13 December 2013
2013 What a corker
I've just read my end of year blog for 2012. It was nice to look
back and think about the things that happened in my life - the
new achievements, discovering more about myself, a little bit
of romance, a lot of running and a lot of reflection. So, here I
am again, a whole year has passed, 2013 has brought many many
highs, even more amazing and inspirational new friends and
lots of new experiences, including a house move, my first road
bike, a reunion, a duathlon, an ultra, some marathons,
travelling to some wonderful places and peppered with a few
lows, the end of a romance (see above) an unexpected
diagnosis.
2013 started with Tough Guy in January, this is the original
obstacle race, it's been running (pardon the pun) since 1987 and
after Survival of the Fittest the previous year I thought it
couldn't be too bad...how wrong was I! Two inches of ice on the
water we were to go in, mud, electric shock, fire, relentless
hills. On the plus side it brought a new and smiley friend into
my life who I admire greatly.
Throughout the early part of this year I began marathon
training even though I didn't have a marathon booked until
October, well everyone else was training so I just joined in.
Some of my favourite runs happened -including snowy laps of
Gra%am Water, off road Saturday morning runs, watching an
owl swoop in front of us, running through icy puddles without
care, feeling the sting on your legs as you hit mile 18 in sub zero
temperatures wearing shorts. Stuff like this makes you feel
alive!
In February was a trip to Madrid -not a running trip but a
weekend away based mainly around eating and drinking and
what a wonderful place it it, Grand Playas, beautiful parks,
amazing nightlife and stupendous tapas, churros, jamon and
wine.
March brought a move from my two bed flat in town to a two
bed house in a village. It took some time to get used to stairs
!1
No one looks good in Lycra, an
no one should care!
13 December 2013
after having lived in flats for quite a few years. I maintain that
this is the best move I've made in a few years and feel very
settled, maybe I'm just getting old?
In April I marshaled at the London Marathon with lots of
other Harriers and felt the electric atmosphere of this mass
participation event. I wanted some of that! Back home I
googled my heart out and managed to find a lady selling her
place in the Edinburgh Marathon in just six weeks time and
went for it, why not, I was trained, what could possibly go
wrong?
A week or so after London the romance ended, it was a shock
and not particularly well delivered (on the phone whilst I was
working in London) then I suppose it's never going to be a
good time.
A few days of feeling a bit like id been tasered followed by an
uprising of the 'cup half full' mentality I could see that this
meant more training time, and anyway it was costing a fortune
in petrol to travel to see the person in question, and his loss! It
was also about this time I booked a flight to Arizona to see my
big sister and her lovely hubby after a 15 year hiatus.
Soon I was on a train to Edinburgh and hooking up with some
buddies from Fetcheveryone. My pre race evening consisted of
prosecco and beer, not your usual nutrients but hey ho, still
managed a reasonable 4.15.
Two days after Edinburgh minus a few toenails and with a
hobble I boarded a plane to LA and took a connecting flight to
Arizona.
Ten days of talking, running, swimming, cycling, more talking
and even a 5k race followed. I discovered that you can cycle
quite far but only run short distances in 42 degree heat!
A calf injury kept me from running in June, my solution was to
invest in a road bike, with encouragement and advice from a
good friend I was soon hitting the roads with a passion, it was
about this time Larissa and I discovered we were equally
slightly bonkers and we became friends and started to train
together, 40k on the bike before work? No problem, ride 104
miles to Hunstanton and then run into the sea to cool off? Sure
thing!
!2
13 December 2013
I went to Glastonbury too, what a revelation that was, a crazy
insulated world of music, fun and total nuttiness, needless to
say I went in head first and came out quite dishevelled! Took a
week to recover.
As soon as the injury subsided I then had to fit running and
biking into my life, lots of early mornings followed and soon I
entered/was talked into my first duathlon.
Althorp Duathlon was a baptism of fire, and what fun, 10k run,
ok, fine, 40k bike, tough going, the 5k run that followed this
I'm sure was with someone else's legs!
Still racing every weekend I will often contact my friend
Eamon who provides me with a constant source of mutual
competition-Eamon likes to race me and pass with a big grin
on his face, having spent the early part of this year watching his
heels I'm now catching up and even beating his sorry ass on a
few occasions.
It was around now I discovered the LDWA-Long Distance
Walkers Assoc, they organise marathon and ultra distance
walks or runs, the first one Larissa and I did was in
Connington, Cambs. 26.2 miles of off road loveliness, no
pressure and wonderful views, followed by a 42k bike ride back
to Bedford (Larissa said it was about 30... Yeah, thanks for that)
The great thing about LDWA event is they cost about seven
pounds, there are amazing checkpoints-think cake and tea, and
!3
A typical checkpoint at a LDWA
event. Pure joy!
Eamon on the right. Beat him in
a five mile race shortly after this
photo, just saying.
13 December 2013
are perfect for training if
you prefer not to run
alone.
Thunder Run was another
highlight, 24 hours of epic
weather, a ten km hilly off
road loop and a ton of crazy
runners, tents flooded and rain pouring
Larissa sat in my car wide eyed planning our
strategy for the 2014 run! Truly an amazing
event, probably best for only the real
lunatics.
Race the train happened about here, I think this may have
been my favourite race of the year, on the side of a mountain in
driving rain running 14 miles after a narrow gauge train in
Wales, I mean what's not to like!?
The Round Norfolk Relay happened in Sept and I ran my leg
into Yarmouth and drove one of our coaches cars behind a
runner for the other 23 hours, wow that was a dodgy drive
home the following day.
Soon after I felt ready for another marathon and entered the
Dunstable Marathon, off road with navigation, I ran this with
my friend Lee and we got impressively lost with some lovely
ladies from Leighton Fun Runners. So lost in fact we did 34
miles and ended up in the local paper and on the radio. I just
want to say that it wasn't my fault.
!4
Larissa and I on a rare occasion
not in Lycra
Noel and I before Steppingly
Step
Gatliffe ultra, super terrain, only
fell over twice.
13 December 2013
October saw my second road marathon attempt, Chester was
the location and this was renowned for being a cracking race
and good PB potential. I was hunting a sub four and was
delighted to achieve 3.57.
Steppingly Step, another off road LDWA happened next, run
with our club coach Noël. Event free and most enjoyable.
It was around this time I began to realise that quite often I was
struggling to hear people talking to me in a setting where there
was background noise. Being honest I could say it's been
happening for a long time but it was getting more noticeable of
late. I decided to consult other family member ps knowing that
my sisters high had some issues with hearing too. After much
discussion and a consultation with a specialist it does indeed
appear that I have hereditary hearing loss. There really isn't
anything that can be done and it will continuer to deteriorate.
It's been on my mind a fair bit but, you know what? It could
have been worse, could have been my eyes, or my legs. I had a
brain scan during the diagnosis period and all they found was a
Garmin and a pair of trainers.
A last minute decision in late November saw me running my
first Ultra in Kent (Gatliffe 50k) with Noël again, smiling and
chatting most of the way around it was quite enjoyable.
Looking back at my times I've made a steady improvement this
year on all race distances. Much of this is due to the
wonderful help and support I get from Bedford Harriers, I
rarely miss a training session and love being part of the club
and feel that there are huge benefits both socially and to my
fitness.
Other realisations this year include: I've made a ton of friends,
I still can't drink red wine, my kids make me very proud, i am
quite good at selling, not many really look good in Lycra, and
nobody should care, I am grateful to be able to visit new places,
to be able to do my sport and challenge myself.
And here we are in December, I'm lucky enough to be
travelling out to some sunshine in Tenerife for Christmas with
a lady I've known for years to enjoy some giggles, a few drinks
lots of hiking and yes some running too!
Just one more race this year on my birthday 31st Dec to round
of a truly amazing year, over 2000km run and another 2000km
biked.
!5
13 December 2013
2014?
Next year will bring lots more running (surprise) I don't want
to get into the race 'loop' doing the same races every year so
will be looking for new challenges in different locations. Berlin
marathon is booked, More ultra distances may happen. Some
cycling will occur too. Ooh and I've just heard Ive been lucky
in the club ballot and will be running the London Marathon,
wow!!
I'm not going to plan too much as I really love doing things off
the cuff.
Keep your cup half full!
Bop
!6
