Race Review - Adidas 24 Hour Thunder Run - 26th - 27th July 2014

I arrived on site around 9am, and found our pitch with ease thanks to the huge 'DERWENT RUNNERS' flag waving in the wind. I took 3 seconds to pitch my tent but a bit longer to drag all the crap I brought with me over to the tent. I'm only away for one night but i still manage to bring a whole months worth of 'stuff I'll need'. Once I was set up I put the camping kettle on and made myself and team mate a coffee and waited for the rest of the team to rock up. It should have been a team of 8 but a couple of last minute drop-outs put us in a team of 6.

The rest of the team slowly arrived with 2 of the Team having stopped on the way to sneak in a quick 5K run at the local Parkrun! Nutters! With the team now all assembled we sat out, in the baking sun, on camping chairs, chatting about the running order and tactics. It was a wonderful atmosphere chatting about running with the team and neighbouring campers. As we got closer to the 12pm gun time our first runner got into his gear and we all pottered to the start line to cheer him off, and scope out the transfer area. I was running the 5th leg and by the time it got round to me settling off we where averaging about 1 lap every hour.

Lap 1 - 4pm (49m16s)
It was baking hot when Matt came bounding round the corner, crossed the line and passed on the orange arm band baton, I set off at half decent pace and was cheered on by the teams and supporters who had camped right on the edge of the course. This added so much to the race, such an amazing feeling to have the course go straight through the middle of the camp site. Fellow runners and teams shouting encouragement and support right from the 'go'. The course is a stunning trail run, lots of hills, wooded sections, field sections and even some compacted gravel trails.

I've struggled with a niggle in my knee for a few years and this is always compounded when I run more than once in a day. So I overly concerned about this and didn't put in 100% effort in lap 1 instead I dialled it back to about 75% and just had a great time taking in the scenery and saying hello to all the marshals and congratulating every runner I passed, especially those brave enough to take on the 24 hour solo challenge! I was happy with a sub 50 lap and was even happier to Liz waiting in the transfer area, keen to get her run under way. with the baton snapped to her wrist she set off, and I headed back to camp to compare note with the rest of the team.

I didn't bother with any sleep in this slot between laps, instead i cooked some beans and chatted with the team and went out to cheer them off. The day was starting to cool down nicely and with an hour to go before my second lap I did some final stretches, checked my head torch and generally pottered about with a slight nervous energy.

Lap 2 - 10pm (1h05m53s)
I grabbed MORT (Mudstacle Obstacle Racing Tyre) and headed off to the transfer area to wait for Matt. There were quite a few 'Are you running with a tyre?' comments, and 'Why are you running with a tyre?'. Simple answers are yes, and I want to get better at 'carry' obstacles at races so this is great training for me. As Matt swept round the final corner he spotted me and the tyre snapped the baton on my arm and I was off. Running with a car tyre is pretty hard work on the shoulders but it is amazing training, It get sore and uncomfortable so i had to swap it from shoulder to shoulder and occasionally carry down my my hip. The wooded, tree root strewn sections at night where amazing. It took a huge amount of focus and rapid adjustments so get through safely. I love trail running and I think I love it even more at night.

The added weight of the tyre became a real burden at the 7km mark and hills forced me to a walking pace. Even though it was almost 11pm the heat was stifling and exhausting, the final push in the final kilometre was a really slog. But it was great to pass on the baton, drop the tyre, and roll her back to camp. I sat with the team back at camp as we chatted under the stars and glowing camp light for a while discussing all manor of random stories and adventures. I managed to get a couple of hours sleep in before my next lap but there was so much movement and noise through the camp site with people returning and setting off it wasn't the greatest sleep.

Lap 3 - 4am (58m07s)
The sky was turning a dark blue when I headed off the the transfer area, and I was hopeful of seeing a sunrise in my third lap. We had a few down pours in the early ours and it was still lightly raining as Matt swung around the final corner. Luckily he spotted me as all I could see was blinding head torches. I set off into the drizzle with my body still feeling broken from carrying the tyre and not enough rest. But it was good fun to be out on the trails again. The hills still hurt but it was balanced by hearing the birds singing their dawn chorus in the wooded sections and the delicate dark blue skys when out in the open sections. This was such a beautiful time of day to run. I didn't catch the sunrise but skies were stunning. I could of happily plodded out a second lap, but I had to pass the baton on to my awaiting team mate.

back at camp, team mates were milling around still and chatting. I was exhausted so had a catchup and some food before getting a few hours kip.

Lap 4 - 10am (51m00s)
I was up and about with a few hours to spare for this one as the sun was up and baking, everyone was chatting around the camp, so I joined in and had some breakfast. We had slightly fallen below the 1 hour average per lap, but were still on target for 24 laps which meant allthe runners will run 4 laps, which equates to a distance just shy of a marathon for us all (apart from the parkrunners!).

I left the transfer area around 10:30am which meant I had just under 90 minutes to get round before the cut off and let Liz complete her final lap. I felt pretty strong and freash for this lap and was running well. I walked for a while with a mate who was on his 16th lap in the solo category. He was hurting but in great spirits, and still managing to break into a jog. I had some Cliff Bloks with me which helped keep up the energy levels, and I managed to run the entire course apart from choosing to walk to chat with fellow runners and walkers. When I got to the final hill, which was quickly named 'PARTY HILL' as lots of people gathered here to cheer on the runners, and push them into a run up the final hill. I sprinted up the hill for the crowds and nearly coughed up a lung when I was safely out of sight. I mad it round in just over 50 minutes which allowed Liz to run her final lap. The team gathered on party hill and cheered all the runners as they came past. When Liz came into sight we all joined her for the final 500 metres and crossed the line as a team.

This is an amazing event, and incredible course, with an amazing atmosphere, facilities and organisation. I can't wait to come back ad do this again. The team I was in was great fun and never missed a transition. It was very funny watching runners come in, and not be able to see their next runner. Shouting their name became increasingly funny when other runners joined in the calls. My favourite moment was in the night time transfer and a runner came in shouting
"DAVE"
"DAVE"
Dave replied: "STEVE"
Steve: "Dave"
They were homing in on each other voices through the dark.
Dave: "Steve"
Steve: "Dave"
and then someone in the crowded darkness shouted
"I Love you"

This moment summed up the event for me. Light hearted fun with some serious running in between.

Race Review - Long Eaton 5 Mile - 20th July 2014

Due to this race being the optimum distance from my house and at the optimum time, I was able to have a great cycle ride through quite roads, disused train lines, and canal tow paths.

I arrived with plenty of time to lock up my bike pick up my race pack and get changed. The ever ubiquitous and helpful Derby Runner stall, or was it Nottingham Runner? Seeing as we are in the contested zone, with Nottinghamshire Postcodes, and Nottinghamshire phone numbers. But I guess we are on the Derbyshire side of the river Erewash so it must have been The Derby Runner!

Right that's this weeks geography lesson out the way, time for PE! I pottered about saying hello to the usual faces at local races and lined up near the start. Just before the gun went my sister told me to keep right and take the racing line on the first bend. Huh? Last week I was buying trainers because they match my socks and now my sister is talking race tactics for the starting pistol? Next thing you know I'll be doing my nails and she'll be growing a beard! I took her advice and went off like a scolded cat and kept the inside track into the first corner.

This was going to be a fast race and I was happy to be near the front of the pack and just settle into a steadying pace. The 16km cycle ride to this race hadn't effected my energy levels but had worked my leg muscles hard. So it was odd for my legs to be hurting this early on in a race. But this was a new challenge and I was quite enjoying it. As we exited the park and onto the streets of Long Eaton, the marshals were out in full force giving great encouragement and direction. The hardest part of this course were the 2 canal crossings on the road. These were small but sharp hills that really disrupted my pace and energy.

Once back in the park for the final kilometre I pushed on to try and keep a fellow runner off my shoulder and really opened up the pace on the final stretch to romp home in 33:09. I don't run 5 mile races very often, but this is the second 5 miler in a couple of months and it is a great distance. next time I'm aiming to get under 33 minutes!

This was a really well organised race, with plenty of marshals, a great goody bag with a pair of running socks, and even a barrel of real ale in the hall for a post race celebrator cup of beer!

Thanks to Nicola for the photo!

http://www.longeatonrunningclub.com/
http://www.derbyrunner.com
http://www.nottinghamrunner.com/

Strava:

Race Review - Tara Kinder Memorial 10km - 18th July 2014

It was going to be another HOT evening of racing.

The car park was almost full when we arrived and when we finally found a spot and paid for a parking ticket I left the other half and little 'un to go grab my timing chip and meet up with the rest of the team, have a quick warm up and stretch before heading towards the start line. I was feeling I little more confident this year and stood half a dozen rows back from the start line.

As the gun went it was a mix of runners and I tried to get out in front of as many as possible, slowly working my way through the pack. It was a good pace and after the first 500 metres I settled down at the back of a pack of runners. The pack was moving well and not thinning down and I hung on to the back of this mini peleton for the first 1500 meters. I soon realised looking around the class of the runners in this pack. I started recognising runners from Parkrun who beat me by a good 3 or 4 minutes. Faces I recognise from Facebook with their 'Just won this race' or post photos of their Garmins (which I always assume are Photoshoped to show such rapid pace). If didn't take long for me to get dropped off the back. But it was great running for 15% of the course with the super whippets.

As I watched the whippeleton cruise away, I carried on with my grinding away, I was slowly being overtaken by other runners, but I knew I had gone out too fast, as always, and would suffer for the rest of the course. Still, it was a beautiful evening in a beautiful park and the marshals and supporters were out in force cheering all the runners on. The first lap was a killer and it was hard not to quit after one lap. But I took on some water and continued on to the 2nd lap.

The second lap was a simple case of keeping my head down and slogging through the heat telling myself I was saving something for the final lap. I was still slowly dropping places, but keeping them in my sights for longer. Was nice to see the family on the second lap and managed to offload my sunglasses as I ran past. As I hit the water station for the second time and started the third lap I was struggling.

The third lap was slightly easier than the second. I now know that I'm on the home straight with only 3 and a bit kilometres to go. The heat has only got worse and I'm struggling with energy levels, but a few mini races with other runners keeps me focused and keeps up my pace. As I get inside the final kilometre I try and increase the pace and maintain my position and start my final push with 200 metres to go. It was a hot and heavy final 200 metres but I managed to keep any runners from beating me in this final stretch.

Things went a bit dizzy once I had finished and crossed the line, so I rested under a large tree in the shade until I felt steady enough to make my way to the water table and collect my t-shirt. A really great race that raises a lot of money for a great charity and cause.

Thanks to Robert Lane for the photo

http://www.tarakinder10k.co.uk/
http://www.derbyrunner.com/

Srava:

Race Review - Crich monument Race - 12th July 2014

This is my second year running at Crich Monument race, so I knew what to expect, and with the weather similar to last year, it was all about the hills and the heat.

Today was my sister's birthday so we headed down to Parkrun in the morning for a nice 5km run with coffee and cola afterwards. A few of the Parkrun regulars were heading up to Crich in the afternoon so there was a nice buzz around the Darley Park cafe in anticipation of the afternoon's main event.

After a light lunch at home and some time to chill out and drink lots of water we headed up to Crich, it was a well attended event with a busy car park and lots of runners and fete goers milling around the streets. We mustered at the start line and awaited the vuvuzela to start the race. From the gun it was a steady up hill climbing out of the village I made may way through a few people but found a steady pack to run with. Once through a few styles and fields the route started its epic descent.

I could run for hours like this. Fast, twisting single track paths with rocks, tree stumps, shrubbery and patches of mud to negotiate. It was stunningly beautiful, very little room for overtaking but the small pack of about 5 or 6 runners were all running at the same flowing pace. It was great fun picking a path when you are right on the shoulder of the runner in front. You have to trust them to make good decisions and keep the pace, because if they suddenly stop or stumble I wont have time to stop myself. Once the excitement of the downhill section abated it was on the long drag of the tow path.

On any other race, this scenic, bridge strew, tow path would be a delight to run on, but today this is the dull drag part of the race, sandwiched between the opening thrill ride descent, and the closing cardiac climbs. Today the flat run didn't seem to long. Probably because I was managing to keep a good pace and take a few positions too. This was great racing, really enjoyable watching the runners exchanging positions and pressing hard to try keep the positions they had worked so hard to get.

Now it gets very serious. Up and over the canal bridge and we are on the way up. A few jokes between runners as we face the first woodland hill climb. It's hard, and the legs are really feeling the pressure, lots of runners are now swapping between running and walking, but never stopping. As the woodland ends and the course opens up onto a grassy hill, and I'm forced to walk. Walking is just as quick as running, and slightly less energy sapping. It's a long demoralising climb, but rewarded with a short downhill burst on the tarmac road. A generous and welcoming home owner stands at the foot of their garden with their hosepipe spraying runners with a cooling shower. This marks the final water station and the final big climb up to the monument its self.

This final uphill slog on a narrow well walked path, flanked on both side with tall grass is tough, but keeping my sights on the giant beacon, as it comes closer and more impressive. Once at the monument I am safe in the knowledge that it is about 1km of downhill and flat roads, fields and churchyards to the finish. I open up my legs and start picking up some speed. I thought I was running pretty quick until a Parkrunner I recognised came blistering down the road at full tilt. I managed to reel him back in on the flat ground and sneaked past him at the churchyard after a little confusion with a gate. Marshals were thick on the ground now, making sure no one takes a wrong turn in the final 800 meters. I still have some energy left and press hard. I'm not going to catch anyone infront of me but I make gain a few seconds on the clock.

I cross the line and feel amazing. What a great race, what an amazing place to finish, right in the middle of a village fete. I take a couple of minutes in the shade to look through the goody bag, with a very tasty beer inside, and a few vouchers, and a bonus t-shirt and extra beer for 'best beard of the day'. I grab some water and then wonder back on to the course to keep a marshal company and cheer on the rest of the runners and wait for Rob and my sister to finish.

Thanks to Dean W's other half for the photo!

http://crichmonumentrace.co.uk/

Race Review - Colin Potter 10km - 4th July 2014

When I arrived at Haslams Rugby club it was a bit drizzly so i kept my winter coat on and wondered over to registration and to chat with my team mates. There was a lot of runners from Team Derby Runner and also a lot of supporters who were not running through injury or because they were marshalling. We hid from the rain in the Team Derby Runner tent / shop / team HQ. This was a bad idea as I purchased a new pair of running shoes! But they were on sale and they did match my socks. OH MY GOD! I've turned into my sister, impulse shoe buying based on what colour my socks are! I did 'need' a new pair of road running shoes as my current pair are giving me blisters and really sore feet.

So once I had stashed my new trainers and coat in the car I hung around the start line, usually I hang about the middle of the pack I fight my way through the runners at the start of the race. But today I was feeling a little more confident and parked myself about 5 or 6 rows back from the from and happily chatted away to other runners.

The gun went and I went off at my usual 'run as fast as you can to avoid bottle necks at the first obstacle' tactic kicked. I always do this even though it's not an obstacle race! But it does help being nearer the front on road races to help negotiate the opening twists and turns and getting past slower runners. I was pushing pretty hard and the pack thinned out pretty quick, I was running along side a few other runners as we hit the first hill. A short steep little blighter, and having a couple of other runners by my side forced me to maintain the pace. The course drifted through the hills of the park and I was feeling fast and strong. Even a few switch back turns didn't slow me down.

The course takes the river path and flattens out nicely, my paces seems to be hold quite well as we cross the bridge and head back towards the park. Once inside the park and on the beautiful tree lined avenue the surface is a little slippery from the race and you can just feel a slight amount of give on every stride. It's nothing big just a slight distraction. As we reach the half way point and the water station I spot my sister marshalling and go to take water from her, but she ends up grabbing an extra cup and throwing right in my faces. She 'helpfully' passes me the other cup and I take a few sips and continue onto the second lap.

I checked my watch and my pace was an average 4:05 minute kilometres. I was pretty stoked and surprised I was running at this pace, but also meant I was getting close to my elusive sub 40 minute 10 kilometre time. The second lap was tougher and 5 or 6 runners came past me on the hilly sections but I managed to keep them in my sights and carry on pushing hard. One moment of note on the second lap was on the river section were a small group of local youths were giving runners a bit of verbal, it was a little unpleasant, and if I hadn't been running quite so well I may stopped and given them a stern talking to!

Anyway local chavs aside, the second half of the second lap was grueling I was gaining on another runner and managed to nudge ahead as we entered the park, he picked up his pace as I took the lead and pushed me in the final 2 kilometres to keep up a decent pace. Now determined to keep my slender lead I started to empty the tank on the final avenue, and dropped the hammer as we entered the rugby field. It was a noisy final 200 meters with Wimbledon-esq grunts and a few 'come on' outbursts. I was stoked to keep my slim lead, stopped my watch, and then turned to shake hands with my fellow runner who pushed me to keep up the fast pace.

It took me a while to work out how to recall the stats on the fancy watch but was over the moon to get a 41:50 time. A personal best by about 45 seconds on wet and hilly course. I had a great race, on a great course with fun encouraging marshals. Can't wait for my next race and try and shave off a few more seconds!

http://colinpotter10k.com/