Today's blog features a special guest blogger in the form of Petts Wood Runners mascot, Woody the Gorilla!
An early start this morning for me out with the marshal's at the Petts Wood annual 10k race, I dragged myself from my tree and made my way down to Race HQ in Willet Rec. A pretty warm day for October and a little hotter than I like, generally I prefer the shade of the trees in Petts Wood and Jubilee Park.
The families and kids were very friendly, I was slightly hurt that some children seemed terrified of my appearance but luckily most of them seemed to love me and enjoyed lots of cuddles, tickles and running around.
After the main race started I headed over to watch the young 'uns line up for the kids races - the first year to do this and was lucky enough to get a cuddle from Children's race Director Emma. I handed out the chocolate medals to all the finishers and those kids were quick so lets hope we see them in the future as new additions to Petts Wood Runners.
Soon the runners started coming through the finish line where I was on hand to share out my banana's, I must admit I ate a few as I went along but this is only to be expected, I am a gorilla after all!
One little girl in a spotty jumper kept coming over to cuddle me which was very sweet so I shared a banana with her too. A group of runners I recall from previous years came over for their traditional photo with me - I look forward to seeing them every year!
Looking forward to next years race already, what a great day out - normally I am quite shy - but for the Petts Wood 10k I will always make an exception!
Last night my mum popped over, I got the call when she was 15 minutes away saying there was to be no hanging around, she was in her running kit and ready to run!
On arrival we laced up our runners and hit the streets. We choose a route that stuck to well lit main roads and had a nice flat stretch couple will a few inclines. The pacing was very consistent which impressed me, maybe this is where I get my metronome like attributes!?
Although my mum used to run years ago she has only taken it up again over the last year. Partially so that she is able to join in some of my many dull running conversation and also I think because she loves medals as much as I do!
We completed 3.5 miles with no stops and a well paced run, all in all in was lovely until...
...as we approached home and passed a local youth club some kids were running up and down the road except for two who were ominously close leaning up against some railings. As we approached the boys shuffled away and seemed to be tucking his... ahem... back into his trousers and zipping up his fly. The girl then proceeded to run behind us trying to provoke a reaction which she didn't get but clearly running has a bigger draw than giving some kid a hand job on the street! The youth of today, humph!
All the good intentions in the world can not make a group 4 runner I discovered last night with the running club. After the semi-disasterous race on Sunday I figured as I hadn't run flat out it would make sense to go for round 2 in Group 4 as I hadn't depleted all my reserves. I was feeling pretty confident but soon it was evidient that I wasn't ready. the space between me and the group widened with sweep Emma loyally sticking with me and encouraging me all the way.
Today was too hot to run, it was too hot for an easy run, it was too hot for a hard run and it was most certainly too hot for a grand prix event that started at 10.45am and was 10miles long.
I spent much of yesterday wondering what is wrong with me that I was preparing to take myself down along with about 15 other crazy PWR's to Sittingbourne to run in the 10mile road race. I had run the course before two years ago so knew what to expect... quiet country lanes, lots of hills, the last two miles were pretty much all downhill though - result.
As the horn sounded, we were off on a circuit round the sports field, the first couple of miles felt pretty comfortable and I was going at a decent pace despite the 29 degree heat. Then as I was approaching 3 miles I started to feel light-headed and a little nauseous. I stepped into the shade my a farm house and dry heaved for a while, at which point Richard came trotting past (remarkably spritely for someone still holding the best part of 3 bottles of red in his system from last night!) asking if I needed help, martyr that I am and most other runners are I, waved him on. Shortly afterwards Emma G passed me by as well.
A worried looking marshall approached me (Richard had given him the heads up) and let me have some water after which I was on my way again. I started now into a tough few miles of walk/run before I got to the water station, rehydrated and set off again at a decent pace. Before long my legs were ceasing up, probably from the many stop starts. After mile 5 I tried to convince myself it was a new race and that 5 is an easy distance. This didn't work, then I began hallucinating that Emma D was shouting at me to pump my arms and keep going... I could do this.
A bike marshall, my knight is shining hi-vis arrived alongside me and offered me water which I gladly accepted, this was not to be the last I saw of my water mule and saviour!Not long before mile 8 I spotted Mark walking with a struggling Sittingbourne Strider, I walked with them for a while before finding y pace again and setting off for the final stretch.
The bike marshal appeared again and checked that I was okay, I nodded that I was good. I saw several runners started to zig zag across the road and soon realised some kind local had put their sprinkler on for us... amazing and very refreshing!
Knowing that a pb was lost a long time ago I still wanted to get my average pace down just a little more and managed to keep going, as I rounded the last corner back into the sports field I was faced with many cheering PWRs and I spotted Emma G up ahead, I confirmed it was her and dug deep to try and catch her. As I caught her up I said hello and then the lady just ahead started pulling away from us, it was too much to resist, I sucked it up and put in all I had and pipped her to the line, proud of my strong finish!
We waited for the remaining runners and then shared some homemade coconut chews before heading back home. I was exhausted and pretty much fell straight asleep.
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| Disclaimer: not my feet! |
Today was week 3 of the PWR beginners running group, I decided to tag along and support but I had an ulterior motive!
My vibram five-finger bikila's have been waiting patiently now for weeks to be tested out... I initially wanted to get the Robin Hood half out of the way before I begin my transition into the barefoot running community and also having start to read 'Born to Run' I am even more inspired.
The beginners group seemed a great place to start, knowing that the terrain would be fairly easy going - a grassy field, and that the distance would be manageable - under 3 miles of walk/run combo.
So I arrived early, coaxed my toes into their own individual toe holes... with a bit of persuasion required for my little toe which seems to be a bit dependant on its neighbour and unwilling to be separated. I found myself running on the forefront much more than I usually would and tending not to heel strike at all, I have been quite heavy footed in the past so hoping this doesn't cause too much grief to start with. After the sub 3 mile run, I could feel my calves had been working a little harder than usual but all in all I felt good, my feet didn't hurt and I'm willing to keep trying.... little by little!
Today's blog features a special guest blogger in the form of Petts Wood Runners mascot, Woody the Gorilla!
