Races for 2015

First post for a while.  I feel this post is like having a silly argument with a loved one.  It just needs someone to break the silence and then all will be forgotten and forgiven.  So, this is me breaking the silence.  

Here's my plans for 2015. Subject to change.  Possibly by the time I've pressed "publish".

February 14, 2015:  Donadea 50K

What better place for a romantic St Valentine's weekend than the beautiful surrounds of Donadea Forest Park in Co. Kildare, Ireland?  Shame we're only going there to run 10 loops of the forest trails. And then jump on a Ryanair flight home the same day.  It's the Irish 50K championship and an IAU champs selections race, so I guess it will be wicked fast and I'm prepared to be lapped. Lots. Last year's winning time was 2:59.  I've never run a 50K before, so I'm looking forward to it. Although if the weather is grim - let's face it, it's Ireland in February - it will be an interesting experience. 

March 8, 2015:  Balloch to Clydebank half marathon

Following on from my PB of 1:35:12 at the Great Scottish Run in October, I'd like to have another crack at the half marathon distance.  This is a local point-to-point race and popular with club runners.  Fingers crossed for a tail wind. 

April 10-11, 2015:  World and European 24-hour Championships

I was delighted and honoured to be selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the championships in Torino, Italy.  Even more delighted that most of my old team mates will be there too.  With some new faces - including Sonic in a vest, not with a crew badge.

This will be my third outing in the GB vest. Obviously this is my A+ race for the year.  

Click here for British Athletic's team announcement 

May 17, 2015:  Glasgow Women's 10K

Probably not the best idea a month after a 24-hour race, but I love this event.  It's the reason why I started running nearly 13 years ago.  I did it 10 years on the trot, but the last couple of years ultra racing has got in the way.  Given the lack of recovery time, this might be the year I do it in fancy dress.

May 27: Kilpatrick Hill Race
Strava buddies will know that I do a fair bit of joggings around the Kilpatrick hills.  Just a few miles from my doorstep, it's the perfect escape without the logistical dramas.  This has been on my to-do list for a few years, but for one reason or another - mainly because I find hill racing quite intimidating - I've never got around to it.  Now I've blogged about it, I better not back down.

June 27, 2015: Arrochar Alps race
Again, not too far from home.  I've done all the munros there, but not as a circuit.  With 2400m of climbing across the 25km course, it's certainly going to be cheeky.  Good training for Lakeland 50 though, right?

July 25, 2015: Montane Lakeland 50

Which, of course, leads me on to the Montane Lakeland 50.  After running the Lakeland 100 twice, it's time to up my game and have a crack at the 50.  It's a different ball game.  I think the 100 is the easier option.  Once I get the 24 is over, this is my next main focus.  Hills and more hills.  Actually running on hills!

September 26, 2015: Spartathlon

Well, I've completed the application.  Just waiting to hear if it's been successful or not.  I'm hopeful as I'm lead to believe females athletes who have run further that 204km in a 24 hour race "will be automatically initially accepted".  I guess it depends on how many athletes enter with the same prerequisites.    Anyway, this race is high on my bucket list.  153 miles through the boiling streets of Greece. Anyone who knows me, know I don't cope well in heat.  Why then?  I'll get back to you on that one.

And that's as far as I've got.  There will be a few Parkruns thrown in there too. Nothing for last quarter yet.  Although don't mention Barcelona!

10 out of 10

Yesterday I toed the line for my annual 10K.  Yep, the last 10K I did was the same event last year.  And the year before that. And that. It's safe to say it's not my preferred distance.  But the Ignis Asset Management Women's 10K is by far my favourite race.  I love it.  Makes me proud to be a Weejie :-) And a burd.

 I know it would be easier doing a cut 'n' paste of the same race report each year, but I can't speak highly enough of this race.  It's magical.  And for once, Glasgow ladies are drinking in a different kind of spirit :-)  It's the catalyst for so many Scottish club runners, but attracts hoards of first-timers and charity runners.  Participants come in all ages and (quite literally) shapes and sizes.  Sonic hit the nail on the head when we arrived with "You know on paper, 10,000 women in lycra should be a dream come true.  It's just a shame it's in Glasgow"

This year was my 10th in a row. Considering my big race is just over two weeks away, the timing threw a big spanner in the training schedule, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'd crawl round on my hands and knees if I had to.

For once, I actually prepared for this and made the race a key event for 2012. Although I had to realistic about the respect I could dedicate to the distance, as there were quite a few 100+ mile week in the build-up. Although thanks to MJ the Messiah's lunchtime training sessions, I was confident a PB was on the cards.   Even the race conditions of  heavy rain and crazy-forced winds, didn't dampen my spirits.  There was a whole lot of fire in my belly.



The Garscube B team.  Jill, the GM, me and Maz


 

I managed to scrape in a PB - by 2.5 minutes! - to finish in 43.27 (ave 6.57m/m).   Overall position was 78th out of 8000+.  I not only made the first page of the Evening Times' results pullout, but I made the first column.  Woohoo.  OK, my name my be squeezed on the very last line, but it's still the same column as Freya Murray...who was first in a mere 10 minutes faster. 

Well done to everyone.  See you there next year. Same time, same place.  Although Sonic might send me some links for women-only races in Sweden, Holland, Brazil... :-)

Women's 10K

Well, today was a harsh reminder that I simply can't do everything. I started off well, but wilted after the third mile. Struggled a bit in the middle, but managed to recover. I'm not one for rhyming off excuses, so I'm not going to. I'm not even going to say I used it as a training run, as I really did give it my best shot. All's not lost though, as it was my fastest Women's 10K. I'm not going to dwell on it though, as on the grand scale of things it's so not important.

Unofficial time was 47.57. I've run faster 10Ks in training runs!

Splits 7.15, 7.21, 7.31, 8.00, 8.07 (see what I mean?) 7.37, 7.16 (average 7.38)

Well done to all the Garscube gals. There were some storming PBs in there. Big congrats to Caroline - who took 1 min and 20 secs off her PB. Even after the Troon 10K last week and a WHW run yesterday. I take it back, Caroline, go for Edinburgh. You've definitely got your mojo back!

Easy four recovery run

I never thought I'd see the day when I had to tell myself to watch my speed out on a run. I was determined to do a very easy 9m/miles pace run. Sonic came with me. It was worth the four miles, just to watch him running in slow motion ;-) With the length of his legs, I'm sure he could walk 9m/miles*.

You can tell we're coming up to Ladies' 10K times, as we passed about three Jog Scotland groups en route. I vaguely remember my super-ambitious challenge when I signed up for my first Ladies' 10K way back in 2002. I surprised myself by running/jogging the whole way round. Little did I know that six years later, I'd be adding 90 miles to the distance. It's a fabulous event. And probably the reason behind the vast majority of female runners in the west of Scotland.

Anyway back to tonight. As with all runs, the session is pretty much driven by your brain. If I said I was going for a tempo run, I would have teared round the streets. As I was aiming for a recovery, my body was practically in hibernation. The 4.4 miles felt like a lifetime. Or as my dear friend Kas would say: "I ran like a bag of spanners".

4.4 miles in 38.27 (average pace 8.47). Splits 8.31, 8.34, 8.39 and 8.58.

*Stephen - he's been warned not to blog it as "usual very, very slow 5K run with the wife".