ETU European sprint duathlon championships Soria

I made it to the start line. I was just happy to be there and represent Great Britain for the first time. It was a fantastic experience and a good opportunity to soak in the atmosphere. I finished a credible 18th and developed a taste and desire to keep improving and maybe one day coming back with a medal.

5 weeks to Soria – European Sprint Duathlon Championships

11 nights in Cyprus has been just what the doctor ordered! I’ve managed to string a few decent sessions together and feel more confident about stepping it up when I’m back home.I’ve finally finished my third course of antibiotics. No more pills please!

Hopefully my final piece of bad luck came yesterday. I had a puncture whilst doing hill reps on my bike. However to my amazement a local Cypriot who was sat on his front porch saw me struggling and came to the rescue. He didn’t speak a word of English but managed to send me on my way. Unfortunately it was flat again ten minutes later and I had to run the rest pushing my bike (good transition training!).

I’m looking forward to getting back on my bike and practicing running off the bike and the all important transitions which are still pretty new to me but can cost you a lot of time.

Thanks to my sponsors

Partsworld uk https://www.partsworld-uk.com

Home works Financial Solutions Ltd http://www.homeworksfinancialservices.com

Footprint Properties Ltd. http://m.footprintproperties.co.uk

6 weeks to Soria – European Sprint Duathlon Championships, Spain

With just under 6 weeks to go preparations are going well. I’m sat on a sunbed in Cyprus recovering from my third bout of toncillitis in 8 weeks! Its not a bad place to be though.

I was in great shape so hope all is not lost. I’m being careful to ease back in a little more gently this time. I need to be able to hit the ground running when I get back home.

I’ve managed to hire a sit up and beg city bike which is usable and will help to keep things moving. Yesterday’s session was funny as I caught then flew past a group of cyclists on my secret weapon!

Thanks for all your support especially local sponsors 

Home works Financial Solutions Ltd http://www.homeworksfinancialservices.com

Footprint Properties Ltd. http://m.footprintproperties.co.uk

Qualified for GB European Sprint Duathlon age 35-39

As a half decent runner I thought I would try my luck at duathlon. For those of you that don’t know, this is a run, bike then a further run. Generally there are 2 distances, the standard or the sprint. As a relative cycling novice I decided to go with the sprint.

In October I took part in my 2nd sprint duathlon at Oulton Park race track. The distances were run 4.3km, cycle 21.5km then run a further 4.3km. I’d learnt from my first attempt at Clumber Park in March that a lot of time could be lost in transition so I had practised to see if I could save some time there.

Conditions were perfect, about 10 degrees and blue skies. After a fast first run I found myself heading down the pit lane and sprinting towards my bike. The real pros have their cycle shoes already attached, however I hobbled along in mine then jumped onto my bike and I was away.

The Oulton Park circuit has beautiful smooth tarmac however deceivingly undulating. As I’m only just starting out, I had a normal road bike and just pedalled as hard as I could but were inevitably passed by fast powerful guys on their time trial bikes!

After another decent transition, I was happy to be back running again and I smashed my way back through the field running past some of the guys who’d just overtaken me on the bike! My second run was really strong and put me right up the field.

2 weeks or so later I had the confirmation that I’d done it. I’d qualified to represent GB age group 35-39 in Soria, Spain at the European Sprint Duathlon Championships!

 

 

Sports Massage Tickhill, Doncaster

Tight Muscles? Stiff neck? Does your back ache?

Owen James at ALLforYOU is now open for business in the Tickhill area of Doncaster. He has 16 years of experience and said, “Its not until I get my hands on people that they realise just how much tension has built up.” He also said that this can accumulate over years of repetitive movements both at work and in sport leading to headaches, poor posture, aching muscles and discomfort. “The body has a tendency to compensate for the imbalance which may in tern lead to additional problems.”

Give Owen a call to see how he can help you.

The Abingdon Marathon 20th October 2013

The time has come to stand up and be counted. Over a year ago, I decided that I was going to commit myself fully into racing another marathon. Abingdon in Oxfordshire was the chosen race. Not only is it said to be flat and fast but  unlike the big city marathons, it is limited to just 1100 entrants which means less congestion and more focus on running!

My plan was to train progressively harder over a 23 week period and hope to lose to weight during the final ‘run in’ in order to make running faster at pace more efficient.

I’m inside the last week of training now which involved nothing more than easy running. I have lost about 7lbs now in as many weeks and its time to get serious.

Watch this space……

 

 

 

Loch Ness Marathon 2013

From London to Loch Ness, running 2 marathon’s 5 weeks apart the routes could not be much more different.

Little did I realise when booking the Loch Ness Marathon that on the journey up you are only half way there when hitting Glasgow.  I also didn’t realise I’d need an interpreter for the Scottish accent but I went by the rule of after saying pardon 3 times I’d just agree with what was being said.

The monster is not the only long-running legend in the area, as Loch Ness is also home to one of the best marathons in the UK. It is the biggest in Scotland which takes place in a rural setting starting between Fort Augustus and Foyers and finishing in Inverness.

With over 9000 participants entering for the day’s five races  Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and Festival of Running comprises the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon, Baxters River Ness 10K, 10K Corporate Challenge, River Ness 5K Fun Run and Wee Nessie.. It has a big event feel but not as over whelming as some of the big city marathons

The course has a very high potential of a PB, some people say it’s hilly but a Kimberworth Strider would describe it as ‘undulating’. The weather was amazing and it was great seeing so many spectators and supporters along the stunning route.

I ran a PB of 3.08.24, 11^th lady overall which was celebrated with a Baxters soup (sponsor of the race) and an Iron Bru, well if you can’t beat em join em!

The race was won by Kenyan Tarus Elly  2h 27.  Megan Crawford (Fife AC) enjoyed a marathon debut to savour by setting a new course record of 2hr 46min 37secs to win the Baxters Loch Ness marathon women’s title and the Scottish championship gold medal.

Thames Meander Trail Marathon 2013 by Lindsy James

The Thames Meander Marathon is a trail marathon which starts in Kingston upon Thames and winds its way to the scenic Richmond Park where the course continues along the trail towards the river Thames towards Putney Bridge and back.

After a week of studying the weather forecast and worrying about the anticipated 30 degrees on the Monday to the potential of torrential rain on the day before thankfully both forecasts were wrong and we just ran in the lovely British drizzle.

The event is pretty low key about 500 runners between the half and full marathon.  It is run by the local club and has a really nice friendly feel to it.  I tried something new for this marathon which was to not be controlled by pace or worrying about distance markers (as there were none) I ran on my heart rate.  Owen was my pack horse loaded down with all of our drinks and gels but there were 7 fuelling stations along the way run by great volunteers.

Up to 16 miles I was second lady and could see the 1^st place women slowly get reeled in., from that point on we passed about another 10 runners.  It wasn’t until we hit a climb into Richmond Park that I turned to Owen (mile 24) and said “I’ve had enough” but I managed to distract myself by the beautiful sight of stags watching me amble by.

Our last mile was one of the quickest due to my lovely husband saying if you pick it up you might get a PB.  Little did I know I was well inside a PB but his tactics worked anyway?  I crossed the line in a new PB of 3.11.51 setting the female course record.

I was chuffed to say the least and took away a prize which wasn’t quite as comparable to winning the London Marathon…a plaque smaller than the size  of a rich tea biscuit and a £15 voucher for a running shop down South so no glory didn’t go to my head.

The event was held at a school so we had great showering facilities (ideal size for a hobbit) followed by some hot food and a Pimms, you can tell we were down South.

If you fancy a weekend away with a scenic trail marathon thrown in the mix, this is one to consider.  It’s only £15 to enter, you get a great medal and it is chip timed plus frees nosh and drinks afterwards.

 

 

Doncaster Town Centre 5k

Just 3 days after my massive pb at the Windmill Half Marathon and I was back in Doncaster and hoping some of the weekends speed would rub off on me over the shorter distance!

This 2 and a half lap course was undulating but fast at the same time. I had run this event before in 17:04 and 17:08 and hope that a sub 17 was on the cards but by how much?

The first mile was fast as it was more downhill, leaving 2 harder laps with as many ups as downs!

Towards the end, 3 Doncaster AC lads powered past me and I feared the worst that my legs were feeling the effects of Sundays half marathon. However I dug in and managed to pip one of them in the final straight. It turned out that I ran miles 2 and 3 in exactly the same time (5:24.mile)

You’ve guessed it. Another pb by 32 seconds of 16:32.

Get in!!

Windmill Half Marathon 2013

With Marathon training for October Abingdon Marathon well under way, it was time to test myself over half that distance to see how much I’d progressed with my new super training schedule!

This was the 2nd year of the event up in Lytham near Blackpool and was apparently a flat, fast course.
My previous personal best of 1:17.54 was set back in October at the Perkins Great Eastern run. I knew I was in shape to beat this but didn’t know how much by.

We gathered on the start line and shot off around Fairhaven lake. One superfast guy shot off and we would on;y see him at the finish. That left 3 of us jostling for position as we headed back along the coast towards the windmill. We dropped one guy after 2 miles miles and I then ran the whole race with the guy who’d pip me at the end into 3rd place. There was a steady breeze with would swing our pace my 15/20 secs a mile in each direction. Nevertheless I would stick to my HR of 176,177. I was thankful for the guy who really paced my round as I tucked in behind him and tried to shelter from the wind.

I knew I was running well and completely running on the edge. It wasn’t until I saw the time on the clock counting up that I was to put in my final sprint knocking a huge 2 mins and 5 secs off my best to finish 3rd place with 1:15.49.

Ice cream BBQ and beers to celebrate!