Scenic Parkrun - Montacute House

Strayed again from my usual home Parkrun.

This time I had a Saturday morning run in the grounds of the a National Trust property in Somerset.  The newly started Montacute House Parkrun.  Basically it is a run around the Parkland in front of the House, running down the avenue with a view of the house was fantastic.  This was also the first time I had a few supporters on route with me.   Unfortunately they didn't cheer loud enough!

It's a hard course on grass with many lumps and bumps but it was worth it for the view - the sheep just thought we were a little bonkers...

Abingdon Marathon 2013 Race Report

A little late in the write up but here we go...

Finally got the right date .  For all my preparation in the end I couldn't have been less prepared.

For some reason I thought it started at 9:30 - nope it was 9:00, I was ready physically (so I thought) but not mentally.

So I was aiming for 3:30, an even 8 minute mile pace.  It started well, but started a little too fast, running with another bunch who were aiming for 3:30.

Despite the early morning rain, it was rather warm, which didn't help, so the enviable happened and I slowed down drastically.  At 10 miles I was in trouble and thinking that this was really hard work and that I had been a complete idioted.  I needed to slow down and try and reset my race.

I don't often do road races, I generally find them a bit dull, running around housing estates and industrial estates is not much fun.  And the terrain is a little monotonous, no hills to get your teeth into.

Then the race took a serious turn for the worst. I was physical accosted by some woman who took umbridge at runners using the footpath - I tried to squeeze passed her on a narrow path - wall on one side, steep grassy verge on the other, I tried to get round (there was enough room) but she deliberately stuck her elbow out in order to hit me - which she did with some force in the chest (I can still feel the bruised ribs over a week later).
  

I stopped and approached her at which point she then told me "I should be on the F****** road", I was so cross, but what can you say to that - it spoilt my race - until near the end when two women walking in front of me apologised for getting in the way - they weren't I'd already moved round them - no problem I said, faith in humanity restored

After that I hung on to the finish - 11 seconds slower than 4 years ago.  In the end please to get finished.

Goodie bag was a bit feeble - a T-shirt and a bottle of water.

Lessons:

Check the start date and time
Don't start too fast

Basingstoke Half Race Report. 2013

A hot weekend in October, it must be time for the Basingstoke Half Marathon, although based on how long we actual spend in Basingstoke I’m sure it should be renamed to the Cliddesden and Ellisfield Half Marathon.

The race was won by Kenyan Nicholas Kirui in 1:05:33, with the second placed Kenyan coming in over 8 minutes later.  Over 1300 runners then crossed the finish line, in various states of dress: Elvis, Spiderman, Nemo and one very grumpy chap running in full police riot gear, perhaps he was just being prepared for those over enthusiastic supporters trying to offer him jelly babies.
 
This is my local race race so it always seem rude not to enter (this is the third year of running), although I do like the look of Bournemouth for next year.

Organisation is excellent, I've never seen a race with so many port-a-loos, it looked like was enough for one each. So after a bit of faffing about with the microphone at the start the race started.

Last year I managed to break 1:45 in slightly overcast conditions so I was looking to try and beat it.  I had set a target of 7:30 minute miles.  A neighbour was also also running and he went off very fast indeed, I thought I better try and keep up.  The first 2 miles were close to 7:00, and it was getting warm  - I am so going to suffer later I thought.

Running through village of Cliddesden, lined with home team supporters really gave a boost and helped keep the pace up.  The course covered lots of my training ground so I know the hills really well.  The first accent up White Hill, after mile 3 was fierce - I even use this hill for hill training, but the speed we ascend that hill was still phenomenal.  The pressure eased a little as the road flattened out and then descended passed Ellisfield church.

The decent was short lived as we started to climb up a short hill out of Ellisfield Green.  I was hanging on just behind my neighbour at this point and I was starting to feel the heat.  There is a long down hill stretch here - some of it in the shade.  When needed I am quite good at descending quickly - so it was here I finally over took my neighbour and ploughed on as quickly as I could. That mile clocked in at 6:36

After all that down hill, comes the inevitable climb back up hill - slow and steady rise of 2.4% over 1.6 miles.  Cheered on mu the lovely people of Elliesfield I ground out the climb.

Even at the top of this climb the course turns a corner and still manages to go up hill.

The big dipper was a quick decent, followed by a slow climb - although I did manage to loose a gel from my shorts at this point - those side pockets were not such a good idea after all.

Farleigh Wallop was quite until the very top of the hill, where there were lots of supporters and lots of noise.  The down hill decent was speedy - I was overtaken by a guy in vibrams who was running like a gazelle.

Back into Cliddesden for another burst of support, trouble is at the end of the village the support runs out and there is a slight incline to slow down on.  2 miles to go and it's time to grind it out.  Back into Basingstoke before turning into War Memorial park, and another climb.  Finish was excellent, a straight forward  grass track, with the race announcer calling out names as you approach the finish line.

Goodie bag:  Tech T-shirt (bright yellow), medal, banana, water, lucasade, clif bar.

Excellent race for old pros and beginners alike and the result 1:36:38 - get in there!
(it does mean of course I need to break 1:35 next year though)

Abingdon Marathon 2013 Race Report - ish

The last time I ran at Abingdon was 2010, where a set a PB, I've not run a road marathon since and hence the PB still stands.  My trial marathon times have been dropping recently and after last weekends half marathon PB I thought my changes would be good at setting a new PB

Races are won before you cross the start line, so I thought I'd better prepare with extra care.  I checked my times from the last race, worked out the slow miles where I'd need to put in extra effort and finalised my pacing strategy.

I got my kit ready - I even filled in my race number details and pinned it to my top.  I was super prepared.

Alarm went off and after a small breakfast I set up.  Drive to Abingdon was fine, SatNav directed me to the car park with easy.  As I pulled up into the college I did think it eerily quiet, with a distinct lack of signage.

At was at that point that I had a "bad feeling about this".  I pulled out the instruction sheet that arrived with the race number, and there it was first line "20th October", so I was exactly a week early.

How that happened I have no idea, it is written on the calendar (home and word) as the 13th,  it's on my phone as the 13th, I told everyone at work it was the 13th.

So what do I do?  I did think of starting anyway - that way I had a chance of winning.  I also though of sitting there for a few hours otherwise I'd have to admit what a idiot I'd been. Decisions, decisions - so I turned tail and headed home to face the music.

I was called a numpty for the rest of the day at home,  today at work I was called worse.

So am I looking forward to the Abingdon Marathon on the 20th?  Well I would be had I not also entered a cycle race on the same day - unless I got that date wrong too....