Finally - Race Report

Managed to get the Friday afternoon off work, so headed down to the expo to register and pickup running number, first problem of the weekend, couldn't find my name on the list, quick check with info desk and got my number, 7914, collected goody bag and received finishers T-Shirt!!!! strange I haven't finished it yet! Chip was checked and all was OK
The expo wasn't large but you tell that they are trying to make it like a big city marathon and if it grows then more companies will display at the expo, anyway bought some new socks, try something new on race day, it's the pirate way.
Home and out for a 4 mile leg stretcher, not good, shins hurting.

Maybe I should go back a day before and explain

Thursday night I had a race, Mow Cop Killer mile, I had decided that I would do this as a couple of guys from work had also said they would run. I had decided that I would take it very easy, anyway we walked the course before hand and walking down the hill seemed to hurt my legs, but too the race. The gun fired and everyone had different tactics to my nice and easy run, they all sprinted the first bit like a mad men, I managed to pick a few off towards the end of the race and finished just as I was starting to get warmed up.

So back to Friday night, the hurting shins was a bit of a worry but knew I had a full days rest on Saturday plus I was racing in calf guards which always help my shins, got a phone call from Matt (Cake) back from honeymoon and was running on Sunday, can he and his new wife Sarah (Booky) stay over the night before, no problem.

Went for a walk round town on Saturday to kill a bit of time and got Jordy some new clothes.
Roast Chicken salad with pasta and rice for tea and settled down.

Up at 5 Sunday morning, quick check on work, all orders in, great, breakfast done and all in car by 06:30, arrived at Manchester 07:15 £6 to park WTF!

Maybe it's now time to mention the weather

It was raining hard and blowing a gale, not the best conditions for running a marathon, but it was the same for everyone.

It was a mile and a half walk to the race village, the race village was in the middle of a park with no shelter from the rain other than a small little cafe which was by now absolutely rammed full of people, explained to Jo that I was going to go and get changed in the change tent. The change tent was far too small and it seemed that everyone was just using the tent to shelter from the rain including a lot of women and it was standing room only, no chance of getting changed in there, tried to blag an entry to the elite change tent, I did get as far as being asked if I was an elite Ha!.
I have to admit and I am not proud of my next step, but after complaining to a marshal about not being able to get changed in the change tent, I did throw my toys out of the pram a little and had a few erm choice words shall we say with some of the people in the change tent, it was at this time that I really started to lose it and marched back over to the small cafe and announced to Jo and Jordy "that's it, I've had enough we are going home" Jo as always had to bear the brunt and tried to calm me down, sorry Mrs, love you. I decide that maybe I could get changed in one of the portaloos, but in walking to them noticed an old house that workmen stored some stuff in one of the old barns, it was dry, no one else around and out of sight, all 3 of us jumped in there, sorted.

I do tend to waffle alot and the race hasn't even started yet!

Changed and ready to start, was about to go back and drop my bag at the storage area but Jo said she would take it to the car, this as it turns out was a very lucky escape, more on this later.

Found Matt at the start and after a few have a good race chats between us, the gun went and the race started

Success or failure, it's down to me (shamelessly nicked from Scot Ragsadale (egoman))

Managed to get a quick wave from Jo and Jordy who had stayed around the start, the rain was still falling, got up to the 4 hours 30 pacers and thought, great sit in here for the entire race.
After about half a mile I started to get away from the 4:30 people, so just carried on.

The first 3 to 4 miles are through an industrial estate, which is not nice, but after that we started to hit the suburbs and I have to say that the people of Manchester did themselves proud in that weather, the support out on the course was fantastic, up to 5 miles and spotted a familiar face, Suzie, who we used to run with 5 years ago, had a good catch up over a couple of miles and then lost each other.
The miles seemed to be passing by quite well and keeping an eye on the time I was running well, even with the bad weather conditions, through ten miles in 1 hour 33 minutes 21 seconds, I remember thinking to myself you're going to fast, but I was running well within myself, plus the wind for most of the first half was behind us.
At 10 and half mile got a massive pirate shout from Emma (Farnie), who ran out into the road and we had a hug, cheers chuck.
Got to half way and checked the watch, bloody hell!!!!!!! 2 hours 1 minute 36 seconds, that beats my previous half marathon times this year, proves that I'm in good shape.

The course then started to drift away from the main roads and before long we were running down a farm track and with the weather conditions getting even worse it started looking like an off-road race.

It then really started to become apparent just how much the first half we had had the wind behind us, because as we started to turn around you could feel the full force of the wind.

From mile 16 my time started to get slower but was still running well and feeling great, the support from the first half had disappeared and it was just us, the course and the elements. Through to 20 miles and was now starting to feel it, but still running.
At 22 miles a bloke ran along side me and asked "Are you a pirate?"
"Yes"
"Just read your mates book!"
"Holgs?"
"Yes"
"He's a fat poof who wears slippers!"
HAHAHAHAHA only joking Andy, good luck for Lanza, not long off now.
I did ask him if it had inspired him to give triathlon ago, yep but didn't like the swimming was his reply.
None of us do!
Got to mile 25 and knew not long now, but the last 1.2 miles seemed to takes ages, then the sting in the tail of the race, you had to run down to an underpass and back up the other side, ouch, hamstrings tightening.

Then to the finish, punched the air as I crossed the finish line.

I had run the entire thing, job done
I had run under 4:30 (4:20:06) job done.

Caught Jo and Jordy by the finish, space blanket on and walk mile and half back to car, it was now that it became apparent just how cold it was that day as I stated to shiver and needed warm clothes, luckily we hadn't left my bags at the baggage drop because the horror stories coming from there are truly bad and it's amazing someone didn't become seriously ill, just to let you know how bad it was, the police had to come and take over as it was so disorganised.

Got back to the car and drove home and climbed into a warm bath, extremely please with my days efforts.

The event will hopefully grow into quite a big marathon, but the organisers need to address some serious question raised from the day.

I have been for a few runs and bikes since and have been open water swimming twice, feel that the marathon is now out of my system and can start proper training again

Onwards and upwards as always

SA

Nailed it!

Really pleased

4 Hours 20 minutes 6 seconds

Will do a full race report soon as lots to put down

SA

Sucess or failure

Its down to me.

The Manchester Marathon Sunday 29th April 09:00

Did 8 miles on Sunday - hated it
Did 6 miles Monday - loved it

Hoping to get out for easy spin tonight for 1 hour
Rest on Wednesday
Thursday I have a race - The Mow Cop Killer mile, its only 1 mile but its 1 mile on a very steep hill, don't quite know why I agreed to do it so close to the marathon but there you go, have entered and a couple of people from work are doing it, will treat it as a fun event and not go mad, well until stood on start line that is.

Its time to nail my colours to the mast!

I have several goals for Sundays run

1. Run it all. This is the important one, the reason I'm doing it. I have done 4 marathons plus 2 marathons at the end of Ironman distance races and I have only managed to run the whole thing once, which was my second one, there are various reasons why I haven't been able to run them all. First marathon, didn't really know what I was doing and had done enough training. Second one ran it it all. Third one and my personal worst, had something to eat the night before that didn't agree with me and had a bad tummy, had to make 5 toilet stops on the way round, if I hadn't been running with Jo (her first marathon) I would have quit, I felt that bad. Fourth one, only had 4 weeks training. So running it all has become very important to me.

2. Time, I know if I manage point 1 then the time will follow, but I am looking/hoping for between 4 hours 15 mins and 4 hours 30 mins

3 As always enjoy it

The weather for Sunday doesn't look particularly good rain with strong winds but hey its the same for everyone.
Have got the Friday afternoon off work so can go and register then which will give me Saturday to relax and take some food on board.

Onwards and upwards as always, here's to a great race on Sunday!

SA

Still going

Well the consistency still isn't happenin,g but since my last blog entry the long run happened, 21.5 hilly miles done and dusted, my longest run without having to walk for a good few years, the run took me 3 hours 25 mins and a handful of seconds, which is a couple of minutes inside my target time, I had given myself 3 hours 30 minutes for the run. While the run its self was OK it completely wasted me for the next 3 days and was unable to get out for anything until the Thursday.
Last Sunday I ran 18 miles and this was my best run to date, I ran a 6 mile loop, 3 times and timed myself each lap, my times are what follows
Lap 1 58 mins 2 seconds
Lap 2 58 mins 12 seconds (1 hour, 56 mins, 14 seconds)
Lap 3 56 mins 53 seconds (2hour, 52 mins, 53 seconds)
This shows not only consistent pacing but the fact that I was getting stronger as the run went on, great news for the marathon that is now only just over 2 weeks away. Really enjoyed the run as well. Once again though, after this run didn't get out for 3 days, 2 days to recover and the last day was due to huge volume of work going on which had to completed from home.

Won't be able to get much training in this weekend as we going away to see Cake (Pirate) getting married. Hoping to be able to get a run (13 miles) on Sunday after getting home.

In other news Jo has had to re think the Outlaw as her sciatic problem is not getting any better, meaning that she still can't run without pain. We contacted the organisers and they have agreed to let us change her entry from a solo effort to a relay team with Jo doing to the swim and bike leg. A doff of the hat to the power of RW Forum / Facebook / Twitter as within 2 hours of putting up the request for a runner we had one. Viking (Pirate) who should have been doing the whole thing himself but was finding the bike and swim difficult and was on the verge of pulling out has agreed to do the run for Jo as this will at least keep him and Jo involved.

Onwards and upwards as always


SA

Consistency - Not

Saturday 17th March, pool closed again, so had an enjoyable couple of hours ride with Jo.

Sunday 20 mile run, legs felt heavy from ride day before, but started well, pace stayed OK till 16 miles when it started to drop slightly but carried on and completed my longest run (without walk breaks) for about 4 years.

Monday, Jordy was at bowling with his sports club so missed the recovery run.

Tuesday, major case of CBA (Couldn't be arsed!)

Wednesday and Thursday, manic at work and didn't get home til late, I know its a poor excuse, but its the best I've got, hangs head in shame.

Friday, back to it, 30 mins turbo 4 mile run (felt like a runner i.e. very quick)

Saturday 4K in the pool, really pleased as haven't been able to get to the pool for a few weeks and can still crack out a 4K, OK so it wasn't quick, but then my swimming isn't quick at the best of times.

Sunday had a bit of problem, alarm goes off 5 o'clock, downstairs to get breakfast, check work orders (every Sunday important orders come in and if I check them and if every things good, I know the rest of the day work won't call), big problem, no breakfast stuff, wake Jo, decides Jo will take the plum early morning training slot, while I go and get stuff for my breakfast (Jo has porridge, I hate the stuff) this left me with me starting my run just after midday, great hottest day of the year, felt like I was loosing a stone every mile in sweat, decided that a 20 miler in that heat would only cause me problems later in the week and I want to get a lot more consistency with my training so felt that 12 miles would be OK but tried to up the intensity level a bit and ran faster than I have for a good while clocking under 1.55 for 12 miles.

The calf guards I have bought are really starting to help, I get very little soreness the day after my long runs now, which is why after a fast 12 miles on Sunday, last night a good 6 miles and felt strong all the way.

Commute to work on the bike tomorrow.

I just have get some more consistent training in and I am really going to see some great improvements as I can feel myself getting better/fitter/faster/stronger.

I have my longest run in training for Manchester Marathon this weekend, a planned 22 miler and then I will start cutting back.

I also have 2 followers to my blog (at last), both pirates

Ironholgs - top bloke and great blog, that turned into a best selling book
ironholgs blog

Egoman - the most positive man I know, has an amazing can do attitude and has completed some crazy challenges, channel swim, 7 ironman in 7 days to name a couple and is now training for a jungle marathon
egomans blog

I know ironholgs quite well and have competed at several events with him but with egoman we have never meet (he lives in Dubai) but we swap emails encouraging each other and take an interest in what each other is doing.

So onwards and upwards to a more consistent week, a great weekend run.

SA

So what was the worry about

So Sunday came around and after a quick swim on Saturday, that was meaning I wasn't in the pool for long, not that I was swimming quick, we all know that's never gonna happen, I wanted to swim longer but with 4 people to a lane and one bloke doing tumble-turns its hard to make any progress.
Got up at stupid o'clock, breakfast, dis-assemble the bikes load them into the car, get Jordy up, felt bad getting him up so early (he doesn't do mornings), dropped him round at my mum & dads, back home to pick up Jo.
Arrived at start, loads of cars already there, registered and started to re-assemble the bikes.
Muffin-Top came came over and introduced herself, we would be riding some of the way with MT, meet up with Cona who was also making an appearance but we wouldn't be riding with him, he is far to fast for us to even think about that, think his average on the day was something around 23mph, which I can only dream about.
Then saw ironHolgs (top bloke and a best selling author) with his mate Andy H. We managed to set off round about 8:15 but took a while to get into it.
We found ourselves in a nice little group of me, Mrs SA, Muffin-Top, ironHolgs and Andy H which gave me a chance to catch up with Holgs and chat about his training for Ironman Lanza and how he gets only 5 weeks rest between Lanza and Outlaw.
We made it to 35 miles at which point there is a feed station, so stop, refresh the bottles and take on more food, then stopped quarter of mile up the road for a <cough> erm, comfort break. I think that it was this stop and start again when Jo started to find the going getting harder and she seemed to be labouring up the hills, which is no surprise as the amount of training she has missed with her bad back, this is where Muffin-Top pulled away and we didn't see her again for the rest of the day, apart the note she left on our windscreen when we got back. Through Macclesfield and I asked if Jo wanted to bail and go home as we had done over 50 miles " No way" was the sharp reply, well done Mrs.
Into Bollington and I knew this is where the climbing was going to kick in and I wasn't wrong, a couple of kickers through Bollington then a little pig of hill on the way out, through to Pott Shigley when we started a 2 and a half mile climb which just seemed to keep going and keep getting steeper, but I dug in and eventually got to the sumit, some more little kickers and then onto the main A6 towards Stockport. The event organisers are obviously evil as we then turned off the main road and back towards Pott Shigley for more hills, till eventually we turned back towards Poynton and the finish, we rolled in with a time of 6:13 which given a few stops and Jo's lack of training, is I think a damn fine performance.
Dis-assemble the bikes again and load into the car, grab food at the end, pie, food of the gods, set of home.
Quick change, pickup Jordy get to swimming pool, somehow we had agreed to take part in the local swimathon for the Seals, who are a swimming club that Jordy goes to on a Friday night. We didn't expect to be able to do much swimming after the days biking but we manged between the whole team to get 106 lengths, which is brilliant as the previous best was 54.
Then off to the pub for tea and you tell we had all had a long day as we where almost falling asleep while eating.

Yesterday (Thursday) saw the first commute to work on the bike.

Have a 20 mile run planned on Sunday as the continuing training for Manchester Marathon really takes hold.
Really please with where my training is at the moment, if I can keep this up and remain injury free, I am hoping for a great year.

Onwards and upwards as always

SA

Worring about next weekend

Good weekends training.
Saturday 40 miles on the bike.
Sunday 18 mile run, very wet and windy, couldn't believe how cold I felt when I got back home, took most of the day to warm up.
Legs feeling it today, tonight's run will be painful
The coming weekend sees Jo and I doing the Jodrell Bank Cycle sportive, for those that don't know its an 80 mile ride through the lanes of Cheshire and rides past Jodrell Bank (hence the name), we did it last year but the route has changed this year and its still fairly flat until 50 miles when they have put some nasty hills in (Pott Shrigley) we are both no where near as bike fit as we should be, so am fearing a long painful day at the office, on top of that we have agreed to be part of a team for the local swimathon in the afternoon, gonna be a busy day.