Two Castles 10km 2016- A Rainy Day With An Aspirational Sub 1 Hour 10km... Will It Be Today?

Another delayed post... In all honesty, I have just been attached to reading 'Your Pace Or Mine'. My newly purchased book... If you're looking for running inspiration and enjoy reading about other peoples experiences then its most definitely worth that £6.99 from Amazon- I'm only 50 pages in and completely glued. Book worm activated.

So another year, another Two Castles 10km. An amazing race. Regardless of the great ordeal of actually registering your entry... A minor blip, due to the change over of website organisers and online entry peoples, of who's servers could not deal with the influx of feisty runners sitting on their computer/tablets/phones wanting to gain a place. It only seemed like yesterday I awoke at 8-9am to make damn sure I'd be able to get into this run again. After all, its one of the all time favourites for the Warwickshire Road League race calendar.

Praying and hoping we'd swiftly avert from horrid humidity and heat (like last year), I got up at 5am on Sunday to look out of my window and see over casted, grey skies (Bliss!!). Hmm I thought perfect running conditions- I was also Cold and Cough free this year. I arrived promptly at 8am to be meet by runners in their herds of hundreds, an estimated 4000 runner were to take to the start line this year. Warwick Castle grounds only allowed runners access as per, which meant my awesome supporters would have to park up temporarily and say goodbye for what seemed like eternity until I met them again at Kenilworth Castle for the finale. No Granddad this year either- sad times. A very lonely start to my morning I must say, I had well over half an hour to kill and worry about things that could go wrong. I'd had my infamous dodgy stomach to greet me with no tablets to help the situation. For the past week prior in training, I kept on getting this horrible shooting pain up the back of my leg into my right glute. Upon googling profusely, I self diagnosed with either ITB Syndrome or more likely Piriformis syndrome. The latter would make more sense, as I had tried out some different routes, which included running on fairly long grass or uneven ground, so I'd obviously niggled it then and dismissed it to the point it became increasingly painful. I just hoped with two days rest, It'd hold out for a jaw dropping performance. I was hoping for a sub 1:00hr 10km time, but my training runs seemed to suggest otherwise. But as always, I am a suborn little shite, I WANTED THIS SO BAD- today was GOING to be the day.

This year there was no access to the start until 10 too 9. Some people liked it, some people didn't. To be completely honest being contained in a smallish area was fine... after all I got a bench to chill on. We got lead through promptly as stated. As always, due to the start being changed this year too, it was naturally going to be a little more congested with a delayed start. No fear- it didn't bother me, I'll get there eventually! Absorb the atmosphere I say!

THEN... NO...

My stomach had behaved up until this point. I thought toilet stop? No, I'll be fine. Near to the start I was like maybe not, so I started making my way backwards getting funny looks as if to say

"love you're going the wrong way! The starts this way."

To the point whereby I said screw it, It's raining... I want to start the race. I hoped this wasn't going to be a Kelly Holmes/ Paula Radcliff loss of dignity type of run, going to the toilet at the side of the road. Surprisingly, once I got running, I was completely fine. I used a pace calculator prior to race day which said I'd have to get an average of 9:35 minute per mile to get my year goal of a sub 1:00hr 10km.

1st Mile in - 9:20. I felt refreshed, the rain was light, my pace and breathing did it's usual levelling out. All in all a successful 1st mile. Fair few hills out of Warwick to get onto the Coventry Road.

2nd mile in - 9:16. A mix of unduladingness, but after all, where there's a hill there is a lovely recovery period downwards... Optimism at its heights. I also want to apologise to the woman that ran past me at the wrong moment, when I opened my hand bottle (with a hydration tablet in) it had a spaz attack and squirted her on the arm... She didn't look too impressed at all as she ran, flicking her arms to attempt to get off the stickiness. Good job it was raining! Again success. My Piriformis wasn't hurting, my legs still felt fresh.

3.1 Miles in - 9:46 (29:29 5km). O, deary me... a SIS gel for these hills dude. My legs were a bit tired now... Thoughts going through my head like... No Coley, You've screwed it already. Well done! We'd now turned off the Coventry Road onto HILL Wooton. Don't know what it is, but names in Warwick like to emphasise the HILL part. Haha! There was no mistaking it though, they were most definitely present!

4th Mile in - 9:59. My worst mile of the race, which to no avail came to me as a surprise. Logically, maintaining this pace, I knew it'd bite me in the arse at this stage. But I just kept on going. By this point, my leg pain was starting to become more evident. I tried thinking happy thoughts- Pain is in the mind after all!

5th Mile in - 9:24. Oooh, I'm not good at maths, but this is looking okayish... Maybe I can still reach my goal. John O' Grant road.

Amazing supporters and sugary treats being thrown left, right and centre. Love it. God bless you all for still sitting outside in this cold, wet and miserable weather- I salute you people of Warwick and Kenilworth!

6th Mile in - (57:11) 9:14. I'm happy, I'm Soaked, I'm in pain... OMG I'd partially forgotten about the incline into the Castle grounds. Erghhh, Yucky! How long does it normally take me to do 0.20 miles?... I don't know :(.

I gave it all I had after I past the photographers, I sprinted my hearts content. No joke, I think I sprinted as fast as I'd ever had before. I past quite a couple of people which surprised me. All the spectators looked at my little chunky legs in, what seemed oar! I past the line (unofficially) in 59.08. I couldn't quite believe it. What made it even more memorable was a gentleman, older than myself came up to me after the finish and said:

"Thank you for that, you got me over the finish line in that last little bit"

 I felt famous... Such kind words from a fellow runner! This event made me feel like I could finally categorise myself as a runner, not a jogger or anything in between.

Once again Mr. TomTom was accurate. Making my OFFICIAL time 59:08! I done it again. I met one of my year goals of gaining a Sub 1:00hr 10km- On, may I say, a hilly course!! Safe to say I was on a major runners high for the next couple of days... Until I got hit by my partners disgraceful cold >8-L (my angry face).

 

Not the best photos in the world, but the only ones of which didn't had flubber ripple from my exposed thighs! Hahahaha! Damn you gravity!

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! 

Great Birmingham 10km- Again! It's Been a Year Already! Crazy! PB's At The Ready Sarge ;)

Hello, hello, hello people! 

 

I'm not on drugs. I'm just still on my runners high! 

So I'm going to be honest. I had only run consistently for about 3 weeks leading up to this event and no further than 4 miles. But I was feeling relatively confident. I knew the course, I'd ran the half marathon and the 10k before. 6.2 miles isn't going to be that bad is it, surely?!  

Wednesday, 2 weeks ago I decided to go hardcore in my training and do a relatively hard 4 mile run to the gym, as well as do some leg and abs strength for a hour... and then decided to run 1 mile intervals back home. I awoke in the next morning in excruciating pain. Like of course you get your usual DOMS after half marathons, pain going up the stairs etc... But I mean I've never experienced pain like it! In my quadriceps! It seemed I was locking my knees out with every step due to the fact that the slightest bend on the knee nearly brought me TO my knees in tears! My own fault. I put it down to over training and not stretching adequately. 

It took me a whole 4 days to recover, to the point where I was thinking I'd tore the muscle in my right quad. I hoped that the Saturday at work would make it get warm and take the ease off (which it usually does) but it was to no avail. SHIT! The next week saw me revising for my end of semester exams on Thursday and Friday. Which is a very big deal. As usual, I left revison to the last minute and was too busy attempting to retain as much information as possible about People Politics in Britain and 20th century World Wars and Cold War to care about running. I most definitely noticed the difference. I was moody, extremely snappy and depressed. Maybe I should have just fitted 2 milers in for my mental health- I dunno! 

I worked a very generous 12-6pm shift on Saturday having worked the Tuesday and had done decking for a Sunday off. My shift went quick and I was overly excited upon heading home.  

I'd had a spending spree and decided to get over my Texas thigh insecurities and brought some Nike Tempo Shorts and was treated by my momma because she'd seen how bad and upset I was after my exams. With that, I brought New Balance shorts in a plum colour. I used the rest of my Saturday night, with my newly personalised running vest deliver on Saturday morning spending ages deciding on a race day outfit. (I don't usually do this). I was looking at the shorts, not fully satisfied, thinking i'd lured myself into a false sense of security of believing I'd actually look half decent in a pair of running shorts. Who am I kidding? I'm not one of these ectomorph built athletes!! But i said to myself. I'll go with the shorts, insecurities aside- F it! and put my compression shorts on underneath with my compression socks. 

Hello race day, after not sleeping very well due to excitement I awoke extremely fresh an hour and half before pick up! Toast down me, tablets taken and dressed (in my shorts!). Away we go! 

We arrived in Brum, Jennes Road for about 10ish. White wave wasn't assembling till 11:06. My Bestest supporters, craving heat on a unusually chilly May 1st huddled into Subway, stole 4 seats and sipped coffee delightfully waiting for the elites/club runner to be set off at 11! The time flew by and before I knew it, I was making my way up the narrower right side to gain access into the starting stretch. I seen my fellow secondary school tutor/ history teacher assembling on the other side of orange wave and wished her luck for the miles ahead. With the stretch beyond the metal enclosures too packed to even bother hurdling over them, I found a spot. Stripped off my hoody, necked a SIS gel and finally gained access into the strating paddock! Weeee heeee with a very congested start I was off! 

My pace was increasingly kind to me in the first mile! After getting lost in the atomsophere, I looked at my watch and had clocked in my fastest mile to date - 8:36! Yeah, that's amazing I thought. But too fast. I dreaded the horror of that March day in Silverstone happening again! I didn't want a burn out! Especially not with the last 2 miles of the course being the beasty hill! So I continued on, trying to establish a relatively stable 9:45 min mile. Apparently I did quite well, as mile 2 was a staggering 9:29. After the tedious Pershore road we hit Edgebaston cricket ground. Correct me if I'm mistaken. I don't recall going through the actual ground last year. I thought we had to go round the perimeter. But either way that was strange running through a stadium. My 5km time was an amazing 28:39- again another best. From that point, I knew I'd been on target for my aspirational 1:04:?? Finish. The run back up Pershore was intense. My legs were starting to feel the impact of my cocky big headed starting pace. I thought that's it. I've f-ed it. I'm burnt out. But I continued going down and under the bridge heading towards St James Road. When we turned left I knew, I knew it was that time of the day! The hill will defeat me completely or I will strive onwards and upwards (quite literally!). It just so happened that I felt like I was dying. But I preserved with a feeble striding. Refusing to walk. Pin pointing when I stopped once that whole year ago. No... You will not stop me. I recall singing Queen in my head "Don't Stop Me Now Cause I'm Having a Good... Run?!". I know right thoughts of a boarder line runner hey! 

The last incline up towards Broad Street. My legs were going, I could tell I was struggled when I looked after at my 5th mile, that clocked in at around 10:30 min mile- my worst mile of the day! Upon the last little bit, I'd strangely caught up with my old tutor, gave her the spaziest wave ever and a "COME ON MISS!" Motivational shout which effected me positively. Just hope it had the same effect on her too. Haha. Well, it brung a spring back into my step anyways. As well as knowing i was so very near to that finish for the 3rd time in the space of a year! 

The road going under the, I want to say bipbass on Broad Street was amazing. After all the incline us runners had been subjected too. The last up and onto the final stretch seen me looking at my watch. I was 200 meters from the finish on about 58/59ish minutes. No, had something happened. No way had I been that fast! Safe to say those last 200 meters of me upping my pace made my lungs feel incapacitated and left my legs feeling like sand bags. My snailtastic sprint fired up and took me over the finish line. Not thinking to even look at my TomTom. I progressed to grab my bling and finishers bag. I'd obviously clocked my dad et al on the left hand side shouting words of encouragement 200 meter before. So I knew I had a bit of waiting time until we were reunited. As a result I looked at my watch... I can't believe to tell you how utterly proud I was at that moment! I'd come in unofficially at 1:00:22! Feck my life, Mary, Jesus and the Donkey too. That was faaaaaaast for my snailtastic self. Hurray for Coley!! Over the moon with my time I was greeted with hugs and kisses off my Dad, Helen and little Kady! Selfies were a must as I'd PB'd. That very same day, a year ago I had took on my first ever 10km mileage and event. I completed that in 1:12:43. I knocked an amazing 12minutes summit, summit off the space of a year. Maths- not my strongest point!! It goes to prove once again. Mind over matter. If you believe, you will indeed achieve. Your body has no limitations to what it's fully capable of. I've entered May with a very positive outlook and with one more exam to go on Thursday, I look forward to (hopefully no retakes!) and the task ahead... CHESTER MARATHON TRAINING BABY! Come at me bro! The  biggest challenge of my life to date! 

BHF Warwick Half Marathon- A Lovely Course and Many Hills!

Well this was, just to point out. An amazing, well organised half marathon. No delay for starting, well marshalled and great support from the people of Warwick. I'm most defintely doing it again next year along with Coventry.

Again doubts had flooded my mind as to whether I'd be able to run this course. the course description was undulading, then i thought of Two Castles and that had its fair share of inclines. I'd managed to get out for 3x 5km runs and a 8mile cycle. Obviously, my fitness was far off its peak. Not great really is it? But due to this being a british heart fundation event, i wasnt going to let the inclines scare me off. It was for my nan and for my charity. You have to take in mind, whats the worst that could happen? You could be forced to slow your pace, walk and get a bad time? Meh, if you complete it, who cares really! 

With that in mind i decided to say, "COME AT ME WARWICK- DO YOUR WORST!" Just don't put me in the back of an ambulance! Because i'd really look foolish. 

An early start to a fairly cloudy Sunday morning waiting for my 7am pick up from dad's taxi service aha, i managed to eat 2 slices of toast and have a cup of tea- a great achievement for me on race day. I also decided to eat some spaghetti the night before- whoop on a role here. We arrived after the confusing road closures and got parked up for just gone 8am. Having some time to kill and pre race nerves settling in, i just made sure i got everything i needed out and ready. by about 8:30am, the vast majoirty of runners were flooding into the race course starting area. With the tannoid announcement stating that all runners should start making their way to the starting pens. I decided to put myself in the SUB 2:30 Pen, this was the last of the pens at the back. Saying a quick goodbye to my amazing spectators, by that i mean my dad, Helen, Kady and the family Chihuahua, Gizmo we progressed at walking pace down the strip of the race course to go over the start line. All i can remember saying to my dad was "i forgot to shave my arm pitts!", this was even more funny because i decided to wear my vest due to the sun that was supposedly going to appear at somepoint during the run. 

The start strip was a tiny bit congested, but it lead to the car park and out to the first incline. Not wanting to do what i did in Silverstone, burning myself out too quickly, i adopted a gentle, steady pace. It was a good job too, the inclines just kept on coming. It quickly came to mind that the course i was running was that of the Two Castles, which kind of meant i wasnt running the course completely blind. Mile 1 clocked in at 10:04. I was feeling surprisingly optamistic in myself. The route was incliny, but pleasent at the same time. I was shocked to see many people walking fairly early on. My 5k time came in at 31:35. I wasn't doing too badly. My breathing and pace had come back to a sense of normality. It was mile 6 that i really started to struggle, my legs were getting jelly-fied. 10k came in at 1:04:45. I had to take a short walk at around 7 and a half miles in. It was at this point i thanked God i'd tucked 3 SIS gels into my back pocket. I took the first at 7 miles, just before the 2nd water station. hoping this would help shift the Wall. 

Lone and behold, this seemed to help mentally as well as physically. It was also at around 7 and half miles the course became less harsh and had a fair bit of declines, it was never ending you'd go down to come back up again! I kept on telling myself just keep on running, dont think about the pain, focus on the beautiful surroundings. By about 8 miles i managed to shift the wall and my legs began to function as much as their fatigued self could. 10miles = 1:46:53. Somehow i managed to convince myself that this was undoubtably going to be a 2:30 finish. Maths is not my strong point- at all. I despise the darn subject! 

Feeling demotivated, i recieved a call from my pops asking me how far i was in. After some words of encouragement we turned off, what seemed a main road back into the country side. By this point, my tempo had took full advantage of the lengthy decline just past. I was so wrong when i looked at the course map before the race and convinced myself that from 7.5 mile it would be 'fairly downhill'. Oh how wrong was thy self! Us runners were met with about 2 miles of gradual, but unearthing inclines. i was forced to walk again, for no more than a minute at about 10 and a half miles. A fellow runner patted me on the back and said how well I was doing and to keep on going. Feeling like my legs were actually going to drop off from tiredness, we approached a small villiage where a very kind woman was giving out jelly babies, my saviour! Rich, sweet in sugary energy, she handed me 2 and said "you can do this!". You know that old saying, "The beauty is within the eyes of the beholder"...? Yeah - wrong! i've now changed it to. "The power is in the hand of the jelly baby consumer." It sure did help with my energy levels. After 2 SIS gels i couldnt stomach another.  Once again i had been drawn to a walk for about a minute. By now, i was seeing signs for Warwick and we were once again met with main roads. 

After being thankful for the last drinks station, with a mouth like Ghandis flip flop, i dont know what came over me. Maybe it was realising that I was so near the end, my fatugue seemed to vanish slightly and i managed to up my pace. i'd told myself... No walking, you're nearly there. I remeber reciting my fave quote from War Horse, in my head- obviously. I didn't want to look like a complete Looney Tune... "Let every man do himself, his King, his country and his fallen comrades proud. Be Brave". Haha. Some of the things that pop into your head when your running a half marathon an be so strange. 

I was brave, thank you Major Jamie Stewart!

The final stretch had my legs screaming in pain once again. i clocked dad, et al straight away about 200 meters from the finish. Yes, it was that time of the day... My snailtastic sprint was being exasperated. Once again my body proved me wrong. I finsihed a really hilly course, with only 3x 5k runs in hand after the Silverstone half on the 13th March in a time of 2:20:22! I was over the moon! 

Silverstone Half- Water Infections, Antibiotics, Low Calorie Intake andCar Puking

As the title suggests this was by far one of my worst races I have encountered. It's such a shame, as I can't fault any of the organisers or volunteers. The event itself was perfect. I just wish I'd been in the same state of mind and health as I had been 2 weeks before in Coventry!

So I left my last post on a high. I'd PB'd by over 10mins , with no injury ascertained as a result. However, the days after- I was dying. Your usual achy legs etc... I surprisingly managed to drag myself out of bed with great difficulty to get into university for 1pm. I decided to lay off the running for the next couple of days, to recover. Lone and behold my bone idle, lazy student self kicked in. With my final assignment deadlines due too, running seemed to fall low on my priority list. Unfortunately. As well as my fiancé finally getting two weeks holiday off work. A week had passed. I'd probably walked my dogs 4 times in the week. Which was probably the most I moved due to containing myself in my room, cooped infront of my laptop scream feverishly attempting to bullshit my essay for Enviromental History. The weekend loomed and I was at work Saturday and Sunday. Again no training. 

Silverstone was a week away. Thought it's fine, I won't push myself to PB, I'll take it easy. The course is the infamous F1 race track so it shouldn't be too hilly. The course description was mostly flat. It came to Thursday. T-minus 4 days en counting. My fiancé had gone home until Saturday night. I started to feel abnormally weird. A feeling I know all too much. Safe to say I was at the walkin centre at 10pm whereby the doctor confirmed my worst enemy of an infection. A Urinary Tract Infection. In a nutshell your stomach feels bloated, your belly is in pain and it generally feels like your pissing out razor blades, it doesn't stop there. You also feel the need to wee an awful lot. I was completely gutted. I'd gone near on a year without one, I used to get them like every other month. If you've never had one, just pray you don't!  

Trimopthrime (sic) were prescribed of which I took immediately. I said to the doc that I had a half marathon. She's advised me if I still felt no improvement to not run. I was in work the following day and managed to keep the water flowing through my body to help pass the infection through. I still felt fairly bad. But I needed the money, plus I was on decking and didn't want to let my colleague down. Saturday, busy, busy, busy shift. I'd had my traditional McDonald's lunch at an early 1pm and got let out on time. I then went to the cinema with my dad and his girlfriend. Consumed some nachos. I got home and Mr Fiancé was sitting there with a cuppa for me. I was excited because he was finally going to be able to come to one of my events, however the fear my infection was crossing my mind all to well. 

After a really bad sleep I awoke. The race wasn't going to start till noon. Dad picked us up and we were on our way. We had to go to the other side of Coventry due to him forgetting his big jacket. I was like:

"Crap, Dad. The magazine with final race instructions says you have to be there for 10:30am at the latest." 

It was coming up to 10pm and we hadn't even got out of Coventry yet! PANIC OVERLOAD. I thought an hour's drive away, it's a Sunday motorway / A roads should be fairly clear. It was partly true. However, a road work capped the speed limit to 30mph, causing our journey to be delayed. GOSH SAKE. DO THEY NOT KNOW ITS RACE DAY!  

We had about 3 miles to go and we hit traffic hard. They weren't joking when they said it takes a long time to get into the stadium car park, hence the 10:30am arrive time. Already I was feeling pretty crappy. The car journey seemed to make me feel really sick. I'd realised. I'd taken antibiotics, with vitamin C which are advised to be taken WITH FOOD. I was stupid and didn't eat anything for faffing around. Then it hit me. Bugger, I hadn't eaten anything properly since 1pm the day before, of which I'd obviously burned off whilst doing he rest of my shift. I don't think I've ever felt so bad before race day. But I thought to myself I'm not wasting £28. If I have to, I'll walk. No biggie! 

They were not kidding when they said it was 20minute walk to the start either. But, i made it with just 3 minutes to spare. I lined up. Looking at the sheer size off the track ahead. 

And we were off!!! 

Me, being me. I went out too fast. Considering I hadn't ran in 2 weeks. I dismissed the idea that my fitness would have dropped quite a considerable amount due to being stationary for the latter of the weeks before. 5km time came in at 29:42. Not bad. However. I felt awful still. Pace was over the place. My emotional state was deteriorating very quickly. Considering it was a nice day, which was lovely as it was early March, it wasn't all great for the fact it seemed there was no air flow around the track. 10k came along at a struggle. But still a good for me considering my form. 01:02:53. 

After this- it went all tits up. My energy depleted due to lack of food and going out too quick. I also forgot to take my hand bottle from my dad too. So my infection was stinging due to dehydration and lack of fluids. Every water station I took advantage and kept hold of until they were entirely finished. After 6 and half miles. I had to walk. I felt slightly disorientated. But I wasn't going to give up. My legs felt like hell. The dreaded 'runners wall' had taken advantage of my physical and mental disadvantages. At 9 miles I was shuffling, running for a maximum of 3-5 minutes before abruptly going back to a brisk walk. At this point I was more annoyed at myself. Why? You're an idiot, why didn't you run after the 2 weeks? Why didn't you eat? 

By this point, I'd wolfed down 2 SIS gels in hope they would replace some form of energy. I wasn't expecting miracles. But they did the job. Or so it seemed. 9 and a half - 10miles in my dad had rang me to see where I was. At 10 miles and a half. Lone and behold they'd timed it well. They were there shouting encouraging words, I was walking and felt ashamed, I must admit, slurping of my gel. Lucazade sport and water slushing around. The mere excess of suger was causing me to feel sick. I soldiered on. I kept on telling myself, everything comes to an end. Mile 11 and 12 seen my worse pace for a long time at 11:58. The finishing mile seemed to never end. I was done. Physically and mentally drained. Questioning once again my ability to actually complete this marathon in October that I'd signed up to.

I crossed the line at 02:24:50. Not as bad as id anticipated. I was still that little bit faster than my Birmingham half time. So it wasn't all that disappointing. However, it remained in the back of my head. What if I'd trained and was in full health? I think I could have come close to another PB! But that said. You can't always get PB's in every event that you do. However, you need think. Even if you didn't. You still completed 13.1 miles, as continuously quoted a bad run is still better than no run at all. 

I found dad, Helen and Jake fairly quickly. We started to walk back. I kept on saying to Jake I felt really uneasy. He was like "Well, Coley you have just ran a half marathon". But no. I knew how that felt. This wasn't normal. I dismissed the feeling, putting down to lack of food. In the car we'd stopped off. My car sickness was getting really bad. Down to the point I had to empty my finishing bag onto the chair and use it as a possible puke bag. We stopped off at McDonald at a service station and I kind hobbled, kind of sprinted to the toilets to attempt to be sick, in order to make me feel better. Nope, never happened. So I got some McDonald's chips and felt a little better. Back in the car we went. We'd pulled into the opposite side of Coventry and I felt REALLY BAD! Dad had to pull over at a park for me to run and be sick. All them chips, what a waste! I felt heaps better after though. There was dad leading on the railings that surrounded the park with his banana milkshake, watching me being sick, as well as laughing!! His response "I'm just making sure you don't collapse. Seen as though your fiancé doesn't care and is still in the car!"  

All in all. A monstrosity of a race. Of which I probably shouldn't have done. But I did it. My fiancé seen me and was exceedingly proud. I found the race less tedious as anticipated and the support was good. But no where near that of Birmingham, but what do you expect. I don't know whether I'd do it again. But knowing me I will because I want to prove to myself I could have got a better time in full health. It was a good experience and worth the money. I mean come on, tickets into Silverstone range from £100-200 a ticket. I got to run on the track for £28! I did refrained from going past dad et al making F1 noises. Hahaha. 

Tip of the week. Please don't run a half marathon with an infection and lack of calories/ carbs! Don't kid yourself. You will deteriorate pretty quickly and feel like crap throughout!! 

Next up. Warwick Half. Again my training is weak. So I'm just expecting a better race than Silverstone, with no walking, but no PB in mind. I'm concentrating on not getting Ill due to everyone coming down with this sickness fluey bug thing. Wish me luck amigos! 

Coventry Half Marathon- The Moment You Think Of Giving Up, Think Of TheReason You Started

I woke up at 5:45am with the sweet smell of race day, not only that but it was my hometown half marathon! I've wanted to do this, in like, forever! 

Everything was laid out for the early morning start. I finished work on Saturday around 7:30pm, as well as going to see a friend for her 40th. They say... 

"get an early night before race day"

Nahhhh! It never happens. Your near enough always awake due to pre race nerves coursing through your body. But that feeling is kind of great. Depending on how you look at it. I arrived home at 9:30pm. Which was fine as my fiancé was due home at about 10:30pm. So I had the time to kill. 

I was gutted, he was unable to come due to work screwing him around as per usual 

:-(. Now running is a big part of my life, and it was my hometown half it was the only thing I wanted him to come too. After all, he hadn't seen me run in a event since last March, when I ran my first 5k. But fingers crossed- he'll be in the stands of the infamous F1 track in Silverstone in under 2 weeks time. 

Thinking logically, it's your home town. Maybe a little bit of lie in due to knowing the area, and being all of 6minute drive from the start. 

WRONG!!! 

Road closures around my area caused my dad to pick me up for about 7:20am. We drove to his girlfriends and then figured out the diversions to a suitably close car park. But thank God. We arrived dead on 8am. I was wrapped up with loads of layers. I seen fellow runners in just a short sleeve t shirt and their shorts/ leggings. No, no, no what are you doing with your life? Are you just immune  to the winter cold? Don't even get me started on the people that ran into town, ran a half marathon and then bike rode/ ran back home. How? Why? Yeah, nope, just nope. I'd be on my back before the start of the race or in the back of an ambulance. 

I met up with my solider buddy, friend of 3 years who had never ran a half marathon before and gained a late charity place with Coventry's own, Zoe's Place. His plan was to run it in his army gear and a 10kg rucksack! Safe to say, he decided to ditch the rucksack having been out on vigorous exercise back at barracks. He was planning to stick with a younger girl from my riding yard- who'd ran it last year. The time went so, so quick with an estimated 7000 people ready to be hauled off to the start. 

If anybody knows Coventry they started on the Burgess from Trinity street, which is fairly narrow to begin with. With us not being set off in waves. I had no clue as to how they planned to set us off. Turned out to be anyone hoping to run anything under 2 hours to the right and the latter to the left. I seen James and Sophie go to the right and waved them good luck.  So with the sub time paddocks I got confused and thought i'd entered the sub 2:00hrs. I didn't panic too much, as I'd obviously fall back. No biggie. Massey Ferguson, a local running team. Of whom I would love to join at some point this month, had picked members who were used as pacer with their big green backpacks with their sub times protruding like a flag. 

I got over the start for around 9:10am. Which was lovely, flowing and quick. 

The first mile was a loop of the city centre. Not too bad. A bit of your infamous dodging ability to get around the congestion. Some people have to hop skip and jump onto the pavement. I clocked in at 9:25 mile. A fairly optimistic start. I wanted at my worse a 2:30 finish, at my best, a 2:20/25. The week prior, I decided to rest completely. At this point in the race, there was no evident pain or discomfort anywhere. Saying this though, I doubted any miracles finish times, even without gaining injuries. My breathing and pace levelled out quicker than usual. I was just glad to be free and doing my snailtastic thang as well as having a Sunday off work! 

The second mile went out of the city centre up Lawrence Saunders Road and then onto Mosley avenue. Loved it. A nice breather and slight decline to prepare for what I knew was coming, the horrid Holyhead Road elevation, which I use for my training routes on numerous runs. 

I felt great... And then my ankle started to hurt. FFS's. I thought,

No. How? Why? 

But screw it, as usual I gritted and bared the pain, with the hope of it residing soon. I was running past the Holyhead Tesco and thought 

O, look one of my best friends from school works here, I wonder if she made it to work okay this morning.

Then... BOOM, I clocked her in her uniform standing to the right side. Looking pissed. She obviously couldn't cross to get over to work. So I whistled. She looked at me gone out, like who the feck is this crazy blonde headed bimbo and then clocked on and started waving. I was also about 50meters away from Mr 2:15 pacer! Hello my little friend ;). 

With my ankle still in pain, we come to the roundabout that takes you onto the A45 and my local pub where me and my paps go for our weekly Calvery. God, I could do with that". I thought as I passed. 

Soldiering on, my ankle still giving me a sharp pain on impacting the ground. This part of the route I'd never ran in my life before. I knew where it was and stuff. But I'd always gone up the Coundon Wedge Drive. But I shall now continue to go this way instead. It's way prettier and less tedious. We were heading for the country side/ greener side of Coventry, better known as Hawkes End. I was now heading into familiar territory. It's good owning a horse you get to learn some awesome running routes! 

By this point, 6miles had gone by with kind of ease at a pace of 10:08 mile. Not bad hey! 

At this point after however, i rarely looked at my time just the distance with regards to Mr TomTom runner. Mr 2:15 pacer was still in front. As we were on the decend I caught up to him. But on the inclines I lagged behind. I thought... 

It's hopeless. Just aim on not burning yourself out and getting up to Hollyfast Lane. 

The second drink station was 7.5 miles in. I'd taken a SIS gel at around 7 miles as planned. Sue, a yard local was volunteering giving out the electrolyte shots. Unfortunately she didn't recognise me. The water station, I grabbed my water selectively off Vicky, and screaming at her, Shannon and Nicole, whom I went to school with. Again, with the amount of runners running by, they eventually clocked on to who i was! Haha. The top of Hollyfast I seen a banner that my fellow Yardians had made, as well as more people from the stables outside the gates. I was frantically waving, jumping shouting "Team Hollyfast Meadows" as I ran by, again they took a about 3 seconds to click on to who I was. But reciprocated by shouting my name and words of encouragement. This definitely helped. I was feeling pretty tired by this point the gel hadn't seemed to kick in. But thankfully I knew Tamworth road was coming up- a lush decline of which, felt like Heaven on earth! Ooo yeah. Luckily my ankle had stopped hurting too. 

Mile 9 was running down Long lane and back to go back onto the Tamworth road where I'd see Mr and Mrs, Glenn and Sophie Harris who cheered me on. Just before the turning I'd got off the toes of Mr 2:15 pacer. My plan was to stay partially in front. Which I did, I didn't manage to look over my shoulder until going onto Coundon Green road. But he was probably 1 minute max away from me. Still fairly close. 

Mile 10. Woow, I was well and truly F'ed. I don't remember Birmingham being this hard, but I'm sure it was down to the 8 mile gradual incline that ultimately took the wind out of me. Running past Bablake playing fields, there was no Mr 2:15 pacer anywhere In front of me. I wanted to stop so badly and told myself 

Suck it up. Your a flimsily 3:1 miles away from the finish, don't let your brain decide this. Darling, you have to do this + 16.2 miles for your marathon. Get a grip fam. 

So I took another SIS gel and ran through my mini mental wall. My legs were sore, my feet hurt, my shoulders hurt form my Trex running arms. 

Eghhh, come on Mr finish. Come to me! 

The last 2 mile run into the city centre saw me thinking. 

Nicole, why didn't you just go to work this Sunday?"

I'd missed ringing my Stepdad, who was going to meet me at the end Lawrence Saunders, heading back onto Radford Road. To be honest, I was too tired to even contemplate pulling my arm band off in case of dropping it. New phone, not going to risk it. 

However, I took it off at the final hurdle incline and read over some of my pre race messages. Which again, proved to get me through to the 12th and a half mile. From here I hit the snailtastic turbo, I just visualised the final 0.60 mile and the finish being at my finger tips. The final 200 meter I gave it everything I had left in the tank. I don't know what it is, but with my headphones in I can always, and I mean I always seem to pin point my dad out through the other spectators in their hundreds. Daughter/Daddy mind GPS Locator or what?! He clocked on almost immediately too. Aha. Him and Helen were cheering me on. 

I did it! I crossed the finish of my home town half. Ecstatic doesn't even cover it! I was over the moon... And that was without looking at my finishing time on my watch. As always you have the runner congestion for medal and goody bag collection. After this, due to the small finishing area you went up Trinity Street and back down on yourself, on the opposite side. This spare cooling down time gave me time to look on Mr TomTom.

I cried...

Was it because of failure or that of success... ???!!

Keep on scrolling.... 

A bit more..... 

I can gladly say I finished in a whopping 2 hours 11 minutes and 19 seconds. Knocking off 14 or so minutes off my Birmingham Half time. All this consistency training really paid off. 

I can be equally as proud of My lanky solider boy, James who completed his first half marathon in 2 hour 5 minutes and Ms Sophie who stuck with him and finished with an amazing time of 2 hours 4. Great effort guys! 

All round I was amazed at this event. I can't believe it's took me this long to decide to do it. It's an amazingly organised event. Shows the good parts of my hometown and her secret, luxurious country side. Call me bias! But I love my city! The medal was also stepped up from last year which was a bonus and is by far my favourite!!! 

As always, I did this for my Nan, who was taken away from me on 24/12/2014. She is still my rock, my guardian from up above, who's memories and music we use to line dance to gets me over that finish line. I remember always saying to her when it was on that I'd love to do it. But I was crap at running. Again, I proved myself wrong and gained a PB in the process. Consistency and dedication is the key to success.

My official time was sent in a text. It was bang on from my GPS TomTom watch!

For my favourite part of the evening. The photos....

Under a Week to Go!!!

Okay so, I'm so excited. I also received my Silverstone half race pack and number this week. Ahh that post is always good to get through! 

So I concluded last week with having to do 1 more 4 mile before I started to chill per say, excluding the additional 10mile I planned to do! But... After the 4 mile on the Friday 12th the next day saw me in pain with my groin AND achillies! Noooooo. God. Nooooooo. You can only imagine what's going through my mind. I could not pull out of my home town half. I was itching to start my race season on a high! 

As a result, I took it upon myself to rest for the weekend and stretch it out. The deep heat and volterol were out again!

:-/ 

After all, it was only a 4 miler I was missing out on. To be completely honest,  having done a 10 week programme for the Birmingham Half Marathon. I definitely missed a week for going away to Rhodes (and that's with all the inclusive junk food) and an additional week altogether if I calculated the runs I missed throughout the whole training programme. I'm doing very well with my training this year. Considering it was a, excuse my French. A shit start to the year, medically for me! 

So I started the week off with a 4.2 miler on the 17th Feb. My Achilles seemed fine and groin was back to normal. The rest had paid off!  I came in with a 9:28 min mile! With a finishing time of 39:50.

19th Feb seen me take on my final 10mile/ long run before race day. I was in a good frame of mind. Feeling optimistic with my newly acquired SIS Hydration tablet in my drink and a SIS gel in my back pocket for around mile 7. I decided to go with less elevation gain than my previous 11.50miler. Purely with avoiding injury due to my stupid, random muscle pains. I passed many runners on this run.  Many of which were men, obviously with their game heads on. It made me think randomly, whilst I started my stretch on the Tamworth Road, about something I'd read in Women's Running the week before. Entries into half/ full/ ultra marathons are predominantly that of the male entrants. But studies conducted, show that women are better at judging their success rate. Whereas, men go into an event all macho, and are more likely to burn themselves out quicker, due to not being able to calculate a steady pace. Women, on the other hand, will only enter an event if they feel ready to do so. They will slow down if they feel tired, as to avoid burning themselves out. It has been shown that women may not be the fastest in an ultra marathon, but males have a higher drop out rate! Women also cope with sweating to cool themselves down more effectively (hormones or summit, summit) #womenpower! How can I recite all of this from an article I read 2+ weeks ago. But cannot remember anything from seminar reading i'd read the night before in Enviromental History and 200 Years of People Politics. I'm in the wrong degree- I swear.

With these pondering thoughts my breathing and pace had levelled out quite nicely. No pain was yet present apart from a bearable niggle in my knee. As I was heading up Nunts Lane (quite a steep incline), my Achilles began to feel tight. But I put it down to the steepness of the hill. Feeling a bit fatigued, but no where near as much as I'd felt on the other route. I got home in 1:40:49. Which was an average pace of 10.04! I love it! 

The next day I decide ain't nobody got time for a rest and went for a supposed 4 mile which ended up being a 5 miler. Thinking i'd better get it out the way due to starting work @2pm (which is a very late start). My plan to complete the 4 miles Sunday. Bad idea. I warmed up properly, my muscles didn't feel too tight. I'd strapped my achillies up and volteroled my groin over night too. The 5 miler was difficult, my knees felt like they were grinding against the bone and creaking, my groin didn't seem to phase me or my Achilles for that matter. To think, I'm only 20, as my stepdad says when I put my pettella straps on.  

"You shouldn't be needing them. You have young knees!" 

Well, my shift at work was painful. My groin started to ache like mad. My knees, where I'd accidentally twisted due to  attempting to look behind me and cross the road on Watery Lane began to be my downfall. I had to mop the food court that night too. So that added extra strain to my knee due to the forward backward motion. Ergh, you could say my day was slowly turning into a nightmare. I decided with a 10am start the next morning to see how I felt. Woow, my left hamstring directly behind my knee was killing me. Maybe an over hyper extention? I thought, well walking on it around work will keep it warm and kill the pain off. Ooo well I tell you, I had to use my 15min break @2:30 to run to Savers to buy deep heat and a knee support just to pull me through the last two hours of my shift. After smelling of eucalyptus oil for the remainder of the shift. Of which help immensely. I decided against the idea of the 4 mile that night. As well as feeling a bit under the weather. This week has sought me avoiding coughs and sneezes by people. Upping my vitamin C. You name it. Trying to avoid germs in general! I can't be dealing with a coming cold with only 4 days to go. Noooooooo. You mad? Not now! I've worked too hard for this mofo! 

It's now obviously Wednesday. My supposed virus attack seems to have been avoided (touch wood). My Achilles is fine, my groin still has a niggle when its severely cold in my house or when I start my walk to university which is the case ever since I injured it from weight lifting back in 2013. I'm currently sat with a support on my left knee with deep heat on it due to it being slightly painful when I awoke. The question is should I avoid even tapering this week like my mum advised? (being a fully qualified fitness instructor). Or go for 3,2,2 mile. :-/

Stay tuned!!