Event Number 8 of 40

Date: 21/02/2016
Run: Two Bays Ten
Distance: 10 Miles
Time taken: 01:34
Memory of Event: Hilly!

http://www.twobaystoughten.co.uk This was a scenic run along the coastal road from Weston Super Mare to the the next Bay, and back through the woods.

I was worried about this run, as it was 10 Miles, rather than the 10K’s that I had been doing. Starting on the beach, and running, on the luckily, hard sand, and then along the coastal road, I enjoyed the first few miles. Reaching around six and a half miles, my body and mind seemed a little shocked that I hadn’t stopped as per normal, and it was a bit of a struggle! Heading up a rather steep and long hill, through some woods, it became quite tough. It was quite a relief to reach the top, and then be able to run back down to the beach, and finish!

Thanks to Strava; http://www.strava.com for the profile:

 

Event Number 7 of 40

Date: 07/02/2016
Run: Longleat
Distance: 10K
Time taken: 55 minutes
Memory of Event: NO Mud!!

https://www.209events.com/uk-running-events

 

This Event was a beautiful run around the grounds of the Stunning Longleat Estate.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longleat.

In between 2 days of torrential heavy rain, and gale force winds, the day was perfect conditions for a run, much to our relief!  I have got used to small local events, with only a few hundred runners, so the 1500 runners, including Mike and myself was a little bit of a shock to me! After a slightly disorganised start, we off and running along lovely tarmac!! The run was very pretty, but we met with several long, relatively steep hills. However, I was able to actually run on this one, so I managed to keep a good pace all the way round, and thoroughly enjoyed the 55 minutes!!

Thank you again to Strava, for the Race Profile:

http://www.strava.com

Event 6 of 40

Date: 30th January 2016
Run: Warmley Forest
Distance: 10K
Time taken: 1:06
Memory of Event: lessons learnt in mud

http://www.aspirerunningevents.co.uk/project/warmley-forest-park-510k-event-saturday-30th-january-2016

This event started well, on nice footpaths, before the inevitable muddy field starts. It is the most frustrating thing trying to run on mud, you can’t get any grip, and your feet just slide out from under you, put that with a hill, and I am left trying to keep my feet just walking up.
Things I have learned so far while doing these Off Road Races!
1. Tie your shoes really tight, the mud wants your trainers, badly, and will try and suck them off your feet.
2. When you can run, run, if there is a path, or a bit of grass to give you some traction, then make the most of it and run
3. Do not forget your spare pair of shoes, and plastic bag to put your filthy shoes into when you finish (something I forgot today!)

This event was the first 2 lap course that I have done, so far, so it was quite nice to know what was ahead, in some ways anyway! At least I was able to stay on my feet!!
The profile of the run was a little up and down! Thank you to Strava: http://www.strava.com