A tale of two races...

For me, racing is the best part of running; it's the culmination of all your training and hard miles you've put in and for the chance to push yourself against like-minded individuals. On occasion they can be the worst part of running, as I discovered this weekend.

 

In the last two weeks I 'completed' two races; a local club organised 10k road race, and an independent company organised 10k tough mudder type race.

 

One cost £12.50, was extremely well organised with excellent marshalling, water on route as well as being chip timed and having a great technical t-shirt on completion.

 

The other cost £30, had no sort of organisation about it, with close to no marshalling and no form of signage to show the route you should take (pretty important given the course took you through wooded areas with multiple tracks) and the tackiest, cheapest medal at the finishing line.

 

Probably not surprisingly, the cheaper, well organised race was the Penny Lane Striders 10k, for which I couldn’t commend, or recommend enough. It follows a route along the Otterspool promenade before looping back and diverting on to a paved, wooded section. It was a tough race with a strong head wind on the return leg of the promenade, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. I completed it in 42:19,  and despite wanting to go under 42 minutes I was happy given that head wind.

 

The independent company organised race, titled ‘Total Grit Xtreme’, was clearly just set up to be a money maker. For £30 it was a cheap version of tough mudder (other obstacle races also available), and whilst my expectations weren’t high, I do expect a race to start on time, and to ensure I get round safely. Not the case; I and over 20 others got lost due to there being little marshalling and no signs, and spent a good 15 minutes running around a wooded area just trying to get back to the start. We eventually did, but only by running alongside, and eventually crossing, a main ‘A’ road.

 

So, in the last two weeks I’ve seen the best and the worst of running; a running club organising a fantastic race for the love of running, and an independent company organising a ‘race’ only to fleece and make money out of people who just want to do an activity they love.

 

Final Race Stats

 

Penny Lane 10k:

Garmin Here

Strava Here

 

Cool technical tee:

 

 

Excellent photography skills here showing I am, in fact, winning the race (!)

 

Source: David Pinnington

 

 

Total Grit Xtreme:

Garmin Here

Strava Here

 

The 'medal'

 

Before getting lost; a tunnel, and bales of hay obstacle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mersey Tunnel 10k 2015

3^rd times a charm… Or not

Sunday 7^th June 2015 was the third time I took on the Mersey Tunnel 10k, which is usually the race I look forward to most in the year, and the course of my 10k PB. I knew I wasn’t in PB condition, but wanted to get round in a progressive time compared to my previous 10k races.

I didn’t really pay much attention to the race instructions as I ‘knew’ where it started. After I parked up I watched a few runners walking the wrong way to the start line; ‘look at them’ I thought, 'going the wrong way, obviously newbies to the course'…

…Soon what can only be described as huge swathes of runners were going the wrong way to the start line; it was at this point when I started to doubt myself about knowing where the race started. Turns out you should always read the race instructions in case the start line is moved compared to previous years.

After consulting the race instructions and following everyone making my way to the start line I warmed up and got ready. I was running this race with a mate whose first race this would be.

If you haven’t read my previous report on this race (I wouldn’t either) then you’ll know that the route takes you from Liverpool, through the Wallasey tunnel and into… Wallasey...

It’s the tunnel-y bit which is essentially the pull & appeal of the race.

Unfortunately, the moving of the start line, which was to a very narrow side street, meant once the 2,800 runners were sent on their marching orders, caused a very congested opening several hundred metres. Added to this was that the tunnel was right after these opening several hundred metres.

The tunnel starts off as a downhill before levelling out and then turning into an incline. Congested start and downhill = lots of runners racing ahead, but slowing down when they hit the incline, which = a lot of dodging if you don’t slow down with them.

After getting out the tunnel the route opened up on to the streets before tracking the prom for the final half of the race. It’s always a nice view looking back across the Mersey to The Liver Birds and all the other great architecture in Liverpool.

I'd lost my mate in the tunnel, but we'd agreed if this happened to just meet up at the finish line.

Having conquered the toughest part of the route and being on the prom allowed me to focus on maintaining the quickest pace I could through to the finish, which wasn't that fast at this point.

I was however given somewhat of an adrenaline rush at around 7km when my name was screamed in a somewhat satisfied tone* by a race marshal. The marshal in question was a young lady, and as I'm not used to young ladies screaming my name in a satisfied tone (or any kind of tone if I'm honest), I was flooded with a surge of adrenaline which allowed me to (try to) raise my thumb in thanks, smile, and up my pace for about 20 seconds.

Following this encounter I plodded on and having turned a dog leg corner to face some headwinds the finish line was in sight; I upped my pace and crossed the finish line, absolutely knackered.

Final Race Stats

44:25 - slower than my previous two 10ks this year, but a very much tougher course given the congestion at the start and profile of it.

The medal was, as usual, excellent. A decent technical tee and one I would wear in the winter months to be seen due to its fluorescent-ness (if I were to not horde my race t-shirts away), and a nice little goody bag:

Garmin here
Strava here

Final Notes

I'll continue to run this race every year because of the opportunity to run through the Wallasey tunnel, but unfortunately I don't feel its the same as it used to be given the moving of the start line.

* this is total embellishment on my part in an attempt to be funny (I know, I should leave that to the hilarious Jay at Born to Plod)

Race Report: Liverpool Spring 10km 2015

It's always nice to get a bit of déjà vu when writing a race report; it generally means you've run the race before, and, chances are, if you've run it before and are willing to run it again, it was a good 'un.

Rewind two years and I was participating in the inaugural Liverpool Spring 10k in Sefton Park - a brilliant local race which had a great turnout and atmosphere, as well as a not-so-nice steep set of steps mid-course. Lucky for me it took all the best bits from the last time I completed it, and left out the energy sapping set of steps.

The weather on the morning was abysmal; heavy driving rain, the kind which makes you want to put the fire on and snuggle up on the sofa with a massive cup of tea and your favourite any DVD boxset...

As I pulled up around the edge of Sefton Park the rain abated, bingo! I don't mind running in the rain, I actually enjoy it, but there's something a bit demoralising starting a race in the rain.

I warmed up and headed to the starting pens. I always love seeing all the runners in their club colours - I renewed my membership for my running club last week so will be donning blue and white hoops soon :)

The starter got us underway and off we set. I wasn't too worried about a time, but wanted to complete in a similar time as I finished the Mad Dog 10k in; due to recent personal health issues I've not had a chance to do any speedwork.

After several kilometres a running club buddy saddled up beside me and we had a chat about what time we were aiming for and what running we'd been doing lately - he'd completed the Manchester marathon a couple of weeks a go (awesome!). We were both using this race to get back in to the swing of things, though for obviously different reasons!

The course took us through the park and out and around the perimeter of it, and it was only at the 6km mark did I realise there wasn't going to be any set of steps to climb. The route was undulating though so definitely tested the legs.

Turning into the final straight I was feeling like I'd really worked over the last few kilometres and didn't think I could muster up a sprint finish, but it's funny what a guy dressed as a tyre (for 'dressed as a tyre', read compression skin tight clothing from head to toe - save it for later dude) can do for you.

Finish line, hey there human tyre behind me!

Final Race Stats

43:12 - Quicker than my Mad Dog 10k race, but I felt like I worked harder for it! I was happy with the time, but really want to get some speed work in to my legs to improve my time and fitness.

The medal, t-shirt and goody bag were excellent, especially for a race which cost under £20:

...And yes, that is a can of salmon with the t-shirt and medal!

Garmin Here
Strava Here

Final Notes

The Spring 10k is a brilliant, friendly and well supported race - there is always a crowd and entertainment around the course to help you along the way. If anyone local is considering it, I would urge you to take part!

Race Review: Mersey Tunnel 10k 2013

This was my third time running the Mersey Tunnel 10k, a race that starts in Liverpool city centre, and finishes in New Brighton on 'the Wirral' by going through the Kingsway Tunnel.

The Kingsway Tunnel is a road tunnel under the River Mersey and runs (see what I did there) between Liverpool and Wallasey. It is one and half miles long and is the' brother' tunnel of the Queensway Tunnel which runs between Liverpool and Birkenhead (which coincidentally,  and rather coolly, features in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1)

Due to this the race is a point to point course - a bit of a rarity these days.

The weather started out brilliantly - a nice warm summer morning with a hint of a breeze. My plan was to start out quickly as the course had a large downhill section in the tunnel before a a climb to get out and then a sharp rise upon leaving the tunnel. I figured I would 'get ahead' in the first half of the race where it was a faster section allowing for a bit of slower second half due to the course conditions.

The first part of my plan worked very well - I completed the first 4kms in a fairly quick 15:20. After this I pretty much lost my pacing as I was now in the tunnel and my garmin had lost its signal. Many people wonder what the air is like in the tunnel, and if its claustrophobic or scary to run in.

Truth is, the air is a little stale, nothing more, and I never feel claustrophobic or scared in the tunnel.... I don't normally get claustrophobic, and it really didn't cross my mind - I was too focused on my running. Having said that, there is a bloke from my running club who doesn't do this race as he hates the tunnel.

So, 4km in and I'm thinking, "sub 40?" but I quickly pushed those thoughts away, especially as the tunnel began to rise! It's not the ascent in the tunnel that gets me; it's on exiting the tunnel - there is a sharp left with a really steep climb that sucker punches the legs and breathing.

After this point the race is half done and runners make their way onto the nice flat promenade. I somehow missed the 6km marker so when I finally hit 7km I didn't worry about my time and tried to finish strongly. I knew sub 40, and sub 41, were out of the question as the steep climb out of the hill as well as the sun, which was now beating down, zapped energy.

The finish line was soon in sight and the crowds began to thicken, I raised my pace for a sprint finish and crossed the line, happy, drenched, and knackered! 

Final Race stats

Time: 41:26
Final position: 144/2852

Garmin here (although it's a bit all over the place due to losing signal in the tunnel)

Race bling:

A decent medal and really good quality technical t shirt (which isn't actually a half bad fit for a change)

 

Final notes

The Mersey Tunel 10km is a fantastically novel race. Add in it's brilliantly organised, as well as a quality medal and technical t-shirt make this probably, my favourite race there is. It's not really a PB course, but then sometimes, that's not what running is all about

The time was a season's best and I worked really hard for it, but it felt brilliant. Despite not training as much as I'd like I feel like my fitness is really coming along.

Quick update....

So my running has been going ok, but I'm still feeling the effects a little from the shin splint / foot pain that has been troubling me for the past month or so.

I'm just trying to manage it at the moment as I've got two races coming up; the Mersey Tunnel 10k on Sunday, and the Knowsley 5k the Wednesday after.

Both of these races I have completed before, and I really like running them. The Tunnel 10k is an excellent course; it starts in Liverpool and goes through the Kingsway Tunnel which is a road tunnel under the River Mersey. It is a fantastically novel race and I PB'ed doing it last year. -A PB that still stands today (39:27 if you're interested).

The Knowsley 5k is set in the idyllic grounds of the state home Knowsley Hall. It's a fast course and very scenic, its also never too crowded so there's no cramped start line but still has a great atmosphere.

I'm really looking forward to them and will report back on completion - fingers crossed my foot holds it together :)

Walton Hall Park 5 miler 2013

My second race in 3 days gave me a bad-ass affliction of DOMS galore, which weren’t actually delayed in their onset… Two days after the Port Sunlight 10k I returned to Walton Hall Park, running club’s base during the winter months, for a 5 mile race.

This was my first ever 5 mile race so I was guaranteed a personal best, and I think I speak for most runners when I say, I love a good PB!

As expected this was an excellent turn out from fellow club runners, as well as other local running clubs. Due to this it felt like it was some kind of club championship (/in my mind’s eye an Olympic race as we were all in our racing colours).

I had two goals for this race: don’t go out too fast, and complete the 5 miles quicker than I completed the first 5 miles of the Liverpool Spring 10k race. This meant my time to beat was 33:29.

I didn’t start near the front which meant I wouldn’t get carried away too much. The temptation was there to join the faster members of the club but I knew I’d only regret it if I injured myself from over-doing it.

My starting point worked to my advantage as the faster runners in front of me seemed to run off into the sunset (leaving me behind, boo hoo!) while I maintained a steady pace over the first kilometre – 4:02; a little fast but no sub 4 minute kilometres were going to be happening today!

The course followed a one small loop, two large loops strategy which I quite liked, as it allowed me to see runners up ahead, as well as being able to gauge when to make a move on the final lap for a sprint(ish) finish.

Having not raced a 5 miler before I wasn’t sure how to pace myself but managed to settle down into a rhythm and ended up in a bit of a scrap with another runner (not a fight scrap, an I’m going to beat you scrap). This helped take my mind off constantly checking my Garmin for my pace.

It was quite fun having a mini race with another runner as I was trying to pull away from him whenever the opportunity arose, only for him to appear at my side like a shadow... But a really, really tall shadow in neon yellow and calf compression socks.

This bit of competition meant my pace varied; kilometre two was my slowest at 4:15, then kilometre three was my quickest at 4:01. Small lap done it was on to the final two...

The large laps of the race showed the same pattern in terms of pace - a slower middle kilometre due to a slight and prolonged incline (4:13 & 4:12) either side of quicker kilometre splits.

So, coming through the final lap I knew that I needed to try and push on at the peak of the incline to finish with a good time. My plan was to do this coming up to the peak of the incline as there was a sharp turn straight afterwards.

The latter stages of the incline approached, I stuck to the inside and pushed on. There was still half a kilometre left at this point so it was just an upping of pace, but it seemed to work - I pulled away from neon-compression-socks-man and gained, then passed, two other runners.

It came to the final bend and the home straight and I raised a sprint and passed one more runner as I watched the clock tick closer to 33 minutes... and...

...I finished in exactly 33 minutes.... Nearly 30 seconds ahead of my target

Final Race Stats

Time: 33:00
Position: 51/257
First 4km: 16:31
Second 4km: 16:29 (a good negative split! -Especially considering there was an extra 0.12km here too)

Garmin Here

A really enjoyable race, excellently organised, and a refreshing route - no roads, just park pathways. I will definitely be competing in this next year.

Race bling:

Final Note

I really, really, enjoyed this race, probably more so because my previous race left me feeling like I didn't enjoy myself. I was happy with my pacing, my time, and whilst it was hard going and I know I've still got a long way to go in terms of fitness to get back to where I was last year, I enjoyed the feeling of not being able to go any faster.

Port Sunlight 10k 2013

This was my second race of the year… Two weeks earlier I’d completed the Liverpool Spring 10k in a time of 41:52 which I was very happy about. However, since then I hadn’t trained much due to shin splints and so had only plodded about for a few tentative miles.

Despite this my prep for the race had gone well; carb loading the night before rather than apple loading (in the form of cider), an early night’s sleep, and the prospect of a course where “road quality is very good and flat throughout”. I was feeling confident I could better my Spring 10k time.

I rolled up on the day and got chatting with club members before a quick warm up and off to the start line. It was a nice day for it – not too hot, but warm enough so that I was feeling comfortable in my skimpy running vest (what a mental image)…

We were soon off, and, as I’d started near the front, was swept along with the fast runners and completed the first kilometre in 3:59 – I felt fine… My subsequent two kilometres were equally quick times; 4:09 and 4:03 respectively.

It was around then that the twisting and turning nature, as well as the slight (slight is relative here) increases in gradient of the course knocked me for six. I suddenly couldn’t get my breath back and I slowed right down.

As I knew the course was a two lap affair I tried to get my breathing back under control for the half way mark. Due to this I slowed for the 5^th kilometre quite a bit, despite this I delivered the first half of the race in a not too shabby 20:47. (Kilometre 4 & 5 in 4:14 & 4:22).

Problem was, I couldn’t catch my breath.

So, I decided rather than flog myself for a certain time, just go at a pace that was fairly quick and give myself a workout. You’d think this would allow me to enjoy the rest of the race.

It didn’t…

Enter 8km guy… A local resident who nearly made me go all animalistic on his arse (not in a sexual way – even if I had wanted to I wouldn’t have had the energy) by exclaiming ‘not far to go now’. I feel my self-control at not shouting back at him ‘there are two bloody kilometres left, <expletive>’ was excellent.

The highlight of the race on the last lap was seeing fellow club runners going the opposite way and high fiving them, sweaty handed and all…

 

None of my last five kilometres were under 4:30 except for the very last one when I pushed on and tried a sprint finish.

I crossed the line with a time of 42:37, a full 45 seconds slower than Liverpool Spring 10k. I wasn’t a happy bunny!!

Final Race stats

Time: 42:37

Position: 112/1217

First 5km: 20:47

Second 5km: 21:50

Garmin Here  

A good race – though not quite as flat as advertised. Well organised and a good mix of running ability amongst the entrants. I liked the way you would go past runners going the opposite way and give/receive encouragement from fellow club runners.

Race bling:

Final notes

I was really disappointed and a bit angry with myself just after completing the race, mainly because of the time I posted, which made me feel like I didn’t enjoy it. However, at the half way point I was very happy, it was just the latter half, and I’d consciously made a decision to not over exert myself.

On reflection, I should be happy I completed the race in a half decent time considering the lack of running in the two weeks leading up to it, and how much I struggled. I’m back running again, and there is no better feeling in the world!!

Race Report: Liverpool Spring 10km

My first race of 2013, and since my knee ligament debacle took place in Sefton Park, which is 235 acres in size and has been designated a Grade III Historic Park by English Heritage (thank you Wikipedia)...

Prior to the race I'd only completed two half decent interval sessions with the club, as well as my own training around my local routes. Due to this I didn't have any idea what my speed or stamina across 10km would be like, with the exception of a couple of sub 45 minute training runs on my own.

I had a dream on the Friday that I completed 10km in 35 minutes (and that included having a walk in the middle), there was no way I was going to achieve that - or if I'll ever be able to !

As this was the first Liverpool Spring 10km there had been I didn't know what the course would be like, other than a note on the website saying that the course had been changed slightly due to the number of runners, and that there would now be a stepped section (yay!)

I turned up nice and early and was pleased that the sun had come out and that I wasn't shivering on the start line as seems to be the case for most races.

It was a quick start and 3 of my running club mates were ahead of me - not bad if I could keep it that way I thought. The first 3 kilometres went fairly fast, which I completed in 12:12. The course was proving to be quite twisty and turny, with terrain changing from tarmac to grass to trail type pathways.

I was feeling ok until just after the 4th km; this is where the steps mentioned on the website came into play. They sent my heart rate through the roof and took a couple of kilometres for it to come back down again.

This meant my 5th kilometre was completed in 4:18 (5km time 20:33) and 6th in 4:22. At the 5 kilometre point the course looped back round to complete another lap.

Despite this drop in pace I managed to get one of my running club mates into my line of vision up ahead, so focused on trying to close that gap - though I was a good 200m behind them.

In truth, at this point I was done in; I'm pretty unfit compared to how I was last year when I posted a 10km PB of 39:29, and the first 5km, as well as the stepped area took it out of me. I did get a second wind and completed kilometre 7 in 4:05, but that would be the fastest kilometre I completed of the latter 5.

As this course was a two lap course that meant, yes, you guessed it, the dreaded steps again! They came into view during the 8th kilometre and after tackling them for a second time sent my heart rate sky high again. My running club mate was now 50m ahead of me and I did all I could to reel him in as much as possible so I could go torpedo on his arse (not that kind of torpedo on his arse...) on the home straight.

It was very warm now as the sun was beating down... (Naturally I'm expecting bronze coloured skin tomorrow - reality will be burnt skin, in the shape of my running vest) I was feeling the effects but was happy to see the finish line come into view. I was really panting at this point and was trying to reign myself in to not sprint off too early.

With about 70 - 50m to go I went flat out; I was gaining on my running club mate... Gaining, gaining, gaining...

I crossed the finish line... Did I finish 4th or 3rd out of my club? Photographic evidence below:

Yes I did, by 1 second! My finish time was 41:52; sub 42 minutes, a time I am extremely happy with, and 3rd placed Liverpool Running Club competitor.

Final Race stats

Time: 41:52
Position: 71/1500
First 5km: 20:33
Second 5km: 21:19

Garmin here

Overall a really good race, excellently organised and marshaled, though a tough course - but exactly what I needed to test out my knee and get my heart, lungs and legs working to get some of the cob webs blown away.

Race bling:

Footnote / confession 1

Throughout the race report I constantly mention my running club mate being ahead of me and trying to catch him. I would not have begrudged him finishing ahead of me and, in truth, it's probably because of him that I managed a sub 42 minute time as he really made me push myself every single step of the way, particularly my sprint finish. I'm not driven by trying to be the best at my club - just the best I can be, and today, I was able to do that, within my current fitness capabilities.

Footnote / confession 2

My prep for this race hadn't been the best - I did something I've never done the evening before a race; I went out drinking. Now, whilst I only had several pints it is something I would never ever normally do. However on this occasion I felt I had to make an exception.

Due to this I was feeling a little dehydrated so perhaps could have gone a little faster had I prepped in my normal manner, but, I turned up and I ran, and I worked my backside off, so I'm not going to be too hard on myself.