Wheathampstead 10k

I am very excited! Tomorrow is the Wheathampstead 10k, and I'm really looking forward to hitting home soil to try and beat my PB!
...whether I'll do this or not, I'm not entirely sure however! My training this week has been a bit hit and miss. On the plus side I ran my fastest run to work to date (5.3 km in 21 minutes 30 seconds); but on the down side I got quite drunk on Wednesday and Thursday and didn't get great sleep - neither particularly conducive to a PB. I tried to promise myself I'd be good, but the combination of a new starter on my team at work, and a gig meant that my plan went out of the window!
Whether I beat my PB or not, I know it's going to be a great race. I love the scenery of Wheathampstead, and the history of the race for me makes it equally important. They've changed the course this year to (hopefully) make it a better event. In previous years there's been an annoying little loop of the playing fields when you're within site of the finish. It can be quite demoralising when you think you're done! I think the new course could work well, but it will mean running the last 3km along the same track as the first - and I'm not normally a fan of out and back routes for this reason. It will also mean we don't run along the river, a particularly pleasant part of previous years. However - the additional part of the course at halfway will see us running through bluebell woods, so I'm sure this will make up for it!

To top off what should be a great race (PB or otherwise) I've managed to convince about 15 people to join the race, and will be BBQing back at Chez Ben afterwards. What a great way to spend a Sunday!

Thought for the Day - Shin Splints

One of the most troublesome injuries affecting runners, and a problem I've struggled with in the past. Altra posted this not so long ago:

My first 10k

I've been thinking a bit more in the last couple of days about my London post - and first getting into running. It was my first 10k (Wheathampstead), when I must have been 15 or 16, that got me into racing. Rather coincidentally I found a picture from that day very recently!

I must have run that first race in around 50-55 minutes (unfortunately I can't find the official race results online ). My times now are just over 39 minutes, having achieved the elusive sub-40 10k at the end of 2012:

 I feel like I've come a long way in the last 10 years!

876 Miles

The question I'm asing myself this week is, is it possible to run from one end of the country to the other? From Lands End to John O'Groats. 876 miles...
Surprisingly, the questions in my head aren't about the running. I'm mostly asking myself how to carry sleeping supplies, how much food could I afford to carry every day, where would I buy the food from, would I sleep in hotels, what if I got lost, what if there's a lack of footpaths, do I ask my friends for support.
When my brain does turn to how to run 876 miles (plus miles for error, taking footpaths rather than motorways, and diversions to go through towns and cities) it takes a more logical, rather than emotional, view on the idea... How many miles would I have to run each day? 50 perhaps? Then it might take a minimum of 18 days. Almost 3 weeks running every day - could I handle that?

Still, the thought of joining that elite club is incredibly attractive. The journey of self discovery would no doubt be pretty inspiring. And the experiences and the sights would never be forgotten.
The planning, on the other hand, doesn't sound like it would be fun.



Final thought, read this: The Unlikely Pilgramage of Harold Fry

London!

The London marathon is where it all started for me. Watching my Dad run it back in 2006 was the sole reason I decided to start running marathons, and 2008 I was lucky enough to get in. 5 years later and I was back again, ready to give it another go.
It didn't go quite to plan - 14 miles in and my legs were starting to ache. Fortunately I recognised the symptoms early (the blame of which, by the way falls on starting far too quickly - I've never been great at pacing) and slowing down and knocking back a few gels meant I never quite hit bottom. My time was 3 hours 35 - not a PB, but a satisfying 27 minutes quicker than in 2008.
My friends are family were excellent - the boost you get when you see people you know in the crowd can't be underestimated. Particularly the enthusiasm of my parents, and the inspiring home made "Run Ben Run" banner from Kate, got me through the tough 23-25 miles.

I started this post with a nod to my Dad, and it makes sense to use this opportunity to say thanks to him for getting me into running at all. I thought for a long time that it was me that got myself into running, but really it was him.
I remember being 14 or 15 and going out jogging across the fields behind our house together. To start off with it was to the end of the first field and back; then the second; then all the way to the sewage plant, then round the sewage plant and back up the hill. It went from there.
I wasn't great at sports at school, but running was something I could do. You don't really need any skills to run - just a little determination. My first 10k must have been when I was 15, and again was run in the company of my Dad and his friends. The rest, I suppose, came with time. Now I'm here, 4 marathons into 2013, and 7 marathons completed. By the end of January 2014 I'll have doubled this. And thanks for this, goes to my father.

(that's me on the left, my bro in the middle, and my dad on the right)

Paris

It's been a while - for that, my apologies.
I've just completed my 3rd marathon this year, and a PB, in Paris - during what has to be one of my best runs ever!
I'm not great at pacing myself, but I hit the balance just right in Paris, and at 20 miles with energy left in the tank I knew I was on for a good time; in the end in 3 hours 20 minutes 48 seconds.

I'll update my thoughts at some point on my other marathons this year - there's plenty to talk about. I've now completed...
1. February - EnduranceLife's South Devon CTS Marathon (but actually 29 miles!)
2. March - Barcelona Marathon
3. April - Paris Marathon

Race Day Check List

This month I'll be running both the Paris, and London, marathons.
Some of this is a bit unnecessary, or over the top, but still an interesting look at a race day checklist from Brooks.