Mud, Sweat and (no) Beers

Mud! Saturday 28th March saw the completion of my 2nd challenge, The Major Series: South Mud Run, and what muddy good fun it was! Arriving shortly after 8:00am allowed us the privilege of front row parking and view of the burly, camouflaged men who would later be hurling orders at us, shuddering around their hot coffee - it reminded me that they were human too, really. Luckily for us we could recline cosily in our warm cars for an hour or so before our 9:30am start.

Sweat! Digit sensation soon became a distant memory as minutes into the race we faced the first (of many) 'Stench Trench' - aptly named - where we were waist-high in muddy water, leaving us to face the remaining 9.5km with heavy, squelching shoes. Although the distance was much less than other running events I am challenging myself with this year, it was much harder because of sheer weight muddy legs have! That and the hills.. No one likes hills. The icy cold water obstacles spread evenly throughout the course soon became motivators to run - going slowly simply meant you would be too cold! However, there were some 'Takeshi's Castle' style tasks were too fun to not want to go back and do it again; the finale, a water slide covered in fairy liquid being the highlight. 

(No) Beers! Onto my next challenge, the big boy, The Virgin London Marathon. Training has been slow going to date but is going to have to have some swift exponential growth as we only have just over 2 weeks to go! No alcohol from now on until race day for me (does that not count as another challenge?) and a strict routine to keep me hydrated and well nourished. Nerves are well and truly already kicking in!! 

The Bath Half: The Big Splint to the Finish

We enter the 4th day of recovery from The Bath Half Marathon and I have only just mustered the energy and calf strength to make it down the 32 steps - of course I counted - from my bedroom to the living room, where my laptop hummed, ready for the next blog update.

Obviously, this is a slight exaggeration, it's only 30 steps to start, however its not far from the truth. As my housemates can assure you, I have been staggering around like a neanderthal, often on all fours, in order to overcome the most simple of tasks; walking up/down stairs, sitting down, going to lectures.. They will also probably inform you that this sort of behaviour is not uncommon; don't believe them, mum and dad, they're liars.

To answer both yours and the Physio Therapist's first question - where does it hurt? - my shins. Your second - when did it start hurting? - about mile 5! Shin Splints = Ouch. Despite the pain and obvious disappointment that comes with not achieving the time you would reach at full fitness, I am pleased (and proud) to say: "Bath Half Marathon - Check". In a few seconds shy of  2 hours for those of you interested in comparing timepiece statistics.

And what a day it was! If I could personally shake the hand of every event organsiner, volunteer marshal, band member, dancer, spectator and, importantly, all the other runners, I would. The encouragement and support was like nothing I have experienced before; boy did it feel good. I can hand-on-heart say you all got me through it, with exception to you, man running past me in the flip-flops; your inadequate footwear made both me and my overpriced shoes look foolish. Thank you to everyone who made my first challenge such a tremendously memorable day. There is one person I really would like to thank more than anyone though; Theo, himself. Cliché as it may be, when I hit the biggest wall during the quieter 8th and 9th mile, it was thinking of you that got me over it. Thanks little man.

1 down 9 to go. 

Unfortunately, I am currently playing a bit of a waiting game to see if I have any real damage in my legs and feet. However, with my legs taped up and box loads of pain-killers, I am hoping to get back to training soon; it's only a few more weeks until the next challenge, The South Mud Run. Fingers crossed I'll still be able to take part in what is set to be a muddy good day!

The Bath Half: Preparing to Spectate

Those of you with a current or recently expired registration number at the University of Bath will have had your Facebook news feeds filling up today with last minute calls for donations as we prepare for tomorrow's half marathon. Here's mine:

I'm running stupidly far tomorrow and I don't like running. 

Why do it then? Simple. This is the 1st of 10 challenges, remember? It's not supposed to be easy, its supposed to be bloody hard work. My amazing nephew, Theo, faces challenges everyday that you and I take for granted. It's time for me to leave my comfort zone and prove I can do something challenging too; fundraising along the way to help make those challenges Theo faces just a little bit easier for him. Please help where you can.

I won't be running alone tomorrow. The list of friends running, both for Theo and for charities close to their own hearts, is long, varied and most importantly, inspiring! I am going to need all the motivation I can get tomorrow - this is my first ever running event - and I can't think of anything more powerful than seeing groups of glistening, familiar faces. Good luck to all of you.

To all those speedy, sub 90 minute runners, I salute you; well, at least that is what my out-stretched hand will look like as you gazelle past me. You'll miss my pleas for help as you bop along to your perfectly ordered playlist on your fully charged wireless headphones. Your porridge filled and well trained legs will shake with joy as you pass me for the second loop round Queens Square, a mere few railings along from where you had last seen me dragging myself along. Most of you will have had the sense to have prepared correctly: regular training, controlled diet, good sleeping pattern. As I reminisced back to my last run (over a week ago) whilst tucking into a particularly delicious bag of jelly snakes in the late hours of yesterday evening, I came to the following conclusion; maybe I was preparing to spectate. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not waving the white flag (yet!). This course must be conquered. However, I am embracing the fact that I'm going to be a fair few furlongs behind the leaders and I will enjoy watching them run past with ease; much like the majority of the crowd. Like a proud mother, waving frantically as her son, red faced with exhaustion and now embarrassment, passes by, I too will be merrily cheering on those who overtake me. I hope you can pat me on the back on your way. I'll need that extra boost! 

See you all at the start line and, hopefully less than 2 hours later, at the finish line.