Dysart Dash 10k

4 seconds faster than two weeks ago:-)

The race was almost a minor event. I had arranged to meet my friend Beth at 8.00 in Richmond before the race. She had come all the way from the States so I was keen to arrive in good time before travelling on to the race. Setting off in good time all seemed well. Until I arrived at the train station. Closed!! Ouch (I said something slightly stronger). OK, time for an unexpected warm-up. I set off for the next station.

I almost arrived in time. Not knowing the way, I ran in the general direction, asking anybody I could for directions. I started with some time to spare, but as I arrived the train pulled out of the station. Blast! Then my connecting train was cancelled. Jeez!! 8.00? Not a chance. Feeling like the worst host ever I had Beth make her own way to the race through a part of town even I didn't know.

Luckily all ended well. Through effort, good fortune and a taxi we made it to the race start in time. We both did alright and Beth seemed quite chuffed with the medal she had to take back home.

Next race? I'll think about that soon enough, after getting over this one.

Barts and The London Charity 10K

First 10K of the summer and I'm still suffering from it! I've just completed the Barts and The London Charity run in Victoria Park, and I am absolutely spent. Three weeks ago I ran a marathon. How I managed I can't fathom. Any further today and I would have collapsed in a heap. But, I made it. And not too badly as well :-)

My training had been a nightmare. After a week off, I managed a full weeks worth of training. Then tragedy struck. A monster hike along the Thames Path and an ill-judged long run the day after reduced both my feet to a blister-ridden mess. Seven days ago there was no way I could run. Not for love nor money. Luckily I was all healed for today. But would the lack of training affect my efforts?

My 10K PB is 44 minutes 15 seconds. That was the target. Secondary target was a sub-48 minute race. I hadn't managed better that 48 minutes for over a year and was getting annoyed with myself. This was a flat course so a good time was on the cards. I started well the first 2K took me just over 8 minutes. Niiiice! But I had started too fast. Soon I started to tire massively, and I hadn't even reached the 3K mark! Nightmare.

"You're never beaten until you admit it."
- General George S. Patton, Jr

I have never stopped in a 10K and didn't want this to be the first. And there was no way I was giving up pre-5K! I aimed for the 5K mark. The plan was to reach half-way. Then I would aim for 7K - a respectable distance. Then, being so close to home I would just have to push on and finish. And to cut a long story short that is what I did. Result: 46 minutes 37 seconds. Not a PB, but two minutes better than the previous 18 months. That'll do just nice:-)

Next stop, Dysart Dash 10K in two weeks time. Hopefully no blisters between now and then.

Post-marathon rest

I've been taking a rest from running, spending the last week letting my body repair itself from the 26 mile effort in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, why not find out how many 5 year olds you could take in a fight? ;) I can take 25.

25

Edinburgh Marathon conquered

It is done. I have completed the Edinburgh Marathon. OK, it was my fourth Marathon in the Scottish capital, but they have all been loads of fun. And now I have another big shiny new medal for all my efforts.

Having scrambled to the starting pens with just 15 mins to spare, it wasn't the most impressive of starts. I messed around too much before heading off from the flat. The result was I ended up doing a marathon-style 3 mile dash to the start line. Still, I guess that was part of my warm-up.

For some reason I always fail to appreciate the insanity of 26 miles until it is too late. After about 6 miles we passed alongside the finish line (a taunt to us all). From there we could see the towers of the Cockenzie power station far off into the distance. No big deal? Well, it's the 12 mile stage!!! The race had a long way yet to go.

After the power station we continued along the coast towards Gosford House. On a picturesque coastline it is the only building for miles around (bar the power station which was behind us), a massive stately home, standing out in monumental splendour. Again it beyond a sane distance. We kept running, eventually passing through the grounds of the said house and arriving at the 18 mile mark. Bliss... Only 8.2miles to go.

Turning back along the coast we were all now moving with the wind. Thank goodness!! Scunnered (tired) from facing the wind for 18 miles, the weather was now in our favour.

I managed to keep going. Slowing only occasionally I was getting closer to the finish line. Back along the sea's edge, past the power station again, back into Musselbugh and torward the horse track where we were to finish. The slow-downs were getting longer and my legs were in a world beyond pain. Could I do it? Had I enough left to make it all the way. Then, just after the 25 mile mark, I saw a young lass flat on her back next to an ambulance screaming in agony/frustration. This was disturbing. But feeling her frustration I vowed to keep going. I hadn't trained for hundreds of miles to finish less than one mile from the end. And if I did it wasn't going to be for the lack of trying.

Almost there. The race track came into view. I still had half a mile to go, but I wasn't stopping for anyone now. The pain was unbearable, but it was almost over. The crowds were growing. They spurred us all on; cheering and shouting their support as we closed in on the finish line. Into the race ground - the final stretch. The agony was immense, but it was about to be worth the pain. A final sprint? I went for it. With crowds cheering I increased the pace, less than 10o metres left. Keep going. 75, 50 the line towering upon us. 25 metres. Finshed!! Yes!! Marathon number 8! And a second best time of 4.04. Not bad. What a buzz!

Quickly the pain returns. Then, like everyone I receive my medal. Not a bad piece of metal. But it's nothing really. Not compared to the elation and satisfaction. I can't say more than that. Words don't do it justice. Marathon runners will know what I mean.

Next race? 10K in East London.
Next marathon? Who knows? New York? Beiruit? Chicago? Paris? Or maybe even London?

Training done - only 26.2 miles to go

My training has finished. The weekly long runs are, for now, over. Having managed another 18 mile long run, only the race remains.

Its been a mission. Having woosed out on training over the Christmas/New Year time I had some serious work to do. Fortunately though I think it has all gone alright. Work and social commitments have occasionally got in the way, but to no great effect. Now, after hundred of miles of pounding the streets I have only another 26.2 miles to go. Edinburgh beckons.

Early Scotland v England

As a point of interest/trivia, every year there is a Scotland v England competition as partof the Edinburgh Marathon. Each runner picks their team of choice. Last year Scotland won by 2 minutes 2 seconds. You won't be surprised to hear I am running for Scotland. Let's make it two victories in a row!

Penultimate long run - too hot...

Second last long run before the 26 miler. And I'm still scunnered!

The week had been HOT!! I ran twice at 6am during the week to keep ot of the heat and, hoping to run 18 miles, and my long run was going to be another early start. Waking at 7:30, I took about 40 minute for rehydration before heading out. After 20 minutes warm up I was off.

The aim was 18 miles. And I wanted to head out to meet some friends at 12:00. It was going to be tight. Not wanting to carry any water I had loaded up with cash and set off for my forst watering hole, 6 miles in. I made it and refuelled. This carried on, runing, keeping in the shade as much as possible. Without too much bother I found myself at the 17 mile stage. But I was beginning to tire.

Last mile. I had 15 minutes to fnish within 3 hours, which should not have been a problem. Then I 'hit the wall'. All my muscles screamed with pain. Every movement became an aching mission to move the next step forward. The, to add insult to injury, one of my friends from the running club drove by, slowing down to tell me I wasn't puting in enough effort. Jeez!! I kept quiet and didn't swear. Eventually the next 15 minutes passed and I was home. 18.1 miles, done. Thank goodness that was over.

Now? Time to carbo-load. Pasta and bread frenzy begins.

Bank Holiday - Where's the rain?

I feel wrecked. Another run in the heat-trap that is London. I'm burned, aching and wishing there was more than 20 days until the big one in Edinburgh. And it was a bank holiday! So, where was the crappy, cloudy weather?? I could really have done with it.

Today was the May Day bank holiday. For the benefit of non-UK people, this is the public holiday on May 1 or the first Monday thereafter. Typically it means guaranteed rubbish weather. For a long distance runner from non-tropical Scotland this is far from a bad thing. However, this Monday bucked the trend. Sun and 21oC both appeared as predicted.

Maybe I should have started earlier. Running 11am -1:30pm in the heat was probably a bit stupid. OK, I admit it, really stupid. But I did manage a 17 miles and have a nice glowing tan..., which is nice. Still, it was daft.

Two more long runs to go. Eek!!