The Main Event

I did it!

I took part in my first ever (half) Marathon – from here on in to be referred to as the ‘Harathon’ (coined by my wife) – and survived.

The short version goes something like this:

• turned up on the day recognising that I’d not been able to keep to my training regime
• resisted the urge to carry on regardless, aiming for a competetive time, and made some tacticle decisions – mostly based around self-preservation
• made up my mind to a) finish b) go for the 2 hour mark if it seemed at any point a plausible option

I remembered my friends’ advice (see earlier posts) about not starting too fast and was able to keep up a 10minute/mile balance for the first 6 miles. Knowing this and feeling confident that it was a pace which I could continue I aimed to complete the second half at the same pace. I saw my parents around this point and, with a big smile, a high five and plenty of cheering I carried on.

By mile 9 I was struggling. I began to resent the onlookers – especially those that thought it ok to try and cross the course in front of the approaching runners. I was grateful for the mile-markers and the pace-setters on route that gave me something to aim for. Small goals. Attainable goals. By mile 11 I was looking at my watch thinking that I must have dropped off the pace, my legs were heavy and my foot placements faultering…but I hadn’t. This realisation brought a renewed hope and suddenly the end seemed in sight.

I passed the 12 mile mark and believed I had enough to not only finish but finish strong. I actually picked up the pace. The more people I passed the more confident I became. Coming down the home stretch I began singing one of my training songs to myself.

I didn’t realise when I signed up that I would look back at the moment I crossed that line as one of my biggest achievements in life. As my friend kept reminding me I never thought of myself as ‘a runner’. I still don’t. The sense of achievement has come from setting myself a challenge that would be just that…a genuine challenge, and succeeding.

Thank you! To everyone reading these posts. To everyone who supported/encouraged/sponsored me. Thank you!

Re-route

There’s only a week and half to go to the Royal Parks Half and I’ve not been running in…well, for about a month.

When you consider that, since then, I’ve made a career change and moved home I don’t think anyone will begrudge this apparent inactivity.

So what am I doing now? Well, click the TLG link and have a little explore. It’s exciting times.

Right, now you’ve done that please show me and the British Paralympic Association your support by chipping in here.

Thank you!

Special Delivery

These arrived today.

Hoping to do them proud.

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(Not Quite A) Weekly Review

The last few weeks have been fully wrapped up in preparing for/running/wrapping up a multi-activity summer camp which attracted 70+ kids. Activities included: Canoeing; Biking; Climbing; Fencing; Archery; Bushcraft; Sports; Arts & Craft; Circus Skills and a lot of Dodgeball.

 

An average day was around 16hrs in length with ‘breaks’ for breakfast/drinks/lunch/dinner. Needless to say – the running plan went out the window.

Weekly Review

Note to self

• Balancing lead up to Total Adventure summer camp with getting out at lunch

In Their Shoes: Patrick Theodore Fleetwood Count-Knowlton Esq

As soon as I started thinking about doing something like a marathon I began looking around for help. It turns out I know some incredible people that have done incredible things so I asked them for advice, any hints and tips they might have for me.

Paddy – also known as PADMAN! or ‘the vegetarian’ – and I did a gap year together at Adventure Plus in 2005/6. In short my life has not been the same since. He is simply one of the most genuine guys I have ever met resulting in being a constant challenge and encouragement for me as a human being. It came as no surprise that, when I started putting out the word to people I thought might be able to help me along my way, Paddy had already begun working towards his own challenges.

How long have you been running? I started running in Spring 2012, I’d just been told by the doctor that my bad knee was here to stay and I better get used to it.  I took it as a challenge and stated running the same day.

Why do you run? I run to stay in shape (round is a shape…), primarily to one day be able to outrun a Zombie horde. But also because the exercise causes a bio-physical chain reaction that relieves stress and makes me feel great for days. Also it makes my knee better!

Have you ever taken part in a running/endurance sporting event? I’ve done two events: The Blenheim Palace Half Marathon and The Thame Triathlon.  Both were awesome events that I remember fondly.

What tips do you have for me? Focus on your breathing, change your training loads, try loads of different things: the fastest mile, the furthest you can get on one breath, running with different people and in different places/ terrain. Oh and take lots of photos on race day!

Everyday is a School Day

Today was the first of the ‘rehearsal’ runs in the half marathon training programme. These are intended to help you figure out gear and fuelling choices. I decided to find out what it was like running with a water bottle.

I found that the more I drank the more sloshy the bottle became. At this point you can probably tell I’ve never tried running with a bottle as it seems a fairly obvious conclusion. What it led me to wonder was whether or not it should be carried vertically or horizontally.

• Vertically caused it to slosh too quickly and threw me off my stride.
• Horizontally was both a help and a hindrance. It felt like it was pulling me along, causing me to open my stride with the extra momentum but this also meant I was trying to run quicker than I intended.

The only conclusion I’ve come to is that next time I’m going to go with what I know…which, drawing on my background in boardsports, is to see if some sort of backpack option will do what I’m looking for.

Weekly Review

Note to self:

• First week back after a month’s break and first week of half marathon training plan
• Schedule got mixed up/bumped a little due to w/e commitments but feels good in the whole to be getting back into it.

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Long Time…Lots Of Sea

Drawing towards the end of the month I would usually be writing a ‘Review’ post of some kind but you may have noticed the distinct lack of any activity – as far as this blog is concerned – over the past 4 weeks. Thankfully this isn’t an indication that I have gone into hibernation (though believe me when I say I would like to have done during this inexplicably hot summer weather) but rather that I have been busy elsewhere in other ways.

The biggest event of note has been a holiday that involved plenty of activity. Thank the Lord for the sea because, had it not been for that, I quite simply could have died. Trying to keep up with a little boy who has recently discovered walking, and wants to use it to it’s full effect, during a week where average temperatures were reportedly hotter than Rio is possibly one of the most exhausting things I’ve ever done in my life. Having said that, there’s nothing quite like rediscovering the wonder of rock pools/poking jelly fish/building sandcastles/running away from the sea as it washes up onto shore and all done with a little boy who is doing it all for the first time.

It’s back to work tomorrow as the half marathon plan kicks into action.

Week 1 Day 1: Rest. I think I’ve got that one in the bag. Let’s hope Day 2 follows suit…