A rate good race... Mansfield take two!

First thing's first, for a lot of this blog to make sense, you'll need to read the post I did about the same race last year.

All done? Good, then I'll begin. If not don't worry, I'll summarise below.

2015
Last year, the inaugural Mansfield 10k was a disaster. Not only was it a disaster for me (the second biggest struggle of a race I've ever done), but it was also a disaster for the organisers. Late start, not enough toilet rolls in the portaloos, long queues for everything... and the biggest balls up of all is missing 400-500m of the route. All in all, not a great day.

2016
Couldn't have been more different! Number arrived nicely in time, new town centre meeting point to alleviate the need for manky portaloos and great organisation meaning a prompt gun fire at 9am.

But bigger than any of the formalities and organisation is my personal experience of Mansfield this year. Even though I remembered really struggling last year, reading that post back has reminded me just how tough it was. It was hot, hilly and I was hugely underprepared.

As a result of how difficult it was last year, I headed off on this year's race with barely any pressure on myself - a big thing Miss Self Critical here! I headed down through the market place and out to the first loop in great spirits, there was a great atmosphere and despite the shocker of a first hill (which I knew I'd have to endure two more times) I had a big smile.

Amazingly, this smile stayed with me all the way round. It was hot (but not has hot as last year) and there were still a million hills that I've avoided training for, but something in me just kept me going. No mid-race lull, no mental arguments, nothing.

I can't not mention that it goes without saying my high spirits were 100% backed and helped by the array of smiling, waving and cheering purple ladies around the course. They gave me a huge boost each time I could see one in the distance and between them managed the first ever collection of half-decent photos of me in action. They did a great job marshalling at the event and made me as proud as ever to be team purple!

Despite saying I wasn't putting myself under time pressure, I naturally checked my watch every now and again.. (that's a fib, it was probably every 30 seconds). I was running at a solid 6:00-6:10km pace and after the half-way wall I hit at my last race I kept telling myself to steady on. It seems, however that my legs had other ideas and just kept going. Keeping that eye on my watch I saw myself smash pb after pb and as I ran past my fan club at around 8.5km I did the token Kay thumbs up face and bellowed that I was massively on track.

Smile still on my face, I charged up the penultimate hill and broke back into a run on the flat, dropped my hips to scuttle along the last major down hill and went round the corner to be faced with the evil what-was first hill for the final time (remember, the one I said I'd be doing three times). I began my uphill charge and was about half way when a lady reminded my that I wouldn't be getting that PB unless I gave it my all. So gave it my all I did.

Soon at the top of the hill and onto the home straight (which was a fantastic gentle hill) I went as fast as I could past the crowds and over the finishing line. I'd done it! I picked up my medal (a great one!) and made my way through finishing crowds to find my family so they could hold all my bits and bobs while I eagerly checked my watch.. a comfortable PB and a course which measured in at the right length.. I couldn't be happier!!

Once the chip time came through it confirmed I'd ran a PB by more than a minute.. 1:00:39 and ever closer to that sub 60 I'm so desperate for.

It's less than five weeks until the half marathon now (my race pack came today!) and at this point I'm really excited! The next few weeks are likely to be a complete roller coaster and before long everyone is going to be fed up of my fundraising pestering, but I can't wait for it all!

Once again I've written twice as much as I'd intended.. apologies.

Here's a couple of photos seeing as I don't look like I've got no teeth and in some kind of critical pain!

Big smiles for a change!

I do love a bit of bling!

Another big smile

What looks like a weird bird impression is actually me waving. I believe this includes the sought after flying feet

Big smiles all around.. and that's before I knew my end time!

Doing the impossible #401challenge

Yesterday was a tough, inspiring, painful yet bloody brilliant day.

For anyone who doesn't know what the 401 challenge is, it's a fantastic chap called Ben who is running 401 marathons in 401 days. Why? Well, a couple of reasons.

Firstly, he wants to raise a quarter of a million pounds for two fantastic charities which both do great work that is close to his heart. The first is Kidscape and the other Stonewall, both charities which aim to stamp out bullying, inequality and support those affected by such things.

Secondly - and I only heard him saying this yesterday - because people said it was impossible.

So there we have it, an impressive mission and something I absolutely couldn't pass up the opportunity of being part of when he was local for the last time in the challenge yesterday. Earlier in the week I decided to abandon the idea of the 11 miles I needed for my training plan this weekend in favour of the 7.5mile loop of clumber park with Ben before he headed off for the rest of the marathon. (Any more than 7.5 miles and I'd be running away from my car, which is why I didn't just plan to join him for 11).

This all changed when I got out of my car at Clumber Park and got chatting to a lady from my running club who I'd never met before. Talking about our training schedules and how we both wanted to do a couple more than the 7.5, we decided we'd carry on with the route then double back when we'd done the extra few miles. Great plan.

However, it was impossible not to be inspired by the atmosphere once we'd got going with the first stage (the fantastic Clumber Parkrun) Helen and I hatched a plan. We'd do the 7.5 mile loop, then shift our cars around so we could rejoin the group at mile 15 (which just so happened to be at a fantastic ice cream parlour) and carry on for the next 5 miles to Walesby Camp - a place which means a heck of a lot to me and has millions of happy memories. Sorted!

Well, turns out the inspiration turned into some kind of madness and as time went on we thought we'd add an extra stop then realised we may as well just leave one car at Clumber Park and do the whole of the afternoon leg of the marathon (11.4 miles of it!!).

I'm conscious that I'm waffling on now, so I'll try and rein it in.

After a lovely few hours in the sun at Thyma Dairy, we set off on our afternoon jaunt though the north notts countryside surrounded by a fantastic bunch of runners. I've never had the pleasure of running with such a polite, friendly and motivating bunch of strangers! We all genuinely wanted each other to do well, and the support between us all was like nothing I've ever experienced - all led by this fantastic man who was on day 348 of this 'impossible' task.

I'm not going to say it was a complete pleasure, those last few miles were the hardest I've ever done. Yet we all kept smiling as we asked each other what the hell we were doing and just as I started to think my legs would never be my friend again we were at the finish, Ben and my new friend Helen's beaming faces welcoming us! When I totted up the two halves on my Tomtom I couldn't believe it when I saw I'd done 18.9 miles! A personal best by 8.9 miles and something I'd have thought impossible for me!

All in all it was a great day, and an experience I'd never forget. Please please, check out Ben's website, and, more importantly his Virgin Money page. Every little really does help!

Here are a few snaps from the day.. if I'd have known about all the photos I'd have been in the make-up bag yesterday morning!

Me and Florence the van!

My two loves combines, Guiding and running. Love this place and the memories!

The lovely purple gang - pic courtesy of Clumber Parkrun

The inspirational Ben and I. Photo courtesy of The 401 Challenge.

Me and the lovely Helen.. a perfect stranger until yesterday. Courtesy of Clumber Parkrun.

There's no shame in a short run

What a few weeks it's been! Running (and blogging about running) has had to take a bit of a back-seat because of an array of social events, entertaining and somewhat reluctantly turning 25!

Having a crazy and interesting social life might seem like it's all well and good until you realise that your waistline seems to be ever expanding and your bank balance ever decreasing. And that's without even mentioning the effect on the training regime for the looming half marathon.

Despite being pleased with how my training's going so far, I must admit it has become quite same-sih.. Couple of treadmill sessions during the week and a long run at the weekend. It's hardly surprising really, I'm a massive creature of habit, I like order and routine almost as much as I like wine and chocolate. However, due to my hectic schedule this well thought out and ordered plan has been non-existent and I've had to cram in little runs here and there as and when I've been able to.

And I've really enjoyed it.

It's reminded me that running doesn't have to be about precise route planning and careful pre-hydrating. Getting home from work, throwing your gear on and nipping out for half an hour can be just as satisfying.. I even managed to work in a run around needing to pop to the shops! (Needless to say I must have looked like a nutter running around with a jar of mango chutney on the way home).

The next few weeks are looking somewhat less hectic and training will once again be top (or very close to top, at least). My social calendar is pretty clear which is good as I've realised the necessity of reinstating the drinking ban if I want to make it to 26!

My long-run dates are planned but other than that I'm determined to be more flexible with myself and enjoy a quick trot around the streets now and again.. I might even go wild and do some hills!