There is something very good about doing something where there is absolutely no pressure to 'perform'. And this fabulous little trail race fell perfectly into that category.
We weren't racing.
We were aiming to simply get some good quality aerobic miles into our legs
We were planning to enjoy ourselves, no matter what.
In a way it does illustrate the relative 'madness' that runners as a breed demonstrate
You'd think that "30(ish) miles", "Running", and "Fun" would have no place being uttered in the same breath.
And yet....
Up nice and early for the traditional porridge (made with 'proper' milk) chopped banana and Maple Syrup..
And 2 cups of coffee..
Ambled out to the Bus stop for the 10 minute journey to town..
Wandered to the train station marvelling at the number and variety of people who were up and about and wandering around the City Centre at 07:45 on a misty Saturday morning..
Purchased tickets and used the well appointed and refurbished 'to look like they may have looked 100 years ago' toilets..
Then waited on the platform for the train.
We met up with some of the names and faces, that we knew from the Fetch and Runners World sites. It was all very civilised :o)
There was a slight delay to the journey, communicated to Mark the organiser - who assured us that he'd hold the start of the race for us to arrive - and we arrived with a few minutes to grab our numbers and get changed.
Lorna and I had decided ages ago that we wouldn't race this... so it was always going to be a nice run along a nice route, in the company of a number of other people - and friends and family dotted about the place roaring support at 'their' runners!
The sun came out after about 7 or 8 miles, and on went the Buff!
I'm a fair skinned (almost translucent at times) individual, and the experience of a sun-burned head and the unpleasantness of heat stroke is something I try to actively avoid!
When Lorna and I are fresh - and running - we find it reasonably easy to run together. Her easy pace is slow for me, but comfortably runnable. And there is NOTHING better than running side by side through the countryside at a pace and intensity that allows us both to either chat or, more commonly, simply soak up the atmosphere in surroundings we love, doing something we both really enjoy, in silence.
The race itself, and OUR race, seemed to break down into 3 very distinct sections
Up to the first checkpoint and just shy of 10 miles were we running really easily and fluidly. The cool and misty start gave way to a watery sun and stunning views, and we were running very nicely at 9:30-10:00 min/mile. Just after 12 miles we needed an unscheduled toilet stop, and from that point we both started to get a little 'stiff'. Nothing untoward, just not moving as well as we had been. And a little slower at 10-10:30's.
By the time we stopped in the 19th mile for a longer loo stop, my legs had loosened right up again, and running was really easy. And running slowly was easy! We had some fantastic heckling at the second checkpoint, which simply added to the quality of the experience as a whole!
I knew before we started that this whole event would be a chance for me to really concentrate on running form, especially once I started to tire. The kind of tiredness that comes from being on your feet for a long time. And much of that tiredness is from concentration. Legs felt fine but there were still miles that had to be 'ground out'.
After this break the pace dropped and there were more walk breaks than before. Lorna has this ability, when her 'running legs' decide they need a rest, to walk at an incredible pace. I simply can't keep up! Over time we have got to this understanding that if she needs to walk - she does so at the pace that is good for her, and I let her go... and when she starts to run again, I do the same. It gives me a chance to 'rest' my legs by running a little quicker, and it means that we cover the ground more efficiently!
It works well!
So when we came to the run-in to the finish, where there were a small, but VERY noisy and enthusiastic group of supporters waiting - most of whom we knew. We were able to run that bit out nice and relaxed - smiling - and genuinely having had an absolute ball.
The icing on the cake was coming through the finish to a couple of bottles of water - a packet of crisps (unexpected, but an inspired choice) a couple of bananas, and....
A JW Ultra Buff.
This is a piece of kit that I shall wear with pride!
This race - conceived, organised and run by friends and colleagues of John Ward - is a really fitting tribute to a man who clearly loved running, and was held in such high regard.
AND - it matches my road-running shoes!!
We weren't racing.
We were aiming to simply get some good quality aerobic miles into our legs
We were planning to enjoy ourselves, no matter what.
In a way it does illustrate the relative 'madness' that runners as a breed demonstrate
You'd think that "30(ish) miles", "Running", and "Fun" would have no place being uttered in the same breath.
And yet....
Up nice and early for the traditional porridge (made with 'proper' milk) chopped banana and Maple Syrup..
And 2 cups of coffee..
Ambled out to the Bus stop for the 10 minute journey to town..
Wandered to the train station marvelling at the number and variety of people who were up and about and wandering around the City Centre at 07:45 on a misty Saturday morning..
Purchased tickets and used the well appointed and refurbished 'to look like they may have looked 100 years ago' toilets..
Then waited on the platform for the train.
We met up with some of the names and faces, that we knew from the Fetch and Runners World sites. It was all very civilised :o)
There was a slight delay to the journey, communicated to Mark the organiser - who assured us that he'd hold the start of the race for us to arrive - and we arrived with a few minutes to grab our numbers and get changed.
Lorna and I had decided ages ago that we wouldn't race this... so it was always going to be a nice run along a nice route, in the company of a number of other people - and friends and family dotted about the place roaring support at 'their' runners!
The sun came out after about 7 or 8 miles, and on went the Buff!
I'm a fair skinned (almost translucent at times) individual, and the experience of a sun-burned head and the unpleasantness of heat stroke is something I try to actively avoid!
When Lorna and I are fresh - and running - we find it reasonably easy to run together. Her easy pace is slow for me, but comfortably runnable. And there is NOTHING better than running side by side through the countryside at a pace and intensity that allows us both to either chat or, more commonly, simply soak up the atmosphere in surroundings we love, doing something we both really enjoy, in silence.
The race itself, and OUR race, seemed to break down into 3 very distinct sections
Up to the first checkpoint and just shy of 10 miles were we running really easily and fluidly. The cool and misty start gave way to a watery sun and stunning views, and we were running very nicely at 9:30-10:00 min/mile. Just after 12 miles we needed an unscheduled toilet stop, and from that point we both started to get a little 'stiff'. Nothing untoward, just not moving as well as we had been. And a little slower at 10-10:30's.
By the time we stopped in the 19th mile for a longer loo stop, my legs had loosened right up again, and running was really easy. And running slowly was easy! We had some fantastic heckling at the second checkpoint, which simply added to the quality of the experience as a whole!
I knew before we started that this whole event would be a chance for me to really concentrate on running form, especially once I started to tire. The kind of tiredness that comes from being on your feet for a long time. And much of that tiredness is from concentration. Legs felt fine but there were still miles that had to be 'ground out'.
After this break the pace dropped and there were more walk breaks than before. Lorna has this ability, when her 'running legs' decide they need a rest, to walk at an incredible pace. I simply can't keep up! Over time we have got to this understanding that if she needs to walk - she does so at the pace that is good for her, and I let her go... and when she starts to run again, I do the same. It gives me a chance to 'rest' my legs by running a little quicker, and it means that we cover the ground more efficiently!
It works well!
So when we came to the run-in to the finish, where there were a small, but VERY noisy and enthusiastic group of supporters waiting - most of whom we knew. We were able to run that bit out nice and relaxed - smiling - and genuinely having had an absolute ball.
The icing on the cake was coming through the finish to a couple of bottles of water - a packet of crisps (unexpected, but an inspired choice) a couple of bananas, and....
A JW Ultra Buff.
This is a piece of kit that I shall wear with pride!
This race - conceived, organised and run by friends and colleagues of John Ward - is a really fitting tribute to a man who clearly loved running, and was held in such high regard.
AND - it matches my road-running shoes!!
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