Run to Live

Marathon Essentials

2012-01-25T09:29:00.000Z

At a recent marathon training day for the Children’s Trust in Tadworth a runner asked what was the single most important thing to remember when training for a marathon.

In this electronic age of splurging opinion and contradictory information, advice can often be confusing and difficult to wade through. It was a super question.

After some consideration, I gave my answer. It was a development from the “if you only have one tip what would it be”* question we hear in the shop regularly.

Regardless of your marathon goal, the key thing is pacing. Variety in training is essential for the training to be effective. The body gets stronger by using the overload principle. The overload must occur to cause ‘damage’ to the muscles so they can heal themselves and get stronger. It is the healing or ‘recovery’ where the benefit occurs. So rest is as important as training.

Overload can happen either as endurance (running longer) or intensity (running faster). Both are essential for improvement but it is risky to do both at the same time. Too much overload = injury.

What often happens is the long slow run (endurance) is run too fast. This lengthens the recovery stage, often leaving runners fatigued and sore well into the week. The knock on effect means runs in the early part of the week are compromised and either shortened or carried out at the same pace as the long slow run. One dimensional running does not make a good marathon runner.

So, when out on your long slow run. Keep it just that. Slow. Conversational pace is an excellent test to see if you are going slow enough. Can’t hold a conversation? Then slow down.

Conversely ramp up the pace in your shorter tempo runs. Don’t just go through the motions. Run hard, but keep the duration relatively short. Feel the exhilaration of running fast and the wind through your hair. But remember, you should finish the session ready to train again the next day.

Have fun with the training, and remember. Consistency is king.

Happy Running

*start slow, you can’t ever bank time in a marathon.

Tanners Marathon

2012-01-18T12:09:00.002Z

I love blogging and I love blogging race reports more than anything else. There is something lovely about sitting down with a cup of tea post race and writing about all the funny things that happened to you on the way round. It's definitely the best bit. Which is probably strange to you if you thought this was a blog about running. It could just as well be a blog about tea and cake, lots of it as it happens. But since I've earned it, I don't care.

But in actual fact, Winter Tanners is probably my favourite event on the entire race catalogue. Organised by the LDWA Surrey Branch, the event is unusual in that there are no way markings or marshals pointing you in the right direction. You get pages of route descriptions instead. A series of checkpoints are set up around the route to ensure you see a living soul from time to time. Top tip: Make sure you know where the checkpoints are at the very least then if it all goes to rat shit you can get a taxi to the next one* and start again.

On the surface the instructions look terribly confusing. The trick is to read them aloud. In long hand. It's probably even more important to use hand gestures indicating left and right while reading if you suffer from direction dyslexia. You look like a bit of an idiot but at least your brain will register it without having to read it more than say twice.

The routes are nearly always hilly and muddy and often you stumble across some amazing thing. This time I found my dream house. It was, well, dreamy. But unfortunately I didn't get a photo to show you as I didn't want to make my current house feel unloved. We also discovered some very pretty dogwood. You can have a look at that instead...

As it turns out, this tanners was neither particularly hilly nor muddy. But it was a stunningly beautiful route.

We started with a plan to walk the hills and run the flats and the downs. That lasted for a couple of miles and then we lapsed into walking with the occasional jog. And all the better we felt for it. We followed bits of the Surrey Badger, Bacchus, Denbies 10 and Bookham 10 routes. All excellent races you can read about at www.eventstolive.co.uk

It really helped that we knew where we were going fairly well. We quickly made our way to Abinger Roughs and the first checkpoint.

The checkpoints themselves are fabulous. The are stocked full of goodies like tea and biscuits and dried fruit and peanuts, magically just what you want at the time. It's like they KNOW.

From Abinger then through Gomshall and Shere, both quintessential English country villages, we travelled under the A25 and back up the side of the North Downs to the North Days Way at the top. This took us pretty much to the second checkpoint (pictured) at Ranmore West Car Park. Before the final push of the day off Ranmore Common to the front end of Polesden Lacey then Bocketts Farm and home.

We learned that jazz hands occur every time I slip in mud. And any trip to the loo outdoors is guaranteed to magically produce bus trips of people on a previously unpopulated trail.

An uneventful Tanners then but a very perfect day.

*A couple of years ago we were marshalling at an event not a million miles away from here. It was a challenging course on trail often difficult to follow even if you kind of knew where you were going. The trail was fully marked by the organiser until a well meaning<ahem> individual insisted on taking down the tape laying out the trail. Despite efforts from said organiser to replace the trails the voracious tape remover manage to do enough to inflict damage to one poor runner who took a wrong turn and ended up three miles away from the course route in a village further down the valley.

The runner flagged a taxi to take her back to the route from which she proceeded to do exactly the same thing again. Another taxi ride later (we're not sure we ever saw her at the half way point) she happily made it to the finish. As we returned to the finish area, one other runner also arrived by taxi having given up hope of ever finding the trail again. This tells you lots of things. Not least to always take an emergency tenner with you. It's a very useful tip. You would do well to write it down. Now.

You get out what you put in

2011-12-19T09:10:00.003Z

In January of this year I spoke of a lady who (I'm sure she won't mind me saying) had turned her world around by simply putting one foot in front of the other. You can read the original blog post, Return of the Superhero, here.

It's time to bring you up to date on her story.

Two months later we returned to Banstead Woods Park Run and clocked a time of 51.01, exactly four minutes quicker than the first. We were overjoyed and still had enough energy to jump around in delight. It was bettered again in July by 17 seconds. No jumping around this time, we were too tired. But in our quiet glee we wondered for the first time if a sub 50 was possible.

A break in the beginner schedule for the summer meant J took instructions and the support of her lovely family to carry on. On our resumption in October, sparkly eyed and smiling J returned. The hard work of the summer evident. As the leaves started to turn, we made progress. Clocking encouraging times in training and struggling to get her average heart rate up (oh the irony thinking back to the times we'd really struggled to keep it down)!

We participated in speed work, forged plans for the race and carried on running. And then, soon enough, it was race day. A nightmare journey meant I was almost late for the start. But making it on time, we had a minute to settle resolve before we set off.

Nonsuch Park run is an event that really splits views. Much flatter than Banstead, with a gentle opening half but a deceptively tough back section that can sap legs before you realise what has happened. A significant proportion of our runners declared they found Banstead easier.

We set off following a 30 sec run/30 sec walk protocol, with a scheduled extra 30 second walk break every 5 minutes so. Encouraged that the back of the group were still in sight, instead of charging off and leaving we followed the undulated path, taking care to avoid icy patches and slippery leaves. We made good progress when the Garmin beeped to indicate the first mile. I cast it a casual glance and was shocked to see 14.31. Bloody hell. All the way through I whispered to J 'keep calm and carry on'. It was really for me. I was scared we were going to blow it so a 16.03 second mile was really pleasing. We were through the worst, J focused her mind, resolve showing all over her face and dug in to the finish and a welcome party of beginners, event staff and her daughter.

And she did it. A last mile of 15.24 and change meant a total time of 47.17. This time a celebration of joy and almost disbelief. She did it, and spectacularly so.

J is the epitome of what we wanted to achieve with Run to Live. We are so proud of her commitment, resolve and determination. She is proof that you can achieve whatever you want as long as you want it enough. She did.

Happy Running

Hacking, lacking and smacking at the Bedford Half

2011-12-13T12:32:00.002Z

Base fitness for this Ironman has been much lower than any of the others. So, much of the focus of the training has been recovery and low intensity to ensure the bursitis that killed off the IM Regensburg doesn't come back.

A scheduled half marathon on Sunday was scheduled as a fitness test and I was desperately hoping to see an improvement from the New Forest Half marathon at the end of September.

Travelling up to Bedford with Penny, we forged our game plan and decided on a run/walk strategy of 4:1. We would keep that going for as long as we could. 'Old Friends/Bookends' would have been a suitable song at the HQ as we reunited with many of our pirate friends who had also made the journey up to Bedford. Wallowing in the group emanating the warmth of friendship in a draughty hall was just lovely. And there we sat until wafts of ralgex and an increased buzzing in the hall around us meant it was time to make our way to drop off baggage and the to the start.

We lined up at the back but soon more joined the madding crowd behind us until we found ourselves towards the middle of the pack. As we were led up to the start line suddenly we were off! People around us ran towards the start line as Penny and I walked, refusing to start until we reached the official line. Soon we found ourselves in last place, order was restored!

As we crossed the line we started our watches set to beep every five minutes. We ran the first five using each alarm as an indication to walk. As late runners fled past us we settled into a comfortable rhythm. Behind us I could hear a lady barking a cough. It sounded dreadful and I hoped she had a drink to clear her throat. About 10 seconds later the hacking happened again, and then again and again and again and carried on for the first three miles of the run. I couldn't concentrate on anything other than counting down the seconds until the next splurge. I started to fantasise about pushing her into a hedge or something to put us both out of our misery. It was driving me absolutely insane. Three miles in my ankle was struck with the most hideous pain. Stopping immediately I urged Penny to go on while the pain subsided, which it mercifully did after a minute or so. Just enough time in fact to give barking minnie time to catch me up again. Good grief.

I soldiered on for the next 10 minutes or so until I came to the conclusion either she was going or I was. She then started to add hawking and spitting to her repertoire. It was like she had a squishy toffee stuck about half way down her throat fighting for liberty. I'd had enough, and took off sprinting down the road like a banshee ignoring the tinkle, tinkle of the Garmin indicating the next walk and carried on until I could no longer hear her.

As you can imagine I was slightly grumpy at this point. I was red in the face, puffing hard after the exertion and driven to distraction by the torturous first four miles. So you can imagine my response when a cheering marshal shouted out 'Well done, that's right, make sure you get your money's worth' to me as I passed her. Now, I'm the first to admit I don't look like you bog standard runner. During my time competing in events I've had lots of sympathising looks and 'come on love you can do it' in 5k's and sprint triathlons from well meaning marshals who assume it's my first event. Customers have been overheard on trains doubting the fact I have done over 15 marathons and once a customer left a copy of 220 triathlon open at a 'how to lose weight' page and suggested I look at it as she left, so I'm no stranger to the odd bit of patronising. But this was a whole new level. I was genuinely speechless and it was all I could do to muster up a 'look' as I went past. Well really!

So, fuming I stomped through the next two miles until I calmed down enough to start enjoying the event and the scenery around me.

The course undulated its way through the next three miles with quite a climb between 8 and 9 miles. Sticking to the vows I stoically ran all the hills enjoying the fact I was able to do so. I also took great pleasure at being able to comfortably cover the 13 miles under my own steam. Running to each beep was a great distraction making the miles pass really quickly and I was joyous it all felt so easy. Ignoring the last beep about 300 yards from the finish line I carried on crossing to cheers from some of my fellow pirates.

The finish time was 2.36 over 14 minutes quicker than the New Forest Half. And although it's still over half an hour outside my PB for that distance it's a huge step in the right direction.

Girl, interrupted.

2011-12-06T10:37:00.000Z

It was a busy week with fewer opportunities to train so I decided to combine a meeting up in London with a cycle ride there. One of my favourite places to cycle is London. A birds eye view of hustle and bustle. A chance to refine bike handling skills, gain ground on drivers looking on you with the sense of condescension and buses who fight dirty for their space, mindful of a timetable and tired, frustrated passengers longing for a destination.

Heading out on the A24 I followed it through Epsom, Morden, Wimbledon, skirting Mitcham into Tooting and beyond to Clapham Common. Traversing the common and onto Queenstown Road past Battersea Power Station and Battersea Park and over the bridge into Victoria.

Riding in London is mercurial, you can change routes in a blink, explore dead ends and feel part of a community rising from the ashes of a congestion charge leaving streets empty of cars.

It's also one of the quickest ways to travel into central London. It only took an hour and a half at a fairly sedate pace to travel the 19 miles into the centre of town and I loved every second of it.

After parking the bike in the hotel store room I headed upstairs to a lovely view of the city and a very positive meeting. Once finished I retrieved the bike and headed out into the Christmas shopping hustle of Oxford Street. The impending sunset and grumbly tummy reminded me I hadn't had lunch. Since I had the ride back, improvers group and then a swimming lesson I figured it would be wise to stop for a quick sandwich and so finding a cycle rack well stocked with healthy looking bikes all of 10 yards from the shop I chained her up and went inside to order.

I returned to the rack less than five minutes later to be greeted by an ominous gap. A horrible dread welled up in the pit of my stomach as I scanned the rack again hoping I'd made a mistake but alas no, she was gone. Just a broken chain cut and left forlorn among the street debris under the rack. I was heartbroken.

When people ask why do you cycle (or run for that matter). My response is not a stock answer like to lose weight, or get fitter, although these are both worthy side affects. My answer is always to be free. As a child, cycling or running was a way to get from A to B without parental intrusion. But not just that, it is also a way to integrate in the world as a part of it, not just watching from the sidelines. There is nothing so liberating as getting wet in a rain shower or smelling the changing seasons as they fly by. With our molly coddled lives we get desensitised to what it feels like to be outside. To feel invigorated with the cold on your face or the peace of an early morning sunrise and the sense of motion. I just love it and those bastards stole it, albeit temporarily. As I trudged back to the tube station, fighting back the welling tears, I hoped that whoever inherited the cross bike in whatever capacity gets as much enjoyment out of her that I did in the short time I had her.

But of course I can't leave you here feeling sad. The story has a happy ending. A purchase of a new bike and a new dream being delivered to the shop between 12noon and 6pm today. I can't wait to find out all about her, about how she rides and handles, what her foibles are and most importantly as the weather turns frosty get back outside on her.

And for the bike thieves, Karma awaits.

The Christmas Wish List is back...

2011-12-01T20:12:00.002Z

Now the year has rolled into December we can finally mention the 'C' word.

If you always get the wrong present or spend ages exchanging gifts that are not quite right maybe the Run to Live Christmas Wish List is the solution? How does it work? Well, exactly like a wedding list really. You come in, select the items you would like for Christmas. We make a note and then direct friends and family to the selected items when they are looking at stuff to buy you. With loads of amazing stuff in stock at great prices, you can't go wrong.

Christmas-tastic!

Mole, mole, mole.

2011-11-28T15:50:00.001Z

Blimey, time flies when you've got an event to organise. The last week in the run up to the big day is always a bit crazy but this time I actually managed to get some training in.

Mind you, I had to go back to daily mile to recall it. But here goes...

An opportunity presented itself to go out for a run before beginners on Monday night. Taken with both hands off I set determined to get some off road running in. Unfortunately it was dark but happily I had a lovely bright head torch with me. There is something about running off road in the dark that makes you run faster ;o) The run turned into a speed work session that lasted until the common spat me out at the top of Craddocks Avenue, exhausted and slightly shaken.

Quietly relieved to run at the back of the beginners group, I clocked a nice 7.5 miles on what should have been a rest day. Buoyed at being ahead of the game I sat on the couch and did naff all on Tuesday. Just not managing to sneak out and do anything at all. Two weeks away from pilates meant a tough session on Wednesday. I loved it and it was great to be back in the class. Inspired I jumped on the turbo for a quick 45 minutes then went out with the improvers group for five miles. It was a lovely night to be out, cool but not freezing. It's been great to see them all improve so much and we had lots of fun.

Thursday was another swimming lesson. I had another go at Winter Swim before the lesson and took 6 seconds off the previous weeks time. The lesson went really well and I feel like I'm making really progress. Now it's about making in count in time reductions.

Penny and I went out for a cycle on Friday before pre-race planning boshed any other opportunities. It was really, really nice to get out in the daylight. We fancied a slower, flatter route which gives little option other than to head out to Esher. So to Esher we went.

It was great to get a reasonable weeks training in. With 14 weeks to go I really need to start building proper mileage but for the meantime it'll do.

Happy training.

Lurgy Urgy

2011-11-21T16:48:00.000Z

This week I want you to think about how it would feel to drink 10 glasses of wine, stand up for eight hours in a hot room and then try to work out your kids quadratic equations. This was how I felt all through Monday.

We landed at Heathrow at 6.30am and with relief clambered into the awaiting taxi, home and then bed at 8am. Two hours later the alarm went off to get back up and come into work. The (ever lovely) Penny had agreed to come in (on her birthday) and open up the shop. Thank you! Since incoherency had set in Alan very kindly let me have another couple of hours sleep so I managed to wander in about 1pm. Quite bizarrely the ground was still moving which was rather nauseating after a while. It continued to sway for another three days before finally coming to a standstill. The nausea decided to hang around though which was rather generous of it. Still lingering even now, a week later.

It also seemed to be a bad week for pilates. Ashtead football club flooded on Tuesday leaving a soggy, smelly carpet unsuitable for pilates on Wednesday morning. Thursday afternoon I got a text to say my Thursday evening class was cancelled. Gutted in both respects as I am really starting to feel the benefit of regular pilates but there you go.

I also had to cancel the Thursday morning cycle as the GI problems continued. I've once again started to question whether a gluten intolerance is taking hold. The only real way to find out is to banish gluten to Room 101 and see if it makes a difference.

Thursday cheered up immensely at the swimming lesson. I logged a winter swim base time of 10.01, over 20 seconds faster than last years base. John also managed to find another problem with the 'catch' and give me some drills to help sort it out. A lot of them were one armed catch drills making arms ache massively after only 30 minutes of swimming. Yup, back to the gym for more weight training me thinks.

So really, the end of week 15 was a write off but having a nice break will mean starting week 16 refreshed and rested.

All aboard the good ship Pearl

2011-11-15T22:34:00.002Z

No blog last week as we were on holiday. Yey!

So a focus on two weeks for the blog this week. The crepitus has finally cleared up. A combination of rest and massage (thanks Annette) seems to have sorted it thank goodness.

The swimming lesson went really well. Apart from the fact I have a nice stroke <beam> we appear to have identified the problem. Most of the slowness can be attributed to swimming too slowly. No sarcastic comments please! This has come from years of advice to slow down the stroke to nail the technique being taken a little too literally. The other comes from a limited 'catch' not using the full forearm. So the prescription is drills to focus on a more effective catch and rep sessions to on speed endurance. With this in mind I have signed up once again for Winter Swim.

I've also noticed that shoulders and arms fatigue quite quickly and certainly well before the breathing becomes a problem indicating strength also appears to be a limiting factor. To rectify this I've included some strength training in the program.

And now to the exciting bit :o) Last week saw us sailing the around the Bahamas. We left on the Norwegian Pearl from Miami on Sunday 6th November for a seven day cruise. Stops included Ocho Rios in Jamaica, George Town in Grand Caymen and Cozumel Island, Mexico before returning back to Miami.

It provided a great opportunity for R&R as well as time to train on the boat. Obviously the first thing we checked out were the training facilities. We were delighted to find a really well equipped gym including scheduled spin classes. Yey. The pool however although pretty was too small to do any real training in. Boo.

So, revising the schedule to accommodate more cycling we made the most of the first day by laying down a cycle and weights session then going for a run around the purpose built track:

5.5 laps equalled a mile so we set about counter clockwise as instructed by the white arrows on the floor. It took approximately one lap to work out this was going to bore the pants off me and for the first time ever considered that the treadmill would be a better option.

The following day was 'at sea' with the scheduled stop to an island in the Bahamas cancelled due to a sub-tropical storm in the area. We tried out the spin class which was lots of fun, especially on a rocking boat but the real fun came when trying to run on the treadmill. Every time the boat pitched it was like either running uphill or downhill (and I've never run downhill on the treadmill before - very disconcerting). Trying to get the pace right was nearly impossible. I soldiered on but Al gave in and went back to the track. He managed to clock up a whopping 155 laps during the week.

So, since Ironman is all about the bike, the focus turned to spinning. Our classmates also stuck it out for the week (although one lady quit after trying to unsuccessfully spin in a pair of Vibrams) providing a great sense of camaraderie.

We especially enjoyed a lady who kept walking past the studio dressed head to foot in a shiny silver tracksuit. It distracted me so much I forgot to sway with the boat and nearly tipped over the front of the spin bike. On the days when classes weren't available we snuck in and hid the bikes round the corner out of the way (with the PTI's permission) and spun to our hearts content.

We also managed to get a couple more weights sessions in and here's something you don't hear often... I had a great treadmill session as well. Basically a 30 minute speed work session of 1 min recovery, 1 min steady (11mm pace) and 1 min building to 8mm pace then repeat. It was so much fun, I loved it.

What really came out is of the holiday week is that consistency is the key (always). Now with a good solid base I feel much improved and really ready to start increasing pace and distance. One other thing I've found is to ask for help. A second opinion has really opened my eyes about training techniques. Not necessarily teaching me anything new but reminding me of all the options available.

Happy Training

Creepy Crepitus

2011-10-31T12:51:00.000Z

Walking with DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) has been a new experience this week. The dilemma standing at the top of the stairs the day after Beachy Head was whether to go down backwards or forwards. It was a very long time since I'd faced this dilemma, in fact, if you are still paying attention and haven't started to wonder what you're having for tea yet there is an interesting lesson in culture coming up. Stay with me, it's relevant.

The day after the 2007 New York Marathon, the Americans, French, Italians and Germans all proudly strutted, limped or waddled their way round NYC. You could tell they had done the marathon the previous day as they were all proudly wearing their gleaming medals and specially made tour tracks suits. Brits and their fabulous reserve would never do anything so crass as to wear a medal in public but you could tell who'd done the marathon a mile away. How? They turned backwards to step of the enormous New York pavements. It was a hoot and I was one of them.

Still there, well now follows an interesting lesson in marathon running. Drum roll. Training helps to prevent muscle soreness the day after a marathon. Tah dah. Profound I know.

Anyway, I took the stairs (forwards) at a run and prepared for marshalling at the Greensand Marathon. We were at the halfway point...

Managing the water station...

And lots of fun we had although I had a devil of a time trying to keep passing cyclists hands off all the goodies on the table.

The event is a beautiful run along the Greensand Way from Dorking via Leith Hill, Pitch Hill and Holmbury Hill to Winterfold Hill where we were stationed. You may have gathered it's a bit hilly and so I was astounded to see a couple of people who had completed Beachy Head the day before. Nutters!

Now clearly, I'm waffling to hide the lack of training this week. The DOMS got worse Monday and Tuesday. That combined with the mother of all blisters in my little toe meant cycling the only option at the Beginners and Improvers groups. More worryingly though is the development of crepitus in my right foot which is still quite painful.

Thursday's bike session with Pen was swapped to a swim set. The idea being that I drafted her in the pool to try and get a little faster. It worked for a bit, but it soon became apparent that she was much quicker at the turnaround losing me on the return length. I've booked a one-to-one lesson for this Wednesday.

We hosted a Hallowe'en party on Saturday incorporating a Halloween Bumble around the common for those who wished it. 4.2 miles in the dark required a head torch of some illumination. It was very pleasant plodding around in the dark and I was very pleased to record sub 11mm for it despite the legs still feeling tired and my foot hurting.

I sacked Sunday's session and opted for an extra rest day in the hope the foot problem clears up. Sometimes there is strength and courage in knowing when to rest. Keep your fingers crossed.

To Beachy Head and Beyond

2011-10-24T17:23:00.003+01:00

After a cracking weeks training last week, the focus moved to the looming Beachy Head marathon. The week started nice and gently with beginners and improvers group sessions.

Awaking on Wednesday morning, glutes and hamstrings were on fire rendering pilates almost impossible. In fact things hurt so much there might have been a tear or two shed. A dose of super strength Ibruprofen helped to ease things and by the following day, things were much more relaxed.

Thank goodness as Penny and I headed out for an early morning cycle ride into the glorious Surrey hills. The views from Box Hill were just stunning. It made for an uplifting ride and whet the appetite for Beachy. The pilates session on Thursday was much better, thank goodness and so I felt ready to have a go at the marathon and see what happened.

I first did Beachy two years ago. The weather was absolutely appalling that day. Heavy rain driven in from the sea by a strong wind was complimented by low lying mist that refused to budge all day. With visibility reduced to about 30 metres we all huddled and struggled our way around the course. I was assured that views were spectacular (should we be able to see them) and so was keen to return and see if it were true.

The sun burst up from the horizon in an explosion of colour as we were registering and picking up numbers. A strong wind ruffled the sea producing stomach churning waves and brought down temperatures to leave less experienced runners swapping clothing choices several times before the off. I opted for a shorts, pirate cycle top, arm warmers and gloves and a Camelbak Octane with enough pockets to stow any clothing shed en route (mine obviously, I'm not at the stage where I need to pick up abandoned clothing just yet).

The marathon starts at the foot of the famous Beachy Head at Eastbourne. The route climbs up the steep side of Beachy from Eastbourne before heading right for a more gentle climb up to Willingdon Hill. Now, bearing in mind this is a training blog about an Ironman and I've done nothing over 10k (apart from a very blagged New Forest Half Marathon a month ago) since the London Marathon, the plan was to start gently running the flats and downs and walking the ups until I couldn't be arsed to run any more. Starting with a gaggle of pirates who left me for dead about 40 yards from the start I settled into a nice wheezing rhythm that lasted for most of the 'race'.

The first six miles up and over Willingdon Hill and down into the Friston Forest were lovely and fairly easy. The odd tight twinge in the quads was an inkling of what was to come but so far, so good. The second real climb was Wentover Hill at about 8 miles with absolutely stunning views (see picture above) and then down the chalk tracks to checkpoint 2 where I rekindled a love for digestives and mars bars.

Getting to 10 miles is always a nice milestone, there I tried to kid myself I still felt fresh but although feeling better than the equivalent distance at the New Forest half a few weeks ago, my quads started to feel like mashed banana on every descent. The long drag up Borstall Hill was much better than expected. In 2009 here I'd started to feel scared and alone in the never ending gloom with runners were just ghostly figures around me. Today was bright and sunny and although each turn revealed another climb I was content to keep plugging away and enjoy the views.

Checkpoint 3 came and went just before the half way point. More Mars bars and digestives and a Camelbak top up and I marched up to the crest of the hill and down into Littlington. Now my quads were screaming, every slight down making even scouts pace painful and so reduced to walking enjoyed the little details, views, colours and just being outside in a glorious sunny autumn afternoon. I was looking forward to checkpoint four very much. Remembered tastes of a very welcome sausage roll and hot drinks being served at this one. An American with whom I'd being playing run/walk tag with for some time confirmed the hopes as he plodded past in search of a caffeine hit.

Well, it was better than I remembered. Florescent clad angels bearing tea pots full of coffee or tea and proffering currant buns and sausage rolls. I opted for coffee and a hot cross bun, fluffy light with a sweet, spicy inner. It was bloody lovely. Turning down a sausage roll was a wise move. I knew directly ahead of us was a steep incline followed by two sets of steps up and over West Dean providing enough opportunity to regret any over indulgence at the CP.

Actually, by now the ups were lovely and had never been embraced in such a manner but I'd never dreaded a downhill more. With a pang of nerves thoughts moved forward to the impending seven sisters but I took comfort in the 18 miles behind me.

Through Cuckmere Haven then and upwards towards the magnificence of the Sisters rising before me.

If you've ever been on the Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure beach you'll understand that the profile of this course is exactly like that. Big climbs that never seem that bad but the little up and overs at the end being far worse than you remember. That thought occurred to me as I stood at the start of the bitches heading off into the distance. With a big sigh I set off hoping that my legs would last until the end. At the top of the first the head wind was gusting strong enough to blow the hat off my head. I made a cursory attempt to waddle after it but since that was also downhill and the wind made the cap constantly dance just about 5 metres ahead it was apparent I wasn't going to catch it. With my mind made up, a last big gust took the cap off the floor and sailing away over the side of the cliff. Well, that was that then!

Turning back round I set off down the next one staggering like a drunk left unsupervised in a brewery. At one point the legs started an alarming trend of heading only right under their own steam. Alarming in that I was looking at the cliff edge about 5m to my right. With each step it veered ever closer until I sat down to stop momentum before climbing back to my feet and heading off in a different direction. One thing very apparent was how close we must have got to it in 2009 but at the time had been unaware the edge was there at all.

Finally, happily the last sister came and went and I stumbled down into the last checkpoint at Birling Gap. Just one finally climb up and over Beachy Head itself between me and the finish. A packet of crisps distracted me from eating my body weight in Mars Bars. So with a cup of tea (lovely) and said packet I propped myself against a gate. One lady approached a marshal declaring she was finished and wanted a lift back to the finish. Oh! What a lovely thought. But there is no way I could get to 22 miles in a marathon and not finish without a leg falling off, so using the post as ballast I steadied myself and pushed off in the direction of Beachy rejoicing in the thought of three miles of uphill before having to tackle the final downhill.

As I stood at the top of the hill looking down into Eastbourne, with the light gently fading behind me two thoughts struck me almost instantaneously. Thank fuck I was nearly finished and how the hell was I going to get there. Eventually I opted for the slalom approach and throwing myself off the top I zigzagged my way down to rapturous applause from the three marshals stood at the bottom watching progress with amusement.

Two days after the race as I close this long rambling self indulging clap trap (not unlike the Ironman journey itself) I'm hoping the Ironman doesn't hurt as much as that race did but that I will enjoy it as much.

Happy Running

It's the end of the base phase (as we know it)

2011-10-17T14:06:00.035+01:00

This week I logged 75 miles on the bike, 12 miles on foot and gained a swimming coach. The coach is the important bit and I'm hoping will help reduce a 2hr ironman swim to one closer to 1.30. If I'd had a quid for every comment received regarding my nice strong, smooth stroke I'd be able to pay the coach to make it faster. Although the applause and good will was gratefully received at the Outlaw, coming last, 8 seconds outside the cutoff is no real noble feat and not one I need to relive soon.

A twitter plea revealed that to swim faster you need to swim faster. It makes sense in cycling and running so why not swimming too? I'll keep you updated.

Elsewhere, it was a fabulous week. The miles logged concealed two PB's in the running department. The goal this week was to abolish the walking and focus on steady running. Three runs (not including the beginners groups) achieved all without a walk break. Whoohoo.

Nonsuch Park Run target this week also included an edict not to get lapped. Penny my Ironman cohort turned up unexpectedly so we shared the first lap together achieving the first goal comfortably. As we pushed the pace on, it was pleasing to pass people I had seen running off into the distance mere weeks ago. Delight surfaced as we crossed the finish line in a PB of 32.35 (ave 10.31mm pace) with splits of 10.50; 10.36 and 10.12. Perfect :O)

Angry (the cross-bike) had lots of fun as we headed off to Staine Street in an off road adventure. With not too many problems apart from a puncture and worn brake pads (I have scarydescent-itis) it was a beautiful way to explore the countryside and made for an exciting ride.

Penny and I headed out once again on a beautiful sunny Sunday, this time in search of cake. The Ibbo Cake Quest had been held a couple of weeks earlier and followed a route the opposite way to our normal direction. We visited Headley, Pebble Hill, Leigh and then to Outwood just off the M23. Bizarrely I had walked through Outwood Common with a friend just a few weeks ago and was not expecting to be there again any time soon. We turned left at Outwood and headed home via Fanny's Farm Shop and cake! I was surprised to see a sign for Chaldon (with its famous church) so close to Gatton Bottom and not for the first time was amazed at the close proximity of certain areas when travelling by bike as oppose to driving.

We headed home through Walton-on-the-hill to the end of the ride and the first 10 weeks of training. The next set of ten weeks (build phase) will see us through to Christmas, exciting times.

Happy Training

Badger Bodges Training for another week...

2011-10-10T22:52:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Sussex Sport Photography

Actually, not strictly true. Although I've got history of eeking stuff out long before/after there is any real justification, since going public with the training I figured sooner or later someone might call me on it. So, with prep for the Surrey Badger half coming along nicely with not nearly enough faffage or panic to keep me occupied, I actually had time to do some training.

Beginners, improvers, two lots of pilates, commuting and a cycle tempo session all logged I was feeling slightly virtuous going into the Badger weekend. The Surrey Badger Half-Marathon is a lovely event and out of all of our brood probably the one I'm most fond of. You can read the race report from the race here.

Heading into Week 10 and the end of the base phase I'm feeling happy with the progress made. It kinda of dawned that I have Beachy Head marathon in two weeks time <gulp>. Still grossly under prepared for that, race plans are being drawn and will probably involve a lot of walking to ensure an expedient recovery. At least I get the opportunity to laugh at Alan at Abingdon Marathon first this coming weekend.

Have a fun week, happy training y'all.

Nicky

A week of conflicting edicts

2011-10-03T16:51:00.000+01:00

It's really been that kind of week...

Here at Run to Live we advocate goal setting as a great way to motivate your arse out the door. There is a trick to it though. Make it too achievable, it doesn't work, neither do you and you end up blagging your way to disappointment. Make it too hard and and the fear can turn to inertia, packing you off to the couch and the inevitable DNS.

Many years ago Alan and I made a pact to say yes to every opportunity and see where it led us. So, just a few short weeks after pinning the IMNZ and Outlaw ironman distance goals to the target board on Wednesday a 'congratulations' London Marathon Mag landed on the mat <sigh>. With one eye on the Brighton marathon I applied to the London Ballot for a laugh. After all, I'd had three ballot places in four attempts plus a charity and 'work' place surely the odds of getting another place were very, very slim. Anyway, here I am with another hot date with Blackheath. All I need to do now is work out how to transfer Marathon luck to the lottery and I'll be writing this from our holiday home in Aruba.

But of course, it doesn't end there. Lovely Lilly and Delightful Delaney popped into the shop on Saturday with Berlin Marathon plans for next September and an invite to an (almost) girlie weekend too good to refuse. Of course I'm obliged to say yes, please everyone stay away from the shop with any more offers, I can't fit anything else in!

The gap in beginners groups gave us another opportunity on Monday when we attended our first spin class in almost five years. The tutor is a neighbour who we've been known to share the odd bottle of wine with over the years. He was recently presented with his first spin class to teach it and so we had a lovely chance to support him without the ability to heckle. Well, it was good, it was very good although the idea of it after the half marathon the day before wasn't as good. I missed out some of the up down-y bits as I wasn't confident in my legs ability to keep me up, but merrily spun away until the end of the class.

Feeling invigorated I posted a couple of rest days before fitting in cycling via lots of commuting to Leatherhead and Epsom in between work (which kind of gets in the way sometimes). We were very happy to hear we had been nominated in the Epsom and Ewell business awards (small business of the year and commitment to the community) and to celebrate did an extra 15 minutes on the turbo.

On Saturday I managed to blag a pass to the Nonsuch Park Run where I had two objectives. To get to the half way point without being lapped and to gain a shiny new peebee. Cycling to the park was happily uneventful. I decided to follow the trust 3:1 run/walk and stuck to it religiously. The first lap went amazingly fast slalom-ing in between dogs and their owners and other runners during the 'run' portions. On the second the dreaded 'I've gone to fast one the first lap' demons started chatting their incessant vocal in my ear but ignoring them I pushed on to complete in 34.21 an average of 11.04 and a peebee of 1 minute and 11 seconds. Yey me :o)

Alan and I headed off to Eastbourne for a quiet weekend after shop on Saturday with grand plans to ride to Lewes for a 5 miler on the Sunday. A short, sharp spell of food poisoning soon put pay to that as the only sprinting we did was to the nearest loo. Gutted but undefeated. Week 8 done, onwards and upwards...

The road to New Zealand - Via a half marathon

2011-09-26T14:55:00.000+01:00

So Monday's training got off to a great start when I managed to run two miles without stopping. Now, to a seasoned marathon runner with 15 marathon finishes under my belt it doesn't sound like a very great achievement but, after most of the summer not being able to run at all and the last few sessions at a run/walk this was a massive achievement.

Fat club weigh in revealed a lost pound too despite having no kitchen for the last four weeks, what a great day...

Tuesday was a rest day in which I decided to clean the house and restore to normal after being turned upside down for so long. Al being in the shop provided a much needed opportunity to get to his running shoe collection and throw a few old pairs out. Over twelve pairs went including three pairs of his beloved Mizuno Creations and two pairs of Mizuno Elixir. Even with the cull he's still got seven pairs left :o) Does anyone else get anywhere near that many pairs of running shoes?

Saturday saw the graduation of the beginners group at the Nonsuch Park Run. Although it's much easier to get to than Banstead Woods some of us managed to get lost on the way there. <blush> Well, in my defence I am so used to cycling there I forgot I was in the van and so wasn't able to take the cut through I normally do. Anyway, it was fabulous to see the beginners having a great time at the completion of their first ever event and I ran/walked round in about 38 minutes.

Another day, another graduation on Sunday as Al and I made the long journey down to the New Forest Half Marathon for the Half-Marathon group target event. Now, lets face it, I am not in half-marathon shape at the moment. Evident with the glee displayed when I managed to run two miles without stopping on Monday! And of course I would never recommend running a half off the back of nothing much at all but I was committed to the half marathon lot and didn't want to let them down. So Jean and I formulated a plan to run for two minutes and walk for a minute and see how long we could last.

It worked a treat up to about 6 miles. The New Forest Half is very hilly and we found the hills would unravel the plan somewhat as we played about with nutrition, cheered on the marathon runners coming past us and avoided the death (AKA sweep) bus.

But very soon we were at 10 miles with the worst behind us and enjoying a nice gentle descent to the finish. To say I was happy to finish, well... but absoutely gutted with the time of 2.48. It's hard to believe this is the same course that holds my PB of 1.58. Nevertheless a new benchmark set to break at the next one. All the half-marathon virgins fared much better with lots of fantastic times set, well done to all who participated.

Happily Monday arrived with not too much in the way or soreness. Back to normal training this week.

Happy Running
Nicky

Sale!

2011-09-23T10:02:00.001+01:00

The Road to New Zealand

2011-09-19T11:51:00.000+01:00

For a running shop we seem to do a mighty lot of Ironmans. Truth be told, we have such a great love of bikes if we were a bike shop we'd never be able to get through the door of our house. At least running shoes take up less space.

The latest venture is a trip to Ironman New Zealand on 3rd March 2012. According to the tracker we have 165 days to go. More than enough time to get fitter than I was for the last one, Ironman Switzerland in 2009. There a recorded time of 15:37 (1:49:24 swim; 0:07:37 T1; 7:33:57 Bike; 0:07:06 T2 5:59:40 Run) was enough to bag the finishers t-shirt. This time the goal is sub 15 hours (1.35hr swim; 7hr bike and 5.55hr run).

So there you are, it's written down and so now it exists.

Of course it's not just as easy as writing down (unless you are Alan, blagger extraordinaire). Coming back after a significant lay off means a lack of base fitness which needs work. In the last couple of days the foundation has been laid. A 35.35 at the inaugral Nonsuch Park Run folowed by 1:15:38 at the Ashtead 10k a day later. Both were following a run/walk strategy while I'm completing rehab for a hip bursitis and so was pleasing.

I'll keep you updated, thank you for reading :o)

Nicky

FREE Barefoot Seminar - 13th September 2011 7pm

2011-08-30T13:59:00.000+01:00

Are you curious about the barefoot trend? Will barefoot running help you to get faster and injury free or is it just a fad?

Now is your chance to find out. Run to Live in conjunction with the barefoot specialists Vibram Five Fingers are holding a FREE seminar to give you the opportunity to explore the topic and ask all of the questions you may have. It will be an honest and objective look at barefoot running.

The outline timetable is below:

Section 1: Presentation
Background to barefoot
- some of the rationale for and against barefoot
- what the research says
Barefoot & minimalist running
- what's the difference?
- alternative or complementary?
- is it for me?
Transitioning
- how long should I allow?
- what distances can I run?
- can I compete with shod runners?
- what if I'm already injured?

Section 2: Workshop
Assessing Running Technique
- The basics of barefoot running
- Common faults and fixes
Creating your own program
- Corrective exercises
- Conditioning exercises
- Making a customised transition plan (periodization)

The seminar will take place at the Primal Lifestyle Offices, Unit 5 Glebelands Centre, Vincent Lane, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 3HW starting at 7pm.

Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Entry is free, all you need to do is e-mail Nicky at info @ runtolive dot co dot uk to register.

Jules Story - Ironman Regensburg...Done!

2011-08-16T13:28:00.000+01:00

My hotel phone rings, its 3.10am, race day. (Should have rung at 4.00am but someone in the hotel was having a laugh!) Ate my standard race day breakfast of porridge oats, raisins and a banana. Then realised the time and opted to read for 45 minutes, kept me relaxed in-between the excitement of the fact we had finally arrived at D-Day. Met Laurie and Phil in our hotel lobby (all arrived half hour early for some reason!!) and walked through town to the shuttle bus. Sports bottle of energy drink consumed on the way, keeping the calorie intake up as recommended, we arrived at the lake in the pouring rain. It was a mass of action, competitors tweaking their bikes, laying out their transition kit, putting on wet suits and still it continued to pour! Wished the boys good luck and headed off to my little world of competitor #130.

I felt pretty relaxed at this point taking time to lay out my kit and get the wet suit on. Time suddenly flew by and I made my way down to the lake and went for a quick swim. The water temperature was fantastic and the conditions perfect (the rain had stopped!) Back to the beach where I soaked up the race atmosphere, it was buzzing and I felt great - all that hard work, those early mornings and the permanent feeling of tiredness was about to pay off. The starter gave us a two minute warning, then one minute and then we were off! Now if you've ever wanted to know what the spin cycle on your washing machine felt like - try an Ironman swim start! Not only is the water really choppy and the lake suddenly develops waves I also got grabbed, mauled, kicked, squashed and basically couldn't breath. Brief panic set in before I accepted that I haven't worked my butt off for six months to give up in the first ten minutes. After giving myself a talking too and repeating "you will enjoy this" I got on with what I'm good at - putting my head down and swimming hard. It turned out to be a great swim and after one hour and 8 minutes I emerged from the lake the 8th lady in my age group. A calm transition and it was out on the bike for a 112mile (180km) wet cycle.

It got pretty cold out there on the bike but we cycled through some beautiful countryside. Stuck to the nutrition programme although solid food had to be forced down during the first half of the bike. Dave passed me at 45km, and at 50km the gears on my bike stopped worked - yikes! Managed to wave down a referee who used the magic WD40, but this time it didn't work! I then made the decision to carry on with 6 gears until the mechanic van came passed. It finally appeared 5km from the end! As the rain continued to pour the bike got worse and I ended up with just the three gears! Grit determination got me through the hill section the second time and the thought that I would be an Ironman by the end of today - failure was not an option! As we arrived back in town I was ready for the final phase - bring it on!

Another calm transition and off I headed, 42km of running ahead of me. The race plan was 1 hour 10 minute for each ten kilometre circuit and lap one was completed in 58minutes - time to calm down and stick to the plan! The run was amazing with thousands of spectators cheering us all on through out the town. Part of the circuit was on cobblestones but the cheers of encouragement even made them seem easy enough. One negative moment when I overheard a fellow competitor say he was on for 11hours and 6 minutes (or so I thought!) that meant a sub three hour run for me to hit my 14hour goal! Realised this was impossible and decided to just stick to the plan and not stress about the fact the cycle had obviously been a lot slower than I thought!!! Oh how wrong you can be!! Lap four, I have all my wrist bands and at the 41.5km mark turn into the last finishing section. The crowd are going mental, the lights are flashing, the music is blaring and the commentator shouts "Jules Claridge you are an Ironman!" And then I looked at the clock.................12:37:07 I had smashed my goal and had become an Ironman.

I cannot describe the feeling of crossing over the line and realising I had massively over achieved not only becoming an Ironman but subbing 12:45:00. The emotion was overwhelming and I can only say that during the next five minutes, six months of hard work came flooding out! I even set the medics off who once I had convinced them nothing was wrong other than sheer happiness left me to have a wonderful sobbing five minutes with Nicky who had some how managed to sneak into the finishers tunnel. Thank you Nicky.

The buzz continues and I can honestly say it was one of the best days of my life and one of the greatest physical things I have ever achieved. I loved every minute of it and would advise anyone to give it a go. Along the way I have made some great friends (who are also Ironmen - well done boys, I salute you!). So what's next..................??????

Happy "Ironman" training and thanks for reading.

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Jules Race Report - Part 1

2011-08-12T17:15:00.004+01:00

Six days to go and it was all starting to feel rather real now. Got out on the bike for an hour Monday morning before carefully wrapping it in bubble wrap and foam sheets and delivering it to Alan and Nicky, who were very kindly transporting it to Germany for me. Felt like I had lost my right hand for a while but got used to the fact, very little cycling would now be completed before the big day!

Tuesday morning arose early and got my run and swim in before heading over for a sports massage. The run was great but the swim was terrible, felt very tired and gave up after 70 lengths. Sports massage was fantastic and Mary said I was all set - all those strange aches and pains were purely taper madness!! Last day at work before the trip really got going. Wednesday spent the day running about organising staff, nutrition, packing and ensuring everything went in. Thought it was all sussed and then realised I forgotten my wet suit - taper madness effects the brain too!!!!

We actually departed early Thursday morning (not Wednesday as stated last week - bit of confusion amongst the car I was travelling in!!) and I mean very early. Three O'clock alarm call, yikes! Flew to Dover and caught the 5.00am ferry to Calais and then had a very hot day of travelling though France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany finally arriving in Regensburg at 7.00pm (ish!). Much to my friends and fellow competitors disgust the first thing I did was head out for a half hour run. It was great to be on my feet and exploring the fourth oldest city in Germany. Running along cobbled riverside paths was bliss.

Friday the atmosphere was really starting to buzz as we registered for the race, bought our race licenses and explored the Expo. This was all starting to feel very real, but I'm glad to say we were all rather relaxed and enjoyed a wander round the old city that afternoon before returning to the Expo for our race briefing. Now if you had any race nerves before the briefing they were ten fold afterwards. It looked like we could be disqualified for sneezing but thankfully on reflection it was basically don't get naked, wee on a carpet or use your phone!!! After an hours ride to make sure the bikes were all ok, we prepared our transition bags, blue for bike, red for run and white for finish. I felt like a teacher and mother rolled into one as I helped organise all the lads with their kit bags. A drug dealer mother at that, as we mixed all our energy drinks in my room and there seemed to be an awful lot of white powder everywhere!!

Saturday we headed over to the shuttle bus and were taken off to the swim to bike transition. On arrival we had our bikes and helmets checked over and a photo taken with your bike. Although I wonder why I did, as nobody was going to steal my bike when it was probably the cheapest in the whole place! A bit of bike envy crept in when £6000, £7000, £8000 bikes were wheeled in! We were then all taken to our relevant numbered transition site (I was only ten bikes or so from the pro's) although the longest distance from the lake entrance! Once I had parked my bike and disposed of my red bag it felt like there was no turning back - my bike had gone, my trainers had gone and I was left with my thoughts! Thankfully they were very positive and a paddle in the lake really put our minds at rest. A leisurely day was enjoyed and then an early night..........

To be continued.......

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Ironman Regensburg - A race report by Nicky

2011-08-11T15:38:00.001+01:00

This ‘race report’ is a game of two halves. Chronic bursitis has been plaguing me for yonks. You kind of know where it’s going when your massage therapist, chiropractor and pilates instructor are all saying prolonged ‘rest’. So, after years of dishing out advice to people I finally decided to follow some of it. Protracted negotiations meant that I was ‘allowed’ to swim, yey me! Probably no bad thing since it’s the thing I’m most crap at. So the race plan was always swim a little then stop.

The road trip to Regensburg was a catalogue of little challenges. I can say though (without the benefit of a heart rate monitor) that if your window wipers decide to have a fight with each other and then one flips off over the roof in a strop leaving the other broken and dejected in a storm on the outside lane of the Autobahn your heart rate might just elevate a little. After spending the next 50 kilometres in Zone 5 we found a repair garage and a sense of humour.

It kind of goes without saying that the first thing we did on our arrival in Regensburg was to head for the bar for a shandy. Literally. Well this training lark makes you a lightweight drinker!

It was a delight to find some clubmates had already checked in. So, after reacquainting ourselves with friends old and new we headed off to the local Bavarian Tex Mex restaurant which turned out to be a yummy call.

The next few days passed in a pleasant albeit uneventful haze until the Saturday. A second registration was required at the time the bikes were racked in transition which it turns out is quite hard to do if you haven’t got a bike. The chap with the clipboard ticking off the bling accessories on everyones bike didn’t appear to have a no bike tick box so stopped me going into transition despite the yellow ‘atlet’ band around my wrist that I’d taken to waving under his nose.

Chap: ‘No, for atlets only’

Nicky: ‘Erm, I am one look’ Waves band

Chap: <looks confused> ‘but you no bike’

Nicky: ‘Yes I know, I only doing the swim because I’m injured.’

Chap: <sighs as though talking to someone clearly very stupid> It’s TRIatlon, tri, only for atlets’

Nicky: ‘Yes I KNOW, but I’m only doing the swim because I’m injured’

Chap: <to colleague with a look that says we have a dim one here> It’s triatlon <shrugs shoulders> no bike, it’s triatlon, three events and she has no bike <shakes head>.

He then clearly thought he’d ask for backup since I didn’t appear to go anywhere and then called the head referee for assistance. I went through exactly the same conversation with him until the only weapon left at my disposal was to cry. Well, that soon sorted it as I was whipped into transition before you could say ‘get a hankie’ and deposited at the feet of his wife who was dealing with DNF’s on race day. A quick conversation ensued where it was made clear that I could start the event but was to hand my chip in as soon as I got out of the water. Yey.

There is something about the start of Ironman that it just amazing. The quiet contemplation, the air of nervousness, the laughter of those who deal with nerves via humour and in doing so positively distract the introverted from their reverie. It’s where the truth really shows. Where the confidence in your training is realised or the moment of discovery is upon you. Then the hooter went off and off we all charged.

I stood on the beach for a while watching the faster swimmers get into their stride before wading in then plopping myself supine into the water to start waving my arms about. After missing the cut off at the Outlaw by a mere 17 seconds coupled with Ironman generously giving an extra 20 minutes I was confident it wouldn’t happen this time. The purpose of this swim was to enjoy the moment and gain more experience to take to IMNZ next March.

And well what do you know it was a crap swim really taking ages to get into a rhythm and once again suffering with the hat sliding off my head every 200m or so. If anyone does find a solution to that can you PLEASE let me know – it’s driving me bonkers. The bodyglide unused and appropriated specifically for my own personal use applied copiously to my neck worked a treat but for some bizarre reason the whole of my back then proceed to rub within the wetsuit so that each roll for breathe was exceedingly uncomfortable.

The swim was uneventfully until the final straight where I swam straight into a canoe. Whoops! I lumbered up out of the water and into the beach to find out if I still had a husband.

Swim time 1.55 and shrapnel was five minutes quicker than Outlaw. Yey me. I was told that Alan was alive and well and in fact had been out on the bike for about 10 minutes.

With a sigh of relief I wandered to the change tent much to the bemusement of the waiting crowd who had started to mutter amongst themselves about the lack of urgency of number 140 and why didn’t she get her arse into the tent and back out again quick sharp, times a tickin’. Hah, what did they know!

After a quick sit down and time spent shooing the well meaning helpers away, I clambered back into jeans and t-shirt and then wandered out to try and hand in my chip as instructed.

My intention had always been to see if I could blag a spot behind the finish line to wait for Alan and repay the amazing sight I’d had of him standing under the finish at IMCH. After spending about half an hour with Penny I went to the athletes village to wave the little yellow band of magic at a policeman supervising the gate. Well, what do you know, it worked a treat with no tears required this time and so I made my way to the finish line and set up camp quietly so no one would spot me and try and kick me out.

Well, what an amazing place to be. I watched for a hour on the verge of tears as people would run across the line, arms aloft and then either casually saunter off or turn to congratulate those who they had obviously shared time with out on the course. Occasionally one would raise their hands to their face and hold their head as if in disbelief that they had attained the desired time or actually finished. An unobtrusive first aid marshal wandered between finishers just checking they were ok before they wandered off. I just stood there stunned and silent with tears often running down my cheeks feeling like a voyeur but happy to share in their triumphs just a little.

I watched a Run to Live team mate Dave Goodfellow run down the chute arms aloft and had a quick chat with him before seeing Jules sprinting down towards the finish. She crossed the line and promptly burst into tears. I went to her and watched her face change from disbelief to ecstatic realisation. You all know how hard she worked for this, no one deserves it more than her. We shared a hug then she went off to gather herself together.

I watched another Run to Live fellow Ali secure his sub 13 with an amazing performance, and then, my lovely, lovely husband appeared. I stepped out from where I was stood and walked up to the finish line to watch him make his way down the chute. The photographer shouted at me to get out of the way but since no one else was in the chute at the time stood my ground and greeted Alan with outstretched arms and a huge hug. You did great.

We then wandered back behind the scenes to secure massages, food and drink and a nice vomiting episode in the first aid tent while Al got his feet fixed.

We had an amazing week, thank you to all of you who allowed us to close so that we could go to Germany. For those of you who have been inspired by Jules story or would just like to have a go, pop into the shop to catch up on our plans for next year.

Jules Story - It's countdown to race day!!

2011-08-02T20:05:00.002+01:00

So this is it, I have less than a week to go until I complete probably the hardest physical challenge I have ever set myself. It seems such a long time ago when I shook hands with my brother on a very wet, October day back in 2009, when madly I agreed that we would do an Ironman before he was forty! Sadly I already passed that milestone but that wasn't to stop me. So we both got into action beginning of last year purchasing bikes, wet suits and signing up for half iron events. Well I did anyway, unfortunately Phil got posted to Cyprus (typical of the army!) but obviously continued to train in much warmer climes than I!! Unfortunately we won't be doing the ironman together as Phil is currently in Afghanistan but he is gutted and certainly willing me to do my best. He also still has a couple of years to the big 4 0 so not everything is lost!!

I'd like to say its been an easier week of training but this taper thingy me jig still keeps you running with intensity zones, swimming 3500m three times a week and still getting out on the bike four times! The traditional Saturday ride was very relaxed though with Laurie, Phil and I meeting at 6.00am (lie-in!) and heading out for two hours. This also included a stop off at Costa in Cobham for a coffee (Phil you've tried for 6 months to get us to do that and you've finally succeeded!). Once home I swapped bike shoes for trainers and headed out for a half hour run on the common - felt great. Big energy slump later that day though and felt exhausted all weekend - I think its all catching up with me!

I finally managed to get to the lake twice this week and enjoyed a good couple of swims. Quote of the week certainly has to be "that was the fastest I have ever done a lap, hanging on the back of you two (not literally!)" "How quick did you do it then?" "I don't know I didn't time it!!!" Classic! No names mentioned but you boys know who you are!!!

Finally I think I'd like to finish this week by saying a huge thank you to all my fellow training partners, particularly Phil and Laurie. You have all been extremely supportive throughout this journey and I wish you all the best on Sunday. Bring it on Boys!!

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx
www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Jules Story - Well into Taper

2011-07-26T15:28:00.004+01:00

Yeeha! I conquered the lake again this week and managed a really great swim on Tuesday. The temperature was perfect, the water was clear and the swamp monsters and their sludge had disappeared!! Shame the pool had a power strike and we had to evacuate early but hey ho. I feel that the swimming training has gone well and is on track for next week (how scary does that sound!!)

All in all a good weeks training with a four hour cycle completed Saturday afternoon on my lonesome - actually I really enjoyed it (sorry boys!). Put the race kit and nutrition to the test and all felt fantastic. Flew up Boxhill after three hours so can't be bad! I've got so used to being out so early and seeing no-one it was quite refreshing to see pub gardens full, weddings going on, woodland car parks full of dog walkers - there are other people are there!!! I don't live in some strange Torchwood existence!

It all feels rather close now as good luck cards arrived from my nieces and nephews in Cyprus. All hand made which is just fabulous - they'll be in my bag heading to Germany. Also had a great motivational letter from my mum which will definitely get read a number of times leading up the 7th August.

Just found out our ferry is booked for 5.00am next Wednesday, that means a 3.00am start! Yikes! Thought I'd been getting up early enough as it is!

Don't forget every stroke, pedal and step I take next week will all be in aid of Pancreatic Cancer Research (every little helps), so please log on to the website below and show your support.

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

We are looking for staff...

2011-07-25T15:12:00.000+01:00

We are currently searching for a part time person to come and join the Run to Live team. The role is for around 12 hours a week, primarily Saturdays and the occasional Sunday. We are looking for an enthusiastic, friendly, outgoing, sport loving individual with a real 'can do' attitude.

If you have an interest in running, cycling, triathlon, fitness, customer service, tea, cake, great brands and would consider saying the words 'I'm doing an Ironman' without fainting then send a CV and cover letter to nicky @ runtolive dot co dot uk,

Team Run to Live - The Outlaw ironman distance swim race report

2011-07-25T12:26:00.000+01:00

You may have guessed that we often venture out into multi-sport territory. When we do so, we do it as part of the Pirate Ship of Fools. The latest expedition was at the Outlaw ironman distance triathlon.

This was to be the warm up event before Ironman Regensburg in two weeks time. Alan notoriously never properly trains for anything so he thought he’d quite like to have a go at the cycle as part of his ‘training’. It was logical for me to do the swim as this is my weakest event and the experience would do me good. It only took us about 5 minutes and the promise of a beer to convince Pete, our ultra runner, to do the run. Job done, the relay team was in.

Pete was a bit of a lightweight and over a diet coke instead of beer informed us that they had decided to enforce the cut off of 2 hours for the swim. Cut off? It was the first I knew about a cut off as the race pack said specifically there wasn’t one although everyone ha d to be out of transition by 2 hours 15 minutes. Oh dear, there is a reason why we are called RUN to Live.

The alarm went off at 4.25am. That really is an ungodly hour and should be banned. After a bit of faffing we drove to the venue and parked in the campsite to ensure we could get the van out and to the pirate water station we were helping out at later. We faffed around a bit more and then made our way down to transition to complete the faffing and then stand around waiting for the start. We saw loads of people we knew. There was a really nice relaxed air to the pre race. It was a beautiful day and at that stage not much wind, perfect for an ironman really. At 5.45am we got called to get into the water and after a hug from Alan made our way down to the start.

The water was much colder that I expected and after just standing in it for a couple of minutes I felt my toes go numb. At least I managed not to break any this time, unlike at the swashbuckler. It was at this point I realised that I had forgotten to put any Body Glide and now it was too late to do anything about it. Ooops.

We got the three minutes, two minutes and one minute to go warnings and then we were off. I settled into a comfortable rhythm after a bit of a punch up at the start. I knew that I was going to be very close to the cut off and so the plan was to just keep swimming and not stop unless it was a dire emergency. I knew I could manage front crawl the whole way and so I focused on staying strong and long. I ended up last very quickly (or slowly maybe?) and had the honour of a canoe escort. He looked incredibly bored for a lot of it and spent a lot of time stretching which at least gave me something to look at.

I can comprehensively say that 2.4 miles is a Terribly. Long. Way. After a while I started counting strokes to keep myself amused. 30 without leg kick, 30 with leg kick and kept that going until cramp forced me to stop the kicking. The swim hat kept sliding off my head and every 10 minutes or so it would threaten to pop off so I would stop and force it back down on my head. It was nice to have the break but I started to get really worried about the cut off.

The turnaround took forever to get to. I was getting more and more demoralised but waited until the turn for home before a glance at the watch told me I’d been out there for 59.30, surely enough to get back to the finish in time?

So counting and relaxing and reaching pulling my way down the lake with painfully slow progress until I could see the 750m to go. I looked at the watch again and the canoeist said yes I could make it but it might be good if I could swim a bit faster. Helpful!

So I swam, I put everything I had into it. The closer I got the finish the more I could hear the roar of the crowd at each breath. I knew I was close and I could hear them all screaming at me to swim faster. With about 150m to go my hat popped off my head and floated off. This immediately had two effects. I couldn’t breath as each time I came up for air my hair flapped over my mouth and stopped the air coming in. I also couldn’t see a bleeding thing as the rest of it flopped over my goggles.

After a couple of false attempts I worked out that it I flicked my head right out of the water it moved enough to be able to see and breath but of course this mean the stroke went completely to rat shit. After practically crawling the last 150m in the swimming crew dragged me out of the water and over the timing mat. I looked down at my watch and saw the 2.00.17 seconds. I was absolutely gutted that I’d missed the cut off by such a small margin and felt so sad that the rest of the team couldn’t continue. Slightly dazed it took me a few seconds to get my bearings but noticed the marshals were screaming at me a little to get the chip off and then Alan was allowed to continue. Hurrah! The burden of falling at the first hurdle would have been a great one.

After Toucs left, I wandered over to where the van was parked. Loads of people shouting well done and that they were cheering me on I felt slightly overwhelmed and a bit of a fraud. Anyway enough of the self pity, there is a lot to work on and I get a chance to do it all again at Regensburg in a couple of weeks.

The rest of the team did really well despite Alan getting stung twice while on the bike. Our finish time was 12.19.50.

It was amazing to be once again part of the pirate experience, both at the water station and then at the finish. Congratulations to all who finished. From those who won their age group, nailed their target on the day or despite battling demons kept on going and earned every bit of their medal. You’re all outlaws.

Ps the chaffing is a bugger today, if you take one thing from this report it’s don’t forget the bodyglide!

Jules Story - It's Taper Time

2011-07-18T10:01:00.000+01:00

Taper has arrived and I've just completed the last tough week of this 30 week training program.

This weekend saw the last five hour cycle and the last 3 hour run. I think Laurie and I cycled all the Surrey Hills this weekend minus Box Hill (and that one doesn't count as we've done it many a time!). Newlands corner was interesting in the torrential rain, especially as I've just put slick tyres back on so the down hill was rather precarious!! The bike is working well though after having been in for a full service. In fact it looks brand new again and all the squeaks and grinding noises have disappeared! Soaked on the run too - oh how I love this July weather!

So three weeks to go! How do I feel? Excited, scared, relieved its nearly here, worried, up for the challenge - I'm riding the emotional roller coaster at the moment and am ready to put this all behind me and get my life back on track. Its a bit like when couples find out their having a baby and say "it won't change us or our lifestyles!!", yes, well we all know how wrong that is. Well the Ironman is the same. It takes over, life changes, you get tired, grumpy and just fitting in everyday chores gets tough. But the one thing I will say is its been an amazing journey and I look forward to reaching that final destination with you all in three weeks time.

Meanwhile I'm going to enjoy this taper period and try and get some extra sleep in, although if this is anything like the rest week following the half Ironman, its not sitting around and reading the paper!!

Thanks for reading and Happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Jules Story - Tired

2011-07-12T15:20:00.003+01:00

Lords for the one day test, England V Sri Lanka, Take That at Wembley Stadium, Jooles Holland at Kew Gardens and practise day at Silverstone - wow what a week. You may laugh at some and groan at others but they were all fantastic in there own right (although meeting and talking to Jackie Stewart was definitely a massive highlight of the week - what a legend).

Mowed lawns (in the rain), felled trees (in the pouring rain) and laid turf (in the torrential rain), yep got very wet this week. Still managed to get most of the training in by cycling to events and meeting Dusty with clean clothes and nutritional supplies!

One very important thing missing though - sleep! So too tired this week to get brain in gear and entertain you, so good night!

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules x

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Jules Story - Green sludge and long bikes

2011-07-06T11:24:00.004+01:00

The lake was revolting this week. You sort of understand that sunshine and rain on an expanse of water, churns it up and makes all the weed grow rapidly but who poured the green sludge in! Yuk! It was like swimming through a green mud bath! After one lap I decided enough was enough and bailed. I hasten to add, not the only one, as many fellow early morning swimmers did the same thing - all emerging from the watery depths looking like green swamp monsters from a dodgy 70's horror movie! Thankfully both pool swims were more productive with a few intervals thrown in to stem the boredom.

Laurie and I went to the beach on Saturday. Well, we cycled to Bognor Regis, up onto the promenade and stepped onto the pebbles. A couple of stretches and back on our bikes! We were as usual, early and nothing was open, so not even a cup of tea looking out to sea was possible. But twenty minutes later, a bottle of water and a chocolate bar in Tesco's car park more than made up for it!!!

The ride obviously involved going up over the South Downs in both directions but just to make sure our legs really worked we came back via Cranleigh and hit the Surrey hills once more - not a lot of power and energy left in the legs by the time I made it home, but 105 miler in the bag. I thought I had got my nutrition about right consuming five bottles of fluid, three bars, three gels, three slices of Soreen, a handful of walnuts, a handful of raisons, a packet of energy shot blocs and a choccie bar through out the morning but the body was in desperate need in the final stages. Who only knows what else will be needed to get off that bike and then run 26 miles!!!??

A very late night at a family party and another early morning saw me pounding the streets for a two hour 40 minute run feeling rather weak and tired. Thank goodness for the beauty of the Downs and the commons that kept me going (as well as the pleasure of gels - warm, lumpy, tropical, snot textured - am I selling it to you???)

Tried out the new trainers, made me realise how worn out mine had become. That's only three pairs of trainers I've gone through whilst training!! I did hint last week about the cost of all of this. Forget about the entrance fee, the bike, wet suit and trainers - as they are all a definite but what about the nutrition requirements, sports massages, bike clothes, running clothes, increased water and electricity bills (due to the demand on the washing machine and the constant showering!), entrance fees to pools and lakes..................the list is never ending!

I'm definitely not saying don't do this as it has got to be one of the most amazing, hardest, rewarding challenging etc journeys I have ever undertaken but don't come into this thinking a pair of shorts and a swim suit will get you through!!! A good credit card might though!

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

A post from Alan - Cowmen and Women

2011-07-04T13:02:00.000+01:00

My 310's in here somewhere

It's not just Jules training for the Ironman in Regensburg. Here's Alans race report from the recent Cowman Half-Ironman...

I went in to this event again wondering if I was going to be a DNF after the swim... having tried to swim at the Swashbuckler a couple of weeks ago and ended vomiting after one lap of the swim and then having to go to the van to die for 2 hours I was not that confident!

However, I actually had a reasonable sleep in a hotel (rather than a night with my head in the well of the van), stuffed a GO bar in my mouth 15 minutes before the start of the swim and equipped with polarised Zoggs goggles I managed to get round, without feeling dizzy in a remarkable time of 46.33. Got out of the water with a huge grin and a good feeling. I hadn't swum this far since IM Zurich 2 years ago. In fact I can count on one hand the amount of times I have actually swum in 2 years.

Onto the bike after a picnic in transistion (5.33 mins). Thought I'd see how quick I could go for a while. Felt good for first 24 miles then the backache started. As I was competing as a pirate it was good to see the pirate support on each lap, especially Nicky. Thought I was doing well passing various cyclists, until the better riders started to pass me. Completed the bike in 3.01.37. Very pleased with that as I had only been out cycling about a dozen times since January, the longest being 50 miles about 6 weeks ago.

Another picnic in transistion (4.35 mins) followed by a lick of Nicky's ice cream and a run walk startegy as I knew I hadn't got the nutrition right. Great to see the pirate support on each lap with a hug from Nicky. Having last run 2 weeks ago at the Midsummer Munro I thought I would be quite fresh, but alas that was not the case. Eventually came in with a total time of 6.12.38. Overall very pleased, but not with the run.
I think I need to start training for IM Regensberg....

I thought this was an excellent event, well organised, the pineapple & melon at the end was a nice touch and I will be back.....

Pete's Blog - The race report AKA lots of Jaffa Cakes

2011-07-02T12:14:00.001+01:00

Apologies for the delay in writing this – life seems to have taken over since the race…..but the long-awaited detaching of a toenail this weekend has reminded me that I need to do a race report!

I would love for this to be a ripping yarn with tales of blisters the size of elephants, hallucinations more vivid than a hippy on LSD (I did see a monkey though, more of which later), and overcoming great tribulations akin to climbing Everest with only one leg and no lungs, but (sadly for the reader) what I had was a rather nice uneventful little run - just one that lasted 37 hours and 44 minutes! Even my blisters were less interesting than previous years, when they have at least had the good grace to be bright orange, or crescent moon shaped, or exploding all over the leg of my dear crew chief. My apologies...however, despite it being uneventful, I’m still going to manage to be wordy....

I avoided worrying about the joys of travelling up to Birmingham by train by scrounging a lift off some kind friends, which meant that I could spend more time feeling nervous about doing the race without my own crew for the first time.

Registration was a friendly affair – most of the competitors and organisers have met before (ultra running is a small world), after which we all headed out in search of those all important carbohydrates. I did have a nice spicy pizza with the beer though....

Around 9.30 we bid each other good night and I headed to my hotel room to do the final bit of preparation. This is commonly known as faffing. Only 400m from the start, the hotel I was staying in was very convenient, but unfortunately it was on Broad Street which is one of Birmingham’s night spots so sleep was hard to come by thanks to drunken singing and shouting - and no, it wasn’t mine!

Up at 4.15am for breakfast and final faffing, which always takes longer than you’d think, especially when trying to organise a kit bag so that specific items can be located in the dark when you are exhausted and potentially a bit doollaly. And then a short walk along a now quiet Broad Street to the start at the Gas St Basin.Dropping my bags off at the kit van one of the female competitors commented, ‘I’m so pleased that your bag’s bigger than mine.’ You never know when a kitchen sink might come in handy....

At 6 am, the race started. Unlike many races, when the start gun goes, no-one shoots off at all, instead the entire field sets off at an energy-conserving, chatty pace, and over the next 145 miles, the field would gradually string out, until nearly 20 hours separated the first and last finishers.

I’m sometimes asked what I spend my time thinking about while I’m doing this race and I have to reply ‘no idea’ – I guess I just switch off and enjoy the scenery as the route takes me through the countryside, past marinas full of canal boats, and past quite a few pubs too.... I know – what a waste going past them all... I guess I have excellent willpower! Of course there are bad patches, but they always pass in the end.

And the well stocked checkpoints break the distance up nicely. Vegetable soup followed by mini chocolate sponge with custard (gourmet dining at it’s best) marks the passing of 36 miles.

A few hours later, arrival at another checkpoint (53 miles)is rewarded with peanuts and jaffa cakes.

And then a major milestone – the 70 mile checkpoint at Navigation Bridge. For the first time out of the four years I have done this race I arrive in daylight. I’m so thrilled by this that I nearly overstay my welcome, being shooed out as the 40 minute time limit for stops approaches. But not before I have fuelled for the night. On the menu tonight Sir, there is quiche, with beans and bread. And for dessert?Cold rice pudding. Delicious, no energy wasted chewing, and full of friendly carbohydrate types.

Usually I would change for the night section, but I felt very comfortable, and the weather seemed to be holding up, so I figured if it ain’t broke...

I walked much of the night section, which in hindsight I have some regrets about, as I have previously run the overnight stretch, making up some time, and I think I could have done the same this year, but by this point I had joined forces with another GUCR regular and was enjoying the chat. Sometimes it’s about the running, and other times it’s about the craic.

The middle of the night was marked by more peanuts, more jaffa cakes, some coffee and some Compeed, though the latter was not, of course, as tasty! In fact a very good friend, henceforth known as St Claire of Compeed, was kind enough to patch up my feet and apply two Compeeds to them for me. These blister patches are excellent, but need to be held on to the affected area for a minute or so and kept warm. Easier said than done if, like me, you’re not terribly flexible at 80+ miles. Luckily it was a chilly night, and she was so cold standing at the checkpoint for hours that she claimed to enjoy warming her hands on my (by then no doubt aromatic) damaged feet! Saintly indeed, or perhaps deranged – you decide...

Milestone number 2 - 100 miles. Here I celebrated with a bacon sarnie and a coffee - yup, I sure know how to live. Brought down to earth by the terrible lack of brown sauce, I had no choice but to continue, now in the company of Steve P, a friend from the Wimbledon Windmilers. I had decided to have running buddies from 100 miles to the finish (the race allows running buddies after the 65 mile point). Steve P has been kind and crazy enough to have helped me on previous attempts, and then return for more. Clearly lurking by a canal for a slow moving zombie has more appeal than it may initially seem. Most of the next 15 miles were walked due to blisters and aniggly knee, not helped by this section being particularly stony underfoot. In retrospect, perhaps a fresh pair of trainers might have been a good idea here, but it’s always a balance between that extra bit of cushioning, and potentially creating new trouble spots on dodgy feet.

15 miles later Steve P swapped places as my running buddy with Steve C, who appeared armed with ibuprofen gel for my knee. The ground underfoot began to improve, I started to run a bit more, and 5 miles later at the 120 mile checkpoint a bacon sandwich containing brown sauce was procured. Bliss – you do become thrilled by small things on long ultras. Brown sauce was a sure sign that we were approaching civilisation!

Just after this point, we saw the monkey. He hangs off the side of a factory on the other side of the canal. The first time I did GUCR, the monkey showed himself to the winner, who assumed he was hallucinating, and didn’t mention it to anyone, until someone else spoke about it, and the non-mythical monkey has now become an essential GUCR landmark.

At West Drayton I was joined by my final running buddy from the Wimbledon Windmilers, a good friend who has helped on every one of my four finishes. He clearly has a very high boredom threshold. As the path turned to tarmac, we picked up a bit of speed, even passing other runners.

This last stretch through the city has been slightly hairy in past years – the first year, in the dark, amongst the people we passed were a hooded man swinging a chain (who very politely stood aside to let us past, no stereotyping here), and an assortment of (thankfully cheerful) drunks. This year there was a marked absence of the usual canal lurkers – not the drug dealers nor the slightly surreal film crews of previous years, not even the lurking anglers taking refuge under canal bridges.

And then, there itwas, the finish, and the famously weighty medal. No fireworks, no dancing girls, no razzmatazz, just a handshake from the brilliant but sleep-deprived race director, a tartan blanket, a plastic chair, and a table full of food.

It was my second fastest time of the four, and I was a very happy sleepy hungry person.

At the risk of going on for far too long, races like this one rely so much on those doing the crewing. For runners like myself, doing it without our own crews, the race organiser’s crew move our bags, prepare food and drinks, crack jokes, patch up feet, go without sleep, and are absolutely unfailing in their efforts to support each of the runners in their attempts to get to the elusive finish. Many of the crew are ultra runners themselves, and know exactly what to say and do. Some of them return every year to volunteer, and they really do make the race. You don’t need the pompoms, or the overstuffed goody bag, just a cracking event, and an admirable bunch of people.

And quite a lot of coffee and jaffa cakes.

Having rested for a week and a half, it was back to running – training for the marathon leg of the Outlaw triathlon as part of the Run to Live team towards the end of July, followed by the Lakeland 50 - no rest for the wicked!

Pete

Half Marathon Training - Week 3

2011-06-28T21:24:00.005+01:00

Our half-marathoners have reached week 3.

This week the training is:

• 1 x 30 minute easy run/walk

• Hill Session. Start with a gentle warm up of 10 minutes. Find a gradual hill that takes you approx 2 minutes to run for bottom to top. Run up the hill at a steady effort. The effort must be the same from bottom to top (ie don't start off running too hard at the start and then have to slow down before you get to the top). Once your two minutes is up turn around and WALK back down the hill to the start. Repeat four more times. The finish the session with a 10 minute gentle cool down.

• 1 x Long run of 7 miles. Remember if you are run/walking following the Jeff Galloway programme you will need to refer to Week 1 to find out how much to run and how much to walk. If you are aiming to run the whole way it must be at conversational pace!

Try and leave a ‘rest day’ in between running days. You can do other stuff such as swimming and cycling on the rest days.

Enjoy

Jules Story - The Last Big Push

2011-06-27T12:25:00.004+01:00

A child free weekend away in mid-Devon, with friends, seemed like a great opportunity to relax, eat, drink and sleep but hey ho Ironman training still goes on! But rather than be anti-social and disappear very morning I juggled the training about. We dropped George in North Devon on Friday and whilst Dusty drove to our B&B, some 50 miles away, I braved the Devon rain and the undulating countryside and cycled down. Arrived at venue in three hours and needed to do five. Oops!

A typical Jules adventure followed, me in the winding country lanes, following interesting village names, trying to find another two hours. Allsorts of great names including Black Dog (went there because of Zulu), New Buildings (full of very old buildings) and Woolfardisworthy (because only Devonians could have a village with that name!). Five hours and 20 minutes later I arrived at the pub demanding water and salted peanuts - my wish was granted and the energy levels rose rapidly!

Saturday an hours run before dinner completed and then up early Sunday for a 16mile slog. The hills of mid Devon are unrelenting, the fog was thick, the dawn chorus was fantastic and I was the only soul about - no surprise there then!! A fantastic weekend had by all and the training unaffected.

The countdown is definitely on now with Ironman Regensberg only five weeks away. Two more tough weeks of training and then taper starts. Just watch this space for all the niggles and illness we all get then as the psychological battle really kicks in!

As you have gathered by now I am loving this journey however hectic life gets but when friends say how about another one next year or even a relay the answer is definitely a big fat NO (at the moment!) I think some quality time with Dusty and George will be top of the list, allow the body to recover fully would be second and then some time just to reassess the whole adventure from how I got into this crazy event through to the finish line (hopefully). I think the bank manager would have something to say too, but that's for another blog.

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Jules Story - Dodging Raindrops

2011-06-20T13:08:00.000+01:00

Another great weeks training logged and believe it or not predominately in the dry weather! Can you believe that?! Even had the waders, umbrellas and taxi numbers packed for the long cycle on Saturday!! We headed out in the Dorking direction and ended up at Gatwick Airport, rather surreal cycling along with a plane engine revving up beside you! We nearly had an eyeballs out moment though when we took the slip road for the M23 but thankfully a detour back round the airport got us back to safety! We seemed to visit most Crawley boroughs before we managed to head south towards Balcombe and then turned west back towards Horsham, Ewhurst and Shere. Rather an undulating day with a few monster hills thrown in for good luck near the end! In total a 75miler ticked off.

Fathers Day saw Dusty playing golf and then us all heading off to lunch at the In-laws, so had to opt for the early start (again!) The alarm went off at 5.00am and out I headed for a 2hour run (or so I thought!) Managed to get playfully jumped on by two very friendly Labrador puppies who managed to stop my watch without me realising. As fatigue was taking over and the legs were saying this is a long way I checked the clock to see one hour 40 minutes, ah well, I thought just keep plodding on girl! Second thoughts, checked the actual time to discover I was late and Dusty would be sat on the step twiddling his clubs! A very fast direct route, got me home in record time but only to discover I'd been out for 2 and a half hours!! To say I felt sleepy over lunch is an understatement!!!

Thankfully the rest of the weeks training was reasonably uneventful and a decent sports massage tweaked those aches and pains! Here's to another action packed busy week.

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/justgiving

Starting New Adventures

2011-06-15T14:49:00.000+01:00

The beginners have started a new adventure. No longer beginners anymore since they've completed both beginners and improvers group. Our18 intrepid runners have now started a 15 week journey to the New Forest Half Marathon on 25th September this year. We'll be regularly posting training plans and tips. Follow the trail on Facebook here.

Jules Story - Dedication is what you need

2011-06-13T11:08:00.002+01:00

"Dedication is what you need" quoted Roy Castle and that's certainly how I felt on Sunday or maybe determination or even stupidity! Why? Well at 3.30pm I decided to brave the elements and head out in the rain and wind for a 14mile run. Now that's bad enough in itself but I also opted to find the highest, most exposed and coldest place in Epsom - The Downs! It was howling a gale, the rain was horizontal and at one point I was close to a sense of humour failure and nearly knocked on my mate Phil's door for a lift home! But the giggles kicked in and I continued on and completed the 14 miles, absolutely drenched! This Gore clothing is good but its not that good!!! I have to say, forgetting the external factors, I felt great and the legs were strong which was pleasing considering we hit the 70mile mark on the bike on Saturday (well 68miles physically but 70 psychologically!!)

Its been a good training week with all the sessions completed even the swims, yeeha! I even managed an additional swim this week, as I took George for his second swimming lesson (can I count that!?) Well I certainly swallow more water with all the splashing that goes on!

Things certainly seem to be on track, although I am getting more and more tired as the intensity levels pick up and the immune system is taking a hammering. All these vitamins and supplements are doing there job and holding off the bugs and colds but my body is fighting back and throwing cold sores and spots at me. I also seem to be keeping the aches and pains under control although I did invest in a new pair of cycle gloves this week as getting sores thumbs is taking the mick!!

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

www.sponsormetoshine.org/julesclaridge

Jules Story - The Support Team

2011-06-06T16:58:00.000+01:00

Well this week has really highlighted and made me appreciate, that although they may not show it my husband and in-laws really do support me through all this Ironman stuff! Dusty was away in Ireland playing golf for six days which put paid to the early morning workouts. Mother in law stepped up to the mark though and collected George at the end of a couple of nursery/child care days which allowed me to fit a run in (ended up working late the other day so cycle had to be missed!) I often wonder whether they are that interested in what I'm setting out to achieve this summer, but without them I wouldn't be able to take this journey with the ease they are allowing me to. So a big thank you to them all (don't suppose they read this either!)

We've entered the last phase of training and the swim sessions have increased to 3500m three times a week. Only managed one swim (due to circumstances) and how tedious was that, 140 lengths in a 25m pool!! May have to try and fit a second lake session in a week for the change of scene! If anyone has a 50m pool in their back garden and doesn't mind me using it at 5.30am please hold up your hand now?!!

So after my slow start to the week I finished with a great cycle down to Dunsfold, completing 60 plus miles and an exhilarating one hour 45minute run in the rain (yes I was drenched!). Took in Epsom and Ashtead Common, the River Mole, Bluebell Woods and Thirty Acre Barn, so good general off roader. Feel good and raring to take on this week in full!

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules xx

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Jules Story - The final 10 weeks...

2011-05-31T08:40:00.007+01:00

Well a very wet and windy weekend in North Devon has put paid to any serious cycle training this week. Never one to shy away from training though, whatever the weather, I managed a two hour run in a force 8 gale on Sunday! Windy, wet and very hilly the legs certainly know about it today!

Our training rest week following the half ironman last weekend wasn't quite the rest you'd expect! Lounging about on the sofa, eating chocolate and watching England v Sri Lanka test match at Cardiff was not the option. After one day of rest it was back on the training wheel and down to the lake on Tuesday. Felt surprising good although a little dizzy by the end, food and drink solved that problem! A steady run on the common with Zulu that night and I was amazed how good I felt.

We are now entering the final phase of this journey and the intensity and duration of the sessions increase rapidly over the next five weeks. So I am going to apologise now if this gets more and more illiterate over the next few weeks as tiredness takes over the grey matter!

Thanks for reading and happy training

Jules x