So, work and getting my book ready for publication has meant I have been very slack in updating my blog post race.
This means I have five races to give a little report / memory for me to look back on in years to come.
Pride Run - 13 August 2016
This was the second time I took part in this 10km. Last year I had my niece Jessica with me. I missed having her at the start line. The atmosphere was good though and Steven saw me off (along with two celebrities starting the race.) The first celebrity was Dan Gillespie from The Feeling. I didn't know the other celebrity. Clearly I must keep up with the Kardashians and other celebs more. The race through Victoria Park was lovely. The heat was fairly strong. The crowd support was good. Laura joined Steven part way through which was a bonus. The third lap was tough. I finished in a time of 37m 15s placing me 18th. I was pleased. I was sweaty. I was proud.
Great Newham Run - 17 July 2016
I love this run. It reminds me of the fabulous time that was the London 2012 Olympics. The course is undulating but goes past so many of the iconic Olympic buildings. It starts at the Orbit (which since the run I have slid down which I can highly recommend.) It was toasty (love London summers). We entered the inside of the stadium. The fake crowd cheers through the speakers gave me goosebumps. We were led out to the warm up track for one lap. Harsh. The finish was so close but so far. We entered the stadium for real this time. An amazing last 300m around the track. In my head I was a real Olympian. In reality I wasn't. I finished in 38m 13s placing me 49th. Still not bad for a civilian. I then had lunch in the pop up garden on the roof of Selfridge's. Fancy eh?
Wedding Day 7km - 29th July 2016
Charles and Diana got married on this date in 1981. There is a race every year to mark the occasion. Not really sure why but I was in. Sadly Steven was not, he decided not to spectate based on his Lady Di opinions. I had a work offsite during the week leading up to the race. It was great. Loved the meetings. Loved the presentations. Loved meeting the Global team. Loved the social parts in the evenings. Loved the alcohol and karaoke until 2am the night before the race. I was drained but still turned for the race post work on the Friday night in beautiful Bushy Park. The one time I had no personal spectators & there was no official bag drop. I found a lady willing to mind belongings. Phew. I was tired. The race course was stunning but my legs were heavy. On the home stretch I saw a pack (is that the right term?) of deer. They were stunning. I crossed the line. I took a drink. I gathered my belongings from the trustworthy lady. I opened Uber and went home. I fell asleep on the sofa. I had finished in 26m 45s placing me 52nd. That's what we call Rock n Roll running.
Great North Run - 11 September 2016
Ten years ago I entered my first run. It was the Great North Run. I trained for it. I raced it. I loved it. I finished in a time of 2h 17m. I was pleased. It kicked off my new found love of challenge events. I wanted to go back to the scene of the crime for the decade anniversary. Could I run quicker? I knew I could but how much quicker was he question? I had an industry event on the Thursday night before. I planned to be good. I planned my outfit to fit in with the Prom theme of the event. I could win Prom King. I didn't. Furious. I got drunk. I got drunker. It was 4:16am when I text a friend to say I was home. Oops. Up frantically at 07:46 (i.e. a few hours later) when I realised I had slept in, I made it to work by 09:16. Phew. I was looking forward to my journey up to Newcastle that night so I could sleep. I got on the plane and passed out. I arrived as we hit the runway. I met my friends who said Paula Radcliffe had just walked off the plane in front of me. Had she been sitting next to me? Who knows. Opportunity to bond was missed. Gutted. Dinner in the pub sorted me out (alcohol free I will add). The day before my friends and I went to a BBQ. A fellow guest found out I was running the GNR the next day. Fuelled by a little gin she told me she had run it twice and had advice for me. She told me I would have to pace myself as a half marathon is a long way. Thanks for that. I will bear it in mind I said. So Sunday rolled around. I made my way to town. The GNR is special as it was my first race but also starts in my University city. The atmosphere was great. Mo Farah was at the front. I already decided to let him take this one. The start was crowded even though I was in the wave behind the elite. I was enjoying it despite going at a 9 minute mile pace for the first half a mile. Over the Tyne bridge we went an on to some steep hills. A man in a pink morph suit was ahead of me. I couldn't bear to be beaten by him given that this year alone I have been beaten by both a smurf and a flower pot (Gothenburg half and London Marathon respectively.) He also must have had a sweat patch on his groin as every spectator (which there are a lot of in this race) commented on it. I had to escape him. At mile 5 I did. The hills were hard. I kept the advice of pacing my self in mind. I did. I arrived at the sea front and enjoyed the last mile. I finished 233rd (I told you I would let Mo have the victory) in a time of 1h 22m 4s. This meant I beat my time ten years ago by 55m. Not bad for a man approaching his late thirties eh? I loved the race. It felt quite emotional. I was running for Prostate Cancer. I remembered my Dad. I miss him. I texted him when I finished. I hope somehow he got to "read" it?
Kew Gardens 10km - 18 August 2016
My sister and I were returning to this race for the third year running. It's a beautiful course through the gardens and is one we can walk to the start from my house which is a bonus. We were running for Alzheimer's Society to remember our Mum. I wish she could have been there with our Dad on the sideline. On arrival in the gardens I mentioned that Jo Pavey was running. Natalie and I love her. She then walked in front of us. Then I said that Tom Daley was running. He didn't walk in front of us sadly. That TD bit was also something I didn't actually say but just thought of now. Maybe I should have said it? Twenty minutes later we were off. Through the gardens, past the amazing bee hive, the pagoda and then out onto the tow path by the Thames. The only water stop was coming up. I took a bottle. I didn't want to throw it on the floor as there were none there already. I saw a bin coming up. I thought I would throw it there as even if I missed it would be by a bin and that's better than just chucking it on the floor. I through it towards the bin which had a standard gap for rubbish. It flew seamlessly in to the bin. I was amazed. What had that teacher been talking about when he wrote that I had little hand / eye coordination in my school report? My arse (or pig's arse as Steven often says to my in a strong Aussie accent.) If someone had been filming I would be a YouTube sensation by now I am sure of it. Along the tow path we went. I love running by the river. I twisted my ankle a few times but carried on. We reached Richmond. I turned into the Old Deer Park. This is the part of the race I find hard. Running on grass. Looping past the finish line for over 1km. It's really hard. I knew I couldn't made a PB but pushed on. I finished 8th in a time of 37m 55s. Jo Pavey was just in front of me. She chatted with me about how hard the race had been. She asked my name. I felt special. Then Natalie finished. We enjoyed a glass of champagne at the Alzheimer's tent. It was after all 5pm somewhere. I remembered my lovely Mum. We got a third medal to give us a semi circle (see photo below.) We got the best finishers tee (I didn't get it the first time I read it...see if you do on the photo below). We then went for a Starbucks which seems to now be a tradition. We will be back next year.
This means I have five races to give a little report / memory for me to look back on in years to come.
Pride Run - 13 August 2016
This was the second time I took part in this 10km. Last year I had my niece Jessica with me. I missed having her at the start line. The atmosphere was good though and Steven saw me off (along with two celebrities starting the race.) The first celebrity was Dan Gillespie from The Feeling. I didn't know the other celebrity. Clearly I must keep up with the Kardashians and other celebs more. The race through Victoria Park was lovely. The heat was fairly strong. The crowd support was good. Laura joined Steven part way through which was a bonus. The third lap was tough. I finished in a time of 37m 15s placing me 18th. I was pleased. I was sweaty. I was proud.
I love this run. It reminds me of the fabulous time that was the London 2012 Olympics. The course is undulating but goes past so many of the iconic Olympic buildings. It starts at the Orbit (which since the run I have slid down which I can highly recommend.) It was toasty (love London summers). We entered the inside of the stadium. The fake crowd cheers through the speakers gave me goosebumps. We were led out to the warm up track for one lap. Harsh. The finish was so close but so far. We entered the stadium for real this time. An amazing last 300m around the track. In my head I was a real Olympian. In reality I wasn't. I finished in 38m 13s placing me 49th. Still not bad for a civilian. I then had lunch in the pop up garden on the roof of Selfridge's. Fancy eh?
Charles and Diana got married on this date in 1981. There is a race every year to mark the occasion. Not really sure why but I was in. Sadly Steven was not, he decided not to spectate based on his Lady Di opinions. I had a work offsite during the week leading up to the race. It was great. Loved the meetings. Loved the presentations. Loved meeting the Global team. Loved the social parts in the evenings. Loved the alcohol and karaoke until 2am the night before the race. I was drained but still turned for the race post work on the Friday night in beautiful Bushy Park. The one time I had no personal spectators & there was no official bag drop. I found a lady willing to mind belongings. Phew. I was tired. The race course was stunning but my legs were heavy. On the home stretch I saw a pack (is that the right term?) of deer. They were stunning. I crossed the line. I took a drink. I gathered my belongings from the trustworthy lady. I opened Uber and went home. I fell asleep on the sofa. I had finished in 26m 45s placing me 52nd. That's what we call Rock n Roll running.
Ten years ago I entered my first run. It was the Great North Run. I trained for it. I raced it. I loved it. I finished in a time of 2h 17m. I was pleased. It kicked off my new found love of challenge events. I wanted to go back to the scene of the crime for the decade anniversary. Could I run quicker? I knew I could but how much quicker was he question? I had an industry event on the Thursday night before. I planned to be good. I planned my outfit to fit in with the Prom theme of the event. I could win Prom King. I didn't. Furious. I got drunk. I got drunker. It was 4:16am when I text a friend to say I was home. Oops. Up frantically at 07:46 (i.e. a few hours later) when I realised I had slept in, I made it to work by 09:16. Phew. I was looking forward to my journey up to Newcastle that night so I could sleep. I got on the plane and passed out. I arrived as we hit the runway. I met my friends who said Paula Radcliffe had just walked off the plane in front of me. Had she been sitting next to me? Who knows. Opportunity to bond was missed. Gutted. Dinner in the pub sorted me out (alcohol free I will add). The day before my friends and I went to a BBQ. A fellow guest found out I was running the GNR the next day. Fuelled by a little gin she told me she had run it twice and had advice for me. She told me I would have to pace myself as a half marathon is a long way. Thanks for that. I will bear it in mind I said. So Sunday rolled around. I made my way to town. The GNR is special as it was my first race but also starts in my University city. The atmosphere was great. Mo Farah was at the front. I already decided to let him take this one. The start was crowded even though I was in the wave behind the elite. I was enjoying it despite going at a 9 minute mile pace for the first half a mile. Over the Tyne bridge we went an on to some steep hills. A man in a pink morph suit was ahead of me. I couldn't bear to be beaten by him given that this year alone I have been beaten by both a smurf and a flower pot (Gothenburg half and London Marathon respectively.) He also must have had a sweat patch on his groin as every spectator (which there are a lot of in this race) commented on it. I had to escape him. At mile 5 I did. The hills were hard. I kept the advice of pacing my self in mind. I did. I arrived at the sea front and enjoyed the last mile. I finished 233rd (I told you I would let Mo have the victory) in a time of 1h 22m 4s. This meant I beat my time ten years ago by 55m. Not bad for a man approaching his late thirties eh? I loved the race. It felt quite emotional. I was running for Prostate Cancer. I remembered my Dad. I miss him. I texted him when I finished. I hope somehow he got to "read" it?
The above are 2016. The below is 2006:
My sister and I were returning to this race for the third year running. It's a beautiful course through the gardens and is one we can walk to the start from my house which is a bonus. We were running for Alzheimer's Society to remember our Mum. I wish she could have been there with our Dad on the sideline. On arrival in the gardens I mentioned that Jo Pavey was running. Natalie and I love her. She then walked in front of us. Then I said that Tom Daley was running. He didn't walk in front of us sadly. That TD bit was also something I didn't actually say but just thought of now. Maybe I should have said it? Twenty minutes later we were off. Through the gardens, past the amazing bee hive, the pagoda and then out onto the tow path by the Thames. The only water stop was coming up. I took a bottle. I didn't want to throw it on the floor as there were none there already. I saw a bin coming up. I thought I would throw it there as even if I missed it would be by a bin and that's better than just chucking it on the floor. I through it towards the bin which had a standard gap for rubbish. It flew seamlessly in to the bin. I was amazed. What had that teacher been talking about when he wrote that I had little hand / eye coordination in my school report? My arse (or pig's arse as Steven often says to my in a strong Aussie accent.) If someone had been filming I would be a YouTube sensation by now I am sure of it. Along the tow path we went. I love running by the river. I twisted my ankle a few times but carried on. We reached Richmond. I turned into the Old Deer Park. This is the part of the race I find hard. Running on grass. Looping past the finish line for over 1km. It's really hard. I knew I couldn't made a PB but pushed on. I finished 8th in a time of 37m 55s. Jo Pavey was just in front of me. She chatted with me about how hard the race had been. She asked my name. I felt special. Then Natalie finished. We enjoyed a glass of champagne at the Alzheimer's tent. It was after all 5pm somewhere. I remembered my lovely Mum. We got a third medal to give us a semi circle (see photo below.) We got the best finishers tee (I didn't get it the first time I read it...see if you do on the photo below). We then went for a Starbucks which seems to now be a tradition. We will be back next year.
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