Brathay Windermere marathon 2012

I joined the Striders in August 2005 with the mindset that at the ripe old age of 54, it was far too late to start running marathons. This resistance lasted just over a year until the Autumn of 2006 when someone sent round an email about a new marathon round Windermere. I was very tempted, so I thought that if I was going to do one marathon, what could be more scenic than running round Windermere. Anyway May seemed a very long way away...

So I entered, did some training and in May 2007 turned up at the lovely Brathay Hall next to the lake. It was a lovely location, the organisation was great and there was a great atmosphere. My children came and watched their Dad do his one marathon. Everything went fine until 21m, I was enjoying it, but soon after I was hit by cramp and my training was shown to be inadequate. The last few miles were tough. Still it had been a lovely day and I had completed a marathon and there was no way I was going to do another one. My daughter reminds me of this frequently.

Six months later the pain had receded in my memory and I entered Windermere again and more marathons and ultras after that. In 2011 I went slightly mad and completed thirty marathons or ultras in my sixtieth year. This year I am going to take it easier, but running the Windermere marathon has always been on my list, so I was back for my sixth time round the lake and my sixty fourth marathon/ultra.

The event is always preceded by truly amazing people who run the course ten times in ten days with the final day on the day of the marathon. As usual I went over early on day 9 to see the runners on the route, a few of whom I know. One of them was doing the event for the fourth time, that is forty times round the lake ! Melanie came with me and we found it pretty cold on the Saturday. There were eighteen runners doing the ten in ten this year and they all finished, but it was very hard work for some of them. Some of them were out there for eight hours on some days, which does not leave much time to recover before the next day. I have been tempted by this event especially before they set off for the final day, but once I am out there on the course, my enthusiasm evaporates. It is a very scenic but it is a hilly course and the thought of doing that route every day, well not for me.

The weather on the day of the marathon was much warmer, sunny and no wind. I saw the ten in ten runners off, they start an hour before the main event, and chatted to other marathon runners who I have met at other events around the country. There was a rolling start which was new for this year. The runners were led down to the start and as soon as the first ones got there, the gun was fired. It was chip timed so that was fine

The first half down to Newby Bridge went fine, though it was a little warm. Fortunately, the clouds came over at that point and that made it easier. The third quarter of the race I always find hard. There is a 4m stretch of tough undulations on the way to Bowness. These took a toll on me and it slowed my pace. I got back in 4hr 39min, my slowest time there, but I know I am not in the best shape at the moment, probably too many races. I had a bottle of specially brewed ten in ten beer at the end, the nearest I will come to doing that event !

Marathon of the North 2012

Well this weekend could not have been much better  

Saturday: We were up early to go back to Middlesbrough Albert Park parkrun where my parkrunning began. It was my 17th run there and it was great to be back on what is still the fastest NE parkrun course that I have done. We took it easy, but speeded up a bit towards the end  Afterwards we had coffee and a toastie in the cafe in the visitor centre 

Sunday: Sunderland marathon. Up ever earlier and met up with lots of clubmates who were doing this event or the 10K. I think there were 17 clubmates doing the marathon and about another 10 doing the 10K. Our club captain, alisterrobson, was leading a 10 and half minute mile pacing group for several club members who were doing their first marathon. I had thought of going a little quicker, but as I wasn't feeling too sharp, I thought I would tag along and enjoy their company. It was great, the course has many sections where you see the runners ahead of you and we were cheering on other runners we know and especially other clubmates.

We stuck together until about 15m when we lost one runner off the back and about a mile later two runners went off the front. Then without really noticing me and G went off the front. We were going a little faster, but not much. At 18m we went past the Stadium of Light (start and finish) and it was hard seeing other runners finish as we had another 8m to go ! The weather was much warmer than forecast and I was slightly overdressed which didn't help. Soon after 18m G dropped behind and I was on my own on the way out to the coast. When I got there I realised that I was coming back the same way but that the back leg would have some hills and be into the wind, so I tried to go as fast as I could (given this was about 22m in !) on the outward leg. The return leg along the coast was tough, but I kept going resisting the temptation to walk. My splits did go over 11 for a couple of miles here, but the rest has been in the 10s, so I was very happy to finish in 4h 36min, pretty much 10 and half minute pace overall.

The route had more hills than I expected and it was warmer than forecast, but there few organisational difficulties for a new event. The support from clubmates and Fetchies out on the course was just great 

Monday: Tees Barrage 10K. I like this race, it is a flat scenic route along the river Tees, the only hills being the bridges you have to cross. I hadn't really intended to enter, but there was a mixup (see MelanieLH's blog) and I was in, so I thought I would take it very gently. I started this race slowly as my legs felt very heavy, but after about 1K they felt fine and we were able to speed up. We finished in 53min 21sec. Not quite the gentle run we had planned. It was great to see Muddyidiot and Lisa_T again, I haven't seen them for ages.

MelanieLH ran the parkrun and the Tees barrage with me and also the 10K at Sunderland. It is the first time she has run three days in a row and she did fantastic, it is easy to forget that she was having daily radiotherapy just over two months ago