Maria Runs

I love this race. Even though it is now held in July, right in the middle of summer (it used to be in the autumn which was much better), I still signed up for the 10 miles this year. Partly I did this because I am doing a half marathon in September, so need to keep my long runs at a fair distance during the summer- without a race I would be more likely to cut them a bit shorter. Mainly though I signed up because it is such a friendly event, the route is very pretty, plus at the finish you can buy tea and cake for £1. Bargain.

It didn’t start until 10am, so I didn’t have a particularly early start.I had some toast for breakfast, drove there and had my number by around 9.30. I knew a couple of other runners so we chatted for a bit before it started.

There was a warm up but I didn’t join in, I wasn’t planning on going fast so the first mile would be my warm up. I left my bag in the drop (although the car park is close by) because I wanted to put my jumper on right after- it was a drizzling, and although it was humid, I thought I might get cold soon after stopping (plus I needed my money for the cake!).

There is a 10K event too, so those runners set off  a couple of minutes before the 10 milers. The 10 mile route is two laps, and the 10K seemed to do a little extra at the start before rejoining the 10 milers and doing one lap.

I set off steadily and made sure I looked at the scenery. It is very pretty, and I noticed a few changes to the route from previous years, which had cut out one of the tough hill sections. After a couple of miles I was glad of my vest- it was really muggy as well as raining gently, so the sun-cream, sweat and rain were all mixing on my face and skin. As in previous years, the first half of the loop was hilly, and the second half lovely and flat along a tow path. They had a photographer there this year but the ground was very uneven at that point so I was looking very closely at the ground as I didn’t want to fall in the canal! The marshals as always were brilliant, and on the second lap lots of them told me I looked comfortable or in control (and of course one said “think about the cake”!).

I kept an eye on my watch but I wasn’t aiming for a time- I thought under 1.40 would be good, and in the end I finished just a few seconds under, in 1.39.24. It’s all miles towards the 100 too.

Of course after collecting my bag I went straight to the tent for some cake (lemon drizzle) and tea. I also bought a bottle of water and put a nuun tab in it from my bag- it was quite a sweaty day.

I hung around a bit as they were giving out awards to the winners of both races, and then drove home.

After a shower I was getting hungry so I had some hummus on ryvita, an apple and a lovely smoothie.

Then I had an efficient (and tiring) afternoon with so many jobs- getting some bits at the shops, making a cake for work, ordering end of year presents for people, trimming one of our hedges, planting some seeds, filing paperwork, doing washing….

I suppose one year I should try to beat my course pb, but this year I was very happy to run it and enjoy it, without being so exhausted afterwards.

Do you normally run races for time or for fun?

Some of the event team at Panshanger parkrun launched a midsummer series of two 5 mile races on Thursday evenings. The first one was last Thursday, in the ground of Hatfield House.

It didn’t start until 7.30, but I didn’t want to have dinner before. We had sports day at work and then went out for lunch, but I didn’t fancy any of the vegetarian options (a brie panini- I don’t like brie, or a cheddar baguette, which didn’t sound that exciting) so I had a huge iced bun instead, and some tea. I didn’t get home from work until nearly 6pm, so I had a few nakd nibbles, a couple of crackers and some coconut water, before changing and heading out.

As it was so local, lots of the club were running and supporting. They also had a kids race which is always a nice addition.

I had not really thought about time at all, and I was chatting to my running buddy Elaine when the race started- we were right at the back but I think that is always best, especially when it is chip timed.

I had looked at the map but as I have only run in the grounds a handful of times, I didn’t really know the route at all. It started off uphill towards the house, then down, parallel to the start. Then the route went through some fields, gently uphill for the first mile. Then came a bigger hill- it was only when I got to the top that I realised it was a hill that we ran down on our Tuesday night club run- I a glad I didn’t know at the beginning as I think psychologically it would have been tough knowing how long it went on for. As I had started right at the back I was steadily catching up with some of my club mates- it is lovely to know faces at events like this and gasp a quick “hi” between breaths.

After the longer hill (which I think finished around the 2 mile point) it was a flat path through woodlands- it was a very scenic place to run, with foxgloves towering over the ferns and shrubs in the woods- some of them were well over 2 metres tall! I was smiling all the way through! I had managed to keep Elaine in my sights (she is normally much quicker, but has been training to swim a relay of the channel so has not done as much running recently) and eventually caught up with her.  We had some lovey downhill sections too, although I did feel like I was being cautious and was overtaken by quite a few people here- I think I am still worried about falling. The loop finished on a track through more fields (more lovely scenery) and then we re-traced our steps for the final mile- an uphill section to the front of the house, and then a lovely downhill to the finish. On the uphill I was really gasping, and running alongside me were some other girls who were equally noisy! On the downhill I could see the cheer squad and so I tried to really push on and I felt like I was sprinting- the photos may suggest otherwise!

At the finish someone cut the chip from my shoe, and then I got a bottle of water and a banana (hooray!)- Elaine finished around the same time as me (I can’t remember which was we finished) so we had a little chat and a photo (of course). I got my print out right away- 45.25 was my chip time, so in fact I think that was only 40 seconds off my 5 mile pb (which was from a very flat course)- not too shabby!

I then wandered over to the club cheer squad where I was given the most amazing flapjack- it had caramel sauce, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate chips on the top. So good.

So it seems like the iced bun was a good option in the end! The next one is in two weeks time, at Panshanger, so I think it is likely to be a bit more hilly…

By the time I got home and had a shower, it was gone half 9, so I had some toast and watermelon- it felt very late to be eating though. I don’t think I have ever done an evening race before- the Bournemouth 10K was at 4pm I think, so a bit too close to lunch time. This was better being later, although personally 6.30 or 7 would have been preferable.

Have you ever raced in the evening?

This was my third time of running the WR10K event. I really enjoy it- the setting is nice (around a lake), it is easy to find (not far from the motorway, around a 50 minute drive), there is great support, the marshals are fab, the goodie bag is full, you get a medal and a technical t-shirt- lots of positives!

For the last couple of years it’s been the same day as the British Grand Prix, so one year Andy dropped me off on his way, and last year I drove myself as I didn’t want to wait around for him to finish. But this year the Grand Prix is next weekend, so he drove us up there. It was such a warm day- we are not used to this! I had put on sun cream but once we were out of the car and walking around I wished I had brought my visor with me as it was so bright.

They had the warm up but I stayed away for that, although to be fair it is a proper warm up and not static stretches and Mo-bots. The start was not that organised this year which was a shame- they have pacer runners for 50, 55, 60 and 70 minute 10K times and there is a 5K too, which is one lap, so you divide the time by two if you are doing the 5K. In previous years they called groups over, but this year the 50, 55 and 60 minute pacers were all at the start line, and only the 70 minute pacer was further back. I didn’t want to fight my way through, so I just thought I would use my Garmin. I had planned on keeping the 60 pacer in sight for the first lap and then seeing how I felt, as I ideally wanted to finish in under 60 minutes, and maybe beat my time from last year.

I enjoyed the first lap although it was very hot, so I was mindful of not going too fast. I was overtaking a lot of people at the start and it seemed more congested than previous years. The marshals all had cowbells which was great. It also had the friendly feeling of a parkrun with lots of runner thanking the marshals which is always great. The scenery was lovely, especially in the sunshine, and I loved seeing all the geese and goslings. At the half way point some of the 5k runners were finishing, and I saw one of the girls from my running club (she thought she was marshalling, but they didn’t need her so she just came to watch)- I think I shouted to her “it’s so hot!” as I ran past.

The second lap felt tougher because I was just getting hotter. There were some parts in shade, but a lot was very exposed with little breeze. I saw some people in full length tights and long sleeved tops which made me feel hot just looking at them! There were a couple of water stops but I didn’t have any as I knew I would be given some at the finish too. Around the 8k mark I suddenly felt really tired, my stomach ached and although the time on my watch meant I could still make it in under the hour, I really felt like I could not be bothered, which is not like me. I had to tell myself that I didn’t feel sick, I was just imagining it. At 9k I thought we were going through the woods but we had another out in the open bit first, so I started counting to 100. As you come up to the finish you run in front of the hotel and pub, and so there were lots of people out supporting which was great. I had really wobbly legs and tried to push through the finish line, but Andy told me I looked like I was taking it easy! Not sure if that’s a complement or not, because it didn’t feel easy!

I was then given so many things! Water, a medal, a goodie bag, a t-shirt (I chose a medium which is perfect- it’s lovely and soft but also technical- and a much nicer fit than last year), a WR magazine, a Buff bag and some leaflets.

The medal is engraved on the back like last year too, which I love. I had some water, caught up with Donna from my club, and then found Andy and we headed back to the car. It was pay and display and I only had 2 hours so we only had around 20 minutes after finishing. I changed my socks and shoes, and wiped my face, but the rest of my change of clothes would have to wait. I had a nuun tab in some water, and then we drove to the shopping centre. In the toilets I used more face wipes (honestly I cannot tell you how much I love to use a face wipe after a race- especially in the heat I get salt all over my face and it feels so good to wipe it away), changed into jeans and the t-shirt I had just been given, and looped up my hair (my ponytail was sopping wet). We bought lunch (I had the lovely super greens and red sandwich from Pret which is my absolute favourite- baby kale, avocado, red pepper, red tapenade, flaked almonds) and did a bit of shopping. We then braved Ikea as we needed another bookshelf and wanted to look at armchairs and a few other bits, before finally driving home.

I surveyed my goodies! There was also a little pack of Urban Fruit dried pineapple, which I had in the shopping centre before lunch.

I had looked into marshalling the London one, but it is the same weekend as the Disneyland Paris half marathon, so I can’t, but maybe next year. I loved the look of the cowbells!

After a shower and a cup of tea, we chilled out for a bit before walking into town and going to Bill’s for dinner- the novelty of being walking distance to town is not wearing off at the moment!

When I looked at the results later, my official time was 59.15, so I was pleased to be under the hour in that heat. It was not as quick as last year, but I am happy that I enjoyed it and still managed a decent time (for me).