Marathon #11: Birmingham Canal Canter Marathon

Number 11 is done! What a great day, one of the best so far. I hadn't really done too much training this week as have been a bit distracted by other things, and hadn't really thought too much about the run either (other than the well advertised cake refreshments, of course), I was more looking forward to seeing my Mum and Dad and Andrew.  Once I got home though, and my parents had printed all the information and directions for the route and we started talking about it, I soon got focused and excited!

The event is organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association, and I've never done one of their events before. So the routes are organised for walkers, but often they let you run them as well if you want, and there are different distances you can do, so today there was 18 miles (which my Mum and Dad walked, and Andrew ran) or 26.2 miles (me), which was the 18 mile route (a big loop), with a few extra loops added on. I was a bit worried that most people would be walking and not many running, and as the route isn't really marked you need to navigate it yourself, although you do get given instructions, so I was worried that considering I have got lost on a couple of (well!) marked runs already, that this might not end well!

My fears were unfounded though, as there were loads of people running, hurrah! So at 9.30 am we all set off. For the first few miles it was quite busy and it was a great group of people to run with, a lot of camaraderie and joking going on. The first few miles were also pretty complicated, navigating wise, so it was good to be in a big group together to figure it out!

After a few miles the 18 mile and 26 mile routes split, and as I was at the front, we mostly ended up going in the wrong direction for our distance, oops. After turning around and successfully making it through the next couple more miles we finally made it onto the canal towpath for an easy few miles. Checkpoint 1 was at about 7 miles and I ran into (literally) my parents just before it! Checkpoint 1 was also in a pub, I've never been IN a pub on a race before! It improves it, I have to say.

There was porridge and cereal and all manner of breakfast goodies to be had, but I wasn't hungry so grabbed some squash and sweets and headed off apprehensively on my own. After a mile or so I saw a familiar looking figure in the distance. It was a guy called Brian Mills, who I have spotted on a few of my runs this year. He is a bit of a legend in the running world; he is going for the record of the first person from the UK to run 1000 (!!!) marathons. I think this was his 926^th and he’d already run over 40 this year so  I felt a bit stupid telling him about my 13, which he’d probably done by the end of January, but he was very nice about it, and a really interesting guy.

Checkpoint 2 at 13 miles (halfway!) was sandwiches and pineapple. Then I saw on the instructions that it was only 4 more miles to Checkpoint 3 which was the cake competition, so decided to push on again by myself. Feeling a bit more confident about running by myself, having made it to half way without any major navigational errors.  

The next part was more through the middle of Birmingham, through the Gas Street Basin, which felt a bit precarious on my own, but there were some walkers about which gave me confidence and I made it through! 

My Dad, near the Gas Street Basin

The next part confused me as there were runners coming in the opposite direction, but it turned out they were just a lot better than me, and were heading back from the part I was about to do. Sigh. The next part, around the Soho Loop, was completely terrifying and I thought I was actually going to die like in a horror film at any point, running along the back of creepy derelict warehouses, complete with a cast of weird people at various points. Then Checkpoint 3 appeared; wooop, cake time! I decided to go for a double hit of sugar and caffeine with a chocolate and coffee cake, nom nom!

The next part went back to the Gas Street Basin and through some more dodgy parts through tunnels, but then I caught up with another runner and we ran the rest of the way together. Two more checkpoints to go, one including trifle. Trifle!!!

The sun came out for the last few miles, and I finished in 4:44 in the sunshine :-)  Dead pleased with that. I really enjoyed it a lot, very different to the big city runs, but I enjoyed it even more. Really felt like I’d achieved something by navigating it myself, and as I wasn't at all bothered about what time I did, I just chilled out really and stopped at the checkpoints and if I was unsure where I was, and I met some really lovely people along the way and had some interesting conversations which have made me think about what I'm going to do after 13 in 2013 is over....

Afterwards there were baked potatoes, tea, bananas and custard. I will definitely do some more of these, great fun!

Andrew did the 18 miles in 2:35 and my parents in 5:40. Bravo!

One more sleep till marathon # 11.....

....eeek, how did that happen?!

What a week! I have moved to Leeds and started my dietetics course. I'm still feeling slightly dazed and confused about everything, but I think it's all good so far!

I have joined a new running club in Leeds, so have met some new people there and am learning some new routes around and about the city. The tennis club where it's based has a sauna which I am quite excited about, seems like a good way to warm up after a winter run!

This week I have just done two runs, a 10km on Wednesday and a 5km today. I accidentally broke a record on my watch today by running my fastest mile, 7.25min/mile.... not sure if that's a good idea the day before a marathon or not, but never mind! I also realized today that tomorrow isn't a marathon distance, but is longer at just over 27 miles. So, it will be my first ultra event! It's also a mostly self navigated route, so has big potential to be longer than is should be, as I am navigating, and can't. If I'm not back by evening, send help.

Just setting off now to stay at a hotel nearer the race tonight. Weather is looking good for tomorrow. Mum Dad and Andrew all coming along too. I've made some team biscuits (we'll need the energy, right):

Trainers packed, so let's go! 

Change of plan....

....my relocation to Leeds has resulted in a last minute change to the line-up of the final 3 marathons!

My next race was next weekend, the New Forest Marathon, which I've wanted to do for years and was very much looking forward to.

But it takes about 7 hours (?!) to get from Leeds to the New Forest on a train and costs a fortune, which doesn't fit in with my new student ( :-( ) budget (still adjusting to this!)....

...but fear not! My Mum got on the case and had two plan Bs before I had even noticed there was a problem, and so Marathon #11 will now be (drum-roll).....The Birmingham Canal Canter!

This looks very exciting I have to say. It's organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association, who if I may say so, seem to be a group of people with their priorities in the right order. The focus most definitely seems to be on the refreshment side of the day, I have been instructed to bring a mug (for tea stops) and at Checkpoint 3 there is a BAKING COMPETITION! This sounds altogether a splendid 'race'.

Be prepared for a Personal Worst on the time-front. I've factored in an extra half hour for Checkpoint 3 alone. 

Exciting!

The last two races will stay the same - Chester and The Spooky Halloween Challenge as they are both oop north :-)

Marathon #10: The Thames Meander Marathon: the one in the RAIN

Well, first of all, apologies for the lack of blogs for the last couple of weeks! Things got a bit mental following the last marathon......went away for Andrew's birthday, moved house (sort of twice!) and finished my job!

So, I am now sitting down taking a deep breath and taking it all in :-)

The Thames Meander Marathon was brilliant, everything I was expecting it to be! Been looking forward to it all year, but was feeling quite worried after my last (terrible) performance in Salisbury! The day began with a gentle patter of rain against the window, which threw me a bit as the forecast a few days ago had said it would be really hot, but I obviously should have checked back, oops.

Andrew came to do the half which was great! We started off together, but he ran off straight away to run an awesome 1:44:25!

I really enjoyed the route, it’s one I’m used to and I felt comfortable running there. The other runners were really friendly, I’ve never had so many comments on my running top before (which says what I’m doing), and I met several people doing similar things, and even one lady also doing 13 in 2013!

The rain was pretty light for the start as we headed through Richmond Park down to the river. Had a little mishap at mile 3 when I ran into a post, and for a moment thought I might have cracked a rib, but seemed alright, so carried on!

The river looked like a rainforest with the misty warm rain rising off the river in the trees. Held back a bit for the first half along the river back to Putney (very tempting to stop and go back home at half way!). Had some drinks and sweets at the checkpoints to keep the petrol tank full. Half way was at Putney Bridge, so we ran over the bridge to the half way checkpoint and got entangled with the football crowd going to the match at Fulham FC. Half way flapjack celebration, then decided I actually felt pretty good so decided to go for it on the way back.

Felt brilliant on the way back. As we left the river to go back into Richmond Park about 4 miles from the end, the sky went yellow, and then it went dark, and then the rain began lashing down with a terrifying fury. Wowza! It was quite a dramatic atmosphere and coupled with the fact I knew I has almost made it I really enjoyed it! As I ran up the final hill to come out of the park, a huge stag was stood at the top reaching up to eat the branch of a vast old tree, and the rain lashing down and the strange yellow darkness behind him, it was one of those moments when you fully appreciate how beauty and power nature can be.

So, back for the last mile to the finish line, which resembled a river by this point, and across the line in 3:55:11.

Off for a shower (a proper one), spaghetti bolognese and then off for a weekend in the van for Andrew’s birthday.....to Wings and Wheels and a van birthday cake...