Stort30 - last ultra of the year... Probably

I say probably, because The 100 mile run was supposed to be the last ultra of the year, but discovering Stort30 a local ultra, it seemed rude not to sign up! I shared my madness with our FB running group and before I knew it six others including my boyfriend, Ian (who thinks ultra running is 'silly'!!) had done the same.

So on Sunday after an extra hour in bed (great timing for the clocks to go back!) race day had arrived. Ian arrived and I can honestly say I have never seen anyone look so terrified before a race, not even my friend Mark before Paras10 last year!! After a slight detour we arrived at race HQ and after the race briefing and obligatory pre race photo it was time to begin.

So myself, Ian, Gareth, Lorraine, Rob, Danny, Trevor and Kerry set off on our ultra adventure, I knew the rest of the guys are faster runners than me and expected them to finish before me. We started our two laps of the field that we had to do before setting off to the river. It was to be an out and back route along the river Stort, and having done a recce of it a few weeks previously was looking forward to the route. It was predominantly a trail run and I had done what every runner knows is the biggest race day mistake and bought new trail shoes the day before as there had been a lot of rain leading up to the event and I was worried about falling into the river in my road shoes and knew I couldn't run 30 miles in my current trail shoes, as it turned out no problems, trainers were great and no issues at all!! 

I ran the first 13 or so miles with Lorraine which was great and I was happy with my pace but had already started to slow down, so she made the very wise decision to go on ahead, one of the highlights was seeing Ian going back the other way, a quick hug and happy to see him looking better and I headed to the turn around. 

Seeing Vicky and Liz two more of our running group at checkpoint 2 and 4 was great, nothing like a friendly face and a goody bag to spur you on, thanks Vicky.

I was happy with my half way time but it all went a bit downhill from there!! Now I can sit here and make a million excuses as to why I struggled during the second half, too many events this year, I'd had a migraine on the Saturday etc etc but who knows why some races don't go as well as others? 

At about 24 miles I told myself I'd get to the final checkpoint and give in, at that point I had no desire to struggle though another 5miles, what was the point. Well I got to the checkpoint, there were a couple of other runners there too and I knew I couldn't quit, (that little phrase my friend Simon uses popped into my head 'pain is temporary, pride is forever') I've never had a DNF (did not finish) and today wasn't the day to start!! So a cup of squash and a banana and I headed out to finish this race! I ran/walked, chatted to a guy who recognised me from The Wall Ultra and finally the finish line, Ian, Lorraine, Rob and Vicky were waiting all I had to do was a lap of the field and it was over, pretty sure that field had got bigger since the start!! 

So medal handed over, hugs and well dones received and that was Stort30 completed. the rest of the guys did so well and I am so proud of them, (Ian still thinks ultra running is silly!!) 

It was a well organised, friendly race with great check points and am pretty certain I will give it another go next year! So thank you to all involved, a great day with great friends, now the aches and pains are beginning to subside it's back to the internet to find the next event ha ha ha!!!

What about when you're old and wrinkly!!

Strange name for a blog you may be thinking...

But a question I've been asked a couple of times recently! Why have I been asked 'what about when you're old and wrinkly?' Well because I had a tattoo...

So why at 41 did I feel the need to get a tattoo, well I have a phrase/mantra whatever you like to call it that I have used for a long time...

Train Hard, No Excuses

When it's cold and dark at 6am and I have to go run, or after a hard day at work and I'm going out to boot camp it pops into my head. It gets me out there as it reminds me not to make excuses, too tired, too wet, too cold, too hot, whatever, training is a big part of my life and I don't (often) make excuses not to do it (I'm not perfect, I'm human, sometimes I do), but most of the time I'm out there training hard, preparing for the next event.

So after one of my boot camp instructors had his mantra, Take No Days Off, tattooed onto his arm I was inspired to do the same. So two weeks ago I did it, now it's there forever, not just in my head but when the alarm goes off and I put on the light, I look at it, how can I not get out and train, how can I make excuses now, it will help me realise my dream...

...Next year my plan is to attempt the big one. A 100 mile ultra marathon, it's been there since I first read Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man, my ultimate running goal. So 2014 will be the year, the training will be tough, it will probably mean cutting down on other stuff, sleep etc ha ha, but I will do it, and my tattoo will help.

So back to the original question, though have to say I have had very few negative comments, but those couple that I did get got me thinking. Will I regret it when I'm old and wrinkly? I don't think so, hopefully I'll still be pounding/shuffling the trails!! But if I'm not, that wrinkly, unreadable tattoo will be the best reminder of some of my proudest achievements, some of the best times, the training, the events, the places I see, and definitely a reminder of all the amazing running, boot camping friends I have met a long the way, some of them literally met along the way! 

So whatever your opinion, mid life crisis, coolest Mum (yes my teenage children think it's great!), fruit loop runner or anything else, I love my tattoo, I love running, boot camp and pushing my body to it's limits, I'll continue to live by those four simple words and never will I regret a single moment of all the amazing fun I'm having.