Dirtrunning 8k - Ashridge

After a late entry, a hastily put together training plan and a shedload of overtime meaning I've struggled to meet every date with the trails, race day finally arrived. I woke to clear skies, bright sun and gentle breeze, perfect for a run in the hills.

About a week ago I got my race pack from Dirtrunning, as ever it was promptly received, the instructions were clear and the race number and (disposable) timing chip were enclosed. I always think of receiving your race pack as the most exciting part of your pre-race prep. I turn into a right girl at this point and start considering which kit to wear and what shoes would do me best.

But the days passed, the weather improved and race day arrived.

Ashridge is a huge forest not far from where I live and part of the National Trust. Getting there an hour early, the Dirtrunning guys were present and well set up and over the following hours a total of 173 runners arrived for the inaugural Ashridge5.

I didn't get pictures of the trail, it is a race after all, but the start line was about 500 metres downhill from the Bridgewater monument. As I lined up near the front, the usual sense of trepidation crept in. Was I too far forward? Would I be swamped off the start line and left for dust? Was I too far back and about to be swallowed in the masses? The trail on which the start was located was very narrow!!

Looking back at the crowd I saw someone I knew and went back to see them. At this point I realised I'd made a mistake. The crowd surged forward and I found myself a lot further back than I'd planned.

On the sound of the start my saviour arrived in the form of a Cani-x runner and his monster of a dog, who between them were cutting a nice path up the outside of the crowd. I nipped in behind him, took some creative approaches to the high banked sides and emerged onto wider paths much nearer the front of the pack.

Garmin showed the first mile passed in 6:34 and I was feeling strong, the Merrell trailgloves were exellent, finding traction and making me feel lightfooted, the perfect mix. Once out of the descending woods, the course skirts some fields and heads past a golf club, a welcome change to the gnarly roots and soft path in the first mile.

After levelling out and crossing a minor road, a few right turns opens to a vista of desending hills. The beacon hills are steep and constant and while I was still moving through the pack, I realised these could be my undoing. So I focussed on my training. On the step uphills I leaned forward, took shorter steps and found my rhythm. On the downhills I leaned forward and increased my stride. I was moving up the field better than I could have hoped.

Mile3-4 was nasty. The trails went back into the woods and up a series of paths with cut in wooden steps, they varied in height and length so the footfall was uneven and technical, but it was great fun and I really started to find my groove.

By mile 4 the course heads up one last and long hill, so far I'd not had anyone pass me and was aware that I'd moved up the field but no idea how far. On this hill though I decided on tactical slow-down. A fast walk, with two runners doing well to retake me, got me to the top, re-energised and ready for the last mile.

I got back on my original pace, retook the two guys who had done me on the hill and steeled myself for a strong finish. I didn't go as fast as I'd hoped yesterday, but the course was more hilly than I'd predicted. The garmin data  speaks for itself at this point. Once I'd seen this I was very pleased with the result. When I saw the published results, I was even happier.

http://www.racetimingsystems.com/public/results.aspx?raceid=1934

I placed 17th, inside the top 10% which is great for me. I felt like I ran hard and got a good result, which is what it's all about really. But the beauty of trailrunning is that along the way I saw deer, went through some amazing woodland and saw the beauty of the countryside.

As usual with dirtrunning events it was well organised and the t-shirt and medal were suitable rewards. Up&Running sponsored the event so I got a £10 voucher for them too as a bonus.

The location was amazing, great trails and right on my doorstep, couldn't ask for more.

Top marks to Merrel for the Trailgloves I was wearing and Garmin for the GPS watch, both worked perfectly.

A great run, a great day and now a bottle of wine.

For tomorrow, training starts for the next one. And I can't wait.

Just one day to go...

Work is over for a few days, as well as the normal family stuff I now have a day to prepare for the race tomorrow. Although in all honesty, I've been preparing for this for ages.

I can safely say that this is the race I have most prepared for in the two years since I took my first (difficult and awkward) steps into the world of running. I've run further and faster than ever before and am in the best shape of my life (yet, I have by no means finished).

DirtRunning are a local company who arrange trail runs of various lengths, this one is short at only 5 miles but is set in the beautiful Ashridge Estate about five miles from where I live and train.

The hills in the distance covered in cloud are part of tomorrows race.

So this morning's run was just three miles of loosening up, a few hills, a fats downhill section, but nothing too gnarly or difficult that I could hurt myself or go too fast.

The weather in this country is famously unpredictable, so after a wet Summer and a grey start to Autumn, it came as no surprise but with a great amount of pleasure that the sun was up, the air was fresh and the sky was clear. It's just the kind of weather I love to trailrun in.

I'm wearing the Garmin tomorrow to track my pace and the target will be 7:15 min/miles. This is fast for me, especially on unknown trails but I think it's achievable. I'll also be wearing the immense Merrell Trailgloves, the best running shoes I have owned.

So the plan is no booze tonight, lots of water, a nice light dinner and an early night.

'Cos tomorrow is race day, and that's my favourite day of the week.



There is no fate but what we make....

This week, while the countdown to a couple of events continues to tick along, I started think about all the things running has done for me over the last two years.
I've been introduced to a whole new world of sport which is always thought was inaccessible for people like me.
A sport which singlehandedly presses my nerd, adrenaline and weight loss buttons.
Through this blog and Twitter I've met and spoken to likeminded people who all run for their own reasons, but are joined by the fact that they all run.
I've learned the importance of surrounding myself with positive people, who support and empower my desire to run further and faster.
But most of all I've realised that for the first time in ages I have the self-confidence to know that I'm good at something and continuing to get better.

I've set new goals and have some great events planned this year, but most exciting is looking to the future with a sense of excitement in knowing that I have lots more miles to run.

So I've drawn up a bucketlist. I know some of these are easier to achieve than others, but I intend to complete them all.

*complete a marathon
*complete a marathon in sub 4 hours
*compete in an event abroad
*run in central London
*run an ultramarathon

This year I aim to tick off one of these by completing a marathon, but recognise that I have a lot of training to do before I get there. I'm still massively impressed by anyone who has the determination to go the distance and hope that I will too.

Training for the upcoming events continued this week with trails, stamina and hill sessions. Distance is back up to 9 miles and I've plenty more in me. The plan is to.increase in line with the upcoming events.
10k in October
Halfmarathon in November and
Marathon in December.

Who knows what January will bring.....

Two weeks to go

With a late entry into the Ashridge 5 mile trailrun a few things have changed in three last couple of weeks.
I've set up my own training plan which was ambitious but I've been sticking to it and working hard. As a result I've got back into my running stride in a big way.
I'm running five times a week. I'm passionate about improving my times and feeling positive about upcoming and future challenges.
But I think the biggest change has been in my mind. I've realised that of all of the ambitions I have about running the only thing holding me back is me.
I've got talking to some truly inspirational people recently. Some inspire because they have overcome adversity, some because they are capable of amazing things. Some inspire because they are at the start of their own challenges and they have all the passion and motivation that matures into stamina.
Inspiration comes in many forms and when you find it you should keep hold with both hands. Because when the distances start to increase and the hills get steeper, you need something special to keep you going.

New toy.

Started my new training plan today ready for the 5mile trail run in just 3 weeks. I've planned a mix of tempo runs, hillsprints, slow runs and fartlek.
And to celebrate and motivate myself I bought a new Garmin forerunner watch.
I took it out tonight for its test run and was well impressed. Incredibly accurate and clear to see performance stats. The best part is the amount of data that you can upload afterwards. Easy to read and some interesting feedback. Seeing your performance over 1 mile splits really encourages you to keep a pace. In this case I was looking to go slow and averaged 8:10 min/miles.

Wore the merrells again and felt light on my feet the whole way. After 2 years of trying out kit combinations I may have found the right mix.