I raced the above on Sunday 13th March, my first race since March 2020 so I was apprehensive as I’d no idea where I was in terms of speed.  During lockdown I’ve barely done anything as we got a rescue dog and I’ve concentrated on helping him settle in – though I have to say I reckon the dog walks have helped keep my fitness in relative check.

I have been marathon training the last few weeks as I was talked into doing Blackpool marathon in April, so I’ve been trying to play catchup.  My training runs have been a disappointment to me personally, I’ve struggled with most of them and have simply not enjoyed the training this time.

Unsurprisingly, I was very apprehensive ahead of the race but lined up between the 75 and 80-minute pacers, thinking I should manage that.  Mile one was a little congested and uphill but probably served me well, stopped me going off too fast.  Miles 2 to 5 were a dream, having overtaken the ladies around me and it being flat and relatively wind-free.  By mile 6 I knew I was racing and by mile 7 it was starting to get a bit hard.  The 75-minute pacer ran ahead and as we started to climb, I wasn’t able to stick with him.  Not only were we climbing but there was a headwind to deal with (which seemed to stay with me for the rest of the race, as I continued to race alone).  The 75-minute pacer was nowhere to be seen by this point.  I was running on my own and starting to struggle and died when I had to go up and over a railway bridge.  At the end of mile 9 was a muddy section not suited to road shoes but with no one around me, I was able to slow a little and stay upright.  Thereafter, it was downhill through a housing estate to a trail path and then round to the finish.  I did hear footsteps behind me but when I glanced it was a male and I was very thankful, as I didn’t have anything left to “race” to the finish had it been a female (having said that, my last mile was 7.02).  Anyway, I have no idea what the pacer was doing as I finished in 1.13.31 (he came in around 1.12), 6^th lady and 3^rd V50 (impressively the first two ladies were V50).  It’s nowhere near a PB but given the circumstances, I was very happy.

Vicky Henderson-nee-Cooper

Big Way Around in Winchester was a new event, by a totally new company called Big Feat Events. 4 distances of 14 mile, 19 mile, marathon and 50km ultra, of which I did the ultra and it was my first race since Feb 2020 and my first in a Corsham vest as a recent new member!

The course, 3000ft elevation, was really quite beautiful taking in parts of the South Downs way, various landmarks around Winchester and took us through a variety of terrain, everything from a bit of tarmac, to hard packed and very runnable trails, to technical woodland sections and even the town centre (which was a bit mental trying to dodge shoppers on the high street at midday on a bank holiday and run through busy car parks in the final mile or two… bit weird that was!). Like any new race and new company, there were a myriad of teething issues, mostly the poor GPX file that was provided (nothing close to being like the actual course) and many people got lost particularly in the 2nd half of the race (I heard many issues with the marathon route especially, some folk doing 25 miles and others doing 28!). I even got sent about 0.8 mile the wrong direction by a young marshal meaning the 2nd place runner caught up with me… That being said and looking back now, I don’t really care as it was just so good to back in a real race and I would do this event again as I am sure they’ve learned some valuable lessons and the course was just so nice!

I didn’t have much expectations as it was the first race back in so long. My training had been really good (set two solo Time Trial PB’s at 5km (17:29) and half marathon (1:19:38) in the run up) and I appear to have (finally) fully recovered from a year long battle with Achilles issues so I set myself a target of 50km in under 4 hours. I started off strong pushing out 7-8 min mile pace in the early miles and soon found myself way out ahead of other runners for large parts of the race! I started thinking I’d gone out way too hard, but despite insane muscle twitches in the last 5 miles (I messed up my race day fuelling plan… muppet!), I managed to keep pace to the end and went through 50km in 3:59, bang on target, and crossed the finish line in 2nd place, just a few minutes behind a Team England ultra runner. Due to the extra 0.8 mile I finished in 4:06. It was quite the surprise to mixing it up amongst some very high level runners and it’s given me confidence going into future races, especially as I know I’ve got plenty of improvements to make

Still pinching myself really… I only started running at 34 years old (I’m 39 in August) after a very serious mental health battle. I decided I’d try running instead of taking the anti-depressants my GP gave me and it helped me give up cigarettes and get my noggin back in a good place. At no point did I ever expect to be running like this. Hoping I can keep improving and help CRC bring home some points in leagues 🙂

If you got this far, thanks for reading and listening to me waffle on!

Nick (https://www.maximummileage.co.uk)

I have always been quite competitive with myself and will generally try and push beyond what I am capable of. So why would I be content with just running a marathon for the first time, when I can try and run my debut marathon with a sub 3-hour target right?! Ambitious I hear you say? – yes! Perhaps a little foolish as a first I hear you say? – maybe! But a target I can get totally stuck into? – absolutely!

I must admit I set this target at a time when my best half marathon was 1:28:XX and had read all the articles that I could possibly find that suggested doubling you HM time and then adding 20 minutes and numerous that read to double and add 30. None of these seemed to appeal to me though so a sub-3 it was and once I said it out loud a few times, then I kind of dedicated my whole being to achieving it (another symptom of my competitive nature) without a single clue on how I would achieve it.

Training through the winter went well. I am a cyclist at heart really but cycling training is at its best during the summer months for obvious reasons, whereas I find the opposite true for running so they go hand in hand in that respect and means that you can up the mileage (sufficiently enough to prepare for a marathon). I set myself mini goals in the lead up but little fragments of doubt did start to creep in (which I chose to ignore). The two sessions each week that undoubtedly helped me the most were the weekly speed session and my weekly long run. Working from home and having to look after my children during the day too, meant that I had to do all my sessions early in the morning – luckily for me I found a good running buddy in Stuart Henderson, who was also fond of a 04:00 alarm clock and was aligned to my get up, get out, and get it DONE approach. I have always found it easier to get the motivation to get up and start running at an early time in the morning, if you are running to meet up with someone at a specific place and at a specific time. Kind of makes the 04:00 alarm call worth while right?

So race day came, Saturday 3rd April 2021 at Dorney Lake, near Windsor. To say I was nervous was an understatement and typically when I get nervous before an event the toilet beckons – A LOT – 3rd April was no exception but at least I wouldn’t be caught short halfway round a lap when the race started, which would have (probably) pretty much destroyed any hope of a sub 3-hour time. I was part of the first wave off and was group ‘U’. Figuring I still had time, I made my way back to the car to top up on some refreshing water and to get my game head on before the start. As I made my way back I could see that runners were starting. I still thought I had time though, so I took a gentle stroll to the start line. When I got there however, I was the only one as everyone else had already gone!! (oops first lesson learnt for the next marathon).

I set off and had wise words ringing in my ears from Vicky Henderson in a message that I had read that morning that said in summary (race your own race and keep at your own pace – finish strong). I looked down at my watch after around a third of a mile and saw the average pace at 05:50/mile. I felt good, so spent the next minute or so rationalising whether it would be a good idea to try and maintain that pace all the way round and finish epically but then wisely concluded (with that Vicky voice still in my ear) that I should slow down – after all, it was a marathon not a sprint! I slowed down and maintained a good pace still feeling good past half marathon then up to 15 miles. I was confident as I ran up to 22 miles in training and felt ok with that, so was feeling confident that I wouldn’t hit a hitch until the last couple of miles.

However, just before the final lap at around mile 17, this gigantic wall of fatigue just hit me like a brick and I started to feel totally rubbish and was looking at every coned off area and contemplating stopping at one of these for a well-earned rest. After all, I had earned it right?!! This was the thought process I battled with for the next 4 miles, but managed to keep the pace alive. Then the wheels really started to come off at mile 21 and 22 where I posted my first two 7 something minute miles – I spent those two miles calculating and recalculating how much time I could lose before having to admit defeat and miss out on that sub-3hr. Luckily, I met a guy called Josh who was running about my pace, had the same goal as me, and was also feeling the same way I was. I say luckily, because this is where it started to run back round for me. Running together and chatting (sort of) pushed our pace back up again and I started seeing sub 7 minute miles again and the confidence grew and grew. As I approached the last mile, I calculated (some of my cycling mates call me a walking Garmin) that I had over 8 minutes to run it! At that point I knew I had achieved it and was actually overcome with emotion a little bit.

I wasn’t winning anything for this achievement and it would be forgotten in about the same time as it took me to win it. However, setting a goal that seems out of reach, working towards it with consistency week in and week out, without making any excuses to yourself (or silencing them when the self-made excuses do inevitably visit), facing up to my inner critic, and then throwing everything I had at all of the above on race day, made me feel like I had just won World War 3! I had silenced the inner critic – even if only temporarily, until I start working towards the next goal.

So I was out running my 5km for the Not The Club Championship and it hit me the difference in what my mind was doing in comparison to what happens in Vicky Henderson-Cooper’s head from a race report she did recently.
She has focus. My head on the other hand was full of all sorts of stuff, most of it had nothing to do with what my legs were doing! I have put my busy thought filled head into categories!

The Inner critic/self doubter: “Careful now, If you go all out now you will never get up the final hill, you don’t want to go too hard, wait a bit longer before you go for it!”
Unrealistic cheerleader: “You are running so well, if you keep this up you will be faster than ever, then you can train harder and enter more races, then you will win a trophy!”
Menu selector: ” what do I fancy for tea, what can I cook with those sausages, I am really bored of making lunches, I wonder if the kids could do it….actually I haven’t made a cake in ages, I will do that”
Logistics; ” so once I finish this run, I need to pick up my order, drop off that birthday card, read those papers for work, oh I haven’t rang my mum, when can I do that?”
People thinking:”it was nice to see Ruth she looked well, I hope she gets that new job, I wonder how she will juggle that”

It’s hardly surprising I wasn’t focusing on pushing hard round that corner and down that hill, my head was spinning. So much for a mindful run where you are in the moment completely focused. They are rare for me, my last one was my under 50 minutes 10Km attempt, any drifting of thoughts saw a drop in speed and I quickly pulled my head back to the job in hand! So I have realised I do this busy head running alot. I know running is super for clearing your head as you sieve through your jobs/problems and figure out how to address them, but sometimes I just need to focus on being completely in my body, in my run right now. I wonder what your thought categories are and how successful you are at focusing on you and just your run. Anyway wish me luck for the next 5km effort, I aim not to write the weekly shop or draft an article for CRC review!

It was here! After a summer of virtual runs and about 10 medals to prove it, Sunday October 4th 2020 saw the Covid secure Devizes Half Marathon.

I’d entered the race sometime before and was really looking forward to running a race with people in a town that the race was actually supposed to be in, no more virtual Great North Run alone in the Wiltshire mecca of Melksham. My aim was sub 2 and nothing was going to stop me, not even the weather.

Arriving at the start in weather conditions that can best be described as monsoon like I made my way to the information tent and was greeted by two friendly, familiar faces, Mr Biggs and Mr Berry. After some last minute tactic talk I was ready for the off, already soaked to the skin I made my way to my starting bubble and we were off…

Having never run this half marathon before I’d heard varying reports about it and started with an open mind. Although because of Covid there were no spectators the atmosphere amongst runners and marshals was great and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was one of those runs that everything felt good in, legs, lungs and mental attitude. Checking my splits things were looking positive and on I went. (7.41/8.53/8.14/8.36 and so on).

Even being speed buzzed by Laura Midwinter and Chris Hunt as they ran past me didn’t dent my spirit and on I went.

I recall on parts of the run wading thorough water and battling driving wind but nothing was going to stop me, well nothing part from a farmer that decided to close the road to let his cows across much to the annoyance of a few hundred runners. Don’t get stressed I thought as I paused my Garmin and said to myself it won’t take long. After what seemed like an eternity a voice from nearby shouted, “move those f@#king cows or I will “. Everybody was thinking it but luckily a CRC member said it. (You know who you are).

We were off again and the weather didn’t let up, it got worse and some.
The last few miles were good, apart from a very muddy uphill off road track that I don’t recall hearing about but after conquering this I cruised to the finish line in 1:54:13.

I collected my medal and headed home, the job was done and little did I know I was about to make my first mistake of the day.
Cold, dehydrated, hot bath, hot tea = faint and blue light run to A&E in an ambulance having had your chest shaved in the process.

After 24hrs there, a Covid test and a full heart MOT by two doctors that were keen runners I was given the all clear and allowed home. Their advice to me, never stop running as you are!!
There is a bit more science involved in my collapse, I won’t send you to sleep with it now but I am willing to share it if you are remotely interested.

All joking aside my partner thought I’d had a heart attack and gave herself a nasty paper cut looking for my life Insurance policy.

Top tip – Normally after a long run if you are like me you need to eat and eat lots, imagine finding yourself in an A&E starving with no access to food. Smiling and using all the charm that you can muster = being kept in supply of as many NHS cheese and pickle sandwiches that you can physically eat. Result!!

Until the next race, stay safe and strong…

Summary: A splendid, short’n’sharp, muddy up, down, around, and back up and down the shapely outlier of the Black Mountains, Skirrid.

Both Annika Davidson and Andrew Wood had sung the praises of last year’s Skirrid Fell Race so I duly entered the 2020 edition.

As has become the new normal, Covid-19 meant no mass start or pre and post race bantering; rather just a case of parking the car, picking up a race number and joining a small, socially distanced queue to start at 30 secs intervals. However, the wonderful Welsh countryside and a cracking route up, over, down, round and back up Skirrid before a swooping descent remained unchanged. It also offered incentive to turn my legs quicker than I had in a while.

Before getting to grips with the climb up Skirrid, a short lap of the start field provided a warm-up. Following a week of heavy rain, conditions underfoot were somewhat squidgy and my daps of choice, Mudclaws, were immediately put to good use; staying upright on the downhill sections was going to be a challenge.

Leaving the start/finish field, the way ahead was obvious with the shapely peak of Skirrid dominating the view. The gradient and effort level gradually increased as the route squelched its way across sodden fields to get to the open access slopes of Skirrid proper. Trying to catch up runners who had started in front, and stay ahead of those who started behind, provided further onward impetus.

The ascent to Skirrid’s whaleback summit ridge was runnable for some but had me resorting to a “brisk as I could make it” walk for most of the way. The walking pace provided opportunity to take-in and relish the ever-expanding views as elevation was gained. Having reached the summit ridge, it was immediately left by a short descent and a technical, rocky traverse under Skirrid’s summit to reach its very steep North ridge.

‘Skirrid’ is derived from the Welsh ‘Ysgyryd’, which means to shake or tremble. The short, sharp hands and feet ascent of its North ridge to the summit trig point certainly had that effect on my legs. There was no respite though; the way on was an immediate, and equally steep, quad testing descent. Initially heather clad, the slope, whilst precipitous, was reasonably secure underfoot; in its lower reaches loose soil and bracken replaced the heather however, providing less stability and more entertainment. Thankfully the braken contained no bramble snagging hazards. From there, it was a simply splendid splish-splash, gravity assisted dash to the finish line.

There was of course no post-race hydration and sustenance at the Skirrid Inn; fingers crossed for a return to the full race experience in 2021…

Huge thanks go Andy Creber of Rogue Runs , and his team of merry helpers, for providing the opportunity to “race” amidst these uncertain times. Andy always provides memorable and entertaining race routes and Skirrid is no exception. Being a marked and relatively short course, it is also a great introduction to the pleasures (and pain) of South Wales fell racing; if you want to find out more, fellrace.com provides all you need to know about the entertainment on offer in
the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons…

All pictures courtesy of various ace marshalls out on the course.