This race was one I had wanted to run for a few years now and for one reason and another, not to mention how popular it is I have been unable so when I saw the opportunity arise via Xempo to take part as a pacer it was too good to be true so I put my name forward with many others runners and was lucky enough to be selected. I opted for the last of the pacer positions for two reasons (1) I wanted the pace to be comfortable so I would not let down any of the other runners who wanted to run with me as their pacing guide and (2) since my whiplash injury earlier this year I wasn't sure how hard I could push myself.
We needed to be at the Xempo tent prior to the start but on a Sunday in Central London this was not to be the easiest of tasks, calling on my ever helpful hubby, he dropped me at Clapham tube station around 7am as the trains near our home turf would not start until after 7am. This gave me more time to get to the start point and meet the others pacers before the race began.
I gathered my t-shirt, race number and pacer backpack, a surprisingly lightweight and comfortable contraption supporting a large pacer flag... I would not be difficult to spot. I was positioned in the rear of the yellow pen and I collected up a few runners keen to run to my pace for the race including Paul, Kate from Unicef, Kim (recovering from injury) and Red, chatty Gina, a mother and daughter pair, a lovely blonde lady who kept thanking me throughout the race, another blonde lady who I am sure did not believe we were going to make the finish but was a delight to see her smile at the end and some more (apologies if I have failed to mention you).
The yellow pen headed out at 30 minutes later than official race start time due to the huge volume of numbers (16,000) running the race today. However, this spread the field nicely when running and no bottlenecks occurred which was great especially as I had a number of first time half marathon runners with me wanting just to be able to run the whole race. As we started the race through the park and before long emerged to run past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament I was even more delighted I had decided to pace today, as the sun lit up from beyond the river the city looked glorious. A fantastic day to be out and see London in its glory.
By mile 4 we had all settled comfortably into pace and everyone was doing well, the nerves of some runners had now subsided and they were settled and focussed on the race. My mother and daughter pairing were running well and had big smiles on their faces. This was certainly a race to be enjoyed with some fantastic sites around London to behold.
At the halfway point I looked at my watch and we were bang on pace as my watched ticked on to 1:15:04 we certainly were halfway there and running well. I was so proud of everyone and it was great to be part of a team running together.
The two stalwarts of my role as a pacer were Paul and Kate whom seemed to be at my sides throughout. Sadly at around mile 10-11 we lost Paul at a water station, I looked for a while but could not go back with so many relying on me, he had run strong and I had no doubt he would still make it through in a great time.
Kate who was stuck like glue to me throughout was a very strong runner and we had a good old chuckle at many moments throughout the run. She was like a mini celebrity as there were so may Unicef supporters out that knew her which you could see physically boosting her each time.
Towards the end, just after the 12 mile marker, the trees were hanging a little lower with led to a few pace flag near misses in the trees. This would not deter us though, with less than a mile to go we have almost 15 minutes to make the last mile, there was room for a little tree pruning and banter! The runners were doing great with smiles and a few shouts whenever I asked them how they were doing - or in some cases grunts and laughs. I had promised I would get them round at a steady pace and I would not fail them, we were in this together and I wanted them to achieve their goals.
At about 400m to the finish I sent two runners ahead as I could see they had more in them and sent them towards the finish line, I had a little backward running to check out my other pacee's and shout encouragement. I nearly got in trouble with a marshal as I almost hit her with my backward running!
As I crossed the line I think I had sent many of my runners ahead as I hung back and shouted encouragement to more runners coming towards the finish. I waited over the line where I was thanked by a lovely lady whose name I do not know and then saw Paul appear and making it in time, we high-fived and I was delighted for him as he had achieved his PB by many minutes.
Back to the Xempo tent I went, thoroughly happy and thanked the team once again for selecting me. I headed off and stopped in to the Unicef tent to see if Kate was there and how she had got on, no sign so I continued to the tube. Then, who knows if luck or coincidence I bumped into Kate and her family, she gave me a big hug and thanked me, she had crossed in 2:21 and was delighted as was I, it was so good to have helped someone achieve their goals and in fact far exceed their own expectations. It certainly left me with a warm fuzzy feeling as I heading into the tube station (not to mention my race spoils, a lovely tech top, canvas bag and wooden leaf shaped medal).
The final leg of my day was to get home, I arrived at Victoria and saw my train was due in about 20 minutes so I thought I'd pick up some food. I selected a lovely looking crayfish and mango salad in M&S Simply Food then I must have had some sort of blackout, when I came around I was sat on the train with a Big Mac Meal in my hands!! Oh well needs must!
I was required to go to Spain for work, lucky me you say and in some ways yes but there was plenty of meetings and work to done so sadly not all play as I am sure some imagine it would be. Waking this morning I knew I needed to get some miles in the the day ahead was hot and even as I woke early the air felt a little too much for me. I headed instead - rather disappointedly to the hotel gym where at least I could be assured of aircon. Although this turned out not to be the case either but I was there and on the treadmill so I just had to man-up and get one with it.
My initial goal had been to try and get about 5 miles in, but the heat combined with an early meeting saw me flake out at 5km... still at least I got some exercise in whilst away.
Next time I hit the outside, no matter how hot it is, especially as it was raining at home.
Sometime in the week I had sent a message to Jerry, a 14-16 mile run was required at a slow pace and an early start. He answered promptly as ever saying he was up for it and would start planning a route. A few days later a message appeared on my facebook page stating the following:
"Liz, Sunday's run involves llamas, sandpits and moaning parishioners! It will be an out and back to guarantee mileage but will be tough but gently paced. Coach Maisy has instructed me to get you on the trails with hills in prep for BHM."
The first mile was purely downhill and knowing that the route of the day would be an out and back this would not be fun on the return journey! From the advertised run, there certainly were sandpits and parishioners but no sign of the llamas, I must ask Jerry about that. But we did have copious amounts of cows and a bull all within the first few miles. Imagine my alarm when the first field we approached had a sign stating, DON'T RUN, JUST WALK - BULL. Holy Cow, this was not the sort of field I would approach alone
The field was full of cows and you could not see the Bull but who knew if he was out there. I wasn't going to risk running and setting off a stampeded so I sort of speed walk through the field, the cows scattering left and right as we passed through. There was much relief to reach the other side.
Then came the cornfield before we crossed a bridge over the M25 just near Clacket Lane Services - traffic looked pretty good considering the road works.We soon moved on from Jerry's ramblings on an IT program and we had moved onto ice cream, an ice-cream submarine and the apples from his garden, delighted I was to find I could get a fresh supply of cooking apples - an autumn of Apple Pie, Crumble, Cake, Tart and pork chops with apple sauce awaits.
There were several other runners out and about, a couple of maniacs driving on the road, one of who came speeding towards us with his car door open, shut it and gave us the thumbs up...nice one bruvva! We crossed the paths of many longer routes like the London to Brighton trail race, The Vanguard Way and the Green Sands Marathon. The route was very hilly but as advised by Coach Maisy this would all come in handy as part of my training for the Beachy Head Marathon next month.
I have mentioned before and I will say it again, my favourite runs are those on the trails, and especially when led by my good running buddy Jerry. I feel no pressure when running with Jerry as we trot along, chatting away, laughing and conspiring, always keeping moving but walking if we must. He is full of local knowledge and routes so that every run is different and definitely a new experience.
Some days a run seems like the hardest thing you could possibly do, even as an experienced runner and even one who enjoys it so much. This morning was one of those mornings. I had had less sleep than I would normally require following a festival/staff party which left me a little worse for wear come morning time. I had in anticipation only packed sports kit for the morning so that it would guilt me into running should I have an inclination to just head home and get back into bed.
So laying in bed, I wasn't sure this would be enough. I needed a commitment and some motivation. I texted 'The Mother' - did she fancy cycling along by my side along the Forest Way whilst I tried to get in about 14 miles. She was keen for a distraction herself I think as the prospect of painted a fence loomed heavy over her. I gave her my eta and immediately felt I'd better get my act together and head for some breakfast pre-run.
It was a muggy day, very humid and running was not comfortable. However, the added bonus of my cycling support crew spurred me on and together we made it to the turnaround point passing many other runners, cyclists and dog walkers making the most of this Sunday September morn without the threat of rain.
About 9 miles into the run I had begun to struggle, the heat was getting too much and I was starting to feel dehydrated the last few miles would be tough. I had a walk break which seemed to help and put some strength back into my legs. The Mother encouraging me along the way and as we chatted and caught up on the latest news in our lives the run soon came to an end at a respectable 12 miles.
I hopped back in my car leaving The Mother to cycle the remaining mile to the house while I drove - after having a big drink of water! We had a lovely homemade soup for lunch and then I headed home again.
Much need motivation was provided today as without that support I may have given up long before the 12 mile mark.
Question: There are 4 runners wanting a long run, Jerry wants to do 20 miles, Robert 16 miles, Liz 12 miles and Emma 10 miles. How could they do this?
Answer: Let Jerry just tell us what to do, we trust him to take care of business!
The preamble to the run began like this and was supported by a 20 message thread on Facebook which attempted to solve a quandary not dissimilar to that of a 1940s math book.
I met Jerry at my allotted time and place (in fact 3 minutes early) and we headed through Jerry's secret path through Petts Woods and onto a path with a steep edge where we encountered an overly excited and high dog who was determined to bound along with us and perhaps wanted to flee his owners and join us for the rest of the run, apparently still a pup but huge and wolf like all the same. This path would later become known to us and forever more as Wolf Ravine.
Meet up point 2 where both Emma and Rob would meet us having come separately one by foot, one by car all part of the mathematical and geographical equation Jerry had devised to ensure everyone hit their mileage targets and we headed off on pavement and trail towards High Elms. Not dissimilar to my recent run at Eridge Jerry is prone to naming routes and runs, sometimes I delight in coming up with such a route naming as each has its very own story that sits being it just begging to be told to future runners on the route.
Mouse Alley (AKA Flying Squirrel Alley) - named for the dead mouse that was found along the alleyway but can also been know as Flying Squirrel Alley as often the trees rattle with overhead flying rodents much to the alarm of runners passing through this narrow channel. We emerged with no mice and just one squirrel sighting today and headed out towards an open field, as we emerged though the gate and looked across the wide expanse there were figures dotted around in the mist and without the dogs this could well have been the start so the field was named the only thing we could rightly name it, Zombie Field.
The out of the out and back completed we passed through Zombie Field once again but the herd seemed to have moved on and the danger had passed for now. that was until leaping from the bushes a cat flew out ninja style, promptly fluffed up and departed again giving us all, particularly Jerry who was in front quite a surprise.
Almost back at the departure points for Rob and Emma we each got a bit soppy stating just how lovely it had been. But it was. I was a great run, lovely route, great company and catching up with some faces from the club I hadn't seen and certainly hadn't run with in far too long. Must not leave it that long again I miss my running buddies... Sunday long runs are making a comeback in my life!
