An off-road EPIC! Hazel’s view

Hazel

What an epic Sunday run. There is not much detail I can add after Gillian’s account. 20 miles across country, with the added difficulties of navigation (thankfully this only troubled me, and just slowed Gillian down), terrain (by which we mean ankle deep sloshy mud with surprises hidden in it to catch the unsuspecting blind runner), hot weather (this must have been the hottest day of the year so far, I got a suntan), and the unexpected issue of tourists on the path through the popular towns. Added to this Gillian had to battle with the fact that she had forgotten to take any antiinflammatory drugs for her horrible arthritis, so she was going solo pain-wise. The main thing in the second half of the run was the crazy bridges. They were unforgiving to say the least, and one of them was so far past hump-backed it actually went to a point then straight back down. It would have been funny if we didn’t have slithery, mud covered feet and four screaming knees…

We have developed a passable technique for getting moving again after a stop or walk break. Unfortunately these are sometimes necessary when you come up against pedestrians and other hazards, as well as for navigation breaks when your guide is a moron. But starting up again after stopping is the hardest thing when you’ve got over a dozen miles in your legs, and especially if you have arthritis. The technique involves me being completely unsympathetic and telling Gillian that pain is all in the mind, and asking her to resolutely focus on how she felt just before the stop. I’m working on a watered down psychology technique of visualisation, based on no scientific research whatsoever, but it seems to be working in practice. We also run with very small steps to reduce the pain of each heavy step, which is a technique from my barefoot running style. Two little hamster wheels is the effect I’m going for. It’s not stylish, but it is effective. If anyone wants to hear me give a sermon on barefoot running techniques, just ask, but you will probably be in a minority!

Anyway, we managed 20 miles, against all the odds, and I am so incredibly proud of my unstoppable mother. We crossed into the next County for Pete’s sake! What she didn’t mention is that she also had a rough fall, which really pulled at her ankle. I take full responsibility; I warned her about the dip in the path but simply missed the rock sticking out over the lip of the hole which caused her to trip. Hence the frozen peas at the end. She also didn’t mention that on arrival in Henley we were informed that the baby had been an angel in the car and had been sick, so she then spent an hour playing with us in the park to cheer him up. No rest for marathon runners. We did finally get a lovely break in the Chocolate Cafe by the riverfront, with absolutely necessary tea, and lovely sandwiches and soup. I would strongly recommend this cafe. The staff were lovely, the food normal and not faffy but excellent quality, they gave the baby some crayons and paper, and seemed very forgiving of the fact that we looked like lunatics with bright red faces and fell on our food like a pair of scavenging birds. To the staff in the cafe, I am truly sorry for the mud we left under our cafe table, and I hope you like the picture we left you.

An off-road EPIC!

Gillian

Another milestone this morning. Our final long run before the “taper”. I will let Hazel explain about the significance of the taper but suffice it to say I was looking forward to it. Hazel greeted me with an O.S. map between her teeth and a large rucksack on her back looking like Lara Croft, so I was nervous but excited before we set off on our final twenty mile run.
The weather was perfect and the route was by far the most varied and stunning of all our runs to date. The entire run was off road. We followed the Thames Path from Windsor all the way to Henley.
I had assumed we would be on a cinder track by the side of the river for most of the run. I was so wrong. The Thames path took us through numerous locks and weirs, several marinas and picturesque villages, boat yards, across open country fields, the grounds of a National Trust property and past hundreds of boats of every shape and size. We zigzagged from one side of the river to the other over steep wooden bridges. This was fun to start with but quite brutal on my knees by the end especially as at least half of the route was through slippery mud with challenging ruts under foot. It was so much fun though. We ran past many beautiful riverside houses with their own boathouses and moorings. Quite a few had their own tennis courts and swimming pools. Carpets of flowers dared do nothing but stand to attention and not a blade of grass blew in the wrong direction. Oh how the other half live 🙂 In some cases we seemed to be running through their gardens. It was very pretty. We even saw someone selling home made ice cream from their houseboat.

At one point Hazel made me stop to look up and directly above us was the most beautiful Sparrow Hawk circling around our heads. Just magic. I don’t normally see them but this one was so low I couldn’t miss it.

Some sections of the route were bustling with tourists and picnickers by the waters edge. Quite a challenge to navigate past. I’m told we got some funny looks as we weaved among them in their Sunday best since by now we were caked in sloppy mud up to our knees. The challenge of the terrain (and fear of an injury at this stage) slowed us down somewhat, but made for a fantastic run, one which I will store in my bank of treasured memories. I still keep pinching myself. I can’t believe I did it. Mind you, I was nearly on my knees by the end. We were out running for four hours and eighteen seconds, only having walked twice for a couple of minutes to take on fuel and water.
We managed to run through Berkshire into Oxfordshire. The run ended at a bridge in Henley and as if I hadn’t been punished enough, Lara Croft made me squat by the town sign for a photo.
We were greeted by my smiling grandson and Hazel’s running husband who was a real trooper and ran to buy a couple of bags of frozen peas to put on my ankle and both our knees. He also opened a picnic hamper with a large flask of tea and a variety of food. Who couldn’t love a son-in-law with a large flask of tea, an egg custard and a bag of frozen peas after running for four hours?
I went to bed thinking I would sleep like a brick but found myself lying in the dark grinning and reliving every moment of the run. I was buzzing. After a couple of hours I got up and did a few exercises thinking that would knock me out but it made no difference. I was getting angry now as Hazel keeps telling me that sleep is an important part of recovery but I just kept grinning and arguing with myself as to which part of the run was my favourite. Crazy. I think I eventually drifted off to sleep at about three in the morning. Thank you Hazel for a spectacular run and a very special day:)

Peaks and Troughs: a tough few weeks: Hazel

Hazel

Last week neither Gillian or I had the energy to write our blog entries. It was just one of those weeks where everything was a bit underwhelming. The plan was 5, 7, 7, 14, and we plodded through the miles, mainly recovering from our frankly amazing 20miler. We were both understandably sluggish for the first run back, but we started to get worried when Gillian still wasn’t back to her usual speedy self by Thursday. Huge relief by Saturday when she felt better, and Sunday went without incident. I messed up the preparation for the 14, so had to give my brownie to Gillian, so I was severely lacking in calories by the end and found it worryingly difficult to keep up with her pace in the last mile. Some of this is because we are still running when the baby naps, and the clocks changed sending his sleep into alien mode. So by the time we got running it was too close to lunchtime and I already needed food let alone making up for the calorie burn on the run. We also got caught up in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race, so we had a couple of specataor-dodging moments on the Thames path. We leapt manfully around hazards like old women with golfing umbrellas and men wielding toolbox-trays full of food to dangle into the river. It was quite odd.

Altogether last week will count as one of the troughs. Not dire, but not inspiring. Following that we did an uninspiring 5 and 2 to bring us through to Saturday. So it’s time to give this training plan a bit of a boost. I’m going for a multi-pronged attack. Determination, cake, beautiful countryside and an impending deadline. Baking on Saturday, planning only lovely countryside runs, and the terrifying sound of ‘1st day of Marathon Month’ pretty much guarantees the determination we need. Off we go.

Peaks and Troughs: a tough few weeks

Gillian

Tuesday 22nd March
Hazel changed our seven mile run to five after our long run on Sunday, which was a good job as my whole body felt as if it had been covered in concrete. She had warned me how tired I would feel after the twenty miler but I was still shocked. I felt so heavy. On top of that Hazel had to push the buggy as my husband was away all week. I think we were both relieved when it was over.
Thursday 24th March
We did at least manage to run the full seven miles today, although I have to say I still felt as stiff as a board and absolutely drained. I couldn’t believe it was taking me this long to get over the twenty mile run. Hazel’s running husband reassured me that this was normal after a heavy training week but I couldn’t help but think that Paula Radcliffe never walked around looking as if she had been dipped in a vat of concrete after her long runs.

Saturday 26th March
Eureka. The concrete feeling has disappeared at last. I had a good seven mile run today. I get the feeling it doesn’t take most people six days to recover properly after a twenty mile run but I will try and not dwell on that thought.
Easter Sunday 27th March
I thought I would cheer myself up on Easter Sunday. No pasta carb loading for me. A huge chunk of Easter egg was my fuel of choice last night and I must say I felt much better on our fourteen mile run today.
The route was lovely but the weather was atrocious. We ran off road and along the River Thames to Runnymede and back, through driving rain, wind and hailstones for the first fifty minutes. I had to listen with extra care to Hazel’s directions as we slithered along some sections of the route but it was great fun. There is nothing like having to battle against the elements now and again to help you focus. Not sure Hazel agrees. As a result we made good time.
Tuesday 29th March
Hazel changed our seven mile run to six today as I have a bit of a niggle in my leg. The run was o.k. though and as usual I settled into it after four miles. I am focussing on my daily exercises.

Thursday 31st March
Our final seven mile run in March was abruptly shortened by Hazel to a couple of miles tonight. We had to wait today until my grandson was in bed before we could set off today and the light faded quite fast. I think we are both getting a little nervous about possible hazards and the possibility of injury so close to the marathon. In addition to that Hazel looked absolutely knackered after a very hectic day. We both knew it was the right decision. Daylight runs only from now on.

Sports other than Running

Gillian

Wednesday is supposed to be a rest day for us but glutton for punishment Hazel, having been kept awake by her son all week with a chesty cough, decided that she missed her buggy fit buddies in the Great Park and set off for a gruelling training session for an hour. I thought thirty minutes of front crawl in our local swimming pool my suffice instead. (I am still trying to come to terms with my dismal attempt at strides on Tuesday).
By Thursday I was feeling more lively and we chalked up another six mile run along the river towards the Dorney olympic rowing lake. It is a route I really enjoy. It always sends a tingle down my spine when we reach the lake and can sometimes see rowers through the hedgerow. I had the pleasure of discovering in person just how exciting rowing is when watching Hazel and the running husband row during their time at Oxford. The unmistakable sound of the blades and the seats on their slides as they skim through the water is quite breathtaking. I can feel myself willing them on with every stroke whoever they are. I find it very motivational when we run past Dorney Lake now. I am transported back to the Olympics and it makes me pick my feet up. Sadly it doesn’t last that long. I am not that fit yet.

And now deer!

Gillian

Our Sunday twelve mile run was quite a challenge. Hazel had company all weekend and couldn’t run until 4.30 on Sunday afternoon. It was a lovely route through the Great Park and we set off at quite a keen pace so that we would be running as little as possible in the dark and not get locked in the park. The gates are at least seven feet high so I was keen not to slow down for the first hour. Little did I know that the worst was yet to come. The sun set was beautiful but it was now pitch dark in the Great Park so far away from any street lights and running through woodland. We made good time for the first eight miles through the park and just when I had stopped panicking about maybe having to climb over a deer gate with spikes on it, my running guide pointed out that there seemed to be what looked like a huge hedge in front of us that wasn’t there before. This didn’t sound promising. Please God don’t let us be on the wrong path or have to turn back. I couldn’t see a thing and a few paces later Hazel was telling me to slow down. In the dark, the hedge was moving and then I could smell them. The biggest herd of deer I have ever seen were completely blocking our path. Hazel suggested we walk slowly at this point and hopefully they would let us through and not stampede. Then she added that walking would conserve our energy in case we had to run for it. “In case we had to run for it”. Who was she kidding? Now I’m not saying that I wouldn’t have given it my best shot and I know I am a lot fitter than six months ago, but her faith in me being able to outrun a stampeding herd of deer was I felt, a little over-optimistic! Luckily for us the deer could smell our sweaty bodies and a few of them slowly parted. We walked as calmly as we could through the middle of them and then ran as fast as our legs would carry us until we reached the exit gate. What a relief. Hopefully this counts as my time trial for the month coach. And this was supposed to be our long steady relaxed run. I can’t wait for next week!

Dogs!

Gillian

Five mile run today. An unruly large dog decided we were more exciting than his two sedate owners who strolled along oblivious to the fact that their dog kept leaping up at our legs and took a particular liking to Hazel’s thigh. 100 metres of the dog chasing and leaping up at us and Hazel and I had had enough. Hazel decided to reprimand the owners on this occasion before she lost a leg. The male owner said that he was trying his best to control his dog. From 50 metres away….  Note to dog owners – please put them on a lead or just hold their collars when runners are trying to go past you. It’s not rocket science and it makes a massive difference to runners and their clothing! By the way, I love dogs. It is just thoughtless dog owners that drive me crazy. O.K. Rant over.

Long Run: Tether Trouble and Marathon Fuel

Hazel

We missed our Saturday run because Gillian didn’t get back from Rotherham early enough. We’ll try not to get into the habit of missing runs, even if they are short ones.

But it meant that I was even more excited by Sunday, so I planned an adventure. We drove to the other end of the Great Park and Gillian and I tethered up to take on the tourists and weekenders around Virginia Water and Savill Gardens. It was only 9 miles, but what with the wind and the obstacles and pedestrians, it certainly kept us both on our toes. Dogs are always fun, and once again I had to have a short sharp word with a pedestrian to ask him to call off the dog which was ‘playing’ with my ankles as I ran. Thankfully Gillian got away without canine entanglement so I assume I have particularly attractive legs….

I think once again the bright green vests came into their own and we were pleasantly surprised by how many fantastic mums and dads held the vice-like grip of parenthood on arms, anoraks and scooters to ensure we could pass without incident. Thank you!

We also held our first nutrition experiment. On the recommendation of the running-husband, we tried a Cliff Shot-Blok. This is one of the jelly cube energy sweet affairs. It was fairly easy to eat and run, and wasn’t vomit-flavoured, so I’m inclined to say it passed the first test. This time it was just to see if we could cope eating them, rather than test their energy boosting abilities, as the run wasn’t long enough to require fuel. My previous marathons have been fuelled by a combination of jelly babies and fig rolls, which I have always evangelically stood by, but I have to admit that these were a little easier to eat than jelly babies. We’ve got a 12 miler this weekend so I’ll try and dose Gillian with them again and see if we can beat her mile-10-slump. More marathon fuel discussion will be coming up, including some recipes for some of running-husband’s tried and tested marathon foods.

With tourists the whole way, often of the gormless variety, we were tethered for almost the whole way, so my right glut (for non-runners this is a way to make bumcheek sound more noble) had a little twinge, and Gillian is complaining today of a slightly more painful back. I’m hoping this is just that we hadn’t run together for a while, rather than that the tether is impeding our running style too much. Otherwise we’ll have to make the terrifying decision on marathon day whether or not to lose the tether once we are getting tired and rely and verbal guiding. Lots more to think about.

Derailed by a Baby: Hazel’s View

Hazel

This week was interrupted by the early arrival of my new nephew, Gillian’s latest grandson. So training midweek was on my own, and Gillian took a break from running to scamper about the country trying to help as much as possible. I decided, as head coach, that the rest would be more beneficial than trying to cram in midweek short runs amongst everything else she was doing. I know she will have been cramped uncomfortably in a car on long journeys, cooking, helping with the baby and generally being elf-like, as she was when my son arrived, so I know she has definitely got her exercise this week. We’ll call it cross-training on the running diary.  Anyway, I got a few midweek short runs in with the buggy, and then the weekend brought us back to earth with a bump.

Gillian coped manfully with four miles on Saturday morning with heavy legs and a look of exhaustion on her face, and then 11 miles on Sunday in the pouring down rain. We experienced the amusing feeling of elation at 9 miles which lulls you into thinking you could easily run another 10 miles, in the groove, kicking along nicely with no apparent discomfort. Then Gillian quietly informed me that the feeling had gone away at 10.5 miles and she was not quite sure she could run another two miles thank you very much. This was not a surprise for me, I always think it takes me 8 miles to get into the swing of things, and then then fuel issue comes into play, because by 11 miles we’ve been running for nearly 2 hours and we’ve used up all our energy stores; no amount of ‘groove’ is going to cover that up. When we get to 12 mile runs we will be travelling with food and water every run, so that Gillian can practice eating and drinking on the move.

Messing about on the river: Gillian’s view

Gillian

We had two good short runs this week, (three and five miles) nervously wondering how the impending arrival of my other daughter’s first baby would affect my marathon training plan. How on earth was I going to fit long runs in?  (I feel a little guilty admitting that now).
On Sunday 24th Hazel took me on a gorgeous off road seven mile run from Windsor to Runnymede to discuss tactics and calm me down. It did the trick. It is by far my  new favourite run. We only had one or two really squelchy sections and the lighting along the Thames path and the early morning mist rising from the fields was beautiful. When the path turned into open fields as we neared Runnymede the view was lovely, although it was a little challenging under foot in the long grass. My knees certainly got some exercise but didn’t complain too much. The good thing about this run was that my husband agreed (after I had cajoled him out of bed) to pick us up at the end of the run. There were two reasons for this. The first was so that we had a more interesting route and the second was that I had agreed to meet Reverend Rosie of our local church, St Andrews Clewer, after the Sunday service to discuss Hazel and I serving up a lunch during Lent to raise money for Guide Dogs.
We arrived back home after our run at eleven minutes past ten and the service at church started at ten thirty. Now, over my fifty nine year life span I have had to rush on more than one occasion, but this attempt for a sight impaired woman to get showered, wash my hair and get dressed and make it  to church all within nineteen minutes was an Olympic feat by anyone’s standard. I was also wearing a big topcoat, hat, scarf and boots as I ran. Rodger Bannister would have been proud of me. I made it to church with seconds to spare. The pews were all taken except the one on the front row. Typical. As I sneaked in and sat down trying to look inconspicuous I felt that my puce coloured face was probably giving me away. It took me so long to cool down that you could have fried a breakfast on my cheeks for the full hour of the service!