1 May - Salcombe Coastal Marathon

Sue Staddens 40th, so we arranged to head off for a long weekend. As I had already entered the Salcombe Coastal, this was obviously the destination of choice. Arrived Friday evening & as usual, had the obligatory umpteem bottles of wine - those girls leading me astray!
Saturday morning bright & early after another of those disgusting packet of porridgey gloop, Alf dropped me off at Torcross. Felt a little sick! Not sure if it was the wine, porridge or nerves. Legs a bit tired still from last week, & the prospect of 26 miles of coastal path was a little daunting!
Met Kerry Venn at the start & we headed off at around 9:05. All very relaxed as the runners are pretty much responsible for own times. Sun was shining although it was pretty cold! Loads of very odd "hashers" running & using their equally odd nicknames! We met: Sneezy, SnowWhite (ugly as!), Rambo, Cowpat, Shatnav & Zorro amongst others! Very odd bunch!!! Had a good trot to the ferry at Salcombe where the gang met us & fed me sandwiches. Off again along the path to the end. Felt fine apart from the last 3 or 4 miles where my legs just didnt want to do anymore! Good old Kerry pushed me along. Did feel I was really holding her back although she didnt seem to mind. It was only at the end that I realised she was also carrying a back pack which weighed an absolute tonne! Mad women. At the end our garmins only measured the course as 25 miles so we duly decided to do an extra mile to make it the obligatory 26.2 m & therefore official marathon distance. All uphill of course. Our 26m complete time was approx: 6 hr 43 mins.
Still, celebrated with a shed load of wine in the evening. Next day my mate Tanja Britz came around for a braai & several more gallons of the grape juice were consumed. Damned embarrasing having to put out the recycling!!!

Sunday 25 April - Virgin London Marathon

Went up to London for the weekend for the marathon. Made it to the expo on Friday evening with 2 mins to spare for registration. If I hadnt made it, it would have been a fight across London tomorrow, when we had a picnic in the park planned!

Stayed at Hoxton Hotel & had a lovely steak dinner on the Friday with a bottle plus of wine! Me in true training mode!!!

Saturday morning we headed off to M&S to buy wine & picnic food, then off to St James's park where we had agreed to meet friends for lunch before heading off to the theatre to see "Billy Elliott".

Great day. After the show found a fab Italian restaurant near Covent Garden. Owner even gave us a glass of wine each while we queued to get in on the pavement. Back to the Hoxton & bed for me. The others headed off to the pub & hotel bar.

Up bright & early to force down a revolting freeze dried pack of porridge! Like eating flavoured glue. Could only manage half of it! Alf then dropped me off at Charing X station where I caught the train to Blackheath.

Heavens opened as I reached the park - very cold! Usual queue for the loo before heading for the "pens". Gun went off & as I approached the start line, I decided with loads of others to take a detour again for the porta-loos before my timing chip kicked in!

Rain stopped pretty much after the start gun. Bumped into Jenny Byrom at the 4 or 5 mile mark. Crowds as usual fab! Felt fine all the way to Tower Bridge where I spotted Alf, Lesley & Steve. Still OK until 18mile mark where thighs as tight as a drum. Had to stop a couple of times to stretch out! Managed to keep running, all the way to the finish line. As approached the end, spotted Richard Branson so thought I could get him included in my finish pic!!

4 hours 52 mins & 17 seconds. Not to bad as I stopped 4 times for the loo after activating my chip. Did trot slowly the whole way.

Eventually found Alf & the sod made me drive half the way home!!!

Training Continues

Oh Dear! Following JCC, very sore left foot. Mark Copp the sports therapist thinks I may have a stress fracture & suggests an X-ray!
I duly did head off to Musgrove Park Hospital, however, X-ray showed nil. 12 year old doctor told me to rest for a couple of days & take anti-inflammatories, so that is exactly what I did!
However, almost a month on, top of foot still not right! Still, at least I am able to continue running.

JCC Day 3

OMG! I sometimes wonder why! Still stiff as a board & day 3 is supposed to be the toughest! I again joined the walk group with the aim of running when I could (legs & hills allowing). Mini bus took us to Lulworth Cove. Started off in the local hotel loo & only just made the start whistle!! Faced with a mega hill straight off - thank goodness for my walking pole! I was huffing & puffing after 5 mins. But... what goes up, must come down! Bliddy heck! Them there steps really hurt the already stiff quads! :-(

Didnt know what was worse, they ups or the down. Still the view were stunning & it was relatively warm.

Nessa was feeling pretty good & I was struggling, so I pushed her on after around 10k. Met up with Heather again & we stuck together until the final check point. I heard at the 2nd last check that James was pulled off the course due to missing the time check. Apparently he was struggling with blisters too!

Weather started closing in & it was getting v.chilly & misty. We were all pulled off the course at the final check point & told that the coast gaurd were going to make a decision on whether or not we could complete..gutted! Only 7 or so miles to go. After an hour of getting cold & stiff we were told we could continue but only providing the 30 or so of us stuck together til the finish. Hurrah. 7 or so folk then just took off & left the rest of us to it. Camaraderie was brilliant & we were all in great spirits which made the final few miles really really good fun. Too misty to see "Old Harry", and we had to get the maps & compasses (not me) out to find our way. Coast guard counted us all in & off a couple of times too!

Finished eventually after around 10 hours. Cold, tired & very happy. Ben from VOTWO met us at the end to give us our nice little momento. Hot soup & mini bus back to Weymouth. Met with Pip & Jilly before saying goodbye & driving home. Bloody hell my legs ache!!

JCC Day Two

Nice & warm last night & used sleeping bag & duvet! However, legs vv stiff when got up. Didnt know how was going to manage today, let alone tomorrow! Still, onwards & upwards!!! Decided to join the walk group so I had a little more time to finish! Set off from Chesil holiday park at 8:30 & the walk group almost started jogging off immediately! Due to stiff legs I walked the first 4 miles until the top of the cliff in Portland then walked jogged to CP1. Saw Jilly & Kerry there, but they soon left me in their dust! Lovely scenary & weather good albeit a little chilly. Walked jogged everywhere I could & met a lovely lady called Ness at CP2. We laughed & jollied each other along. Saw Dr Hickish out running in Weymouth & had a little chat with him. Ness & I decided to do an Eddie Izzard & had an ice cream on Weymouth beach front - very nice it was too. Made it to Lulworth Cove after 8 hrs & 47 mins. Total mileage today was 27.76 miles according to my garmin. Actually enjoyed the day more than yesterday. Far less mud & hills, although tomorrow is yet another day! Again enjoyed a few glasses of wine & also had a sports massage on my poor stiff leggies!

JCC - Day One

Didnt sleep very well. In caravan & froze all night. Was too cold for me to get out of bed & get my sleeping bag out of the car! Got up at 7 & made tea!
Very nervous about the day. Registered at 8, kit check & cooked breakfast which was very nice.
Mini bus to start was around 50mins. Scared stiff looking out the windows - big big hills.
Quick wee break at the start & we were off. Stunning scenary so took a few photos. Hills were pretty gruelling & most folk in the G2 (walk/jog group) were walking. This didnt last. They all shot off! I caught up with Pip at West Bay & she looked good. although she is in the walk group. Met Kerry & Jill at check point 2 & they were both looking pretty good although Kerry struggling with blisters.
By 9m my ache hip was hurting. Took ibuprofen & struggled through. Did lots of walking. Wind was horrific - very strong 30m/hr head wind all day. Lots & lots of very deep & cloying mud & this didnt let up the whole way.
I was hoping to finish in 7 hrs but actually did it in 7:25. Apparently most of the folk that have done this previously, finished on average an hour longer. Purely due to the awful conditions!
Once got back, we got stuck into the wine, put our feet up & chatted about our adventures over the next year.

Jurassic Coastal Challenge

Manic week. Manic day & I was hoping to finish work by 3 in order to get my kit packed & move down to Dorset. Got home just after 5 & still had to pack my kit bag & clothes for the next 4 days. Left home & 5:30 after mad rush & set off. Made it down to Weymouth in 1 hr 15 which was pretty good. Pip & Birdypie aka Jill had checked in to our caravan already. Jill had switched on all the heating so it was lovely & warm. We walked up to the Votwo marquee for our pasta dinner & a beer. Not bad & all beer for the weekend free! Chilly in the marquee though so we headed back to our caravan for wine & a chill! Had to finish all my work call notes & update this. Wine lovely. Off to pack my day pack for tomorrow. Getting a little nervous as I am hearing stories from last year where Pip got lost on all 3 days & said how tough tough tough it was. Also with all the rain we have had in the last couple of day, apparently the course is as muddy as hell!
We will see how we feel this time tomorrow!!!! :-)