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!