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Having completed the Barcelona Marathon in just under 3.30hrs I felt pretty good. No aches the next day, which was really positive for me. I was looking forward to leading an 18 mile run the following Sunday for the Children's Trust. I thought I would rest during the week to ensure I felt fressh. Sunday came and I led the 18 miler and Nicky led a slightly slower 13 miler. Nicky had planned a route I had never run before. Most of it was off road, so the days leading up to it had a bit of rain but not too much. I decided to run it in road shoes as I knew all the runners would also be in road shoes and needed to ensure the route was not too muddy. As soon as we went on the first off road path we were slipping and sliding all over the place and I decided to abandon plan A and beat a hasty retreat back to the road. We bumped into Nicky and her group, surprisingly coming from a completely different direction from where they should have been! After a bit of chat we made our way to Ashtead Peace Memorial Car Park where we would have a planned water stop. My group soon began to stretch out and I was trying to keep the group at around 10 minute miling, but the faster ones kept pulling away. This led to me doing some impromptu speed work. After a 5 minute break in Ashtead, I took them on a 6 mile loop to Leatherhead and back for another break in the car park. I explained to them that the remainder of the hills were flat. We completed the run, which turned out to be exactly 18 miles on the garmin. I was really pleased as I was not aching and felt as if I could run and run and run. It was really great chatting to the different runners raising money for the Children's Trust at the London Marathon. The next day I was still on a high as felt really good. I had a sports massage with Annette (ex bodybuilder) and for the first time she really hurt me. The only other sports masseur to do this is Mary at Banstead. However I felt a lot better knowing that my ITB had received some much needed attention. As we neared the weekend of the Cranleigh 21 Nicky suggested to me that it would be good to have the weekend off from running and a day out in London would be a good idea. Not one for disagreeing with Nicky I immediately agreed, thinking a rest would be really good. So the Tuesday before The Enigma Marathon I went for a run with the Ashtead Running Group, but with the middle group. It was decided we would run into Epsom, then to Leatherhead and then back to Ashtead. Someone said it was about 7 miles. I knew it was longer. I started running with Helen (next door neighbour) and within 400 metres I knew it wasn't going to be a good run. I mentioned to Helen I was struggling and she appeared to have the same complaint. I could see the majority of the middle group disappear into the distance. Helen, myself and two lovely ladies who are running London continued at our pace. Helen and I struggling all the way into Epsom. The faster part of our group eventually came running towards us and Helen and I decided we would make our way back to Ashtead and not run with the rest as they were taking a long detour. This run was not a good sign as it was the hardest 4 mile I had run in a very long time. Good Friday came. The alarm went off at 6am. Both Nicky and I loitered for a little while and thankfully managed to crawl out of our pit and make our way to Milton Keynes. This was the extra marathon we had signed up for from meeting up with some of the 100 Marathon Club at the Puchbowl 30. The meeting point was in the restaurant of a Premier Inn. This was most probably the best location I have been at for the start and finish of a race. It became clear that Dave Bayley (organiser) had a field of 31 and the distance was 26.88, or so he said. We were surrounded by runners who had over 100 marathons under their belts and a few of them were running the Compton 40 (40 miles, not kilometres) the next day! The course was a loop of about 3.2 miles around a lake then out along the Grand Union Canal and back again. I started out running with a lovely lady named Lisa and she was telling me about her running exploits. I then caught up with Dave Bayley and he was telling me how he was going to be completing his 100th Marathon at Nottingham on 12th September this year. Before that he was completing the 10 marathons in 10 days event, even though he is still carrying a knee injury. Amazing man. I had never been along the Grand Union Canal before and was enjoying the route. I was averaging around 8.15 minute miling and was very happy with this as I wasn't looking for a fast time, especially on the back of the previous 4 mile run. I left Dave just before the turn around point and began to run a little faster. At mile 18 I began to feel a pain in my left cheek (bottom) and down the ITB, this was causing a pain in the left knee. I tried stretching but didn't make much difference. I slowed down and with about 3 miles to go began to hobble with a marathon type shuffle. I could see the finish line as Dave Bayley passed me. The rain started to come down hard and I was greeted at the finish line to the words 'you haven't finished you have to go round there' pointing to carry on and disappear round a corner. Nearly one mile later and having had a force 10 wind with about 80 gallons of water sprayed over me I arrived at the finish line to pick up my sense of humour I had left when I first passed the finish. I checked the Garmin and it showed 26.99. However I came in 9th. I can claim a top 10 finish! I gulped down my strawberry rego drink, cup of tea and energy bar, got changed and chilled in the restaurant with the other finishers. My thoughts were with Nicky and how she was coping on her 4th marathon this year. As the time passed I kept popping out to the finish to get an update. I then heard she had passed the 21 mile marker some 40 minutes prior and that she was 5 minutes behind a lady in black who had just appeared on the horizon across the lake. I thought Nicky would be along shortly and she would be really pleased. But as the time passed I began to get worried as there was no sign of Nicky. I decided to take a warm down run out to her. After about a mile I saw her coming towards me. I slowed and walked towards her, as she came closer I could see she was ina lot of pain and all I could do was giver her a huge hug and words of encouragement. Trying to fight off my pains, I ran with her and contemplated whether to tell her about going past the finish for a 1 mile loop. I decided she needed to know and mentally prepare herself. I told her and she was amazing, she took it in her stride. I waited at the finish while she completed the extra loop. The marshals from MK Lakeside Runners were amazing, friendly and encouraging. Whilst chatting to them waiting for Nicky, they wouldn't pack up until the last runner had finished even though there was a 6 hour cut off. I cannot praise them enough. A big thank you to Dave Bayley for allowing us to participate. I understand Dave has raised £350 from this event for his charity. I will never tire of being at the finish to welcome Nicky in. She has achieved so much and to be part of her journey through these marathons has been a huge inspiration to me. I have decided that I will not run any more between now and Brighton, but to rest my legs and to concentrate on some swimming and cycling in preparation for Roth in July. I had never |
