The Journey - (almost) at the Finish line

Is it a half (or a full) marathon? It's very likely to be an ultra....

Unlike most 'races' I have prepared for - 'THE one' in 2015 is one that has an undetermined finish (although at 40 weeks+, I am almost there).

Mantras, Nutrition, Visualisation and warm-up exercises are the norms for a runner training to get the finishing medal.

With this one - the 'medal' will be big and heavy, with long lasting effects!

In this blog, I've very often referred to my 2 regular courses that help me in bigger races ahead:
1. Richmond Parkrun - 5km's on hilly terrain
2. Wokingham Half marathon - first one in the year, rain or shine.

This year, I've been behind the scenes in both - seeing the ones that come in first, a sense of achievement, and those who just get around, grateful to have completed the course.

My 2015 challenge isn't one that will be determined by a Personal Best (yes of course it will be my first), or there will be any prizes for getting there the perfect way.

My Asics GT-2000 (since Autumn 2014) have only gone through a 10k at its max, but with bump in tow - we have been places. Mule trails on the Greek volcanic island of Santorini,

on a yacht in Oslo Harbour, to my first training ground for Paris Marathon (Regent's Park and Primrose Hill)

My load increasing with every step I take, and yet my midwife advises , "you will stop when your body tells you to stop".

so there we go. The only 'race' I signed up this year - the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge on Wednesday 8th July at Battersea Park. 

My 8th entry (out of 9 years in London) - again a very familiar 5.6km course. With the option of running or walking - which suits me perfectly at 34 weeks. I chose "Walk" with a conservative estimated finish time of 70 minutes (probably same as my first ever 9-10k over Sydney Harbour Bridge (main objective was to be on the bridge to take pictures) - so all back to square one, with minimal training, and starting off with my first 'proper' Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand t-shirt (the logo wasn't ready for last year's entries as the merger was still to be finalised).

It's great to report that I had friends along the way. I had an old friend who started with me (who had a 10k race lined up for the coming sunday), which I encouraged for her to take off, as it became increasing hard for me to pick or maintain speed in the first kilometre when the crowd was at their most energetic state. 

As I slowed, I looked around and spotted another familiar face at JPMCC, walking with a backpack! I said hello, and glad to find out that she was also on my journey (2 trimesters behind), so we took the time walking the course.

I remembered the journey over this route in the last 7 years, rain, or shine, the years when I rushed to the start, or when it was very hot, or when it was totally pouring and the course was muddy. We were encouraged by the marshals at an easy pace, took time at the drink stations and enjoyed.

The course became flatter and smoother as we approached the end of 4kms, my legs were warmed up and I had an urge to run. I said goodbye to my mate and thought I would give it a go.

The last 1.7km, which usually involves going around a playing field, almost felt like a 'Forrest Gump' moment when he broke free of his crutches. I'd like to believe, but not quite.

I picked up speed, altering my running stance as I go (as I have been doing in my last attempts in the previous month to take hold of the increasing load). 

I felt the cheering in the background as I passed more 'able' runners who were not dashing for the finishing line.

My breathing felt good, although my right knee was starting to give a little. 

I tried to imagine going for it as I would in my old days (although in previous attempts I would be exhausted at this point), which taking into account how fast I can *actually* go....

I held on....didn't slow down, and reeled in the finish line. 

The text came on my mobile. 00:58.42. Wow...a sub-1! I was proud of myself.

My friend who was with me at the start greeted me at the finish - I was grateful for her hanging around to meet me there!

So - another proud finisher t-shirt to add to my collection, and this one will be going to the bag with me soon as I approach THE big day.

and of course, visualising the memories of the last 1.6km at Battersea Park on that sunny afternoon in July this year.

The Journey 2015 - right from the beginning (Wokingham the 4th time round)

The typical February weekend finds me at Wokingham, for the start of the year's running season, and 2015 is no exception.

Wokingham Half Marathon is a 'fast, flat course' and I have done this in 2011, 2012, 2013... 2014 it was cancelled due to the floods, so our entries were carried over to 2015.

It's a race that 'has become like a Parkrun' due to my familiarity of the course, and having done it in rain and shine (the muddy shoes at the finish). A mantra for the days when I hesitate to go out for a long run - that 'I've completed the 13.1 mile at Wokingham whilst raining throughout, nothing can stop me'.

This year, I have special privileges.

I have a special parking pass, which I placed on the dashboard, and walked around 300 metres to the start, upstairs into the building.

This year, I am a race official - a marshal for the Wokingham Half Marathon.

We worked in pairs, and I teamed up with Mark, a veteran marshal on the course (but not a veteran finisher of the course like myself) - together we gathered the space blankets, the high viz jackets, a set of instructions, as well as my backpack with thermos and a paper bag of official snacks, a director's chair - we boarded the van that would take us to our marshalling point, just off the first mile of the course - a strategic location as we will see the runners start and return.

"So why am I not running today?" he asked.

He would be one of the very first people to be let in on the secret! I was in my first trimester of pregnancy and didn't want to take any risks. Another 'benefit' of being a marshal this year was that you get automatic entry into the 2016 race - which means a deferral without an extra fee. Who knows what next year might lead me, but at least it is in the calendar.

Being a marshal and speaking to Mark made me appreciate the work that's been done behind the scenes. Most of these marshals are sourced from local charities, and these men and women give up their 3 hours on a wintry sunday morning to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Interesting observations that I hope to take into my future training (whenever that might be)...
- The keen runners actually run up to mile 1 as a warm up before the race starts (thats 2 extra miles on top of a 13.1!) (well it's nothing, I still remember passing Liz Yelling doing bonus miles after she's completed and won the Half one year)
- the ones that finish earlier return to mile 12 with a more refreshed look than the later finishers who seem to be walking and looking tired.

It's a local race, and the atmosphere was great. Kiddies supporting their parents, or neighbours pouring out to the streets to cheer everyone on. I had my colleague to cheer on as well - having previously told no one that I'm not doing the race...she was a little surprised when I called her name on the way out at mile 1. Its always good spotting someone you know amongst the runners.

It's so much 'easier' being a runner, to be on the course for a time that you can sustain, and be rewarded with honour afterwards. Ladies with medals returning to their families and the pram with their little one , smiling with pride on finishing in good time - could that be me next year?

This marshalling experience will encourage me to say my Thank You to all those who helped. After 3 hours + standing there, we were picked up by the van (luckily containing no runners) and drove into the finish....following the very last runner of the race, as the clock ticked 3:00:00.

What will this year hold for me in terms of staying active? It was still early days in February, and one needs a crystal ball to be only able to imagine....