Under an hour!!

OK so the 'race' for the line wasn't necessary in the end - but how could I not go for it?

In the end I did it in 57'07" which is really gratifying.

The photos on the website are horrendous - I really must get my act together for the 1/2 marathon in September. Can't believe I am going to do it after this weekend's performance.

So this is the end of this blog but I shall return to the half marathon one which has been going since early 2006. And follow the journey to half marathon madness (or indeed glory - aiming to be under 2 hours??? Utterly crazed)

Done it!

That was the hardest run I've ever done - including, I think, the 1/2 marathon in 2006.

It was quite hot which didn't help and we slow types were held for 15 mins after the main start. And I needed the loo so badly before I started, that didn't help one bit.

There was the usual crush of people at the start but it wasn't too bad. Perhaps I should lie about my time and start with a faster group next time (NEXT time???) But apart from going onto the Portway it was quite wide enough for everyone.

I saw the boyf returning back under the bridge as I was approaching the bridge from the other direction - so I knew he was miles ahead. (He was also in the 1st group to go so there would have been a problem if I ever caught up with him!!)

There was a hot air balloon tethered at the turn on the Portway which was something to aim for - but perhaps I came unstuck believing that the turn indicated something like we were on our way home. It wasn't, it was far less than 1/2 way in reality. But at least there was a water station there. I had to have a glug even though I still wanted the loo. It's very frustrating running with crossed legs while along the side of the road there are blokes having a whizz. Hmmm.

So I'm on my way back by then but running onto the cumberland basin overpass thing it struck me that I was really tired and the hill was just awful. But going downhill on the other side felt sooo good. And that felt like the start of the run back - but I'm sure the km markers along the way were far further apart than 1km. The road just went on forever and ever. And I would promise myself it would be over quickly at the next corner - and it wasn't, and the km markers still wouldn't turn up (This was 3km out)

Hey ho - felt like walking, felt like giving up frankly, but then I saw there were plenty of other people around me who were suffering more so I just had to go for it.

And then. And then... heading around the centre - another hill before turning towards the imax - and the sound of the PA telling us 'if you can hear this, you can still make it back in under an hour...'
argh!! I felt there was nothing left in my kegs at all and I had no breath and I still wanted a wee... but there was the carrot dangling before me. And there were people overtaking me on both sides... I had to dig deep and push...

And then the finish line came in sight
'30 seconds' said the PA
'bugger' said my feet.
But I pushed on, really going for it, my legs felt weird, my head felt worse and then they began a countdown to the line - I really had to sprint as much as I could and I think I hit the line at zero...

:)

I hope so. I know it means I did get under an hour cos I started after the clock but it still felt good to get there!
And the website hasn't managed to get the times up yet, in fact they're all over teh place, but I"m sure they'll get there.

So glad I did it. Made me realise I"m quite unfit really and need to lose some weight for the 1/2 marathon (Why am I doing that???)

But very glad it's done!!

The Day Before

My knee hurts - not when I'm running, just going up and down stairs. It's the IT band problem again and I'd hoped it had gone away. It'll be OK tomorrow then I won't run for a week or so and let it get better, but I don't want to leave it too long. I'll stretch and so on and hope for the best.

Also I've discovered I'm in the green band of runners which is the slowest lot. Hmm. It's hurtful to the ego to know you're setting off at the back of everyone. I will try and not be right at the back. I know there'll be lots of other people running at te same sort of time and I won't let it bother me.
But, grrrr.

It will be over this time tomorrow - 11am. Looking forward to that bit. NOT looking forward to the getting there and back. Boyf wants to walk down - about 2 miles?? Really don't want to have to walk that far before starting and, more to the point, walk all the way back afterwards - and it's mostly uphill. I would drive, but the car was nicked at easter and we still haven't got it back.

So, baked spuds tonight, no wine, beer, sherry until a massive Sunday lunch tomorrow. Bring it on

Good luck all you green runners!

Gutted

My ipod has passed away.

The technical term was 'uneconomical to repair'... But what price can you put on an uncomplaining, entertaining and lightweight running partner?

I dedicate Sunday's 10K to you

RIP old chum.

It will soon be over...

Things which will be better on Sunday:

1. there will be drinks along the way
2. it's a different route to the training runs (which are feeling a bit stale frankly)
3. Won't have to set off at 0630 in order to get to work on time
4. It's a flat course
5. there will be people along the way supporting us
6. I might have got myself a new top for the big day (or I might not in which case it means I have saved a bit of money so it's a win-win situation)

I think it was the right decision this morning to go for the long run, the full 10k around the downs even though:
1. it was raining when I set off
2. I have no ipod to keep me company
It wasn't as bad as I'd feared - perhaps the endorphins are more addictive than I thought - but now my hamstrings are aching. As are my ankles a bit.
Hey ho - still managed to walk 1.6 miles into work so I guess everything still works properly and there are now 3 days to recover.

Good luck to everyone taking part - it's going to be sunny apparently but hopefully not too hot.

Bring it on!!!!
x

alas...

...poor ipod.

It works when it's plugged into the charger, but not otherwise.
Am going to send it to the ipod hospital and hope for the best.

I can't stress enough how important it is not to put ipods through any kind of wash cycle.

How annoying is this...

I put my ipod through 10 mins of the wash cycle this morning. It's such a stupid thing to do.

So far it's not looked too healthy, although the screen still works (on and off) and I can hear stuff through it. However the wheel thing isn't really working very well and the screen doesn't really stay on very long.

It really is the saddest thing in the world looking at your ipod sitting in suds in the washing machine window...

So although it might not be a problem for this week, come next week when the 1/2 marathon training kicks in, I will be without my running partner. I am crossing everything in the hope that it dries out and is still alive without any long-term damage. Looking at various message boards on the tinternet it seems it's a common problem with the things as they're so light and missable, and some people do get theirs dried out and back to normal.

Amazing what people use the internet for...

I hope that's the wat with mine as I could do with some good luck.

Hmmm

So, a week today it will be over. I'm sure I'll finish, not sure I'll come in under an hour.

I went to the downs this morning and did the usual circuit but added on an extra bit - I crossed over by the zoo and went up the Promenade and around the camera obscura (don't you just love Clifton!).
Anyway it was a lot hillier than I thought it was going to be so I was a huffing and a puffing around the camera giving anyone looking through it a good laugh no doubt.
But the length of the run even with the extra loop was only 7.82km - yet it felt sooo much further. I know I can add on the cycle to and from the downs, but it still felt a little disappointing that it was such hard work and for less than the 10k...

Hey ho I guess it all adds up and at least I know I can run 10k - especially when it's on the flat.

So that's it for now - one more run in the week and I guess I'd better make it the full distance and then roll on next Sunday. And let's hope I still feel inspired about the 1/2 marathon....

Under an hour????

Well, this morning I tried to do my 10k (approx) run in under an hour and worked very, very hard but I don't think I quite made it.

I'm not too disheartened though and come the race I still think I might make it...

I'm counting on 2 things - one that there are more uphills in my run than there will be on the day and also that it's slightly further than 10k.

But against that, the race will be jammed at the start which means a slower getaway. Like I'm such a professional athlete I need to worry about these things...

Hey ho, there's nothing riding on this at all, it's just an incentive to keep me out there and running. But I'm very achy this morning - nothing specific, just thighs and bum really. And ankles a bit. It's the burden of all the extra weight I'm carrying... Hopefully not for much longer - if I keep this up. And it's not definite I will as I have very little determination when things like achy legs comes round.

Not that my legs are coming runnd, they haven't been unconscious.