Sunday, 28 March 2010

Muddy Bottoms (and the rest....)



Several months ago I got an email from Lisa which suggested we enter a couple of races which would serve as great training for our marathons, one being the Trimpell 20 and the other being the Muddy Bottoms 17 mile road race (also coupled with a 9 mile off-road race) at Bamber Bridge, Preston. Fantastic I replied and we duly entered both races.

Four months down the line and we receive an email (which I think might give something away!) from the organiser which read:

When you pick up your number you will be given a Map and a List of Directions you to follow to the LETTER
(I told by Linda Chapman that you cannot go wrong!)
There are 3 checkpoints on the course all have bottled water Please do not chuck bottles away please carry to next point or find a Bin, When going in or out of fields PLEASE CLOSE GATES!
If 1 member of your team takes a mobile phon incase you get lost there will be a phone number for help to get back on course

If you need any more details please e-mail shoestring360@hotmail.com

Map, Phone, Lost? What? I stared in disbelief, 'I thought it was a road race', I whaled!

However, after much pleading from my husband not to do it and even in the knowledge that taking part in this race may result in our never being seen again we decided to go ahead and do it. Things went from bad to worse as we realised that we had a running club get together the previous evening, coupled with this the clocks went forward one hour and the nail in the coffin? 9 am start in PRESTON!!!

Lisa very kindly offered to drive us there and messaged me to say she would pick me up at 7 am, 6 am real time! Blurry eyed we set off. Arriving in a timely manner just over an hour later we picked up our numbers and 3 (yes 3) pages of race directions (map included). We were walked over a bridge to the start and told we must close any gates behind us, not walk on crops and as it was lambing season not to disturb the sheep!

Despite my misgivings it was an absolutely beautiful and at times picturesque course to run (and walk). I have to smile to myself as I picture myself, Sharon & Lisa scaling a five foot fence to cross a potholed, boggy field to encounter the same height fence at the other side and that was only the start. Ahead lay a multitude of stiles (I wish I'd counted how many from the start), rolling hills and just complete wilderness at times. We would have fared much better if the directions had been anything like accurate, several times we found ourselves totally lost and having to retrace our steps to check we had followed them correctly and by some miracle we would find ourselves back on the right track!

Getting to the finish was just the best feeling ever and I'm afraid this is one of only a handful of races which is well and truly on the 'not to do again' list!

We have now learned that our results for the race are missing and the last person to finish did so in 7 hours and 7 minutes, and we thought our map reading skills were not too good!! Organisation? What organisation?!!

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Shiney New Trainers


Nothing to report... haven't been training since Monday and I know this is against my principals but I must say I was a little concerned that I was heading for injury. I've been getting a very sore area around the back of my heel and under my ankle on my right foot for a few days now. So considering I have a 17 mile off road race on Sunday (I'm certain it was billed as a road race when I booked it back in December) I thought it would do no harm to have a couple of days off, Tuesday is my normal rest day anyway and Wednesday I had a committee meeting for club and managed to talk myself out of going for a run on Wednesday morning so here I am refreshed for this evenings distance training, tonight we are going to Horsfall track again for a session with Steve Wolstenholme again. Apparently he has a pyramid session in store for us, more on that later.

So this gives me an ideal opportunity to report that I won a double rollover lottery bonus ball, lucky number 5!! So nearly 90 squids in my pocket I tripped off down to Sportsshoes and invested in some new trainers and two new pairs of socks. I've worn my trainers for non-running activities for a couple of days and I intend to run in them for the first time tonight. I'm trying not to think about the fact that the last pair of new trainers I bought I ended up being out for 3 weeks - I can't definitely say the new shoes were the cause but I couldn't put it down to anything else either so I'm just keeping everything crossed. Meanwhile I'm very pleased with my girlie pink purchase!

Sunday, 21 March 2010

Spring is in the air!


It was difficult to believe that yesterday was the first day of Spring as I stood on the sidelines in the pouring down rain to watch Marc play football.

Up with the lark this morning, Martin, Marc & I embraced our official duty of closing the road and turning the competitors in the Epilepsy Action Bradford 10k around at the half way point and sending them on their way back to the city centre. Apart from being told we 'should go and run on the moors' by an angry motorist we enjoyed cheering the runners on. I must admit I gave a rather large group of members of the Army and extra loud cheer - a valiant effort carrying their heavy looking packs on their backs. We also had a fantastic turn out from our club, Eccleshill Road Runners (www.eccleshillroadrunners.co.uk) and the sight of each and every one of them made me wish I was running myself but I'll be back next year!

Duties done, cones and barrier tape removed I went to meet Lisa at Starbucks for a coffee before we set off to pick up Sophie for our now weekly ritual of a long run. We had decided to once more head for the pleasant surroundings of Otley. It is such a joy to see the multitude of ducks and swans gliding idly on the river. The run was made all the more pleasant this week by the array of colourful crocus which adorned the grass verges. A photo opportunity confirmed that Spring had indeed sprung! Taking the now usual route back to Menston and then down Hollings Hill I spotted some cute rabbits in a field, further confirmation of the lovely Spring weather.

Tired, we arrived back at Apperley Bridge in 2:43:51 with 15.36 miles in the bank! Lisa had amazingly completed the Bradford 10k too after volunteering to lead blind runner Louise around the course - wonder woman!

Friday, 19 March 2010

Yet another week gone.
Following the Trimpell 20 I wasn't aching as much as I expected - I had mentally booked a day off work! I decided to go ahead and go to club Monday evening as usual, thankfully Lisa had posted a recovery run on the club's training calendar, just what the doctor ordered.

Tuesday I took a well earned rest day. Wednesday's club run was a 9.63 mile run to Saltaire and back via Eccleshill, Bolton Road, Queens Road, Manningham Lane and Leeds Road, Windhill/Shipley. I had a really easy run with Alison H ahead of Thursdays distance training and although it meant I didn't get home until way after 9pm I felt good.

So to Thursday, down to Apperley Bridge to meet the group, after warm up stretching and jogging round a humungous field the session was 300m (faster than 5k pace) reps round a football pitch. Wow that was hard work. However, we finished off with some relays which lightened up the session and although our team came last (sorry Chris & Lisa)we all really had fun! Mick's sessions really have been great and I would highly recommend other runners to sign up for any future ones.

Club run tonight and rest day in the form of standing on the sidelines at Marc's football match tomorrow lay ahead of marshalling the Bradford 10k on Sunday (I wish I was running it) before our planned weekly long run. There are now only 5 weeks to go........

Monday, 15 March 2010

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...Not!


I'm still on cloud nine, amazed at just how I managed to run 20 miles without stopping yesterday. I'm not saying it was easy, it wasn't, by mile 15 my feet were sore, I had just about had enough of the revolting carb gel and could not even face the thought of another one, and whats more didn't really have the patience to squeeze the gloop out of the pinhead sized hole that's left when you tear the top off, thrusting a jelly bean into my mouth it felt like a whole cake or something, so the fuelling is not going to be easy over 26.2 miles is it? However, I did it and although I was feeling very tired I'm told that London will be a much better course with a lot more support, yesterday's race was mainly on cycle and walking tracks and also consisted of a lot of 'out and backing' where you found that the faster runners were coming back at you, they had done 16 miles in the space of time that I had done a lot lot less! There was also very little support and none of the sea front, amusements and beach I was expecting. For months I had been looking forward to a run by the sea and all I got was a few canoeists on the River Lune, housing estates, upside down trees, stables and a whole lot of graffiti that I was unable to even read! Whilst I agree it is probably a great preparation race for fast runners doing London, I would not be keen to recommend it to fellow 'less fast' runners!

By mile 19 I think I had virtually lost the will to live knowing that a run round the track to finish quite probably lay ahead when all of a sudden I spotted a familiar face, my sister-in-law, Tricia, and her husband Neil - there's nothing like a face you know to lift your spirits, with that out from behind a bush jumped my son Marc and Husband Martin, I had waved goodbye that morning safe in the knowledge that they were going to spend a day together doing dad and son things! I thought I was going to pass out! I managed to carry on and once I had got over the shock managed an uplifting TWO laps of the track to the finish!

Free use of the facilities at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre tempted the four of us,Me, Sophie, Lisa & Jo to go for a post run swim, bliss! I'm sure that has assisted in reducing the aches and pains today as I don't feel anywhere near as bad as I thought I was going to. Great job, I'm so proud of all four of us!

Saturday, 13 March 2010

Keeping on track...


I'm still feeling a little achy after Thursday's intervals session on the track at Horsfall Stadium. It all seemed very professional as we were given instructions on the correct use of the lanes and how to avoid collisions etc. By this point I was feeling a little daunted. However, once into the swing of the 4 lap warm up, stretches and alternate 5k pace laps interspersed with a recovery lap, everything fell into place. I must say I didn't feel very athletic after the 3rd lap at speed! I began to mentally write my blog there and then...well this weeks distance training session was the worst yet..... However, I'm pleased to report that once the intervals were completed I really didn't feel that bad at all!

My intended cross training session went out of the window as Marc's football match was moved to today due to tomorrow being Mothering Sunday. Dejavu struck as I found myself in the vicinity of Horsfall Track once more as the football was Undercliffe Tykes versus Bradford Park Avenue - based at Horsfall.

My cross training consisted of hopping from one foot to another trying to keep warm on the sidelines and an afternoon of housework!

I have little doubt though that the rest will be a positive attribute to the 20 miles ahead of me in Morecambe tomorrow.......

Fundraising is still very steady many thanks to those who have sponsored me so far and for those still thinking about it www.justgiving.com/julie-steele is all the information you need.....

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Dejavu!


Ahh rest day today, Sunday's 16.03 miles was so much more pleasant in the lovely sunshine. Sophie and I set off from Esholt after marshalling the final Peco Cross Country race to complete a slightly altered version of the run I did with Lisa and Jo last week. It wasn't too long before we hit a hiccup, the main gate by the filter beds was locked, no way through so we about turned and carried on through by an alternative route. I wasn't entirely sure where we were going to end up but it wasn't too long before we decided on a way through which we thought would still take us in the direction of Guiseley. Low and behold we arrived at the bottom of Gill Lane as planned. The roads and shopping areas at Guiseley and Otley were absolutely full of cars and people obviously brought out by the sun, making it difficult to negotiate crossing the road and getting down to the river. This done we administered ourselves another carb gel and set off back in the direction of Whitecross with a slight feeling of dejavu!

Once we reached the bottom of Hollings Hill, a little way along Baildon Bottom we diverted off the road onto the canal. It was like paradise getting off the busy roads down onto the tranquil, scenic canal. We finished our run in what seemed like no time at all. What a difference the sunshine made, I also have a sneaking feeling that the 17+ miles last week made 16 miles seem so much more acceptable too!

Monday's speed & hills session was a tempo run (dejavu once more!) which all the members seemed to really enjoy, Lisa had put together a slightly shorter version of the sessions we have done with Mick, starting and finishing on Gain Lane and it all went to plan!

This week I have a club run on Wednesday, distance training at the Horsfall track with Mick on Thursday, and instead of club on Friday we have a talk from a nutritionist (arranged by Airedale Athletics) followed by a curry (not sure he'll endorse the curry!). I am considering a short run or cross training of some description on Saturday ahead of the Trimpell 20 mile in Morecambe on Sunday which will be the highest mileage I have done to date.

Friday, 5 March 2010

I've been running for two years! : o


This week's training has once again gone well, I constantly have a nagging doubt in my head at the start of each week that maybe this will be the week I don't get through without problems, but yet again apart from a chesty cough and a few cold symptoms here I am looking forward to my long run on Sunday after marshalling the 5th and final peco cross country race of this series at Esholt.

I've run with club as usual, Monday's speed and hills session was a brilliant aid to loosening my legs after our long run to Otley, whilst Wednesday was another 'easy' 8 miles in the bank. I noticed from my training log (www.fetcheveryone.com) that I have run 102 miles more last month than I did in February 2009! Amazing!

Thursday's distance training session was not at Cliffe Castle as I had hoped but Wallis Street at Four Lane Ends. However, I had to chuckle to myself as some of the stories emerged of people being led into a false sense of security thinking they were going to a track when in fact, and I already knew this having worked in the area some years ago, we were meeting at a very industrial area complete with roadworks, diverted traffic (and lots of it) and uneven pavement hazards! (The road exploded just before Christmas when a major water main burst sending parts of the road and water over 50 feet into the air!) We were to run around what I can only describe as a 'block' which measured 1 kilometre, at 10k pace - mine was calculated to be around 5:30/k with 3 min rest in between each one. These type of sessions are known as intervals, yet another string to my bow, I've learned such a lot since my association with Mick. Despite the initial disappointment everyone agreed what a great session it had been. Mick advised us that these type of sessions, would greatly improve race times, as doing speed work makes your longer runs easier, well that's the theory anyway!

This evening's club run was another chance to take it easy and rack up just over 5 miles - the Harrogate Road 3 split, meaning there were three points along the route to cut off if needs be but I managed to hang in there and go the whole distance even though up Harrogate Road from Greengates was a bit of a drag for my tired legs. Linda and I were running along Idle Road heading back to club when a teenager flagged us down wanting directions to Gaisby Lane as he had been chased by some girls and got separated from his friends. After we explained where he needed to go he politely asked if he could jog with us - we promptly agreed. Making conversation as we went he asked 'how long have you been running?' - 'about two years' I answered, his jaw dropped 'Eh?' I immediately realised he meant this evening! 'Oh since 7 0'clock' I giggled!! Imagine running for 2 years solid - 17 miles was quite enough last weekend!!! He bid us farewell and thanked us when after a few hundred yards he spotted his 'lost' friend and we parted company.

Still smiling I mused how not all kids hurl abuse at us runners!