A day of firsts....

It's been a while since I have blogged and genuinely can't believe where the time has gone! (I think I say this every time I have a bit of a break from blogging but it's true!)

Since my last entry back in June (!) I have taken it upon myself to take part in as many events as I can over the next year or so to raise funds & awareness for Ovacome, the Ovarian cancer charity. 

August saw me take part in the inaugural Dublin Rock & Roll Half marathon in, erm, Dublin funnily enough! It was my first non-UK race and I was ready in terms of training etc but I did find it difficult running on my own. What helped to get me through was the charity I was running for and also imagining my friends husband next to me as I ran (Not as inappropriate as it sounds, I promise! With Chris by my side in March of this year, I managed to complete Reading half marathon with a new PB!) The turnout and course was great, seeing sights of Dublin I hadn't seen before (I am a regular-ish visitor as my sister and her family live there) and the bands playing every mile or so were fantastic too. Until about halfway, I was feeling good, not on fire but good. But that feeling didn't last long, for whatever reason; fuelling, I think although I can't be sure. I trooped on regardless. I really did struggle during the last four miles, despite the support & encouragement of fellow runners literally making me run with them, and I regrettably ended up walking/running the last few miles and subsequently missing my HM PB by 3 mins. A shame but nevertheless, a super proud moment crossing that line in 2:14. A nice bit of bling helped ease the pain and slight disappointment....as did the post run hugs & kisses from my family & the Guinness!  

My second event was today and not so far afield, only about 30mins from home - the Costwold Classic held by Witney Road Runners. I had toyed with the idea of another half but with Oxford only a few weeks away, I thought it best not to push my luck so opted for my first local race and it's 10 miler. And I am glad I did. Prior to the day, the communication was great and the run number packs sent our about 2 weeks before the big day. At £13 for a local, 10 mile race, I thought it was great value for money too. 

I knew the course would be hilly, as I know the area but a few cheeky tweets from athletic clubs the day before the race put the fear of God in me......"Not a bit of flat, 1 v long hill, 2 lung busters, 4 others, 1 field at end" Great! Maybe time to revise my time expectations! The usual 'night before a race day' routine ensued and I was up with the larks shoveling down the usual pre-race fuel of porridge & coffee. Thankfully, I read the rules a few days before the race so there was no need to pack my iPod & headphones, wearers of such would be disqualified. Gulp. I had never ran a training run let alone a race without my beloved tunes! Another first; a race with no banging beats to help me through. A little added pressure as I wasn't sure how I would fare when the going got tough (this is not a reference to my taste in music although Billy Ocean was a king in his day!) But if you never try, then you'll never know!

The event was well sign posted and directions clear; the car park was a 5-10 min walk from the race HQ which was Witney Community Primary School. Three of the ladies I was with were registering on the day and this was a well-run & easy process. There was a secure baggage area and changing facilities in some of the classrooms and plenty of toilets in the school available for use (and not as small, height wise, as expected!). About 15 mins before the race start time, we were asked to make our way to the start line, which was back up towards the car park and a good warm up! It was hard to hear if any announcements were made as only a loudhailer was available but it wasn't long before we were off! A slight incline was first on the list as I was trying to get into my stride. What was slightly disheartening though was the number of people overtaking me as soon as we set off. I did start to wonder what I had gotten myself into when so many club runners were whizzing past me but I kept repeating to myself 'run my own race' and 'I am a tortoise, not a hare'! There were a few steady inclines & declines throughout the first 2 miles as I tried to settle into my pace. So far, despite having to listen to the sound of my somewhat heavy breathing, I wasn't missing the cheery tunes too much - concentrating on them hills was a distraction! The views were amazing and were an additional welcome distraction as the miles ticked by. Mile 4 bought the arrival of a bit of flat and a water station, as well as a group of cheerers with banners & posters; even when they are not for you, they lift the spirits! 

By mile 4, I felt comfortable and into a good pace; don't get me wrong, the route was still a toughie but for the first time in the race, I felt I could finish and in a time I could be proud of. Before too long, we were more than halfway with only 4 miles left to go. The marshalls en route were really encouraging and there were smatterings of locals out cheering the runners on too - very much appreciated, let me tell you! Mile 8 brought a few little hilly surprises, short and steep, but I actually really love hills (odd I know, but I really do!) and relished a little in them, especially when they were conquered! Before we knew it, we were passing the mile 9 marker and on the road heading back towards the school. Knowing there was less than a mile to go is a big mental challenge for me, made even more so with finished runners jogging & walking past you in the other direction to the car park! But there were shouts and claps of encouragement too. With one lap of the school field to go, the rain started and I hoped it would chuck it down to help cool me down but it remained a drizzle. Glancing at my Garmin, I was pleased to see that I was on to beat my PB, not by much but better it nonetheless. The last straight saw me marginally kick it up a gear and I crossed the line in 1:37, a new PB by 3 mins! I whooped & hollered across the finish line and jumped for joy! I was super pleased with my race - the pace, the time and my effort to finish it! And there were indeed smiles with my miles, although at times, through gritted teeth!

Rather than a medal, a tech t-shirt was the memento of the day and I am writing this proudly wearing mine (post bath and celebratory curry & beer!)

 

I would thoroughly recommend the Cotswold Classic to anyone. Yes, it is hilly. Yes, it is popular with running clubs but exclusive to them it is not. And yes, a warm welcome from all and great support from marshalls await you!

All in all, my day of firsts was a great success: running my first local race without headphones for the first time, resulted in a PB. But hopefully, it won't be my last.