Runcamp Intervals, Vankru Bike Fit and the Perform 5mile

What a fantastic weekend :)

Kicked off with Friday haircut, cup of tea with Katherine then a free Runcamp intervals session up at the sports centre with coach Ben. Enjoyed it alot - it's amazing just how much you can do when with a group!

Saturday decided not to do tri club as managed to book a bike fit slot with Vankru Performance Cycling. Cycled out to Lower Upham then three hours later I cycled home on quite a different feeling bike! Altered cleats, adjusted saddle and hugely adjusted handlebars and break levers position.

Babyshower, red wine then an evening of TV.

Sunday was the Perform 5miles from the Ageas Bowl. Awesome fun. Tri club, Runcamp, LRR and Solent Running Sisters buddies ahoy. Loved it. Super fun catch up and such a beautiful closed road route that finished with you running round the boundary - will definitely be doing this next year :)

The free calf massage at the end was ace in a 'that really hurts but I'm sure this will help' kind of way x

Platform Tavern for a huge roast, repotted plants then watched the Packers defeat the Lions.

What a top weekend.

Hurtbox session 19/9/16 - OMG, that was a tough one!!!

Richard couldn't make the session last night so i went in his place. I thought it might be good to spin out the legs after the 10k the day before.

What a fool.
Not a great idea at all!
It was so tough!

As you can see from the picture i kept stopping / giving up :) But yay, i managed the whole session - so much sweat :(

It was fab to see Suzanne. Really glad i went.

Ashtead10k - loved it as per usual.

Last year i marshalled this event as i was injured :(

This year i'm fighting fit and loved running it. Weather was good - dry, cool, not to wet/muddy under foot. Pretty sure my second 5k was quicker than my first one. 8-9km was tough. Last km was fabulous.

Yes i was fourth from last, 1:13.28 but i'm really delighted with my time and how strong i felt at the end.

Neice Katie did the 2k and apparently looked really strong so good for her. And mate Jade, this was his first ever 10k race - he smashed it - 54mins!! So proud.

Saturday evening prosecco with the girls was awesome and Anna & Amanda are both up.for doing the ashtead10k in 2017.

A really great weekend of friends, family and running.

Ran yesterday eve - first time since The Half

Monday and Tuesday after the New Forest Half - forget it, there was no way I was going to be doing any running. Plus everything I read said to rest :)

Wednesday I would have gone up to the track for Gary's LRR intervals session but went instead to the Winchester Science Centre with Vik and B for a talk on the Northern Lights.

Thursday while emailing Dave about the Packers / Bengals start to the season I suddenly realised I had to go for a run before I got to settled on the sofa. So I got changed and went out for 30mins. I ended up.running past the stadium, didn't realise it was our Europa league fixture so I did jog past alot of Saints and I think slSparta fans. Was warm and humid but so happy to be out running.

Home, stretches, shower, food, TV, bed. A great evening.
Oh and I also signed up.for the run leader course in Abingdon in October so I'll be able.to lead runs for my running club LRR.

Today I mainly worked, ate tea and watched TV. Quite knackered. Worked out I've worked 43 hours this week. No wonder I'm a tad pooped.

Ashtead 10k this weekend. Can't wait. Hoping for a sub 70mins but we'll see how it goes :)

New Forest Half Marathon 🏃

I'm writing this while sat in my arm chair, legs up, watching the NFL. I am knackered. And sore!
I'm walking how I'll be walking in 2046 :(

However,  what a fantastic day!

Cycled out to Brockenhurst - 12miles in about an hour. Met Toby at registration and enjoyed a good half hour or so with Toby before he headed to the starting pen for the marathon. He's hoping for four hours!

I then found the Runcamp tent and got myself ready for the half. What a beautiful route. I love the new forest, so pretty much anywhere will be gorgeous. The Ornamental drive round by Rhinefeld (sp) though is pretty special. I had to be careful when I jogged past the largest Redwood tree in the UK as I was running looking at the tree canopy and not where I was running. Hmmmm, done that before :(

Thanking marshals, chatting to fellow runners, loved that the drinks stations were staffed by brownies, guides and cadets - they were all awesome.

I felt great. Only walked at the water stations. Ankle fine. I was flying!! Well I was doing consistent 12min miles.

And then i got to ten miles. Eeeeeeek. Basically I stopped feeling fine and started feeling very sore and tired and achey and everything started to feel a bit painful. In fact just like the Weymouth Half Ironman it hurt less running than it did walking. Tough tough tough last three miles - but still chatting away, thanking marshals and loving the views :)

And then I had just a mile to go.

Stopped to hug Esme, Rufus, Karen & Jo while in the finishing straight. Then I concentrated on whooping, arms aloft as I crossed the line. Sub three hours. Bloody delighted.
2:50.17

So sore.
Hard to walk.
Loved the banana.
Back to the gang to cheer in Toby - 4:06 - what an amazing time!! Rufus and Esme very proud of their daddy.

Lovely half hour or so chatting while they headed back.to their cars. I then went back to the Runcamp stand to have my packed lunch and drink tea. Decided to cycle back around 3:30/4pm.

What a fabulous day.

24miles of cycling.
13.1miles of gentle running.