My Phedippidations World Wide Half Race Report

MY RIBBLE VALLEY HALF MARATHON
I’m ready. I’m trained. I’m focused. I’m running the streets and lanes of the Ribble Valley on my own today. It’s a strange feeling to get ready for a race and be the only one on the road, yet have the excitement and nerves internally like any other race morning.
I check the weather and see that it is perfect for a long run. There is slight misting rain, and temps are in the low 50sF with a very slight breeze.
I mentally remind myself of the route and my goal time. I know that running on my own I won’t have the physical pluses of focusing on other runners, but I will have over 1000 runners in my mind’s eye that have, will have or are doing their very best in their respective races. That along with the “shouts from the World” will carry my feet.
Any course that I select around here has hills, they just can’t be avoided. I start out in my little village with the first uphill. The air is refreshing, the misting rain comfortable and I am prepared with my waterproof and hat. Breathing is good as I reach the turnoff and the lovely downhill and flat to one of the duel carriage ways. Making a left I continue along coasting downhill and finish my first 5K in 38.25 with splits of: 13.00, 12:15, 12.05

The next 3 miles take me along a somewhat busy road with morning drivers and folks getting their papers at the shops along the route. I leave this to enjoy the road venturing off on to a side shoot that will allow me across the duel carriage way and into the more rural section of my course. My next 3 mile split is accomplished in 37:15 with miles done in 12:47, 12:20, 12:08.

I’m virtually on my own, little traffic along the loop into the countryside. The rain is a bit heavier now and there is a low misting of clouds out across the fields. The River Ribble is in view as I approach the level straight. I’m listening to the 2nd playing of the “shouts from the World” and Blacklab’s great song kicks in and pushes me through the fatigue I’m starting to feel. My breathing is good, my pace steady and mile 9 sees me complete this section in 39:28. My splits are 13:29, 13:30 12:29 (thanks to BLACKLAB)

Now the more difficult uphill section back to the main road. Legs are tired, breathing a bit laboured. I take my first walk break to get my stamina back. My SIS sport drink keeps me fuelled and start running again. I’m approaching mile 10 and mobile rings; it’s my hubby checking on my progress. He’s a great encouragement and tells me how great I’m doing. Phone call over and still going uphill. Finally I’m making the turn onto the main road and a bit more even ground. I know this straight stretch so well; I’ve run it countless times. I pick up speed and know that the rest of the way is a clear shot to the finish. I hit mile 12 with a time of 43:02 for that section and splits of 15:21, 14:17, 13:24.

Now it’s my final push, I’m tired; I’m running this distance faster than I have run it alone. All I need to do is just breath, pace, and relax. I’m crossing the main road to the lay-by that will take me down the short hill to the finish. I’m continuing to pick up pace. I’m watching my time, I can see the finish. No cars, no dog walkers just me crossing my PWWH finish line. I stop my watch and see that mile 13 was done in 12:27 and that very last .10 mile in 55sec.

I shut off my watch and I am really happy to have finished in 2:50:35. Not the fastest half marathon I have run, BUT it is THE fastest half marathon distance I have run by myself. I was 1:44 faster than the First PWWHM and that WAS during a scantioned race. (Not mentioning the 15K hilly trail race I ran the day before!!) I walk up to the corner bakery and phone my husband with the results. He’s applauds me and offers to come and pick me up. I ask him to bring the camera and my REGO after race drink. I continue walking a bit further and then while waiting I am surprised by my running friend and “marathon training advisor” out on her Saturday long run. She stopped and congratulated me on my results. My husband arrived and captured the moment. We wished her safe running as she left to complete her 18 mile run. A great finish line moment shared with my two great running supporters.

I will remember this day with fondness, and pride. Thank you to Steve R, and everyone who made this event so fun.

MY P'dip WWH

There it is! My course. It's a mix of both somewhat busy roads and countryside. I've run all of it at different times and different finish distances. I have planned the course so I have some nice downhills, straight stretches, a long incline 2/3 of the way and then a 2.5 straight to an exhilerating finish.

Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon Awaits

It's crunch time! My PWWHMC is only days away and I'm still seeking THE route I want to use. Not being able to do an official race I am going to use the beautiful Ribble Valley, Lancashire Uk as my course. There are so many roads I have run down in these past couple of years that I am perplexed as to which ones to pick. I'll need to have this finalized within two days to give myself mental preparation time. I will add a post with my decided course before Saturday 14 October, my official PWWHMC day.

I know that it will be my energy, my steam, my motivation that gets me around my route. There won't be any signs, any people cheering my name. It will be a lonely 13.1 miles on my own. That is why I am thankful to the Phedippidations Podcast that will carry me along. The shouts of encouragement will help me to focus and "feel" the energy of others on this trek. I may be running alone, but I know I am not alone.

Another PB! Another Coniston Trail Challenge!

The Lake District in Cumbria is massive. I have only seen a very small part of it, but find it wonderful. The hills or should I call them mountains or fells, rise up all around and surround you. On a day like the 7 October it was perfect weather to spend a day exploring the majesty of the area. I did so by competing in the third annual Coniston Trail Challenge/Race event. The start was at the Historic Coniston Hall which sits on the beautiful Coniston Water.

I had prepared intensely for this race and the others in the Lakeland Trail Series. I was familiar with this course as I had participated in the previous two. It would be tricky going in several places but I knew what my goal was: to see how far I could get before the faster participants in the Trail Race caught up with me. I also wanted to finish before my good friend Linda who was in the Race. I wanted to snap a photo of her coming to the finish.

The day was clear, warm, and felt like late summer rather than October. The first part was through the small village of Coniston and I felt good, that was until we started the assent on the gravel road up towards the trail head. It was steep going for two miles and at one part I thought I would loose my balance, but good shoes and hill training kept me moving forward, even if it was hands on my knees kind of forward.

I really enjoy the trail when it opens up and I can get a good run. I felt like a goat jumping over rocks and dodging puddles. The views were not disappointing. I felt good and my breathing was strong. As the time approached the 1 hr 23 minute mark I kept my senses keen as I was anticipating the sound of fast approaching foot strikes. None appeared. I ran through the shale quarry without having to give way to any racer. It was great getting beyond where I was overtaken the past two years. It wasn't until the 10K mark when I heard the lead runner closing in on me. I gave way and shouted a "Well Done" as he flew past.

From that point on I knew that I would need to keep alert and be able to step aside for these faster competitors. Still I kept my pace up, enjoyed the well deserved downhills to the lake side and the run to the finish. with only 3 minutes left to the end I was overtaken by one of the racers I had driven up with. However, as I crossed the finish line in 2:13:33 I had arrived before Linda and hurried to find our cameras. It was then I saw her approaching the line. I wasn't able to get a picture of her before her finish, but I did get one as she was processed through the finish funnel.

The real bonus of this fantastic day was watching UK running legend, Ron Hill finish the race and get a photo taken with him. It was almost as good as my 17 minute PB from last year!