September already! Bike and boats

Lots going on at the moment since race the train, seen the Physio a few times, got a gym program, went to Wales for a two day cycle tour, and bought a boat and have been in a racing boat for the first time.

So first things first. My injury. My right hip is still a problem, hurts at the front after running for about 10mins. My knee hasn't been a problem at all for a few weeks now. I think it is possible I could do Barns Green half but need to stick with my gym programme and Physio exercises. So far, mostly good. I have a significant strength and stability imbalance on my left side which explains a lot so am particularly working on that. 

Gym....

My programme consists of a couple parts so far 5 exercises on the ball (crunches, back extensions, bridges, press ups and glute bridge) and 7 on the TRX kit. Mostly arms and core. I quite enjoy it and I normally combine it with 30 mins on the X trainer/ ergo meter thingy. Have been 3 times in 7 days. The Wellness ap that they use is great so Dr as has all my exercises on it and I can log into the machines watch YouTube and go goin Google and stuff too which is all quite cool, well for the first 10 mins and then I can't multitask so well and have to focus on the exercise. Listening to Lindsey Sterling has been good for the cardio.  I also add in more exercises on the cable and free weight machines and throw in a few sets of squats (currently just doing 2-3sets of 30 but increasing it every time.  I need more time to go really but just a matter of getting up early and going to bed earlier.  Well it must be working as I feel like I am getting stronger and I can feel it round my middle. Went last night and I have that good ache in my abs and back and arms are heavy too.  Still managed 30k on the bike tonight with Beck but I did find the hills harder than normal.

Radnor Ring cycling last weekend....

So last weekend I accompanied Os dad, wife, sister and her boyfriend supported by O and Mic, on a lovley route called the Radnor Ring. I can't really tell you the place names, and I for sure can't say them. I think I will save this for its own post over the weekend as I think it it deserves it. That was Saturday and Sunday.

New k2....

So then Monday came and the three of us piled into my car nice and early and headed to Norwich and picked up Mine and Os k2 which j got for a bargain £155. Needs a little bit of glassing and is a bit old but we have plans to do it up. It is water tight and light and not a bad boat at all. Looking forward to going out in it soon.

Been trying to get a k1 now too as O has decided that the senior k1 is the race to do (mostly because we get a time). I must say I felt more confident with the idea of doing it in the same boat as him. The k1 stability makes me a lot more nervous. Only time on the water will tell if I am going to get any good at this. 

Though the boat is yet to come O and I did some more shopping up the road from a guy who never did the DW and I got a spray deck, buoyancy thing, pogies, and some bottles and another bargain in a Jantex beta wing paddle and only 750g. Saw others advertised for £160 used but this was just £70! Think O might have liked it so now need to find him one too. 

He still isn't fixed but he has said I can borrow his k1 the 'surprise'.

I have made some new acquaintances particularly Lea and Catherine. There is a group of paddlers that meet at 9am Sunday's. Though met up with them last Wednesday and had a go in Lea's hobby (as there is one I am looking at getting). Catherine took me up the canal. Felt unstable but then it was my first time. But I didn't go swimming so I think that is good. Hoping to go out with lea again next week on evening. Paddling again tomorrow on the lake, hopefully test out Os boat if we can get it out too.

Arms will need a rest Sunday, they seem to be a constant ache in them at the moment.

All looking good though, need to shift some weight still but is getting easier the more that I do. 

Race the train Report

A little bit belated now a over a week after the event but been a bit busy with work and trying to get fixed. Because I got broke. Some more.

Traveled up the day before from Bewdly as was working up in Northampton Thursday so stayed with friends so I didn't have to go back to Sussex and then back to Wales within 24hrs. Had my first Radio Interview as well on the Friday for work which was scary but went okay so I was told.

Got to the apartment we were staying in early evening, and crashed a bit before a reasonably early night. I got cuddles with Mic, who I absolutely adore! 

Saturday was a slow start the race wasn't until 2pm. O was a bit poorly in the night with a temperature and wasn't great still in the morning. Let and I did a bit of shopping and went and checked out the venue for parking etc.

Got back and met O's dad which was nice and after a bit of fafing about (mostly on my part) we headed to Abergavenny.  I decided to run in my new Salomon Speedcross 3s which I am really pleased with. Tread on them comparable to a tractor!

When at the event we also met up with one of O's colleague Lee. We found the train I was never optimistic about beating it I just didn't want to be last.

So we soon were set off with the whistle of the train and I think I kept O in sight maybe for 1km then let him go, I couldn't keep his pace. Little did I know that I would nearly catch him up later.

It didn't take long to get out of the town, now I come to think of it I don't think I have known a better supported event in terms of crowds and cheering. Was so encouraging! And then we were out in the countryside and the route followed a reasonably flattish route for the first half of this 14mile route, with a few sneaky climbs but nothing that stopped me running. 

I could feel my form slowing me down, my lack of training recently had really affected me and I just wasn't enjoying this as much as I did the half marathons I was doing early in the year where I was fit for them. But I was okay and the miles went by and I got chatting to a few people, the marshals were really supportive and there were supporters dotted along the route. 

The train went by a few miles in and I have a very unattractive photo with it but as my readership is rather minimal I suppose there is no harm in sharing.

I'd like to point out that it was really really hot and I had tipped a cup of water over myself which turns out isn't a very attractive thing to do and must make not to avoid doing that in future to avoid looking like a puddle of sweat. Or at least more of one than usual.

The pain in my hip started to bother me by mile 5 and I pushed on until mile seven where there was a water stop and I paused for a breather and to review the damage. My knee was niggling as well on the descents as well. By this time I wasn't too shabby for time was on track for a 2:20hr finish I think my pace was around the 6:20-7min mark which wasn't much different to the marathon, well, the first bit.

I pushed on, a very unpleasant passing of two partially decomposed sheep carcasses that I would have thought the organisers should have arranged to dispose of prior to the event as the smell was horrendous and was very unpleasant to see. 

The route then continued up somewhat and along the side of this hill for what seemed like ages. There were some sections so steep that we had to climb with our hands! The camber of the path must have been varying between 15-30 degrees at times which put a lot of strain on my untrained and unstable body that was already hurting. My new trainers were awesome though and the views were stunning, when there was chance to look up as the terrain was quite treacherous with bits of slate sticking out the ground, rocks to clamber over and all sorts.

Another highlight was a beautiful waterfall but no time to stop and look as there was a slippery wall of rock to climb. At some point there was a bog to run through which was very smelly and the route later joined back onto the original route for the final 6km or so.

So I was pushing through a lot of pain after mile 7. I hurt a lot. There were a lot of sections that I just couldn't run even if I wanted to so did walk when I had to but there was a descent just after the bog I think when my knee had just had enough and I had to stop briefly to compose myself as I literally was finding it hard to even put weight through it. Once I got on the flat again I picked up the pace a bit but it was hard. My knee was the worst it hurt so much. It was more crippling than the marathon and I didn't have Owain in my ear encouraging me but I don't think that would have helped at this point. With 5km to go and the promise of a Jaffa cake and then being told that there were none left was devastating in itself (I recently found out that O had passed brought not long before me and he had some!), I conceded to walk the rest. Though I did still do this as quickly as I could. Though I remember it hurting I can't remember much of that walking miles.

As soon as we were back on the roads and there were people and supporters cheering us on again I somehow managed to find a run in me. Well I say run, I mean hobble type run that was quicker than a walk. The fact that one guy was starting to take down some barrier tape was even an incentive to keep going! I think I managed 1.6-2km I tried to work out how far was left based on confusing signage from different races.  The finish seemed to come quicker than I thought and I crossed the line without realising and my name was called out which was nice but i didn't want to stop for fear of falling over as I had momentum and needed to find my friends. I nearly went straight passed them mind and O was there surprisingly out of breath and as it turned out he only finished 3minutes before me. He hadn't had a great race either.  But we finished, we survived (just) and had our medals and t-shirts and goody bags and hobbled back to the car.

So like I said O didn't have a good time of it and was quite sick a few times and had to walk a lot of it as well in the end. He was still poorly after and I hurt so we went home, O went to bed and did feel a bit better later but even a week after he's only just started feeling a bit more normal so lesson perhaps not run with a temperature or feeling poorly. And for me, maybe I shouldn't have run either. Probably not. Will I learn. Probably not.

Day after both O and I had knee injuries (he always has to copy me) and turns out his was worse, is worse.  From running on the sideways hill no doubt too and masked the day before because of being poorly. Poor thing even went to the minor injuries as swelled right up and was, is, agony for him and still feeling rubishy. He's done his MCL we reckon and is now recovering from that. He is a terrible patient mind. Gave him a Tens machine last night to help with the pain but he found it more fun to see how high he could take the 'therapeutic' effects.... At least it was a distraction for a bit I suppose. Our knees....

Anyway, back to my knee. I got home Sunday night and did the whole RICE thing for a few days and the pain was gone by Wednesday. Considering I was going down stairs on my bum it hurt so much Monday I was a bit shocked. More on my injury on the next blog as I have seen the physio and this post is getting a bit long.... But let's not forget the medals: 

Week report. Not as planned. But onwards, something to train for now!

This week hasn't quite gone to plan, mostly because of work, finding a new home that we are going to rent and buying a new car. Quite an expensive one.

Oh and after a meeting with O Ley and Jules we are now doing the Endevour Devises to Westminister race next Easter which is also rather costly (about £1k and that's not even with a boat). 

So after saying I wouldn't run, I ran on Thursday morning with Leyla and 1k in my hip hurt and 2k in, a pla on Dinosaur island and I had to walk home I couldn't run. So no running now until race the train which will break me more. Physio booked for Monday and will book ready for after race the train. 

I was pleased and very much enjoyed kayaking again today. Yanna was the instructor but I spent quite a bit of time with Zak too who is a kid that seems to be always down there and is quite good (first impressions last week I thought he does like to show off a little though he is actually quite sweet and very helpful and not a bad instructor in the making). So with him did t-rescues practicing hip flick (need loads more practice with that!). Did deck test fine, few practices slowed it all down so it doesn't look like I'm panicking. 

Standing up in kayak (followed by a splash-well everyone else was in the sit on tops and I was heckling so Yanna made me do it in the dagger well briefly before I went in) didn't spin out today and good news my sides ache not my arms which means I am am doing it all a bit more properly!  Also did support strokes and braces so all in all got quite wet today. Also my friend Amy came and she really enjoyed it too. Overall pleased that I can notice a difference even so quickly, a lot still to learn but enjoying it.

Might go on the SUPs tomorrow and hopefully out in the kayaks next week if Owain can be tempted. Busy week though at work so will have to see about all the other stuff. 

So will need to catch up with O a bit more re DW and shopping list and plan but he fact there is a little bit of one is a start and that certainly makes me happy. 

Tomorrow is Sunday so hoping for a ride with the husband and maybe the SUPs down the lake if it is nice or a BBQ.

Recovering for the next race - Race the Train

So I am pleased to report that I am getting back on track in terms of increasing exercise and reducing calorie intake in my attempt to shift some of the 'getting married' weight I gained (though I think some of it was training for the Dragon ride muscle gain too) and I would quite like to fit more comfortably into my size 10 shorts. That aside I also want to be fitter and faster and for that I need to be stronger and lighter. 

I still need to get my 5k parkrun pb down below 24minutes and also aspire to run a faster more pain free marathon.

Before I worry about that though I have managed to pick up an injury. This is from the marathon which is unlikely to come as a surprise. Now that all the general aches and pains have gone I am left with mostly just hip pain.  I did see a physio last week and this helped confirm my weaknesses in my core, ITB and my adductors particularly in my right leg.  It is my right hip that I seem to have the problem well the pain. This I think is primarily at the tendon muscle junction and into the belly of my adductors but I also think I have some involvement of my Iliapsoas (group) as I had some pain swimming front crawl and so my hip was in (and out of) full extension and the pain is still quite isolated to that area.  So I have prescribed another week of no running, especially after a sneaky 1km run on Friday still resulting in pain. 

Race the train is a 14 mile run in 2weeks and that is shortly followed by Beat the Tide which is a 10k evening run the following Thursday.  I must admit I am a bit nervous. I don't like this feeling of going into races un prepared, it's not my style and I need to break this habit I seem to her fallen into.

I didn't even do parkrun yesterday. 

So on Wednesday I started my non-running training for my running events. I did a quick 15k ride and even got a pb on bonfire missing out on beating my usual nemesis by 1second (on the strava segment). Friday I did a quick 1,025m in the pool (41 lengths) and tested out my new watches functions which was cool and yesterday I took part in the adult kayak session run by Southwater Water Sports for 2hours (4km). Today I had planned a ride but my body had planned something else so stomach cramps this morning put a halt to that and we walked to the pub with some friends. Currently sitting out in the Sunday afternoon sun not managing much.  I am pleased with my activity, I can also keep track of my steps too and they are mostly above 10k but I was ill last week and I am only just over it so I am aiming to make sure I get my 10k in daily. I am in the office this week mostly so should make time to do something at lunch times or in the evening where possible.

So this week, the plan(ish), subject to change of course. Monday evening ride with Jules to Kirdford and back to see the family (2hrs riding approx 26 miles, might be a bit slower as Jules is on his MTB. Not a bad idea for me to take it easy anyhow.  Beyond that evening wise I am leaving open as I don't know Jules' movements for one. But I hope to get another evening ride in, hoping to get a kayaking session in with O but we'll see. I can't wait till I can actually go out on my own as I am pretty sure I can't be trusted yet even on the lake and I am pretty sure O wouldn't let me if I was stupid enough to think I was. But I am just eager to learn as until I am of any credible ability I can't train in it and at least until that point the DW race won't happen, beyond that who knows.

Anyway, I'm going to do my strengthening and core work 3 sessions this week before work and another swim or two at lunch times. Kayak again on Saturday, no parkrun I imagine but I will volunteer as my Elephantastic elephant (overall fundraising and awareness for lots of charities and causes mine is for parkrun, there are these trails across Horsham district over the summer run by the rotary) and out parkrun Ele is going and I have some promo work to do on it and the paper is coming. But I am going to do the adult kayak session again next Saturday.

So ride x 2+ (might cycle to work), swim x 2-3 and kayak x 2, gym x 1-2 (cross trainer maybe), core and strength x 3. Review hip daily. Weigh in Tuesday and MFP Monday-Friday. 

Go!

Recovering from a marathon for two weeks and now onto the next Race The Train!

I read quite a bit about why not to run a marathon with no training and also how to survive one. So I survived running a marathon without it's fair to say enough to training. The longest run I had done previously was probably a half marathon 3months before.  I had done a 100mile bike ride in Wales a little over a month before but my wedding was in between and it mean my activity levels were significantly reduced to mostly just park run and the odd ride in the previous 4 weeks. So. I may have had some residual fitness left from the ride but my joints and muscles were not strong enough. Which is why I broke.

I was even told tonight that I shouldn't have run the marathon by the person who agreed to it. To be fair he had removed all pressure and encouraged me to run what I wanted. What I wanted was to do the marathon. For myself mostly but also because I have this ridiculous person inside my head saying if so and so can do it I can do it. I need to calm down. There is no need to be competitive. If anyone it needs to just with me. 

I have now raised my own question in my head that what am I doing? Am I the same person I was a year ago? What is really driving me? It always used to be me and now I am not so sure. I have to get my head in a better place I am just not sure where that is right now.

Anyway. So I was running on marathon day by half way / 3/4 of the way with agonising pain in my lower back kidney area, latteral upper quads and hip, latteral aspect of my knees.  The back pain hasn't hurt since the medal was out round my neck. The latteral aspect of my knee (over LCL ligament) has lingered a bit and hurt after parkrun last week too but has been fine since I have stopped running, I jogged a bit and it seems fine now, need to slowly progress my mileage and I should be fine. I also have some strengthening exercises for ITB, adductors and quads which i need to crack on with. My hip has lingered the longest and was what has prompted my decision to have a whole week off running. It really hurt on Saturday and few days after so it had to be sorted. I did see a physio last week and they only said what I knew and I can't credit her much with her anatomy knowledge but I got given some exercises and told to use the roller. 

I went for a brief ride last night and all injuries felt good it non existent although I do need to roll my quads for sure. All feels a bit tight.

So I am not doing parkrun I don't think on Saturday, I am planning on kayaking though there is an adult session on the lake at 10am so in Os absence from wanting to kayak for the moment if I want to learn this sport I just need to practice and so I need to get on with it myself though am more than happy to be coached and would prefer to be coached  by my friend however I am impatient and I want to be better now. And if it's going to be about me then I will just have to make it happen. 

I also want to get a long ride in this weekend so whether it is on my own or not I am planning on a ride, hopefully to dorking and back nice and early as want to go on the A24 a bit, as it is the ride London event and I want to be nosey. This is what I need to do to not run for a bit longer. I am going to run on Monday or Tuesday morning next and do a nice easy run and if my hip or knee start hurting I am going to stop. I a also aiming to get in the pool 3 times next week.

There we have it a short term plan. Race the train stuff came in the post today so that is in two weeks I need to sort myself out in my trainers and I my head. 

We did a marathon!!!!!!

So a bit late writing this but we did it! We ran (mostly) a marathon! Took about 5:30 or something but we did it!

Firstly massive thanks as always to the support crew, here she is showing off her cute new hair! 

So both of us were reasonably calm given the occasion and it was a lovely start to the event. There were a god few hundred people and some chaps that we recognised from the Larmer Tree. It was their first marathon too. White Star Racing did pull of a fantastic event, there were some great costumes and there was even a horse and a horn to start and the weather was awesome (until it got too awesome and was too bloody hot!). Anyway, cracking on 27miles to go! Said farewell to Ley and we were off.

So as per previous post we were going to walk all the hills. I was a bit worried O wouldn't stick to this, but he did and we were walking quite early on up the first hill as planned. This was good, but he does walk slower than me, I just need to worry about keeping up with him when we are running! We were talking about our next marathon and future events within 5 minutes.... It hadn't started hurting yet.

So first feed station 5k in was earlier than expected but a couple of nibbles and we were back on our way. 

So a few new gadgets in tow. My new Garmin FR920XT which I haven't really taken off since the day it arrived (and I love it even if it is huge!) I will save my love for this to another post once I have tested out a few more functions.  I also aquired a new Camebak the Aurora. Very pleased with this hydration pack, love how easy is to fill and drink from, also love all the extra pockets! I took 7 gels and it had a ful 2litres in. I used 6 gels and refilled it once. I needed the fluid, it was a hot day!

O had a few issues with his sloshing. I tried to help fix it but I think I made it worse as it ended up leaking and he had a wet bum and then I think I pissed him off attempting to help some more. Eventually he stopped and fixed it so it stopped leaking. We got used to the sloshing. He has now got a new Camelbak too, the marathoner I believe but I haven't seen it though it was one i shortlisted but they had sold out mind I am chuffed with the one I have.

So buy 1/4marathon I needed to sort my feet out as I could feel a blister developing so compede blister patch applied. I was anxious this was going to stop me later but it didn't. The blister patch did its job but the cause was because I wore my road trainers and because it was a trail and very uneven underfoot the front of my foot was moving around too much. I am going to look at getting some new distance trail trainers ASAP. My current Trails are good but my feet swell a bit when I am doing longer distances and so need a bit more room. 

So we pushed on, we kept walking the hills and we're both feeling pretty good. We were on track for a 5-5:30 finish. When we were running we both were keeping our watches somewhere between a 6:00-6:30 km pace although this tended to creep up on the descents (and was around the 7min/km towards the latter half of the race). 

We both needed a comfort break at one point and the plan was to walk until the other caught back up. I climbed a 6ft gate into a field but on my return over the gate landed badly and caught my ankle but luckily all was okay and caught back up.  Never had to stop during a run before, luckily I was prepared. Boys get it so easy... 

So all was going ish to plan. I was starting to hurt though. O was bouncing around still and full of it which didn't really change. I had the energy but my legs were hurting. Particularly the upper lateral part of my quads around my hips, and the outsides of my knees. My quads were what was hurting on my Monday run so wasn't completely unexpected. There was that but also my lower back around my kidney area. This was only going to get worse and it was getting hotter. 

As I had expected I found 28-35k the worst. I was in so much pain, and although I didn't tell O, I had a headache and felt a bit faint and so hot I found it really hard to keep running and start back up again. There were some great people we got chatting to at times and it was lovley. O was amazing as well. I wouldn't have got through those 7km or the subsequent last 8k either tbh if he wasn't there and being a huge support (and feeling a lot better than I was). I didn't talk to him much for an hr or so I don't think, bit of a turn of the cards to it usually me doing too much of that. I just had to get my head down and push through what I was going through, if that was the wall I think I found it, still it was the pain in my back and quads that was just the worst. Energy wise I was okay, just oh my, my back was agony. Every step I landed was agony. O kept me smiling. Well it's the best I could do, I couldn't find the focus to call him a jerk or tell him where to stuff his idea to start running again.

Anyway, for the last parkrun it was easier to run and focus on the finish. I think I did actually smile a bit more. There was a section that was really overgrown and we couldn't run it even if we wanted to. Because I walk a bit faster I got a bit ahead but I quite liked the excuse to stop and wait.  I think that there was a short period O went through a bad patch, he went a bit quiet and wanted to walk when it wasn't a hill. He resolved himself quickly, if it even was that, either way he was back with me after 10mins. We were now looking to the finish and I think it is fair to say I quite enjoyed the last 5k, down the hill through the tall crops was fun (although still agony, I was ignoring it now). We could hear the finish!

Pushing on there was a cheeky hill right near the end which we walked to save us for the last bit. We were just going through a wooded section and we could really hear the cheering now, this was really motivating and we past some volunteers who were encouraging too. Then out of the woods and down to the finish we could see it. Ley said she saw me put my arms in the air. I, well O, found me running into him as I for some reason wanted to head to the right. The finish was to the left!

Eventually corrected we came down the hill at quite a pace and crossed the line together and got the most awesome medals!

Ley was waiting for us! We also got a goody bag with jam in it and Ley got me a biscuit, she knows me too well. Was fed up of sweets and gels and just wanted something proper so we all had hog roast bap. Was yum!

And home. O even got a record of me getting some kip which might explain why one minute we were in Dorset and then in what felt like 2minutes we were in Chichester. 

Oh and we have new tshirts too!

I will save post marathon week report for another post. Was a tough run, so pleased to say that I am a marathon runner now though. Now just looking at next ones, we have booked the Larmer Tree 20miler for March next year! 

Another great event White Star Racing (WSR)! Thanks!! 

Let's do a marathon. Today

Okay so today O and I were due to do the Invadar Half. Last Saturday we were over theirs for dinner and I casually mentioned that White Star Racing (WSR) had announced a few spare marathon places O and then a short conversation followed where I asked WSR if there were two and then what followed was that me and O were now signed up to do a marathon. Shit!

So I have experienced a range of emotions this week, I was and the wasn't and then was going to do it. But ultimately it is happening. We have been called nutters amongst other things and I can't disagree. So here I am on the way to the Invader MARATHON at 06:47 with O and Ley.

I went for a 6+ mile run Monday and that was okay. Today is going to be hard and it will hurt for sure. O had a plan (much more comprehensive than I was expecting but reassuringly detailed enough to put my mind at rest.  

Goal is to finish. And not be last.

That means less than 7.5hours. So the plan. Well plans....(fully quoted from O)

Anyway, the plan. I actually have 3 plans, all very similar but with slightly different outcomes.

 

Plan A. (I am going to call this, the realistic plan).

Aiming for approx. 5 hours 

Average 7min ks. (That is about a minute slower per K than my usual pace so pretty comfortable).

Walk most hills, anything that I feel the HR starting to elevate, or where my quads start to burn it gets walked.

I am going to sup goo after the first hour, and then every half hour after that.

 

Plan B. (I am going to call this, the feelin’ good plan).

Aiming for approx. 4:30 hours 

Average 6:30 min ks. (Still easy on).

Walk most hills, anything that I feel the HR starting to elevate, or where my quads start to burn it gets walked.

I am going to sup goo after the first hour, and then every half hour after that.

Towards the end, approx. 5k. If I feel there is more than enough left in the tank, I will pick up the pace and try to use up anything that is left.

 

Plan C. (This is called… Why Hannah? Why are we doing this?)

Plan C may kick in at any time. 

Aiming to finish is now the only plan.

Sod the averages, probably keep looking at the watch mournfully wondering why I am doing 20 minute Ks.

Walk. Walk everything!

Proclaim often that I hate things, especially marathons and other runners.

So I reckon we'll start with B then move to A and then C will kick in at some point. I think 5-5.5hrs and O is going for 5 but both prepared mentally to be moving for 6+hrs as needed.

We have both been drinking lots last few days and eating well. I personally drank 3litres+ every day of squash and O was playing a non drunk drinking game of everyone go to the loo drink another glass.... He reported to be going to the loo increasingly frequently (surprisingly!).

I have also been deliberating over a new gadget and to cut a long story short I had my Garmin FR920XT delivered yesterday and it is now set up tested and ready to use. I have no idea what alerts it's going to give me though. I am going to record on my phone too in case of failure.

Sleep: I've have 2:40hrs last night.

Breakfast: two slices of toast at 4:30, porridge, honey and blueberries at 6:30. 

Race fuel: I have a new Camelbak with 2litres of water with 2 electrolyte tablet things, 6 gels, and some dried apricots.

I have music for later if needed.  

I am okay, bit nervous about some niggles that I have particularly with my back/hip but if we take it easy should be okay.  CV wise I can do it, it is just the very high risk of injury.

So. Here we go then. Let you know how we get on.