Mad Dog 10k Race Review

Woof woof!! Sunday 8th February 2015 saw my return to racing for the first time in (a long) 18 months. The race took place on a darn cold & freezing morning in Southport, a race I'd signed up for twice previously but hadn't been able to compete in due to injury. Southport being the place where, as a high school student, you either went here, or to Liverpool, for a drunken night out***

Anyway, everything I'd heard about the Mad Dog 10k race was positive, and it certainly didn't disappoint; great organisation from the car parking and bus to the start, baggage facilities, and entertainment on course. -The worst part was the shedding of layers and stepping out into the cold February air to warm up.

Warm up I didn't, not until about 4km in to the race anyway!

The out and back course saw the run start off along the Southport promenade before turning back and heading into Southport town a little and past plenty of fantastic singers and those awesome drummer gang/groups.

Despite having a large proportion of the run on the prom, the wind wasn't strong and I only once felt the need (but didn't) to shove my hands down the front of my shorts to warm them up (and before you start frowning, it definitely works - though is somewhat of a skill to keep your balance at times).

With having done zilch speed work, I was aiming for a steady 45 minutes, I even managed to not get caught up in race fever until about 8km in when a lad wearing what can only be described as flip flops made out of car tyres (think Born to Run by Christopher McDougall) decided that he would be posting a faster time than me... That wasn’t going to happen.

In true <insert your running hero here> fashion I tailed tyre feet until the last 200 metres then put on a Mo Farah like dash to the finish line to dip (didn’t really dip) to beat him by milliseconds (wasn’t really milliseconds).

Final Race stats

My time was 43:36 – a time I’m really happy with considering my lack of fitness, and I didn’t feel like I really pushed myself the way I normally would in a race.

The bling and ‘doggy bag’ were excellent; a good quality technical t-shirt, a pair of running socks as well as the usual pens, highlighters and flyers:

 

 

Garmin Here

Strava Here

Final notes 

The Mad Dog 10k made me realise just how much I've missed races; from the camaraderie, to the nerves before the starter gun despite knowing you can run the distance and the swell of adrenaline as you muster up a sprint finish.

 

My only slight disappointment was not running in my club’s colours; I’m not ‘officially’ a member of the club at the moment – something I’m goin to remedy soon J

 

***Alternatively you didn’t go to either of these places for a drunken night out as no false ID would convince any bouncer you were of drinking age.

Song lyrics and running...

Its been a little while since my 'come back' post- slightly longer than I'd hoped / planned, and for one simple reason,  I've had/having a little setback. Nothing major, but enough to make me ease back on my running. As ever, it's my own fault; trying to do too much too soon... It went something like this:

"Hey body"
"Yeah?"
"Now I know you've spent the last number of months healing and getting betterand all,  but I think its time we do an inordinate amount of exericse, how's that sound?"
"Um, I'm not sure..."
"It'll be fine, I mean, we've been for a few runs but we're pretty much indestructible now aren't you?"
"I really don't think that's the case..."
"Nonsense!"

Well, it turns out it wasn't nonsense: runner in shocker of not listening to their body!!

So anyway, whilst I kick myself for my stupidity (ok, my greater than usual stupidity) I realised that all, or at least most, songs are written about running. I know, most of them are written about love you're thinking,  uh no... Take Paloma Faith's latest hit; 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This'. On the face of it, it's about love, but don't let the song title mislead you, I proffer:

"I tell myself, it don't mean a thing... But when you're not there I just crumble"

And how about "But it's the sweetest pain, burning hot through my veins"

Running I tell ya! Although I think Paloma missed out burning lungs in that last line.

...And just for conclusive proof, Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud', the very opening lyric gives it away:

"When your legs don't work like they used to before"

...Post marathon feeling yeah?

"When my hands don't play the strings the same way"

By strings, Ed is clearly referring to his Garmin watch (other brands are available)

And don't get me started on Bryan Adams' 'Run to To You'

So there you have it... The next time you're listening to your favourite song on the radio/mp3 player/music playing device, have a little smile that it's all about running...