Nike Women's 10km - London

I ran the Nike Women's 10km race in Victoria Park today! I went with a crew called Yarn in the City, and got a personal best of 1 hour 8 minutes for the time.

Nike Women's 10km in London

I haven't been posting many of my runs recently because they keep ending up being shorter than I intend, and there is something awful about that. I did do a few before today, and I'm sort of glad I kept it a bit easy, as I learned all about "race mentality" today.

Just a bit about 'before' the race - I signed up online, and had to go to Nike Town in Central London to pick up my race-pack, which contained my t-shirt, time tracker, run bracelet, instructions and guest ticket for one person to get into the race village. I didn't actually manage to get there, and John went instead - I could have picked it up on the day, but I didn't realise that was an option, plus I wanted to be ready. This was great, and made me feel a lot more relaxed about the race.

Lots of orange t-shirts at the Nike Women's 10km start line.

The t-shirt was what I can only describe as a 'puke peach' colour. I can only assume it was cheaper to make 10,000 race shirts in this fabric colour because few people would buy it. My colour taste aside, I now have a lot of affection for the shirt...it was quite something seeing so many people all around London sticking out like sore thumbs!

Nike Women's 10km

It was a fair walk to get to the race village, surrounded by the orange t-shirts and trying to figure out where to go for bag-drop, race start, toilets...I managed to figure it out, and was on my own at this point. Probably a good thing as I was being a little fussy about what I did, and while I'm happy to do that in my own time, other people would have found it annoying...

I started in the 'green' pen, which is basically the people expected to run the race in about one hour, or just under. I estimated my pace when I signed up (because at the time I still couldn't run 5km, let alone double that...) and was really worried that I was in a too-fast category! I can't run with less than 500ml of water if I'm doing more than 8km, and all my training runs are done with equipment as I don't have handy water stations dotted around London, so I didn't want to mix things up too much and change it around. I had some of my SiS solution in water, and was using a hydration pack John bought me with a 2l bladder in it.

We all assembled in our starting areas at 10:30am, and the event was definitely jamming along. They had some funky music playing, hot men on podiums showing us what moves to do to get warmed up(!) and it was generally very high-energy. Ellie Goulding was meant to be running, but she injured herself recently and couldn't - so instead, she did the count-down.

We got to "go", totally psyched and ready to go after nearly 15 minutes of motivational chat...and then had to wait for five minutes before we could actually walk to the start line, because there were so many people! I was with Alli, Rachel and Helen, and although I was trying to talk myself down, I couldn't help running fairly fast. The first km was done in 6m19s, while my average hovered at around 7minutes per km...ouch!

The Yarn in the City crew - Helen, Alli, me, Rachel (source)

I managed to get myself into a rhythm and just run after about 2km. I found it really disconcerting being in a crowd. Every run I've done since the age of 13 (when I qualified for a 1500metre race at Sports Day, which I then didn't run because I had a violin exam) has been on my own, just me and the road/treadmill and my music - so being with 9,999 other people who were running was a completely new and unimagined experience.

Alli and Rachel disappeared at 3km, and apart from keeping an eye out for anyone I knew in the crowd, I managed to get my head down and pay attention to my run rather than freak out about the people from that point on. I got lapped at around 4.5km by the winner, who is a runner with Team GB...she was amazing, and I noticed her because she had such an amazing figure... Being overtaken by people all the time was a bit disconcerting - no matter how much I tried to switch off the inner voice telling me it wasn't a race, I did feel like I was 'losing' a bit...I don't know how to change that, other than to do more events...

#werunlondon

There were periodic water and snack stations (big slices of orange), as well as loads of motivational and inspirational signage, and plenty of loos. The crowds were really supportive, and the course was nice and simple - flat, two laps of a really well marked area and stewards everywhere. I unfortunately saw a few accidents - one person behind me tripped and fell over, another lady collapsed and was being attended to by paramedics as I ran past, someone else was standing on the side of the course looking extremely upset and sore. The support for these people was also amazing, the crowds were attentive and it was generally a lovely atmosphere.

I got steadily slower, and really struggled between 7km and 8km, which I always find difficult! I was really pleased to get to the finish line. The day was heating up, I had drunk all my energy drink, and those last 600m felt like the rest of the race combined! There were big signs saying "600m to go", "400m to go" and I was really ready to just be done. It turns out that 200m is a really long way when you're tired!

I was so happy to cross the finish line. We were all offered bananas and water, and a little way further along the walk back to the race village, we were given tote bags with a little make-up box, popcorn, a nutty butter snack and a voucher for champagne. As you walked into the race village, you were given a necklace, an exclusive design (but it broke within fifteen minutes of me putting it on, which was sad and a mark of quality, not any rough treatment - I was just sitting still watching JURASSIC WORLD!!!).

We all collected a glass of champagne and met up with our partners. John came to see me and revel in my glory a little!

As I keep saying - if every 10km ended with a glass of bubbly
I would be doing a lot more of them!

It felt like it wasn't a huge deal before I ran, because my ultimate goal at the moment is the half-marathon. I was so nervous this morning, though, and the feeling of accomplishment from doing the race as a social exercise was fantastic. I can see why people get addicted to it - and I will not be stopping at the Great North Run, that's for sure.

We went out for a big roast dinner and I allowed myself a beer...now I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep before the last week of preparation before we leave for Australia in a month...

Much love,

Corrie xx

Run London: 8.22 km

Just to update you all on the earlier post. I went for my run. It was hard. It hurt my legs. I'm glad I did it. I ran down to Finsbury Park, along the Parkland Walk and down Highgate, getting spectacular views of London as I did so. It was a wonderful run for sight-seeing. I need to work out how to keep myself hydrated during my runs - 500ml is not enough, 1 litre is too much, and I don't want the burden of carrying two water bottles with me.

Anyway, I'm glad I'm back on track. Another 8 km on Friday - watch this space.

Much love,

Corrie xx

Motivation has left me

I've been finding it hard to motivate myself to go running. There are a number of problems, which I shall talk about now. As I write this, I'm dressed in my gear and ready to go. I have not yet had a cup of tea, nor have I eaten anything. I have to run 8 km, and I'm feeling very much like it's a huge ask at the moment...there are so many easy excuses to delay the start.

Craft Fairs

I exhibited at a craft fair this weekend. I did not have enough stock, so I spent a Very Long Time last week getting things ready. This made it very easy for me to think that the hour required to head out for my run was just too much. As a result, I didn't go running except on Monday. Bad.

My stall (in a very red tent) this weekend

Rain

With the end of May has come the April showers I was expecting in...well, April. The weather has been bad. However, I can't let myself use this as an excuse, I know that...it is hard to force oneself to leave the house with bad weather, though.

Phone

This is a bad one...so lame that I can't believe I used it as an excuse. But, I did. Twice. I lost my debit card a while ago and as a result my direct debits all failed. I was in a bit of a depression down-patch, and the first thing that goes is my phone-attentiveness. Before I knew it, my phone had been cut off. This meant no internet. Which meant no navigation when running. Which meant I could have got lost.

I have no words for the lameness of this. I do know I'm finding it hard to motivate myself. The 8km that I am due to run today seems a double marathon. I don't know if I can spare the willpower, the time, the effort. But, I'm dangerously on the verge of getting to the point of no return in my training programme, so I need to keep going.

Edinburgh Half Marathon

My very good friend Lucia, my brother and one of their friends ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon this weekend. I was super proud of them both - and it definitely made me want to motivate myself again (obviously not enough on Monday to force me to go, but baby steps). I am so thrilled for them, and I can't wait to see what everyone does next...

Lucia got a t-shirt and a medal! Whoop.

Speaking of Lucia, I have started a new project with her that you can read about here. It's to do with Harry Potter!

Maybe I will go now. Run Corrie, Run.

Now, the diet

I've got my running down. OK, I'm still missing the odd day or two - last week I did not go running on Friday, even though I was meant to do 6.4km on the day. I was working at a fibre exhibition and standing on my feet all day. After it finished, I went to a pub with a few friends and had a glass of wine. I was very good - I had one, then left in order to go for my run. However, by the time I got home and ready to run (I even put my gym kit on), I realised how sore my legs were.

Working at iKnit Fandango with the beautiful Louise.

I am so scared of injuring myself and not being able to continue. It has taken five months to get fit, but nearly ten years to persuade myself to persevere and actually get fit. I am terrified that I will overdo it, pull a muscle/get shin splints and struggle to continue. My brother has suffered from shin splints for a while - he is running the Edinburgh Half Marathon next week and has just had to take a fortnight off to try allow his legs to recover. I don't think I would be able to make myself run it if that were me.

To cut the story short, I didn't go for my run. Instead, I used a foot massager that John bought for me, soaked my feet in a mint bath (tutorial on how to do this here) and took an added rest day.

On Sunday I ran 8 km. I had an absolutely lovely run, with my pace right down to try allow me to get through the distance without too many problems. I ran through Highbury, down the most gorgeous streets lined with ancient trees that shielded me from the burning sun, through Highbury Fields and back home again. I had to stop in a pub to go to the loo for a moment, but that was the only break I took, which I was super pleased about!

I then went for a walk through Finsbury Park with my friends, and rather overindulged in the vino that night...so Monday, a 5km run day, was spent hungover and recovering, swearing off drink for the rest of my life. I did my 5km today instead, with increased pace to try improve my leg strength. I managed my 5km in just under half an hour - the fastest I've ever done, which was rather thrilling.

This week has been helpful because I have been reminded to listen to my body, but also to make sure I'm not eating junk! If it wasn't the wine on Sunday night, it has been chocolate covered raisins today that a friend left behind, or just being too lazy to make myself healthy meals and just eating toast. I'm feeling confident I'll crack it. This has been a good week for half marathon training.

Much love,

Corrie xx

The Difference a Waistband Makes

Today's post is sponsored by "A Knitter" who very generously donated to Mind to support my half marathon, which is the Great North Run and will take place on the 13th of September.

You know I've been finding this very difficult? Cramps, throwing up, stitches, pain, generally incredibly unhappy - to the point where I was finding it really hard to carry on with my training?

I booked a doctor's appointment for the 18th of May - next week, the earliest I could get it, on the advise of the local running shop. However (and here is the gratuitous information that I only include to keep the story complete) I was getting undressed one evening and realised the lines that my running trousers were making in my waist were very deep and red. Although I'm used to having marks from my clothing (you know like when you've been sleeping on your pillow funny and you get creases all over your face), I thought this was a bit too much.

John took me shopping on Saturday, and I bought two new pairs of running shorts. I could have gone one size higher, but got shorts with string waistbands two sizes bigger than my previous pair to make sure I had some wiggle room...try get that image out of your head.

I went for a 7km run on Sunday. I had no stomach cramps, but I did get a stitch, so I wasn't too thrilled about that. I experimented with my breathing a little bit, and fixed on a new rhythm - two steps breathing in, three steps breathing out. It eased the stitch a little, which was nice.

A 7km run, stopping to look at the drumming kids in Finsbury Park.

My 5km run on Monday had no pain again. Success! I did this running uphill as Newcastle, where the Great North Run is held, is very hilly indeed - so although my knees were killing me because I was using muscles that hadn't been run with for a while, no cramps and no stitches.

A Green Man statue on the Parkland Walk, a reused railway.

I ran again today, starting a new week of my training regime. I managed 6.5km without any issue - even though I went for my run at 9pm because I was feeling unwell for most of the day.

Tonight's run, I can feel my legs getting stronger.

I had absolutely no idea that having the correct fit on your running equipment was so important. I mean, I have the 'proper shoes' and a sports bra, but never thought a waistband would make me so unwell.

I hope this revelation helps other people out - I am so happy, and really enjoying my runs for the first time this year. It's only taken 5 months! The schedule this week is 6.4km today (done), 6.4km on Friday, 8km on Sunday and 5km on Monday. I'm really looking forward to my Sunday run - it will be the first time I've stepped up in distance for over a month. Hurrah!

Much love,

Corrie xx

Rain in Africa

I left Africa at the age of ten, born in South Africa and growing up in Kariba, Zimbabwe from the age of five. Kariba is a hot, dry place with temperatures ranging from on average 14ºC to 36ºC. I can remember the temperature hitting the 50's. The rainy season runs from November to March. The rain doesn't fall like it does in England.

You can smell the rain before it comes. This is known as petrichor, and is the smell of water hitting dry dust - we can smell it coming as it drenches the land as it approaches. A huge pressure builds up, and there is a lot of thunder, lightning, and thick, fast, heavy rain for short periods of time. Shortly after the rain has started, it stops. Danger of being hit by lightning aside, it is one of a child's great pleasures to run out into the rain and get absolutely soaked. It's such a novel experience that it brings joy, wonder and relief as plants are watered, reservoirs refilled and the burning heat alleviated for a short while.

The last time I went out in rain like this, I was 14 and doing my newspaper round in Devon, England. The rain was falling unusually heavily, and I took great joy in stomping in puddles, jumping in streams and getting thoroughly soaked, as I was stranded half a mile from home and unable to stay dry. Since that day, sensibilities have taken over - the knowledge of drying clothes, potential colds, brushing hair out, the discomfort of wet shoes.

I'm telling you all of this because today I got stuck in the rain on my run. It was liberating - I was once again feeling sick, and the cold rain brought relief from the heat that was radiating out of me. I was running in thick, heavy, African-type rain for at least 2km, and the memories that were invoked helped to distract me from the most demotivating run I've done so far.

Although my map says I ran 6.4km, I did not - I reckon I did maybe 4.5km of this. I phoned John from Finsbury Park Station and asked him what to do. I was throwing up, feeling sick, totally fed up and ready to give in on the whole thing. He recommended that I at least walk my 5 km, and if I felt I would be able to run again then I could do that. I rested for 20 minutes, then started walking, and eventually running. I had planned to cut the run short, I was feeling so sick - but instead, I added on 1.4km to try make up for the 20 minute break and the walking that I had done.

Tonks started licking me dry when I got home.

I stopped in the running shop on the way past and begged them for some advice. They recommended I go to my doctor - so an appointment is booked. I suppose it's not all bad, as I still haven't decided to give up. Yet.

Much love,

Corrie xx

Why am I doing this?

After rewriting my running schedule, I now have to do a long run on Sunday and a recovery run on Monday. At the moment, because the distances I'm going are not very far, my recovery run is 5km - it will eventually be 3km.

My long run this week was 6.4km. I discovered the Parkland Walk a few weeks ago, and used my long run to explore it more than I already have. I ran down to Seven Sisters road and into Finsbury Park, then joined the walk from there. The route was really pleasant, it was a glorious day, and I should have really enjoyed it.

However, I had awful uterine cramps again, and after 2 km had to stop in Finsbury Park and throw up. Again. I had eaten relatively close to my time of departure (about an hour before), but had left what I thought had been enough time for the food to digest. I did drink a coffee, which I don't normally do, and I probably hadn't had as much water as normal, as I had been bloody-mindedly knitting on a project I wanted to finish.

I didn't run the whole way - I walked for about half a kilometre while I was in Finsbury Park, because I was just feeling so sick, and again a little way along the Parkland Walk, because I had a stitch that wasn't going away as I ran. It was demotivating, that's for sure!

I did find an amazing abandoned station, though, and I forgot the pain relatively quickly after I had got home and had a shower.

Today, I did my 5 km recovery run. I approached it with...not joy exactly, but enthusiasm. I mixed up my 'normal' 5km route, and was feeling good until about 2km. I had a terrible stitch, and was just wondering if I should give up and go home, when I looked up and saw the "Mind" shop. I'm raising money for Mind when I run the Great North Run, and although I'm not normally one to pay attention to 'signs', this felt like one. I had about 30 seconds to catch my breath, then carried on.

Just after crossing Finsbury Park station, the stitch returned with a vengeance. I tried to run it off again, but in the end had to stop and walk for about half a kilometre again. I extended the run by a small amount in order to try make up for that, but couldn't manage to keep running until the 6km mark, which I had planned to do while walking.

Although I'm pleased I pushed through - and went again today after the awful run I had yesterday - I'm feeling a bit despondent about the cramps, throwing up and stitches. I am 'fit' - I did Couch to 5K and reached the 5km mark on March 1st, so I've had two and a half months of running 5km regularly...I've been trying to watch my eating and drinking carefully, trying to eat and drink the right things, and I regulate my breathing when I'm running, breathing in and out only when my left foot hits the road. (So in/left-right, out/left-right, in/left-right, out/left-right and so on). As mentioned in the last post, I use an electrolyte solution in my water.

I listen to audio books while I'm running so try distract myself from the pain, and I am mentally determined to get there.

If anyone has any idea why I'm finding it so difficult, please do let me know if you have any ideas! I will keep it up as long as my body will allow me to, but I am terrified of getting injured and not being able to train and therefore run in September. I know I have a lot of time, but the idea is to make it a habit rather than a one-off. I don't intend to stop running once I have done the half-marathon, but it sure would help if my body would work with me!

Much love,

Corrie xx