Carsington Water Half Marathon

Saturday 2nd December 2023 Carsington Water Half Marathon:

I completed the half marathon in 03:04:17 chip time. Just over what I was aiming for but taking into account the conditions I am happy with that. It didn’t get above 0 degrees all day. The paths were icy in places so I didn’t want to run across it and risk slipping and injuring myself. I saw one guy slip over and one lady was turning back because she had fallen over. Even the water at the drinks station had ice in it! I started off with a run 3, walk 2 but ended up walking where there was ice and running where I could.

I was 376^th out of 384 runners

109^th Female out of 113 runners

9^th in my age category

                                                                         

I'm sure a lot of people didn’t turn up because it was so cold.  The total number of runners for the 10k and half marathon was 654 - there was supposed to be 1000 attendees so that is a whopping 346 no-shows! 

Despite remembering to tape my toes up this time, I still got a blister on my big toe which was the only one I didn’t tape up - it was caused by the tape on the adjoining toe! 

I was knackered at the end of the run – my legs were tired and my butt muscles were complaining!  I need to work on my strength and stamina.  Lots more work to do…

runthrough.co.uk #runthrough #running #firelighter #halfmarathon #medal
 

Rassebock Rosliston Rumble

Run Report November Rosliston Rumble.

I completed four loops of the course (17.53km) in 2:33:02. I wanted to do it in just under 2:30:00 hrs. The finishers medal was again a lovely piece of work! I don't know what to do with them. I suggest having medals that can be used for something - cup mats, jewellery maybe?

The course was very boggy and slippy in places so I had to walk in places as it really was impossible to run! If the course wasn’t boggy I definitely have done it within the time I wanted. 

Running on mud uses muscles I’m not used to using and it tires my muscles as I was tensing to prevent slipping. In wet weather/boggy courses, my shoes are rubbish.  My feet got a bit wet and I got a couple of blisters (despite using my trusty TwoToms!). My feet and toes aren’t great at the best of times - I usually tape up my toes even when doing long walks. I need to do that in future for anything over a 10k. The run started at 2pm so it was nearly dark when I finished. It was a strange run but I enjoyed it. 

There weren’t many runners there – only 19 entries. 1 person did 8 laps, 5 did 7 laps, 4 did 5 laps, 6 people did 4 laps (my husband and I included), 1 person did 3 laps and 2 DNS.

I was getting tired on the last lap – I was glad I didn’t have to do another but I could have done it if I had to, even if I had to walk most of it! My hips were a bit stiff after sitting, but my muscles didn’t ache much. I did a pre-run warm-up and stretches afterwards at home, it has become second nature to me now.

My next milestone is to do the Carsington Water half marathon on 3rd December in under 3 hours. It is on trails so should be easier under foot but there are some hills - 656ft of elevation – that's not a lot if walking but when running it is added difficulty - Strava give it a Hard grading.

I've settled on a 3:2 run:walk pattern and I should be able to complete the Carsington Water half marathon within my target time of 3 hours based on the time I completed this run but it won’t be easy with the added hills!

I used a Camelbak Mule waist pack to carry water which holds 1.5L but didn’t drink it all. Carrying water I don't need or use is a waste of energy so I need to work out how much water to carry. Drinks were provided at the aid station (as well as lots of goodies) but runners had to provide their own containers. I don't find it easy to suck enough water out of the tube and it kept coming loose from the magnet, so I think I will go back to bottles and find a running vest that fits me better. The waist pack is designed for cyclists but I find having bottles stored next to a reasonably sized chest is uncomfortable! I can't be the only person who has this problem 😕

Running food - I like the individual Soreen malt loaf bars as running food ….and jelly babies, who doesn't like jelly babies!

#Halfmarathon #blisters #Rasselbock #jellybabies #maltloaf #Soreen #TwoToms #Camelbak #CarsingtonWater

Blisters

I've got my first blister 👎  Very sloppy of me.  My feet are not the best specimens, but it's usually my little toes that get the blisters first as they are curled under, so a blister on my second toe is unusual. I've done quite a few long distance walks and have tried lots of methods to prevent blisters. My usual arrangement is to tape up my little toes, apply 2 Toms blister prevention powder, put on a thin pair of Injinji liner toe socks followed by a pair of Bridgedale Coolmax socks.  This worked well with walking boots but I'll be wearing trainers for the Firelighter so I'll have to relook at my blister prevention stategy.

For now, the training must go on though. So plaster on, toes socks on  - and I'm off to the gym for a slow 10 mile run/walk.

#Injinji  #2Toms  #Firelighter  #Blisters  # Bridgedale