Resolution runners...

As we begin another year, the number of runners I see out each day increases for a while, parkrun numbers swell as many people decide to take up running as their new years resolution. They are usually easy to spot in their brand new colour coordinated running kit...

Eighteen years ago this was me, yes I was once a new years resolution runner, though I can't confess to ever having colour coordinating kit! It seems a lifetime ago that I first laced up my trainers and shuffled around the block. There are a multitude of reasons why people take up running, weight loss, to get fit  and to meet new people are just a few. For me, my divorce had just been finalised, I turned thirty, like I said it was new year, and I needed to lose weight or buy bigger clothes! With three young children running seemed the easiest option, less time consuming (if only I knew what I do now!) and cheaper (again or so I thought!) than joining a gym. 

Run to parkrun today

I never imagined when I started out that running would become such a massive and important part of my life, I was purely doing it to lose weight and then tick London Marathon off my bucket list, then that would be running done! Instead what happened is I discovered that I loved running, it was an enjoyable way to spend some free time and kept the weight off, and as I started to run more and enter more races I discovered places I wouldn't have seen or been to otherwise. 

It was a long time, probably ten years before running became sociable for me. When I began there was no parkrun, couch to 5K groups and the like weren't a thing and I didn't ever feel like I wanted to join a running club, I was still at that time fitting running in around children and work. So early morning running had became the norm for me. Then in 2012 I discovered ultra running and that's when the complete craziness began, but I also started to meet people at races. I guess that's one of the good things that has come from social media, you could keep connected with people you had met at a race, local Facebook running groups/chats appeared and suddenly I had connections with other runners. Along with the phenomena that is parkrun running is now more sociable than ever and I have met so many amazing friends along the way.

Enjoying a race

I guess the point of this blog is to say to those taking their first tentative steps into running is to stick with it. Give your local parkrun a try, join a beginners running group. It doesn't matter what your reason for starting out is, or what type of running you aspire to, you will meet people who share your goals, who feel just as apprehensive about getting out there. The thing I have learnt is there will always be someone to encourage and support you, whether you want to run for twenty minutes or two days straight, complete a parkrun or a marathon or just for the pure enjoyment of being out there, someone will be feeling the same.

Running has given me so much in the last eighteen years, memorable races, medals, t-shirts, training runs and most importantly friends. It has helped me through some tough times and helps me massively in managing my mental health. I love all sorts of running, sometimes I like a road run, some days I want to be out on the trails, in the mud, exploring new places. I feel privileged to be able to spend my free time running. 

Running with friends 

One thing which still amazes me is when people say I have inspired them, that I have been the reason they have taken up the sport. To think others are out there running because of me seems crazy, I just go out and do what I love doing, but it also makes me incredibly proud.
So if you are just beginning, stick with it, enjoy it and maybe in eighteen years you will have had as much fun and adventures as I have.

As for me I plan to keep going as long as I am able, there are no plans to ever stop and 2020 is going to be the year I finally finish a 100 mile race!

Happy new year and happy running xxxx

Running without goals...

My last blog was all about me not giving up on the triathlon dream before it began, hmmm well I have to confess to not going near the pool or bike since. I quite like swimming and would happily put in the effort to get better at it, my stumbling block is the cycling, I just don't enjoy it! Sorry cycling friends but I don't. I haven't made a final decision about the triathlon but I will over the next week or so. The thing is I want the exercise I do to be fun, to look forward to it as it's what I do when I'm not working!

This brings me onto the main point of this blog running without goals...

I have had the happiest week's running for a very long time, obviously it helps that I am a lot less stressed than I have been for a while and my mental health is improving so I feel more like me again, but it's not just that. I haven't raced since September last year when I did the Colne Engaine 5! This is mainly due to not having any money to enter races but it's great.

Running group friends at parkrun (photo by Mike Eldred)

It's half term this week so a week to do as I please and I have had some great runs, some with friends, some on my own, some with my dog,  loving running and supporting my friends at my running groups, today we ran far enough to warrant having coffee and cake at the end! I have started listening to music again on some of my runs. The best bit though has just been waking up and deciding as I put my trainers on where I'm going and how far, sometimes I don't even decide this till I get going.
Yesterday I had the whole day without much planned so I packed my race vest with some drink and a bag of jelly beans and just headed out the door, it was a beautiful morning and I ended up running 16 miles and loving every step.

Race vest and headphones ready for a long one!

I am still run streaking and am at day 412, with my streak now 2083 miles long, I have set myself a little goal of reaching 2500 miles at day 500! (So not running entirely without goals ha ha!)

I'm sure at some stage I will return to racing as there are lots out there I still want to do, and completing 100 miles is still firmly at the top of the worm food list. For now I am going to continue to run 'just for fun' and see what happens. Surprisingly I have found some speed recently (fast for me I hasten to add!) whether that's because I am feeling better or because I have no races to train for or a mixture of both who knows.

Enjoying a 'just for fun' long run

Hope you are all having as much fun with your running as I am, and if you have booked yourself into races enjoy the training and the events themselves.

Happy running xx

Great Notley parkrun core team does St Peters Way Ultra...

A year ago I ran my second St Peters Way Ultra, friends Len and Richard were waiting at the finish line and mentioned they were going to run it next year, Now I'm sure they won't mind me saying I was sceptical, Rich wasn't a fan of mud and trails and Len had yet to run his first marathon! But I was wrong, something about me coming out of the gloom and up to the finish line at the chapel had stayed with them! So on Sunday, along with John who had said he fancied it too, the four of us were on the start line ready to run 45 miles from Chipping Ongar to the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell.

We had run the route in sections over the previous months and having run the race twice before I wasn't going to repeat last years navigational errors and I was prepared, and had prepared the guys, for the mud!! My tales of the last two years being ankle deep mud for most of the route had been told but a drier winter meant that there was very little mud and the route was much more runnable than previous years. (Think it was only me that was disappointed by the lack of mud!)

We started well and the first leg flew past and we arrived at CP1 ahead of schedule which did mean John and Len missed seeing their wives, but Dan was there and I was able to have my custard pot (custard is now my ultra food of choice!!). Dan, Paula, Vanessa, Holly, James and Becky spent their Sunday driving across Essex supporting us at CPs and generally being awesome. Thank you to all of you.

Leg two we maintained our pace and everyone was in good spirits, we had some photo stops, coaxed John through the tunnel of doom, Richard managed to not bang his head, or electrocute himself as he had when we last ran that leg, and I was having a great run, I felt good physically and mentally which I was pleased about and we arrived in Haningfield and CP2 still ahead of schedule, our support crews were waiting, we refuelled and were quickly on our way and heading for Purleigh.

Serious ultra runners at work!

Leg 3 we slowed a bit but we were maintaining a good pace and everyone still seemed happy, actually nobody really complained all day, there were quiet spells but we dug in and kept moving and we worked well as a team. I really like this leg of the race, the scenery is beautiful and you know when you get to Purleigh you are over half way. We were lucky with the weather and although a little chilly it was a lovely day for running. We had our friends Ruth and Gareth manning CP3 and with Gareth being an Ireland rugby supporter, it would have been rude not to serenade him with some 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariots' after Saturdays result in the Six Nations! We also grabbed a hot drink at Purleigh (thanks Holly).

Check Point 3

Legs 4 and 5 can be quite bleak as you head towards the coast, we were run/walking now but always moving forward. Being with the guys and really wanting them to make it to the finish line of their first ultra meant I didn't ever slip into the negativity that can happen to me when I start to tire. I have finally got my nutrition and hydration sorted for these events, and although I seemed to eat much more than the others, I know that's what I need to do and I really did stick to it and felt good all through the day. The run through Steeple village always seems to go on forever but on reaching CP4 you know there is only 8 miles left and you are going to make the finish. Although Len didn't say as much I could see he was having to dig deep and was in some discomfort and we spent a few minutes at the CP getting prepared for the final push to the end.

The temperature dropped quite substantially and we all donned our waterproof jackets and I added a hat when we hit the see wall and the final two miles. I love and hate those final two miles along the coast in equal amounts, you know you have it in the bag but that Chapel never seems to get any closer!! 

During the final leg there was some talk of me pushing on ahead and trying for a new PB and I did consider it briefly, but it wasn't about the PB. This journey with Len, Rich and John had started a year ago and being with them to cross the finish line meant so much more than any PB. I can honestly say it was one of my happiest and proudest running moments.

Reaching the finish line

We finished in 10 hours and 22 minutes which was a great time. Len, John and Rich you were the best running buddies to share the day with. I thoroughly enjoyed every step and hope you did too. I will keep saying this but I am immensely proud of you all and honoured to have shared your journey into ultra running.

Proud and happy medal picture

Thank you to Lindley and Maxine at Challenge Running for another brilliant event (though you need to get the mud back next year!!) and thanks to all the checkpoint staff who gave up their day to keep us runners fed, watered and motivated. You were all amazing and we can't do it without your support.

Again thanks to Dan, Paula, Vanessa, Holly, James and Becky for supporting us throughout the day.

I did say this would probably be my last St Peters Way Ultra but I know there is a sub 10 in me so I will be back again next year!!

Happy running xx

Thetford Iceni Marathon

I hadn't planned to run Thetford Iceni Marathon, I was just going to support but as it turned out and after my hideous day at The Chilterns I decided a marathon with friends was a good plan!

The day started with a quick run up Castle Hill, Richard had told me it wasn't possible to run up it so I did, maybe not the best thing to do an hour before a marathon starts but it was good fun!

The race started in a pub and was very civilised, coffee, a bacon roll, got kit sorted and we were ready to go.

      Ready to go...

The race started with a couple of miles through Thetford before heading out onto trails to Euston, it was an out and back race. The weather was pleasant and I was running with Rich, Andrew and Pete. The first few miles passed quickly and we were soon at the first checkpoint, a good selection of sweet and savoury snacks and plenty of drinks to choose from at each stop, along with helpful, friendly volunteers made it a great race.

      Enjoying the running 

The route was tough going, the navigation was pretty straightforward but the sandy soil and constant tree roots made it hard on the legs. I had a few negative moments and stressed for a while that I was slowing the others down but they assured me we had started together and were going to finish together. Eventually I relaxed and really enjoyed myself. I really have to find a way of conquering my head and stop it affecting my running!!

      Half way

After the turn around point we were joined by Jake, he was running his first marathon and hadn't run further than 15 miles before. He stuck with us despite being questioned about his marital status, job and all manner of other things (Rich is on a mission to find me a husband!!!!) Apparently he said I was 'cute but run too far!' But never mind still good to know I still have it, and after being told earlier in the day that I have chunky legs and was my middle name moose, cute was a definite improvement!! 

The last few miles were slow but even with the challenging route (unfortunately didn't get a photo of Richard falling over) Andrews sore knee, and me being a bit slow we made it back to Thetford and hand in hand crossed the finish line in a time of 5:49.

       Finish in sight! 

Have to say thank you to Kathi who we met early on in the race and gave me a hair band as I had forgotten one and my hair was driving me mad.

Thanks to Pete, Rich, Andrew and Jake for great company, good banter and making it an awesome day of running.

And finally well done to Mel Floyd for putting on a great race, well organised, challenging, lovely volunteers, lots to eat and drink and a really awesome medal. I will be back to try and do a better time.

      Awesome medal! 

Happy running all xx 

 

Fun summer running and a DNF...

Not the usual way of doing things but going to start this blog with the end...

Yesterday was The Chiltern Way Ultra, 133 miles. My second attempt at the race. Well to be completely honest it didn't go well and instead of still being out there running I'm back at home writing this blog. So what went wrong...

Basically it was my head, I had been incredibly nervous to the point of making myself feel unwell all week and it did affect my running. I started off ok but it quickly went wrong. Every time I tried some speed or to power up an incline I felt I couldn't breath, my chest felt tight and it caused me a lot of worry. I got into CP1 a good half an hour behind where I wanted to be and dissolved into tears. I ate had some coke and was convinced by Maxine it was a panic/anxiety type thing and only I could sort it. So with the advice to relax and enjoy the scenery I set off again. I spoke to Richard on the phone, cried a bit and but kept moving forward, it was slow and I wasn't enjoying it. I had countless messages and phone calls from my amazing friends and family, I cried some more, kept moving, cried etc. what I couldn't do was improve my head, I had an overwhelming fear of it getting dark, relived some of my mistakes from last year and panicked some more and cried some more. I eventually made it to Cp2 way off my predicted time and told Emily and Paul I was done. They convinced me to have a rest eat and drink and see how I felt. Maxine arrived shortly afterwards and taped some blisters and hotspots that had started. I eventually and reluctantly left the CP but within a couple of minutes I knew I couldn't carry on so returned to the car park. Emily and Paul live in the same town as I do so drove me home. Do I regret my decision...

No there was no way I had another 100 miles in me, my legs and body felt worse than when I finished Saffron Trail and mentally I was a mess. Now I plan to rest, recover and look at some races for next year. 

Running and racing is my escape and needs to be fun, it's what I do to escape the stress of everyday life, it's what I love, I felt none of that yesterday, nobodies fault, it was a tough day out on the trails attempting a tough race, I was one of only 5 competitors and it just wasn't happening for me, no excuses, no regrets. One to put down to experience and move on.

     Trying to look chilled at the start!

So that's the end of my summer of running and it has been awesome, it started at the beginning of my summer break from work with Saffron Trail which still makes me smile every time I think about it and I then went on to have some amazing runs with great friends, exploring lots of new routes and enjoying some great company. 

St Cedds Pilgrimmage

This is a 23 mile figure of eight run starting at Southminster and taking in some of St Peters Way. myself, Rich, Len, Heydon and Otto (Hayden's dog) set off on a Sunday lunchtime to run this, it was my first long run since Saffron and we had a brilliant afternoon, in glorious sunshine, taking it nice and easy. It was Len's longest ever run and we ended with a drink in a pub in the sunshine. 

     St Cedds Pilgrimmage (the injury was no where near as bad as it looked!!)

Exploring Maldon.

This was another great run, Rich and I set off early to run a route he had done some years before, we took a map and my GPS. Several miles in I said I can navigate this with just the map and put the GPS away in my race vest. Well let's just say maybe I was a little optimistic with my navigation skills and our 10 mile run ended up being 15 miles! It did however make a lovely, circular 15miles run with some gorgeous trails and countryside and is a run I would happily do again!

     I know where we're going!!

Lea Valley Walk

This has to be one of my summer favourites, Richard had read about this walk and suggested we run some of it. The whole route starts in Luton and follows the Lea Navigation Canal into London and is 53 miles. We decided to start in Hertford and run to Tower Bridge, where we the. Had an invite to a party. Running 31 miles to a party is fun. It was a good route, easy navigation and in it's way very pretty, starting quite rural and ending in London was amazing and different. We even took a little detour to have a look round the Olympic site at Stratford. It was a good last long run before the Chilterns. We ran slowly, taking in the sites, stopped for a coffee, and had a really good day out. Definitely one to do again maybe next time the whole thing!

      Fab day running into London.

The summer has also been filled with parkrun, running and my stint as run director which I always enjoy immensely. Wednesday evenings have become hills night, a now quite large group of us head to Great Notley Country Park and do a hill session combined with some core/upper body exercises and quite often cake!! It is a brilliant evening with good friends and makes hill sessions much more enjoyable.

      Relaxing after hills!

This is just a snapshot of some of the runs I have done this summer, the blog will be longer that the runs if I list them all! They have all been brilliant.

So even though yesterday didn't go as planned, I won't let it spoil an otherwise brilliant summer of running. 

I have many people to thank for making this summer so brilliant, Richard your company, support and encouragement has been amazing and I will always be grateful and look forward to many more runs together while we get ready for St Peters next year!!

Len your support too has been fantastic, John Ray Walk was brilliant and again look forward to helping you prepare for St Peters as well.

Thanks to the rest of Great Notley parkrun core team, all of the hill running gang, Challenge Running for two epic ultra races and my friends and family for supporting and sponsoring.

Running is my life and I am privelaged to be able to train, race and be involved in running. This summer has been a special one that I will always remember. Back to work at the end of the week, happy and knowing that I have made the most of it with enjoyable running, great friends and beautiful trails.

Happy running all xx 

End of year ramblings...

 So another year draws to a close, shopping is done and we're waiting for Santa...

What better time to stop for a while and look back at what has been an awesome year of running or as I was thinking earlier nearly 13 years of running! If anyone had told me then, when I first laced up my trainers to lose a few pounds that running would end up entirely dominating my life I wouldn't have believed them. I really was just going to lose some weight and tick the London Marathon off my to do list!! 

13 years later I live and breathe running, obsessed, addicted or a healthy way to spend my time you decide but I wouldn't have it any other way. This year has been awesome, having Lindley as my coach has improved my running no end, I'm more confident about what I can achieve and although I had two DNFs this year and still have lots to learn I know it was 100% the right decision for me. Having that schedule on the fridge and knowing exactly what I have to do each week works for me and I love it. I no longer just run routes I know as my navigation skills have improved I'm happy to get out and explore. 

I still have The Flitch Way Marathon on New Year's Eve to take part in and then I will be completely focused on training even harder to ensure I finish Challenge Running's Grand Slam next year. Finishing the two races I didn't finish this year is constantly on my mind. Physically I believe I'm fit enough, toughening up mentally and being stubborn enough to get through the tough bits I'm working on! Another race I am fascinated by is The Hill, 48hours, 160 miles and 55 laps of a hill in Derbyshire in December. It is a insanely tough but I can't get rid of the little voice that keeps telling me I could potentially be the first female finisher, so when I finish the Chiltern Way Ultra next year I will seriously consider entering!! 

As always it's the people I have met along the way this year that really makes me happy to be part of the running community. Race directors, volunteers, other runners all support each other in a way that I'm not sure happens in other sports. 

My newest venture has been to join the core team of Great Notley's parkrun, Saturday I shadowed Richard as run director and although out of my comfort zone had a thoroughly enjoyable morning and am looking forward to going solo on 3rd January. It was a surreal morning as it was a fancy dress run for Christmas, so I shivered on the bench in my 118 costume as I delivered the run brief, to some Mexicans, Santas, Penguins, a two person parcel and even the Christmas dinner! I love parkrun and am really happy to be part of the team and looking forward to all that 2015 brings.

So 2014 has been a pretty good year and it can't end without me saying thank you to all those that have supported me this year... Lindley and Maxine, all the volunteers and runners at Challenge Running events, Richard, Łen and everyone at parkrun who have welcomed me as part of the team, the Commando Runners, the Nutters and everyone else I've met along the way this year. Also my non running friends and family who have supported and sponsored me.

Abbi, James and Ben my children, who listen to and encourage my crazy running plans I love you all x

Have a fantastic Christmas and New Year and happy running xx 

'Challenge 2014'

Well 2014 has arrived, this years challenges been set...

'Challenge 2014' as I have imaginatively called it is going to be great, tough but seemed a perfectly reasonable challenge to set myself... And then you tell people your plans to which the response is usually 'why?'  or 'are you mad?' This is expected from non runners, but is slightly unsettling from other runners!

So what is 'Challenge 2014' well quite simply, taking part and finishing all four of challenge Running's ultra marathons.

March - St Peters Way 45miles

July - Saffron Trail 70 miles (overnight!)

August - The Chiltern Way 125 miles

October - Stort 30 30 miles

So there it is, there will be other events along the way but this is the big 4, I will be raising money for Moorfields eye charity as my son is a regular patient at Moorfields eye hospital.

For the first time in my 12 years of running I now have a coach, Lindley Chambers, who is going to help me achieve this crazy challenge, and he has to take some of the blame as they are his races!! 

I'm excited about this years running and know as always I will have the support of my family, (Dad I know you'll be with me and as ever you are my inspiration for taking on these challenges, miss you) my friends, the Nutters and The Commando Runners and all my non running friends.

I am going to try and blog regularly about the training, the events, the highs and lows!!

So happy new year to you all and make it a good one.

A crazy running year...

Well I can honestly say 2013 has been a great running year! Have loved it, lots of challenges, new friends and I think I am now an ultra runner, a very slow one but being out there running crazy distances is what I love to do!!

It's really hard to choose a favourite race as there are so many amazing memories from all of them, well apart from Run to the Beat but that one can be blanked from memory, no more mass participation, you must all be clones wearing the same t-shirt events for me!! 

The Wall was amazing and was really happy with my time of 18:38, a great event even if more was on road than I was expecting, but loved it, loved the support and the craziness of running into Newcastle at 2am with a couple of drunk blokes asking why I was running at that time and the look of disbelief when I said I'd run from Carlisle, another drunk lady who gave me £10 for my charity while I was checking in at my hotel. 

Endure 24 (or enjoy 24) as we renamed it was another highlight, a crazy weekend with great friends, and The 100 Mile run a four day run through the Cotswolds, probably my slowest, plaugued with niggles, but loved every minute, the camping, the sun, the rain, the last day when Bath never seemed to get any closer, the discovery of how many different ways you could undo a gate, unforgettable times.

A new PB at Halstead marathon, my favourite marathon, still not quite sub 4:30 but getting very close, next year, and Stort 30 was another great run with great friends.

This blog could go on and on and on as so many amazing running memories, but I can't finish without talking about all the amazing running friends I have met along the way, this year saw the formation, after Colchester half, of The Commando Runners (not named because we are highly trained, lean, mean fighting machines!!) an amazing group of people who support, encourage and have fun running and doing other stuff. You can always be sure that whatever local race you turn up at there will be a friendly face running, supporting, encouraging and Parkrun has become a real Saturday morning social occasion to start the weekend off well.

So looking to next year, 'Challenge 2014' has already been planned and plotted, Challenge Running Ltd, 4 events ranging from 30 to 125 miles, all entered, training underway, raising money for Moorfields Eye Hospital. Looks like 2014 will be another crazy, ultra running year... 

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!!!