Training Log Archive: Dianeuk_2000

Finally got round round to my training run!!

Was planning on doing this on Wednesday but my hip flexors (or at least that's what dan tells me that's what they are) were still really hurting.

Due to working till 10 on Thursday & haveing a leaving do on Friday today was te first opportunity.

I had spent 9-6 at my massage course so I was rather tired but I'm not silly, I told people that I was running part the way home to give myself the extra motivation!

I ran from the course venue to London brige then from clapham to home. Happy with my pace but after running my hip flexors are killing so I need to find a stretch that will help those (any recomendations?)

Comparing my views to Sunday would be a mistake the peaks can't be compared to cars and a man pissing down an ally!

Was supprised I've never really though about the air I guess you would call it purity before but running from the station I took a turn to te back ally that is covered in trees & Ivy type plants & there was an immidiate change in the air! It reminded me of the green houses is been in as a child. Much easier running in the greenhouse ally!

After running felt great. Much more awake than when I was leaving the course. Good run need to get more like this in!

Xx

Morning

Before I get into the details I have a question (there will be several more before I finish writing this I can assure you of that) I know that people say that you hurt more the second day after exercise & trust me their right I'm currently in agony! But why don't they tell you that it hurts less to run? I made my way rather painfully & slowly to the bus stop this morning & saw the bus I needed I had to make the decision wether to run or let the bus go. As I said I'm in agony & was thinking how much more is it gonna hurt to run for the bus if I'm in pain just walking. Well I took the risk and ran for the bus. The loverly bus driver stopped indicating out and waited for me but that wasn't the biggest supprise as I was running I noticed it was hurting less that when I had been walking does anyone know why as it doesn't make sence to me?

That question done with I can stop trying to avoid writing this.

So before I started the race my friend Katie sent me the following text when she asked what I was up too & I stated about to run 12.12 miles. "WHAT THE FUCK. Were you tricked???? Xxxx, Have u been kidnaped ? If you need rescuing say 'Apples' xxxx" needless to say my response was "apples, apples, apples" what was I doing the last time I ran was months apon months ago. Unlike last year I have done no training (I had done some minimal trainin last year and had actually done some running in the months & weeks leading up to the 12.12 but never more than 10k) I was heavier than last year & it was lady time (does anyone know if that actually effects energy levels to run or am I making things up? (Please only respond if I'm right otherwise I'm happy living giving myself an excuse once a month)

I saw Dans face looking really worried as if he had forced me into something I didn't want to do. ( he seems to forget I suggested coming back this year & though I started running as I knew how much it meant to him I continue to run as I enjoy it even if I moan like anything during & initially after the run (or for 3 days solid in this case) one day he will believe I'm not running just to make him happy.

But then it was time to line up. I managed to convince my little brother Sam to come and run this year & he looked a little apprehensive but I knew he would smash it & enjoy it once the pain was over (he was like me on my first one. Never run over 10k & run up very few hills but he's an athletic 18yo so would be fine) and then it was time to go I jogged out of the start and up to the first of many hills. At this point I changed to a fast walk I don't run hills & it was silly to kill myself before I started I just seemed to forget that the first third of this race is practically all hills. So as I'm making my way up the hill I start thinking about what I want from this race we all have our ambitions when we start a race regardless of how achievable they are. I admitted to myself what I'd known all week I want to beat what I did last year. I increase my pace up the hill & try to catch up with Hilly (the loverly lady who I ran with most of last year) with Stephen (the man I wanted to beat last year but didn't) I caught up to them to find Hilly had been training well up until a few months ago but had got some good smaller runs in more recently & Stephen had run the 30 mile intro ultra yesterday. I get the nagging feeling I really should have put some training I place for this :/

We all seem to be on the same tactic walk the hills run the flats & down hills. We carry on together for a little while having a natter running (albeit at a very slow pace) up some of the lighter hills as all the race currently seemed to be was hills! I don't recall there being that many hills last year! We then shift into our rhythm and just keep putting one foot in front of the other hoping the hills end soon. Hilly ends up a few paces in front of me & we lose Stephen behind us. As we make it up another steep hill we start getting over taken by the leading people in the 10k who set off after us but share part of the route. I carry on up the hill not getting disheartened by the floods of people passing me just giving them whoops of encouragement. Half way up that hill I actually overtake 2 ladies doing the 12! It gave me a boost and my pace went up again. I was now ahead of 3 people I was actually out running 3 people this was incredible I never out run people & thus a second goal was born to make sure I kept those 3 people behind me.

The hills seamed to continue with only small declines or straights between them but I was still pushing and damn proud of myself to boot. There then started possibly the longest decline we had had all day & it lead straight to the first water point & Dan. I felt another boost the first time dan see's me & I'm running that's always a positive I got a quick kiss & a glass of water then headed on. ( at this point I probably should mention that in wearing Dans new awesome runny back pack by Nathan that has one of the bags you fill with water in with the tube that comes round(hydration system) It's amazing really simple to use no faffing around trying to put bottles in or out I would massively recommend it to anyone! Loads of room to store mandatory kit in too!) any whoo back to running so I set off running as I leave Dan carrying on my runny/ walking technique with hills. Then I get to a long gradual hill that looks to go on forever I think back to last year & the words of advice I was given run for 30 sec walk for 30 sec it was harder to do this year as the only person there to motivate me was me but I kept it up the whole way down the path then picked up speed and set off for the down hill. My god I can be positive running down hill! Man this feels awesome, I'm feeling stronger & better than I did 1 mile in I'm going to smash this! I was smiling and giving everyone super happy well dones & keeps going, I got several back & 1 good effort! (Words of advice people don't stay good effort it's the most patronising thing you can say and doesn't boost someone's confidence I see the man again later on and get more fantastic feedback) but I managed to keep up the positivity for ages all of the downs & I was running with the 30 second trick up the little hills only stopping when I got to the second water point as I was crossing big rocks and I'm clumsy at the best of time I was super proud of myself I'd kept myself running & smiling while running despite being on my own since the last check point I was even more proud as when we walked that bit of the route yesterday I pointed out to Sam that I would walk that bit and I had ran it! Crossing the rocks I saw the best possible sight half way through the run Dan waiting for me with a calipso it was roasting and just what I needed. He gave me the great news I was 7 miles in. I was happy he never gave me the time as it was very risky if I knew I was on or beating it could motivate me or make me complaisant & if I was behind when I got to another hard part it could stop me dead. Dan walked with me up the next hill & then left me to continue.

Once the calipso was done I set of running then running & walking up the hill. Being super positive the whole time. I did the bit that seems like rock climbing and got to the dibbing point huffing and puffing the whole way. After that there was a nice running bit where I could enjoy the run & the view. After this I get to more steep hills & my positivity drifts away especially when I get to the check point and the man gives me the positive only 3 1/2 miles to go. How have I only got 1 1/2 miles since I last saw dan it's been ages & I've been running but I keep moving forward adapting a the quote I heard last night to put one foot in front of the other and soon I will be at a flat bit! It kept me going all the way to the pants! I neglected to mention earlier but we walked part of the route the day before and discovered a random pair of lacy pants in the middle of the path it symbolised 5k left I ran my way past the pants mewsing at how they came to be there smiling to myself (if anyone had any ideas of why they were there I'm happy to hear them). More hills come and I push myself to continue with the run walk up them and the negativity creeps back in, man my back hurts bloody hell breasts are heavy their making this so much harder at that point a loverly chap passes me to tell me after this hill it's all down hill for a few miles 'beautiful' was the only word I could muster & sped up over the hill knowing I was about to run down & I still had 3 people behind me I was still out running 3 people & had been for miles I was a rather happy Diane! I hit the crest and sailed down the hill my positivity streaming back forgetting my heavy breasts and smiling. I see Dan in the distance once again I see him and I'm running! He jogs on with me till we get to the car as I whittier on about how much I've actually ran he seemed happy. Off a trotted to the last leg I'm greeted by a smiley martial that tells me it's about 1/2 an hour from the end what does that mean??? Who's pace?? It only took the winner that long?? It takes that long to walk it???? I had no idea how long I had taken till now, no idea what time it was what good was knowing it was 1/2 away. I mused about this in an angry manner for a big chunk of the next run. The day before when I walked this bit I was adamant I would be walking it in the race but I still had beating my time & out running 3 people in my head and kept running I was desperately looking behind me to make sure I wasn't going to be over taken despite how much more I had pushed this year and how much I had worked I wasn't confident I would beat last year an was clinging to out running 3 people, planning everything from blocking the path to begging them to let me win but they never came close so I didn't have to stoop to such levels.

I knew I was getting close to the end 2 more fence things to climb a small sheep field and then a hill nothing could stop me I was nearly there and bloody chuffed I was so proud I had pushed myself so much and planned to push myself that extra bit and run the whole of the last hill. I was so damn chuffed and proud then I saw my time 5 min 29 seconds behind last year I was gutted & still am I pushed harder than last year and put in so much effort it didn't matter that I beat 3 people when I couldn't even beat myself.

I've never felt so despondent after a race and I'm used to coming last I've just never put in so much effort and then been beaten by a past me putting in less effort.

Remember the man and his good effort? Well here's where he comes back seconds after I finished and the realisation of my time hit me there he was. I remember seeing you on the course and thinking good lord she still has a long way to go --- cheers love just what I needed to hear I responded with a positive "but I finished!" Then he replied "and no one can take that away from you" I would like to say something to that man that I was too polite to say then fuck you! How dare you be so patronising and condescending I worked my ass off!!

So here we are 2 days later my body's in agony (seriously I'm less mobile than when I fractured my lady parts) I'm still down about my run & haven't quite got to the point where I'm revved up and wanting to go back next year and wreck that course but I am left with a deeper love & desire to run. So roll on tomorrow and my first training run!

Oh for anyone wondering my little brother killed the course and finished in 2.25.56 and I'm super proud of him! He's never been in so much pain in his life but he's coming back next year :D anyone else wanna join?

Xx

C • Great Run and fantastic writeup x 1