I was probably feeling a little bit reckless when I entered the Vale of York half marathon, about 6 months ago.
Riding high on the back of a good run, feeling like my legs would
carry me anywhere....feeling the need to share and shout about my
running achievements.
I did enter with plenty of time to train, though it was always a very daunting idea. Running 13.1 miles.
I
took up running in September 2012. I'm not a natural runner and I've never found it easy.
But it was my time to push my running boundaries.
I have a few friends who decided to enter too, and we all took our training seriously over the summer.
Despite
this it was hard.
I made a few promises to myself.... that I
would go out running three times per week, that I would focus on a good
technique to avoid injury and I would not avoid going out for a run
because I was on holiday.
I made a few sacrifices too. I usually enjoy open water swimming in the summer
and enter a few
events in the warmer months. I used to cycle a lot for fitness
over the summer. Although I did manage quite a bit of family cycling
this year, I simply didn't have the time to swim, or get out on my road
bike over the weekends. There's only so many
free hours in the week when you have a family and you work;
running has taken priority this year, over
all my free hours.
Despite this, as the
Vale of York event came closer, I
struggled to stay motivated and keep on with the training. Most of the
time I did get out for three runs per week, but I really struggled with
keeping to the longer runs (9 miles+) and there
was a distinct lack of longer runs in my training. These longer runs
often made me feel lethargic and tired for the rest of the day and I
struggled to get my nutrition right so I didn't feel ill afterwards. As
we're often busy at the weekends, it was often
easier to go for a shorter run. I laugh to think that I now consider a
5 mile distance to be a ‘short’ run.. I really have come a long way in
the last 12 months....though a half marathon is never going to be an
easy run when you mostly train over 5 mile distances.
As the morning of the Vale of York event dawned, I woke up feeling quite petrified at the thought of the day
ahead. My furthest distance so far was 11 miles. I'd ran a few
9 and 10 mile routes, and many runners will tell you that training up
to 10 miles is sufficient to run a half marathon. But for me, I needed
to know I could do the distance before the
event. And I had never run 13 miles... I'd been struggling recently
with my longer runs.
I knew before I reached the start line, I
already had a few mental hurdles in place. I also have a fear of being
in a crowded place, with people surrounding me.
I wasn't alone though. I know Ang was nervous too and we piled in the car with Andy and Dylan,
and arranged to meet fellow running friends Sarah and Gaynor at the start.
I’d
eaten porridge and bananas that morning, and I tried eating a handful
of almonds in the car.... this was my tried and tested breakfast for
fuelling a longer
run!
The
atmosphere buzzed with excitement as we arrived. The race was starting
at Sherburn Aerodrome and there were hundreds of cars parked and
runners emerging
from them. We registered and collected our numbers and timing chips.
We looked at the light aircraft and helicopters which were strewn about
the place. I wished I were going up in one of those instead.
I
wasn’t aware of the race starting; we just started to surge forward
with the crowd. I had been trying to ignore the panic rising from being
amongst so many
people. It was a relief to find we were moving and I held back with
Ang, to let the crowds pass us, to have a little breathing space and to
relieve the pressure from all the faster/more experienced runners who
wanted to get ahead. We said goodbye to Andy,
Sarah and Dylan who were all chasing personal bests (PBs) and started
to jog along the straight, flat runway. We ran passed the start and
over the mat which registered our timing chips. We were off!
Gaynor
passed us after a few minutes and we wished her well. Another PB in
the making as she disappeared into the crowd. There was an early U turn
in the course,
so we relaxed and watched everyone else ahead of us, streaming back
passed us. Overhead, a few of the light aircraft put on a display for
us. A biplane was performing loops and T falls above us. It was
certainly atmospheric and like no other run I have
experienced before.
We
joined the roads and enjoyed a nice flat route which took us away from
the aerodrome and out towards Bishop’s Wood. There was a slight hill at
around 3 miles
as the route crossed a railway bridge, but as our legs were warmed up
it didn’t cause too many problems. It was around 10am
and the sun was beating down and there was little shade and no breeze.
We soon started to feel very warm and it was good to reach
the section of the route which passed by Bishop’s Wood because the tall
evergreens offered shade. I was glad I’d opted to carry water and not
rely solely on the water stations.
We
passed the first water station at around 4 miles in the forest and
found they were handing out water in plastic bottles. Ang and I were
tipping these over
our heads, and couldn’t resist squirting each other...what’s a 13 mile
race without a water fight anyway?! I think we both felt like fun
runners in amongst a very serious crowd. This event had been advertised
as a great event for a PB because it was so flat.
I had thought it would also attract lots of first timers, like we were,
because of the lack of hills. Maybe it did, maybe we were just a
little less focused. Maybe we were stubbornly going to enjoy it and
laugh along to every single step?!
As
we left the forest, we could see where the route would double back and
before long the front runners passed us in the opposite direction,
racing for their
finish. We’d done around 5 miles when the man who was to win the event
passed us. I later learnt he ran an amazing 1:09 hours!
The
turnaround part of the course was formed by a large loop which skirted
the village of Wistow and then rejoined the road we’d run out on. Ang
and I were very
proud that we reached 8-9 miles before we needed to have a breather.
Given the training we’d done, we’d expected it to be much harder before
this point. We weren’t really aware or involved in the event, because
we’d started at the back and kept a slower,
steady pace, so it was really just us... pushing us along, keeping each
other going. I knew I wouldn’t leave Ang if she needed to slow or walk
for a while and I knew she wouldn’t leave me either. We weren’t here
for a PB or a fast time.. we were here to
experience a half marathon and enjoy our longest ever run together, in a
beautiful place!
We
had a brief walk at 8-9 miles, and started running again shortly
after. I know Ang had a dip at this point, though I was riding high. I
often find the middle
of a run my best part and true to form I got a second wind, around this
time. I sang and swooped along, doing my best Mary Poppins
renditions.. let’s go flyyyyy a kite! Up to the highest height! I
resisted the urge to happy dance around (mostly) because
I knew I needed to reserve energy.
As
we ran back through the forested part of the route, we passed the 10
mile marker. This was a PB distance for Ang and I believe we celebrated
by squirting
more water about the place!
I
don’t recall passing the 11 mile marker, but this was a PB distance for
me. By now though, I was starting to struggle, physically. We were
taking regular
walk/run breaks. Everything from my waist down was aching and I was
starting to get pain in one of my calves and knees. Everything in me
was wanting to stop, though Ang made sure I only walked for short bursts
and got me going again. I knew that my technique
was slipping and I needed to get back in control but in all honesty
after 10 miles, just putting one foot in front of the other, any way
possible.... was all that I could think about.
We
re-entered the aerodrome grounds and passed the 12 mile marker. As we
had less than 1 mile to go, Ang swooped up and I swooped down. Mentally
and physically,
I was done for. I didn’t care that there was less than 1 mile to go. I
didn’t care that there were still people behind us and we weren’t
last. I didn’t care that my kids were at the end. I didn’t care that
we’d nearly done it. Ang, told me all these things,
several times.... top marks for the support I got from her- I seem to
remember she even tried to carry me at one point (not physically
possible – I know she was just trying to lift my mood!)
My
calf was agony, and the only way to relieve this was to walk. In fact,
I didn’t want to walk I wanted to sit down. Finishing didn’t matter
now, I just needed
to stop. Pain and exhaustion nearly had me....but Ang didn’t give up,
she kept on dragging me on. I was close to exploding inside and pushing
her away and walking away from it all. I was dizzy and my vision was
swimming.
As
we neared the last mile marker we heard our friends and family. Thank
goodness they were there and I could see the finish! Something
reconnected inside and
I managed to run the last few metres, high-fiving my parents, kids,
Dylan and of course chief supporter, biggest whooper of them all, Lucy!!
We finished in 2 hours 38 minutes, though I think our kids wanted us to cross the line a little sooner!
I
was a little wobbly on my feet afterwards and with hindsight I think a
sugary burst of energy at around 10 miles would have helped me through
that last part.
I know what to do next time..
I
was so relived to get to the end and we did it in a respectable time
too. Not that we were counting (!) but we’d both earned PBs by default,
given that we’d
never run that distance before!
I
didn’t experience the all encompassing post run/event high which I’d
come to love following an open water event. I was just too exhausted
and I think we missed
a good part of the atmosphere by running slowly at the back.
But we’d done it. We set a goal and we achieved it.
I
really don’t know if I want to do it again. There are lots of reasons
people are motivated to run. I seem to have different priorities and
motivations to
most runners I’ve spoken to. Recording a PB and sharing my running
with lots of others isn’t high on my list but I was happy to give it a
go and be proved wrong.
A
few weeks on, I still feel a little unmoved by the event. It was a
positive experience and I like to think I will run 13.1 miles again.
But on my own terms.
In my own time. On my own route. When I’m ready.
I
run for me and the experience has strengthened my resolve to continue
to run for the reasons which matter to me. Trying something different
is outside of my
usual comfort zone, though I’m not saying never. Not quite.
Thanks
Ang. It would have been a different race without you. I love running
alone, but this was one best shared. And Lucy, Andy, Dylan, Sarah and
Gaynor –
you all motivated me at some point and shared your own running
experiences with me. And thanks Mum and Dad (and Evie-dog!) who helped
with our kids and brought them along to the finish.
