On running and dying

Amongst this year's London Marathon's mania was a tinge of tragedy. A competitor collapsing short of the finish is sad enough, that said competitor dies after collapsing is devastating. It's the second high profile running death in our close knit UK community of road racing distance runners in the last month. And it gets me thinking, of all sorts of things. 

Death does that, makes you contemplate life, reminds you of your own mortality. Even if just for a second you think "there but for the grace of God..." It makes you think how lucky you are to feel invigorated with cold-tingle are after a run through constant drizzle. It makes you push harder in your next attempt at running exactly the pace you want. It makes you thank your family and friends for their constant ungrumbling patience of early mornings, big appetites and full washing machines. It makes you donate a tenner to a charity you've been meaning to for ages. 

That's good right? Isn't it? Or should we be aware of those things anyway? Do we need the unfortunate passing of one of our own  to focus our attention? 

What I have noticed about runners is that - for people on the move - we're very good at spotting the little things. The sunrises and sunsets in winter that punctuate our runs; the sparkle of dew, frost, canals and rivers; the nod, smile or upwards grimace of a fellow runner; the slow increase in blood sweat and tears as each of us reach towards our goals. So many of us run for charity, support each other's charities and dig deep to donate. And more than a few of us have confessed to roaring, whirling, dancing, whooping, punching the air throughout runs -celebrating feeling alive. 

So what more can we do? Is it about spending more time with family, friends and other loved ones? Do we too often indulge ourselves with time on trail and road to the detriment of quality time with others? Or should we hit the road more to honour those who've passed before us; raise funds for the dead, continue their legacy and raise awareness of their causes. Is it about continuing what we do, answering the primal urge to move rather than sit, giving our mind the space to contemplate the biggest thoughts and tiniest thinks on a meditative long slow run and doing what we love because isn't that what life is all about?

The answer to this is both different and personal to everyone, and the more I've written this post, the more lost in thought I've become. I think I might have even had a point or a thought to share and that has got completely lost too. 

So instead I'll finish on the slightly lighter end of a sombre topic. After all, death is unavoidable for us all at some point, so we better make sure that until that while we remain alive, we keep living:

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows that it must out run the slowest gazelle or it will starve. 

It does not matter whether you are a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up you had better be running."

Rest in peace: Ged Clarke, Claire Squires, Micah True. 

Running for over 50s
Saturday 26 May 11am Parliament Hill Cafe.

What is it? A gentle 45min introduction to running with a qualified Run England Run Leader to raise money for the charity Freedom from Torture. 

Why do it? It’s fun – and running is cheap. And it can be great for confidence and mental health.

Can I do it? Yes anyone can run. It doesn’t matter if you can’t run very far, or haven’t run for years. This will be a gentle introduction with tailoring for people with different abilities and experience.

If you a heart condition, asthma, or any other condition where you are allowed to do light exercise then please come down. I’ll be asking for health updates before we start so I know who to look out for!

When I started running I could only run a little at a time and I wasn’t at all a sporty person. In 3 years I’ve finished three marathon distances, one ultra race of 53km and run a half marathon in the Arctic Circle. So yes anyone can do it! Check out the Goalden Girls for more inspiration. 

What will it involve? First of all it’s not like bootcamp or British Military Fitness. It’s friendly, fun and easy to achieve. We’ll start with warm up exercises in a small group before brisk walking, some light running, drills and a cool down. There will be variations for experienced runners and walkers-only.

What should I wear? Clothes you are comfortable in eg track suit, shorts, lycra etc are fine. Layers are best in case you get hot exercising but cool down quick.

Who’s running this? Rowena is a local group member at Hampstead and High Freedom from Torture. She is a qualified Run England Run Leader and has experience in helping people new to running become active.

Do I need to book?: You can email Rowenaharding@gmail.com or text 07985 198 770 to let me know you are coming. Feel free to contact me with any questions. This event is to raise funds for Freedom From Torture’s work so a donation of £10 is welcome. If you just turn up on the day that’s ok too.

Saturday 26 May 11am Parliament Hill Cafe.

What am I up to...

Yes I've been very bad at blogging lately and trying but not really achieving to back blog my race reports. So what have I been doing? 


Well we've had an ITB twinge, a gland inflection along with swollen glands and abcess (ew) and generally a Michelin-man-like inner body. Did you know humans have so many gland? I'm much better now but my kidneys, mouth and upper body still ache and throb. Currently I am chock full of antibiotics and have fancy French painkillers so I am swelling my way through testing my new Saucony Kinvara3. They are the light at the end of my tunnel!


I'm supposed to be running the Saracens Trail marathon on 6 May and haven't run a half since 1 April... And I would like to do Sport Relief's Mile swim on 27 April but I've not been allowed to get in a pool for a week. 


Training starts 1 May so I must be careful at the marathon to not over work any joints or muscles (ha ha) and in fact this coming fortnight where the temptation could be to squeeze in as much running and swimming as possible to prepare for those two events is only going to threaten an already weak immune system. 


So the plan is to pootle about running and swimming as much as I can for fun but not for endurance and hope my deep endurance fitness exists somewhere and will rise to the surface! And then cross my fingers for the swim - there doesn't seem to be any  major rules about how long you can "rest" at each turnaround. And employ a run walk strategy for the hills in Wiltshire. And eat a hell of a lot of Vitamin C and Zinc supplements. 


Wish me luck! Or most importantly, wish me good health!

For everyone doing their first marathon this weekend at Virgin London Marathon I have an additional tip to my usual top two marathon tips.


Numbers one and two are in fact, my race strategy and my race goal, as written on my hand for London Ultra! They really did help me get to the end. Smiling really hurts when the going is slow or you're in pain. Also when volunteers see it written on your hand - they make a big effort to make you smile!

Number 3 tip applies especially to London Marathon: Accept that you will be beaten by someone dressed as a rhino, a fairy, and most possibly a toilet. 

Marathon tips

For everyone doing their first marathon this weekend: Brighton, Paris especially here are my top two marathon tips, or in fact, my race strategy and my race goal!

"The getting back into training" training plan

"Ooh I'm a bit tired and lazy" should be my motto for the last few weeks. Where has my mojo gone? I'm keen to go out for a bike ride, run or swim, but I can't be bothered actually making the effort to get out there. And so the idea of even sticking to a spreadsheet full of sets, reps and bricks makes me shudder.

Some brief analysis otherwise known as lying awake at night suggests I am perhaps working too hard. Ooh I like this one. I had disciplined myself during ultra training to only give work "so much" and still more than adequately get the job done. Now it's over and perhaps triggered by a slow onset emergency that we're covering at work, I've sort of expanded to fill space and am giving more than I need to. Hence less energy at the end of the day for some laps of the pool or pilates.

So this weekend is bootcamp weekend. I shall:

• reset my work mind
• put training time into my work diary
• create a simple "back to training" training plan focussing on swim, bike and strength and conditioning
• reclaim the mornings (I get to work half an hour earlier than my boss and 1.5 hour earlier than my team!)
• get my bike ready for actions
• take up a month pass at the swimming pool
• so some fun dance classes
• organise my gym kit
• and get better at blogging as that helps me focus my mind.

Milestone are:

• entries open in May so I need to be pretending to be fit
• training plan starts in September where I need to be able to do the bike and swim almost distances in a pool or on a flat but with less intensity / speed / breaks

If I don't do this over this fabulous four day weekend we have got, can someone please kick me.

Thanks.

Back of the pack

I've got so many race reports to blog about that I am not getting any thinking posts done so here's a special edition blog because I was very moved today.

As you know, it's been five weeks since the Ultra, with a decadent holiday in between. I'm not in my bestest shape! And today I did my second half marathon since, with no training. I know, I know.

So I head off the start line, not in great shape but quietly confident that I know what I am doing. I have a painful stitch immediately. Ow ow ow. I start to drop back. After a mile my ITB bit of my knee is like a rusty knife. Ow ow ow times two.

I'm losing a lot of people and realise that I am probably last. I look behind me. Yep I'm last. In the spirit of Lisa / Run Like a Coyote, I make a joke about being last! Then after about 3.5 miles I am at my old house. There's a marshall doing a road crossing and I think "I am keeping these poor people out here, let them close the course and move on". So I stop and ask the guy if I can withdraw and walk back to the start, being as I am last. The marshall tells me I am not last. Another marshall on a bike joins him and confirms, I am anything but last. While I stretch my leg and work out my stitch I see on the horizon: the Back of the Pack.

Lately in all my races, I thought I was the Back of the Pack. I finish most mass events at the top of the last third. All I have been able to see is the two-thirds in front of me. I never imagined how many were behind.

As the Pack approaches, they are all shapes and sizes and ages. And they are trying their hardest and damnedest. And they inspired me. Yep, I sucked up the stitch and worked out a plan for the ITB and resolved to finish.

I ran the rest of the course, walking a little especially on steep descents and conserving my leg as much as possible. I didn't really lose position much and I actually felt bad; at times when my leg was good I could pull away from people consistently giving it everything they had, people dripping with sweat and faces contorted with effort. These people kept me going.

When I got near the end, the two marshalls recognised me and couldn't believe I was still going. But I could, because I'd seen the effort of everyone around me, and I knew that what I felt in my leg was what the people running with me felt in every part of their body and that we all had to keep going.

After the race, I congratulated the finishers around me. Then when I had my wits back, I went to the finish and cheered the people coming home. They came in on their own with big distances between them. Could I have done that? Hurting and unsure with no shirt in front to follow, no one bringing up the rear? Could I have kept going not knowing where the next arrow or marshall was? I was so pleased and proud for these guys and gave them massive whoops. I walked down the home straight to line the route and give them a cheer. And I got a massive lump in my throat because these guys were giving it their all. As I tweeted after watching them "Never diss a back of the pack runner; they are giving it their all too and they do it for longer". It's been the single most re-tweeted comment I've ever had and I am so pleased - running is the one sport where the man next door can run with a world champion. We must never forget that everyone starts somewhere, and never forget how much of a personal challenge everyone endures. Thanks for your inspiration today everyone who finished, not in front of me, but behind me! I would not have finished today without you.