Chippenham Half Marathon

Sunday 12th September. It was billed 5th in the Runners World top 50 UK races of 2009.

I can honestly say it didn't dissapoint. A smaller half than I had been used to (compared to Bath and Bristol) with only around 1,300 starters, and very local to home (around 15 minute drive), so the decision to run this one was a no brainer! A friend who runs with Chippenham Harriers (the event organisors) had recommended it and, together with the RW ratings from last year, it looked to be a good race to get involved in.

A later than usual alarm call for a Sunday morning race made for a more leisurely time to get ready, comforted in the knowledge that the race was only 15 minutes away. I was going on my own and had arranged to meet Ellen and the kiddies at the end. This was great as I only had myself to worry about and Ellen could spend some quality time in the park with the kids instead of dragging them around the course, and then cheer me in as I finished.

Parking was superbly organised at a local school with only a short walk to the 'race village' at the local sports ground. A beautifully stunning day made for a really friendly and relaxed atmosphere. NO QUEUE FOR THE TOILETS!!!!!!!

Onto the race.

With only 1,300 runners lined up, as soon as the gun/horn went it meant you were well into your stride straight away. A gradual climb for around a mile then led into a long downhill into the town centre. After a quick climb back out of the town centre the course was mainly flat to undulating; certainly less undulations than Bath and Bristol. This led to a quick first half which prompted the question of burning out. Looking around it seemed others were of the same mind but a silent concensus to push on prevailed!

With such a stunning day it inevitably started to get hot, however bottled water was given out at aid stations every 3 miles! I remembered to stash a gel as I'd been slowing up at the 10/11 mile mark recently, and so downed it at about mile 8 in the hope that it would see me through the latter stages. It seemed to do the trick.....for a while but then the quick pace started to take it's toll. Ignoring the tiredness I pushed on and the final mile was a nice downhill stretch back to the sports field. One turn from the finish I spotted Ellen and the Kiddies and our friend Sophie and her kiddies which spurred me on. Unfortunately at this point I noticed 01:40 on my Garmin and therefore realised the sub-01:40 time had evaded me yet again. However, I was still on for a great time and a new PB.

01:41:39 at the finish line. Well pleased but still craving for that sub-01:40.

Overall, a truly great race, well organised with a more local/personal feel which gets lost at the bigger events. A great goodie bag to - tech. tee, medal, drink, sweets, biscuits, banana etc all for under £20. Ellen and the kiddies had a great time too. She has stopped coming to races like the Bristol Half due to the sheer volume of people to get three kiddies around. More local races methinks.

Well done Chippenham Harriers, same time next year!

P.S. 2 glasses of red the night before. Maybe this is the way forward?

Bristol Half Marathon 2010

Wet and soggy morning, totally the opposite of what the BBC weather forecast predicted at the end of last week.

Early alarm call at 06:00 to get to Bristol for a 09:00 start. However, I did something I've never done before and had a couple of pints of Guinness the night before (seemed like a good idea at the time!) The old nerves had turned the stomach into a washing machine and together with last nights drinks, the belly was not feeling in a good way! On route to Bristol the heavens decided to rain on the parade. Up to the point of standing around in my allotted time zone the rain persisted and I was soaked before the gun.

Long story short, I was hoping to go sub 1:40 for the first time. Up and down the Portway underneath the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge I was hovering between 07:30 and 07:45 minute miling. I felt reasonably comfortable up until the approach to the 10 mile point when the effects of the night before started to catch up. I also knew at this point that the easier part of the course had already passed and what was left was the pain in the arse, remaining 3 miles of cobbles, hills and the annoying winding city centre route. At about 12 miles, instead of my usual increase in pace I actually had to stop and recoup for a few seconds as a bout of dizziness took over (!!!) This is the part which destroyed all hopes of a pb. I don't know whether this was due to the previous late night or not but it had never happened before. However, I took stock and steadied my way to the finish.

I finished in 01:45:45. A pb for the Bristol course of around 3 minutes, but over a minute off my half marathon pb, and over 5 minutes of the ideal target of sub-01:40.

Re-coup, recover, re-focus. Early to bed Saturday night, no beer! Chippenham Half Marathon on Sunday.

Lesson: I very, very rarely drink, so I'm guessing even just the 2 pints the night before may have effected my run. Thoughts?

The past few weeks

Thought I'd better put up a new post, it's been a while.

I'm back and feeling pretty much fully refreshed from 2 weeks in France. Not so great on the trail front but I still managed to get the trainers on a few times just to keep the mileage ticking over.

I'm not really in the greatest of typing moods so I'm afraid I'm going to bullet point what's been happening over the past few weeks and also what I've got to look forward to in the coming weeks: -

• 2 weeks recharging the batteries in the Dordogne - mixed weather, no real trails unlike last year but very quiet roads.


• Bought Ellen a Wii for her birthday! She loves it but I'm not convinced of its ability to seriously sort out your fitness - still, it's a bit of a laugh.


• August bank holiday (HOORAY!) plodding out a training Half in preparation of the next couple of weeks.


• Bristol Half Marathon on the 5th September followed by the Chippenham Half Marathon a week later.


• The Atlantic Coast Challenge is only 5 weeks away!! Fund raising for Ataxia UK has begun in earnest.

Bring on the ACC again. It still holds an air of the unknown, even after completing it last year. Although I've kept the mileage ticking over steadily, I haven't done the big miles that I would have liked. Despite this, I have a better understanding of my refuelling and will go into the event with my eyes a bit more open than last year.

My Salomon's from last year are wasting away at the toes so I've invested in some new Speedcross 2's. Check out these bad boys!

Too much knowledge can hold you back. Ignorance on the other hand, that is something that could get you to the finishing line'. Let's hope my knowledge of this event doesn't come back and bite me on the arse!

The last few days

Is it me? Since the River Run it's all been relatively quiet on the running front. A couple of training half's on the 18th and 20th of July, followed by a hilly 5 miler on the 26th is all that I can report on. The pace and stamina seem to be in place but the enthusiasm seems to have waned a little. I really don't know why because the high I get off the back of a good run usually leaves me craving for more. The only thing I can put it down to is the countdown to my holiday in just over a week's time.

Just north of the Dordogne this time but with plenty of opportunity to hit the French trails once more, which I fully intend to enjoy. The kiddies will have their bikes this time, so the company will be great!

I'm also fully conscious of the need to up the LSR's in preparation of the ACC.

9 weeks to go

Chippenham River Run 2010

Following last years race I had not trained for a 5km distance all year. However, with my overall fitness above what it was this time last year I thought I'd go and test myself out.

A very dodgy stomach preceding the start didn't bode well and doubts about even starting were creeping in. Knowing the course and the speed at the start I thought I'd dig in and push to beat last year's time of 22:06. With jelly legs and my lungs bursting after a few hundred metres I realised that my dodgy stomach was having more of an impact on my stamina than feared. Despite this, I dug in and pushed on for a 06:45 min/mile pace. It was touch and go at times, making the requisite pace on some stretches but dropping back on others.

When I saw the home straight I remembered how long it seemed to go on at last years event and could not quite judge the distance. I wrongly guesstimated a finish of over 22 minutes but managing to push a steady pace all the way to the end brought me in at 21:27 (6:55 minute/miles) - some 39 seconds of last years time and only 11 seconds off my 5km PB.

Pretty pleased with the time, yet I know on the right course, with less congestion, I've definately got a sub-21 minutes in me.

Watch this space!

Kernow Recce

A weekend in my home county proved a prime opportunity to reacquaint myself with part of the first day of the ACC, so we headed off to my folks who still live on the outskirts of Newquay.

Following a sleepless Friday night (I've no reason why? Seem's to be happening a lot lately!) I was up at 06:15 and on my way by half past towards the coast. My folks live only 10 minutes away from the sea so it didn't entail too much tarmac running, expecting the terrain to soon give way to something a bit softer. However, on hitting the path it became evident that the weeks of dry weather had baked the coastal path rock solid which made the relentless divots quite unforgiving.

It was an overcast morning but pleasantly warm with a slight onshore breeze which blew away much of the humidity that we had endured during the week back home in Wiltshire. With only rabbits and seagulls as company I got into the groove and a few miles on was soon on the downhill to Watergate Bay. There was a bit more activity here due to the Hotel complex, so I hurried on and upwards craving for the solitude of the coastal path.

(Note to self - Public toilets in Watergate Bay to avoid going al fresco!)

Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth (the latter being the first check point into Day 1 of the ACC) was more akin to the terrain that I was wanting; more remote with greater 'undulations'. I'd set out to run just 10 miles as I had a full day lined up on the beach with the family, so the 5 mile turnaround was just before the beach at Mawgan Porth.

The route back was as equally pleasant with stunning views of the weather fronts making their shadowy paths in from the sea (thankfully the weather turned for the better later on). If anything, apart from a quick 'pit stop' at Watergate bay (see note to self above) the return leg was quicker and I found myself getting stronger as I neared the end of the run.

I eventually got back in a comfortable 01:45:45 working out at around 10:35/mile which is the sort of pace that I'd set out to achieve, although this will work out slower come October for the ACC.

Swiftly followed by a day on the beach!

Perfect Company for a Half

A half marathon training run was the order of a beautiful Sunday morning! My folks were staying for the weekend and were only too eager to look after the kids whilst Ellen jumped on her bike and joined me for the full distance (and impressive she was too!)

With the company came the ability to carry my water, and for the majority of the run my t-shirt too, and it felt fantastic to run unhindered.

For a 09:30 start it was surprising to see so many cyclists and horse riders out and about on a route where you can run for miles and miles without generally seeing anyone.

Anyway, it was a slow one, mainly due to the heat and being tired from a weekend full of nights out and gardening but I managed to shift my arse around averaging 8:55 minute miles; slow but pleasantly satisfying!