Ljubljana Half Marathon

It has been said that you can either have your excuses or you can have results and I lined up yesterday with plenty of the former but felt pretty determined I was going to aim for the latter. Although I'd missed a few long runs I was hoping that my steadily improving 5k times would bode well and the flat profile of the course plus the crowd support (with about 20,000 runners this is no small event!) would get me round to a PB (1:52:15) or better still, the dreamed of sub 1:50. 

It was really warm on Saturday when we arrived in Ljubljana but the forecast looked pretty good for the race - nice and cool but warming up to around 13 degrees at lunchtime. With a 10:30 start and the clocks having changed to give extra time in bed it felt like a very leisurely start, especially as our hotel was just 10 minutes from the start line and bag drop. I had a bit of a sore throat on Saturday but it was worse on waking up on Sunday morning and I felt awful. I took some cold and flu tablets and headed to breakfast. 

In order of the things I did wrong the biggest was definitely something that has been building over weeks rather than days. I've been busy; for me, stupidly busy. My left eye started twitching three weeks ago because I'm tired and had so much to do. I've not prioritised sleep and frankly, I've not prioritised myself; having busy weekends on top of busy weeks and just trying to keep everyone happy. At about mile 6 yesterday the biggest feeling I had was one of just being tired, and honestly not physically.

Having a cold come on at the start of a holiday is a pretty common thing; "as soon as you relax" but I have also seen so many people with colds recently that there was a sort of inevitability to this one. Immediately after the race though I felt a bit of a fraud because I didn't even have a cough. I feel sufficiently ill this morning (Monday) to know that it was undoubtedly a factor. My breathing going all over the place was the first sign things were going wrong and although I tried to get everything back under control it was too late to make a dent. 

Just more a note for myself for future reference - I don't think I fuelled properly for this either. I didn't factor in the amount of time on the start line so the fact that it was more like 11am when we started and therefore I'd be running at my usual lunchtime - I definitely needed a bit more for breakfast and did I mention I lost the only gel I had with me (not a big believer in needing gels for a half but it would have been handy!)

Knowing things weren't right I should have just had a steady run and enjoyed it, I perhaps would have ended up with a similar result but enjoyed the process much more. Coulda, woulda, shoulda...

The positives though - this is a great race with a brilliant atmosphere. The support was great around most of the route, and although the half-marathon (polmaraton) doesn't go through the pretty old town so it wasn't as picturesque as I had anticipated, it was still a really nice route and great fun to be running overseas. With six from Bournville and about 130 Brits in total it was a different thing altogether and I sort of missed the camaraderie of running and looking out for club vests. I got chatting to one of the 30-strong group of Werrington Joggers just around the point when the wheels were coming off and was passed by Pete (on his way to an awesome time of around 3:31 in the full marathon) and later Rachel (as I desperately tried to get some energy drink from an overwhelmed drink station). There were bands all the way around the course, a brilliant drumming group at the start, and Colin Jackson starting the race. 

The race was very good value for money - lots of reasonably priced merchandise to buy, plus a long-sleeved technical t-shirt, decent bag (to use for the bag drop and keep for afterwards) and medal. 

 

Our six from Bournville all performed well on the day and although I was disappointed with my time, coming in just under 1:56, it was far from a disastrous race and some lessons were learned. Now, to enjoy the rest of my holiday and sample some beers!

Pattingham Bells Run, 11th October 2015

Pattingham village near Wolverhampton played a small but important part in recent Marston family history; about 60 years ago, a young couple went to the Pigot Arms in Pattingham for their first date. They were Terry Marston and Rita Brown and were it not for that first date going well and leading to marriage, my own life might have been very different. Some years later, just down the road from Pattingham, I worked in the kitchen of a restaurant on the Bridgnorth Road; in those days it was called the Thornescroft (today it is the Inn at Shipley) and it was there that I met my future husband, Terry and Rita's second son, Guy.

Having first heard about the Pattingham Bells Race when I lived in nearby Perton, but never having raced there, it was for me, an obvious choice for the Bournville Harriers' championship series of Teal Targets. Since inheriting this great idea from Laura Leslie, I've tried to choose a mixture of distances and locations and on seeing this race featured in a recent ABC Midlands running guide, I thought it would be a great option in a busy month of races.

The race HQ is at the village hall in Pattingham (just a stone's throw from the Pigot), and we were blessed with a mild and sunny autumn day; the perfect time of year to enjoy an off-road race in the South Staffordshire countryside. The race celebrated its 25th year in 2014 and many runners return year after year.

We began in a field, with little preamble or announcement, just the blast of a horn which propelled us all forward over the very springy ground for the first few hundred yards. I found myself laughing at the adrenaline of the starting dash and the strangeness of the terrain; before reminding myself that I would need to be careful not to twist my ankle or trip over a random branch. This wasn't a goal race, so not a time to take any risks. 

We were soon through the first field and running along a track and a series of uphill stretches, occasionally opening out to a stunning view of the surrounding fields. In places the course narrowed giving everyone a chance for a breather between the hillier sections allowing us to take in the lovely scenery. I probably started out a little bit too ambitiously as I was then passed by Steve Doswell and John Cheel (who'd clearly paced themselves more sensibly) on one particularly long climb where I decided (or my legs decided) to walk. 

I imagine that it could get very muddy on this course after a bit of rain; it was soft in places, sandy in others and rugged and stony too and so required a fair amount of concentration as the terrain was changing frequently. The wind picked up around the halfway point as I battled with yet another hill up to halfway and the water station.

The marshals offered plenty of encouragement, acknowledging the local clubs and those of us from a bit further afield. I had managed to keep up to within sight of John and Steve and recognised a few other faces too, but my legs were tiring as we ran through a muddy section and up yet another hill, at the top of which the marshal said "you're over the worst bit, a nice downhill now". I enjoyed the lovely descent, thanking myself for wearing trail shoes which gave me the confidence to speed up and take a few places. 

Ticking off mile number six, we were getting close to the finish but it felt like hard work through the last of the fields. I was smiling because we were nearly there when I overheard a marshal who clearly thought I was out of earshot say "that's an agonised grin"! She was about 50 percent right and I could feel myself slowing right down. The sound of the church bells gave us all a lift with a few hundred metres to go, and I found a bit of extra speed to catch a Black Pear Jogger (according to the results he was a Black Pear anyway, perhaps I was hallucinating as I thought he was a Malvern runner) at the sight of a finish sign. Unfortunately I mis-timed my run for home as a cheeky little hill was between me and the actual finish line and he caught me well before the line. I was pleased to see and hear a group of familiar BvHers nearby, but disappointed to lose a place so close to the finish, crossing the line with a regretful smile.

We were sent through a maze-like funnel, given our water, having our race numbers scanned and being handed our commemorative horse brass and we finally emerged to be given hot tea or coffee and a lovely slice of fruit cake. Gathering in the sunshine we all seemed to have enjoyed the course and the atmosphere. 

The prize presentation took place near to the finish line and, whilst we didn't come away with any silverware on this occasion, we were definitely among the most well-represented clubs. Most importantly we had a great day out. I was disappointed to realise later that as an off-road race we could not get the runbritain scores to accurately contribute to the Teal Targets championship; something I should have checked before the race, but it was nevertheless a great race and one that I would definitely recommend.

Click here for results

Run and be happy

For the last couple of weeks I've been trying to keep to regular running ahead of the Ljubljana Half whilst introducing a bit more speed-work to start a 6-week build up to having a go at my 5k PB. I love parkrun, but one of the problems with running a timed 5k every week (there or thereabouts) is that I've become a bit lazy with it; there's always next week so I don't always give it my best. I think it is one of the issues with regular racing in general; you lose a bit of the hunger that saw PBs come tumbling in earlier years of running. I've been enjoying doing some more structured sessions but also struggling a bit with feeling tired from a busy few weeks at work and some full-on weekends too.

Occasionally, to give my mojo a boost I find a little running-related retail therapy goes a long way, and I spotted this Momentum jewellery bracelet a little while ago and decided to treat myself; it arrived this week. I've played around with running mantras in the past and decided that this one is definitely one for me to remember. Running isn't my job, it's my hobby and whatever happens it should always be fun! It also helped that it was in my favourite colour, teal.

On Thursday I was persuaded to go to my first ever track session, at Abbey Stadium in Redditch. The session was 8x200m efforts with jog recoveries and I really enjoyed the feeling of pushing myself. It's been a long time (over 20 years probably) since I ran such short distances but I think a few of those sessions will begin to make a difference to my 5k times. I noticed my quads felt fatigued on Friday and my hamstrings were a little stringy, so I did a bit of yoga at home which helped. That said, Saturday's visit to Cannon Hill parkrun was marked by a lethargic feeling in my legs towards the end, but it was a much better paced run (although only 5 seconds quicker it felt more controlled) than a fortnight ago and my best time at CHP since May! Perhaps a PB in 2015 isn't out of the question yet.

Chase Challenge 10k

A while ago I was chatting to a friend in Wolverhampton and she told me about this race. It fell on an otherwise race-free weekend and sounded like a bit of a change from the usual road races I've been doing recently. I'd normally look for races with a UKA licence as I'm trying to improve my runbritain handicap but I thought it would be good to just enjoy the scenery for a change with the added bonus of a medal at the end.

Rachel Partridge soon signed up (both of our husbands being in the Isle of Man for TT races leaving us at a somewhat looser end than usual). Before long there was talk of a picnic and our numbers swelled with the promise of a June Saturday afternoon in the lovely surrounds of Cannock Chase.

I'd only managed one run all week leading up to the race; trying to shake off a mild summer cold, or at least prevent it from turning into something worse, so I wasn't feeling well-prepared for the day. I felt considerably better though on Saturday morning and the weather looked tantalisingly bright from behind the bedroom curtains so any thoughts of a rain-check were pushed to one side and I packed up the picnic. My mum came with me so I was able to bring Jess, my dog along too.

We parked up not far from the start area and collected numbers and some free caffeine and beetroot shots (I've saved them for another day though!) The weather was starting to look a bit worrying - it was overcast and when the wind picked up it was really quite cold. I could see it becoming more of a typical British picnic later with us all shivering around the sandwiches.

We gathered at the start line for a couple of pictures and soon we were off...

Photo by Josh Hopkins. From left: Steve Doswell, Kathryn Forsyth-Doudican, Emma Hopkins, Rachel Partridge, Helen Lawrence, Jude Glynn, Lesley Byrne, Stacey Marston, Random Stranger doing the Timewarp

The race promised multi-terrain, undulating and hilly sections and it delivered. We set off along a gravelly track passing the occasional horse! I regretted not putting my trail shoes on (doing the usual thing of going with the majority rather than my gut instinct!) as there was a downhill section that was quite precarious. Nevertheless I took a few places here having started towards the back of the field. What goes down must come back up and the first of the climbs gave us a flavour of what was to come. I could see Steve ahead of me and for a little while we were all running along in single-file, through a wooded area, alongside a stream with the sun breaking through the trees. It was really enjoyable and I thought it would be nice to come back for a training run one day. Both Steve and I later commented that it was quite good to have the pace dictated and to save energy for the hilly sections, where I was able to take a few places as others walked. 

On the longest climb I walked a little way, but I was pleased to keep going for much of the time. At one point I passed Steve and caught a glimpse of Jude ahead. Always hard to judge by pace in these races but I thought I must be running well to have Jude in my sights. It gave me a lift and I picked the pace up a little bit. As I passed two men after about 7k they cautioned me that there were more hills to come but I am trying to "run the mile I am in" and simply thanked them but pointed out my speedy team mate ahead!

I had only looked at my watch a couple of times but judged that it would be close to the hour which felt like a reasonable target on such a course. The course had opened out and without the cover of the trees it was very windy, but it was a mixed blessing keeping us from getting too warm. Steve came back past me with about a mile to go and I tried to hang on in there. The course was a little bit long and it was a relief to see the finish line in sight, with good support considering the size of the race! I checked my watch to see I'd finished just under the hour as I'd hoped. We all finished in a similar time and picked up lovely square medals and a goody bag containing a bottle of water, cereal bar, a chocolate bar and a sample of sports rub too, which would come in handy later when my calves started complaining about the hills I'd subjected them to. Kathryn had enjoyed her "comeback" after some time out from racing - celebrating by getting attacked by a wild animal (actually a nasty scratch from a big stick but the bear story sounded better).

Although it wasn't classic picnic weather we took over a picnic table and had rather over-catered, with sandwiches, quiches, samosas, loads of crisps and even a box of posh chocs from Steve. The occasional gust of wind and flying biscuit tin lid doing nothing to dampen our spirits. A great day out!

Full results here.

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.

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.

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...)

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

Ashby 20, 22nd March 2015

I'd heard so much about the Ashby 20; the legendary hoodie, a cheese cob afterwards and a gorilla (actually a man in a gorilla suit, but still) - other Harriers talked of this epic race as a must-do. A 20-mile race is a rite of passage for those with a Spring marathon in the offing, or for those who are more circumspect, waiting to see how they fare before signing up for the full 26.2. There aren't too many in the calendar and Ashby falls perfectly for anyone with a place at London or in my case Manchester. It seemed to book up quickly, but 21 Bournvillains took part, no doubt getting their places early as a result of previous experience or Jude's PR campaign.

There was the usual convoy from Rowheath on Sunday morning, but I was kindly offered a lift by Collette and Mike setting off closer to home at the same time. I'd seen signs warning of delays owing to the events over in Bosworth as they were moving the remains of Richard III to Leicester Cathedral on Sunday, but we had a clear run, arriving in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in plenty of time on a perfect day for running; cool and clear. 

As a club race with the backing of a major brand (Aldi) the race benefits from knowledge of what works for runners, a friendly feel akin to smaller races but a field size and organisation that compares well with large "city" races. The roads were mostly closed at least on the left-hand side and the water-stations were manned by a cheery bunch - with offers of gels, bananas and chocolate as well as both cups and bottles of water. With the benefit of chip timing too the slightly congested start area wasn't much of a worry and I found myself lined up at the start with a group of similar-paced club-mates. 

When I had originally entered I had intended to run at 9min mile pace (which would be my A++ target marathon pace), but was recently persuaded that this might not be such a good plan on a course with some hills just four weeks before Manchester and having been struggling with an IT band related niggle. Somehow though I changed my mind back again and thought I'd start out with the fellow BvHers who were all looking to get under the three hour mark (or at least intending to set off at that pace and see what happened). I told myself I'd hang back if things started to feel tough - it's all about making the Manchester start-line at the moment. 

After the first mile or two my knee was feeling okay and I was enjoying the course. There's support in places, but also a great sense of camaraderie with other runners. As well as chatting to Harriers I struck up a conversation with a lady from Southwell Running Club, which is one of the clubs I've been checking out as a potential second claim with my new job taking me up to the Newark/Mansfield area for a couple of days each week. The course is definitely best described as undulating, but the hills are spread out a bit and I don't think there are any that are real killers (a surprising result of training with Bournville is that my definition of a hill has changed considerably in the last two years!)

I can't remember the exact moment that I started to think I was going to have a problem but it was before the halfway point when I started to keep my eyes open for the portaloos. I located them just after the first lap and only briefly stopped to question whether I should lose time in going. I thought I had found a vacant one but unfortunately burst in on a chap who may have been having a similar issue but in his haste he'd not locked the door! I was a disappointed that I was falling behind Clare and Steve who I'd been running with, mainly because I'd been enjoying having some good company to pass the miles with, but I figured it was probably just as well as I'd not been intending to run at that pace and I could find my own rhythm. 

On emerging from the facilities I saw Taz with his trusty camera and think I managed a vague grimace in his direction gratefully taking some sweets too. I managed to eat two of the sweets before starting to feel really quite sick and realising that my relief was short-lived. Somehow I caught up with Clare and Steve over the next few miles but it wasn't my most controlled and comfortable running... I toyed with dropping out at the next water-station but somehow the thought of the hoodie pushed me on - no finish, no hoodie! I realised that I could walk a bit and still maintain an okay pace, providing I didn't run too hard down the hills or on the steeper sections. Mostly though I was embarrassed by the gurgling sound emanating from my stomach and started avoiding other runners! At the 17 mile mark I realised I'd come too far to stop, but that I really needed to find another loo... I asked at the water station but they thought the next one was at the end. At 18 miles we turned off back into Packington village and, like an oasis in the desert The Bull and Lion pub appeared! By this time, just coming towards noon the pub was fairly busy with people contemplating lunch so the sight of a panicky, sweaty runner bursting through the door shouting "where's the loo?" must have been alarming. I am starting to wonder if it is possible for me to take part in a race without drawing unwelcome attention to myself... 

At least the last two miles passed uneventfully, I felt hungry and thirsty but daren't take a gel or any more water until the finish line was in sight. The sound of the crowds and the PA system announcing runners crossing the line got me through the last few minutes, along with the promise that it was downhill all the way. Rachel Partridge had run for the first ten miles with us for company, and it was great to see her at the beginning of the finishing straight with a few hundred metres left to run. Taz was also waiting with his camera and I tried to summon the energy to smile. I crossed the line and registered the gun time was just over 3 hours 10, so I expected I'd come in just under that arbitrary boundary... The text message that followed confirmed it at 3:09:48 

I gratefully received my hoodie and inhaled the cheese cob followed by a cup of tea courtesy of Rachel, some amazing cake made by Taz and a lovely hour or so with the other BvHers who had finished. We compared notes; from amazing feats and a prize for Linda, PBs and great first-time runs for others and decisions to sign up for a marathon from four previously "undecided". I felt like a different person to the one who had started the race; blistered feet, the beginnings of a cold and a sick, empty feeling that no amount of food has put right since but also overwhelmingly proud and happy - to be part of a team, to have completed my longest ever run and just to enjoy sitting in the sun on a Sunday afternoon with friends.

Photo courtesy of Taz Yousaf

Full results

Anglesey Half Marathon, 1st March 2015

Severe gales and rain were forecast for Sunday, but as it wasn't likely to put off the hardy Welsh runners, I set off on Sunday morning feeling excited if a bit nervous for the Anglesey Half Marathon. The race is billed as the UK's most beautiful half, so I was pleased that the sun was at least trying to put in an appearance on my journey over from Rhyl. In the car I had one of those moments where the music and scenery are in perfect harmony; as it was St David's Day they played Only Men Aloud's version of Cwm Rhondda on Radio 2; I felt my spirits lifting and couldn't wait to get started.

Parking was just £3 at the David Hughes Leisure Centre, where registration was also taking place and I was pleased to note the presence of showers for afterwards. The wind felt bitterly cold though, and I was glad of a good walk to the start line to warm me up. At the start there was also a bag drop van and some more loos, although the queue for these was a bit too long and I didn't bother. I met up with a friend and fellow Bournville Harrier, Laura Gale - we'd both separately entered not realising until afterwards that there would be anyone else prepared to make the trip over; so it was a bonus to have someone to chat to. 

The race began at 9am on the Menai Bridge and it was a twisty start through the town on fairly narrow roads for the first mile or so, before heading out of town along the coastal road towards Beaumaris and beyond. The views out over the Menai Strait and onto the Irish Sea were stunning and the sun shone for a good part of the race, it was even feeling a little too warm in some of the sheltered parts. 

A fellow runner recognised the Bournville vest and asked me to say hello from "Welsh Helen" to a club mate of mine. There was a good sense of camaraderie throughout the run and I was feeling reasonably comfortable at a pace that I knew could see me through to a PB. I hadn't paid too much attention to the course profile, knowing my tendency to hold back too much and worry myself over hills; but I had heard some other runners talking about a longish climb at the 10-mile point. I've started to believe though that hills can help the overall time if I make the most of the compensatory effect of the downhills, so I wasn't too concerned about slowing down a bit just after the halfway point. I took some of the energy drink at the aid station, which was really nice and I will definitely use some of the High 5 products they gave out as part of the goody bag.

There was a bit of an argument between two runners as we turned back from Llanfaes, one of whom had apparently discarded his gel pouch on the course (not near the water station). I tried not to become distracted by it as it was quite a heated exchange. I found I was passing other runners along the flatter sections here, only to lose ground on the hills so tried to maintain my focus. The wind began to trouble us all, and another runner had just said to me "will we ever get to 9?" when the 9-mile marker appeared as we rounded onto the sea front at Beaumaris. I'm not really sure what happened next but I tripped over seemingly nothing and suddenly the ground was coming up to meet me. Momentum took me forwards and I put my hand out, then rolled onto my elbow and thigh before coming to a stop on my back. Judging from my watch afterwards, I was down for about 20-30 seconds but it felt like longer. A few people kindly stopped to help, but I sort of knew I was okay and that I just needed a moment to collect myself.

I got up and started to run on, feeling a bit embarrassed and concerned that I might have broken my phone... It's funny how your thoughts take a little while to un-jumble themselves because initially I felt absolutely fine, but I gradually began to feel quite upset. I took a quick glance at my elbow and could see it was bleeding but it didn't seem to be dripping. My hand felt sore and I could sense that my shoulder and thigh had taken some of the fall too. That mile must have just been a total blur though because the hill at 10-miles was soon upon me and I started to have a bit of a wobble, filling up with tears and nearly twisting my ankle on a cat's eye. I was telling myself to concentrate when a man came past me and said "good recovery, you're doing really well". 

I started to focus on the positives; I'd got up and carried on; it would make a funny story; at least it happened towards the last third of the race so I didn't have far to go to get it looked at. All thoughts of getting a good time had gone and I felt really tired for the remainder of the race, just wanting to reach the end. Coming back into town the atmosphere was pretty special - it was buzzing and everyone seemed so happy. The clouds had started to come in as forecast so we were very lucky to get the best of the day's weather. 

I saw Laura just before the finish line, and heard my Aunt and Mom who had come to meet me (they were cheering so loud I think all of Wales could have heard them!) I glanced at the clock and was surprised to see that it was a second-best half time for me, even on the gun time. I collected my medal and a drink and quickly made my way to the medical tent. I felt a bit wobbly while they took a look at the damage, but I was pleased that both my wrist and elbow were okay - no sign of anything broken, just a bit of swelling and a nasty scrage. 

I caught up with my family and found Laura, who had managed a brilliant PB and was 5th female too! I really did enjoy the overall experience - it was a long way to travel but I think it would be a hard one to beat for scenery. I also took a lot of confidence from how well I'd been running up until I fell. My chip time was 1:53:23 so not far off my PB (1:52:15) and I'm confident that my fitness is improving.

Race Report: Cobra Classic 10k & Fun Run

Having missed some of the season so far through a combination of injury and life in general, I was looking for a local 10k and this one fell on an otherwise uneventful weekend in May. It was also close to my Aunt's, who I've been "encouraging" through her NHS Couch to 5k programme and who was easily persuaded to enter the 3.5k Fun Run taking place in the same location as a test of her progress. Fellow Bournville Harrier, Katie Thomas was roped in at the last minute having asked on Friday if I fancied joining her for her long run a week before the Liverpool Half Marathon; she somehow ended up as the designated driver for a little road trip and a hard 10k on a beautiful sunny day.

We arrived early at Old Halesonians Rugby Club, for the race organised by Cobra Running Club, in plenty of time for Katie to register and to watch some of the fun run which comprised 32 runners, including a very impressive junior, Lily Higgins, from Halesowen Athletics & Cycling Club, who led from the start and finished in 11:04. One to watch!

We then set off at 10:30 and in spite of the breeze it was already starting to feel a little warm, but after a short climb I was pleased to find the course levelled out and was quite manageable. I'd planned to run entirely on feel, knowing full well I wasn't in PB shape, given my recent parkrun performances, and having an idea that there was at least one interesting hill on the course.

The first 5k was along the main roads, and a nice steady flat/downhill section, with the only challenge being in avoiding the nettles and settling into a steady pace along the narrow paths where passing other runners would have been difficult. The marshals throughout the race were very well organised, with good control of the occasional traffic and lots of encouragement. At about the 3k mark one said "Good work Bournville" and I heard Katie's trademark "whoop whoop" behind me so I knew she was close and making good time, especially given it was a training run for next week's half-marathon.

There was a water station at 5k and I felt happy that I'd reached that point in a reasonable time and feeling comfortable, albeit challenged by the onset of hayfever, which made it a bit difficult to see (not to mention breathe!) 

Just after this point I rounded a corner and saw THE HILL in front of me; I tried to tell myself not to look at the top, to use my arms and push through, but I confess it really got the better of me. After initially giving it my best and even passing a couple of other runners I started walking... The next 3k was dreadful! The heat suddenly felt oppressive as the breeze died down and there was no shade, but the hills were the real problem and I found my lack of fitness was really starting to tell. The marshals were almost apologetic as each turn seemed to prompt yet another climb and there were very few other runners around.

At around 8k the road section finished and there was a downhill stretch across a farmer's field - which was respite from the hills and oppressive heat, but the hard, uneven surface was far from easy to negotiate, and quickly turned into yet another climb. Passing another marshal I commented that it was definitely a "Yorkshire-tough" course as I'd already decided it was the hardest 10k I'd tackled, eclipsing last year's Horsforth 10k. Later the Race Director told us that people don't often return for a second year, and I'm really not surprised!

Back onto the road for the last mile or so, I looked at my watch and knew I could still make it back in under an hour, so, thinking of the cake and coffee at the end I pushed myself on and finished in 58:58. Nicely symmetrical, if you like that sort of thing. I was presented with a lovely square medal for a change, and announced to everyone that I would not be returning. My Aunt, fresh from her 3.5k Fun Run, and who I'd been hoping to inspire with my running, looked horrified as she thought there was a good chance I was about to be sick!

Katie crossed the line shortly after in 1:04:17 with a look on her face that was reminiscent of our last outing together and said "Marston, why do I let you pick the races?!" Our fellow BvHers had done so well at the Masters Relays on Saturday; we laughed that the under-35s (only just in my case) had not performed quite so well in Team Teal colours today, but we were mainly glad to finish and to represent our club.

Presentations, coffee and cake followed in the club bar, and the Race Director asked if anyone could stay on to watch the last runner finish. They'd kept the race open for a lady in her 60s who had run the course in a previous year in a respectable time, but was struggling on this occasion, having been involved in an accident in the past year. Her determination to finish was good enough reason for us to stay around, and, when she crossed the line after 2 hours and 17 minutes I reflected that she had probably tried harder than anyone on the day, and how runners at both ends of the field are sometimes just as inspirational as each other.  

 

Moreton Morrell Mad Dash, 8th February 2014

Having looked for a couple of pre-marathon tune-up races (or catered training runs as I prefer to think of them!) I'd landed on the Moreton Morrell 20km race as an alternative, slightly less scary than a half-marathon challenge, and still eight weeks away from the Manchester marathon.

An unusual distance, not too far away and on a Saturday morning for a change; I'd been looking forward to it, and was only slightly worried about the "undulating" description. A friend was competing in the 10km on the same course and we were joined by another member of Bournville Harriers completing the two laps.

On Friday with heavy rain and flooding forecast I did wonder what lay in store, having visions of a similar experience to the 2011 Stratford Half Marathon, which goes down in history as my least enjoyable race; wet and windy weather is for staying in with a good book and a cuppa in my opinion! Come Saturday morning though the sun was shining, and even with the windy conditions it certainly could have been a worse day for it.

The race starts at the agricultural college, which also housed the facilities and registration, which was well organised (and only a small queue for the ladies too). Parking was ample and just a five minute walk from the start. Not a good day for spectators as the wind was bitterly cold, so we all really just wanted to get on with it and were glad when finally we were off. 

Starting out running through the college grounds, the previous day's rain and some potholes meant conditions under foot were less than ideal to begin with, but as we turned out of the grounds onto the open roads things improved and I was able to get into my stride. The route itself was well marked and the marshals were excellent - doing their best to slow down the traffic and give plenty of encouragement to the 140 runners completing the 10km and 95 taking on the 20. There were also a couple of water/electrolyte stations on the course.

We passed through a the village of Ashorne and in places the wind was really beginning to pick up, but it was, as we commented afterwards, quite an interesting route, through really pretty Warwickshire countryside. At about the 7km mark there is quite a long uphill stretch, which wasn't too steep but it was quite difficult to pass others at that point, as the traffic was heavier in that section it wasn't really safe (especially if, like me, you were also trying to avoid the puddles). Far more challenging than that stretch though is the mile or so to the halfway point, which takes you back into the college grounds up a steeper hill, which on Saturday also happened to be straight into a serious headwind. Seeing my pace target slipping away I could do nothing to prevent it - I was going nowhere fast, but on rounding the corner back past the halfway line (avoiding the 10km finish) I was still on track for my target and felt I could make up a bit of time on the second lap.

Unfortunately the wind continued to pick up, but nevertheless I enjoyed the second lap, and the comments of the marshals ("still smiling!") and the camaraderie with some of the others (passing or being passed!); I still felt strong up to the 18km point. Alas, the last push was even harder the second time around and I also had to navigate a group of walkers, so in spite of a sprint finish I missed my target by four seconds, but having given myself a decent target to beat next time.

Just after finishing, we saw the finish canopy blown away by a gust of wind, but the impressive event team carried on recording the times of finishers whilst a few spectators and marshals recovered the finish line. We then happily collected our souvenir beanie hats and Eat Natural bars and caught up over a coffee in the college bar. Not long afterwards the rain was back but we were warm and dry in the car, enjoying the resulting rainbow, and thinking perhaps we'd had the best of the weather for the day. A good morning's work and even worth missing parkrun for!