A Change of Events- Quite Literally...! Chester to Hull?!

So. Since my last post on my experience of the Great Birmingham 10km. There has been a, what can I say... Vast turn of events?! As you may be aware. I signed up for the Chester Marathon (2nd October) just after Christmas. But upon my dad booking a lush holiday to Rhodes for my 21st birthday on the 24th September - 1st October, it has slowly became more of a pipe dream. It was unlikely that this event would be great as my first marathon experience. Mainly due to the fact we'd land in Birmingham for early hours on Sunday. Meaning a exhaustive 4 hour car journey up to Chester, belly full, training on the low due to heat in Greece. It was a no go unfortunately. Luckily, I read that I could transfer my place to another runner. I posted on some local running club's Facebook pages, within the hour a lovely woman decided to buy the place off me at full price. However, me being a kind person, I let her pay the price for an affiliated runner, due to taking off my hands so quickly. 

With my first marathon turned into pipe dream... Gone as quickly as I'd signed up. It was time to google some marathons for a week after or just before holiday! I was craving to find a marathon whereby I didn't have to travel too much, as well as one that's profile was not like for example, 26.2 mile worth of beasty hills! But unfortunately, it was a no go - again. 

Carvers Wolverhampton Marathon: Close in proximity = check! Flat = nope. undulating. Mid September/ after holiday= nope, start of September.  This would mean I'd have to shave about a week or so off my training schedule which I was unprepared to do. Not on my first marathon. Even though I was tempted. I decided against it, I'd done the Banks 10km last year. I didn't like the idea of the marathon being 2x 13.1mile laps round... BORING! 

Next up Leicester, premier league champions! A fair course description! Why not? Nope...  A week after I'd be partaking in the Brum half once again on 16th October. I don't think I'd be mentally or physically prepared for it. No way was I going to miss this event, taking into the consideration how prone I am to some sort of injury during a mere half marathon. I'm aiming to avoid marathon injury. However, it's still at the back of my mind. Going on the worst comes to worse scenario. Leicester was an unlikely candidate. I want to end my 2016 running season (an aspiring route PB) at the Brimingham half. I've come to love the Great Run series! <3. 

Raged with not being able to find a suitable event and after people repeatedly saying,

 

"You don't have to run a marathon this year, Nicole!"

Erm, yes I bloody well do! I lost all hope. Ding!!! I then stumbled on the Hull Marathon, 18th September, £42 entry, a fair course description... But you know I said I wanted to find an event fairly close to home. That's gone out of the window completely! So I plan to travel with my fiancé to Hull on Friday 16th via train or coach. Make a weekend of it. Run my first ever marathon and travel back on Sunday/ Monday. Celebrate my 21st birthday on 20th September (in a wheelchair- safe to say I will NOT be wearing heels!). Go and enjoy a lovely holiday in Rhodes. Come home, hopefully still be relatively fit and revitalised (as well as carrying a bit of extra weight) ready for the Brum half! I hope I made the right decision!! 

Stay tuned. 

Conversation of the month goes to my amazing Nanny from Wales! 

"So Coley. You're the big 21 this year. Have you got a party planned?!" 

"No Nan. You need friends for that. I'm going to run a marathon instead!"

"You f@*king what?" 

Cheers Nan, pal!