Winter Series #5 - the wet and windy one

We've had every weather going for this year's Winter Series, this time is was heavy rain and strong winds with Storm Dennis causing mayhem over the weekend.

Saturday saw most of the local parkruns cancelled because of flooding or high winds, but the final event of the Winter Series went ahead as planned, well the winds had dropped a bit to gusting merely to 42 mph rather than the 56 we'd had on Saturday.

It was quite mild at the sports ground in Illmington at the start of the race as it's fairly sheltered by the hill from westerly winds.  The top of Lark Stoke hill was a different matter! the wind took your breath away and slowed everyone to a crawl.   The rain didn't seem too heavy but it was fairly constant and by the time the 10k was over I was properly wet under my waterproof (though some of that would have blown in and I had the zip partly undone most of the time as it was quite warm plus it's not the most breathable waterproof in the world).

2019 - 20 Hoody

Turning the corner and heading downhill with the wind behind me I clocked my fastest mile time of the year so far - doesn't count really when you're running down a 1 in 6 hill.

Not a big mileage week (just 21 miles) as I'd had two planned rest days, then skipped Friday evenings run on account of the bad weather.  That means overall progress towards John O'Groats has temporarily slowed a bit but still looking like it will be an achievable distance for the year provided I don't get injured.

RED January

I came across RED January at Parkrun - someone had a t-shirt from last year's event.  Run Every Day in January appealed, something different as I normally only run 5 days a week tops.  Some of it has been hard, but as they say 90% of success is in your head.  It's been cold, most days I've run in the dark, or the rain, or it's been blowing a gale - or all of them.

As an example last Wednesday I had two meetings after work the second not finishing until 9.30 pm.  It was nearly 10 by the time I got home and I'd still not been running.  If it had happened on 2nd January I'd have given up there and then and said it was impossible but on the 29th - there was no way I was throwing away 28 days of running.  

Quick change into running gear and head out the door.  Just 20 minutes and a couple of miles.  And Garmin gave me a new badge 😎 

Throw in Parkrun on Saturday and Sunday's 10 miler and I actually ran for 33 days straight.  

Total miles for January - 125.86

The Slippy One

Race 4 of this year's Tempo Events winter series can only be described as "the slippy one!"  It's normal to walk up the hills on this event but this is the first time I've also walked down a hill on a road race.  Now I need to wash the mud off my road shoes where I walked down the muddy grass verge.

On a different subject RED (Run Every Day) January is going ok, with all runs completed.  Runs on what would normally be rest days have been limited to 20 mins easy running.  I've also been focussing on hill repeats since the start of the year.  I'm not sure they are doing any good - I didn't get any further up Campden Hill today than I did a couple of months ago before I resorted to walking.

It's also been particularly wet a couple of times this week resulting in a good soaking while out running.  Still when you watch the Spine Race it all fades into insignificance compared to what those people go through.

Total miles so far this year:  76.54
Elevation gained this year: 1252m (Almost to the top of Mount Vesuvius (1281m)

Dennis

29 March 2004 - 31 December 2019

Mr D, Captain Diddles, who had the roughest, raspiest tongue in the whole world and loved to give licks and bite your nose if you dared to ignore him.

Never put an empty bag or a box down or you'd find Dennis curled up in there.

On a good weather day he'd be sat on the wall outside, getting strokes from anyone who passed the house.  He'd come to greet you as you walked down the lane, tail in the air and the tip curled over to form a question mark while meowing loudly to make sure you'd seen him.  

And when you stroked him he'd stick out his little pink tongue and purr away, then shake his head spraying you with slobber!

1000 miles and Christmas Day Parkrun

At the beginning of the year my goal was to do a virtual Land's End to John O'Groats.  That landmark passed at the beginning of October so I reset the goal aiming to cover 1000 miles this year.  Tuesday's run finished with exactly 1001 miles recorded.

Wednesday was Christmas Day and Christmas Day parkrun.  It was touch and go whether Evesham would be on or not as the course was underwater on Monday.  Tuesday lunchtime they posted a video showing one of the core team sweeping the mud and gravel off the path - Evesham parkrun was on!

It's a few years since I'd done Evesham parkrun and they'd made a few changes.  There's now a winter route which keeps entirely to the riverside path - good job as the course I knew had standing water on it still.  The path is very narrow and with runners going in both directions, plus dog walkers, over-taking is near impossible for the first mile - I think 10:10 must be the slowest mile I've ever done in Parkrun except for the time I was tailwalker.  Miles 2 & 3 were faster as the runners were more spread out and overtaking became possible.  

Another change was they'd tarmaced almost all the riverside path - and I'd worn my trail shoes 😖.  Not the best combination.

Now the next question - where to go for a New Year's Day double?  

Chipping Norton School Parkrun #1

A baptism of fire (or rather rain and sleet) for the first Chipping Norton School Parkrun.  I spotted it as it popped up as a new NENDY* in my Parkrun Challenges.  The photo, taken just before the start, doesn't show how cold, wet and windy it was to become within a few minutes!

Torrential rain had turned to sleet by lap two and marshalls were warning everyone to slow down on the corners.  The narrow and rutted Glyme Lane, linking the two halves of the course was deep puddles and everywhere churned to mud.

Despite the weather there were 149 finishers, most being tourists from elsewhere with just a handful of people for whom it was their first parkrun - who could blame the rest for staying at home in the conditions.

Not the greatest course in my view as there's too much running round the football field and not enough interesting bits to make it one I'd want to keep going back to - though in spring and summer the small woodland loop will be lovely.  But that's not the point of Parkrun - the point is to get people out in the fresh air, taking exercise and talking to each other.  On the latter it will be successful if the conversations at the first event were anything to go by.

Treated myself to some new sealskinz winter gloves this week.  They were certainly tested by the weather today.  As I expected in torrential rain the water gets through the seams if you're out long enough.  They are still warm but extremely difficult to put back on again once you've fished your bar code out of your pocket.

*NENDY - nearest event not done yet

Parkrun Tourism

A pre-Christmas family visit meant a chance for a spot of Parkrun Tourism at Crosby Parkrun.  It's another very flat course being on the beach, but it's not easy going as there is some soft sand and some compacted sand with deep ripples in it which don't make for easy running.  

Starting on the beach and heading east towards Seaforth the route gives a close up look at some of Anthony Gormley's figures in Another Place.  The look is so close up to two of the figures that they are adorned with hi-vis Parkrun jackets so people don't run into them.  One of the figures marks the turning point where you head back to the start before leaving the beach to run along the "promenade" to run as far as the old coastguard station when another 180 degree turn heads you across the car park and onto a very uneven grass path back towards the start.

Another Place, another Parkrun

Overall a good running week having managed to run 6 of the last 7 days with a couple of interval sessions thrown in.  26.36 miles for the week - though only 158 m elevation gained as most of the routes were quite flat (last weeks Winter Series #2 was 186m elevation in just 10k)

Winter Series #1, 50th Parkrun, and a very wet 51st parkrun

Three weeks worth of catch up's coming up.

First was the start of this year's Winter Series races at the end of October.  I'm not sure a 3 hour flight followed by a 4 hour drive to arrive home at 0500 after no sleep the day before is good preparation for a 10k so I definitely appreciated the relative late start of 1030. 

Despite a little hill (156m of climb in the first two miles) or two (another 30m at mile 6) this series of races becomes more popular each year.  The Stratford Big 10k only has 33m of ascent over the whole course.  

The race itself is around 10k though it's not a PB course with that little hill in it which most people end up walking at least part way.  It doesn't help once you get to the top as it's as steep downhill which hammers the legs as you're braking all the time.

The quirky bit of the race is that you don't get medals or t-shirts at the end but a packet of sausages (veggie ones are available too, as well as chocolate this year).

As the race is so popular parking is a bit of a struggle so I got dropped off and ran back afterwards - back up that hill I'd just run down - another 136m in the first two miles.  Only now I've got a packet of sausages to carry as well - not the easiest item when you're running.

The following week was my 50th Parkrun (actually my 51st as I forgot my barcode one week and didn't get a time - I'm not making that mistake again and now have a barcode in the car).

Obligatory 50th Parkrun photo

It had rained a lot the previous week and there was standing water on the course so it wasn't going to be a PB day.  It actually rained on the morning right up until the start of the run when it suddenly stopped for about 40 minutes before starting again as I was heading back to the car.

I wasn't so lucky on this week's Parkrun.  It was blue skies at 0615 and heavy rain at 0900 along with strong, gusty winds.  It's got to be the wettest Parkrun I've done, full waterproof jacket wet - I almost went for the waterproof trousers too though decided I'd just be too warm and stuck with just shorts.  Usually there's around 200 runners and walkers but this week there were just 65.  The small matter of a rugby world cup final involving England at the same time might not have helped.  The small field meant I got my best ever overall finish position at 16 this week.  

I've also now run at Parkrun at least twice in every month of the year and achieved a bronze level obsessive for 2019 (unfortunately I'll be one run short of the silver level even if I make it to every remaining run unless I can find a Christmas Day run nearby as well).  If I hadn't forgotten my barcode that week I'd have made it.

Total miles for the year so far: 865

John O'Groats

Reached John O'Groats in my virtual run and now heading back south.  The weather is typically bleak for the location, very windy, raining and cold.  Remnants of hurricane Lorenzo

Elevation gained: 10765 metres

New target is 1000 miles by 31 Dec.

Mud Run and Wildlife Parkrun

I've taken Scouts to the mud run a few times but I don't usually get to participate - usually too busy watching them.  This time there were enough leaders & helpers to be able to bring up the rear and have a go - got to make sure we don't leave them to drown in the muddy puddles.  As it had been quite a wet week and it was raining at the time there were plenty of muddy puddles and quite a few small muddy lakes too.  

The first tunnel wasn't too difficult, apart from the stench of decaying vegetation but any idea that you might not get muddy beyond the ankles was gone in the first second.  The trenches were great fun, muddy water that reached beyond the comfort zone and the pond reached right to the shoulders. Odd that the water and mud felt comfortably warm despite the rain and the evening chill.

This is after a swim in the pond!

Saturday was a wildlife themed parkrun and all runners were encouraged to wear a suitable fancy dress.  I'd seen some easy home made spider costumes so I thought why not.  A black t-shirt (worn inside out so the logos didn't show), black running tights, black running socks stuffed with bubble wrap, and a black hat with eight eyes sewn on and voila! one running spider.  Running in the costume was a little warm so I kept the pace nice and easy (though each lap was still 10 seconds faster than the previous one so good marathon pacing practice - only 23 miles to go) finishing 3 minutes outside my PB but who cares.  

As I drove out the site after the post run tea and chat two women who I'd been chatting to waved furiously and yelled at me to stop.  It seems I'd won first prize for the best costume!  Needless to say I had to put my costume back on and pose for a photo.

Running spider

And with that I've reached Wick and 800 miles running for the year.  Only 16 miles to John O'Groats then heading back south again.

Catch up

Just realised it's over a month since I wrote an update.  The highlight of this catch up has to be my PB at the Stratford 10k.  In 2016 I ran 51:34 which was a PB and I was pretty chuffed at the time.  The last two years I'd been handing out water at this event so I was determined to run it this year.  Based on my Stratford Parkrun time I was predicted to run 51:24, so just a couple of seconds faster.  

What actually happened was I smashed my target time and finished in 49:04.  I knew I was in with a chance of getting around 50 minutes at the 8k mark but I was shocked that I got so far under that.  Shocked and also worried that I was about to be spectacularly sick in front of all the spectators at the finish - I don't understand how you can feel fine while running but the moment you slow down you want to throw up!  

Two weeks on and now I'm worried that I'm never going to get anywhere near that time again.  Everything just came right on the day.  I'd done lots of interval work including working my way through McMillans World's Best 5k workout plan followed by the 10k workout plan (which I didn't quite manage to complete).  The weather was perfect too.  12C and no wind whatsoever.  Plus three days in a tent followed by hand digging 90 ft rows of potatoes is obviously the perfect way to spend a taper week.

Since then training has been a bit hit-and-miss.  I did start out with a plan to do some longer interval sessions in preparation for the Stroud Half but the reality is work and life have been too busy to make consistent progress with these.  Add in an enforced two week break in the middle of it and it's not really working.  I still might run the event but the chances of me being able to get under the 1hr 50 predicted by my 10k time seem slim.  

On a positive note I'm now only 25 miles from John O'Groats in my virtual LeJog.

Another PB

My local parkrun has been cancelled two weeks running, first because of high winds (they don't want anyone squashed by falling branches in the woods) and this week because of another event being held at the site.  Both times I'd headed off to Stratford which is a) three times as far to drive and b) flat as a pancake and mostly on tarmac paths.  The course also comes up about 200m shorter on my Garmin than my home event but it's still over the 5k.

The first time I ran at Stratford I took the first lap pretty easy as I'd no idea what the ground would be like.  I then sped up for laps two and three which resulted in me equalling my 5k PB.  This week it was less windy which also helped - no battling into a gale (though no wind assistance on the other side of the course either).  I tried to get a good start and while I was nearer the front I still got a bit boxed in.  Not that it mattered as I cleared the first mile in 8.00 mins exactly.  The next mile was even faster and mile three just a couple of seconds slower resulting in a time of 24:45 - I was so excited to get under the 25 mins that I forgot to stop my watch and had to wait for my official time! 😆

I've also had to re-calculate all my training paces again - that's another 5 secs a mile off each pace.

A few weeks ago I was thrilled that I'd got an age grade over 70% for the first time ever, now it's over 74% - next target 75%?  That will be tough on my regular course with the uneven ground, changes of surfaces and tight twists.  Might just be easier to wait for a birthday and keep running at the same pace

Total miles for the week: 25.93
Elevation gained: 369m
Le-jog: 706.28 (between Kessoch Bridge and Cromarty Bridge)

Messy Week

Some weeks just feel like they mess up your training with lots of bitty things to do.  This was one of them.  Out four nights in a row.  Monday and Tuesday were early evening starts so no running then.  Which meant five consecutive days running starting Wednesday which isn't good and the quality of the sessions suffered - especially Thursday's intervals which was only half as long as it should have been.  On the plus side the new interval paces are achievable without too much pain.

Friday was a run in torrential rain on flooded roads.  So wet that I'd worn my heavier waterproof jacket.  After the run I dropped it in the back of the car to drive home.  20 mins later a big puddle had collected where it had drained.

My usual parkrun was cancelled this week for a cycling event so I had planned to go to Stratford which is my next NENDY* run.  Only I overslept - doh!  So just a gentle three miles later in the day.

Sunday was an easy 10 miles to finish the week.

Stats for the week:

Miles: 22.72
Elevation gained: 331 m
LeJog: 641 miles (just over 1000km and halfway between Dalchalloch and Inverness)



*Nearest event not done yet

Parkrun PB and a holiday

Not content with two first finishers in my age category this week I smashed my Parkrun PB by 49 seconds setting not just a course PB but an all time PB (7 seconds faster than my previous fastest parkrun on a different course).  It's also the first time I've ever got an age grade of over 70%.  So the interval running is finally paying off.  My first two miles were within a second or so of each other, with the third being around 10 seconds slower.  So all I need to do is to run the third mile at the same pace as the first two and that's another 10 seconds off - something to aim at.

As a result of the new PB I've re-calculated all my training paces.  It's interesting to compare my current paces with those from January when I was just coming back from a very low mileage year as a result of injury.  My easy pace has gone from 10:05 - 10:59 to 9:11 - 10:10, with my interval pace going from 8:48 - 9:13 to 8:07 - 8:25.  So what was my tempo pace in January is now more or less my easy pace.

Not a particularly high mileage week as Scouts Expedition Challenge took most of the weekend.  Combined with holiday packing it meant no long run on Sunday.

Most of last week was spent on holiday in Cornwall, so some new running territory.  Some nice easy paced runs on the coast path and local footpaths.  Finished the week back home with an easy paced 9.5 miles on Sunday.

Totals:

Week 1:
Distance: 10.51 miles
Elevation: 68 metres
LeJog: 592 miles

Week 2:
Distance:26.26 miles
Elevation gained:  428 metres

Le-Jog: 618 miles 75% of the way to John O'Groats

Compton Verney Half Marathon

After the very wet Hilly 10k of two weeks ago the weather has done a sudden flip to very hot at times.  It was nearly 20 deg at Parkrun on Saturday morning.  Fortunately it had cooled down a bit for Sunday and was merely in the high teens for most of the Compton Verney Half Marathon.

This was the first time I'd entered this particular event having handed out water to runners for the last 2 years (Scouts were out handing out water again this year).  With one very short exception (where you run 25 yards down a road to turn round a bollard and run back again to make up the full distance) it's actually a really nice route.

The start is in front of Compton Verney House, now an art gallery and park.  The first half mile or so through the park's landscaped gardens is undulating before you get a long downhill section.  If you've studied the route map you of course realise that you're going to have to run back up this in the closing miles of the race.  It then heads off into the countryside along nice quiet lanes.  

I deliberately started right at the back of the field to avoid the temptation to sprint off too fast at first.  There is a small risk of getting blocked but knowing that you go onto closed roads fairly quickly it's not too much of a worry as there is plenty of overtaking room.  I then spent the entire race picking off runners ahead of me.  I find that's a far better way to maintain a good pace throughout than constantly looking at the figures on a watch.  Especially as it automatically encourages you to negative split the race - the further you go the faster you have to run to keep overtaking people.

The organisers, Tempo Events, put out plenty of water stations, including extra drops of water every couple of miles when it's hot.  There were even semi-frozen ice pops being handed out by a marshal this year.  Lovely.

The final hill isn't so lovely.  Although it's not actually that steep or that long coming as it does around mile 12 it's enough to drain the energy from you, especially if it's hot.  I decided to play it tactically and walk up the steepest section of the hill, knowing that it was then pretty much gently down hill to the finish.  The tactic paid off with the final mile being my fastest by a few seconds.

I'd set myself an 'A' target of under 1 hr 58 with a 'B' target of under 2 hours.  In the end I was 7 seconds under my 'A' target so pretty pleasing overall.

This has got to be the biggest and heaviest bit of bling in my growing collection!  The ribbon is about an 1 and a half across

This little chap is nothing to do with running.  I spotted him (her?) soaking up the sun on Saturday afternoon when the temperature hit 30C.  

Totals for the week:

Miles: 24.27

Elevation gained: 187 m

Le Jog: 582 miles (just past Kenmore)

Bourton Hilly 10k

This time last year I'm sure we were sweltering in a heat wave (though memory is a funny thing and not always accurate).  This week has varied from slightly wet through wet to very wet.  The weather theme was a continuation of the previous week where Parkrun had been run in a torrential downpour.  Tuesday evenings tempo run was merely wet in comparison.  

The slightly wet day was Thursday when it was interval training.  Although there was no precipitation falling from the sky it was very wet underfoot with rivers running down the roads.  And the second day this week of drying trainers.

I'd clocked some good (and consistent) interval times on Thursday and Friday was payback day with heavy legs and aching muscles.  The deadlegs continued on Saturday for Parkrun which had the added advantage of cold thrown into the weather mix - long sleeves and gloves in June!  

With a week of heavy rain the parkrun course had standing water in places which was hard to miss.  This week was an easy effort with a time several minutes outside my PB.

On Thursday the weather forecast for Sunday had been dry in the morning with heavy showers after lunch.  This optimistic forecast meant I signed up for Bourton Road Runners hilly 10k race.  The forecast remained optimistic until Saturday evening when it changed to light showers in the morning.  By Sunday it had changed again to heavy continuous rain and the conditions did not disappoint.  Waterproofs were needed to get from the car park to the check in.  

The start was marked by shivering runners huddled under a few trees for shelter.  The race started by heading up The Steeps.  As in previous times (when the event was known as Humph's Hilly Half and there wasn't a 10k option) I walked most of the first mile.  Despite walking I still managed to overtake a number of runners on the hill. 

The heavy rain continued until about mile 3 when it eased to a steady drizzle.  By that time I'd nicely warmed up and was finally able to take off my waterproof jacket.  

The last mile of the race was particularly unpleasant under foot with deep puddles and mud.  Plus the occasional car parked on the pavement.  By the finish I had mud to the knees and my socks and trainers looked like I'd done a cross country race rather than a road race - Muddy is a State of Happiness 😊

Based on my Parkrun PB my predicted 10k time (depending on which formula you use) was between 55 and 56 minutes.  Add in the need to walk on The Steeps and I'd told myself anything under 58 minutes would be good.  In the end I was over a minute quicker than the fastest predicted time which was very satisfying.  Which justified celebrating with a cup of tea and very nice piece of vegan cake at the finish - as well as changing into my nice new, bright orange finishers t-shirt.

The original training schedule (before I had the mad idea of entering a 10k race) said 9 miles on Sunday which meant another easy couple of miles just before lunch.  Overall a few miles down on the mileage target for the week but given the weather not too bad.

This week's stats:
20.76 miles
295m elevation gained
Le Jog: 530 miles - reached Falkirk

And a badge from a week or so ago.  Who knew there was a Global Running Day?

Disruption and another Parkrun PB

Some weeks just don't go to plan.  I'd scaled back my strength training a bit because it was taking too long and all was going well until Thursday when the car needed an unscheduled trip to the garage to get the brakes sorted.  An accident on the way home from work and rush hour traffic meant that Thursday's run and strength session just didn't happen.  I probably could have fitted a few miles in but on Wednesday I'd tried a more advanced hip flexor stretch.  It was very effective but I paid for it on Thursday when a day long meeting combined with 4 hours driving meant everything seized up.

Friday wasn't a lot better between heading out to buy new hiking boots and another trip to the garage when they hadn't solved the noise problem and strength training went by the wayside again, though I did get some running in while waiting for the garage to have a look at the car.

Saturday was Parkrun and another PB - the 4th so far this year.  A full 24 seconds off my previous PB and my highest ever age grade score, so I've awarded myself a big smiley star in the training diary.  I managed to get in a few extra miles on Saturday which mostly covered the miles I'd missed on Thursday, but then ran out of time for any strength work (and didn't get a lot of other jobs done either).

Planning for camp at half term and issuing kit took a big chunk out of Sunday though I did manage to get in an easy 7 and a bit miles.  It had to be easy because after yesterday's tempo runs my legs are feeling it a bit today.

This weeks stats:
Miles: 25.42
Elevation gained: 420 m
LeJog: 485.92 miles (Beattock - crossed the border into Scotland on Tuesday)

2 seconds

Second recovery week and started to increase the effort level on a couple of runs and a slightly longer long run.  

I had been trying to do more strength work but it's taking 45 minutes at a time to do everything which just isn't realistic some nights.  Will have to look at what can be scaled back a bit on those nights.  Funny how there's always time to do a hour plus run but strength work is so boring it just gets pushed out by other things, especially when it takes months and months of doing the same exercise to see any improvement.

Highlight of the week was Parkrun.  At the finish my watch said I'd equalled my personal best.  Usually my watch is a second or two less than the official time so I wasn't really expecting anything.  But when the results came in my official time was 2 seconds less than my watch and a new PB.  Not bad two weeks after a marathon.

This weeks stats:
Miles: 16.97
Elevation gained: 223 metres
LeJog: 460.5 miles (1.5 miles to the Scottish Border)

Recovery Week #1

A very easy week with only two runs and no strength work.  By Monday morning most of the stiffness from the Stratford Marathon had gone and it was fine so long as I didn't sit for too long.  Just 15 mins walking on Monday and Tuesday, then 20 minutes on Wednesday.  Thursday should have been an easy 2 mile run but I'd gone down with a cold so gave it a miss.

Then Parkrun on Saturday at a steady pace and a short trail run Sunday to round off the week.  Parkrun was fine with no problems with putting in a faster paced mile.  It was on the uphills on Sunday that it was clear that the legs still haven't fully recovered, just tired not sore which is good.

Normally after a long run I can eat like a horse.  To be honest I did eat quite a bit on Sunday afternoon starting with 500ml of chocolate soya milk and a protein bar at the finish, then progressing through toast, yoghurt, full cooked dinner, then hot chocolate and flapjack before bed.  Monday though I just couldn't face food.  Looking in my bag and smelling a banana at lunchtime almost made me sick.  My stomach was in a complete knot and nothing would go down.  This continued until Wednesday evening before I could really face food again, but the only fruit that appealed was apples.  So I'm still 1kg lighter than when I started the marathon although now I'm back eating again I don't think that will last long now.


Stats for the week:
Miles:  7.58
Elevation gained: 148 metres
LeJog: 443.53 (12 miles south of Carlise)

Week 16 - Race Week

Lots of travelling for work this week with a trip up to Scotland.  Not ideal preparation for a marathon with the travel, eating in hotels and restaurants and long days.  Good job it was taper week or I'd have got no training in.

Managed a couple of 3 mile runs along the Clyde - very, very flat compared with home.  

Saturday was a very chilly day as timekeeper at Parkrun.  Very glad that the strongest winds went through on the Saturday rather than during Sunday's race.

Sunday was very cold first thing.  Managed to hang on to all my layers until about 20 mins before the start of the Stratford Marathon, then bundled them into my bag and dropped them off.  Lots of people shivering on the start line then discarding clothing over the first couple of miles. 

Plenty of water points but the bottled water tasted vile.  Even flavoured with Tailwind it wasn't great.  But needs must ...

Also a lot more runners in the Marathon this year, so it wasn't quite running on your own once the half split off.  And some support around the course, except on the Greenway where you need it most.  At least I had my head prepared for the lack of support on lap 2 this time.

It wasn't the best race I've ever run (in fact it's my slowest ever marathon time 😢) Possibly a bit undertrained - certainly didn't manage all of the pace work and long runs.  Also started a bit too fast - easy done but it took it's toll later.  Was doing well up until about 21 miles when suddenly I ran out of steam.  It always happens at this point, perhaps I'm just not meant to run marathons.  Ended up running 300 paces then walking 100 until mile 25 which I walked just about all of.  Managed to save a bit for running in the park at the finish but my legs had gone pretty stiff by that point.  

Crossing the finish line was lovely, but within seconds my legs had seized up.  Struggled to walk to the bag drop and then to the car.  Have spent the afternoon eating and drinking - managed to drop 1.5kg during the race.  

As always a really nice finishers medal for this event.

Stats for the week:
Miles: 31.13
Elevation gained: 184 metres
LeJog: over half way to John O'Groats