EPIC RUNNING 2019

In April 2019 we moved to Bracknell. I immediately started running socially with Bracknell Forest Runners. Keep in mind that I only started running about three years ago, at age 46, when I completed the couch to 5k program with Runnymede Runners (2016).

It was a great summer, including several races and epic runs; and some great reading:

April: Brighton Marathon
I got my marathon time to sub 4 hours after overcoming an injury that lasted into March, but overcame the injury through doing 4 hour (16 mile) walks; and through doing 19 mile run-walks. I had to limit my running to only once or twice a week up until only a few weeks to the race.  However, I had built up fitness to a relatively high level starting with the previous (2018) year's Windsor Half (PB at 1:41) and Cabbage Patch (10 mile PB at 1:14) efforts, as well as a complete set of 4 Surrey League XC races.

Due to how much I enjoyed Brighton, its marathon, and the energy of the race and its supporters, I have signed up for next year's event again, and am shooting for 3:30 or better.

June: Endure24; Forest 5
I completed my third Endure24 event by completing 7 laps of 5 miles with a small (5 person) men's team that I had committed to earlier in the year. This was my last race wearing the Runnymede Runners shirt.

Immediately after having discharged my duties to the RRs (but sad to be leaving the Egham area running) I had a very happy experience in my first official race with Bracknell Forest Runners at the Forest 5 race in Bracknell Forest.  The atmosphere was lovely and supportive and fun, and I beat all my previous times from just a few days before at Endure, getting my PB for 5 mile (34:47). It's a really nice run through the forest at a great time of year and I will make an effort to consistently run this race in future.

July: Race to the Stones
My first ultramarathon (49km) went well for the most part. In my enthusiasm I started off way to quickly and had to walk a bit at the end. With practice this will get better, and a practice 30 miler later in the summer proves it (see below).  With that said, Race to the Stones is a beautiful race along the ridgeway, and my plan is to sign up again for next year, but to do the even longer 100km race all in one go.

August: Cornwall, Englefield 10k
I took a writing/retreat week in Cornwall, my first time in the area, and discovered the beautiful coastal path close to St Ives. Running out into 'Poldark country' was just so inspiring and lovely. I also did more town/road-oriented running and got some hill training at the same time. St Ives is now one of my favourite towns.

Englefield: At the last minute they changed the length of this race to 10.5 km for some reason but otherwise it could very well have been a PB despite extremely challenging conditions, including 30C temperatures and hilly, uneven terrain throughout the course. This is because my last 'official' (timed) 10k race was the Staines 10k in early 2018, some time ago now, at a time when my fitness was increasing drastically.

The second toenail on my left foot turned black after this race, and it remains discoloured but otherwise not painful or uncomfortable.

I treated the Englefield 10k (as well as a 5k handicap with BFRs in August) as a training run for the Windsor Half Marathon.

September: Ottawa (Parliament, Rideau Canal), Niagara, Montreal (Lachine Canal, Mount Royal), Laurentians 30 miler; Edinburgh
The first two weeks of September we were on holiday, and I took the opportunity to rack up close to 100 miles of running in the locales listed above.  This started in Ottawa where I spent mornings running along the Rideau River in search of new routes, hitting the Rideau Canal, Sussex Ave, and Parliament along the way. My longest Ottawa run was 24 km.

Next we were off to Grimsby where I discovered the Bruce Trail and ran along some sections of it. It is much more uneven and challenging terrain than I had imagined, forcing a very slow pace at times. However going up and down the escarpment forced some exceptional hill training into my program. I ended up running parallel to the escarpment a lot, with only strategic forays uphill where sidewalks were available.

Then it was beautiful Montreal and I got in two 10 milers on Lachine and on the mountain. This was some big city running with a lot of hard surface, though the mountain itself has a very forgiving gradient that is both a pleasure to run upwards and pacy to run down. All in all some super lovely running in great weather in Montreal.

I consider the Laurentians run I did (29.6 miles) to be my best run to date. It was a cold start at 7am from Morin Heights and I went up to Lac des Seize Iles before turning around at the 21km mark. I managed negative splits all the way up to the marathon distance and a bit beyond before getting turned around back in town, which added 5km to the distance, and ended up being very 'ultra'. It took me about a week to recover, but I think I'm still on track for WHM.

Last but far from least, I did two epic runs in Edinburgh: a 7 miler taking in Arthur's Seat (this was hill training at its best, reducing to a fast walk up the switchbacks near the top) and Calton Hill; and a run past Parliament to the Royal Mile and around the Castle to New Town, this one a tempo-ish / threshold-y romp in the sun.

Upcoming: Windsor Half Marathon 2019 (29 Sept 2019)

****

Summer 2019 running reading

Finn, Rise of the Ultra Runners

This book is the buzz of the summer. It seems that everyone is reading it. You just know, in an unspoken way, that others are soaking it up, considering it, reflecting, and then proceeding with their race plans with a new set of mental tools for dealing with, excelling, and enjoying their race just that much more, knowing how much Finn suffered (well, not 'knowing', but it's a misery loves company kind of thing I think).  It may very well have put more people off the idea of running an ultra than put them on the scent.

Cullen, Running for My Life

I wasn't sure at first, because the early chapters of this book are very focused on a young girl and then young woman's body and eating issues, and I felt I couldn't relate or contribute. But after getting only a little bit in I realised that what the book performs best is brutal honesty with oneself, regardless of what the specific struggle is. Hurdle after hurdle is met and overcome, often after years of brutal struggle and self-delusion. Running is always brought back front and centre as the key ingredient for providing continuity and confidence in overcoming the obstacles to fulfilment and happiness.

Hutchinson, Endure

The author's science background comes strongly through in this book that is about all kinds of acts of physical endurance, achievement, and betterment. The best part for me was the extended discussion of the idea of the Central Governor Theory first put forward by Noakes. A whole bunch of literature is reviewed that updates Noakes classic Lore of Running and for this alone I am very grateful.

MacDougall, Natural Born Heroes