December 2022 Marathons

Friday 09.12.22 - Phoenix Running Christmas Jumper Friday Marathon

A chilly day by the Thames at Walton-on-Thames, so the chance to give our Santa jackets from Lanzarote another outing. 

Saturday 10.12.22 - Saturn Running and Band of Runners Pantomime Dame Marathon 

Another chilly run along the Thames, this time from Staines. It was cold, but a nice sunny day, plus every runner got a Saturn giant bobble bobble hat, which was nice and toasty warm. It was fun seeing them all bobbing up and down the towpath as we all ran along. There was some good fancy dress outfits.

Sunday 11.12.22 - Phoenix Running Christmas Jumper Marathon

Today was my official 250th marathon, which I would like to dedicate in memory of my beautiful, brave, and dear friend Hannah. 

It didn't feel like a day to celebrate anything, or even be running, but sometimes I guess you just have to put one foot in front of the other and get something done.

The weather was so cold that the water jugs on the aid station had ice in, and everyone's hair froze, which made for some fabulous hair styles.  

Saturday 17.12.22 - SVN Usual Suspects Marathon

A Christmas holiday weekend in Dover for an SVN double, starting on Saturday for the Usual Suspects, where all the runners names are on the medal. This is the first, and let's face it, probably the only, time that my name is seen on a medal.

It was good to be back at Samphire Hoe, a tranquil little oasis away from all the world and worries. It was a nice sunny day running by the sea, followed by the Christmas Party of the Fenix Four in the Walmer Fish and Chip shop, which surely must be the best fish and chip shop in the land!

Sunday 18.12.22 - SVN Bobble Hobble Marathon 

After a night in the Purple Palace of Dover, watching a cruise ship and marvelling at how many lights it had, and also why a cruise ship would stay in Dover for two days, it was time for round two of the Samphire Marathons. It started off nice with an amazing sunrise, but the weather didn't turn out so nice today, and we spent the laps dodging the waves splashing over the sea wall, which added an extra element of excitement to the proceedings. By the last lap, when it had started raining as well, Sarah and I lost our sense of hummus/ humerus whilst rounding the cone of doom for the final time (whilst being splashed by a wave, and hit in the face with some hail-rain), and were quite content to have finished when we did.

Today I completed my 100 marathons in 100 weeks challenge (I took 87 weeks to do it, and the 100 was made up of 67 marathons and 33 ultra marathons including 8 x 100 milers).

Wednesday 28.12.22 - Phoenix Running Year End Marathon

There was a slight hiccup trying to get to the start, due to the train strikes making the trains start late, and then the actual train that was meant to be running turning out to be faulty. But no worries! I enjoyed spending an hour at Waterloo, I did. I bought my ticket, visited the loos just for something to do, did a lap or two of the station, went to Starbucks, sat in Starbucks, sat on the train, found it was faulty, sat there a bit longer, found it was cancelled, walked all the way back down the platform, found the next train, sat on that for a bit. I was quite sad to leave when we finally set off. Due to these hiccups, we arrived a bit later than planned at the start, but it all turned out fine. The towpath was nice and muddy, and it was nice to be out and about.

Friday 30.12.22 - Phoenix Running Zico-thon Marathon

Today, Sarah and I were treated to 8 Lovelock laps! What a great day on the towpath, and the rain and gloomy weather didn't matter when there were smiles and laughing and catching up to be done. 

Me and medal Zico are now at Gatwick.

Thank you Phoenix, Saturn, and SVN teams for some top events! And thank you Sarah for putting up with me for 7 marathons!

Wishing a very Happy New Year to you all! 💖

The Lanzarote Marathon, 03.12.2022

My first time to do this race, which has been on my wish list for a few years, as it is a big event for the 100 Marathon Club, and many many people have told me how much fun it is.

It's nice that the race is in December, as it's a good time of year to leave chilly grey London for a few days, to catch some winter sunshine. It was a nice temperature there, about 23oC, and for less then 4 hours on a plane, it's a good exchange for the UK winter!

An early morning flight from Gatwick, and met up with friends there for breakfast.

Once we landed in Arrecife, Sarah, Jon, Andrew and I hopped on the Hopper Bus, which took us to our apartments (the Celeste Apartments) in Costa Teguise.

We headed off to the Expo to pick up our race numbers, and signed up for the Santa 5km that evening. This was fun! At sunset, we ran the last 5km of the marathon route, back to Costa Teguise, all dressed up as Santa. It was a great run, but I have to say, it wasn't really hat weather 😂

Afterwards it was time to fuel up for the race, at Juanita Mexican restaurant in the Square (deconstructed fajitas), and catch an early night.

The marathon started at 08.00 on the Saturday, and it was only a 10-15 minute walk from the apartment to get there.

Great to see so many 100 Marathon Club members and friends there. There was a bit of a delay getting started, as there had been an accident on one of the roads the run went along, so we set off about 08.20, after an extra 20 minutes of chatting at the start.

Sarah and I ran together, and it was an excellent run and great fun. The course was 13.1 miles along the coast to the airport, and then back. It was all along nice paths, and was scenic running by the sea. 

It was harder than I thought it would be, and especially the first quarter and the last quarter were quite undulating. It was hot and sunny for the first half, which was a bit of a shock after running in the cold in the UK, but about half way it started raining, which was nice and cooling. Made a mistake in the first part, by following the pacer who I thought was the 4 hour pacer, but if I'm honest it was feeling a bit harder to stick with him than I really thought it should be feeling, and on closer inspection of his flag, it turned out he was the 3.45 pacer, which would explain the punchy pace. So we overcooked the first bit really, but it was a great race, felt good, and it was fun!

Good aid stations every few kms with water, coke, fruit and electrolyte drinks. We also had our own 4 x emergency shrimps, some Kendal mint cake and salt tablets. 

It was a well organised race, apart from going through Arrecife there was a turn that didn't have a marshal or a marker, where a lot of people went wrong, but luckily for us some people in the town pointed us the right way.

The end of the first half and the second half were the best parts, as runners were going in both directions by then, so we saw everyone, which was fun.

Also saw a plane landing!

Saw Jon and Helen at half way, waiting for their start of the half marathon, and Andrew at 10km before the end, waiting for his 10km start.

The finish was brilliant with plenty of crowds. We finished in 4:00:34. Beer and food at the end!

All the heavy rain had caused a problem with the electrics in Sarah's apartment, so the post marathon routine was a bit disturbed! Hairdryer and diffuser, football, post run drinks, poinsettia spotting, and another deconstructed fajita. 

Marathon Boxing Day involved breakfast at Bully's Scottish bar, watching egrets, a walk, spotting grey canaries/pigeons, listening to Andrew and Jon's top facts, lunch by the sea, shopping, a paddle/swim in the sea (warm!), cocktails, watching England win, and a belated post marathon night in Jesters.

 

Marathon Boxing Boxing Day involved another breakfast at Bully's, another walk, lunch, and then travel home.

Thanks Sarah, Jon and Andrew for our first international trip on tour! A fabulous weekend indeed. Well done to everyone. Lanzarote Marathon weekend is definitely as good as everyone had told me it was,  and looking forward to next year!

Phoenix Running Intergalactic Friday Marathon, 25.11.2022 and Saturn Running Autumn Marathon 27.11.2022

Phoenix Running Intergalactic Friday Marathon, 25.11.2022 in 04.00.45

Found a new route to Waterloo, saving half the the time of the 26 bus! Met Sarah in the front carriage of the 07.12 from Waterloo, and walked to the start at the Wier Pub in Walton-on-thames. Lovely sunny morning!

Started off about 08.30 and ran the blue bridge route, 8 laps for a marathon. Saw Dimitri the cockeral, who seemed to do an early wake up call, another one mid morning, and then a lunch time reminder. The swans were in the swan spa, the seagulls and ducks pottering along the river, and it was a nice peaceful morning on the towpath. Lots of catch ups, and a good chat-athon with Sarah, and we finished in 04.00.45, which was our fastest time running together/chat-athoning!

Mint tea, a walk back in the sunshine, and sharing the train with loads of football fans, who seemed to think it was ok to go for a wee without shutting the toilet door.

Thanks Phoenix! And Sarah!

Saturn Running Autumn Marathon, 27.11.2022 in 03.57.12

An extra bonus chat-athon! Today in Reading, which was an interesting place to try to get to with the train strikes on and what not. Worth it though! Timed it well to avoid the rain, and it was a strange, misty, humid type of day. 

Because of all the recent rain, the route was changed to the other way to normal, along the path back towards Caversham Lock. I hadn't done this before, and it was a nice route, with the exception of the giant bridge with the wrong length steps for short people. Enjoyed watching the Sunday morning football in the park we ran through, which was more entertaining than the World Cup has been so far, especially the part where they moved the goal posts (to avoid the mud). Ran over "Halloumi Bridge" which squeaked whenever we ran over it, and through "soggy cornflakes and shredded wheat sections" (to identify the differnet sogginess of the fallen leaves). The swans were all looking smart and unruffled. The man at Caversham Boat Club was putting up Christmas lights all morning, and they looked pretty sparkling across the water, especially the seesaws.

Shrimps, pretzels, and chocolate ice creams! Thanks Saturn Runnjng for a great day! Lovely to see lots of friends. Thank you Sarah for another chat-athon, and for our first time sub-4ing together! 

Running Miles Ricky Races Marathon (17.11.22), Saturn Chasing Numbers Marathon (18.11.22) & LDWA Sundon Saunter 27 miles (20.11.22)

 The best weekend of running, a mini break, friends and family!

Thursday 17.11.22 - Running Miles Ricky Races, marathon

The rain on the walk to the station was so bad, it felt like the end of days. Jumped on the Met line with Andrew on his way to work, and met Sarah on route. The run was at the Rickmansworth Aquadrome, which is super easy to get to, and a route I love.

First lap was rainy, but we ran with Theresa, which brightened things up! 

Then the rain stopped, and it turned into quite a nice day. A nice and sociable chat-athon with Sarah, with lots to catch up on, including a couple of laps talking about cemeteries, and with some km's with James as well (northern northern-ness to my southern northern-ness).

8 rounds of the route for a marathon.

What seems to be a worldwide pink shrimp shortage, forced us to experiment with strawberry hearts, and jelly babies. Plus the usual pretzels and a half way freddo.

Lots of swans and a zillion cute dogs, and a nice cafe at the end makes for a nice place to spend the morning running. Thank you Running Miles, Rik and Beryl! 

Friday 19.11.22 - Saturn Chasing Numbers, marathon, 4:16

After an "interesting" journey, made it to Staines to meet Jon, Sarah, and Annabel. Thanks Jon for the lifts! 

 

A chilly but sunny run, from Runnymead, and 8 laps for a marathon. Soon warmed up, and it was so sunny we couldn't see. It was beautiful by the still water, with the trees mostly bare now, but filled with mistletoe balls. Saw swans, geese, ducks, cows, and dogs during chat-athon #2, and wore the new Track Wars vests. Good to share some miles with Craig, Kasia, and Andy, and catch up with lots of folk.

It was giant Flump Friday! With more pretzels, and a half way jaffa cake. Great day out by the river. Thanks Saturn Running!

Sunday 20.11.22 - LDWA The Sundon Saunter, 27 miles

Such a brilliant weekend and event! Stayed for the weekend in Tingrith, and got to see my Mum, Dad, Andrew, Auntie Nicky and cousin Sammy on a mini break, so we could all do various assortments of the routes of the Sundon Saunter, an event organised by the Beds, Bucks and Northants LDWA Group. 

I did the 27 mile route (which also had some extra LDWA "bonus miles"), and it was a beautiful route and excellent event, I thoroughly would recommend it. 

It was a clockwise loop starting and finishing in Barton-le-Clay, heading down to Chalton (CP1), over to Milton Bryan (CP2), up through Woburn Deer Park (a highlight!) to Harlington (CP3) and back to Barton-le-Clay. The views were lovely, and the sun shone. It was quite muddy underfoot, but nowhere near as bad as I expected given all the recent heavy rain, and I was happy with myself that I navigated myself around without any major mishaps after quite a break from navigating type runs!

Good to see Dave, Merriem and Andrew (BBN LDWA) during the day! Although I was running mostly on my own, I met loads of people on the way round, and it was really social, and it was good to meet and run a few miles together with Dimi - thank you! Good to see Davo, Elaine and Andy, Steve, and Ercole too. 

About 1.5 miles from the end, I caught up with my Dad, who had been walking the 18 mile route, and we walked together for a while, eating Kendal Mint Cake and catching up on the day, which was brilliant! 

Amazing spread put on at each of the checkpoints, and soup and bread and cakes at the end.

Well done to my family gang who all completed their respective challenges - super proud of you all, and I love that we all do these things together! 

Thank you BBN LDWA for a superb event!