Autumn is coming......

I didn't do any races this week, so I thought I would focus on admiring the changing seasons instead. Yesterday, I ran in Victoria Park. The weather was dreadful, but I managed to run between showers, and running through the leaves blowing in the wind was refreshing, and felt like it blew away some of the worries from my head. It was mild, and in the breaks between the wind everything felt still. It sounds ridiculous, becuase when running you are moving pretty much as much as you could be, but running is the only time I really feel still inside. Much like I imagine it must feel to be able to meditate (which I can't).

Anyway, I was running along, and saw the British Military Fitness session going on. The instructor was shouting, and looked super fit, and it all looked really hard, and I thought, he's probably looking at me thinking I wasn't really running that fast or dropping down to do press ups in the mud every 10 strides, or anything. I ran a few more steps, then thought, well maybe, but I can run 100 miles, that's not too bad right? Then I thought of the three 100 milers I've done, and then about ones that are coming up, and then I remembered, The North Downs Way 100!!! Entries opened this morning and sell out quick! I was meant to enter it first thing! I ground to a holt, startling a nearby squirrel...

...and surrounded by leaves blowing all around, and the squirrel giving me reproachful looks for standing in it's patch, I managed to enter.

Phew. I carried on, and enjoyed the Autumn leaves. 

I found another squirrel to practise my photography on...

Which took a bit of practise...

But in the end I got there...

I thought, well, nature is so tranquil, even in the city!

Then I thought, it's not though is it? Nature is horrific. This week, while walking to work, and I'm not kidding, I saw a crow swoop down, pick up a tiny mouse, and fly off with it in its claws, the tiny mouse squeeling away. It was awful. 

Then, there's the problem of the giant spider living in the garden. It started out with a small web, but now it goes from one side of the garden to the other, and it's impossible now to get to the bottom of the garden without getting tangled in its web. Everything else does, and in a week the spider has doubled in size. Today it ate a wasp. A whole wasp. It did.

It's horrific. I'm not sure what to do about it. It's about three times bigger than my spider catcher allows for. I'm thinking to hit it with a stick into the canal, but I don't think I'm strong enough to hold a stick big enough to have any impact on it, and if I failed and got trapped in its web, I have no doubt I would be dinner.

I shiver to think of it. I wish that crow would fly by and sort it out. Other than that, I have no idea how to conker it.

Race to the Thrones Part 1 & Part 2, 21.09.2019

Yesterday it was time to go back to The Towpath, for a whole days running with Phoenix Running.

It's been a few weeks since I've done any events, because of other things. And I haven't done very much running either. Had a bit of a low patch and haven't felt much like running or writing, without the focus of a race to make me do it. Which is very bad, as that's exactly what I know I should do to feel better, but sometimes you are your own worst enemy I suppose. Anyway, I'm sorting it out now, and it's starting to work I think. My writing is not as up to a standard that I like (sorry!), but I figured I have to start somewhere, and gradually it will come back....

So! It was so good to be back on the running circuit and have lots of long overdue catch ups! Although, I was quite worried that I wouldn't still be able to run. I wanted to do 2 marathons today, to keep on track for my 52 marathons in 52 weeks....

The runs were Game of Thrones themed. I don't know anything at all about the Game of Thrones, other than that Phoenix Race to the Thrones runs are brilliant, and the medals are beautiful...

The first run started at 9.30. Band of Runners (a new podcast by some of my running friends Rob and Simon - it's great fun - check it out here) were having a podcast takeover. They have some great new merchandise and I got a new top. I love it! And great to see so many people running along the towpath in it.

Lots of long overdue catch ups on the way round, it was a lot of fun, thanks everyone. Got to spend a few laps with Sarah, which was fun and she definitely dragged me along quicker for a few miles! Amazing to see Paula complete her 12 halves in 12 months - thanks for the hugs each lap, and I am very proud of you! It was very hot, and the were ice lollies about half way, when I got to catch up with George and his Race Across Scotland adventures. There was a dog show, and a duck race on up by the Anglers Pub, and the London to Brighton bike ride was on, so it was pretty busy on the towpath, which meant there was lots to look at, and forget that my legs were feeling a bit tired after half way. Was going to stop at a marathon (8 laps) but was worried about stopping for too long before the next one which started at 4, and seizing up. I also ran (ha!) into Sarah and Jon at the end of lap 8, so got to run another lap with them and catch up on ages, and be inspired by all their epic 100 achievements. It felt pretty tough the run this morning, but it was definitely fun to be with everyone again, and I was happy to have completed an ultra. 

I finished about 3 pm, so had an hour before the next. Felt a bit sick, but had a veggie sausage roll and some grapes, and a shower, and felt a bit better for the next one. I was regretting wearing brand new trainers on a double run day, and I had a blister. I'm such an idiot.

Got going again, which felt OK for a lap, then it was just quite hard work. The towpath seemed even busier and hotter, and I was struggling to think that I had so many more laps to do. Luckily though I met Sarah again, so shared some more miles, but when she finished her half, I found the next lap really tough, I was feeling low on energy but also feeling sick. Forced myself to eat some crisps and water, and about a mile later I felt a bit more energetic. A little bit. It seemed to be taking forever to get dark, and that was what I was looking forward to. I love running on the towpath in the dark! Gradually though, night came, and the towpath got quieter and the last 2.5 laps when I had to use my head torch felt much easier, and I loved them. The lights on the water, runners head torches bobbing along in the distance, and the sounds of things in the night is all magic! I felt like carrying on as I was feeling quite happy again, but I was worried about catching the train back, so I called it a day at 8 laps. So happy to manage my marathon, and as a bonus finished just in time for the Disco starting in the Aid Station - the aid station was lots of fun today, thanks Rik and Marshals! Even got a Marathon Bar....

And energy restored, I was able to put the two medals together....

It's like art! 😍

So now as well as working on getting my mind back into shape, I've had a good bash at getting my body back into shape too. 55 miles of running and 5 miles of walking to the station and back - I didn't think I could do it, but, thanks to the support and love of my running friends, I managed it. Thanks everyone for a tough but lovely day! 💙💜💙