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

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

Week One of Serious Running Starts Now...

I know it's been a while since I posted here - I've been running like a demon, and am nearly ready to start my 'proper' half-marathon training. I finish Week 8 of the Couch to 5k programme today (I'm just waiting for the weather to clear before I go out) and then I'm on to the big cheese!

I've started running outside a bit - running on the treadmill is still easier, but it's also not realistic, and if I'm to have any hope of succeeding, I need to be able to run on roads, up and down hills, in the wind, blah blah blah... However, I have also been unwell, and am opting for treadmill over no run on days when my cough just won't shift and I don't want to spend an hour in the cold.

That said, John and I went to Somerset and Hampshire last week, and I had two absolutely glorious pre-dawn runs which saw the sun rising as I returned to our accommodation on the last leg. I'm so thrilled to be up to 5 km, and when I think "I'll never be able to run 21km", I have to remind myself that eight weeks ago, I could barely run for a minute at a time.

If you'd like to sponsor me, I am doing the Great North Run on the 13th of September 2015 in Newcastle. All sponsorship money will go to Mind, a mental health organisation that is doing great things! Go HERE to donate - anything helps, even £1.

Much love,

Corrie xx