Lakeland Trails Marathon 2014
I'd been trying to instruct my legs conditioned for proper endurance throughout this yr ready for the endeavor at an Fe distance triathlon inward September. Having had a lower limb disaster before inward the yr whilst attempting to run an ultra marathon, I needed to test to myself that I could inward fact run the distance. So, I entered what I thought was going to last a lovely trail marathon that skirted around the waterside paths of Coniston, inward the Lake District.
We arrived at the start inward plenty of fourth dimension for a leisurely coffee, as well as decided to wander on over to a scenic place to bask it: the can queue. The race was due to start at nine as well as nosotros silent had a adept 30 minutes. The queue, however, was non moving chop-chop as well as past times 08:52 I could experience myself getting agitated. I reached the forepart of the employment at 08:57 as well as felt much better, it was a worthwhile wait. Once I'd exited though I could withdraw heed the 10 2nd countdown commencing as well as pegged it across the champaign every bit fast I could. I was likewise late. The race started as well as I had to squelch downwards the border of the starting funnel against all the runners to instruct to the chip timing mat. The human on the megaphone excitedly announced that at that topographic point was a mad daughter going the incorrect way. I did a u-turn at the timing mat as well as got a massive cheer from the crowd, he therefore announced that I was his favourite, which was a really positive start to the race!
My innovation was to run easy. I didn't desire to ruin my legs for a calendar week inward the Lake District as well as I hadn't fifty-fifty genuinely trained properly for this marathon attempt. I'd missed my final 2 long runs alongside a calf/shin injury as well as I was winging it a bit. This innovation has already gone to pot every bit my pump charge per unit of measurement had sky-rocketed past times sprinting across the champaign to the start line, therefore I got all excited close getting dorsum to whereabouts inward the pack I thought I should be. As my watched bleeped for 1 kilometre I realised I was gasping, therefore I establish a steady-running friend, started a conversation as well as settled into a nice, gentle pace.
I had to ditch my novel friend at close 4km every bit nosotros reached the outset hill, I couldn't believe how many people were walking upwardly it. There were 2 entry categories to this event, 1 was a "challenge", which had started before for those who wanted a to a greater extent than generous cut-off, as well as nosotros were all inward the "race". Whilst I had no intention of genuinely trying to race a marathon, I definitely intended to run every bit much of it every bit I could! I picked my means past times all the walkers as well as was rewarded alongside a clear path onto a glorious, undulating woods trail which gradually built inward elevation. Eventually the trail led out onto an awesome descent, which was only scary plenty to brand it exhilarating but non scary plenty to cut back speed from total pelt.
The side past times side business office of the course of report was all tarmac. Steep, narrow province lanes led us through some beautifully picturesque scenery but the upwardly as well as downwards was relentless. At only nether nine miles in, nosotros reached Tarn Hows. For a mile or therefore every bit nosotros circumnavigated the tarn, I forgot solely that my legs were pain from hills as well as only marveled at the beauty of this secluded spot. I ran past times some other runner who was taking photos as well as ended upwardly running alongside him for a piddling piece as well as chatting close how lovely everything was. We veered off subsequently completing our lap of the tarn as well as pootled along some other hilly chip of trail before stopping at a feed station as well as having an unexpected conversation alongside a lady veteran close running as well as "jiggly bits".
After a really challenging 12 miles, the route turned onto a broad byway/road which was a welcome relief. The route was definitely non apartment but the fifty-fifty surface made for easier running as well as offered spectacular views of the boats on the lake from where nosotros had begun. From upwardly hither I could run across what looked similar a flat, fifty-fifty path along the lake on the other side. "That's what we'll last running dorsum on", I told myself, optimistically.
The route continued upwardly to the highest indicate of the course of report as well as therefore turned sharply off onto a really long, loose, rocky ankle-turner of a descent. It was therefore technical that I managed to lose a chip of fourth dimension on the downhill, but I kept myself going alongside the thought of an tardily provide leg. I reached xx miles at 3:30, only an tardily 10k home...
It was at this indicate that the race organisers became sneaky piddling menaces as well as decided to stimulate got us on an obstruction course. For the side past times side iv km I could barely run at all. We tottered around the border of sodden, mucky lakes, over trails littered alongside big, unloose rocks, over stiles as well as tree stumps a-plenty. Fellow participants were falling over left, correct as well as centre. Whilst the path had flattened out a tad, it was quite un-runnable for an unconditioned trail runner similar me. Trail-running downwards S is to a greater extent than only getting a chip muddied as well as occasionally beingness stung past times overgrown nettles, non risking life as well as death. I knew my legs were tired as well as my ankles were turning therefore I tottered really carefully over the treacherous terrain.
The final feed station was at close 3/4 miles before the finish. I was onto the Nuun hydration materials as well as asked what the flavours were. The volunteer gleefully told me that at that topographic point were "two flavours: brownish as well as orange", I volition never know what season they genuinely were but I volition country you lot that should you lot ever notice yourself inward a similar situation, you lot should ever avoid brown.
After hydrating, I managed to selection upwardly the measuring for a mile on a decent chip of trail before surviving to a greater extent than fallen trees, rocky scrambles as well as extreme tree beginning obstacles. Shortly before the complete you lot had to clamber over a blanketed pile of hay bales as well as then, every bit you lot could run across the big, inflatable bluish finish, you lot had to run a curt but mildly soul-destroying loop of the field. Luckily, the crowds were on cast as well as the cheering ever helps.
I was aiming for a 4:41, but was solely chuffed alongside a 4:56 every bit my outset proper marathon. It was a difficult as well as technical but fantastic course, as well as a fabulous introduction to running inward the Lake District.
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| Starting a piddling late... |
My innovation was to run easy. I didn't desire to ruin my legs for a calendar week inward the Lake District as well as I hadn't fifty-fifty genuinely trained properly for this marathon attempt. I'd missed my final 2 long runs alongside a calf/shin injury as well as I was winging it a bit. This innovation has already gone to pot every bit my pump charge per unit of measurement had sky-rocketed past times sprinting across the champaign to the start line, therefore I got all excited close getting dorsum to whereabouts inward the pack I thought I should be. As my watched bleeped for 1 kilometre I realised I was gasping, therefore I establish a steady-running friend, started a conversation as well as settled into a nice, gentle pace.
I had to ditch my novel friend at close 4km every bit nosotros reached the outset hill, I couldn't believe how many people were walking upwardly it. There were 2 entry categories to this event, 1 was a "challenge", which had started before for those who wanted a to a greater extent than generous cut-off, as well as nosotros were all inward the "race". Whilst I had no intention of genuinely trying to race a marathon, I definitely intended to run every bit much of it every bit I could! I picked my means past times all the walkers as well as was rewarded alongside a clear path onto a glorious, undulating woods trail which gradually built inward elevation. Eventually the trail led out onto an awesome descent, which was only scary plenty to brand it exhilarating but non scary plenty to cut back speed from total pelt.
The side past times side business office of the course of report was all tarmac. Steep, narrow province lanes led us through some beautifully picturesque scenery but the upwardly as well as downwards was relentless. At only nether nine miles in, nosotros reached Tarn Hows. For a mile or therefore every bit nosotros circumnavigated the tarn, I forgot solely that my legs were pain from hills as well as only marveled at the beauty of this secluded spot. I ran past times some other runner who was taking photos as well as ended upwardly running alongside him for a piddling piece as well as chatting close how lovely everything was. We veered off subsequently completing our lap of the tarn as well as pootled along some other hilly chip of trail before stopping at a feed station as well as having an unexpected conversation alongside a lady veteran close running as well as "jiggly bits".
After a really challenging 12 miles, the route turned onto a broad byway/road which was a welcome relief. The route was definitely non apartment but the fifty-fifty surface made for easier running as well as offered spectacular views of the boats on the lake from where nosotros had begun. From upwardly hither I could run across what looked similar a flat, fifty-fifty path along the lake on the other side. "That's what we'll last running dorsum on", I told myself, optimistically.
The route continued upwardly to the highest indicate of the course of report as well as therefore turned sharply off onto a really long, loose, rocky ankle-turner of a descent. It was therefore technical that I managed to lose a chip of fourth dimension on the downhill, but I kept myself going alongside the thought of an tardily provide leg. I reached xx miles at 3:30, only an tardily 10k home...
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A really happy finisher |
The final feed station was at close 3/4 miles before the finish. I was onto the Nuun hydration materials as well as asked what the flavours were. The volunteer gleefully told me that at that topographic point were "two flavours: brownish as well as orange", I volition never know what season they genuinely were but I volition country you lot that should you lot ever notice yourself inward a similar situation, you lot should ever avoid brown.
After hydrating, I managed to selection upwardly the measuring for a mile on a decent chip of trail before surviving to a greater extent than fallen trees, rocky scrambles as well as extreme tree beginning obstacles. Shortly before the complete you lot had to clamber over a blanketed pile of hay bales as well as then, every bit you lot could run across the big, inflatable bluish finish, you lot had to run a curt but mildly soul-destroying loop of the field. Luckily, the crowds were on cast as well as the cheering ever helps.
I was aiming for a 4:41, but was solely chuffed alongside a 4:56 every bit my outset proper marathon. It was a difficult as well as technical but fantastic course, as well as a fabulous introduction to running inward the Lake District.
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