Grand Union Canal Run (2013) - Race Report

Wow, what can I say, an unbelievable weekend, one that held so many emotions both high and low. I don't know how to start this race report so I think I will just start writing and see what comes out at the end. Just remember that this is a weekend event so get yourself comfortable and get a flavour of the GUCR weekend as it is not just about the running, it is the irrepressible camaraderie and loyalty of not just the runners but the support crews and race staff...just amazing and just looking back at it makes me feel emotional. Individuals from all walks of life meeting to do one thing...get to the other end of the Grand Union Canal.

"I have no expectations, minor goals yes, 

what they are, are for me and me only"

Friday Evening

Meeting up with David in Euston on Friday afternoon our first job was to buy lunch and with a enough food to feed the whole train we boarded for our leisurely 2 hour journey in first class (I had managed to negotiate a very cheap deal) to Birmingham New Street. I was so pleased we had got the luxury of First Class as we had power to charge my Gamin (which I never used), the ability to stretch out & relax and a table to put out the maps and really focus on some minor details.

Arriving in Birmingham David and I departed to our respective hotels about 100 metres apart but planned to meet up at the Travelodge (where I was staying) for check in and to meet up with the other runners. I was staying in Travelodge, not the choice of many but it is cheap and if you can bear the noise of late night revelers it is clean and functional.

Registration was brilliant, quick and easy, check in, have a long and industrious chat with all that turned up and arrange to meet at O'Neills pub across the road. Having eaten a lot at lunchtime I chose to do some last minute shopping and then go for a walk with David along the first mile of the canal just to get a feel of its pulse again. After that it was back to the pub for laughter, conversation, food and a couple of pints of cider before an early night.

The Day of the Race

Saturday

I was amazed that I had 7 hours of sleep and only awoke twice when a few drunks shouted down the corridor and with my picnic breakfast safely delivered to my door I went about the final kit checks and preparation before leaving for Gas Street. As I turned the corner I was pleased to see a sea of nervous runners mingling around having a warm drink or queuing at the backs of vans to place kit bags on to turn again to join in last minute planning with race crews and runners alike.

I am often known for my extrovert character but today I felt leveled and calm but whilst enjoying a joke or two was very focused on my race, mentally feeling tough I was feeling very independent and business like.

Called to the start at 5.50 am we had a safety briefing and then at 6.00 am on the dot we were sent on our way some running, most of us walking to the first tunnel. I am not even sure where I was after 100 metres, I cared not a jot as I fixed my pace to be very sedate planning to run at an average 5 mph (8kph) speed was not the essence, consistent pace was and as long as I kept my heart rate down I was to crack this baby. The weather had promised to be warm later but all of us had jackets, hats and gloves to keep the warmth in 

To Catherine de Barnes Bridge (10.7 mile) - Checkpoint 1

At CP1

The journey so far was good with a lot of runners in sight both in front and behind my temptation to pick up the pace was always in the forefront of my mind and it was important tell myself ever so often to come down a gear....always come down a gear and it with great pleasure that I looked down at my watch as I passed through at 8.09 am an absolute perfectly paced 5 mph.

Stocking up with some calories in the form of chew bars and peanuts I topped up my water bottle  ditched my hat, gloves and jacket and went on my way even at this point the day was heating up.

"I had set myself minor and major targets either time, a location or a distance. 

You can't think of the race as 145 miles, that would send you mad"

To Hatton Locks (20.4 miles) - Checkpoint 2

This section of the course is unusual as you have to leave the comfort of the towpath and go over the Shrewley Tunnel, a very minor target but it is good to get some goals out of the way early. My mind kept going back to last year when this section was horrible, it was wet, miserable but I was running with other. Today was the complete opposite, dry, warm but cool in the shadows of the trees and I was alone, I was really  happy and was under no pressure at all.

My morning's major target was the little cafe at Hatton Locks just before checkpoint 2, all I wanted was a can of Coca Cola and some hot food for breakfast. Passers by called and whooped as I passed which went quiet as I ducked into the cafe to return with my hands full and now caught on camera with a guilty look on my face. As I got to the curtilage I saw some familiar faces in the form of Allan and Paul who looked all set up for breakfast in the sun. Poor Allan then got a full brain dump from me with me grumbling about a passerby which made me feel better and I traipsed off to the CP for some preventative foot care, a cup of coffee and snacks. I was feeling OK 

To Birdingbury Bridge (36 miles) - Checkpoint 3

I am aware at around now things just merge a little, I am in it for the long run so there are periods of deep concentration, auto-pilot if you want, when running long sections. Whilst the surrounds were stimulating I often slip into these states popping the bubble from time to time if an interesting thing comes into focus. As time went on race crews would pop up at various road bridges and cheer me on or make a joke but these moments were fleeting but I ran on, chipping away at the distances and by now had been running continuously for nearly 6 hours and was beginning to feel a little hungry so it was good to see the CP where I had the chance to feed on cheese sandwiches, strawberry scones, coffee and biscuits. Here I checked my feet which felt  little sore caused by the frequent gravel paths but found them just to be moist from the ground so I covered them in talcum powder and filled my shoes with the same. I was soon told to bugger off by the staff and I moved off.

To Heart of England (53 miles) - Checkpoint 4

Let me not beat about the bush, this next section was a horrible one for me and being 17 miles long I had to have my whits about me, the humour and frenetic activity of the checkpoint now a distant memory as I went about the business of navigating 17 miles, the longest section yet and was pleased to see the turn at Napton Junction but the next 10 miles just dragged on but my mood picked up when I found a little shop open and I purchased another can of Coke and a Calypso ice lolly (popsicle) and had a hilarious time when a lady started cheering me on and telling me silly jokes to get me going. Her mad activity really picked me up and with the new injection of caffeine , sugar and iced cold fluid really gave me a renewed drive as I powered over the Braunston Tunnel seeing me overtake another runner on the down hill section and then the cross country path back to the tow path. Here I met a casual runner who asked to join me for a bit to chat about ultrarunning and was happy for him to do so just to have some interaction as I had not got 47 miles under me and feeling pretty good having just left a bad patch.

In the picture above you can see me crossing the lock at Norton Junction at 48 miles, spectators were tucking in to their pies and supping cool ciders as I stumbled over almost torture when you are tired but I was driven now and all I wanted to do was get to to the Heart of England as I knew that would be the last drive onto Navigation Bridge.

The Heart of England came and went with some hilarious banter from Henk who was offering a rides on the "Death Bus" the van that takes dropped runners to the nearest train station. It was hear I saw my first dropped runner who was casually vomiting in the bushes and in the short time I was there he must have heaved about 5 times. I crammed calories in, drank cups of Cola and shot off, now with my waterproof on, a hat in my bag and a headtorch in my pocket. We were going to enter a new phase of the race soon....the night.

"...my issue was on the forefoot which is unusual as I normally get bad heels, 

this must be down to my barefoot running..."

To Navigation Bridge (70.5 miles) - Checkpoint 5 

The journey continues, I was thriving, I was focused on the end and as chance would have it I came across Imke Siegerist, a lady I met in Hanover a few weeks ago and had lunch with her and got chatting again. This was to be my night time partner. I told Imke to be very positive at Navigation Bridge as I have seen many people pulled at this point if they appear to be hypothermic or suffering.

The evening light soon faded and we were now at power walking pace as the trail allowed us, Imke told me she had no intention of staying for too long at Navigation Bridge but as she was aware, I held no loyalty to her and she was welcome but if our paths crossed again we could travel together.

On arrival at the bridge I jumped into survival mode and had a set routine of clothing, kit packing and then hot food (comprising bacon quiche and baked beans) two cups of hot coffee and extra carb gels for quick energy. As I was feeling more hydrated now I ditched a bottle and left for the night finding that Imke had left some 10 minutes before me

"...Hallucinations were sporadic and fleeting but when I did see them 

they gave me a start but nothing like last year's continuous loop..."

To Fenny Stratford (84.5 miles) - Checkpoint 6

Compared to last year I was really on top of it, my feet, whilst sore, were OK and my mood good although if I be totally truthful was actually hoping to do the night section on my own as Imke did talk a lot and I needed time with my own thoughts. If I was to walk with her later then I hoped in part silence to concentrate on my own feelings as she was sounding negative. The good thing about this section also was that there was one bridge change at the start and after that the canal would be on our right the whole way for the next 14 miles allowing me to step forth without fear of getting lost.

I soon caught up with Imke and it was apparent now that she was limping slightly, my issue was on the forefoot which is unusual as I normally get bad heels, this must be down to my barefoot running. The conversation was sporadic but as I was feeling tired I asked if I could have some time in my own thoughts which Imke kindly agreed and we happily carried on together at a good pace silently through the night but ever so often pointing a strange thing or to check our position on the map ( I don't care about position as I rely on pace at these times). Hallucinations were sporadic and fleeting but when I did see them they gave me a start but nothing like last year's continuous loop. Whilst not as vivid as I have had in the past, they were still there in the background, a cat's face, a space rocket.

Cracking we eventually got to Fenny Stratford after almost losing hope that it would ever arrive as at this time of day and almost 24 hours on the trail the mind can play tricks on you where you think you see bridges that are not really there.

On arrival all I needed was a hot cup of coffee, some much needed food and the need for some human interaction but was soon off as breakfast awaited me 16 miles down the trail

To Grand Junction Arms (100 miles) - Checkpoint 7

This was an interesting section for me, this is the section that I had failed before within 7 miles and 12 miles, this was not going to be a repeat for me as I wanted to get through 100 miles on my own terms. I was really positive soon although I did note more negativity from Imke whom I felt was on her last section as her limp was becoming more pronounced. My speed was down to 3 mph or so but I was totally up for breaking my personal best distance. My mind was on Little Venice, calculating times, distances and being really up on the whole event.

The sun really started to show its wonder here as it rose above the hills around us to shine through this glorious mist in the valley and that rose from the water of the canal. Coming of the day brought new energy but with it the heat. 

I had now tuned Imke out of my journey for no other reason that I needed to focus on my own emotions and mindset. Up ahead I saw Tesco's in Linslade where I dropped before, I moved through this section fast my mind was on my breakfast and kept on going. I carried on, no way was I stopping and then at 92 miles, Imke called me back and told me she was pulling out, her feet were on fire and she was out of it. I made sure she got to the road for pick up, said my goodbyes and left...harsh as that, I was on my own and now I needed to get going. I had 8 miles to go which at my current pace was a long time but I picked up my pace and dug in......this was a long 8 miles and was feeling a bit down but then realised that I was powering through the 96 mile mark....my demons were being eaten away. Then from out of the blue, I saw a runner come in the opposite direction...Stuart Blofield. Stuart was on fire as he came to a halt, full of energy and noise such that it stimulated my tried, befuddled mind to drive me on to the Grand Junction Arms arriving at 10.00am

Breakfast in Tring

At this checkpoint I was pointed to a list of food that could be cooked fresh, I went for a bacon and fried egg sandwich, hot coffee, coca cola, biscuits and sweets. This sounds strange but this was the stuff my body craved and I was happy to give in. I was really buzzing now, really positive, I had 45 hours to go and if I kept to 3 mph I would still have 2 hours to spare for any problem moments. Bag packed with extra water, night kit (in case no bags at the next CP) however it was going to be a long day, in fact 7 hours to the next CP and I know it was going to be tough, but this was the GUCR and this hardship is to be expected.

"...staring out at me was a seriously angry owl..."

The end game

Leaving the 100 mile checkpoint after some much needed laughter and joking with Henk and Andrew I traipsed off, making notes where water taps were. People were awake now and the towns and villages more often so I was seen chatting to passers by who wanted to know what was going on. Some good natured, some disbelieving, others just plain rude. 

The bridges were steep on this section and I was now in completely new territory so I was now battling the map a little finding that the tiredness was getting to me as it kept me changing sides of the canal. Looking back at this it was pretty straightforward but when you are tired even the simplest tasks can become that much harder. The temperature and sun were well and truly up now and I yearned for some shade. At one point I wanted to have a pee and so looking both ways so as to not upset walkers I went to the side of the path and went to a bush. I heard a rustle and in the middle of my wee I looked down and said "Who are you?" for staring out at me was a seriously angry owl. I was freaked and shouted "Get lost..go on F&%k off" but still it stared, unblinking at me and then I moved my head to look at it again and it morphed and merged back into a bush..........I felt stupid, a horrifically lucid hallucination had just got the better of me!

Laughing at my stupidity I traipsed on, I was now happier than I had been, I had enough food, my feet a little sore but the pain manageable and I had just been able to blag some cold water from a nice family in their garden, I even had a chat to someone in Bourne End who knew of my aunt, I was really positive...........


..........and then I retched and then retched again, my stomach in a knot I started to dry vomit and sweat profusely.....AAAARRRGGHHH the symptoms of heat exhaustion. That was it, I called it a day. From feeling really positive to feel absolutely rubbish within 10 minutes but I am not stupid, there are risks and there are risks.

Thank you
Without wanting to sound too soppy, the GUCR is a gem of all ultras, the organisers, helpers, volunteers, crew members and most of all the competitors are absolutely fantastic. The camaraderie is unbelievable, supportive, friendly and respectful.

I am a little disappointed I didn't go the whole way but I was not going to risk illness but to get to 112 miles unsupported make me feel very proud, I have no regrets.

It doesn't always roar

“Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.”

 Mary Anne Radmacher

Laughter, despair, hope, determination, pain, joy, angry, tired, frenetic. These are some of the words and feelings that went through my head and body on my latest GUCR event but alas the finisher's medal was not mine again this year but on my journey I managed a personal best distance of 112 miles which I am really proud of.

My race report will follow but it sometimes takes time to assimilate all the fantastic moments from start to end, I promise Dear Reader it will come soon

Say hello to Wortel

This evening I was looking forward to my last very, very sedate run with my running club before GUCR and such I left the house early to jog (not run) to the club meeting up with Robert along the way. The ground along the river was hardening nicely and moist a good omen for the weekend. 

Gathering together in the park awaiting the group calls I was surprised to hear people calling to me "Jerry, JERRY, Richard wants you!" my usual reaction is to bemoan "What have I done NOW?" but looking over I saw Richard had a big smile on his face and as I went over to him I was passed a carrot and a cheery good luck from the pack for my antics at the weekend. The carrot was obviously to help me see in the dark!

I can only say I was chuffed, such a simple gesture but one that means a lot to me as it is a form of recognition such that the carrot has been "named" and will now be my mascot for the GUCR.

So what name?

Asking the other runners in my new pack I got the usual "Fred, Craig or plain old Carrot" that is until someone suggest Wortel which transpires is Afrikaan for carrot......perfect he was named and tonight whilst my ciders cooled in the fridge a club vest was made (to comply with UKA and TRA requirements)

Watch this space...Wortel is going to have the journey of a lifetime this weekend!

GUCR Banter begins

What I LOVE about the ultra-fraternity is the build up to races and the inherent banter that takes place up to and leading to the race, this is no different this week.

Suddenly we are all on a taper and therefore more time on our hands it seems, photographs of kit being laid out, plans of one spectator/supporter navigating his boat down the Grand Union Canal to the 120 mile point to cook bacon sandwiches. Bad advice being thrown into the air for any mug to catch it or ignore it. Tales of duct taped knees to skin peeling off feet does not quell the fun and excitement. Pictures of a kettle in a race pack (assuming I hope for the runner's support team) has made me laugh today.

Even today runners are celebrating 10 Marathons in 10 Days which has spurred me into thinking positive about the GUCR again and such my planning is up a gear and kit is being sifted. I am pleased to say that comparing it to last year it is almost exactly the same to a point of ridiculous apart from a  different coloured shirt.

I have been unwell over the past few days but hopefully a short run on Tuesday evening with the club will draw a line under the training ready for some more banter in the coming days

"How are you getting back from London?"

To more positive thoughts and to next weekend...the great Grand Union Canal Race. This race has got right under my skin and this year I am very positive about completing, I have had more consistent, steady training. Had the tough runs, the fun runs even taken my running back to basics with minimalist running and with it I feel happier and more content.

Plans afoot

Over the past few days a small pile has been getting bigger, sifted and sorted then made bigger, this is the great GUCR pile. Every time I see something I may need I place it on the pile, my union flag buff or I buy a disposable toothbrush, a pot of Vaseline or some socks even a sachet of suncream ....it just collects, out of the way so that if visitors arrive they cannot see it immediately.

I know that soon it will avalanche, refined and laid out  ready to be packed but most important are the bigger items, the railway ticket (First Class), the hotel reservation, the time to meet in the pub to share a pint with the competitors, timetables, hats, waterproofs all important items and thoughts all piled together. There is even a thought of putting in my Monkey Feet if I have foot problems just in case!!!

Distraction?

Absolutely Dear Reader, this takes my mind off the training, gives me positive reassurance and a little peace of mind. I am even enjoying the question from the Delightful Mrs S "How are you getting back from London?" That bit I haven't planned...that bit is for another day!

Taper starts

Thursday night is normally Monkey Feet Night and there were plans to go to the track this evening for a very gentle run but this time with running shoes.

I sat at my desk tapping away dully at the keyboard thinking the office was hot and I felt a bead of sweat on my brow...Spring at last I thought until I walked off to the station and the weirdest feeling came over me. Although I was walking in a straight line I felt I was actually traveling at an angle, almost drunk. I fell asleep on the train and then as I walked home I felt quite dizzy and have since then slept for about 1 hour this evening, I have a feeling I am going down with something.

The decision not go to the track was confirmed when my ankle started to hurt which is strange as this is the site of the bruise caused by me tripping over a traffic cone at the Hanover Marathon.

So dizziness, bruised ankle, still a bit miserable about my beloved Arthur and now the tapering has sent me slightly over the edge now. Let's get to the weekend and see how things are but putting it into perspective, the runs are not for training, they are just a run for fun and maintenance....he adds to the end trying to sound positive!

Definitely a Trial

As you all know the tag line for my blog is "The trials and tribulations of a long distance runner living in deepest, darkest Kent." and today was very much one of those trials.

Many of my Dearest Readers will know that apart from the Delight Mrs S and our Jezzarettes I have two great loves in my life, the first my cats and the second obviously my running. Sometimes the two loves interweave with a few pictures of my cats appearing in my blog getting involved with my running world.

At the weekend our beloved young cat, Arthur, returned home with a horrific injury to his tail after being run down by a car which we found today was inoperable and we made the very hard decision to have him put down. A young cat in the prime of his life cut off in such a horrible way. 

The Delightful Mrs S has been fantastic and despite her own grieving cut me loose for a run at the club to allow me to clear my head but I was only willing to run just 10km tonight, in a slow group of people I did not know very well just so I could be lost in my own thoughts, all passion for my beloved sport gone running just for its therapeutic rewards.

Indeed, it was a great release for 50 minutes, allowing me to get my mind off our beloved Arthur, visions of his horrific injury, the last kiss goodbye and his untimely burial in our garden under his favourite apple tree. My run held no real joy and at the end I realised that for most of the time we were running in torrential rain which had not phased me, the whinges and groans of the newer runners met with disinterest.

Tonight my run was a trial

Interloper

The venue, the Orpington Marafun, a mixture of runs and walks of varying distance that is run in my local area on behalf of charity and has become a regular meet for so many people in the running fraternity.

This video was linked in various places (and I have remorselessly published it here) to show members of my running club hammering up a hill until a certain character you may know appears out of nowhere at 2:24 mins and then again at 3:22 mins.....who could it be Dear Reader, who could it be?

Enjoy

PS Thanks Brian for letting me steal the link :-)

A run of two halves

So with the marathon plans scuppered I chose to run the half marathon in Orpington, Kent instead but with some clever negotiation with the Delightful Mrs S I was given a bigger window of opportunity so that I could run there and back making it a 34 km run instead of a 21km one....a nice compromise.

Planning to run in my Monkey Feet again I was a little worried that I might get a blister (from last weeks marathon) again as there was promise of heavy rain today but as if by chance I was just getting ready to leave home when the postman arrived and dropped a letter through the door from the Ultramarathon Running Store which contained my new Injinji Performance Liner socks, so ripping off my shoes I put them on with my Monkey Shoes over the top....perfect as they fitted much better beneath them than my Trail 2 Injinjis which are much better for trail shoes.

The Half Marathon

Not much to write home about my half marathon as it is around my local area on well trodden roads but it was fun to socialise and catch up on some news from my running friends. What was nice was friends from the running club were cruising the route in cars and popping up here or there or peeping their car horns or shout encouragement as they zoomed past.

By the end of the day I was to have 108 kilometres in my legs in 7 days and so had no intention (even if I was capable with tired legs) to race especially as GUCR is in two weeks but trotted off at a steady pace enjoying my own company but stopping to chat and share a joke when I saw friends until about the 15 kilometre mark when I heard someone cough behind me (apparently she had inhaled a blossom  petal!) and after asking if she was OK we struck up a conversation and I promised her we would get her into the Finish under 2 hours, I then felt our pace pick up as we attacked the field with new energy...we arrived in 1:56 hours, not great by my normal standards but pleasing with all the recent distances.

So, after a quick drink and a catch up with friends I left to run ~7km home feeling tired and very, very hungry, time for a little rest methinks.

The glass is always full

The plan was to run 3 marathons in 3 weeks but the Delightful Mrs S has other ideas as I have had my fair share of running fun recently. It transpires the Delightful Mrs S is working tomorrow so I have to drop her off, get a few items from the shop and such will miss the start of the local marathon. Needs must when the Devil Drives as they say so have been "allowed" to run the half marathon with the distinct promise I pick her up after...that focuses the mind so there will be no hanging around tomorrow!

As for the promised marathon, not a big deal as I can make the miles up on Sunday as it was only a "Nice to have." It may be only a half marathon but it is still exercise and a chance to get the last few miles in before GUCR.

Hanover Marathon - A celebration

I first met Christian Hottas nearly 2 years ago to the day in Birmingham, a quiet and unassuming man that held a secret that he was a record holder for the most marathons and ultramarathons. Christian has so many friends though running I was honoured to receive an invitation to  run with him and other runners from all over the world in Hanover to celebrate and run his 2,000th marathon.

At the Airport

 I had all intention of keeping costs down for this trip and soon regretted it when I found myself on the 5.00am coach from London to Stansted Airport and had not taken into account that we probably took every back street in the capital to get there so felt decidedly unwell by the end.

At the airport I was expecting to meet my dear friend Pam and as I waited at the Gate I saw her walking up accompanied by two people who transpired were also running Christian's escort, Elaine and Paul. Paul is visually impaired and by coincidence was staying at my hotel....Paul was my new traveling buddy.

The Party starts

After arriving at our hotel there was no rest as we met up for lunch and then later at the Pasta Party where we received our wonderful running shirts and then queued for our pasta meal and our race numbers. So after many photographs, laughs and running talk it appeared that the long day was getting to us so in the early evening Paul and I returned to our hotel but then had a cunning plan of seeking out a beer from a local hostelry and as we passed by saw our new found friends Torben Sørensen and his son Morten tucking into a pile of sushi both with beers in hand, we joined them for a chat and laughs before we called it a day and tracked off to the hotel for a very early night.

The day of the race

After a lovely breakfast with Christian Hottas we made our way to the meeting point just 50 metres from the start, here we met Elaine and Pam so after a brief discussion Paul agreed that Pam and Elaine would guide him for the first few miles and then I would take over as and when. So at just before 10.00am 85 runners from 11 countries led by the wonderful Christian tucked behind the main marathon field and started a very slow but steady marathon. I have a feeling that my new found running friends, so thoughtful, quiet and respectful were not quite ready for a Union Flag short clad, Monkey Foot wearing extrovert Brit and were taken aback with my noisy antics but were soon joining in with jokes and talking in so many languages.

My run with Paul

So at around 6 miles in I asked Paul if he wanted to run with me which he was happy to do as I had hinted there should be beer somewhere along the way. From that point on I quietened down a bit so we could concentrate on the route together but ever so often we would chat about some funny story or talk about the people we could see and here. More often than not we would be laughing at something silly.

The run was on a hot day and the organisers knew what we needed, slices of watermelon, apples and bananas accompanied all the carb gels you would want but it was only in the last 2-3 miles we were offered what we had been looking for....beer so with 2 x 500mls blagged from spectators the two of us had a short walk whilst we knocked back our beers in about 3 gulps to move onto the next crowd to be handed another bottle each!

The run finished quicker than I wanted it to, maybe because of the slower pace or the fact I was enjoying it so much but at the finish line a guard of honour was formed and Christian Hottas crossed the line to complete his 2,000th marathon/ultra and amazing feat for a human but more amazingly, he is still going to run more and as Christian says:

"Every run is a gift"

GUCR - 2013

Here we go again and less than 3 weeks to go.

It is only until you get the Grand Union Canal Race maps, numbers and instructions through the post do you come to realise it is very, very real.

I have decided that it is probably best to be under-trained rather than over for this one and so it is just one more marathon next week and then some easier weeks before I taken on the monster that is known as the GUCR.

Monkey Marathon

Before I write a much longer post about my amazing weekend away with over 80 runners from 11 countries

who had met up to celebrate Christian Hottas's 2000th marathon I wanted to post a little milestone for myself and my Monkey Feet.

I have had a little secret target of my own for this year and it was to run a marathon in my Monkey Feet and I have and I am very happy I have done so. I knew Hanover was going to be at a slower pace than I am used to so I thought it would be the perfect choice even if it was on tarmac.

 I had the misfortune of tripping over a bollard (how is a different story) which bashed my ankle quite badly at about 10km but with the immediate attention of a fellow runner I dabbed some Vaseline on and I was off again to complete the run with a belly full of beer and laughter.

As I said this was just a very small part of an amazing adventure but wanted to share it separately as there is more of the Hanover Marathon to come.

Pasta and Pints

A nagging thought in my mind kept surfacing all day telling me I must have forgotten something; that is until I passed Rob's house (a club running neighbour) who jumped from his front door bedecked in club colours. It dawned on me it was the four way inter-club race tonight which required my attendance, this was a run I was NOT going to race but enjoy the evening with the company of 230 other runners, socialise and possibly share a cider.

As you may have seen, I am suffering from a niggling injury to my quad at the moment which I needed to provide TLC so didn't want to do anything silly by putting it under pressure especially with the Hanover Marathon this weekend so chose to run along with some wonderful friends, Tricia and Sam  stop for a few moments to run back and chat with other people I hadn't seen for a while and then catch up and run with other people (secretly I wasn't taking the race at all seriously).

Then it happened, I got terrible stomach cramps and tightening my resolve I hurried my pace to jump into a service station to use the lavatory finding that I was quite unwell. Leaving the station I ran on hoping to catch up a few runners but cared not a jot as I passed the line.

From then on it was a very large plate of tuna pasta and scrumptious potato salad to find a lovely cold pint of cider placed in my hand! Let me just say running 5km with a belly full of cider and pasta is a very delicate thing..... a great evening out with great friends all made better with a little run in the middle of it all

à la mode

The latest in "à la mode" running attire....the groin to knee compression bandage, lets every quad strain feel:

• Warm,
• Compressed, and
• Supported

Still managed 12 miles of slow to medium paced running this evening with a new group wearing my  compression tights for support and my Monkey Feet, not the best tactic 4 days before a marathon but there is a lot of TLC going on here and the compression bandage is just part of it,