Brathay Windermere Marathon - Race Day!!!

17 May 2015

Got up early on Sunday morning. Race Day!!!! Down to breakfast, where Rob and Sarah (guest house owners) tended to our every need, providing a yummy breakfast. After breakfast we headed up to get our running kit ready. Race number on my t-shirt and I was ready.

Several bag checks later and we were off. What was really funny was how different Hazel and I were in our pre-race nerves. We kept going in and out of chattiness and quiet contemplation at different times, which meant the car was constantly full of conversation and nervous silence.

I parked my car and we went off to watch the 10 in 10 runners head out on their last marathon. Met up with Chris and had a bit of a chat about the marathon route. He gave Hazel and I lots and lots of advice on how to tackle the massive hills that were dotted around the course (invaluable advice as it turns out!). These runners are absolutely amazing. I knew they were but only after I ran the course once did I realise just how amazing they really are. A huge inspiration.

We wished Chris good luck as he headed off to get himself ready. He told us he would cheer us on at the end, to which I laughed and said "I am sure you won't still be here when we finish" but he reassured us he would.

This pose was Chris' idea - Caroline (his wife) just said "Why?" - no idea!!!

Where we are heading!

An hour later and it was our turn. We lined up behind a fabby samba band and walked down to the start line. As with every marathon the queues for the toilets were huge and when we headed to the start there were many competitors nipping behind trees and bushes only to find there was another set of portaloos at the start!!

Start selfie (with some random photo bomber) 

Start line.

 The race began with the first hill just rising around the corner from the start line. It really set the scene for the whole race. The route just kept climbing and climbing. Hazel and I took this first set of hills gently, just slowly working our way up the hill. We were going to follow a 25/5 pattern for taking walking breaks or if we were forced to walk up huge hills then that would take over. By doing this, as you would in an Ultra run, we were hoping we would have the strength to make it all the way to the finish in one piece. We ran around Elterwater, which was stunning.

This worked well up until the really huge hill that Chris had warned us about at 14 miles. This hill climbed and climbed all the way until 17 miles. Quite a hill. Most people around us were walking up this hill, including us. There was such a brilliant atmosphere out on that hill, we were all in it together and that was really evident in the conversations that we were all having. Hazel and I met up with a couple who were running with the Sweatshop Running Community and they were both saying how friendly the race was. We then met up with a man who had had taken up marathon running relatively recently and had wracked up 70 marathons! He was just a normal person just like the rest of us, just shows you anything is possible. The next person we chatted to was a lady who was in training for the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Again, just a normal person not a superfit athlete. She casually said she had only just entered this last week and had run 16 miles yesterday. A lovely woman. Marathon running really lets you meet lots of different, lovely people. That's one of the reasons I love it.

We got half way up the hill and we could hear pipes in the distance. They were playing Highland Cathedral, really put a spring in my step! They were great.

We finally got to the top of that hill and found the most stunning view of the lake. Definitely a photo stop required. 

Top of the hill at 17, right before the demons crept in.

Still looks quite a long way back to the start.

This view heralded the start of a huge downhill, yes I did say downhill. Not that this was any easier having plodded up a huge hill first. When we got to the bottom of the hill we found ourselves at a very long flat road. Chris had given us the advice to just walk the hills, save our energy. Little did I know it was the flat bit that would sap all my energy from my legs. It was also around 18 miles that my head started to tell me that I couldn't do it and I was too tired. I knew I had fueled well enough but really had to start fighting the demons at this point that were creeping into my head. This happens in every single marathon I have ever done, they creep in just around 18/19 miles. I really had to start focusing on landmarks  to try and run to. Hazel just sat in front of me chattering, I have to say at this point my head was a bit fuzzy so I couldn't really tell you what she was saying but it was good to have her company. My focus was getting to Bowness where Hazel and I had a photo taken together on Saturday and we had agreed we would stop for a selfie at the same spot. That gave me a focus. It also brought the 20 mile marker which is usually where I can regain control of those demons and get on with finishing.

 After a bit of run/walking slowly and an energy gel I began to feel a bit stronger. Just about that point we passed one of the 10 in 10 runners. Her name was Caroline and she was still smiling despite carrying an injury and hobbling along painfully. People around her were just telling her what an inspiration she was. We were tired but were so aware that she had done it ten times, inspirational.

Finally, we found ourselves heading down to Bowness and the lakeside. We knew at that point we would be turning back up the hill to Windermere and ultimately Ambleside.

We picked our way through the crowds of spectators and grabbed our selfie, which if I am surprised at how okay I looked given how puggled I was. Hazel, as always looked great and was running strongly and staying with me despite me telling her to just go on.

The climb out of Bowness was gradual until we hit what is known as "Ice Cream Mountain". A horribly steep hill where there is an ice-cream van at the top where you could, if you felt the need, buy an ice cream! I was just glad to see the top of it as it meant we were heading back towards Ambleside. So we were at 21 miles and heading towards 22. Not much more to go now. As we turned at the roundabout we came across a sign which said "Ambleside 4". We both whooped, now we had a distance we could cope with just fine. Still hilly though, up and down, up and down. With about 3 miles to go we looked up the road and saw - RHONA!!!!! It was so good to see her, we knew we were on our way back when we saw her. We had a hug and a group selfie and then waved her off as she rode away into the distance towards Ambleside. 

We crested yet another hill, and saw this sign. We both laughed commenting at how there was no need to rub it in. We knew we were slow...

Further down the road Rhona was waiting for us again. She waved and told us we only had 2 and a half miles to go. Sounded like nothing but still felt such a long way. By this point my hip was hurting and my calf muscles were starting to cramp up. Despite being really slow I was still feeling strong but was definitely running on empty and quietly was in the head down, hard work phase of a long run. Hazel, like the great friend she is stuck with me the whole time. We have been friends and running partners for a long time and have never crossed a finish line together, as Hazel has always been faster than me. But this time we wanted to do it together. As we got to the 25 mile marker we got a little bit excited at being close to the finish when we were met with the smallest, yet steepest wooden bridge. We came to a grinding halt and staggered over the bridge. The marshall at the other side just smiled and answered "everyone said that" when we grumbled about how mean it was to put that in right at the end. That was nearly it, sapped almost the last bit of strength. But no, we kept going, run/walking until finally we were back at the entrance for Brathay Hall. Here was the 0.2! And oh my goodness did that 0.2 feel like a long way with the very last hill of the day to be tackled. Up the long Drive to the finish line. We turned the corner and there it was!!! Hazel and I ran all the way to the finish line hand in and as the announcer shouted out "here comes Hazel and Jane". Rhona met us at the end as we just flopped onto the floor having collected our medals, water and banana. We were done. The Brathay Windermere Marathon completed. And it only took us to dinner time at 7.30pm to decide we were coming back next year to tackle it again.

Biscuit in our race goodie bag!!!

Oh then there was the small matter of congratulating Chris on his outstanding 3.49 marathon. Blindingly outstanding. Ten times, once and I was lying on the ground half dead!!! Can't say just how inspired I am by him. Well done Fetchie.

This was one of the hardest, friendliest marathons that I have ever taken part in. There were continual updates on facebook as to who was still out on the course, which meant people were around to cheer them on. The finish line was left up until that last person, Chelsea came over the line. It took her 7 and a half hours to get around what was a brutal 26 miles. She commented afterwards on facebook at how it was one of the hardest things she had ever done in her life. But she got a huge cheer and I am sure she will feel very proud of herself once everything stops hurting. It was not a marathon for the feint hearted. Definitely not recommended as a first marathon. First class organisation all round. I really enjoyed it. 

Post race celebrations involved walking around Windermere with our t-shirts on making sure everyone knew we had ran the race and finished it!!! Even the swans were impressed.

So that's the Lake one done, can I make it to the Loch?

don't worry, be happy :)

Brathay Windermere Marathon - Registration day.

Saturday 16 May 2015

Rhona and I headed down on Friday night and met up with Hazel. On Saturday morning we had our breakfast at the guest house and then we took ourselves off to Brathay Hall to register for the race. The amazing 10 in 10 runners (10 marathons in 10 consecutive days around the marathon route) were heading out on their penultimate marathon. I am proud to call Chris Renton one of my Fetchie friends and was so happy to have made it down to meet him at the start of his second last marathon. I wished him good luck saying "only two to go" to which Chris replied, laughing, "what bit of 52 miles are you not getting?", fair enough. Little did I know just how tough his challenge was at that point. That was to come tomorrow.

What a start line?

Chris setting off on his second last marathon.

 Once we saw the 10 in 10 guys off we headed back off up the hill to collect our race numbers. A few photos up the hill then we headed into Bowness for some lunch and a wander down at the lakeside.

The nerves were definitely building, particularly when we drove back to the guest house up the infamous "Ice cream mountain" only to be met by the 21 mile marker half way up. We both gave a little squeal and went into panic mode! After a huge pile of pasta and a few cups of tea it was bedtime. Set the alarm for an early start and got my kit together. Very excited now. Race day tomorrow.

don't worry, be happy :)

Taper Madness

I've not blogged for ages but thought I would take time this morning to put down my thoughts about my up and coming marathon in Windermere on Sunday.

My training has been, to say the least, sporadic. Life has just gotten in the way far too much but I have managed my obligatory long runs (although would have liked to have gone further than 20 in training but no Sunday's left).

I am running on Sunday with my best mate Hazel. Hazel turned the young age of 50 this year so in our usual, odd/crazy/mad/bonkers* (delete as appropriate), way we signed up for the Windermere Marathon to help her celebrate That was away back in October 2014. Seemed like we had a long time to train but as usual, here we are days away convinced that we won't make it round in one piece. Hazel made me laugh saying that between us we probably have one fully functioning runner. Her back is sore and I have a sore foot! And then there is the hills...

I have spent a lot of time training in the Pentlands, including all the hills in Edinburgh during my long runs to get used to the hills. Windermere, according to my Fetch friend, Chris, who I will tell you about shortly, is "unforgiving at times but you'll be fine". I can only hope that my legs have enough hills in them to take me up and down all the undulations around Windermere.

Chris is running the 10 in 10 which consists of running around the Windermere Marathon course ten days in a row ending on Sunday along with the full field of runners. The 10 in 10 runners are a "special" bunch of people. Amazing, inspirational, mad, bonkers.... Reading Chris' blog has kept me inspired through my fortnight of tapering.

http://www.brathaywindermeremarathon.org.uk/blog/chris-rents-renton/2015/5/hey-ho-lets-go.aspx

So when it gets tough for me I will definitely be thinking about Chris and his huge challenge of tackling those hills ten times, ten days in a row!

So to go back to the taper madness. Anyone who has run a marathon will know how this is a very real phenomenon. You train to run big miles and then suddenly, you stop. You drop down to mileage which by comparison seems like nothing. And for some reason your body objects. You pick up colds, muscles start to ache, tendons start to ping and your mind begins to tell you that actually you can't 26 miles so better not to bother. I am on marathon number 9 now and it happens every time. So far, I have a sore bit on the bottom of my left foot, a tendon has pinged on the top of my left foot, I have had terrible cramps in both calf muscles and I most definitely don't think I am going to make it around 26 miles. And I swear I am getting a sore throat this morning.

Rhona and I are heading down to meet Hazel on Friday night, so hopefully all of these things will disappear as magically as they appeared and I will in fact make it around Lake Windermere in one piece. I have no doubt my foot problems are actually very real but have been taking care of it all week so hopefully it will survive.

I have just noticed on facebook that there are 925 entrants for the marathon on Sunday, gulp, guess I'll be rocking up as number 925 then! That's not a big field but hey I was 30 out of  30 in the Kielder Ultra - Someone has got to be last!

Going to go for a last wee joglet today just to check out my foot and then that is it. Packing the bags, sending Kobi on his holiday to Dionne and then heading down tomorrow, after Rhona has sat her Higher English and I finish work.

Will blog over the weekend to capture the fun and games. Windermere here I come....

don't worry, be happy :)

Did I say bikes were stupid? The New Year's Day Triathlon.

It was the last day of 2014 and what was I doing? Planning my transition bag for the New Year's Day triathlon. For many years I have watched this spectacle. Firstly watching Alistair and Hazel tackle the first few races way at the beginning, then more recently watching Tracey tackle it on several occasions. Every year I have to admit to wondering "could I?". Those who know me well know I am a sucker for a challenge, particularly those which take me right out my comfort zone and this one was definitely taking me out of my comfort zone. I have done several triathlons, so not new to them, but every one is a huge challenge as I am not a natural cyclist at all. And my swimming is still very new, with many teething problems. The run really is the only thing which I am confident at. 

So the end of 2014 and here I was getting my gear ready for 2015. The weather forecast was not wonderful, but blocked that out otherwise I might never get up in the morning. 

Went down to Mum and Dad's to see the new year in and then headed back up with Rhona to get to bed.

With the weather horrendous, Rhona and I headed into the Royal Commonwealth Pool, both very nervous. This was really going to take me out of my comfort zone. Still never been one to give up on a challenge. And we had lots of supporters coming out to watch us so we couldn't let them down.

First stop transition to rack our bikes and lay out our things. Rhona realised at this point that she had forgotten to bring spare trainers so had an impromptu run from the car park in her bare feet (funny Douglas did the same thing!!!). The wind was getting up at this point and the bikes were all swinging from side to side on the rails. I did wonder if my kit and bike would still be there when I got out after the swim.

My wee bike - right next to the transition entry point!

Back inside to wait on the race briefing. It was lovely and toasty inside the pool and the atmosphere was great with everyone sharing their nerves and constant chatter about how little training they had done. A quick moment for triathlon selfies. Then off to the race briefing and to get changed.

The pool looked fantastic, all set up for us to swim in. I decided I would have a warm up few laps in the diving pool to try and calm my nerves. In training I swim like a fish, in races. like a brick! I get a terrible case of lane claustrophobia every time and end up not being able to breathe. So hopefully, a warm up might sort that out.

Nope, got into the pool, swam one length and then it all went pear shaped. I got half way up lane two and the guy behind me started bumping into my feet. It was his first triathlon and he had no idea about lane discipline or when to overtake. He just kept hassling my feet. That then started to break my rhythm and I completely forgot my "bubble, bubble, breathe" (thanks to Linda for that). Started to flounder but "relentless forward progress" came into my head and I decided just to get myself to the end so that I could recover my breathing. Gave myself a minute or two to recover my breathing and then set off down lane 3. Bubble, Bubble. Breathe was all I kept saying to myself and it worked by the end of lane 3 I was back in my rhythm and by lane 4 had actually overtaken someone and got back into a real rhythmic pattern of breathing. Thank goodness, the swim is the thing I have been working on the most, I would have been really disappointed if I'd had to give up then. But to the end I got and climbed out, headed to the training pool area to grab the dry clothes I had left there. Struggled to get the skin tight thermal I had laid out on but eventually was ready to head outside. 

Just as I was about to go outside I looked over and this man looked at me and asked if I had two seconds to help him. I giggled and said yes because he was all tangled up in his cycling jersey. I grabbed the back of his jersey pulled it down and then bid him good luck, he grinned and said thanks. We chatted on the way around both on the bike and the run. Good to make friends. 

So headed outside to the wild weather. By this point the wind was howling and the rain was really driving. I took my time to get everything on, socks, jacket, helmet, buff, gloves, shoes. Took my gel then lifted my bike off. Got over the mat and thought "wait a minute, I am a bit out of breath here - INHALER!!!" So dumped the bike and ran back - missing the timing mat so that I didn't confuse the life out of it. Grabbed my inhaler off the ground where I had put it and ran back to my bike. Hopped on the bike, which the marshall handed me, hopped back off again when she and I both remember I was still technically in transition and then walked it to the mount/dismount line which was guarded by Linda (our friendly college triathlon coach!). She shouted at me lots and then I cycled off, way too cheerily for what was about to happen. The cycle down Queens Drive was good (down being the important word) got to St Mary's Loch and prepared my gears for the start of the hill. Gears were not going to get me up that hill. The wind whipped us about like rag dolls on bikes from the start of the hill right to the top. First time around I managed about two thirds of the way up before I ground to a halt along with a whole load of other people. We all staggered our way up the rest of the hill. The top of the hill, at Dunsappie, was not even the rest it should have been. The wind was whipping off the hill and right across the road over the other side of the hill. As a result it was so difficult to keep the bike upright and nearly fell off sideways a few times (Rhona did twice if I am correct). The wind and driving rain just did not let up at all. I was cycling, eventually, for a bit with a nice lady that I ended up cycling with the whole way around. We talked about giving up after one and just running around. But as I got to the bottom of the hill and the wind had dropped a bit by this time, my bloody mindedness kicked in and sent me around a second time. Everything was going fine until the wind hit me again just slightly earlier this time on the hill. So "relentless forward progress" there again, I hopped off and started to run up the hill with my bike. 

Much quicker than just not moving very fast on the bike and killing my leg muscles. Met up with the same lady again and we again debated giving up after two and just running around. 

At the end of Dunsappie, I saw Lesley and her husband Bob, shouted at them that I was bailing after number two and then cycled off. But as I got around the corner i met up with my cycling friend again and we started to talk ourselves into number three. All I could think was Tracey did the half marathon in Glasgow and finished it, so I could blooming well finish this even if I did end up last overall! 

At that point too another cyclist joined me and shouted hello over at me. It was Rhona!!!! I was so chuffed to see her as she had been feeling really unwell at the beginning and I really thought she might not make it out onto the cycle but she was going great.

So between the three of us we talked ourselves into going around a third time. And yes it was just as hard the third time, but at least I knew next time I would be on my feet, a much happier place for me.

So back down the hill and into transition. Saw Linda again, told her I thought bikes were stupid and then ran with my bike into transition. 

Finally, got rid of the bike and put my running shoes on!! A very happy bunny. Passed Mark, my now official photographer, and Nicola as I ran into the park. I think I yelled at them that I was much happier now that I was running! And I was, I could have run around the hill all day. It was still very windy but I was much happier on my feet and knew that it was just a case of running three miles around a hill which I am very used to running around.

Rhona looking strong coming into the finish line.

 Finally, the ordeal was over. It was definitely a huge challenge, one which I am pretty sure I won't need to repeat but I am hugely proud of myself for having the determination, if not talent to complete it. It was brutal conditions for everyone and many people who would normally have finished didn't so for those of us who did, massive congratulations and well dones! (Tracey, Kate, Rhona and Douglas). I did, strangely enough enjoy myself, but then that is my mad world isn't it. Rhona was also third in her age category - Youth B - well done Rhona!!!!!

Next up? Windermere Marathon training starts very soon. Great Winter Run a week on Saturday then the Meadows Half Marathon in March. Bring on 2015!!!

Big congrats to Rhona, Kate and Douglas

well earned medal.

back in the warmth with super supporters Amy and Jessica.

Big thanks to Mark Gene Hughes, Nicola Robertson and Bob Marshall for the photos I pinched for my blog. xx

Oh and Rhona, Tracey, Douglas and Mark - BIKES ARE STUPID - did I mention that???

don't worry, be happy :)