Coombe Abbey Half Marathon

I'd been searching high and low for a half marathon / 10k to do this weekend after my high of Malvern Half last weekend and could find nothing near enough to get to or that provided a medal... yes I am a medal chaser! Until Wednesday when I came across the Coombe Abbey Half Marathon near Coventry. Right I was in and looking at the pictures from the Coombe Abbey Country Park website it looked beautiful I was under the impression I would be running on the pavements around the parks passing lakes, fountains and flowers...... I wasn't.

I arrived at 8.30am got my parking space and went across to the registration desk to collect my run number, info pack and a commemorative gym bag and timing chip. I have done many a race before and never in all my life have I come across such a chunky thing. I know I'm a bit mad sometimes but this thing made me look like I was on tag day release from the looney bin! From being sunburnt from a picnic day out the day before my knee caps were bright red and skin very tight so I slapped on the factor 30 all over even though

the day was overcast. At 9.45 I made my way to the portaloos for my pre-race nervous wee and started chatting to a few ladies about the race. It was the first race held here so no one really knew what to expect but I still had the image in my head at the top of the screen. At 9.55 we had the race briefing there were 3 separate distances being covered in one, the 10k, half marathon and full marathon and I was surrounded by the familiar 100 marathon club running vests that I have got accustomed to from doing the Enigma marathons in Milton Keynes. A short presentation was made to a guy who was running his 200th marathon today then the race briefing  commenced. The deal was the 10k runners did a part lap then 2 full laps, and I would be running 6 laps receiving a hair bobble to put on my wrist after each one to show how far along I was. Standing at the start line I wasn't nervous and I wasn't even excited for some reason but got my garmin at the ready and couldn't help but think with garmin on one wrist, mental asylum tag on the other and 6 hair bobbles to slip on throughout the course I was going to be sporting some epic tan lines!

Countdown from 10-1 and away we went running through the start line and into a field covered in sheep dung and long stringy grass that whipped at your legs. The first mile was running through this field and I was wondering where the pavement would come in and the picturesque setting. We rounded a corner and continued through more field with more dung then ran around a chair and back up a long straight with a large lake to the left though you couldn't see much of the lake because of the trees. We then diverted left through a gate and ran on yes more field, more field, more field and I realised I needed the toilet..not for a wee and quite badly. Now runners will understand this but when you need to go you need to go and it's all you can think about, I actually cannot physically run when I'm like this and thought about whether I could divert of course to use the visitor toilets rather than a portaloo as I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. By the time I ran up yet more field I found I didn't need it quite so bad so thought I would do the first 2 loops then go. At this point we came along side some pavement with nice bits but we had to run on the field along side it as the park was open to the general public. We came out at the side of a childrens playground the kind with the wood chipping covering the floor and it bought back memories of going to Telford Town Park with my parents as a child. A quick jog around a line of trees and I was back through the start line finished my first lap and handed a purple hair bobble. Excellent... but half a mile into the second lap and I really really did regret not going to the toilet! I had to resort to run/walking and had got into a decidely negative mood. I don't do trail running often and have never ran a half marathon on grass/fields before I struggled to keep my footing and my ankles kept rolling. Rounded back to the part by the visitor centre I diverted this time and managed to do a 16 minute mile whilst sat on the toilet :-( Once that was out the way I ran back through the start to collect my second hair bobble and I thought things would pick up now. The laps starting going quite quick but the sun had come out in force and I just couldn't maintain constant running, there were two parts on the course where I opted to walk for a few minutes. By lap 4 I had drank all the water from my camel bak so started taking on water from the drinks station I drank half the bottle then would use the rest to tip over my head and back to try to cool myself down it was so hot! Lap 5 came and I was struggling I had been repeating my running mantra in my head saying " I can do it, I will do it, I am doing it" this seemed to help.

By mile 10 I had a blister on the side of my foot from my feet slipping in my trainers trying to run on grass I tried to ignore it and wondered why I was bothered about it when I overtook a young man who was wearing a tshirt, office shorts, white knee length socks and office shoes and backpack. He looked a little bit special and I don't really know whether he had ever ran before but good on him he seemed to be enjoying the walk. I was fading now and still had another lap to do when just at that moment I spotted a single white feather on the floor in front of me (I like to think this is a sign from my Grandad to tell me everything is ok) I said thank you grandad and smiled then a white butterfly flew in front of me for a bit and I had already established a few years back during a harmonic healing course that my spirit guide is a white butterfly. These two things spurred me on to finish. I was very hot, very tired, had an upset tummy and by now also heat exhaustion but I was spurred on to finish what I had started.

Crossing the start line I collected my final hair bobble and started walking to pour yet another bottle of water over my head. I chatted for abit with a lady I had been using as a pacer since around mile 8 she was doing the full marathon. I don't envy anyone that had to run around in that heat for a further 6 more laps than me. The rest of the final lap was a blur I knew I was still run/walking bits and was quite happy with the fact it could be a PW a personal worst but I still throughout everything had enjoyed it... a little. I came around the final bend by the childrens playground and people were clapping me on then I got to the finish with a time of 2 hours 24 mins it wasn't a personal worst and not too bad considering the toilet stops I had to take. I was happy that was all that mattered.

Malvern Half Marathon

Yippeee I did it! I ran the Malvern Half Marathon..after last year when I had to pull out due to Piriformis I was really looking forward to this, so looking forward to it my race number was number 30 and when I got there I was surrounded by lots of 300 upwards. I must have got in mega early!

I had arranged to meet Annabelle at the start and run or maybe not run together as she was aiming for 9 min miles, bit quick for me but it was great to catch up as I hadn't seen her since the Enigma Winter double marathon in January. Timing was great we arrived at the same time and went to find the toilet before the start at 10.30am.

The day was overcast and very windy and I was just hoping it wouldn't rain as I had spent the morning tanning so I could get my shorts on and get my running legs out. We made our way to the start lining up in the sub 2:30 bay and were soon crossing the start line...then 18 seconds later I crossed the finish line! A pb a pb.. unfortunately the timing mats hadn't been activated until we had crossed over ready to come back at the actual finish. Annabelle tootled off in front and I was just happy to keep a good pace but ended up running the first 3 miles at under 9 minute miles not sure if that was going to be a good thing.  I had a discussion with Annabelle at the start about how crap I run or should I say walk up hills and with it being Malvern and hilly hence the Malvern hills I was worried. She gave me advice on running up on my toes and changing my breathing and it seemed to work a treat I ran non stop for ages. At mile 6.1 I looked at my garmin and I had only gone and clocked a 10k PB of 58 minutes 30 seconds wooooppeee I debated stopping the clock and having that as a pb but thought I could possibly get a 2 hour half or a pb at least so kept it running.

 From mile 7 I had found my pace maker from previous blogs you will note these are usually women (I don't know why) around the same size and same ability looking as me... this time and I hope you stifle your laughs my pace maker was in the form of a man of around 50 slightly over weight wearing a sock type thing on his head and a pink tutu around his waist!! Go on laugh I will let you.

Have you finished laughing? Right I'll carry on.... I was mortified that this man was actually running away from me at some points this is still the one thing that baffles me on races you do judge people by the way they look I am forever being over taken by 90 year olds and a woman pushing a baby in a buggy.. go on laugh again but you know what? they could have been running since they were like 10! and I bet they didn't look as good as me at the finish and we all got the same medal.

From mile 8 onwards I was struggling slightly and the route had become rather boring. I had by this time turned my garmin to the screen saver screen as I just wanted to finish and not keep looking at my wrist. At mile 10 I worked out I had infact slowed down rather a lot and was no longer on for a pb of 2 hours 8 minutes but nearer my average of 2 hours 15 oh well I still had my 10k pb which made me happy. At mile 11 the route was horrible it was such a long straight gravel road that then turned into tarmac with speed bumps the head wind was strong and  I resorted to walking. Rounding a corner to pass mile 12 and the road was closed to traffic I did my usual of running straight down the middle on the white lines and nearly cried. I feel so free when I run like this! The finish ended with running around some cones and heading back up the opposite way we had started. The finish just never seemed to get any nearer I normally have a sprint finish in me but the last two miles of wind and speed bumps had just drained me completely.

I crossed the finish line in 2 hours 14 mins and handed the most amazing medal I think I've ever received!

I was pooped! It was a tough course full of changes in attitude from the first 10k being easy and elated at my time to gradually being worn down by long straights wind and bumpy roads. I beat the man in the tutu thank god and met up with Annabelle who had finished in 2 hours 9 mins. A brilliant race all in all.

Trailblazer 10k

Trailblazer 10k was my favourite race of 2012 so when the opportunity came around to do it all again in 2013 I grabbed it. Last year I was suffering with piriformis and couldn't really give it my all this year was going to be different and alot better!

I started off on the hour journey wondering the whole time whether having a spray tan the night before was a good idea or if I would end up with sports bra sweat marks but the run was the more important thing. After parking up on a glorious sunny day (looking quite good with my tan I might add) I made my way to the registration desk to collect my t-shirt and info pack with my wave coloured wristband and running number. Number pinned on ready to go I stood near the warm up dance stage and met a man stood on his own called Robert he had travelled alone from Cheltenham and we got chatting about how he ran this event two years prior. He usually runs 10k in just under an hour but had done a half marathon the week before so wasn't sure what time he would get. 

We decided to do the warm up together and to be honest we were both pooped after dancing around for 5 minutes I thought the 10k would be the easy part! The short walk to the start line followed where we were told the race was now an obstacle course as in the night a large tree had fallen down across the path of the runners between 2-3k and we would have to climb or jump over it. When the gun went off Rob ran off as he was quicker than me but I soon caught him up as was running under 10 minute miles which surprised me but it just seemed so very easy running fast on that day. The fallen tree came into view and it was massive I had no choice but to practically straddle it and climb over which added to the fun!

My fast running soon came to an end when I approached the first hill, I don't remember all these hills from last year and certainly not one that went on with a gradual climb for over 1 mile but the course was no different to last year. Still I was walking up them pretty fast and enjoying the sun. Rob at this point was now infront as he was talking on the hills running.  I was soon nearing the end of the course and spotted the dreaded photographer at the ready to get the awful running pictures we all love to hate but I made sure I looked tantastic and with a big smile and a thumbs up I ran past him.

Reaching the final straight on the field to the big inflatable finish line I looked at my watch and realised I was on for a pb! My current pb for a 10k was 1 hour 3 minutes I crossed the finish line in 1 hour 1 minute and was elated! Only to look at my watch again and realised the course had only measured at 5.99 miles rather than 6.2miles. Gutted and slightly confused as the course and route were no different, I don't even think taking the narrow line around corners ( which there weren't may of) I wouldn't have come up that short. Still I collected my medal and goody bag which is the most amazing goody bag ever and who was waiting at the finish for me but Rob, he had waited to see how I did, I told him my time which meant he came in well under an hour as he was waiting a good five minutes for me. All in all an excellent day an excellent race, excellent medal, tshirt and goody bag and I have been informally advised I can class my 1 hour 1 minute as a pb as sometimes gpd can be out by around 5%.