It's true - 50k of my Challenge is complete after today's race, though what a race it was! In truth the really amazing thing that happened today was that I got to meet a super running hero.
I had heard that the famous Dr Ron Hill MBE (former European and Commonwealth marathon champion) had previously attended the Idle trail race. Having been amazed by his achievements couldn't belive how lucky I could be to be running in the same race and maybe even to meet him! I was beside myself with excitement when I approached him to ask could I have a photograph as a memento and he agreed!
In the end up he (obviously) finished way in front of me, not surprising given his running credentials and the fact that he has a 'run every day' streak that is almost 50 years long. This was truly the highlight of my day as the rest of it was a disaster!
Given that today I reached the half way point of my 100k challenge I should be jumping around with glee and I am so proud to have reached this stage. The reality is though that I've been so ill this week with a cough and cold that I barely made it round the 10k Idle Trail route. It's a real shame as I'd decided a few weeks ago, that given the race would definitely not be a PB route (more about that later) I would just enjoy this one. With 15 races making up the challenge I thought it would be nice to just have one race that I could enjoy, not stress about time, not worry about people chasing after me or trying to catch those in front.
Well I couldn't stress about my time as I coughed and spluttered my way round. The race was definately a trail race taking in a stretch of the canal bank but also running through cow fields, over stiles, through woods and up more than a fair share of hills. If I had been in any doubt whether I was better suited to road racing I'm clear after today, I am NOT a trail runner, road is my bag! I got to one part which where I was directed up a set of steps which led to an uphill track through the woods and wondered what on earth I was doing there - raising funds for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust I reminded myself, keep putting one foot in front of the other Keri. You can see some pictures of the route here and picture 11 shows the steps that defeated me!
I finished in a rather slow 1:15:53, so it was a good job I'd said I wasn't worried about time today! Jonathan also did the race (56:04) and my friend Wendy who is training for the Great North Run (1:07:35) so congrats go to them. Official results are here.
So not a great race for me personally but it was an extremely well organised and marshalled race with plenty of St Johns ambulance support plus the most amazing cake stall! Jonathan also managed to get his hands on the Olympic Torch so everyone was happy.
Onwards and upwards now with the second half of my challenge, 2 parkruns for the next two saturdays and then the final 10k of the challenge on 19th August. Don't forget if you want to sponsor me then the details can be found here.
Keri
Given that today I reached the half way point of my 100k challenge I should be jumping around with glee and I am so proud to have reached this stage. The reality is though that I've been so ill this week with a cough and cold that I barely made it round the 10k Idle Trail route. It's a real shame as I'd decided a few weeks ago, that given the race would definitely not be a PB route (more about that later) I would just enjoy this one. With 15 races making up the challenge I thought it would be nice to just have one race that I could enjoy, not stress about time, not worry about people chasing after me or trying to catch those in front.
Well I couldn't stress about my time as I coughed and spluttered my way round. The race was definately a trail race taking in a stretch of the canal bank but also running through cow fields, over stiles, through woods and up more than a fair share of hills. If I had been in any doubt whether I was better suited to road racing I'm clear after today, I am NOT a trail runner, road is my bag! I got to one part which where I was directed up a set of steps which led to an uphill track through the woods and wondered what on earth I was doing there - raising funds for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust I reminded myself, keep putting one foot in front of the other Keri. You can see some pictures of the route here and picture 11 shows the steps that defeated me!
I finished in a rather slow 1:15:53, so it was a good job I'd said I wasn't worried about time today! Jonathan also did the race (56:04) and my friend Wendy who is training for the Great North Run (1:07:35) so congrats go to them. Official results are here.
So not a great race for me personally but it was an extremely well organised and marshalled race with plenty of St Johns ambulance support plus the most amazing cake stall! Jonathan also managed to get his hands on the Olympic Torch so everyone was happy.
Onwards and upwards now with the second half of my challenge, 2 parkruns for the next two saturdays and then the final 10k of the challenge on 19th August. Don't forget if you want to sponsor me then the details can be found here.
Keri
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