A
great three races over the last couple of weeks, courtesy of the
fabulous Phoenix Running....
First
up, my first attempt at two marathons in a day. Each marathon was 8 x
5 km laps along the River Thames from Elmbridge Leisure Centre just
outside of Walton-on-Thames to Walton Bridge. I was a bit worried
about it. I know that I've done races that are the equivalent of two
marathons in length, but for some reason I'd got it into my head that
doing two times a shorter run was harder than doing one longer run,
which makes no sense at all, but there you go.
My
nerves all a-jitter, the first marathon (The Running Man, #82) set off at
09:00. The first few laps were busy by the river, with rowing clubs
out training, and a cycle event going on. In addition to the super
friendly Phoenix marshals,
there were an extra two friendly marshals
from the cycling race, thoughtfully placed either side of The Blue
Bridge of Botheration (as I came to call it, by the end of going up
and down it twice on each lap x 16 laps). I managed to do the whole
run without a hitch, which is not something I've said often of late.
So, hurrah! I did 4:27, which left an hour and a half before the next
one started, which was time for a few snacks, some coffee, and a
catch up with Andrew and fellow runners, and a shower. Seriously,
I've never had a shower mid run before, but blimey I felt better for
it! I got distracted admiring my new bit of bling momentarily...
....then
realised I was late for the next race brief, and assumed the poise of
Running Man to head to the start of the next race (The Night Phoenix, #83)....
...for
15:00 and off! I felt good for the first 3 laps, then had a bit of
blip for laps 4-5. I think my energy dropped a bit low and the shakes
came on, but I adopted what turned out to be a very effective
strategy (I have noted this for future disasters) of a chocolate
Freddo and a fistful of assorted sweets from the delectable Tuck Shop
aid station at the end of the next three laps, and by lap 6 I felt
back on form. The last 3 laps I felt good again, plus dusk was
gathering, and that meant....it was time to try out my new head
torch! (see the last blog for the calamity that had lead to
this latest purchase). It was magical running along the river in the
dark, the water glittering in the torch light (which, by
the way, is a thousand times better than my old one, not
least because it actually stays switched on),
and lots of tiny dots of light bobbing up and down along the side of
the river from the other runners torches. I don't know what it is
about running in the dark, but it's just different to running in the
light. It's more absorbing. Even though you see less, you feel more,
hear more, smell more. I was so absorbed in it, I could have kept
going all night (well, OK, maybe not ALL night), but Andrew, legend
that he is, was waiting to drive home, so I called it a night at a
marathon. I did 4:48 so was pretty pleased with that, but not
nearly as pleased as I was with the second addition of bling for the
day:
I
was pleased as punch with the day's medal haul, but it was not over
yet! Rik presented me with a third and unexpected bling...my
bronze Phoenix Wings, for completing 10 events with Phoenix:
I
shall wear them on my trainers with pride (and hope that they do,
actually, give me wings), on my way hopefully to silver wings in 15
races time...
Which
I thought I'd crack on with ASAP, and so wings attached, two
weeks later flew down to the River for The Leviathon 50 Miles (#84).
This had the same start, but different direction; a 3.3 mile leg out
to Hampton Court, then back, x 7.6 times. I was a bag a nerves again
about the laps. They just seemed like very long laps, and a lot of
them. But, as always, there was nothing to worry about, as it was a
splendid race, and probably my favourite Phoenix run so far, beating
off some stiff competition.
The
weather forecast was a devil. Monday = sun, Tuesday = sun, Wednesday
= sun, Thursday = sun, Friday = sun, Saturday (9am, race start) =
heavy rain, Sunday = sun, Monday = sun, etc etc. The only inaccuracy
in the forecast was that the rain was a little late in starting, so
we got in one lap before it started bucketing it down. And then, no
exaggeration, it poured, and poured, and poured all day long,
with not a moment's break. The fish in the river were looking at us
in pity. I have never been so wet. And with the wet it was cold. So
cold! I, being a fool, had failed to bring anything sensible, like
gloves, but fear not! A handy toilet block at the end of the lap had
hot water and
a hot hand-dryer, and for my last 5 laps I made a short detour each
lap to defrost my digits. Note to self: winter is here. Bring
clothing, lots of it.
The laps passed by with unexpected ease and, other than being accidentally bitten by a dog who was trying to steal my 4th lap cheese scone but instead ended up with my hand, passed without injury or drama. As
always at Phoenix, I spent the day with a crowd of awesome people,
and big thanks to everyone, runners and marshalls, for making the day such fun. I ran 9:02:31 which is a 50 mile PB for me by 44 minutes. I was so surprised by myself that I almost fell over, and the final straw was being given the event medal, which was so enormous, it pretty much floored me into a nearby puddle, but I was already so wet it made not a scrap of difference:
Well done to everyone who ran today, conditions were not favourable! And also to Rik and the marshalls - I can't imagine standing around looking after us all in that weather was any nicer than running in it.
A short break has ensued since the Leviathon, as I had laser surgery on my eyes. Turns out my right eye is a bit naff, and didn't do what it was supposed to post laser, so has taken a bit longer to be sorted. But thanks to my excellent consultant at Moorfields, it is now fixed, and for the first time since I was 4 years old, I now have 20:20 vision, which is just magic. Now I can see, the path towards #100 is becoming clearer....
