Pain in Plymouth

I've struggled with training over the past few months, starting with my arm in a plaster cast throughout February, and two injuries - one to each leg which have kept me on enforced rest for three of the last six weeks. However, my place and hotel was booked for the Plymouth Half, so I decided to travel down with my Dad as planned. 

If anyone is thinking of doing the Plymouth Half, I can highly recommend the Holiday Inn. From the outside, it looks like a dated concrete monstrosity. However, it was very convenient, being located 200m from the start/finish line, and they kindly agreed to extend our check-out time by three hours so that we could have a shower after the race.

I had been popping painkillers and spent hours with oddly positioned freezer blocks in the days prior to the race in the hope that the niggle in my right hip might go away. And fortunately yesterday morning, I woke up feeling fine. I'd taken my breakfast with me, so we were able to have a lie in and just stroll down to the start with 15 minutes to go.

My good friend of twenty years, Lucas Meagor was also running and we met up briefly before the start. I have not seen him for several years, as he now lives in Hull, and me in Devon, so our short but unexpected catch up was nice. Lucas has taken part in a number of crazy running and cycling adventures over the years; please visit his website here to read more about him.

So with my stomach full of shredded wheat, Dad and I headed off to the start line, joining in near the back, and within a couple of minutes we were off. It took us around 6 minutes to cross the start line, and another five minutes or so before the crowd thinned out and we were able to start moving at a reasonable pace. We kept up a fairly good speed for the first couple of miles, although I don't understand why, if a person needs to walk in the first mile they start in the middle of the field. Take your brand new trainers and shiny designer gear to the very back, as you get in way of everyone else!

I more or less stayed with Dad until the second water station. Dad has managed to perfect the 'drinking on the run' technique, whereas I have to stop and walk otherwise I choke, so after this point he was making faster progress then me. The rain then started to come down just as I reached the first of a series of inclines, and it was at this point I wondered whether my lack of consistent training might mean that I would not make it to the end.

The mile markers passed by far too slowly. By mile 8, I could feel a blister forming on my left foot, and by mile 10 every muscle in my body was screaming at me to stop.  However, there is an out and back section at this point where I was able to see the runners a mile or so ahead of me coming in the other direction. Ahead of me was a brave girl whose t-shirt announced that she had the lung condition cystic fibrosis, and a chap with a below knee prosthesis; seeing them stopped the voice of self pity in my head and made me determined to get to the finish. 

I was very pleased to pass the 12 mile marker as the crowd then got bigger and cheered everyone on to the finish. The course planners had cruelly decided that the last third of a mile needed to be uphill onto the Hoe to cross the finish line, where my pace dropped to a shameful 14mm. Still the end was in sight, and it was with great relief that I crossed the finish line. The official photos show me looking exhausted, and unlike the Cardiff half I would not have been unable to have gone any faster, or run another 50 metres. 

Hobbling back to the hotel through the race village, I was approached by a student of Plymouth University, and asked if I would like to have my feet checked by the podiatry students in their marquee. Removing my trainers revealed a fetching blood blister down the inside of my left foot, which they kindly cleaned and dressed for me. Unfortunately this meant that I was unable to get my shoe back on, and the kind receptionist at the hotel who had extended our stay gave me a pair of slippers from the health club to save me having to walk to the car with bare feet.

I woke up today with possibly the worst DOMS pain in my quads that I have ever had, which caused some amusement for my 91 year old patient this afternoon, when I was unable to demonstrate how to do a mini squat. A colleague kindly burst and redressed the blister for me so I am able to wear shoes to work again - one of the few perks of working in the NHS, the Government may have withheld our 1% payrise again, but they'll never stop us helping each other out. 

The half marathon itself was well organised at all stages, with the water in pouches rather than bottles, which I think makes them easier to drink. The crowd was friendly and supportive, with lots of friendly locals handing out much needed jelly babies and noisy vocal support. The route itself was a nice mix of city streets and country parks and although I cursed at the time, an interesting variety of flat and incline. This one may become a regular fixture for Dad and I. 


My chip time was a less than impressive 2:31:34, and Dad came in 6 minutes faster than me, but I am so pleased that I stuck with it, when the easier option would have been to given up and been driven to
the end. I'm not quite sure what my next challenge will be at the moment; getting off the loo is difficult enough at the moment. But pain is temporary and triumph is forever!

Choose your words carefully.

The euphoria of finishing the Cardiff half lasted for a few days. My medal was proudly taken to show to colleagues and friends, and the t-shirt worn at every opportunity. I then made the small error of engaging in conversation with an ex about the experience. I mentioned that I had felt that I had  a little more energy left inside me at the end, and that perhaps next time, I would be able to go a little faster, with a longer term aim of running a half in 2 hours 10 minutes.  He told me that I should expect to be disappointed if I tried to go faster, as Cardiff is an “easy half” and I would be unlikely to beat the time that I had achieved.  

I’ve not had anything other than positivity from everyone else that I encountered, but this one comment rather took the wind out of my sails, and I have struggled to get back into training with any real enthusiasm. Put this together with two chest infections requiring steroid inhalers, and my right arm in a plaster cast along with moving house, and it has been a difficult few months.

Mind you, the more I think about it, that particular chap has a special talent for managing to piss on the party. In the last six months or so,  I have relocated my entire life to Devon, where I have a job that I love, and a cute little terraced house which makes me happy. He recently enquired how things were going, so I told him in much the same way as I have stated above. Most normal, rational people have just been happy for me, appreciating the five years of hard work it has taken me to get to this point.

 His response?  “Doesn’t it make you want children?” 

Yes, why not point out the one “failing” that I have in his eyes, and virtually the only thing that I can do very little about in my present circumstances, and use it to take the edge of my happiness.  I despair about the men that I meet;  I don’t know I manage to find them, but that’s a whole separate blog. I’m just grateful that he is my ex, and I’m not stuck married to one of the many men that I have encountered with all the sensitivity and finesse of a gorilla eating a banana.

Anyway, I have been inspired by the fabulous Lliswerrians completing the Newport half, and having read all the reports on facebook, had wished I was there. I have also found a lovely running club not too far away from where I am living now and have enjoyed a couple of training sessions. With this is mind I have signed up to do the Plymouth half on 27^th April, and have just done my first proper week of a 8 week training plan. My dad has also agreed to run it with me and not wanting to let him down, I'll stick with it. 

I’ll end with the lesson learned from my recent experiences; choose your words carefully, and be kind. If you cannot be kind, be quiet. 

Thanks for reading. As always, I am touched that you do.

I did it!

I've not posted much lately, I was a bit worried that having signed up for another half, that if I got injured and had to pull out I would look like a wuss and I couldn't be having that. It has also been a crazy few months for me, as I've graduated from university, and got a fab new job in Devon. However, all summer I have been keeping up with the training, mostly along the coastal paths around Woolacombe and the Tarka trail in preparation for today's Cardiff Marathon.

Well, I finished it. And here's proof:

It was almost perfect conditions, perhaps a little too warm but otherwise a lovely day. We nearly missed the start having not anticipated all the road closures, and having to leave our bags with mum to hand in. They had also closed the portaloos at the start with 20 minutes to go, which meant a rather undignified squat behind a wheelie bin; made worse by another similarly positioned girl, pointing out the CCTV camera behind us - apologies to whoever has a recording of my naked arse.

For some crazy reason the race organisers had not put me in the slowest pen at the start, so I went off a little bit too fast to begin with, but other than that I stuck to my race plan, which was to keep as close to 11mm as I could, picking up a bit an the end if I had the energy.

Some mild irritations from around the course - the spitting and nose clearing still makes want to heave, the gel sachets being discarded so that there is gel all over the road making everyone's trainer squeak, and people with headphones oblivious to the other 18,999 people on the course. Grrrrr.

I can't really complain though, as it actually wasn't as much of a struggle as I had anticipated, and I could probably have gone a little bit faster. And other than the horrendous hill at 12 miles (which is actually more like a slope when doing 3 miles!) I didn't have to walk any of it. I'm glad that I did enough training, and the words of coach Chris were on my mind throughout the race; that the miles of training are like putting pennies in the bank that you get out on race day - I don't think I really appreciated what that meant until today.

The support from all of Lliswerry Runners was awesome -  always a friendly word from those that ran past me, cheering from many places around the course, the trumpet at 11 miles and the hugs of celebration at the end. It really is the most amazing club, which is why I made the 150 mile round trip for the AGM last week, and will continue to come back for training sessions and events if I can. A massive congratulations to all who ran today; there were some incredible times both from the more elite club members, and those who tend to plod along at the back like me. 

So what's next? Well, my dad also ran today, and beat me on chip time by 23 seconds, averaged out in the official results as being 1 second per mile quicker. Of course, I can joke that I took it easy today as I didn't want to embarrass him by coming in much faster, but in fact he ran really well today and deserved to come in at a better time than me. I'm determined to try harder next time though, so watch out!  

Watch this space for the next running challenge, I'm sure it won't be too long.....

Until then, I leave you with my motivational quote of the day. Thank you so much for reading. 

Sore from the Sorbrook

Inspired by friends from the running club who have been taking parts in all kinds of amazing events, I woke up this morning with the "fabulous" idea of going along to the Sorbrook 10k. Now bearing in mind that I haven't run more than 5 miles on the flat for around 3 months due to various university commitments, this may not have been the wisest idea that I have ever had.

However, I didn't really have time to think about it too much as I am not really a morning person, so popped over the Spar for some cornflakes and bananas before heading out to register. I'd looked at the results from last year, and knew that I was going to come in pretty much last, so decided to start near the back and stay there - previously I have got caught up in the middle of the pack and gone off too fast, only to pay for it later. 

I'd forgotten just how far 10k actually is when I can't stop and have a rest. And how much I hate hills. The route was lovely and scenic, up a couple of small mountains and then around a reservoir, although I was too busy concentrating on being able to breathe and not falling over my feet. I was right at the back, so the ambulance that needs to follow the back runners was twenty metres from my arse most of the way round, and the whiff of diesel fumes so close by was a distraction from the otherwise beautiful environment. I made it round in one piece though, only stopping to walk up the hills; otherwise I ran the whole way, even managing a little sprint at the end. And I wasn't last either and there was free cake at the end. So all things considered, quite a nice morning out.

Looking back, as much as it was painful at the time, I have got a huge sense of satisfaction that I got round. It was great being part of the Lliswerry gang again as well.  I'm hoping to do the Rose Inn 4 mile run on Tuesday if my legs aren't too sore. Just need to make a plan and stick to it now.

Today's motivational quote is quite apt considering the course route this morning:

Oh shit - I've turned into a Christmas pudding.

I've now been using the "I'm injured" excuse to sit on my arse for the best part of four months. To be fair I actually was injured until early December. But then it was nearly Christmas, and there didn't seem any point in starting again then as I wanted to indulge a little over the holiday period. Eating an entire Terry's chocolate orange and two Asda chocolate yule logs over a three day period was possibly not the best thing to do.

The weather during January has been my latest excuse to do nothing. It's too cold, the roads are icy, the pavements are wet etc, all reasons not to do anything that involved moving more than three metres from the sofa. I have been horribly busy with various uni and work stuff, but not so busy that I couldn't have found a spare 30 minutes three times a week.

Unfortunately all this bad behaviour has now taken its toll. My work trousers are now a little more tight than I would like. This has to stop. Tomorrow I am going to acquire some suitable wet and cold weather clothes and get back to it. Something with go faster stripes on to spur me on to glory.  Aiming for a 10k in the middle of April, and a half in early autumn. The path to athletic excellence continues....

Alternative view of the Cardiff half marathon

Today was supposed to be the day. The day when all the training, healthy(ish) eating, no alcohol drinking came together and I ran my first half marathon. Except three weeks ago I ran too far in knackered trainers and got injured again. It was such a hard decision to pull out - my heart was telling me that with a load of painkillers I would be able to make it round the course. I was up to 12 miles non stop in my training plan so knew I could run the distance. However, everything I had been taught at uni over the last two years was in my head, and I knew I shouldn't do it.

I even paid out to see a physio twice - costing me a whole long weekend's worth of supermarket checkout wages, in the hope that I would be able to be fixed by some miracle machine and a bit of massage. Sadly, it wasn't to be. Today was not my day. I am left wondering if it will ever be my day.

It was tempting to abscond from Cardiff for the weekend, so I could just forget all about it. However, my dad had signed up because I had, and it seemed a bit mean not to hang around and support him. Lliswerry Runners had teamed up with St David's Hospice Care to man the water station at 11 miles, so me and my mum decided to go along and help out with that, and hopefully cheer on some of our runners as well. This turned out to be a good decision; it was actually lots of fun, although quite wet at times, as the faster runners have a tendency to take a single sip then chuck the bottle in any direction therefore soaking anyone who happens to be in the wrong place at the time. It was really nice to be thanked by some of the runners for being there, I must remember that myself the next time I'm taking part in an event; I don't think most people appreciate the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make the big events the success that they are.

It was lovely to see people from the club out on the course, knowing how hard some of them had worked to be there and that they were within sniffing distance of the finishing line. I'm liking the Lliswerry love and happiness on facebook tonight as well. 

A huge congratulations to all who ran today, especially everyone at Lliswerry Runners and the boys from Cardiff Uni Physio 3rd year, you were all fabulous. Hopefully next year I will be there too.

Cardiff 10k

It was a nice sunny morning for my first big event; the Cardiff 10k which is a fairly pleasant flat route around the city centre, which goes through the park and past the castle. It also goes other places as well, but was more concerned about my breathing than taking in the scenery. I really didn't have much of an idea what to expect, but luckily I live close enough to stroll to the start line in 20 minutes, so I arrived fairly unstressed. I met up with a few other Lliswerry runners and chatting before the start was great for stopping me becoming too nervous and to pick up some last minute tips.

10am came and we were all off on the starting gun. I started far too fast, and was under 28 minutes at the halfway point, which is far faster that I normally run. I think I probably started too far forward, and got carried along with the crowd, and then paid for it later by dropping my pace slower than I would have liked. However, it was all a good learning experience for the Cardiff half which is just 5 weeks away now. 

So what else did I learn today? Here goes:

• If it is hot, run in the shade as much as possible (thanks for the tip Merv!). I would have been a lot slower if I had stayed out in the sun for the whole course. 
• I cannot drink water while running. It goes down the wrong way and makes me cough, then I have to stop for longer than I would have to if I had just stopped to drink in the first place.
• Other runners with ipods are exceedingly annoying as they can't hear anything and have no awareness of what is going on around them. They are not allowed for a reason - I was really surprised at the number of people that just ignore that rule, to the detriment of those around them.
• Other runners will stop for no reason whatsoever right in front of you, then tut loudly when you run into them.
• Other runners will throw their half drunk bottles of water right into your path, and therefore the half mile after the drinks station becomes a crazy assualt course.
• Other runners will think that it is perfectly acceptable to noisily swirl phelgm around their mouth before spitting it out while running right next to you. This is just horrible, as is the holding of a nostril and shooting out of snot from the other which seems to be a common habit in slightly overweight sweating men who have not done enough training.

Enough of the moaning now though. I loved being part of such a big event. It was also fantastic to be so well supported by other club members. When I was growing up, I was taken to various events to cheer on my dad and his friends in their running endeavours. To be honest, at that time I never really saw the point. But when you are struggling half way around a course, there is nothing better than people cheering and screaming your name encouraging you to keep going. So thanks guys for being there today, it was much appreciated.

I got round the course in an "official chip time" of 1.01.49, a pb by over a minute, and less than double my best 5k parkrun time. Very pleased with this indeed, especially considering the heat. I will go faster than an hour this year!

Here is a picture of my reward for my efforts today:

Thanks for reading, and happy running :-)