Wimbledon Common Half Marathon

My 3rd Half Marathon this year, and my 3rd race in July.

Done. and potentially hanging my trainers up for the summer(?)
The level of training wasn't there for any breakthroughs so the result was expected.
Having done the 10k a bit more than a month ago in warm temperatures - i had a reasonable expectation of what wascoming. today, the trail was adorned with puddles from last night's much needed torrential rain so one had to dodge from time to time to avoid getting muddy shoes.
The course was made up of 2 laps, with the first 2 miles uphill and then the mile 6 and 11 being down. I did capitalise on the 6thmile doing an amazing 8:56 min/mile but tired me out for lap 2.
It was a typical trail - not closed off which means the occasional walker or dog or traffic could be in the way, but otherwise well marshaled.
Drink stations were available every 5 kilometres but I would say am glad I hedged my bets by bringing my own little bottle of lucozade - when water ran out at drink station #3,I could carry on my own...and on drink station #1..I lost a little time by waiting a little for the cups to be filled.
Is it a race where one can find runners with similar pace to pace yourself? In my13.1 today I kept on seeing, overtaking and be overtaken by an old man, and a woman with a pram. Eventually old man finished ahead of me with pram lady behind me (she slowed after the 2nd uphill lap).
My legs were feeling it - conscious of my painfully tight right heel and the 2 blisters on the inside of my left, waiting to burst. The playlist of my mind wasn't on a full stream of motivational tunes - mainly devoting focus on how not to twist an ankle and on how to forefoot strike, and be efficient.
I now know the consequences of stopping, of starting too fast. The pace still needs to be worked at on consistency, but the last few months have simply been testing on my body, and not having enough sleep, and recovering from a week on antibiotics can all be blamed.
The massage along the way to prevent a stitch (lesson from last Sunday's 10 miler) and the remedies...slowing down, breathing like blowing candles...
Am I on the verge of the group of people that should've given up doing this on a Sunday morning?
Runthrough operating these races as a business ? Did they calculate the demand for cups of water at drinks stations - so that the slower ones would miss out (when they need it most)? In contrast to the 10k, lucky that I arrived to the finish with another medal and tshirt to add to my collection.
Is a 2:08.44 (unconfirmed time) something to beat myself up about?
Every race is different. Compared to Shakespeare (my last one, in feb) 2:10.xx and Milton Keynes last year (July, trail), 2:09.xx - this isn't all that bad.
At least my hubby was there, to start, and to wait for me at the finish (another 16 minutes!) - saving me a finisher's orange that I would not have arrived to receive.
Next - time to hunt down a good Physio to get my poor ankle on the mend!
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Race for Life 10k + 3 royal parks run

My 2nd July race this week was another one in the intense heat.

An excuse really to bond with my girlfriends , I signed up for race for life 10k in Hyde park, donning a pink tutu.

Every reason to blame for that poor performance of 58:08 - on run keeper, unchipped.

Now I've always been skeptical about charity races, and having previously stepped into the foyer of Cancer Research's offices in islington , I'm not sure how much of it goes into the impact of research to 'get' cancer.

Intense marketing, free apples and brioches just like the VLM, minus a bag drop (insurance premiums?) - I traveled minimal. BUT with an excess of water bottles as the course map didn't make any mention of drink stations.



Now this is a race that makes you think. runners are encouraged to put on a back bib for the reason they were there today. I certainly knew why one of my friends here do this race year after year. it's touching to see those who posted pictures behind their back of loved ones they have lost.

My bib was for the fighters - those close to me who have fought and conquered, and those who are fighting.

For the 58 minutes that I took on this gloriously hot Sunday morning to do the 2 loops around London's green lungs - it was a struggle. Hot weather - do you stop and walk? (I did, briefly) what if you didn't press on to finish the race - or it being life's last moments before collapse?

What are your priorities? Do you wish you had spent more time elsewhere or with the people that you love, than toiling away and losing your days, nights and precious training time to make this and other journeys easier?


Life is short. Health is precious. To jeopardize maintaining fitness as what I've done in recent weeks has a price to pay. (I developed an allergy after several insect bites in this park that afternoon which lead to a week on antibiotics to cure a swollen itchy foot and leg).

One must fight. And make time to set things right.




Post Hyde park 10k - I had to loiter around London to wait for my city dwelling friends to freshen up- and I took to the Mall and Piccadilly , still freshly closed to traffic after the British 10k (another marketing super machine - the medal has quadrupled its size 5 years since I ran it! Makes some marathon medals look small for the effort taken) - and did some good laps - and ticked 3 royal parks in a day.

Few more days til the next race, and I have no aspirations as my training has been binned due to my long hours at a desk.

Currently doing some damage fatigue management by maintaining some light exercises- 5ks jog/cycles every day.
Let's hope the weather stays cool for Sunday so I can have a good stab at this half marathon!

[soundtrack]
After all that you put me through,
You think I'd despise you,
But in the end I wanna thank you,
'Cause you've made me that much stronger

Well I thought I knew you, thinkin' that you were true
Guess I, I couldn't trust called your bluff time is up
'Cause I've had enough
You were there by my side, always down for the ride
But your joy ride just came down in flames 'cause your greed sold me out in shame

After all of the stealing and cheating you probably think that I hold resentment for you
But uh uh, oh no, you're wrong
'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do, I wouldn't know
Just how capable I am to pull through
So I wanna say thank you
'Cause it


Makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter


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JPM Corporate Challenge 2013 - a sunny and breezy one

I don't like to sign up for races I don't make to the starting line, and that almost happened today.

Ever being positive enough to leave at 5 to catch the 5:11 train, it didn't happened as planned (as expected ). Despite having ran to the train station and seeing the train pull in the platform..one thinks, there's another 1 in 20 mins time.

But the train was cancelled! Which means I had to take the 6:11 train, which was 8 mins late. With a 20min train journey and more than 10 minutes to the start....and pin the bib, and the chip...a slim chance I will make the starting gun of 6:45

I almost contemplated throwing in the towel and heading back to work (!) or home, but thought the better of the £10 entry fee and the future of the institute (should a merger go ahead with the kiwi's, this could be the last one we see of the logo?)
I waited patiently, and lean into the crowdedness of the now 6:18 train reading the book of the same title :) to queenstown road.

Calm at the station, I met another fellow working for Sky rushing to get to his blue bib start. I paced jogged with him for a bit until he took off after learning my target time was 33 mins! I was forced to do a warm up jog to the start as the closer exits were blocked with runners at the start. The gun had just gone off and surprisingly there were some corporate tshirt wearers strolling into battersea park, oblivious of the start time of the race. I had to dismiss them as 'walkers or cheerleaders' and made my way to my group - lucky the bib was the chip so off I went..to the green start that never was...and got to the start after a short wait.

Being the back of the pack was peaceful, less aggressive corporates trying to elbow you or stop and start walking. It was one of the nicest runs, sunny with a breeze. I relaxed and got into the rhythm of this course I know so well, seeing the Thames shimmering its reflections..how I miss the river!

Tried hard to maintain steady pace and gait, and not stop, even at drinks station. I was almost in the zone, thanks to the warm up jog earlier. Legs felt good, lots more lift compared to the last weekend

Given all factors I was thinking I be comfortable rather than going for It towards
the finish.

My watch said 31:4x , not too bad, given fatigue and lateness.



Another t shirt collected and lovely hospitality with the Aussie CA and the regulars. It was easier downing a bottle of water than a beer!

I have 2 texts from the organisers (after a faulty qr scan of the code on the bib!)
One said I finished 31:38 the other 47:12. Pace 13:30 (what rubbish)
Runkeeper says it was 9:17 min mile for 3.4 miles
Who to trust? Only my legs.

At least it's not a personal worst on the chip time! My expected on missing the train was 1:00:xx. Phew!

See you next year! As they all say...how will the game change? Who's got the snazziest t shirt, biggest and well equipped marquees.

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The same 10 miles, only 10 minutes faster.

Monday is a rest day. take it easy.
But last week was a 10 miler week!
Exactly that. Very low mileage.
If I didn't make myself ride in on Thursday 40 mins on the bike return, that's all I got up to.
What? No quick break...15 minute power jog? What happened?
.........I'm a dull girl.
Having said that and to through the week and into a sunny weekend, involving a full Saturday of walking from bond street to Camden town via primrose hill...




, yesterday's run was great along the canals. Very slow start...consistent 10:13 splits for 2nd and 3rd mile...then the typical slow down and the turn around point...popping a gel...




until the 2nd half ..I picked up speed...mile 9 at 9:56...with a shock almost trip over....lucky a few quick steps stopped me from going anywhere..
Average 10:39. Last week's attempt with a bit of exploration , was 11:16 min mile over the same distance. I wouldn't risk any longer.
A hot day...it didn't feel easy. My legs are still aching today even when climbing stairs. And always...even with generous Vaseline application..my blister returned :(

Well this week will be different. 2 races in the space of few days..that's my training done. and nights prepping and being in a gig! Many opportunities to be out of breath..

Better get some sleep.
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