So the day of the race has arrived and despite my recent calf strain and only one 4 mile run in three weeks I am really looking forward to the event. For me this is a fun and relaxed race, I only live five minutes from the start and get lots of cheery support from friends and familly on the way round.
Because the start is so close to my house, I can take it easy in the morning and not leave my house till half an hour before the start which is a great bonus - especially on this race day as it is rather grey and chilly.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Bath Half marathon. This fact reminds me that I am getting on a bit - I first ran the race when I was a nimble 19 year old, I was not a runner as such, but I was fit from all my canoeing training. My time as I remember was around 1.42 and I ran with a friend called Marilyn who was a gym member where I was working between college. Marilyn was older than me - probably not much different from my age now and somewhere I have a photo of us smiling as we aproach the last couple of miles.
They are happy memories of a very different race - fewer entries, no goody bags, fewer specatators. But great!
Race day also means careful consideration of what to wear - I choose all my favorite items and this is a strangely comforting ritual:
Shock Absorber run specific bra - The best by far.
Sweaty Betty longline vest - I like the length and having a fitted base layer keeps me snug, warm and holds the wobbly bits in place.
Zoca Long Sleeve top - looser style performance top (hides the muffin-top), thats a bit stylish but also really comfortable.
Gore windstopper capri’s (nice higher cut waist which is way more comfortable than all the hipster versions, plus windproof panels to protect my thigh muscles)
Compressport calf sock - Ok I wouldnt actually class this as a favourite item, but I hope it will help me get around the race. Vainly I only wear one, so I dont look like I am wearing weird leggings!
Smartwool socks
Merrell Pace Glove shoes
Workplay waist pack with door keys, Mule bar gel and phone (plus a bit of loo roll - just in case)
Sugoi windproof jacket to keep warm before the start.
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Recent posts:
Two weeks off, race at the weekend + Vibram Fivefinger review
Just when it was all going so well…
Are my feet going to change shape?
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So at 10.30 I knock on my neighbour Richards’ door, as is customary, and we head off to the start. In the olden days we used to sneak in from the course-end of the start five minutes before the gun and then wiggle back a bit - but alas now it is all rather serious at that end of the race and we can no longer get away with it!
Richard has a green number as he is faster, so he jumps over the barrier to avoid a long trek round to the back of the group, while I head on down to the orange start. Still 20 minutes to go, we have misjudged it and arrived a little early - damn. In front of the Orange start (below left) is the end of the Green start (below right) and a nice big space for warming up, so I sneak under the tape and jog around rather than stand still in the line. I am sure this will annoy some people, but this is self preservation - I have no desire to freeze for 20 minutes.
To everyone’s relief the race starts on time - I LOVE THE START - all the excitement, all the crowds, and the anticipation, it’s such a spectacle to see the runners stretching out in front and behind along the wide majestic roads of this part of town.
I tend to run along the edge, looking out for friends that I have promised to wave at - I realise this suggests that I am not taking the race very seriously - and maybe I am not in the way most runners do. A few years ago I would have had all my split times written on my hand and be aiming for a certain time, but more recently I just have not been able to train sufficiently and have been forced to look at races in a different way.
Now I don’t take a watch, I worry not about the time, I relax, I enjoy, I high-five the kids and wave at my friends and salute the bands - in short I have fun and its quite a different experience. One day I hope to go back to a more serious attitude, but for now this is the way to go and I would recommend it to everyone who is also just running for fun and fitness!
The first half of the race is joyous, I spot loads of friends and the sun even comes out. I am going at a slow but steady and comfortable pace, it’s cautious and sensible given my recent injury and I am pretty chuffed with myself. I even think that maybe its time to pick up the pace a bit!
But then, completely out of the blue, the injury flares up. AAAARRRGGGHHH I am so annoyed. I am heading out on the second lap to the the furthest point of the run and starting to limp, so it is decision time. If I keep going there is no early way back because of the river, but there are two bridges close by. I really want to get fit and enter more races this year so I decide to take a left turn over the nearest bridge to prevent further damage.
I am now around 2 1/2 miles from home, the quickest route home is also the last 2 miles of the race, so since the pavements are jammed I rejoin the race, stay out of the way and jog/hobble along the route until the final bend before the finish - then I slip off sideways and dissapear home (no doubt completely baffling the runners around me who must be thinking ‘we’ve only got 300 metres to go don’t drop out now!).
Back to the ice, the elevation and rest. Still - on the plus side I raised some money for charity (huge thanks to all who donated x), I enjoyed the day and actually, getting to nearly 8 miles without any pain was pretty reassuring. The injury is not so bad as the first time, so I am hopeful that I can get back on my feet and on short runs in a couple of weeks.
On my soapbox
Drinks stations are starting to annoy me - BIG TIME. It’s starting to get silly, with thousands and thousands of bottles of water and sports drinks literally being wasted and causing a major hazard to runners. It’s amazing no one has been knocked out by stupid, stupid competitors lobbing near full bottles from the course to the pavement. At one point the bloke in front of me threw his over everyones heads, over the cleared route for the race leaders and into a skip around 10 meters away - madness. And even if you don’t get knocked out by a flying bottle, you have to dodge the abandoned ones and their lids littering the course to avoid twisting your ankle.
This is not unique to The Bath Half Marathon, this is a scene familiar in many bigger races. I carry my own drink as I prefer the be self sufficient and I really think this has got to be the way to go. If people can get themselves trained and kitted out for a race then surely they can find a way to carry their own drink.
I know, I know, many will say it’s a safety issue - that it is the race’s duty to stop people passing out through dehydration - but really these drinks stations are about product placement not safety. A couple of water stations for emergencies should really be sufficient, it would cut back on the disgraceful waste, save hours of tidying up and prevent potential injury.
OK rant over.
Got a question, comment or just fancy a chat? Email me at [email protected]
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Resources:
www.primalifestyle.com
www.treatfeet.me
www.newtonrunning.co.uk
www.vivobarefoot.com
www.terraplana.com
About this blog: This blog is all about my experiences as I embark on converting to Barefoot running – I will investigate the market, sort facts from fiction (maybe) test the footwear and attempt to run the Bath Half Marathon in March wearing my Barefoot shoe of choice.
What is Barefoot running? Barefoot running is not actually Barefoot in most cases, but a new style of minimal shoe and a more natural way of running.
Why Barefoot running? Many people believe that the technological advances in running shoes over the last 20-30 years are unnecessary and could be responsible for many injuries. Barefoot devotees say simpler footwear allows the foot to build up it’s own strength and protects against injury better than any shoe can.
Who am I? I am a 45 year old woman, mother of two, twice a week runner and co-founder of Sportsister. I was in my younger days a pretty decent canoeist and sportswoman, now I am pretty average middle aged woman.
Where did it all begin? For me it all began with the now cult book Born To Run by Chris McDougall. Chris embarks on research into his own running related injuries and refusing to believe he will not ever be able to run again goes in search of the Tarrahumara Tribe in South America to see how they can run hundreds of miles a week barefoot well into old age and yet we cannot.
I love this book, I love the slightly anti-establishment element that challenges and questions, I love the renegade characters featured In the Ultra marathon world and I love the fact that Chris has founded a whole movement. Plus now he can run and even attempt ultra marathons.
What do I hope to achieve? I am hoping this adventure will re-invigorate my interest in running, help me stay injury free and lead to me running more! Ultimately I would like to find the time to train for a marathon and I even fantasise about going further – maybe 30-40-50 miles. Towards the end of my time as a canoeist I found myself persuaded to enter a 125 canoe race (non stop) I could not believe it was possible - but it is and I went on to complete it two more times. I would like to see if I can run a long way too…
