a good question ? I certainly don't feel like I'm a runner anymore :(
I had a poor run today & found the North Devon marathon tough hilly & hot.
Basically I'm unfit & carrying a few niggles not really injuries but just feel like I'm falling apart & I'm burn out.
I couldn't fault the race the organisation was good, excellent marshalling & fantastic support out there.
The most inspiring part of the day was seeing some lovely bikini clad ladies enjoying the hottest day of the year.
At least the football cheered me up !! :(
Need to assess whether to train more or rest more ? At least I only have 4 more marathons to reach triple figures.
Dug deep over the final 3 miles to crack 5 hours.
Apologies if you were expecting a more fun positive read - sorry.
Keep on running !
Foxy x
PS ; Legendary track by the Who for those youngsters out there (it's the CSI tune !! lol !)
Monday, 28 June 2010
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Brothers in Arms
A bit of Dire Straits for you - thankfully Comrades went better than expected & I wasn't in dire straits !!!
What an amazing event, there can't be an ultra on the planet to match it for organisation & it entered the Guiness book of records for most people to finish an ultra marathon - just under 13000 finished under the 12 hour cut off.
I will be totally honest, at 6pm the night before I was scared to death - the prospect of running 23 miles further than I have ever gone on a hilly course in 28 degrees of mostly unshaded course, with an injury & the 10 in 10 in my legs was really worrying me - I was hoping to watch the final of the Super 14 rugby but couldn't relax I wanted to ensure my chip would be comfortable on my shoe & my number in the perfect position.
Not suprisingly i didn't sleep & we headed off from Durban for Pitermaritzburg at 2.30am for the start at 5.30 am- it was a long drive & that didn't help calm the nerves knowing I was gonna have to run back to Durban.
After a frantic bag drop & a climb over the fence I was ready to start with 5 minutes to spare - the national anthem rang out & the cannon fired we were off & running in the dark & there was no time to worry just to simply focus on the long winding road ahead.
As the temperature warmed & I started running I gradually discarded a brass monkey half sweatshirt to a very grateful local lad & someone else had my gloves before later on my longsleeved Texas longhorns shirt became a gift too, but there was to be no full monty !! LOL !!
The crowd support along the route was the greatest I have ever received & I've done some big races across the globe. Having your name on your number was great as folks shouted personal encouragement & at 35km I couldn't resist rewarding them with a fly by as I approached the huge sub 10 hour bus - 500 folks all running the same pace - I made my way througn the bus & continued to forge ahead logging 6 min kms & wondering if a sub 9 hour Bill Rowan was possible (that was rather optimistic) I stayed way ahead of the bus until with 20km to go I could feel them all breathing down my neck but refused to let them swallow me up & accelrated downhill to finish.
I was relived to see the 5km to go sign as someone infamously said "anyone can run a 5km" or words to that effect & I thought yes of course I can run 5km (i was 7 min kms at this point) & calculating I needed just 8 min kms to break 10 hours then 10 min kms with 3 to go & needed to get under 18 mins for the final km to break 10 hours - I entered the huge cricket stadium for my lap of honour & sprinted until I reached the finishing straight & with 30 yards of open space in front of me I aeroplaned home & was over the moon to finish & amaze myself I could actually run that far - still finding it hard to believe.
I couldn't have got it done without the great support on the course from spectators & even more so from my fellow runners my "brothers in arms"
I guess i can possibly call myself an ultra runner now, but will be glad to do just 26.2 miles from now on, 56 is a bit far !!
keep on plodding !
foxy xx
What an amazing event, there can't be an ultra on the planet to match it for organisation & it entered the Guiness book of records for most people to finish an ultra marathon - just under 13000 finished under the 12 hour cut off.
I will be totally honest, at 6pm the night before I was scared to death - the prospect of running 23 miles further than I have ever gone on a hilly course in 28 degrees of mostly unshaded course, with an injury & the 10 in 10 in my legs was really worrying me - I was hoping to watch the final of the Super 14 rugby but couldn't relax I wanted to ensure my chip would be comfortable on my shoe & my number in the perfect position.
Not suprisingly i didn't sleep & we headed off from Durban for Pitermaritzburg at 2.30am for the start at 5.30 am- it was a long drive & that didn't help calm the nerves knowing I was gonna have to run back to Durban.
After a frantic bag drop & a climb over the fence I was ready to start with 5 minutes to spare - the national anthem rang out & the cannon fired we were off & running in the dark & there was no time to worry just to simply focus on the long winding road ahead.
As the temperature warmed & I started running I gradually discarded a brass monkey half sweatshirt to a very grateful local lad & someone else had my gloves before later on my longsleeved Texas longhorns shirt became a gift too, but there was to be no full monty !! LOL !!
The crowd support along the route was the greatest I have ever received & I've done some big races across the globe. Having your name on your number was great as folks shouted personal encouragement & at 35km I couldn't resist rewarding them with a fly by as I approached the huge sub 10 hour bus - 500 folks all running the same pace - I made my way througn the bus & continued to forge ahead logging 6 min kms & wondering if a sub 9 hour Bill Rowan was possible (that was rather optimistic) I stayed way ahead of the bus until with 20km to go I could feel them all breathing down my neck but refused to let them swallow me up & accelrated downhill to finish.
I was relived to see the 5km to go sign as someone infamously said "anyone can run a 5km" or words to that effect & I thought yes of course I can run 5km (i was 7 min kms at this point) & calculating I needed just 8 min kms to break 10 hours then 10 min kms with 3 to go & needed to get under 18 mins for the final km to break 10 hours - I entered the huge cricket stadium for my lap of honour & sprinted until I reached the finishing straight & with 30 yards of open space in front of me I aeroplaned home & was over the moon to finish & amaze myself I could actually run that far - still finding it hard to believe.
I couldn't have got it done without the great support on the course from spectators & even more so from my fellow runners my "brothers in arms"
I guess i can possibly call myself an ultra runner now, but will be glad to do just 26.2 miles from now on, 56 is a bit far !!
keep on plodding !
foxy xx
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