Race Review - Xtreme Challenge - 9th Febuary 2014

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/02/xtreme-challenge-review-association-queens-greatest-hits.html

Race Review - Tough Guy - 26th January 2014

177th 2:10:09

I wrote for Mudstacle today so you can find me review here:

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/01/winter-tough-guy-review-going-need-bigger-plaster.html

Dr. StrangeHills or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Incline

Here's a some training tips for approaching hills I wrote for Mudstacle.com

http://www.mudstacle.com/2014/01/hill-running-tips.html

Race Review - Holly Bush Inn New Year's Day Race - 1st January 2014

Result 17/88 14m57s

The second race within a week were I can run to the start line in under 10 minutes. I had been up until about 3am following a small house party and changing nappies in the night on our small wee baby. So getting up for 10am on new year's day was quite a challenge. I made to the the pub for just before 11am and chilled out with my sister and a fellow Team Derby Runner member. Then to my surprise my friend, from way back, walked in with safety pins, registration sheets, and a suspicious looking bag.

I joined the back of the queue for registration and registered all three of us before sticking the self adhesive race numbers to our chests. my sticker fell off almost instantly so I used a couple of safety pins to keep it secure. We sat around and chatted and kept warm in the pub as the rain and wind rolled in finally around 11:40 we were invited to muster outside and the master of ceremonies unveiled a rather splendid looking shotgun from the suspicious bag.

As we jostled on the start line the countdown started as the shotgun was aimed high into the air cocked and on '1' an almighty bang as the shotgun was fired. This had the effect of stunning most people rather than motivating them to run. It was pretty tight as we left the pub car park and on to the uphill bridleway, but with a bit of fancy footwork and off piste diversions I managed to get through the thicker clumps of runners and settle into a hard half km of uphill trail running. As the mud and stone gave way to tarmac the road got steeper but i knew it was a short race so no need to save any energy and pushed on until the course flattened out. The problem with the top of the hill was that it was incredibly exposed. The wind was driving the rain horizontally right into my face, and was brutally painful on my forehead and face.

It was a welcome relief when the route took us back off road and slightly more sheltered. The fields where incredibly slippery but the downhill gradient was great fun. I slowed down when running towards a pack of horses. one of the horses was on a path set to cut me off but when it stopped its hoofs started to slip in the mud, as I waited to see what the horse would do next 2 guys over took me. I pushed on and ignored the potential head to head with Mr Ed and managed to re take one of the guys, but couldn't quite catch the other dude. The final stretch done some narrow slippery steps was pretty dicey but great fun. finishing with a hand on the pub door was a great touch and huge thanks to all involved in this awesome short run all in aid of charity.

http://hollybushinnmakeney.co.uk/

Race Review - Queens Head 5km - 27th December 2013

Result: 35/121 - 21m03s

I love it when I can run from my front door to the start line in less than 10 minutes. I was up, fed and watered and in the pub by 11:30am, registering for a local 5km race. I have ran this race 2 or 3 times before, I know the course and know that it attracts some very good runners. Once I was registered i headed outside to warm up and see if I could see any Team Derby Runners or familiar faces. Always seems odd leaving a pub without having a beer.

Seeing as 2013 is the year of the selfie and I needed a photo for the blog, I killed some time and nerves with a manly pose, and then spotted a mate from TDR and we had a chat, and then my Sister turned up too which was a great surprise. As we mustered for the start the air horn went and we were off and running. I had started a few rows back and spent the first couple of minutes threading through runners before settling to a comfortable pace and rhythm. As we started the first downhill section at roughly 1km, the neighboring field of shaggy haired ponies gathering into a group and ran alongside the runners around me. It was an amazing sound and sight as they galloped alongside us and easily sped past. The euphoria of running with horses soon ended as the field ended along with the downhill section, it was now back to running uphill. As I hit the mid point I felt I was running well and keeping pace with those around me, until a guy dressed as robin came past me. I pushed hard to keep up but he slowly pulled away. There were a few more mini battles for position on the final uphill, and as we reached the top of the hill i knew it was downhill all the way and picked up the pace, with Robin firmly in my sights. I tried to encourage a couple of runners to join my mission to overtake batman's right hand man, but they were sticking to their pace. I pushed and breathed hard opening up my legs and arms, taking bigger and longer strides. I wasn't quite the caped crusader and crossed the line a second behind the man in tights.

I great race and a great way to burn off some of the Christmas excess

http://runningwithdavid.com/

Race Review - Jingle Jog - 8th December 2013

With the other half currently board out of her skull in hospital awaiting our first baby together, we have both used been impressed with the quality of the facilities and the staff. This has all been free of charge due to the NHS system, but they can always with more help. And when I saw a poster for the Jingle Jog in the lift, it combines Fancy Dress, Running and raising money for a great hospital. So I signed up as soon as I got home.

On the morning of the race I got ready and headed out with the dog and the step kids, and once on site I got myself ticked off the list and was handed my Santa suit. For a free Santa suit it was pretty good and the boys thought I looked suitably daft. I didn't bother with the fake beard that was included with the costumer but just added face paint to my own beard to whiten it up. I watched the warm up, as I can be a grumpy bugger, especially when it comes to mass participation and aerobics. But it was amazing to see a vast sea of red and white Santas high kicking and arm waving. We then watched the Kids' half mile race which was great fun.

It was soon time to start mustering at the starting line, I was a bit slow off the mark and ended up right in the middle of the gathering Santas. The countdown started and when the air horn went off it was a fairly slow start. I know this was only a fun run but my competitiveness kicked in and I started to go wide to get round people and sprinted past large groups to get clear of the cornucopia of red felt and white fun fur. I was then out in the open with only half a dozen or so running Santas ahead of me. The leading lady and man were setting a cracking pace, and I knew they were leagues above me so I settled in and tried to work on the runners that were slight nearer. I picked off one or two, on the first lap and when we came round to the start finish area for the second lap I was told I was sitting in seventh place.

About half way into the 2nd lap i caught up with the walkers, buggies, wheelchairs and prams who were amazing and cheered on every runner that past them and waved at every passing car persuading them to beep their horns. This was an amazing festival of Christmas cheer that just happened to be disguised as a 5 km run. I also passed the inspiring team that were carried their team mate in an emergency rescue stretcher. Nutters! I hope the raise a whole bucket of cash for that effort!

I was now in the final 200 meters I couldn't catch the guy in front, and I had been over taken by another guy who I recognised as a fellow father to be from Ward 314 but I was having great fun weaving through the walkers and gentle joggers. At the finish I picked up my medal and water and a biscuit and shook hands with the guys I had been trying to race against and then me and boys headed off to get cleaned up.




A great little run, for an amazing charity.

Please do what you can to support them!
 http://www.justgiving.com/dhft/donate

Race Review - Nottingham Mo Run - 23rd Nov 2013

It's not often my pre race preparation starts the night before a race.
It's not often I prepare for a race.
It's not often that my preparation involve curlers, hair straighteners and a hair drier the night before a race.
It is quite often I use curlers, straighteners and hair dryers.
I woke up an hour early on the day to prepare using straighter, curlers, hair dryer, wax, and hairspray.
I hate getting up early.
I had to my Edwardian bathing costume to get ready as I wouldn't be able to get it over my head once i had finished my race preparation.
I'm proud to own a custom made Edwardian bathing costume.

Right so once I had waxed and hair sprayed my beard and moustache into place I was off to pick up my sister and head to Wollaton park for the mo runner race. we rocked up parked up and grabbed our race numbers, headbands and timing chips and then joy the very long queue for the loo.

Once the 5km runners had shot off my sister and I pottered about and joined the back of the pack. I was much further back then I would have liked to have been, but this was more of a fun run than a race, and the uphill start should help thin things out pretty quick. From the gun we shuffled off, and when i reached the line I went as wide as possible and pushed hard up the hill to pass the big swell of runners and try and get a decent pace going. Pah, so much for taking this as a fun run, I was weaving, diving and going off piste to get round people, interval training and fartleks are certainly proving their worth in the first kilometre as I final start to see the pack thinning and passing people is getting harder and harder.

This has to rate as one of my top races of the year.
1. It combines 3 of my hobbies, running, fancy dress and competitive facial hair.
2. I'm running round the grounds of BATMAN'S HOUSE! BATMAN'S! (Wollaton Hall was used in The Dark Knight Rises as Wayne Manor)
3. The marshalls are all super excited and encouraging with High 5's and shouts of encouragement
4. A Moustachedal when you finish (That's my new world for a moustache medal)

The first lap was done and had been spent getting though the crowds of runners and walkers, the second lap was more competitive, exchanging places with other runners of a similar speed, trying to pull away with a fast climb or crazy descent. I was loving this element too, took my mind off my legs and lungs. The kilometres just fell away and we were soon in the final kilometre. There was a big brute of a climb at the end but i had to empty the tank and press as hard as i could as I knew the reward was the final 150 metre descent to the finish line. It was exhausting at the top but the hilarious photographers and marshals gave me the extra couple of beans for a sprint finish down the hill and across the line for my beautiful MOUSTACHEDAL

http://nottingham.mo-running.com/

The only thing this race needs is unicycles, Star Wars, and free tattoo vouchers and it would be PERFECT