On Sunday 15th October, I'll be taking part in the first Birmingham International Marathon.
With my two previous big city road marathons (Manchester and London), I followed a detailed training plan, incorporated speeds sessions, gradually built up my long run distances and went to the race start as prepared as I could be. In Manchester, everything on race day (except the course measurement) went according to plan. In London, the pre-race pressure I put on myself for a specific finish time got the better of me and the wheels came off at half distance; the rest of the day after the high point of Tower Bridge is just a painful blur.
I'd had the same idea in mind for preparing for this race too. I signed up last year with a discount code earned by running in the Birmingham Half, probably the furthest in advance I've ever entered a race. I'd planned 12 weeks of structured training following my Race to the King adventure. I wanted to see if I could get close to my marathon PB. But the best laid plans and all that... training started well but then a torn calf at Thunder Run and several weeks of not running have meant everything about the race will be focused on getting round. It will most definitely be a celebration of "finish lines, not finish times". My long runs have been limited, my speedwork non-existent but I've done my best to spend lots of time on my feet.
So with two weeks to go, I've been looking back over my recent achievement completing 53 miles along the South Downs Way at the Race to the King, to draw some inspiration for race day and help me to complete my next challenge:
Every race needs a start-line photo opportunity
The start line of the Race to the King was in a field at the end of a country lane and it was a bit of a wet start to the day. We got a little bit of shelter in the race marquee and of course posed for start line photo. Then it was the usual pre-race ritual of queuing for the portaloos, deciding how to many layers of clothing were required and pondering whether suncream would be necessary (despite the fact it was raining). It didn't all go according to plan - my Garmin wouldn't even turn on, never mind find a satellite, and my phone did the same. Thankfully, Julie's technology worked fine, so we have photos from on the route and a strava record of our run! I've decided I'll be running Birmingham without my watch too - mile markers will be enough to mark my progress and it will stop me obsessing about my time (hopefully).
Running is just one foot in front of the other
For a lot of the early part of the race, we didn't need to worry about getting lost or navigating the route. There were plenty of other runners taking part and everyone was in good spirits and happy to chat. The early part of route had some narrow sections and we were regularly running in single file, with no opportunities to overtake (if we'd wanted to). At the narrowest points we slowed to a walk, which probably helped to conserve energy, even if it felt a little bit frustrating at the time. At one point, we passed several groups of Sea Scouts on expeditions, all coming the opposite way along the trail and carrying loads of kit. It was a tight squeeze!
Even at top of the steepest hill, I can still smile
There were lots of hills like this one during the early stages of the race, but the hardest climbs were most definitely between miles 15 and 24. Each climb seemed to get steeper and the downs were almost as much of a challenge as the ups, if not more so, and a couple of times, I had to resort to sliding down on my backside. I just couldn't work out how else to get down!
And, of course, when you get to the top of the steepest hills, desperately trying to catch your breath and not collapse into a heap, you will always find the race photographers, waiting to capture the agony. But this time, we managed to smile.
If I fall, I can get back up
Somewhere in that challenging section before pit stops 2 and 3, I hit the deck. We were running through a woodland and the surface under foot was a little bit uneven. I was tired and still reeling from the endless ups, trying not to think about how tired I felt and how much further there was to go. I knew the next pit stop wasn't too far away and it couldn't come soon enough. And then splat, full on face plant, covering myself in dust and a bit of mud too.
Fortunately, I wasn't hurt and just wanted to get back up and keep running before anyone noticed. I managed the first part, but not the second - it was actually quite reassuring (if a little embarrassing) that other runners stopped to check if I was ok.
A cup of tea works wonders
The mid-point refuelling station actually came about 24 miles into the route. There were all sorts of food on offer, including cake, but it was the cup of tea that did the trick for me. The secret of ultra marathon running is regular fuelling, trying not to reach a point where you run out of energy. The frequent pit stops, and the extra support from Bryn and Millie Holmes, meant we didn't have to carry too much food and water. I can't really remember what I ate on race day, but it almost worked to keep me going. I think I ate a bread roll and I also remember trying something peanut-butter based that wasn't as appealing as it sounded at the time. A handful of Rowntree's Randoms at pit stop 7 was fun though.
Don't look down, look up and take in the view
There were some fantastic views on the route and some truly scenic locations - Julie and I sang our way through Queen Elizabeth Woods and paused for breath (and to take in our surroundings) from the top of Butser Hill. There was an Iron Hill Fort at the top of Old Winchester Hill and I'm sure we could see the sea at one point. We ran through picturesque little villages and got lost in the moment.
I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done
Julie's little plastic bag of inspirational quotes really came into it's own as we reached the last 10 miles of the race. We were getting tired, so tired we stopped for a sit down and a cup of tea at one of the pit stops towards the end.
We paused, refuelled and just sat for a bit - not something you can really do in a city marathon - but perfectly acceptable in the final stages of an ultra. We knew we would finish, we didn't care about how long it would take us to get to the end; for a few minutes, we just wanted to sit quietly, drink a brew and tape up a few war wounds.
But we didn't stop completely, we weren't done yet.
Eventually, there will be just one parkrun to go
With the light fading, it was time to add extra layers and some lights and draw on our inner warriors - 10 miles to go, then 7 miles, then 5 miles and then just 3.1 miles to go (it's only a parkrun from here). It was definitely getting tougher but we knew the end was coming soon - we could see the lights from Winchester getting closer. I was definitely running on empty, with barely enough energy to get the jelly beans from the bag in my pocket to my mouth. We left the trail and emerged onto country lanes, one more big downhill to go. It felt like we were running faster than ever before on that downhill (we really weren't) but soon we were crossing over the motorway and emerging into civilisation. We were joined on that last mile by a runner we had met earlier on the route, inspired by our lights just ahead to keep going and then catch us up.
We zigzagged our way way around the outside of the Cathedral to find our way to the finish line - it seemed like everyone kept telling us there was just one more turn to go! Eventually, that was true, which came as an amazing relief, as I really didn't think I could run any further; my legs were getting wobblier with every step and having to go down a few steps to the finish line was actually a big challenge - I looked down and fortunately didn't fall!
And then there will be cake!
Celebratory cakes made by the wonderful Helen Cumberlidge - every race needs to end with a cake!
With my two previous big city road marathons (Manchester and London), I followed a detailed training plan, incorporated speeds sessions, gradually built up my long run distances and went to the race start as prepared as I could be. In Manchester, everything on race day (except the course measurement) went according to plan. In London, the pre-race pressure I put on myself for a specific finish time got the better of me and the wheels came off at half distance; the rest of the day after the high point of Tower Bridge is just a painful blur.
I'd had the same idea in mind for preparing for this race too. I signed up last year with a discount code earned by running in the Birmingham Half, probably the furthest in advance I've ever entered a race. I'd planned 12 weeks of structured training following my Race to the King adventure. I wanted to see if I could get close to my marathon PB. But the best laid plans and all that... training started well but then a torn calf at Thunder Run and several weeks of not running have meant everything about the race will be focused on getting round. It will most definitely be a celebration of "finish lines, not finish times". My long runs have been limited, my speedwork non-existent but I've done my best to spend lots of time on my feet.
So with two weeks to go, I've been looking back over my recent achievement completing 53 miles along the South Downs Way at the Race to the King, to draw some inspiration for race day and help me to complete my next challenge:
Every race needs a start-line photo opportunity
The start line of the Race to the King was in a field at the end of a country lane and it was a bit of a wet start to the day. We got a little bit of shelter in the race marquee and of course posed for start line photo. Then it was the usual pre-race ritual of queuing for the portaloos, deciding how to many layers of clothing were required and pondering whether suncream would be necessary (despite the fact it was raining). It didn't all go according to plan - my Garmin wouldn't even turn on, never mind find a satellite, and my phone did the same. Thankfully, Julie's technology worked fine, so we have photos from on the route and a strava record of our run! I've decided I'll be running Birmingham without my watch too - mile markers will be enough to mark my progress and it will stop me obsessing about my time (hopefully).Running is just one foot in front of the other
Even at top of the steepest hill, I can still smile
And, of course, when you get to the top of the steepest hills, desperately trying to catch your breath and not collapse into a heap, you will always find the race photographers, waiting to capture the agony. But this time, we managed to smile.
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Somewhere in that challenging section before pit stops 2 and 3, I hit the deck. We were running through a woodland and the surface under foot was a little bit uneven. I was tired and still reeling from the endless ups, trying not to think about how tired I felt and how much further there was to go. I knew the next pit stop wasn't too far away and it couldn't come soon enough. And then splat, full on face plant, covering myself in dust and a bit of mud too.Fortunately, I wasn't hurt and just wanted to get back up and keep running before anyone noticed. I managed the first part, but not the second - it was actually quite reassuring (if a little embarrassing) that other runners stopped to check if I was ok.
A cup of tea works wonders
The mid-point refuelling station actually came about 24 miles into the route. There were all sorts of food on offer, including cake, but it was the cup of tea that did the trick for me. The secret of ultra marathon running is regular fuelling, trying not to reach a point where you run out of energy. The frequent pit stops, and the extra support from Bryn and Millie Holmes, meant we didn't have to carry too much food and water. I can't really remember what I ate on race day, but it almost worked to keep me going. I think I ate a bread roll and I also remember trying something peanut-butter based that wasn't as appealing as it sounded at the time. A handful of Rowntree's Randoms at pit stop 7 was fun though.Don't look down, look up and take in the view
There were some fantastic views on the route and some truly scenic locations - Julie and I sang our way through Queen Elizabeth Woods and paused for breath (and to take in our surroundings) from the top of Butser Hill. There was an Iron Hill Fort at the top of Old Winchester Hill and I'm sure we could see the sea at one point. We ran through picturesque little villages and got lost in the moment.
I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm done
Julie's little plastic bag of inspirational quotes really came into it's own as we reached the last 10 miles of the race. We were getting tired, so tired we stopped for a sit down and a cup of tea at one of the pit stops towards the end.We paused, refuelled and just sat for a bit - not something you can really do in a city marathon - but perfectly acceptable in the final stages of an ultra. We knew we would finish, we didn't care about how long it would take us to get to the end; for a few minutes, we just wanted to sit quietly, drink a brew and tape up a few war wounds.
But we didn't stop completely, we weren't done yet.
Eventually, there will be just one parkrun to go
With the light fading, it was time to add extra layers and some lights and draw on our inner warriors - 10 miles to go, then 7 miles, then 5 miles and then just 3.1 miles to go (it's only a parkrun from here). It was definitely getting tougher but we knew the end was coming soon - we could see the lights from Winchester getting closer. I was definitely running on empty, with barely enough energy to get the jelly beans from the bag in my pocket to my mouth. We left the trail and emerged onto country lanes, one more big downhill to go. It felt like we were running faster than ever before on that downhill (we really weren't) but soon we were crossing over the motorway and emerging into civilisation. We were joined on that last mile by a runner we had met earlier on the route, inspired by our lights just ahead to keep going and then catch us up.
We zigzagged our way way around the outside of the Cathedral to find our way to the finish line - it seemed like everyone kept telling us there was just one more turn to go! Eventually, that was true, which came as an amazing relief, as I really didn't think I could run any further; my legs were getting wobblier with every step and having to go down a few steps to the finish line was actually a big challenge - I looked down and fortunately didn't fall!
There will be a medal at the finish line
And then we were done. We crossed the finish line and got our medals. I don't think I've ever been so close to empty at the end of the race as I was at just after 10pm on the 24th June 2017. I just about made it round in to the Cathedral cafe and slumped into a chair. Incredible fatigue mixed with incredible pride - we had done it and I celebrated with two satsumas and another cup of tea!
And then there will be cake!
Celebratory cakes made by the wonderful Helen Cumberlidge - every race needs to end with a cake!
And that was Race to the King - the most incredible race experience of my short running career; it was exhausting, exhilarating, ridiculous and rewarding all at the same time.
Learn from your experiences
I've missed many training miles in preparation for Birmingham but RTTK has taught me that I can dig deep when fatigue hits in Birmingham; I know I will have lots of support on race day from the wonderful ladies from Potters Trotters too. I'm also going to be running in my Cancer Research vest, for extra inspiration, in memory of my Dad and in support of some very special people still fighting.
I won't stop when I'm tired, I'll stop when I'm done (it says so on the post-it note so it must be true).
Happy Running
LizT
Donate to Cancer Research here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/liztideswell200619
Yay! Fantastic effort!
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