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

Race Review - The Skeleton Run - 25th October 2013

Apparently I look like Tolstoy

I rocked up nice and early, due to a day of driving around a lot and having lots of time to kill. I parked up and grabbed my race number, then headed back to the car to get ready. This meant changing out of my suit into standard running gear then putting a cheap jester costumer over the top. Then came the fun part of making up my face and beard with white and grey face paints. This took a good 10 minutes, and I also discovered thick face paint makes a great beard and moustache wax!

Once I was made up and dressed up I wondered out to warm up and see if I could find anyone I knew, I couldn't recognise anyone so I just pottered around looking at the costumes and a few warm up jogs. It must have been about 90% fancy dress and 10% serious looking runners. The effort in the fancy dress costumes was incredible I recommend everyone to check out their Facebook site to see the photos. It wasn't long before we mustered at the start line and were given the safety briefing.

From the gun I didn't go out at my usual break neck sprint, and held back and tried to show some restraint. I was still towards the front of the pack and just taking it steady. I felt good and was running well, only losing a few places to whippets in vests and short shorts. As the course turned and started the first up hill the course was littered with HUGE highland cattle, with incredible horns and thick shaggy hair. I gave them a pretty wide birth, even though they were very docile I didn't fancy being stabbed by one of those horns! 

This first hill was hard work and once at the top it was a half mile downhill sprint. This is a great run when it's light and the path isn't covered with leaves and windfall sticks. As good as my head torch was it still only lit the path a few meters ahead so I was holding back a little in case of surprise branches, potholes or nocturnal animals. As we reached the half way point I developed a bit of a stitch and just couldn't shake it. On the second massive 1 mile climb I was starting to struggle, and lots a few more places, at one point I slowed to walk but was encouraged to run by a fellow runner which spurred me on again. Having ran this course quite a few times, I knew the exact point of "DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY". At this point I was determined not to loose any more places, and in fact I managed to pick off half a dozen other runners in this fast finale mile. I overtook a runner on the penultimate bend with 150 meters to go, this meant I really had to fight to keep ahead of him. But I was very happy to keep the lead. I didn't hang around after picking up my t-shirt and medal and just tootled off home.

A great night race, with a great atmosphere and the greatest closing mile of any trail race!

www.theskeletonrun.co.uk

Race Review - Derby Runner Cross Country League - Foremark - 20th October 2013

Having ran my first cross country race yesterday at Markeaton park, I knew what to expect when I arrived and spent the pre-race time pottering around, which a few stretchers and watching the other runners. Again I ran into a few fellow Team Derby Runner members and stood around chatting. As the runners began to muster at the start line people naturally found their correct starting position. As the health and safety I found my self standing behind a tree. Maybe not the best tactical move. When the 'Go' was shouted I found a nice clear path through the low hanging branches of the tree which my fellow runners were running around. I ended up about mid way in the pack and being dragged along at a pace which felt quite quick. My hamstrings were still very sore and tight from yesterday but I was moving so I hoped they would loosen up soon enough.

The first part of the course was pretty flat and open, but it didn't thin out a lot, we were still running at least 2 a breast after the first 10 minutes. Once into the wooded area the route became hillier and when we left the cover of the trees it became very steep and slippery, luckily the descent wasn't too slippery but i still took a very wide route at the bottom of the hill to avoid landing on my ass. After a another few minor ups and downs there was a long hard slog uphill. This slowed me to walk, but i managed to pick up the pace on the long flat drag back towards the start/finish area. Just before the finish line there was a great swooping downhill section that allowed you to carry heaps of speed through the finish line and the start pf the second lap.

The runners, were equally friendly here as they were yesterday at Markeaton, and I chatted with a few guys as they passed me or I passed them. The slippy hills killed me once again on the second lap and I lost a lot of places here. but on the long drag to the finishing swoop I managed to hold off all but one other runners and picked up the pace. I got into a decent rhythm along this path and the last female runner I overtook decided she wasn't going to make my life easy and stuck on my shoulder, I tried to push harder and shake her off, but I couldn't. As we left the flat long path and reached the final downhill swoop she received huge cheers from the crowd and overtook me on the descent. Turns out I'm not the charming, chivalrous man, that my mum thinks I am. I dropped the hammer with about 70 or 80 meters to go and retook the lead and kept it all the way to the line. I was decent enough to turn and thank the lady for pushing me hard in the last 300 meters.

Another great race, great atmosphere, and stunning course. The hardest thing was limping back to the car with incredibly sore legs.

http://www.derbyrunnerleague.co.uk/

Thanks to
http://www.derbyrunner.com/
http://www.nottinghamrunner.com/
for the photos and great support.

Race Review - North Midlands Cross Country League - Markeaton Park - 19th October 2013

This was my very first cross country race, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I didn't expect was the huge number of people racing, especially all the children. When I arrived on site  there was about a dozen marquees and tents with club banners flying and large pockets of runners all wearing matching vests. Everyone was very friendly and cheering on the children's races and the female races too. The wh
ole feel to the event was very family orientated, and a real festival of running.

Team Derby Runner

I soon spotted Team Derby Runner's marquee, as it was the biggest marquee and the only one selling shoes, spikes and everything else a runner could want. I registered with our team captain, and then went for a wonder round to watch the runners and do a little stretching. Before I start the review, i'm going to get some excuses in. My friend had organised a night out in Derby, for a ghost walk, darts and beers for the Friday night so I was feeling a little delicate after a few beers, kebab (I did go for chicken to be healthy) and a late (2:30am) bedtime. I was very happy today was a very civilized 1:55pm start!

I put my self at the back of pack and chatted with my fellow Team Derby Runner member, when the gun went I shuffled off and weaved through a few of the back markers, the running was steady but I was in no state to push hard from the 'go'. It didn't take long for the pack to thin into a single file and I was happyish trudging along. When the first hill hit it was bloody tough, and very slippery, maybe I should invest in some new cross country shoes and spikes? It was too late to be thinking of new shoes and the first lap was dealt with and I wasn't doing too bad. I did spot some guys from Parkrun ahead of me, that I know I've been faster than, at Parkrun, so I knew my pace wasn't great.

The second lap was all about mucus and snot. My second excuse of the day is have a crappy head cold which didn't help my breathing or focus. Running with a big beard, snotty nose, and phlegm filled throat leads to some absolutely disgusting coughs, gobs and farmer's handkerchief action. Running whilst de-glooping the face fuzz must have added to my overall time. The hill on the second lap seem higher steeper and even slippery. Pretty sure the guys from The Derby Runner where spraying the hills with water to make them slippier so that i will decide to definitely buy a pair of spikes.

Just at the base of the ever growing hill

I was still unsure if it was 2 or 3 laps as reached the finish point. But the man holding the tape indicated a 3rd lap was needed to finished the race. If lap one was 'steady', and lap two 'snotty', lap three was 'nauseous'. Last nights range of bottled largers, real ales, and nasty wee dram of cheap whisky was now mixing with the muesli breakfast and my crumpet lunch. I'm now just running stready and hoping I don't loose my lunch the hills are still getting steeper and greasier.

On the final climb with about a 1km to go a man in a bright yellow Harborough running vest passes me. At this point my race brain finally kicked in and I told myself 'No. Not today. You, my yellow chested friend, are not going to beat me.' So i picked up my knees and kept close to his shoulder, we started catching 2 other runners as we started the final descent. One of the two targets were being enthusiastically encouraged by teams mates who had finished and wondered back along the course to speed them on. I pulled up next to Mr Yellow and encouraged him that we should make sure we beat the two guys who were 50 meters out in front. he replied with a very Jolly 'Pick your knees and go get em' That's all I needed to put a decent bounce in my stride I pushed as hard I could and quickly caught the targets. But as I passed them we were about 300 meters away from the line and the crowds started to cheer which picked up their pace too. I'm normally pushing hard to overtake someone plodding to the line, this time I was in the lead of a group of four and HAD to hold them off. This was new to me, not having someone to focus on a beat was very hard. So it was 'hammer' time, 'empty the tank' time, 'throw-up on timing marshall's shoes if you need to' time. I passed the finish line ahead of the trio of targets, kept my stomach contents and felt like I had at least ran the last 1 km and the previous 9 km were just a warm up.

I had such a great day and XC Leagues are a really raw challenge, simply run off road, as fast as you can.

http://www.northmidsxcleague.co.uk/

Thanks to
http://www.derbyrunner.com/
http://www.nottinghamrunner.com/
for the photos and great support.

Race Review - Survival of the Fittest - Nottingham - 12th October 2013

My official review was written for Mudstacle.com
You can read the review here:
http://www.mudstacle.com/2013/10/survival-fittest-nottingham-review-surprisingly-rural-urban-adventure.html

Here are a couple of pics of me from the day: