright, 9th May 2015

I didn't know John Enright well; when he died too young and suddenly this time last year I had been a member of Bournville for only a year or so and as he was a faster runner we didn't run together much, but we'd chat before club and in the bar. He was one of those people who everyone liked and he always made a special effort to get to club early so that there would be someone there to say "hi" to any newcomers.

The last time I spoke to John I was walking back to my car after Cannon Hill parkrun on a Saturday morning. We had a chat by the tearoom - the usual stuff about running; "how did you get on today?" etc. and John once again recommended cross country for the improvement it would bring to my running. Not long afterwards I heard that he had passed away at 43; a heart attack - and disbelief followed - it must be someone else, he's too young... I heard he left a young family behind. The club, and those that knew him well, mourned his passing.

To honour John's memory with a special parkrun at Cannon Hill a year after his passing was a bold and wonderful decision. His closest running friend and training partner, Suz West ran her 100th parkrun on Saturday, just a couple of weeks after raising money for the British Heart Foundation in his memory at the London Marathon (Suz's JustGiving page). Suz was instrumental, along with the team at CHP and our friends in Kings Heath Running Club in organising a mob match and bake-off, which took place at parkrun on 9th May.

The two clubs went head-to-head and ended up creating the largest attendance at Cannon Hill (by some way), an attendance record which puts CHP fourth in the list of the largest parkruns. We also had more cakes than I have ever seen as the two clubs were "competing" on that front - vying for the most donations from the parkrun crowd.

The atmosphere was special - when I first arrived with my table there were a few of us getting organised and the band of volunteers setting up; I went back to the car to get something and as I approached the bandstand for the second time I realised how big it was going to be... The balloons, bunting, cakes and sea of teal vests was a sight that brought a tear to my eye. So many BvHers there, more than I've ever seen and a lovely bustling sense of anticipation. John's wife, Rachel, and his daughters were there too, and the round of applause for them, taking part and clearly enjoying the morning was both humbling and uplifting. They had brought along a lovely picture of John too - so even those who had never met him could see who this was for. I can only imagine how it might have seemed to a newcomer to parkrun.

I thought I would run as hard as I could and on reflection a PB may have been on the cards if I'd warmed up and got myself a better starting position, but this was a day to think about John (although it brought about some fantastic PBs - the inspiration and friendly rivalry spurring people to achieve something more than they might usually do). The shouts of "go Bournville", "good running Kings Heath" could be heard all around. Everywhere around the course I saw people I knew and we waved and called out each other's names. 

My first mile was at PB pace, and I passed a couple of Kings Heath runners, but was also passed by some Bournvillians - I didn't mind too much! On the out and back section I tried to count vests - I thought that Bournville had more in the leading groups, and it looked like our stronger runners were all pushing hard. 

Each time I passed the tea-room I thought about the last time John and I spoke. I didn't fade too much but struggled to maintain the pace I'd set out at, getting a bit caught up in places.

Coming to the hill at the end and I was pleased to see so many of the faster runners had come over to cheer and encourage us for the final push. I set my sights on passing one more person and edged towards and then past him finishing in 24:46, just 10 seconds off a Cannon Hill parkrun PB. Judging by the pictures afterwards everyone had really gone for it on that last stretch. 

The volunteer team did an amazing job managing the finish funnel, which has been tricky before with less runners to manage! 755 runners crossed that line in total, with around 150 coming from the two clubs; 64 from BvH, and we won the mob match with a score of 33716 to Kings Heath's 28732. John would have loved the result but I'm sure he would also have recognised the tremendous effort of everyone from both clubs in making the day so special.

Runners stayed for a long time afterwards, queuing up for the amazing cakes and raising well over £1000 for British Heart Foundation. We had a great team photo afterwards and it was wonderful to be a part of it.

It was simply one of the most moving running experiences I have ever had and a great tribute to a lovely guy and to the running family he was a part of.

Mob match results

Great Birmingham 10k, 3rd May 2015

In the two weeks since marathon day I've run a grand total of 14 miles. I haven't got my diet back on track at all and have either been sleeping really heavily or had strange broken sleep. My ITBS hasn't been good (in spite of not giving me any problems for 26.2 miles) and I've added a tight left hamstring into the mix. I've also felt emotional at the best of times and then had some difficult family news this week which has left me reeling. Somehow though, after a decent last mile at Cannon Hill parkrun on Saturday I woke up feeling that there might be a possibility of doing something approaching my 10k PB (50:00) at the inaugural Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k.

I had found myself in the "fast paced club runners" section, which was really strange as actually I would have preferred to be in one of the music waves... I don't really know why I had put myself in there. As it was though, it was quite nice to be in the pen with some fellow Bournville Harriers and I met up with my Mom and Aunty (who was running in the Pink wave) before the start, which was over near Millennium Point.

I'd woken up to pouring rain but it wasn't cold at all and by the time we got to the start we had just the odd bit of drizzle. It was looking like perfect running conditions. The route has a familiar profile to the Birmingham Half Marathon, with a downhill start running out of town, then out along the Pershore Road to Edgbaston; but instead of carrying on to Bournville the route takes you round the Cricket Ground then back along the Pershore Road (great for looking out for fellow runners) and back into town following the same route as the half, including the tough hills and finishing on Broad Street.

I went off too quickly, wanting to maximise the downhill start and immediately regretted it as I started the second mile with stitch and feeling really hot. The sun came out and I couldn't decide whether to take off my cap and throw it away or leave it on (recent races have seen me lose various items of clothing... A trip to the charity shop might be in order if I continue to view my running wardrobe as disposable!) 

All of a sudden we were approaching the Cricket Ground where I could see (and hear) the Bournville supporters (many of whom were recovering from excellent runs in London the previous week). We were nearly halfway and I hadn't found a rhythm - I was struggling, but seeing them made me smile and I looked forward to looping back around. There was a water station and I had a quick sip and poured some water over my head. It was around this point that more and more people started passing me, including a number of my club mates. My spirits were lifted by the cheering squad again, but my pace was way off my intended 8 minute miles and we still had the tough climbs to come. 

I kind of just wanted it to end then but enjoyed looking out for other Harriers and exchanged a few words with other runners to pass the time. I reckoned I'd still come in under 55 minutes and thought about how pleased I would have been with that time a couple of years ago. I'm not sure how much the marathon was still in my legs but I found myself walking on the hills and felt really disappointed in myself. As we approached the underpass coming back towards Broad Street I began to feel a bit upset and focussed on my Mom who would be waiting for me. The support was good, but didn't seem to be as loud as for the Half Marathon, and I think the distance to the barrier on one side created too much space between supporters and runners (although presumably this had been done to enable the medical staff to get onto the course easily). With less than 200m to go I saw a lady on the ground, she looked to be in a lot of pain but she was conscious and was being attended to. It shook me a bit and it turned out to be the reason I missed my Mom - who was shouting from here but who I missed completely.

I crossed the line in 52:39 and took a goodie bag over to where a couple of my club mates were. Having given myself the excuse that there was no chance of a PB on that course two weeks after a marathon I heard that a fellow Manchester marathoner had indeed done just that, so I filed my excuses and just reflected that I hadn't really got the goods on the day. Maybe next time!

I had a hard time finding my Mom, who had my bag, my phone and my warm clothes. I'd begun wishing I'd put my bag on the baggage bus but there was a huge queue for that too and a bit of disorganisation. In the end I managed to find Mom in time to watch my Aunty finish in her usual gleeful style. We rounded off the day with a couple of drinks and photos with our medals.