Sunday 6 November 2011

Update For The Last Three Weeks & Rutland Water Marathon

The last 3 weeks has been a busy period for me.  First I was contacted to ask if I'd try a new pair of running shoes.  I was quite excited about getting a free pair of running shoes in the post to road test.  However, the shoes weren't for me.  I was asked to test the Sketchers Prospeed.  The shoe is designed to encourage a mid-foot strike, rather than a heel strike, and it does this very well. 

When I first went for a run in the shoe I started by running normally, but as there is no cushioning in the heel, you immediately have to adjust your running style as the impact feels quite uncomfortable.  So, whilst the shoes are very good at promoting a mid-foot strike, I didn't quite feel they were right for me.  After each short run I did with them I felt that I'd been for a hard run, even though my speed indicated otherwise.  The shoes are supposed to promote a more efficient running form.  It could be that I need to stick with them for a longer time period, but I ended up thinking that my running form doesn't seem to be broke in the first place, so why try to change it.

Ruth and I also went on a short holiday just over a week ago.  We spent 5 glorious autumnal days walking in the Peak District.  We couldn't believe how lucky we were.  First we spent a couple of days with our dear friends, Kate and Ron, who have fantastic walks (and runs) right from their front door in the charmingly named village of Tintwistle.

Just a short distance from our friend's house
... and slightly further away.
Ruth and I then spent two days walking from a base in the centre of the Peak District, where we did a couple of really long days walking.  Ruth was pretty much finished off at the end of each day, and it took me a lot of persuasion and prodding just to get her up to go out for food in the evening.

Ruth on Stanage Edge
Our last day was a little more relaxed with a walk around the gardens of Chatsworth House, which I'd highly recommend for nature and garden lovers.

Chatsworth House
Emperor Fountain

Autumn Colour

Kitchen Garden
Following our few days in the Peak District we spent a couple of days with Ruth's parents in Nottingham.  We returned to Cambridge last Saturday so that I could get in a 13 mile training run as preparation for this weekend's marathon.  It was quite nice to have a few non-running days, but I did also enjoy going for a run along the Roman Road bridleway close to home.  A run I've not done for some time, as there hasn't been the need to do a long run from home whilst I've been entering marathons every other week.

Last week was work as normal.  It was a busy week, made even more so by the fact that I'm now also organising a 7 hour kettlebell relay event in aid of Children In Need on Saturday 19 November.  I just hope it doesn't rain on the day, as I have set myself up to be on hand for the entire 7 hours.

And so to today.  I was slightly apprehensive about marathon number 13.  I am in no way superstitious, but so many other people made comments about hoping I wouldn't have bad luck and twist an ankle that I actually started to fear the day, especially as rain had also been forecast.  Fortunately, the long term forecast was characteristically incorrect and the weather on the door was fantastic, although quite cold with temperatures at the start of just 7 degrees Celsius.

For a £25 entry fee the start line was very low key.  Okay, so we did have chip timing, but there wasn't a single portaloo at the start.  Instead, all toilets where at the two car parks which were each a 20 minute walk from the start in either direction.  Thankfully I had made use of the facilities in the car park, but I had also expected there to be loos at the start.  You would have been in a tight spot if you had walked form your car to the start to find no toilets.  Would you walk the 20 minutes in each direction to use a loo?  Unlikely.  A bush is fine for a number 1, but... need I say more?

The race apparently had an entry limit of 1000, but I'd guess that there were less than 300 people lined up at the start.  Once we were underway the line of runners quickly thinned out into a long string of runners in single file.  I did find myself running side-by-side with a few runners, with whom I would try to strike up a conversation, but for most of the run I was running alone.  I spent a couple of miles running with a marathon first timer named Matt.  We had a pretty decent chat. 

Rutland Water itself is a reasonably large reservoir with a long peninsula that juts out into the lake like a tongue, making for a U-shaped body of water.  The route of the race started near the dam to cross the dam wall at the furthest distance from the peninsula.  We made our way counter-clockwise around the lake and had to run two laps around the peninsula, which had a timing mat at its end to ensure no one could cheat by only doing one lap.  On my second lap I found myself overtaking slower runners on their first lap, which must have been dispiriting for them.  I tried my best to cheer them on as I passed by.  As I passed one group of female runners I shouted "cheer if your having fun", to which they mostly all responded with a whoop, so I hope I brightened their run briefly.




It was a welcome relief to finish the second lap of the peninsula and turn left for the final eight miles, rather than right for another lap.  I was feeling really good at this point and overtook several runners in quick succession, including the first placed lady.  However, at mile 22 we reached a reasonably long and steepish climb that reduced me to a walk.  The first lady caught me again at this point and passed me with ease. 

Over the last four miles the terrain was very undulating with the odd short steep uphill climb.  I kept finding myself catching the first lady and going past her, only to be passed by her a short while later.  We kept this up all the way to the finish.  With about half a mile to go we were running side-by-side and the finish line was in sight.  I decided I'd just keep alongside her all the way.  With only about 200m to go we reached the final short climb, which reduced my running partner to a halt, I turned and shouted at her "you can't walk now, we're nearly there".  She groaned, then pulled herself together and started running again.  At that point I was determined to cross the line together, I didn't want to beat her as I felt she had run a much more consistently paced race than I had.  But with about 100m to go I suddenly realised that a sub 3.15 time was possible, and so I found myself sprinting for the line.  According to my own time keeping I crossed the line in 3 hours 14 minutes 41 seconds.  The first lady was then just a few seconds behind.

I collected my medal and finishers T-shirt and made my way to the bus stop to catch the free shuttle back to where I'd parked about 3 miles away.  However, once I got to the bus I realised I hadn't taken my customary finishing photo, so dashed back to the finish line to have my photo taken.


On returning to the bus stop I realised I'd just missed the bus and then had to wait about 40 minutes for it to return.  I have no idea why it took it so long to travel 6 miles.  If I'd known I was going to spend so long waiting by the side of the road, getting cold, I would have walked the 3 miles to the car park.  Once I reached the car I departed as soon as I could put on long trousers and drove for a good 20 minutes with the heater on full blast to thaw out.

Now I'm home and looking forward to a roast dinner for supper.  I definitely need the calories.  I'll be eating well this week, as I have another marathon to do next weekend, my second back-to-back marathon weekend of the year.

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