Becca, you have your basic qualifier and I KNOW you will improve on that.
For me, 33 miles in just under 6:12 at the SVN Cakeathon at Jeskyns Community Woodland - not my best, but okay. My vegan, gluten-free chocolate cake with chocolate-orange fudge icing won 1st prize in the 'vegan creations' category and several people told me they enjoyed it.
Preparation for Chester wasn't great as I had a week on holiday in Scotland, eating and drinking too much and then drove for 8 hours saturday to get to chester for a good night sleep in the carpark next to the race course..The weather was perfect and I did well for the first half before realising that most of that was downhill and the uphill was to come.. The last 10k was tough. My right thigh was not happy ( probably from the driving) but I knew if I could hold on then i could get my first sub 4:30 for a few years. Was so amazed to see Lowrez and his sign, sorry I could only stop for a short hug but I knew sub 4:30 was still on the cards.. You did really lift my spirits though and I came home in 4:28:59 so qualifier completed and a time to work on at Portsmouth in Dec.
Fantastic to read everyone’s run and cake reports, congrats on best cake Debra and to Marty and Seren on great runs at Chester and to Lowrez for his Chester support. I normally run Chester as (despite not living there anymore) I consider it my home marathon. I hadn’t really been looking forward to Chicago as I knew I hadn’t done the training (due to ongoing achilles niggle), but by mile 2 was my normal smiling self and enjoyed the run, took it easy and managed to keep running the whole way (did slow down to have a mini beer at mile 22 offered by the local hash harriers as was a bit fed up of Gatorade by then!) Was delighted to finish in 4:40 so a qualifier in the bag :-) I know SD was also running and considerably faster than me, so also has his qualifier.
Brilliant running everyone, I can't recall a higher number of qualifications in one day than this before! I think the best result though was Debra's cake!
Seren - love how you had time for a hug and still smashed 4:30
At one point a Comrades runner shouted "Why aren't you running it!" to which I replied "Not far enough mate!"
Several uninformed individuals thought I was a communist with my sign!
Well done Slow Duck - both the time and finishing! :-)
lowrez, that was a great answer to the question why you weren't running. I've been known to comment on XC races that they are too short - keep going for another 50K and I would probably finish somewhat further up the field of runners!
Well done everyone who got their qualifiers in at the weekend. No-one even skirting close to the dreaded 5 hour limit! Special well done to SD on the sub-4 after the run of DNF's
Wow, well done on the qualifications everyone! This forum has been active lately...
Quick update, like others, recovery continue to move at a glacial pace since Comrades. Since Goodwood I can't shake the tightness in my legs and I'm suffer from a lack of mobility that won't improve. I'm now thinking perhaps neglecting the maintenance pre-June might be the cause - my core work and stretching routine compared to previous years was definitely not the same.
Family has had a trying few weeks with my wife returning to work after 9 years and my son writing 11+ exams so it was nice to take him to watch Liverpool play this weekend as a reward. Sadly it was a fleeting visit otherwise I'd have definitely been up for promoting communist propaganda in Chester.
Well done on using your legs again so soon after that 26 seren!
Blimey Jar - so near so far! You clearly have a heap on at the mo though - well done in actually getting out to the footy.
My VLM rejection has come through, but I have quite a nice full zipped running top after donating my entry fee and have entered the couple of free competition draws for further chances at getting a place.
There's a 'Reject Run' being organised by SVN on London Marathon day - be a somewhat different experience, but fun (and dressing up would be fine, lowrez!)
I will be running VLM anyway for Asthma UK so despite being a reject I won't be able to make the Reject Run, I do plan to dress up - in Asthma UK's purple colours - not their provided vest - currently researching "famous purple women"
McHilly - I turned down a beer that was offered to me at Comrades last time because I thought it might upset my stomach. My last two long races (OCC and Berlin) I’ve gratefully accepted beers offered by spectators and it’s had exactly the opposite effect and actually settled my stomach. I think the fact that it’s not sweet helps. And it certainly got me up the last big hill at the OCC.
No VMLM for me, I’m hoping to be helping at the finish line again, so keeping an eye open for Comrades hats.
Comments
Well done Marty, great time.
Was so amazed to see Lowrez and his sign, sorry I could only stop for a short hug but I knew sub 4:30 was still on the cards.. You did really lift my spirits though and I came home in 4:28:59 so qualifier completed and a time to work on at Portsmouth in Dec.
Well done Mc Hilly! And very sensible to accept the beer ;-) Great to have the qualifier done, and good luck with that Achilles.
And well done Slow Duck as well.
27Aug Qualification Starts
16Sep Goodwood (M) justanothrrnr-Q3:54-PenD
16Sep Berlin (M) Running Rodent-Q4:44-PenH
24Sep Emilia-Romagna, Italy (IM) Peter R-Q3:48-PenB-Going-for-Green
07Oct Chester (M) seren nos-Q4:28-PenG, marty74-Q3:25-PenC
07Oct Bremen (M) Becca7-Q4-28-PenG
07Oct Chicago (M) McHilly-Q4:40-PenH, Slow Duck-Q3:57-PenD(or E)-Going-for-Double-Yellow
14Oct Leicester (M) Max2
21Oct Amsterdam (M) Mac3
20Oct Langdale (M) Peter R
27Oct Beachy Head (M) Debra Bourne, marty74
03Nov Thames Meander (M) Southern Snail
23Dec Portsmouth Coastal Waterside (M) justanothrrnr
06Jan Xiamen (M) 1owrez
17Feb Seville (M) Mac3
03Mar Tokyo (M) Becca7
17Mar Utrecht (M) Mac3
14Apr Boston UK (M) Terry48, Debra Bourne, 1owrez
15Apr Boston USA (M)
28Apr London (M) Becca7, 1owrez
02May Qualification and Race4Charity (PenCC) Closes
09Jun Comrades
Scraped a sub-4 (3:57) by setting off at 9 minute miles and hanging on for dear life.
Good to finish a race for a change - my last finish was Comrades and I was on a run of 3 consecutive DNFs.
27Aug Qualification Starts
16Sep Goodwood (M) justanothrrnr-Q3:54-PenD
16Sep Berlin (M) Running Rodent-Q4:44-PenH
24Sep Emilia-Romagna, Italy (IM) Peter R-Q3:48-PenB-Going-for-Green
07Oct Chester (M) seren nos-Q4:28-PenG, marty74-Q3:25-PenC
07Oct Bremen (M) Becca7-Q4-28-PenG
07Oct Chicago (M) McHilly-Q4:40-PenH, Slow Duck-Q3:57-PenD(or E)-Going-for-Double-Yellow
14Oct Leicester (M) Max2
21Oct Amsterdam (M) Mac3
20Oct Langdale (M) Peter R
27Oct Beachy Head (M) Debra Bourne, marty74
03Nov Thames Meander (M) Southern Snail
04Nov Soweto Marathon (M) Bike It
23Dec Portsmouth Coastal Waterside (M) justanothrrnr
06Jan Xiamen (M) 1owrez
17Feb Seville (M) Mac3
03Mar Tokyo (M) Becca7
17Mar Utrecht (M) Mac3
14Apr Boston UK (M) Terry48, Debra Bourne, 1owrez
15Apr Boston USA (M)
28Apr London (M) Becca7, 1owrez
02May Qualification and Race4Charity (PenCC) Closes
09Jun Comrades
Yes Comrades - I will be at 'The People's Race'
27Aug Qualification Starts
16Sep Goodwood (M) justanothrrnr-Q3:54-PenD
16Sep Berlin (M) Running Rodent-Q4:44-PenH
24Sep Emilia-Romagna, Italy (IM) Peter R-Q3:48-PenB-Going-for-Green
07Oct Chester (M) seren nos-Q4:28-PenG, marty74-Q3:25-PenC
07Oct Bremen (M) Becca7-Q4:28-PenG
07Oct Chicago (M) Mc Hilly-Q4:40-PenH, Slow Duck-Q3:57-PenD(or E)-Going-for-Double-Yellow
14Oct Leicester (M) Max Mladenovic 2
21Oct Amsterdam (M) Mac3
20Oct Langdale (M) Peter R
27Oct Beachy Head (M) Debra Bourne, marty74
03Nov Thames Meander (M) Southern Snail
04Nov Soweto Marathon (M) Bike It
23Dec Portsmouth Coastal Waterside (M) justanothrrnr, seren nos
06Jan Xiamen (M) 1owrez
17Feb Seville (M) Mac3
03Mar Tokyo (M) Becca7
17Mar Utrecht (M) Mac3
14Apr Boston UK (M) Terry48, Debra Bourne, 1owrez
15Apr Boston USA (M)
28Apr London (M) Becca7, 1owrez
02May Qualification and Race4Charity (PenCC) Closes
09Jun Comrades
Accommodation
Belaire Terry48, Becca7, Mc Hilly, Max Mladenovic 2
Hilton 1owrez, Dannirr
Blue Waters jkissane
Flights
1owrez BA/VA MAN-LHR-JNB-DUR ArrJNB7th06:30Dep8:55ArrDUR10:00
Terry48 AF
Quick update, like others, recovery continue to move at a glacial pace since Comrades. Since Goodwood I can't shake the tightness in my legs and I'm suffer from a lack of mobility that won't improve. I'm now thinking perhaps neglecting the maintenance pre-June might be the cause - my core work and stretching routine compared to previous years was definitely not the same.
Family has had a trying few weeks with my wife returning to work after 9 years and my son writing 11+ exams so it was nice to take him to watch Liverpool play this weekend as a reward. Sadly it was a fleeting visit otherwise I'd have definitely been up for promoting communist propaganda in Chester.
Well done on using your legs again so soon after that 26 seren!
Blimey Jar - so near so far! You clearly have a heap on at the mo though - well done in actually getting out to the footy.
My VLM rejection has come through, but I have quite a nice full zipped running top after donating my entry fee and have entered the couple of free competition draws for further chances at getting a place.
Belaire for us too
As per the list, I have a Good for Age place.
No VMLM for me, I’m hoping to be helping at the finish line again, so keeping an eye open for Comrades hats.
I wouldn't count myself as a decent runner but I might be able to rustle up a decent costume
Like your ideas Becca, but if its as hot as this year only The Count might be cool enough. Already looking forward to seeing RR at the finish