Three Forts Marathon 2009

Completed my fifth cross country marathon last weekend. This is a 27 mile run starting in Worthing and taking in Cissbury, Devil's Dyke and Chanctonbury before returning to Worthing for the finish. Went off a bit fast this year and actually found myself leading for the first mile and a half. Very disconcerting and I felt a lot more comfortable once a few runners passed me. As in previous years there was no marshal or signage at the top of Coombes Farm meaning the entire pack followed the leader down the wrong path knocking about a quarter mile of the total distance. That was the only problem I saw though and the rest was clearly signed. Was going well for the first 18 miles or so and was keeping to an 8:20 minute average so was in with a shout of beating my PB. Unfortunately began to flag on the long drag from the river back up to the top of Chanctonbury and lost a few seconds. Was too tired to really capitalise on the downhill and didn't really pick up properly until the final descent from Cissbury. Finished in 4:01 which is fairly pleasing - my second best result so far but 10 minutes behind my PB.
Despite several moments where I hated running and vowed to never put my trail shoes on again I'm now keen to get another one in this year. Possibly the South Downs Marathon in June...

Steyning Stinger 2009

Ok, I don't update this blog very regularly these days do I? It's all Facebook's fault I'm afraid Only got so much free time to spend on the web. Anyway, the Stinger. This was my fourth year running it and my third attempt at the full marathon. First attempt in 2007 took 4:28. Second attempt in 2008 took 4:14 and this year, well I was hoping for somewhere around 4 hours so quite pleased with a 4:04. It's a tough course with around 5300 ft of climbing, conditions were great this year with only a bit of mud to contend with in the low lying areas at the beginning and a flooded field in Washington. After that it was dry trails all the way. First marathons for Adam and Tom this year who both did brilliantly with 4:16 and 4:22 respectively. Marshalling was excellent as always and the the cooked breakfast at the end very welcome!

Quiet eh?

Well, I've not really had a lot to say lately. Been pretty busy in general, going out more in the real world. Movies, plays, shows etc - it's all good, think I've been fairly reclusive these last couple of years!

Less good is the total absence of running and cycling. Partly due to a conscious decision to take it a bit easy after all that training for the last marathon. But just when I was ready to start getting out again I went and did something to my back. Still it *seems* to be about better now so shall tentatively try and reintroduce them into my week.

The Three Forts

Thanks to Rory at USE for pic.

Another month, another marathon! This time the Three Forts Marathon. Ive trained hard for this and my target was to run it under 4 hours so I'm well pleased with finishing in 3:50. I went off fast at the start and was in the top 5 for the first few miles, annoyingly though as we were running along the road a whole group of runners joined us from the left having taken (a no doubt unintentional) shortcut across the field! Doesn't really matter of course but would have been nice to know what my real finishing position was. Anyway, the race was otherwise excellent, the rain stayed off and apart from a cheaky headwind for the return leg from Devil's Dyke the weather was perfect. Feel a bit achey today but not too bad considering. Think the post ride massage helped! :o)

Click here to see my GPS data.

Update on 9/5/2007: Results now up I came 23rd which I'm very pleased with but wonder where I would have come if it weren't for the short-cutters!

Steyning Stinger Marathon

Oh lordy that was tough! I was up at quarter to six to give me plenty of time for preparation and the sun was just rising into a vivid red sky. Shepherds' warning right?
Anyway headed over to Steyning and set off on the 'mass start' at 8:30. Not that massive in practice as runners had been leaving as and when they felt like it. Well, the first 10 miles or so weren't too bad with just the odd shower and a bit of mud to run through, but once I took the fork into the second half the weather really kicked in. Heavy rain and strong winds lashed into us as we headed over towards Cisbury also the ground underfoot was now less well drainied and properly muddy. Fatigue really kicked in when running straight into a head wind around 'Steep Down' this was about mile 19 and I began to have doubts about completing. Then we rounded the hill and picked up a tailwind and I recovered a bit. Shortly before losing my footing and sliding down the hill on my arse - Still saved a bit of running. Long drag back up to Chanctonbury saw most runners reduced to walkers. Manfully I kept on running, only to watch them all over take me again on the descent through chalkpit woods. I finally finished in 4:28. Bit longer than I'd estimated but then I hadn't anticipated the conditions being so harsh. General opinion was that it was the toughest Stinger they'd held so far. So a good choice for a first marathon!

Edit 24/01/2007 - I notice that if you google 'Steyning Stinger' this blog appears pretty high up in the results, so if you've wandered in because you're thinking of entering then DO IT. It's a great race, I'm down for the marathon again this year. :o)

Brighton Beacon half marathon

1:32:51 - I'm quite pleased with that! I was hoping for under 1:40:00 so beat my own target. Well under last years 1:45:00 odd. :o)

Hurt a bit though, I'm going to have to drop the pace a bit for the full marathon or I'll be walking the last 10 miles.

Kids like mud too

Imi about a mile into yesterday's 5 mile hike. Just before it started raining - Well it's character building isn't it?