Marathon #100 - Dirty Running, 24.02.19

Bit late in updating this, but haven't really known what to write, as it was such an amazing day, and now it's over, I'm feeling a bit flat. Which isn't a very inspiring thing to write about, so I haven't. I'm a bit annoyed by myself, because a few people said that this would probably happen, and I was like, yeah yeah whatever, I'll just plan some other stuff for afterwards and it'll all be fine. So I did all that, but I've still been feeling rubbish.

But - this is not how I imagined my blog about marathon 100 would sound! So, to remain positive, let's rewind back to the day, which was so good! And everyone's been so nice about it; I've never had so many messages. This must be what it's like to get married, or have a baby, or something. So, thanks everyone!

To try and warm up to writing something more upbeat, I will begin with the great British tradition, which everyone is comfortable talking about - The Weather. I never thought I would run a marathon in February in a vest, but the weather was amazing! Which was extremely lucky, as I decided I wanted the 100 MC vest and not a long sleeved top or anything, so to be able to wear it in Feb was a stroke of luck.

I still remembered that there was still a marathon left to run before hitting 100, so it was time to stop wittering on about the weather, and get on with it, so sunglasses on, and off we headed. It was such good fun - thank you so much to ALL the other runners and marshalls the whole way around who shouted, smiled, laughed, high fived, limboed, ran with me, and made it like a party. It was the best run ever, and I loved completely every single step. When I did my first marathon, I had no idea that marathons could be this much fun! But I always say this, and that's because it's true; that running has given me a lot, but the best thing about it is the people I meet. Some photos from the course (which, I almost forgot, was a new course for me at Phoenix - 5km laps towards Hampton Court x 8 for a marathon).....

But before you know it (and that's another thing I would never have said during my first marathon! - where I 'hit the wall' at 19 miles) it was over, and that meant....cake time!

 

Cake demolished, and it was time for the quest for the vest to be completed, and thank you so much Rik for doing my presentation....

....and for all the other special touches during the day, like having running number 100 and a special souvenir number....

Then it was time to celebrate with friends and family, whilst witnessing some fabulous photo bombing...

Thanks Mum and Dad for coming all the way from Lancashire to be there - you were there at my first marathon, where I almost threw up, so I hope this time was a better experience!

It took me 3452 days from my first marathon to my 100th, which is nearly nine and a half years. So long in fact, that my first marathon (Fleetwood) doesn't even exist any more. It's been an amazing journey, wow, I've been so lucky! But I should probably stop talking about it as a journey that has been completed, as it makes it sound like it's over, which I think is what's making me sad about it. I guess it's just a stop on the journey, like on a train, and now it's moving again, off to more places and more adventures. 

Thank you so much everyone for everything! I am very lucky 💜💛💙💚💗

Marathon #99 - flake day!

Fun by the river today for flake day marathon #99 - The Jaw Dropper!

Misty early this morning, fab walk along the river to the start, lots of rowers out in the river, with little lights on their boats. It soon warmed up though and it was such a beautiful day to be out running. Vest weather in February!

Loved today's run, thank you Kasia for the lovely company as always and all the chats and laughs. I'm so in awe of you for running when sick - you are a complete legend. Also got some miles in with Andy, Ben, Tim, Lynda and Helen in the last couple of laps, thanks guys! So many lovely folks out today - thank you so much for your kind comments and encouragement, it was such a great day thanks to you all 😁

Thank you Rik and all of Team Phoenix at Aid Station Extraordinaire for a fab day, and for some excellent aid station stops (thank you for my new yellow cup!!)

Excited for tomorrow! Although, I've got two flakes...one this morning from Rik, and then one this evening from my parents...so I guess this means I've got to do another 99 marathons now....

...woop!

Marathon #98 - The Winter Poppyline 16.02.2019

Nearly got an injury this week, which is ironic because 1) I’ve got this close without getting one and, 2) I did it whilst not running. Well, technically I was, but only by accident. Was going to get my name printed on my 100 MC vest, but was late leaving work, and was worried was going to miss closing time at the printing place. So I was doing a bit of a sprint from the tube in Leyton, tripped over a tree root, and went flying down the street, did a star jump position, but on the floor. I hate to think what the bloke in the printers thought of me, there was a massive hole in my trousers with blood all over it, my hand was all cut, and I later realised when I got home there there were twigs all over my coat from the tree I landed under, and I’d somehow got mud on my face. Nice! Looking on the bright side, I made it there before it shut, and although I have a good amount of cuts and my knee is purple, purple is my favourite colour.

Having survived the week otherwise unscathed, this weekend it was time for another LDWA outing – The Winter Poppyline, a 50 mile run in Norfolk, from Norfolk and Suffolk LDWA. Ran with Andrew, Sarah and Jon today, and had a totally fabulous day. The run started Aylsham, and the first section wound northwards, along sandy tracks, muddy roads, and sun dappled woods. The first checkpoint at Itterington, was quite early on at 6.5 miles, and it seemed to come along quickly. My hip (that I’d hit on my ‘accident’) was a bit twingy, it sort of felt like a stitch but in the wrong place, so I guess just muscular, but it and my knee both seemed to feel better the longer I ran, which just proves that running is the best medicine. The next section was a bit longer, 10 miles, heading further north up to Holt. Beautiful scenery all the way again.

It was turning into a fantastic day weather wise, way too hot in my choice of clothes and seriously regretting bringing two spare jackets as well as the one I was wearing. A highlight of this section was running over the world’s greatest stile...

But we must pause. Holt even! It was time for the second checkpoint…

...at Holt! Bumped into Davo, and Merrian, had some chats, a cheese sandwich, and then on for another section, which didn't take up that much space in the route description, but was full of misleadingly brief sentences. It started by running past the world’s biggest school. The route description said ‘go past school’ so sounded quite quick. About ½ a mile later, we were still running past it. Then it was along the world’s longest pavement, the route description said ‘continue along pavement’ and 15 minutes later we we still running along it. Until we reached the world's longest grassy track……etc, etc. About 40 minutes later, having finally made it past paragraph one, the toot of a steam train echoed, heralding the beginning of the next paragraph.....'over railway' - hurrah! We were still heading north, and soon enough, the sea was spotted (Sarah winning the sea spotting competition)! Something about seeing the sea that just always feels a bit magical, suddenly this huge open space, and skies reaching high above. There was a slight spanner in the works when I stopped staring at the sky, and noticed that the route was taking us onto the beach, which meant shingle...

...for another deceivingly short sentence "follow path on shingle".....until eventually, shaking out the stones from our shoes, we climbed up onto the cliff tops for some beautiful views. 

Then it was inland, through Sheringham Park, which is a National Trust estate, and very nice it is too, to checkpoint 3 at Sheringham, which was about the 1/2 way point. Never one to break a rule, I took the next instruction seriously "please ensure you have plenty to eat and drink before leaving; it is 12.5 miles to the next checkpoint." Water, bakewell tart and custard, twiglets, and some mints for the journey felt like about 12.5 miles worth of fuel, and so it was onwards!

And up Beeston Bump....and then down again! Through some shrubs (or, were they trees, and what is the cut off point between being a shrub and becoming a tree?), back over the railway, along some tracks around another huge school, and fields and fields full of hundreds of horses. Past lots of caravan sites, a Roman Camp, and soon we were in Cromer. Where... there was a surprise checkpoint! With chocolate Freddos! And the nicest marshals, who were there as a safety precaution, to warn us and those who would be arriving here in the dark, that the next section was up on the cliffs, and had some dangerous bits. I could see why, it was a bit hairy up there. More great views though, through the gorse, of the sea and the coast line.

Then back inland, and past a very exciting bit called the Shrieking Pit....

....what a wonderfully written tale, but blimey, I'm glad it's this week, and not the 24th. It was getting quite chilly, come to think of it. But then, it was getting quite dark. Maye that was it, and not a shrieking damsel. Luckily, it was time for checkpoint 4, which was in a church in Southrepps. Absolutely amazing checkpoint, warm and bright coming inside from the gathering dusk, a choice of THREE flavours of soup, rice pudding and peaches, fudge bars, tea, cake, you name it, I'm sure it was there, along with a host of wonderful marshalls. And we were at 38.5 miles already - I couldn't understand it, the miles were flying by, it was a brilliant day, we were making good time, and I felt completely fine. What was going on?!

Head torches on, it was out into the dusk. I love running at night (but only if others are around, especially if there are shrieking damsels swooping around the vicinity). Everything changes, and it feels more in the moment, as you lose all of the references you normally see around you, and you really have to focus. We were just discussing this, and if we could tell how far distances were, say how far 800 m was, which is what we were just doing "in 800 m, as road bends left, at seat on right, go ahead". A few minutes later, chatting, we realised that this had been a few minutes more than what we had decided 800 m should take.....ahem....and focus....

The rest of the section was fun, head torches bobbing along, until we made it to the final checkpoint in Felmingham (after a small mishap of running past it on the wrong side of the road). Thank goodness we found it, as it (like all of the other checkpoints) was a gem - friendly marshalls (including the kind gentleman who was driving the body bus on the Red Rose 50 last year and who picked up my parents and got them back safely when the had to retire because of illness- cheers!). There was even cheese and grapes, so it felt a bit of a posh way to be spending a Saturday night. A glass of wine, and we could stay here all night. But focus! Only 4.5 miles to go now....

The last section was really good fun - a really long straight bit which we ran at a good pace along, and it felt good to feel so good at the end. I didn't even want it to finish, but soon enough we were back at Aylsham, having beans and eggs on toast and hot tea - thank you so much Andrew, Sarah, and Jon for a fantastic day! 

Great to see Neil at the end, who did a brilliant job of completing his 50th marathon/ultra today - good job well done! Caught up with Dave and Merrian, and plenty of other familiar folk - well done to everyone. And thank you so much Norfolk and Suffolk LDWA and the other groups who were there too today - a hugely enjoyable event, which has made many happy memories. I haven't explored this area before, but the route was the perfect way to see a beautiful area, and all the marshalls looked after us so well.

And! We got new buffs! 💕

Well, one more week until #99 and #100. Feels quite odd that it's so close. In the meantime, I shall try to make it back to the printers to pick up my vest without further incident, and get on to the important aspects of getting a cake....

#96 The Philosophers Run (09.02.19) and #97 The Punchbowl (10.02.19)

Had a dip following the Excalibur run a couple of weeks back. Felt rubbish and couldn’t run well at all. Had a panic that I’d seemed to schedule all of my number 90 runs in some kind of random illogical order, having a weekend with no running, then leaving the last 5 runs all in three weekends. What an idiot! To make myself feel better, on the weekend off, I went for a run with Andrew, 18 miles around the Thames loop, which used to be one of my favourite runs; down to Greenwich and under the tunnel, along the south bank, back over Tower Bridge, and along the north bank, then along the canal, via the weekend market for a snack, and home. But I couldn’t even manage that, and had to abort at about 15 miles at the Tower of London (no one was raven about my running on that day, but for some reason that I can’t fathom, some people don’t like these jokes, so I couldn’t even laugh about it).

Anyway! Moan moan moan, blah blah blah. Enough of all that. Fortunately, things started looking up, and what I had interpreted to be a scheduling error, turned in to be one of my most favourite running weekends!

Saturday was the Philosophers Run, down in Egham by the Thames. Organised by Saturn Running, so bound to be a good day out. I woke up at 3:30, and couldn’t get back to sleep, so bored of staring at the dark and worrying about if would have to abort today’s run at 15 miles as well, and so ruin my 100 plans, I got up, made a brew, and did some work, which is a terrible way to start a weekend, but by 5:30 I actually felt like I’d already achieved something, and was feeling a bit better. I got to sit on the top deck on the front seat on the bus to Waterloo, which even though I’ve lived in London for ever, is still one of the most exciting things that can happen, so I knew the day was going to be good. I got to Waterloo ridiculously early, and being unaccustomed to being very early for anything, wasn’t sure what to do, but figured that I’d already been up for several hours, so it was probably acceptable to have cake and coffee, so sat in Pret for a bit and watched everyone rushing around.

Got to the start and caught up with some familiar faces, and met a lovely lady called Sarah who was training for her first London Marathon, and who has a 5 year old, and also 2 year old twins, which instantly made me realise that waking up at 3:30, once, was actually no big deal. We all gathered outside for the race briefing, and a little grey dog carrying a stick (well, a branch really, maybe even a log) at least twice as long as he was, decided that he should run right through the middle of everyone, which woke everyone up quite quickly. Then he turned around, and fixed his eyes to the front, ready for the race brief.

Soon we were off, which was good, as it was quite chilly. Ran with Craig – thank you for a great run - and for a good pace! Did 4:23 which I was quite surprised by, given not feeling too good the last two weeks, but it felt a comfortable pace, and I felt good for the whole 8 laps. I’ve run this route once before, but had completely forgotten it, so it was a nice surprise to rediscover it. The path was really muddy and a bit hard going, but the weather was pretty nice, with only a short shower on the last half lap. Ran into loads of familiar faces today and lots of chats on the way around; Kat (on her 350^th marathon today), David (I can’t count as high as the number he is on now), Costas, Apryl, Jagjit, Kerry, Olga, Rob, Brian, Sean, and lots of other that I'm sorry if I missed out. Got a twirly medal at the end. 

Thank you Charlotte and George of Saturn Running, and all your lovely helpers, and all the runners, for a fantastic day!

Sunday was the Punchbowl, which is a 30 mile run, from Surrey LDWA. I’ve done it twice before, and love it. It starts from the village hall in Witley and does a big loop, taking in the Devil’s Punchbowl. The Devil’s Punchbowl, should you be interested, is a 697 acre site of scientific interest, a natural amphitheatre, and takes a devil of a long time to run around the rim of it (which, by the by, used to be the route of the A3). There are great views from up there, and even on sunny days (which today was not, but more on that later), it’s sort of misty up there – a place indeed for legends, and it has some fine ones. My favourite, is that in the Middle Ages, the Devil was becoming irritated by all the churches being built in Sussex, so he was trying to dig a channel from the sea through the South Downs, and flood Sussex. How enterprising! He got as far as a village called Poynings when he was inconveniently disturbed by a cock crowing, and assuming it to be morning, leapt into Surrey (why the Devil should have decided that Surrey was a better place to be seen in daylight rather than Sussex is unclear in the story, but I feel these are details we should not bother ourselves with) and thus created the Devils Punchbowl. Who is to say whether this is true, or not, but what I can tell you for sure is that the Devil’s Punchbowl is a devil to climb, and I was moving much more slowly than anything on the A3 by the time we reached the top.

Anyway, I skip ahead. Ran with Andrew and Kasia today, and we were joined in the last few miles by Peter. Another fun day, and the miles went by quickly (and would have been even more quickly save for a few ‘additions’ to the route description, starting off with our first diversion in the first 200 metres, whilst I was in charge of navigating). The route had changed this year, the loop was the other way around a bit different, and it was just as good as normal. The route went south from Witely down to the Devils Puchbowl and checkpoint one, then a long section North up to Sands and checkpoint two (rice pudding!), then a loop around to Elstead, and back south to Witley.

I love the scenery around there – the red sand, pine and heather, and up on the ridges the views are great, and the route really shows it off to it's best. The weather was meant to be bobbins today, but it really wasn’t that bad, was even sunny for an hour or two. We were even chatting about how fine a day it had turned into, a few minutes before the end, when the sky turned dark, the wind whistled, and the Devil must have decided to flood Sussex after all, and it bucketed it down for the last two minutes. But who cares! We were soon back inside the village hall, tucking into beans in toast and hot drinks, and all was well again. Good to see Neil at the end too, who is well on target for his 50th marathon next weekend! Thanks everyone for a great run today, and of course Surrey LDWA for a top notch event.

It's funny that you can be really worried about something, and then it's turns out to be just the best time. Had the best weekend, so big thanks to everyone who made it so. I love running again! Which is a timely feeling to  feel. I think I might actually make it to #100 after all! Got The Winter Poppyline 50 this weekend coming (#98), and then the Jaw Dropper marathon (#99) and Dirty Running (#100) the weekend after....